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)

Transduction of cancer cells with herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase gene (HSVtk) followed by prodrug ganciclovir (GCV) treatment has been shown to induce apoptosis. In this study, four murine tumors including B16F10 melanoma, NG4TL4 sarcoma, H6 hepatoma and 1MEA 7R.1 hepatoma were found to vary in sensitivity to this gene therapy strategy in vitro but, at effective doses of GCV, the HSVtk-transduced cells of all four tumors showed similar kinetics of early rise in p53 protein levels, then cell cycle S-/G2-phase arrest and finally signs of apoptosis. Immunoblot analyses revealed that Fas (CD95/APO-1), Fas ligand (FasL) and two downstream mediators, RIP and caspase-3, (CPP32, YAMA, Apopain) were increased in GCV-treated HSVtk-transduced tumor cells the cell cycle arrest and before apoptosis. Increased expression of FasL could also be observed in vivo in HSVtk-transduced tumors induced to regress by GCV treatment. Enzyme measurements using specific substrate showed that the caspase-3 activation followed kinetically the FasL expression. More than half of the HSVtk/GCV-induced cell death could be abrogated by addition to the cell culture medium of a specific antisense oligonucleotide to block FasL synthesis, a recombinant Fas/Fc chimeric protein to compete with Fas receptor for FasL binding, or cell-permeable specific tetrapeptide inhibitors of caspase-3 or caspase-8.
 ...
PMID:Involvement of Fas (CD95/APO-1) and Fas ligand in apoptosis induced by ganciclovir treatment of tumor cells transduced with herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase. 1043 92

Anticancer drugs exert at least part of their cytotoxic effect by triggering apoptosis. We previously identified chemotherapy-induced apoptosis in lung cancer cells and suggested a role for p53 alternative or complementary pathways in this process. Recently, a role for the Fas/FasL (CD95/Apo1) signaling system in chemotherapy-induced apoptosis was proposed in some cell types. In the present work, the involvement of the Fas/FasL system in drug-induced apoptosis in lung cancer cells was investigated upon exposure to four cytotoxic drugs (cisplatin, gemcitabine, topotecan, and paclitaxel). We assessed the expression of Fas and FasL and the function of the Fas pathway in six lung cancer cell lines (H460, H322, GLC4, GLC4/ADR, H187, and N417). All lung cancer cell lines expressed Fas and FasL at RNA and protein levels, and apoptosis could be induced in four of six cell lines upon exposure to the Fas agonistic monoclonal antibody (mAb) CLB-CD95/15. Nevertheless, after drug exposure, no significant FasL up-regulation was observed, whereas the Fas expression was increased in the wild-type p53 cell line H460, but not in the other lines, proved to be mutant p53 by direct gene sequencing. Moreover, no correlation was observed in lung cancer cell lines between sensitivity to drugs and to a Fas agonistic mAb, and preincubation of cells with either the Fas-antagonistic mAb CLB-CD95/2 or a FasL-neutralizing mAb did not protect from drug-induced apoptosis. Taken together, these observations strongly argue against a role of the Fas/FasL signaling pathway in drug-induced apoptosis in lung cancer cells. Interestingly, caspase-8 activation was observed upon drug exposure, independently from Fas/FasL signaling.
 ...
PMID:Drug-induced apoptosis in lung cnacer cells is not mediated by the Fas/FasL (CD95/APO1) signaling pathway. 1065 51

