Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts: Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound   Target Concepts: 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)

Apoptosis competence is central to the prevention of cancer. Frequency of apoptotic cells, after a sample of colonic tissue is stressed, can be used to gauge apoptosis competence and, thus, possible susceptibility to colon cancer. The gold standard for assessment of apoptosis is morphological evaluation, but this requires an experienced microscopist. Easier-to-use immunohistochemical markers of apoptosis, applicable in archived paraffin-embedded tissue, have been commercially developed. Potentially useful apoptosis markers include cleaved cytokeratin-18 (c-CK18), cleaved caspase-3 (c-cas-3), cleaved lamin A (c-lam-A), phosphorylated histone H2AX (gammaH2AX), cleaved poly(ADP ribose) polymerase (c-PARP), and translocation of apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF). When tissue samples from freshly resected colon segments were challenged ex vivo with the bile acid deoxycholate, approximately 50% of goblet cells became apoptotic by morphologic criteria. This high level of morphologic apoptosis allowed quantitative comparison with the usefulness and specificity of immunohistochemical markers of apoptosis. The antibody to c-CK18 was almost as useful and about as specific as morphology for identifying apoptotic colonic epithelial cells. Antibodies to c-cas-3, c-lam-A, and gammaH2AX, though specific for apoptotic cells, were less useful. The antibody to c-PARP, though specific for apoptotic cells, had low usefulness, and the antibody to AIF was relatively nonspecific, under our conditions.
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PMID:Assessment of apoptosis by immunohistochemical markers compared to cellular morphology in ex vivo-stressed colonic mucosa. 1568 35

Calpain has been implicated in excitotoxic neurode-generation, but its mechanism of action particularly in adult brains remains unclear. We generated mutant mice lacking or overexpressing calpastatin, the only solely calpain-specific inhibitor ever identified or synthesized. Modulation of calpastatin expression caused no defect in the mice under normal conditions, indicating that calpastatin functions as a negative regulator of calpain only under pathological conditions. Kainate-evoked excitotoxicity in hippocampus resulted in proteolytic activation of a proapoptotic Bcl-2 subfamily member (Bid), nuclear translocation of mitochondria-derived DNA fragmentation factors (apoptosis-inducing factor and endonuclease G), DNA fragmentation, and nuclear condensation in pyramidal neurons. These apoptotic responses were significantly augmented by calpastatin deficiency. Consistently calpastatin overexpression suppressed them. No evidence of caspase-3 activation was detected. Our results demonstrated that calpain mediates excitotoxic signals through mobilization of proapoptotic factors in a caspase-independent manner. These mutant mice will serve as useful tools for investigating calpain involvement in various diseases.
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PMID:Calpain mediates excitotoxic DNA fragmentation via mitochondrial pathways in adult brains: evidence from calpastatin mutant mice. 1569 48

Toward the end of the 20th and beginning of the 21st centuries, clever in vitro biochemical complementation experiments and genetic screens from the laboratories of Xiaodong Wang, Shigekazu Nagata, and Ding Xue led to the discovery of two major apoptotic nucleases, termed DNA fragmentation factor (DFF) or caspase-activated DNase (CAD) and endonuclease G (Endo G). Both endonucleases attack chromatin to yield 3'-hydroxyl groups and 5'-phosphate residues, first at the level of 50-300 kb cleavage products and next at the level of internucleosomal DNA fragmentation, but these nucleases possess completely different cellular locations in normal cells and are regulated in vastly different ways. In non-apoptotic cells, DFF exists in the nucleus as a heterodimer, composed of a 45 kD chaperone and inhibitor subunit (DFF45) [also called inhibitor of CAD (ICAD-L)] and a 40 kD latent nuclease subunit (DFF40/CAD). Apoptotic activation of caspase-3 or -7 results in the cleavage of DFF45/ICAD and release of active DFF40/CAD nuclease. DFF40's nuclease activity is further activated by specific chromosomal proteins, such as histone H1, HMGB1/2, and topoisomerase II. DFF is regulated by multiple pre- and post-activation fail-safe steps, which include the requirements for DFF45/ICAD, Hsp70, and Hsp40 proteins to mediate appropriate folding during translation to generate a potentially activatable nuclease, and the synthesis in stoichiometric excess of the inhibitors (DFF45/35; ICAD-S/L). By contrast, Endo G resides in the mitochondrial intermembrane space in normal cells, and is released into the nucleus upon apoptotic disruption of mitochondrial membrane permeability in association with co-activators such as apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF). Understanding further regulatory check-points involved in safeguarding non-apoptotic cells against accidental activation of these nucleases remain as future challenges, as well as designing ways to selectively activate these nucleases in tumor cells.
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PMID:Discovery, regulation, and action of the major apoptotic nucleases DFF40/CAD and endonuclease G. 1572 41

Apoptosis has been implicated in the regulation of denervation-induced muscle atrophy. However, the activation of apoptotic signal transduction during muscle denervation has not been fully elucidated. The present study examined the apoptotic responses to denervation in rat gastrocnemius muscle. Following 14 days of denervation, the extent of apoptotic DNA fragmentation as determined by a cytosolic nucleosome ELISA was increased by 100% in the gastrocnemius muscle. RT-PCR and immunoblot analyses indicated that Bax was dramatically upregulated while Bcl-2 was modestly increased; however, the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio was significantly increased in denervated muscles relative to control muscles. Analyses of ELISA and immunoblots from mitochondria-free cytosol extracts showed a significant increase in mitochondria-associated apoptotic factors, including cytochrome c, Smac/DIABLO and apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF). In addition to the upregulation of caspase-3 and -9 mRNA, pro-/cleaved caspase protein and proteolytic activity levels, the X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis (XIAP) protein level was downregulated. The cleaved product of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) was detected in muscle samples following denervation. Although we did not find a difference in the inhibitor of DNA binding/differentiation-2 (Id2) and c-Myc protein contents between the denervated and control muscles, the protein content of tumour suppressor p53 was significantly increased in both the nuclear and the cytosolic fractions with denervation. Moreover, denervation increased the protein content of HSP70, whereas the MnSOD (a mitochondrial isoform of superoxide dismutase) protein content was diminished, which indicated that denervation might have induced cellular and/or oxidative stress. Our data show that mitochondria-associated apoptotic signalling is upregulated during muscle denervation. We interpret these findings to indicate that apoptosis has a physiologically important role in regulating denervation-induced muscle atrophy.
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PMID:Mitochondria-associated apoptotic signalling in denervated rat skeletal muscle. 1577 33

Interactions between histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACIs) and the alkyl-lysophospholipid perifosine were examined in human leukemia cells. Coadministration of sodium butyrate, suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA), or trichostatin with perifosine synergistically induced mitochondrial dysfunction (cytochrome c and apoptosis-inducing factor release), caspase-3 and -8 activation, apoptosis, and a marked decrease in cell growth in U937 as well as HL-60 and Jurkat leukemia cells. These events were associated with inactivation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2 and Akt, p46 c-jun-NH2-kinase (JNK) activation, and a pronounced increase in generation of ceramide and reactive oxygen species (ROS). They were also associated with up-regulation of Bak and a marked conformational change in Bax accompanied by membrane translocation. Ectopic expression of Bcl-2 delayed but was ultimately ineffective in preventing perifosine/HDACI-mediated apoptosis. Enforced expression of constitutively active mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK) 1 or myristoylated Akt blocked HDACI/perifosine-mediated ceramide production and cell death, suggesting that MEK/ERK and Akt inactivation play a primary role in these phenomena. However, inhibition of JNK activation (e.g., by the JNK inhibitor SP600125) did not attenuate sodium butyrate/perifosine-induced apoptosis. In addition, the free radical scavenger N-acetyl-L-cysteine attenuated ROS generation and apoptosis mediated by combined treatment. Finally, the acidic sphingomyelinase inhibitor desipramine attenuated HDACI/perifosine-mediated ceramide and ROS production as well as cell death. Together, these findings indicate that coadministration of HDACIs with perifosine in human leukemia cells leads to Akt and MEK/ERK disruption, a marked increase in ceramide and ROS production, and a striking increase in mitochondrial injury and apoptosis. They also raise the possibility that combining these agents may represent a novel antileukemic strategy.
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PMID:Coadministration of histone deacetylase inhibitors and perifosine synergistically induces apoptosis in human leukemia cells through Akt and ERK1/2 inactivation and the generation of ceramide and reactive oxygen species. 1578 58

Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) induced apoptosis of rat basophilic leukemia cells (RBL2H3 cells), whereas 100 microM linoleic acid (LA) had no significant effect. Cytochrome c was released at 4 h. Apoptosis was detected at 6 h after exposure to EPA and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and preceded the activation of caspase-3. Liberation of apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) from mitochondria and its translocation into the nucleus were observed at 4 h. A broad-specificity caspase inhibitor, z-VAD-fmk, failed to suppress the apoptosis, suggesting that EPA induced caspase-independent apoptosis. On other hand, a poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1) inhibitor that blocks AIF translocation to the nucleus suppressed EPA-induced apoptosis. The level of hydroperoxide in the cells and mitochondria increased at the early phase of apoptosis within 2 h. On the contrary, elevation of hydroperoxide in mitochondria was not observed after treatment with LA. The EPA-induced apoptosis was abolished by prevention of the hydroperoxide elevation in mitochondria via overexpression of mitochondrial phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase (PHGPx). Neither cytochrome c nor AIF were released from mitochondria in the mitochondrial PHGPx-overexpressing cells. EPA also induced apoptosis in HeLa cells, but not in L929 or RAW264.7 cells. Enhancement of the hydroperoxide level in mitochondria was found in the EPA-sensitive HeLa cells after treatment with EPA, whereas no such enhancement was observed in the apoptosis-resistant L929 and RAW264.7 cells. These results suggest that the generation of hydroperoxide in mitochondria induced by EPA is associated with AIF release from mitochondria and the induction of apoptosis.
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PMID:Involvement of hydroperoxide in mitochondria in the induction of apoptosis by the eicosapentaenoic acid. 1578 27

Allicin, the major component of Garlic (Allium sativum) was examined for the ability to induce apoptosis and the mechanism of the induction of apoptosis in human epithelial carcinoma cells. Allicin inhibited cell growth and induced apoptosis in gastric epithelial cells. Treatment with allicin resulted in morphological changes, DNA fragmentation, hypodiploid DNA contents and the translocation of Bax to mitochondria. The release of cytochrome c from mitochondria into the cytosol, which is an initiator of the activation of caspase cascades, was observed in allicin-treated cells. However, pretreatment with Z-Val-Ala-Asp-fluoromethylketone (Z-VAD-fmk), a broad spectrum of caspase inhibitor, could not rescue apoptotic cells from allicin toxicity. Coincidently, caspase-3 activation and cleavage of PARP were not detected. In addition, caspase independent apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) was released from mitochondria after treatment with allicin. After pre-incubation of cells with the protein kinase A (PKA) inhibitor H-89, allicin was not capable of inducing an increase of the rate of apoptosis with affecting the expression levels of Bax and AIF. These data demonstrate that allicin induces a caspase-independent apoptotic pathway mediated by mitochondrial release of AIF and PKA appears to be involved in allicin-induced apoptosis in gastric epithelial cells.
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PMID:Caspase-independent cell death by allicin in human epithelial carcinoma cells: involvement of PKA. 3052 59

We demonstrate the role of p53-mediated caspase-2 activation in the mitochondrial release of apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) in cisplatin-treated renal tubular epithelial cells. Gene silencing of AIF with its small interfering RNA (siRNA) suppressed cisplatin-induced AIF expression and provided a marked protection against cell death. Subcellular fractionation and immunofluorescence studies revealed cisplatin-induced translocation of AIF from the mitochondria to the nuclei. Pancaspase inhibitor benzyloxycarbonyl-Val-Ala-Asp-fluoromethylketone or p53 inhibitor pifithrin-alpha markedly prevented mitochondrial release of AIF, suggesting that caspases and p53 are involved in this release. Caspase-2 and -3 that were predominantly activated in response to cisplatin provided a unique model to study the role of these caspases in AIF release. Cisplatin-treated caspase-3 (+/+) and caspase-3 (-/-) cells exhibited similar AIF translocation to the nuclei, suggesting that caspase-3 does not affect AIF translocation, and thus, caspase-2 may be involved in the translocation. Caspase-2 inhibitor benzyloxycarbonyl-Val-Asp-Val-Ala-Asp-fluoromethylketone or down-regulation of caspase-2 by its siRNA significantly prevented translocation of AIF. Caspase-2 activation was a critical response from p53, which was markedly induced and phosphorylated in cisplatin-treated cells. Overexpression of p53 not only resulted in caspase-2 activation but also mitochondrial release of AIF. The p53 inhibitor pifithrin-alpha or p53 siRNA prevented both cisplatin-induced caspase-2 activation and mitochondrial release of AIF. Caspase-2 activation was dependent on the p53-responsive gene, PIDD, a death domain-containing protein that was induced by cisplatin in a p53-dependent manner. These results suggest that caspase-2 activation mediated by p53 is an important pathway involved in the mitochondrial release of AIF in response to cisplatin injury.
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PMID:p53-dependent caspase-2 activation in mitochondrial release of apoptosis-inducing factor and its role in renal tubular epithelial cell injury. 1598 31

Nephrotic-range proteinuria is due to glomerular diseases characterized by podocyte injury. Glucocorticoids are the standard of care for most forms of nephrotic syndrome. However, the precise mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects of glucocorticoids on podocytes, beyond its general immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory effects, are still unknown. This study tested the hypothesis that the synthetic glucocorticoid dexamethasone directly reduces podocyte apoptosis. Growth-restricted immortalized mouse podocytes in culture were exposed to puromycin aminonucleoside (PA) to induce apoptosis. Our results showed that dexamethasone significantly reduced PA-induced apoptosis by 2.81-fold. Dexamethasone also rescued podocyte viability when exposed to PA. PA-induced apoptosis was associated with increased p53 expression, which was completely blocked by dexamethasone. Furthermore, the inhibition of p53 by the p53 inhibitor pifithrin-alpha protected against PA-induced apoptosis. Dexamethasone also lowered the increase in the proapoptotic Bax, which was increased by PA, and increased expression of the antiapoptotic Bcl-xL protein. Moreover, the decrease in p53 by dexamethasone was associated with increased Bcl-xL levels. Podocyte apoptosis induced by PA was caspase-3 independent but was associated with the translocation of apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) from the cytoplasm to nuclei. AIF translocation was inhibited by dexamethasone. These results show that PA-induced podocyte apoptosis is p53 dependent and associated with changes in Bcl-2-related proteins and AIF translocation. The protective effects of dexamethasone on PA-induced apoptosis were associated with decreasing p53, increasing Bcl-xL, and inhibition of AIF translocation. These novel findings provide new insights into the beneficial effects of corticosteroids on podocytes directly, independent of its immunosuppressive effects.
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PMID:Dexamethasone prevents podocyte apoptosis induced by puromycin aminonucleoside: role of p53 and Bcl-2-related family proteins. 1598 50

Acinetobacter baumannii is an important opportunistic pathogen responsible for nosocomial infection. Despite considerable clinical and epidemiological data regarding the role of A. baumannii in nosocomial infection, the specific virulence factor or pathogenic mechanism of this organism has yet to be elucidated. This study investigated the molecular mechanism of apoptosis on the infection of human laryngeal epithelial HEp-2 cells with A. baumannii and examined the contribution of outer membrane protein 38 (Omp38) on the ability of A. baumannii to induce apoptosis of epithelial cells. A. baumannii induced apoptosis of HEp-2 cells through cell surface death receptors and mitochondrial disintegration. The Omp38-deficient mutant was not as able to induce apoptosis as the wild-type A. baumannii strain. Purified Omp38 entered the cells and was localized to the mitochondria, which led to a release of proapoptotic molecules such as cytochrome c and apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF). The activation of caspase-3, which is activated by caspase-9, degraded DNA approximately 180 bp in size, which resulted in the appearance of a characteristic DNA ladder. AIF degraded chromosomal DNA approximately 50 kb in size, which resulted in large-scale DNA fragmentation. These results demonstrate that Omp38 may act as a potential virulence factor to induce apoptosis of epithelial cells in the early stage of A. baumannii infection.
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PMID:Outer membrane protein 38 of Acinetobacter baumannii localizes to the mitochondria and induces apoptosis of epithelial cells. 1600 80


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