Treatment of mice with 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin leads to aryl hydrocarbon receptor-dependent nuclear translocation of NF-kappaB and expression of Fas ligand in thymic stromal cells and consequent apoptosis in T cells.
We investigated the role of aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) in the regulation of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD)-induced apoptosis in thymic T cells. AhR knockout (KO) mice were resistant to TCDD-induced thymic atrophy and apoptosis when compared with the AhR wild-type mice. TCDD triggered the expression of several apoptotic genes, including FasL in AhR wild-type but not AhRKO mice. TCDD-induced increase in FasL was seen only in thymic stromal but not thymic T cells. When TCDD-exposed stromal cells were mixed with untreated thymic T cells, increased apoptosis was detected in T cells that involved Fas-FasL interactions. Thus, apoptosis in T cells was not detected when TCDD-treated stromal cells from FasL-defective or AhRKO mice were mixed with wild-type T cells or when TCDD-exposed wild-type stromal cells were mixed with Fas-deficient T cells. TCDD treatment, in vivo and in vitro, led to colocalization and translocation of NF-kappaB subunits (p50, p65) to the nucleus in stromal but not T cells from AhR wild-type mice. NF-kappaB activation was not observed in stromal cells isolated from TCDD-treated AhRKO mice. Mutations in NF-kappaB-binding sites on the FasL promoter showed that TCDD regulates FasL promoter activity through NF-kappaB. TCDD treatment in vivo caused activation of the death receptor and mitochondrial pathways of apoptosis. Cross-talk between the two pathways was not necessary for apoptosis inasmuch as TCDD-treated Bid KO mice showed thymic atrophy and increased apoptosis, similar to the wild-type mice. These findings demonstrate that AhR regulates FasL and NF-kappaB in stromal cells, which in turn plays a critical role in initiating apoptosis in thymic T cells.
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center, Richmond, VA 23298, USA.
Iris A
IA
Camacho
Narendra
N
Singh
Venkatesh L
VL
Hegde
Mitzi
M
Nagarkatti
Prakash S
PS
Nagarkatti
D021581:Active Transport, Cell Nucleus / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D001483:Base Sequence; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D008954:Models, Biological; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D010641:Phenotype; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins / Q000633:toxicity*; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018336:Receptors, Aryl Hydrocarbon / Q000172:deficiency / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism
D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; C505658:Fasl protein, mouse; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D016328:NF-kappa B; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018336:Receptors, Aryl Hydrocarbon; D004247:DNA