title: Significant augmentation of pro-apoptotic gene therapy by pharmacologic bcl-xl down-regulation in mesothelioma.
abstract: The ratio of pro-apoptotic (PAP) and anti-apoptotic (AAP) bcl-2 proteins is important in apoptosis regulation. We sought to determine if inhibition of the AAP bcl-xl by sodium butyrate (SB) would augment apoptotic cellular death in mesothelioma when combined with adenoviral pro-apoptotic gene therapy (PAGT) by simultaneously increasing PAP and decreasing AAP in these cells. Human mesothelioma cell lines were exposed to AdBax, AdBak, Adp53, and SB alone as well as all vectors combined with SB at varying doses and time points. Cell death was assessed, and apoptosis evaluated by morphology and FACS. Isobologram analysis evaluated additive or synergistic effect. Cellular death and apoptosis were augmented by PAGT/SB combinations compared to monotherapy. Following AdBax/SB and AdBak/SB, a decrease of the AAP bcl-xl was noted in combination with increases in PAP bax and bak. By isobologram analysis, additive or synergistic cell killing was noted with both combinations. SB treatment did not significantly augment cell killing or apoptosis in combination with Adp53. PAGT/SB was more effective than monotherapy in induction of apoptotic cell death. Synergy may be due to the ability of SB to decrease bcl-xl with marked increases in PAP engendered by PAGT. Combination therapy with agents that down-regulate AAP in addition to PAGT may prove useful clinically.
authors.affiliation: Section of Thoracic Molecular Oncology, Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030, USA.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mohiuddin
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nishizaki
authors.forename: W R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Smythe
mesh_terms: D000256:Adenoviridae / Q000235:genetics; D017209:Apoptosis; D006690:Bisbenzimidazole; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002087:Butyrates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005562:Formazans; D015316:Genetic Therapy; D006801:Humans; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008654:Mesothelioma / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D009154:Mutation; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D050998:bcl-2 Homologous Antagonist-Killer Protein; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; D051020:bcl-X Protein
chemical_list: C494772:BAK1 protein, human; C494826:BAX protein, human; C494811:BCL2L1 protein, human; D002087:Butyrates; D005562:Formazans; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D050998:bcl-2 Homologous Antagonist-Killer Protein; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; D051020:bcl-X Protein; C059088:1,5-bis(2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulfophenyl)-3-((phenylamino)carbonyl)formazan; D006690:Bisbenzimidazole