Exp Neurobiol.  2015 Sep;24(3):219-225. 10.5607/en.2015.24.3.219.

Control of Mitochondrial Dynamics by Fas-induced Caspase-8 Activation in Hippocampal Neurons

• Cho HM
• Sun W

• KMID: 2165558
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5607/en.2015.24.3.219

Abstract

Cells undergo apoptosis mainly via two pathways-the mitochondrial pathway and the cytosolic pathway. It has been well documented that activation of the mitochondrial pathway promotes mitochondrial fragmentation and inhibition of mitochondrial fragmentation partly represses cell death. However, the mitochondrial events following activation of the cytosolic pathway are less understood. In this study, we treated Fas-activating antibody and found mitochondrial fragmentation without cell death in hippocampal primary neurons and HT-22 cell lines. Fas antibody treatment, in fact, promoted rapid activation of caspase-8, while executioner caspase-3 activation was not observed. Furthermore, blockage of caspase-8 efficiently prevented Fas antibody-induced mitochondrial fragmentation. These results suggest that the cytosolic pathway induced by death receptor activation promotes caspase-8-dependent mitochondrial fission.

Keyword

Fas; Mitochondrial dynamics; Hippocampal neurons; Apoptosis

MeSH Terms

Apoptosis
Caspase 3
Caspase 8*
Cell Death
Cell Line
Cytosol
Mitochondrial Dynamics*
Neurons*
Caspase 3
Caspase 8