c-FLIPL enhances anti-apoptotic Akt functions by modulation of Gsk3β activity

Cell Death Differ. 2010 Dec;17(12):1908-16. doi: 10.1038/cdd.2010.65. Epub 2010 May 28.

Abstract

Akt is a serine-threonine kinase that has an important role in transducing survival signals. Akt also regulates a number of proteins involved in the apoptotic process. To find new Akt interactors, we performed a two-hybrid screening in yeast using full-length Akt cDNA as bait and a human cDNA heart library as prey. Among 200 clones obtained, two of them were identified as coding for the c-FLIP(L) protein. c-FLIP(L) is an endogenous inhibitor of death receptor-induced apoptosis through the caspase-8 pathway. Using co-immunoprecipitation experiments of either transfected or endogenous proteins, we confirmed the interaction between Akt and c-FLIP(L). Furthermore, we observed that c-FLIP(L) overexpression interferes with Gsk3-β phosphorylation levels. Moreover, through its effects on Gsk3β, c-FLIP(L) overexpression in cancer cells induced resistance to tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL). This effect was mediated by the regulation of p27(Kip1) and caspase-3 expression. These results indicate the existence of a new mechanism of resistance to TRAIL in cancer cells, and unexpected functions of c-FLIP(L).

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Retracted Publication

MeSH terms

  • Apoptosis
  • CASP8 and FADD-Like Apoptosis Regulating Protein / metabolism
  • CASP8 and FADD-Like Apoptosis Regulating Protein / physiology*
  • Caspase 3 / metabolism
  • Caspase 8 / metabolism
  • Cell Line
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p27 / metabolism
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p27 / physiology
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 / genetics
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 / metabolism*
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta
  • Humans
  • Lithium Chloride / pharmacology
  • Phosphorylation
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction
  • TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand / pharmacology

Substances

  • CASP8 and FADD-Like Apoptosis Regulating Protein
  • TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p27
  • GSK3B protein, human
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3
  • Caspase 3
  • Caspase 8
  • Lithium Chloride