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Identification of Intracellular Signaling Events Induced in Viable Cells by Interaction with Neighboring Cells Undergoing Apoptotic Cell Death
09:18

Identification of Intracellular Signaling Events Induced in Viable Cells by Interaction with Neighboring Cells Undergoing Apoptotic Cell Death

Published on: December 27, 2016

Preferential Fas-mediated apoptotic execution at G1 phase: the resistance of mitotic cells to the cell death

T Hashimoto1, K Juso, M Nakano

  • 1Biosignal Research Center, Kobe University, Kobe, Japan.

Cell Death & Disease
|May 25, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Cell cycle phase dictates apoptosis execution. Fas-mediated apoptosis primarily occurs in the G1 phase, while etoposide-induced apoptosis targets S/G2 phases, revealing distinct cell death pathway dependencies.

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Apoptosis (programmed cell death) is crucial for development and tissue homeostasis.
  • Cell cycle surveillance mechanisms ensure genomic integrity and trigger apoptosis upon damage.
  • The precise relationship between cell cycle progression and apoptosis, particularly death receptor-mediated pathways, remains incompletely understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the cell cycle phase-specific execution of apoptosis.
  • To elucidate the relationship between cell cycle progression and Fas-mediated apoptosis.
  • To compare cell cycle dependency in Fas-mediated versus etoposide-induced apoptosis.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized HeLa.S-Fucci cells for real-time cell cycle monitoring.
  • Employed time-lapse fluorescent microscopy to observe apoptotic execution.
  • Investigated apoptosis in both random and synchronized cell cultures.
  • Induced apoptosis using Fas-mediated and etoposide treatments.

Main Results:

  • Fas-mediated apoptosis predominantly occurred in the G1 phase (approx. 70%).
  • Approximately 20% of cells undergoing Fas-mediated apoptosis died post-cytokinesis.
  • Etoposide-induced apoptosis was significantly higher in the S/G2 phases (over 60%).
  • Mitotic cells exhibited resistance to Fas-mediated apoptosis.

Conclusions:

  • Apoptotic execution is significantly dependent on the cell cycle phase.
  • Fas-mediated apoptosis preferentially targets cells in the G1 phase.
  • Distinct apoptotic stimuli exhibit differential cell cycle phase preferences for induction.

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