Tekautz TM, Zhu K, Grenet J, Kaushal D, Kidd VJ, Lahti JM. Evaluation of IFN-γ effects on apoptosis and gene expression in neuroblastoma—Preclinical studies.
BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-MOLECULAR CELL RESEARCH 2006;
1763:1000-10. [PMID:
16979248 DOI:
10.1016/j.bbamcr.2006.06.014]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2005] [Revised: 05/25/2006] [Accepted: 06/13/2006] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Loss of caspase-8 expression and resistance to cytotoxic agents occurs frequently in late stage neuroblastoma (NB). Interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) induces caspase-8 in NB cells, sensitizing them to death receptor mediated apoptosis. This study characterizes the kinetics of this phenomenon and examines the effects of IFN-gamma on global gene expression to determine whether IFN-gamma responses are achievable at physiologically relevant doses and to define the biological effects of this cytokine. Here we examine the IFN-gamma responses of 16 NB cell lines. A single <5-min exposure to IFN-gamma (0.5 ng/ml) induced caspase-8 expression in all non-expressing cell lines and in 3/6 cell lines which already expressed high caspase-8. This increase in caspase-8 proteins was observed within 16 h and persisted for up to 9 days. Furthermore, IFN-gamma pretreatment of NB cells increased doxorubicin-induced apoptosis nearly 3-fold. Microarray analysis was used to identify additional genes involved in proliferation, signaling and apoptosis whose expression was modulated via IFN-gamma. Altered expression of these genes should further enhance the responsiveness of NB cells to chemotherapeutics. Thus, the use of IFN-gamma to sensitize NB cells to cytotoxic agents represents an attractive therapeutic strategy and warrants further investigation.
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