CD95 ligand-induced apoptosis of human medulloblastoma cells

CD95 ligand (CD95L) is a cytotoxic cytokine that induces apoptosis in susceptible target cells. Medulloblastoma is the most common non-glial intrinsic malignancy of the brain. In this study, we have studied CD95-mediated apoptosis of human medulloblastoma cell lines. We found that DAOY, MED-1 and D-283 cells are susceptible to CD95L-induced apoptosis when RNA and protein synthesis are inhibited. Preexposure of D-283, but not DAOY or MED-1 cells, to interferon-γ or tumor necrosis factor-α enhances CD95 expression and primes these cells for CD95-mediated apoptosis. Inhibitors of interleukin 1-converting enzyme (ICE)-like protease (caspase) activity block CD95L-induced cytotoxicity, suggesting that caspases mediate the death signal induced by CD95L in human medulloblastoma cells. Interestingly, medulloblastoma cells belong to an increasing number of tumor cell types that coexpress CD95 and CD95L. We conclude that CD95 may be a promising target of immunochemotherapy for human medulloblastoma.