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)

Exposure of pancreatic beta-cells to cytokines, such as interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), is thought to contribute to the beta-cell apoptosis that underlies the onset of type 1 diabetes. One important event triggered by IL-1beta is induction of nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), an enzyme that catalyzes intracellular generation of the cytotoxic free radical NO. We recently described a novel requirement for the protein kinase C (PKC) isozyme PKCdelta in this process. Our current aim, therefore, was to assess whether PKCdelta also plays a role in beta-cell apoptosis. As assessed by either annexin V staining or DNA fragmentation, IL-1beta caused INS-1 cells to undergo apoptosis. This was completely blocked by adenoviral overexpression of a dominant-negative, kinase-dead (KD) PKCdelta mutant. The corresponding PKCalpha virus was without effect. However, apoptosis caused by the cytotoxic agent streptozotocin (STZ), which acts independent of iNOS, was also inhibited by overexpression of PKCdeltaKD. STZ was additionally shown to activate the proteolytic enzyme caspase-3, a key biochemical effector of end-stage apoptosis. Moreover, STZ caused a caspase-dependent cleavage of PKCdelta, thereby releasing a COOH-terminal fragment corresponding to the kinase catalytic domain. Thus, proteolytic activation of PKCdelta seems to be important in the distal apoptotic pathway induced by STZ. That IL-1beta also activated caspase-3 and promoted PKCdelta cleavage suggests that this distal pathway also contributes in the apoptotic response to the cytokine. These data therefore support a dual role for PKCdelta in IL-1beta-mediated cell death: it is required for efficient NO generation through regulation of iNOS levels but also contributes to apoptotic pathways downstream of caspase activation.
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PMID:Inhibition of protein kinase C delta protects rat INS-1 cells against interleukin-1beta and streptozotocin-induced apoptosis. 1181 38

Sulfur mustard is cytotoxic to dermal fibroblasts as well as epidermal keratinocytes. We demonstrated that poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) modulates Fas-mediated apoptosis, and other groups and we have shown that PARP plays a role in the modulation of other types of apoptotic and necrotic cell death. We have now utilized primary dermal fibroblasts, immortalized fibroblasts, and keratinocytes derived from PARP(-/-) mice and their wildtype littermates (PARP(+/+)) to determine the contribution of PARP to sulfur mustard toxicity. Following sulfur mustard exposure, primary skin fibroblasts from PARP-deficient mice demonstrated increased internucleosomal DNA cleavage, caspase-3 processing and activity, and annexin V positivity, compared to those derived from PARP(+/+) animals. Conversely, propidium iodide staining, PARP cleavage patterns, and random DNA fragmentation revealed a dose-dependent increase in necrosis in PARP(+/+) but not PARP(-/-) cells. Using immortalized PARP(-/-) fibroblasts stably transfected with the human PARP cDNA or with empty vector alone, we show that PARP inhibits markers of apoptosis in these cells as well. Finally, primary keratinocytes were derived from newborn PARP(+/+) and PARP(-/-) mice and immortalized with the E6 and E7 genes of human papilloma virus. In contrast to fibroblasts, keratinocytes from both PARP(-/-) and PARP(+/+) mice express markers of apoptosis in response to sulfur mustard exposure. The effects of PARP on the mode of cell death in different skin cell types may determine the severity of vesication in vivo, and thus have implications for the design of PARP inhibitors to reduce sulfur mustard pathology.
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PMID:PARP determines the mode of cell death in skin fibroblasts, but not keratinocytes, exposed to sulfur mustard. 1188 24

Xanthomonas campestris pv. glycines strain AM2 (XcgAM2), the aetiological agent of bacterial pustule disease of soybean, as well as some other strains of Xanthomonas including X. campestris pv. malvacearum NCIM 2310 and X. campestris NCIM 2961, exhibited post-exponential rapid cell death (RCD) in Luria-Bertani (LB) medium. RCD was not displayed by Xanthomonas strains while growing in starch medium. Addition of starch to LB culture of XcgAM2 at any point of incubation during the exponential growth was found to arrest the onset of RCD. RCD in this organism was found to be associated with the synthesis of an endogenous enzyme similar to human caspase-3, a known marker of apoptosis in eukaryotes. On sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel elecrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) the XcgAM2 caspase appeared to run along a 55 kDa protein molecular weight marker. The caspase-3-like protein was detected in all Xanthomonas strains tested. RCD was not detected in Escherichia coli cultures in LB medium. The caspase-3-like enzyme activity or pro-tein was also found to be absent in this bacterium. Caspase-3-like protein or Xanthomonas caspase was detected only in the cells of XcgAM2 growing in LB medium and not in those growing in starch medium. The Xanthomonas caspase protein appeared in cells at around 4 h of incubation, and peaked at around 24 h, before finally disappearing at around 54 h of incubation. However, caspase enzyme activity was detected only 12-13 h after incubation and peaked around 18-20 h. Addition of starch at the beginning or during the period of exponential growth in LB cultures of XcgAM2 terminated the synthesis of this protein. It is presumed that starch acted as the repressor of biosynthesis of the Xanthomonas caspase, thereby preventing the organism from undergoing RCD. The cells undergoing RCD also displayed the other markers of eukaryotic apoptosis. These included binding of annexin V to plasma membrane of cells undergoing RCD and the presence of nicked DNA in culture supernatant as evidenced by the TUNEL (terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick-end labelling) assay. Caspase-negative mutants of XcgAM2 did not display post-exponential RCD. The importance of RCD in Xanthomonas life cycle is not yet clear, however the phenomenon appears to have similarities with eukaryotic apoptosis.
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PMID:Involvement of caspase-3-like protein in rapid cell death of Xanthomonas. 1197 78

UVB from solar radiation is both an initiating and promoting agent for skin cancer. We have found that primary human keratinocytes undergo an apoptotic response to UVB. To determine whether these responses are altered during the course of immortalization, we examined markers of apoptosis in primary human foreskin keratinocytes (HFK) transduced with either a retroviral vector expressing the E6 and E7 genes of HPV-16 or with empty vector alone (LXSN-HFK). Whereas LXSN-HFK as well as early passage keratinocytes expressing HPV-16 E6 and E7 (p7 E6/7-HFK) were both moderately responsive to UVB irradiation, late passage-immortalized keratinocytes (p27 E6/7-HFK) were exquisitely sensitive to UVB-induced apoptosis. After exposure to UVB, enhanced annexin V-positivity and internucleosomal DNA fragmentation were observed in p27 E6/7-HFK compared with either LXSN- or p7 E6/7-HFK. Caspase-3 fluorometric activity assays as well as immunoblot analysis with antibodies to caspase-3 and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase revealed elevated caspase-3 activity and processing at lower UVB doses in p27 E6/7-HFK compared with LXSN- or p7 E6/7-HFK. In addition, the caspase inhibitor DEVD-CHO reduced the apoptotic response and increased survival of all three HFK types. Immunoblot analysis revealed that caspase-8 was activated in all three cell types, but caspase-9 was only activated in p27 E6/7-HFK. Cell cycle analysis further showed that only p27 E6/7-HFK exhibit G(2)/M accumulation that is enhanced by UVB treatment. This accumulation was associated with a rapid down-regulation of Bcl-2 in these cells. The immortalization process subsequent to the expression of HPV E6 and E7 may therefore determine UVB sensitivity by switching the mode of apoptosis from a caspase-8 to a Bcl-2-caspase-9-mediated pathway of apoptosis.
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PMID:HPV-16 E6/7 immortalization sensitizes human keratinocytes to ultraviolet B by altering the pathway from caspase-8 to caspase-9-dependent apoptosis. 1197 23

Irradiation is one of the cornerstones used in the treatment of malignant glioma. However, the effect is modest and glioma cells generally display a pronounced radio-resistance. In this study, the effect of irradiation, alone and in combination with the antimicrotubule drug estramustine (EaM), was investigated in vitro using the BT4C rat glioma cell line, and in vivo the BT4C rat intracerebral glioma model was used. Apoptosis was detected by analysing DNA laddering, in situ end labelling (ISEL) and Annexin V reactivity. In addition, phosphorylation status of MAPK, JNK, p38, and AKT, proteins involved in pro- and anti-apoptotic signalling pathways was analysed by Western blotting. Irradiation did not induce apoptosis, neither in vitro nor in vivo. EaM, however, induced apoptosis in vivo and in vitro, regardless of whether EaM was given alone, before or after irradiation. When BT4C cells were treated with the caspase-3 inhibitor Ac-DEVD-CHO prior to EaM, the number of apoptotic cells was decreased, indicating an involvement of caspase-3. The signalling pathways regulating apoptosis are complex and involve kinases such as MAPK, JNK, p38 and AKT. Irradiation did not induce any changes in the expression levels or phosphorylation status of these proteins. On the other hand, the phosphorylation level of AKT was reduced after EaM treatment, which might, in part, propose how EaM induces apoptosis in glioma cells.
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PMID:The antimicrotubule drug estramustine but not irradiation induces apoptosis in malignant glioma involving AKT and caspase pathways. 1199 15

The benzoacronycine derivative S23906-1 is a highly potent antitumor agent with a broad spectrum of activity against different human solid tumor xenografts. The marked cytotoxic potential of this drug may be the result of its interaction with DNA but the precise mechanism of action remains unclear at present. We have investigated the induction of apoptosis in human promyelocytic leukemia HL-60 and murine melanoma B16 cells treated with S23906-1. With both cell lines, the drug induces cell cycle perturbations (G2/M arrest) and triggers apoptosis as revealed by the externalization of Annexin V-targeted PS residues at the periphery of the cells. But the biochemical pathways leading to apoptosis are different for the two cancer cell lines. In HL-60 cells, the drug induces significant variations of the Delta Psi(mt), measured by flow cytometry using the fluorochromes JC-1 and cm-X-ros. Activation of caspase-3 and chromatin condensation in HL-60 cells exposed to submicromolar concentrations of S23906-1 for 24hr were also clearly seen by flow cytometry and confocal microscopy experiments. In contrast, the extent of apoptosis induced by S23906-1 was found to be much more limited in B16 cells. No significant variations of Delta Psi(mt) and no cleavage of the fluorescent caspase-3 substrate GDEVDGI (PhiPhiLux-G(1)D(2) probe) could be detected by cytometry in B16 cells exposed to S23906-1. In addition, we characterized the mitochondrial production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) using the probe dihydroethidine (HE) and the variations of the mitochondrial mass using the cardiolipin-interacting probe nonyl acridine orange (NAO). S23906-1 stimulates the production of ROS in both cell lines but the number of mitochondria seems to increase only in drug-treated B16 cells. Collectively these findings identify S23906-1 as a potent inducer of cell apoptosis in the leukemia cells and to a lower extent in the melanoma cells. The results help to understand the downstream cytotoxic actions of this new anticancer agent which is currently undergoing preclinical development.
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PMID:Induction of apoptosis in HL-60 leukemia and B16 melanoma cells by the acronycine derivative S23906-1. 1199 85

Shigella dysenteriae type 1-induced apoptotic cell death in rectal tissues from patients infected with Shigella dysenteriae type 1 was studied by the terminal deoxynucleotidyltransferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL) technique and annexin V staining. Expression of proteins and cytokines participating in the apoptotic process (caspase-1, caspase-3, Fas [CD95], Fas ligand [Fas-L], perforin, granzyme A, Bax, WAF-1, Bcl-2, interleukin-2 [IL-2], IL-18, and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor) in tissue in the acute and convalescent stages of dysentery was quantified at the single-cell level by in situ immunostaining. Apoptotic cell death in the lamina propria was markedly up-regulated at the acute stage (P < 0.05), where an increased number of necrotic cells were also seen. Phenotypic analysis of apoptotic cells revealed that 43% of T cells (CD3), 10% of granulocytes (CD15), and 5% of macrophages (CD56) underwent apoptosis. Increased activity of caspase-1 persisted in the rectum up to 1 month after onset. More-extensive expression of Fas, Fas-L, perforin, caspase-3, and IL-18, but not IL-2, at the acute stage than at the convalescent stage was observed. Increased expression of caspase-3 and IL-18 in tissues with severe inflammation compared to expression in those with mild inflammation was evident, implying a possible role in the perpetuation of inflammation. Significantly reduced cell death during convalescence was associated with a significant up-regulation of Bcl-2, Bax, and WAF-1 expression in the rectum compared to that in the acute phase of infection. Thus, induction of apoptosis at the local site in the early phase of S. dysenteriae type 1 infection was associated with a significant up-regulation of Fas/Fas-L and perforin and granzyme A expression and a down-regulation of Bcl-2 and IL-2, which promote cell survival.
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PMID:Apoptosis in acute shigellosis is associated with increased production of Fas/Fas ligand, perforin, caspase-1, and caspase-3 but reduced production of Bcl-2 and interleukin-2. 1201 Oct 15

Methamphetamine is a neurotoxic drug of abuse known to cause cell death both in vitro and in vivo. Nevertheless, the molecular and cellular mechanisms involved in this process remain to be clarified. Herein, we show that methamphetamine-induced apoptosis is associated with early (2 h) overexpression of bax, decreases of mitochondrial membrane potential and oxygen consumption as well as release of cytochrome c from mitochondria. In addition, activated caspase-9 was detected at 4 h post-METH exposure. Cell death was detectable by annexin V and propidium iodide staining after 8 h of methamphetamine exposure. At that time, the majority of the cells were stained by annexin V alone, with some cells being stained for both annexin V and propidium iodide. Moreover, cleavage of caspase-3, poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase and DNA fragmentation-related factor 45 was detected at 8 h post drug treatment. These results indicate that methamphetamine-induced apoptotic cell death results from early overexpression of bax, reduction of mitochondrial respiration and membrane potential and release of mitochondrial cytochrome c with subsequent activation of the caspase cascade.
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PMID:Methamphetamine induces apoptosis in an immortalized rat striatal cell line by activating the mitochondrial cell death pathway. 1201 10

A family of phenotypically and biologically different transplantable hamster melanomas was derived from a single tumor more than 40 yr ago. In this work, we were seeking the differences between the abilities of the cells from two biologically heterogeneous (melanotic and amelanotic) members of this family to undergo spontaneous or camptothecin-induced apoptosis. We studied these differences by looking at three important features of the apoptotic process, i.e. binding of annexin V, DNA fragmentation and caspase-3 activity. Of these, annexin binding and DNA fragmentation were more pronounced in the parental, melanotic line while the activity of caspase-3 was stronger in the amelanotic tumor cells. We concluded that a spontaneous alteration of the original, melanotic melanoma line into an amelanotic one, associated with more aggressive tumor progression, was accompanied by significant decrease in ability to undergo spontaneous and camptothecin-induced apoptosis, and that apoptosis of these two cell types may not depend on the activity of caspase-3.
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PMID:Heterogeneous susceptibility to spontaneous and induced apoptosis characterizes two related transplantable melanomas with different biological properties. 1202 88

The effect of N-1-(3,5-dimethyladamantyl)maleimide (DMAMI) on the growth of Colo205 human colon cancer cells was examined both in vitro and in vivo. Flow cytometry analysis showed a decrease of G2/M Colo205 cells at 4-6 h after treatment with DMAMI prior to accumulation of apoptotic cells at 24 h. Significant changes in cell morphology, i.e. shrinkage and chromatin condensation of cells, were observed after treatment with DMAMI. In the analysis of the apoptosis markers, it was found that the increase of Annexin V binding to membrane, peroxide radicals, dissipation of the mitochondrial membrane potential, and the activation of caspase-3, -8 and -9 were all evident at 4-6 h after treatment with DMAMI. In vivo analysis showed that treatment of Colo205 tumor-bearing SCID mice with DMAMI (230 mg/kg, intratumoral, once) resulted in rapid tumor damage that leads to significant tumor growth inhibition and no obvious acute toxicity. These results suggest that DMAMI has potential for local treatment of cancer.
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PMID:Dimethyladamantylmaleimide-induced in vitro and in vivo growth inhibition of human colon cancer Colo205 cells. 1204 65


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