Background: Many tumor cells are resistant to Apo2L/TRAIL-induced apoptosis in the absence of inhibitors of protein synthesis. Apo2L/TRAIL, in addition to induction of apoptosis, may therefore also activate survival pathways.
Methods: Here we investigated whether such survival pathways mediate resistance to Apo2L.0-induced apoptosis in human glioma cells.
Results: Apo2L.0 induced the phosphorylation of ERK1/2, but not of Akt. This effect was unaffected by caspase inhibition. Inhibitors of protein synthesis, PI3 kinase, ERK kinase, NF-kappaB or casein kinase 2 sensitized for Apo2L.0-induced apoptosis to a different extent in a panel of human malignant glioma cell lines. However, none of the sensitizers overcame resistance mediated by ectopic expression of the viral caspase 8 inhibitor, crm-A. Primary glioma cultures were almost completely resistant to Apo2L.0-induced cell death even in the presence of the inhibitors. Caspase-8 was expressed in these cells whereas only weak expression of DR5 was detected. Transient expression of DR5 conferred sensitivity to Apo2L.0.
Conclusion: These data challenge the view that specific cell lines harbour specific mechanisms of resistance to Apo2L/TRAIL. Weak expression of DR5 in primary glioma might limit the therapeutic application of Apo2L/TRAIL in human glioblastoma patients.