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

The natural product justicidin A, an arylnaphthalide lignan isolated from Justicia procumbens, significantly inhibited the growth of human colorectal cancer cells HT-29 and HCT 116 at day 6 post-treatment. Further study revealed that justicidin A-treated HT-29 and HCT 116 colorectal cancer cells died of apoptosis. Justicidin A treatment caused DNA fragmentation and an increase in phosphatidylserine exposure of the cells. The number of cells in the sub-G1 phase was also increased upon justicidin A treatment. Caspase-9 but not caspase-8 was activated, suggesting that justicidin A treatment damaged mitochondria. The mitochondrial membrane potential was altered and cytochrome c and Smac were released from mitochondria to the cytoplasm upon justicidin A treatment. The level of Ku70 in the cytoplasm was decreased, but that of Bax in mitochondria was increased by justicidin A. Since Ku70 normally binds and sequesters Bax, these results suggest that justicidin A decreases the level of Ku70 leading to translocation of Bax from the cytosol to mitochondria to induce apoptosis. Oral administration of justicidin A was shown to suppress the growth of HT-29 cells transplanted into NOD-SCID mice, suggesting chemotherapeutic potential of justicidin A on colorectal cancer cells.
Carcinogenesis 2005 Oct
PMID:Justicidin A decreases the level of cytosolic Ku70 leading to apoptosis in human colorectal cancer cells. 1590 97

This study aimed to investigate the expression of cellular Fas-associated death domain-like interleukin-1beta-converting enzyme (FLICE)/caspase-8 inhibitory protein (c-FLIP) in endometrial carcinoma and its possible implications. c-FLIP protein was detected in 42 endometrial carcinoma tissues and in 22 normal proliferative endometrial tissues by immunohistochemistry. In addition, c-FLIP messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) was evaluated in 20 endometrial carcinomas and in 18 normal proliferative endometria by semiquantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) using SYBR Green I(TM). The relationship between c-FLIP protein level and tumor cell proliferation and that between c-FLIP protein level and clinicopathologic parameters of patients with endometrial carcinoma was analyzed. c-FLIP protein expression was significantly higher in neoplastic tissues than in normal tissues (P < 0.01), and similar result was obtained from RT-PCR analysis of c-FLIP mRNA (P < 0.01). Furthermore, c-FLIP protein was significantly associated with proliferating cell nuclear antigen-labeling index (P < 0.01), clinical stage (P < 0.05), the presence of invasion to > 1/2 myometrium (P < 0.05), and lymph node metastasis (P < 0.01). Multivariate analysis of variance also confirmed the association of c-FLIP with clinical stage (P < 0.05) and with lymph node metastasis (P < 0.05), while its association with myometrial invasion was marginal (P = 0.059). It is concluded that c-FLIP might contribute to the carcinogenesis and aggressiveness of endometrial carcinoma and might be a useful prognostic factor in the tumor.
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PMID:Expression of cellular FLICE/caspase-8 inhibitory protein is associated with malignant potential in endometrial carcinoma. 1601 21

Growth factors are known to favor both proliferation and survival of hepatocytes. In the present study, we investigated if c-FLIP(L) (cellular FLICE-inhibitory protein, long isoform) could be involved in epidermal growth factor (EGF)-stimulated proliferation of rat hepatocytes since c-FLIP(L) regulates both cell proliferation and procaspase-8 maturation. Treatment with MEK inhibitors prevented induction of c-FLIP(L) by EGF along with total inhibition of DNA replication. However, EGF failed to inhibit processing of procaspase-8 in the presence of EGF suggesting that c-FLIP(L) does not play its canonical anti-apoptotic role in this model. Downregulation of c-FLIP expression using siRNA oligonucleotides strongly reduced DNA replication but did not result in enhanced apoptosis. Moreover, intermediate cleavage products of c-FLIP(L) and caspase-8 were found in EGF-treated hepatocytes in the absence of caspase-3 maturation and cell death. To determine whether the Fas/FADD/caspase-8/c-FLIP(L) complex was required for this activity, Fas, procaspase-8 and Fas-associated death domain protein (FADD) expression or function was inhibited using siRNA or constructs encoding dominant negative mutant proteins. Inhibition of any of these components of the Fas/FADD/caspase-8 pathway decreased DNA replication suggesting a function of these proteins in cell-cycle arrest. Similar results were obtained when the IETD-like caspase activity detectable in EGF-treated hepatocytes was inhibited by the pan-caspase inhibitor, z-ASP. Finally, we demonstrated co-immunoprecipitation between EGFR and Fas within 15 min following EGF stimulation. In conclusion, our results indicate that the Fas/FADD/c-FLIP(L)/caspase-8 pathway positively controls the G(1)/S transition in EGF-stimulated hepatocytes. Our data provide new insights into the mechanisms by which apoptotic proteins participate to mitogenic signals during the G(1) phase.
Carcinogenesis 2005 Dec
PMID:A role for caspase-8 and c-FLIPL in proliferation and cell-cycle progression of primary hepatocytes. 1603 71

