title: Inhibition of drug-induced Fas ligand transcription and apoptosis by Bcl-XL.
abstract: Fas/Fas ligand system triggers apoptosis in many cell types. Bcl-XL overexpresion antagonizes Fas/Fas ligand-mediated cell death. The mechanism by which Bcl-XL influences Fas-mediated cell death is unclear. We have found that microtubule-damaging drugs (e.g. Paclitaxel) induce apoptosis in a Fas/FasL-dependent manner. Inhibition of Fas/FasL pathway by anti-FasL antibody, mutant Fas or a dominant negative FADD blocks paclitaxel-induced apoptosis. Paclitaxel induced apoptosis through activation of both caspase-8 and caspase-3. Overexpression of Bcl-XL leads to inhibition of paclitaxel-induced FasL expression and apoptosis. Bcl-XL prevents the nuclear translocation of NFAT (nuclear factor of activated T lymphocytes) by inhibiting the activation of calcineurin, a calcium-dependent phosphatase that must dephosphorylate NFAT for it to move to the nucleus. The loop domain in Bcl-XL can suppress the anti-apoptotic function of Bcl-XL and may be a target for regulatory post-translational modifications. Upon phosphorylation, Bcl-XL loses its ability to bind with calcineurin. Without NFAT nuclear translocation, the FasL gene is not transcribed. Thus, paclitaxel and other drugs that disturb microtubule function kill cells, at least in part, through the induction of FasL, and Bcl-XL-mediated resistance to these agents is related to failure to induce FasL expression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Maryland, School of Pharmacy, Baltimore 21201, USA.
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Biswas
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Cha
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Hardwick
authors.forename: R K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Srivastava
mesh_terms: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000494:pharmacology; D017209:Apoptosis; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D019703:Calcineurin / Q000378:metabolism; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D006801:Humans; D019169:Jurkat Cells; D008024:Ligands; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D050778:NFATC Transcription Factors; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000494:pharmacology; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014162:Transfection; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D051020:bcl-X Protein; D019014:fas Receptor / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; C494811:BCL2L1 protein, human; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C505661:FASLG protein, human; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D008024:Ligands; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D050778:NFATC Transcription Factors; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D014157:Transcription Factors; D051020:bcl-X Protein; D019014:fas Receptor; D019703:Calcineurin; D020169:Caspases; D017239:Paclitaxel