Broad-spectrum Caspase Inhibitor zVAD-fmk Research Articles

3,4-DGE is cytotoxic and decreases HSP27/HSPB1 in podocytes

Hyperglycemia is the key driver of diabetic complications and increased concentrations of glucose degradation products. The study of peritoneal dialysis solution biocompatibility has highlighted the adverse biological effects of glucose degradation products. Recently, 3,4-dideoxyglucosone-3-ene (3,4-DGE) was identified as the most toxic glucose degradation product in peritoneal dialysis fluids. In addition, 3,4-DGE is present in high-fructose corn syrup, and its precursor 3-deoxyglucosone is increased in diabetes. The role of 3,4-DGE in glomerular injury had not been addressed. We studied the effects of 3,4-DGE on cultured human podocytes and in vivo in mice. 3,4-DGE induced apoptosis in podocytes in a dose- and time-dependent manner. 3,4-DGE promoted the release of cytochrome c from mitochondria and activation of caspase-3. While high glucose concentrations increased the levels of the podocyte intracellular antiapoptotic protein HSP27/HSPB1, 3,4-DGE decreased the expression of podocyte HSP27/HSPB1. Apoptosis induced by 3,4-DGE was caspase-dependent and could be prevented by the broad-spectrum caspase inhibitor zVAD-fmk. Antagonism of Bax by a Ku-70-derived peptide also prevented apoptosis. Intravenous administration of 3,4-DGE to healthy mice resulted in a decreased expression of HSP27/HSPB1 and caspase-3 activation in whole kidney and in podocytes in vivo. In conclusion, 3,4-DGE induces apoptotic cell death in cultured human podocytes, suggesting a potential role in glomerular injury resulting from metabolic disorders.

Synapto-Protective Drugs Evaluation in Reconstructed Neuronal Network

Chronic neurodegenerative syndromes such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases, or acute syndromes such as ischemic stroke or traumatic brain injuries are characterized by early synaptic collapse which precedes axonal and neuronal cell body degeneration and promotes early cognitive impairment in patients. Until now, neuroprotective strategies have failed to impede the progression of neurodegenerative syndromes. Drugs preventing the loss of cell body do not prevent the cognitive decline, probably because they lack synapto-protective effects. The absence of physiologically realistic neuronal network models which can be easily handled has hindered the development of synapto-protective drugs suitable for therapies. Here we describe a new microfluidic platform which makes it possible to study the consequences of axonal trauma of reconstructed oriented mouse neuronal networks. Each neuronal population and sub-compartment can be chemically addressed individually. The somatic, mid axon, presynaptic and postsynaptic effects of local pathological stresses or putative protective molecules can thus be evaluated with the help of this versatile “brain on chip” platform. We show that presynaptic loss is the earliest event observed following axotomy of cortical fibers, before any sign of axonal fragmentation or post-synaptic spine alteration. This platform can be used to screen and evaluate the synapto-protective potential of several drugs. For instance, NAD+ and the Rho-kinase inhibitor Y27632 can efficiently prevent synaptic disconnection, whereas the broad-spectrum caspase inhibitor zVAD-fmk and the stilbenoid resveratrol do not prevent presynaptic degeneration. Hence, this platform is a promising tool for fundamental research in the field of developmental and neurodegenerative neurosciences, and also offers the opportunity to set up pharmacological screening of axon-protective and synapto-protective drugs.

Mitochondrial fragmentation and neuronal cell death in response to the Bcl-2/Bcl-xL/Bcl-w antagonist ABT-737

Inhibition of pro-survival Bcl-2 family proteins by BH3-only proteins is a key initial step leading to apoptotic cell death. In neurons, investigating cell death pathways is often hampered by the multi-factorial nature of the stress stimuli employed. Here we investigate the action of ABT-737, a small molecule inhibitor which specifically targets the BH3-protein binding domain of pro-survival Bcl-2, Bcl-X(L) and Bcl-w. ABT-737 produced a time- and concentration-dependent neuronal cell death which displayed the classical hallmarks of apoptosis. Cell death was maximal by around 4 h ABT-737 treatment, and the effect of ABT-737 could be delayed by the broad spectrum caspase inhibitor zVADfmk. Examining, using real-time confocal microscopy, the molecular basis for the onset of response demonstrated recruitment of pro-apoptotic Bax to specific mitochondrial foci, followed by mitochondrial fragmentation. Treatment of neurons with ABT-737 also produced cleavage of Bid, a BH3-only protein known to be a caspase substrate. Interestingly, cleaved Bid translocated to mitochondria but did not colocalise with Bax foci. zVADfmk inhibited Bid cleavage and slowed the rate of fragmentation, suggesting a role for cleaved Bid in the amplification of the apoptotic response. siRNA-mediated knockdown of Bax significantly inhibited ABT-737 induced cell death, whereas knockdown of the BH3-only proteins Bid or Bim had no effect. ABT-737 therefore appears to be a useful tool with which to examine neuronal apoptotic pathways. Our data suggests that caspase-dependent cleavage of Bid may be a downstream amplification event which enhances the rate of mitochondrial fragmentation.

