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The Role of SMAC in NSAID-induced Apoptosis

Bank, Alex (2008) The Role of SMAC in NSAID-induced Apoptosis. Doctoral Dissertation, University of Pittsburgh. (Unpublished)

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Abstract

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are effective in cancer prevention and have been shown to suppress the formation of colorectal tumors in both humans and rodents. The chemopreventive action of NSAIDs is believed to be mediated through induction of apoptosis in preneoplastic cells. However, the precise molecular mechanisms of NSAID-induced apoptosis remain unclear. Previous studies demonstrated that second mitochondria-derived activator of caspase (SMAC) plays an important role in executing NSAID-induced apoptosis in colon cancer cells. SMAC-knockout HCT116 colon cancer cells are resistant to NSAID-induced apoptosis, and are deficient in caspase activation and cytosolic release of cytochrome c and apoptosis inducing factor (AIF). In this study, we tested the hypothesis that SMAC regulates the release of cytochrome c and activation of caspase cascade through a feed-back amplification loop. We found that the N-terminal AVPI domain of SMAC is required for the proapoptotic activity of SMAC. Following NSAID treatment, SMAC promotes dissociation of caspase-3 from inhibitor of apoptosis proteins (IAPs), which in turn leads to mitochondrial dysfunction. We also studied the effects of pharmacological manipulation on NSAID-induced apoptosis by employing small-molecule compounds that functionally mimic the AVPI domain of SMAC. A synergistic action of NSAIDs and SMAC mimetics was observed in inducing a robust apoptotic response in several colon cancer cell lines, as well as in NSAID-resistant BAX-KO and SMAC-KO cell lines. SMAC mimetics appear to potentiate NSAID-induced apoptosis by stimulating the release of cytochrome c from mitochondria and activation of caspases. Together, these results suggest that SMAC may be useful as a target for the development of more effective chemopreventive agents.


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Details

Item Type: University of Pittsburgh ETD
Status: Unpublished
Creators/Authors:
CreatorsEmailPitt UsernameORCID
Bank, Alexalb64@pitt.eduALB64
ETD Committee:
TitleMemberEmail AddressPitt UsernameORCID
Committee ChairZhang, Linzhanglx@upmc.eduLIZ22
Committee ChairSobol, Robert W.rws9@pitt.eduRWS9
Committee MemberJohnson, Daniel E.johnsond@pitt.eduJOHNSOND
Committee MemberYin, Xiao-Mingxmyin@pitt.eduXMYIN
Committee MemberJiang, Yujiang@server.pharm.pitt.edu
Date: 2 September 2008
Date Type: Completion
Defense Date: 21 May 2008
Approval Date: 2 September 2008
Submission Date: 26 May 2008
Access Restriction: No restriction; Release the ETD for access worldwide immediately.
Institution: University of Pittsburgh
Schools and Programs: School of Medicine > Molecular Pharmacology
Degree: PhD - Doctor of Philosophy
Thesis Type: Doctoral Dissertation
Refereed: Yes
Uncontrolled Keywords: apoptosis; NSAID; SMAC; SMAC mimetics; cancer; colon cancer
Other ID: http://etd.library.pitt.edu/ETD/available/etd-05262008-202753/, etd-05262008-202753
Date Deposited: 10 Nov 2011 19:45
Last Modified: 19 Dec 2016 14:36
URI: http://d-scholarship.pitt.edu/id/eprint/7954

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