title: Gamma-interferon (IFN-gamma) augments apoptotic response to mistletoe lectin-II via upregulation of Fas/Fas L expression and caspase activation in human myeloid U937 cells.
abstract: Mistletoe lectin-II, a major composition of Korean mistletoe (Viscum album coloratum), is known as a potent apoptosis inducer. The previous research has demonstrated that Korean mistletoe lectin-II induces apoptosis via c-Jun N terminal kinase (JNK) activation in human myeloid U937 cells. The purpose of this research is to prove the synergistic action of mistletoe lectin-II and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) in the apoptotic cytotoxicity of U937. When U937 cells were treated with mistletoe lectin-II after being differentiated by IFN-gamma, the proteolytic activity of caspase-3 and 9 was markedly elevated and that of caspase-8 was prolonged for 18 hr. The activation of caspase-3-like protease requires the earlier cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase(PARP). Caspase-1 was, however, not activated during the resting phase and nor in IFN-gamma-differentiated U937 cells. Western blot analysis revealed that, in IFN-gamma-differentiated U937 cells, the expression of Fas (CD95/APO-1) & Fas ligand(FasL) increases the apoptotic sensitivity against Mistletoe lectin-II. Fas (CD95/APO-1) & FasL were not significantly induced solely by mistletoe lectin-II. Furthermore the activity of JNK1 in U937 cells was also markedly increased with IFN-gamma-differentiation, compared to that of the control. These results suggest that the IFN-gamma-differentiation of U937 cells increases the susceptibility to mistletoe lectin-II-induced apoptosis.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Science, Wonkwang University School of Medicine, Korea.
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: H S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: So
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: B H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: S Y
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: S R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Moon
authors.forename: N S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: C B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Ko
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Y K
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Park
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004347:Drug Interactions; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D028321:Plant Preparations; D010940:Plant Proteins; D054790:Ribosome Inactivating Proteins, Type 2; D013997:Time Factors; D014118:Toxins, Biological / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020298:U937 Cells; D015854:Up-Regulation; D019014:fas Receptor / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: C505661:FASLG protein, human; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D028321:Plant Preparations; D010940:Plant Proteins; D054790:Ribosome Inactivating Proteins, Type 2; D014118:Toxins, Biological; D019014:fas Receptor; C009674:ribosome inactivating protein, Viscum; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D020169:Caspases