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 adenovirus E1B 19K gene product is an inhibitor of apoptosis induced by tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) during viral infection. We report that E1B 19K inhibited neither caspase-8 activation nor caspase-8-dependent Bid cleavage by TNF-alpha. Rather, TNF-alpha induced a tBid-dependent conformational change in Bax that allowed an interaction between E1B 19K and conformationally altered Bax, which caused inhibition of cytochrome c release and caspase-9 activation. E1B 19K expression interrupted caspase-3 processing, permitting cleavage to remove the p12 subunit but not the prodomain consistent with caspase-8 and not caspase-9 enzymatic activity. Thus, E1B 19K blocks TNF-alpha-mediated death signaling by inhibiting a specific form of Bax that interrupts caspase activation downstream of caspase-8 and upstream of caspase-9.
 ...
PMID:TNF-alpha signals apoptosis through a bid-dependent conformational change in Bax that is inhibited by E1B 19K. 1094 27

FADD is known to function as a common signaling conduit in Fas- and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-mediated apoptosis. The convergent death signals from the Fas receptor and TNF receptor 1 are transferred to FADD by death domain interactions triggering the same cellular event, caspase-8 activation. In this work, we investigated whether the same binding surface of FADD is used for both signaling pathways by using FADD death domain mutants. Mutations in helices alpha2 and alpha3 of the FADD death domain, the interacting surface with the Fas death domain, affected TNF-mediated apoptosis to various extents. This indicated that TNF-mediated apoptosis uses the same binding surface of the FADD death domain as Fas-mediated apoptosis. The binding specificity is not the same, however. Some mutations affected the binding affinity of the Fas death domain for the FADD death domain, but did not influence TNF-mediated apoptosis and vice versa. Interestingly, all mutants tested that affected TNF-mediated apoptosis have structural perturbations, implying that the structural integrity, involving helices alpha2 and alpha3 in particular, is critical in TNF-mediated apoptosis. Our results suggest that different signaling molecules use a similar structural interaction to trigger the same cellular event, such as caspase-8 recruitment, which could be typical in convergent signal transduction.
 ...
PMID:Fas- and tumor necrosis factor-mediated apoptosis uses the same binding surface of FADD to trigger signal transduction. A typical model for convergent signal transduction. 1095 91

Human neuroblastoma (NB) is a highly heterogeneous childhood cancer that is aggressively malignant or can undergo spontaneous regression that may involve apoptosis. NB-derived cell lines were tested for their sensitivity to apoptosis induced by the tumor-selective ligand tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL). Noninvasive S-type cell lines (NB cell lines of substrate adherent phenotype) are highly sensitive to TRAIL, whereas invasive N-type cell lines (NB cell lines of neuronal phenotype) are resistant. Whereas both S- and N-type cell lines express TRAIL-R2, FADD, and caspase-3 and -10, only S-type cells express caspase-8. Reduced levels of caspase-8 protein were also observed in a malignant stage IV NB tumor when compared with a benign ganglioneuroma. The caspase-8 gene is not deleted in either N-type NB cell lines or high-stage NB tumors. Caspase-8 expression can be induced by demethylation with 5-aza-2'deoxycytidine, which enhances sensitivity to TRAIL. Therefore, caspase-8 expression is silenced in malignant NB, which correlates to tumor severity and resistance to TRAIL-induced apoptosis.
 ...
PMID:Loss of caspase-8 expression in highly malignant human neuroblastoma cells correlates with resistance to tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand-induced apoptosis. 1096 67

The differentiation and apoptosis-sensitizing effects of the Bcr-Abl-specific tyrosine kinase inhibitor CGP57148B, also known as STI-571, were determined in human Bcr-Abl-positive HL-60/Bcr-Abl and K562 cells. First, the results demonstrate that the ectopic expression of the p185 Bcr-Abl fusion protein induced hemoglobin in the acute myeloid leukemia (AML) HL-60 cells. Exposure to low-dose cytosine arabinoside (Ara-C; 10 nmol/L) increased hemoglobin levels in HL-60/Bcr-Abl and in the chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) blast crisis K562 cells, which express the p210 Bcr-Abl protein. As compared with HL-60/neo, HL-60/Bcr-Abl and K562 cells were resistant to apoptosis induced by Ara-C, doxorubicin, or tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), which was associated with reduced processing of caspase-8 and Bid protein and decreased cytosolic accumulation of cytochrome c (cyt c). Exposure to CGP57148B alone increased hemoglobin levels and CD11b expression and induced apoptosis of HL-60/Bcr-Abl and K562 cells. CGP57148B treatment down-regulated antiapoptotic XIAP, cIAP1, and Bcl-x(L), without affecting Bcl-2, Bax, Apaf-1, Fas (CD95), Fas ligand, Abl, and Bcr-Abl levels. CGP57148B also inhibited constitutively active Akt kinase and NFkappaB in Bcr-Abl-positive cells. Attenuation of NFkappaB activity by ectopic expression of transdominant repressor of IkappaB sensitized HL-60/Bcr-Abl and K562 cells to TNF-alpha but not to apoptosis induced by Ara-C or doxorubicin. Importantly, cotreatment with CGP57148B significantly increased Ara-C- or doxorubicin-induced apoptosis of HL-60/Bcr-Abl and K562 cells. This was associated with greater cytosolic accumulation of cyt c and PARP cleavage activity of caspase-3. These in vitro data indicate that combinations of CGP57148B and antileukemic drugs such as Ara-C may have improved in vivo efficacy against Bcr-Abl-positive acute leukemia.
 ...
PMID:CGP57148B (STI-571) induces differentiation and apoptosis and sensitizes Bcr-Abl-positive human leukemia cells to apoptosis due to antileukemic drugs. 1097 73

Seven pediatric rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) cell lines were resistant to the induction of apoptosis via the Fas death receptor. In contrast, four of seven lines (RD, Rh1, Rh18, and Rh30) were highly sensitive to tumor necrosis factor-alpha-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL). TRAIL induced apoptosis within 4 h and also reduced clonogenic survival, both reversible by caspase inhibitors. DR5 (but not DR4) was expressed at high level in all cell lines. Expression of the decoy receptors DcR1 and DcR2 did not correlate with TRAIL sensitivity. All RMS lines expressed the adapter molecule FADD, and six of seven expressed procaspase-8. Expression of the inhibitory proteins c-FLIPL and c-FLIPs was high in three TRAIL-sensitive (RD, Rh1, and Rh30) and two TRAIL-resistant (Rh28 and Rh41) lines. All RMS lines expressed Bid and procaspases-3, -6, -7, and -9. Procaspases-8 and -10 were highest in TRAIL-sensitive RMS (RD, Rh1, and Rh30), and procaspase-10 was not expressed in Rh18, Rh36, or Rh41. TRAIL induced loss of mitochondrial membrane potential in TRAIL-sensitive Rh1 but not in TRAIL-resistant Rh41 cells. There was no correlation between expression of members of the Bcl-2 family (Bcl-2, Bcl-xL, Bax, and Bak) and TRAIL sensitivity. TRAIL-sensitive Rh18 expressed procaspase-8 in the absence of procaspase-10 and c-FLIP, and procaspase-10 was not detected in TRAIL-resistant Rh41 in the presence of procaspase-8 and c-FLIP. Data suggest that caspase-8 may be sufficient to deliver the TRAIL-induced apoptotic signal in the absence of both caspase-10 and c-FLIP (Rh18) but not in the presence of c-FLIP (Rh41). In RD, Rh1, and Rh30, the presence of c-FLIP may require amplification of the apoptotic signal via caspase-10.
 ...
PMID:Pediatric rhabdomyosarcoma cell lines are resistant to Fas-induced apoptosis and highly sensitive to TRAIL-induced apoptosis. 1105 Dec 65

Jurkat leukemic T cells are highly sensitive to the extrinsic pathways of apoptosis induced via the death receptor Fas or tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand as well as to the intrinsic/mitochondrial pathways of death induced by VP-16 or staurosporin. We report here that clonal Jurkat cell lines selected for resistance to Fas-induced apoptosis were cross-resistant to VP-16 or staurosporin. Each of the apoptotic pathways was blocked at an apical phase, where common regulators of apoptosis have not yet been defined. The Fas pathway was blocked at the level of caspase-8, whereas the intrinsic pathway was blocked at the mitochondria. No processing or activity of caspases was detected in resistant cells in response to either Fas-cross-linking or VP-16 treatment. Also, no apoptosis-associated alterations in the mitochondrial inner membrane, outer membrane, or matrix were detected in resistant Jurkat cells treated with VP-16. Thus, no changes in permeability transition, loss in inner membrane cardiolipin, generation of reactive oxygen species, or release of cytochrome c were observed in resistant cells treated with VP-16. Further, unlike purified mitochondria from wild type cells, those obtained from resistant cells did not release cytochrome c or apoptosis-inducing factor in response to recombinant Bax or truncated Bid. These results identify a defect in mitochondria ability to release intermembrane proteins in response to Bid or Bax as a mechanism of resistance to chemotherapeuetic drugs. Further, the selection of VP-16-resistant mitochondria via elimination of Fas-susceptible cells may suggest the existence of a shared regulatory component between the extrinsic and intrinsic pathways of apoptosis.
 ...
PMID:Apoptosis-resistant mitochondria in T cells selected for resistance to Fas signaling. 1106 43

