BH3-only protein BIK induces caspase-independent cell death with autophagic features in Bcl-2 null cells

The BH3-only protein BIK normally induces apoptotic cell death. Here, we have investigated the role of BCL-2 in BIK-induced cell death using Bcl-2(+/+) and Bcl-2(-/-) mouse embryo fibroblasts. Ectopic expression of BIK in Bcl-2(-/-) cells resulted in enhanced cell death compared to Bcl-2(-/-) cells. In these cells, while caspase-8 was activated, there was no significant activation of caspase-9 and 3. There was no detectable mitochondrial to cytosolic release of cytochrome-c. However, there was significant redistribution of AIF from mitochondria to the nucleus. The extent of BIK-induced cell death was augmented by treatment with the pancaspase inhibitor, zVAD-fmk. The Bcl- 2 null cells expressingB IK exhibited autophagic features such as cytosolic vacuoles, punctate distribution of LC3 and enhanced expression of Beclin-1. The survival of BIK-expressing Bcl-2(-/-) cells was enhanced in the presence of PI3 kinase inhibitors 3-methyladenine and Wortmannin and also by depletion of Atg5 and Beclin-1. Death of BIK-expressing Bcl-2(-/-) cells treated with zVAD-fmk was increased under caspase-8 depletion. Our results suggest enhanced expression of BIK in the Bcl- 2 deficient cells leads to cell death with autophagic features and the extent of such cell death could be increased by inhibition of caspases.