Oxidative stress induces PKR-dependent apoptosis via IFN-γ activation signaling in Jurkat T cells

Chul Woong Pyo, Shin Hee Lee, Sang Yun Choi

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    44 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    The dsRNA-dependent protein kinase, PKR, is a central component in antiviral defense. The biological importance of PKR is further remarked by its critical role in apoptosis induced by a variety of stresses. Here, we analyzed the implication of oxidative stress in the induction of PKR-dependent apoptosis in Jurkat cells. Our results revealed that reactive oxygen species (ROS) induced endogenous pkr gene expression at the transcriptional level by activating the interferon (IFN)-γ gene. However, IFN-γ siRNA expression abrogated the H2O2-mediated pkr induction. The radical scavenger N-acetyl-l-cysteine profoundly inhibited pkr induction via the reduction of IFN-γ expression. The treatment of cells with the specific JAK-STAT inhibitor, AG490, reduced the PKR expression, and suppressed PKR-dependent cell death. Finally, siRNA-mediated depletion of IFN-γ or pkr efficiently downregulated H2O2-mediated apoptotic cell death. These results indicated that oxidative stress induces PKR expression essentially via the IFN-γ activation signal, and causes apoptosis in Jurkat T cells.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)1001-1006
    Number of pages6
    JournalBiochemical and biophysical research communications
    Volume377
    Issue number3
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2008 Dec 19

    Keywords

    • Apoptosis
    • Interferon
    • PKR
    • ROS

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Biophysics
    • Biochemistry
    • Molecular Biology
    • Cell Biology

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