Jochen H. M. Prehn

Guidelines for the use and interpretation of assays for monitoring cell death in higher eukaryotes

Cell death is essential for a plethora of physiological processes, and its deregulation characterizes numerous human diseases. Thus, the in-depth investigation of cell death and its mechanisms constitutes a formidable challenge for fundamental and applied biomedical research, and has tremendous implications for the development of novel therapeutic strategies. It is, therefore, of utmost importance to standardize the experimental procedures that identify dying and dead cells in cell cultures and/or in tissues, from model organisms and/or humans, in healthy and/or pathological scenarios. Thus far, dozens of methods have been proposed to quantify cell death-related parameters. However, no guidelines exist regarding their use and interpretation, and nobody has thoroughly annotated the experimental settings for which each of these techniques is most appropriate. Here, we provide a nonexhaustive comparison of methods to detect cell death with apoptotic or nonapoptotic morphologies, their advantages and pitfalls. These guidelines are intended for investigators who study cell death, as well as for reviewers who need to constructively critique scientific reports that deal with cellular demise. Given the difficulties in determining the exact number of cells that have passed the point-of-no-return of the signaling cascades leading to cell death, we emphasize the importance of performing multiple, methodologically unrelated assays to quantify dying and dead cells.

Gene expression during ER stress–induced apoptosis in neurons induction of the BH3-only protein Bbc3/PUMA and activation of the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress has been implicated in the pathogenesis of ischemic and neurodegenerative disorders. Treatment of human SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells with tunicamycin, an inhibitor of protein glycosylation, rapidly induced the expression of target genes of the unfolded protein response. However, prolonged treatment also triggered a delayed, caspase-dependent cell death. Microarray analysis of gene expression changes during tunicamycin-induced apoptosis revealed that the Bcl-2 homology domain 3-only family member, Bcl-2 binding component 3/p53 upregulated modulator of apoptosis (Bbc3/PUMA), was the most strongly induced pro-apoptotic gene. Expression of Bbc3/PUMA correlated with a Bcl-xL–sensitive release of cytochrome c and the activation of caspase-9 and -3. Increased expression of Bbc3/PUMA was also observed in p53-deficient human cells, in response to the ER stressor thapsigargin, and in rat hippocampal neurons after transient forebrain ischemia. Overexpression of Bbc3/PUMA was sufficient to trigger apoptosis in SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells, and human cells deficient in Bbc3/PUMA showed dramatically reduced apoptosis in response to ER stress. Our data suggest that the transcriptional induction of Bbc3/PUMA may be sufficient and necessary for ER stress–induced apoptosis.

Transforming Growth Factor-β1 Prevents Glutamate Neurotoxicity in Rat Neocortical Cultures and Protects Mouse Neocortex from Ischemic Injury in vivo

Transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) has been shown to be an injury-related peptide growth factor within the mammalian central nervous system. We tested whether TGF-β1 has the capacity to protect rat neocortical neurons against excitotoxic damage in vitro and mouse neocortex against ischemic injury in vivo. After 14 days in vitro, cultured neurons from rat cerebral cortex were exposed to 1 mM l-glutamate in serum-free culture medium. The cultures received TGF-β1 immediately after the addition of glutamate. Eighteen hours later, the cell viability of the cultures was determined using trypan blue exclusion. TGF-β1 (1–10 ng/ml) significantly reduced the excitotoxic neuronal damage in a concentration-dependent manner. In vivo, male NMRI mice were subjected to a permanent occlusion of the left middle cerebral artery by microbipolar electrocoagulation. After 48 h, the animals received a transcardiac injection of carbon black. The area of ischemia (devoid of carbon) was restricted to the neocortex and its size was determined planimetrically by means of an image-analyzing system. The treatment with TGF-β1 (1 μg/kg i.c.v.) at 6, 4, or 2 h prior to vessel occlusion reduced the area of ischemia by 5.3, 10.0, and 9.6%, respectively. The effect of the treatment with TGF-β1 was statistically significant (p < 0.05 by two-way ANOVA). The present in vitro and in vivo data suggest that TGF-β1 has the capacity to diminish the deleterious consequences of an excitotoxic or ischemic insult.

Systems analysis of effector caspase activation and its control by X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein

Activation of effector caspases is a final step during apoptosis. Single‐cell imaging studies have demonstrated that this process may occur as a rapid, all‐or‐none response, triggering a complete substrate cleavage within 15 min. Based on biochemical data from HeLa cells, we have developed a computational model of apoptosome‐dependent caspase activation that was sufficient to remodel the rapid kinetics of effector caspase activation observed in vivo. Sensitivity analyses predicted a critical role for caspase‐3‐dependent feedback signalling and the X‐linked‐inhibitor‐of‐apoptosis‐protein (XIAP), but a less prominent role for the XIAP antagonist Smac. Single‐cell experiments employing a caspase fluorescence resonance energy transfer substrate verified these model predictions qualitatively and quantitatively. XIAP was predicted to control this all‐or‐none response, with concentrations as high as 0.15 μM enabling, but concentrations >0.30 μM significantly blocking substrate cleavage. Overexpression of XIAP within these threshold concentrations produced cells showing slow effector caspase activation and submaximal substrate cleavage. Our study supports the hypothesis that high levels of XIAP control caspase activation and substrate cleavage, and may promote apoptosis resistance and sublethal caspase activation in vivo.

Nerve growth factor survival signaling in cultured hippocampal neurons is mediated through TRKA and requires the common neurotrophin receptor P75

The role of the common neurotrophin receptor p75 (p75NTR) in neuronal survival and cell death remains controversial. On the one hand, p75NTR provides a positive modulatory influence on nerve growth factor (NGF) signaling through the high affinity neurotrophin receptor TrkA, and hence increases NGF survival signaling. However, p75NTR may also signal independently of TrkA, causing cell death or cell survival, depending on the cell type and stage of development. Here we demonstrate that TrkA is expressed in primary cultures of hippocampal neurons and is activated by NGF within 10 min of exposure. In primary hippocampal cultures neuroprotection by NGF against glutamate toxicity was mediated by NF-kappaB and accompanied by an increased expression of neuroprotective NF-kappaB target genes Bcl-2 and Bcl-xl. In mouse hippocampal cells lacking p75NTR (p75NTR-/-) activation of TrkA by NGF was not detectable. Moreover, neuroprotection by NGF against glutamate toxicity was abolished in p75NTR-/- neurons, and the expression of bcl-2 and bcl-xl was markedly reduced as compared to wildtype cells. NGF increased TrkA phosphorylation in hippocampal neurons and provided protection that required phosphoinositol-3-phosphate (PI3)-kinase activity and Akt phosphorylation, whereas the mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK), extracellular-regulated kinases (Erk) 1/2, were not involved. P75NTR signaling independent of TrkA, such as increased neutral sphingomyelinase (NSMase) activity causing enhanced levels of ceramide, were not detected after exposure of hippocampal neurons to NGF. Interestingly, inhibition of sphingosine-kinase blocked the neuroprotective effect of NGF, suggesting that sphingosine-1-phosphate was also involved in NGF-mediated survival in our cultured hippocampal neurons. Overall, our results indicate an essential role for p75NTR in supporting NGF-triggered TrkA signaling pathways mediating neuronal survival in hippocampal neurons.

Ca2+ and reactive oxygen species in staurosporine-induced neuronal apoptosis

Abstract: Staurosporine (0.03–0.5 µM) induced a dose‐dependent, apoptotic degeneration in cultured rat hippocampal neurons that was sensitive to 24‐h pretreatments with the protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide (1 µM) or the cell cycle inhibitor mimosine (100 µM). To investigate the role of Ca2+ and reactive oxygen species in staurosporine‐induced neuronal apoptosis, we overexpressed calbindin D28K, a Ca2+ binding protein, and Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase, an antioxidative enzyme, in the hippocampal neurons using adenovirus‐mediated gene transfer. Infection of the cultures with the recombinant adenoviruses (100 multiplicity of infection) resulted in a stable expression of the respective proteins assessed 48 h later. Overexpression of both calbindin D28K and Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase significantly reduced staurosporine neurotoxicity compared with control cultures infected with a β‐galactosidase overexpressing adenovirus. Staurosporine‐induced neuronal apoptosis was also significantly reduced when the culture medium was supplemented with 10 or 30 mM K+, suggesting that Ca2+ influx via voltage‐sensitive Ca2+ channels reduces this apoptotic cell death. In contrast, neither the glutamate receptor agonist NMDA (1–10 µM) nor the NMDA receptor antagonist dizocilpine (MK‐801; 1 µM) was able to reduce staurosporine neurotoxicity. Cultures treated with the antioxidants U‐74500A (1–10 µM) and N‐acetylcysteine (100 µM) also demonstrated reduced staurosporine neurotoxicity. These results suggest a fundamental role for both Ca2+ and reactive oxygen species in staurosporine‐induced neuronal apoptosis.

NMDA-induced superoxide production and neurotoxicity in cultured rat hippocampal neurons: role of mitochondria.