Cytotoxic endoribonucleases (RNases) possess a potential for use in cancer therapy. However, the molecular determinants of RNase-induced cell death are not well understood. In this work, we identify such determinants of the cytotoxicity induced by onconase, an amphibian cytotoxic RNase. Onconase displayed a remarkable specificity for tRNA in vivo, leaving rRNA and mRNA apparently undamaged. Onconase-treated cells displayed apoptosis-associated cell blebbing, nuclear pyknosis and fragmentation (karyorrhexis), DNA fragmentation, and activation of caspase-3-like activity. The cytotoxic action of onconase correlated with inhibition of protein synthesis; however, we present evidence for the existence of a mechanism of onconase-induced apoptosis that is independent of inhibition of protein synthesis. The caspase inhibitor benzyloxycarbonyl-Val-Ala-Asp(OMe) fluoromethyl ketone (zVADfmk), at concentrations that completely prevent apoptosis and caspase activation induced by ligation of the death receptor Fas, had only a partial protective effect on onconase-induced cell death. The proapoptotic activity of the p53 tumor suppressor protein and the Fas ligand/Fas/Fas-associating protein with death domain (FADD)/caspase-8 proapoptotic cascade were not required for onconase-induced apoptosis. Procaspases-9, -3, and -7 were processed in onconase-treated cells, suggesting the involvement of the mitochondrial apoptotic machinery in onconase-induced apoptosis. However, the onconase-induced activation of the caspase-9/caspase-3 cascade correlated with atypically little release of cytochrome c from mitochondria. In turn, the low levels of cytochrome c released from mitochondria correlated with a lack of detectable translocation of proapoptotic Bax from the cytosol onto mitochondria in response to onconase. This suggests the possibility of involvement of a different, potentially Bax- and cytochrome c-independent mechanism of caspase-9 activation in onconase-treated cells. As one possible mechanism, we demonstrate that procaspase-9 is released from mitochondria in onconase-treated cells. A detailed understanding of the molecular determinants of the cytotoxic action of onconase could provide means of positive or negative therapeutic modulation of the activity of this potent anticancer agent.
 ...
PMID:Molecular determinants of apoptosis induced by the cytotoxic ribonuclease onconase: evidence for cytotoxic mechanisms different from inhibition of protein synthesis. 1076 89

The dietary isothiocyanates and cancer chemopreventive agents phenethyl isothiocyanate and allyl isothiocyanate and their cysteine conjugates inhibited the growth and induced apoptosis of human leukaemia HL60 (p53-) and human myeloblastic leukaemia-1 cells (p53+) in vitro. The median growth inhibitory concentration (GC(50)) values were in the range 1.49-3.22 microM in cultures with 10% serum. Isothiocyanates and cysteine conjugates had increased potency against HL60 cells in serum-free medium, with GC(50) values of 0.8-0. 9 microM. The potency of the compounds decreased with increased serum content of the medium, but that of the cysteine conjugates decreased more markedly. Growth inhibition and toxicity was characterised by either a rapid interaction of the isothiocyanate with the cells in the first hour of culture or exposure to isothiocyanate liberated from the cysteine conjugate in the initial 3 hr of culture, inhibition of macromolecule synthesis, and a commitment to apoptosis which developed in the initial 24 hr. Activities of caspase-3 and caspase-8 were increased during isothiocyanate-induced apoptosis, but caspase-1 activity was not. The general caspase inhibitor N-benzyloxycarbonyl-Val-Ala-Asp(OMe)-fluoromethylketone and the specific caspase-8 inhibitor N-benzyloxycarbonyl-Ile-Glu(OMe)-Thr-Asp(OMe)-fluoromethylketone inhibited apoptosis, but specific caspase-1 and caspase-3 inhibitors did not. The antiproliferative activities were limited by hydrolysis of the isothiocyanate. This suggests that caspase-8 has a critical role, and caspase-3 a supporting role, in isothiocyanate-induced apoptosis in which p53 is not an obligatory participant. Isothiocyanate-induced apoptosis may suppress the growth of preclinical tumours and contribute to the well-established decreased cancer incidence associated with a vegetable-rich diet.
 ...
PMID:Studies on the mechanism of the inhibition of human leukaemia cell growth by dietary isothiocyanates and their cysteine adducts in vitro. 1082 67

Paclitaxel (Taxol) kills tumor cells by inducing both cellular necrosis and apoptosis. A major impediment to paclitaxel cytotoxicity is the establishment of multidrug resistance whereby exposure to one chemotherapeutic agent results in cross-resistance to a wide variety of other drugs. For example, selection of MCF-7 breast cancer cells for resistance to doxorubicin (MCF-7ADR cells) results in cross-resistance to paclitaxel. This appears to involve the overexpression of the drug transporter P-glycoprotein which can efflux both drugs from tumor cells. However, MCF-7ADR cells possess a deletion mutation in p53 and have considerably reduced levels of the Fas receptor, Fas ligand, caspase-2, caspase-6, and caspase-8, suggesting that paclitaxel resistance may also stem from a bona fide block in paclitaxel-induced apoptosis in these cells. To address this issue, we examined the ability of the P-glycoprotein inhibitor valspodar to restore paclitaxel accumulation, paclitaxel cytotoxicity, and paclitaxel-induced apoptosis. Compared to drug sensitive MCF-7 cells, MCF-7ADR cells accumulated >6-fold less paclitaxel, were approximately 100-fold more resistant to killing by the drug, and were highly resistant to paclitaxel-induced apoptosis. In contrast, MCF-7ADR cells pretreated with valspodar were indistinguishable from drug-sensitive cells in their ability to accumulate paclitaxel, in their chemosensitivity to the drug, and in their ability to undergo paclitaxel-induced apoptosis. Valspodar, by itself, did not affect these parameters. This suggests that the enhancement of paclitaxel toxicity in MCF-7ADR cells involves a restoration of apoptosis and not solely through enhanced drug-induced necrosis. Morever, it appears that changes in the levels/activity of p53, the Fas receptor, Fas ligand, caspase-2, caspase-6, or caspase-8 activity have little effect on paclitaxel-induced cytotoxicity and apoptosis in human breast cancer cells.
 ...
PMID:Role of specific apoptotic pathways in the restoration of paclitaxel-induced apoptosis by valspodar in doxorubicin-resistant MCF-7 breast cancer cells. 1083 93

