Ciglitazone induces apoptosis via activation of p38 MAPK and AIF nuclear translocation mediated by reactive oxygen species and Ca2+ in opossum kidney cells

We have previously demonstrated that the synthetic peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARγ) agonist ciglitazone induces apoptosis accompanied by activation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and nuclear translocation of apoptosis inducing factor (AIF) in opossum kidney (OK) renal epithelial cells. However, the precise mechanism by which ciglitazone induces activation of p38 MAPK and the role of AIF in the induction of the apoptosis are not defined. This study was therefore undertaken to determine whether the roles of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and intracellular Ca2+ in the ciglitazone-induced activation of p38 MAPK and whether AIF nuclear translocation is responsible for the ciglitazone-induced apoptosis in OK renal epithelial cells. Ciglitazone caused generation of ROS and an increase in intracellular Ca2+. Ciglitazone-induced cell death was reduced by the antioxidant Trolox, the Ca2+ chelator EGTA, and the store-operated Ca2+ channels (SOCC) blocker lanthanum chloride (La3+), indicating involvement of ROS and Ca2+ in the ciglitazone-induced cell death. Ciglitazone-induced intracellular Ca2+ increase was decreased by Trolox, while ROS generation was not affected by EGTA and La3+, suggesting that ROS generation promote the increase of intracellular Ca2+. Transfection of small interfering RNA (siRNA) of p38 MAPK or vector expressing microRNA (miRNA) of AIF prevented the ciglitazone-induced cell death. Activation of p38 MAPK, mitochondrial membrane depolarization, and AIF nuclear translocation induced by ciglitazone were inhibited by Trolox, EGTA and La3+. Taken together, these results suggest that ROS-dependent intracellular Ca2+ increase is responsible for activation of p38 MAPK and nuclear translocation of AIF by ciglitazone.