Apoptosis and cell survival are two seemingly opposing fate-determining processes that are regulated by distinct and complex signaling pathways. Caspase-8, an apical caspase, plays a pivotal regulatory role in initiating apoptosis. c-Src, a prototypical member of the Src family kinases (SFKs), regulates a myriad of cellular processes including cell mitogenesis, proliferation, growth and migration. Although the regulation of caspase-8 by c-Src has been suggested, the reciprocal regulation of these two seemingly opposing signaling molecules, caspase-8 and c-Src, has never been explored. To study this reciprocal regulation, we asked three questions. (1) Can active caspase-8 negatively regulate c-Src activity to allow the propagation of apoptosis? (2) Can c-Src negatively regulate caspase-8 activity to prevent the propagation of apoptosis? (3) Can caspase-8, when its enzymatic activity is inhibited, further promote c-Src activity to allow the propagation of cell survival? To address these questions, we first investigated the effect of active caspase-8 on the activation and activity of c-Src. We discovered that active caspase-8 inhibited c-Src activation and some of its downstream effectors. Next, we investigated whether c-Src could tyrosine phosphorylate caspase-8. We discovered that c-Src could phosphorylate caspase-8 at multiple tyrosine sites. We then examined whether tyrosine phosphorylated caspase-8 prevents apoptosis. We found that phosphorylation of caspase-8 at Y465 prevented its cleavage, and activity towards activating caspase-3 and towards causing cell morphological changes associated with apoptosis. Finally, we studied whether tyrosine phosphorylation of caspase-8 could further promote the activation of c-Src. We showed that phosphorylation of caspase-8 at both Y465 and Y397 resulted in the activation of c-Src and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (Erk1/2). In conclusion, this work demonstrated the reciprocal regulation of two opposing signaling molecules, caspase-8 and c-Src. These results also suggest an elegant mechanism for a cell to commit efficiently and rapidly to a fate-determining process, either apoptosis or survival, by further suppression of the opposing signaling pathway.

A bactéria Legionella pneumophila é um bacilo Gram-negativo, flagelado causador da doença dos legionários e febre de Pontiac. O inflamassoma mais importante no controle da replicação desta bactéria é o composto por Naip5/NLRC4, que é responsável pelo reconhecimento de flagelina. A ativação do inflamassoma de Naip5/NLRC4 pela flagelina induz a ativação de caspase-1, induzindo a formação de poros na membrana, piroptose e controle da replicação desta bactéria. A participação da proteína adaptadora ASC é essencial para a nucleação deste complexo e secreção de citocinas inflamatórias como IL-1? e IL-18 por esta via. Além do controle da replicação de L. pneumophila pelo inflamassoma NLRC4 dependente de caspase-1, foi demonstrado que existe uma via induzida por NLRC4 independente de caspase- 1/11. Dessa forma, camundongos e células Nlrc4-/- são mais susceptíveis à infecção por esta bactéria do que as células Casp1/11-/-. Neste trabalho, nós identificamos que a via independente de caspase-1/11 é composta por Naip5/NLRC4/ASC/Caspase-8 e é essencial para o controle da replicação de Legionella spp. flageladas em macrófagos e in vivo. Através da utilização de BMDMs Casp1/11-/- e Asc/Casp1/11-/- transduzidos com NLRC4-GFP ou ASC-GFP, identificamos que a formação de punctas de NLRC4 e ASC dependem do reconhecimento de flagelina e que ASC é essencial para a formação desses punctas. Também foi identificado que a infecção com L. pneumophila que expressa flagelina leva à ativação de caspase-8 de maneira dependente de ASC e Naip5, mas independente de caspase-1/11. De acordo com esses dados, o silenciamento de caspase-8 em macrófagos Casp1/11-/- aumentou a susceptibilidade dessas células à infecção com L. pneumophila flagelada. Além disso, macrófagos e camundongos Asc/Casp1/11-/- foram tão susceptíveis quanto os Nlrc4- /- e mais susceptíveis que os Casp1/11-/-. Nós observamos que o inflamassoma de NLRC4/ASC/Caspase-8 induz formação de poros e morte celular independente de gasdermina-D (GSDMD). Por meio da utilização de células de camundongos C57BL/6, foi observado que caspase-8 é recrutada para o inflamassoma de Naip5/NLRC4/ASC/Caspase-1. Entretanto, a ativação de caspase-8 só ocorre na 10 ausência de caspase-1 ou GSDMD. Nossos dados sugerem que a ativação de caspase-8 no inflamassoma composto por NLRC4/ASC/Caspase-8 representa uma via alternativa que opera para garantir o controle da replicação de bactérias flageladas em situações nas quais ou caspase-1 ou GSDMD estão inibidas. / Legionella pneumophila is a flagellated Gram-negative bacillus that is the causative agent of the legionnaire\'s disease and Pontiac fever. The most important inflammasome for