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Although Akt is a determinant of cisplatin (cis-diaminedichloroplatinum (CDDP)) resistance in ovarian cancer cells, which is related in part to its inhibitory action on p53 activation, precisely how Akt confers CDDP resistance is unclear. In this study, we show that CDDP induced p53-dependent Fas-associated death domain-like interleukin-1β-converting enzyme (FLICE)-like inhibitory protein (FLIP) degradation in chemosensitive ovarian cancer cells but not their resistant counterparts. CDDP induced FLIP–p53–Itch interaction, colocalization and FLIP ubiquitination in chemosensitive but not chemoresistant ovarian cancer cells. Moreover, although activated Akt inhibited CDDP-induced FLIP degradation and apoptosis in sensitive cells, these responses were facilitated by dominant-negative Akt expression in chemoresistant cells. Inhibition of Akt function also facilitated p53–FLIP interaction and FLIP ubiquitination, which were attenuated by p53 silencing. These results suggest that Akt confers resistance, in part, by modulating CDDP-induced, p53-dependent FLIP ubiquitination. Understanding the precise etiology of chemoresistance may improve treatment for ovarian cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Death receptors can directly (type I cells) or indirectly induce apoptosis by activating mitochondrial-regulated apoptosis (type II cells). The level of caspase 8 activation is thought to determine whether a cell is type I or II, with type II cells less efficient at activating this caspase following death receptor activation. FLICE-inhibitory protein (FLIP) blocks death receptor-mediated apoptosis by inhibiting caspase 8 activation; therefore, we assessed whether silencing FLIP could convert type II cells into type I. FLIP silencing-induced caspase 8 activation in Bax wild-type and null HCT116 colorectal cancer cells; however, complete caspase 3 processing and apoptosis were only observed in Bax wild-type cells. Bax-null cells were also more resistant to chemotherapy and tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis inducing ligand and, unlike the Bax wild-type cells, were not sensitized to these agents by FLIP silencing. Further analyses indicated that release of second mitochondrial activator of caspases from mitochondria and subsequent inhibition of X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP) was required to induce full caspase 3 processing and apoptosis following FLIP silencing. These results indicate that silencing FLIP does not necessarily bypass the requirement for mitochondrial involvement in type II cells. Furthermore, targeting FLIP and XIAP may represent a therapeutic strategy for the treatment of colorectal tumors with defects in mitochondrial-regulated apoptosis.Oncogene (2009) 28, 63–72; doi:10.1038/onc.2008.366; published online 29 September 2008 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Death effector domains (DEDs) are protein interaction modules found in a number of proteins known to regulate apoptosis from death receptors. The core DED family members that orchestrate programmed cell death from death receptors include the adaptor protein FADD, the initiator caspases procaspases-8 and -10 and the regulatory protein c-FLIP. Through homotypic DED interactions, these proteins assemble into the death-inducing signaling complex (DISC) to regulate initiator caspase activation and launch the apoptotic proteolytic cascade. A considerable body of evidence, however, is revealing that the same core group of DED-containing proteins also paradoxically promotes survival and proliferation in lymphocytes and possibly other cell types. This review delves into recent findings regarding these two opposing functional aspects of the core DED proteins. We discuss the current effort expanding our structural and biochemical view of how DED proteins assemble into the DISC to fully activate initiator caspases and execute cell death, and finally we examine details linking the same proteins to proliferation and describe how this outcome might be achieved through restricted activation of initiator caspases.Oncogene (2008) 27, 6216–6227; doi:10.1038/onc.2008.299 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Androgen-withdrawal-induced apoptosis (AWIA) is deregulated in androgen refractory prostate cancer. Androgens have been shown to positively regulate expression of the antiapoptotic FADD-like interleukin-1β-converting enzyme (FLICE)-like inhibitory protein (FLIP), and reduced FLIP expression precedes apoptosis after androgen withdrawal. Here, we show that FLIP protein expression is downregulated in castrated rats, while in LNCaP cells, androgens regulate FLIP in a manner that is dependent on phosphoinositol-3-kinase (PI3K) and Akt signaling. Specifically, treatment of LNCaP cells with LY294002, or expression of either PTEN or a non-phosphorylatable form of FOXO3a (FOXO3aTM), downregulates FLIP protein and mRNA. Conversely, treatment with androgens in the absence of PI3/Akt signaling, or following expression of FOXO3aTM, leads to increased FLIP expression. A FOXO3a binding site was identified in the FLIP promoter and shown necessary for the combined effects of androgens and FOXO3a on FLIP transcription. FOXO3a binds the androgen receptor, suggesting that the transcriptional synergy depends on an interaction between these proteins. Finally, LNCaP cells are sensitized to TRAIL-induced apoptosis by PTEN or LY294002, and rescued by androgens. FOXO3aTM also sensitizes cells to androgen-inhibited TRAIL apoptosis. Androgen rescue was diminished when either FOXO3a or FLIP was reduced by siRNA. These data support a role for FOXO3a in AWIA.Oncogene (2008) 27, 4422–4433; doi:10.1038/onc.2008.80; published online 7 April 2008 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) has emerged as a promising antineoplastic agent because of its ability to selectively kill tumoral cells. However, some cancer cells are resistant to TRAIL-induced apoptosis. We have previously demonstrated that in endometrial carcinoma cells such resistance is caused by elevated FLICE-inhibitory protein (FLIP) levels. The present study focuses on the mechanisms by which FLIP could be modulated to sensitize endometrial carcinoma cells to TRAIL-induced apoptosis. We find that inhibition of casein kinase (CK2) sensitizes endometrial carcinoma cells to TRAIL- and Fas-induced apoptosis. CK2 inhibition correlates with a reduction of FLIP protein, suggesting that CK2 regulates resistance to TRAIL and Fas by controlling FLIP levels. FLIP downregulation correlates with a reduction of mRNA and is prevented by addition of the MG-132, suggesting that CK2 inhibition results in a proteasome-mediated degradation of FLIP. Consistently, forced expression of FLIP restores resistance to TRAIL and Fas. Moreover, knockdown of either FADD or caspase-8 abrogates apoptosis triggered by inhibition of CK2, indicating that CK2 sensitization requires formation of functional DISC. Finally, because of the possible role of both TRAIL and CK2 in cancer therapy, we demonstrate that CK2 inhibition sensitizes primary endometrial carcinoma explants to TRAIL apoptosis. In conclusion, we demonstrate that CK2 regulates endometrial carcinoma cell sensitivity to TRAIL and Fas by regulating FLIP levels.Oncogene (2008) 27, 2513–2524; doi:10.1038/sj.onc.1210924; published online 5 November 2007 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemoresistance is a major therapeutic problem and the current knowledge on cellular mechanisms involved is incomplete. In the present study, we have investigated the possible involvement of Fas-associated death domain-like interleukin-1ß-converting enzyme (FLICE)-like inhibitory protein (FLIP) in ovarian cancer resistance by comparing chemosensitive (OV2008) and chemoresistant (C13*) ovarian cancer cells treated with cisplatin in vitro, and/or transfected with FLIP sense cDNA or FLIP small interfering RNA (siRNA) and determining FLIP protein content, cleavage of caspase-8 and caspase-3 and apoptosis. Cisplatin significantly decreased FLIP protein level, induced cleavage of caspase-8 and caspase-3 and apoptosis in a concentration-dependent manner in cisplatin-sensitive but not -resistant cells. While overexpression of FLIP-attenuated cisplatin-induced cleavage of caspase-8 and caspase-3 and apoptosis in chemosensitive cells, downregulation of FLIP in chemoresistant cells by siRNA increased apoptosis induced by cisplatin. These results suggest that FLIP plays a significant role in the regulation of apoptosis in human ovarian cancer cells and their sensitivity to cisplatin. This cell survival factor may be an important determinant in chemoresistance in ovarian cancer and may serve as a molecular target for the development of novel therapy for chemoresistant ovarian cancer.Oncogene (2004) 23, 6997-7004. doi:10.1038/sj.onc.1207925 Published online 19 July 2004 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Colorectal cancer cells are unique in that they escape Fas-mediated cell death in the presence of Fas ligand, and we recently reported that AMP-activated protein kinase-related kinase 5 (ARK5) suppresses cell death signaling mediated by cell death receptor in Akt-dependent manner. In the current study, therefore, we examined whether ARK5 is involved in the escape from Fas-mediated cell death of colorectal cancer cells. Among 10 cell lines, ARK5 mRNA expression was observed in LoVo, SW480, and SW1116 cell lines. Interestingly, SW480 and SW1116 cell lines, but not LoVo cell line, showed expressions of both Fas ligand (FasL) and Fas mRNAs. SW620 cell line also showed FasL mRNA; however, Fas and ARK5 mRNAs were not detected. Furthermore, well-coincided expression among ARK5, FasL, and Fas mRNAs was observed in tumor tissues from patients with colorectal cancer, suggesting the suppression of FasL/Fas system-induced cell death by ARK5 in colorectal cancer cell lines. Intensive cell death, which was dependent on the FasL/Fas system was encountered when ARK5 antisense RNA (ARK5/AS) was introduced into SW480 cells. FLIP was expressed in only ARK5 mRNA-expressing cell lines, and ARK5/AS induced FLIP cleavage in a caspase-6-dependent manner. Amino-acid sequence analysis of caspase-6 revealed two putative sites of phosphorylation by ARK5 at Ser80 and Ser257. Although active caspase-6 overexpression induced cell death in SW480 and DLD-1 cell lines, SW480 cells, but not DLD-1 cells, exhibited strong resistance to procaspase-6 overexpression. Moreover, mutant caspase-6, in which the Ser257 was substituted by Ala (caspase-6/SA), induced cell death and FLIP degradation, even in SW480 cells. Active ARK5 was found to phosphorylate wild-type caspase-6 in vitro, but not caspase-6/SA, and the prevented activation of caspase-6 was promoted due to its phosphorylation by active ARK5 in vitro. On the basis of the results of this study, we propose that ARK5 negatively regulates procaspase-6 by phosphorylation at Ser257, leading to resistance to the FasL/Fas system.Oncogene (2004) 23, 7067-7075. doi:10.1038/sj.onc.1207963 Published online 26 July 2004 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]