The caspase 9 inhibitor Z-LEHD-FMK protects human liver cells while permitting death of cancer cells exposed to tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand.

Abstract

Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) is a potent inducer of apoptosis of transformed and cancer cells but not of most normal cells. Recent studies have revealed an unforeseen toxicity of TRAIL toward normal human hepatocytes, thereby bringing into question the safety of systemic administration of TRAIL in humans with cancer. We found that SW480 colon adenocarcinoma, or H460 non-small cell lung cancer cell lines, which are sensitive to TRAIL, were not protected by the caspase 9 inhibitor Z-LEHD-FMK from TRAIL-induced apoptosis. However, a human colon cancer cell line HCT116 and a human embryonic kidney cell line 293, which are sensitive to TRAIL, were protected by Z-LEHD-FMK from TRAIL-mediated death. Both HCT116 and SW480 cells were protected from TRAIL by the caspase 8 inhibitor Z-IETD-FMK, dominant-negative FADD and cellular FLIP-s and interestingly both cell lines displayed caspase 9 cleavage to a similar extent after TRAIL exposure. We confirmed that normal human liver cells are sensitive to TRAIL. Moreover, we found that normal human liver cells could be protected from TRAIL-induced apoptosis by simultaneous exposure to Z-LEHD-FMK. A similar brief exposure to TRAIL plus Z-LEHD-FMK inhibited colony growth of SW480 but not HCT116 cells. Because some cancer cell lines are not protected from TRAIL-mediated killing by Z-LEHD-FMK, we believe that a brief period of caspase 9 inhibition during TRAIL administration may widen the therapeutic window and allow cancer cell killing while protecting normal liver cells. This strategy could be further developed in the effort to advance TRAIL into clinical trials.

• Authors: N Ozoren, K Kim, T F Burns, D T Dicker, A D Moscioni, W S El-Deiry
• Journal: Cancer research (Cancer Res) Vol. 60 Issue 22 Pg. 6259-65 (Nov 15 2000) ISSN: 0008-5472 [Print] United States
• PMID: 11103780 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
• Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins
• CASP8 and FADD-Like Apoptosis Regulating Protein
• CFLAR protein, human
• Carrier Proteins
• Caspase Inhibitors
• Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors
• FADD protein, human
• Fas-Associated Death Domain Protein
• Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
• Membrane Glycoproteins
• Oligopeptides
• TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand
• TNFSF10 protein, human
• Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
• benzyloxycarbonyl-isoleucyl-glutamyl-threonyl-aspartic acid fluoromethyl ketone
• benzyloxycarbonyl-leucyl-glutamyl-histidyl-aspartic acid fluoromethyl ketone
• CASP8 protein, human
• CASP9 protein, human
• Caspase 8
• Caspase 9

Topics

• Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
• Adenocarcinoma (drug therapy, enzymology, pathology)
• Apoptosis (drug effects)
• Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins
• CASP8 and FADD-Like Apoptosis Regulating Protein
• Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung (drug therapy, enzymology, pathology)
• Carrier Proteins (physiology)
• Caspase 8
• Caspase 9
• Caspase Inhibitors
• Colonic Neoplasms (drug therapy, enzymology, pathology)
• Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors (pharmacology)
• Drug Interactions
• Fas-Associated Death Domain Protein
• Female
• Hepatocytes (cytology, drug effects, enzymology)
• Humans
• Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
• Lung Neoplasms (drug therapy, enzymology, pathology)
• Membrane Glycoproteins (pharmacology, toxicity)
• Oligopeptides (pharmacology)
• TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand
• Tumor Cells, Cultured (drug effects)
• Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (pharmacology, toxicity)