E2F1 is a transcription factor that plays a well-documented role during S phase progression and apoptosis. We had previously postulated that the low level of E2F1 in primary lung adenocarcinoma contributes to their carcinogenesis. Here, we show that E2F1 triggers apoptosis in various lung adenocarcinoma cell lines by a mechanism involving the specific downregulation of the cellular FLICE-inhibitory protein short, leading to caspase-8 activation at the death-inducing signaling complex. Importantly, we also provide evidence that E2F1 sensitizes tumor as well as primary cells to apoptosis mediated by FAS ligand or tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand, and enhances the cytotoxic effect of T lymphocytes against tumor cells. Finally, we describe the specific overexpression of c-FLIP(S) in human lung adenocarcinomas with low level of E2F1. Overall, our data identify E2F1 as a critical determinant of the cellular response to death-receptor-mediated apoptosis, and suggest that its downregulation contributes to the immune escape of lung adenocarcinoma tumor cells.
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PMID:E2F1 induces apoptosis and sensitizes human lung adenocarcinoma cells to death-receptor-mediated apoptosis through specific downregulation of c-FLIP(short). 1605 33

Glycyrrhetinic acid (GA) and its related compounds are known to have anti-inflammatory activity and also to inhibit liver carcinogenesis and tumor growth. GA and related compounds inhibited cell proliferation of the human hepatoma cell line, HepG2. Among five compounds tested, ursolic acid and 18beta-olean-12-ene-3beta, 23, 28-triol (18beta-erythrotriol) were comparatively effective, where the 50% inhibitory dose was 20 microM and 25 microM, respectively. Flow-cytometric analysis showed that GA and the related compounds arrested the cell cycle in the G1-phase; in addition, GA-related compounds induced apoptosis at high dose. Western blot analysis indicated that the induction of apoptosis by GA and ursolic acid was accompanied with an activation of caspase-8 and a reduction in the anti-apoptotic proteins, Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL, although the pro-apoptotic proteins, Bax and Bak, remained unaffected. These results suggest that GA and its related compounds may be potent agents in liver cancer treatment.
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PMID:Glycyrrhetinic acid and related compounds induce G1 arrest and apoptosis in human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2. 1630 97

Previously, we found that the H1 histamine receptor antagonist diphenhydramine induces apoptosis in human acute T-lymphocytic leukemia cells. Since histamine has been shown to act as a growth factor in malignant melanoma cells, we decided to evaluate the in vitro effect of diphenhydramine and other H1 histamine receptor antagonists, such as terfenadine, astemizol and triprolidine on four malignant human melanoma cell lines. These antagonists were found to induce apoptotic cell death in all four melanoma cell lines. Apoptosis was determined by assessment of phosphatidylserine exposure on the surface of the cells and nuclear fragmentation. Importantly, H1 antagonist treatments did not adversely affect the viability of human melanocytes and murine fibroblasts at the same doses and duration of exposure. Treatment of melanoma cells with terfenadine induced DNA damage and caspases 2, 3, 6, 8 and 9 activation. Furthermore, the general caspase inhibitor (z-VAD-FMK) and a selective inhibitor of caspase-2 (z-VDVAD-FMK) protected melanoma cells from terfenadine-induced apoptosis. In contrast, the caspase-8 inhibitor (z-IETD-FMK) was ineffective. In addition, we found that mitochondria are involved in TEF-induced apoptosis, characterized by the dissipation of the mitochondrial transmembrane potential, the release of cytochrome c into the cytosolic compartment and caspase-9 activation. On the basis of these results we conclude that H1 histamine receptor antagonists induce apoptosis in human melanoma cells but not in normal melanocytes and embryonic murine fibroblasts; this apoptosis appears to be caspase-2-dependent and involves the mitochondrial pathway. The present results may contribute to the elaboration of novel therapeutic strategies for the treatment of malignant human melanoma.
Carcinogenesis 2006 Sep
PMID:H1 histamine receptor antagonists induce genotoxic and caspase-2-dependent apoptosis in human melanoma cells. 1656 56

