凋亡诱导因子的研究进展

凋亡诱导因子(apoptosis-inducing factor,AIF)是一类存在于线粒体内外膜间隙的保守的黄素蛋白,具有双重功能。在细胞正常的生理状态下,作为线粒体氧化还原酶,能催化细胞色素c(Cytc)和NAD之间的电子传递,当细胞受到凋亡刺激后,就从膜间隙释放到细胞质中,并通过其核定位信号序列(nuclear localization sequence,NLS)进入细胞核内,引起染色体核周边凝集和DNA呈大片段断裂(约50kb),进而引发不依赖于caspase的细胞凋亡。AIF的释放受Bcl-2家族蛋白的调控,同时也受Hsp70的抑制,它还是多聚(ADP核糖)聚合酶1[poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase1,PARP1]介导的细胞凋亡途径的下游效应物。     

凋亡诱导因子(AIF)对细胞凋亡的调控

凋亡诱导因子（apoptosis-inducing factor,AIF）是一种具有凋亡诱导活性的蛋白质,定位于线粒体的膜间隙.细胞受到凋亡刺激时,AIF分子从线粒体释放到胞质,然后再易位到核,与染色体DNA结合,使染色体核周边凝集和DNA断裂成约50kb的大片段.AIF具有凋亡诱导活性和氧化还原酶活性,但二者的作用是脱偶联的.AIF是第一个被鉴定出可以不依赖于胱天蛋白酶（caspase）信号通路而直接介导细胞发生凋亡的分子,但后来也有的报道认为AIF的凋亡活性需依赖于胱天蛋白酶.     

凋亡诱导因子是线粒体内介导核凋亡的最主要蛋白质之一

凋亡诱导因子（apoptosis-inducing factor, AIF）基因定位于X染色体上,其编码产物是一种可直接介导细胞核凋亡的效应分子. 鼠AIF前体蛋白在胞浆中合成后,通过其N端的线粒体定位信号（MLS）有效地穿入线粒体膜间隙,然后在102位甘氨酸处水解掉MLS,其余部分再与黄素腺嘌呤二核苷酸（FAD）结合,并重新折叠成为具有促凋亡潜能的成熟AIF分子,分子质量为57 ku.当凋亡信号刺激时,AIF分子从线粒体释放到胞浆,然后转位到细胞核内,引起染色体核周边凝集和DNA呈大片段断裂（～50 kb）. 该作用不受广谱caspases抑制剂z-VAD.fmk的抑制,也不受Bcl-2过量表达的影响.基因剔除实验表明,AIF蛋白的促凋亡活性是胚胎小鼠形态发生过程中类胚体成腔所必需的,而且是AIF独立作用的结果,可以不依赖caspase-3的活性.因此AIF介导的细胞凋亡可能代表了独立于caspase通路之外的另一条更原始、更保守的凋亡途径.     

HIV Vpr蛋白诱导细胞凋亡研究进展

Vpr蛋白是HIV的一个辅助蛋白,可以诱导多种细胞的凋亡。目前的研究表明Vpr蛋白引起细胞凋亡主要是通过线粒体途径实现的。Vpr蛋白通过直接而且特异地与结合在PTPC中的ANT相互作用,改变线粒体膜通透性,导致凋亡诱导因子(AIF)和细胞色素C的释放,激活Caspase、DNases等的级联反应,引起核染色质的固缩,最终引起细胞凋亡。     

细胞凋亡的线粒体调控蛋白的研究进展

凋亡早期近科固定不变的标志之一就是线粒体膜通透性（MMP）的变化,这提示线粒体在凋亡过程中执行双重作用。一方面,将多种促细胞凋亡级联转导信号合于一条由MMP激活的通路;另一方面,通过释放存在于膜间隙的可溶性蛋白参与凋亡后期的分解代谢反应,最近研究发现,核转录因子能易位到线粒体膜引起MMP改变;线粒体膜间隙存在一种蛋白质Smac/DIABLO,释放后可特异性阻抑细胞凋亡蛋白抑制剂（IAPs）,进而促进胱冬肽酶活化,引发细胞凋亡,这些发现进一步阐明了MMP与细胞死亡机制的关系。     

