OBJECTIVE To investigate the effect of proteasome inhibition on the sensitivity of carcinoma cells to TRAIL-inducing apoptosis, and to study the mechanism of the response. METHODS Human hepatocellular carcinoma cells,...OBJECTIVE To investigate the effect of proteasome inhibition on the sensitivity of carcinoma cells to TRAIL-inducing apoptosis, and to study the mechanism of the response. METHODS Human hepatocellular carcinoma cells, pretreated with the proteasome inhibitor, MG132, were cotreated with TRAIL. Western blot assays, immunoprecipitation and RT-PCR were performed to test the expression of the Bcl-2 family proteins and Bax mRNA. RESULTS We found that (i) proteasome inhibition sensitized the human hepatocellular carcinoma cells to TRAIL; and (ii) resulted in Bax accumulation before release of cytochrome C and induction of apoptosis. These results were associated with the ability of proteasome inhibitors to overcome Bcl-2-mediated antiapoptotic function; (iii) Bax is regulated by an ubiquitin/proteasome-dependent degradation pathway. CONCLUSION Proteasome inhibition sensitized hepatocellular carcinoma cells to TRAIL by the inhibition of the ubiquitin/proteasome-mediated Bax degradation pathway.展开更多
基金This work was supported by grants fromTianjin Education Commission, China(No.20040217).
文摘OBJECTIVE To investigate the effect of proteasome inhibition on the sensitivity of carcinoma cells to TRAIL-inducing apoptosis, and to study the mechanism of the response. METHODS Human hepatocellular carcinoma cells, pretreated with the proteasome inhibitor, MG132, were cotreated with TRAIL. Western blot assays, immunoprecipitation and RT-PCR were performed to test the expression of the Bcl-2 family proteins and Bax mRNA. RESULTS We found that (i) proteasome inhibition sensitized the human hepatocellular carcinoma cells to TRAIL; and (ii) resulted in Bax accumulation before release of cytochrome C and induction of apoptosis. These results were associated with the ability of proteasome inhibitors to overcome Bcl-2-mediated antiapoptotic function; (iii) Bax is regulated by an ubiquitin/proteasome-dependent degradation pathway. CONCLUSION Proteasome inhibition sensitized hepatocellular carcinoma cells to TRAIL by the inhibition of the ubiquitin/proteasome-mediated Bax degradation pathway.