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as sulindac inhibit human colorectal carcinogenesis through a mechanism involving the direct inhibition of cyclooxygenase (Cox)-2. However, a wealth of recent evidence indicates that these agents might elicit their effects through mechanisms independently of Cox-2. In this study, we investigated the effects of sulindac and its metabolite, sulindac sulfide on modulation of the critical survival kinase, protein kinase B (PKB). Here, we demonstrate for the first time that treatment with either sulindac or sulindac sulfide results in a decrease in PKB activity, and we provide compelling evidence that this occurs through two distinct mechanisms. Additionally, we report that overexpression of, and conditional activation of PKB attenuates the apoptotic effects of sulindac, but not for sulindac sulfide - the metabolic metabolite of sulindac. We also demonstrate that treatment with sulindac sulfide, but not sulindac, results in a very early robust activation of both caspase-8 and -9. Furthermore, we show that the apoptotic effects of sulindac sulfide can be reverted by both the caspase-8 and -9 inhibitors. Evidence is provided to indicate that PKB is targeted by robust caspase activation due to sulindac sulfide. Hence, further investigation into the mechanisms regulating conversion of sulindac to sulindac sulfide (or direct use of the latter compound), may enhance our ability to target cancers with enhanced signaling through the growth factor-->phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase pathway.
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PMID:Differential targeting of protein kinase B in cell death induced by sulindac and its metabolite sulindac sulfide. 1668 48

Chemoresistance has been one of the major problems in anticancer therapy. In our effort to find a potential molecular target for overcoming the chemoresistance in prostate cancer, a promising anticancer drug trichostatin A (TSA) induced cell death was found to be compromised by enhanced NF-kappaB activation in 267B1/K-ras human prostate epithelial cancer cells. However, both the NF-kappaB activation and chemoresistance were reduced by pretreatment with proteasome inhibitor-I (ProI), accompanied by accumulations of both IkappaBalpha and p65/RelA (but not p50/NF-kappaB1) in the cytoplasm. Clonogenic cell survival and soft agar assays further confirmed the increased TSA chemosensitivity of 267B1/K-ras cells by ProI treatment. Moreover, dominant negative mutant of IKKbeta, IkappaBalpha and p65 enhanced the chemosensitization, too. Unexpectedly, using LY294002 and PD98059, phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase and mitogen-activated protein kinase were also implied in TSA chemoresistance through NF-kappaB activation, while these compounds had showed no effect on radiosensitization in the cells. On the other hand, together with TUNEL (terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling) assay, activations of caspase-8 and caspase-3 by TSA and ProI were noticed, suggesting the involvement of apoptotic process in chemosensitization of 267B1/K-ras cells. Altogether, these results suggest that blocking the NF-kappaB activation pathway could be an efficient target for improving the TSA chemosensitization and applying to the development of anticancer therapeutics in Ki-Ras-overexpressing tumorigenic cells, including prostate cancer.
Carcinogenesis 2006 Nov
PMID:NF-kappaB inhibition increases chemosensitivity to trichostatin A-induced cell death of Ki-Ras-transformed human prostate epithelial cells. 1677 37

Chronic arsenic poisoning is a world public health issue. Long-term exposure to inorganic arsenic (As) from drinking water has been documented to induce cancers in lung, urinary bladder, kidney, liver and skin in a dose-response relationship. Oxidative stress, chromosomal abnormality and altered growth factors are possible modes of action in arsenic carcinogenesis. Arsenic tends to accumulate in the skin. Skin hyperpigmentation and hyperkeratosis have long been known to be the hallmark signs of chronic As exposure. There are significant associations between these dermatological lesions and risk of skin cancer. The most common arsenic-induced skin cancers are Bowen's disease (carcinoma in situ), basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Arsenic-induced Bowen's disease (As-BD) is able to transform into invasive BCC and SCC. Individuals with As-BD are considered for more aggressive cancer screening in the lung and urinary bladder. As-BD provides an excellent model for studying the early stages of chemical carcinogenesis in human beings. Arsenic exposure is associated with G2/M cell cycle arrest and DNA aneuploidy in both cultured keratinocytes and As-BD lesions. These cellular abnormalities relate to the p53 dysfunction induced by arsenic. The characteristic clinical figures of arsenic-induced skin cancer are: (i) occurrence on sun-protected areas of the body; (ii) multiple and recrudescent lesions. Both As and UVB are able to induce skin cancer. Arsenic treatment enhances the cytotoxicity, mutagenicity and clastogenicity of UV in mammalian cells. Both As and UVB induce apoptosis in keratinocytes by caspase-9 and caspase-8 signaling, respectively. Combined UVB and As treatments resulted in the antiproliferative and proapoptotic effects by stimulating both caspase pathways in the keratinocytes. UVB irradiation inhibited mutant p53 and ki-67 expression, as well as increased in the number of apoptotic cells in As-BD lesions which resulted in an inhibitory effect on proliferation. As-UVB interaction provides a reasonable explanation for the rare occurrences of arsenical cancer in the sun-exposed skin. The multiple and recurrent skin lesions are associated with cellular immune dysfunction in chronic arsenism. A decrease in peripheral CD4+ cells was noticed in the inhabitants of arsenic exposure areas. There was a decrease in the number of Langerhans cells in As-BD lesion which results in an impaired immune function on the lesional sites. Since CD4+ cells are the target cell affected by As, the interaction between CD4+ cells and epidermal keratinocytes under As affection might be closely linked to the pathogenesis of multiple occurrence of arsenic-induced skin cancer. In this review, we provide and discuss the pathomechanisms of arsenic skin cancer and the relationship to its characteristic figures. Such information is critical for understanding the molecular mechanism for arsenic carcinogenesis in other internal organs.
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PMID:Arsenic carcinogenesis in the skin. 1680 64

The identification of proteins, which exhibit different levels in normal, premalignant, and malignant lung cells, could improve early diagnosis and intervention. We compared the levels of proteins in normal human bronchial epithelial (NHBE) and tumorigenic HBE cells (1170-I) by high-throughput immunoblotting (PowerBlot Western Array) using 800 monoclonal antibodies. This analysis revealed that 87 proteins increased by >2-fold, and 45 proteins decreased by >2-fold, in 1170-I compared with NHBE cells. These proteins are involved in DNA synthesis and repair, cell cycle regulation, RNA transcription and degradation, translation, differentiation, angiogenesis, apoptosis, cell adhesion, cytoskeleton and cell motility, and the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase signaling pathway. Conventional Western blotting using lysates of normal, immortalized, transformed, and tumorigenic HBEs and non-small cell lung cancer cell lines confirmed some of these changes. The expression of several of these proteins has been then analyzed by immunohistochemistry in tissue microarrays containing 323 samples, including normal bronchial epithelium, hyperplasia, squamous metaplasia, dysplasias, squamous cell carcinomas, atypical adenomatous hyperplasia, and adenocarcinomas from 144 patients. The results of the immunohistochemical studies correlated with the Western blotting findings and showed gradual increases (caspase-8, signal transducers and activators of transcription 5, and p70s6K) or decrease (E-cadherin) in levels with tumor progression. These results indicate that the changes in proteins detected in this study may occur early in lung carcinogenesis and persist in lung cancer. In addition, some of the proteins detected by this approach may be novel biomarkers for early detection of lung cancer and novel targets for chemoprevention or therapy.
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PMID:Identification and validation of differences in protein levels in normal, premalignant, and malignant lung cells and tissues using high-throughput Western Array and immunohistochemistry. 1714 64


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