Genistein enhances the cisplatin-induced inhibition of cell growth and apoptosis in human malignant melanoma cells

Genistein, a naturally occurring isoflavone found chiefly in soybeans, has been reported to be a potent antitumor agent. Genistein is presumed to exert multiple effects related to the inhibition of cancer growth. Metastatic melanoma is a chemotherapy-refractory neoplasm. The present study was designed to explore the possible activity of genistein to inhibit the aberrant proliferation and to induce apoptosis of human malignant melanoma cells in cooperation with cisplatin treatment. Five human melanoma cell lines were utilized for these experiments. Genistein at physiologic concentrations (20 microM) did not induce apoptosis by itself but did enhance cisplatin-induced apoptosis in all five human melanoma cell lines tested. The enhanced susceptibility among the cell lines was diverse. Changes in the expression of two anti-apoptotic proteins, bcl-2 and bcl-xL, and one pro-apoptotic protein, apoptotic protease activating factor-1 (Apaf-1), were examined. Genistein alone or cisplatin alone generally did not alter bcl-2 expression or bcl-xL expression, but slightly increased Apaf-1 in some cell lines. The combined treatment with genistein and cisplatin significantly reduced bcl-2 and bcl-xL protein and increased Apaf-1 protein expression. These data suggest that genistein therapy may enhance the chemosensitivity of melanoma patients.     

Mitochondrially targeted ceramides preferentially promote autophagy, retard cell growth, and induce apoptosis

C(6)-pyridinium (D-erythro-2-N-[6'-(1'-pyridinium)-hexanoyl]sphingosine bromide [LCL29]) is a cationic mitochondrion-targeting ceramide analog that promotes mitochondrial permeabilization and cancer cell death. In this study, we compared the biological effects of that compound with those of D-erythro-C(6)-ceramide, its non-mitochondrion-targeting analog. In MCF7 cells it was found that C(6)-pyridinium ceramide preferentially promoted autophagosome formation and retarded cell growth more extensively than its uncharged analog. This preferential inhibition of cell growth was also observed in breast epithelial cells and other breast cancer cells. In addition, this compound could promote Bax translocation to mitochondria. This redistribution of Bax in MCF7 cells could be blocked by the pan-caspase inhibitor zVAD-fmk but via a Bid-independent signaling pathway. Moreover, C(6)-pyridinium ceramide-induced translocation of Bax to mitochondria led to mitochondrial permeabilization and cell death. Overall, we show that mitochondrial targeting of C(6)-pyridinium ceramide significantly enhances cellular response to this compound.     

Involvement of autophagy in recombinant human arginase-induced cell apoptosis and growth inhibition of malignant melanoma cells

Recombinant human arginase (rhArg) has been developed for arginine derivation therapy of cancer and is currently in clinical trials for a variety of malignant solid tumors. In this study, we reported for the first time that rhArg could induce obvious autophagy in human melanoma cells; inhibition of autophagy by chloroquine (CQ) significantly increased rhArg-induced cell apoptosis and growth inhibition of A375 cells. A significant increase in mitochondrial membrane potential loss and elevated intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were detected in A375 cells after rhArg treatment when compared with control. Membrane transition inhibitor cyclosporine A blocked autophagy and accelerated cell death induced by rhArg, indicating that rhArg induced autophagy via mitochondria pathway. Furthermore, antioxidant N-acetyl-l-cysteine suppressed rhArg-induced autophagy and rescued cells from cell growth inhibition, suggesting that ROS played an important role in rhArg-induced A375 cell growth inhibition and autophagy. Akt/mTOR signaling pathway was involved in autophagy induced by rhArg in a time-dependent manner. Moreover, rhArg could induce ERK1/2 activation in a dose- and time-dependent manner and rhArg-induced autophagy was attenuated when p-ERK1/2 was inhibited by MEK 1/2 inhibitor, U0126. Taken together, this study provides new insight into the molecular mechanism of autophagy involved in rhArg-induced cell apoptosis and growth inhibition, which facilitates the development of rhArg in combination with CQ as a potential therapy for malignant melanoma.     

