Aspirin induces apoptosis through mitochondrial cytochrome c release

Aspirin and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs induce apoptosis in many cell types. Although the involvement of caspases has been demonstrate d, the mechanism leading to caspase activation remains unknown. We have stu died the role of the mitochondrial pathway in aspirin-induced apoptosis, Th e apoptotic effect of aspirin was analyzed in different cell lines (Jurkat, MOLT-4, Raji and HL-60) showing induction of mitochondrial cytochrome c re lease and caspases 9, 3 and 8 processing. Furthermore, early aspirin-induce d cytochrome c release was not affected by the caspase inhibitor Z-VAD-fmk and preceded loss of mitochondrial membrane potential. Therefore, aspirin-i nduced apoptosis involves caspase activation through cytochrome c release. (C) 2000 Federation of European Biochemical Societies, Published by Elsevie r Science B.V. All rights reserved.