IL-4 induces apoptosis of endothelial cells through the caspase-3-dependent pathway.
The present study was designed to investigate the hypothesis that interleukin-4 (IL-4) can induce apoptosis of human endothelial cells and to study regulatory pathways of this process. Indeed, DNA ladder assay and flow cytometry study showed that IL-4 can induce apoptosis of endothelial cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner. In addition, IL-4 markedly increased activity of caspase-3, and inhibition of this enzyme suppressed IL-4-induced apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner. These results provide the first evidence that IL-4 can induce apoptosis of human endothelial cells. In addition, the data indicate that the caspase-3-dependent pathway is critically involved in this process.
Lee
Y W
YW
Department of Surgery, University of Kentucky Medical Center, Lexington, 40536, USA.
Kühn
H
H
Hennig
B
B
Toborek
M
M
D017209:Apoptosis; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D053938:DNA Fragmentation; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology*; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014471:Umbilical Veins
D015847:Interleukin-4; C505407:CASP3 protein, human; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases