title: The involvement of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and p38 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase in TRAIL/Apo2L-induced apoptosis.
abstract: To determine the apoptotic signaling pathway which tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL/Apo2L) induced, we investigated the contribution of reactive oxygen species (ROS), p38 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase and caspases in human adenocarcinoma HeLa cells. Here we show that upon TRAIL/Apo2L exposure there was pronounced ROS accumulation and activation of p38 MAP kinase, and that activation of caspases and apoptosis followed. Pretreatment with antioxidants such as glutathione or estrogen attenuated TRAIL/Apo2L-induced apoptosis through a reduction of ROS generation and diminished p38 MAP kinase and caspase activation. The p38 MAP kinase inhibitor SB203580 prevented apoptosis through a blockage of caspase activation, although ROS generation was not attenuated. Furthermore, the pan-caspase inhibitor Z-Val-Ala-DL-Asp-fluoromethyl ketone fully prevented apoptosis, while neither ROS accumulation nor p38 MAP kinase activation were affected. Therefore, our results suggest that TRAIL/Apo2L-induced apoptosis is mediated by ROS-activated p38 MAP kinase followed by caspase activation in HeLa cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine, Chung-Ang University, 221 Huksuk-dong, Dongjak-ku, 156-756, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Myoung Woo
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Soon Cheol
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Young Geun
authors.initials: YG
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Soon Ock
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: Yim
authors.forename: Hee Sun
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Chae
authors.forename: Jae Hyung
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Bach
authors.forename: Hyun Jung
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Kyung Yong
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Won Bok
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Sung Su
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism*; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D004967:Estrogens / Q000494:pharmacology; D005978:Glutathione / Q000494:pharmacology; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D011725:Pyridines / Q000494:pharmacology; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism*; D053221:TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism*; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
chemical_list: D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D004967:Estrogens; D007093:Imidazoles; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D011725:Pyridines; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D053221:TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand; C505653:TNFSF10 protein, human; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D020169:Caspases; D005978:Glutathione; C093642:SB 203580