植物源物质诱导的斜纹夜蛾细胞凋亡

为了研究植物源物质对斜纹夜蛾Spodoptera litura离体培养细胞系SL-1的凋亡诱导作用,采用倒置相差显微镜观察了印楝素、喜树碱等9种物质各自对SL-1凋亡小体的浓度效应及时序性。结果表明：印楝素0.1～5.0 μg/mL和喜树碱0.5～20.0 μmol/L处理SL-1,24～48 h后均产生大量典型的凋亡小体;茶皂素、蓖麻碱、黄樟油、丹皮酚、烟碱、苦参碱和博落回碱0.1～20.0 μg/mL处理SL-1后,整个观察期72 h内均无明显凋亡小体出现,凋亡诱导作用不明显。印楝素0.75 μg/mL诱导SL-1 细胞凋亡,从凋亡小体判断,处理后0～36 h属细胞凋亡早期,36～60 h属细胞凋亡中期,60 h后为细胞凋亡晚期。喜树碱 5.0 μmol/L诱导SL-1细胞凋亡,处理后0～24 h属细胞凋亡前期,24～54 h属细胞凋亡中期,54 h后进入细胞凋亡晚期。初步认为印楝素和喜树碱对SL-1有凋亡诱导作用,并具有一定的浓度依赖性和时序性。     

喜树碱诱导甜菜夜蛾细胞凋亡线粒体途径的MPTP依赖性

【目的】线粒体通透性转换孔(MPTP)的开放可以导致线粒体膜通透性改变,与细胞凋亡关系密切。本研究旨在探索MPTP在喜树碱诱导的昆虫细胞凋亡中的作用,以进一步揭示喜树碱(CPT)诱导昆虫细胞凋亡的机制。【方法】环孢菌素A(CsA)为MPTP开放抑制剂,通过预加入20μmol/L CsA,应用流式细胞仪测定其对CPT和羟基喜树碱(HCPT)诱导的甜菜夜蛾Spodoptera exigua细胞(IOZCAS-SPEX-Ⅱ)凋亡作用的影响,包括细胞内Ca~(2+)浓度变化,线粒体膜电位变化以及活性氧簇(ROS)变化,从而分析MPTP在CPT和HCPT诱导细胞凋亡的作用。【结果】结果显示,10μmol/LCPT和HCPT处理IOZCAS-SPEX-Ⅱ细胞6 h和12 h时,与0.1%DMSO对照组相比,甜菜夜蛾细胞发生凋亡,胞质Ca~(2+)浓度增大,线粒体膜电位降低或丧失,ROS增加,即CPT和HCPT诱导甜菜夜蛾细胞发生凋亡,为线粒体内途径。但经过20μmol/L CsA预处理2 h后再加入CPT和HCPT处理6 h,与0.1%DMSO组相比,细胞凋亡率、胞质Ca~(2+)浓度、线粒体膜电位及ROS产生均无显著差异(P0.05),即CsA抑制了MPTP的开放,从而抑制了CPT和HCPT诱导的甜菜夜蛾细胞凋亡;而加入CPT和HCPT处理12 h时,CsA对MPTP开放的抑制作用显著降低,与单CPT和HCPT处理组相比,细胞凋亡率、胞质Ca~(2+)浓度、线粒体膜电位及ROS差异不显著,即CPT和HCPT诱导的细胞凋亡如常发生。【结论】本研究证实喜树碱和羟基喜树碱诱导甜菜夜蛾细胞凋亡线粒体途径具有MPTP开放依赖性,且首次明确这种依赖性具有时间性。     

