Fas-based d1OS-mediated cytotoxicity requires macromolecular synthesis for effector cell activation but not for target cell death

Abstract

Two main mechanisms seem at play in T cell-mediated cytotoxicity, a process in which target cell death often follows an apoptotic cell death pattern. One of these involves Fas at the target cell surface and a Fas ligand at the effector cell surface. This allowed us to reinvestigate the long-standing question of macromolecular synthesis requirement in T cell-mediated cytotoxicity, using the dlOS model cell line which is cytotoxic apparently only via the Fas molecularly defined mechanism. We showed, first, that induction of cytotoxic activity of effector cells, obtained by preincubating these effector cells with a phorbol ester and a calcium ionophore, could be inhibited by macromolecular synthesis inhibitors (cycloheximide, actinomycin D, DRB). We then investigated whether macromolecular synthesis was required, when effector and target cells were mixed, to obtain target cell death. Preincubating already activated effector cells for 30 min with macromolecular synthesis inhibitors, then adding target cells and performing the 51 Cr release cytotoxicity test in the presence of these inhibitors, did not significantly decrease subsequent target cell death, indicating that already activated effector cells could kill without further requirement for macromolecular synthesis. In addition, target cell preincubation for up to 3 h in the presence of one of these inhibitors did not decrease cell death. The high sensitivity of mouse thymocytes to this type of cytotoxicity enabled us to devise the following experiment. As previously shown by others, thymocyte death induced by dexamethasone (DEX) could be blocked by coincubation with cycloheximide (CHX). Such DEX-treated CHX-rescued thymocytes, the survival of which was an internal control of efficiency of protein synthesis inhibition, were then subjected to effector cells in the presence of CHX, and were shown to die. Thus, there is no requirement for macromolecular synthesis at the target cell level in this variety of apoptotic cell death. Altogether, in this defined mechanism of T cell-mediated cytotoxicity, macromolecular synthesis is required for dlOS effector cell activation, but not for lysis by already activated effector cells nor for target cell death.