the control of L. pneumophila replication is the Naip5/NLRC4, responsible for the flagellin recognition. The activation of the Naip5/NLRC4 inflammasome leads to caspase-1 activation, consequently pore formation, pyroptosis and control of bacterial replication. The participation of the adaptor molecule ASC is essential for this complex nucleation and the secretion of inflammatory cytokines like IL-1? and IL-18 by this pathway. Besides the control of L. pneumophila replication by Naip5/NLRC4/Caspase-1 inflammasome, it was demonstrated there are NLRC4 responses independent of caspase-1/11. These explain why mice and macrophages Nlrc4-/- are more susceptible than Casp1/11-/-. In this work, we identified that the caspase-1/11-independent pathway is composed of Naip5/NLRC4/ASC/Caspase-8 and it is essential for the control of flagellated Legionella spp. replication in macrophages and in vivo. Infection of Casp1/11-/- and Asc/Casp1/11-/- macrophages, transduced with NLRC4-GFP or ASC-GFP, showed that flagellin-positive bacteria triggered puncta formation that is ASC-dependent. Accordingly, Naip5 and ASC, but not caspase-1/11, were required for caspase-8 activation in response to flagellated bacteria. Silencing caspase-8 in Casp1/11-/- BMDMs increased the susceptibility to L. pneumophila infection. Furthermore, the macrophages and mice Asc/Casp1/11-/- are as susceptible as Nlrc4-/-, but more susceptible than Casp1/11-/-. We also found that the NLRC4/ASC/Caspase-8 inflammasome induces GSDMD-independent pore formation and cell death. Using C57BL/6 cells, we observed that caspase-8 is recruited to Naip5/NLRC4/ASC/Caspase-1 inflammasome. However, caspase-8 is just activated in the absence of caspase-1 or GSDMD. Our data suggest that caspase-8 activation in the NLRC4/ASC/Caspase-8 inflammasome represents an alternative pathway that operates to ensure the control of flagellated bacteria replication in situations which either caspase-1 or GSDMD are inhibited.

A barreira placentária é constituída por duas camadas de células sinciciais, uma camada de células trofoblásticas gigantes e o endotélio fetal. Apesar da importância das camadas sinciciais no transporte molecular entre mãe e feto, o exato mecanismo de formação dessa barreira não está completamente elucidado em camundongos. Em humanos, estudos sugerem que a formação do sinciciotrofoblasto ocorre por um processo de fusão celular dependente de Caspase- 8, uma proteína iniciadora da cascata de apoptose. Desta forma, este estudo teve como proposta analisar o processo de formação das camadas sinciciais do labirinto em placentas de camundongos e o possível envolvimento da caspase-8 neste processo. Sítios de implantação foram coletados de camundongos fêmeas nos dias 8,5 a 11,5 de gestação e caracterizados morfologicamente através de marcadores de células precursoras sinciciais (EpCAM) e de células sinciciais maduras (Slc16A3) por meio de reações imunohitoquímicas. A expressão gênica dos marcadores diferenciais de células sinciciais também foi analisada por RT-PCR na região labiríntica dissecada nos diferentes dias de gestação. A expressão de Caspase-8 total e clivada também foi avaliada por Western blot e a relação entre a presença de Caspase-8 clivada e a indução de apoptose, avaliada por TUNEL e pela imunolocalização da Citoqueratina 18 clivada. Tambem foram realizadas análises com células labirínticas cultivadas, isoladas nos dias 8,5 a 10,5 de gestação. As células cultivadas foram caracterizadas morfologicamente e avaliadas quanto a expressão gênica de marcadores sinciciais e proteica de Caspase-8. Nossos resultados mostraram que os primeiros sinais morfológicos de formação da barreira placentária ocorream no dia 9,5 de gestação. O marcador EpCAM foi encontrado na base da placenta nos dias 8,5 e 9,5. No dia 11,5 de gestação, o labirinto já se encontra estruturado e funcional, o que foi indicado pela expressão de Slc16A3, nos dias 10,5 e 11,5 de gestação. A expressão gênica dos fatores de transcrição associados ao desenvolvimento das camadas sinciciais mostraram expressões crescentes ao longo do período estudado. Caspase-8 total e clivada mostrou intensa expressão no dia 9,5 de gestação, e aparentemente não estava associada à morte celular por apoptose, uma vez que não se detectou reatividade pela reação de TUNEL ou imunomarcação de Citoqueratina 18 clivada nas células labirínticas em formação em nenhum dos dias estudados. Células labirínticas obtidas aos 9,5 dias de gestação e cultivadas formaram ninhos celulares ao longo das 48 horas de cultura, com indícios morfológicos de sincicialização. A imunolocalização do marcador de células progenitoras do labirinto, EpCAM foi mais intensa nas culturas de 6 horas e se limitou a áreas ao redor dos ninhos celulares após 48 horas. Inversamente, a imunolocalização do transportador sincicial Slc16A3 não foi observada após 6 horas de cultura, mas foi bastante intensa