紫草素促进caspase-9活化诱导大肠癌细胞凋亡的分子机制研究

目的探讨紫草素对大肠癌（CRC）细胞LoVo的抗肿瘤作用及其机制。 方法以不同紫草素浓度梯度（0、2、4、6 μmol/L）处理CRC细胞LoVo 24 h，以4 μmol/L紫草素处理不同时间梯度（0、12、24、48 h）的CRC细胞LoVo。流式细胞技术结合Annexin V-FITC/PI双染色测定细胞凋亡率，Western blot检测细胞中caspase-9蛋白的表达及切割情况。多组间比较采用单因素方差分析，组间两两比较采用LSD-t检验。 结果与0 μmol/L处理CRC细胞LoVo 24 h比较，2、4、6 μmol/L的细胞凋亡率[（6.94±1.02）﹪比（10.61±1.12）﹪、（15.55± 1.35）﹪、（36.51±1.46）﹪]均升高；与4 μmol/L紫草素处理0 h的CRC细胞LoVo比较，12、24、48 h的细胞凋亡率[（1.33±0.59）﹪比（19.23±1.24）﹪、（22.24±1.41）﹪、（28.41±1.52）﹪]均升高，差异具有统计学意义（P均< 0.001）。当紫草素剂量≥2 μmol/L，处理时间≥12 h时，caspase-9蛋白表达上调并被诱导活化，而caspase-9抑制剂（Z-LEHD-FMK）预处理后，LoVo细胞凋亡率下降38.7﹪，差异有统计学意义（P < 0.05）。 结论紫草素可以通过caspase-9蛋白的表达及其切割活性诱导CRC细胞凋亡。     

羊栖菜多糖通过激活Caspase途径诱导Lovo细胞凋亡

研究了羊栖菜多糖（Sargassum Fusiforme Polysaccharides,SFPS）诱导人大肠癌lovo细胞凋亡及凋亡过程中caspase-3、caspase-8、caspase-9的活性变化。MTT法检测SFPS对lovo细胞增殖的抑制率;通过电镜、琼脂糖凝胶电泳、流式细胞术鉴定细胞凋亡;应用Western印迹法测定caspase-3酶原和caspase-9的变化;RToPCR检测caspase-3 mRNA表达;caspase-3,caspase-8、caspase-9活性检测试剂盒观察caspase-3、caspase-8、caspase-9的活性改变。结果显示,SFPS对lovo细胞增殖有显著抑制作用,经形态变化、DNA条带和流式细胞分析,可见明显的细胞凋亡特征。SFPS处理lovo细胞后,发现caspase-3酶原蛋白表达降低,caspase-3 mRNA高表达,并具有剂量和时间的依赖性。而在检测蛋白中,也发现caspase-9被激活进而形成具有活性的片段。另外,caspase的活性检测也进一步发现caspase-3、caspase-9的活性逐步增高。实验结果提示SFPS在体外诱导lovo胞凋亡,这可能是SFPS抑制肿瘤增殖的机制之一,并且是通过激活启动caspase-9,进而激活下游效应caspase-3的级联反应来实现的。     

斑蝥素对草地贪夜蛾Sf9细胞膜完整性和膜电位的影响

为明确斑蝥素对昆虫细胞膜的作用及其机理, 本研究利用草地贪夜蛾Spodoptera frugiperda的卵巢细胞系Sf9细胞作为实验材料, 采用透射电子显微技术(transmission electron microscope , TEM)、 激光共聚焦显微镜(laser scanning confocal microscope, LSCM)结合荧光探针FDA/PI及DiBAC4(3)技术研究斑蝥素(cantharidin, CTD)对Sf9细胞膜完整性及膜电位（membrane potential, MP）的影响。结果表明： 32 μmol/L CTD处理6 h和12 h后, 电镜观察均未发现细胞膜结构破损; FDA/PI染色后, 32 μmol/L CTD处理0.5 h后细胞FDA荧光强度比对照显著降低(P<0.05), 碘化丙啶（propidium iodide, PI）染色的细胞比例与对照无显著性差异(P≥0.05)。32 μmol/L CTD处理140 s后即引起MP发生显著性去极化(P<0.05); 64 μmol/L CTD处理瞬时MP发生显著性去极化(P<0.05); 32 μmol/L CTD处理3 h内及64 μmol/L CTD处理2 h 内MP仍保持显著性去极化(P<0.05), 之后去极化程度降低; 32 μmol/L CTD处理6 h及64 μmol/L CTD处理3 h时MP去极化与对照组相比已无显著性差异(P≥0.05)。结果说明, CTD处理短时间内可引起Sf9细胞膜电位去极化并维持一段时间, 同时导致细胞活性发生不可逆下降, 但未对细胞膜结构完整性产生破坏。     

