Neuronal death, cytoplasmic calcium and internucleosomal DNA fragmentation: evidence for DNA fragments being released...

Neuronal death, secondary to endogenous agents such as glutamate, may involve changes in cytoplasmic calcium. Besides its well recognized role as a second messenger mediating cellular response, calcium is necessary for the activation of endonuclease(s), resulting in DNA fragmentation and cell death. Therefore, we investigated the relationship between changes in cytoplasmic calcium, DNA fragmentation and neuronal death, using PC12 and NCB-20 cell lines. The calcium ionophore, A23187, caused a dose-dependent increase in cytoplasmic calcium, loss of cell viability, increased lactate dehydrogenase (LDH)-release, and DNA fragmentation. DNA fragments, typical of internucleosomal digestion of genomic DNA, characteristic of endonuclease(s) activation, were consistently detected in the incubating medium. Release of DNA fragments into the medium was seen with A23187 in concentrations as low as 10 nM, and within an hour of treatment. Furthermore, calcium added to preparations of PC12 nuclei also produced DNA fragmentation, although, less pronounced than when intact cells were treated with A23187. The findings indicate that A23187-induced neuronal death involves the activation of endonuclease(s). The role of cytoplasmic calcium in this process is supported by evidence that A23187 selectively mobilizes cytoplasmic calcium, and that calcium can directly activate endonuclease(s) in nuclear preparations.