Thapsigargin sensitizes human esophageal cancer to TRAIL-induced apoptosis via AMPK activation.

ABSTRACT: Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) is a promising anticancer agent for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Forced expression of CHOP, one of the key downstream transcription factors during endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, upregulates the death receptor 5 (DR5) levels and promotes oxidative stress and cell death. In this study, we show that ER stress mediated by thapsigargin promoted CHOP and DR5 synthesis thus sensitizing TRAIL treatment, which induced ESCC cells apoptosis. These effects were reversed by DR5 siRNA in vitro and CHOP siRNA both in vitro and in vivo. Besides, chemically inhibition of AMPK by Compound C and AMPK siRNA weakened the anti-cancer effect of thapsigargin and TRAIL co-treatment. Therefore, our findings suggest ER stress effective

SUBMITTER: Ma Z 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5059685 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature