• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.268-275
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• 2003

Background: Hemopoietic cells require the constant presence of growth factors for survival in vitro and in vivo. Caspases have been known as central executors of apoptotic cell death. We have, therefore, investigated the pathways that regulate caspase activity and apoptosis using the $CD34^+$ cell line, TF-1 which requires GM-CSF for survival. Methods: Apoptosis was measured by annexin V staining and mitochondrial membrane potential was measured by DiOC6 labelling. Intracellular pH was measured using pH sensitive fluorochrome, BCECF or SNARF-1, followed by flow cytometry analysis. Caspase activation was analyzed by PARP cleavage using anti-PARP antibody. Results: Removal of GM-CSF induceed PARP cleavage, a hallmark of caspase activity, concomitant with pHi acidification and a drop in mitochondrial potential. Treatment with ZVAD, a competitive inhibitor of caspases, partially rescued cell death without affecting pHi acidification and the reduction of mitochondrial potential, suggesting that both these events act upstream of caspases. Overexpression of Bcl-2 prevented cell death induced by GM-CSF deprivation as well as pHi acidification and the reduction in mitochondrial membrane potential. In parental cells maintained with GM-CSF, EIPA, a competitive inhibitor of $Na^+/H^+$ antiporter induced apoptosis, accompanied by a drastic reduction in mitochondrial potential. In contrast, EIPA induced apoptosis in Bcl-2 transfectants without causing mitochondrial membrane depolarization. Conclusion: Taken together, our results suggest that the regulation of $H^+$fluxes, either through a mitochondriondependent or independent pathway, is central to caspase activation and apoptosis.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.179-185
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• 2003

To determine whether the diphtheria toxin-A (DT) gene disrupts development of thymocytes in transgenic animal, the DT-A gene was used for the production of transgenic mice directed by proximal Ick promoter sequences. Two transgenic founder mice that contained several copies of transgene were produced by DNA microinjection and integration of transgene in transgenic mice was confirmed by PCR and Southern blotting analysis. Transgenic $F_1$ and $F_2$ mice were produced by outbreeding of founder and $F_1$ mice to investigate expression of transgene and phenotypes in transgneic mice. Expression of the diphtheria toxin gene was confirmed in thymus, spleen and liver of transgenic mice by RT-PCR. In circulating blood of transgenic mice, lower number of circulating white blood cells and platelets were observed compared with that of normal mice. In addition, transgneic mice had reduced number of circulating peripheral T-cells analyzed by FACS with anti-CD3 antibody. The data in these transgenic mice indicate that DT gene can play a disruptive role in developing thymocytes of transgenic mice resulted in lower number of T-cells that can be applicable to a wide range of tissues in other animals.