Potentiation of dexamethasone-, paclitaxel-, and Ad-p53-induced apoptosis by Bcl-2 antisense oligodeoxynucleotides in drug-resistant multiple myeloma cells.
Overexpression of Bcl-2 in myeloma cells results in resistance to drugs such as dexamethasone (DEX), adenovirus-mediated delivery of p53 (Ad-p53), and paclitaxel (TAX), which work through the intrinsic apoptotic pathway. Bcl-2 antisense oligodeoxynucleotides (Bcl-2-ASO) have been shown to induce apoptosis in cancer cells, as a single agent or, better, in combination with chemotherapy. We hypothesized that down-regulation of Bcl-2 by Bcl-2-ASO will sensitize drug-resistant myeloma cells to undergo apoptosis. In this paper we report a detailed time/dose study of the effect of Bcl-2-ASO on myeloma cells with varying levels of Bcl-2. Treatment of myeloma cells expressing relatively low levels of Bcl-2 with Bcl-2-ASO resulted in a substantial apoptosis concomitant with a substantial depletion of Bcl-2 protein. Maximal apoptosis was observed at 5 to 10 microg/mL Bcl-2-ASO, following 4 days of treatment. Down-regulation of Bcl-2 and apoptosis were time and dose dependent and were sequence specific. In these cell lines, apoptosis was accompanied by activation of caspase-9 and caspase-3 and by release of cytochrome c to the cytosol. In contrast, high Bcl-2-expressing myeloma cells were practically resistant to Bcl-2-ASO. Most important, however, pretreatment of myeloma cells expressing high levels of Bcl-2 with Bcl-2-ASO increased the extent of DEX-, TAX-, and Ad-p53-induced apoptosis from 10%-20% to 70%-90%. Increased apoptosis was accompanied by additional decrease in Bcl-2 protein. Similar results for down-regulation of Bcl-2 and apoptosis were obtained with freshly isolated myeloma cells. These data support development of clinical trials with combinations of Bcl-2-ASO and DEX, TAX, or Ad-p53 in the treatment of refractory myeloma patients.
Liu
Qun
Q
University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, USA.
Gazitt
Yair
Y
D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000633:toxicity*; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; D004357:Drug Synergism; D019254:Genes, bcl-2 / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000473:pathology*; D020319:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides, Antisense / Q000633:toxicity*; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000633:toxicity*; D014162:Transfection; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*
D020319:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides, Antisense; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D003907:Dexamethasone; D017239:Paclitaxel