Cell Signalling
We have published that levels of NO sufficient to activate soluble
guanylyl cyclase prevent apoptosis induced by growth factor withdrawal
in PC-12 neuroblastoma cells. This protective effect of NO was
lost when cGMP synthesis was inhibited. Cell permeable cGMP analogs
are highly protective against apoptosis in hepatocytes . Others
have shown that cAMP protects hepatocytes from bile salt-or FasL-induced
apoptosis and liver ischemia/reperfusion injury. These observations
led us to test the protective effect of cell-permeable cAMP analogs
against TNF-induced apoptosis. Several hormones with anti-apoptotic
properties, such as insulin and glucagons, stimulate cAMP synthesis.
Thus cAMP is emerging as an important survival signal in hepatocytes.
