We analysed the effects of small interfering RNA (siRNA)-mediated silencing of Apollon, a member of the inhibitors of apoptosis protein family, on the proliferative potential and ability of human breast cancer cell lines to undergo apoptosis. In wild-type p53 ZR75.1 cells, Apollon knockdown resulted in a marked, time-dependent decline of cell growth and an increased rate of apoptosis, which was associated with p53 stabilisation and activation of the mitochondrial-dependent apoptotic pathway. Pre-incubation of cells with a p53-specific siRNA resulted in a partial rescue of cell growth inhibition, as well as in a marked reduction of the apoptotic response, indicating p53 as a major player in cell growth impairment consequent on Apollon silencing. Apollon knockdown induced consistently less pronounced anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic effects in mutant p53 MDA-MB-231 cells than in ZR75.1 cells. Furthermore, the activation of caspase-3 seemed to be essential for the induction of apoptosis after Apollon knockdown, as the Apollon-specific siRNA had no effect on the viability of caspase-3-deficient, wild-type p53 MCF-7 cells or the ZR75.1 cells after RNA interference-mediated caspase-3 silencing. Our results indicate that p53 stabilisation and caspase-3 activation concur to determine the apoptotic response mediated by Apollon knockdown in breast cancer cells, and suggest Apollon to be a potential new therapeutic target for this malignancy.
Titolo: | Apollon gene silencing induces apoptosis in breast cancer cells through p53 stabilisation and caspase-3 activation |
Autori: | |
Parole Chiave: | Apollon; human breast cancer; siRNA; apoptosis; p53; caspase-3 |
Settore Scientifico Disciplinare: | Settore MED/04 - Patologia Generale |
Data di pubblicazione: | 2009 |
Rivista: | |
Tipologia: | Article (author) |
Digital Object Identifier (DOI): | 10.1038/sj.bjc.6604927 |
Appare nelle tipologie: | 01 - Articolo su periodico |
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Lopergolo BJC2009.pdf | Publisher's version/PDF | Open Access Visualizza/Apri |