Premium
A Neurotoxic Secretory Phospholipase A 2 Induces Apoptosis in Motoneuron‐like Cells
Author(s) -
Pražnikar Zala Jenko,
Petan Toni,
Pungerčar Jože
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
annals of the new york academy of sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.712
H-Index - 248
eISSN - 1749-6632
pISSN - 0077-8923
DOI - 10.1111/j.1749-6632.2008.03999.x
Subject(s) - propidium iodide , cytotoxicity , apoptosis , cytotoxic t cell , chemistry , microbiology and biotechnology , phospholipase , necrosis , neurotoxin , programmed cell death , neurotoxicity , biology , biochemistry , toxicity , enzyme , in vitro , genetics , organic chemistry
Ammodytoxin A (AtxA) is a presynaptically neurotoxic secretory phospholipase A 2 from snake venom. The aim of this study was to investigate the mechanism of its cytotoxicity expressed against mouse motoneuronal NSC34 cells. AtxA displayed a potent dose‐ and time‐dependent cytotoxicity that was associated with apoptosis and not necrosis, as revealed by a reduction of mitochondrial membrane potential, activation of caspase‐3, and by the absence of propidium iodide staining. The cytotoxic‐ and apoptosis‐inducing effects of AtxA were specific for the motoneuronal cells; human embryonic kidney (HEK293) and mouse myoblast (C2C12) cells were shown to be resistant to the toxin.