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)

We investigated the action of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) on apoptosis and differentiation of mouse bone marrow stromal cell line MBA-1. TIMP-1 did not affect alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, suggesting that it is not involved in osteoblastic differentiation in MBA-1 cells. However, TIMP-1 inhibited MBA-1 apoptosis induced by serum deprivation in a dose-dependent manner. Our study also showed increased Bcl-2 protein expression and decreased Bax protein expression with TIMP-1 treatment. TIMP-1 decreased cytochrome c release and caspase-3 activation in MBA-1 cells. TIMP-1 activated phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-kinase) and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), and the PI3-kinase inhibitor LY294002 or the JNK inhibitor SP600125 abolished its antiapoptotic activity. To investigate whether antiapoptotic action of TIMP-1 was mediated through its inhibition on MMP activities, we constructed mutant TIMP-1 by side-directed mutagenesis, which abolished the inhibitory activity of MMPs by deletion of Cys1 to Ala4. Wild-type TIMP-1 and mutant TIMP-1 expression plasmids were transfected in MBA-1 cells, and results showed that mutant TIMP-1 still protected the induced MBA-1 cell against apoptosis. These data suggest that TIMP-1 antiapoptotic actions are mediated via the PI3-kinase and JNK signaling pathways and independent of TIMP-1 inhibition of MMP activities.
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PMID:Tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase-1 suppresses apoptosis of mouse bone marrow stromal cell line MBA-1. 1669 94

The survival of osteoblast cells is one of the determinants of the development of osteoporosis in patients with inflamed synovium, such as in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). By means of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and osteocalcin ELISA assay, we have shown that fraxetin exhibits a significant induction of differentiation in the human osteoblast-like cell line MG-63. In addition, we also assessed whether fraxetin affects inflammatory cytokine-mediated apoptosis in osteoblast cells. TNF-alpha or IL-1beta enhance apoptotic DNA fragmentation in anti-Fas IgM-treated MG-63 cells by increasing Fas receptor expression. However, TNF-alpha or IL-1beta treatment alone does not induce apoptosis. Treatment of MG-63 cells with fraxetin not only inhibited anti-Fas IgM-induced apoptosis, but also blocked the synergetic effect of anti-Fas IgM with TNF-alpha or IL-1beta on cell death. The apoptotic inhibition of fraxetin is associated with inhibition of TNF-alpha and IL-1beta-mediated Fas expression and enhancement of FLIP expression, resulting in a decrease of caspase-8 and caspase-3 activation. These results indicate a potential use of fraxetin in preventing osteoporosis by inhibiting inflammatory cytokine-mediated apoptosis in osteoblast cells.
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PMID:Fraxetin inhibits the induction of anti-Fas IgM, tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-1beta-mediated apoptosis by Fas pathway inhibition in human osteoblastic cell line MG-63. 1671 21

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and endostatin are angiogenic and anti-angiogenic molecules, respectively, that have been implicated in neurogenesis and neuronal survival. Using alkaline phosphatase fusion proteins, we show that the PC12 neuronal cell line contains cell membrane receptors for VEGF but not for endostatin and the collagen XV endostatin homologue. Immunocytochemistry confirmed that proliferating and differentiated PC12 cells express VEGF receptors 1, 2 and neuropilin-1. While no functional effects of VEGF on PC12 cell proliferation and differentiation could be observed, a slight VEGF-induced reduction of caspase-3 activity in differentiated apoptotic PC12 cells was paralleled by transient activation of ERK1/2 and Akt. In direct comparison, nerve growth factor proved to be a strikingly more potent neuroprotective agent than VEGF.
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PMID:VEGF receptors on PC12 cells mediate transient activation of ERK1/2 and Akt: comparison of nerve growth factor and vascular endothelial growth factor. 1673 52

