Since γδ T cells utilize TNF-related apoptosis inducing ligand (TRAIL) for killing of tumor cells in addition to granzyme B and perforin, we investigated the role of the TRAIL-/TRAIL-R system in γδ T cell-cytotoxicity toward pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and other cancer cells.
While TRAIL is a promising anticancer agent due to its ability to selectively induce apoptosis in neoplastic cells, many tumors, including pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA), display intrinsic resistance, highlighting the need for TRAIL-sensitizing agents.
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) cell lines were found to secrete OPG and the level of OPG production correlated with sensitivity to TRAIL-induced apoptosis.
The purpose of this study was to investigate the roles of the pro-apoptotic TRAIL receptors, TRAIL-R1 and TRAIL-R2, as well as Bcl-xL and TRAF2 in TRAIL-induced expression of the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-8 and the invasion-promoting protein urokinase (uPA) in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) cells.