WWOX-mediated apoptosis in A549 cells mainly involves the mitochondrial pathway.

Abstract

The human WWOX gene, known as WW domain-containing oxidoreductase, is located on 16q23.3-24.1, a chromosome region that spans the common fragile site, FRA16D. Abnormal transcripts or even loss of expression are frequently found in a number of cancer cell types, including breast, ovarian, prostate and lung cancer cells. It has therefore been proposed that the WWOX gene encodes a candidate tumor suppressor, possibly a pro-apoptotic protein. However, the mechanism behind this is not entirely clear. In the present study, we examined the pro-apoptotic action of WWOX using transient expression in A549 cells. We observed that the ectopic expression of WWOX caused apoptosis in A549 cells. We further observed procaspase-3 and procaspase-9 activation and the release of cytochrome C from the mitochondria in A549 cells transfected with pcDNA3.0-WWOX. These data indicate that WWOX induces apoptosis in A549 cells via the mitochondrial pathway.

• Authors: Ping Zhang, Renbing Jia, Lei Ying, Bo Liu, Guanxiang Qian, Xianqun Fan, Shengfang Ge
• Journal: Molecular medicine reports (Mol Med Rep) Vol. 6 Issue 1 Pg. 121-4 (07 2012) ISSN: 1791-3004 [Electronic] Greece
• PMID: 22484428 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Tumor Suppressor Proteins
• Cytochromes c
• Oxidoreductases
• WW Domain-Containing Oxidoreductase
• WWOX protein, human
• Caspase 3
• Caspase 9

Topics

• Adenocarcinoma (genetics, metabolism)
• Adenocarcinoma of Lung
• Apoptosis
• Caspase 3 (metabolism)
• Caspase 9 (metabolism)
• Cell Line, Tumor
• Cell Proliferation
• Cytochromes c (metabolism)
• Enzyme Activation (genetics)
• Humans
• Lung Neoplasms (genetics, metabolism)
• Mitochondria (metabolism)
• Oxidoreductases (genetics, metabolism)
• Signal Transduction
• Tumor Suppressor Proteins (genetics, metabolism)
• WW Domain-Containing Oxidoreductase