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  • Title: Caspase-3-like protease influences but is not essential for DNA fragmentation in Blastocystis undergoing apoptosis.
    Author: Nasirudeen AM, Tan KS.
    Journal: Eur J Cell Biol; 2004 Sep; 83(9):477-82. PubMed ID: 15540464.
    Abstract:
    Blastocystis hominis undergo apoptosis after treatment with a cytotoxic monoclonal antibody (MAb), 1D5, by mechanisms that are not fully understood, although our previous study demonstrated that caspase-3-like protease activity is involved. To elucidate the mechanism of MAb 1D5-induced apoptosis, we inhibited Blastocystis caspase-3-like protease to investigate if there would be a concomitant decrease in in situ DNA fragmentation. However, MAb 1D5-induced apoptosis, evidenced by DNA fragmentation, was not completely blocked by pretreating with specific caspase-3 inhibitor, Ac-DEVD-CHO, indicating that caspase-independent apoptotic pathways might also be involved. Our results also revealed that the treatment with MAb 1D5 resulted in the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (deltapsim), independent of Ac-DEVD-CHO pretreatment. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that MAb 1D5-induced apoptosis in B. hominis is not wholly dependent on caspase-3-like protease activity and is associated with mitochondrial dysregulation. This is the first report showing evidence for complex apoptotic pathways in a unicellular parasite.
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