A. Hamasaki et al., Accelerated neutrophil apoptosis in mice lacking A1-a, a subtype of the bcl-2-related A1 gene, J EXP MED, 188(11), 1998, pp. 1985-1992
To elucidate thr role of A1, a new member of the Bcl-2 family of apoptosis
regulators active in hematopoietic cell apoptosis, we established mice lack
ing A1-a, a subtype of the A1 gene in mice (A1-a(-/-) mice). Spontaneous ap
optosis of peripheral blood neutrophils of A1-a(-/-) mice was enhanced comp
ared with that of tither wild-type mice or heterozygous mutants (A1-a(+/-)
mice). Neutrophil apoptosis inhibition induced by lipopolysaccharide treatm
ent in vitro or transendothelial migration in vivo observed in wild-type mi
ce was abolished in both A1-a(-/-) and A1-a(+/-) animals. On the other hand
, the extent of tumor necrosis factor alpha-induced acceleration of neutrop
hil apoptosis did not differ among A1-a(-/-), A1-a(+/-), and wild-type mice
. The descending order of A1 mRNA expression was wild-type, A1-a(+/-), and
A1-a(-/-). Taken together, these results suggest that A1 is involved in inh
ibition of certain types of neutrophil apoptosis.