We have previously shown that human preadipocytes in primary culture undergo apoptosis in response to serum deprivation and addition of tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), and have proposed that regulation of preadipocyte apoptosis in vivo may contribute to the overall control of adipose mass. In the present study we have investigated both pro- and anti-apoptotic factors, and the signalling pathways by which they act, in murine 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. Apoptotic indices (fraction of cells undergoing apoptosis) were determined by microscopic examination of acridine orange-stained cells, fluorescence-activated cell sorting of propidium iodide-stained cells, or phase-contrast video microscopy. Murine 3T3-L1 cells were more susceptible to apoptosis than human preadipocytes. In medium containing 10% newborn calf serum, the basal apoptotic index was very low (<2%), but the number of apoptotic cells increased significantly following serum withdrawal (10% after 24 h). Addition of TNF-alpha (6 nM) stimulated apoptosis in both serum-containing and serum-free media (apoptotic indices of 12% and 20% respectively after 24 h). IGF-I inhibited by approximately 50% the apoptosis induced by serum withdrawal, but increased by 25% the apoptosis induced by TNF-alpha in serum-free medium. It was shown by using specific inhibitors of lipid and protein kinases (LY294002, rapamycin, PD98059, SB203580) that both phosphoinositide 3-kinase and MAP kinase pathways contribute to the anti-apoptotic action of IGF-I on serum-starved cells, while phosphoinositide 3-kinase but not MAP kinase activity is required for the paradoxical pro-apoptotic action of IGF-I in the presence of TNF-alpha. We conclude that, in addition to its previously described anti-apoptotic action, IGF-I can also be pro-apoptotic in 3T3-L1 cells in the presence of TNF-alpha, and that both the anti- and pro-apoptotic effects of IGF-I require the activation of phosphoinositide 3-kinase.

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