Nitric oxide induces apoptosis via AP-1-driven upregulation of COX-2 in rat pheochromocytoma cells

Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), the rate-limiting enzyme in prostaglandin synthesis, is induced in many cells by numerous inflammatory mediators, including nitric oxide (NO). Upregulation of COX-2 expression has been implicated in the pathophysiology of neuronal cell death. In the present study, we have found that the NO-induced upregulation of COX-2 via activation of activator protein-1 (AP-1) signaling leads to apoptotic cell death. Cultured rat pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells treated with sodium nitroprusside (SNP), a NO-releasing compound, exhibited marked induction of COX-2 expression, which was associated with apoptotic cell death as evidenced by internucleosomal DNA fragmentation, cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase, activation of caspase-3, accumulation of p53, increased Bax/Bcl-XL ratio, and dissipation of mitochondrial membrane potential. In addition to the upregulation of COX-2 expression, SNP treatment led to activation of AP-1. Pretreatment of PC12 cells with c-fos antisense oligonucleotide abolished the NO-induced increase in DNA binding of AP-1 and upregulation of COX-2 expression. Furthermore, pretreatment with a selective COX-2 inhibitor (SC58635) rescued the PC12 cells from the apoptotic cell death induced by NO. Similar results were obtained when the NO-induced upregulation of COX-2 expression was blocked by the siRNA interference. These results suggest that excessive NO production during inflammation induces apoptosis in PC12 cells through AP-1-mediated upregulation of COX-2 expression.