Blocking NF-κB and Akt by Hsp90 inhibition sensitizes Smac mimetic compound 3-induced extrinsic apoptosis pathway and results in synergistic cancer cell death.
NF-κB and Akt are two main cell survival pathways that attenuate the anticancer efficacy of therapeutics. Our previous studies demonstrated that the Smac mimetic compound 3 (SMC3) specifically suppresses c-IAP1 and induces TNF-α autocrine to kill cancer cells. However, SMC3 also induces a cell survival signal through NF-κB activation. In this report, we further found that SMC3 potently activates Akt, which inhibits SMC3-induced cancer cell death. Strikingly, concurrent blocking NF-κB and Akt resulted in a significantly potentiated cytotoxicity. Because heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) plays an important role in maintaining the integrity of both the NF-κB and Akt pathways in cancer cells, we examined if suppression of Hsp90 is able to potentiate SMC3-induced cancer cell death. The results show that targeting Hsp90 does not interfere with SMC3-induced c-IAP1 degradation and TNF-α autocrine, the key processes for SMC3-induced cancer cell apoptosis. However, Hsp90 inhibitors effectively blocked SMC3-induced NF-κB activation through degradation of RIP1 and IKKβ, two key components of the NF-κB activation pathway, and reduced both the constitutive and SMC3-induced Akt activity through degradation of the Akt protein. Consistently, with the co-treatment of SMC3 and Hsp90 inhibitors, apoptosis was markedly sensitized and a synergistic cytotoxicity was observed. The results suggest that concurrent targeting c-IAP1 and Hsp90 by combination of SMC3 and Hsp90 inhibitors is an effective approach for improving the anticancer value of SMC3.
Bai
Lang
L
Molecular Biology and Lung Cancer Program, Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute, 2425 Ridgecrest Dr. SE, Albuquerque, NM 87108, USA.
Xu
Shanling
S
Chen
Wenshu
W
Li
Zi
Z
Wang
Xia
X
Tang
Hong
H
Lin
Yong
Y
D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000494:pharmacology; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; D015153:Blotting, Western; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D004357:Drug Synergism; D015870:Gene Expression; D018841:HSP90 Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism; D006574:Heterocyclic Compounds, 2-Ring / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D051550:I-kappa B Kinase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism; D011720:Pyrazoles / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017828:Rifabutin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism; D051636:X-Linked Inhibitor of Apoptosis Protein / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism
D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; C506244:CCT018159; C412403:DIABLO protein, human; D018841:HSP90 Heat-Shock Proteins; D006574:Heterocyclic Compounds, 2-Ring; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins; D016328:NF-kappa B; D011720:Pyrazoles; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D051636:X-Linked Inhibitor of Apoptosis Protein; C496866:XIAP protein, human; D017828:Rifabutin; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; D051550:I-kappa B Kinase