Bax通道在斑蝥素诱导草地贪夜蛾Sf9细胞凋亡中的作用

【目的】为明确Bax通道在斑蝥素诱导鳞翅目昆虫细胞凋亡过程中的作用。【方法】本文利用Bax通道抑制法测定了斑蝥素诱导鳞翅目昆虫草地贪夜蛾Spodoptera frugiperda(J.E.Smith)细胞系Sf9细胞凋亡过程中线粒体膜电位、线粒体琥珀酸脱氢酶活性及细胞形态等方面的影响。【结果】Bax通道被抑制后,斑蝥素诱导造成的Sf9细胞线粒体膜电位的降低时间延迟,细胞形变率下降,但琥珀酸脱氢酶活性的下降未受影响。【结论】Bax通道参与了斑蝥素引起的Sf9细胞线粒体膜电位改变和细胞形态变化,而与抑制线粒体有关能量代谢的酶无直接关系。     

EGCG对H2O2诱导HLE细胞氧化损伤的保护作用

目的:探讨表没食子酸酯(EGCG)对体外培养的人晶状体上皮(human lens epithelial,HLE)细胞氧化损伤的保护作用及可能机制。方法:HLE细胞传代培养,分为阴性对照组:以正常培养液培养;氧化损伤组:100μmol·L~(-1)的H_2O_2作用12 h;EGCG低浓度组:10μmol·L~(-1)EGCG孵育24 h后,加入H_2O_2作用12 h;EGCG高浓度组:100μmol·L~(-1)EGCG孵育24 h后,加入H_2O_2作用12 h。MTT比色法检测细胞活力,流式细胞仪检测细胞凋亡率,Hochest33258染色观察凋亡细胞形态,比色法检测凋亡相关因子caspses-3及caspase-9的表达。结果:EGCG能明显抑制H_2O_2诱导的HLE细胞活力的下降,用不同浓度EGCG处理后,HLE细胞活性分别提高到51.00%±2.37%和63.67%±2.29%,与氧化损伤组(40.33%±2.86%)比较差异具有统计学意义(P0.05);经不同浓度EGCG处理后,HLE细胞凋亡率分别下降至33.33±3.12%和22.80±1.67%,与氧化损伤组(43.03±2.43%)比较差异具有统计学意义(P0.05);此外,EGCG还能明显减少H_2O_2所致HLE细胞内caspses-3及caspase-9的表达。结论:EGCG通过抑制caspses-3及caspase-9的表达有效抑制了H_2O_2对HLE细胞的损伤,从而为其用于治疗HLE细胞损伤提供可靠的实验依据。     

Caspase-3在roscovitine诱发PC12细胞凋亡中发挥重要作用

我们已证实周期蛋白激酶（cyclin-dependent kinases）cdk2、cdc2和cdk5抑制剂roscovitine诱导PC12细胞凋亡。本实验应用caspase-3免疫细胞化学与hoechst 33342荧光化学双标、MTT比色法细胞活性测定和Western blot方法,研究了caspase-3在roscovitine所致PC12细胞凋亡中的作用。结果显示,roscovitine（50μmol／L）处理PC12细胞12h,细胞核染色质凝缩及核碎片形成,同时胞浆中出现caspase-3阳性标志,caspase-3阳性细胞占细胞总数的42％。非特异性caspases抑制剂Z-VAD-FMK（50μmol／L）和caspase-3特异性抑制剂Z-DEVD-FMK（100μmol／L）可部分降低roscovitine所致的细胞死亡,使细胞存活率分别由29．03％（roscovitine）增至58．06％（Z-VAD-FMK＋roscovitine）和45．16％（Z-DEVD-FMK＋roscovitine）：用单克隆non-erythroid α-spectrin抗体检测roscovitine处理组细胞匀浆提取液,表明caspase-3裂解的特异性spectfin 120kDa蛋白产物较对照组显著增加。提示细胞凋亡成分caspases参与roscovitine所敛的细胞凋亡,其中caspase-3发挥重要作用。     

