Bcl-2 counters apoptosis by Bax heterodimerization-dependent and -independent mechanisms in the T-cell lineage

The effect of the cell death inhibitor Bcl-2 in relation to its capacity to dimerize with apoptosis promoter Bax or its homologs at their physiological expression levels was explored in the T-cell lineage. Transgenic mice expressing a BH1 mutant Bcl-2 (Bcl-2 mI-3), which fails to heterodimerize with proapoptotic members of the Bcl-2 family, such as Bax, were generated. Bcl-2 mI-3 protected immature CD4+8- thymocytes from spontaneous, glucocorticoid and anti-CD3-induced apoptosis and altered T cell maturation, resulting in increased percentages of CD3(hi) and CD4-8+ thymocytes. In contrast, apoptosis of peripheral T-cells was unaffected by transgene expression. This correlated with their high Bax expression level and insensitivity to the caspase inhibitor, zVAD-fmk, a functional hallmark of Bax-like activity. Thus, within the T-cell lineage Bcl-2 can inhibit apoptosis independent of its association with Bax or its homologs; yet, above a threshold level of their physiologic proapoptotic activity, the capacity of Bcl-2 to heterodimerize with Bax or its homologs appears essential for it to counter cell death.