Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 3, 2026

Measuring Composition of CD95 Death-Inducing Signaling Complex and Processing of Procaspase-8 in this Complex
07:17

Measuring Composition of CD95 Death-Inducing Signaling Complex and Processing of Procaspase-8 in this Complex

Published on: August 2, 2021

Acitretin induces apoptosis through CD95 signalling pathway in human cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma cell line

Xiu-Ying Lin1, Chun-Di He, Ting Xiao

  • 1Department of Dermatology, No. 1 Hospital of China Medical University, Key Laboratory of Immunodermatology, Ministry of Health (China Medical University), Shenyang, China.

Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine
|July 16, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Acitretin effectively inhibits skin squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) growth by inducing apoptosis in cancer cells. This retinoid targets cancer cells via the CD95 apoptosis pathway, sparing normal skin cells.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Dermatology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Skin cancers represent the most frequent human malignancies.
  • Retinoids demonstrate potential in preventing and treating various human cancers.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the apoptosis-inducing effects of acitretin on human skin squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) SCL-1 cells.
  • To determine if acitretin affects non-malignant keratinocytes.

Main Methods:

  • Cell viability assays (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, AnnexinV/propidium iodide).
  • Morphological observation of apoptosis.
  • Western blotting for caspase activation (caspase-8, -9, -3, PARP).
  • Analysis of death receptor pathway components (CD95, CD95-ligand, FADD) and functional blocking with anti-Fas antibody.

Main Results:

  • Acitretin inhibited SCL-1 cell growth dose- and time-dependently, without affecting HaCaT keratinocytes.
  • Apoptosis induction was confirmed by multiple assays and involved caspase-8, -9, -3, and PARP activation.
  • Acitretin upregulated CD95, CD95-ligand, and FADD, and apoptosis was blocked by anti-Fas antibody, indicating involvement of the CD95 pathway.

Conclusions:

  • Acitretin induces apoptosis in human skin SCC cells.
  • The mechanism involves the CD95 death receptor pathway.
  • Acitretin exhibits selective toxicity towards skin cancer cells, sparing normal keratinocytes.

More Related Videos

An In Vitro Approach to Photodynamic Therapy04:53

An In Vitro Approach to Photodynamic Therapy

Published on: August 17, 2018

Related Concept Videos

The Intrinsic Apoptotic Pathway01:31

The Intrinsic Apoptotic Pathway

Internal cellular stress, such as cellular injury or hypoxia, triggers intrinsic apoptosis. The B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) family of proteins are the primary regulators of the intrinsic apoptotic pathway. For example, during DNA damage, checkpoint proteins, such as Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated (ATM protein) and Checkpoints Factor-2 (Chk2) proteins, are activated. These proteins phosphorylate p53 which further activates pro-apoptotic proteins, such as Bax, Bak, PUMA, and Noxa, and inhibits...
The Extrinsic Apoptotic Pathway01:17

The Extrinsic Apoptotic Pathway

The extrinsic apoptotic pathway is initiated when extracellular death-inducing signals, such as specific cytokines, activate the death receptors expressed on the cell surface. The immune cells involved in this pathway are natural killer cells (NK cells) and cytotoxic T-lymphocytes. NK cells are critical in innate immune response, while cytotoxic T-lymphocytes are associated with adaptive immune response. These cells recognize specific receptors expressed on the altered cells and activate...
Acne Infection01:27

Acne Infection

Acne is a multifactorial skin condition primarily affecting adolescents and young adults, with a global prevalence estimated to exceed 75% in this demographic. The condition is characterized by the formation of comedones (blackheads and whiteheads), papules, pustules, nodules, and, in severe cases, cysts, particularly in areas rich in sebaceous glands such as the face, neck, chest, and back. The pathogenesis involves increased sebum production, follicular hyperkeratinization, colonization by...
Cellular Injury V: Apoptosis and Autophagy01:22

Cellular Injury V: Apoptosis and Autophagy

Cells respond to damage and stress through highly coordinated processes that decide whether they survive or undergo controlled self-destruction. Two major pathways involved in this regulation are apoptosis, a type of programmed cell death, and autophagy, a survival mechanism that helps cells adapt to adverse conditions.ApoptosisApoptosis removes aged or injured cells to maintain tissue balance. During this process, the cell shrinks, chromatin condenses and fragments, and membrane-bound...
Apoptosis01:30

Apoptosis

Apoptosis is a combination of two Greek words, 'apo' and 'ptosis,' meaning separation and falling off, respectively. Hippocrates used this word to describe gangrene, which was caused due to bandaging of fractured bones. Apoptosis was distinguished from necrosis in 1970 when John Kerr reported observations of morphological changes occurring during apoptosis. During one experiment, he observed that the disruption of blood supply to the liver tissue resulted in a size reduction of the tissue.
Cytotoxic T Cells-mediated Immune Response01:27

Cytotoxic T Cells-mediated Immune Response

Cytotoxic T cells are a vital component of the immune system. They have the remarkable ability to identify and target antigens on infected or abnormal cells. These antigens often originate from intracellular pathogens such as viruses or abnormal proteins cancer cells produce.
Immunological surveillance is the ability of immune cells to monitor and eliminate infected cells with intracellular pathogens, neoplastically transformed cells, and cells with non-self antigens. Cytotoxic T cells and NK...