Cilengitide modulates attachment and viability of human glioma cells, but not sensitivity to irradiation or temozolomide in vitro

Cilengitide is a cyclic peptide antagonist of integrins alphavbeta3 and alphavbeta5 that is currently being evaluated as a novel therapeutic agent for recurrent and newly diagnosed glioblastoma. Its mode of action is thought to be mainly antiangiogenic but may include direct effects on tumor cells, notably on attachment, migration, invasion, and viability. In this study we found that, at clinically relevant concentrations, cilengitide (1-100 microM) induces detachment in some but not all glioma cell lines, while the effect on cell viability is modest. Detachment induced by cilengitide could not be predicted by the level of expression of the cilengitide target molecules, alphavbeta3 and alphavbeta5, at the cell surface. Glioma cell death induced by cilengitide was associated with the generation of caspase activity, but caspase activity was not required for cell death since ectopic expression of cytokine response modifier (crm)-A or coexposure to the broad-spectrum caspase inhibitor zVAD-fmk was not protective. Moreover, forced expression of the antiapoptotic protein marker Bcl-X(L) or altering the p53 status did not modulate cilengitide-induced cell death. No consistent effects of cilengitide on glioma cell migration or invasiveness were observed in vitro. Preliminary clinical results indicate a preferential benefit from cilengitide added to temozolomide-based radiochemotherapy in patients with O(6)-methylguanine DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) gene promoter methylation. Accordingly, we also examined whether the MGMT status determines glioma cell responses to cilengitide alone or in combination with temozolomide. Neither ectopic expression of MGMT in MGMT-negative cells nor silencing the MGMT gene in MGMT-positive cells altered glioma cell responses to cilengitide alone or to cilengitide in combination with temozolomide. These data suggest that the beneficial clinical effects derived from cilengitide in vivo may arise from altered perfusion, which promotes temozolomide delivery to glioma cells.

Possible involvement of caspase-6 and -7 but not caspase-3 in the regulation of hypoxia-induced apoptosis in tube-forming endothelial cells

We recently reported that a broad-spectrum caspase inhibitor zVAD-fmk failed, while p38 inhibitor SB203580 succeeded, to prevent chromatin condensation and nuclear fragmentation induced by hypoxia in tube-forming HUVECs. In this study, we investigated the reasons for zVAD-fmk's inability to inhibit these morphological changes at the molecular level. The inhibitor effectively inhibited DNA ladder formation and activation of caspase-3 and -6, but it surprisingly failed to inhibit caspase-7 activation. On the other hand, SB203580 successfully inhibited all of these molecular events. When zLEHD-fmk, which specifically inhibits initiator caspase-9 upstream of caspase-3, was used, it inhibited caspase-3 activation but failed to inhibit caspase-6 and -7 activation. It also failed to inhibit hypoxia-induced chromatin condensation, nuclear fragmentation and DNA ladder formation. Taken together, our results indicate that, during hypoxia, caspase-7 is responsible for chromatin condensation and nuclear fragmentation while caspase-6 is responsible for DNA ladder formation.