no centro dos ninhos celulares após 48 horas. As culturas de labirinto de 9,5 das de gestação, também mostraram aumento de expressão das Sincitinas A e B ao longo do tempo de cultivo. A análise da expressão proteica de Caspase-8 mostrou expressão mais alta após 6 horas de cultivo do que a observada nos demais tempos experimentais. Por outro lado, a forma ativa (clivada) da caspase aumentou gradativamente após 24 e 48 horas de cultivo. Culturas submetidas ao tratamento com o inibidor farmacológico de Caspase-8 z-IEDT-fmk, mostraram perfis morfológicos alterados com redução da formação dos ninhos celulares e diminuição da reatividade ao Slc16A3. A expressão dos marcadores de diferenciação Sincitina A e B também foi significativamente diminuída (p<0.05) nestes experimentos em que a inibição da Caspase-8 clivada foi comprovada por Western blot. Estes achados mostraram a expressão de Caspase- 8, principalmente no dia 9,5 de gestação, nas células trofoblásticas labirínticas da placenta de camundongos e sugerem sua participação na formação das camadas sinciciais do labirinto. / Two layers of syncytial cells, a layer of trophoblastic giant cells and the fetal endothelium form the placental barrier. Despite the importance of the syncytial layers in molecular transport between mother and fetus, its exact developmental mechanism is still not completely elucidated in rodents. In humans, studies suggest that the formation of the syncytiotrophoblast occurs through a cell fusion process dependent on Caspase-8, an apoptosis cascade-initiating protein. In this way, this study had the proposal to analyze the process of formation of the syncytial layers of the labyrinth in placentas of mice and the possible involvement of Caspase-8 in this process. Implantation sites were collected from female mice on days 8.5 to 11.5 of gestation and morphologically characterized by the labyrinthine precursor cell marker EpCAM, and the mature syncytial cell marker - Slc16A3, through immunohistochemical reactions. The gene expression of the differential markers of syncytial cells was analyzed by RT-PCR in the labyrinthine region dissected on the different days of gestation. Total and cleaved Caspase-8 expression was also evaluated by Western blot and the relationship between the presence of cleaved Caspase-8 and the induction of apoptosis as assessed by TUNEL and the immunolocalization of the cleaved Cytokeratin 18. Analyzes were also performed with cultured labyrinth cells, isolated on days 8.5 to 10.5 of gestation. The cultured cells were characterized morphologically and evaluated for the gene expression of syncytial markers and Caspase-8 protein. Our results showed that the first morphological signs of placental barrier formation occurred on day 9.5 of gestation. The EpCAM marker was found at the base of the placenta on days 8.5 and 9.5. At day 11.5 of gestation, the labyrinth is already structured and functional, which was indicated by the expression of Slc16A3, on days 10.5 and 11.5 of gestation. The gene expression of the transcription factors associated with the development of the syncytial layers showed increased throughout the studied period. Total and cleaved Caspase-8 showed intense expression at day 9.5 of gestation, and apparently was not associated with cell death by apoptosis, since no reactivity was detected by the TUNEL reaction or cleaved Cytokeratin 18 immunolabeling in the labyrinthine zone. Labyrinthine cells obtained at 9.5 days of gestation formed nests during the 48 hours of culture, with morphological signs of syncytialization. Immunolocalization of the progenitor cell marker EpCAM was more intense in the 6-hour cultures and was limited to areas around the cell nests after 48 hours. Conversely, immunolocalization of the syncytial transporter Slc16A3 was not observed after 6 hours of culture but was quite intense at the center of the cell nests after 48 hours. Labyrinthine cell cultures of 9.5 gestation days also showed increased expression of A and B syncytins throughout the culture time. Analysis of the protein expression of Caspase- 8 showed higher expression after 6 hours of culture than that observed in the other experimental times. On the other hand, the active (cleaved) form of Caspase gradually increased after 24 and 48 hours of culture. Cultures submitted to the pharmacological inhibitor of Caspase-8 - z-IEDT-fmk showed altered morphological 18 profiles with reduction of cell nests formation and a decrease of reactivity to Slc16A3. The expression of the differentiation markers A and B Syncytins was also significantly decreased (p <0.05) in the experiments, in which the inhibition of the cleaved Caspase-8 was confirmed by Western blot. These findings show the expression of Caspase-8, mainly on day 9.5 of gestation, in the labyrinthine cells of the mice placenta and suggest its participation in the formation of the labyrinthine syncytial layers.

