Oncogenic Ras inhibits Fas ligand-mediated apoptosis by downregulating the expression of Fas.
Tumor growth is the result of deregulated tissue homeostasis which is maintained through the delicate balance of cell growth and apoptosis. One of the most efficient inducers of apoptosis is the death receptor Fas. We report here that oncogenic Ras (H-Ras) downregulates Fas expression and renders cells of fibroblastic and epitheloid origin resistant to Fas ligand-induced apoptosis. In Ras-transformed cells, Fas mRNA is absent. Inhibition of DNA methylation restores Fas expression. H-Ras signals via the PI 3-kinase pathway to downregulate Fas, suggesting that the known anti-apoptotic effect of the downstream PKB/Akt kinase may be mediated, at least in part, by the repression of Fas expression. Thus, the oncogenic potential of H-ras may reside on its capacity not only to promote cellular proliferation, but also to simultaneously inhibit Fas-triggered apoptosis.
Peli
J
J
Swiss Cancer Research Institute (ISREC), BIL Biomedical Research Center, Chemin des Boveresses 155, Switzerland.
Schröter
M
M
Rudaz
C
C
Hahne
M
M
Meyer
C
C
Reichmann
E
E
Tschopp
J
J
D016475:3T3 Cells; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology; D002460:Cell Line; D019175:DNA Methylation; D015536:Down-Regulation; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D005260:Female; D011905:Genes, ras; D006801:Humans; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D009154:Mutation; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D014162:Transfection; D014170:Transformation, Genetic; D019014:fas Receptor / Q000378:metabolism*; D018631:ras Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
C505661:FASLG protein, human; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; C505658:Fasl protein, mouse; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D019014:fas Receptor; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases; D018631:ras Proteins