外源性H2S恢复缺氧后适应对衰老H9C2细胞的保护作用及机制

目的：探讨外源性硫化氢（H₂S）恢复缺氧后适应对衰老H9C2细胞的保护作用及相关机制。方法：H9C2细胞（心肌细胞系）用30 μmol/L过氧化氢（H₂O₂）处理2 h后再培养3 d,诱导生成衰老细胞。衰老H9C2细胞被随机分5组（n=8）：正常组（Control）、缺氧/复氧组（H/R）、H/R+NaHS组、缺氧后适应（PC）组、PC+NaHS组。缺氧/复氧（H/R）模型：衰老H9C2细胞用缺氧液（无血清、无糖培养基,pH=6.8）培养3 h,然后正常培养6 h;缺氧后适应（PC）模型：方法同H/R模型,缺氧结束复氧前连续进行3次5 min间隔的复氧/再缺氧处理,随后复氧6 h。ELISA试剂盒分别检测大鼠晚期糖基化终末产物（AGEs）含量和caspase-3活性;CCK-8试剂盒检测细胞活力;DCFH-DA染色检测活性氧（ROS）水平;Hoechst 33342染色检测细胞凋亡率;Real-time PCR检测相关基因mRNA水平。结果：30 μmol/L H₂O₂可诱导H9C2细胞衰老但不会导致其凋亡;与Control组比较,H/R和PC均降低细胞活力,增加细胞凋亡率、ROS水平及caspase-3、caspase-9和Bcl-2 mRNA水平（P<0.01）;且PC组与H/R组比较,上述指标变化无明显差异;在H/R和PC组加入NaHS,可显著提高细胞活力,降低细胞凋亡率和氧化应激;PC+NaHS对上述指标的作用明显强于H/R+NaHS。结论：外源性H₂S能够恢复PC对衰老H9C2细胞的保护作用,其机制与抑制氧化应激和细胞凋亡有关。     

虎杖苷对急性心肌梗死所致心脏损伤的保护作用

为了考察虎杖苷对急性心肌梗死所致心脏损伤的保护作用,本研究对H9c2大鼠心肌细胞进行缺氧诱导来模拟急性心肌梗死中心肌细胞的变化。然后用200μmol/L的虎杖苷处理心肌细胞12 h。考察虎杖苷对心肌细胞活力、细胞凋亡及相关蛋白(caspase-3, Bcl-2)和ROS生成的应用,并用小干扰RNA敲低Nrf2,考察敲低Nrf2对心肌细胞的影响。研究显示,缺氧处理可显著降低心肌细胞活力并增加细胞凋亡率,而虎杖苷可抑制缺氧诱导的细胞活力降低和细胞凋亡。虎杖苷可显著抑制缺氧诱导的caspase-3的下调并抑制缺氧诱导的Bcl-2的上调。虎杖苷可显著抑制缺氧诱导的Nrf2和HO-1的下调。敲低Nrf2可降低H9c2心肌细胞活力并增加细胞凋亡率。敲低Nrf2可上调caspase-3表达,并下调Bcl-2和Nrf2/HO-1信号通路的表达。缺氧可诱导H9c2细胞中ROS的产量升高,虎杖苷可抑制ROS的生成。然而,敲低Nrf2可导致细胞中ROS产量再次升高。虎杖苷具有抑制缺氧诱导的心肌细胞凋亡的作用,并且虎杖苷可通过抗氧化作用来减轻急性心肌梗死所致的心脏损伤。虎杖苷的抗氧化和心肌保护作用部分依赖于Nrf2/HO-1信号通路。     

A COMPREHENSIVE STUDY ON APOPTOSIS INDUCTION BY AZADIRACHTIN IN Spodoptera frugiperda CULTURED CELL LINE Sf9

The induction of apoptosis by azadirachtin, a well‐known botanical tetranortriterpenoid isolated from the neem tree (Azadirachta indica A. Juss) and other members of the Meliaceae, was investigated in Spodoptera frugiperda cultured cell line (Sf9). Morphological changes in Sf9 cells treated by various concentrations of azadirachtin were observed at different times under light microscopy. Morphological and biochemical analysis indicated that Sf9 cells treated by 1.5 μg/mL azadirachtin showed typical morphological changes, which were indicative of apoptosis and a clear DNA ladder. The flow cytometry analysis showed the apoptosis rate reached a maximum value of 32.66% at 24 h with 1.5 μg/mL azadirachtin in Sf9 cells. The inhibition of Sf9 cell proliferation suggested that the effect of azadirachtin was dose dependent and the EC₅₀ at 48 and 72 h was 2.727 × 10⁻⁶ and 6.348 × 10⁻⁹ μg/mL, respectively. The treatment of azadirachtin in Sf9 cells could significantly increase the activity of Sf caspase‐1, but showed no effect on the activity of Topo I, suggesting that the apoptosis induced by azadirachtinin Sf9 cells is through caspase‐dependent pathway. These results provided not only a series of morphological, biochemical, and toxicological comprehensive evidences for induction of apoptosis by azadirachtin, but also a reference model for screening insect cell apoptosis inducers from natural compounds.     

