Expression Of FADD Research Articles

Novel gene therapy for rheumatoid arthritis by FADD gene transfer: induction of apoptosis of rheumatoid synoviocytes but not chondrocytes.

Synovial cells in the rheumatoid synovium show abnormal proliferation, leading to joint destruction. Rheumatoid synovial cells express functional Fas antigen and are susceptible to Fas-mediated apoptosis. We have proposed the induction of apoptosis by Fas/Fas ligand system of proliferative rheumatoid synovium as a novel therapy for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We have recently reported that Fas-associated death domain protein (FADD) plays a key role in Fas-mediated apoptosis of synovial cells in patients with RA. In this study, we determined whether FADD gene transfer could induce apoptosis of RA synoviocytes in vitro and in vivo. Transfection of FADD gene by adenoviral vector into cultured RA synoviocytes induced up-regulation of FADD expression and apoptosis. In addition, local injection of FADD adenovirus (Ad-FADD) eliminated synoviocytes in vivo by induction of apoptosis of proliferating human rheumatoid synovium engrafted in severe combined immunodeficiency mouse, which is the most suitable animal model of RA for the evaluation of treatment strategy in vivo. In addition, Ad-FADD-induced apoptosis was limited to cells of the synovium tissue and did not affect chondrocytes. Our results strongly suggest that FADD gene transfer can induce apoptosis of RA synoviocytes both in vitro and in vivo, suggesting that FADD gene transfer might be effective in the treatment of RA.

Resistance to the Cytotoxic Effects of Tumor Necrosis Factor α Can Be Overcome by Inhibition of a FADD/Caspase-dependent Signaling Pathway

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha initiates the activation of a pro-apoptotic pathway involving the recruitment of the death domain containing protein FADD and the subsequent activation of specific proteases (caspases). Many cells are resistant, however, to the cytotoxic effects of TNFalpha due to the concurrent activation of pro-survival pathways involving the transcription factor NFkappaB and TRAF2. Here we show that the TNFalpha-activated FADD/caspase pathway can also exert an unexpected pro-survival effect. Inhibition of this pathway in NIH3T3 fibroblasts or U937 leukemic cells by peptide caspase inhibitors or expression of dominant-negative FADD leads to rapid death following treatment with TNFalpha, whereas control cells are TNFalpha-resistant. FADD/caspase-inhibited cells die by a non-apoptotic mechanism caused by increased production of reactive oxygen species which precedes loss of the mitochondrial membrane potential. Cytotoxicity can be prevented by preincubation with antioxidants including reduced glutathione or by expression of a dominant-negative Rac GTP-binding protein. These results indicate that caspase activation in response to TNFalpha has anti-necrotic as well as pro-apoptotic effects and extend our understanding of the biological role of these proteases.

FADD expression and caspase activation in B-cell lymphomas resistant to Fas-mediated apoptosis.

We have previously shown that malignant B cells from non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHL) are resistant to Fas-mediated apoptosis. To determine the mechanisms underlying this resistance, we analysed by Western blotting the expression of several apoptotic regulators, caspase 3, caspase 8, FADD and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) in fresh lymphoma cells, isolated from 16 B-NHL biopsy samples of different histological subtypes, and displaying variable levels of Fas expression. The profiles of expression of these apoptotic regulators were monitored in cell lysates at different times following Fas with or without CD40 stimulation. Expression of FADD and of the uncleaved forms of PARP, caspase 3 and caspase 8 were detected in all untreated NHL samples. Low levels of PARP cleavage were noted in three untreated samples. Fas stimulation alone induced neither significant apoptosis nor significant changes in the expression profiles of FADD, caspases 3 and 8 and PARP in the 16 samples, except for variations in FADD and caspase 8 expression levels in a minority of samples. Fas/CD40 co-stimulation induced apoptosis and cleavage of caspase 3, caspase 8 and PARP in the five NHLs tested; expression of FADD was not modified. Our results showed (1) that induction of apoptosis in B-NHLs by Fas/CD40 co-stimulation used the same caspase executioner machinery as the normal Fas pathway, and (2) that NHL cells which resisted Fas-mediated apoptosis displayed no defect in either expression or functionality of caspases 3 and 8, nor in FADD expression. The dysfunction underlying NHL resistance to apoptosis must therefore lie upstream of caspase 8, or could alternatively be influenced by anti-apoptotic regulators of the Bcl-2 family.

