Tumor suppressor IRF-1 mediates retinoid and interferon anticancer signaling to death ligand TRAIL.

Abstract

Retinoids and interferons are signaling molecules with pronounced anticancer activity. We show that in both acute promyelocytic leukemia and breast cancer cells the retinoic acid (RA) and interferon signaling pathways converge on the promoter of the tumoricidal death ligand TRAIL. Promoter mapping, chromatin immunoprecipitation and RNA interference reveal that retinoid-induced interferon regulatory factor-1 (IRF-1), a tumor suppressor, is critically required for TRAIL induction by both RA and IFNgamma. Exposure of breast cancer cells to both antitumor agents results in enhanced TRAIL promoter occupancy by IRF-1 and coactivator recruitment, leading to strong histone acetylation and synergistic induction of TRAIL expression. In coculture experiments, pre-exposure of breast cancer cells to RA and IFNgamma induced a dramatic TRAIL-dependent apoptosis in heterologous cancer cells in a paracrine mode of action, while normal cells were not affected. Our results identify a novel TRAIL-mediated tumor suppressor activity of IRF-1 and suggest a mechanistic basis for the synergistic antitumor activities of certain retinoids and interferons. These data argue for combination therapies that activate the TRAIL pathway to eradicate tumor cells.

• Authors: Nicole Clarke, Ana M Jimenez-Lara, Emilie Voltz, Hinrich Gronemeyer
• Journal: The EMBO journal (EMBO J) Vol. 23 Issue 15 Pg. 3051-60 (Aug 04 2004) ISSN: 0261-4189 [Print] England
• PMID: 15241475 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Antineoplastic Agents
• Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins
• DNA-Binding Proteins
• IRF1 protein, human
• Interferon Regulatory Factor-1
• Membrane Glycoproteins
• Phosphoproteins
• TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand
• TNFSF10 protein, human
• Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
• Tretinoin
• Interferon-gamma

Topics

• Antineoplastic Agents (pharmacology)
• Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins
• Breast Neoplasms (metabolism, pathology)
• Cell Line, Tumor
• Cell Survival (drug effects)
• DNA-Binding Proteins (metabolism)
• Humans
• Interferon Regulatory Factor-1
• Interferon-gamma (pharmacology)
• Leukemia (metabolism, pathology)
• Membrane Glycoproteins (genetics, metabolism)
• Phosphoproteins (metabolism)
• Promoter Regions, Genetic (genetics)
• Signal Transduction (drug effects)
• TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand
• Tretinoin (pharmacology)
• Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (genetics, metabolism)