Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: EC:3.4.22.56 (caspase-3)
35,750 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Hyperglycemia, a symptom of diabetes mellitus, induces hyperosmotic responses, including apoptosis, in vascular endothelial cells and leukocytes. Hyperosmotic shock elicits a stress response in mammalian cells, often leading to apoptotic cell death. In a previous report, we showed that hyperosmotic shock induced apoptosis in various mammalian cells. Importantly, apoptotic biochemical changes (i.e., caspase-3 activation and DNA fragmentation) were blocked by antioxidant pretreatment during hyperosmotic shock-induced cell death. In the present study, we report that resveratrol, a phytoalexin present in grapes with known antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, attenuates high glucose-induced apoptotic changes, including c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) activation and caspase-3 activation in human leukemia K562 cells. Experiments with the cell permeable dye, 2',7'-dichlorofluorescein diacetate (DCF-DA), an indicator of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, revealed that high glucose treatment directly increased intracellular oxidative stress, which was attenuated by resveratrol. In addition, high glucose-treated K562 cells displayed a lower degree of attachment to collagen, the major component of vessel wall subendothelium. In contrast, cells pretreated with resveratrol followed by high glucose exhibited higher affinity for collagen. The results of this report collectively imply the involvement of oxidative stress in high glucose-induced apoptosis and alterations in attachment ability. Moreover, resveratrol blocks these events by virtue of its antioxidant property.
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PMID:Effect of resveratrol on high glucose-induced stress in human leukemia K562 cells. 1572 79

We have previously shown that hippocampal neuronal apoptosis accompanied by impaired cognitive functions occurs in type 1 diabetic BB/Wor rats. To differentiate the contribution by insulin deficiency vs. that by hyperglycemia on neuronal apoptosis, we examined the activities of various apoptotic pathways in hippocampi from type 1 diabetic BB/Wor rats (hyperglycemic and insulinopenic) and type 2 diabetic BBZDR/Wor rats (hyperglycemic and hyperinsulinemic). DNA fragmentation was demonstrated by LM-PCR in type 1 diabetic BB/Wor rats, but was not detectable in duration- and hyperglycemia-matched type 2 BBZDR/Wor rats. Of various apoptotic pathways, Fas activations, 8-OHdG expression, and caspase-12 were demonstrated in type 1 diabetic BB/Wor rats only. In contrast, perturbations of the IGF and NGF systems and PARP activation were demonstrated in type 1 and to a lesser extent in type 2 diabetes. Expressions of Bax and active caspase-3 were significantly increased in type 1, but not in type 2, diabetic rats. These data suggest a lesser apoptogenic stress in type 2 vs. type 1 diabetes. These differences translated into a more profound neuronal loss in the hippocampus of type 1 rats. The results demonstrate that caspase-dependent apoptotic activities dominate in type 1 diabetes, whereas PARP-mediated caspase-independent apoptotic stress is present in both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. The findings suggest that insulin deficiency plays a compounding role to that of hyperglycemia in neuronal apoptosis underpinning primary diabetic encephalopathy.
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PMID:The role of impaired insulin/IGF action in primary diabetic encephalopathy. 1577 48

Poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase (PARP-1), a nuclear enzyme activated by DNA strand breaks, is involved in DNA repair, aging, inflammation, and neoplastic transformation. In diabetes, reactive oxygen and nitrogen species occurring in response to hyperglycemia cause DNA damages and PARP-1 activation. Because circulating mononuclear cells (MNCs) are involved in inflammation mechanisms, these cells were chosen as the experimental model to evaluate PARP-1 levels and activity in patients with type 2 diabetes. MNCs were isolated from 25 diabetic patients (18 M, 7 F, age, 63.5 +/- 10.2 years, disease duration 17.7 +/- 8.2 years) and 11 age and sex matched healthy controls. PARP-1 expression and activity were analyzed by semi-quantitative PCR, Western and activity blot, and immunofluorescence microscopy. PARP-1-mRNA expression was increased in MNCs from all diabetic patients versus controls (P < 0.01), whereas PARP-1 content and activity were significantly lower in diabetic patients (P < 0.0001). To verify whether low PARP-1 levels and activity were due to a proteolytic effect of caspase-3 like, the latter activation was measured by a fluorimetric assay. Caspase-3 activity in MNCs was significantly higher in diabetic patients versus control subjects (P < 0.0001). The different PARP-1 behavior in MNCs from patients with type 2 diabetes could therefore be responsible for the abnormal inflammation and infection responses in diabetes.
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PMID:Poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase activity is reduced in circulating mononuclear cells from type 2 diabetic patients. 1589 95

