RETRACTED: Late phase activation of nuclear transcription factor kappaB by doxorubicin is mediated by interleukin-8 and induction of apoptosis via FasL (Retracted article. See vol. 138, pg. 977, 2013)

Doxorubicin is one of the most effective molecules used in the treatment of various tumors. Contradictory reports often open windows to understand the doxorubicin-mediated signaling to exert its apoptosis effect. In this report, we provide evidences that doxorubicin induced biphasic induction of nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappa B) of immediate activation followed by decrease in the amount of RelA (p65) subunit possibly by inducing the activity of proteasome, but not proteases. Further induction of NF-kappa B was observed through interleukin 8 (IL-8), expressed by doxorubicin treatment. Increased amount of IL-8 induced apoptosis via increase in the releases of intracellular Ca2+, activation of calcineurin, nuclear translocation of nuclear factor activated T cell (NF-AT), and NF-AT-dependent FasL expression. Anti-IL-8 or -FasL antibody, dominant negative TRAF6 (TRAF6-DN), or TRAF6 binding peptide (TRAF6-BP) inhibited doxorubicin-mediated late phase induction of NF-kappa B and diminished cell death. Thus, our study clearly demonstrated that doxorubicin-mediated cell death is obtained through expression of IL-8. IL-8-mediated calcification is required for enhancement of doxorubicin-mediated cell death. Overall, this study will help to understand the much studied chemotherapeutic drug, doxorubicin-mediated cell signaling cascade to exert its effect during chemotherapy.