Enzastaurin‐induced apoptosis in glioma cells is caspase‐dependent and inhibited by BCL‐XL

The novel protein kinase C-beta inhibitor enzastaurin (ENZA) induced apoptosis in LNT-229 and T98G cells whereas A172 cells were resistant. Further, ENZA reduced proliferation in glioblastoma-initiating cells T 269 and T 323 but did not induce apoptosis. ENZA-induced apoptosis involved cleavage of caspases 3, 8, and 9 and led to mitochondrial cytochrome c release and was strongly suppressed by the broad spectrum caspase inhibitor zVAD-fmk but only slightly by the expression of the viral caspase 1/8 inhibitor cytokine response modifier-A. ENZA did not reduce the phosphorylation of protein kinase B (Akt), but of p70 S6 kinase and of its substrate S6 protein in T98G cells. Inhibition of the phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase signaling pathway did not restore sensitivity of A172 cells towards ENZA, and constitutively active Akt did not protect LNT-229 and T98G cells from ENZA-induced apoptosis. Dephosphorylation of glycogen synthase kinase 3beta, a biomarker of ENZA action, and cell death induction by ENZA were separately regulated. Inhibition or activation of Akt only weakly modulated ENZA-induced dephosphorylation of glycogen synthase kinase 3beta. In ENZA-resistant A172 cells, apoptosis ligand 2 (Apo2L.0)-induced cleavage of caspases 3, 8, and 9 was increased by ENZA, resulting in synergistic activity of ENZA and Apo2L.0.

Three-dimensional cell organization leads to a different type of ionizing radiation-induced cell death: MG-63 monolayer cells undergo mitotic catastrophe while spheroids die of apoptosis

The type of cell death occurring in the same cell line (MG-63 human osteosarcoma cells) grown in monolayer or as three-dimensional spheroids after exposure to 5 Gy of ionizing radiation was determined. Morphological analyses using the chromatin dye Hoechst 33258 demonstrated that spheroids showed the typical characteristics of apoptosis, while monolayer cells revealed those typical of mitotic catastrophe. In order to better characterize these two types of cell death, the role of caspases was examined in irradiated monolayer cells and spheroids using the broad spectrum caspase inhibitor zVAD-fmk. Death in monolayer cells was caspase-independent, whereas spheroid death was characterized by caspase dependence. Members of the Bcl-2 family of proteins and survivin involved in cell death processes were also studied by Western blot analysis. The pro-apoptotic protein Bax increased in spheroids, whereas this protein remained unchanged in monolayer cells after the same 5-Gy irradiation. The anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2, on the other hand, remained unchanged in both monolayer cells and spheroids. Finally, survivin increased significantly after irradiation in both cells in monolayer and spheroids. The results presented suggest that three-dimensional cell organization leads to a different type of cell death after exposure to ionizing radiation. Thus, the use of spheroids, a cell model which mimics in vivo solid tumors more closely than cells grown in monolayer, is more appropriate when investigating the effects of antineoplastic treatments such as ionizing radiation.

Hierarchical recruitment by AMPA but not staurosporine of pro‐apoptotic mitochondrial signaling in cultured cortical neurons: evidence for caspase‐dependent/independent cross‐talk

Excitotoxicity mediated via the (S)-alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole-4-propionate (AMPA) subtype of receptor for l-glutamate contributes to various neuropathologies involving acute brain injury and chronic degenerative disorders. In this study, AMPA-induced neuronal injury and staurosporine (STS)-mediated apoptosis were compared in primary neuronal cultures of murine cerebral cortex by analyzing indices up- and downstream of mitochondrial activation. AMPA-mediated apoptosis involved induction of Bax, loss of mitochondrial transmembrane potential (deltapsi(m)), early release of cytochrome c (cyt c), and more delayed release of second mitochondrial activator of caspases (SMAC), Omi, and apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) with early calpain and minor late activation of caspase 3. STS-induced apoptosis was characterized by a number of differences, a more rapid time course, non-involvement of deltapsi(m), and relatively early recruitment of SMAC and caspase 3. The AMPA-induced rise in intracellular calcium appeared insufficient to evoke feltapsi(m) as release of cyt c preceded mitochondrial depolarization, which was followed by the cytosolic translocation of SMAC, Omi, and AIF. Bax translocation preceded cyt c release for both stimuli inferring its involvement in apoptotic induction. Inclusion of the broad spectrum caspase inhibitor zVAD-fmk reduced the AMPA-induced release of cyt c, SMAC, and AIF, while only affecting the redistribution of Omi and AIF in the STS-treated neurons. Only AIF release was affected by a calpain inhibitor (calpastatin) which exerted relatively minor effects on the progression of cellular injury. AMPA-mediated release of apoptogenic proteins was more hierarchical relative to STS with its calpain activation and caspase-dependent AIF redistribution arguing for a model with cross-talk between caspase-dependent/independent apoptosis.

