title: The role of mitochondria in nitric oxide-mediated thymocyte apoptosis.
abstract: The aim of this study was to analyze whether immunosuppressants could affect NO-induced thymocytes apoptosis. S-Nitroso-N-acetyl-D,L-penicillamine (SNAP, an NO donor) has an apoptotic effect on murine thymocytes. This NO-induced thymocyte apoptosis is associated with a reduced uptake of DiOC(6), a fluorochrome which incorporates into cells depending on their mitochondrial membrane potential (DeltaPsi(m)). The immunosuppressant, cyclosporin A, partially inhibited NO-induced thymocyte apoptosis as well as the reduction of DeltaPsi(m). In contrast, another immunosuppressant, FK506, did not affect NO-induced thymocyte apoptosis. Although FK506 and cyclosporin A inhibit T-cell signal transduction by the same mechanism, their effects on mitochondria may contribute to the differential apoptosis induction ability.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Research Center, National Nagasaki Medical Center, Kubara 2-1001-1, Omura 856-8652, Japan. migita@nmc.hosp.go.jp
authors.forename: Kiyoshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Migita
authors.forename: Fumiko
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Seigo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Abiru
authors.forename: Hiroaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ida
authors.forename: Yasumori
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Izumi
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kawakami
authors.forename: Katsumi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Eguchi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D053453:Caspase 9; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000494:pharmacology; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D020030:Nitric Oxide Donors / Q000494:pharmacology; D010396:Penicillamine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D016559:Tacrolimus / Q000494:pharmacology; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D020030:Nitric Oxide Donors; C110881:S-nitro-N-acetylpenicillamine; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D016572:Cyclosporine; C506434:Casp9 protein, mouse; D053453:Caspase 9; D020169:Caspases; D010396:Penicillamine; D016559:Tacrolimus