Galectin-3 inhibits tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand-induced apoptosis by activating Akt in human bladder carcinoma cells.

The antiapoptotic molecule galectin-3 was previously shown to regulate CD95, a member of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) family of proteins in the apoptotic signaling pathway. Here, we question the generality of the phenomenon by studying a different member of this family of proteins [e.g., TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL), which induces apoptosis in a wide variety of cancer cells]. Overexpression of galectin-3 in J82 human bladder carcinoma cells rendered them resistant to TRAIL-induced apoptosis, whereas phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitors (wortmannin and LY-294002) blocked the galectin-3 protecting effect. Because Akt is a major downstream PI3K target reported to play a role in TRAIL-induced apoptosis, we questioned the possible relationship between galectin-3 and Akt. Parental J82 and the control vector-transfected J82 cells (barely detectable galectin-3) exhibit low level of constitutively active Akt, resulting in sensitivity to TRAIL. On the other hand, J82 cells overexpressing galectin-3 cells expressed a high level of constitutively active Akt and were resistant to TRAIL. Moreover, the blockage of TRAIL-induced apoptosis in J82 cells seemed to be mediated by Akt through the inhibition of BID cleavage. These results suggest that galectin-3 involves Akt as a modulator molecule in protecting bladder carcinoma cells from TRAIL-induced apoptosis.