线粒体与细胞调亡

线粒体不仅是动物细胞内的主要产能中心,有理 在细胞凋亡中还承担着主开关的角色。作为细胞生死开关的线粒体,其通透性转变孔的开放,可让细胞色素c、凋记发诱导因子,Ca^2 以及膜间隙中的胱冬肽酶原（procaspase)等凋亡因子被释放到细胞质中,它们或激活凋亡蛋白家族的主要成员－－胱冬肽酶（caspase）,或独立地破坏核染色质,或作用于其它Ca^2 －依赖性蛋白,从而使细胞的整体结构破坏、功能紊乱、最终变成泡状凋亡小体而凋亡。弄清线粒体在细胞凋亡中的调控机制,不仅具有重要的理论意义,而且在开发研制以线粒体为靶目标的各种药物以治疗癌症、老年性痴呆和帕金森综合症等方面也具有重要的实践价值。本文谨以对线粒体及细胞凋亡的最新研究进展为基础,对线粒体在决定细胞生列中所起的关键作用做一综述。     

线粒体锚定对凋亡诱导因子抗氧化应激功能的影响

目的:构建带线粒体锚定信号肽的凋亡诱导因子(AIF)融合表达载体,研究在A549细胞中AIF线粒体锚定与其抗氧化应激功能的关系。方法:利用PCR将AIF原有线粒体定位信号(1-120 aa)替换成具有锚定功能的细胞色素c氧化酶Ⅳ亚型(COXⅣ)线粒体定位信号,并将COX-AIF克隆至pEGFP-N1和pDsRed1-N1载体,构建COX-AIF-GFP和COX-AIF-RFP融合表达载体;利用免疫印迹和激光共聚焦技术检测COX-AIF-GFP和COX-AIF-RFP的表达及其与线粒体的共定位;利用DCF染色和流式细胞技术检测A549细胞内过氧化物的水平。结果:表达了COX-AIF-GFP和COX-AIF-RFP融合蛋白,COX-AIF-GFP/RFP及AIF-RFP/RFP均定位于线粒体;与野生型AIF-RFP相比,COX-AIF-RFP可显著提高A549细胞的抗氧化应激能力。结论:AIF抗氧化应激能力依赖其在线粒体内膜的锚定。     

重组人凋亡诱导因子基因的构建、表达及其对HeLa细胞的促凋亡作用

凋亡诱导因子（apoptosis-inducing factor, AIF）定位于细胞的线粒体膜间隙.当凋亡信号刺激时,AIF分子从线粒体释放到胞浆,然后转位到细胞核内,引起染色体核周边凝集和DNA呈大片段断裂（～50 kb）.用RT-PCR法分段克隆得到人全长AIF基因,经改造截去其N端线粒体定位信号编码序列,代之以不同长度的绿脓杆菌外毒素(PE)转膜结构域序列.把这些重组基因克隆入pIRES2-EGFP真核表达载体,脂质体法转染HeLa细胞,通过荧光显微镜观察、共聚焦显微镜观察、电镜观察等方法检测了多种重组人AIF基因的表达及其对细胞生长的影响.证明了重组人AIF基因的表达可引起HeLa细胞死亡,为肿瘤的杀伤提供了新的策略.     

AIF及AIF依赖的细胞凋亡

AIF是一种线粒体蛋白,具有氧化还原酶和诱导细胞凋亡两种活性。AIF从线粒体到细胞核的转位足以介导体外细胞凋亡的发生,而且是以非caspases依赖的方式进行的。AIF的诱导凋亡活性是小鼠胚胎形态发生过程中类胚体成腔所必需的,也参与了神经细胞的细胞凋亡。真菌、线虫等的细胞凋亡也有AIF同源分子的参与。因此,AIF介导的细胞凋亡代表了独立于caspase信号通路之外的另一条更原始、更保守、更普遍的凋亡途径。     

