Inhibition of novel protein kinase Cε augments TRAIL-induced cell death in A549 lung cancer cells

Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) has great potential for cancer treatment since it provokes cell death in most tumor cells while leaving most normal cells unscathed. Some cancers, however, show resistance to TRAIL, indicating that TRAIL alone may be insufficient for cancer therapy. Here we studied whether the apoptotic susceptibility of A549 non-small cell lung cancer cells could be modulated by inhibiting protein kinase C (PKC). We show that an inhibitor with preference for novel PKC isozymes, NPC 15437, significantly augmented TRAIL sensitivity of A549 cells, as judged by assessing cell death and mitochondrial membrane potential. Likewise, NPC 15437 also significantly potentiated the responsiveness of DAOY medulloblastoma cells to TRAIL. In contrast, an inhibitor with preference for conventional PKC isozymes, Go6976, did not augment TRAIL sensitivity of A549 cells. To further specify the PKC isozyme responsible for TRAIL sensitization, we used a peptide inhibitor with selectivity for the novel PKC isozyme epsilon, myr-PKC epsilon V1-2. The inhibition of PKCe resulted in a significant amplification of the cytotoxic activity of TRAIL in A549 cells. Altogether, our study provides evidence for a considerable role of PKCe in the apoptotic responsiveness of A549 lung cancer cells, and possibly other malignancies, to TRAIL.