Macrophage-mediated inhibition of melanoma cell growth in nude mice

The effects of macrophages or sera from tumor-transplanted or control syngeneic and allogeneic mice on the latency and growth rate of P51 murine melanoma cells were determined after transplantation into congenitally athymic (nude) mice (tumor neutralization test). Syngeneic macrophages from tumor-bearing mice (TBM) inhibited melanoma growth in the nude mouse more than control macrophages, additionally macrophages from sensitized allogeneic mice inhibited melanoma growth to a greater degree than did allogeneic control macrophages. Sera from TBM inhibited melanoma growth as compared to control cells alone. Macrophages obtained after 14 days were also cytolytic towards the melanoma target in vitro. Despite the growth of large local masses, no evidence of distant metastases was found. The nude mouse thus provides an appropriate model for this tumor to portray in vivo immunotherapy.     

GSK-3beta inhibition enhances sorafenib-induced apoptosis in melanoma cell lines

Glycogen synthase kinase-3beta (GSK-3beta) can participate in the induction of apoptosis or, alternatively, provide a survival signal that minimizes cellular injury. We previously demonstrated that the multikinase inhibitor sorafenib induces apoptosis in melanoma cell lines. In this report, we show that sorafenib activates GSK-3beta in multiple subcellular compartments and that this activation undermines the lethality of the drug. Pharmacologic inhibition and/or down-modulation of the kinase enhances sorafenib-induced apoptosis as determined by propidium iodide staining and by assessing the mitochondrial release of apoptosis-inducing factor and Smac/DIABLO. Conversely, the forced expression of a constitutively active form of the enzyme (GSK-3beta(S9A)) protects the cells from the apoptotic effects of the drug. This protective effect is associated with a marked increase in basal levels of Bcl-2, Bcl-x(L), and survivin and a diminution in the degree to which these anti-apoptotic proteins are down-modulated by sorafenib exposure. Sorafenib down-modulates the pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 family member Noxa in cells with high constitutive GSK-3beta activity. Pharmacologic inhibition of GSK-3beta prevents the disappearance of Noxa induced by sorafenib and enhances the down-modulation of Mcl-1. Down-modulation of Noxa largely eliminates the enhancing effect of GSK-3 inhibition on sorafenib-induced apoptosis. These data provide a strong rationale for the use of GSK-3beta inhibitors as adjuncts to sorafenib treatment and suggest that preservation of Noxa may contribute to their efficacy.     

A secondary assay for ceramide kinase inhibitors based on cell growth inhibition by short-chain ceramides

We recently reported that ectopic expression of ceramide kinase (CerK) in various cell lines increases their sensitivity to cell death induced by the exogenous addition of short-chain (e.g., C2) ceramides (Cer). Here we show that this higher sensitivity results from CerK catalytic activity and production of C2-ceramide 1-phosphate (C2-C1P). If CerK activity is inhibited by the potent inhibitor NVP-231, C2-C1P is not produced and viability returns to control levels. The EC₅₀ of NVP-231 in this assay is in the low nanomolar range, consistent with the IC₅₀ determined in activity assays in vitro using purified CerK. NVP-995, a structurally related but inactive compound, does not protect against C2-Cer-induced cell death. This assay is robust and easy to implement and scale up, thereby providing a valuable secondary screen assay for CerK inhibitors.     

Glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase inhibition sensitizes melanoma cells to metformin treatment

Most cancer cells exacerbate the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) to enhance biosynthetic precursors and antioxidant defenses. Metformin, which is used as a first-line oral drug for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, has been proposed to inhibit the malignant progression of different types of cancers. However, metformin has shown poor efficacy as single agent in several clinical trials. Thus, the aim of the present work was to investigate whether the pharmacological inhibition of G6PDH, the first and rate-limiting enzyme of the PPP, by 6-amino nicotinamide (6-AN) potentiates the antitumoral activity of metformin on different human melanoma cell lines. Our results showed that 6-AN has sensitizing properties to metformin cytotoxicity. The combination of metformin and 6-AN decreased glucose consumption and lactate production, altered the mitochondrial potential and redox balance, and thereby blocked melanoma cell progression, directing cells to apoptosis and necrosis. To our knowledge, this is the first study describing the effect of this combination. Future preclinical studies should be performed to reveal the biological relevance of this finding.     

