Mcl-1 mediates tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand resistance in human cholangiocarcinoma cells.
Cholangiocarcinomas are usually fatal neoplasms originating from bile duct epithelia. Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) is a promising agent for cancer therapy, including cholangiocarcinoma. However, many cholangiocarcinoma cells are resistant to TRAIL-mediated apoptosis. Thus, our aim was to examine the intracellular mechanisms responsible for TRAIL resistance in human cholangiocarcinoma cell lines. Three TRAIL-resistant human cholangiocarcinoma cell lines were identified. All of the cell lines expressed TRAIL receptor 1/death receptor 4 (TRAIL-R1/DR4) and TRAIL-R2/DR5. Expression of TRAIL decoy receptors and the antiapoptotic cellular FLICE-inhibitory protein (cFLIP) was inconsistent across the cell lines. Of the antiapoptotic Bcl-2 family of proteins profiled (Bcl-2, Bcl-x(L), and Mcl-1), Mcl-1 was uniquely overexpressed by the cell lines. When small-interfering-RNA (siRNA) technology was used to knock down expression of Bcl-2, Bcl-x(L), and Mcl-1, only the Mcl-1-siRNA sensitized the cells to TRAIL-mediated apoptosis. In a cell line stably transfected with Mcl-1-small-hairpin-RNA (Mcl-1-shRNA), Mcl-1 depletion sensitized cells to TRAIL-mediated apoptosis despite Bcl-2 expression. TRAIL-mediated apoptosis in the stably transfected cells was associated with mitochondrial depolarization, Bax activation, cytochrome c release from mitochondria, and caspase activation. Finally, flavopiridol, an anticancer drug that rapidly down-regulates Mcl-1, also sensitized cells to TRAIL cytotoxicity. In conclusion, these studies not only demonstrate that Mcl-1 mediates TRAIL resistance in cholangiocarcinoma cells by blocking the mitochondrial pathway of cell death but also identify two strategies for circumventing this resistance.
Taniai
Makiko
M
Mayo Clinic School of Medicine, Rochester, Minnesota 55905, USA.
Grambihler
Annette
A
Higuchi
Hajime
H
Werneburg
Nate
N
Bronk
Steve F
SF
Farrugia
Daniel J
DJ
Kaufmann
Scott H
SH
Gores
Gregory J
GJ
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000494:pharmacology; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; D053446:CASP8 and FADD-Like Apoptosis Regulating Protein; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D018281:Cholangiocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D015536:Down-Regulation; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; D004357:Drug Synergism; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000494:pharmacology; D019254:Genes, bcl-2 / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000494:pharmacology; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D064549:Myeloid Cell Leukemia Sequence 1 Protein; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D010880:Piperidines / Q000494:pharmacology; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000235:genetics; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000235:genetics; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / Q000096:biosynthesis; D053221:TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000494:pharmacology; D051020:bcl-X Protein
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; C494811:BCL2L1 protein, human; D053446:CASP8 and FADD-Like Apoptosis Regulating Protein; C506386:CFLAR protein, human; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D005419:Flavonoids; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D064549:Myeloid Cell Leukemia Sequence 1 Protein; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D010880:Piperidines; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; D053221:TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand; C505653:TNFSF10 protein, human; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D051020:bcl-X Protein; C077990:alvocidib