IFN-gamma induces apoptosis in mouse embryonic stem cells, a putative mechanism of its embryotoxicity.
It has been reported that interferon (IFN)-gamma should inhibit in vitro mouse embryo growth by direct cell toxicity. However, the mechanism involved has not been clearly established. In the present study, this question was addressed using the embryonic stem (ES) cell model. It was found that IFN-gamma, induces a dose-dependent apoptosis in ES cells, as assessed by trypan-blue staining, by Annexin-V labeling and DNA analysis, Moreover, IFN-gamma treatment cooperates with Fas-mediated apoptosis, a phenomenon that has been recently reported. As Bcl-2 oncoprotein functions as a death repressor molecule in an evolutionarily conserved cell death pathway, its expression was analyzed by flow cytometry. It was demonstrated that Bcl-2 is expressed in ES cells. When compared to untreated ES cells, IFN-gamma-treated, apoptotic cells expressed a lower Bcl-2 level and a normal level of Fas, whereas surviving cells expressed a normal level of Bcl-2 but a lower Fas expression. Altogether, these data suggest that IFN-gamma may influence early mouse embryo development by promoting apoptosis, which may constitute a novel mechanism of IFN-gamma embryotoxicity.
Department of Gynecology/Obstetrics, Saint-Antoine Hospital, France. zougm@francemultimedia.fr
G M
GM
Zou
M F
MF
Reznikoff-Etievant
F
F
Hirsch
J
J
Milliez
D000818:Animals; D017304:Annexin A5 / Q000032:analysis; D017209:Apoptosis; D002460:Cell Line; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000166:cytology; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000502:physiology* / Q000633:toxicity; D051379:Mice; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D019014:fas Receptor / Q000378:metabolism
D017304:Annexin A5; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D019014:fas Receptor; D007371:Interferon-gamma