title: CD40 and B chronic lymphocytic leukemia cell response to fludarabine: the influence of NF-kappaB/Rel transcription factors on chemotherapy-induced apoptosis.
abstract: The levels of tumour necrosis factor receptor (TNF-R) superfamily members can be altered in lymphoid leukemias, indicating a possible role of such molecules in the biology of these neoplasias. In B chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells, the CD40/CD40L system has been shown to be effective in inhibiting the apoptotic response to fludarabine. The modulation of apoptosis relied on the CD40-induced activity of NF-kappaB/Rel transcription factors. The anti-apoptotic effect of CD40 was abolished using a phosphorothioate kappaB decoy oligodeoxynucleotide. These findings illustrate an example of the biological activity of TNF-R-like molecules in leukemias. They also show the influence of NF-kappaB/Rel activity on leukemic cell response to apoptogenic agents.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Institute Pascale, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Romano
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lamberti
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Turco
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Venuta
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology; D019013:CD40 Antigens / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D015451:Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000502:physiology*; D020572:Oncogene Proteins v-rel / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000502:physiology; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D014740:Vidarabine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D019013:CD40 Antigens; D016328:NF-kappa B; D020572:Oncogene Proteins v-rel; D014740:Vidarabine; C024352:fludarabine