Open Access

ROS and ERK1/2-mediated caspase-9 activation increases XAF1 expression in dexamethasone-induced apoptosis of EBV-transformed B cells

  • Authors:
    • Ga Bin Park
    • Yunock Choi
    • Yeong Seok Kim
    • Hyun-Kyung Lee
    • Daejin Kim
    • Dae Young Hur
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: May 20, 2013     https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo.2013.1949
  • Pages: 29-38
  • Copyright: © Park et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License [CC BY_NC 3.0].

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Abstract

Dexamethasone (Dex) inhibits the growth of diverse types of cancer cells and is utilized clinically for the therapy of hematological malignancies. In this study, we investigated the molecular mechanisms of Dex action in the apoptosis of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-transformed B cells. We showed that Dex inhibited the proliferation of EBV-transformed B cells and induced apoptosis by activating caspase-9, -3 and -8. While activation of caspase-9 was triggered as early as 2 h after Dex treatment, cleavage of caspase-8 was deferred and was found 8 h after the exposure. Dex-dependent activation of caspase-8 was blocked by the specific caspase-9 inhibitor, z-LEHD-fmk. Moreover, Dex significantly increased the expression of X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis (XIAP)‑associated factor 1 (XAF1) and induced the translocation of XAF1 into the cytosol. Cytosolic XAF1 with Puma induced the translocation of Bax into mitochondria. Dex led to up-regulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and the phosphorylation of ERK1/2 after the exposure. We speculated that ROS generation might be the first event of Dex-induced apoptosis because ROS inhibitor NAC abrogated ROS production and ERK1/2 activation, but PD98059 did not block ROS production. NAC and PD98059 also suppressed the translocation of XAF1, Puma and Bax into mitochondria. These results demonstrated that Dex-mediated activation of caspase-9 via ROS generation and ERK1/2 pathway activation resulted in the activation of caspase-8 and the increment of XAF1, thereby induced apoptosis of EBV-transformed B cells. These findings suggest that Dex constitutes a probable therapy for EBV-associated hematological malignancies.
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July 2013
Volume 43 Issue 1

Print ISSN: 1019-6439
Online ISSN:1791-2423

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Spandidos Publications style
Park GB, Choi Y, Kim YS, Lee H, Kim D and Hur DY: ROS and ERK1/2-mediated caspase-9 activation increases XAF1 expression in dexamethasone-induced apoptosis of EBV-transformed B cells. Int J Oncol 43: 29-38, 2013
APA
Park, G.B., Choi, Y., Kim, Y.S., Lee, H., Kim, D., & Hur, D.Y. (2013). ROS and ERK1/2-mediated caspase-9 activation increases XAF1 expression in dexamethasone-induced apoptosis of EBV-transformed B cells. International Journal of Oncology, 43, 29-38. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo.2013.1949
MLA
Park, G. B., Choi, Y., Kim, Y. S., Lee, H., Kim, D., Hur, D. Y."ROS and ERK1/2-mediated caspase-9 activation increases XAF1 expression in dexamethasone-induced apoptosis of EBV-transformed B cells". International Journal of Oncology 43.1 (2013): 29-38.
Chicago
Park, G. B., Choi, Y., Kim, Y. S., Lee, H., Kim, D., Hur, D. Y."ROS and ERK1/2-mediated caspase-9 activation increases XAF1 expression in dexamethasone-induced apoptosis of EBV-transformed B cells". International Journal of Oncology 43, no. 1 (2013): 29-38. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo.2013.1949