Resistance to TRAIL-induced apoptosis in neuroblastoma cells correlates with a loss of caspase-8 expression

Med Pediatr Oncol. 2000 Dec;35(6):603-7. doi: 10.1002/1096-911x(20001201)35:6<603::aid-mpo24>3.0.co;2-1.

Abstract

Background: Disruption of apoptotic pathways may be involved in tumor formation, regression, and treatment resistance of neuroblastoma (NB). TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) is a potent inducer of apoptosis in cancer cell lines.

Procedure: In this study we analyzed the expression and function of TRAIL, its agonistic and antagonistic receptors, and important intracellular signaling elements in 18 NB cell lines.

Results: Semiquantitative RT-PCR revealed that TRAIL-R2 and TRAIL-R3 are the main TRAIL-receptors used by NB cells. Sensitivity to TRAIL-induced apoptosis did not correlate with mRNA expression of TRAIL receptors or cFLIP. Surprisingly, caspase-8 and caspase-10 mRNA was detected in only 5 of 18 NB cell lines. Interestingly, only these five NB cell lines were susceptible to TRAIL-induced apoptosis in a time- and dose-dependent manner.

Conclusions: Treatment with 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine restored mRNA expression of caspase-8 and -10 and TRAIL sensitivity of resistant cell lines, suggesting that gene methylation is involved in caspase inactivation. Since many cytotoxic drugs induce caspase-dependent apoptosis, failure to express caspase-8 and/or caspase-10 might be an important mechanism of resistance to chemotherapy in NB.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Apoptosis / genetics*
  • Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins
  • Caspase 8
  • Caspase 9
  • Caspases / genetics*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic*
  • Humans
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / genetics*
  • Neuroblastoma / genetics*
  • Receptors, TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand
  • Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / genetics
  • TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / genetics*

Substances

  • Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins
  • Membrane Glycoproteins
  • Receptors, TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand
  • Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor
  • TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand
  • TNFRSF10A protein, human
  • TNFRSF10B protein, human
  • TNFSF10 protein, human
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • CASP8 protein, human
  • CASP9 protein, human
  • Caspase 8
  • Caspase 9
  • Caspases