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

Protein C (PC) plays an important role in vascular function, and acquired deficiency during sepsis is associated with increased mortality in both animal models and in clinical studies. This study explored the consequences of PC suppression on the kidney in a cecal ligation and puncture model of polymicrobial sepsis. This study shows that a rapid drop in PC after sepsis is strongly associated with an increase in blood urea nitrogen, renal pathology, and expression of known markers of renal injury, including neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin, CXCL1, and CXCL2. The endothelial PC receptor, which is required for the anti-inflammatory and antiapoptotic activity of activated PC (APC), was significantly increased after cecal ligation and puncture as well as in the microvasculature of human kidneys after injury. Treatment of septic animals with APC reduced blood urea nitrogen, renal pathology, and chemokine expression and dramatically reduced the induction of inducible nitric oxide synthase and caspase-3 activation in the kidney. The data demonstrate a clear link between acquired PC deficiency and renal dysfunction in sepsis and suggest a compensatory upregulation of the signaling receptor. Moreover, these data suggest that APC treatment may be effective in reducing inflammatory and apoptotic insult during sepsis-induced acute renal failure.
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PMID:Role of protein C in renal dysfunction after polymicrobial sepsis. 1730 Nov 89

A painful neuropathy is frequently observed in people living with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). The HIV coat protein, glycoprotein 120 (gp120), implicated in the pathogenesis of neurological disorders associated with HIV, is capable of initiating neurotoxic cascades via an interaction with the CXCR4 and/or CCR5 chemokine receptors, which may underlie the pathogenesis of HIV-associated peripheral neuropathic pain. In order to elucidate the mechanisms underlying HIV-induced painful peripheral neuropathy, we have characterised pathological events in the peripheral and central nervous system following application of HIV-1 gp120 to the rat sciatic nerve. Perineural HIV-1 gp120 treatment induced a persistent mechanical hypersensitivity (44% decrease from baseline), but no alterations in sensitivity to thermal or cold stimuli, and thigmotactic (anxiety-like) behaviour in the open field. The mechanical hypersensitivity was sensitive to systemic treatment with gabapentin, morphine and the cannabinoid WIN 55,212-2, but not with amitriptyline. Immunohistochemical studies reveal: decreased intraepidermal nerve fibre density, macrophage infiltration into the peripheral nerve at the site of perineural HIV-1 gp120; changes in sensory neuron phenotype including expression of activating transcription factor 3 (ATF3) in 27% of cells, caspase-3 in 25% of cells, neuropeptide Y (NPY) in 12% of cells and galanin in 13% of cells and a spinal gliosis. These novel findings suggest that this model is not only useful for the elucidation of mechanisms underlying HIV-1-related peripheral neuropathy but may prove useful for preclinical assessment of drugs for the treatment of HIV-1 related peripheral neuropathic pain.
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PMID:Pharmacological, behavioural and mechanistic analysis of HIV-1 gp120 induced painful neuropathy. 1743 46

Kidney ischemia/reperfusion injury (I/R) is characterized by renal dysfunction and tubular damages resulting from an early activation of innate immunity. Recently, nicotine administration has been shown to be a powerful inhibitor of a variety of innate immune responses, including LPS-induced toxaemia. This cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway acts via the alpha7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (alpha7nAChR). Herein, we tested the potential protective effect of nicotine administration in a mouse model of renal I/R injury induced by bilateral clamping of kidney arteries. Renal function, tubular damages and inflammatory response were compared between control animals and mice receiving nicotine at the time of ischemia. Nicotine pretreatment protected mice from renal dysfunction in a dose-dependent manner and through the alpha7nAChR, as attested by the absence of protection in alpha7nAChR-deficient mice. Additionally, nicotine significantly reduced tubular damages, prevented neutrophil infiltration and decreased productions of the CXC-chemokine KC, TNF-alpha and the proinflammatory high-mobility group box 1 protein. Reduced tubular damage in nicotine pre-treated mice was associated with a decrease in tubular cell apoptosis and proliferative response as attested by the reduction of caspase-3 and Ki67 positive cells, respectively. All together, these data highlight that nicotine exerts a protective anti-inflammatory effect during kidney I/R through the cholinergic alpha7nAChR pathway. In addition, this could provide an opportunity to overcome the effect of surgical cholinergic denervation during kidney transplantation.
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PMID:Nicotine protects kidney from renal ischemia/reperfusion injury through the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway. 1752 28

Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is a prostanoid-synthesizing enzyme that is critically implicated in a variety of pathophysiological processes. Using a COX-2-deficient mouse model, we present data that suggest that COX-2 has an active role in liver ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. We demonstrate that COX-2-deficient mice had a significant reduction in liver damage after I/R insult. The inability of COX-2(-/-) to elaborate COX-2 products favored a Th2-type response in these mice. COX-2(-/-) livers after I/R injury showed significantly decreased levels of IL-2, as well as IL-12, a cytokine known to have a central role in Th1 effector cell differentiation. Moreover, such livers expressed enhanced levels of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10, shifting the balance in favor of a Th2 response in COX-2-deficient mice. The lack of COX-2 expression resulted in decreased levels of CXCL2, a neutrophil-activating chemokine, reduced infiltration of MMP-9-positive neutrophils, and impaired late macrophage activation in livers after I/R injury. Additionally, Bcl-2 and Bcl-x(L) were normally expressed in COX-2(-/-) livers after injury, whereas respective wild-type controls were almost depleted of these two inhibitors of cell death. In contrast, caspase-3 activation and TUNEL-positive cells were depressed in COX-2(-/-) livers. Therefore, our data support the concept that COX-2 is involved in the pathogenic events occurring in liver I/R injury. The data also suggest that potential valuable therapeutic approaches in liver I/R injury may result from further studies aimed at identifying specific COX-2-derived prostanoid pathways.
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PMID:Cyclooxygenase-2 deficiency enhances Th2 immune responses and impairs neutrophil recruitment in hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury. 1820 82

The present study was to see whether echinomycin-induced apoptosis would be NF-kappaB-dependent and if so, whether echinomycin would activate or inhibit NF-kappaB as well as resultant chemokine IL-8 expression. In HT-29 cells echinomycin activated NF-kappaB in time-dependent manner. EMSA in the presence of antibodies specific for p50 and p65 subunits indicated that echinomycin-induces the translocation of p50-p65 heterodimeric subunits of NF-kappaB. Levels of IkappaB were detected at initial echinomycin treatment and thereafter decreased, faintly seen after a 6h treatment. In contrast p-IkappaB levels were clearly detected throughout 6-24h of echinomycin treatment, albeit initially fainted. To clarify the role of NF-kappaB on IL-8 expression in echinomycin-mediated apoptosis of HT-29 cells, ELISA plus RT-PCR clearly showed that IL-8 production is inducible by echinomycin treatment. Using a specific inhibitor, IL-8 regulation at echinomycin treatment in HT-29 cells occurred via both caspase-3 and NF-kappaB-dependent signal pathway. To confirm whether two different pathways (NF-kappaB and caspase) would be coupled, only NF-kappaB inhibitor (PDTC) and caspase-3 specific inhibitor (Z-DEVD-FMK) together significantly attenuated echinomycin-initiated apoptosis of HT-29 cells, pretreatment of HT-29 cells with PDTC rarely affected echinomycin-induced caspase-3 activation. So echinomycin-induced apoptosis in HT-29 cells occurs via NF-kappaB activation independent of caspase-3 activation modulating the resultant-linked key chemokine IL-8 expression and echinomycin-induced apoptosis is NF-kappaB-dependant and directly related to NF-kappaB activation, consequently regulating IL-8 expression.
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PMID:NF-kappaB-dependency and consequent regulation of IL-8 in echinomycin-induced apoptosis of HT-29 colon cancer cells. 1867 68

