Molecular mechanisms of sulfasalazine-induced T-cell apoptosis

1 Impaired apoptosis of T-lymphocytes is involved in the development of chronic inflammatory disorders. Previously we have shown that the anti-inflammatory drug sulfasalazine induces apoptosis in a murine T-lymphocyte cell line. The aims of the present study were to expand these observations to human systems and to analyse the molecular basis for sulfasalazine-induced apoptosis. 2 Sulfasalazine induces apoptosis both in Jurkat cells, a human T-leukaemia cell line (ED50 value similar to1.0 mm), and in primary human peripheral blood T-lymphocytes (ED50 value similar to0.5 mM). In contrast SW620 colon carcinoma cells or primary human synoviocytes are not affected at these concentrations suggesting a cell type-specific sensitivity to sulfasalazine. 3 Sulfasalazine triggers the mitochondrial accumulation of Bax and induces a collapse of the mitochondrial transmembrane potential (DeltaPsi(m)). 4 Sulfasalazine causes cytochrome c release from mitochondria and subsequent activation of caspase-3 and downstream substrates. However, the pan-caspase inhibitor Z-VAD.fmk fails to inhibit sulfasalazine-induced apoptosis. 5 Sulfasalazine stimulates mitochondrio-nuclear translocation of the novel apoptogenic factor apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) and triggers large-scale DNA fragmentation, a characteristic feature of AIF-mediated apoptosis. 6 Sulfasalazine-induced DeltaPsi(m) loss, AIF redistribution, and cell death are fully prevented by overexpression of Bcl-2. 7 In conclusion, our data suggest that sulfasalazine-induced apoptosis of T-lymphocytes is mediated by mitochondrio-nuclear translocation. of AIF and occurs in a caspase-independent fashion. Sulfasalazine-induced apoptosis by AIF and subsequent clearance of T-lymphocytes might thus provide the molecular basis for the beneficial therapeutic effects of sulfasalazine in the treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases.