Bcl-2 prevents death of factor-deprived cells but fails to prevent apoptosis in targets of cell mediated killing.
'Programmed cell death' has been used to describe the death of cells killed by cytotoxic T cells or growth factor deprivation. Although bcl-2 can prevent death of cells deprived of growth factor, it failed to protect cells against T cell killing. In spite of bcl-2 expression, the DNA of targeted cells was degraded into nucleosome-sized fragments. Therefore the early steps in apoptosis induced by factor deprivation differ from those triggered by cytotoxic T cells, although they share a common final pathway featuring degradation of the DNA and loss of cytoplasmic membrane integrity.
Vaux
D L
DL
Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University Medical Center, CA 94305.
Aguila
H L
HL
Weissman
I L
IL
D000818:Animals; D016923:Cell Death / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D002999:Clone Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism; D015870:Gene Expression; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology
D006133:Growth Substances; D004247:DNA