Pharmacological targeting of c-FLIPL and Bcl-2 family members promotes apoptosis in CD95L-resistant cells

Sci Rep. 2020 Nov 30;10(1):20823. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-76079-1.

Abstract

The development of efficient combinatorial treatments is one of the key tasks in modern anti-cancer therapies. An apoptotic signal can either be induced by activation of death receptors (DR) (extrinsic pathway) or via the mitochondria (intrinsic pathway). Cancer cells are characterized by deregulation of both pathways. Procaspase-8 activation in extrinsic apoptosis is controlled by c-FLIP proteins. We have recently reported the small molecules FLIPinB/FLIPinBγ targeting c-FLIPL in the caspase-8/c-FLIPL heterodimer. These small molecules enhanced caspase-8 activity in the death-inducing signaling complex (DISC), CD95L/TRAIL-induced caspase-3/7 activation and subsequent apoptosis. In this study to increase the pro-apoptotic effects of FLIPinB/FLIPinBγ and enhance its therapeutic potential we investigated costimulatory effects of FLIPinB/FLIPinBγ in combination with the pharmacological inhibitors of the anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 family members such as ABT-263 and S63845. The combination of these inhibitors together with FLIPinB/FLIPinBγ increased CD95L-induced cell viability loss, caspase activation and apoptosis. Taken together, our study suggests new approaches for the development of combinatorial anti-cancer therapies specifically targeting both intrinsic and extrinsic apoptosis pathways.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aniline Compounds / pharmacology
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / pharmacology*
  • Apoptosis / drug effects*
  • CASP8 and FADD-Like Apoptosis Regulating Protein / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Caspase 8 / metabolism
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Death Domain Receptor Signaling Adaptor Proteins / metabolism
  • Drug Delivery Systems
  • Fas Ligand Protein / pharmacology
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Sulfonamides / pharmacology

Substances

  • Aniline Compounds
  • BCL2 protein, human
  • CASP8 and FADD-Like Apoptosis Regulating Protein
  • CFLAR protein, human
  • Death Domain Receptor Signaling Adaptor Proteins
  • Fas Ligand Protein
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2
  • Sulfonamides
  • CASP8 protein, human
  • Caspase 8
  • navitoclax