TRAIL-induced apoptosis in human vascular endothelium is regulated by phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt through the short form of cellular FLIP and Bcl-2.
BACKGROUND
Apoptosis of vascular endothelial cells plays a central role in angiogenesis and atherosclerosis. This study investigates the molecular mechanisms of endothelial apoptosis induced by tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) following inhibition of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K). It examines downstream regulation and activation of the extrinsic and intrinsic pathways.


RESULTS
By flow cytometry, TRAIL receptors 2 and 3 were present to a greater extent than receptors 1 and 4. TRAIL reduced cell numbers in combination with the PI3K inhibitor LY 294002. TRAIL (100 ng/ml) with LY 294002 (20 micromol/l) activated the extrinsic pathway, causing progressive cleavage of caspase-8 and caspase-3. Activation of the intrinsic pathway proceeded by release of mitochondrial factors Smac/DIABLO and cytochrome c, and caspase-9 cleavage. LY 294002 reduced phosphorylated Akt (p-Akt), with early loss of the short form of cellular FLIP (c-FLIP(S)) and concurrent reduction of Bcl-2. Treatment with small interfering RNA against PI3K also reduced c-FLIP(S) and Bcl-2, and cotreatment with TRAIL triggered caspase-3 cleavage.


CONCLUSIONS
This study details the molecular regulation of TRAIL-induced apoptosis in vascular endothelium. Inhibition of PI3K reduces p-Akt, with concurrent reductions in c-FLIP(S) and Bcl-2, and so renders endothelium sensitive to TRAIL-induced apoptosis through the extrinsic and intrinsic pathways.
Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada.
Salima J
SJ
Alladina
Jin H
JH
Song
Sandra T
ST
Davidge
Chunhai
C
Hao
Alexander S
AS
Easton
D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; D053446:CASP8 and FADD-Like Apoptosis Regulating Protein; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002867:Chromones / Q000494:pharmacology; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009025:Morpholines / Q000494:pharmacology; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / Q000502:physiology*; D000081082:Phosphoinositide-3 Kinase Inhibitors; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000502:physiology*; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000032:analysis*; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000494:pharmacology; D053220:Receptors, TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / Q000032:analysis; D053221:TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology*
D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; D053446:CASP8 and FADD-Like Apoptosis Regulating Protein; D002867:Chromones; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D009025:Morpholines; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases; D000081082:Phosphoinositide-3 Kinase Inhibitors; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D053220:Receptors, TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; D053221:TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; C506386:CFLAR protein, human; C105190:TNFRSF10A protein, human; C505653:TNFSF10 protein, human; C085911:2-(4-morpholinyl)-8-phenyl-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one; C494918:AKT1 protein, human