Inhibition of NF-κB Sensitizes A431 Cells to Epidermal Growth Factor-induced Apoptosis, whereas Its Activation by Ectopic Expression of RelA Confers Resistance

• Published in: The Journal of biological chemistry 2003-07, Vol.278 (28), p.25490-25498
• Main Authors: Anto, Ruby John, Venkatraman, Manickam, Karunagaran, Devarajan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0021-9258; 1083-351X
• DOI: 10.1074/jbc.M301790200

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) is a well known mitogen, but it paradoxically induces apoptosis in cells that overexpress its receptor. We demonstrate for the first time that the EGF-induced apoptosis is accelerated if NF-κB is inactivated. To inactivate NF-κB, human epidermoid carcinoma cells (A431) that overexpress EGF receptor were stably transfected with an IκB-α double mutant construct. Under the NF-κB-inactivated condition, A431 cells were more sensitive to EGF with decreased cell viability and increased externalization of phosphatidylserine on the cell surface, DNA fragmentation, and activation of caspases (3 and 8 but not 9), typical features of apoptosis. These results were further supported by the potentiation of the growth inhibitory effects of EGF by chemical inhibitors of NF-κB (curcumin and sodium salicylate) and the protective role of RelA evidenced by the resistance of A431-RelA cells (stably transfected with RelA) to EGF-induced apoptosis. EGF treatment or ectopic expression of RelA in A431 cells induced DNA binding activity of NF-κB (p50 and RelA) and the expression of c-IAP1, a downstream target of NF-κB. A431-RelA cells exhibited spontaneous phosphorylation of Akt (a downstream target of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and regulator of NF-κB) and EGF treatment stimulated it further. Blocking this basal Akt phosphorylation with LY294002, an inhibitor of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, did not affect their viability but blocking of EGF-induced phosphorylation of Akt sensitized the otherwise resistant A431-RelA cells to EGF-mediated growth inhibition. Our results favor an anti-apoptotic role for NF-κB in the regulation of EGF-induced apoptosis.