EC:3.4.22.56 - FACTA Search

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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)

A new member of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) cytokine family, designated Apo-2 ligand (Apo-21) [1] or TRAIL [2], has been shown recently to induce apoptosis in various tumor cell lines; however, its biological role is unknown. Here, we show that Apo-21, activated apoptosis in T-cell-enriched cultures of peripheral blood lymphocytes stimulated by interleukin-2 (IL-2), but not in unstimulated cells. This finding suggests that, like Fas/Apo-1 ligand and TNF [3-5], Apo-2L may play a role in regulating post-stimulation apoptosis of mature lymphocytes. Studies on the mechanism of Apo-2L action demonstrated marked membrane blebbing, a hallmark of apoptosis, within a few minutes of the addition of Apo-2L to tumor cells. Ectopic expression of a dominant negative mutant of FADD, a cytoplasmic protein that mediates death signalling by Fas/Apo-1 and by TNF receptor type 1 (TNFR1) [6-9], inhibited the induction of apoptosis by anti-Fas/Apo-1 antibody, but had little effect on Apo-2L function. In contrast, expression of CrmA, a cowpox virus-derived inhibitor of the Ced-2-like proteases ICE [10] and CPP32/Yama [11,12], blocked the induction of apoptosis by either Apo-2L or anti-Fas/Apo-1 antibody. These results suggest that Apo-2L activates a rapid, FADD-independent pathway to trigger a cell-death programme that requires the function of cysteine proteases such as ICE or CPP32/Yama.
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PMID:Activation of apoptosis by Apo-2 ligand is independent of FADD but blocked by CrmA. 879 1

In this study we show that TRAIL (tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand), also called Apo2L, activates the c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK). Interestingly, TRAIL-induced JNK activation occurs in a cell type-specific manner. In HeLa cells, TRAIL-induced JNK activation can be completely blocked with the cysteine protease inhibitor zVAD-fmk, whereas the same inhibitor has no, or even a stimulatory, effect on JNK activation in Kym-1 cells. Hence, TRAIL can engage at least two independent pathways leading to JNK activation, one that is cysteine protease-dependent and one that is cysteine protease-independent. To investigate whether the cysteine protease-dependent signaling of TRAIL leading to JNK activation is related to the apoptotic pathway engaged by this ligand, we investigated HeLa cells stably overexpressing a dominant negative mutant of FADD (Fas-associating protein with death domain) (GFP(green fluorescent protein)DeltaFADD). In these cells, TRAIL-induced cell death and activation of the apoptosis executioner caspase-8 (FLICE/MACH) and caspase-3 (YAMA, CPP-32, Apopain), that belong to caspase subfamily of cysteine proteases, were abrogated, whereas JNK activation remained unaffected and was still sensitive toward z-VAD-fmk. Similar data were found in HeLa cells overexpressing Apo1/Fas and GFPDeltaFADD upon stimulation with agonistic antibodies. These data suggest that cross-linking of the TRAIL receptors and Apo1/Fas, respectively, engages a FADD-dependent pathway leading to the activation of apoptotic caspases and, in parallel, a FADD-independent pathway leading to the stimulation of one or more cysteine proteases capable to activate JNK but not sufficient for the induction of cell death.
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PMID:TRAIL/Apo2L activates c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK) via caspase-dependent and caspase-independent pathways. 983 64

