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ABSTRACT: Aims
The caspases are thought to be central mediators of the apoptotic program, but recent data indicate that apoptosis may also be mediated by caspase-independent mechanisms such as apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF). The role of AIF-induced apoptosis in heart, however, is currently not well understood. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of and conditions for AIF-induced cardiac apoptosis in vitro.Methods and results
Hypertrophic cardiomyocyte (H-CM) cultures were prepared from the hearts of Dahl salt-sensitive rats fed a high salt diet. Apoptotic stimulation induced by hypoxia/reoxygenation or staurosporine (1 microM) enhanced AIF release in H-CMs compared with non-hypertrophic cardiomyocytes (N-CMs). Caspase inhibition using zVAD.fmk (25 microM) or overexpression of CrmA using recombinant adenovirus only partially protected N-CMs from apoptosis (63 +/- 0.93%) and provided no significant protection against apoptosis in hypertrophic cells (23 +/- 1.03%). On the other hand, poly-ADP-ribose polymerase inhibition using 4-AN (20 microM) during apoptotic stimulation blocked the release of AIF from mitochondria and significantly improved cell viability in hypertrophied cardiomyocytes (74 +/- 1.18%).Conclusion
A caspase-dependent, apoptotic pathway is important for N-CM death, whereas a caspase-independent, AIF-mediated pathway plays a critical role in H-CMs.
SUBMITTER: Choudhury S
PROVIDER: S-EPMC2791051 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Jan
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Choudhury Sangita S Bae Soochan S Kumar Sheetal R SR Ke Qingen Q Yalamarti Bhargavi B Choi Jun H JH Kirshenbaum Lorrie A LA Kang Peter M PM
Cardiovascular research 20100101 1
<h4>Aims</h4>The caspases are thought to be central mediators of the apoptotic program, but recent data indicate that apoptosis may also be mediated by caspase-independent mechanisms such as apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF). The role of AIF-induced apoptosis in heart, however, is currently not well understood. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of and conditions for AIF-induced cardiac apoptosis in vitro.<h4>Methods and results</h4>Hypertrophic cardiomyocyte (H-CM) cultures wer ...[more]