Vasoactive intestinal peptide inhibits TNF-α-induced apoptotic events in acinar cells from nonobese diabetic mice submandibular glands

doi:10.1186/ar2671

Arthritis Research & Therapy

Volume 11
Issue 2

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Calafat M
Larocca L
Roca V
Hauk V
Pregi N
Nesse A
Pérez Leirós C

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Calafat M
Larocca L
Roca V
Hauk V
Pregi N
Nesse A
Pérez Leirós C
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Research article

Vasoactive intestinal peptide inhibits TNF-α-induced apoptotic events in acinar cells from nonobese diabetic mice submandibular glands

Mario Calafat¹^,2 , Luciana Larocca¹^,2 , Valeria Roca¹^,2 , Vanesa Hauk¹^,2 , Nicolás Pregi¹^,2 , Alcira Nesse¹^,2 and Claudia Pérez Leirós¹^,2

¹Departamento de Química Biológica, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Universitaria, Pabellón II, 4° piso, 1428, Buenos Aires, Argentina

²Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Avda. Rivadavia 1917, CP C1033AAJ, Buenos Aires, Argentina

author email corresponding author email

Arthritis Research & Therapy 2009, 11:R53doi:10.1186/ar2671


Published:	8 April 2009

Abstract

Introduction

The role of apoptotic secretory epithelium as a pro-inflammatory triggering factor of exocrine dysfunction is currently explored in Sjogren's syndrome patients and in the nonobese diabetic (NOD) mouse model. Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) has anti-inflammatory effects in various models of chronic inflammation. Our goal was to analyse the effect of TNF-α on apoptotic mediators in isolated acinar cells from NOD submandibular gland and their modulation by VIP.

Methods

Acinar cells were isolated from submandibular glands of 16-week-old NOD females with salivary flow decline. Age-matched BALB/c females or eight-week-old NOD females were used as controls. Apoptotic mediators and TNF-α receptor expression were assessed by immunoblotting and RT-PCR, caspase 3 activity was assessed by optical density at 405 nm with Ac-DEVD-pNA as a substrate and chromatin condensation by Hoechst stain. They were evaluated in resting conditions and after a 3.5 or 6 hours of culture with TNF-α. VIP effects in acinar cells were assessed at 100 nM in TNF-α-treated cultures and VIP receptor functional assays by radio immunoassay (cAMP) or enzymatic detection (amylase).

Results

NOD acinar cells at 16 weeks present an increased expression of TNF-α receptor1 together with increased Bax, tumour protein 53-induced nuclear protein1α (TP53INP1α), caspase 3 activity and chromatin condensation. Acini from NOD mice were more sensitive to TNF-α-induced increases of apoptotic mediators than control cells. VIP inhibited TNF-α-induced apoptotic events through functional VPAC1 receptors coupled to the protein kinase A (PKA) signalling pathway.

Conclusions

Our results indicate that acinar cells isolated from submandibular glands of NOD mice with salivary dysfunction are more sensitive to apoptosis induced by TNF-α which could be prevented by VIP through a PKA-mediated pathway.