TGF-beta1 inhibition of apoptosis through the transcriptional up-regulation of Bcl-X(L) in human monocytic leukemia U937 cells.

To characterize the TGF-beta1 response of monocytic leukemia cells, we analyzed the effects of TGF-beta1 on cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis of human monoblastic U937 cells. Treatment of cells with TGF-beta1 in the absence of growth factors significantly enhanced cell viability. Flow cytometric analysis of DNA content and CD14 expression revealed that TGF-beta1 does not affect cell proliferation and differentiation. Consistent with these results was the finding that no transcriptional induction of Cdk inhibitors such as p21Waf1, p15Ink4b, and p27Kip1 was detected following TGF-beta1 treatment. Interestingly, however, pretreatment of TGF-beta1 significantly inhibited Fas-, DNA damage-, and growth factor deprivation-induced apoptosis. This antiapoptotic effect was totally abrogated by anti-TGF-beta1 antibody. Quantitative RT-PCR analysis demonstrated a dose- and time-dependent transcriptional up-regulation of Bcl-X(L), suggesting its implication in the TGF-1-mediated antiapoptotic pathway. We also observed elevated expression of c-Fos and PTEN/MMAC1. But, no detectable change was recognized in expression of c-Jun, Fas, Fadd, Fap-1, Bcl-2, and Bax. Taken together, our study shows that TGF-beta1 enhancement of cellular viability is associated with its antiapoptotic effect, which may result from the transcriptional up-regulation of Bcl-X(L).

JNK activation is not required for Fas-mediated apoptosis.

Fas ligation in the presence of cycloheximide induced Jun N-terminal kinase 1 (JNK1) and JNK2 phosphorylation, caspase activation and cell death in the IL-3-dependent cell line BAF3. Fas-mediated apoptosis was prevented by expression of dominant negative FADD but not inhibited by IL-3. To investigate the role of JNK activation in this process, we examined cells over-expressing a JNK-specific phosphatase M3/6. M3/6 prevented Fas stimulation of JNK, but did not affect Fas-mediated caspase activation or cell death, demonstrating that JNK activation is not required for these processes.

Expression of Fas-related genes in human hepatocellular carcinomas

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the tumors known to be resistant to Fas-mediated apoptosis. To elucidate the possible mechanisms of this resistance, we examined the mRNA transcripts of genes related to Fas in 10 hepatitis B virus (HBV)-associated HCC cell lines and six HBV-associated HCC tissues. Most of the HBV-associated HCC cell lines showed markedly decreased Fas expression. Some cell lines expressed FAP, a possible inhibitor of apoptosis, or showed downregulated expression of FADD or FLICE, molecules essential to Fas-mediated apoptosis. All six HBV-associated HCC tissues also showed decreased Fas expression compared with their non-malignant counterparts. Our data demonstrate that HBV-associated HCC showed a common defect in the expression of Fas, upregulation of FAP and downregulation of downstream molecules such as FADD and FLICE.

FADD gene therapy for malignant gliomas in vitro and in vivo.

Fas/APO-1 (CD95), a cell surface cytokine receptor, triggers apoptotic cell death by specific agonist antibody, suggesting that Fas/APO-1 may be a promising target for treatment of tumors. In this study, we show that treatment with anti-Fas antibody effectively induced apoptosis in malignant glioma cell lines with high expression of Fas/APO-1 (n = 3). Malignant glioma cells with low or undetectable expression of Fas/APO-1 (n = 6), however, were resistant to Fas/APO-1-dependent cytotoxicity. The purpose of this study, therefore, was to determine whether resistant tumors could be made susceptible to apoptosis. FADD/MORT1 constitutes a novel protein that associates specifically with the cytoplasmic death domain of Fas/APO-1 and induces apoptosis. We investigated whether overexpression of FADD would induce apoptosis in malignant glioma cells without activating Fas/APO-1. Results indicated that about 85% of malignant glioma cells, regardless of Fas/APO-1 expression levels, underwent apoptosis after transient transfection with FADD expression vector. To further improve gene transfer of FADD into malignant glioma cells, we constructed a retroviral vector containing the FADD gene. The retroviral transfer of FADD gene significantly enhanced the transduction efficiency and effectively inhibited both in vitro and in vivo survival of malignant glioma cells through induction of apoptosis. These findings suggest that the FADD gene is a novel and useful tool for the treatment of malignant gliomas.

