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. 2011 Nov 21;17(1):11–20. doi: 10.2478/s11658-011-0032-x

Roles of the NFκB and glutathione pathways in mature human erythrocytes

Mehrdad Ghashghaeinia 1,3, Mahmoud Toulany 2, Mohammad Saki 2, H Peter Rodemann 2, Ulrich Mrowietz 3, Florian Lang 1,✉, Thomas Wieder 4
PMCID: PMC6275705  PMID: 22105338

Abstract

Anucleated erythrocytes were long considered as oxygen-transporting cells with limited regulatory functions. Components of different nuclear signaling pathways have not been investigated in those cells, yet. Surprisingly, we repeatedly found significant amounts of transcription factors in purified erythrocyte preparations, i.e. nuclear factor κB (NFκB), and major components of the canonical NFκB signaling pathway. To investigate the functional role of NFκB signaling, the effects of the preclinical compounds Bay 11-7082 and parthenolide on the survival of highly purified erythrocytes were investigated. Interestingly, both inhibitors of the NFκB pathway triggered erythrocyte programmed cell death as demonstrated by enhanced phospholipid scrambling (phosphatidylserine exposure) and cell shrinkage. Anucleated erythrocytes are an ideal cellular model allowing the study of nongenomic mechanisms contributing to suicidal cell death. As NFκB inhibitors might also interfere with the anti-oxidative defense systems of the cell, we measured the levels of reduced glutathione (GSH) after challenge with the inhibitors. Indeed, incubation of erythrocytes with Bay 11-7082 clearly decreased erythrocyte GSH levels. In conclusion, the pharmacological inhibitors of the NFκB pathway Bay 11-7082 and parthenolide interfere with the survival of erythrocytes involving mechanisms other than disruption of NFκB-dependent gene expression. Besides affecting erythrocyte survival, NFκB inhibition and induction of erythrocyte phosphatidylserine exposure may influence blood clotting. Future studies will be aimed at discriminating between NFκB-dependent and NFκB-independent GSH-mediated effects of Bay 11-7082 and parthenolide on erythrocyte death.

Key words: Eryptosis, Nuclear factor kappa B, NFκB, IKK-α, IκB-α, Bay 11-7082, Parthenolide

Full Text

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Abbreviations used

Ca2+

calcium

ERK2

extracellular signal-regulated kinase 2

GPIIb/IIIa

glycoprotein IIb/IIIa

GSH

reduced glutathione

ICAM-1

inter-cellular adhesion molecule

IFN-γ

interferon-γ

IκB-α

inhibitor of kappaB

IKK-α

IκB kinase-α

IL-6

interleukin-6

IL-8

interleukin-8

JNK1

c-Jun N-terminal kinase 1

NFκB

nuclear factor κB

PS

phosphatidylserine

R

putative phosphatidylserine receptor

Footnotes

Paper authored by participants of the international conference: 18th Meeting, European Association for Red Cell Research, Wrocław — Piechowice, Poland, May 12–15th, 2011. Publication cost was covered by the organizers of this meeting.

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