title: Bcl-2 counters apoptosis by Bax heterodimerization-dependent and -independent mechanisms in the T-cell lineage.
abstract: The effect of the cell death inhibitor Bcl-2 in relation to its capacity to dimerize with apoptosis promoter Bax or its homologs at their physiological expression levels was explored in the T-cell lineage. Transgenic mice expressing a BH1 mutant Bcl-2 (Bcl-2 mI-3), which fails to heterodimerize with proapoptotic members of the Bcl-2 family, such as Bax, were generated. Bcl-2 mI-3 protected immature CD4+8- thymocytes from spontaneous, glucocorticoid and anti-CD3-induced apoptosis and altered T cell maturation, resulting in increased percentages of CD3(hi) and CD4-8+ thymocytes. In contrast, apoptosis of peripheral T-cells was unaffected by transgene expression. This correlated with their high Bax expression level and insensitivity to the caspase inhibitor, zVAD-fmk, a functional hallmark of Bax-like activity. Thus, within the T-cell lineage Bcl-2 can inhibit apoptosis independent of its association with Bax or its homologs; yet, above a threshold level of their physiologic proapoptotic activity, the capacity of Bcl-2 to heterodimerize with Bax or its homologs appears essential for it to counter cell death.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, Illinois 60611, USA.
authors.forename: E G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: St Clair
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: Z N
authors.initials: ZN
authors.lastname: Oltvai
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000276:immunology; D017209:Apoptosis; D019070:Cell Lineage; D002470:Cell Survival; D019281:Dimerization; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; C494827:Bax protein, mouse; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein