Role of lysosomal cathepsins in naphthazarin- and Fas-induced apoptosis in oral squamous cell carcinoma cells

Conclusion. Intracellular cysteine cathepsins are pro-apoptotic factors involved in activation of caspases in two oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) cell lines. Objective. To study the possible involvement of lysosomal cathepsins in oral SCC cell apoptosis. Material and methods. Apoptosis was induced in the two human oral SCC cell lines UT-SCC-20A and UT-SCC-24A using naphthazarin or anti-Fas antibodies, and was studied by analysis of caspase activity and nuclear morphology. Involvement of lysosomal cathepsins was investigated using the cysteine cathepsin inhibitor z-FA-FMK and the cathepsin D inhibitor pepstatin A. The amounts of cellular and soluble Fas death receptor were determined by ELISA. Results. Release of cathepsins from the lysosomes to the cytosol was observed early in apoptosis. Cysteine cathepsins were found to be involved in activation of caspases in response to treatment with naphthazarin or anti-Fas antibodies, but inhibition of cysteine cathepsin activity was not sufficient to prevent cell death. Moreover, inhibition of cysteine cathepsin activity resulted in increased expression of the Fas death receptor, suggesting involvement of extracellular cysteine cathepsins in death receptor shedding.