Enhancement of cell death by TNF alpha-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) in human lung carcinoma A549 cells exposed to x rays under hypoxia

J Radiat Res. 2007 Nov;48(6):461-8. doi: 10.1269/jrr.07028. Epub 2007 Sep 26.

Abstract

Our previous study showed that ionizing radiation induced the expression of death receptor DR5 on the cell surface in tumor cell lines and that the death receptor of the TNF alpha-related apoptosis-inducing ligand TRAIL enhanced the apoptotic pathway (Hamasu et al., (2005) Journal of Radiation Research, 46:103-110). The present experiments were performed to examine whether treatment with TRAIL enhanced the cell killing in tumor cells exposed to ionizing radiation under hypoxia, since the presence of radioresistant cells in hypoxic regions of solid tumors is a serious problem in radiation therapy for tumors. When human lung carcinoma A549 cells were irradiated under normoxia and hypoxia, respectively, radiation-induced enhancement of expression of DR5 was observed under both conditions. Incubation in the presence of TRAIL enhanced the caspase-dependent and chymotrypsin-like-protease-dependent apoptotic cell death in A549 cells exposed to X rays. Furthermore, it was shown that treatment with TRAIL enhanced apoptotic cell death and loss of clonogenic ability in A549 cells exposed to X rays not only under normoxia but also under hypoxia, suggesting that combination treatment with TRAIL and X irradiation is effective for hypoxic tumor cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Apoptosis / drug effects*
  • Apoptosis / radiation effects*
  • Cell Hypoxia / drug effects
  • Cell Hypoxia / radiation effects
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation
  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Lung Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Oxygen / metabolism
  • Radiation Tolerance / drug effects
  • Receptors, TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand / administration & dosage*
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / metabolism*
  • X-Rays

Substances

  • Receptors, TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand
  • TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand
  • TNFSF10 protein, human
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • Oxygen