When those proteins are not resolved, ER stress is prolonged to induce apoptosis. There are several mechanisms linking ER stress to apoptosis such as cleavage and activation of pro CASP12 and activation of ASK1. Many studies have focused on the ER stress effector DDIT3, which is a downstream target of ATF4. DDIT3 is a bZIP containing transcription factor that can target several apoptotic genes including TNFRSF10B and PMAIP1. The molecular mechanisms of ER stress induced apoptosis still require further study. Cancer stem cells have many similar aspects with stem cells. Those cells have the ability of self renewal and dif ferentiation, express typical markers of stem cells. They are also considered to be the origin of cancer cells and are rather resistant to active drugs.

Many reports have indicated that cancer stem cells are correlated with poor clinical prognosis. So, targeting cancer stem cell may selleck chemicals be a promising strategy for cancer therapy. PTL could preferentially inhibit cancer stem cells, but the molecular mechanism was still unclear. In our study, we explored the mechanism signaling path ways involved in PTL induced apoptosis in non small cell lung cancer cells and the role of ER stress in this process. We also found a potential mechanism why PTL would selectively eradicate cancer stem like cells, which may have clinical implications in eradicating cancer stem cells eventually. Methods Antibodies and reagents Parthenolide and PMAIP1 antibody were purchased from Calbiochem. Briefly, parthenolide was dissolved in dimethyl sulfoxide at a concentra tion of 10 mmol L, and the aliquots were stored at 20 C.

Stock solutions were diluted to the desired concentra tions with growth medium before use. The antibodies of TNFRSF10B and ACTB were purchased from Sigma Aldrich. CDH1 and CFLAR anti bodies were obtained from BD Biosciences and Alexis respectively. Anti CASP8, CASP9, HSPA5, MCL1, p EIF2A, and selleck inhibitor PARP1 anti bodies were purchased from Cell Signaling Technology. CASP3 anti body was obtained from Imgenex. Antibodies of ATF4, DDIT3 were obtained from Santa Cruz. Cell lines and cell culture Human lung cancer cell lines were obtained from the American Type Culture Collection. Cells were gown in monolayer culture with RPMI 1640 medium containing 5% new born calf serum at 37 C in a humidified atmosphere consisting of 5% CO2 and 95% air. The A549 Ctrl, A549 CFLAR, H157 Ctrl, H157 CFLAR, A549 shCtrl and A549 shCDH1 stable cell lines are established earlier by infection with lentiviral production. Cell survival assay Cells were seeded in 96 well plates and treated on the second day with the given concentration of PTL for an other 48 hours and then subjected to SRB or MTT assay. For SRB assay, live cell number was estimated as described earlier.