1. ¹Division of Molecular Toxicology, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
2. ²Department of Physiology, National University of Singapore, Singapore
3. ³Division of Biochemical Toxicology, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden

Correspondence: Dr B Fadeel, Cell Death Research Group, Division of Biochemical Toxicology, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Nobels väg 13, Stockholm 171 77, Sweden. E-mail: bengt.fadeel@ki.se

Received 6 June 2006; Revised 9 February 2007; Accepted 20 February 2007; Published online 22 March 2007.

Abstract

Second mitochondrial activator of caspase (Smac)-derived peptides have previously been shown to facilitate apoptosis of various types of cancer cells. However, it remains unclear whether the effects of such Smac agonists are dependent on apoptotic protease-activating factor-1 (Apaf-1), a key component of the apoptosome. Here, we explored the role of Apaf-1 through overexpression of this protein in the B-lymphoma cell line Raji that is defective for cytosolic Apaf-1 expression. Enforced expression of Apaf-1 rendered Raji cells sensitive to staurosporine as well as to the proteasome inhibitor, lactacystin. Importantly, co-treatment with Smac peptides resulted in a threefold higher degree of apoptosis in Apaf-1-expressing Raji cells, but not in mock-transfected cells. Smac peptides also potentiated apoptosis of the DG-75 cell line following liberation of endogenous Apaf-1 from the plasma membrane, but were ineffective when added alone. Furthermore, we observed high levels of expression in several B-lymphoma cell lines of cellular inhibitor of apoptosis protein-2 (cIAP2), and immunodepletion of cIAP2 (a target of Smac) was found to sensitize Apaf-1-overexpressing Raji cells to cytochrome c-dependent caspase activation. Collectively, these results demonstrate the importance of Apaf-1 in Smac-mediated potentiation of apoptosis of B-lymphoma-derived cells.