Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: EC:3.4.22.61 (caspase-8)
 6,833 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

In the absence of costimulating signals, B cell receptor (BCR) crosslinking on immature B cells triggers the apoptotic cell death program. In the WEHI-231 B cell lymphoma model, anti-IgM crosslinking triggers activation of caspase-7 independently of caspase-8, followed by apoptosis. Two main mechanisms for caspase-7 activation have been proposed: (i) caspase-8 recruitment to death receptors (Fas or tumour necrosis factor); and (ii) changes in mitochondrial membrane permeability and cytochrome c release, which activate caspase-9. Here we report that caspase-7 activation induced by BCR crosslinking is independent of caspase-8 and cytochrome c translocation from mitochondria to the cytosol, as well as of mitochondrial depolarization. In addition, in a cell-free system, the S-100 fraction of anti-IgM-treated WEHI-231 cells induces a caspase activation pattern different from that activated by cytochrome c and dATP. We demonstrate that calpain specifically triggers activation and processing of caspase-7 both in vitro and in vivo, and that both processes are inhibited by calpain inhibitors. Furthermore, calpain activation is associated with decreased expression levels of calpastatin, which is upregulated by CD40 ligation. These data confirm a role for calpain during BCR crosslinking, which may be critical for cell deletion by apoptosis during B cell development and activation.
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PMID:Implication of calpain in caspase activation during B cell clonal deletion. 1048 51

Past studies have shown that TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) induced apoptosis in a high proportion of cultured melanoma by caspase-dependent mechanisms. In the present studies we have examined whether TRAIL-induced apoptosis of melanoma was mediated by direct activation of effector caspases or whether apoptosis was dependent on changes in mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and mitochondrial-dependent pathways of apoptosis. Changes in MMP were measured by fluorescent emission from rhodamine 123 in mitochondria. TRAIL, but not TNF-alpha or Fas ligand, was shown to induce marked changes in MMP in melanoma, which showed a high correlation with TRAIL-induced apoptosis. This was associated with activation of proapoptotic protein Bid and release of cytochrome c into the cytosol. Overexpression of B cell lymphoma gene 2 (Bcl-2) inhibited TRAIL-induced release of cytochrome c, changes in MMP, and apoptosis. The pan caspase inhibitor z-Val-Ala-Asp-fluoromethylketone (zVAD-fmk) and the inhibitor of caspase-8 (z-Ile-Glu-Thr-Asp-fluoromethylketone; zIETD-fmk) blocked changes in MMP and apoptosis, suggesting that the changes in MMP were dependent on activation of caspase-8. Activation of caspase-9 also appeared necessary for TRAIL-induced apoptosis of melanoma. In addition, TRAIL, but not TNF-alpha or Fas ligand, was shown to induce clustering of mitochondria around the nucleus. This process was not essential for apoptosis but appeared to increase the rate of apoptosis. Taken together, these results suggest that TRAIL induces apoptosis of melanoma cells by recruitment of mitochondrial pathways to apoptosis that are dependent on activation of caspase-8. Therefore, factors that regulate the mitochondrial pathway may be important determinants of TRAIL-induced apoptosis of melanoma.
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PMID:TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand-induced apoptosis of melanoma is associated with changes in mitochondrial membrane potential and perinuclear clustering of mitochondria. 1106 17

Apoptosis of infected cells is an important host defense mechanism, and many viruses have exploited antiapoptotic proteins that interfere with crucial cellular pathways. Viral FLICE inhibitory proteins (vFLIPs) are encoded by rhadinoviruses like herpesvirus saimiri, the related Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus-human herpesvirus 8 (KSHV/HHV8), and the poxvirus responsible for molluscum contagiosum. The vFLIPs can block the interaction of the death receptor-adapter complex with the cellular effector FLICE (caspase-8), and this prevents the initiation of the downstream caspase cascade. KSHV/HHV8 vFLIP overexpression can confer resistance to T-cell-mediated apoptosis and acts as a tumor progression factor in a murine B-cell lymphoma model. To analyze the function of herpesvirus vFLIPs in the genetic background of the virus and in a model for viral pathogenesis, we deleted the vFLIP gene (open reading frame 71) from the genome of herpesvirus saimiri strain C488. The viral deletion mutant was viable and replicated like the wild-type virus. An antiapoptotic effect could be attributed to the vFLIP gene, but we also show that the vFLIP gene of herpesvirus saimiri is dispensable for viral transformation of T cells in vitro and for pathogenicity in cottontop tamarins in vivo.
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PMID:Herpesvirus saimiri vFLIP provides an antiapoptotic function but is not essential for viral replication, transformation, or pathogenicity. 1109 Jan 92

