NF-kappaB-dependent MnSOD expression protects adenocarcinoma cells from TNF-alpha-induced apoptosis

NF-kappaB is known to exert a cytoprotective action against TNF-alpha-induced apoptosis. To study the role of NF-kappaB in various TNF-alpha-treated epithelial cell lines, we generated stable transfectants overexpressing a mutated unresponsive form of the IkappaBalpha inhibitor (MT cells). As NF-kappaB prevented TNF-alpha-induced apoptosis in various epithelial cancer cell lines, we searched for NF-kappaB target gene products responsible for this difference of sensitivity. We observed an increased Bcl-X(L) expression level in OVCAR-3 cells compared with OVCAR-3 cells expressing a mutated IkappaBalpha inhibitor (MT cells). Induction of the antioxidant enzyme MnSOD was detected only in TNF-alpha-treated OVCAR, MCF7A/Z and HCT116 cells but not in MT cells. Moreover, reactive oxygen species were involved in TNF-alpha-induced apoptosis, as various antioxidants partially protected these cells from apoptosis. At last, transfection of the MnSOD cDNA in MT cells, which do not express this protein after TNF-alpha stimulation, partially restored resistance to TNF-alpha-induced cell death, as observed by clonogenic assays. However, transfection of the Bcl-X(L) cDNA did not induce any protective effect. Therefore, MnSOD expression is induced by NF-kappaB in epithelial cancer cells in response to TNF-alpha, and is at least partially responsible for their resistance to TNF-alpha-induced apoptosis, presumably through the clearance of death-inducing ROS.