Ionizing radiation modulates the TRAIL death-inducing signaling complex, allowing bypass of the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway

Verbrugge, I., de Vries, E., Tait, S.W.G. , Wissink, E.H.J., Walczak, H., Verheij, M. and Borst, J. (2008) Ionizing radiation modulates the TRAIL death-inducing signaling complex, allowing bypass of the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway. Oncogene, 27(5), pp. 574-584. (doi: 10.1038/sj.onc.1210696)

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Publisher's URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/sj.onc.1210696

Abstract

In many tumor cell types, ionizing radiation (IR) or DNA-damaging anticancer drugs enhance sensitivity to tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL)-induced apoptosis, which is of great clinical interest. We have investigated the molecular mechanism underlying the response to combined modality treatment in p53-mutant Jurkat T leukemic cells overexpressing Bcl-2. These cells are largely resistant to individual treatment with TRAIL or IR, but sensitive to combined treatment, in vitro as well as in vivo. We demonstrate that IR and DNA-damaging anticancer drugs enable TRAIL receptor-2 and CD95/Fas to bypass the mitochondrial pathway for effector caspase activation. This was validated by RNA interference for Bax and Bak and by overexpression of dominant-negative Caspase-9. Improved effector caspase activation was neither caused by altered expression of proapoptotic components nor by impaired activity of inhibitor of apoptosis proteins or nuclear factor-κB signaling. Rather, we found that pretreatment of cells with IR caused quantitative and qualitative changes in death receptor signaling. It strongly improved the capacity of ligand-bound receptors to recruit FADD and activate Caspase-8 and -10 in the death-inducing signaling complex, while c-FLIPL levels were unaffected.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Tait, Professor Stephen
Authors: Verbrugge, I., de Vries, E., Tait, S.W.G., Wissink, E.H.J., Walczak, H., Verheij, M., and Borst, J.
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Cancer Sciences
Journal Name:Oncogene
ISSN:0950-9232
ISSN (Online):1476-5594
Published Online:06 August 2007

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