Cellular FLICE-inhibitory Protein (cFLIP) Isoforms Block CD95- and TRAIL Death Receptor-induced Gene Induction Irrespective of Processing of Caspase-8 or cFLIP in the Death-inducing Signaling Complex

• Published in: The Journal of biological chemistry 2011-05, Vol.286 (19), p.16631-16646
• Main Authors: Kavuri, Shyam M., Geserick, Peter, Berg, Daniela, Dimitrova, Diana Panayotova, Feoktistova, Maria, Siegmund, Daniela, Gollnick, Harald, Neumann, Manfred, Wajant, Harald, Leverkus, Martin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Apoptosis; CASP8 and FADD-Like Apoptosis Regulating Protein - metabolism; Caspase 8 - metabolism; CD95L; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Membrane - metabolism; Cell Separation; Cell Surface Receptor; cFLIP; Death Domain; fas Receptor - chemistry; Gene Induction; Humans; Keratinocytes - cytology; Membrane Proteins; Protease Inhibitor; Protein Isoforms; Receptors, Death Domain - metabolism; Signal Transduction; TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand - metabolism; TRAIL; Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF); Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha - metabolism
• ISSN: 0021-9258; 1083-351X
• DOI: 10.1074/jbc.M110.148585

Death receptors (DRs) induce apoptosis but also stimulate proinflammatory “non-apoptotic” signaling (e.g. NF-κB and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activation) and inhibit distinct steps of DR-activated maturation of procaspase-8. To examine whether isoforms of cellular FLIP (cFLIP) or its cleavage products differentially regulate DR signaling, we established HaCaT cells expressing cFLIPS, cFLIPL, or mutants of cFLIPL (cFLIPD376N and cFLIPp43). cFLIP variants blocked TRAIL- and CD95L-induced apoptosis, but the cleavage pattern of caspase-8 in the death inducing signaling complex was different: cFLIPL induced processing of caspase-8 to the p43/41 fragments irrespective of cFLIP cleavage. cFLIPS or cFLIPp43 blocked procaspase-8 cleavage. Analyzing non-apoptotic signaling pathways, we found that TRAIL and CD95L activate JNK and p38 within 15 min. cFLIP variants and different caspase inhibitors blocked late death ligand-induced JNK or p38 MAPK activation suggesting that these responses are secondary to cell death. cFLIP isoforms/mutants also blocked death ligand-mediated gene induction of CXCL-8 (IL-8). Knockdown of caspase-8 fully suppressed apoptotic and non-apoptotic signaling. Knockdown of cFLIP isoforms in primary human keratinocytes enhanced CD95L- and TRAIL-induced NF-κB activation, and JNK and p38 activation, underscoring the regulatory role of cFLIP for these DR-mediated signals. Whereas the presence of caspase-8 is critical for apoptotic and non-apoptotic signaling, cFLIP isoforms are potent inhibitors of TRAIL- and CD95L-induced apoptosis, NF-κB activation, and the late JNK and p38 MAPK activation. cFLIP-mediated inhibition of CD95 and TRAIL DR could be of crucial importance during keratinocyte skin carcinogenesis and for the activation of innate and/or adaptive immune responses triggered by DR activation in the skin.