NF-kappaB inhibition by an adenovirus expressed aptamer sensitizes TNFalpha-induced apoptosis

Prolonged activation of NF-kappaB is involved in the pathogenesis of chronic inflammatory diseases and associated cancers. NF-kappaB activation is considered to be a main mechanism opposing TNFalpha-induced apoptosis. We investigated whether inhibition of NF-kappaB could sensitize tumor and endothelial cells to TNFalpha-induced apoptosis. As such, we developed a novel H1 RNA polymerase III promoter driven adenoviral vector to express an RNA aptamer, Ad-A-p50, which selectively inhibits NF-kappaB activation in the nucleus. This event sensitizes human lung adenocarcinoma cells (A549) and human endothelial cells (HUVEC) to TNFalpha-induced apoptosis through the multiple pathways regulated by NF-kappaB, including Bcl-XL, HIF-1alpha, and VEGF. Our findings also suggest a new mechanism of HIF-1alpha regulation by NF-kappaB in the normoxic environment. RNA aptamer inhibition of NF-kappaB offers exciting opportunities for sensitizing inflammatory and tumor cells to TNFalpha-induced apoptosis.     

ROS-dependent phosphorylation of Bax by wortmannin sensitizes melanoma cells for TRAIL-induced apoptosis

The pathways of reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated apoptosis induction, of Bax activation and the sensitization of tumor cells for TRAIL (TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand)-induced apoptosis are still largely elusive. Here, sensitization of melanoma cells for TRAIL by the PI3-kinase inhibitor wortmannin correlated to the activation of mitochondrial apoptosis pathways. Apoptosis was dependent on Bax and abrogated by Bcl-2 overexpression. The synergistic enhancement was explained by Bax activation through wortmannin, which tightly correlated to the characteristic Bax phosphorylation patterns. Thus, wortmannin resulted in early reduction of the Bax-inactivating phosphorylation at serine-184, whereas the Bax-activating phosphorylation at threonine-167 was enhanced. Proving the responsibility of the pathway, comparable effects were obtained with an Akt inhibitor (MK-2206); while suppressed phosphorylation of serine-184 may be attributed to reduced Akt activity itself, the causes of enhanced threonine-167 phosphorylation were addressed here. Characteristically, production of ROS was seen early in response to wortmannin and MK-2206. Providing the link between ROS and Bax, we show that abrogated ROS production by α-tocopherol or by NADPH oxidase 4 (NOX4) siRNA suppressed apoptosis and Bax activation. This correlated with reduced Bax phosphorylation at threonine-167. The data unraveled a mechanism by which NOX4-dependent ROS production controls apoptosis via Bax phosphorylation. The pathway may be considered for proapoptotic, anticancer strategies.     

Inhibition of CaMKII-mediated c-FLIP expression sensitizes malignant melanoma cells to TRAIL-induced apoptosis

TRAIL can induce apoptosis in melanoma cells and thus may offer new hope for melanoma therapy. However, many melanoma cells are resistant to TRAIL. To examine molecular mechanisms in cell resistance, we analyzed TRAIL-induced DISC in TRAIL-sensitive melanoma cells and showed that apoptosis-initiating caspase-8 and caspase-10 were recruited to the DISC where they became activated through autocatalytical cleavage, leading to apoptosis through cleavage of downstream substrates such as caspase-3 and DFF45. In TRAIL-resistant melanoma cells, however, c-FLIP proteins were recruited to the DISC, resulting in the inhibition of caspase-8 and caspase-10 cleavage in the DISC. Both calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) protein and enzymatic activity were upregulated in resistant cells and CaMKII inhibitor KN-93 downregulated expression of c-FLIP proteins, thus sensitizing resistant cells to TRAIL-induced apoptosis. Transfection of CaMKII cDNA in sensitive melanoma cells resulted in cell resistance to TRAIL, where transfection of CaMKII dominant-negative cDNA in resistant cells restored TRAIL sensitivity in cells. These results indicate that the CaMKII-mediated pathway for c-FLIP upregulation protects melanoma cells from TRAIL-induced apoptosis and targeting this pathway may provide novel therapeutic strategies in treatment of melanomas.     

