B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (B-CLL) cells fail to undergo apoptosis. The mechanism underlying this resistance to cell death is still largely unknown. Tumour necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) effectively kills tumour cells but not normal cells, and thus represents an attractive tool for the treatment of cancer. Unfortunately, lymphocytes from B-CLL patients are resistant to TRAIL-mediated apoptosis. Thus, we aimed to study the involvement of PED, a DED-family member with a broad antiapoptotic action, in this resistance. We demonstrate that B lymphocytes obtained from patients with B-CLL express high levels of PED. Treatment of B-CLL cells with specific PED antisense oligonucleotides, a protein synthesis inhibitor or HDAC inhibitors, induced a significant downregulation of PED and sensitized these cells to TRAIL-induced cell death. These findings suggest a direct involvement of PED in resistance to TRAIL-induced apoptosis in B-CLL. It also identifies this DED-family member as a potential therapeutic target for this form of leukaemia.
Selective inhibition of PED protein expression sensitizes B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemia cells to TRAIL-induced apoptosis / Garofalo, M.; Romano, G.; Quintavalle, C.; Romano, MARIA FIAMMETTA; Chiurazzi, F.; Zanca, C.; Condorelli, Gerolama. - In: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CANCER. - ISSN 0020-7136. - ELETTRONICO. - 120:6(2007), pp. 1215-1222. [10.1002/ijc.22495]
Selective inhibition of PED protein expression sensitizes B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemia cells to TRAIL-induced apoptosis.
ROMANO, MARIA FIAMMETTA;CONDORELLI, GEROLAMA
2007
Abstract
B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (B-CLL) cells fail to undergo apoptosis. The mechanism underlying this resistance to cell death is still largely unknown. Tumour necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) effectively kills tumour cells but not normal cells, and thus represents an attractive tool for the treatment of cancer. Unfortunately, lymphocytes from B-CLL patients are resistant to TRAIL-mediated apoptosis. Thus, we aimed to study the involvement of PED, a DED-family member with a broad antiapoptotic action, in this resistance. We demonstrate that B lymphocytes obtained from patients with B-CLL express high levels of PED. Treatment of B-CLL cells with specific PED antisense oligonucleotides, a protein synthesis inhibitor or HDAC inhibitors, induced a significant downregulation of PED and sensitized these cells to TRAIL-induced cell death. These findings suggest a direct involvement of PED in resistance to TRAIL-induced apoptosis in B-CLL. It also identifies this DED-family member as a potential therapeutic target for this form of leukaemia.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.