title: Apoptotic responsiveness of PC-3 prostate cancer cells to tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand: evidence for differential effects of Bcl-xL and Bcl-2 down-regulation.
abstract: Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) is cytotoxic to the majority of cancer cells while sparing most normal cells. However, different prostate carcinoma cell lines respond with different sensitivities to TRAIL, urging us to disclose the mechanisms that determine TRAIL sensitivity in prostate cancer cells, i.e. to identify and validate target molecules. In this report, we show that down-regulation ('knockdown') of Bcl-xL, but not Bcl-2, markedly amplifies TRAIL-induced apoptosis in PC-3 prostate carcinoma cells. The knockdown was accomplished by second-generation chimeric antisense oligonucleotides: Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL levels were strongly and reproducibly reduced, as revealed by real-time RT-PCR and Western blot analyses. Knockdown of Bcl-xL and administration of TRAIL significantly synergized in dissipation of mitochondrial membrane potential, release of cytochrome c, activation of caspase-9 and -3 and, consequently, apoptotic cell death. Knockdown of Bcl-2 did not affect any of these activities. We conclude that that Bcl-xL represents a promising target to improve cancer therapy by potentiating TRAIL's cytotoxic effects.
authors.affiliation: Peter Holtz Research Center of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Ernst Moritz Arndt University, Greifswald, Germany.
authors.forename: Jürgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sonnemann
authors.forename: Volker
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gekeler
authors.forename: Antje
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sagrauske
authors.forename: Cornelia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.forename: Hans-Peter
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Hofmann
authors.forename: James F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Beck
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; D053453:Caspase 9; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D015536:Down-Regulation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008564:Membrane Potentials; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000502:physiology; D016376:Oligonucleotides, Antisense / Q000494:pharmacology; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000235:genetics; D053221:TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051020:bcl-X Protein
chemical_list: D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; C494811:BCL2L1 protein, human; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D016376:Oligonucleotides, Antisense; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D053221:TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand; C505653:TNFSF10 protein, human; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D051020:bcl-X Protein; C506433:CASP9 protein, human; D053453:Caspase 9; D020169:Caspases