Fertile chicken eggs were injected with various concentrations of either d-glucose or l-glucose during the first three days of embryonic development. The exogenous glucose concentrations ranged from 0 to 18.58 micromol/kg egg. At 18 days of development (theoretical stage 44), brains, livers, and blood from chorio-allantoic vessels were isolated from living embryos. Exogenous d-glucose and l-glucose caused increased plasma d-glucose levels, increased plasma alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activities, and decreased embryo viability. Embryo viability was monitored by a reduction in the percentage of living embryos at theoretical stage 44, reduced embryo masses, reduced brain masses, and reduced liver masses. When compared to controls, embryonic exposure to either exogenous d-glucose or l-glucose caused increased caspase-3 activities and increased lipid hydroperoxide (LPO) levels in both brain and liver tissues. Because lipid hydroperoxides are lipid peroxidation intermediates that result in the attack of any unsaturated neutral lipid or unsaturated phospholipid, the effect of exogenous glucose on hepatic membrane fatty acid composition was studied. Exogenous glucose (either d-glucose or l-glucose) promoted reduced levels of several unsaturated, long-chain fatty acids and increased levels of saturated, short-chain fatty acids within hepatic membranes. Exogenous-glucose induced decreases in the ratios of unsaturated/saturated fatty acids and long-chain/short-chain fatty acids within hepatic membranes which strongly correlated with glucose-induced increases in plasma ALT activities and moderately correlated to hepatic LPO levels. These observations are consistent with the hypothesis that embryonic hyperglycemia promotes hepatic membrane lipid peroxidation and hepatic cell death.
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PMID:Hyperglycemia-induced changes in hepatic membrane fatty acid composition correlate with increased caspase-3 activities and reduced chick embryo viability. 1590 50

Apoptosis of pericytes (PCs) is an early event in diabetic retinopathy. It is generally thought to be a consequence of sustained hyperglycemia. In keeping with this, long-term (>7 days) incubation of cultured PCs in a high-glucose media has been shown to increase apoptosis. We examine here whether the saturated free fatty acid palmitate, the concentration of which is often elevated in diabetes, has similar effects on cultured PCs. Incubation with 0.4 mmol/l palmitate for 24 h induced both oxidant stress and apoptosis, as evidenced by a sixfold increase in DCF fluorescence and a twofold increase in caspase-3 activation, respectively. NAD(P)H oxidase appeared to be involved in these responses, since overexpression of dominant-negative subunits of NAD(P)H oxidase, such as phox47(DN), diminished oxidant stress, and phox67(DN) and N-17 RAC1(DN) prevented the increase in caspase-3 activity. Likewise, overexpression of vRAC, a constitutively active RAC1, increased caspase-3 activity to the same extent as palmitate alone. The effects of vRAC and palmitate were not additive. In parallel with the increases in oxidative stress, the redox-sensitive transcription factor nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) was activated in cells incubated with 0.4 mmol/l palmitate. Furthermore, inhibition of NF-kappaB activation by various means inhibited caspase-3 activation. Finally, incubation with palmitate increased the cellular content of ceramide, a molecule linked to apoptosis and increases in oxidative stress and NF-kappaB activation in other cells. In keeping with such a role, in PCs both coincubation with fumonisin B1 (a ceramide synthase inhibitor) and overexpression of ceramidase I reversed the proapoptotic effect of palmitate. On the other hand, they increased rather than decreased DCF fluorescence. In conclusion, the results suggest that palmitate-induced apoptosis in PCs is associated with activation of NAD(P)H oxidase and NF-kappaB and an increase in ceramide. The precise interactions between these molecules in causing apoptosis and the importance of oxidant stress as a contributory factor remain to be determined.
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PMID:Palmitate-induced apoptosis in cultured bovine retinal pericytes: roles of NAD(P)H oxidase, oxidant stress, and ceramide. 1591 7

