title: 20-Hydroxyecdysone-induced differentiation and apoptosis in the Drosophila cell line, l(2)mbn.
abstract: 20-Hydroxyecdysone has an inhibitory effect on the proliferation of l(2)mbn cells, causes vacuolization and fragmentation of cells, and promotes a strong phagocytotic activity. From several lines of evidence, it can be concluded that 20-hydroxyecdysone induces apoptosis. Long-term video observations following the fate of individual cells, scanning and transmission electron microscopy reveal the typical characteristics of apoptosis: sequestration of small cellular protuberances or larger parts of the cell with nuclear fragments (apoptotic bodies), chromatin condensation, condensation and vesiculation of cytoplasm, whereas the mitochondria retain their normal appearance. The induction of apoptosis by 20-hydroxyecdysone was confirmed by the TUNEL reaction and quantitatively determined by a method based on this reaction. Onset of apoptosis precedes phagocytotic activity. JH III alone has no clear-cut effect on l(2)mbn cells. In double treatments, the inhibitory effect of 20-hydroxyecdysone on cell proliferation is significantly reduced by the addition of JH III. Whether or not JH III also reduces apoptotic activity is not yet clear. It is shown that the l(2)mbn cell line is an advantageous model system for the exploration of steroid-induced apoptosis.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Zoologie, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität, D-55099 Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ress
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Holtmann
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Maas
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sofsky
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dorn
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D004330:Drosophila; D004441:Ecdysterone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006434:Hemocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D012717:Sesquiterpenes / Q000494:pharmacology; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D014617:Vacuoles / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D012717:Sesquiterpenes; D004441:Ecdysterone; C036585:juvenile hormone III