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Cystatin A Expression Reduces Bile Salt-Induced Apoptosis in a Rat Hepatoma Cell Line

Cystatin A Expression Reduces Bile Salt-Induced Apoptosis in a Rat Hepatoma Cell Line

B Jones, P J Roberts, W A Faubion, E Kominami, G J Gores

Am J Physiol. 1998 Oct;275(4):G723-30.

PMID: 9756503

Abstract:

We have previously demonstrated abrogation of bile salt-induced apoptosis by cathepsin B inhibitors. However, caspases have been strongly implicated in apoptosis, and the mechanistic interface between caspase and cathepsin B activation is unclear. Thus our aims were to determine the mechanistic relationship between caspases and cathepsin B in bile salt-induced apoptosis in a rat hepatoma cell line. Expression of cystatin A was used to inhibit cathepsin B, whereas Z-Val-Ala-Asp-fluoromethyl ketone (Z-VAD-FMK) was used to inhibit caspases. Cystatin A expression prevented cathepsin B activation and apoptosis during treatment with glycochenodeoxycholate (GCDC), a toxic bile salt. Caspase N-acetyl-Asp-Glu-Val-Asp-7-amino-4-methylcoumarin (DEVD-AMC) hydrolytic activity increased in both wild-type and cystatin A-transfected cells treated with GCDC, demonstrating caspase activation despite inhibition of cathepsin B. In contrast, Z-VAD-FMK blocked both DEVD-AMC hydrolytic activity and cathepsin B activity during GCDC treatment. Our data demonstrate that 1) bile salt-induced apoptosis can be inhibited by the cystatin A transgene and 2) caspase and cathepsin B activation are linked mechanistically with cathepsin B downstream of caspases.

Chemicals Related in the Paper:

Catalog Number	Product Name	Structure	CAS Number	Price
IAR4245646	Z-Val-Ala-Asp fluoromethyl ketone			Price

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