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The c‐ erbA α Protooncogene Induces Apoptosis in Glial Cells via a Protein Kinase C‐ and bcl‐2 ‐Suppressible Mechanism
Author(s) -
Llanos Susana,
Caelles Carme,
Azorín Inmaculada,
RenauPiqueras Jaime,
FernándezLuna José L.,
Boscá Lisardo,
Muñoz Alberto
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
journal of neurochemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.75
H-Index - 229
eISSN - 1471-4159
pISSN - 0022-3042
DOI - 10.1046/j.1471-4159.1998.70062315.x
Subject(s) - protein kinase c , apoptosis , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , programmed cell death , signal transduction , protein kinase a , kinase , biochemistry
The c‐ erbA protooncogene encodes the thyroid hormone (3,5,3′‐triiodothyronine; T 3 ) receptor α1 (TRα1). c‐ erbA /TRα1 is expressed in many cell types including glial cells, particularly in the immature state. We show here by morphological and biochemical criteria that c‐ erbA induces apoptosis of glial B3.1 cells in serum‐deprived conditions. This effect is mostly T 3 independent. Growth factors such as platelet‐derived growth factor, basic fibroblast growth factor, or transforming growth factor‐α prevent B3.1 + TRα1 cell death. Protein kinase C(PKC) activators also prevent the apoptosis phenomenon, an effect that was blocked by the PKC‐specific inhibitor GF109203X. Expression of an exogenous bcl‐2 gene led also to B3.1 + TRα1 cell survival. Neither a series of inhibitors including GF109203X nor T 3 inhibits bcl‐2 action, indicating that bcl‐2 blocks a downstream step in the death‐promoting process. B3.1 + TRα1 cell apoptosis is not blocked by caspase‐1 or poly‐ADP‐ribosyltransferase inhibitors, suggesting that the activation of these classic pathways is not involved in the apoptotic mechanism. In addition, direct interaction with specific neuronal cells but not incubation with their conditioned medium inhibits also apoptosis of B3.1 + TRα1 cells. Our results show that c‐ erbA promotes an apoptotic process in glial B3.1 cells that is suppressible by PKC activation and bcl‐2 , probably by distinct mechanisms.