Overexpression of Bcl-xl, a member of the Bcl-2 protein family, is reported to protect from a variety of stresses involving delayed cell death. We tested the ability of Bcl-xl overexpression to protect primary cultures of embryonic rat septal neurons subjected to one of four different stresses: 6 h of combined oxygen-glucose deprivation, which produces rapid cell death, or a 24 h exposure to hypoglycemia, hyperglycemia, or 1mM 3-nitropropionic acid (an inhibitor of mitochondrial respiration), which results in a more slowly-developing death. Prior to the stress neurons were transiently transfected to overexpress either green fluorescent protein only or green fluorescent protein along with wild-type Bcl-xl. Immediately after oxygen-glucose deprivation, many neurons expressing green fluorescent protein only showed process blebbing and disintegration, with only 49% of the initial cells remaining intact with processes. Neurons expressing both green fluorescent protein and Bcl-xl showed less damage (68% intact post-stress, P<0.05). This result indicates that Bcl-xl's saving effects are not due solely to blocking delayed (apoptotic) death, because death following oxygen-glucose deprivation was rapid and was not accompanied by increased activation of caspase-3. Bcl-xl expression also significantly protected against the hypoglycemic stress (23% intact 24 h post-stress with green fluorescent protein only, compared with 70% with Bcl-xl and green fluorescent protein), but did not protect from hyperglycemia or 3-nitropropionic acid. Thus Bcl-xl does not protect against all forms of delayed death. Bcl-xl's protective effects may include blocking early damaging events, perhaps by increasing mitochondrial function in the face of low levels of energy substrates. Bcl-xl's protective effects may require an intact electron transport chain.
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PMID:Overexpression of Bcl-xl protects septal neurons from prolonged hypoglycemia and from acute ischemia-like stress. 1611 22

Chronic hyperglycemia is toxic to pancreatic beta-cells, impairing cellular functioning as observed in type 2 diabetes; however, the mechanism underlying beta-cell dysfunction and the resulting apoptosis via glucose toxicity are not fully characterized. Here, using MIN6N8 cells, a mouse pancreatic beta-cell line, we show that chronic exposure to high glucose increases cell death mediated by Bax oligomerization, cytochrome C release, and caspase-3 activation. During apoptosis, glucokinase (GCK) expression decreases in high-glucose-treated cells, concomitant with a decrease in cellular ATP production and insulin secretion. Moreover, exposure to a chronically high dose of glucose decreases interactions between GCK and mitochondria with an increase in Bax binding to mitochondria and cytochrome C release. These events are prevented by GCK overexpression, and phosphorylation of proapoptotic Bad proteins in GCK-overexpressing cells is prolonged compared with Neo-transfected cells. Similar results are obtained using primary islet cells. Collectively, these data demonstrate that beta-cell apoptosis from exposure to chronic high glucose occurs in relation to lowered GCK expression and reduced association with mitochondria. Our results show that this may be one mechanism by which glucose is toxic to beta-cells and suggests a novel approach to prevent and treat diabetes by manipulating Bax- and GCK-controlled signaling to promote apoptosis or proliferation.
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PMID:Exposure to chronic high glucose induces beta-cell apoptosis through decreased interaction of glucokinase with mitochondria: downregulation of glucokinase in pancreatic beta-cells. 1612 48

