COX-2 inhibitors block chemotherapeutic agent-induced apoptosis prior to commitment in hematopoietic cancer cells

Claudia Cerella, Cyril Sobolewski, Sébastien Chateauvieux, Estelle Henry, Michael Schnekenburger, Jenny Ghelfi, Mario Dicato, Marc Diederich*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleResearchpeer-review

19 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Enzymatic inhibitors of pro-inflammatory cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) possess multiple anti-cancer effects, including chemosensitization. These effects are not always linked to the inhibition of the COX-2 enzyme. Here we analyze the effects of three COX-2 enzyme inhibitors (nimesulide, NS-398 and celecoxib) on apoptosis in different hematopoietic cancer models. Surprisingly, COX-2 inhibitors strongly prevent apoptosis induced by a panel of chemotherapeutic agents. We selected U937 cells as a model of sensitive cells for further studies. Here, we provide evidence that the protective effect is COX-independent. No suppression of the low basal prostaglandin (PG)E 2 production may be observed upon treatment by COX-2 inhibitors. Besides, the non-active celecoxib analog 2,5-dimethyl-celecoxib is able to protect from apoptosis as well. We demonstrate early prevention of the stress-induced apoptotic signaling, prior to Bax/Bak activation. This preventive effect fits with an impairment of the ability of chemotherapeutic agents to trigger apoptogenic stress. Accordingly, etoposide-induced DNA damage is strongly attenuated in the presence of COX-2 inhibitors. In contrast, COX-2 inhibitors do not exert any anti-apoptotic activity when cells are challenged with physiological stimuli (anti-Fas, TNFα or Trail) or with hydrogen peroxide, which do not require internalization and/or are not targeted by chemoresistance proteins. Altogether, our findings show a differential off-target anti-apoptotic effect of COX-2 inhibitors on intrinsic vs. extrinsic apoptosis at the very early steps of intracellular signaling, prior to commitment. The results imply that an exacerbation of the chemoresistance phenomena may be implicated.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1277-1290
Number of pages14
JournalBiochemical Pharmacology
Volume82
Issue number10
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 15 Nov 2011
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Celecoxib
  • Chemoresistance
  • Mitochondrial pathway
  • Nimesulide
  • NS-398

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