Document Detail


alpha-fetoprotein causes apoptosis in tumor cells via a pathway independent of CD95, TNFR1 and TNFR2 through activation of caspase-3-like proteases.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  10583368     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
alpha-Fetoprotein (AFP) is an oncoembryonal protein with multiple cell growth regulating, differentiating and immunosuppressive activities. Previous studies have shown that treatment of tumor cells in vitro with 1-10 microM AFP produces significant suppression of tumor cell growth by inducing dose-dependent cytotoxicity, but the molecular mechanisms underlying these AFP functions are obscure. Here, we show that AFP cytotoxicity is closely related to apoptosis, as shown by cell morphology, nuclear DNA fragmentation and caspase-3-like activity resulting in cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase. Apoptosis was significantly inhibited by a CPP32 family protease inhibitor whereas a general caspase inhibitor had no inhibitory effect, showing some enhancement of AFP-mediated cell death. Using fluorogenic caspase substrates, we found that caspase-3-like proteases were activated as early as 4 h after treatment of Raji cells with 15 microM AFP, whereas caspase-1, caspase-8, and caspase-9-like activity was not detected during the time interval 0.5-17 h. AFP treatment of Raji cells increased Bcl-2 protein, showing that AFP-induced apoptosis is not explained by downregulation of the Bcl-2 gene. This also suggests that AFP operates downstream of the Bcl-2-sensitive step. AFP notably decreased basal levels of soluble and membrane-bound Fas ligand. Incubation of AFP-sensitive tumor cells (HepG2, Raji) with neutralizing anti-Fas, anti-tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNFR)1 or anti-TNFR2 mAb did not prevent AFP-induced apoptosis, demonstrating its independence of Fas-dependent and TNFR-dependent signaling. In addition, it was found that cells resistant to TNF-induced (Raji) or Fas-induced (MCF-7) apoptosis are, nevertheless, sensitive to AFP-mediated cell death. In contrast, cells sensitive to Fas-mediated cell death (Jurkat) are completely resistant to AFP. Taken as a whole, our data demonstrate that: (a) AFP induces apoptosis in tumor cells independently of Fas/Fas ligand or TNFR/TNF signaling pathways, and (b) AFP-mediated cell death involves activation of the effector caspase-3-like proteases, but is independent of upstream activation of the initiator caspase-1, caspase-8, and caspase-9-like proteases.
Authors:
E Dudich; L Semenkova; I Dudich; E Gorbatova; N Tochtamisheva; E Tatulov; M Nikolaeva; G Sukhikh
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't    
Journal Detail:
Title:  European journal of biochemistry / FEBS     Volume:  266     ISSN:  0014-2956     ISO Abbreviation:  Eur. J. Biochem.     Publication Date:  1999 Dec 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2000-01-31     Completed Date:  2000-01-31     Revised Date:  2007-07-23    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  0107600     Medline TA:  Eur J Biochem     Country:  GERMANY    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  750-61     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Institute of Engineering Immunology, Lyubuchany, Moscow Region, Russia. dudich@ineos.ac.ru
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Antigens, CD / metabolism
Antigens, CD95 / metabolism
Apoptosis / drug effects*,  immunology,  physiology*
Caspase 3
Caspases / metabolism*
DNA Fragmentation / drug effects
Enzyme Activation / drug effects
Fas Ligand Protein
Membrane Glycoproteins / metabolism
Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases / metabolism
Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / metabolism
Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / metabolism
Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type I
Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type II
Tumor Cells, Cultured
Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / pharmacology
alpha-Fetoproteins / pharmacology*,  physiology
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
0/Antigens, CD; 0/Antigens, CD95; 0/Fas Ligand Protein; 0/Membrane Glycoproteins; 0/Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; 0/Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; 0/Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type I; 0/Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type II; 0/Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; 0/alpha-Fetoproteins; EC 2.4.2.30/Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases; EC 3.4.22.-/Caspase 3; EC 3.4.22.-/Caspases

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