Restoration of fragile histidine triad (FHIT) expression induces apoptosis and suppresses tumorigenicity in lung and cervical cancer cell lines.

Abstract

Loss of expression of the Fhit protein is often associated with the development of many human epithelial cancers, including lung and cervical carcinomas. Restoration of Fhit expression in cell lines derived from these tumors has however yielded conflicting results, prompting the need for careful evaluation of the oncosuppressive potential of FHIT. In the present study, we have investigated the effect of Fhit reintroduction in seven lung cancer and three cervical cancer cell lines. To achieve efficient gene transfer and high levels of transgene expression, we have used an adenoviral vector to transduce the FHIT gene. The induction of apoptosis was evaluated by using the terminal deoxynucleotidyltransferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling assay and propidium iodide staining. Activation of caspases was detected by using Western blot analysis, and tumorigenic potential of transduced cells in the nude mouse was also assessed. Restoration of Fhit expression induced apoptosis in all Fhit-negative cell lines, with Calu-1, H460, and A549 being the most susceptible among the lung cancer cell lines and SiHa cells among cervical carcinomas. Activation of caspase-8 was always associated with Fhit-mediated apoptosis, and in vivo tumorigenicity was either abolished by FHIT gene transfer (in H460 and SK-Mes cells) or strongly suppressed (in A549 and SiHa cells). Our data demonstrate oncosuppressive properties and strong proapoptotic activity of the Fhit protein in lung and cervical cancer cell lines and strengthens the hypothesis of its possible use as a therapeutic tool.

• Authors: Luca Roz, Marcella Gramegna, Hideshi Ishii, Carlo M Croce, Gabriella Sozzi
• Journal: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A) Vol. 99 Issue 6 Pg. 3615-20 (Mar 19 2002) ISSN: 0027-8424 [Print] United States
• PMID: 11891319 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.)

Chemical References

• Neoplasm Proteins
• fas Receptor
• fragile histidine triad protein
• Propidium
• CASP8 protein, human
• CASP9 protein, human
• Casp8 protein, mouse
• Casp9 protein, mouse
• Caspase 8
• Caspase 9
• Caspases
• Acid Anhydride Hydrolases

Topics

• Acid Anhydride Hydrolases
• Adenoviridae (genetics)
• Animals
• Apoptosis
• Caspase 8
• Caspase 9
• Caspases (metabolism)
• Cell Cycle
• Cell Transformation, Neoplastic (genetics, pathology)
• Female
• Flow Cytometry
• Genetic Therapy (methods)
• Humans
• Lung Neoplasms (enzymology, genetics, pathology, therapy)
• Mice
• Mice, Nude
• Neoplasm Proteins (genetics, metabolism)
• Propidium
• Transduction, Genetic
• Transgenes (genetics)
• Tumor Cells, Cultured
• Uterine Cervical Neoplasms (enzymology, genetics, pathology, therapy)
• fas Receptor (metabolism)