GP7 induces internucleosomal DNA fragmentation independent of caspase activation and DNA fragmentation factor in NB4 cells

DNA fragmentation into internucleosomal fragments is the best recognized biochemical event of apoptosis. Two major caspase pathways have been identified in the signal transduction leading to DNA fragmentation: the receptor pathway and the mitochondrial pathway. DNA fragmentation factor (DFF) has been identified as a major apoptotic endonuclease in the internucleosomal DNA fragmentation process. However, the potential roles of caspases and DFF in internucleosomal DNA fragmentation induced by specific stimuli still need to be investigated since caspase-independent pathways and nuclease(s) other than DFF also play important roles during this process. In the present study, we investigated the activity of GP7 (4-[4"-(2",2",6",6"-tetramethyl-l"-piperidinyloxy) amino]-4'-demethyl epipodophyllotoxin), a new spin-labeled derivative of podophyllotoxin semi-synthesized by our university, to induce apoptosis of the human leukemia cell line NB4. GP7 induced the release of cytochrome-c from mitochondria, activations of caspase-3, -8, and -9, cleavage of DFF45/inhibitor of caspase-activated DNase, activation of DFF40/caspase-activated DNase, and apoptotic DNA fragmentation in NB4 cells. The broad-spectrum caspase inhibitor zVAD-fmk abrogated GP7-induced caspase-3, -8, and -9 activations but could not inhibit GP7-induced apoptotic DNA fragmentation in NB4 cells. Our findings suggest that GP7-induced apoptotic DNA fragmentation in NB4 cells is independent of caspase activation and DFF, although they are closely involved in this process.

Increased Apoptosis in First Trimester Extravillous Trophoblasts from Pregnancies at Higher Risk of Developing Preeclampsia

Preeclampsia complicates 5 to 10% of pregnancies and is a leading cause of maternal and fetal mortality and morbidity. Although the cause is unknown, inadequate invasion and remodeling of maternal uterine arteries by extravillous trophoblasts (EVTs) in the first trimester is a common feature. Uterine spiral artery resistance as detected by Doppler ultrasound is commonly used in the second trimester to identify pregnancies destined to develop preeclampsia. Correlation between high uterine resistance and the failure of trophoblast invasion has been reported as early as 12 weeks. However, the reason for this failure has not been established. Understanding the processes involved would significantly improve our diagnostic potential. In this study, we correlated increased first trimester uterine artery resistance with a biological abnormality in trophoblast function. EVTs derived from high-resistance pregnancies were more sensitive to apoptotic stimuli than those from normal-resistance pregnancies. Survival of EVTs from high-resistance pregnancies could be increased by nitric oxide, whereas inhibition of nitric oxide in cells from normal-resistance pregnancies increased apoptotic sensitivity. This predates the onset of symptoms by several weeks and provides evidence for a mechanism responsible for the incomplete uterine vessel remodeling and the differences in artery resistance between preeclamptic and normal pregnancies.

Inhibition of cyclin-dependent kinases is neuroprotective in 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium-induced apoptosis in neurons

The biochemical pathways involved in neuronal cell death in Parkinson’s disease are not completely characterized. Mitochondrial dysfunction, specifically alteration of the mitochondrial complex I, is the primary target of the parkinsonian neurotoxin 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP +) induced apoptosis in neurons. In the present study, we examine the role of caspase-dependent and -independent routes in MPP +-induced apoptosis in rat cerebellar granule neurons (CGNs). We show a distinct increase in the expression of the cell cycle proteins cyclin D, cyclin E, cdk2, cdk4 and the transcription factor E2F-1 following a MPP + treatment of CGNs. Flavopiridol (FLAV), a broad inhibitor of cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs), attenuated the neurotoxic effects of MPP + and significantly attenuates apoptosis mediated by MPP + 200 μM. Likewise, the antioxidant vitamin E (vit E) increases neuronal cell viability and attenuates apoptosis induced by MPP +. Moreover, the expression levels of cyclin D and E2F-1 induced by this parkinsonian neurotoxin were also attenuated by vit E. Since, the broad-spectrum caspase inhibitor zVAD-fmk did not attenuate MPP +-induced apoptosis in CGNs, our data provide a caspase-independent mechanism mediated by neuronal reentry in the cell cycle and increased expression of the pro-apoptotic transcription factor E2F-1. Our results also suggest a potential role of oxidative stress in neuronal reentry in the cell cycle mediated by MPP +. Finally, our data further support the therapeutic potential of flavopiridol, for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease.

