Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis inducing ligand expression and activity in hen granulosa cells

Abstract

Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis inducing ligand (TRAIL) represents one of several cytokine members of the tumor necrosis factor superfamily reported to initiate apoptosis in a wide range of transformed, but not most normal, cell types. The present studies were conducted to evaluate the potential for TRAIL to promote apoptotic cell death in differentiated granulosa cells collected from hen preovulatory follicles. While mRNA encoding critical components (including TRAIL) required for a functional extrinsic cell death pathway are expressed in granulosa cells, TRAIL treatment by itself fails to induce either caspase-3 activity or a decrease in cell viability. On the other hand, preculture of cells with the conventional chemotherapeutic, cisplatin, or the 20S proteosome inhibitor, Z-LLF-CHO, sensitizes granulosa cells to TRAIL as evidenced by enhanced caspase-3 activity after 4 h of culture and loss of cell viability after 24 h when compared with either cisplatin or Z-LLF-CHO treatment alone. Moreover, the sensitizing effect of Z-LLF-CHO on TRAIL-induced loss of cell viability is prevented by the selective caspase-8 inhibitor, Z-IETD-FMK. Interestingly, TRAIL mRNA expression is elevated both in prehierarchal follicles undergoing spontaneous atresia and in prehierarchal follicles induced to undergo atresia for 6 h in vitro. In summary, the data demonstrate the presence of a functional TRAIL signaling pathway in hen granulosa cells, and are consistent with the possibility that TRAIL signaling may directly or indirectly participate in the process of follicle atresia in vivo.

Role of Cell-Death Ligand-Receptor System of Granulosa Cells in Selective Follicular Atresia in Porcine Ovary

“…In the chicken ovary, TRAIL mRNA levels were elevated both in atretic follicles and in prehierarchal follicles induced to undergo atresia in vitro [57]. In the adult human ovary, mRNA of TRAIL and its receptors, DR4, DR5, DcR1 and DcR2, was expressed in granulosa cells and oocytes.…”

Cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity and targets of nephroprotection: an update

“…The activation of death domains at TRAIL receptors leads to pro-caspase-8 activation and subsequently to caspase-3 activation. In some types of cells, the amount of caspase-8 activated by this pathway is not enough to activate the downstream caspases but sufficient to cleave Bid, which then triggers the mitochondrial pathway (Johnson et al 2007;Vondalova Blanarova et al 2011). Cisplatin has been reported to increase DR5 expression and lipid raft localization, therefore potentiating TRAIL-induced apoptosis in human prostate and colon cancer cells (Vondalova Blanarova et al 2011).…”

Life and death of female gametes during oogenesis and folliculogenesis

“…It is noteworthy that mRNA of TRAIL, another member of the TNF family, is elevated in hen prehierarchal follicles undergoing spontaneous or induced atresia [107], indicating that at least four members of the TNF family may be involved in the process of follicle atresia.…”