Identification of a novel form of caspase-independent cell death triggered by BH3-mimetics in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma cell lines

oleh: Nahide Yildirim, Lakshmi Sarojam, Victoria M. Smith, Nadja M. Pieper, Marius Anders, Ross A. Jackson, Dominik C. Fuhrmann, Vinzenz Särchen, Daniela Brücher, Andreas Weigert, Martin J. S. Dyer, Meike Vogler

Format: Article
Diterbitkan: Nature Publishing Group 2024-04-01

Deskripsi

Abstract BH3-mimetics represent promising anti-cancer agents in tumors that rely on the anti-apoptotic function of B-Cell Lymphoma 2 (BCL2) proteins, particularly in leukemia and lymphoma cells primed for apoptosis. Mechanistically, BH3-mimetics may displace pro-apoptotic binding partners thus inducing BAX/BAK-mediated mitochondrial permeabilization followed by cytochrome c release, activation of the caspase cascade and apoptosis. Here, we describe a novel mode of caspase-independent cell death (CICD) induced by BH3-mimetics in a subset of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) cells. Of note, rather than occurring via necroptosis, CICD induced immediately after mitochondrial permeabilization was associated with transcriptional reprogramming mediated by activation of c-Jun N-terminal Kinase (JNK) signaling and Activator Protein 1 (AP1). Thereby, CICD resulted in the JNK/AP1-mediated upregulation of inflammatory chemokines and increased migration of cytotoxic Natural Killer (NK) cells. Taken together, our study describes a novel mode of CICD triggered by BH3-mimetics that may alter the immune response towards dying cells.