DEATH-INDUCED CHANGES TO THE NUCLEAR MATRIX - THE USE OF ANTINUCLEAR MATRIX ANTIBODIES TO STUDY AGENTS OF APOPTOSIS

Using immunological techniques, we have shown for the first time that change in the nuclear matrix is an observable step in the cell death p rogram. Immunometric assays detect soluble nuclear matrix proteins in the culture supernatants of cells killed by adriamycin, tumor necrosis factor and serum growth factor deprivation. Studies of cells killed b y tumor necrosis factor and serum growth factor deprivation using dual immunofluorescent and 4'-6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) staining d etect many cells strongly positive for DNA that have little or no nucl ear matrix protein. The staining pattern of cells killed by adriamycin is very different. There is good correspondence between the immunoflu orescent and DAPI staining patterns indicating the presence of nuclear matrix proteins and DNA, although at a reduced ratio. It is concluded that the nuclear matrix changes are dependent on the agents that trig ger cell death.