Autophagy switches to apoptosis in prostate cancer cells infected with melanoma differentiation associated gene-7/interleukin-24 (mda-7/IL-24).

Abstract

MDA-7/IL-24 has noteworthy potential as an anticancer therapeutic because of its diversity of antitumor properties, its lack of toxicity toward normal cells and tissues, and its safety and efficacy as evidenced in a phase I clinical trial. In a recent study, we document that Ad.mda-7-induced ER stress and ceramide production leads to early autophagy that subsequently switches to apoptosis in human prostate cancer cells. During the apoptotic phase, the MDA-7/IL-24 protein physically interacts with Beclin 1 and this interaction might inhibit Beclin 1 function culminating in apoptosis. Conversely, Ad.mda-7 infection leads to calpain-mediated cleavage of the Atg5 protein that might also facilitate a biochemical switch from autophagy to apoptosis. Our recent paper reveals novel aspects of the interplay between autophagy and apoptosis that underlie the cytotoxic action of MDA-7/IL-24 in prostate cancer cells. These new insights into MDA-7/IL-24 action provide intriguing leads for developing innovative combinatorial approaches for prostate cancer therapy.

• Authors: Sujit K Bhutia, Swadesh K Das, Belal Azab, Rupesh Dash, Zhao-zhong Su, Seok-Geun Lee, Paul Dent, David T Curiel, Devanand Sarkar, Paul B Fisher
• Journal: Autophagy (Autophagy) Vol. 7 Issue 9 Pg. 1076-7 (Sep 2011) ISSN: 1554-8635 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 21610321 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Interleukins
• interleukin-24

Topics

• Adenoviridae (genetics)
• Apoptosis
• Autophagy
• Cell Line, Tumor
• Gene Knockdown Techniques
• Humans
• Interleukins (genetics)
• Male
• Models, Biological
• Prostatic Neoplasms (metabolism, pathology)
• Transfection