alpha-Tocopheryl succinate induces DR4 and DR5 expression by a p53-dependent route: Implication for sensitisation of resistant cancer cells to TRAIL apoptosis
Tuesday, February 28th, 2006.
FEBS Letters. 2006 Feb 28; [Epub ahead of print] [Link]
Marco Tomasettia, Ladislav Anderab, Renata Allevac, Battista Borghic, Jiri Neuzilb, d and Antonio Procopioa, e
aDepartment of Molecular Pathology and Innovative Therapies, Polytechnic University of Marche, via Ranieri 1, Ancona, Italy
bLaboratory of Cell Signaling and Apoptosis, Institute of Molecular Genetics, Czech Academy of Sciences, Czech Republic
cDepartment of Anaesthesiology, IRCCS Orthopaedic Institute “Rizzoli”, Bologna, Italy
dApoptosis Research Group, School of Medical Science, Griffith University, Southport, Qld., Australia
eCenter of Cytology, Italian National Research Center on Aging (INRCA-IRCCS), Ancona, Italy
Received 16 December 2005; revised 17 February 2006; accepted 21 February 2006. Available online 28 February 2006.
Abstract
We evaluated the ability of α-tocopheryl succinate (α-TOS) to sensitise TRAIL-resistant malignant mesothelioma (MM) cells to TRAIL-induced apoptosis. We show that α-TOS activates expression of DR4/DR5 in a p53-dependent manner and re-establishes sensitivity of resistant MM cells to TRAIL-mediated apoptosis, as documented in p53wt MM cells but not in their p53null counterparts. MM cells selected for TRAIL resistance expressed low cell surface levels of DR4 and DR5. Treatment with sub-lethal doses of α-TOS restored expression of DR4 and DR5. The ability of α-TOS to modulate expression of pro-apoptotic genes may play a role in sensitisation of tumour cells to immunological stimuli.
Keywords: Malignant mesothelioma; TRAIL; α-TOS; p53; DR5; DR4
Abbreviations: DR, death receptor; FLIP, FLICE inhibitory protein; MM, malignant mesothelioma; ActD, actinomycin D; Q-PCR, quantitative real-time PCR; siRNA, small interfering RNA; α-TOS, α-tocopheryl succinate; TR, TRAIL-resistant; TRAIL, TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand
Glossary
- cytology
- (cy-tahl-uh-gee) the branch of science that deals with the structure and function of cells.
- cell
- the basic unit of which all living things are made. Cells replace themselves by splitting and forming new cells (mitosis). The processes that control the formation of new cells and the death of old cells are disrupted in cancer.
- mesothelioma
- a tumor derived from mesothelial tissue, such as the peritoneum (lining the abdomen) or pleura (lining the lungs). More on mesothelioma.
- apoptosis
- a type of cell death in which the cell basically commits suicide; scientists believe some types of cancer may originate from an interruption of this programmed cell death, allowing cells to grow out of control.
