There are few reports describing the role of p53-dependent gene repression in apoptotic cell death. To identify such apoptosis-associated p53 target genes, we used the prooxidant plant-derived drug thymoquinone and compared p53+/+ and p53À/À colon cancer cells HCT116. The p53 wild-type (wt) status correlated with more pronounced DNA damage and higher apoptosis after thymoquinone treatment. A significant up-regulation of the survival gene CHEK1 was observed in p53À/À cells in response to thymoquinone due to the lack of transcriptional repression of p53. In p53À/À cells, transfection with p53-wt vector and CHEK1 small interfering RNA treatment decreased CHEK1 mRNA and protein levels and restored apoptosis to the levels of the p53+/+ cells. p53À/ À cells transplanted to nude mice treated with thymoquinone up-regulated CHEK1 expression and did not undergo apoptosis unlike p53+/+ cells. Immunofluorescence analysis revealed that the apoptosis resistance in p53À/À cells after thymoquinone treatment might be conveyed by shuttling of CHEK1 into the nucleus. We confirmed the in vivo existence of this CHEK1/ p53 link in human colorectal cancer, showing that tumors lacking p53 had higher levels of CHEK1, which was accompanied by poorer apoptosis. CHEK1 overexpression was correlated with advanced tumor stages (P = 0.03), proximal tumor localization (P = 0.02), and worse prognosis (1.9-fold risk, univariate Cox regression; Kaplan-Meier, P = 0.04). We suggest that the inhibition of the stress response sensor CHEK1 might contribute to the antineoplastic activity of specific DNAdamaging drugs.

Many studies aim at improving therapeutic efficacy by combining strategies with oxidative stress-inducing drugs and histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors in colorectal cancer. As p53 and p21WAF1 are essential in oxidative stress-induced DNA damage, we investigated epigenetic regulation of p21WAF1 promoter. Firstly, HCT116 p53+/+ and p53−/− colorectal cancer cells were treated with H2O2 for 6 hrs and 24 hrs (early/late response). Chromatin immunoprecipitation revealed transcriptional transactivation of p21WAF1 in HCT116 p53+/+ cells as shown by increased binding of p53 and acetylated H4 around two p21WAF1 promoter sites, the responsible element (RE) and the Sp1 site, while both proteins bound preferentially on the RE. Interestingly, H3 was not involved, suggesting H4-specific transactivation of the p21WAF1 promoter. H2O2 addition resulted in G2/M arrest of both HCT116 cell lines without significant cell death. To investigate whether a HDAC inhibitor strengthens G2/M arrest, we pretreated cells with Trichostatin A (TSA). In HCT116 p53+/+ cells, we found (i) remarkably increased acetylated H4 around both p21WAF1 promoter regions, especially at the Sp1 site; (ii) increased acetylation of p53 at lysines 320 and 382;(iii) displacement of HDAC1 from the Sp1 site, thus inhibiting its repression effect and increasing p53 binding.p53 seems to trigger H4-acetylation around the p21WAF1 promoter because there was nearly no H4 acetylation in HCT116 p53−/− cells. For the first time we show that there is a time-dependent TSA mode of action with increased p53-dependent histone H4 acetylation at the p21WAF1 promoter in early response, and decreased acetylation in late response. Reduced p53-triggered transactivation of p21WAF1 in late response allows cells to re-enter cell cycle, and TSA causes p53 to simultaneously induce apoptosis.

Besides the well-understood DNA damage response via establishment of G2 checkpoint arrest, novel studies focus on the recovery from arrest by checkpoint override to monitor cell cycle re-entry. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of Chk1 in the recovery from G2 checkpoint arrest in HCT116 (human colorectal cancer) wt, p53–/– and p21–/– cell lines following H2O2 treatment. Firstly, DNA damage caused G2 checkpoint activation via Chk1. Secondly, overriding G2 checkpoint led to (i) mitotic slippage, cell cycle re-entry in G1 and subsequent G1 arrest associated with senescence or (ii) premature mitotic entry in the absence of p53/p21WAF1 causing mitotic catastrophe. We revealed subtle differences in the initial Chk1-involved G2 arrest with respect to p53/p21WAF1: absence of either protein led to late G2 arrest instead of the classic G2 arrest during checkpoint initiation, and this impacted the release back into the cell cycle. Thus, G2 arrest correlated with downstream senescence, but late G2 arrest led to mitotic catastrophe, although both cell cycle re-entries were linked to upstream Chk1 signalling. Chk1 knockdown deciphered that Chk1 defines long-term DNA damage responses causing cell cycle re-entry. We propose that recovery from oxidative DNA damage-induced G2 arrest requires Chk1. It works as cutting edge and navigates cells to senescence or mitotic catastrophe. The decision, however, seems to depend on p53/p21WAF1. The general relevance of Chk1 as an important determinant of recovery from G2 checkpoint arrest was verified in HT29 colorectal cancer cells.

No abstract

We showed previously that inhibition of polyamine catabolism with the polyamine oxidase inhibitor MDL 72527 (MDL) potentiates the apoptotic effects of apple procyanidins (Pcy) in SW620 cells. Here we report that Pcy caused an activation of the intrinsic apoptotic pathway through enhanced polyamine catabolism and mitochondrial membrane depolarization. MDL in the presence of Pcy caused a profound intracellular depletion of polyamines and exerted a protective effect on mitochondrial functions. MDL potentiation of Pcy-triggered apoptosis was reversed by addition of exogenous polyamines. In addition, MDL in combination with Pcy activated the extrinsic apoptotic pathway through enhanced TRAIL-death receptor (DR4/DR5) expression. Potentiation of Pcy-triggered apoptosis by MDL was inhibited when cells were exposed to specific inhibitors of DR4/DR5. These data indicate that the depletion of intracellular polyamines by MDL in the presence of Pcy caused a switch from intrinsic to extrinsic apoptotic pathways in human colon cancer-derived metastatic cells.