A bactéria Legionella pneumophila é um bacilo Gram-negativo, flagelado causador da doença dos legionários e febre de Pontiac. O inflamassoma mais importante no controle da replicação desta bactéria é o composto por Naip5/NLRC4, que é responsável pelo reconhecimento de flagelina. A ativação do inflamassoma de Naip5/NLRC4 pela flagelina induz a ativação de caspase-1, induzindo a formação de poros na membrana, piroptose e controle da replicação desta bactéria. A participação da proteína adaptadora ASC é essencial para a nucleação deste complexo e secreção de citocinas inflamatórias como IL-1? e IL-18 por esta via. Além do controle da replicação de L. pneumophila pelo inflamassoma NLRC4 dependente de caspase-1, foi demonstrado que existe uma via induzida por NLRC4 independente de caspase- 1/11. Dessa forma, camundongos e células Nlrc4-/- são mais susceptíveis à infecção por esta bactéria do que as células Casp1/11-/-. Neste trabalho, nós identificamos que a via independente de caspase-1/11 é composta por Naip5/NLRC4/ASC/Caspase-8 e é essencial para o controle da replicação de Legionella spp. flageladas em macrófagos e in vivo. Através da utilização de BMDMs Casp1/11-/- e Asc/Casp1/11-/- transduzidos com NLRC4-GFP ou ASC-GFP, identificamos que a formação de punctas de NLRC4 e ASC dependem do reconhecimento de flagelina e que ASC é essencial para a formação desses punctas. Também foi identificado que a infecção com L. pneumophila que expressa flagelina leva à ativação de caspase-8 de maneira dependente de ASC e Naip5, mas independente de caspase-1/11. De acordo com esses dados, o silenciamento de caspase-8 em macrófagos Casp1/11-/- aumentou a susceptibilidade dessas células à infecção com L. pneumophila flagelada. Além disso, macrófagos e camundongos Asc/Casp1/11-/- foram tão susceptíveis quanto os Nlrc4- /- e mais susceptíveis que os Casp1/11-/-. Nós observamos que o inflamassoma de NLRC4/ASC/Caspase-8 induz formação de poros e morte celular independente de gasdermina-D (GSDMD). Por meio da utilização de células de camundongos C57BL/6, foi observado que caspase-8 é recrutada para o inflamassoma de Naip5/NLRC4/ASC/Caspase-1. Entretanto, a ativação de caspase-8 só ocorre na 10 ausência de caspase-1 ou GSDMD. Nossos dados sugerem que a ativação de caspase-8 no inflamassoma composto por NLRC4/ASC/Caspase-8 representa uma via alternativa que opera para garantir o controle da replicação de bactérias flageladas em situações nas quais ou caspase-1 ou GSDMD estão inibidas. / Legionella pneumophila is a flagellated Gram-negative bacillus that is the causative agent of the legionnaire\'s disease and Pontiac fever. The most important inflammasome for the control of L. pneumophila replication is the Naip5/NLRC4, responsible for the flagellin recognition. The activation of the Naip5/NLRC4 inflammasome leads to caspase-1 activation, consequently pore formation, pyroptosis and control of bacterial replication. The participation of the adaptor molecule ASC is essential for this complex nucleation and the secretion of inflammatory cytokines like IL-1? and IL-18 by this pathway. Besides the control of L. pneumophila replication by Naip5/NLRC4/Caspase-1 inflammasome, it was demonstrated there are NLRC4 responses independent of caspase-1/11. These explain why mice and macrophages Nlrc4-/- are more susceptible than Casp1/11-/-. In this work, we identified that the caspase-1/11-independent pathway is composed of Naip5/NLRC4/ASC/Caspase-8 and it is essential for the control of flagellated Legionella spp. replication in macrophages and in vivo. Infection of Casp1/11-/- and Asc/Casp1/11-/- macrophages, transduced with NLRC4-GFP or ASC-GFP, showed that flagellin-positive bacteria triggered puncta formation that is ASC-dependent. Accordingly, Naip5 and ASC, but not caspase-1/11, were required for caspase-8 activation in response to flagellated bacteria. Silencing caspase-8 in Casp1/11-/- BMDMs increased the susceptibility to L. pneumophila infection. Furthermore, the macrophages and mice Asc/Casp1/11-/- are as susceptible as Nlrc4-/-, but more susceptible than Casp1/11-/-. We also found that the NLRC4/ASC/Caspase-8 inflammasome induces GSDMD-independent pore formation and cell death. Using C57BL/6 cells, we observed that caspase-8 is recruited to Naip5/NLRC4/ASC/Caspase-1 inflammasome. However, caspase-8 is just activated in the absence of caspase-1 or GSDMD. Our data suggest that caspase-8 activation in the NLRC4/ASC/Caspase-8 inflammasome represents an alternative pathway that operates to ensure the control of flagellated bacteria replication in situations which either caspase-1 or GSDMD are inhibited.

