Epac inhibits apoptosis of human leukocytes

J Leukoc Biol. 2009 Oct;86(4):847-9. doi: 10.1189/jlb.0109048. Epub 2009 Jun 29.

Abstract

cAMP is known to participate in the regulation of apoptosis in leukocytes. Depending on the cell type, pro- and antiapoptotic effects of cAMP have been described. Thus far, most of the cAMP-dependent effects have been attributed to the activation of PKA. However, Epac proteins (direct cAMP targets and guanine nucleotide exchange factors for Ras-like GTPases) have been shown recently to contribute to cAMP-dependent regulation of apoptosis. Therefore, we investigated the effects of the selective Epac activators 8-pCPT and Sp on apoptosis in human leukocytic cells (U937, HL-60, primary human mononuclear cells). We report here that Epac activation inhibits leukocyte apoptosis significantly.

MeSH terms

  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Apoptosis / physiology*
  • Cyclic AMP / immunology
  • Cyclic AMP / metabolism
  • Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases / immunology
  • Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases / metabolism
  • Cyclic GMP / analogs & derivatives
  • Cyclic GMP / pharmacology
  • Enzyme Activation / drug effects
  • Enzyme Activation / physiology
  • Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors / immunology
  • Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors / metabolism*
  • HL-60 Cells
  • Humans
  • Leukocytes, Mononuclear / immunology
  • Leukocytes, Mononuclear / metabolism*
  • Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Thionucleotides / pharmacology
  • U937 Cells

Substances

  • Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors
  • Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors
  • RAPGEF3 protein, human
  • Thionucleotides
  • 8-((4-chlorophenyl)thio)cyclic-3',5'-GMP
  • Cyclic AMP
  • Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases
  • Cyclic GMP