Mitofusin 2 Promotes Apoptosis of CD4+ T Cells by Inhibiting Autophagy in Sepsis

Mediators Inflamm. 2017:2017:4926205. doi: 10.1155/2017/4926205. Epub 2017 Nov 19.

Abstract

Apoptosis of CD4+ T cells is a primary pathophysiological mechanism of immune dysfunction in the pathogenesis of sepsis. Mitofusin 2 (Mfn2), an integral mitochondrial outer membrane protein, has been confirmed to be associated with cellular metabolism, proliferation, and apoptosis. The function of Mfn2 in CD4+ T cell apoptosis in sepsis is poorly understood. Here, we discovered increased in vivo Mfn2 expression, autophagy deficiency, and elevated cell apoptosis in murine splenic CD4+ T cells after cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). We also observed almost identical results in splenic CD4+ T cells upon lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation in vitro. Furthermore, overexpression of Mfn2 resulted in impaired autophagy and increased apoptosis in Jurkat cells. Pharmacological inhibition of autophagy with 3-methyladenine enhanced Mfn2 overexpression-induced cell apoptosis. In addition, overexpression of Mfn2 downregulated phorbol myristate acetate (PMA)/ionomycin-, rapamycin- and starvation-induced autophagy in Jurkat T cells. Taken together, these data indicate a critical role of Mfn2 in CD4+ T cell apoptosis in sepsis and the underlying mechanism of autophagy deficiency.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apoptosis*
  • Autophagy / physiology
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / physiology*
  • GTP Phosphohydrolases / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Jurkat Cells
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Microtubule-Associated Proteins / physiology
  • Sepsis / immunology*

Substances

  • MAP1LC3B protein, human
  • Microtubule-Associated Proteins
  • GTP Phosphohydrolases
  • Mfn2 protein, mouse