Expression of the apoptosis-mediator Fas is enhanced by dysfunctional mitochondria.
We applied an antibody against an apoptosis mediator, Fas/APO-1/CD95, to HeLa-derived cells that completely lack mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) or have mutant mtDNAs. The anti-Fas antibody killed the cells completely lacking mtDNA (EB8), at concentrations as low as 1 ng/ml, but not control cells harboring wild-type mtDNA (Ft2-11). TUNEL (terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated dUTP-biotin nick end-labeling) and analysis of fragmented DNA indicated that the cell death of EB8 was due to apoptosis. The antibody was cytotoxic to other two cell lines harboring mutant mtDNA with a point mutation or a large-scale deletion. RT-PCR (reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction) showed that the mRNA content of the Fas gene was 2 to 19-fold higher in the cells with deficient mtDNA than in the control cells. In addition, the expressed Fas protein was detected by immunohistochemical staining in the cells without mtDNA but not in the control cells. Incubating the cells containing wild-type mtDNA with the respiratory inhibitors rotenone and antimycin A enhanced the content of mRNA of the Fas gene 2 to 4-fold and sensitized cells to the antibody. Thus, defects in mitochondria caused apoptotic cell death by anti-Fas antibody and enhanced Fas gene expression.
Division of Biochemistry, Nippon Medical School, Kawasaki, Kanagawa.
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Asoh
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Mori
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Hayashi
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Ohta
D000968:Antimycin A / Q000494:pharmacology; D017209:Apoptosis; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D002470:Cell Survival; D004253:DNA Nucleotidylexotransferase / Q000378:metabolism; D017931:DNA Primers; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D012402:Rotenone / Q000494:pharmacology; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects; D019014:fas Receptor / Q000096:biosynthesis*
D017931:DNA Primers; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D019014:fas Receptor; D012402:Rotenone; D000968:Antimycin A; D004253:DNA Nucleotidylexotransferase