title: Activation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma inhibits apoptosis induced by serum deprivation in LLC-PK1 cells.
abstract: Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPARgamma) belongs to a superfamily of nuclear receptors, which plays important roles in lipid and glucose metabolism. However, expression of PPARgamma in extra-adipose tissues and stimulation of apoptosis by PPARgamma activators has been previously reported. We investigated the functions of PPARgamma using a clonal kidney cell line (LLC-PK1). RT-PCR revealed the expression of PPARgamma in LLC-PK1 cells. The cells accumulated fat droplets and increased beta-oxidation of free fatty acids in response to troglitazone, a ligand for PPARgamma. At physiological concentrations, ligands for PPARgamma including troglitazone, BRL49653, and 15-deoxy-delta-12,14-prostaglandin J(2) inhibited serum-deprivation-induced apoptosis of the cells. On the other hand, PPARalpha activators did not inhibit the apoptosis. Apoptosis of LLC-PK1 cells was determined by a cell viability assay, condensation of the nucleus on fluorescent and electron microscopy, and DNA fragmentation as indicated by the appearance of nucleosomal ladders on an agarose gel. Troglitazone also suppressed serum-deprivation-induced activation of Caspase 3. However, troglitazone did not suppress apoptosis induced by ATP deprivation. Anti-apoptotic effects of troglitazone were partially blocked by a phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitor, wortmannin, but not by other kinase inhibitors such as PD98059 and AG490. These results suggest that PPARgamma is functionally expressed in LLC-PK1 cells, and its activation inhibits apoptosis induced by serum deprivation, at least in part, through the PI3K pathway.
authors.affiliation: Third Department of Internal Medicine, Yamanashi Medical University, Tamaho, Yamanashi, Japan. kazutaka@swallow.resyamanashi-med.ac.jp
authors.forename: Kazutaka
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Haraguchi
authors.forename: Hiroki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shimura
authors.forename: Toshimasa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Onaya
mesh_terms: D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000172:deficiency; D000730:Androstadienes / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000502:physiology; D002839:Chromans / Q000494:pharmacology; D016895:Culture Media, Serum-Free / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D018374:LLC-PK1 Cells / Q000502:physiology; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear / Q000502:physiology*; D013552:Swine; D013844:Thiazoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D045162:Thiazolidinediones; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000502:physiology*; D000077288:Troglitazone; D000077191:Wortmannin
chemical_list: D000730:Androstadienes; D002839:Chromans; D016895:Culture Media, Serum-Free; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; D013844:Thiazoles; D045162:Thiazolidinediones; D014157:Transcription Factors; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases; D000077288:Troglitazone; D000077191:Wortmannin