Control of survival of proliferating L1210 cells by soluble guanylate cyclase and p44/42 mitogen-activated protein kinase modulators

Intracellular signaling pathways involved in the survival of proliferating L1210 leukemia cells were investigated by using specific modulators. Among the various inhibitors tested, only 1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazole [4,3-a]quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ), a soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) inhibitor, was found to induce a marked increase in caspase activity, which was associated with a loss of cell viability and a reduction in cGMP content. ODQ also provoked the processing of caspases-3 and -9, release of cytochrome c and, as early events, reduction of Bcl-2 content and dephosphorylation of Bad at Ser 112. Furthermore, YC-1, an sGC activator, and 8-Br-cGMP, a cell-permeant analogue of cGMP, exerted some protection against various apoptotic stimuli, such as serum deprivation or spermine accumulation. Although PD98059 (2'-amino-3'-methoxyflavone), an inhibitor of the p44/42 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway, did not increase basal caspase activity, and ODQ did not affect p44/42 MAPK phosphorylation significantly, phorbol myristate acetate stimulated p44/42 MAPK and reduced caspase activation induced by ODQ, serum deprivation, and spermine in a p44/42-dependent manner. SB203580 (4-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-(4-methylsulfonylphenyl)-5-(4-pyridyl) 1H-imidazole), a p38 MAPK inhibitor, also partially protected against ODQ-induced apoptosis by increasing p44/42 MAPK phosphorylation. In conclusion, these results suggest that sGC may be relevant both for survival of L1210 cells under basal growing conditions and for protection against various apoptotic stimuli. p44/42 MAPK activation may also confer some protection from apoptosis, but apparently through a pathway largely independent of cGMP. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.