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)

APO-1 (Fas/CD95), a member of the tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily, induces apoptosis upon receptor oligomerization. In a search to identify intracellular signaling molecules coupling to oligomerized APO-1, several cytotoxicity-dependent APO-1-associated proteins (CAP) were immunoprecipitated from the apoptosis-sensitive human leukemic T cell line HUT78 and the lymphoblastoid B cell line SKW6.4. CAP1-3 (27-29 kDa) and CAP4 (55 kDa), instantly detectable after the crosslinking of APO-1, were associated only with aggregated (the signaling form of APO-1) and not with monomeric APO-1. CAP1 and CAP2 were identified as serine phosphorylated MORT1/FADD. The association of CAP1-4 with APO-1 was not observed with C-terminally truncated non-signaling APO-1. In addition, CAP1 and CAP2 did not associate with an APO-1 cytoplasmic tail carrying the lprcg amino acid replacement. Moreover, no APO-1-CAP association was found in the APO-1+, anti-APO-1-resistant pre-B cell line Boe. Our data suggest that in vivo CAP1-4 are the APO-1 apoptosis-transducing molecules.
 ...
PMID:Cytotoxicity-dependent APO-1 (Fas/CD95)-associated proteins form a death-inducing signaling complex (DISC) with the receptor. 852 15

FADD/MORT1 is a death domain (DD)-containing adaptor/signaling molecule that interacts with the intracellular DD of FAS/APO-I (CD95) and tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 and the prodomain of caspase-8 (Mch5/MACH/FLICE). FADD engagement of caspase-8 presumably activates this caspase and leads to apoptosis. Another DD-containing adaptor/signaling molecule, CRADD, was identified and was shown to induce apoptosis. CRADD has a dual-domain structure similar to that of FADD. It has an NH2-terminal caspase homology domain that interacts with caspase-2 and a COOH-terminal DD that interacts with RIP. CRADD is constitutively expressed in many tissues and thus could play a role in regulating apoptosis in mammalian cells.
 ...
PMID:CRADD, a novel human apoptotic adaptor molecule for caspase-2, and FasL/tumor necrosis factor receptor-interacting protein RIP. 904 36

Nitric oxide (NO), an important effector molecule involved in immune regulation and host defense, was shown to induce apoptosis in lymphoma cells. In the present report the NO donor glycerol trinitrate was found to induce apoptosis in Jurkat cells that are sensitive to CD95-mediated kill. In contrast, a CD95-resistant Jurkat subclone showed substantial protection from apoptosis after exposure to NO. NO induced mRNA expression of CD95 (APO-1/Fas) and TRAIL/APO-2 ligands. Moreover, NO triggered apoptosis in freshly isolated human leukemic lymphocytes which were also sensitive to anti-CD95 treatment. The ability of NO to induce apoptosis was completely blocked by a broad-spectrum ICE (interleukin-1beta converting enzyme)-protease/caspase inhibitor and correlated with FLICE/caspase-8 activation. This activation was abrogated in some neoplastic lymphoid cells but not in others by the inhibitor of protein synthesis cycloheximide. Our results were confirmed using an in vitro experimental model of coculture of human lymphoid target cells with activated bovine endothelial cells generating NO as effectors. Furthermore, the inhibition of endogenous NO production with the inducible NO synthase inhibitor NG-monomethyl-L-arginine caused a complete abrogation of the apoptotic effect. Our data provide evidence that NO-induced apoptosis in human neoplastic lymphoid cells strictly requires activation of caspases, in particular FLICE, the most CD95 receptor-proximal caspase. Depending on the cell line tested this activation required or was independent of the CD95 receptor/ligand system.
 ...
PMID:Caspase activation is required for nitric oxide-mediated, CD95(APO-1/Fas)-dependent and independent apoptosis in human neoplastic lymphoid cells. 959 80

