Ilimaquinone induces death receptor expression and sensitizes human colon cancer cells to TRAIL-induced apoptosis through activation of ROS-ERK/p38 MAPK-CHOP signaling pathways.

Abstract

TRAIL induces apoptosis in a variety of tumor cells. However, development of resistance to TRAIL is a major obstacle to more effective cancer treatment. Therefore, novel pharmacological agents that enhance sensitivity to TRAIL are necessary. In the present study, we investigated the molecular mechanisms by which ilimaquinone isolated from a sea sponge sensitizes human colon cancer cells to TRAIL. Ilimaquinone pretreatment significantly enhanced TRAIL-induced apoptosis in HCT 116 cells and sensitized colon cancer cells to TRAIL-induced apoptosis through increased caspase-8, -3 activation, PARP cleavage, and DNA damage. Ilimaquinone also reduced the cell survival proteins Bcl2 and Bcl-xL, while strongly up-regulating death receptor (DR) 4 and DR5 expression. Induction of DR4 and DR5 by ilimaquinone was mediated through up-regulation of CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein homologous protein (CHOP). The up-regulation of CHOP, DR4 and DR5 expression was mediated through activation of extracellular-signal regulated kinase (ERK) and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways. Finally, the generation of ROS was required for CHOP and DR5 up-regulation by ilimaquinone. These results demonstrate that ilimaquinone enhanced the sensitivity of human colon cancer cells to TRAIL-induced apoptosis through ROS-ERK/p38 MAPK-CHOP-mediated up-regulation of DR4 and DR5 expression, suggesting that ilimaquinone could be developed into an adjuvant chemotherapeutic drug.

• Authors: Minh Truong Do, MinKyun Na, Hyung Gyun Kim, Tilak Khanal, Jae Ho Choi, Sun Woo Jin, Seok Hoon Oh, In Hyun Hwang, Young Chul Chung, Hee Suk Kim, Tae Cheon Jeong, Hye Gwang Jeong
• Journal: Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association (Food Chem Toxicol) Vol. 71 Pg. 51-9 (Sep 2014) ISSN: 1873-6351 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 24930757 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• DDIT3 protein, human
• DNA Primers
• Quinones
• Reactive Oxygen Species
• Receptors, Death Domain
• Sesquiterpenes
• TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand
• TNFSF10 protein, human
• Transcription Factor CHOP
• ilimaquinone
• Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases

Topics

• Apoptosis (physiology)
• Base Sequence
• Cell Line, Tumor
• Colonic Neoplasms (pathology)
• DNA Primers
• Enzyme Activation
• Humans
• Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases (metabolism)
• Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
• Quinones (chemistry, toxicity)
• Reactive Oxygen Species (metabolism)
• Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
• Receptors, Death Domain (drug effects, metabolism)
• Sesquiterpenes (chemistry, toxicity)
• Signal Transduction (drug effects)
• TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand (physiology)
• Transcription Factor CHOP (metabolism)
• Up-Regulation (drug effects)