WEE1 inhibition sensitizes basal breast cancer cells to TRAIL-induced apoptosis

TRAIL is a member of the TNF super family and has been shown to induce apoptosis in many cancer cell lines but not in normal cells. Breast cancers can be divided into different subgroups on the basis of the expression of estrogen and progesterone receptors, HER-2 amplification, or the lack of these three markers (known as triple-negative or basal-type breast cancer). Our group and others have shown previously that triple-negative breast cancer cell lines are sensitive to TRAIL whereas others are relatively resistant. In an earlier study, we reported that inhibition of WEE1, a cell-cycle checkpoint regulator, causes increased cell death in breast cancer cell lines. In this study, we tested the effects of WEE1 inhibition on TRAIL-mediated apoptosis in breast cancer cell lines. Pretreatment with WEE1 inhibitor or knockdown of WEE1 increased the toxicity of TRAIL in the basal/triple-negative breast cancer cell lines compared with WEE1 inhibitor or TRAIL treatment alone. The enhanced cell death is attributed to increased surface expression of death receptors, increased caspase activation which could be blocked by the pan-caspase inhibitor, Z-VAD-FMK, thereby rescuing cells from caspase-mediated apoptosis. The cell death was initiated primarily by caspase-8 because knockdown of caspase-8 and not of any other initiator caspases (i.e., caspase-2, -9, or -10) rescued cells from WEE1 inhibitor-sensitized TRAIL-induced cell death. Taken together, the data suggest that the combination of WEE1 inhibitor and TRAIL could provide a novel combination for the treatment of basal/triple-negative breast cancer.     

Synthetic ceramides induce growth arrest or apoptosis by altering cellular redox status

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and ceramide are each partly responsible for the signal transduction of a variety of extracellular agents. Furthermore, the application of synthetic, short-chain ceramides mimics the cellular responses to these extracellular agents. However, the significance of ROS involvement in ceramide signaling pathways is poorly understood. Here we describe that the cellular responses to C2-/C6-ceramide of growth arrest in U937 monocytes and apoptosis in Jurkat T-cells are preceded by a rise in mitochondrial peroxide production. In Jurkat T-cells, this is associated with a large time- and dose-dependent loss of cellular glutathione. However, in U937 monocytes, glutathione loss is transient. Differences in the magnitude and kinetics of this alteration in cellular redox state associate with discrete outcomes, namely growth arrest or apoptosis.     

(-)-Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) sensitizes melanoma cells to interferon induced growth inhibition in a mouse model of human melanoma

Melanoma incidences have increased over the last few decades and metastatic melanoma is one of the hardest malignancies to treat. Thus, novel approaches are needed for an effective management of melanoma. Interferon-α2b (IFN), an immunomodulatory cytokine commonly used in melanoma treatment, has shown marginal efficacy and often results in discontinuation of therapy due to toxicity. We earlier demonstrated that epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), the major polyphenolic constituent of green tea, caused cell cycle arrest and apoptosis of human melanoma cells via modulation in cki-cyclin-cdk machinery and Bcl-2 family proteins. This study was undertaken to determine if EGCG could enhance the anti-proliferative effects of IFN. In this study, we demonstrated that EGCG and/or IFN treatments to melanoma cells resulted in a marked i) decrease in cell proliferation and colony formation ability, and ii) induction of apoptosis. Interestingly, the combination was found to be more effective than either of the agents alone. Further, the anti-proliferative effects of EGCG and/or IFN were accompanied with an increase in FAS protein levels and a decrease in nuclear factor NF-κB/p65 in the nucleus as well as NF-κB promoter activity. EGCG and/or IFN also resulted in an increase in FAS-L mediated apoptosis. Further, EGCG and/or IFN treatments resulted in a decrease in melanoma tumor growth and protein levels of proliferation marker PCNA, in athymic nude mice implanted with melanoma tumors. The combination of the two modalities demonstrated a better response than either of them alone. Our data suggest that EGCG could impart therapeutic advantage if used in conjunction with IFN.     

