Bmf is upregulated by PS-341-mediated cell death of glioma cells through JNK phosphorylation.

Malignant glioma is resistant to the induction of apoptosis, resulting in a subsequent failure of chemotherapy in clinical treatment strategies. Downregulation of bcl-2 and bcl-xl expression in glioblastoma cells can induce apoptosis. BH3-only proteins, which include Bmf, are essential initiators of stress-induced cell death and apoptosis. Whether PS-341 regulates expression of BH3-only proteins in glioblastoma cells during the procedure of apoptosis is unclear. This study was designed to investigate the effects of PS-341 on glioma cell death and its possible signaling pathway. Our results demonstrate that Bmf is upregulated by PS-341 in A172 and T98G cells, and Bmf has a crucial role in PS-341-mediated cell death. In addition, we found that expression of Bmf is regulated by JNK phosphorylation.