Resistance of activated human Th2 cells to NO-induced apoptosis is mediated by gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase.
Activation-induced death of inflammatory cells (AICD) has an important function in immune maintenance. Type 1 Th cells are known to be more susceptible to AICD than Th2 cells. In the current study we examined whether NO-induced apoptosis also preferentially eliminates Th1 cells over Th2 cells. Naive human Th lymphocytes (CD4(+)CD45RO(-)) were activated in vitro for 1 week in the presence of IL-12 plus anti-IL-4 or IL-4 plus anti-IL-12 to generate Th1- and Th2-polarized cultures respectively. Cultures were exposed to the NO donors Spermine-nonoate (Sper) and DPTA-nonoate to study NO-induced apoptosis. We found that NO preferentially induced apoptosis in Th1-polarized cells as demonstrated by Annexin staining in the presence of 10 microM Sper (70 +/- 16 versus 23 +/- 4.4% in Th2 cells P: < 0.01) and by DioC6 staining (38 +/- 10 versus 11 +/- 5% in Th2 cells, P: < 0.01). The mechanism of NO-induced apoptosis in Th1/Th2-polarized cells was distinct from AICD and Fas-induced apoptosis. Differential sensitivity between Th1- and Th2-polarized cultures originated at the level of intracellular glutathione (GSH) metabolism. GSH levels were higher in Th2 cells (1.6 +/- 0.2-fold Th1, P: < 0.01). High intracellular GSH in Th2-polarized cells did not account for reduced susceptibility to NO per se, since the inhibition of gamma-glutamyltrans-peptidase (gamma-GT), which is involved in GSH import, sensitized Th2 cells to NO-induced apoptosis without GSH depletion. Therefore, higher activity of gamma-GT in Th2 cells (2.1 +/- 0.4-fold Th1, P: < 0.001) specifically protects Th2 cells against NO-induced apoptosis. Preferential NO-induced elimination of human Th1 cells at sites of inflammation may thus select Th2 cells and contribute to immune deviation.
Roozendaal
R
R
Division of Allergology, Faculty of Medicine, Groningen University, Groningen University Hospital, Hanzeplein 1, 9713 GZ Groningen, The Netherlands.
Vellenga
E
E
de Jong
M A
MA
Traanberg
K F
KF
Postma
D S
DS
de Monchy
J G
JG
Kauffman
H F
HF
D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005978:Glutathione / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020030:Nitric Oxide Donors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009589:Nitrogen Oxides; D013096:Spermine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000502:physiology*
D020030:Nitric Oxide Donors; D009589:Nitrogen Oxides; C091861:spermine nitric oxide complex; D013096:Spermine; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase; D005978:Glutathione