CD40L and IL-4 stimulation of acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells results in upregulation of mRNA level of FLICE--an important component of apoptosis

• Published in: Folia histochemica et cytobiologica 2007-01, Vol.45 (1), p.15-20
• Main Authors: łuczyński, Włodzimierz, Kowalczuk, Oksana, Iłendo, Elibieta, Stasiak-Barmuta, Anna, Krawczuk-Rybak, Maryna, Malinowska, Iwona, Kołtan, Andrzej, Szczepalński, Tomasz, Olejnik, Igor, Jaworowski, Radosław, Chyczewski, Lech, Matysiak, Michał, Wysocki, Mariusz, Sońta-Jakimczyk, Danuta, Wieczorek, Maria
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Apoptosis; Caspase 8 - genetics; Caspase 8 - metabolism; CD40 Ligand - pharmacology; Dendritic Cells - metabolism; fas Receptor - genetics; fas Receptor - metabolism; Fas-Associated Death Domain Protein - genetics; Fas-Associated Death Domain Protein - metabolism; Female; Humans; Interleukin-4 - pharmacology; Male; Phenotype; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma - enzymology; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma - genetics; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma - immunology; RNA, Messenger - metabolism; TNF Receptor-Associated Death Domain Protein - genetics; TNF Receptor-Associated Death Domain Protein - metabolism; Up-Regulation
• ISSN: 0239-8508; 1897-5631
• DOI: 10.5603/4545

The use of cancer vaccines based on dendritic cells (DC) presenting tumor antigens can be a promising tool in the treatment of leukemia. The functional characteristics of leukemia derived DC is still to be elucidated. CD40 promotes survival, proliferation and differentiation of normal B cells. CD40 triggering was used to enhance the poor antigen-presenting capacity of leukemic B-cells. Since it is still unclear whether CD40 ligation drives neoplastic B-cells to apoptosis or not, we assessed the mRNA expression of FLICE, FAS, FADD and TRADD - important components of apoptosis machinery, using real-time PCR in acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells before and after CD40 and IL-4 stimulation. ALL cells stimulated with CD40L/IL-4 expressed dendritic cell phenotype at mRNA and protein levels (upregulation of main costimulatory and adhesion molecules noted in real-time RT PCR and flow cytometry); they also expressed higher amounts of mRNA for FLICE, TRADD and FADD after CD40L/IL-4 stimulation. However differences statistically significant comparing cells cultured with CD40L/IL-4 and medium alone regarded only FLICE. Concluding, we showed upregulation of important elements of apoptosis at mRNA level in ALL cells after CD40 ligation.