IFN-alpha sensitizes human umbilical vein endothelial cells to apoptosis induced by double-stranded RNA

• Published in: The Journal of immunology (1950) Vol. 172; no. 3; pp. 1699 - 1710
• Main Authors: Kaiser, William J, Kaufman, Jonathan L, Offermann, Margaret K
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.02.2004
• Subjects: 2',5'-Oligoadenylate Synthetase; Active Transport, Cell Nucleus - immunology; Adjuvants, Immunologic - pharmacology; Apoptosis - immunology; Caspases - metabolism; Cell Line; Cell Nucleus - enzymology; Cell Nucleus - immunology; Cell Nucleus - metabolism; Cell Survival - immunology; Cysteine Endopeptidases - physiology; DNA-Binding Proteins - metabolism; Endothelium, Vascular - cytology; Endothelium, Vascular - enzymology; Endothelium, Vascular - immunology; Enzyme Activation - immunology; Gene Expression Regulation; Humans; Interferon Regulatory Factor-3; Interferon-alpha - pharmacology; Kinetics; Mitochondria - enzymology; Mitochondria - immunology; Multienzyme Complexes - antagonists & inhibitors; Multienzyme Complexes - physiology; NF-kappa B - metabolism; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; RNA, Double-Stranded - pharmacology; Time Factors; TLR3 protein; Transcription Factor RelA; Transcription Factors - metabolism; Umbilical Veins
• ISSN: 0022-1767; 1550-6606
• DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.172.3.1699

The ability of endothelial cells to mount an efficient antiviral response is important in restricting viral dissemination and eliminating viral infection from the endothelium and surrounding tissues. We demonstrate that dsRNA, a molecular signature of viral infection, induced apoptosis in HUVEC, and priming with IFN-alpha shortened the time between when dsRNA was encountered and when apoptosis was initiated. IFN-alpha priming induced higher levels of mRNA for dsRNA-activated protein kinase, 2'5'-oligoadenylate synthetase, and Toll-like receptor 3, transcripts that encode dsRNA-responsive proteins. dsRNA induced activation of dsRNA-activated protein kinase and nuclear translocation of transcription factors RelA and IFN regulatory factor-3 in IFN-alpha-primed HUVECs before the activation of intrinsic and extrinsic apoptotic pathways. These changes did not occur in the absence of dsRNA, and apoptosis resulting from incubation with dsRNA occurred much later when cells were not primed with IFN-alpha. The entire population of IFN-alpha-primed HUVECs underwent nuclear translocation of RelA and IFN regulatory factor-3 in response to dsRNA, whereas less than one-half of the population responded with apoptosis. When IFN-alpha-primed HUVECs were coincubated with dsRNA and proteasome inhibitors, all HUVECs were rendered susceptible to dsRNA-induced apoptosis. These studies provide evidence that many endothelial cells that are alerted to the risk of infection by IFN-alpha would undergo apoptosis sooner in response to dsRNA than non-IFN-alpha-primed cells, and this would enhance the likelihood of eliminating infected cells prior to the production of progeny virions.