Exploring the anti-apoptotic role of HAX-1 versus BCL-XL in cytokine-dependent bone marrow-derived cells from mice

HS-1-associated protein X-1 (HAX-1) is a multi-functional protein that has been implicated in the regulation of apoptosis, cell motility and calcium homeostasis. In the present study, we set out to assess the postulated functional resemblance of HAX-1 to the BCL-2 family of anti-apoptotic proteins using non-transformed, cytokine-dependent murine bone marrow cells as a model system. BCL-XL, but not HAX-1 protected against cytokine withdrawal-induced apoptosis while HAX-1 and BCL-XL significantly reduced thapsigargin-triggered (calcium-dependent) apoptosis. The data argue in favor of cell type- and stimulus-specific roles of HAX-1 in regulation of cell survival.