Akt promotes chemoresistance in human ovarian cancer cells by modulating cisplatin-induced, p53-dependent ubiquitination of FLICE-like inhibitory protein.
Although Akt is a determinant of cisplatin (cis-diaminedichloroplatinum (CDDP)) resistance in ovarian cancer cells, which is related in part to its inhibitory action on p53 activation, precisely how Akt confers CDDP resistance is unclear. In this study, we show that CDDP induced p53-dependent Fas-associated death domain-like interleukin-1beta-converting enzyme (FLICE)-like inhibitory protein (FLIP) degradation in chemosensitive ovarian cancer cells but not their resistant counterparts. CDDP induced FLIP-p53-Itch interaction, colocalization and FLIP ubiquitination in chemosensitive but not chemoresistant ovarian cancer cells. Moreover, although activated Akt inhibited CDDP-induced FLIP degradation and apoptosis in sensitive cells, these responses were facilitated by dominant-negative Akt expression in chemoresistant cells. Inhibition of Akt function also facilitated p53-FLIP interaction and FLIP ubiquitination, which were attenuated by p53 silencing. These results suggest that Akt confers resistance, in part, by modulating CDDP-induced, p53-dependent FLIP ubiquitination. Understanding the precise etiology of chemoresistance may improve treatment for ovarian cancer.
Abedini
M R
MR
Departments of Cellular & Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
Muller
E J
EJ
Bergeron
R
R
Gray
D A
DA
Tsang
B K
BK
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D015153:Blotting, Western; D053446:CASP8 and FADD-Like Apoptosis Regulating Protein / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D011485:Protein Binding / Q000187:drug effects; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D034622:RNA Interference; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D044767:Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D054875:Ubiquitination / Q000187:drug effects
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D053446:CASP8 and FADD-Like Apoptosis Regulating Protein; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; C432966:ITCH protein, human; D044767:Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; D002945:Cisplatin