title: Proteasome inhibitor-induced apoptosis of glioma cells involves the processing of multiple caspases and cytochrome c release.
abstract: The proteasome is a multiprotein complex that is involved in the intracellular protein degradation in eukaryotes. Here, we show that human malignant glioma cells are susceptible to apoptotic cell death induced by the proteasome inhibitors, MG132 and lactacystin. The execution of the apoptotic death program involves the processing of caspases 2, 3, 7, 8, and 9. Apoptosis is inhibited by ectopic expression of X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis (XIAP) and by coexposure to the broad-spectrum caspase inhibitor, benzoyl-VAD-fluoromethyl ketone (zVAD-fmk), but not by the preferential caspase 8 inhibitor, crm-A. It is interesting that specific morphological alterations induced by proteasome inhibition, such as dilated rough endoplasmic reticulum and the formation of cytoplasmic vacuoles and dense mitochondrial deposits, are unaffected by zVAD-fmk. Apoptosis is also inhibited by ectopic expression of Bcl-2 or by an inhibitor of protein synthesis, cycloheximide. Further, cytochrome c release and disruption of mitochondrial membrane potential are prominent features of apoptosis triggered by proteasome inhibition. Bcl-2 is a stronger inhibitor of cytochrome c release than zVAD-fmk. XIAP and crm-A fail to modulate cytochrome c release. These data place cytochrome c release downstream of Bcl-2 activity but upstream of XIAP- and crm-A-sensitive caspases. The partial inhibition of cytochrome c release by zVAD-fmk indicates a positive feedback loop that may involve cytochrome c release and zVAD-fmk-sensitive caspases. Finally, death ligand/receptor interactions, including the CD95/CD95 ligand system, do not mediate apoptosis induced by proteasome inhibition in human malignant glioma cells.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Neuro-Oncology, Department of Neurology, University of Tübingen, School of Medicine, Tübingen, Germany.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wagenknecht
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hermisson
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Groscurth
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Liston
authors.forename: P H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Krammer
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Weller
mesh_terms: D000111:Acetylcysteine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism*; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D003513:Cycloheximide / Q000494:pharmacology; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases; D015853:Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D003574:Cytochrome c Group / Q000378:metabolism*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D005910:Glioma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007769:Lactams; D007976:Leupeptins / Q000494:pharmacology; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D009097:Multienzyme Complexes / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D046988:Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational / Q000187:drug effects*; D011500:Protein Synthesis Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D019076:Transgenes; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D019014:fas Receptor / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D015853:Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; D003574:Cytochrome c Group; C505661:FASLG protein, human; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; C505658:Fasl protein, mouse; D007769:Lactams; D007976:Leupeptins; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D009097:Multienzyme Complexes; D011500:Protein Synthesis Inhibitors; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D019014:fas Receptor; C067713:lactacystin; D003513:Cycloheximide; D020169:Caspases; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases; D046988:Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; C072553:benzyloxycarbonylleucyl-leucyl-leucine aldehyde; D000111:Acetylcysteine