title: SAHA induces apoptosis in hepatoma cells and synergistically interacts with the proteasome inhibitor Bortezomib.
abstract: Histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors represent a promising group of anticancer agents. This paper shows that the HDAC inhibitor suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA) stimulated at 5-10 microM apoptosis in human hepatoma HepG2 and Huh6 cells, but was ineffective in primary human hepatocytes (PHH). In HepG2 cells SAHA induced the extrinsic apoptotic pathway, increasing the expression of both FasL and FasL receptor and causing the activation of caspase-8. Moreover, SAHA enhanced the level of Bim proteins, stimulated alternative splicing of the Bcl-X transcript with the expression of the proapoptotic Bcl-Xs isoform, induced degradation of Bid into the apoptotic factor t-Bid and dephosphorylation and inactivation of the anti-apoptotic factor Akt. Consequently, SAHA caused loss of mitochondrial transmembrane potential, release of cytochrome c from mitochondria, activation of caspase-3 and degradation of PARP. Interestingly, a combination of suboptimal doses of SAHA (1 microM) and bortezomib (5-10 nM), a potent inhibitor of 26S proteasome, synergistically induced apoptosis in both HepG2 and Huh6 cells, but was ineffective in PHH. Combined treatment increased with synergistic effects the expression levels of c-Jun, phospho-c-Jun and FasL and the production of Bcl-Xs. These effects were accompanied by activation of Bid, caspase-8 and 3. In conclusion, SAHA stimulated apoptosis in hepatoma cells and exerted a synergistic apoptotic effect when combined with bortezomib. In contrast, these treatments were quite ineffective in inducing apoptosis in PHH. Thus, our results suggest the potential application of the SAHA/bortezomib combination in clinical trials for liver cancer.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Biochimiche, Università di Palermo, Policlinico, Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Emanuele
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lauricella
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Carlisi
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Vassallo
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: D'Anneo
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Di Fazio
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vento
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tesoriere
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D001897:Boronic Acids / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D000069286:Bortezomib; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D053181:Caspase 8 / Q000378:metabolism; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D056572:Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors; D006655:Histone Deacetylases / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D006877:Hydroxamic Acids / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D053078:Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial / Q000187:drug effects; D011480:Protease Inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D061988:Proteasome Inhibitors; D011719:Pyrazines / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D000077337:Vorinostat; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; D001897:Boronic Acids; C421307:FAIM protein, human; C505661:FASLG protein, human; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D056572:Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors; D006877:Hydroxamic Acids; D011480:Protease Inhibitors; D061988:Proteasome Inhibitors; D011719:Pyrazines; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; D000077337:Vorinostat; D000069286:Bortezomib; D053181:Caspase 8; D006655:Histone Deacetylases