Neurological deficits in children, including cerebral palsy, are associated with prior infection during the perinatal period. Experimentally, we have shown that pre-exposure to the Gram-negative component LPS potentiates hypoxic-ischemic (HI) brain injury in newborn animals. LPS effects are mediated by binding to TLR4, which requires recruitment of the MyD88 adaptor protein or Toll/IL-1R domain-containing adapter inducing IFN-beta for signal transduction. In this study, we investigated the role of MyD88 in neonatal brain injury. MyD88 knockout (MyD88 KO) and wild-type mice were subjected to left carotid artery ligation and 10% O(2) for 50 min on postnatal day 9. LPS or saline were administered i.p. at 14 h before HI. At 5 days after HI in wild-type mice, LPS in combination with HI caused a significant increase in gray and white matter tissue loss compared with the saline-HI group. By contrast, in the MyD88 KO mice there was no potentiation of brain injury with LPS-HI. MyD88 KO mice exhibited reduced NFkappaB activation and proinflammatory cytokine-chemokine expression in response to LPS. The number of microglia and caspase-3 activation was increased in the brain of MyD88 KO mice after LPS exposure. Collectively, these findings indicate that MyD88 plays an essential role in LPS-sensitized HI neonatal brain injury, which involves both inflammatory and caspase-dependent pathways.
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PMID:Lipopolysaccharide sensitizes neonatal hypoxic-ischemic brain injury in a MyD88-dependent manner. 1991 90

BACKGROUND.: A neutrophil elastase (NE) inhibitor, Sivelestat, has been approved for the treatment of acute lung injury associated with systemic inflammation in humans. Some reports have also shown its protective effects in liver inflammatory states. We have recently documented the importance of NE in the pathophysiology of liver ischemia/reperfusion injury, a local Ag-independent inflammation response. This study was designed to explore putative cytoprotective functions of clinically available Sivelestat in liver ischemia/reperfusion injury. METHODS.: Partial warm ischemia was produced in the left and middle hepatic lobes of C57BL/6 mice for 90 min, followed by 6 or 24 hr of reperfusion. The mice were given Sivelestat (100 mg/kg, subcutaneous) at 10 min before ischemia, 10 min before reperfusion, and at 1 and 3 hr of reperfusion thereafter. RESULTS.: Sivelestat treatment significantly reduced serum alanine aminotransferase levels and NE activity, when compared with controls. Histological liver examination has revealed that unlike in controls, Sivelestat ameliorated the hepatocellular damage and decreased local neutrophil activity and infiltration. The expression of proinflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-6), chemokines (CXCL-1, CXCL-2, and CXCL-10), and toll-like receptor 4 was significantly reduced in the treatment group, along with diminished apoptosis through caspase-3 pathway. Moreover, in vitro studies confirmed downregulation of proinflammatory cytokine and chemokine programs in mouse macrophage cell cultures, along with depression of innate toll-like receptor 4 signaling. CONCLUSION.: Sivelestat-mediated NE inhibition may represent an effective therapeutic option in liver transplantation and other inflammation disease states.
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PMID:The protective function of neutrophil elastase inhibitor in liver ischemia/reperfusion injury. 2068 30

4-Methylumbelliferone (4-MU) is a hyaluronic acid (HA) synthesis inhibitor with anticancer properties; the mechanism of its anticancer effects is unknown. We evaluated the effects of 4-MU on prostate cancer cells. 4-MU inhibited proliferation, motility, and invasion of DU145, PC3-ML, LNCaP, C4-2B, and/or LAPC-4 cells. At IC(50) for HA synthesis (0.4 mmol/L), 4-MU induced >3-fold apoptosis in prostate cancer cells, which could be prevented by the addition of HA. 4-MU induced caspase-8, caspase-9, and caspase-3 activation, PARP cleavage, upregulation of Fas-L, Fas, FADD and DR4, and downregulation of bcl-2, phosphorylated bad, bcl-XL, phosphorylated Akt, phosphorylated IKB, phosphorylated ErbB2, and phosphorylated epidermal growth factor receptor. At IC(50), 4-MU also caused >90% inhibition of NF-kappaB reporter activity, which was prevented partially by the addition of HA. With the exception of caveolin-1, HA reversed the 4-MU-induced downregulation of HA receptors (CD44 and RHAMM), matrix-degrading enzymes (MMP-2 and MMP-9), interleukin-8, and chemokine receptors (CXCR1, CXCR4, and CXCR7) at the protein and mRNA levels. Expression of myristoylated-Akt rescued 4-MU-induced apoptosis and inhibition of cell growth and interleukin-8, RHAMM, HAS2, CD44, and MMP-9 expression. Oral administration of 4-MU significantly decreased PC3-ML tumor growth (>3-fold) when treatment was started either on the day of tumor cell injection or after the tumors became palpable, without organ toxicity, changes in serum chemistry, or body weight. Tumors from 4-MU-treated animals showed reduced microvessel density ( approximately 3-fold) and HA expression but increased terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling-positive cells and expression of apoptosis-related molecules. Therefore, the anticancer effects of 4-MU, an orally bioavailable and relatively nontoxic agent, are primarily mediated by inhibition of HA signaling.
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PMID:Antitumor activity of hyaluronic acid synthesis inhibitor 4-methylumbelliferone in prostate cancer cells. 2033 31

