Functional roles of TRAF2 in cisplatin-induced apoptosis

Abstract

Tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 2 (TRAF2) both positively and negatively regulates stress-induced cell death. However, roles of TRAF2 in DNA damage-induced cell death remain unknown. In this study, we assessed the roles of TRAF2 in DNA damage-induced cell death induced by cisplatin, a representative DNA-damaging agent. TRAF2-deficient cells exhibit significant resistance to cisplatin-induced apoptosis, accompanied by the reduction of p53 protein level. Thus, our results suggest that TRAF2 promotes cisplatin-induced apoptosis through p53-dependent mechanisms.