1. Phosphodiesterases (PDEs) are critically implicated in the regulation of mesangial cell function, but profile of functional PDEs in mesangial cells is still unclear. In this study, we investigated roles of individual PDEs in the regulation of mesangial cell behavior by the cAMP pathway. 2. Reporter mesangial cells that express secreted alkaline phosphatase (SEAP) under the control of the cAMP response element (CRE) were exposed to selective PDE inhibitors in the presence or absence of cAMP, and activity of CRE, expression of CRE-regulated protein, mitogenesis and cell survival were examined. 3. Exposure of reporter cells to cAMP-elevating agents resulted in time- and concentration-dependent activation of CRE. Treatment of the cells with any PDE inhibitors alone did not induce CRE activation. Under stimulation with 8-bromo-cAMP or 8-bromo-cGMP, however, inhibitors of PDE2, PDE3, PDE4 and PDE5 enhanced activation of CRE. Inhibition of PDE1 or PDE6 did not affect the CRE activation. 4. Among different combinations tested, only inhibitors of PDE3 and PDE4 cooperatively increased the level of intracellular cAMP, activity of protein kinase A, activation of CRE, and CRE-regulated protein, connexin43. 5. Concomitant inhibition of PDE3 and PDE4 attenuated mitogen-induced activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases and cell proliferation. Under serum deprivation, combinational inhibition of PDE3 and PDE4 exclusively caused activation of caspase-3 and apoptosis. 6. The present data elucidated that PDE3 and PDE4 play critical roles in the regulation of mesangial cell function. PDE3 and PDE4 were identified as the novel, antiapoptotic machinery that supports survival of mesangial cells.
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PMID:Profiling of functional phosphodiesterase in mesangial cells using a CRE-SEAP-based reporting system. 1675 94

Nitric oxide (NO) contributes to the regulation of osteoblast activities. In this study, we evaluated the protective effects of NO pretreatment on oxidative stress-induced osteoblast apoptosis and its possible mechanism using neonatal rat calvarial osteoblasts as the experimental model. Exposure of osteoblasts to sodium nitroprusside (SNP) at a low concentration of 0.3 mM significantly increased cellular NO levels without affecting cell viability. However, when the concentration reached a high concentration of 2 mM, SNP increased the levels of intracellular reactive oxygen species and induced osteoblast injuries. Thus, administration of 0.3 and 2 mM SNP in osteoblasts were respectively used as sources of NO and oxidative stress. Pretreatment with NO for 24 h significantly ameliorated the oxidative stress-caused morphological alterations and decreases in alkaline phosphatase activity, and reduced cell death. Oxidative stress induced osteoblast death via an apoptotic mechanism, but NO pretreatment protected osteoblasts against the toxic effects. The mitochondrial membrane potential was significantly reduced following exposure to the oxidative stress. However, pretreatment with NO significantly lowered the suppressive effects. Oxidative stress increased cellular Bax protein production and cytochrome c release from mitochondria. Pretreatment with NO significantly decreased oxidative stress-caused augmentation of Bax and cytochrome c protein levels. In parallel with cytochrome c release, oxidative stress induced caspase-3 activation and DNA fragmentation. Pretreatment with NO significantly reduced the oxidative stress-enhanced caspase-3 activation and DNA damage. Results of this study show that NO pretreatment can protect osteoblasts from oxidative stress-induced apoptotic insults. The protective action involves a mitochondria-dependent mechanism.
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PMID:Nitric oxide protects osteoblasts from oxidative stress-induced apoptotic insults via a mitochondria-dependent mechanism. 1691 19

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of apelin on proliferation and apoptosis of mouse osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells. APJ was expressed in MC3T3-E1 cells. Apelin did not affect Runx2 expression, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, osteocalcin and type I collagen secretion, suggesting that it has no effect on osteoblastic differentiation of MC3T3-E1 cells. However, apelin stimulated MC3T3-E1 cell proliferation and inhibited cell apoptosis induced by serum deprivation. Our study also shows that apelin decreased cytochrome c release and caspase-3, capase-8 and caspase-9 activation in serum-deprived MC3T3-E1 cells. Apelin activated c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and Akt (phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase downstream effector), and the JNK inhibitor SP600125, the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-K) inhibitor LY294002 or the Akt inhibitor 1L-6-hydroxymethyl-chiro-inositol 2-(R)-2-O-methyl-3-O-octadecylcarbonate (HIMO) inhibited its effects on proliferation and serum deprivation-induced apoptosis. Furthermore, apelin protected against apoptosis induced by the glucocorticoid dexamethasone or TNF-alpha. Apelin stimulates proliferation and suppresses serum deprivation-induced apoptosis of MC3T3-E1 cells and these actions are mediated via JNK and PI3-K/Akt signaling pathways.
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PMID:Apelin stimulates proliferation and suppresses apoptosis of mouse osteoblastic cell line MC3T3-E1 via JNK and PI3-K/Akt signaling pathways. 1710 97

