title: Apoptosis induced by lipid-associated membrane proteins from Mycoplasma penetrans is mediated by nuclear factor kappaB activation in mouse macrophage.
abstract: Mycoplasma penetrans was shown to be involved in alteration of several eukaryotical cells functions and a causative agent in urogenital infectious diseases. Lipid-associated membrane proteins (LAMPs) may be responsible for the pathogenicity of some mycoplamas. In this study, we investigated whether M. penetrans LAMPs have pathogenic potential by inducing apoptosis in mouse macrophages. As analyzed by annexin-V - fluorescein isothiocyanate staining, significant early- and late-stage apoptosis was induced in M. penetrans LAMPs-challenged mouse macrophages. And agarose gel electrophoresis of the DNA of M. penetrans LAMPs-challenged cells revealed a ladder-like pattern of migration of DNA indicative of apoptosis. The possible molecular mechanisms responsible for the induction of apoptosis were also investigated by characterizing the activation of nuclear transcription factor kappaB (NFkappaB). NFkappaB was activated and translocated into the nucleus in mouse macrophages stimulated by M. penetrans LAMPs. The activation of NFkappaB and M. penetrans LAMPs-induced apoptosis in mouse macrophages was partially inhibited by the NFkappaB-specific inhibitor pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate. Thus, this study demonstrates that M. penetrans LAMPs may be an important etiological factor owing to their ability to induce apoptosis in mouse macrophages, which is probably mediated through the activation of NFkappaB.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pathogenic Biology, Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan 421001, China.
authors.forename: Yanhua
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.forename: Yimou
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Zhongliang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.forename: Xiaoxing
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: You
authors.forename: Cuiming
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Minjun
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Yanping
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017304:Annexin A5 / Q000032:analysis; D017209:Apoptosis; D002460:Cell Line; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000737:chemistry; D053938:DNA Fragmentation; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008264:Macrophages / Q000737:chemistry / Q000382:microbiology*; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000633:toxicity*; D051379:Mice; D018661:Mycoplasma penetrans / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism*; D010455:Peptides / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D017304:Annexin A5; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D016328:NF-kappa B; D010455:Peptides; C043948:lipid-associating peptides