본 연구에서는 플라보노이드 계열 중의 하나인 luteolin을 이용하여 TRAIL에 저항성을 가지는 T24 방광암세포에서 TRAIL 저항성 극복 가능성을 조사하였다. 본 연구의 결과에 의하면 luteolin 및 TRAIL 각각 단독 처리 시 세포증식에 전혀 영향을 미치지 못한 농도의 복합 처리 시 세포증식억제 효과가 크게 증가하였음 알 수 있었다. 이러한 증식억제와 연관된 aspoptosis 유도는 caspase-8의 활성화에 의한 tBid의 발현 증가와 pro-apoptotic 인자인 Bax의 발현 증가로 인한 caspase-9 및 -3의 활성화로 이어지는 type II apoptosis에 의한 것이라 추측되며, 이러한 가정은 각각의 caspase 선택적 저해제를 이용하여 재확인 하였다. 본 연구결과는 TRAIL에 저항성을 보이는 암세포에 luteolin이 감수성을 높이는데 효과적일 수 있으며, 암세포에 대한 combination therapy를 위한 기초자료로 활용성이 높을 것으로 사료된다.
Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) can selectively induce apoptosis by targeting cancer cells. However, some cancer cells are resistant to TRAIL-induced cytotoxicity. One method of overcoming TRAIL resistance is combination treatment with reagents to sensitize cells to TRAIL. Luteolin, a flavonoid, has been shown to have anti-cancer effects by inducing apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in various cancer cell lines in vitro. In this study, we investigated the effects of combination treatment with non-toxic concentration of TRAIL and luteolin in T24 human bladder cancer cells. Combined treatment with luteolin and TRAIL significantly inhibits cell proliferation via activation of caspases by inducing Bid truncation, up-regulation of Bax and down-regulation of X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP). However, the apoptotic effects of combination treatment with luteolin and TRAIL were significantly inhibited by specific caspases inhibitors. Taken together, these results indicate that combination treatment with TRAIL and luteolin can induce apoptosis in TRAIL-resistant cancer cells through down-regulation of XIAP and modulation of tBid and Bax expression.