To date, not much has been known regarding the role of CD80 and CD86 molecules in signaling of B cells. The CD28/CTLA4 ligands, CD80 (B7-1) and CD86 (B7-2), are expressed on the surface of freshly isolated splenic B cells, and their expression is up-regulated by lipopolysaccharides. In the present study, we have investigated whether signaling via CD80/CD86 could alter the proliferation and immunoglobulin synthesis of B cells. Splenic B cells were stimulated with lipopolysaccharides in the presence of anti-B7-1 (16-10A1) and anti-B7-2 (GL1) monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). Exciting features observed during the study were that cross-linking of CD86 with GL1 enhanced the proliferation and production of IgG1 and IgG2a isotypes. In contrast, anti-B7-1 (16-10A1) mAb could efficiently block the proliferation and production of IgG1 and IgG2a. Furthermore, GL1 mAb could also induce the secretion of IgG isotypes from B cell lymphomas. Importantly, 16-10A1 could retard the growth of lymphomas and favored the up-regulation of pro-apoptotic molecules caspase-3, caspase-8, Fas, FasL, Bak, and Bax and down-regulation of anti-apoptotic molecule Bcl-x(L). In contrast, GL1 augmented the level of anti-apoptotic molecules Bcl-w and Bcl-x(L) and decreased the levels of pro-apoptotic molecule caspase-8, thereby providing a novel insight into the mechanism whereby triggering through CD80 and CD86 could deliver regulatory signals. Thus, this study is the first demonstration of a distinct signaling event induced by CD80 and CD86 molecules in B cell lymphoma. Finally, the significance of the finding is that CD80 provided negative signal for the proliferation and IgG secretion of normal B cells and B cell lymphomas. In contrast, CD86 encouraged the activity of B cells.
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PMID:Distinct role of CD80 and CD86 in the regulation of the activation of B cell and B cell lymphoma. 1172 49

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cells, but not peripheral blood T cells, undergo apoptosis following treatment with inhibitors of type 4 cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase (PDE4), a process that correlates dose dependently with elevation of adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) in leukemic cells. We show that treatment of CLL cells with rolipram, a prototypic PDE4 inhibitor, and forskolin, an adenylate cyclase activator, induces mitochondrial depolarization, release of cytochrome c into the cytosol, caspase-9 and -3 activation, and cleavage of poly(adenosine diphosphate [ADP]-ribose)polymerase. Inhibitors of caspase-9, but not caspase-8, block rolipram/forskolin-induced CLL apoptosis. In a subset of CLL patients, B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2)-associated death promoter homolog (Bad), a proapoptotic Bcl-2 family member that when phosphorylated on specific serine residues is sequestered in the cytosol by 14-3-3, was dephosphorylated at Ser112 following rolipram/forskolin treatment of leukemic cells. Rolipram/forskolin treatment also induced Bad to accumulate in CLL heavy-membrane fractions, consistent with Bad translocation to mitochondria. To determine the mechanism for rolipram/forskolin-induced Bad dephosphorylation, we examined CLL phosphatase activity. Rolipram/forskolin treatment augmented protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) activity, as well as levels of immunoreactive PP2A catalytic subunit. Treatment of CLL cells with a concentration of okadaic acid (5 nM) that selectively inhibits PP2A, reduced both rolipram/forskolin-induced mitochondrial cytochrome c release and mitochondrial depolarization. Okadaic acid restored Bad Ser112 phosphorylation and Bad association with 14-3-3 in rolipram/forskolin-treated CLL cells. These results suggest that PDE4 inhibitors may induce CLL apoptosis by activating PP2A-induced dephosphorylation of proapoptotic BH3-only Bcl-2 family members such as Bad.
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PMID:PDE4 inhibitors activate a mitochondrial apoptotic pathway in chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells that is regulated by protein phosphatase 2A. 1253 92

Signaling through the B cell receptor (BCR) of normal splenic B cells, as well as B cell lymphoma lines, can abrogate Fas-mediated apoptosis. Using the B lymphoma line A20.2J, BCR signaling immediately inhibited Fas-induced apoptosis upstream of caspase-8 activation, as determined by Ile-Glu-Thr-Asp-(IETD)ase activity and cleavage of the caspase-8 substrate Bid. Furthermore, following overexpression of a human Fas:FLICE construct, which directly induces caspase activation in a death-inducing signaling complex-independent manner, cells could not be protected through BCR stimulation.Co-incubation with cycloheximide partially reversed protection from apoptosis and increased Fas-stimulated initiator and effector caspase activation, suggesting new protein synthesis is necessary to induce protection upstream of caspase activation. Furthermore, co-incubation with a broad-spectrum protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor, such as bisindolylmaleimide (Bis), also partially reversed protection from apoptosis, and examination of a panel of PKC inhibitors suggested a role for atypical isozymes in protection. Bis also acted to increase initiator and effector caspase activation upon anti-IgG and anti-Fas treatment. These data suggest that BCR-induced protection is being mediated upstream of initiator caspase activation, and is partially dependent upon both PKC family members and new protein synthesis.
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PMID:B cell receptor signaling mediates immediate protection from Fas-induced apoptosis upstream of caspase activation through an atypical protein kinase C isozyme and de novo protein synthesis. 1293 25