Endothelin-1 (ET-1) is a powerful mitogenic and/or anti-apoptotic peptide produced by many cancer cells. To evaluate the potential role of the endothelin system in glioblastoma we first determined the cellular distribution of the mRNA and proteins of the components of the endothelin system, preproendothelin-1 (PPET-1), endothelin-converting enzyme-1 (ECE-1), and ET(A) and ET(B) receptors in human glioblastoma tissue and glioblastoma cell lines. PPET-1, ECE-1, and ET(A) receptor were highly expressed in glioblastoma vessels and in some scattered glioblastoma areas whereas ET(B) receptor was mainly found in cancer cells. This suggests that glioblastoma vessels constitute an important source of ET-1 that acts on cancer cells via the ET(B) receptor. Four human glioblastoma cell lines expressed mRNA for all of the components of the ET-1 pathway. Bosentan, a mixed ET(A) and ET(B) receptor antagonist, induced apoptosis in these cell lines in a dose-dependent manner. Apoptosis was potentiated by Fas Ligand (APO-1L, CD95L), a pro-apoptotic peptide, only in LNZ308 cells, corresponding to the known functional Fas expression in these cell lines. LNZ308 cells also expressed the long and short forms of the cellular FLICE/caspase-8 inhibitory protein (FLIP). Bosentan and a protein kinase C inhibitor down-regulated short FLIP in these cells. ET-1 induced transient phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase but did not induce long-term thymidine incorporation in LNZ308 glioblastoma cells. These results suggest that, in glioblastoma cells, ET-1, mainly acting via the ET(B) receptor, is a survival/antiapoptotic factor produced by tumor vasculature, but not a proliferation factor, involving protein kinase C and extracellular signal-regulated kinase pathways, and stabilization of the short form of FLIP.
 ...
PMID:The endothelin system in human glioblastoma. 1109 28

More than 99% of follicles undergo a degenerative process known as "atresia", in mammalian ovaries, and only a few follicles ovulate during ovarian follicular development. We have investigated the molecular mechanism of selective follicular atresia in mammalian ovaries, and have reported that follicular selection dominantly depends on granulosa cell apoptosis. However, we have little knowledge of the molecular mechanisms that control apoptotic cell death in granulosa cells during follicle selection. To date, at least five cell death ligand-receptor systems [tumor necrosis factor (TNF)alpha and receptors, Fas (also called APO-1/CD95) ligand and receptors, TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL; also called APO-2) and receptors, APO-3 ligand and receptors, and PFG-5 ligand and receptors] have been reported in granulosa cells of porcine ovaries. Some cell death ligand-receptor systems have "decoy" receptors, which act as inhibitors of cell death ligand-induced apoptosis in granulosa cells. Moreover, we showed that the porcine granulosa cell is a type II apoptotic cell, which has the mitochondrion-dependent apoptosis-signaling pathway. Briefly, the cell death receptor-mediated apoptosis signaling pathway in granulosa cells has been suggested to be as follows. (1) A cell death ligand binds to the extracellular domain of a cell death receptor, which contains an intracellular death domain (DD). (2) The intracellular DD of the cell death receptor interacts with the DD of the adaptor protein (Fas-associated death domain: FADD) through a homophilic DD interaction. (3) FADD activates an initiator caspase (procaspase-8; also called FLICE), which is a bipartite molecule, containing an N-terminal death effector domain (DED) and a C-terminal DD. (4) Procaspase-8 begins auto-proteolytic cleavage and activation. (5) The auto-activated caspase-8 cleaves Bid protein. (6) The truncated Bid releases cytochrome c from mitochondrion. (7) Cytochrome c and ATP-dependent oligimerization of apoptotic protease-activating factor-1 (Apaf-1) allows recruitment of procaspase-9 into the apoptosome complex. Activation of procaspase-9 is mediated by means of a conformational change. (8) The activated caspase-9 cleaves downstream effector caspases (caspase-3). (9) Finally, apoptosis is induced. Recently, we found two intracellular inhibitor proteins [cellular FLICE-like inhibitory protein short form (cFLIPS) and long form (cFLIPL)], which were strongly expressed in granulosa cells, and they may act as anti-apoptotic/survival factors. Further in vivo and in vitro studies will elucidate the largely unknown molecular mechanisms, e. g. which cell death ligand-receptor system is the dominant factor controlling the granulosa cell apoptosis of selective follicular atresia in mammalian ovaries. If we could elucidate the molecular mechanism of granulosa cell apoptosis (follicular selection), we could accurately diagnose the healthy ovulating follicles and precisely evaluate the oocyte quality. We hope that the mechanism will be clarified and lead to an integrated understanding of the regulation mechanism.
 ...
PMID:Regulation mechanism of selective atresia in porcine follicles: regulation of granulosa cell apoptosis during atresia. 1551 56