Thesis (Ph.D. in Physiology and Biophysics) -- University of Colorado Denver, 2008. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 89-98). Free to UCD Anschutz Medical Campus. Online version available via ProQuest Digital Dissertations;

Stimulation of β-adrenergic receptor (β-AR) induces cardiac myocyte apoptosis. Integrins, a family of cell-surface receptors, play an important role in the regulation of cardiac myocyte apoptosis and ventricular remodeling. Cleavage of extracellular domain of β1 integrin, also called integrin shedding, is observed during cardiac hypertrophy and progression to early heart failure. Here we show that stimulation of β-AR induces β1 integrin fragmentation in mouse heart. To examine the role of intracellular domain of β1 integrin in cardiac myocyte apoptosis, a chimeric receptor consisting of the cytoplasmic tail domain of β1A integrin and the extracellular/transmembrane domain of the interleukin-2 receptor (TAC-β1) was expressed in adult rat ventricular myocytes (ARVM) using adenoviruses. TAC-β1 increased the percentage of apoptotic ARVM as measured by TUNEL-staining assay. TAC-β1-induced apoptosis was found to be associated with increased cytosolic cytochrome c and decreased mitochondrial membrane potential. TAC-β1 increased caspase-8 activity. Z-IETD-FMK, a specific caspase-8 inhibitor, significantly inhibited TAC-β1-induced apoptosis. TAC-β1 expression also increased cleavage of Bid, a pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 family protein. These data suggest that shedding of β1 integrin may be a mechanism of induction of apoptosis during β-AR-stimulated cardiac remodeling.

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No description available.

A eliminação de células-alvo por linfócitos T citotóxicos (CTLs) exerce um papel importante na imunidade protetora contra patógenos e células tumorais, o que pode ser desencadeada pela ação de perforina e granzima, ou pelas interações Fas-FasL. A interação Fas-FasL promove a apoptose pela formação de DISC, que é composto pela cauda citoplasmática de Fas, a proteína adaptadora FADD e a pro-caspase-8. Nesse complexo, a caspase-8 é ativada e induz a clivagem das caspases efetoras -3, -6 e -7, e/ou BID - membro da família Bcl-2, desencadeando o sinal apoptótico. Devido à sua relevância na sinalização apoptótica, a caspase-8 é alvo de inúmeros estudos. Uma correlação entre mutações no gene CASP8 de células tumorais e alta atividade citolítica foi demonstrada, sugerindo que a deficiência em caspase-8 pode representar um mecanismo de evasão imune. Nesse projeto, nosso objetivo foi avaliar o efeito da deficiência em caspase-8 na eliminação de células-alvo por linfócitos T CD8&#43. Para isso, nós estabelecemos uma técnica de citotoxicidade in vitro utilizando blastos de camundongos OTI como células efetoras e células RMA como alvo. Nesse ensaio, as células-alvo foram marcadas e pulsadas com diferentes concentrações de peptídeo OVA e colocadas em co-cultura a diferentes razões efetora: alvo (E:A) com linfócitos OTI, estimulados por 7 dias com ConA e rIL-2. A eliminação específica foi avaliada após 16 horas de co-cultura. Como controle para avaliar a especificidade ao MHC de classe I, utilizamos as células RMA-S, uma vez que expressam níveis reduzidos desta molécula na superfície. Os resultados demonstraram que o ensaio estabelecido é eficiente e antígeno-específico. Foi também observado que a eliminação das células RMA-S é menor em comparação com as células RMA, sendo essa diferença melhor discriminada em condições com números limitados de células efetoras. Para avaliar o efeito da caspase-8, células RMA caspase-8-suficientes e -deficientes, obtidas pela técnica CRISPR-Cas9, foram utilizadas como alvo nesse ensaio. Os resultados demonstram que, em condições com menor número de células efetoras, as células caspase-8-deficientes são significativamente mais resistentes à eliminação por linfócitos T CD8&#43, em comparação com as células caspase-8-suficientes. Portanto, nossos dados corroboram com a ideia de que a