Bcl-2 and Bcl-X(L) block thapsigargin-induced nitric oxide generation, c-Jun NH(2)-terminal kinase activity, and apoptosis.
The proteins Bcl-2 and Bcl-X(L) prevent apoptosis, but their mechanism of action is unclear. We examined the role of Bcl-2 and Bcl-X(L) in the regulation of cytosolic Ca(2+), nitric oxide production (NO), c-Jun NH(2)-terminal kinase (JNK) activation, and apoptosis in Jurkat T cells. Thapsigargin (TG), an inhibitor of the endoplasmic reticulum-associated Ca(2+) ATPase, was used to disrupt Ca(2+) homeostasis. TG acutely elevated intracellular free Ca(2+) and mitochondrial Ca(2+) levels and induced NO production and apoptosis in Jurkat cells transfected with vector (JT/Neo). Buffering of this Ca(2+) response with 1, 2-bis(o-aminophenoxy)ethane-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid tetra(acetoxymethyl) ester (BAPTA-AM) or inhibiting NO synthase activity with N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride (L-NAME) blocked TG-induced NO production and apoptosis in JT/Neo cells. By contrast, while TG produced comparable early changes in the Ca(2+) level (i.e., within 3 h) in Jurkat cells overexpressing Bcl-2 and Bcl-X(L) (JT/Bcl-2 or JT/Bcl-X(L)), NO production, late (36-h) Ca(2+) accumulation, and apoptosis were dramatically reduced compared to those in JT/Neo cells. Exposure of JT/Bcl-2 and JT/Bcl-X(L) cells to the NO donor, S-nitroso-N-acetylpenacillamine (SNAP) resulted in apoptosis comparable to that seen in JT/Neo cells. TG also activated the JNK pathway, which was blocked by L-NAME. Transient expression of a dominant negative mutant SEK1 (Lys-->Arg), an upstream kinase of JNK, prevented both TG-induced JNK activation and apoptosis. A dominant negative c-Jun mutant also reduced TG-induced apoptosis. Overexpression of Bcl-2 or Bcl-X(L) inhibited TG-induced loss in mitochondrial membrane potential, release of cytochrome c, and activation of caspase-3 and JNK. Inhibition of caspase-3 activation blocked TG-induced JNK activation, suggesting that JNK activation occurred downstream of caspase-3. Thus, TG-induced Ca(2+) release leads to NO generation followed by mitochondrial changes including cytochrome c release and caspase-3 activation. Caspase-3 activation leads to activation of the JNK pathway and apoptosis. In summary, Ca(2+)-dependent activation of NO production mediates apoptosis after TG exposure in JT/Neo cells. JT/Bcl-2 and JT/Bcl-X(L) cells are susceptible to NO-mediated apoptosis, but Bcl-2 and Bcl-X(L) protect the cells against TG-induced apoptosis by negatively regulating Ca(2+)-sensitive NO synthase activity or expression.
Laboratory of Immunology, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, Maryland 21224-6825, USA.
R K
RK
Srivastava
S J
SJ
Sollott
L
L
Khan
R
R
Hansford
E G
EG
Lakatta
D L
DL
Longo
D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D020013:Calcium Signaling / Q000187:drug effects*; D017871:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000235:genetics; D000252:Calcium-Transporting ATPases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D053148:Caspase 3; D061945:Caspase Inhibitors; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism; D015853:Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D004533:Egtazic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D019169:Jurkat Cells; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D020030:Nitric Oxide Donors / Q000494:pharmacology; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000378:metabolism*; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D009842:Oligopeptides / Q000494:pharmacology; D010396:Penicillamine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000502:physiology*; D019284:Thapsigargin / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D051020:bcl-X Protein
C494811:BCL2L1 protein, human; D061945:Caspase Inhibitors; D015853:Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D020030:Nitric Oxide Donors; D009842:Oligopeptides; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; C110881:S-nitro-N-acetylpenicillamine; D051020:bcl-X Protein; C110772:benzoylcarbonyl-aspartyl-glutamyl-valyl-aspartyl-fluoromethyl ketone; C070379:1,2-bis(2-aminophenoxy)ethane N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid acetoxymethyl ester; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D004533:Egtazic Acid; D019284:Thapsigargin; C496319:NOS2 protein, human; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D017871:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; C505407:CASP3 protein, human; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases; D000252:Calcium-Transporting ATPases; D010396:Penicillamine