Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: EC:3.4.22.36 (caspase-1)
 6,285 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Oxidized low density lipoprotein (oxLDL) induces apoptosis in vascular cells. To elucidate the mechanisms involved in this apoptosis, we studied the apoptosis-inducing activity in lipid fractions of oxLDL and the roles of two common mechanisms, ceramide generation and the activation of caspases, in apoptosis in human umbilical vein endothelial cells treated with oxLDL. We also studied the effects of antioxidants and cholesterol. oxLDL induced endothelial apoptosis in a time- and dose-dependent fashion. Apoptosis-inducing activity was recovered in the neutral lipid fraction of oxLDL. Various oxysterols in this fraction induced endothelial apoptosis. Neither the phospholipid fraction nor its component lysophosphatidylcholine induced apoptosis. oxLDL induced ceramide accumulation temporarily at 15 min in a dose-dependent fashion. Two inhibitors of acid sphinogomyelinase inhibited both the increase in ceramide and the apoptosis induced by oxLDL. Furthermore, a membrane-permeable ceramide (C2-ceramide) induced endothelial apoptosis. These findings demonstrated that ceramide generation by acid sphingomyelinase is indispensable for the endothelial apoptosis induced by oxLDL. Inhibitors of both caspase-1 and caspase-3 inhibited the apoptosis, suggesting that oxLDL induced apoptosis by activating these cysteine proteases. The antioxidants butylated hydroxytoluene and superoxide dismutase but not catalase inhibited the apoptosis induced by oxLDL or 25-hydroxycholesterol. This suggests not only that superoxide plays an important role but also that a critical interaction between oxLDL and the cell takes place on the outer surface of the membrane, because superoxide dismutase is not membrane-permeable. Exogenous cholesterol also inhibited the apoptosis. Our study demonstrated that neutral lipids in oxLDL induce endothelial apoptosis by activating membrane sphingomyelinase in a superoxide-dependent manner, as well as by activating caspases.
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PMID:Oxidized low density lipoprotein induces apoptosis in cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells by common and unique mechanisms. 954 2

Prior studies have shown that exposure to carbon monoxide (CO) will elevate the steady-state concentration of nitric oxide ((.)NO) in several cell types and body organs and that some toxic effects of CO are directed toward endothelial cells. Studies reported in this paper were conducted with bovine pulmonary artery endothelial cells exposed to 10 to 100 ppm CO to achieve concentrations between 11 and 110 nM in air-saturated buffer. Exposure to 11 nM CO increased synthesis of manganous superoxide dismutase and conferred resistance against the lethal effects of 110 nM CO. At concentrations of 88 nM CO or more, exposures for 1 h or longer caused cell death that became apparent 18 h after the exposure ceased. Caspase-1 was activated in response to CO, and cell death was inhibited by a caspase-1 inhibitor. Alteration of proteolytic pathways by CO was indicated by the presence of ubiquitin-containing intracellular inclusion bodies. Morphological changes and caspase activation indicated that cell death was an apoptotic process. Cells exposed to 110 nM CO had higher concentrations of manganous superoxide dismutase and heme oxygenase-1 but no changes in glutathione peroxidase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, thiols, or catalase. Elevated levels of antioxidant enzymes and apoptosis were inhibited by the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, S-isopropylisothiourea, and the peroxynitrite scavenger, selenomethionine. These results show that biochemical effects of CO occur at environmentally relevant concentrations, that apoptotic cell death follows exposure to relatively high concentrations of CO, and that these actions of CO are mediated by nitric oxide.
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PMID:Adaptive responses and apoptosis in endothelial cells exposed to carbon monoxide. 1065 26

When cultured cerebellar granule neurons (CGN) are transferred from 25 mM KCl (K25) to 5 mM KCl (K5) caspase-3 and caspase-8, but not caspase-1 or caspase-9,activities are induced and cells die apoptotically. CGN death was triggered by a [Ca(2+)](i) modification when [Ca(2+)](i) was reduced from 300 nM to 50 nM in a K5 medium. The [Ca(2+)](i) changes were followed by an increase in ROS levels. The generation of both cytosolic and mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) occurred at three different times, 10 min, 30 min and 3--4 hr but only those ROS produced after 3--4 hr are involved in the process of cell death. When CGN cultured in a K5 medium are treated with different antioxidants like scavengers of ROS (mannitol, DMSO) or antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase and catalase) phosphatidylserine translocation, caspase activity, chromatin condensation and cell death is markedly diminished. The protective effect of antioxidants is not mediated through a modification in [Ca(2+)](i). Caspase activation, PS translocation and chromatin condensation were downstream of ROS production. In contrast to H(2)O(2), ROS produced by a xanthine/xanthine oxidase system in CGN cultured in K25 were able to directly induce caspase-3 activation and death that resulted sensitive to z-VAD, a caspase inhibitor. These findings indicate that a reduction in [Ca(2+)](i) triggers CGN death by inducing a generation of ROS after 3--4 hr, which could play a critical role in the initial phases of the apoptotic process including PS translocation, chromatin condensation and the activation of initiator and executor caspases.
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PMID:Role of oxidative stress in the apoptotic cell death of cultured cerebellar granule neurons. 1131 73

