title: Signaling through IFN regulatory factor-5 sensitizes p53-deficient tumors to DNA damage-induced apoptosis and cell death.
abstract: Human IFN regulatory factor-5 (IRF-5) is a candidate tumor suppressor gene that mediates cell arrest, apoptosis, and immune activation. Here we show that ectopic IRF-5 sensitizes p53-proficient and p53-deficient colon cancer cells to DNA damage-induced apoptosis. The combination IFN-beta and irinotecan (CPT-11) cooperatively inhibits cell growth and IRF-5 synergizes with it to further promote apoptosis. The synergism is due to IRF-5 signaling since a striking defect in apoptosis and cell death was observed in IRF-5-deficient cells, which correlated well with a reduction in DNA damage-induced cellular events. Components of this IRF-5 signaling pathway are investigated including a mechanism for DNA damage-induced IRF-5 activation. Thus, IRF-5-regulated pathways may serve as a target for cancer therapeutics.
authors.affiliation: Division of Viral Oncology, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21231, USA.
authors.forename: Guodong
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Margo E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Mancl
authors.forename: Betsy J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Barnes
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000494:pharmacology; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics*; D002166:Camptothecin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D004249:DNA Damage; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D004357:Drug Synergism; D045325:HCT116 Cells; D006801:Humans; D050835:Interferon Regulatory Factors; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D000077146:Irinotecan; D010766:Phosphorylation; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D014162:Transfection; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000172:deficiency*
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C431713:IRF5 protein, human; D050835:Interferon Regulatory Factors; D014157:Transcription Factors; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D000077146:Irinotecan; D016899:Interferon-beta; D002166:Camptothecin