镉诱导HEK293细胞凋亡及其线粒体凋亡途径

本课题研究了氯化镉(CdCl_2)诱导HEK293细胞(人胚胎肾细胞系)的凋亡,初步探讨了凋亡过程中Caspase-3、Bcl-2的变化和凋亡诱导因子(AIF)的转移以及它们的意义。MTT法检测CdCl_2对HEK293细胞增殖的抑制作用;通过倒置显微镜、电镜、琼脂糖凝胶电泳、流式细胞术、激光共聚焦观察细胞凋亡;应用Western blot法和荧光免疫法测定Caspase-3酶原、Bcl-2蛋白的变化以及检测AIF蛋白在细胞中的定位。结果显示:CdCl_2对HEK293细胞具有显著的生长抑制作用,并呈明显的剂量和时间依赖性。在琼脂糖凝胶电泳中,显示有凋亡细胞特有的DNA梯状条带,其中30μmol/L作用6-9h梯状条带最为清晰,时间过长或浓度过高则梯状条带逐渐模糊,表明镉浓度过高或处理时间过长,细胞有坏死。流式细胞仪检测也印证了这一结果。形态学观察可见明显的细胞凋亡特征。同时线粒体膜电位明显下降,发现Caspase-3酶原蛋白、Bcl-2蛋白含量减少,并具有时间依赖性;另外检测到线粒体AIF向细胞核转移。而Bcl-2转染后有一定的抑制凋亡作用。实验结果提示,CdCl_2能够诱导HEK293细胞凋亡,线粒体损伤导致AIF转移与细胞色素c释放,从而引发的非Caspases与Caspases凋亡途径可能在镉引发的细胞凋亡过程中起重要作用,而Caspase-3, Bcl-2起着重要的调控作用。     

DNA binding is required for the apoptogenic action of apoptosis inducing factor

The execution of apoptosis or programmed cell death comprises both caspase-dependent and caspase-independent processes. Apoptosis inducing factor (AIF) was identified as a major player in caspase-independent cell death. It induces chromatin condensation and initial DNA cleavage via an unknown molecular mechanism. Here we report the crystal structure of human AIF at 1.8 A resolution. The structure reveals the presence of a strong positive electrostatic potential at the AIF surface, although the calculated isoelectric point for the entire protein is neutral. We show that recombinant AIF interacts with DNA in a sequence-independent manner. In addition, in cells treated with an apoptotic stimulus, endogenous AIF becomes co-localized with DNA at an early stage of nuclear morphological changes. Structure-based mutagenesis shows that DNA-binding defective mutants of AIF fail to induce cell death while retaining nuclear translocation. The potential DNA-binding site identified from mutagenesis also coincides with computational docking of a DNA duplex. These observations suggest that AIF-induced nuclear apoptosis requires a direct interaction with DNA.     

An AIF orthologue regulates apoptosis in yeast

Apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF), a key regulator of cell death, is essential for normal mammalian development and participates in pathological apoptosis. The proapoptotic nature of AIF and its mode of action are controversial. Here, we show that the yeast AIF homologue Ynr074cp controls yeast apoptosis. Similar to mammalian AIF, Ynr074cp is located in mitochondria and translocates to the nucleus of yeast cells in response to apoptotic stimuli. Purified Ynr074cp degrades yeast nuclei and plasmid DNA. YNR074C disruption rescues yeast cells from oxygen stress and delays age-induced apoptosis. Conversely, overexpression of Ynr074cp strongly stimulates apoptotic cell death induced by hydrogen peroxide and this effect is attenuated by disruption of cyclophilin A or the yeast caspase YCA1. We conclude that Ynr074cp is a cell death effector in yeast and rename it AIF-1 (Aif1p, gene AIF1).     

C. elegans mitochondrial factor WAH-1 promotes phosphatidylserine externalization in apoptotic cells through phospholipid scramblase SCRM-1

Externalization of phosphatidylserine, which is normally restricted to the inner leaflet of plasma membrane, is a hallmark of mammalian apoptosis. It is not known what activates and mediates the phosphatidylserine externalization process in apoptotic cells. Here, we report the development of an annexin V-based phosphatidylserine labelling method and show that a majority of apoptotic germ cells in Caenorhabditis elegans have surface-exposed phosphatidylserine, indicating that phosphatidylserine externalization is a conserved apoptotic event in worms. Importantly, inactivation of the gene encoding either the C. elegans apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) homologue (WAH-1), a mitochondrial apoptogenic factor, or the C. elegans phospholipid scramblase 1 (SCRM-1), a plasma membrane protein, reduces phosphatidylserine exposure on the surface of apoptotic germ cells and compromises cell-corpse engulfment. WAH-1 associates with SCRM-1 and activates its phospholipid scrambling activity in vitro. Thus WAH-1, after its release from mitochondria during apoptosis, promotes plasma membrane phosphatidylserine externalization through its downstream effector, SCRM-1.     

Mitochondria-mediated caspase-independent apoptosis induced by cadmium in normal human lung cells

Cadmium, a well-known environmental hazard, has caused serious health problems in humans and animals. Accumulating evidence suggests the cadmium toxicity is mediated by oxidative stress-induced cell death. However, the molecular signaling underlying cadmium-induced apoptosis remains unclear. In this study, we demonstrate here that cadmium induced mixed types of cell death including primary apoptosis (early apoptosis), secondary necrosis (late apoptosis), and necrosis in normal human lung cells, MRC-5, as revealed by chromatin condensation, phosphatidylserine (PS) externalization, and hypodiploid DNA content. The total apoptotic cells reached a plateau of around 40.0% after 24 h exposure of 100 microM cadmium. Pretreatment with Z-Val-Ala-Asp-fluoromethylketone (Z-VAD-fmk), a broad spectrum of caspase inhibitor, could not rescue apoptotic cells from cadmium toxicity. Coincidently, we failed to detect the activation of pro-caspase-3 and cleavage of PARP by immunoblot, which implies the apoptogenic activity of cadmium in MRC-5 cells is caspase-independent. JC-1 staining also indicated that mitochondrial depolarization is a prelude to cadmium-induced apoptosis, which was accompanied by a translocation of caspase-independent pro-apoptotic factor apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) into the nucleus as revealed by the immunofluorescence assay. In summary, this study demonstrated for the first time that cadmium induced a caspase-independent apoptotic pathway through mitochondria-mediated AIF translocation into the nucleus.     

Apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF): a novel caspase-independent death effector released from mitochondria

Apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) is a phylogenetically ancient mitochondrial intermembrane flavoprotein endowed with the unique capacity to induce caspase-independent peripheral chromatin condensation and large-scale DNA fragmentation when added to purified nuclei. In addition to its apoptogenic activity on nuclei, AIF can also participate in the regulation of apoptotic mitochondrial membrane permeabilization and exhibits an NADH oxidase activity. Under normal circumstances, AIF is secluded behind the outer mitochondrial membrane. However, upon apoptosis induction AIF translocates to the cytosol and the nucleus. Injection of anti-AIF antibodies or knockout of the AIF gene have demonstrated that AIF may be required for cell death occurring in response to some stimuli. In particular, inactivation of AIF renders embryonic stem cells resistant to cell death following growth factor withdrawal. Moreover, AIF is essential for programmed cell death during cavitation of embryoid bodies, the very first wave of (caspase-independent) cell death indispensable for mouse morphogenesis. We have recently found that AIF is neutralized by heat-shock protein (HSP) 70, in a reaction that appears to be independent of ATP or the ATP-binding domain (ABD) of HSP70 and thus differs from the previously described Apaf-1/HSP70 interaction (which requires ATP and the HSP70 ABD). Intriguingly, HSP70 lacking ABD (HSP70 Delta ABD) inhibits apoptosis induced by serum withdrawal, staurosporin, and menadione, three models of apoptosis which are also affected by micro-injection of anti-AIF antibody or genetic ablation of AIF. Altogether, these data suggest that AIF plays a role in the regulation of caspase-independent cell death.     

Apoptosis-inducing factor is involved in the regulation of caspase-independent neuronal cell death

Caspase-independent death mechanisms have been shown to execute apoptosis in many types of neuronal injury. P53 has been identified as a key regulator of neuronal cell death after acute injury such as DNA damage, ischemia, and excitotoxicity. Here, we demonstrate that p53 can induce neuronal cell death via a caspase-mediated process activated by apoptotic activating factor-1 (Apaf1) and via a delayed onset caspase-independent mechanism. In contrast to wild-type cells, Apaf1-deficient neurons exhibit delayed DNA fragmentation and only peripheral chromatin condensation. More importantly, we demonstrate that apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) is an important factor involved in the regulation of this caspase-independent neuronal cell death. Immunofluorescence studies demonstrate that AIF is released from the mitochondria by a mechanism distinct from that of cytochrome-c in neurons undergoing p53-mediated cell death. The Bcl-2 family regulates this release of AIF and subsequent caspase-independent cell death. In addition, we show that enforced expression of AIF can induce neuronal cell death in a Bax- and caspase-independent manner. Microinjection of neutralizing antibodies against AIF significantly decreased injury-induced neuronal cell death in Apaf1-deficient neurons, indicating its importance in caspase-independent apoptosis. Taken together, our results suggest that AIF may be an important therapeutic target for the treatment of neuronal injury.     