IFN-beta pretreatment sensitizes human melanoma cells to TRAIL/Apo2 ligand-induced apoptosis

All human melanoma cell lines (assessed by annexin V and TUNEL assays) were resistant to apoptosis induction by TRAIL/Apo2L protein. TRAIL/Apo2L activated caspase-8 and caspase-3, but subsequent apoptotic events such as poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase cleavage and DNA fragmentation were not observed. To probe the molecular mechanisms of cellular resistance to apoptosis, melanoma cell lines were analyzed for expression of apoptosis regulators (apoptotic protease-associated factor-1, FLIP, caspase-8, caspase-9, caspase-3, cellular inhibitor of apoptosis, Bcl-2, or Bax); no correlation was observed. TRAIL/Apo2L was induced in melanoma cell lines by IFN-beta and had been correlated with apoptosis induction. Because IFN-beta induced other gene products that have been associated with apoptosis, it was postulated that one or more IFN-stimulated genes might sensitize cells to TRAIL/Apo2L. Melanoma cell lines were treated with IFN-beta for 16-24 h before treatment with TRAIL/Apo2L. Regardless of their sensitivity to either cytokine alone, >30% of cells underwent apoptosis in response to the combined treatment. Induction of apoptosis by IFN-beta and TRAIL/Apo2L in combination correlated with synergistic activation of caspase-9, a decrease in mitochondrial potential, and cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase. Cleavage of X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis following IFN-beta and TRAIL/Apo2L treatment was observed in sensitive WM9, A375, or WM3211 cells but not in resistant WM35 or WM164 cells. Thus, in vitro IFN-beta and TRAIL/Apo2L combination treatment had more potent apoptotic and anti-growth effects when compared with either cytokine alone in melanoma cells lines.     

Glycogen synthase kinase-3 inhibition sensitizes pancreatic cancer cells to TRAIL-induced apoptosis

Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis inducing ligand (TRAIL) induces apoptosis in a variety of cancer cell lines with little or no effect on normal cells. However, its effect is limited as some cancers including pancreatic cancer show de novo resistance to TRAIL induced apoptosis. In this study we report that GSK-3 inhibition using the pharmacologic agent AR-18, enhanced TRAIL sensitivity in a range of pancreatic and prostate cancer cell lines. This sensitization was found to be caspase-dependent, and both pharmacological and genetic knock-down of GSK-3 isoforms resulted in apoptotic features as shown by cleavage of PARP and caspase-3. Elevated levels of reactive oxygen intermediates and disturbance of mitochondrial membrane potential point to a mitochondrial amplification loop for TRAIL-induced apoptosis after GSK-3 inhibition. Consistent with this, overexpression of anti-apoptotic mitochondrial targets such as Bcl-XL, Mcl-1, and Bcl-2 rescued PANC-1 and PPC-1 cells from TRAIL sensitization. However, overexpression of the caspase-8 inhibitor CrmA also inhibited the sensitizing effects of GSK-3 inhibitor, suggesting an additional role for GSK-3 that inhibits death receptor signaling. Acute treatment of mice bearing PANC-1 xenografts with a combination of AR-18 and TRAIL also resulted in a significant increase in apoptosis, as measured by caspase-3 cleavage. Sensitization to TRAIL occurred despite an increase in β-catenin due to GSK-3 inhibition, suggesting that the approach might be effective even in cancers with dysregulated β-catenin. These results suggest that GSK-3 inhibitors might be effectively combined with TRAIL for the treatment of pancreatic cancer.     