SfDredd,a Novel Initiator Caspase Possessing Activity on Effector Caspase Substrates in Spodoptera frugiperda

Sf9, a cell line derived from Spodoptera frugiperda, is an ideal model organism for studying insect apoptosis. The first notable study that attempted to identify the apoptotic pathway in Sf9 was performed in 1997 and included the discovery of Sf-caspase-1, an effector caspase of Sf9. However, it was not until 2013 that the first initiator caspase in Sf9, SfDronc, was discovered, and the apoptotic pathway in Sf9 became clearer. In this study, we report another caspase of Sf9, SfDredd. SfDredd is highly similar to insect initiator caspase Dredd homologs. Experimentally, recombinant SfDredd underwent autocleavage and exhibited different efficiencies in cleavage of synthetic caspase substrates. This was attributed to its caspase activity for the predicted active site mutation blocked the above autocleavage and synthetic caspase substrates cleavage activity. SfDredd was capable of not only cleaving Sf-caspase-1 in vitro but also cleaving Sf-caspase-1 and inducing apoptosis when it was co-expressed with Sf-caspase-1 in Sf9 cells. The protein level of SfDredd was increased when Sf9 cells were treated by Actinomycin D, whereas silencing of SfDredd reduced apoptosis and Sf-caspase-1 cleavage induced by Actinomycin D treatment. These results clearly indicate that SfDredd functioned as an apoptotic initiator caspase. Apoptosis induced in Sf9 cells by overexpression of SfDredd alone was not as obvious as that induced by SfDronc alone, and the cleavage sites of Sf-caspase-1 for SfDredd and SfDronc are different. In addition, despite sharing a sequence homology with initiator caspases and possessing weak activity on initiator caspase substrates, SfDredd showed strong activity on effector caspase substrates, making it the only insect caspase reported so far functioning similar to human caspase-2 in this aspect. We believe that the discovery of SfDredd, and its different properties from SfDronc, will improve the understanding of apoptosis pathway in Sf9 cells.     

Polyamine depletion delays apoptosis of rat intestinal epithelial cells

The polyamines spermidine, spermine, and their precursorputrescine are essential for cell growth and the regulation of the cellcycle. Recent studies suggest that excessive accumulation of polyaminesfavors either malignant transformation or apoptosis, depending on thecell type and the stimulus. This study examines the involvement ofpolyamines in the induction of apoptosis by the DNA topoisomerase Iinhibitor, camptothecin. In IEC-6 cells, camptothecin induced apoptosiswithin 6 h, accompanied by detachment of cells. Detached cells showedDNA laddering and caspase 3 induction, characteristic features ofapoptosis. Depletion of putrescine, spermidine, and spermine byDL--difluoromethylornithine (DFMO), a specific inhibitorof ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) that is the first rate-limiting enzymefor polyamine biosynthesis, decreased the apoptotic index. Delayedapoptosis was accompanied by a decrease in caspase 3 activity inpolyamine-depleted cells. Addition of putrescine restored the inductionof apoptosis as indicated by an increase in the number of detachedcells and caspase 3 activity. Polyamine depletion did not change thelevel of caspase 3 protein. Inhibition of S-adenosylmethioninedecarboxylase by a specific inhibitor [diethylglyoxalbis-(guanylhydrazone); DEGBG] led to depletion of spermidine andspermine with a significant accumulation of putrescine and induction ofODC. The DEGBG-treated cells showed an increase in apoptosis,suggesting the importance of putrescine in the apoptotic process.Addition of putrescine to DFMO-treated cell extracts did not increasecaspase 3 activity. The above results indicate that polyamine depletiondelays the onset of apoptosis in IEC-6 cells and confers protectionagainst DNA damaging agents, suggesting that polyamines might beinvolved in the caspase activating signal cascade.

