zVAD-induced necroptosis in L929 cells depends on autocrine production of TNF alpha mediated by the PKC-MAPKs-AP-1 pathway

It is intriguing that some pan-caspase inhibitors such as zVAD-fmk (zVAD) are capable of inducing necrotic cell death in a selected group of cells. As earlier reports from our laboratory have ruled out the original notion that zVAD-induced necrosis in mouse fibrosarcoma L929 cells was autophagic cell death, the main objective of this study was thus to determine the underlying mechanism of this form of cell death. In this study, we provided clear evidence that zVAD-induced necroptosis in L929 cells and such cell death is dependent on autocrine production of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF alpha) at the transcriptional level. More importantly, we identified that activating protein-1 (AP-1), but not nuclear factor kappa-B, is the transcription factor controlling zVAD-induced TNF alpha transcription. Moreover, zVAD is able to activate AP-1 through activation of two upstream mitogen-activated kinases (MAPKs), c-Jun N-terminal kinase and extracellular signal-regulated kinase. Finally, we found that protein kinase C is the important upstream signaling molecule in mediating zVAD-induced activation of MAPKs and AP-1, and subsequent autocrine production of TNF alpha and cell death. Data from this study reveal the molecular mechanisms underlying zVAD-induced necroptosis, an important form of programmed necrotic cell death with increasing understanding of its biological significance in health and diseases. Cell Death and Differentiation (2011) 18, 26-37; doi:10.1038/cdd.2010.72; published online 11 June 2010