Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand-induced apoptosis in glioma U87 cells

摘要

Studies have shown that tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) exhibits strong induction of apoptosis in human glioma cells. It remains unclear whether the mitochondrion pathway, an important apoptosis signaling pathway, is involved in TRAIL-induced glioma cell apoptosis. In the present study, in vitro cultured human glioma U87 cells were treated with human recombinant soluble TRAIL. Apoptosis of glioma U87 cells, mitochondrial transmembrane potential (ΔΨm), cytoplasmic cytochrome c concentration and changes in caspase-3, -8 and -9 activity following human recombinant soluble TRAIL treatment were investigated to determine the mechanism of glioma U87 cell apoptosis induced by TRAIL. Additionally, blocking caspase-8 resulted in TRAIL-induced mitochondrion pathway activation, suggesting that TRAIL, through activating caspase-8, initiated a series of mitochondrial events and resulted in apoptosis of glioma U87 cells.