     

ORF390 of white spot syndrome virus genome is identified as a novel anti-apoptosis gene

Apoptosis serves as an important defense strategy employed by host cells against viral invasion. Many viruses contain the anti-apoptotic genes to block the defense-by-death response of host cells. In this study, we tried to identify the putative anti-apoptotic genes in white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) genome. We confirmed that actinomycin D could induce apoptosis of shrimp primary cells. However, the apoptosis triggered by actinomycin D was inhibited by WSSV infection. As mutants of Autographa californica nucleopolyhedrovirus (AcMNPV), AcMNPVDelta35k/pol+ lacks a functional P35 gene undergoing apoptosis and its infection could induce Sf9 cell apoptosis. To identify the putative apoptotic suppressor gene of WSSV, overlapping cosmid clones representing the entire WSSV genome were individually cotransfected along with genome DNA of AcMNPVDeltaP35k/pol+. Using this marker rescue assay, a WSSV DNA fragment that was able to rescue AcMNPVDeltaP35k/pol+ infection in Sf9 cells was isolated. By further sequence analysis and rescue assay, the ORF390 was identified as a novel anti-apoptotic gene. The ORF displays two putative caspase9 cleavage sites LLVETDGPS, VKLEHDGSK, and a caspase3 cleavage site EEDEVDGVP. The ORF was cloned into the pIE1 vector and then the recombinant vector was transfected into Sf9 cells. The Sf9 cells did not show obvious characteristics of apoptosis when infected with AcMNPVDeltaP35k/pol+. And the transient expression of ORF390 allowed AcMNPVDeltaP35k/pol+ replication in Sf9 cells and resulted in the formation of polyhedra successfully. The results indicate that function of ORF390 in WSSV is a kind of apoptotic suppressor like P35 in AcMNPV.     

2-12烷基-6-甲氧基环己基-2,5-二烯-1,4-二酮(DMDD)抗弥漫大B淋巴瘤的作用及机制*

目的:探讨2-12烷基-6-甲氧基环己基-2,5-二烯-1,4-二酮(DMDD)抗弥漫大B淋巴瘤(DLBCL)的作用及分子机制。方法:动物实验取4周龄BALB/C小鼠,分5组,20只/组,腹股沟注射DLBCL细胞株OCI-LY19细胞1 × 10⁷ cells/ml 每只0.1 ml,两天后分别灌胃0、1、5、25、125 mg/kg剂量的DMDD,1次/2天,给药的第18日,杀10只小鼠,取瘤组织称重,记录剩余小鼠的生存期。细胞实验取OCI-LY19细胞加入96孔培养板,每孔100 μl 1×10⁵ cells/ml,分别加入100 μl DMDD使其终浓度分别为0、1、5、25和125 μmol/L,作用0、24、48和72 h,设三复孔,MTS法检测细胞增殖活性;根据细胞增殖实验结果,选择0 μmol/L、5 μmol/L和25 μmol/L的DMDD作为后续用药浓度作用OCI-LY19细胞24 h,流式细胞仪分析凋亡率,hoechst染色观察细胞核型,JC-1染色观察线粒体膜电位,LDH释放实验评估药物细胞毒性,qPCR、Western blot分析基因转录和表达水平。结果:动物实验表明:与0 mg/kg用药组比,1～125 mg/kg DMDD能抑制小鼠瘤组织生长并延长其生存期(P＜0.01)。细胞实验表明:DMDD用药组OCI-LY19细胞增殖活性明显降低、凋亡水平显著增加(P＜0.01),细胞核出现碎裂、凝集和凋亡小体及线粒体膜电位下降,LDH释放率显著增加(P＜0.01),细胞内caspase-3和bax基因的转录表达和IκBα的磷酸化水平显著上调,bcl-2、bcl-xL、jak2和stat3基因的转录和蛋白表达水平明显受抑(P＜0.01)。结论:DMDD通过抑制JAK2/STAT3和NF-κB信号通路中JAK2、STAT3和p-IκBα的表达,下调BCL-2/BAX、活化Caspase-3,最终激活OCI-LY19细胞线粒体凋亡的内源性通路而促进了DLBCL细胞凋亡,抑制了OCI-LY19细胞增殖,具有抗DLBCL的作用。     

Comparative characterization of cell death between Sf9 insect cells and hybridoma cultures

