Smac mimetic-induced upregulation of interferon-? sensitizes glioblastoma to temozolomide-induced cell death.
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ABSTRACT: Inhibitor of apoptosis (IAP) proteins are frequently expressed at high levels in cancer cells and represent attractive therapeutic targets. We previously reported that the Smac (second mitochondria-derived activator of caspases) mimetic BV6, which antagonizes IAP proteins, sensitizes glioblastoma cells to temozolomide (TMZ)-induced cell death in a nuclear factor-?B (NF-?B)-dependent manner. However, BV6-induced NF-?B target genes responsible for this synergistic interaction have remained elusive. Using whole-genome gene expression profiling, we here identify BV6-stimulated, NF-?B-dependent transcriptional upregulation of interferon-? (IFN?) and IFN-mediated proapoptotic signaling as critical events that mediate BV6/TMZ-induced apoptosis. Knockdown of IFN? significantly rescues cells from BV6/TMZ-induced cell death. Similarly, silencing of the corresponding receptor IFN?/? receptor (IFNAR) confers a significant protection against apoptosis, demonstrating that IFN? and IFN signaling are required for BV6/TMZ-mediated cell death. Moreover, BV6 and TMZ cooperate to transcriptionally upregulate the proapoptotic B-cell lymphoma 2 family proteins Bax (Bcl-2-associated X protein) or Puma (p53-upregulated modulator of apoptosis). Knockdown of Bax or Puma significantly decreases BV6/TMZ-induced apoptosis, showing that both proteins are necessary for apoptosis. By identifying IFN? as a key mediator of BV6/TMZ-induced apoptosis, our study provides novel insights into the underlying molecular mechanisms of Smac mimetic-mediated chemosensitization with important implications for the development of novel treatment strategies for glioblastoma.
SUBMITTER: Marschall V
PROVIDER: S-EPMC4650438 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Sep
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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