title: Loss of caspase-8 expression in highly malignant human neuroblastoma cells correlates with resistance to tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand-induced apoptosis.
abstract: Human neuroblastoma (NB) is a highly heterogeneous childhood cancer that is aggressively malignant or can undergo spontaneous regression that may involve apoptosis. NB-derived cell lines were tested for their sensitivity to apoptosis induced by the tumor-selective ligand tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL). Noninvasive S-type cell lines (NB cell lines of substrate adherent phenotype) are highly sensitive to TRAIL, whereas invasive N-type cell lines (NB cell lines of neuronal phenotype) are resistant. Whereas both S- and N-type cell lines express TRAIL-R2, FADD, and caspase-3 and -10, only S-type cells express caspase-8. Reduced levels of caspase-8 protein were also observed in a malignant stage IV NB tumor when compared with a benign ganglioneuroma. The caspase-8 gene is not deleted in either N-type NB cell lines or high-stage NB tumors. Caspase-8 expression can be induced by demethylation with 5-aza-2'deoxycytidine, which enhances sensitivity to TRAIL. Therefore, caspase-8 expression is silenced in malignant NB, which correlates to tumor severity and resistance to TRAIL-induced apoptosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Onco-Hematology, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hopkins-Donaldson
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Bodmer
authors.forename: K B
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Bourloud
authors.forename: C B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Brognara
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tschopp
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gross
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; D053148:Caspase 3; D053181:Caspase 8; D053453:Caspase 9; D020169:Caspases / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000378:metabolism; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D005729:Ganglioneuroma / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D019006:Neural Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000502:physiology; D009447:Neuroblastoma / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D010641:Phenotype; D011817:Rabbits; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000502:physiology; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D053221:TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; C505661:FASLG protein, human; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D019006:Neural Cell Adhesion Molecules; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D053221:TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand; C505653:TNFSF10 protein, human; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; C505407:CASP3 protein, human; C505530:CASP8 protein, human; C506433:CASP9 protein, human; D053148:Caspase 3; D053181:Caspase 8; D053453:Caspase 9; D020169:Caspases