Expression and function of the TRAIL apoptotic pathway was investigated in normal and malignant breast epithelial cells. Glutathione-S-transferase (GST)-TRAIL extracellular domain fusion proteins were produced to analyze TRAIL-induced apoptosis. Only GST-TRAIL constructs containing regions homologous to the Fas self-association and ligand binding domains could induce apoptosis. GST-TRAIL induced significant (>90%) apoptosis in just one of eight normal and one of eight malignant breast cell lines. All other lines were relatively resistant to TRAIL-induced apoptosis. Activating TRAIL receptors DR4 and DR5 were expressed in all normal and malignant breast cell lines. The inhibitory receptor TRID was highly expressed in one of four normal and two of seven malignant breast cell lines. DR4, DR5, or TRID expression did not correlate with sensitivity to TRAIL-induced apoptosis. Incubation of cell lines with doxorubicin or 5-fluorouracil significantly augmented TRAIL-induced apoptosis in most breast cell lines. By fractional inhibition analysis, the toxicity of the combination of TRAIL and doxorubicin or 5-fluorouracil was synergistic compared with either agent alone. In contrast, melphalan and paclitaxel augmented TRAIL-induced apoptosis in few cell lines, and methotrexate did not augment it in any cell line. Augmentation of TRAIL-induced apoptosis by doxorubicin or 5-fluorouracil was mediated through caspase activation. This was evidenced by the fact that chemotherapy agents that synergized with TRAIL (e.g., doxorubicin) themselves caused cleavage of caspase-3 and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), and their toxicity was blocked by the caspase inhibitor Z-Val-Ala-Asp(OMe)-CH2 (ZVAD-fmk). The combination of TRAIL and doxorubicin caused significantly greater caspase-3 and PARP cleavage, and the combined toxicity also was inhibited by ZVAD-fmk. In contrast, chemotherapy agents that did not augment TRAIL-induced apoptosis (e.g., methotrexate) caused minimal caspase-3 and PARP cleavage by themselves, and their toxicity was not inhibited by ZVAD-fmk. These drugs also did not increase caspase-3 or PARP cleavage when combined with TRAIL. In summary, few breast cell lines are sensitive to TRAIL-induced apoptosis, and no difference in sensitivity is found between normal and malignant cell lines. Treatment with chemotherapy provides an approach to sensitize breast cancer cells to TRAIL-induced apoptosis.
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PMID:Chemotherapy augments TRAIL-induced apoptosis in breast cell lines. 997 25

The synthetic retinoid 6-[3-(1-adamantyl)-4-hydroxyphenyl]-2-naphthalene carboxylic acid (CD437) induces apoptosis in several types of cancer cell. CD437 inhibited the growth of both androgen-dependent and -independent human prostate carcinoma (HPC) cells in a concentration-dependent manner by rapid induction of apoptosis. CD437 was more effective in killing androgen-independent HPC cells such as DU145 and PC-3 than the androgen-dependent LNCaP cells. The caspase inhibitors Z-VAD-FMK and Z-DEVD-FMK blocked apoptosis induced by CD437 in DU145 and LNCaP cells, in which increased caspase-3 activity and PARP cleavage were observed, but not in PC-3 cells, in which CD437 did not induce caspase-3 activation and PARP cleavage. Thus, CD437 can induce either caspase-dependent or caspase-independent apoptosis in HPC cells. CD437 increased the expression of c-Myc, c-Jun, c-Fos, and death receptors DR4, DR5 and Fas. CD437's potency in apoptosis induction in the different cell lines was correlated with its effects on the expression of oncogenes and death receptors, thus implicating these genes in CD437-induced apoptosis in HPC cells. However, the importance and contribution of each of these genes in different HPC cell lines may vary. Because CD437 induced the expression of DR4, DR5 and Fas, we examined the effects of combining CD437 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) and Fas ligand, respectively, in HPC cells. We found synergistic induction of apoptosis, highlighting the importance of the modulation of these death receptors in CD437-induced apoptosis in HPC cells. This result also suggests a potential strategy of using CD437 with TRAIL for treatment of HPC. Oncogene (2000) 19, 4513 - 4522.
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PMID:Implication of multiple mechanisms in apoptosis induced by the synthetic retinoid CD437 in human prostate carcinoma cells. 1100 24

TRAIL induces apoptosis in various tumor cells. We report here that caspase-8 is required in TRAIL-induced cell death. Western blot analyses and enzyme assays showed that exposing Jurkat cells to TRAIL resulted in activation of caspases-8 followed by caspase-3 and -9. Acetyl-IETD-fluoromethylketone, a caspase-8 inhibitor, potently suppressed TRAIL-induced cell death compared to acetyl-DEVD-fluoromethylketone and acetyl-LEHD-fluoromethylketone, inhibitors of caspase-3 and caspase-9, respectively. JB6 cells, a caspase-8-deficient Jurkat variant, were completely resistant to TRAIL. However, reconstitution with a caspase-8, but not with caspase-2 or -3, sensitized JB6 cells to subsequent exposure to TRAIL. These results are indicative of the crucial function of caspase-8 in TRAIL-induced apoptosis in Jurkat cells.
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PMID:Reconstitution of caspase-8 sensitizes JB6 cells to TRAIL. 1103 23

