In:
Cell Communication and Signaling, Springer Science and Business Media LLC, Vol. 9, No. 1 ( 2011-12)
Abstract:
The incidence of cancer in patients with neurological diseases, who have been treated with LiCl, is below average. LiCl is a well-established inhibitor of Glycogen synthase kinase-3, a kinase that controls several cellular processes, among which is the degradation of the tumour suppressor protein p53. We therefore wondered whether LiCl induces p53-dependent cell death in cancer cell lines and experimental tumours. Results Here we show that LiCl induces apoptosis of tumour cells both in vitro and in vivo . Cell death was accompanied by cleavage of PARP and Caspases-3, -8 and -10. LiCl-induced cell death was not dependent on p53, but was augmented by its presence. Treatment of tumour cells with LiCl strongly increased TNF-α and FasL expression. Inhibition of TNF-α induction using siRNA or inhibition of FasL binding to its receptor by the Nok-1 antibody potently reduced LiCl-dependent cleavage of Caspase-3 and increased cell survival. Treatment of xenografted rats with LiCl strongly reduced tumour growth. Conclusions Induction of cell death by LiCl supports the notion that GSK-3 may represent a promising target for cancer therapy. LiCl-induced cell death is largely independent of p53 and mediated by the release of TNF-α and FasL. Key words: LiCl, TNF-α, FasL, apoptosis, GSK-3, FasL
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
1478-811X
DOI:
10.1186/1478-811X-9-15
Language:
English
Publisher:
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Publication Date:
2011
detail.hit.zdb_id:
2126315-2
SSG:
12
