Satratoxin G-induced apoptosis in PC-12 neuronal cells is mediated by PKR and caspase independent

Satratoxin G (SG) is a macrocyclic trichothecene mycotoxin produced by Stachybotrys chartarum, a mold suggested to play an etiologic role in damp building-related illnesses. Acute intranasal exposure of mice to SG specifically induces apoptosis in olfactory sensory neurons of the nose. The PC-12 rat pheochromocytoma cell model was used to elucidate potential mechanisms of SG-induced neuronal cell death. Agarose gel electrophoresis revealed that exposure to SG at 10 ng/ml or higher for 48-h induced DNA fragmentation characteristic of apoptosis in PC-12 cells. SG-induced apoptosis was confirmed by microscopic morphology, hypodiploid fluorescence and annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) uptake. Messenger RNA expression of the proapoptotic genes p53, double-stranded RNA-activated protein kinase (PKR), BAX, and caspase-activated DNAse was significantly elevated from 6 to 48 h after SG treatment. SG also induced apoptosis and proapoptotic gene expression in neural growth factor-differentiated PC-12 cells. Although SG-induced caspase-3 activation, caspase inhibition did not impair apoptosis. Moreover, SG induced nuclear translocation of apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF), a known contributor to caspase-independent neuronal cell death. SG-induced apoptosis was not affected by inhibitors of oxidative stress or mitogen-activated protein kinases but was suppressed by the PKR inhibitor C16 and by PKR siRNA transfection. PKR inhibition also blocked SG-induced apoptotic gene expression and AIF translocation but not caspase-3 activation. Taken together, SG-induced apoptosis in PC-12 neuronal cells is mediated by PKR via a caspase-independent pathway possibly involving AIF translocation.