Excitotoxic mechanisms are believed to be involved in the death of neurons after trauma, epileptic seizures and cerebral ischaemia. We investigated the role of mitochondrial superoxide production in excitotoxic cell death of cultured rat hippocampal neurons. Brief exposure to the selective glutamate agonist N‐methyl‐d‐aspartate (NMDA; 100–300 μm, 10 min) induced significant neuronal death, which was sensitive to cycloheximide (1 μm) and the caspase‐1 inhibitor, acetyl‐Tyr‐Val‐Ala‐Asp‐chloromethylketone (10 μm). Intracellular superoxide production was monitored semiquantitatively on sister cultures from the same platings using the oxidation‐sensitive probe, hydroethidine. Brief exposures to toxic NMDA concentrations induced significant increases in superoxide production which correlated with the degree of neuronal injury. However, subtoxic NMDA exposures also produced moderate, yet statistically significant increases in superoxide production. Both NMDA‐induced superoxide production and neurotoxicity were reduced by inhibition of mitochondrial electron transport using either sodium cyanide (1 mm), or a combination of rotenone (2 μm) and oligomycin (2 μm). The mitochondrial uncoupler carbonyl cyanide p‐trifluoromethoxy‐phenylhydrazone (FCCP, 1 μm) mimicked the effect of NMDA on mitochondrial superoxide production. Both NMDA‐induced superoxide production and neurotoxicity were potentiated by FCCP (1 μm). Exposure to FCCP alone (1–10 μm, 10 min), however, failed to produce any toxicity. Our data suggest that mitochondrial superoxide production per se is not sufficient to trigger the degeneration of cultured hippocampal neurons, but that manipulation of mitochondrial activity alters NMDA‐induced superoxide production and neurotoxicity.

Real-time single cell analysis of Smac/DIABLO release during apoptosis

We examined the temporal and causal relationship between Smac/DIABLO release, cytochrome c (cyt-c) release, and caspase activation at the single cell level during apoptosis. Cells treated with the broad-spectrum caspase inhibitor z-VAD-fmk, caspase-3 (Casp-3)–deficient MCF-7 cells, as well as Bax-deficient DU-145 cells released Smac/DIABLO and cyt-c in response to proapoptotic agents. Real-time confocal imaging of MCF-7 cells stably expressing Smac/DIABLO-yellow fluorescent protein (YFP) revealed that the average duration of Smac/DIABLO-YFP release was greater than that of cyt-c-green fluorescent protein (GFP). However, there was no significant difference in the time to the onset of release, and both cyt-c-GFP and Smac/DIABLO-YFP release coincided with mitochondrial membrane potential depolarization. We also observed no significant differences in the Smac/DIABLO-YFP release kinetics when z-VAD-fmk–sensitive caspases were inhibited or Casp-3 was reintroduced. Simultaneous measurement of DEVDase activation and Smac/DIABLO-YFP release demonstrated that DEVDase activation occurred within 10 min of release, even in the absence of Casp-3.

Control of motoneuron survival by angiogenin.

Mutations in the hypoxia-inducible factor angiogenin (ANG) have been identified in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) patients, but the potential role of ANG in ALS pathogenesis was undetermined. Here we show that angiogenin promotes motoneuron survival both in vitro and in vivo. Angiogenin protected cultured motoneurons against excitotoxic injury in a PI-3-kinase/Akt kinase-dependent manner, whereas knock-down of angiogenin potentiated excitotoxic motoneuron death. Expression of wild-type ANG protected against endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-induced and trophic-factor-withdrawal-induced cell death in vitro, whereas the ALS-associated ANG mutant K40I exerted no protective activity and failed to activate Akt-1. In SOD1G93A mice angiogenin delivery increased lifespan and motoneuron survival, restored the disease-associated decrease in Akt-1 survival signaling, and reversed a pathophysiological increase in ICAM-1 expression. Our data demonstrate that angiogenin is a key factor in the control of motoneuron survival.

Reactive oxygen species and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase activate bax to induce mitochondrial cytochrome c release and apoptosis in response to malonate

Malonate, an inhibitor of mitochondrial complex II, is a widely used toxin to study neurodegeneration in Huntingtons disease and ischemic stroke. We have shown previously that malonate increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in human SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells, leading to oxidative stress, cytochrome c release, and apoptotic cell death. Expression of a green fluorescent protein-Bax fusion protein in SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells demonstrated a Bax redistribution from the cytosol to mitochondria after 12 to 24 h of malonate treatment that coincided with mitochondrial potential collapse and chromatin condensation. Inhibition of Bax translocation using furosemide, as well as Bax gene deletion, afforded significant protection against malonate-induced apoptosis. Further experiments revealed that malonate induced a prominent increase in the level of activated p38 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase and that treatment with the p38 MAP kinase inhibitor SKF86002 potently blocked malonate-induced Bax translocation and apoptosis. Treatment with vitamin E diminished ROS production, reduced the activation status of p38 MAP kinase, inhibited Bax translocation, and protected against malonate-induced apoptosis. Our data suggest that malonate-induced ROS production and subsequent p38 MAP kinase activation mediates the activation of the pro-apoptotic Bax protein to induce mitochondrial membrane permeabilization and neuronal apoptosis.