Previously, we showed that NO induces thymocyte apoptosis via a caspase-1-dependent mechanism [(1) ]. In the present study, we investigated the role of heme oxygenase, catalase, bax, and p53 in this process. The NO donor, S-nitroso-N-acetyl penicillamine (SNAP), induced DNA fragmentation in thymocytes in a time- and concentration-dependent way. SNAP (100 microM) induced 50--60% apoptosis; higher doses did not increase the rate of apoptosis significantly. SNAP decreased catalase and heme iron (Fe) levels without affecting superoxide dismutase, glutathione, or total Fe stores in thymocytes. SNAP significantly increased the expression of heme oxygenase 1 (HSP-32), p53, and bax but not bcl-2. Treatment with the heme oxygenase inhibitor, tin protoporphyrin IX inhibited SNAP-induced thymocyte apoptosis. Furthermore, thymocytes from p53 null mice were resistant to NO-induced apoptosis. Our data suggest that NO may induce its cytotoxic effects on thymocytes by modulating heme oxygenase and catalase activity as well as up-regulating pro-apoptotic proteins p53 and bax.
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PMID:Nitric oxide induces murine thymocyte apoptosis by oxidative injury and a p53-dependent mechanism. 1143 90

Neuronal apoptosis induced by staurosporine (STS) involves multiple cellular and molecular events, such as the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). In this study, we tested the efficacy of two synthetic superoxide dismutase/catalase mimetics (EUK-134 and EUK-189) on neuronal apoptosis, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial dysfunction produced by STS in primary cortical neuronal cultures. Exposure of cultures to STS for 24 h increased lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release, the number of apoptotic cells, and decreased trypan blue exclusion. Pretreatment with 20 microM EUK-134 or 0.5 microM EUK-189 significantly attenuated STS-induced neurotoxicity, as did pretreatment with the caspase-1 inhibitor, Ac-YVAD-CHO, but not the caspase-3 inhibitor, Ac-DEVD-CHO. Posttreatment (1-3 h following STS exposure) with 20 microM EUK-134 or 0.5 microM EUK-189 significantly reduced STS-induced LDH release, in a time-dependent manner. Exposure of cultures to STS for 1 h produced an elevation of ROS, as determined by increased levels of 2,7-dichlorofluorescein (DCF). This rapid elevation of ROS was followed by an increase in lipid peroxidation, and both the increase in DCF fluorescence and in lipid peroxidation were significantly blocked by pretreatment with EUK-134. STS treatment for 3-6 h increased cytochrome c release from mitochondria into the cytosol, an effect also blocked by pretreatment with EUK-134. These results indicate that intracellular oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction are critically involved in STS-induced neurotoxicity. However, there are additional cellular responses to STS, which are insensitive to treatment with radical scavengers that also contribute to its neurotoxicity.
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PMID:Attenuation of staurosporine-induced apoptosis, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial dysfunction by synthetic superoxide dismutase and catalase mimetics, in cultured cortical neurons. 1152 Jan 23

Diallyl disulfide (DADS), a component of garlic (Allium sativum), has been known to exert potent chemopreventative activity against colon, lung, and skin cancers. However, its molecular mechanism of action is still obscure. The present study demonstrated that DADS induces apoptosis of human leukemia HL-60 cells in a concentration- and time-dependent manner with an IC50 for cell viability of less than 25 microM. DADS activated caspase-3 as evidenced by both the proteolytic cleavage of the proenzyme and increased protease activity. Activation of caspase-3 was maximal at 3 hr and led to the cleavage of 116 kDa poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), resulting in the accumulation of an 85 kDa cleavage product. Both activation of caspase-3 and cleavage of PARP were blocked by pretreatment with either antioxidants or a caspase-3 inhibitor, but not a caspase-1 inhibitor. DADS increased the production of intracellular hydrogen peroxide, which was blocked by preincubation with catalase. These results indicate that DADS-induced apoptosis is triggered by the generation of hydrogen peroxide, activation of caspase-3, degradation of PARP, and fragmentation of DNA. The induction of apoptosis by DADS may be the pivotal mechanism by which its chemopreventative action against cancer is based.
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PMID:Induction of apoptosis by diallyl disulfide through activation of caspase-3 in human leukemia HL-60 cells. 1175 72