deficiência em caspase-8 poderia representar um mecanismo de evasão imune, principalmente na eliminação por linfócitos T CD8&#43. / The killing of target cells by cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) plays a major role in protective immunity to pathogens and tumor cells, which can be triggered by either the action of perforin and granzymes or FAS-FASL interactions. The Fas-FasL interaction leads to apoptosis through the formation of DISC, which is composed by the cytoplasmic tail of Fas, the adaptor protein FADD and the pro-caspase-8. At the complex, caspase-8 become activated and transduce the apoptotic signal by cleaving the effector caspases-3, -6 and -7 and/or the Bcl-2 family member Bid. Due to its role on apoptotic signaling, caspase-8 is the target of several studies. Recently, it has been demonstrated a correlation between mutations in CASP8 in tumors from patients with high cytolytic activity, suggesting that deficiency in caspase-8 may represent an immune evasion mechanism. Our project aimed to evaluate the effect of caspase-8 deficiency on the elimination of target cells by CD8&#43 T lymphocytes. In order to assess this elimination, we have established an in vitro cytotoxic assay using as effector, blasts from OTI mice, and as target, RMA cells. In this assay, the target cells were labeled, pulsed with OVA peptide at different concentrations and then co-cultured with OTI lymphocytes, which were stimulated with ConA and rIL-2, at different effector: target (E: T) ratios. The specific elimination was evaluated after 16 hours of co-culture. As a control to assess the specificity to MHCI of our assay, RMA-S cells were used because they have reduced levels of MHCI at surface. The results have shown that OTI blasts have effector capacity and that our established assay is antigen-specific. In addition, we observed that RMA-S elimination is reduced in comparison to RMA cells. The difference between RMA and RMA-S is better detected in conditions with limited number of effector cells. In order to assess the effect of caspase-8 in the resistance to elimination by CD8&#43 T cells, caspase-8-sufficient and deficient RMA cells (obtained by CRISPR-Cas9 technique) were used as targets in this assay. Our results demonstrate that caspase-8-deficient cells are more resistant to elimination than wild-type counterparts. This difference is better detected at conditions with reduced number of effector cells. Thus, our data suggests the deficiency in caspase-8 results in lower elimination by CD8&#43 T lymphocytes, suggesting this might represent an immune evasion mechanism.

Par‐4 is a pro‐apoptotic tumor suppressor that is mutated, suppressed or inactivated in cancer. Par‐4 exploits components of the extrinsic pathway to cause apoptosis selectively of cancer cells. This study identified Par‐4 as an essential component of the apoptotic pathway induced by TRAIL, which selectively targets cancer cells. RNA interference‐mediated knockdown of Par‐4 rendered cancer cells unresponsive to TRAIL‐induced apoptosis. Cells with knocked‐down levels of Par‐4 were deficient in the activation of the apoptosis‐initiator caspase‐8 and the apoptosis‐effector caspase‐3 in response to TRAIL. Par‐4 was identified as a critical mediator of membrane translocation of caspase‐8 and the adapter protein FADD. Surprisingly, Par‐4 was also found to interact with caspase 8 in untreated cells, and was cleaved at the N‐terminus at aspartic acid residue 123 in response to TRAIL. This, along with another cleavage by caspase‐9 effectively generated a fragment containing the functional module of Par‐4, the SAC domain, which is sufficient for apoptosis of cancer cells. Moreover, TRAIL activated caspase‐8 was also found to be involved in nuclear translocation of Par‐4, a crucial step during apoptosis induction by Par‐4. Together, our findings suggest that Par‐ 4 is an essential downstream target of caspase‐8 that is activated by TRAIL signaling and that, in turn, activates caspase‐8 and the downstream apoptotic pathway in response to TRAIL.