Caspase Inhibitors Promote Alternative Cell Death Pathways

The use of caspase inhibitors has revealed the existence of alternative backup cell death programs for apoptosis. The broad-spectrum caspase inhibitor zVAD-fmk modulates the three major types of cell death. Addition of zVAD-fmk blocks apoptotic cell death, sensitizes cells to necrotic cell death, and induces autophagic cell death. Several studies have shown a crucial role for the kinase RIP1 and the adenosine nucleotide translocator (ANT)-cyclophilin D (CypD) complex in necrotic cell death. The underlying mechanism of zVAD-fmk-mediated sensitization to necrotic cell death involves the inhibition of caspase-8-mediated proteolysis of RIP1 and disturbance of the ANT-CypD interaction. RIP1 is also involved in autophagic cell death. Caspase inhibitors and knockdown studies have revealed negative roles for catalase and caspase-8 in autophagic cell death. The positive role of RIP1 and the negative role of caspase-8 in both necrotic and autophagic cell death suggest that the pathways of these two types of cell death are interconnected. Necrotic cell death represents a rapid cellular response involving mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, decreased adenosine triphosphate concentration, and other cellular insults, whereas autophagic cell death first starts as a survival attempt by cleaning up ROS-damaged mitochondria. However, when this process occurs in excess, autophagy itself becomes cytotoxic and eventually leads to autophagic cell death. A better understanding of the molecular mechanisms of these alternative cell death pathways may provide therapeutic tools to combat cell death associated with neurodegenerative diseases, ischemia-reperfusion pathologies, and infectious diseases, and may also facilitate the development of alternative cytotoxic strategies in cancer treatment.

Yersinia YopP-induced apoptotic cell death in murine dendritic cells is partially independent from action of caspases and exhibits necrosis-like features

Yersinia outer protein P (YopP) is a virulence factor of Yersinia enterocolitica that is injected into the cytosol of host cells where it targets MAP kinase kinases (MKKs) and inhibitor of kappaB kinase (IKK)-beta resulting in inhibition of cytokine production as well as induction of apoptosis in murine macrophages and dendritic cells (DC). Here we show that DC death was only partially prevented by the broad spectrum caspase inhibitor zVAD-fmk, indicating simultaneous caspase-dependent and caspase-independent mechanisms of cell death induction by YopP. Microscopic analyses and measurement of cell size demonstrated necrosis-like morphology of caspase-independent cell death. Application of zVAD-fmk prevented cleavage of procaspases and Bid, decrease of the inner transmembrane mitochondrial potential DeltaPsi(m) and mitochondrial release of cytochrome c. From these data we conclude that YopP-induced activation of the mitochondrial death pathway is mediated upstream via caspases. In conclusion, our results suggest that YopP simultaneously induces caspase-dependent apoptotic and caspase-independent necrosis-like death in DC. However, it has to be resolved if necrosis-like DC death occurs independently from apoptotic events or as an apoptotic epiphenomenon.

Clinically tolerable concentrations of arsenic trioxide induce p53‐independent cell death and repress NF‐κB activation in Ewing sarcoma cells

Ewing sarcoma (ES), a highly malignant pediatric tumor, is consistently associated with translocations that fuse the EWS gene with a member of the ETS family gene, most commonly FLI-1. Despite significant advances with multiagent chemotherapy, surgery and radiotherapy, about 40% of ES patients still die from the disease. It is therefore necessary to explore novel agents for possible treatment of this tumor. Here the authors investigated the sensitivity of ES cells to clinically tolerable concentrations of arsenic trioxide (As2O3), a compound known to induce differentiation and apoptosis of other types of malignant cells. The authors report that As2O3 uniformly induced death of 6 ES-derived cell lines irrespective of their p53 status. As2O3 resulted in an apoptotic phenotype which was inhibited by the broad-spectrum caspase inhibitor ZVAD-fmk. These effects correlated with prolonged c-jun N-terminal kinase activation, which is a signal for apoptosis in ES cells. As2O3 also decreased basal and cytokine-induced NF-kappa B activity. Since the authors previously demonstrated that NF-kappa B exerts an antiapoptotic action in ES cells, As2O3 treatment may also result in a sensitization of these cells to other drugs used in combination therapy. These effects, combined with its antiangiogenic action, define As2O3 as a good candidate for future protocols to improve treatments of Ewing sarcomas, irrespective of the p53 status of the tumor.

