Induction of apoptosis in Neuro-2A cells by Zn2+ chelating

Metal ions such as Ca2+, Mg2+, or Zn2+, are important for many cell functions, for example, signal transduction and the modulation of enzyme activity. The relationship between apoptosis and metal cations, especially Ca2+, has been described in many reports. We have investigated the role of metal cations in the regulation of apoptosis in the mouse neuroblastoma cell line, Neuro-2A. When Neuro-2A cells were treated with ethylene diaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), apoptosis was detected as growth inhibition, DNA fragmentation with a ladder pattern in agarose gel electrophoresis, and nuclear decomposition. However, in case of the treatment with ethylene glycol bis- (beta-aminoethyl ether) N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid (EGTA), which has a higher chelating specificity for Ca2+ than EDTA, DNA fragmentation was not detected. Moreover, the apoptosis induced by EDTA was inhibited by exogenous Zn2+. The membrane permeable Zn2+ chelator N,N,N',N'-tetrakis (2-pyridylmethyl)ethylenediamine (TPEN) also induced apoptosis of the Neuro-2A cells, and addition of equimolar exogenous Zn2+ or Cu2+, but not Mn2+ or Fe2+, prevented TPEN-induced apoptosis. The results suggest that Zn2+ may be a key regulator of apoptosis in Neuro-2A cells.