title: Survivin inhibition induces human neural tumor cell death through caspase-independent and -dependent pathways.
abstract: Survivin inhibits apoptosis during development and carcinogenesis and is absent in differentiated cells. To determine whether survivin inhibition induces cell death in neural tumor cells, survivin antisense oligonucleotides (SAO) were administered to a human neuroblastoma (MSN) and an oligodendroglioma (TC620) resulting in a dose-dependent reduction in survivin protein. Although 74% of the SAO-treated MSN cells were trypan blue(+), PARP cleavage or activated caspase-3 was not observed. However nuclear translocation of AIF occurred and XIAP increased dramatically. Co-administration of z-Val-Ala-Asp(OMe)-fluoromethyl ketone (zVAD-fmk) with SAO did not inhibit cell death suggesting a caspase-independent mechanism of cell death. Propidium iodide (PI) staining revealed multiple large macronuclei with no apoptotic bodies supporting a role for survivin in cell division. By contrast, while 70% of the SAO-treated TC620 cells were trypan blue(+), PARP was cleaved, cells were TUNEL(+) and PI-staining revealed macronuclei and numerous apoptotic bodies. Co-treatment of the TC620 cells with SAO and zVAD-fmk blocked cell death. While no macronuclei or apoptotic bodies were observed there was a two-fold increase in metaphase cells. Our results suggest that survivin inhibition decreases the viability of human neural tumor cells and as a result of mitotic catastrophe, cell death can be initiated by either a classic apoptotic mechanism or a caspase-independent mechanism.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York 10461, USA.
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Shankar
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mani
authors.forename: K N
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: O'Guin
authors.forename: E R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Kandimalla
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Agrawal
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Shafit-Zagardo
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D016923:Cell Death / Q000502:physiology; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002868:Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000235:genetics; D016195:G2 Phase; D006801:Humans; D051034:Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins; D008938:Mitosis; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D009447:Neuroblastoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009837:Oligodendroglioma / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016376:Oligonucleotides, Antisense / Q000494:pharmacology; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D000077022:Survivin; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D051636:X-Linked Inhibitor of Apoptosis Protein
chemical_list: C107489:BIRC5 protein, human; D002868:Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone; D051034:Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D016376:Oligonucleotides, Antisense; D011506:Proteins; D000077022:Survivin; D051636:X-Linked Inhibitor of Apoptosis Protein; C496866:XIAP protein, human; C505407:CASP3 protein, human; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases