title: Matrix attachment regulates Fas-induced apoptosis in endothelial cells: a role for c-flip and implications for anoikis.
abstract: Survival of endothelial cells is critical for cellular processes such as angiogenesis. Cell attachment to extracellular matrix inhibits apoptosis in endothelial cells both in vitro and in vivo, but the molecular mechanisms underlying matrix-induced survival signals or detachment-induced apoptotic signals are unknown. We demonstrate here that matrix attachment is an efficient regulator of Fas-mediated apoptosis in endothelial cells. Thus, matrix attachment protects cells from Fas-induced apoptosis, whereas matrix detachment results in susceptibility to Fas-mediated cell death. Matrix attachment modulates Fas-mediated apoptosis at two different levels: by regulating the expression level of Fas, and by regulating the expression level of c-Flip, an endogenous antagonist of caspase-8. The extracellular signal-regulated kinase (Erk) cascade functions as a survival pathway in adherent cells by regulating c-Flip expression. We further show that detachment-induced cell death, or anoikis, itself results from activation of the Fas pathway by its ligand, Fas-L. Fas-L/Fas interaction, Fas-FADD complex formation, and caspase-8 activation precede the bulk of anoikis in endothelial cells, and inhibition of any of these events blocks anoikis. These studies identify matrix attachment as a survival factor against death receptor-mediated apoptosis and provide a molecular mechanism for anoikis and previously observed Fas resistance in endothelial cells.
authors.affiliation: Cancer Research Center, The Burnham Institute, La Jolla, California 92037, USA.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Aoudjit
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Vuori
mesh_terms: D023102:Anoikis / Q000502:physiology; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology*; D053446:CASP8 and FADD-Like Apoptosis Regulating Protein; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D053181:Caspase 8; D053453:Caspase 9; D061945:Caspase Inhibitors; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism; D002460:Cell Line; D021982:Cell-Matrix Junctions / Q000378:metabolism*; D053938:DNA Fragmentation; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology*; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D017930:Genes, Reporter / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System / Q000502:physiology*; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014162:Transfection; D019014:fas Receptor / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D053446:CASP8 and FADD-Like Apoptosis Regulating Protein; C506386:CFLAR protein, human; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D061945:Caspase Inhibitors; C505661:FASLG protein, human; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D019014:fas Receptor; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases; C505530:CASP8 protein, human; C506433:CASP9 protein, human; D053181:Caspase 8; D053453:Caspase 9; D020169:Caspases