Induction of competing apoptotic and survival signaling pathways in the macrophage by the ribotoxic trichothecene deoxynivalenol.
Deoxynivalenol (DON) and other ribotoxic trichothecenes cause immune stimulation and suppression in leukocytes by upregulating gene expression and apoptosis, respectively. The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that MAPKs mediate both apoptosis and survival in DON-exposed macrophages. At concentrations which partially inhibit translation, DON induced phosphorylation of p38 and ERK 1/2 mitogen activated protein kinases within 15 min in RAW 264.7 macrophages and these effects lasted up to 3 h. DON-exposed cells exhibited marked caspase 3-dependent DNA fragmentation after 6 h which was suppressed and attenuated by the p38 inhibitor SB203580 and ERK inhibitor PD98059, respectively. DON readily induced the phosphorylation and activity of p53 and this was inhibitable by SB203580. DON exposure evoked BAX translocation to mitochondria and corresponding cytochrome C release but did not alter mitochondrial membrane potential. The p53 inhibitor PFTalpha reduced both DON-induced phosphorylation of p53 and p53 binding activity. Moreover, both PFTalpha and p53 siRNA transfection suppressed DON-induced caspase-3 activity and subsequent DNA fragmentation. Concurrent with p53 activation, DON activated two anti-apoptotic survival pathways as evidenced by both ERK-dependent p90 Rsk and AKT activation. Taken together, the results indicate that DON initiates competing apoptotic (p38/p53/Bax/Mitochondria/Caspase-3) and survival (ERK/AKT/p90Rsk/Bad) pathways in the macrophage.
Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Michigan State University, East Lansing Michigan 48824-1224, USA.
Hui-Ren
HR
Zhou
Zahidul
Z
Islam
James J
JJ
Pestka
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D002460:Cell Line; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D010766:Phosphorylation; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000502:physiology; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects*; D014255:Trichothecenes / Q000633:toxicity*; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000502:physiology
D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D014255:Trichothecenes; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; C007262:deoxynivalenol