Cytolethal distending toxin induces caspase-dependent and -independent cell death in MOLT-4 cells

Cytolethal distending toxin (CDT) induces apoptosis using the caspase-dependent classical pathway in the majority of human leukemic T cells (MOLT-4). However, we found the process to cell death is only partially inhibited by pretreatment of the cells with a general caspase inhibitor, z-VAD-fmk. Flow cytometric analysis using annexin V and propidium iodide showed that a 48-h CDT treatment decreased the living cell population by 35% even in the presence of z-VAD-fmk. z-VAD-fmk completely inhibited caspase activity in 24 h CDT-intoxicated cells. Further, CDT with z-VAD-fmk treatment clearly increased the cell population that had a low level of intracellular reactive oxygen. This is a characteristic opposite to that of caspase-dependent apoptosis. Overexpression of bcl2 almost completely inhibited cell death using CDT treatment in the presence of z-VAD-fmk. The data suggest there are at least two different pathways used in CDT-induced cell death: conventional caspase-dependent (early) apoptotic cell death and caspase-independent (late) death. Both occur via the mitochondrial membrane disruption pathway.