Oxidative stress and cyclooxygenase-2 induction mediate cyanide-induced apoptosis of cortical cells.

Cyanide (KCN)-induced generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) involves cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2)-mediated reactions in some neurons. The present study examines the extent to which COX isoforms are involved in KCN-induced apoptotic cell death processes of cultured cortical cells. After treatment with KCN (10-300 microM), COX-2 was expressed in a time- and concentration-dependent manner increasing markedly over a 4-h period. However, no significant changes were observed in COX-1 levels at any cyanide concentration. Correlated with COX-2 up-regulation, KCN induced a time-dependent apoptotic death. TUNEL staining showed that the COX-2 inhibitor NS-398 (30 microM) blocked KCN-induced apoptosis, whereas the selective COX-1 inhibitor valeryl salicylate did not affect the level of apoptotic cell death. Exposure of cells to KCN (300 microM) for 24 h resulted in DNA fragmentation, which was also reduced by NS-398. Prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) accumulation in cell culture supernatants was increased by KCN and NS-398 blocked PGE(2) generation. PCR studies further confirmed that COX-2 expression was increased by KCN. Antioxidants phenyl-N-test-butylnitrone, superoxide dismutase, and catalase significantly inhibited KCN-induced COX-2 up-regulation and subsequent apoptosis. N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methylester an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase, blocked KCN-induced PGE(2) production and apoptosis, but not COX-2 expression. Increased nitric oxide levels caused by cyanide may directly activate the COX-2 enzyme. These data show that cyanide treatment of cortical cells involves increased COX-2 expression, PGE(2) accumulation, and ROS generation, resulting in apoptotic cell death.