Previous studies demonstrated that hydroxyl groups play important roles in the antioxidative activities of flavonoids; however, the importance of structurally related hydroxylation in their apoptosis-inducing activities is still undefined. In the present study, flavanone with hydroxylation at C4' and C6 had a significant cytotoxic effect in human leukemia HL-60 cells accompanied by the occurrence of DNA ladders, apoptotic bodies, and hypodiploid cells, characteristics of apoptosis. The replacement of a hydroxyl group (OH) by a methoxyl (OCH3) group at C4' or C6 attenuated the apoptotic effect in cells, and there was no significant cytotocity of flavanone or flavanone with OH or OCH3 in C7-treated HL-60 cells. Induction of enzyme activity of caspase-3 and -9, but not caspase-1 and -8, accompanied by release of cytocrome C from mitochondria to cytosol and the appearance of cleaved of PARP (85 kDa), D4-GDI (23 kDa), and caspase-3 (p17/p15) fragments, was identified in 4'-OH- or 6-OH- flavanone-treated HL-60 cells. Caspase-3 and -9 inhibitors Ac-DEVD-FMK and Ac-LEHD-FMK, but not caspase-1 and -8 inhibitors Ac-YVAD-FMK and Ac-LETD-FMK, attenuated 4'-OH- or 6-OH-flavanone-induced cell death. And, inhibition of capsase-9 activity by Ac-LEHD-FMK suppresses caspase-3 protein procession induced by 4'-OH- and 6-OH-flavanone, indicative of caspase-9 activation locating upstream of caspase-3. A decrease in the antiapoptotic protein Mcl-1 and increases in the pro-apoptotic proteins Bax and Bad were found in 4'-OH- or 6-OH-flavanone-treated HL-60 cells. Induction of endogenous ROS production was detected in 4'-OH- or 6-OH-flavanone-treated HL-60 cells by the DCHF-DA assay. Antioxidants such as N-acetylcysteine (NAC), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and allopurinol (ALL), but not pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC) or diphenylene iodonium (DPI), significantly inhibited 4'-OH- or 6-OH-flavanone-induced ROS production, with blocking of the apoptosis induced by 4'-OH- or 6-OH-flavanone. The apoptosis-inducing activity of 4'-OH- or 6-OH-flavanone was also observed in another leukemia cell line (Jurkat), but was not found in mature monocytic cells (THP-1) and normal human polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs). This suggests that hydroxylation at C4' or C6 is important to the apoptosis-inducing activities of flavanone through ROS production, and that activation of the caspase-3 cascade, downstream of caspase-9 activation, is involved.
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PMID:Hydroxylation at C4' or C6 is essential for apoptosis-inducing activity of flavanone through activation of the caspase-3 cascade and production of reactive oxygen species. 1501 74

Acacetin (5,7-dihydrocy-4'-methoxy flavone), which is a flavonoid compound, possesses anti-peroxidative and anti-inflammatory effects. The effects of acacetin on cell viability in human gastric carcinoma AGS cells were investigated. This study demonstrated that acacetin was able to inhibit cell proliferation and induce apoptosis in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. Acacetin-induced cell death was characterized with changes in nuclear morphology, DNA fragmentation, and cell morphology. The molecular mechanism of acacetin-induced apoptosis was also investigated. Treatment with acacetin caused induction of caspase-3 activity in a time-dependent manner, but not caspase-1 activity, and induced the degradation of DNA fragmentation factor (DFF-45) and poly(ADP-riobse) polymerase. Cell death was completely prevented by a pancaspase inhibitor, Z-Val-Ala-Asp-fluoromethyl ketone. Furthermore, treatment with acacetin caused a rapid loss of mitochondrial transmembrane potential, stimulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), release of mitochondrial cytochrome c into cytosol, and subsequent induction of procaspase-9 processing. Antioxidants such as N-acetylcysteine and catalase, but not superoxide dismutase, allopurinol, or pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate, significantly inhibited acacetin-induced cell death. In addition, it was found that acacetin promoted the up-regulation of Fas and FasL prior to the processing and activation of pro-caspase-8 and cleavage of Bid, suggesting the involvement of a Fas-mediated pathway in acacetin-induced apoptosis. On the other hand, the results showed that acacetin-induced apoptosis was accompanied by up-regulation of Bax and p53, down-regulation of Bcl-2, and cleavage of Bad. Taken together, these results suggest that ROS production and a certain intimate link might exist between receptor- and mitochondria-mediated death signalings that committed to acacetin-induced apoptosis in AGS cells. The induction of apoptosis by acacetin may provide a pivotal mechanism for its cancer chemopreventive action.
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PMID:Acacetin induces apoptosis in human gastric carcinoma cells accompanied by activation of caspase cascades and production of reactive oxygen species. 1568 11

The molecular mechanism of sulforaphane on the induction of metallothionein (MT) genes in HepG2 cells and the antiproliferative effects of sulforaphane were investigated in this study. Treatment of the cells with sulforaphane at non-toxicity concentration (0-20 microM) resulted in coordinate increases in the induction of MT-I and MT-II mRNA, followed by corresponding increases in MT protein expression. Western blot analysis revealed the increased level of the transcription factor, Nrf2 in a time-dependent manner from sulforaphane-treated cells. Furthermore, sulforaphane activated the extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK), p38 and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways. SB203580, a specific inhibitor of p38 and PD98059, a specific inhibitor of ERK, abolished sulforaphane-induced MT protein expression, whereas SP600125, a specific inhibitor of JNK, had no significant effect. At relatively high concentration (30-100 microM), sulforaphane is a cell growth modulator, as it induced apoptotic cell death characterized by internucleosomal DNA fragmentation and caused a rapid induction of caspase 3 activity, according to the appearance of the caspase 3 fragments and stimulated proteolytic cleavage of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase in a time-dependent manner. Moreover, sulforaphane-induced apoptotic cell death was accompanied by upregulation of Bax and downregulation of Bcl-2 and Bcl-X(l) protein. Sulforaphane-induced DNA fragmentation was blocked by the N-acetyl-L-cysteine and catalase, suggesting that the death signaling was triggered by oxidative stress. Taken together these results strongly suggest that at low concentrations of sulforaphane, activation of MAPKs, such as ERK and p38 pathway, lead to Nrf2-mediated MT gene expression. Whereas at a higher concentration, sulforaphane is an effective apoptosis inducer in HepG(2) cells through regulation of Bcl-2 family molecular and activation of ICE/Ced-3 protease (caspase 3) cascade. The results from this study may provide more evidence for its chemopreventive function.
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PMID:Effect of sulforaphane on metallothionein expression and induction of apoptosis in human hepatoma HepG2 cells. 2431 95

The anti-cancer effects and possible mechanisms of the freshwater clam (Corbicula fluminea Muller) and its active compounds (FME) on cell viability in human leukemia HL-60 cells were investigated. This study demonstrated that FME was able to inhibit cell proliferation in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. Treatment with FME caused induction of caspase-2, caspase-3, caspase-6, caspase-8, and caspase-9 activity in a time-dependent manner, but not affect caspase-1 activity; it induced the proteolysis of DNA fragmentation factor (DFF-45) and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP). Induction of cell death by FME was completely prevented by a pan-caspase inhibitor, Z-Val-Ala-Asp-fluoromethyl ketone (Z-VAD-FMK) and a caspase-2 inhibitor, Z-Val-Asp-Val-Ala-Asp-FMK (Z-VDVAD-FMK). Furthermore, treatment with FME caused a rapid loss of mitochondrial transmembrane potential, stimulation of generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), release of mitochondrial cytochrome c into cytosol, and GSH depletion. Anti-oxidants such as N-acetylcysteine, catalase, superoxide dismutase, allopurinol, and pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate, but not diphenylene iodonium, significantly inhibited FME-induced cell death. In addition, the results showed that FME-induced apoptosis was accompanied by up-regulation of Bax and Bad, and down-regulation of Bcl-2 and Bcl-XL. Taken together, induction of apoptosis on HL-60 cells by FME was mainly associated with ROS production, GSH depletion, mitochondrial dysfunction, and caspase activation.
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PMID:Apoptosis-inducing active components from Corbicula fluminea through activation of caspase-2 and production of reactive oxygen species in human leukemia HL-60 cells. 1654 98


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