The viral protein Apoptin induces apoptosis in UV-C-irradiated cells from individuals with various hereditary cancer-prone syndromes.

Apoptin, a protein derived from chicken anemia virus, has previously been shown to induce apoptosis in a p53-independent and Bcl-2-stimulated manner in transformed and tumorigenic human cells but not in normal diploid human cells, suggesting that it is a potential agent for tumor therapy. Here we report that Apoptin can induce apoptosis in UV-C-irradiated diploid skin fibroblasts from individuals with various hereditary cancer-prone syndromes that are characterized by a germ-line mutation in a tumor suppressor gene. The same effect is found when these cells are irradiated with X-rays. In contrast, diploid skin fibroblasts from healthy donors or from individuals with DNA repair disorders are not responsive to Apoptin-induced apoptosis upon UV-C or X-ray irradiation. After transfection of untreated cells, Apoptin is found predominantly in the cytoplasm, whereas in UV-C-exposed Apoptin-responsive cancer-prone cells, it migrates to the nucleus, where it causes rapid apoptosis. Apoptin remains localized in the cytoplasm after UV-C treatment of diploid cells from healthy individuals. The induction of apoptosis by Apoptin in cancer-prone cells with a germ-line mutation in a tumor suppressor gene is UV dose-dependent and transient, just like many other UV-induced processes. These results suggest that Apoptin may be used as a diagnostic tool for detection of individuals with an increased risk for hereditary cancer and premalignant lesions.