The maturation of epiphyseal chondrocytes is accompanied by dramatic changes in energy metabolism and shifts in proteins concerned with the induction of apoptosis. We evaluated the role of mitochondria in this process by evaluating the membrane potential (Delta psi m) of chondrocytes of embryonic tibia and the epiphyseal growth plate. We observed that there was a maturation-dependent change in fluorescence, indicating a fall in the Delta psi m. The level of mitochondrial Bcl-2 was decreased during maturation, while in the same time period there was an obvious increase in Bax levels in the mitochondrial fraction of the terminally differentiated chondrocytes. Bcl(xL), another anti-apoptotic protein, was also robustly expressed in the mitochondrial fraction, but its expression was not dependent on the maturation status of the chondrocytes. We found that caspase-3 was present throughout the growth plate and in hypertrophic cells in culture. We blocked caspase-3 activity and found that alkaline phosphatase staining and mineral formation was decreased, and the cells had lost their characteristic shape. Moreover, we noted that the undifferentiated cells were insensitive to elevated concentrations of inorganic phosphate (Pi). It is concluded that during hypertrophy, the change in membrane potential, the increased binding of a pro-apoptotic protein to mitochondria, and the activation of caspase-3 serve to prime cells for apoptosis. Only when the terminally differentiated chondrocytes are challenged with low levels of apoptogens there is activation of apoptosis.
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PMID:Development of the terminally differentiated state sensitizes epiphyseal chondrocytes to apoptosis through caspase-3 activation. 1713 57

Food containing soybeans provide isoflavone phytoestrogens that can preserve bone mass in postmenopausal women, and prevent bone loss in ovariectomized rats. But their effects on bone remain unclear, particularly on bone formation during growth. Two groups of eight pre-pubertal piglets were fed a basal or an isoflavone-enriched (S800) diet for 6 weeks. The S800 diet contained 800 mg SoyLifetrade mark/kg, providing 2.8 mg isoflavones/kg body weight/day. Several bones were collected and tested for bone strength and density. Bone marrow was collected from humeri together with blood samples and genital tracts. The plasma concentrations of isoflavones were increased in the pigs fed S800, but growth rate, body weight, plasma bone markers, bone mineral density, and strength were all unaffected. In contrast, cultured stromal cells from S800 pigs had more alkaline phosphatase-rich cells and mineralized nodules, secreted more osteocalcin, osteoprotegerin and RANK-L, synthesized more osteoprotegerin, and RANK-L. Cultured mononucleated nonadherent bone marrow cells from S800 pigs developed fewer tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase mononucleated cells (osteoclast progenitors) when cultured with 1,25(OH)(2)D(3), and resorbed a smaller area of dentine slices. Freshly isolated bone marrow osteoclast progenitors from S800 pigs had more caspase-3 cleavage activity, and synthesized less RANK. Both osteoclast and osteoblast progenitors had ERalpha and ERbeta, whose syntheses were stimulated by the S800 diet. The S800 piglets had heavier ovaries with more follicles, but their uterus weight was unaffected. We conclude that dietary isoflavones have no detectable effect on the bone mass of growing female piglets, but act on bone marrow osteoprogenitors via ERs--mainly ERbeta, and stimulate ovary development.
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PMID:Dietary isoflavones act on bone marrow osteoprogenitor cells and stimulate ovary development before influencing bone mass in pre-pubertal piglets. 1734 29

