Preincubation of thymocytes with 1-(5-isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-methylpiperazine dihydrochloride (H-7) induces apoptosis in non-stimulated thymocytes.

1-(5-Isoquinolinesulfonyl1)-2-methylpiperazine hydrochloride (H-7), an inhibitor of protein kinases, has been shown to inhibit the thymocyte apoptosis induced by various apoptogenic agents. In the present study, when mouse thymocytes were pretreated with H-7, washed, and cultured for an additional time, apoptosis was induced depending on the preincubation time and the dose of H-7. The protein kinase C activity in the H-7-pretreated and -washed cells was not altered, suggesting that an alteration of a certain PKC isoform is related to both the triggering and the progression of apoptosis.