title: Restrictin-P/stromal activin A, kills its target cells via an apoptotic mechanism.
abstract: We have recently found that the inhibitor of plasmacytoma cell growth, restrictin-P, is a stroma derived activin A and that it is an antagonist of interleukin-6 and interleukin-11. The present study was aimed at determining the mode by which this cytokine kills its target cells. On addition of the cytokine there was little or no net increase in cell number, depending on the specific target cells. All plasmacytoma cell lines tested exhibited a similar time dependent inhibition of DNA synthesis and a G0/G1 shift in the cell cycle. Electron microscope examination revealed classical apoptotic features i.e. chromatin condensation and membrane blebbing. DNA fragmentation, measured qualitatively and quantitatively, occurred in all cytokine treated plasmacytoma cell lines. Bovine activin A had an identical capacity to reduce cell viability, to induce G0/G1 shift and to cause DNA fragmentation. X-ray microanalysis of intracellular ions revealed an increase in calcium ions, following exposure of plasmacytoma cells to restrictin-P, accompanied by a decrease in phosphor ions. The cytotoxicity of the inhibitor was augmented in an additive manner by cycloheximide (CHX) indicating that the process did not require de novo protein synthesis. This study thus shows that restrictin-P/stromal activin A kills its target cells by inducing apoptosis. This effect was mediated by subnanogram concentrations and therefore may represent one physiological function of this pleiotropic cytokine.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology, The Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sternberg
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Honigwachs-sha'anani
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Brosh
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Malik
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Burstein
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zipori
mesh_terms: D028341:Activins; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000235:genetics*; D002417:Cattle; D002452:Cell Count / Q000187:drug effects; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000235:genetics; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002460:Cell Line; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D003513:Cycloheximide / Q000494:pharmacology; D004247:DNA / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D004577:Electron Probe Microanalysis; D004587:Electrophoresis, Agar Gel; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006131:Growth Inhibitors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007265:Inhibins; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D007378:Interleukins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D007700:Kinetics; D051379:Mice; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D010954:Plasmacytoma / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D006023:Glycoproteins; D006131:Growth Inhibitors; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D007378:Interleukins; C069698:restrictin-P; D028341:Activins; D007265:Inhibins; D004247:DNA; D003513:Cycloheximide