Roles of NF-κB and 26 S Proteasome in Apoptotic Cell Death Induced by Topoisomerase I and II Poisons in Human Nonsmall Cell Lung Carcinoma

Activation of signaling pathways after DNA damage induced by topoisomerase (topo) poisons can lead to cell death by apoptosis. Treatment of human nonsmall cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC-3 or NSCLC-5) cells with the topo I poison SN-38 or the topo II poison etoposide (VP-16) leads to activation of NF-κB before induction of apoptosis. Inhibiting the degradation of IκBα by pretreatment with the proteasome inhibitor MG-132 significantly inhibited NF-κB activation and apoptosis but not DNA damage induced by SN-38 or VP-16. Transfection of NSCLC-3 or NSCLC-5 cells with dominant negative mutant IκBα (mIκBα) inhibited SN-38 or VP-16 induced transcription and DNA binding activity of NF-κB without altering drug-induced apoptosis. Regulation of apoptosis by mitochondrial release of cytochrome c and activation of pro-caspase 9 followed by cleavage of poly-(ADP-ribose) polymerase by effector caspases 3 and 7 was similar in neo and mIκBα cells treated with SN-38 or VP-16. In contrast to pretreatment with MG-132, exposure to MG-132 after SN-38 or VP-16 treatment of neo or mIκBα cells decreased cell cycle arrest in the S/G ₂ + M fraction and enhanced apoptosis compared with drug alone. In summary, apoptosis induced by topoisomerase poisons in NSCLC cells is not mediated by NF-κB but can be manipulated by proteasome inhibitors.