Hydrostatic pressure induces apoptosis in the human leukaemic T-cell line Jurkat via the mitochondrial pathway
M V Klett1, E-M Boneberg, K Trenz
1Biotechnology Institute Thurgau, Taegerwilen, Switzerland.
Abstract:
We investigated the effect of pressure levels ranging from 80 to 500 bar on the proliferative capacity and viability of Jurkat leukaemic T cells. Pressurization at 360 bar induced apoptotic cell death as shown by apoptotic morphology after Hoechst staining, DNA fragmentation in the TdT-mediated dUTP nick end labelling-assay and cleavage of several caspase substrates. Cell death could be prevented by the general caspase inhibitor zVAD-fmk. Breakdown of the mitochondrial membrane potential and the release of cytochrome c provided strong evidence for an involvement of the mitochondrial pathway, whereas a central role of the death receptor pathway was excluded because caspase-8 was not significantly activated. Pressure incubation led to calcium influx after 5 min, and we hypothesize that calcium influx could be the primary trigger for pressure-induced apoptosis.
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