title: Effector caspase activation, in the absence of a conspicuous apoptosis induction, in mononuclear cells treated with azidothymidine.
abstract: In the present study we focused our attention on the effect of AZT, at pharmacological and suprapharmacological concentrations, on some apoptosis-related key events and, particularly, on caspase activation in fresh human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). The main results can be summarized as follows: (i) AZT induced a strong, dose-dependent antiproliferative effect in mitogen-stimulated PBMCs, but low levels of cytotoxicity. in comparison with 5FU; (ii) low levels of cytotoxicity were coupled with a poor increase of apoptosis after AZT treatment in PBMCs; (iii) despite low levels of apoptosis, remarkable signs of both initiator and effector caspase enhanced expression with respect to control were detected by immunoblot analysis in AZT-treated PBMCs; (iv) enhanced caspase expression was associated with an increased expression of both anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 and pro-apoptotic Fas and p53 proteins, as detected by flow cytometry analysis; (v) combination treatment in vitro with AZT and anti-Fas significantly increased apoptosis in PBMCs with respect to single treatments. Overall, these results suggest that AZT treatment activates a complex, and apparently contrasting apoptosis-related signaling activity in PBMCs and that additional events are necessary to disrupt the balance induced by AZT towards apoptosis, on these cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine and Biochemical Sciences, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Matteucci
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Minutolo
authors.forename: Emanuela
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Balestrieri
authors.forename: Arianna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ascolani
authors.forename: Sandro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Grelli
authors.forename: Beatrice
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Macchi
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mastino
mesh_terms: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004249:DNA Damage; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D006801:Humans; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology; D015215:Zidovudine / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D015215:Zidovudine; D020169:Caspases