title: Gamma-interferon induces apoptosis of the B lymphoma WEHI-279 cell line through a CD95/CD95L-independent mechanism.
abstract: Gamma-interferon (IFN-gamma) a cytokine produced by CD4+ T helper type 1 cells, CD8+ T cells and natural killer (NK) cells, plays a central role in the development of humoral and cell-mediated immunity. IFN-gamma participates in the maturation and differentiation of B cells, but it has been previously reported that IFN-gamma may inhibit the early stages of B cell activation. We report that the inhibition of the B lymphoma cell WEHI-279-proliferation induced by IFN-gamma, involves the induction of typical features of apoptosis (nuclear chromatin condensation and fragmentation, cell shrinkage, phosphatidyl-serine (PS) exposure and mitochondrial membrane potential (delta psim) loss). IFN-gamma-mediated B cell apoptosis was decreased by the addition of the T helper type 2 cytokine, IL-4. WEHI-279 cells express CD95 and undergo apoptosis after treatment with either an agonistic anti-CD95 Ab or with a soluble recombinant CD95L. However, incubation with CD95-Fc or TRAIL-R1-Fc fusion proteins, did not prevent IFN-gamma-mediated apoptosis, suggesting that IFN-gamma-mediated apoptosis occurs independently of CD95/CD95L and TRAIL-R/TRAIL interactions. IFN-gamma-mediated apoptosis is associated with caspase-3 activation that can be prevented by the addition of the broad caspase inhibitor zVAD-fmk. These data indicate that IFN-gamma may play a major role in the regulation of B cell apoptosis, and suggest the involvement of an alternative pathway which is independent of the death receptors.
authors.affiliation: INSERM EMI-U. 9922, Faculté de Médecine Bichat-Claude-Bernard, 16, rue Henri-Huchard, 75018 Paris, France.
authors.forename: K E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Ben Jilani
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Akarid
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Arnoult
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Petit
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Baert
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Gaillard
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Ameisen
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Estaquier
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000502:physiology; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000502:physiology*; D016393:Lymphoma, B-Cell / Q000473:pathology*; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D019014:fas Receptor / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; C505658:Fasl protein, mouse; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D019014:fas Receptor; D007371:Interferon-gamma