Necrosis is associated with IL-6 production but apoptosis is not

TV Berghe, M Kalai, G Denecker, A Meeus, X Saelens… - Cellular signalling, 2006 - Elsevier
TV Berghe, M Kalai, G Denecker, A Meeus, X Saelens, P Vandenabeele
Cellular signalling, 2006Elsevier
Due to loss of cell membrane integrity, necrotic cells passively release several cytosolic
factors that can activate antigen presenting cells and other immune cells. In contrast, cells
dying by apoptosis do not induce an inflammatory response. Here we show that necrotic cell
death induced by several stimuli, such as TNF, anti-Fas or dsRNA, coincides with NF-κB-and
p38MAPK-mediated upregulation and secretion of the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-6. This
event is greatly reduced or absent in conditions of apoptotic cell death induced by the same …
Due to loss of cell membrane integrity, necrotic cells passively release several cytosolic factors that can activate antigen presenting cells and other immune cells. In contrast, cells dying by apoptosis do not induce an inflammatory response. Here we show that necrotic cell death induced by several stimuli, such as TNF, anti-Fas or dsRNA, coincides with NF-κB-and p38MAPK-mediated upregulation and secretion of the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-6. This event is greatly reduced or absent in conditions of apoptotic cell death induced by the same stimuli. This demonstrates that besides the capacity of necrotic cells to induce an inflammatory response due to leakage of cellular contents, necrotic dying cells themselves are involved in the expression and secretion of inflammatory cytokines. Moreover, inhibition of NF-κB and p38MAPK activation does not affect necrotic cell death in all conditions tested. This suggests that the activation of inflammatory pathways is distinct from the activation of necrotic cell death sensu strictu.
Elsevier