TP508 is a 23-amino acid peptide derived from human prothrombin that increases cartilage matrix production and reduces alkaline phosphatase activity without changing chondrocyte proliferation. This study tested the hypothesis that TP508 acts by blocking the onset of apoptosis associated with hypertrophy. Rat costochondral resting zone chondrocytes and human auricular chondrocytes were cultured in DMEM containing 50microM ascorbic acid and 10% FBS. Apoptosis was induced by treatment of confluent cultures with chelerythrine, tamoxifen, or inorganic phosphate (Pi) for 24h. One half of the cultures received TP508 (0, 0.7, or 7microg/ml). Apoptosis was assessed as a function of DNA fragmentation ([3H]-thymidine labeled DNA fragments), TUNEL staining, and cell viability using the MTT assay, as well as by assessing the Bcl-2/Bax mRNA and protein ratios and caspase-3 activity. The universal NO synthase inhibitor l-NMMA was used to assess the effect of NO production on chondrocyte apoptosis and specific NO synthase subspecies were identified using iNOS inhibitor 1400W and nNOS inhibitor vinyl-l-NIO, as well as l-NAME, which inhibits both iNOS and eNOS. Finally, we assessed if TP508 would block NO production induced by the apoptogens. Chelerythrine, tamoxifen and Pi-induced apoptosis and this was reversed by TP508. All apoptogens increased NO production and this was reduced by TP508. TP508 reduced NO levels to the same extent as 1400W but not to the same extent as l-NAME, suggesting that its effects are mediated primarily by iNOS. In addition, TP508 reduced the effect of chelerythrine to the same extent as 1400W and l-NAME, again indicating that it acts via inhibition of an iNOS pathway. TP508 also regulated Bcl-2/Bax mRNA in a time and dose-dependent manner. The Bcl-2/Bax mRNA ratio was 0.11 in the absence of TP508 at 1h and 4.95 at 7microg/ml TP508; by 3h the ratio was approximately 1 in both groups. The Bcl-2/Bax protein ratio also increased by 63% at 1h. TP508 did not affect caspase-3 activity. TP508 also caused a dose-dependent increase in protein kinase C (PKC) activity within 9min that was maximal at 270min. These results show that TP508 prevents apoptosis in growth plate chondrocytes via inhibition of iNOS-dependent NO and suggest a possible role for PKC in the mechanism.
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PMID:Thrombin peptide TP508 prevents nitric oxide mediated apoptosis in chondrocytes in the endochondral developmental pathway. 1802 91

Chemoprevention is regarded as one of the most promising and realistic approaches in the prevention of human cancer. Diallyl sulfide (DAS), an organosulfur component of garlic has been known for its chemopreventive activities against various cancers and also in recent years, numerous investigations have shown that sulfur-containing compounds induce apoptosis in multiple cell lines and experimental animals. Thus the present study was focused to elucidate the anticancerous effect and the mode of action of DAS against Colo 320 DM colon cancer cells. DAS induced apoptosis in Colo 320 DM cells was revealed by flow cytometer analysis and phosphatidyl serine exposure. DAS also promoted cell cycle arrest substantially at G2/M phase in Colo 320 DM cells. The production of reactive oxygen intermediates, which were examined by 2,7-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate (H2DCF-DA), increased with time, after treatment with DAS. The activities of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were decreased upon DAS treatment, which shows the antiproliferative and the cytotoxic effects, respectively. The expression of NF-kappaB was upregulated in DAS treated cells, compared to normal cells. Further, DAS promoted the expression of caspase-3 and suppression of Extracellular Regulatory Kinase-2 (ERK-2) activity in Colo 320 DM cells that was determined by Western blot analysis. In conclusion, DAS increased the production of ROS, caused cell cycle arrest, decreased cell proliferation and induced apoptosis in Colo 320 DM cells. Thus, this study put forward DAS as a drug that can possibly be used to treat cancers.
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PMID:Diallyl sulfide induces apoptosis in Colo 320 DM human colon cancer cells: involvement of caspase-3, NF-kappaB, and ERK-2. 1825 91


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