Tumor necrosis factor-alpha plus actinomycin D-induced apoptosis of L929 cells is prevented by nitric oxide.

Treatment with the nitric oxide-(NO)-generating compound S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine protected cul-tured L929 cells from apoptosis induced by tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) plus actinomycin D, as determined by the detection of DNA fragmentation and morphological changes. NO also prevented an enhancement of the production of reactive oxygen intermediates by TNF-alpha plus actinomycin D, as assessed by the oxidation of dihydrorhodamine 123 and hydroethidine. Because the inhibition of mitochondrial respiration by rotenone or antimycin A suppressed the increased oxidation of both dihydrorhodamine 123 and hydroethidine, it was suggested that TNF-alpha accelerated the leakage of reactive oxygen intermediates from the mitochondrial electron transport system. Polarography showed that NO reversibly inhibited mitochondrial respiration at either complexes I-III, II-III, or IV, thus suggesting the inhibition of cytochrome oxidase. Taken together, these findings indicate that the decreased mitochondrial formation of reactive oxygen intermediates in the presence of NO might have a protective effect against TNF-alpha plus actinomycin D-induced apoptosis.