金葡菌通过线粒体途径诱导U937细胞凋亡

目的探讨线粒体凋亡途径在金黄色葡萄球菌（简称金葡菌）诱导人巨噬细胞系U937细胞凋亡中的作用。方法当细胞：细菌为1∶20时分别培养0 min,15 min,30 min,60 min和90 min,采用Western blot法检测胞质细胞色素C的表达及细胞内Bcl-2、Bax、caspase-9和caspase-3的表达。结果随着金葡菌感染时间的延长,胞质细胞色素C和Bax的表达逐渐增加;Bcl-2蛋白的表达逐渐降低;caspase-9和caspase-3的表达逐渐增加。结论金葡菌可通过抑制Bcl-2表达和促进Bax表达引起线粒体细胞色素C释放入胞质,激活caspase-9和caspase-3,促进U937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。     

嵌合重组caspase-3诱导表达促进肿瘤细胞凋亡

通过稳定转染人宫颈癌HeLa细胞,建立了野生型caspase-3（wt-casp3）,大小亚基序列颠倒的重组caspase-3 (r-casp3),和N端融合绿脓杆菌外毒素（PE）转膜肽段的嵌合重组caspase-3 (cr-casp3)的诱导表达细胞系.蜕皮素诱导后细胞中检测到目的基因的表达,MTT检测和细胞计数结果表明,r-casp3和cr-casp3诱导表达后有效地导致HeLa细胞死亡,通过测定细胞中caspase-3活性,以及细胞周期检测、DNA梯状电泳条带检测(DNA ladder)、电镜观察等证实r-casp3和cr-casp3诱导表达后细胞发生了凋亡,且二者的促凋亡活性相当,而wt-casp3诱导表达细胞并未出现上述效应.结果表明,与野生型caspase-3活化需要上游分子的切割不同,重组caspase-3具有自发的促凋亡活性,而N端PE肽段的融合不影响这种活性,因此PE转膜结构域和重组caspase-3有望参与构建能转膜进入细胞内部,并杀伤细胞的新型肿瘤治疗分子.     

重组nkx2.5腺病毒抑制过氧化氢诱导的H9c2细胞凋亡

为研究心脏发育关键基因nkx2.5的功能及应用价值,构建Ad-Nkx2.5重组腺病毒,并检测nkx2.5过表达拮抗氧化应激损伤的效应及机制。采用AdEasy腺病毒表达系统构建Ad-Nkx2.5重组腺病毒,建立H2O2诱导H9c2心肌细胞凋亡模型,分别用Ad-Nkx2.5重组病毒或对照病毒感染细胞,采用Hoechst33342染色观察细胞形态变化、MTT法检测细胞存活率,免疫印迹检测caspase-3活化、细胞色素C的胞浆含量。并通过Real-timePCR检测凋亡相关基因bcl-2和bax表达。结果发现,nkx2.5过表达促进H9c2细胞存活,抑制H2O2诱导的caspase-3活化及线粒体细胞色素C的释放。Nkx2.5过表达上调bcl-2表达,显著下调H2O2诱导的bax表达。并发现H2O2对Nkx2.5核定位无明显影响。结果显示重组腺病毒介导的Nkx2.5过表达可通过调控凋亡相关基因表达,抑制线粒体凋亡途径,保护心肌细胞抗氧化损伤。     

梓醇对氧糖剥夺诱导PC1 2 细胞凋亡的保护作用

目的：观察梓醇对氧糖剥夺（OGD）诱导PC12细胞凋亡的保护作用。方法：采用Hoechst 33258 DNA染色法,四甲基偶氮唑盐（MTT）检测细胞活性;化学比色法测定乳酸脱氢酶（LDH）的释放量,用流式细胞技术检测细胞凋亡比例以及P53和Bcl-2蛋白。结果：OGD可导致PC12细胞活力明显下降,LDH释放量增加、P53蛋白表达上升,Bcl-2蛋白表达下降。梓醇可明显改善细胞形态结构,显著降低LDH释放量、降低P53蛋白的表达,提高Bcl-2蛋白的表达,降低细胞凋亡率。结论：梓醇通过调节细胞凋亡相关基因的表达而抑制细胞凋亡。     

细胞色素c的释放是多巴胺诱导PC12细胞凋亡的重要环节

通过末端脱氧核苷酸转移酶介导dUTP缺口翻译法和DNA凝胶电泳观察多巴胺(DA)对PC12细胞凋亡的诱导作用, 并经蛋白质印迹法检测胞浆细胞色素c、Bcl-2和Bax蛋白以及活化型半胱氨酸蛋白酶3(caspase-3)水平. 结果表明, 在DA诱导PC12细胞凋亡的过程中, 可见PC12细胞中活化型caspase-3蛋白表达, 胞浆中细胞色素c水平明显增高, 同时Bcl-2蛋白水平下降, 而Bax蛋白水平明显增加. 环孢菌素A预处理对细胞色素c释放和caspase-3激活有明显的抑制作用, 而对Bcl-2和Bax蛋白影响不明显. 结果提示, Bcl-2和Bax蛋白、细胞色素c以及caspase-3可能参与DA诱导PC12细胞凋亡, 线粒体细胞色素c向胞浆释放可能是其中的中心环节.     

反义p73基因诱导人肝癌细胞HepG2的凋亡

目的：构建表达重组反义p73基因的重组逆转录病毒,观察其对人肝癌细胞HepG2的凋亡诱导活性,并进一步探讨其作用机制。方法：克隆p73基因的反义片段,重组法构成逆转录病毒载体pBabe-p73（pBP73）,以脂质体Lipofectamine2000将其转染293A细胞进行病毒包装;将逆转录病毒感染人肝癌细胞HepG2,用MTT法检测细胞生长抑制情况,Western blotting检测p73的表达;再分别用琼脂糖凝胶电泳和流式细胞仪检测肿瘤细胞的凋亡;最后检测p53,caspase-3和bcl-2蛋白的表达变化。结果  重组质粒pBP73经鉴定连接正确,其转染293A细胞后上清液中可得到病毒,滴度达5×107pfu;MTT检测见pBP73病毒组48和72h细胞抑制率高于对照组（45.1% vs. 5.3%,69.5% vs.17.3%,均p<0.05）。琼脂糖凝胶电泳出现典型梯形条带;流式细胞仪检测出现凋亡峰,于转染48h后达最高峰,其凋亡百分率高达20.47%;p73蛋白高表达组p53和caspase-3蛋白的表达亦有显著升高（p<0.05）,但bcl-2蛋白未见表达差异。结论：成功构建了p73逆转录病毒,反义p73基因在体外能够有效地诱导人肝癌细胞HepG2的凋亡,其可能机制是通过激活caspase-3而发生作用。     

新城疫病毒HN基因诱导人肺癌细胞SPC-A1凋亡的作用机制

为了探索新城疫病毒血凝素神经氨酸酶(HN)基因对人肺癌细胞SPC-A1的作用及机制,将含有HN基因的重组质粒pVHN经脂质体介导转染人肺癌细胞SPC-A1,通过MTT方法检测细胞活力;采用吖啶橙/溴化乙锭（AO/EB）染色分析肿瘤细胞凋亡;罗丹明123和DCFA染色测定线粒体跨膜电位（ΔΨm）和活性氧水平变化;流式细胞仪分析MHCⅠ分子表达; 底物染色反应检测caspase-3活性结果重组质粒pVHN转染人肺癌细胞SPCA1 48 h后,细胞活力明显降低; AO/EB染色可见明显的细胞凋亡形态学变化;与空质粒对照相比,线粒体ΔΨm下降(Ｐ<0.01),活性氧水平升高(Ｐ<0.05);细胞表面MHC-Ⅰ分子表达上调(P>0.05);caspase-3活性增强(Ｐ<0.01). 以上结果提示,新城疫病毒HN基因能够上调SPC-A1细胞表面MHC-Ⅰ分子表达,并通过上调ROS水平,下调线粒体ΔΨm,进而激活caspase-3,最终诱导人肺癌细胞凋亡.     

凋亡诱导因子在姜黄素诱导的大鼠肺成纤维细胞凋亡中的作用

目的：研究姜黄素对肺纤维化大鼠肺成纤维细胞增殖、凋亡的影响,探讨凋亡诱导因子（AIF）在肺成纤维细胞凋亡中的作用。方法：将体外培养的肺纤维化大鼠成纤维细胞,分别于不同浓度的姜黄素（5、10、20、40μM）和caspase-3抑制剂Z-DEVD-fmk（20μM）孵育,观测细胞生长状态变化。MTT检测成纤维细胞增殖抑制率;流式细胞仪检测细胞凋亡率;Western-Blot测定凋亡诱导因子（AIF）蛋白表达及核转位结果：流式细胞术检测细胞凋亡,5～40μM姜黄素处理12 h,其凋亡率呈浓度依赖,对照组相比,差异显著;而抑制caspase-3并不能完全阻止细胞凋亡。Western-Blot结果显示,姜黄素处理组出现凋亡诱导因子（AIF）蛋白表达与核转位,抑制caspase-3活性后未检测出AIF表达结论：姜黄素可抑制肺成纤维细胞增殖,其诱导大鼠肺成纤维细胞凋亡,可能与线粒体释放AIF有关。     

β-淀粉样蛋白通过激活caspase-3诱导PC12细胞凋亡

目的探讨β-淀粉样蛋白25-35片段（Aβ25-35）对体外培养的大鼠嗜铬瘤细胞PC12细胞促凋亡机制。方法采用四甲基偶氮唑蓝（MTT）法观察不同浓度的Aβ25-35干预PC12细胞24h后的细胞活性;将细胞分为对照组、实验组（即20 mmol/L Aβ25-35组）,流式细胞技术观察两组PC12细胞凋亡率;免疫细胞化学染色法观察PC12细胞凋亡基因caspase-3的表达。结果PC12细胞活性呈Aβ25-35剂量依赖性降低,且浓度为20 mmol/L时降低最显著;PC12细胞实验组的凋亡率为23.03%±1.22%,对照组为2.42%±0.87%（P〈0.01）;caspase-3实验组的阳性表达较对照组明显增加（P〈0.01）。结论Aβ可通过激活促凋亡基因caspase-3诱导PC12细胞凋亡。     

Expression of Smac/DIABLO in ovarian carcinoma cells induces apoptosis via a caspase-9-mediated pathway

We have constructed Ad CMV-Smac, a recombinant adenovirus encoding Smac/DIABLO, the recently described second mitochondrial activator of caspases. Transfection of ovarian carcinoma cells with Ad CMV-Smac at multiplicities of infection of 3-60 pfu/cell leads to increasing apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner. Western blot analysis confirms that Smac-induced apoptosis proceeds via a pathway mediated primarily by caspase-9 that can be inhibited by zLEHD-fmk and overexpression of the X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP). In contrast, there is no cleavage of either caspase-8 or caspase-12. Ad CMV-Smac appears to induce apoptosis independently of cytochrome c release from mitochondria and is not inhibited by overexpression of Bcl-2. Ad CMV-Smac can combine with other proapoptotic factors, such as cisplatin, paclitaxel, and procaspase-3, to produce greater levels of apoptosis in transfected cells.     

Caspases induce cytochrome c release from mitochondria by activating cytosolic factors.

We investigated the ability of caspases (cysteine proteases with aspartic acid specificity) to induce cytochrome c release from mitochondria. When Jurkat cells were induced to undergo apoptosis by Fas receptor ligation, cytochrome c was released from mitochondria, an event that was prevented by the caspase inhibitor, zVAD-fmk (zVal-Ala-Asp-CH2F). Purified caspase-8 triggered rapid cytochrome c release from isolated mitochondria in vitro. The effect was indirect, as the presence of cytosol was required, suggesting that caspase-8 cleaves and activates a cytosolic substrate, which in turn is able to induce cytochrome c release from mitochondria. The cytochrome c releasing activity was not blocked by caspase inhibition, but was antagonized by Bcl-2 or Bcl-xL. Caspase-8 and caspase-3 cleaved Bid, a proapoptotic Bcl-2 family member, which gains cytochrome c releasing activity in response to caspase cleavage. However, caspase-6 and caspase-7 did not cleave Bid, although they initiated cytochrome c release from mitochondria in the presence of cytosol. Thus, effector caspases may cleave and activate another cytosolic substrate (other than Bid), which then promotes cytochrome c release from mitochondria. Mitochondria significantly amplified the caspase-8 initiated DEVD-specific cleavage activity. Our data suggest that cytochrome c release, initiated by the action of caspases on a cytosolic substrates, may act to amplify a caspase cascade during apoptosis.     

Role of Smac/DIABLO in hydrogen peroxide-induced apoptosis in C2C12 myogenic cells

Smac/DIABLO was recently identified as a protein released from mitochondria in response to apoptotic stimuli which promotes apoptosis by antagonizing inhibitors of apoptosis proteins. Furthermore, Smac/DIABLO plays an important regulatory role in the sensitization of cancer cells to both immune-and drug-induced apoptosis. However, little is known about the role of Smac/DIABLO in hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2))-induced apoptosis of C2C12 myogenic cells. In this study, Hoechst 33258 staining was used to examine cell morphological changes and to quantitate apoptotic nuclei. DNA fragmentation was observed by agarose gel electrophoresis. Intracellular translocation of Smac/DIABLO from mitochondria to the cytoplasm was observed by Western blotting. Activities of caspase-3 and caspase-9 were assayed by colorimetry and Western blotting. Full-length Smac/DIABLO cDNA and antisense phosphorothioate oligonucleotides against Smac/DIABLO were transiently transfected into C2C12 myogenic cells and Smac/DIABLO protein levels were analyzed by Western blotting. The results showed that: (1) H(2)O(2) (0.5 mmol/L) resulted in a marked release of Smac/DIABLO from mitochondria to cytoplasm 1 h after treatment, activation of caspase-3 and caspase-9 4 h after treatment, and specific morphological changes of apoptosis 24 h after treatment; (2) overexpression of Smac/DIABLO in C2C12 cells significantly enhanced H(2)O(2)-induced apoptosis and the activation of caspase-3 and caspase-9 (P<0.05). (3) Antisense phosphorothioate oligonucleotides against Smac/DIABLO markedly inhibited de novo synthesis of Smac/DIABLO and this effect was accompanied by decreased apoptosis and activation of caspase-3 and caspase-9 induced by H(2)O(2) (P<0.05). These data demonstrate that H(2)O(2) could result in apoptosis of C2C12 myogenic cells, and that release of Smac/DIABLO from mitochondria to cytoplasm and the subsequent activation of caspase-9 and caspase-3 played important roles in H(2)O(2)-induced apoptosis in C2C12 myogenic cells.     

Polyamine depletion prevents camptothecin-induced apoptosis by inhibiting the release of cytochrome c

We have shown previously that depletion of polyamines delays apoptosis induced by camptothecin in rat intestinal epithelial cells (IEC-6). Mitochondria play an important role in the regulation of apoptosis in mammalian cells because apoptotic signals induce mitochondria to release cytochrome c. The latter interacts with Apaf-1 to activate caspase-9, which in turn activates downstream caspase-3. Bcl-2 family proteins are involved in the regulation of cytochrome c release from mitochondria. In this study, we examined the effects of polyamine depletion on the activation of the caspase cascade, release of cytochrome c from mitochondria, and expression and translocation of Bcl-2 family proteins. We inhibited ornithine decarboxylase, the first rate-limiting enzyme in polyamine synthesis, with alpha-difluoromethylornithine (DFMO) to deplete cells of polyamines. Depletion of polyamines prevented camptothecin-induced release of cytochrome c from mitochondria and decreased the activity of caspase-9 and caspase-3. The mitochondrial membrane potential was not disrupted when cytochrome c was released. Depletion of polyamines decreased translocation of Bax to mitochondria during apoptosis. The expression of antiapoptotic proteins Bcl-x(L) and Bcl-2 was increased in DFMO-treated cells. Caspase-8 activity and cleavage of Bid were decreased in cells depleted of polyamines. These results suggest that polyamine depletion prevents IEC-6 cells from apoptosis by preventing the translocation of Bax to mitochondria, thus preventing the release of cytochrome c.     

Role of the mitochondrial signaling pathway in murine coronavirus-induced oligodendrocyte apoptosis

A previous study demonstrated that infection of rat oligodendrocytes by mouse hepatitis virus (MHV) resulted in apoptosis, which is caspase dependent (Y. Liu, Y. Cai, and X. Zhang, J. Virol. 77:11952-11963, 2003). Here we determined the involvement of the mitochondrial pathway in MHV-induced oligodendrocyte apoptosis. We found that caspase-9 activity was 12-fold higher in virus-infected cells than in mock-infected cells at 24 h postinfection (p.i.). Pretreatment of cells with a caspase-9 inhibitor completely blocked caspase-9 activation and partially inhibited the apoptosis mediated by MHV infection. Analyses of cytochrome c release further revealed an activation of the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway. Stable overexpression of the two antiapoptotic proteins Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL significantly, though only partially, blocked apoptosis, suggesting that activation of the mitochondrial pathway is partially responsible for the apoptosis. To identify upstream signals, we determined caspase-8 activity, cleavage of Bid, and expression of Bax and Bad by Western blotting. We found a drastic increase in caspase-8 activity and cleavage of Bid at 24 h p.i. in virus-infected cells, suggesting that Bid may serve as a messenger to relay the signals from caspase-8 to mitochondria. However, treatment with a caspase-8 inhibitor only slightly blocked cytochrome c release from the mitochondria. Furthermore, we found that Bax but not Bad was significantly increased at 12 h p.i. in cells infected with both live and UV-inactivated viruses and that Bax activation was partially blocked by treatment with the caspase-8 inhibitor. These results thus establish the involvement of the mitochondrial pathway in MHV-induced oligodendrocyte apoptosis.     

Essential roles of the Bcl-2 family of proteins in caspase-2-induced apoptosis

Caspase-2 is an initiating caspase required for stress-induced apoptosis in various human cancer cells. Recent studies suggest that it can mediate the death function of tumor suppressor p53 and is activated by a multimeric protein complex, PIDDosome. However, it is not clear how caspase-2 exerts its apoptotic function in cells and whether its enzymatic activity is required for the apoptotic function. In this study, we used both in vitro mitochondrial cytochrome c release assays and cell culture apoptosis analyses to investigate the mechanism by which caspase-2 induces apoptosis. We show that active caspase-2, but neither a catalytically mutated caspase-2 nor active caspase-2 with its inhibitor, can cause cytochrome c release. Caspase-2 failed to induce cytochrome c release from mitochondria with Bid(-/-) background, and the release could be restored by addition of the wild-type Bid protein, but not by Bid with the caspase-2 cleavage site mutated. Caspase-2 was not able to induce cytochrome c release from Bax(-/-)Bak(-/-) mitochondria either. In cultured cells, gene deletion of Bax/Bak or Bid abrogated apoptosis induced by overexpression of caspase-2. Collectively, these results indicate that proteolytic activation of Bid and the subsequent induction of the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway through Bax/Bak is essential for apoptosis triggered by caspase-2.     

Apoptosis induction by T-2 toxin: activation of caspase-9, caspase-3, and DFF-40/CAD through cytosolic release of cytochrome c in HL-60 cells

The molecules participating in apoptosis induced by T-2 toxin in human leukemia HL-60 cells were investigated. The rank order of the potency of trichothecene mycotoxins to induce internucleosomal DNA fragmentation was found to be T-2, satratoxin G, roridin A > diacetoxyscirpenol > baccharin B-5 > nivalenol, deoxynivalenol, 3-acetyldeoxynivalenol, fusarenon-X, baccharin B-4=vehicle control. Western blot analysis of caspase-3 in T-2-treated cells clearly indicated the appearance of its catalytically active fragment of 17-kDa. Increased caspase-3 activity was also detected by using a fluorogenic substrate, DEVD-AMC. Next, cells exposed to T-2 led to cleavage of PARP from its native 116-kDa form to the 85-kDa product. Moreover, DFF-45/ICAD were cleaved to give a 12.5-kDa fragment via T-2 treatment. T-2 caused the release of cytochrome c from mitochondria into the cytosol. Increased enzymic activity of caspase-9 on LEHD-AMC was shown. These data indicate that T-2-induced apoptosis involves activation of caspase-3 and DFF-40/CAD through cytosolic accumulation of cytochrome c along with caspase-9 activation.     

Photodynamic therapy-induced death of MCF-7 human breast cancer cells: a role for caspase-3 in the late steps of apoptosis but not for the critical lethal event

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) causes mitochondrial damage and induces apoptosis through release of cytochrome c and activation of caspase-3. To test whether caspase 3 is the sole executioner of apoptosis and its role in overall cell lethality, we compared the response of MCF-7c3 cells that express a stably transfected CASP-3 gene to that of parental MCF-7:SW8 cells transfected with vector alone (MCF-7v). Following photosensitization with the phthalocyanine Pc 4 and red light, cytochrome c was released from the mitochondria to equivalent extents in the two cell lines. However, the appearance of apoptotic indicators, such as active caspase-3 (DEVDase), cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase, and oligonucleosomal DNA fragmentation, was observed only in MCF-7c3 cells during the first 6 h after photosensitization. Although production of 50-kb DNA fragments and chromatin condensation were found in PDT-treated MCF-7v cells by 20-24 h posttreatment, the rate and extent of apoptosis were much less than in MCF-7c3 cells. MCF-7c3 cells were more sensitive to photosensitization than were MCF-7v cells when assayed for loss of viability by reduction of a tetrazolium dye. However, the two cell lines were equally sensitive to photodynamic killing when evaluated by a clonogenic assay. These results show (a) the importance of assessing overall cell death by clonogenic assay; (b) that the critical lethal event is independent of caspase-3, perhaps at or near the release of cytochrome c from mitochondria; and (c) that the caspase-3-mediated events appear to be irrelevant in determining overall killing of cells.     

Caspase-6 is the direct activator of caspase-8 in the cytochrome c-induced apoptosis pathway: absolute requirement for removal of caspase-6 prodomain

Caspase activation resulting from cytochrome c release from the mitochondria is an essential component of the mechanism of apoptosis initiated by a range of factors. The activation of Bid by caspase-8 in this pathway promotes further cytochrome c release, thereby completing a positive feedback loop of caspase activation. Although the identity of the caspases necessary for caspase-8 activation in this pathway are known, it is still unclear which protease directly cleaves caspase-8. In order to identify the factor responsible we undertook a biochemical purification of caspase-8 cleaving activity in cytosolic extracts to which cytochrome c had been added. Here we report that caspase-6 is the only soluble protease in cytochrome c activated Jurkat cell extracts that has significant caspase-8 cleaving activity. Furthermore the caspase-6 that we purified was sufficient to induce Bid dependent cytochrome c releasing activity in cell extracts. Inhibition of caspase-6 activity in cells significantly inhibited caspase-8 cleavage and apoptosis, therefore establishing caspase-6 as a major activator of caspase-8 in vivo and confirming that this pathway can have a critical role in promotion of apoptosis. We also show that caspase-6 is inactive until the short prodomain is removed. We suggest that the requirement for two distinct cleavage steps to activate an effector caspase may represent an effective mechanism for restriction of spontaneous caspase activation and aberrant entry into apoptosis.     

Role of Bcl-2 family members in caspase-3/9-dependent apoptosis during <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pseudomonas aeruginosa</Emphasis> infection in U937 cells

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a gram-negative opportunistic pathogen that is cytotoxic towards a variety of eukaryotic cells. To investigate the effect of this bacterium on monocyte, we infected human U937 cells with the P. aeruginosa strain in vitro. To explore the expression of Bcl-2 and Bax as well as caspase-3/9 activation in the apoptosis of human U937 cells induced by P. aeruginosa, Hoechst 33258 staining and Giemsa staining as well as Flow cytometry analysis were used to determine the rate of apoptosis, and the expressions of Bcl-2 and Bax were assayed by RT-PCR and Western blotting respectively. Bax protein conformation change was assayed by immunoprecipitation. Cytochrome c release was measured by Western blotting. Moreover, exposure of U937 cells to P. aeruginosa measured caspase-3/9 activity. It was found that the apoptosis of human U937 cells could be induced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Also, there were a tendency of alterations with an increased expression level of Bax and a reduced expression level of Bcl-2, increased levels of cytochrome c release, and also with an increased activation of caspase-3/9 and Bax protein conformation change. For the evaluation of the role of caspases, caspase-3/9 inhibitors Z-DEVD-FMK and Z-LEHD-FMK respectively were used. The results were further confirmed by the observation that the caspase inhibitors Z-DEVD-FMK and Z-LEHD-FMK blocked P. aeruginosa-induced U937 apoptosis. It is concluded that P. aeruginosa can induce apoptosis with an up-regulated expression of Bax and a down-regulated expression of Bcl-2, which resulted in increased levels of cytochrome c release and increased caspase-3 and -9 in human U937 cells.