Sensitivity to cell killing by tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha was seen in the JB6-derived transformed mouse RT101 cell variants previously described as resistant to 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-induced killing, while the TPA-sensitive variants were resistant to killing by TNF-alpha. Morphological and biochemical changes characteristic of apoptosis were found to precede TNF-alpha-induced cell death in TNF-alpha-sensitive (TNFs) but not TNF-alpha-resistant (TNFr) cells. In TNFr cells, TNF-alpha increased the cell cycle rate. The onset of cellular damage in TNFs cells, as indicated by propidium iodide uptake, was seen as early as 6 h after TNF-alpha treatment. 4,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole staining revealed chromosomal condensation approximately 4-6 h after TNF-alpha treatment. The DNA oligonucleosomal ladder of 180 bp and its multiples, a characteristic feature of apoptosis, was seen at 48 h. Little or no significant differences were found in the basal or induced levels of mRNA expression of several potential apoptosis mediator genes or apoptosis inhibitor genes. A dephosphorylated species of anti-c-Jun immunoprecipitated protein appeared in TNFs cells at 3 h posttreatment, accompanied by a parallel increase in AP-1 activity. Higher constitutive levels of the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase and catalase were found in TNFr cells, but TNF-alpha did not significantly affect the activities of these enzymes or differentially induce their expression. The findings suggest that the preferential and transient increase in c-Jun dephosphorylation and AP-1 transcriptional activity may contribute to the preferential apoptotic response in TNFs cells; and that the greater constitutive oxidant defense in TNFr cells may contribute to their resistance.