Gene Expression by Single Reed-Sternberg Cells: Pathways of Apoptosis and Activation

Although Hodgkin's disease is highly responsive to treatments that cause apoptosis, it remains resistant to the physiological mechanisms intended to cause cell death. Presumably, the Reed-Sternberg cell defies endogenous apoptosis, persists, accumulates, and manifests the malignant disorder seen clinically. The Reed-Sternberg cell expresses several members of the tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily. This family of receptors is involved in both activation and proliferation of cells, as well as either protection from or initiation of apoptosis in cells expressing these surface proteins. Signals from these receptors affect transcription. We reasoned that the activation state and resistance to apoptosis of Reed-Sternberg cells might be attributable to dysregulation of genes controling these processes. To determine gene expression by Reed-Sternberg cells, we developed a method of micromanipulation, global reverse transcription, and the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and applied it to 51 single Reed-Sternberg cells and their variants from six cases of Hodgkin's disease. This report analyzes the gene expression of bcl-xs,bcl-xl, bax-α,bax-β, fadd, fas, fas ligand (fas L), ice,TNF-α, TNF-β,TNFR1, TNFR2, TRAF1,TRAF2, TRAF3, cIAP2, and tradd at the level of mRNA in the single Reed-Sternberg cells and their variants. The findings here suggest a molecular mechanism for the activated state and in vivo survival occurring in untreated Reed-Sternberg cells of Hodgkin's disease.

Gene Expression by Single Reed-Sternberg Cells: Pathways of Apoptosis and Activation

AbstractAlthough Hodgkin's disease is highly responsive to treatments that cause apoptosis, it remains resistant to the physiological mechanisms intended to cause cell death. Presumably, the Reed-Sternberg cell defies endogenous apoptosis, persists, accumulates, and manifests the malignant disorder seen clinically. The Reed-Sternberg cell expresses several members of the tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily. This family of receptors is involved in both activation and proliferation of cells, as well as either protection from or initiation of apoptosis in cells expressing these surface proteins. Signals from these receptors affect transcription. We reasoned that the activation state and resistance to apoptosis of Reed-Sternberg cells might be attributable to dysregulation of genes controling these processes. To determine gene expression by Reed-Sternberg cells, we developed a method of micromanipulation, global reverse transcription, and the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and applied it to 51 single Reed-Sternberg cells and their variants from six cases of Hodgkin's disease. This report analyzes the gene expression of bcl-xs,bcl-xl, bax-α,bax-β, fadd, fas, fas ligand (fas L), ice,TNF-α, TNF-β,TNFR1, TNFR2, TRAF1,TRAF2, TRAF3, cIAP2, and tradd at the level of mRNA in the single Reed-Sternberg cells and their variants. The findings here suggest a molecular mechanism for the activated state and in vivo survival occurring in untreated Reed-Sternberg cells of Hodgkin's disease.

Combinatorial effect of epigallocatechin-3-gallate and TRAIL on pancreatic cancer cell death

Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), a major polyphenolic constituent of green tea, can exert growth suppressive effect on human pancreatic cancer cells by evoking apoptotic response. EGCG-induced apoptosis of pancreatic cancer cells is accompanied by growth arrest at an earlier phase of cell cycle along with depolarization of mitochondrial membrane. In this report, using MIA PaCa-2 cells as in vitro model, we demonstrate EGCG-induced cell death involves activation of caspase-8 and disappearance of intact 21 kDa Bid protein. Furthermore, exogenous expression of dominant negative caspase-8 or dominant negative FADD significantly abrogates apoptosis inducing ability of EGCG in MIA PaCa-2 cells. RNase protection assay revealed upregulation of the members of death receptor family, thus indicating the involvement of transmembrane extrinsic signaling in this polyphenol triggered pancreatic carcinoma cell death. Based on this, we examined the effect of EGCG and tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) together on pancreatic cancer cells. A synergistic increase in apoptosis and cleavage of procaspase-3 was noted. Furthermore, clonogenic cell survival assay demonstrates the significant diminishment of MIA PaCa-2 cell proliferation in the presence of both EGCG and TRAIL. This combination treatment strategy has potential therapeutic advantage for pancreatic carcinoma.