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Decreases in CD31 and CD47 levels on the cell surface during etoposide-induced Jurkat cell apoptosis

Yutaro Azuma1, Hideaki Nakagawa, Kanae Dote

  • 1Department of Clinical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Toho University, Funabashi, Chiba, Japan. yutaro@phar.toho-u.ac.jp

Biological & Pharmaceutical Bulletin
|December 2, 2011
PubMed

Insights

During apoptosis,

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Immunology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Apoptosis involves 'eat me' and 'don't eat me' signals regulating cell engulfment.
  • 'Don't eat me' signals on apoptotic cells are poorly understood.
  • CD31 and CD47 are cell surface proteins involved in cell-cell interactions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the behavior of 'don't eat me' signals, specifically CD31 and CD47, on apoptotic Jurkat cells.
  • To determine the mechanism of CD31 and CD47 shedding during apoptosis.
  • To explore the role of caspases, metalloproteinases, and ROCK1 in this process.

Main Methods:

  • Jurkat cells were induced to undergo apoptosis using etoposide.
  • Flow cytometry and immunoblotting were used to quantify CD31 and CD47 levels.
  • Inhibitors of caspases, metalloproteinases, and ROCK1 were employed to study their roles.

Main Results:

  • Etoposide treatment decreased CD31 and CD47 levels on apoptotic Jurkat cell surfaces.
  • Caspase inhibitors, particularly for caspase 3, suppressed this decrease.
  • Microparticle release, containing CD31 and CD47, was observed and inhibited by ROCK1 inhibitor.

Conclusions:

  • CD31 and CD47 are shed from apoptotic cells via microparticles, not soluble release.
  • Caspase activity is crucial for the reduction of cell surface CD31 and CD47.
  • ROCK1 inhibition mitigates microparticle formation and release during apoptosis.

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