Oxidative stress regulated expression of ubiquitin Carboxyl-terminal Hydrolase-L1: role in cell survival

The ubiquitin Carboxyl-terminal Hydrolase-L1 gene (UCHL1) is a key enzyme in the protein degradation pathway; however, its precise role in protecting cells under stress conditions is unclear. In the present study we investigated the activity of this gene in human NT2/D1 embryonal carcinoma cells sub...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Apoptosis (London) 2006-06, Vol.11 (6), p.1049-1059
Main Authors: Shen, H, Sikorska, M, Leblanc, J, Walker, P R, Liu, Q Y
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Apoptosis
Biodegradation
Cell Line, Tumor
Cell Survival - physiology
Cells
Enzymes
Flow cytometry
Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic - physiology
Humans
Oxidative stress
Oxidative Stress - physiology
Proteins
Ubiquitin Thiolesterase - biosynthesis
Ubiquitin Thiolesterase - genetics
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Summary:The ubiquitin Carboxyl-terminal Hydrolase-L1 gene (UCHL1) is a key enzyme in the protein degradation pathway; however, its precise role in protecting cells under stress conditions is unclear. In the present study we investigated the activity of this gene in human NT2/D1 embryonal carcinoma cells subjected to oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) and reoxygenation. OGD/reoxygenation cause global metabolic changes due to energy withdrawal and the subsequent generation of reactive oxygen species which initiates either a stress-adaptation-survival response or cell death, depending on the severity of the insult. A bi-phasic change in UCHL1 expression was observed by Q-PCR, Western blotting and flow cytometry. Down regulation of UCHL1 was detected immediately after OGD treatment and its expression was subsequently restored and increased 6 h after OGD treatment as well as during reoxygenation. Furthermore, flow cytometry analysis detected a lower level of UCHL1 only in apoptotic cells that had severe loss of mitochondrial membrane potential. Accordingly, down-regulation of endogenous UCHL1 by antisense cDNA in mouse N2a neuroblastoma cells increased the cell's sensitivity to OGD treatment. This down-regulation of endogenous UCHL1 led to the accumulation of p27, suggesting that UCHL1 is an essential gene to maintain cell homeostasis under normal growth and oxidative stress conditions.
ISSN:1360-8185
1573-675X
DOI:10.1007/s10495-006-6303-8