title: Participation of Bax-alpha in IFN-alpha-mediated apoptosis in Daudi B lymphoma cells.
abstract: Although interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) has proved beneficial in the treatment of some tumors, the basis for this is still uncertain. In this study, we examined the effects of IFN-alpha on the growth of tumor cells in vitro, using the Daudi line of B lymphoma cells as a model. There was a dose-dependent accumulation of these cells in the G1 phase of the cell cycle 24-48 h from the time of exposure to IFN-alpha. This was followed between 48 h and 96 h by an increasing degree of apoptosis, as assessed by cell survival, propidium iodine staining, and transmission electron microscopy. Concomitantly with the apoptosis, there was the appearance of pl8 Bax-alpha, an apparently novel variant low molecular weight form of the p21 Bax-alpha found in normal cells. There was also a slight diminution in Bcl-xL, with a resultant drop in the Bcl-xL:Bax-alpha ratio. Treatment of cells with CD40-L partially inhibited the development of apoptosis in response to IFN-alpha. At the same time, generation of p18 Bax-alpha was reduced, which suggests that this plays a part in the apoptotic process. These findings may throw light on the development of lymphomas and perhaps point to future ways of improving therapy with IFN-alpha.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Tokyo Medical University, Japan.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yanase
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Takada
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Yoshihama
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ikegami
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mizuguchi
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D016193:G1 Phase; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016393:Lymphoma, B-Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000502:physiology; D013268:Stimulation, Chemical; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2