Resistance to death receptor-mediated apoptosis is supposed to be important for the deregulated growth of B cell lymphoma. Hodgkin/Reed-Sternberg (HRS) cells, the malignant cells of classical Hodgkin's lymphoma (cHL), resist CD95-induced apoptosis. Therefore, we analyzed death receptor signaling, in particular the CD95 pathway, in these cells. High level CD95 expression allowed a rapid formation of the death-inducing signaling complex (DISC) containing Fas-associated death domain-containing protein (FADD), caspase-8, caspase-10, and most importantly, cellular FADD-like interleukin 1beta-converting enzyme-inhibitory protein (c-FLIP). The immunohistochemical analysis of the DISC members revealed a strong expression of CD95 and c-FLIP overexpression in 55 out of 59 cases of cHL. FADD overexpression was detectable in several cases. Triggering of the CD95 pathway in HRS cells is indicated by the presence of CD95L in cells surrounding them as well as confocal microscopy showing c-FLIP predominantly localized at the cell membrane. Elevated c-FLIP expression in HRS cells depends on nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB. Despite expression of other NF-kappaB-dependent antiapoptotic proteins, the selective down-regulation of c-FLIP by small interfering RNA oligoribonucleotides was sufficient to sensitize HRS cells to CD95 and tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand-induced apoptosis. Therefore, c-FLIP is a key regulator of death receptor resistance in HRS cells.
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PMID:c-FLIP mediates resistance of Hodgkin/Reed-Sternberg cells to death receptor-induced apoptosis. 1507 99

In contrast to caspase-8, controversy exists as to the ability of caspase-10 to mediate apoptosis in response to FasL. Herein, we have shown activation of caspase-10, -3, and -7 as well as B cell lymphoma-2-interacting domain (Bid) cleavage and cytochrome c release in caspase-8-deficient Jurkat (I9-2) cells treated with FasL. Apoptosis was clearly induced as illustrated by nuclear and DNA fragmentation. These events were inhibited by benzyloxycarbonyl-VAD-fluoromethyl ketone, a broad spectrum caspase inhibitor, indicating that caspases were functionally and actively involved. Benzyloxycarbonyl-AEVD-fluoromethyl ketone, a caspase-10 inhibitor, had a comparable effect. FasL-induced cell death was not completely abolished by caspase inhibitors in agreement with the existence of a cytotoxic caspase-independent pathway. In subpopulations of I9-2 cells displaying distinct caspase-10 expression levels, cell sensitivity to FasL correlated with caspase-10 expression. A robust caspase activation, Bid cleavage, and DNA fragmentation were observed in cells with high caspase-10 levels but not in those with low levels. In vitro, caspase-10, as well as caspase-8, could cleave Bid to generate active truncated Bid (p15). Altogether, our data strongly suggest that caspase-10 can serve as an initiator caspase in Fas signaling leading to Bid processing, caspase cascade activation, and apoptosis.
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PMID:Caspase-10 triggers Bid cleavage and caspase cascade activation in FasL-induced apoptosis. 1577 77

Cellular caspase-8 (FLICE)-like inhibitory protein (cFLIP) was originally identified as an inhibitor of death-receptor signalling through competition with caspase-8 for recruitment to FAS-associated via death domain (FADD). More recently, it has been determined that both cFLIP and caspase-8 are required for the survival and proliferation of T cells following T-cell-receptor stimulation. This paradoxical finding launched new investigations of how these molecules might connect with signalling pathways that link to cell survival and growth following antigen-receptor activation. As discussed in this Review, insight gained from these studies indicates that cFLIP and caspase-8 form a heterodimer that ultimately links T-cell-receptor signalling to activation of nuclear factor-kappaB through a complex that includes B-cell lymphoma 10 (BCL-10), mucosa-associated-lymphoid-tissue lymphoma-translocation gene 1 (MALT1) and receptor-interacting protein 1 (RIP1).
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PMID:cFLIP regulation of lymphocyte activation and development. 1649 50

Triggering of lymphocyte antigen receptors is the critical first step in the adaptive immune response against pathogens. T cell receptor (TCR) ligation assembles a large membrane signalosome, culminating in NF-kappaB activation [1,2]. Recently, caspase-8 was found to play a surprisingly prominent role in lymphocyte activation in addition to its well-known role in apoptosis [3]. Caspase-8 is activated after TCR stimulation and nucleates a complex with B cell lymphoma 10 (BCL10), paracaspase MALT1, and the inhibitors of kappaB kinase (IKK) complex [4]. We now report that the ubiquitin ligase TRAF6 binds to active caspase-8 upon TCR stimulation and facilitates its movement into lipid rafts. We identified in silico two putative TRAF6 binding motifs in the caspase-8 sequence and found that mutation of critical residues within these sites abolished TRAF6 binding and diminished TCR-induced NF-kappaB activation. Moreover, RNAi-mediated silencing of TRAF6 abrogated caspase-8 recruitment to the lipid rafts. Protein kinase Ctheta (PKCtheta), CARMA1, and BCL10 are also required for TCR-induced caspase-8 relocation, but only PKCtheta and BCL10 control caspase-8 activation. Our results suggest that PKCtheta independently controls CARMA1 phosphorylation and BCL10-dependent caspase-8 activation and unveil an essential role for TRAF6 as a critical adaptor linking these two convergent signaling events.
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PMID:Caspase-8 regulation by direct interaction with TRAF6 in T cell receptor-induced NF-kappaB activation. 1692 Jun 30


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