title: Heat shock protein 70 inhibits caspase-dependent and -independent apoptosis in Jurkat T cells.
abstract: Heat shock protein 70 (hsp70) is a stress-inducible protein that prevents apoptosis induced by a wide range of cytotoxic agents by an as yet undefined mechanism. The caspase family of cysteine proteases have been attributed a central role in the execution of apoptosis. However, several cases of caspase-independent apoptosis have been recently reported, suggesting that caspases may not be necessary for apoptosis in all cells. This study examines the protective role of hsp70 in both caspase-dependent and -independent apoptosis. Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) used at low and high concentrations in Jurkat T cells induces caspase-dependent and -independent apoptosis, respectively. A hsp70-transfected Jurkat clone was used to observe the protection mediated by hsp70 during these two forms of apoptosis. Results reveal that hsp70 inhibits both caspase-dependent and -independent apoptosis. Furthermore, measurement of caspase-3 activity during caspase-dependent apoptosis revealed that caspase activation was inhibited in hsp70 transfectants. Early apoptotic events, such as mitochondrial depolarization, cytochrome c release, and increased intracellular calcium, were demonstrated to be common to both caspase-dependent and -independent H2O2-induced apoptosis. The inhibition of these events by hsp70 suggests that hsp70 may be an important anti-apoptotic regulator, functioning at a very early stage in the apoptotic pathway.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, University College Cork, Ireland.
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Creagh
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Carmody
authors.forename: T G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Cotter
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism*; D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000494:pharmacology; D019169:Jurkat Cells; D016877:Oxidants / Q000494:pharmacology; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins; D016877:Oxidants; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D020169:Caspases