Abstract
Induction of mitochondria-controlled (intrinsic) apoptosis is a mainstay of current anti-neoplastic chemotherapies. Activation of this death pathway is counteracted by BCL-2-like proteins, which functionally set the threshold for apoptosis and determine whether malignant cells are sensitive or resistant to anti-cancer treatments. Hence, unlocking the intrinsic apoptotic cascade and promoting the cell's commitment to undergo apoptosis concordantly promotes efficacy of anti-cancer treatments. Here, we show that hyperosmotic stress enforces addiction of colorectal cancer cells to BCL-XL, thereby exhausting the protective capacity of BCL-2-like proteins and priming mitochondria for death. Our work identifies osmotic pressure as a cell extrinsic factor that modulates responsiveness of colorectal cancer cells to therapy.
Keywords:
Apoptosis; BCL-2; BCL-XL; BH3 mimetics; Hyperosmotic stress.
Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Publication types
-
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
-
Apoptosis / drug effects
-
Apoptosis / genetics
-
Biphenyl Compounds / pharmacology
-
Cell Line, Tumor
-
Cell Survival / drug effects
-
Cell Survival / genetics
-
Colorectal Neoplasms / drug therapy
-
Colorectal Neoplasms / genetics
-
Colorectal Neoplasms / metabolism*
-
HCT116 Cells
-
HT29 Cells
-
Humans
-
Mitochondria / drug effects
-
Mitochondria / genetics
-
Mitochondria / metabolism
-
Nitrophenols / pharmacology
-
Osmotic Pressure*
-
Piperazines / pharmacology
-
RNA Interference*
-
Signal Transduction / drug effects
-
Signal Transduction / genetics
-
Sulfonamides / pharmacology
-
bcl-2 Homologous Antagonist-Killer Protein / genetics
-
bcl-2 Homologous Antagonist-Killer Protein / metabolism
-
bcl-2-Associated X Protein / genetics
-
bcl-2-Associated X Protein / metabolism
-
bcl-X Protein / genetics
-
bcl-X Protein / metabolism*
Substances
-
ABT-737
-
BAK1 protein, human
-
BCL2L1 protein, human
-
Biphenyl Compounds
-
Nitrophenols
-
Piperazines
-
Sulfonamides
-
bcl-2 Homologous Antagonist-Killer Protein
-
bcl-2-Associated X Protein
-
bcl-X Protein