Nerve growth factor suppresses apoptosis of murine neutrophils

We investigated inhibitory activity of nerve growth factor (NGF) on apoptosis of murine peritoneal exudate neutrophils. During culture for 9 h, apoptotic cells were identified by morphological changes under a light microscope: nuclear pyknosis and chromatin condensation with or without cytoplasmic vacuolation. The apoptotic state was confirmed by DNA fragmentation indicating the endogenous endonuclease activation. When neutrophils were incubated in the presence of NGF, the proportion of cells with the morphological changes was decreased in a dose-dependent manner, and the development of the characteristic DNA fragmentation was restricted. The apoptosis-suppressing activity of NGF was abolished by the addition of anti-NGF monoclonal antibody. These results suggest that NGF may suppress neutrophil apoptosis by preventing the endogenous endonuclease activation.