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Polyamines and apoptosis

Nikolaus Seiler1, Francis Raul

  • 1Laboratory of Nutritional Cancer Prevention, Institut de Recherche Contre les Cancers de l'Appareil Digestif (IRCAD), Strasbourg Cedex, 67091, France. nikolaus.seiler@ircad.u-strasbg.fr

Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine
|October 6, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Polyamines like putrescine, spermidine, and spermine influence cell viability and gene regulation. Their roles in programmed cell death (apoptosis) are complex, with depletion or elevation affecting cell fate.

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Natural polyamines (putrescine, spermidine, spermine) are crucial for cell growth and viability.
  • Emerging evidence over 15 years highlights polyamine involvement in gene regulation.
  • Polyamines are implicated in genetically programmed cell death (apoptosis).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the multifaceted roles of polyamines in apoptosis.
  • To discuss the identified links between polyamines and apoptotic pathways following ornithine decarboxylase inhibition.
  • To explore potential mechanisms of polyamine action in programmed cell death.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on polyamines and apoptosis.
  • Analysis of studies involving ornithine decarboxylase inhibition and polyamine depletion.
  • Discussion of experimental observations linking polyamine levels to apoptotic events.

Main Results:

  • Polyamine depletion can either activate or prevent apoptosis in various cell lines.
  • Elevated polyamine concentrations may induce apoptosis or lead to malignant transformation.
  • Numerous connections between polyamines and apoptotic signaling pathways have been identified.

Conclusions:

  • The precise mechanisms of polyamine action in apoptosis remain incompletely understood due to contradictory findings.
  • Significant progress is anticipated in elucidating polyamine functions in apoptotic signaling.
  • Pinpointing specific interactions with pro- and anti-apoptotic factors presents considerable challenges in polyamine research.

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