2-Deoxyglucose sensitizes melanoma cells to TRAIL-induced apoptosis which is reduced by mannose

While melanoma cell lines use aerobic glycolysis, addition of a competitive inhibitor such as 2-deoxyglucose (2DG) by itself achieved only modest killing. To overcome high levels of pro-survival proteins in melanoma cells, 2DG or glucose deprivation (GD) was combined with tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis inducing-ligand (TRAIL). TRAIL treatment by itself also only induced modest killing, but combining TRAIL with 2DG or GD triggered a synergistic pro-apoptotic response in melanoma lines but not melanocytes. In melanoma cells, there was cleavage of caspases 3, 8 and Bid. Killing by combination treatments was completely blocked by a pan-caspase inhibitor, z-VAD. Mechanistically, 2DG and GD enhanced surface levels for both death receptors (DR4 and DR5); which was accompanied by reductions in levels of Mcl-1, Bcl-2 and survivin. Mannose pre-treatment reduced enhanced killing by combination treatments, accompanied by reduced DR5 levels. These results indicate melanoma cells in which there is altered glucose-related metabolomics can be exploited by interfering with glucose metabolism in combination with TRAIL; thereby overcoming the notorious death resistance of melanoma. Thus, a new therapeutic window is open for future clinical trials using agents targeting the glucose-related metabolome, in combination with agents triggering death receptors in patients with melanoma.     

Long chain ceramides and very long chain ceramides have opposite effects on human breast and colon cancer cell growth

Ceramides are known to be key players in intracellular signaling and are involved in apoptosis, cell senescence, proliferation, cell growth and differentiation. They are synthesized by ceramide synthases (CerS). So far, six different mammalian CerS (CerS1-6) have been described. Recently, we demonstrated that human breast cancer tissue displays increased activity of CerS2, 4, and 6, together with enhanced generation of their products, ceramides C(16:0), C(24:0), and C(24:1). Moreover, these increases were significantly associated with tumor dignity. To clarify the impact of this observation, we manipulated cellular ceramide levels by overexpressing ceramide synthases 2, 4 or 6 in MCF-7 (breast cancer) and HCT-116 (colon cancer) cells, respectively. Overexpression of ceramide synthases 4 and 6 elevated generation of short chain ceramides C(16:0), C(18:0) and C(20:0), while overexpression of ceramide synthase 2 had no effect on ceramide production in vivo, presumably due to limited substrate availability, because external addition of very long chain acyl-CoAs resulted in a significant upregulation of very long chain ceramides. We also demonstrated that upregulation of CerS4 and 6 led to the inhibition of cell proliferation and induction of apoptosis, whereas upregulation of CerS2 increased cell proliferation. On the basis of our data, we propose that a disequilibrium between ceramides of various chain length is crucial for cancer progression, while normal cells require an equilibrium between very long and long chain ceramides for normal physiology.     

Clonal variants of a melanoma cell line sensitive to growth inhibition by dexamethasone

We have isolated and characterized two clones of the RPMI 3460 Syrian hamster melanoma cell line which exhibit different responses to the synthetic glucocorticoid dexamethasone. In the presence of 10 nM dexamethasone, one clone (clone 6) exhibits the growth inhibition, morphological alterations, and reduction in final cell density observed in the parental RPMI 3460 cell line. In contrast, the other clone (clone 5), although exhibiting a reduction in final cell density, fails to exhibit the growth inhibition and morphological alterations. Thus, the effect of dexamethasone on growth and morphology can be expressed separately from the effect of dexamethasone on final cell density in these cells. This observation suggests that the two sets of responses can be controlled separately and that glucocorticoids may exert their influence through different or divergent biological pathways.In vitro receptor assays suggest that the different phenotypes of clone 5 compared with clone 6 cells cannot be explained by an absence of or reduction in cytosolic glucocorticoid receptor, in clone 5 cells. Additional receptor characterization suggests that the different responses to dexamethasone of clone 5 and clone 6 cells do not reflect changes in the ability of receptor to exist in a stably activated form. Differences in the accumulation or depletion of extracellular components in the growth medium also do not seem to be responsible for the altered phenotype of clone 5 vis-à-vis clone 6 cells.     

