Activation of two caspase cascades, caspase 8/3/6 and caspase 9/3/6, during photodynamic therapy using a novel photosensitizer, ATX-S10(Na), in normal human keratinocytes.
OBJECTIVE
Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a potent treatment for skin tumors. Although the therapeutic effect of PDT is supposed to be due to cellular cytotoxicity, the precise mechanism is still unknown. ATX-S10(Na) [13,17-bis(1-carboxypropionyl)carbamoylethyl-8-ethenyl-2-hydroxy-3-hydroxyiminoethylidene-2,7,12,18-tetramethylporphyrin sodium salt], a novel hydrophilic chlorin photosensitizer, shows good accumulation in tumors and is suitable for use in PDT. In this study, we investigated the mechanism of PDT-induced cell death using ATX-S10(Na).


METHODS
. Following ATX-S10(Na) treatment for 12 h, normal human keratinocytes (NHK) were irradiated using a diode laser. PDT-induced cell death and the activity of various caspases were measured. Activation of Fas antigen was also determined by immunoprecipitation analysis. The expression of Bax, cytochrome c, and apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) was determined by Western blotting.


RESULTS
ATX-S10(Na)-PDT had induced apoptosis of NHK by 2 h and the maximal effect was observed at 6 h following irradiation. The effect was suppressed by pretreatment of NHK with inhibitors of caspases 3, 6, 8 and 9. A caspase activity assay revealed the sequential activation of caspases 8, 3 and 6, and caspases 9, 3 and 6, respectively. Immunoprecipitation analysis indicated multimerization of Fas antigen without Fas ligand binding in ATX-S10(Na)-PDT-treated NHK. Western blotting revealed cytosolic release of cytochrome c and AIF accompanied by decreased Bax expression in the cytosol.


CONCLUSIONS
ATX-S10(Na)-PDT induces apoptosis of NHK, and this was mediated by sequential activation of two caspase cascades, caspases 8, 3 and 6, and caspases 9, 3 and 6. This was accompanied by multimerization of Fas antigen and cytosolic release of cytochrome c and AIF.
D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D051033:Apoptosis Inducing Factor; D053148:Caspase 3; D053178:Caspase 6; D053181:Caspase 8; D053453:Caspase 9; D061945:Caspase Inhibitors; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D045304:Cytochromes c / Q000378:metabolism; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D005420:Flavoproteins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology*; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D010778:Photochemotherapy; D011166:Porphyrins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019014:fas Receptor / Q000378:metabolism
C494829:AIFM1 protein, human; C117772:ATX S10Na(II); D051033:Apoptosis Inducing Factor; D061945:Caspase Inhibitors; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D005420:Flavoproteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D011166:Porphyrins; D019014:fas Receptor; D045304:Cytochromes c; C505407:CASP3 protein, human; C505514:CASP6 protein, human; C505530:CASP8 protein, human; C506433:CASP9 protein, human; D053148:Caspase 3; D053178:Caspase 6; D053181:Caspase 8; D053453:Caspase 9; D020169:Caspases