Apoptosis

Study results from F. Morelli and colleagues broaden understanding of apoptosis

Apoptosis Library Library Home This article was published in Biotech Week, which you can subscribe to online.

"Addition into culture medium of the immunomodulatory protein Seminal vesicle protein 4 (SV-IV) protected these cells against apoptosis but not against cycle arrest. The antiapoptotic activity was related to: (1) decrease of endocellular reactive Oxygen species (ROS) (2) increase of mRNAs encoding anti-oxidant enzymes (catalase, G6PD) and antiapoptotic proteins (survivin, cox- 1, Hsp70, c-Fos); (3) decrease of mRNAs encoding proapoptotic proteins (c-myc, Bax, caspase-3, Apaf- 1). The biochemical changes underlaying these effects were probably induced by a protein tyrosine kinase (PTK) activity triggered by the binding of SV-IV to its putative plasma membrane receptors," wrote F. Morelli and colleagues.

The researchers concluded: "The ineffectiveness of SV-IV to abrogate the cycle arrest was accounted for by its downregulating effects on D 1,3/E G I -cyclins and CdK2/4 gene expression, ppRb/pRb ratio, and intracellular ROS concentrationthese experiments: (1) prove that SV-IV acts as a cell survival factor; (2) suggest the involvement of a PTK in SV-IV signaling; (3) point to cell cycle-linked enzyme inhibition as responsible for cycle arrest; (4) provide a model to dissect the cycle arrest and apoptosis induced by serum withdrawal; (5) imply a possible role of SV-IV in the survival of hemiallogenic implanting embryos."

Morelli and colleagues published their study in the Journal of Cellular Physiology (The immunomodulatory protein SV-IV protects serum-deprived cells against apoptosis but not against GO/G1 arrest: Possible implications for the survival of implanting embryo. Journal of Cellular Physiology, 2007;212(3):610-625).

For more information, contact S. Metafora, CNR, International Institute Genetics & Biophysics Adriano Buzzati Traverso, Via Pietro Castellino 111, I-80128 Naples, Italy.

Publisher contact information for the Journal of Cellular Physiology is: Wiley-Liss, Division John Wiley & Sons Inc., 111 River St., Hoboken, NJ 07030, USA.

Keywords: Italy, Naples, Apoptosis.

This article was prepared by Biotech Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2007, Biotech Week via NewsRx.com.