Calpain inhibition delays neutrophil apoptosis via cyclic AMP-independent activation of protein kinase A and protein kinase A-mediated stabilization of Mcl-1 and X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis (XIAP).

Human neutrophils underwent spontaneous apoptosis, which was accompanied with proteasome-mediated degradation of Mcl-1 and X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis (XIAP). Calpain inhibitors (PD150606 and N-acetyl-Leu-Leu-Nle-CHO) prevented spontaneous neutrophil apoptosis and degradation of Mcl-1 and XIAP, and the effects of calpain inhibitors on neutrophils were resistant to cycloheximide. Calpain inhibitors induced protein kinase A (PKA) activation, which was unaccompanied with an increase in intracellular cyclic AMP. Calpain inhibition-mediated delayed neutrophil apoptosis, stabilization of Mcl-1 and XIAP, and phosphorylation of PKA substrates were suppressed by H-89 (specific PKA inhibitor). These findings suggest that calpain inhibition delays neutrophil apoptosis via cyclic AMP-independent activation of PKA and PKA-mediated stabilization of Mcl-1 and XIAP.