title: E1A sensitizes cells to tumor necrosis factor alpha by downregulating c-FLIP S.
abstract: Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) activates both apoptosis and NF-kappaB-dependent survival pathways, the former of which requires inhibition of gene expression to be manifested. c-FLIP is a TNF-alpha-induced gene that inhibits caspase-8 activation during TNF-alpha signaling. Adenovirus infection and E1A expression sensitize cells to TNF-alpha by allowing apoptosis in the absence of inhibitors of gene expression, suggesting that it may be disabling a survival signaling pathway. E1A promoted TNF-alpha-mediated activation of caspase-8, suggesting that sensitivity was occurring at the level of the death-inducing signaling complex. Furthermore, E1A expression downregulated c-FLIP(S) expression and prevented its induction by TNF-alpha. c-FLIP(S) and viral FLIP expression rescued E1A-mediated sensitization to TNF-alpha by restoring the resistance of caspase-8 to activation, thereby preventing cell death. E1A inhibited TNF-alpha-dependent induction of c-FLIP(S) mRNA and stimulated ubiquitination- and proteasome-dependent degradation of c-FLIP(S) protein. Since elevated c-FLIP levels confer resistance to apoptosis and promote tumorigenicity, interference with its induction by NF-kappaB and stimulation of its destruction in the proteasome may provide novel therapeutic approaches for facilitating the elimination of apoptosis-refractory tumor cells.
authors.affiliation: Center for Advanced Biotechnology and Medicine, Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Rutgers University, 679 Hoes Lane, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA.
authors.forename: Denise
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Perez
authors.forename: Eileen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: White
mesh_terms: D017500:Adenovirus E1A Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D000260:Adenoviruses, Human / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D017209:Apoptosis; D053446:CASP8 and FADD-Like Apoptosis Regulating Protein; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D053181:Caspase 8; D053453:Caspase 9; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases / Q000378:metabolism; D015536:Down-Regulation; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D009097:Multienzyme Complexes / Q000378:metabolism; D046988:Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism*; D025801:Ubiquitin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D017500:Adenovirus E1A Proteins; D053446:CASP8 and FADD-Like Apoptosis Regulating Protein; C506386:CFLAR protein, human; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D009097:Multienzyme Complexes; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D025801:Ubiquitin; C505530:CASP8 protein, human; C506433:CASP9 protein, human; D053181:Caspase 8; D053453:Caspase 9; D020169:Caspases; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases; D046988:Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex