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)

Bax is a proapoptotic member of the Bcl-2 family of proteins. It is believed to exert its action primarily by facilitating the release of cytochrome c from the mitochondrial intermembrane space into the cytosol, leading to caspase activation and cell death. Because alterations in mitochondrial respiratory function, caspase activation and cell death with morphologic features compatible with apoptosis have been observed post mortem in the brain of patients with Parkinson's disease, we tried to clarify the potential role of Bax in this process in an immunohistochemical study on normal and Parkinson's disease post-mortem brain and primary mesencephalic cell cultures treated with MPP(+). We found that Bax is expressed ubiquitously by dopaminergic (DA) neurons in post-mortem brain of normal and Parkinson's disease subjects as well as in vitro. Using an antibody to Bax inserted into the outer mitochondrial membrane as an index of Bax activation, no significant differences were observed between control and Parkinson's disease subjects, regardless of the mesencephalic subregion analysed. However, in Parkinson's disease subjects, the percentage of Bax-positive melanized SNpc neurons containing Lewy bodies, suggestive of DA neuronal suffering, was significantly higher than the overall percentage of Bax-positive neurons among melanized neurons. Furthermore, all melanized SNpc neurons in Parkinson's disease subjects with activated caspase-3 were also immunoreactive for Bax, suggesting that Bax anchored in the outer mitochondrial membrane of melanized SNpc neurons showing signs of neuronal suffering or apoptosis is increased compared with DA neurons that are apparently unaltered. Surprisingly, MPP(+) treatment of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-positive neurons in primary mesencephalic cultures did not cause redistribution of Bax, although cytochrome c was released from the mitochondria and nuclear condensation/fragmentation was induced. Taken together, these findings suggest that in the human pathology, Bax may be a cofactor in caspase activation, but our in vitro data fail to indicate a central role for Bax in apoptotic death of DA neurons in an experimental Parkinson's disease paradigm.
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PMID:Is Bax a mitochondrial mediator in apoptotic death of dopaminergic neurons in Parkinson's disease? 1125 96

In 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) models of Parkinson's disease (PD), dopaminergic (DA) neurons have been shown to die by apoptosis. Moreover, recent postmortem and in vitro results have indicated that apoptotic cell death induced by 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP(+)) may be mediated by caspase-3. To establish whether caspase-3 activation may indeed play a role in an in vivo model of PD, we studied caspase-3 activation in C57Bl/6 mice subchronically intoxicated with MPTP. We show that caspase-3 activation peaks early, at days 1 and 2 after the end of MPTP intoxication. In contrast, pycnotic neurons persist until day 7 postintoxication, indicating that caspase-3 activation is an early and transient phenomenon in apoptotic death of DA neurons. We further demonstrate that loss of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) immunoreactivity in this model is indeed due to cell loss rather than to loss of TH protein expression. We conclude that mice subchronically intoxicated with MPTP represent a valid PD model to study and manipulate caspase activation in vivo.
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PMID:Caspase-3 activation in 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-treated mice. 1129 68

Recently, it has been shown that release of cytochrome c from the mitochondria to the cytosol is required for activation of the caspase-3-dependent cascade in apoptosis, and also for alpha-synuclein aggregation. In the present study, we examined the effects of talipexole and pramipexole on the release of cytochrome c and alpha-synuclein, their aggregations, and activation of caspases. Treatment of human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells with 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP(+), 1 mM) induced the first event, which was the release of cytochrome c from the organellar fraction to the cytosolic fraction, then came the DNA fragmentation, and caused the last event, which was the accumulation of alpha-synuclein protein in the cytosolic fraction. Talipexole and pramipexole at low concentration (0.1-1 mM) significantly inhibited the accumulation of cytochrome c or alpha-synuclein in the cytosolic fraction. These drugs at high concentration (3-10 mM) inhibited in vitro aggregation of cytochrome c by hydrogen peroxide or that of alpha-synuclein by cytochrome c and hydrogen peroxide. In addition, in vitro activation of caspase-3 induced by cytochrome c and/or dATP was also inhibited by drugs at high concentration (5-10 mM). These results suggest that talipexole and pramipexole may have protective effects against the neurodegeneration, which is induced by intracellular accumulation of cytochrome c and alpha-synuclein.
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PMID:Release and aggregation of cytochrome c and alpha-synuclein are inhibited by the antiparkinsonian drugs, talipexole and pramipexole. 1130 Oct 60