p53's dual regulation of arrest versus apoptosis may underlie tumor-selective effects of anti-cancer therapy. p53's apoptotic effect has been suggested to involve both transcription-dependent and -independent mechanisms. It is shown here that caspase-8 is activated early in cells undergoing p53-mediated apoptosis and in S100 cell-free extracts that recapitulate transcription-independent apoptosis. Depletion or inactivation of caspase-8 either in cells or cell-free extracts completely prevents this transcription-independent apoptosis and significantly attenuates overall death induced by wild-type p53. Importantly, caspase-8 activation appears to be independent of FADD, and caspase-8 is found in a novel 600-kDa complex following p53 activation. These findings highlight the roles of both transcription-dependent and -independent apoptosis by p53 and identify an essential role for caspase-8 in the transcription-independent pathway.
 ...
PMID:Essential role for caspase-8 in transcription-independent apoptosis triggered by p53. 1098 87

Resveratrol (3,5,4'-trihydroxy-trans-stilbene), in the concentration range of 20 microM and above, induced arrest in the S-phase and apoptosis in the T cell-derived T-ALL lymphocytic leukemia cell line CEM-C7H2 which is deficient in functional p53 and p16. Expression of transgenic p16/INK4A, which causes arrest in G0/G1, markedly reduced the percentage of apoptotic cells. Antagonist antibodies to Fas or FasL, or constitutive expression of crmA did not diminish the extent of resveratrol-induced apoptosis. Furthermore, a caspase-8-negative, Fas-resistant Jurkat cell line was sensitive to resveratrol-induced apoptosis which could be strongly inhibited in the Jurkat as well as in the CEM cell line by z-VAD-fmk and z-IETD-fmk. The almost complete inhibition by z-IETD-fmk and the lack of inhibition by crmA suggested caspase-6 to be the essential initiator caspase. Western blots revealed the massive conversion of procaspase-6 to its active form, while caspase-3 and caspase-2 were proteolytically activated to a much lesser extent.
 ...
PMID:Resveratrol causes arrest in the S-phase prior to Fas-independent apoptosis in CEM-C7H2 acute leukemia cells. 1104 78

In this report, we have assessed the role of IFN-gamma as a sensitizing agent in apoptosis mediated by activation of death receptor CD95 in breast tumor cells. Treatment of the tumor cell lines MCF-7 and MDA-MB231 with IFN-gamma significantly facilitated apoptosis induced by CD95 receptor ligation at the plasma membrane, independently of p53 status. In contrast, IFN-gamma treatment did not enhance the apoptotic effect of the DNA-damaging drug, doxorubicin. Analysis of apoptosis regulators indicated that caspase-8 mRNA and protein levels were up-regulated in both of the cell lines after treatment with IFN-gamma. Furthermore, IFN-gamma sensitized MCF-7 and MDA-MB231 cells to CD95-mediated activation of caspase-8, induction of cytochrome c release from mitochondria, and processing of caspase-9. Release of cytochrome c, caspases activation, and apoptosis were prevented in MCF-7 cells overexpressing Bcl-2. Altogether these results indicate that IFN-gamma, maybe through the elevation of caspase-8 levels, sensitizes human breast tumor cells to a death receptor-mediated, mitochondria-operated pathway of apoptosis.
 ...
PMID:Interferon-gamma treatment elevates caspase-8 expression and sensitizes human breast tumor cells to a death receptor-induced mitochondria-operated apoptotic program. 1105 59