A role for soluble HLA‐G1 in the induction of vascular cell apoptosis

Uterine spiral artery remodelling is a crucial adaptation in early pregnancy that allows a sufficient blood supply to reach the developing fetus. We have shown that this vascular remodelling involves endothelial and vascular smooth muscle cell apoptosis triggered by the fetal-derived trophoblast cells. Extravillous trophoblasts produce soluble HLA-G1. We have investigated the hypothesis that soluble HLA-G1 is an important regulator of vascular cell apoptosis. Endothelial cells (primary HUVEC or a cell line, SGHEC-7), vascular smooth muscle cells (human aortic SMC line) or extravillous trophoblasts were incubated with recombinant sHLA-G1 and apoptosis was monitored by time-lapse microscopy and western blot analysis of apoptotic markers. Soluble HLA-G1 induced apoptotic morphological changes in endothelial cells. Apoptosis was confirmed using the broad-spectrum caspase inhibitor zVAD-fmk, which abrogated sHLA-G1 induced cell death. In addition, western blot analysis showed that sHLA-G1 treated endothelial cells had increased production of the apoptotic marker cleaved PARP. Soluble HLA-G1-induced endothelial apoptosis was almost completely blocked in the presence of an antibody that prevents Fas/FasL interactions. Soluble HLA-G1 also induced vascular smooth muscle cell apoptosis but had no effect on trophoblast cell survival. In conclusion, we have shown that sHLA-G1 induces vascular cell apoptosis and that for endothelial cells this effect may be partly through the Fas/FasL system. Soluble HLA-G1 may therefore have a role in the induction of uterine spiral artery remodelling seen in early pregnancy.

Combination Bortezomib (PS341, Velcade) and Rituximab Treatment Affects Multiple Survival and Death Pathways To Promote Apoptosis in Mantle Cell Lymphoma.

Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is a distinct histologic subtype of B cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma that is associated with an aggressive clinical course and a particularly poor prognosis. The mechanisms that contribute to resistance of MCL to chemotherapy are not clear, however, recent work examining the consequences of ubiquitin-proteasome pathway inhibition on cell cycle (p21, p27) and key survival/death networks (NFkB, p53, Bcl2) has provided rationale for exploring combination regimens that include tumor-specific reagents (rituximab) and the 26S proteasome inhibitor bortezomib. In this study, we examined the effects of combination treatment with bortezomib and rituximab on MCL patient samples and three patient-derived cell lines (Jeko, Mino, SP53). Cells treated with bortezomib (10 – 100nM) for 4 hours demonstrated proteasome inhibition that persisted for 24 hours but returned to baseline activity at 48 hours after treatment. Despite transient proteasome inhibition, combination therapy with bortezomib (10–100nM for 4hrs) and rituximab (1 mg/ml immobilized with 20 mg/ml goat anti-human IgG) resulted in synergistic induction of apoptosis that persisted for as long as 72 hours after treatment. While bortezomib (100 nM) induced apoptosis in 18.3 ± 6.5% and rituximab induced apoptosis in 24.5 ± 4.5% of MCL cells, combination treatment resulted in 57.4 ± 5.1% apoptosis at 48 hours (p ≤ 0.02). Pretreatment of MCL cells with the broad spectrum caspase inhibitor zVAD-FMK (10 mM) showed that bortezomib-induced cell death occurred by caspase-dependent mechanisms, however, when immobilized rituximab was added, cell death occurred via caspase dependent and independent pathways. Single agent bortezomib (10 nM) or rituximab treatment of Mino and Jeko lines resulted in decreased levels of nuclear NFkB complex(s) capable of binding p65 consensus oligonucleotides (28% and 21% reduction, respectively), while combination treatment resulted in enhanced reduction of detectable nuclear NFkB (36% reduction, p ≤ 0.0007). Similar trends were observed with primary MCL cells. Experiments with an IKK inhibitor (PS1145, Millenium Pharmaceuticals) resulted in nuclear NFkB reduction without equivalent induction of apoptosis which led us to hypothesize that other pro-death pathways might be operable with combination treatment. Western blot analysis of BCL2-family members revealed that combination treatment of MCL lines resulted in near complete elimination of Bcl-xL protein while Bcl-2 protein levels remained unchanged. The pro-death gene product Bax was induced in a synergistic fashion with combined bortezomib and rituximab treatment. Finally, we have developed a reliable preclinical animal model utilizing the severe combined immune deficient (SCID) mouse engrafted with three patient-derived MCL cell lines. Each cell line results in a characteristic pattern of tumor burden and highly reproducible time to develop advanced disease. We are currently evaluating combination therapy with bortezomib and rituximab in this preclinical animal model. Our preclinical evaluation provides clear rationale for pursuing combination strategies that inhibit the proteasome in combination with tumor-specific immunotherapy in patients with MCL.

