title: Induction of apoptosis-like cell death by coelomocyte extracts from Eisenia andrei earthworms.
abstract: Earthworm's innate immunity is maintained by cellular and humoral components. Our objective was to characterize the cytotoxicity leading to target cell death caused by earthworm coelomocytes. Coelomocyte lysates induced strong cytotoxicity in tumor cell lines. Transmission electron microscopy revealed cell membrane and intracellular damage in cells treated with coelomocyte lysates. Using TUNEL-assay, within 5 min of incubation we detected DNA fragmentation. Moreover, we found phosphatidylserine translocation in target cell-membranes. Furthermore, we detected dose-dependent Ca(2+) influx and decrease of mitochondrial membrane potential in coelomocyte lysate-treated cells. Interestingly, caspase 3/8 activation was undetectable in exposed tumor cells. One such cytotoxic molecule, lysenin identified in earthworms binds to sphingomyelin and causes target cell lysis in vertebrates. Pretreatment with our anti-lysenin monoclonal antibody rescued the majority but not all target cells from coelomocyte induced death. These data suggest that, not only lysenin but also other factors participate in the caspase-independent apoptosis induced by coelomocytes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology and Biotechnology, Clinical Center, University of Pécs, Szigeti u. 12, H-7643 Pécs, Hungary.
authors.forename: Levente László
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Mácsik
authors.affiliation: Department of Comparative Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Pécs, Ifjúság u. 6, H-7624 Pécs, Hungary.
authors.forename: Ildikó
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Somogyi
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology and Biotechnology, Clinical Center, University of Pécs, Szigeti u. 12, H-7643 Pécs, Hungary; Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Pécs, Szigeti u. 12, H-7643 Pécs, Hungary.
authors.forename: Balázs
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Opper
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology and Biotechnology, Clinical Center, University of Pécs, Szigeti u. 12, H-7643 Pécs, Hungary.
authors.forename: Judit
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bovári-Biri
authors.affiliation: Department of Comparative Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Pécs, Ifjúság u. 6, H-7624 Pécs, Hungary.
authors.forename: Edit
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pollák
authors.affiliation: Department of Comparative Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Pécs, Ifjúság u. 6, H-7624 Pécs, Hungary.
authors.forename: László
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Molnár
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology and Biotechnology, Clinical Center, University of Pécs, Szigeti u. 12, H-7643 Pécs, Hungary.
authors.forename: Péter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Németh
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology and Biotechnology, Clinical Center, University of Pécs, Szigeti u. 12, H-7643 Pécs, Hungary. Electronic address: engelmann.peter@pte.hu.
authors.forename: Péter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Engelmann
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017304:Annexin A5 / Q000378:metabolism; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D001692:Biological Transport / Q000187:drug effects; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects; D002457:Cell Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D048430:Cell Shape / Q000187:drug effects; D004249:DNA Damage; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D007425:Intracellular Membranes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D019169:Jurkat Cells; D053078:Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial / Q000187:drug effects; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009835:Oligochaeta / Q000166:cytology*; D010718:Phosphatidylserines / Q000378:metabolism; D014118:Toxins, Biological / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D017304:Annexin A5; D002457:Cell Extracts; D010718:Phosphatidylserines; D014118:Toxins, Biological; C107040:lysenin; D020169:Caspases; D002118:Calcium
keywords: Caspase cascade; Cellular cytotoxicity; Lysenin; Mitochondrial membrane depolarization; Nick end labeling; Phosphatidylserine translocation