In a number of experimental systems, the early stage of the apoptotic process, i.e., the stage that precedes nuclear disintegration, is characterized by the breakdown of the inner mitochondrial transmembrane potential (delta psi m). This delta psi m disruption is mediated by the opening of permeability transition (PT) pores and appears to be critical for the apoptotic cascade, since it is directly regulated by Bcl-2 and since mitochondria induced to undergo PT in vitro become capable of inducing nuclear chromatinolysis in a cell-free system of apoptosis. Here, we addressed the question of which apoptotic events are secondary to mitochondrial PT. We tested the effect of a specific inhibitor of PT, bongkrekic acid (BA), a ligand of the mitochondrial adenine nucleotide translocator, on a prototypic model of apoptosis glucocorticoid-induced thymocyte death. In addition to abolishing the apoptotic delta psi m disruption, BA prevents a number of phenomena linked to apoptosis: depletion of nonoxidized glutathione, generation of reactive oxygen species, translocation of NF kappa B, exposure of phosphatidylserine residues on the outer plasma membrane, cytoplasmic vacuolization, chromatin condensation, and oligonucleosomal DNA fragmentation. BA is also an efficient inhibitor of p53-dependent thymocyte apoptosis induced by DNA damage. These data suggest that a number of apoptotic phenomena are secondary to PT. In addition, we present data indicating that apoptotic delta psi m disruption is secondary to transcriptional events. These data connect the PT control point to the p53- and ICE/ Ced 3-regulated control points of apoptosis and place PT upstream of nuclear and plasma membrane features of PCD.
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1 September 1996
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September 01 1996
Mitochondrial permeability transition is a central coordinating event of apoptosis.
P Marchetti,
P Marchetti
Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique UPR420, Villejuif, France.
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M Castedo,
M Castedo
Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique UPR420, Villejuif, France.
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S A Susin,
S A Susin
Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique UPR420, Villejuif, France.
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N Zamzami,
N Zamzami
Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique UPR420, Villejuif, France.
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T Hirsch,
T Hirsch
Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique UPR420, Villejuif, France.
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A Macho,
A Macho
Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique UPR420, Villejuif, France.
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A Haeffner,
A Haeffner
Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique UPR420, Villejuif, France.
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F Hirsch,
F Hirsch
Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique UPR420, Villejuif, France.
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M Geuskens,
M Geuskens
Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique UPR420, Villejuif, France.
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G Kroemer
G Kroemer
Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique UPR420, Villejuif, France.
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P Marchetti
Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique UPR420, Villejuif, France.
M Castedo
Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique UPR420, Villejuif, France.
S A Susin
Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique UPR420, Villejuif, France.
N Zamzami
Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique UPR420, Villejuif, France.
T Hirsch
Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique UPR420, Villejuif, France.
A Macho
Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique UPR420, Villejuif, France.
A Haeffner
Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique UPR420, Villejuif, France.
F Hirsch
Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique UPR420, Villejuif, France.
M Geuskens
Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique UPR420, Villejuif, France.
G Kroemer
Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique UPR420, Villejuif, France.
Online ISSN: 1540-9538
Print ISSN: 0022-1007
J Exp Med (1996) 184 (3): 1155–1160.
Citation
P Marchetti, M Castedo, S A Susin, N Zamzami, T Hirsch, A Macho, A Haeffner, F Hirsch, M Geuskens, G Kroemer; Mitochondrial permeability transition is a central coordinating event of apoptosis.. J Exp Med 1 September 1996; 184 (3): 1155–1160. doi: https://doi.org/10.1084/jem.184.3.1155
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