c-FLIP is involved in tumor progression of peripheral T-cell lymphoma and targeted by histone deacetylase inhibitors

BACKGROUND: Peripheral T-cell lymphomas (PTCLs) are often aggressive tumors and resistant to conventional chemotherapy. Dysregulation of extrinsic apoptosis plays an important role on tumor cell sensitivity to chemotherapeutic agents. Cellular FLICE inhibitory protein (c-FLIP) is a key regulator of extrinsic apoptotic pathway. METHODS: c-FLIP expression was assessed by real-time PCR and compared according to clinical parameters in patients with PTCLs. The relation of c-FLIP to tumor cell apoptosis mediated by histone deacetylases inhibitors (HDACIs) and the possible mechanism were examined in T-lymphoma cell lines and in a murine xenograft model. RESULTS: c-FLIP was overexpressed and associated with decreased tumor TRAIL/DR5 expression, elevated serum lactate dehydrogenase level and high-risk International Prognostic Index of the patients. In vitro, molecular silencing of c-FLIP by specific small-interfering RNA increased TRAIL/DR5 expression, enhanced T-lymphoma cell apoptosis and sensitized cells to chemotherapeutic agents. However, HDACIs valproic acid (VPA) and suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA) could downregulate c-FLIP expression and triggered extrinsic apoptosis of T-lymphoma cells, through inhibiting NF-κB signaling and interrupting P50 interaction with c-FLIP promoter. As Class I HDACIs, both VPA and SAHA inhibited HDAC1, resulting in P50 inactivation and c-FLIP downregulation. In vivo, oral VPA treatment significantly retarded tumor growth and induced in situ apoptosis, consistent with inhibition of HDAC1/P50/c-FLIP axis and increase of TRAIL/DR5 expression. CONCLUSIONS: c-FLIP overexpression in PTCLs protected tumor cells from extrinsic apoptosis and contributed to tumor progression. Although linking to chemoresistance, c-FLIP indicated tumor cell sensitivity to HDACIs, providing a potential biomarker of targeting apoptosis in treating PTCLs. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13045-014-0088-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.