title: Effect of NF-kappa B Inhibition on TNF-alpha-induced apoptosis and downstream pathways in cardiomyocytes.
abstract: Heart-specific inhibition of survival pathway gp130 was recently shown to sensitize transgenic mice towards stress stimuli, resulting in rapid onset of cardiac dilatation and heart failure. In order to identify further survival pathways we evaluated the role of transcription factor nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappa B) in tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha)-induced apoptosis of cardiomyocytes. TNF-alpha stimulation (10 ng/ml) of both H9c2 cells and primary cardiomyocytes isolated from neonatal Wistar rats resulted in rapid nuclear translocation of NF-kappa B complexes. The NF-kappa B complexes consisted of rel-proteins p50 and p65, as revealed by supershift analysis. Addition of proteasome inhibitor MG132 or adenoviral expression of a truncated I kappa B alpha (I kappa B Delta N) inhibited TNF-alpha-induced NF-kappa B nuclear translocation in a dose-dependent manner. Both neonatal cardiomyocytes and H9c2 cells were resistant to TNF-induced apoptosis. However, specific inhibition of NF-kappa B activation by Ad5-I kappa B alpha Delta N (MOI=50) or MG132 (5 microm) increased apoptosis as measured by subG1-assay (H9c2 cells) and annexin V binding/propidium iodide (neonatal cardiomyocytes, FACS-analysis: 7+/-2% to 26+/-5% annexin V positive/PI negative), respectively. TUNEL-assay double-stained with anti-alpha-sarcomeric actin confirmed apoptosis of neonatal cardiomyocytes. Furthermore, caspase-3 activation was increased by 52+/-7% in neonatal cardiomyocytes after TNF alpha+Ad5-I kappa B alpha Delta N compared to TNF alpha+Ad5-control treatment. Protein levels of hiAP1, hiAP2, x-iAP, bcl-2 and bcl-x(L) were neither downregulated by NF-kappa B inhibition nor upregulated by TNF-alpha stimulation. In summary, cardiomyocytes utilize transcription factor NF-kappa B to activate survival factors in the context of TNF-alpha stimulation. As locally increased levels of TNF-alpha have been detected in heart failure, NF-kappa B activity is essential for cellular homeostasis in the heart.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Franz Volhard Clinic, Charité, Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: M W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Bergmann
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Loser
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dietz
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: von Harsdorf
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D002460:Cell Line; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D015853:Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D019281:Dimerization; D006801:Humans; D020672:I-kappa B Proteins; D051034:Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins; D007976:Leupeptins / Q000494:pharmacology; D009206:Myocardium / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D000072000:NF-KappaB Inhibitor alpha; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D052002:NF-kappa B p50 Subunit; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D011506:Proteins; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D015398:Signal Transduction; D051996:Transcription Factor RelA; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology; D044767:Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases; D051636:X-Linked Inhibitor of Apoptosis Protein
chemical_list: D015853:Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D020672:I-kappa B Proteins; D051034:Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins; D007976:Leupeptins; D016328:NF-kappa B; D052002:NF-kappa B p50 Subunit; C000606204:NFKBIA protein, human; C000606205:Nfkbia protein, mouse; C000606206:Nfkbia protein, rat; D011506:Proteins; D051996:Transcription Factor RelA; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D051636:X-Linked Inhibitor of Apoptosis Protein; C496866:XIAP protein, human; D000072000:NF-KappaB Inhibitor alpha; C494833:BIRC2 protein, human; D044767:Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases; C072553:benzyloxycarbonylleucyl-leucyl-leucine aldehyde