The chemokine CXCL12/stromal cell-derived factor-1 and its receptor CXCR4 play a major role in tumor invasion, proliferation, and metastasis. Recently, CXCR7 was identified as a novel, alternate receptor for CXCL12 and CXCL11/I-TAC. Because both chemokines are expressed abundantly in human astrocytomas and glioblastomas, we investigated the occurrence and function of both receptors in astroglial tumors. In situ, CXCR7 is highly expressed on tumor endothelial, microglial, and glioma cells whereas CXCR4 has a much more restricted localization; CXCL12 is often colocalized with CXCR7. CXCR7 transcription in tumor homogenates increased with malignancy. In vitro, CXCR7 was highly expressed in all glioma cell lines investigated whereas CXCR4 was only scarcely transcribed on one of eight lines. In contrast, a tumor stem-like cell line preferentially expressed CXCR4 which diminished upon differentiation, whereas CXCR7 increased drastically. Stimulation of CXCR7-positive glioma cells (CXCR4- and CXCR3-negative) by CXCL12 induced transient phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases Erk1/2, indicating that the receptor is functionally active. The phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C inhibitor U73122 effectively inhibited Erk activation and suggests that the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway is activated indirectly. Whereas proliferation and migration were little influenced, chemokine stimulation prevented camptothecin- and temozolomide-induced apoptosis. The selective CXCR7 antagonist CCX733 reduced the antiapoptotic effects of CXCL12 as shown by nuclear (Nicoletti) staining, caspase-3/7 activity assays, and cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1. Thus, CXCR7 is a functional receptor for CXCL12 in astrocytomas/glioblastomas and mediates resistance to drug-induced apoptosis. Whereas CXCR7 is found on "differentiated" glioma cells, the alternate receptor CXCR4 is also localized on glioma stem-like cells.
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PMID:The chemokine receptor CXCR7 is highly expressed in human glioma cells and mediates antiapoptotic effects. 2038 3

Non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) is one of the most frequently involved pathogens in bacterial exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In the airways, the main tissue target of NTHi is bronchial epithelium, where this pathogen can further amplify the inflammatory and structural changes induced by proinflammatory cytokines such as tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha). Therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate, in primary cultures of human bronchial epithelial cells, the effects of NTHi on signal transduction pathways, apoptotic events and chemokine production activated by TNF-alpha. Moreover, we also evaluated the effects exerted on such cellular and molecular phenomena by a corticosteroid drug. p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) phosphorylation was analyzed by Western blotting, using an anti-phospho-p38 MAPK monoclonal antibody. Apoptosis was assayed by active caspase-3 expression. Interleukin-8 (IL-8/CXCL8) was detected in cell-free culture supernatants by ELISA. TNF-alpha induced a significant increase in p38 MAPK phosphorylation. NTHi was able to potentiate the stimulatory actions of TNF-alpha on caspase-3 expression and, to a lesser extent, on IL-8 secretion. These effects were significantly (P less than 0.01) inhibited by a pharmacological pre-treatment with budesonide. These results suggest that TNF-alpha is able to stimulate, via activation of p38 MAPK signalling pathway, IL-8 release and airway epithelial cell apoptosis; the latter effect can be markedly potentiated by NTHi. Furthermore, budesonide can be very effective in preventing, through inhibition of p38 MAPK phosphorylation, both structural and proinflammatory changes elicited in bronchial epithelium by TNF-alpha and NTHi.
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PMID:Effects of budesonide on P38 MAPK activation, apoptosis and IL-8 secretion, induced by TNF-alpha and Haemophilus influenzae in human bronchial epithelial cells. 2064 42


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