Physiological cell death (PCD) in Sf9 insect cell batch cultures was comprehensively characterized using simultaneous determinations of qualitative and quantitative assays, including agarose gel electrophoresis, confocal, epifluorescence, and transmission electron microscopy, and DNA content by flow cytometry. Results were compared to hybridoma cultures where abundant information of apoptosis exists. Both cultures shared some typical apoptosis features, including cell shrinkage, loss of sphericity, swollen endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus, chromatin condensation, and specific DNA degradation. However, distinctive morphological and kinetic differences between both cultures revealed that Sf9 cells died by an atypical PCD process characterized by absence of nuclear fragmentation, scarce association of condensed chromatin to the nuclear envelope, swollen mitochondria, and high nonspecific DNA degradation. These features, distinctive of necrosis, were not observed in the normal apoptotic process of hybridomas. Glucose depletion marked the appearance of apoptotic Sf9 cells, which there up on increased gradually, whereas apoptotic hybridomas rapidly increased upon glutamine depletion. Furthermore, active phagocytosis was found in Sf9 viable cells, a characteristic phenomenon during in vivo apoptosis but uncommon for in vitro cultures. Sf9 cells contained unusually high numbers of phagosomes, particularly after glucose depletion. Additionally, few apoptotic bodies accumulated in culture, suggesting their elimination by phagocytosis. Other distinctive characteristics of Sf9 cells were the presence of a polynucleated hypertrophic population fraction, polyploidy, cell cycle arrest in G2/M phase, and more necrosis compared to hybridomas. Such phenomena prevented a reliable quantification of apoptosis from determination of the sub-G1 peak. Nonetheless, emergence of a bimodal Sf9 cell size distribution coincided with the increase in the sub-G1 population and onset of death. The fraction of particles in the smaller peak (6-11 microm diameter) closely correlated with the fractions of apoptotic bodies, late apoptotic, and secondary necrotic cells. Accordingly, Sf9 cell size was shown to be an effective, rapid, and simple parameter for quantifying death. Altogether, the results of this study provide new insights into PCD and other phenomena in insect cell culture important for biotechnological applications of Sf9 cells.     

Cytotoxic effects of β‐asarone on Sf9 insect cells

β‐Asarone is the predominant component of the essential oil of rhizomes of Acorus calamus Linn ( Sweet flag). Although rhizome extracts from this plant have long been used for insect pest control, their cytotoxic effects on insect cells are not well understood. In this study, we evaluated the potency of β‐asarone as a natural insecticide by using a Spodoptera frugiperda cell line (Sf9). To assess the cytotoxic effects of β‐asarone on Sf9 cells, we observed morphologic changes in treated cells and performed a cell proliferation assay and a DNA fragmentation assay. After 24 and 48 h of treatment with β‐asarone, the proliferation of the Sf9 cells was inhibited in a dose‐dependent manner, with IC₅₀ values of 0.558 mg/ml at 24 h and 0.253 mg/ml at 48 h. Morphologic changes in β‐asarone‐treated cells were typical of apoptosis and included loss of adhesion, cell shrinkage, and small apoptotic bodies. The DNA laddering present in β‐asarone‐treated SF9 cells and annexin V assay confirmed that this compound can induce apoptosis in insect cells. Together, these findings suggest that apoptosis induction may be one mechanism through which β‐asarone inhibits the proliferation of insect cells and thus exerts insecticidal effects.     

SfDronc,an initiator caspase involved in apoptosis in the fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda

Initiator caspases are the first caspases that are activated following an apoptotic stimulus, and are responsible for cleaving and activating downstream effector caspases, which directly cause apoptosis. We have cloned a cDNA encoding an ortholog of the initiator caspase Dronc in the lepidopteran insect Spodoptera frugiperda. The SfDronc cDNA encodes a predicted protein of 447 amino acids with a molecular weight of 51 kDa. Overexpression of SfDronc induced apoptosis in Sf9 cells, while partial silencing of SfDronc expression in Sf9 cells reduced apoptosis induced by baculovirus infection or by treatment with UV or actinomycin D. Recombinant SfDronc exhibited several expected biochemical characteristics of an apoptotic initiator caspase: 1) SfDronc efficiently cleaved synthetic initiator caspase substrates, but had very little activity against effector caspase substrates; 2) mutation of a predicted cleavage site at position D340 blocked autoprocessing of recombinant SfDronc and reduced enzyme activity by approximately 10-fold; 3) SfDronc cleaved the effector caspase Sf-caspase-1 at the expected cleavage site, resulting in Sf-caspase-1 activation; and 4) SfDronc was strongly inhibited by the baculovirus caspase inhibitor SpliP49, but not by the related protein AcP35. These results indicate that SfDronc is an initiator caspase involved in caspase-dependent apoptosis in S. frugiperda, and as such is likely to be responsible for the initiator caspase activity in S. frugiperda cells known as Sf-caspase-X.