Studies on the induction of apoptosis in WEHI 231 cells by pharmacological agents and lipid mediators. Sphingosine and ceramide induce apoptosis in WEHI 231.
We report the results of a systematic study of the effects of pharmacological agents known to cause or modify physiological cell death (PCD). Using WEHI 231 cells as a model, we investigated the effects of dexamethasone, cAMP, selected growth factors/ cytokines, DNA damaging agents, metabolic inhibitors and lipid mediators. We found that WEHI 231 cells are not affected by cAMP(1-90 microM) or TGFbeta (1-50 ng/ml), both of which are known to induce PCD in other systems. We also failed to detect protection from PCD in WEHI 231 cells cultured with Zn(++), E64 and leupeptin. In contrast, dexamethasone (400 microg/ml), etoposide (10(-4)M), emetine (10(-5)M), calyculin (10(-5)M), sphingosine (8-16 microM) and ceramide (20-40 microM) all cause PCD in WEHI 231 cells. The effects of ceramide can be blocked by LPS but not by overexpression of bcl2.The role of killer lipids in PCD is discussed.
Quintans
J
J
Department of Pathology and The Cancer Research Center, University of Chicago, Chicago, III. 60637 USA.
Bonn
G A
GA
McShan
C L
CL
Gottschalk
A R
AR