title: Caspase activation is required for nitric oxide-mediated, CD95(APO-1/Fas)-dependent and independent apoptosis in human neoplastic lymphoid cells.
abstract: Nitric oxide (NO), an important effector molecule involved in immune regulation and host defense, was shown to induce apoptosis in lymphoma cells. In the present report the NO donor glycerol trinitrate was found to induce apoptosis in Jurkat cells that are sensitive to CD95-mediated kill. In contrast, a CD95-resistant Jurkat subclone showed substantial protection from apoptosis after exposure to NO. NO induced mRNA expression of CD95 (APO-1/Fas) and TRAIL/APO-2 ligands. Moreover, NO triggered apoptosis in freshly isolated human leukemic lymphocytes which were also sensitive to anti-CD95 treatment. The ability of NO to induce apoptosis was completely blocked by a broad-spectrum ICE (interleukin-1beta converting enzyme)-protease/caspase inhibitor and correlated with FLICE/caspase-8 activation. This activation was abrogated in some neoplastic lymphoid cells but not in others by the inhibitor of protein synthesis cycloheximide. Our results were confirmed using an in vitro experimental model of coculture of human lymphoid target cells with activated bovine endothelial cells generating NO as effectors. Furthermore, the inhibition of endogenous NO production with the inducible NO synthase inhibitor NG-monomethyl-L-arginine caused a complete abrogation of the apoptotic effect. Our data provide evidence that NO-induced apoptosis in human neoplastic lymphoid cells strictly requires activation of caspases, in particular FLICE, the most CD95 receptor-proximal caspase. Depending on the cell line tested this activation required or was independent of the CD95 receptor/ligand system.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cellular Immunology and the Division of Immunogenetics, Tumor Immunology Program, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Chlichlia
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Peter
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rocha
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Scaffidi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bucur
authors.forename: P H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Krammer
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Schirrmacher
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Umansky
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; D053181:Caspase 8; D053453:Caspase 9; D020169:Caspases; D002417:Cattle; D003513:Cycloheximide / Q000494:pharmacology; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases / Q000378:metabolism*; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D006801:Humans; D019169:Jurkat Cells; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D011500:Protein Synthesis Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D053221:TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism; D019014:fas Receptor / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; C505661:FASLG protein, human; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D011500:Protein Synthesis Inhibitors; D053221:TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand; C505653:TNFSF10 protein, human; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D019014:fas Receptor; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D003513:Cycloheximide; C505530:CASP8 protein, human; C506433:CASP9 protein, human; D053181:Caspase 8; D053453:Caspase 9; D020169:Caspases; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases