title: Maspin overexpression modulates tumor cell apoptosis through the regulation of Bcl-2 family proteins.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Maspin is a member of serpin family with tumor suppressing activity. Recent studies of maspin in animal models strongly support maspin's role as an inhibitor against the growth of primary tumor sand the process of metastasis. However, the molecular mechanism underlying this inhibition has not been fully elucidated. In this report, we analyze the effect of maspin on tumor cell apoptosis under several stress conditions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Stable clones overexpressing maspin are established in the mouse mammary tumor TM40D cells. They are treated with staurosporine, TNF-alpha, and serum starvation. The rates of cell apoptosis are analyzed by TUNEL assay. Inhibitors against caspase 8 and 9 are used in the apoptosis assay. Western blot analysis and ribonuclease protection assay (RPA) are performed to examine the expression of Bcl2 family genes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We report that maspin expressing tumor cells have increased rate of apoptosis when they are treated with staurosporine and serum starvation. The effect is not through extracellular maspin. Maspin-mediated apoptosis is partially blocked by caspase 8 and 9 inhibitors, and is accompanied by changes in the Bcl-2 family proteins. Maspin-expressing tumor cells have a reduced level of anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2, and an increased level of pro-apoptotic protein Bax. The regulation is not controlled at the transcriptional level but is through selective control of Bcl-2 and Bax protein stability.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Maspin overexpression modulates tumor cell apoptosis through the regulation of Bcl2 family proteins. Such change results in an increased release of cytochrome c from mitochondria, thus the increased apoptosis in maspin-expressing cells. This evidence strongly suggests that the induction of apoptosis in maspin-overexpressing cells represents a major mechanism by which maspin inhibits breast tumor progression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular & Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA. wgzhang8@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Weiguo
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Heidi Y
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D015153:Blotting, Western; D001943:Breast Neoplasms; D053181:Caspase 8; D053453:Caspase 9; D061945:Caspase Inhibitors; D002460:Cell Line; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D016895:Culture Media, Serum-Free / Q000378:metabolism; D045304:Cytochromes c / Q000378:metabolism; D003600:Cytosol / Q000378:metabolism; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000378:metabolism; D018450:Disease Progression; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D016147:Genes, Tumor Suppressor / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting; D047468:Immunoprecipitation; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D051379:Mice; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D015233:Models, Statistical; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000378:metabolism; D012260:Ribonucleases / Q000378:metabolism; D015843:Serpins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000502:physiology*; D019311:Staurosporine / Q000494:pharmacology; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D061945:Caspase Inhibitors; D016895:Culture Media, Serum-Free; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; C085344:SERPIN-B5; D015843:Serpins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D045304:Cytochromes c; D012260:Ribonucleases; C505530:CASP8 protein, human; C506433:CASP9 protein, human; C505526:Casp8 protein, mouse; C506434:Casp9 protein, mouse; D053181:Caspase 8; D053453:Caspase 9; D019311:Staurosporine