Selective down-regulation of IP(3)receptor subtypes by caspases and calpain during TNF alpha -induced apoptosis of human T-lymphoma cells.

There are at least three types of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor (IP(3)R) [IP(3)-gated Ca(2+)channels], which are expressed in different cell types and mammalian tissues. In this study, we have identified three IP(3)R subtypes in human Jurkat T-lymphoma cells. All three subtypes have a molecular mass of about 260 kDa, and display Ca(2+)channel properties in an IP(3)-dependent manner. We have also demonstrated that TNFalpha promotes the activity of different proteases (e.g. caspase-8, caspase-3 and calpain), alters the TCR-mediated Ca(2+)response and subsequently induces apoptosis in Jurkat cells. During the first 6 h of incubation with TNFalpha, several IP(3)R subtype-related changes occur (e.g. proteolysis of IP(3)R subtypes, inhibition of IP(3)binding and impairment of IP(3)-mediated Ca(2+)flux) concomitantly with an elevation of protease (caspase-8, caspase-3 and calpain) activity. Furthermore, the caspase inhibitor, Z-VAD-fmk, significantly reduces TNFalpha-mediated perturbation of IP(3)R1 and IP(3)R2 (but not IP(3)R3) function; whereas the calpain inhibitor I, ALLN, is capable of blocking the inhibitory effect of TNFalpha on IP(3)R3 function. These findings suggest that IP(3)R1 and IP(3)R2 serve as cellular substrates for caspases, and IP(3)R3 is a substrate for calpain. We propose that the selective down-regulation of IP(3)R subtype-mediated Ca(2+)function by caspase-dependent and calpain-sensitive mechanisms may be responsible for the early onset of the apoptotic signal by TNFalpha in human T-cells. Copyright 2000 Harcourt Publishers Ltd.