Mesangial cell apoptosis occurs in experimental diabetic nephropathy, and this correlates with worsening albuminuria. This study examines the mechanism by which glucose modulates mesangial cell apoptosis. Apoptosis was induced in mesangial cells by serum deprivation in the presence of 5 or 25 mM D-glucose, and examined by expression of Annexin-V and disruption of mitochondrial transmembrane potential. Involvement of Bax, Bcl-2 and NF-kappaB were examined by RT-PCR and EMSA. Involvement of TGF-beta1 was sought by determining the effect of recombinant TGF-beta1on apoptosis and the mediators of the apoptotic pathway (Bcl2/Bax and NF-kappaB). Culture of cells in the presence of 25 mM D-glucose (i) enhanced apoptosis stimulated by serum depletion, (ii) enhanced activation of caspase-3, (iii) inhibited NF-kappaB activation, and (iv) decreased Bcl-2:Bax ratio. Inhibition of NF-kappaB using SN50, also increased mesangial cell apoptosis, and decreased Bcl-2:Bax ratio. Addition of TGF-beta1 to mesangial cells mimicked the effect of high glucose reducing NF-kappaB expression and Bcl-2:Bax ratio. Furthermore glucose-mediated enhanced apoptosis was inhibited by the addition of a blocking antibody to TGF-beta1. Exposure of mesangial cells to 25 mM D-glucose stimulated the generation of both total and active TGF-beta1 in the cell culture supernatant, this increase was only significant after 48-72 h, that is at a time point later than enhanced apoptosis. Addition of 25 mM D-glucose, however, increased sensitivity of mesangial cells to TGF-beta1 as assessed by luciferase activity of a Smad sensitive reporter construct. The data suggest that elevated glucose concentration enhanced the pathway leading to apoptosis following serum deprivation. Furthermore, it is likely that this is dependent on glucose-mediated enhanced sensitivity to endogenous TGF-beta1 rather than glucose stimulated de novo TGF-beta1 synthesis.
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PMID:Glucose enhances mesangial cell apoptosis. 1658 41

To clarify the mechanism by which hyperglycemia in diabetes mellitus causes endothelial cell damages, the effects of high glucose on DNA fragmentation and caspase-3 activity of cultured endothelial cells and on the generation of 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) were studied. Furthermore, the involvement of the polyol pathway in this process was investigated using aldose reductase inhibitor (SNK-860). Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were incubated with 5.5mmol/L (low glucose medium) or 28mmol/L (high glucose medium) of glucose. The amounts of fragmented DNA, caspase-3 activity and 8-OHdG in the medium increased in significantly greater extent in high glucose-incubated HUVECs than in low glucose-incubated HUVECs. No significant increase in fragmented DNA or 8-OHdG was observed when HUVECs were incubated with mannitol (500mg/mL). The concentration of intracellular sorbitol was significantly higher in HUVECs incubated in high glucose medium than that in low glucose medium. Addition of the aldose reductase inhibitor SNK-860 dose-dependently decreased the intracellular sorbitol concentration in HUVECs incubated in high glucose medium, and also significantly suppressed the increases in fragmented DNA, caspase-3 activity and 8-OHdG by conditioning with high glucose medium. These results suggest that high glucose-induced endothelial cell damages may be mediated by activation of the polyol pathway accompanied by augmented oxidative stress.
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PMID:The role of polyol pathway in high glucose-induced endothelial cell damages. 1662 39

Diabetic retinopathy can result in apoptotic cell death of retinal neurons, as well as significant visual loss. It is further known that insulin-like growth factor (IGF) levels are reduced in diabetes and that IGF-I can prevent cell death in many cell types. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that systemic treatment with IGF-I could inhibit death of neuroretinal cells in diabetic rats by examining the expression of proapoptotic markers. In diabetic rat retina, the number of TUNEL-immunoreactive cells increased approximately sixfold in the photoreceptor layer (P<.001) and eightfold in the inner nuclear layer (INL; P<.001); phospho-Akt (p-Akt; Thr 308) immunoreactivity increased eightfold in the ganglion cell layer (GCL; P<.001) and threefold in the INL (P<.01). Subcutaneous IGF-I treatment significantly reduced the number of TUNEL (P<.001) and p-Akt immunoreactive retinal cells (P<.05) in diabetic rats approximately to the level of the nondiabetic group. Qualitative results showed that caspase-3 and BAD immunoreactivities were also elevated in diabetes and reduced in IGF-I-treated animals. Elevated TUNEL and p-Akt immunoreactivities were localized to distinct cell layers in the retina of diabetic rats. Early intervention with systemic IGF-I reduced the presence of proapoptotic markers indicative of neuroretinal cell death, despite ongoing hyperglycemia and weight loss. The eye is a special sensory organ, and these data show that cell loss in the nervous system, even in uncontrolled diabetes, can be prevented by IGF-I administration.
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PMID:Systemic IGF-I treatment inhibits cell death in diabetic rat retina. 1663 41


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