In present studies, treatment with tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-related apoptosis inducing ligand (TRAIL, also known as Apo-2 ligand [Apo-2L]) is shown to induce apoptosis of the human acute leukemia HL-60, U937, and Jurkat cells in a dose-dependent manner, with the maximum effect seen following treatment of Jurkat cells with 0.25 microg/mL of Apo-2L (95.0% +/- 3.5% of apoptotic cells). Susceptibility of these acute leukemia cell types, which are known to lack p53(wt) function, did not appear to correlate with the levels of the apoptosis-signaling death receptors (DRs) of Apo-2L, ie, DR4 and DR5; decoy receptors (DcR1 and 2); FLAME-1 (cFLIP); or proteins in the inhibitors of apoptosis proteins (IAP) family. Apo-2L-induced apoptosis was associated with the processing of caspase-8, Bid, and the cytosolic accumulation of cytochrome c as well as the processing of caspase-9 and caspase-3. Apo-2L-induced apoptosis was significantly inhibited in HL-60 cells that overexpressed Bcl-2 or Bcl-x(L). Cotreatment with either a caspase-8 or a caspase-9 inhibitor suppressed Apo-2L-induced apoptosis. Treatment of human leukemic cells with etoposide, Ara-C, or doxorubicin increased DR5 but not DR4, Fas, DcR1, DcR2, Fas ligand, or Apo-2L levels. Importantly, sequential treatment of HL-60 cells with etoposide, Ara-C, or doxorubicin followed by Apo-2L induced significantly more apoptosis than treatment with Apo-2L, etoposide, doxorubicin, or Ara-C alone, or cotreatment with Apo-2L and the antileukemic drugs, or treatment with the reverse sequence of Apo-2L followed by one of the antileukemic drugs. These findings indicate that treatment with etoposide, Ara-C, or doxorubicin up-regulates DR5 levels in a p53-independent manner and sensitizes human acute leukemia cells to Apo-2L-induced apoptosis. (Blood. 2000;96:3900-3906)
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PMID:Antileukemic drugs increase death receptor 5 levels and enhance Apo-2L-induced apoptosis of human acute leukemia cells. 1109 76

In this study we sought to clarify the role of the proapoptotic potential of mitochondria in the death pathway emanating from the TRAIL (APO-2L) and CD95 receptors in pancreatic carcinoma cells. We focused on the role of the Bcl-2 family member Bcl-XL, using three pancreatic carcinoma cell lines as a model system, two of which have high (Panc-1, PancTuI) and one has low (Colo357) Bcl-XL expression. In these cell lines, the expression of Bcl-XL correlated with sensitivity to apoptosis induced by TRAIL or anti-CD95. Flow cytometric analysis revealed cell surface expression of TRAIL-R1 and TRAIL-R2 on PancTuI and Colo357, and TRAIL-R2 on Panc-1 cells. In Colo357 cells retrovirally transduced with Bcl-XL, caspase-8 activation in response to treatment with TRAIL or anti-CD95 antibody was not different from parental cells and EGFP-transfected controls, however, apoptosis was completely suppressed as measured by the mitochondrial transmembrane potential deltapsim, caspase-3 activity (PARP cleavage) and DNA-fragmentation. Inhibition of Bcl-XL function by overexpression of Bax or administration of antisense oligonucleotides against Bcl-XL mRNA resulted in sensitization of Panc-1 cells to TRAIL and PancTuI cells to anti-CD95 antibody-induced cell death. The results show that Bcl-XL can protect pancreatic cancer cells from CD95- and TRAIL-mediated apoptosis. Thus, in these epithelial tumour cells the mitochondrially mediated 'type II' pathway of apoptosis induction is not only operative regarding the CD95 system but also regarding the TRAIL system.
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PMID:Bcl-XL protects pancreatic adenocarcinoma cells against CD95- and TRAIL-receptor-mediated apoptosis. 1111 25

Most chemotherapeutic agents used in the treatment of haematological malignancies cause cell death by inducing apoptosis through undefined means. The discovery of the proteins involved in apoptosis and the description of apoptotic pathways suggest new potential targets for therapeutic intervention. Both 'intrinsic' and 'extrinsic' pathways can be activated separately, but activation of caspases appears central to most apoptotic pathways. Novel approaches attempt to induce apoptosis by directly targeting a portion of an apoptotic pathway. Agents that trigger signalling of Fas or tumour necrosis factor- (TNF-) related apoptosis inducing ligand (TRAIL) receptor seek to induce the extrinsic pathway at the cell surface. The BCL-2 family of proteins seems central to the regulation of those apoptotic pathways that involve mitochondrial sequestration or the release of cytochrome c, with subsequent activation of Apaf-1, caspase-9 and caspase-3. The activity of this family may depend upon both the phosphorylation state of different members and the relative level of pro- and anti-apoptotic members. New agents such as the staurosporine analogue UCN-01 and bryostatin are thought to affect apoptosis induction by altering BCL-2 phosphorylation. Others, such as BCL-2 antisense and ATRA attempt to modulate the protein levels to promote apoptosis. Direct activation of caspase-3 is a probable target, but as yet no agent with this direct function is in trial. Clinical trials of several agents have been completed or are underway. It is likely that agents that target particular points in apoptosis pathways will have antileukaemia/lymphoma activity, however, the optimal utilisation may involve combination with other more conventional agents that also activate apoptosis.
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PMID:Apoptosis regulating proteins as targets of therapy for haematological malignancies. 1113 39

