Synergistic induction of mitochondrial damage and apoptosis in human leukemia cells by flavopiridol and the histone deacetylase inhibitor suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA)

J. Almenara, R. Rosato, S. Grant

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

131 Scopus citations

Abstract

Interactions between the histone deacetylase inhibitor SAHA (suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid) and the cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) inhibitor flavopiridol (FP) were examined in human leukemia cells. Simultaneous exposure (24 h) of myelomonocytic leukemia cells (U937) to SAHA (1 μM) and FP (100 nm), which were minimally toxic alone (1.5±0.5% and 16.3±0.5% apoptosis respectively), produced a dramatic increase in cell death (ie 63.2±1.9% apoptotic), reflected by morphology, procaspase-3 and -8 cleavage, Bid activation, diminished ΔΨm, and enhanced cytochrome c release. FP blocked SAHA-mediated up-regulation of p21CIP1 and CD11b expression, while inducing caspase-dependent Bc1-2 and pRb cleavage. Similar interactions were observed in HL-60 and Jurkat leukemia cells. Enhanced apoptosis in SAHA/FP-treated cells was accompanied by a marked reduction in clonogenic surivival. Ectopic expression of either dominant-negative caspase-8 (C8-DN) or CrmA partially attenuated SAHA/FP-mediated apoptosis (eg 45±1.5% and 38.2±2.0% apoptotic vs 78±1.5% in controls) and Bid cleavage. SAHA/FP induced-apoptosis was unaffected by the free radical scavenger L-N-acetyl cysteine or the PKC inhibitor GFX. Finally, ectopic Bcl-2 expression marginally attenuated SAHA/FP-related apoptosis/cytochrome c release, and failed to restore clonogenicity in cells exposed to these agents. Together, these findings indicate that SAHA and FP interact synergistically to induce mitochondrial damage and apoptosis in human leukemia cells, and suggest that this process may also involve engagement of the caspase-8-dependent apoptotic cascade.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1331-1343
Number of pages13
JournalLeukemia
Volume16
Issue number7
DOIs
StatePublished - 2002

Keywords

  • Apoptosis
  • Cytochrome c
  • Flavopiridol
  • Histone deacetylase inhibitor
  • Leukemia
  • SAHA

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Hematology
  • Oncology
  • Cancer Research

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