Caspase activation during apoptotic cell death induced by expanded polyglutamine in N2a cells

Neuroreport. 1999 Aug 20;10(12):2435-8. doi: 10.1097/00001756-199908200-00001.

Abstract

Huntington disease (HD) is an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorder. To investigate the mechanism of neurodegeneration induced by mutant huntingtin, we developed a stable neuro2a cell line expressing truncated N-terminal huntingtin (tNhtt) with EGFP using the ecdysone-inducible system. The formation of aggregates and the cell death induced by expression of tNhtt with expanded polyglutamine was repeat length- and dose-dependent. Caspases were activated, and the death substrates of caspases, lamin B and ICAD (an inhibitor of caspase-activated DNase), were cleaved in this cell death process. The cleavage of lamin B was inhibited by caspase inhibitors. These findings suggest that the cell death induced by tNhtt with expanded polyglutamine is mediated by caspases.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apoptosis / drug effects*
  • Caspases / drug effects*
  • Enzyme Activation
  • Genes, Dominant
  • Huntington Disease / genetics
  • Huntington Disease / physiopathology*
  • Immunoblotting
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Mice
  • Neuroblastoma
  • Peptides / pharmacology*
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured

Substances

  • Peptides
  • polyglutamine
  • Caspases