We studied the effects of ICI 182780 and bis(ethyl)norspermine (BE-3-3-3) on cell growth and apoptosis of estrogen receptor-positive MCF-7 breast cancer cells. Combination treatment with 100 nM ICI 182780 and 5 microM BE-3-3-3 for 6 days inhibited cell growth by 74.3+/-8.4% in MCF-7 cells, compared to that of 25.4+/-5.8 and 45.8+/-12.2%, respectively, when ICI 182780 and BE-3-3-3 were used as single agents. Treatment with 100 nM ICI 182780 and 5 microM BE-3-3-3 as single agents resulted in 9.1+/-1.0% and 35.1+/-4.5% apoptosis, respectively, as measured by APO-BRDU assay. When ICI 182780 and BE-3-3-3 were used in combination, the percentage of apoptosis was 60.6+/-3.8%. Improved efficacy of ICI 182780 and BE-3-3-3 combination on growth inhibition was observed for T-47D cells also. Western blot analysis showed that combinations of ICI 182780 and BE-3-3-3 caused down-regulation of the anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 and Bcl-XL proteins and increased the level of the pro-apoptotic Bax protein. Combination treatment also increased caspase-8 activation. Analysis of polyamine levels 48 h after combination treatment showed that spermidine and spermine levels were down regulated significantly. These studies indicate a potentially effective combination strategy for breast cancer treatment. Our results also link the down-regulation of polyamine pathway to apoptotic cell death and regulation of mediators of cell death.
 ...
PMID:Bis(ethyl)norspermine potentiates the apoptotic activity of the pure antiestrogen ICI 182780 in breast cancer cells. 1558 9

The contribution of Fas (CD95/APO-1) to cell death mechanisms of differentiated neurons is controversially discussed. Rat cerebellar granule neurons (CGNs) express high levels of Fas in vitro but are resistant to FasL (CD95L/APO-1L/CD178)-induced apoptosis. We here show that this resistance was mediated by a phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI 3-kinase)-Akt/protein kinase B (PKB)-dependent expression of lifeguard (LFG)/neuronal membrane protein 35. Reduction of endogenous LFG expression by antisense oligonucleotides or small interfering RNA lead to increased sensitivity of CGNs to FasL-induced cell death and caspase-8 cleavage. The inhibition of PI 3-kinase activity sensitized CGNs to FasL-induced caspase-8 and caspase-3 processing and caspase-dependent fodrin cleavage. Pharmacological inhibition of PI 3-kinase, overexpression of the inhibitory protein IkappaB, or cotransfection of an LFG reporter plasmid with dominant-negative Akt/PKB inhibited LFG reporter activity, whereas overexpression of constitutively active Akt/PKB increased LFG reporter activity. Overexpression of LFG in CGNs interfered with the sensitization to FasL by PI 3-kinase inhibitors. In contrast to CGNs, 12 glioma cell lines, which are sensitive to FasL, did not express LFG. Gene transfer of LFG into these FasL-susceptible glioma cells protected against FasL-induced apoptosis. These results demonstrate that LFG mediated the FasL resistance of CGNs and that, under certain circumstances, e.g., inhibition of the PI 3-kinase-Akt/PKB pathway, CGNs were sensitized to FasL.
 ...
PMID:FasL (CD95L/APO-1L) resistance of neurons mediated by phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-Akt/protein kinase B-dependent expression of lifeguard/neuronal membrane protein 35. 1603 86

