Ceramide mediates the apoptotic response of WEHI 231 cells to anti-immunoglobulin, corticosteroids and irradiation.
We demonstrate for the first time how immature B cells kill themselves. Ceramide is identified as the mediator of apoptosis in the murine B lymphoma line WEHI 231 commonly used as a model to study clonal deletion in B lymphocytes. We show that exogenous ceramide induces apoptosis in WEHI 231 cells. To maintain self tolerance, immature lymphocytes readily undergo apoptotic death in response to the cross-linking of their antigen-specific receptors. We demonstrate that endogenously produced ceramide accumulates in WEHI 231 cells exposed to anti-IgM, an antigen surrogate before the onset of apoptosis. We also show that two other inducers of apoptosis, irradiation and dexamethasone, cause intracellular accumulation of ceramide.
Quintans
J
J
Department of Pathology, University of Chicago, IL 60637.
Kilkus
J
J
McShan
C L
CL
Gottschalk
A R
AR
Dawson
G
G
D000818:Animals; D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology* / Q000528:radiation effects; D002518:Ceramides / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000276:immunology; D008223:Lymphoma; D051379:Mice; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic; D002518:Ceramides; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D003907:Dexamethasone