In the therapy of various kinds of tumors, methylating agents generating O6-methylguanine (O6MeG) in DNA are used. We studied the molecular mechanism of cell death induced by these agents by comparing isogenic cell lines proficient (MGMT+) and deficient (MGMT-) for the DNA repair protein alkyltransferase and exhibiting the tolerance phenotype. Hypersensitivity to methylation-induced cell killing of MGMT- cells is attributable to the potent induction of apoptosis. We show that apoptosis is a late event occurring >48 h after methylation. It was preceded by decrease in Bcl-2 protein level and accompanied by activation of caspase-9 and caspase-3. We also observed cytochrome c release and hypophosphorylation of Bad. Other members of the Bcl-2 family (Bag-1, Bak, Bax, and Bcl-xL) were not altered in expression. Transfection of MGMT- cells with bcl-2 protected against methylation-induced apoptosis, indicating that Bcl-2 plays a key role in the response. Induction of apoptosis in MGMT- cells was not triggered by Fas and Fas ligand (CD95, Apo-1) because both proteins remained unaltered in expression and receptor-proximal caspase-8 was not activated after methylation. Also, inhibition of caspase-8 was ineffective in modifying the apoptotic response, whereas inhibition of caspase-3 and caspase-9 blocked apoptosis. Tolerant cells that are unable to repair O6MeG and are impaired in mismatch repair were less sensitive regarding the induction of apoptosis and Bcl-2 decline, supporting the view that O6MeG-induced apoptosis requires mismatch repair. The ultimate O6MeG-derived lesions triggering the apoptotic pathway are likely to be DNA double-strand breaks, which were significantly formed in MGMT- but not in MGMT+ and tolerant cells and which preceded apoptosis. Overall, the data indicate that O6MeG induces apoptosis via secondary lesions that trigger Bcl-2 decline, cytochrome c release, and caspase-9 and caspase-3 activation independently of Fas/Fas ligand and p53, for which the cells are mutated.
 ...
PMID:Apoptosis induced by DNA damage O6-methylguanine is Bcl-2 and caspase-9/3 regulated and Fas/caspase-8 independent. 1105 78

In present studies, treatment with tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-related apoptosis inducing ligand (TRAIL, also known as Apo-2 ligand [Apo-2L]) is shown to induce apoptosis of the human acute leukemia HL-60, U937, and Jurkat cells in a dose-dependent manner, with the maximum effect seen following treatment of Jurkat cells with 0.25 microg/mL of Apo-2L (95.0% +/- 3.5% of apoptotic cells). Susceptibility of these acute leukemia cell types, which are known to lack p53(wt) function, did not appear to correlate with the levels of the apoptosis-signaling death receptors (DRs) of Apo-2L, ie, DR4 and DR5; decoy receptors (DcR1 and 2); FLAME-1 (cFLIP); or proteins in the inhibitors of apoptosis proteins (IAP) family. Apo-2L-induced apoptosis was associated with the processing of caspase-8, Bid, and the cytosolic accumulation of cytochrome c as well as the processing of caspase-9 and caspase-3. Apo-2L-induced apoptosis was significantly inhibited in HL-60 cells that overexpressed Bcl-2 or Bcl-x(L). Cotreatment with either a caspase-8 or a caspase-9 inhibitor suppressed Apo-2L-induced apoptosis. Treatment of human leukemic cells with etoposide, Ara-C, or doxorubicin increased DR5 but not DR4, Fas, DcR1, DcR2, Fas ligand, or Apo-2L levels. Importantly, sequential treatment of HL-60 cells with etoposide, Ara-C, or doxorubicin followed by Apo-2L induced significantly more apoptosis than treatment with Apo-2L, etoposide, doxorubicin, or Ara-C alone, or cotreatment with Apo-2L and the antileukemic drugs, or treatment with the reverse sequence of Apo-2L followed by one of the antileukemic drugs. These findings indicate that treatment with etoposide, Ara-C, or doxorubicin up-regulates DR5 levels in a p53-independent manner and sensitizes human acute leukemia cells to Apo-2L-induced apoptosis. (Blood. 2000;96:3900-3906)
 ...
PMID:Antileukemic drugs increase death receptor 5 levels and enhance Apo-2L-induced apoptosis of human acute leukemia cells. 1109 76


<< Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Next >>