The extrinsic apoptosis pathway is activated when certain members of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor superfamily (TNFRSF) are oligomerized by their cognate ligands that are members of the TNF superfamily (TNFSF). The apoptosis-inducing capacity of a member of the TNFRSF relies on the presence of a death domain (DD) in the intracellular portion of the receptor protein. Such receptors are also referred to as death receptors. Binding of a TNFSF ligand to a TNFRSF receptor that is expressed on the surface of a cell results in the formation of a receptor proximal protein complex. This protein complex is the platform for further signaling events within the cell. In case of death receptors like TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand receptor 1 (TRAIL-R1/DR4), TRAIL-R2 (KILLER/APO-2/DR5/TRICK), CD95 (Fas, APO-1), or TNF receptor 1 (TNF-R1), this complex is termed death-inducing signaling complex (DISC). The compositions of the various DISCs have been intensively studied in the last 12 years. For the CD95 and the TRAIL-R1/R2 DISCs, it is now clear that the adaptor protein Fas-associated DD protein (FADD) forms part of these complexes and is necessary for recruitment of the proapoptotic signaling molecules caspase-8 and caspase-10. Recruitment of these proteases allows for their activation at the DISC and subsequent induction of apoptosis. The caspase-8 homologous cellular FLICE-like inhibitory protein (cFLIP) can also be recruited to the DISC. cFLIP acts as an anti-apoptotic regulator by interfering with activation of caspases 8 and 10 at the DISC. Interestingly, treatment of TRAIL-resistant tumor cells with conventional chemotherapeutic drugs or with proteasome inhibitors renders these cells sensitive for TRAIL-induced apoptosis. By applying the methodology of the biochemical analysis of the TRAIL DISC described here, we were able to show that this sensitization is mainly due to changes in the biochemical composition of the DISC as the apoptosis-initiating protein complex of the extrinsic pathway.
 ...
PMID:Biochemical analysis of the native TRAIL death-inducing signaling complex. 1817 22

BACKGROUND This study was aimed to reveal the role of miR-149-5p in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells apoptosis and the possible mechanism involved. MATERIAL AND METHODS The expression of miR-149-5p in leukemia cell lines, as well as the blood and bone marrow (BM) samples from leukemia patients, were monitored by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). AML cell line THP-1 was transfected with miR-149-5p mimic or inhibitor, and then cell apoptosis was determined using the APO Percentage assay kit. The target of miR-149-5p was predicted by using the microRNA.org database, and verified by RT-PCR, Western blot, and Dual-Luciferase reporter assays. Further, small interfering RNA (siRNA) against the target gene was co-transfected with miR-149-5p inhibitor, and then the cell apoptosis and the expression of apoptosis-related proteins were assessed. RESULTS MiR-149-5p was significantly up-regulated in leukemia cell lines and samples from leukemia patients (P<0.01 or P<0.001), especially in THP-1 cells and samples from AML patients. Cell apoptosis was significantly decreased by miR-149-5p overexpression (P<0.01) and increased by miR-149-5p suppression (P<0.05). Fas Ligand (FASLG) was a direct target of miR-149-5p, and was negatively regulated by miR-149-5p. More importantly, the inductive effects of miR-149-5p suppression on cell apoptosis were abrogated by si-FASLG (P<0.01). Furthermore, the up-regulative effects of miR-149-5p suppression on the phosphorylated form of Fas-associated via death domain (p-FADD), caspase-8, caspase-2, caspase-3, and the cleaved forms of these caspases were abrogated by si-FASLG. CONCLUSIONS Inhibition of miR-149-5p can induce apoptosis in THP-1 cells. These inductive effects might be via targeting FASLG and activating FADD and caspases.
 ...
PMID:Inhibition of MicroRNA-149-5p Induces Apoptosis of Acute Myeloid Leukemia Cell Line THP-1 by Targeting Fas Ligand (FASLG). 2801 16