Malignant mesothelioma cells are rapidly sensitized to TRAIL-induced apoptosis by low-dose anisomycin via Bim.
Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis inducing ligand (TRAIL) holds promise for the treatment of tumors; however, many tumors are resistant to TRAIL alone. We previously showed that resistant malignant mesothelioma cells are sensitized to TRAIL-induced apoptosis by diverse toxic insults including chemotherapy, irradiation, or protein translation inhibitors such as cycloheximide. In seeking nontoxic sensitizers for TRAIL, we tested the protein translation inhibitor anisomycin at subtoxic concentrations 10- to 100-fold below those reported to inhibit protein translation. At these low concentrations (25 ng/mL), anisomycin potently and rapidly sensitized mesothelioma cells to TRAIL-induced apoptosis. Moreover, such sensitization occurred in malignant but not in nonmalignant mesothelial cells. Sensitization by anisomycin was dependent on Bid, indicating a role for mitochondrial amplification in the apoptotic synergy with TRAIL signaling. Consistent with this, we found that anisomycin induces rapid accumulation of the BH3-only protein Bim; moreover, small interfering RNA knockdown of Bim inhibits anisomycin-induced sensitization. Bim accumulation seems not to be transcriptional; instead, it is associated with Bim phosphorylation and increased stability, both consistent with the activation of c-jun NH2-terminal kinase signals by anisomycin. Overall, our data indicate that the rapid and selective sensitization by anisomycin in mesothelioma cells is mediated by posttranslational potentiation of Bim, which primes the cells for apoptosis via the death receptor pathway. Such subtoxic approaches to sensitization may enhance the value of TRAIL in cancer therapy.
Abayasiriwardana
Keith S
KS
Lung Biology Center, Box 0854, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94110-0854, USA.
Barbone
Dario
D
Kim
Ki-Up
KU
Vivo
Claire
C
Lee
Kevin K
KK
Dansen
Tobias B
TB
Hunt
Abigail E
AE
Evan
Gerard I
GI
Broaddus
V Courtney
VC
D000841:Anisomycin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017304:Annexin A5 / Q000378:metabolism; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000494:pharmacology; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000072224:Bcl-2-Like Protein 11; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003513:Cycloheximide / Q000494:pharmacology; D004357:Drug Synergism; D015180:Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional; D005047:Etoposide / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D008024:Ligands; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008654:Mesothelioma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects; D011500:Protein Synthesis Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000494:pharmacology; D053221:TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured / Q000187:drug effects
D017304:Annexin A5; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; C000606775:BCL2L11 protein, human; D000072224:Bcl-2-Like Protein 11; D008024:Ligands; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D011500:Protein Synthesis Inhibitors; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D053221:TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand; D000841:Anisomycin; D005047:Etoposide; D003513:Cycloheximide; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases