INTRODUCTION.Mesangial cells and RAW 264.7 macrophages respond to different NO donors within 16-24h or 6-8h, respectively, with apoptotic cell death (1). RAW 264.7 macrophages also die in response to endogenous NO production. In contrast, endogenous NO production failed to significantly induce cell death in mesangial cells (2,3). We hypothesized that differences in the expression of antiapoptotic proteins in particular the inhibitor of apoptosis (IAP) protein family might be responsible for this cell type-specific behaviour.
METHOD.To this end, by performing RNase Protection Assay and Western Blot Analysis, we compared IAP expression in relation to apoptosis induction in response to NO and cytokines in both cell types.
RESULTS.In mesangial cells IL-1β and TNF-α induced cIAP1 mRNA expression within 3 h. In contrast, XIAP mRNA levels remained unaffected by cytokines. Although coincubation of cells with IL-1β and TNF-α or IL-1β and bFGF resulted in a synergistic induction of iNOS, comparable potentiating effects were absent regarding cIAP1 induction. Also exogenously released NO from NO donors promoted cIAP1 mRNA upregulation in mesangial cells whereas XIAP mRNA was downregulated. However, these changes seen on the mRNA level were not adequately translated onto the protein level and corresponding values for cIAP1 and XIAP were only slightly affected. In contrast, in LPS/interferon-γ-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages, we found a massive NO-dependent downregulation of cIAP1 and XIAP protein level that correlated temporally with induction of apoptosis. This effect was at least partially reversed by L-NMMA, an inhibitor of NOS activity.In summary, in macrophages we found a direct correlation between the downregulation of IAP protein levels and the induction of apoptosis by endogenous NO. By contrast, a stable level of IAP protein in mesangial cells might represent a mechanism constituting resistance of the cells against endogenously produced NO.ACKNOWLEDGEMENT.
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