Enhanced Levels of Apoptosis by Combination of Farnesyl Transferase Inhibition (Tipifarnib) and Proteasome Inhibition (Bortezomib) in Myeloma Cell Lines and Primary Myeloma Cells and Its Mechanistic Effects on Akt and Caspase Pathways.

Introduction:Despite significant advances in the treatment of myeloma, patients invariably become resistant to therapy. Therefore, novel treatment strategies are needed to overcome resistance. Overexpression of the anti-apoptotic protein Akt has been associated with resistance to bortezomib induced apoptosis. We have previously shown that treatment with farnesyl transferase inhibitors (FTI) is associated with synergisitic myeloma cell apoptosis when combined with bortezomib. In this study we explored the mechanism of action of the combination of bortezomib with tipifarnib, a FTI with previously demonstrated clinical activity in patients with hematologic malignancies. Our hypothesis is that the combination of bortezomib and tipifarnib will result in synergistic cell death by overcoming the anti-apoptotic effects of Akt.Methods:MM.1S, MM.1R, RPMI8226 and U266 cell lines were used in addition to fresh unmanipulated human myeloma cells from patients with relapsed MM. Cell proliferation was measured using the MTT assay. Cell death was measured by flow cytometric analysis of Annexin V and propidium iodide staining in the presence or absence of both agents and the broad spectrum caspase inhibitor Z-VAD-FMK (ZVAD). Caspase activity was assessed by Western blot ananlysis of cleaved caspases. Transient transfection of cell lines of using activated Akt, wild type Akt and BCL2 was also performed.Results:Dose escalation in vitro demonstrated that 8nM was a subtherapeutic dose of bortezomib, and 20nm bortezomib was an effective dose as a single agent. Doses of tipifarnib alone up to 5μM had modest effects on MM cell death. When 8nM or 20nM of bortezomib are combined with tipifarnib at doses of 5μM, cell death increases significantly in MM cell lines. Combination resulted in increased caspase 3, 8, and 9 activities in MM cell lines. Inhibition of caspase activities were confirmed with the broad spectrum caspase inhibitor ZVAD. Individual caspase inhibitor studies after 18 hours of combination treatment suggested that the inhibition of apoptosis is mainly mediated through caspase 8 and caspase 6 as measured by Annexin-V staining in MM.1S cells. Additionally, similar studies with the pan-caspase inhibitor ZVAD also suggested that there are caspase independent pathways resulting in inducing apoptosis of MM.1S cells. Combination therapy significantly reduces phos-Akt as early as 24hrs in MM cells, although, complete inhibition of phos-473-Akt varies between cell lines. Overexpression of activated Akt or wild type Akt and the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl2 in MM.1S did not abrogate the effect of combination on apoptosis. Primary human MM cells also demonstrated synergistic cell death when exposed to the combination at clinically achievable levels.Conclusion:The combination of tipifarnib with bortezomib is associated with greater cell death than either agent alone in both myeloma cell lines and patient myeloma cells. Therefore, we propose that the use of combined tipifarnib and bortezomib represents a novel and potentially active approach to MM therapy. The synergistic mechanism involved in the combination warrants further investigation.

