Metformin‑induced apoptosis facilitates degradation of the cellular caspase 8 (FLICE)‑like inhibitory protein through a caspase‑dependent pathway in human renal cell carcinoma A498 cells

  • Authors:
    • Ji‑Hoon Jang
    • In‑Hwan Song
    • Eon‑Gi Sung
    • Tae‑Jin Lee
    • Joo‑Young Kim
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  • Published online on: May 30, 2018     https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2018.8832
  • Pages: 2030-2038
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Abstract

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is one of the most common types of cancer in adults. Previous studies have reported that the survival rate was significantly lower for renal cancer patients with diabetes than for those without diabetes. Metformin is a well‑known anti‑diabetic agent used for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). It also inhibits cell proliferation and angiogenesis and is known to possess antitumor effects. However, the molecular mechanism for metformin‑induced apoptosis in renal cell carcinoma is not understood. In the present study, treatment with metformin induced apoptosis in A498 cells in a dose‑dependent manner. It was revealed that degradation of cellular caspase 8 (FLICE)‑like inhibitory protein (c‑FLIP) and activation of procaspase‑8 were associated with metformin‑mediated apoptosis. By contrast, treatment with metformin did not affect the mRNA level of c‑FLIPL in A498 cells. Treatment with benzyloxycarbonyl‑Val‑Ala‑Asp‑fluoromethyl ketone (z‑VAD‑fmk, a pan‑caspase inhibitor) almost completely blocked metformin‑induced apoptosis and degradation of c‑FLIPL protein. However, N‑acetyl‑L‑cysteine (NAC), a reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenger, did not inhibit metformin‑mediated apoptosis in A498 cells. Taken together, the results of the present study demonstrated that metformin‑induced apoptosis involved degradation of the c‑FLIPL protein and activation of caspase‑8 in human renal cell carcinoma A498 cells and suggested that metformin could be potentially used for the treatment of renal cancer.
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August-2018
Volume 16 Issue 2

Print ISSN: 1792-1074
Online ISSN:1792-1082

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Spandidos Publications style
Jang JH, Song IH, Sung EG, Lee TJ and Kim JY: Metformin‑induced apoptosis facilitates degradation of the cellular caspase 8 (FLICE)‑like inhibitory protein through a caspase‑dependent pathway in human renal cell carcinoma A498 cells. Oncol Lett 16: 2030-2038, 2018
APA
Jang, J., Song, I., Sung, E., Lee, T., & Kim, J. (2018). Metformin‑induced apoptosis facilitates degradation of the cellular caspase 8 (FLICE)‑like inhibitory protein through a caspase‑dependent pathway in human renal cell carcinoma A498 cells. Oncology Letters, 16, 2030-2038. https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2018.8832
MLA
Jang, J., Song, I., Sung, E., Lee, T., Kim, J."Metformin‑induced apoptosis facilitates degradation of the cellular caspase 8 (FLICE)‑like inhibitory protein through a caspase‑dependent pathway in human renal cell carcinoma A498 cells". Oncology Letters 16.2 (2018): 2030-2038.
Chicago
Jang, J., Song, I., Sung, E., Lee, T., Kim, J."Metformin‑induced apoptosis facilitates degradation of the cellular caspase 8 (FLICE)‑like inhibitory protein through a caspase‑dependent pathway in human renal cell carcinoma A498 cells". Oncology Letters 16, no. 2 (2018): 2030-2038. https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2018.8832