title: 2-Tellurium-bridged β-cyclodextrin, a thioredoxin reductase inhibitor, sensitizes human breast cancer cells to TRAIL-induced apoptosis through DR5 induction and NF-κB suppression.
abstract: Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) exhibits potent antitumor activity via membrane receptors on cancer cells without deleterious side effects for normal tissue. Unfortunately, breast cancer cells, as many other cancer types, develop resistance to TRAIL; therefore, TRAIL sensitizing agents are currently being explored. 2-Tellurium-bridged β-cyclodextrin (2-TeCD) is a synthetic organotellurium compound, with both glutathione peroxidase-like catalytic ability and thioredoxin reductase inhibitor activity. In the present study, we reported that 2-TeCD sensitized TRAIL-resistant human breast cancer cells and xenograft tumors to undergo apoptosis. In vitro, 2-TeCD efficiently sensitized MDA-MB-468 and T47D cells, but not untransformed human mammary epithelial cells, to TRAIL-mediated apoptosis, as evidenced by enhanced caspase activity and poly (adenosine diphosphate-ribose) polymerase cleavage. From a mechanistic standpoint, we showed that 2-TeCD treatment of breast cancer cells significantly upregulated the messenger RNA and protein levels of TRAIL receptor, death receptor (DR) 5, in a transcription factor Sp1-dependent manner. 2-TeCD treatment also suppressed TRAIL-induced nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) prosurvival pathways by preventing cytosolic IκBα degradation, as well as p65 nuclear translocation. Consequently, the combined administration suppressed anti-apoptotic molecules that are transcriptionally regulated by NF-κB. In vivo, 2-TeCD and TRAIL were well tolerated in mice and their combination significantly inhibited growth of MDA-MB-468 xenografts and promoted apoptosis. Upregulation of DR5 and downregulation of NF-κB by the dual treatment were also observed in tumor tissues. Overall, 2-TeCD sensitizes resistant breast cancer cells to TRAIL-based apoptosis in vitro and in vivo. These findings provide strong evidence for the therapeutic potential of this combination against breast cancers.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Supramolecular Structure and Materials, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Tingting
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Zhiying
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.forename: Nan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Jiayun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Guimin
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.forename: Junqiu
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Jiacong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D003505:Cyclodextrins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008819:Mice, Nude; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology*; D053220:Receptors, TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand / Q000502:physiology*; D016329:Sp1 Transcription Factor / Q000502:physiology; D053221:TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013880:Thioredoxin-Disulfide Reductase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*
chemical_list: D003505:Cyclodextrins; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D016328:NF-kappa B; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D053220:Receptors, TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand; D016329:Sp1 Transcription Factor; D053221:TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand; C442326:dicyclodextrinyl ditelluride; D013880:Thioredoxin-Disulfide Reductase