Mitochondrial survivin inhibits apoptosis and promotes tumorigenesis
Takehiko Dohi, … , Janet Plescia, Dario C. Altieri
Takehiko Dohi, … , Janet Plescia, Dario C. Altieri
Published October 15, 2004
Citation Information: J Clin Invest. 2004;114(8):1117-1127. https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI22222.
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Mitochondrial survivin inhibits apoptosis and promotes tumorigenesis

Abstract

Evasion of apoptosis is a hallmark of cancer, but the molecular circuitries of this process are not understood. Here we show that survivin, a member of the inhibitor of apoptosis gene family that is overexpressed in cancer, exists in a novel mitochondrial pool in tumor cells. In response to cell death stimulation, mitochondrial survivin is rapidly discharged in the cytosol, where it prevents caspase activation and inhibits apoptosis. Selective targeting of survivin to mitochondria enhances colony formation in soft agar, accelerates tumor growth in immunocompromised animals, and abolishes tumor cell apoptosis in vivo. Therefore, mitochondrial survivin orchestrates a novel pathway of apoptosis inhibition, which contributes to tumor progression.

Authors

Takehiko Dohi, Elena Beltrami, Nathan R. Wall, Janet Plescia, Dario C. Altieri

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Figure 6

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Adenoviral targeting of survivin to mitochondria inhibits apoptosis. (A)...
Adenoviral targeting of survivin to mitochondria inhibits apoptosis. (A) Subcellular localization. INS-1 cells were infected with pAd-MTS, and isolated mitochondrial or cytosolic fractions were analyzed by immunoblotting. The position of endogenous or transduced (HA-MTS) survivin is indicated. (B) Cytoprotection by adenoviral transduction. INS-1 cells transduced with pAd-MTGFP or pAd-MTS were treated with UVB, exposed to serum starvation, or treated with staurosporine, and analyzed for DNA content by flow cytometry. Samples labeled as INS-1 were untreated cultures. The percentage of cells with hypodiploid (apoptotic) DNA content is indicated for each condition tested. (C) Mitochondrial survivin is sufficient for cytoprotection. MCF-7 cells were transduced with pAd-MTGFP, pAd-Survivin, or pAd-MTS, treated with staurosporine, and analyzed for hypodiploid DNA content and immunoblotting of whole cell extracts (W), mitochondrial, or cytosolic fractions. The percentages of cells with hypodiploid (apoptotic) DNA content were 47% (nontransduced cultures, data not shown), 40% (pAd-MTGFP), 25% (pAd-Survivin), and 29% (pAd-MTS).