Apoptosis inducing factor mediates caspase-independent 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium toxicity in dopaminergic cells

Parkinson's disease is a debilitating neurodegenerative disease characterized by loss of midbrain dopaminergic neurons. These neurons are particularly sensitive to the neurotoxin 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+), the active metabolite of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP), which causes parkinsonian syndromes in humans, monkeys and rodents. Although apoptotic cell death has been implicated in MPTP/MPP+ toxicity, several recent studies have challenged the role of caspase-dependent apoptosis in dopaminergic neurons. Using the midbrain-derived MN9D dopaminergic cell line, we found that MPP+ treatment resulted in an active form of cell death that could not be prevented by caspase inhibitors or over-expression of a dominant negative inhibitor of apoptotic protease activating factor 1/caspase-9. Apoptosis inducing factor (AIF) is a mitochondrial protein that may mediate caspase-independent forms of regulated cell death following its translocation to the nucleus. We found that MPP+ treatment elicited nuclear translocation of AIF accompanied by large-scale DNA fragmentation. To establish the role of AIF in MPP+ toxicity, we constructed a DNA vector encoding a short hairpin sequence targeted against AIF. Reduction of AIF expression by RNA interference inhibited large-scale DNA fragmentation and conferred significant protection against MPP+ toxicity. Studies of primary mouse midbrain cultures further supported a role for AIF in caspase-independent cell death in MPP+-treated dopaminergic neurons.     

Steroid receptor coactivator-interacting protein (SIP) inhibits caspase-independent apoptosis by preventing apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) from being released from mitochondria

Apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) is a caspase-independent death effector. Normally residing in the mitochondrial intermembrane space, AIF is released and translocated to the nucleus in response to proapoptotic stimuli. Nuclear AIF binds to DNA and induces chromatin condensation and DNA fragmentation, characteristics of apoptosis. Until now, it remained to be clarified how the mitochondrial-nuclear translocation of AIF is regulated. Here we report that steroid receptor coactivator-interacting protein (SIP) interacts directly with AIF in mitochondria and specifically inhibits caspase-independent and AIF-dependent apoptosis. Challenging cells with apoptotic stimuli leads to rapid degradation of SIP, and subsequently AIF is liberated from mitochondria and translocated to the nucleus to induce apoptosis. Together, our data demonstrate that SIP is a novel regulator in caspase-independent and AIF-mediated apoptosis.     

Apaf1 and the apoptotic machinery

The molecular characterization of the Caenorhabditis elegans cell death genes has been crucial in revealing some of the biochemical mechanisms underlying apoptosis in all animals. Four C. elegans genes, egl-1, ced-9, ced-4 and ced-3 are required for all somatic programmed cell death to occur. This genetic network is highly conserved during evolution. The pro-death gene egl-1 and the anti-death gene ced-9 have structural and functional similarities to the vertebrate Bcl2 gene family. The killer gene ced-3 encodes a cystein-aspartate protease (caspase), which is the archetype of a family of conserved proteins known as effectors of apoptosis in mammals. Zou and collaborators1 reported the biochemical identification of an apoptotic protease activating factor (Apaf1), a human homolog of C. elegans CED-4, providing important clues to how CED-4 and its potential relatives could work. A number of proteins have been shown to interact with Apaf1 or to be determinant for its activity as an apoptotic adapter. The aim of this review is to provide an overview of the recent progress made in the field of developmental apoptosis by means of the murine Apaf1 targeted mutations. The central role of Apaf1 in the cell death machinery (apoptosome) and its involvement in different apoptotic pathways will also be discussed.     

Mitochondrial release of AIF and EndoG requires caspase activation downstream of Bax/Bak-mediated permeabilization

Mitochondrial outer-membrane permeabilization by pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 family members plays a crucial role in apoptosis induction. However, whether this directly causes the release of the different mitochondrial apoptogenic factors simultaneously is currently unknown. Here we report that in cells or with isolated mitochondria, pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 proteins cause the release of cytochrome c, Smac/Diablo and HtrA2/Omi but not endonuclease G (EndoG) and apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF). In cells treated with Bax/Bak-dependent pro-apoptotic drugs, neither the caspase inhibitor zVAD-fmk nor loss of Apaf-1 affected the efflux of cytochrome c, Smac/Diablo and HtrA2/Omi, but both prevented the release of EndoG and AIF. Our findings identify the mitochondrial response to pro-apoptotic stimuli as a selective process leading to a hierarchical ordering of the effectors involved in cell death induction. Moreover, as in Caenorhabditis elegans, EndoG and AIF act downstream of caspase activation. Thus EndoG and AIF seem to define a 'caspase-dependent' mitochondria-initiated apoptotic DNA degradation pathway that is conserved between mammals and nematodes.