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. 1994 Jul 15;13(14):3286–3295. doi: 10.1002/j.1460-2075.1994.tb06630.x

c-Myc-induced apoptosis in fibroblasts is inhibited by specific cytokines.

E A Harrington 1, M R Bennett 1, A Fanidi 1, G I Evan 1
PMCID: PMC395225  PMID: 8045259

Abstract

We have investigated the mechanism by which deregulated expression of c-Myc induces death by apoptosis in serum-deprived fibroblasts. We demonstrate that Myc-induced apoptosis in low serum is inhibited by a restricted group of cytokines, principally the insulin-like growth factors and PDGF. Cytokine-mediated protection from apoptosis is not linked to the cytokines' abilities to promote growth. Protection from apoptosis is evident in the post-commitment (mitogen-independent) S/G2/M phases of the cell cycle and also in cells that are profoundly blocked in cell cycle progression by drugs. Moreover, IGF-I inhibition of apoptosis occurs in the absence of protein synthesis, and so does not require immediate early gene expression. We conclude that c-Myc-induced apoptosis does not result from a conflict of growth signals but appears to be a normal physiological aspect of c-Myc function whose execution is regulated by the availability of survival factors. We discuss the possible implications of these findings for models of mammalian cell growth in vivo.

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Selected References

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