3,4-Dideoxyglucosone-3-ene Induces Apoptosis in Renal Tubular Epithelial Cells

Diabetes complications are caused by hyperglycemia. Hyperglycemia results in increased concentrations of glucose degradation products. The study of peritoneal dialysis solution biocompatibility has highlighted the adverse effects of glucose degradation products. Recently, 3,4-dideoxyglucosone-3-ene (3,4-DGE) has been identified as the most toxic glucose degradation product in peritoneal dialysis fluids. Its role in renal pathophysiology has not been addressed. 3,4-DGE induces apoptosis in murine renal tubular epithelial cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Peak apoptosis is observed after 72 h of culture. The lethal concentration range is 25-50 micromol/l. 3,4-DGE results in Bax oligomerization, release of cytochrome c from mitochondria, activation of caspases-9 and -3, and Bid proteolysis. Apoptosis induced by 3,4-DGE is caspase dependent and could be prevented by the broad-spectrum caspase inhibitor zVAD-fmk (Z-Val-Ala-DL-Asp-fluoromethylketone) and by specific inhibitors of caspases-2, -8, and -9. However, caspase inhibition did not prevent eventual cell death. In contrast, antagonism of Bax by a Ku-70-derived peptide or antisense oligonucleotides prevented both apoptosis and cell death. In conclusion, 3,4-DGE promotes apoptosis of cultured renal parenchymal cells by a Bax- and caspase-dependent mechanism. A role for 3,4-DGE in diabetes complications in the kidney and in the modulation of residual renal function in peritoneal dialysis should be further explored.

Loss of p21 disrupts p14ARF-induced G1 cell cycle arrest but augments p14ARF-induced apoptosis in human carcinoma cells

The human INK4a locus encodes two structurally unrelated tumor suppressor proteins, p16 INK4a and p14 ARF (p19 ARF in the mouse), which are frequently inactivated in human cancer. Both the proapoptotic and cell cycle-regulatory functions of p14 ARF were initially proposed to be strictly dependent on a functional p53/mdm-2 tumor suppressor pathway. However, a number of recent reports have implicated p53-independent mechanisms in the regulation of cell cycle arrest and apoptosis induction by p14 ARF. Here, we show that the G1 cell cycle arrest induced by p14 ARF entirely depends on both p53 and p21 in human HCT116 and DU145 carcinoma cells. In contrast, neither loss of p53 nor p21 impaired apoptosis induction by p14 ARF as evidenced by nuclear DNA fragmentation, phosphatidyl serine exposure, and caspase activation, which included caspase-3/7- and caspase-9-like activities. However, lack of functional p21 resulted in the accumulation of cells in G2/M phase of the cell cycle and markedly enhanced p14 ARF-induced apoptosis that was, nevertheless, efficiently inhibited by the cell permeable broad-spectrum caspase inhibitor zVAD-fmk (valyl-alanyl-aspartyl-(O)-methyl)-fluoromethylketone). Thus, loss of cell cycle restriction point control in the absence of p21 may interfere with p14 ARF-induced apoptosis. Finally, these data indicate that the signaling events required for G1 cell cycle arrest and apoptosis induction by p14 ARF dissociate upstream of p53.

Induction of apoptosis by TNF receptor 2 in a T-cell hybridoma is FADD dependent and blocked by caspase-8 inhibitors

Previously we reported that both human TNFR1 and TNFR2 mediate TNF-induced apoptosis in the transfected rat/mouse T cell hybridoma PC60. We show here that TNFR2-mediated apoptosis in PVC60 cells can be blocked by the broad-spectrum caspase inhibitor zVAD-fmk, the caspase-8 inhibitor zIETD-fmk and by CrmA, a viral inhibitor of caspase-1 and caspase-8. This suggests an involvement of caspase-8 in TNFR2-mediated apoptosis. The upstream adaptor of caspase-8, FADD, is also involved in TNFR2-induced cell death, since transient overexpression of a dominant negative deletion mutant of FADD inhibited apoptosis induced by this receptor. TNFR2-induced apoptosis is independent of endogenous TNF or other death-inducing ligand production and subsequent activation of TNFR1 or other death receptors. Furthermore, TNFR2 stimulation does not enhance sensitivity for a subsequent TNFR1-induced apoptotic signal, as has been reported for Jurkat cells. TRAF2 downregulation, which has been proposed as the mechanism by which TNFR2 enhances TNFR1 signaling, was observed in PC60 cells, but the TNRF1 signal was not modulated. These data confirm the capacity of TNFR2 to generate an apoptotic cell death signal independent of TNFR1.