title: Suppression of survivin expression in glioblastoma cells by the Ras inhibitor farnesylthiosalicylic acid promotes caspase-dependent apoptosis.
abstract: The Ras inhibitor farnesylthiosalicylic acid (FTS) has been shown to induce apoptosis in glioblastoma multiforme, but its mechanism of action was unknown. We show that FTS or dominant-negative Ras, by deregulating extracellular signal-regulated kinase and Akt signaling, decreases survivin gene transcripts in U87 glioblastoma multiforme, leading to disappearance of survivin protein and cell death. FTS affected both Ras-controlled regulators of survivin transcription and Ras-regulated survival signals. Thus, Ras inhibition by FTS resulted in release of the survivin "brake" on apoptosis and in activation of the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway: dephosphorylation of Bad, activation of Bax, release of cytochrome c, and caspase activation. FTS-induced apoptosis of U87 cells was strongly attenuated by forced expression of survivin or by caspase inhibitors. These results show that resistance to apoptosis in glioblastoma multiforme can be abolished by a single Ras inhibitor, which targets both survivin, a critical inhibitor of apoptosis, and the intrinsic mitochondrial apoptotic machinery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurobiochemistry, The George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, 69978, Tel Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: Roy
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Blum
authors.forename: Jasmine
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jacob-Hirsch
authors.forename: Gideon
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rechavi
authors.forename: Yoel
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kloog
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D005204:Farnesol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D015870:Gene Expression; D005909:Glioblastoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D051034:Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D012459:Salicylates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000077022:Survivin; D014162:Transfection; D018631:ras Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: C107489:BIRC5 protein, human; D051034:Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012459:Salicylates; D000077022:Survivin; C093323:farnesylthiosalicylic acid; D005204:Farnesol; D020169:Caspases; D018631:ras Proteins