Background: The aim of this study was to examine the underlying signaling mechanisms of arsenic trioxide (ATO)-mediated anticancer effects and the responsible biomarker(s) for the acquired resistance in human heptatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
Materials and methods: The therapeutic effects of ATO were examined using 2 characteristically distinct HCC cell lines, Hep-J5 (overexpressing HIF-1α/GRP78) and SK-Hep-1 (the matched control). ATO-mediated proliferation inhibition, oxidative stress, and apoptosis were analyzed using flowcytometric analysis and western blotting. The role of HIF-1α and GRP78 in HCC resistance to ATO treatment was determined using RNA silencing and inhibitor approaches.
Results: SK-Hep-1 cells, lacking both HIF-1α and GRP78 expressions were responsive to ATO-induced apoptosis via an oxidative-nitrosative mechanism. Intracellular glutathione depletion and lipid peroxidation have been identified as the early cascade of events preceding apoptosis via cytochrome c release and the severe drop of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP). Conversely, Hep-J5 cells, with normoxic coexpression of HIF-1α and GRP78, were resistant to ATO-induced apoptosis. GRP78-silenced Hep-J5 cells remained resistant to ATO treatment. In contrast, ATO resistance in Hep-J5 cells was overcome by the addition of YC-1, a HIF-1α inhibitor.
Conclusions: HIF-1α was identified as the major positive modifier for ATO resistance acquisition in HCC, and it represents a prime molecular target for overcoming ATO resistance.