title: Interferon-gamma inhibits growth of human neuroendocrine carcinoma cells via induction of apoptosis.
abstract: Although biotherapy of gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (NET) provides excellent control for the hypersecretion syndrome, tumor regression is rarely observed, implying the need for novel antiproliferative strategies. Here, we demonstrate that human pancreatic QGP-1 NET cells express functionally intact interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) receptors and downstream effectors, including the putative tumor suppressor interferon regulatory factor-1 (IRF-1). IFN-gamma treatment profoundly inhibited anchorage-dependent and anchorage-independent growth of QGP-1 cells. Concomitant with the onset of growth inhibition, apoptotic cells were detected in cell cycle analyses of IFN-gamma treated cultures. Apoptosis was confirmed by evaluation of DNA fragmentation and PARP cleavage. Immunoblots of IFN-gamma treated QGP-1 cells revealed a substantial upregulation of caspase-1, followed by the appearance of active proteolytic fragments of caspase-3, suggesting that autocatalytic activation of caspase-1 might initiate the caspase cascade. Apoptosis induction by IFN-gamma was also observed in two of four primary cultures established from tumors of patients with for- and midgut NETs, respectively. Taken together our results characterize IFN-gamma as a potent proapoptotic stimulus in a subset of gastrointestinal NETs and suggest an IRF-1 mediated induction of caspase-1 as a relevant underlying mechanism. Based on these results, the potential of IFN-gamma in experimental biotherapeutic treatment of NETs can be further explored.
authors.affiliation: Medizinische Klinik mit Schwerpunkt Hepatologie und Gastroenterologie, Universitatsklinikum Charite, Campus Virchow Klinikum, Humboldt Universitat zu Berlin, 13353 Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Detjen
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Kehrberger
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Drost
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rabien
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Welzel
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wiedenmann
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rosewicz
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D018278:Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D020170:Caspase 1 / Q000378:metabolism; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D006801:Humans; D050856:Interferon Regulatory Factor-1; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D010750:Phosphoproteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D011065:Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases / Q000378:metabolism; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C494257:IRF1 protein, human; D050856:Interferon Regulatory Factor-1; D010750:Phosphoproteins; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D011065:Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases; C505407:CASP3 protein, human; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases; D020170:Caspase 1