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

Endothelial cell damage of glomeruli and kidney arterioles seems to play a pivotal role in several pathologic situations, such as Gram-negative sepsis, glomerulonephritis, and acute renal failure. Bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) have been identified as potent inducers of apoptotic cell death in bovine glomerular endothelial cells. Both agents elicited apoptotic DNA laddering within 12 to 24 h. Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) was generally described as a protective factor for endothelial cells against radiation-, TNF-alpha-, and UV-light-induced programmed cell death. Therefore, whether bFGF also affects apoptosis of microvascular endothelial cells was questioned. Surprising was that simultaneous treatment of glomerular endothelial cells with bFGF and either LPS or TNF-alpha left LPS-induced death unaffected, whereas TNF-alpha-induced death induction was potentiated, amounting to 48.9+/-6.3% versus 22.4+/-4.3% DNA degradation with TNF-alpha alone. Comparably, acidic FGF also selectively potentiated TNF-alpha-induced apoptosis. In mechanistic terms, bFGF synergistically increased TNF-alpha-induced mitochondrial permeability transition, the release of cytochrome c from mitochondria to the cytosol, and upregulation of the proapoptotic protein Bak and significantly enhanced activation of caspase-8 protease activity. In contrast, stress-activated protein kinase and nuclear factor kappaB activation, which represent primary signals of TNF/TNF receptor interaction, downregulation of the antiapoptotic protein Bcl-x(L), and caspase-3-like protease activation, were unaffected. As bFGF did not affect LPS-induced apoptotic cell death, bFGF also left LPS-induced Bak upregulation and Bcl-x(L) downregulation unaffected. The results point to a selective bFGF-mediated enhancement of distinct proapoptotic pathways induced by TNF-alpha in glomerular endothelial cells.
 ...
PMID:Basic fibroblast growth factor selectively enhances TNF-alpha-induced apoptotic cell death in glomerular endothelial cells: effects on apoptotic signaling pathways. 1109 43

Cell death is achieved by two fundamentally different mechanisms: apoptosis and necrosis. Apoptosis is dependent on caspase activation, whereas the caspase-independent necrotic signaling pathway remains largely uncharacterized. We show here that Fas kills activated primary T cells efficiently in the absence of active caspases, which results in necrotic morphological changes and late mitochondrial damage but no cytochrome c release. This Fas ligand-induced caspase-independent death is absent in T cells that are deficient in either Fas-associated death domain (FADD) or receptor-interacting protein (RIP). RIP is also required for necrotic death induced by tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL). In contrast to its role in nuclear factor kappa B activation, RIP requires its own kinase activity for death signaling. Thus, Fas, TRAIL and TNF receptors can initiate cell death by two alternative pathways, one relying on caspase-8 and the other dependent on the kinase RIP.
 ...
PMID:Fas triggers an alternative, caspase-8-independent cell death pathway using the kinase RIP as effector molecule. 1110 70

The recruitment and cleavage of pro-caspase-8 to produce the active form of caspase-8 is a critical biochemical event in death receptor-mediated apoptosis. However, the source of pro-caspase-8 available for activation by apoptotic triggers is unknown. In human fibroblasts and mouse clonal striatal cells, confocal microscopy revealed that pro-caspase-8 immunofluorescence was colocalized with cytochrome c in mitochondria and was also distributed diffusely in some nuclei. Biochemical analysis of subcellular fractions indicated that pro-caspase-8 was enriched in mitochondria and in nuclei. Pro-caspase-8 was found in the intermembrane space, inner membrane, and matrix of mitochondria after limited digestion of mitochondrial fractions, and this distribution was confirmed by immunogold electron microscopy. Pro-caspase-8 and cytochrome c were released from isolated mitochondria that were treated with an inhibitor of the ADP/ATP carrier atractyloside, which opens the mitochondria permeability transition pore. Release was blocked by the mitochondria permeability transition pore inhibitor cyclosporin A (CsA). After clonal striatal cells were exposed for 6 h to an apoptotic inducer tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), mitochondria immunoreactive for cytochrome c and pro-caspase-8 became clustered at perinuclear sites. Pro-caspase-8 and cytochrome c levels decreased in mitochondrial fractions and increased, along with pro-caspase-8 cleavage products, in the cytoplasm of the TNF-alpha-treated striatal cells. CsA blocked the TNF-alpha-induced release of pro-caspase 8 but not cytochrome c. Internucleosomal DNA fragmentation started at 6 h and peaked 12 h after TNF-alpha treatment. These results suggest that pro-caspase-8 is predominantly localized in mitochondria and is released upon apoptotic stimulation through a CsA-sensitive mechanism.
 ...
PMID:Pro-caspase-8 is predominantly localized in mitochondria and released into cytoplasm upon apoptotic stimulation. 1110 41


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