The role of endogenous NO on cell survival was investigated in human melanoma cells and melanocytes. Inducible NO synthase (iNOS) was always expressed in a panel of melanoma cell lines from metastatic lesions and in normal adult melanocytes. iNOS was also detected by immunohistochemistry in melanoma cells from metastases. Release of NO by tumor cells and melanocytes was inhibited by a specific iNOS inhibitor, aminoguanidine (AMG). Inhibition of endogenous NO synthesis did not affect cell cycle progression of melanoma cells but led to cell death by apoptosis, as indicated by Annexin V/propidium iodide and terminal deoxynucleotidyltransferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling assays. By contrast, iNOS inhibition by AMG did not promote apoptosis in normal adult melanocytes. A mitochondrial pathway was involved in melanoma apop tosis, as indicated by altered mitochondrial membrane potential (delta psi(m)) and down-regulation of Bcl-2 protein level after iNOS inhibition. AMG treatment triggered release of caspase-1, enzymatic activation of caspase-3, and degradation of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase, one of the main caspase-3 substrates. Melanoma cell apoptosis induced by iNOS inhibition was completely blocked by peptide inhibitors of caspase-1 and caspase-3 (Ac-DEVD-CHO and AC-YVAD-CHO) or by an exogenous NO donor, sodium nitroprusside, or by addition of serum. Finally, comparison of control and AMG-treated melanoma cells by pathway-specific gene array analysis indicated that inhibition of NO synthesis led, before induction of apoptosis, to up-regulation of mRNA levels of genes involved in the apoptosis pathway such as Bax, caspase-1, caspase-3, caspase-6, gadd45beta, mdm2, and TRAIL. Taken together, these results indicate that melanoma cell survival is regulated by endogenous NO resulting from iNOS activity.
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PMID:Antiapoptotic role of endogenous nitric oxide in human melanoma cells. 1119 80

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) is a TNF family member and potent apoptosis inducer. In contrast to TNF-alpha or Fas ligand, relatively little is known about the signaling events activated by TRAIL. In particular, the initial caspase(s) required for TRAIL-induced apoptosis remains to be determined Caspase-3-like protease but not caspase-1-like protease (YVADase) activity rapidly increased in HeLa cells in response to TRAIL treatment. The increase in protease activity correlated with the profile of apoptotic cell death that was inhibited by the pan-caspase inhibitor Z-VAD-fmk. In response to TRAIL, caspase-8, an initiator caspase in death receptor-mediated apoptosis, was activated within 1 h in association with Bid cleavage, cytochrome c release, caspase-3 activation, and DNA fragmentation factor 45 cleavage. Z-IETD-fmk, a caspase-8 inhibitor, completely blocked caspase-8 activation and resulted in inhibition of caspase-3 (a caspase-3-like protease) activation and apoptotic cell death. Overexpression of a caspase-8 dominant negative mutant inhibited apoptosis induced by TRAIL. Caspase-8-deficient Jurkat cells were resistant to both TRAIL and Fas-induced apoptosis, whereas wild-type Jurkat cells were susceptible to both TRAIL- and Fas-induced apoptosis. The caspase-8-reintro duced caspase-8-deficient Jurkat cells acquired normal susceptibility to both TRAIL and agonistic Fas antibody. Reverse transcription-PCR and sequence analyses have revealed that these caspase-8-deficient Jurkat cell express wild-type caspase-10. Therefore, our data indicate that caspase-8 is required for TRAIL-induced apoptosis and suggest that caspase-10 may play a minor role, if any, in TRAIL-induced apoptosis.
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PMID:Signaling events triggered by tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL): caspase-8 is required for TRAIL-induced apoptosis. 1122 44

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