title: Sensitization of neuroblastoma cells for TRAIL-induced apoptosis by NF-kappaB inhibition.
abstract: The transcription factor nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) plays a central role in stress-induced transcriptional activation and has been implicated in chemoresistance of cancers. In the present study, we investigated the role of NF-kappaB in inducible chemoresistance of neuroblastoma. Doxorubicin, VP16 and the cytotoxic ligand TRAIL trigger NF-kappaB activation, whereas cisplatin and taxol have no impact on NF-kappaB activity. Specific inhibition of NF-kappaB activation by overexpression of dominant-negative mutant IkappaBalpha-super-repressor does not alter cell death upon doxorubicin or VP16 treatment, although it prevents doxorubicin- or VP16-mediated NF-kappaB activation. By comparison, inhibition of TRAIL-stimulated NF-kappaB activation by IkappaBalpha-superrepressor or the small molecule NF-kappaB inhibitor BMS-345541 significantly enhances TRAIL-induced apoptosis, pointing to an antiapoptotic function of NF-kappaB in TRAIL-mediated apoptosis. Analysis of signaling pathways reveals that NF-kappaB inhibition prevents TRAIL-triggered up-regulation of Mcl-1, promoting TRAIL-induced cytochrome c release and activation of caspases. Accordingly, knockdown of Mcl-1 by RNA interference significantly enhances TRAIL-induced apoptosis and also increases sensitivity of neuroblastoma cells to CD95- or chemotherapy-induced apoptosis. In conclusion, NF-kappaB regulates apoptosis in a stimulus-specific manner in neuroblastoma cells and confers protection against TRAIL-induced apoptosis. By demonstrating that NF-kappaB inhibition sensitizes neuroblastoma cells for TRAIL-induced apoptosis, our findings have important implications. Thus, NF-kappaB inhibitors may open new perspectives to potentiate the efficacy of TRAIL-based protocols in the treatment of neuroblastoma.
authors.affiliation: University Children's Hospital, Ulm, Germany.
authors.forename: Johannes U
authors.initials: JU
authors.lastname: Ammann
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Haag
authors.forename: Hubert
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kasperczyk
authors.forename: Klaus-Michael
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Debatin
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fulda
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D016923:Cell Death; D045304:Cytochromes c / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D008156:Luciferases / Q000032:analysis; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D009447:Neuroblastoma / Q000473:pathology*; D034622:RNA Interference; D016337:RNA, Catalytic / Q000235:genetics; D012190:Retroviridae / Q000502:physiology; D053221:TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D016328:NF-kappa B; D016337:RNA, Catalytic; D053221:TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand; C418481:hairpin ribozyme; D045304:Cytochromes c; D008156:Luciferases