Retinoic acid receptor-independent mechanism of apoptosis of melanoma cells by the retinoid CD437 (AHPN)

Cell Death Differ. 2001 Sep;8(9):878-86. doi: 10.1038/sj.cdd.4400894.

Abstract

Retinoic acid (RA) induces differentiation of S91 melanoma cells through activation of RA receptor (RAR)gamma without affecting cell viability. The novel RARgamma-agonist CD437 (AHPN), however, also induces concomitant apoptosis through an unknown mechanism which was investigated here. By utilizing DNA microarray analysis, five apoptosis-associated, CD437-induced transcripts (CITs) were identified. Interestingly, all CITs are also regulated by p53 in a DNA damage response, and consistent with this interpretation, CD437 was found to cause DNA adduct-formation. However, p53 is not required for CD437-dependent regulation of CITs. Among this set of genes, induction of p21(WAF1/CIP1) is likely to be responsible for early S-phase growth-arrest of CD437-treated cells, whereas ei24 is a critical mediator of CD437-induced apoptosis in S91 cells. These data suggest an RAR-independent mechanism in which CD437 causes DNA adduct-formation, resulting in induction of a p53-independent DNA damage response, and subsequent growth-arrest and apoptosis. CD437-mediated DNA adduct-formation may also explain its apoptotic effects in other cell types.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • 3T3 Cells
  • Animals
  • Apoptosis / drug effects*
  • Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins
  • Cell Division / drug effects
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21
  • Cyclins / genetics
  • Cyclins / metabolism
  • DNA Adducts / metabolism
  • DNA Damage / drug effects
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / drug effects
  • Melanoma, Experimental / metabolism
  • Melanoma, Experimental / pathology*
  • Mice
  • Nuclear Proteins / genetics
  • Nuclear Proteins / metabolism
  • Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis
  • Oligonucleotides, Antisense / genetics
  • Organ Specificity
  • Phosphoproteins / genetics
  • Phosphoproteins / metabolism
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • Receptors, Retinoic Acid / genetics
  • Receptors, Retinoic Acid / metabolism*
  • Retinoids / pharmacology*
  • S Phase / drug effects
  • Transfection
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / physiology

Substances

  • Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins
  • CD 437
  • Cdkn1a protein, mouse
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21
  • Cyclins
  • DNA Adducts
  • EI24 protein, human
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • Oligonucleotides, Antisense
  • Phosphoproteins
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Receptors, Retinoic Acid
  • Retinoids
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53