Opioids transiently prevent activation of apoptotic mechanisms following short periods of serum withdrawal

Citation
E. Dermitzaki et al., Opioids transiently prevent activation of apoptotic mechanisms following short periods of serum withdrawal, J NEUROCHEM, 74(3), 2000, pp. 960-969
Citations number
30
Categorie Soggetti
Neurosciences & Behavoir
Journal title
JOURNAL OF NEUROCHEMISTRY
ISSN journal
00223042 → ACNP
Volume
74
Issue
3
Year of publication
2000
Pages
960 - 969
Database
ISI
SICI code
0022-3042(200003)74:3<960:OTPAOA>2.0.ZU;2-7
Abstract
Opioids exert a proapoptotic effect on several normal and tumoral cells. Th e aim of the present article was to examine the effect of opioids on the PC 12 rat pheochromocytoma cell line, a model for the study of chromaffin cell apoptosis. These cells produce delta- and K-opioid agonists and their rece ptors. Our results were as follows: The kappa- and delta(2)-opioid receptor agonists had a rapid but transient effect on apoptosis at 3 h, whereas mu opioids did not. The effect of opioids was reversible by the opioid antagon ists naloxone and nor-binaltorphimine. The effect of opioids was protective , suppressing serum deprivation-induced apoptosis to similar to 50% of cont rols. The protective effect of opioids on PC12 apoptosis was measurable onl y under serum deprivation. The effect of opioids was remarkably reproducibl e and highly constant in timing, which did not appear to depend on the dura tion of the preceding serum deprivation. Finally, opioids prevented the ele vation of the Bcl-2 and Bak proteins following serum deprivation to the lev els attained by serum supplementation. Our combined data suggest that opioi ds protect PC12 cells from entering a state of induced apoptosis following serum deprivation.