Parkinson's disease (PD) and 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) toxicity are both associated with dopaminergic neuron death in the substantia nigra (SN). Apoptosis has been implicated in this cell loss; however, whether or not it is a major component of disease pathology remains controversial. Caspases are a major class of proteases involved in the apoptotic process. To evaluate the role of caspases in PD, we analyzed caspase activation in MPTP-treated mice, in cultured dopaminergic cells, and in postmortem PD brain tissue. MPTP was found to elicit not only the activation of the effector caspase-3 but also the initiators caspase-8 and caspase-9, mitochondrial cytochrome c release, and Bid cleavage in the SN of wild-type mice. These changes were attenuated in transgenic mice neuronally expressing the general caspase inhibitor protein baculoviral p35. These mice also displayed increased resistance to the cytotoxic effects of the drug. MPTP-associated toxicity in culture was found temporally to involve cytochrome c release, activation of caspase-9, caspase-3, and caspase-8, and Bid cleavage. Caspase-9 inhibition prevented the activation of both caspase-3 and caspase-8 and also inhibited Bid cleavage, but not cytochrome c release. Activated caspase-8 and caspase-9 were immunologically detectable within MPP(+)-treated mesencephalic dopaminergic neurons, dopaminergic nigral neurons from MPTP-treated mice, and autopsied Parkinsonian tissue from late-onset sporadic cases of the disease. These data demonstrate that MPTP-mediated activation of caspase-9 via cytochrome c release results in the activation of caspase-8 and Bid cleavage, which we speculate may be involved in the amplification of caspase-mediated dopaminergic cell death. These data suggest that caspase inhibitors constitute a plausible therapeutic for PD.
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PMID:Caspase-9 activation results in downstream caspase-8 activation and bid cleavage in 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine-induced Parkinson's disease. 1173 63

The neuroprotective effects of verbascoside, one of phenylpropanoid glucoside isolated from the Chinese herbal medicine Buddleja officinalis Maxim, on 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium ion (MPP(+)) induced apoptosis and oxidative stress in PC12 neuronal cells were investigated. Treatment of PC12 cells with MPP(+) for 48 h induced apoptotic death as determined by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and flow cytometry, the activation of caspase-3 measured by the caspase-3 activity assay kit, the reduction in mitochondrial membrane potential with laser scanning confocal microscopy and the increase in the extracellular hydrogen peroxide level. Simultaneous treatment with verbascoside markedly attenuated MPP(+)-induced apoptotic death, increased extracellular hydrogen peroxide level, the activation of caspase-3 and the collapse of mitochondrial membrane potential. These results strongly indicate that verbascoside may provide a useful therapeutic strategy for the treatment of oxidative stress-induced neurodegenerative disease such as Parkinson's disease.
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PMID:Protective effect of verbascoside on 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium ion-induced neurotoxicity in PC12 cells. 1223 80

Endogenous or exogenous substances that are toxic to dopaminergic cells have been proposed as possible cause of idiopathic Parkinson's disease (PD). 1-Methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP(+)) and manganese are dopaminergic neurotoxins causing a parkinsonism-like syndrome. Here, we studied the possible synergistic reaction between these two neurotoxins using rat PC12 pheochromocytoma cells. MPP(+) induced a delayed neurotoxicity in PC12 cells. Although low concentration of manganese did not cause cell damage, it markedly enhanced MPP(+)-induced neurotoxicity with characteristics of apoptosis, such as DNA laddering and activation of caspase-3. To understand the mechanism of enhancement of subtoxic concentration of manganese on MPP(+)-induced neurotoxicity, we investigated the reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation using a molecular probe, 2',7'-dichlorofluorescein diacetate. Although subtoxic concentration of manganese alone did not induce ROS increase, it significantly enhanced the ROS generation induced by MPP(+). We also determined the intracellular MPP(+) content. A time- and concentration-dependent increase of MPP(+) levels was found in PC12 cells treated with MPP(+). The accumulation of MPP(+) by PC12 cells was not affected by manganese. Taken together, these studies suggest that co-treatment with MPP(+) and manganese may induce synergistic neurotoxicity in PC12 cells and that subtoxic concentration of manganese may potentiate the effect of MPP(+) by an ROS-dependent pathway.
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PMID:Subtoxic concentration of manganese synergistically potentiates 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium-induced neurotoxicity in PC12 cells. 1253 85

In this study we assessed the effect of acteoside that significantly improved cell viability and inhibited lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release. Furthermore acteoside prevented a neurotoxin 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium ion (MPP+)-induced apoptosis in CGNs. Accordingly, our flow cytometric analysis of CGNs after acteoside treatment revealed a decrease in the number of the MPP+-induced apoptotic cells (P < 0.001). Western blot analysis demonstrated that acteoside inhibits the active caspase-3 fragment (17 kDa) (P < 0.001) and the proteolytic poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) fragment (85 kDa) expression (P < 0.001) following MPP + treatment in CGNs. We conclude that acteoside prevents the MPP+-induced apoptosis and inhibits the apoptosis-related pathway.
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PMID:Acteoside from Cistanche salsa inhibits apoptosis by 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium ion in cerebellar granule neurons. 1256 82

Apoptosis and glutamate-mediated excitotoxicity may play a role in the pathogenesis of many neurodegenerative disorders, including Parkinson's disease (PD). In the present study, we investigated whether stimulation of the 5-hydroxytryptamine 1A (5-HT1A) receptor attenuates N-methyl-D-aspartate- (NMDA) and 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP(+))-induced apoptotic cell death in cell culture models. A brief exposure (20 min) of M213-2O striatal cells to NMDA and glutamate produced a delayed increase in caspase-3 activity and DNA fragmentation in a dose- and time-dependent manner. NMDA-induced caspase-3 activity and DNA fragmentation were almost completely blocked by the 5-HT1A agonists 8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)-tetralin (8-OH-DPAT) and (R)-5-fluoro-8 hydroxy-2-(dipropylamino)-tetralin (R-UH-301). Additionally, the protective effects of 8-OH-DPAT and R-UH-301 on NMDA-induced caspase-3 activation and apoptosis were reversed by pretreatment with the 5-HT1A antagonists N-[2-[4-(2-methoxyphenyl)-1-piperazinyl] ethyl]-N-(2-pyridinyl) cyclohexane carboxamide (WAY 100635) and S-UH-301, respectively. Similarly, dose- and time-dependent increases in caspase-3 activity and DNA fragmentation were observed in rat primary mesencephalic neurons after a brief exposure to NMDA and glutamate. Caspase-3 activation and DNA fragmentation in primary mesencephalic neurons were almost completely inhibited by 8-OH-DPAT. This neuroprotective effect of 8-OH-DPAT was reversed by WAY 100635. Additionally, 8-OH-DPAT blocked tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-positive cell death after NMDA exposure and also almost completely attenuated the NMDA-induced Ca(2+) influx in primary mesencephalic cultures. Furthermore, 8-OH-DPAT and R-UH-301 blocked apoptotic cell death in the primary mesencephalic neurons that were exposed to the Parkinsonian toxin MPP(+). Together, these results suggest that 5-HT1A receptor stimulation may be a promising pharmacological approach in the development of neuroprotective agents for PD.
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PMID:5-hydroxytryptamine 1A receptor activation protects against N-methyl-D-aspartate-induced apoptotic cell death in striatal and mesencephalic cultures. 1260 65

Endogenous MPTP-like neurotoxins such as 1-benzyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline (1BnTIQ) have been suspected in the etiology of Parkinson's disease (PD). 1BnTIQ was found in a concentration three times higher in cerebrospinal fluid of PD brains than control subjects [J. Neurochem. 65 (6) (1995) 2633]. In the present study, we have evaluated the mechanisms of 1BnTIQ toxicity in human dopaminergic SH-SY5Y cells and tested the neuroprotective action of SKF-38393, a dopamine receptor (D(1)) agonist. 1BnTIQ dose dependently decreased cell viability in dopaminergic SH-SY5Y cells and the extent of cell death was more pronounced when compared to MPP(+). Similar to MPP(+), 1BnTIQ significantly decreased [3H]dopamine uptake. 1BnTIQ significantly increased lipid peroxidation, Bax expression, and active caspase-3 formation. Furthermore, it decreased the expression of Bcl-xL, an anti-apoptotic protein, in these cells. SKF-38393, a dopamine receptor (D(1)) agonist (1 and 10 microM) completely prevented the cell death and significantly increased cell viability. These results strongly suggest that 1BnTIQ induces dopaminergic cell death by apoptosis and dopamine receptor agonists may be useful neuroprotective agents against 1BnTIQ toxicity.
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PMID:1-Benzyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline (1BnTIQ), an endogenous neurotoxin, induces dopaminergic cell death through apoptosis. 1278 6

Opening of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore has been recognized to be involved in cell death. The present study investigated the effect of beta-carbolines (harmaline and harmalol) on the MPP(+)-induced change in the mitochondrial membrane permeability and cell death in differentiated PC12 cells. beta-Carbolines and antioxidants (superoxide dismutase, catalase, ascorbate or rutin) prevented the loss of cell viability in PC12 cells treated with 250 microM MPP(+), while the effects of N-acetylcysteine and dithiothreitol were not observed. beta-Carbolines reduced the condensation and fragmentation of nuclei caused by MPP(+) in PC12 cells. beta-Carbolines alone did not exhibit a significant cytotoxic effect on PC12 cells. beta-Carbolines (50 microM) inhibited the decrease in mitochondrial transmembrane potential, cytochrome c release, activation of caspase-3, formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and depletion of GSH caused by MPP(+) in PC12 cells. beta-Carbolines reduced the hydrogen peroxide- or SIN-1-induced cell death in PC12 cells. The results suggest that beta-carbolines may attenuate the MPP(+)-induced viability loss in PC12 cells by inhibition of change in the mitochondrial membrane permeability and by antioxidant effect.
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PMID:N-methylated beta-carbolines protect PC12 cells from cytotoxic effect of MPP+ by attenuation of mitochondrial membrane permeability change. 1280 96


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