Flavonoids inhibit cell growth and induce apoptosis in B16 melanoma 4A5 cells

We investigated the growth inhibitory activity of several flavonoids, including apigenin, luteolin, kaempherol, quercetin, butein, isoliquiritigenin, naringenin, genistein, and daizein against B16 mouse melanoma 4A5 cells. Isoliquiritigenin and butein, belonging to the chalcone group, markedly suppressed the growth of B16 melanoma cells and induced cell death. The other flavonoids tested showed little growth inhibitory activity and scarcely caused cell death. In cells treated with isoliquiritigenin or butein, condensation of nuclei and fragmentation of nuclear DNA, which are typical phenomena of apoptosis, were observed by Hoechst 33258 staining and by agarose gel electrophoresis of DNA. Flowcytometric analysis showed that isoliquiritigenin and butein increased the proportion of hypodiploid cells in the population of B16 melanoma cells. These results demonstrate that isoliquiritigenin and butein inhibit cell proliferation and induce apoptosis in B16 melanoma cells. Extracellular glucose decreased the proportion of hypodiploid cells that appeared as a result of isoliquiritigenin treatment. p53 was not detected in cells treated with either of these chalcones, however, protein of the Bcl-2 family were detected. The level of expression of Bax in cells treated with either of these chalcones was markedly elevated and the level of Bcl-XL decreased slightly. Isoliquiritigenin did not affect Bcl-2 expression, but butein down-regulated Bcl-2 expression. From these results, it seems that the pathway by which the chalcones induce apoptosis may be independent of p53 and dependent on proteins of the Bcl-2 family. It was supposed that isoliquiritigenin induces apoptosis in B16 cells by a mechanism involving inhibition of glucose transmembrane transport and promotion of Bax expression. On the other hand, it was suggested that butein induces apoptosis via down-regulation of Bcl-2 expression and promotion of Bax expression. This mechanism differs from the isoliquiritigenin induction pathway.     

Down-regulation of mcl-1 by small interfering RNA sensitizes resistant melanoma cells to fas-mediated apoptosis

Resistance of malignant melanoma cells to Fas-mediated apoptosis is among the mechanisms by which they escape immune surveillance. However, the mechanisms contributing to their resistance are not completely understood, and it is still unclear whether antiapoptotic Bcl-2-related family proteins play a role in this resistance. In this study, we report that treatment of Fas-resistant melanoma cell lines with cycloheximide, a general inhibitor of de novo protein synthesis, sensitizes them to anti-Fas monoclonal antibody (mAb)-induced apoptosis. The cycloheximide-induced sensitization to Fas-induced apoptosis is associated with a rapid down-regulation of Mcl-1 protein levels, but not that of Bcl-2 or Bcl-xL. Targeting Mcl-1 in these melanoma cell lines with specific small interfering RNA was sufficient to sensitize them to both anti-Fas mAb-induced apoptosis and activation of caspase-9. Furthermore, ectopic expression of Mcl-1 in a Fas-sensitive melanoma cell line rescues the cells from Fas-mediated apoptosis. Our results further show that the expression of Mcl-1 in melanoma cells is regulated by the mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and not by phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/AKT signaling pathway. Inhibition of ERK signaling with the mitogen-activated protein/ERK kinase-1 inhibitor or by expressing a dominant negative form of mitogen-activated protein/ERK kinase-1 also sensitizes resistant melanoma cells to anti-Fas mAb-induced apoptosis. Thus, our study identifies mitogen-activated protein kinase/ERK/Mcl-1 as an important survival signaling pathway in the resistance of melanoma cells to Fas-mediated apoptosis and suggests that its targeting may contribute to the elimination of melanoma tumors by the immune system.