ISSN:
1573-675X
Keywords:
Caspase-1
;
caspase inhibitor
;
cell death
;
nuclear translocation
;
semaphorin III
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
,
Medicine
Notes:
Abstract The caspase family proteases are principal components of the apoptotic pathway. In this study we demonstrate that caspase-1-like proteases and interleukin-1β are important for death induced by various stimuli in cell lines, primary fibroblasts and primary sensory neurons. Furthermore, we show by immunohistochemistry that during the cell death process endogenous caspase-1-like proteases translocate into the nucleus. This translocation is stimulated by interleukin-1 receptor activation. Translocation of caspase-1-like proteases and cell death can be partially prevented by blocking the interleukin-1 receptor with the interleukin-1 receptor antagonist. This finding offers for the first time a mechanistic explanation for the protective effect of the interleukin-1 receptor antagonist against cell death. Furthermore, our data suggest that caspase-1-like proteases have a function in the nucleus which is necessary for completion of the cell death program. In cultured DRG neurons from embryonic mice the combined inhibition of caspases and the interleukin-1 receptor have an additive effect and fully prevent semaphorin III-induced neuronal death. This shows that endogenous caspases work together with IL-1β in Semaphorin III-induced neuronal death. We hypothetize that the cell death process involves a double activation step, probably including an interleukin-1 autocrine loop. This model can explain our finding that combined inhibition of caspases and interleukin-1 receptor is necessary to strongly inhibit the cell death process.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:1009672411058
Permalink
