Proapoptotic signaling induced by RIG-I and MDA-5 results in type I interferon-independent apoptosis in human melanoma cells

J Clin Invest. 2009 Aug;119(8):2399-411. doi: 10.1172/JCI37155. Epub 2009 Jul 20.

Abstract

The retinoic acid-inducible gene I (RIG-I) and melanoma differentiation-associated antigen 5 (MDA-5) helicases sense viral RNA in infected cells and initiate antiviral responses such as the production of type I IFNs. Here we have shown that RIG-I and MDA-5 also initiate a proapoptotic signaling pathway that is independent of type I IFNs. In human melanoma cells, this signaling pathway required the mitochondrial adapter Cardif (also known as IPS-1) and induced the proapoptotic BH3-only proteins Puma and Noxa. RIG-I- and MDA-5-initiated apoptosis required Noxa but was independent of the tumor suppressor p53. Triggering this pathway led to efficient activation of mitochondrial apoptosis, requiring caspase-9 and Apaf-1. Surprisingly, this proapoptotic signaling pathway was also active in nonmalignant cells, but these cells were much less sensitive to apoptosis than melanoma cells. Endogenous Bcl-xL rescued nonmalignant, but not melanoma, cells from RIG-I- and MDA-5-mediated apoptosis. In addition, we confirmed the results of the in vitro studies, demonstrating that RIG-I and MDA-5 ligands both reduced human tumor lung metastasis in immunodeficient NOD/SCID mice. These results identify an IFN-independent antiviral signaling pathway initiated by RIG-I and MDA-5 that activates proapoptotic signaling and, unless blocked by Bcl-xL, results in apoptosis. Due to their immunostimulatory and proapoptotic activity, RIG-I and MDA-5 ligands have therapeutic potential due to their ability to overcome the characteristic resistance of melanoma cells to apoptosis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / biosynthesis
  • Apoptosis* / drug effects
  • Caspase 9 / physiology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • DEAD Box Protein 58
  • DEAD-box RNA Helicases / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Interferon Type I / physiology*
  • Interferon-Induced Helicase, IFIH1
  • Melanoma / drug therapy
  • Melanoma / pathology*
  • Poly I-C / pharmacology
  • Polyethyleneimine / administration & dosage
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / biosynthesis
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / biosynthesis
  • Receptors, Immunologic
  • Signal Transduction / physiology*
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / physiology
  • bcl-X Protein / physiology

Substances

  • Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins
  • BBC3 protein, human
  • BCL2L1 protein, human
  • Interferon Type I
  • PMAIP1 protein, human
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2
  • Receptors, Immunologic
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53
  • bcl-X Protein
  • Polyethyleneimine
  • Caspase 9
  • RIGI protein, human
  • IFIH1 protein, human
  • DEAD Box Protein 58
  • DEAD-box RNA Helicases
  • Interferon-Induced Helicase, IFIH1
  • Poly I-C