title: Attenuation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappaB) promotes apoptosis of kidney epithelial cells: a potential mechanism of mercury-induced nephrotoxicity.
abstract: Nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappaB), a pleiotropic transcriptional factor that promotes cell survival and protects cells from apoptosis, requires reduced thiols at critical steps in its activation pathway. Mercuric ion (Hg(2+)), one of the strongest thiol-binding agents known, impairs NF-kappaB activation and transcriptional activity in normal rat kidney epithelial (NRK52E) cells at concentrations as low as 0.5 microM by binding to specific reduced thiol moieties in the NF-kappaB activation pathway. We hypothesized that prevention of NF-kappaB activation by Hg(2+) will increase the sensitivity of kidney cells to the apoptosis-inducing effects of other toxicants to which these cells are otherwise resistant by virtue of their NF-kappaB-activating capacity. Fewer than 5% of untreated kidney cells in culture (70-90% confluent) were found to be apoptotic when evaluated by DNA fragmentation (terminal deoxynucleotide transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling) or flow cytometric DNA profile analyses. Hg(2+) (5 microM) treatment for 24 hr increased this proportion by 1.5- to 2-fold. Neither lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (1 microg/mL) nor tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha; 300 U/mL), both potent activators of NF-kappaB in kidney cells, significantly altered the proportion of apoptotic cells, compared with untreated controls, when applied without Hg(2+) pretreatment. However, when LPS or TNF-alpha was administered after Hg(2+) pretreatment (5 microM for 30 min), the proportion of cells undergoing apoptosis 22 hr later increased by 4- to 6-fold compared with untreated controls. In contrast, Hg(2+) pretreatment did not increase the amount of apoptosis caused by apoptosis-inducing agents that do not activate NF-kappaB (staurosporine, Fas ligand). These findings suggest that Hg(2+) enhances the sensitivity of kidney cells to apoptotic stimuli as a consequence of inhibition of NF-kappaB activity. Because apoptosis is known to play a key role in the pathogenesis of renal failure resulting from toxicant injury to proximal tubular cells, promotion of apoptosis via inhibition of NF-kappaB activity may define a novel molecular mechanism by which Hg(2+) toxicity is initiated in kidney cells.
authors.affiliation: Center for Ecogenetics and Environmental Health, Department of Environmental Health, University of Washington, 4225 Roosevelt Way, Suite 100, Seattle, WA 98105, USA. jwoods@u.washington.edu
authors.forename: James S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Woods
authors.forename: Francisco J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Dieguez-Acuña
authors.forename: Maureen E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Ellis
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kushleika
authors.forename: P Lynne
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Simmonds
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D002460:Cell Line; D002470:Cell Survival; D007668:Kidney / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology*; D008628:Mercury / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D051437:Renal Insufficiency / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D016328:NF-kappa B; D008628:Mercury