title: N-(4-Hydroxyphenyl) retinamide induced both differentiation and apoptosis in human glioblastoma T98G and U87MG cells.
abstract: N-(4-Hydroxyphenyl) retinamide (4-HPR) is a synthetic retinoid that has shown biological activity against several malignant tumors and minimal side effects in humans. To explore the mechanisms underlying the chemotherapeutic effects of 4-HPR in glioblastoma, we used two human glioblastoma T98G and U87MG cell lines. In situ methylene blue staining showed the morphological features of astrocytic differentiation in glioblastoma cells following exposure to 1 microM and 2 microM 4-HPR for a short duration (24 h). Astrocytic differentiation was associated with an increase in expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and downregulation of telomerase. Wright staining and ApopTag assay indicated appearance of apoptotic features in glioblastoma cells following exposure to 1 microM and 2 microM 4-HPR for a long duration (72 h). We found that 4-HPR caused apoptosis with activation of caspase-8 and cleavage of Bid to truncated Bid (tBid). Besides, apoptosis was associated with alterations in expression of pro-apoptotic Bax and anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 proteins resulting in an increase in Bax:Bcl-2 ratio, mitochondrial release of cytochrome c and Smac, downregulation of selective baculoviral inhibitor-of-apoptosis repeat containing (BIRC) molecules, an increase in intracellular free [Ca2+], and activation of calpain and caspase-3. Taken together, these results strongly suggested that 4-HPR could be used at low doses for induction of both differentiation and apoptosis in human glioblastoma cells.
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurology, Department of Neurosciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA.
authors.forename: Arabinda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Das
authors.forename: Naren L
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Banik
authors.forename: Swapan K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Ray
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D051023:BH3 Interacting Domain Death Agonist Protein / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015153:Blotting, Western; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002154:Calpain / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D053181:Caspase 8 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D045304:Cytochromes c / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D017313:Fenretinide / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D005909:Glioblastoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D019098:Telomerase / Q000378:metabolism; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; D051023:BH3 Interacting Domain Death Agonist Protein; C412403:DIABLO protein, human; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; D017313:Fenretinide; D045304:Cytochromes c; D019098:Telomerase; D002154:Calpain; D053148:Caspase 3; D053181:Caspase 8