Abstract

Paclitaxel has been shown to activate Raf-1 and cause phosphorylation of Bcl-2, which has been correlated with paclitaxel-induced apoptosis of cancer cells. In the present studies, we demonstrate that in human AML HL-60 cells that express Bcl-2 but little Bcl-xL (HL-60/neo cells), paclitaxel-induced phosphorylation of Bcl-2 is followed by increased intracellular free Bax levels. This, in turn, is followed by the cleavage and activation of the key cysteine protease, CPP32beta/Yama, and cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase, resulting in the DNA fragmentation of apoptosis. Cotreatment with the benzoquinone ansamycin Geldanamycin depleted Raf-1 but did not decrease Bcl-2 levels or impair paclitaxel-induced Bcl-2 phosphorylation in HL-60/neo cells. Also, Geldanamycin did not affect paclitaxel-induced apoptosis of HL-60/neo cells. As compared to the control HL-60/neo, HL-60/Bcl-xL cells contain Bcl-2 as well as an enforced overexpression of Bcl-xL. Immunoprecipitation studies with anti-Bcl-2 and/or anti-Bcl-x antibodies demonstrated that HL-60/Bcl-xL cells possess lower free Bax but higher levels of Bax heterodimerized to Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL. Following treatment of HL-60/Bcl-xL cells with paclitaxel, although Bcl-2 phosphorylation was observed, it was not followed by increased free Bax levels, cleavage of CPP32beta/Yama and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase, or induction of the DNA fragmentation of apoptosis. These findings indicate the order of molecular events leading to paclitaxel-induced apoptosis and show that Raf-1 may not be involved in paclitaxel-induced phosphorylation of Bcl-2 or apoptosis of HL-60 cells.