Induction of colonic epithelial cell apoptosis by p47-dependent oxidants.

Exogenous oxidants appear capable of initiating both proliferative and death signals, but the role of endogenous oxidants in either tumorigenesis or tumor suppression is unclear. We found that expression of the NAD(P)H oxidase adapter p47(phox) was suppressed in human colon carcinoma specimens relative to adjacent normal colon. Overexpression of p47(phox) increased apoptosis in colon cancer cell lines independent of p53 and mismatch-repair competency. p47(phox) was found to interact with the c-Abl adapter Abl interactor-1 (ABI-1), and p47(phox) coprecipitated with both ABI-1 and c-Abl. Ectopic expression of p47(phox) in colon cancer cells increased oxidant production with phosphorylation and activation of nuclear c-Abl and consequent apoptosis. Colonic epithelial p47(phox) may be specifically targeted to a c-Abl-containing complex that serves a physiologic tumor suppressing function. Copyright 2003 Federation of European Biochemical Societies