TAT‑fused IP3R‑derived peptide enhances cisplatin sensitivity of ovarian cancer cells by increasing ER Ca2+ release

Int J Mol Med. 2018 Feb;41(2):809-817. doi: 10.3892/ijmm.2017.3260. Epub 2017 Nov 16.

Abstract

Ovarian cancer is the most common gynecological malignancy. At present, cisplatin is used to treat ovarian cancer; however, the development of cisplatin resistance during therapy is a common obstacle to achieving favorable outcomes. Recently, the B‑cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl‑2) BH4 domain has been reported to mediate the prosurvival activity of Bcl‑2 in cancer; however, the involvement of the BH4 domain of Bcl‑2 in the cisplatin resistance of ovarian carcinoma cells is not entirely clear. In this study, we observed the cytoplasmic and mitochondrial levels of Ca2+ by confocal laser microscopy. We also detected cell apoptosis using western blot analysis and flow cytometry. The present study demonstrated that TAT‑fused inositol 1,4,5‑trisphosphate receptor‑derived peptide (TAT‑IDPS), which targets the BH4 domain of Bcl‑2, increased cisplatin‑induced Ca2+ flux from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) into the cytosol and mitochondria. In addition, TAT‑IDPS increased cisplatin‑induced expression of mitochondrial apoptosis‑associated proteins and ER stress‑associated proteins. These results indicated that TAT‑IDPS may enhance the cytotoxicity of cisplatin toward ovarian carcinoma cells by increasing ER Ca2+ release.

MeSH terms

  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Cisplatin / administration & dosage*
  • Cisplatin / adverse effects
  • Drug Resistance, Neoplasm / drug effects
  • Drug Resistance, Neoplasm / genetics*
  • Endoplasmic Reticulum / drug effects
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate Receptors / genetics
  • Mitochondria / drug effects
  • Mitochondria / genetics
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / genetics
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / pathology
  • Peptides / administration & dosage
  • Peptides / genetics
  • Protein Domains / genetics
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / genetics*

Substances

  • BCL2 protein, human
  • Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate Receptors
  • Peptides
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2
  • Cisplatin