Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: EC:3.4.22.62 (caspase-9)
 7,507 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Korean Red Ginseng extract (KRGE) is a traditional herbal medicine utilized to prevent endothelium dysfunction in the cardiovascular system; however, its underlying mechanism has not been clearly elucidated. We here examined the pharmacological effect and molecular mechanism of KRGE on apoptosis of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) in a serum-deprived apoptosis model. KRGE protected HUVECs from serum-deprived apoptosis by inhibiting mitochondrial cytochrome c release and caspase-9/-3 activation. This protective effect was significantly higher than that of American ginseng extract. KRGE treatment increased antiapoptotic Bcl-2 and Bcl-XL protein expression and Akt-dependent Bad phosphorylation. Moreover, KRGE prevented serum deprivation-induced subcellular redistribution of these proteins between the mitochondrion and the cytosol, resulting in suppression of mitochondrial cytochrome c release. In addition, KRGE increased nitric oxide (NO) production via Akt-dependent activation of endothelial NO synthase (eNOS), as well as inhibited caspase-9/-3 activities. These increases were reversed by co-treatment of cells with inhibitors of eNOS and phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) and pre-incubation of cell lysates in dithiothreitol, indicating KRGE induces NO-mediated caspase modification. Indeed, KRGE inhibited caspase-3 activity via S-nitrosylation. These findings suggest that KRGE prevents serum deprivation-induced HUVEC apoptosis via increased Bcl-2 and Bcl-XL protein expression, PI3K/Akt-dependent Bad phosphorylation, and eNOS/NO-mediated S-nitrosylation of caspases. The cytoprotective property of KRGE may be valuable for developing new pharmaceutical means that limit endothelial cell death induced during the pathogenesis of vascular diseases.
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PMID:Korean Red Ginseng protects endothelial cells from serum-deprived apoptosis by regulating Bcl-2 family protein dynamics and caspase S-nitrosylation. 2423 59

Aminoglycoside-induced nephrotoxicity is one of the prevalent causes of acute kidney injury (AKI). Oxidative stress-mediated apoptosis of renal tubular cells is known to be a major mechanism of renal injury. Red ginseng extract (RGE) has been reported to possess antioxidant and immune-modulatory activities. We investigated the effect of RGE on gentamicin (GM)-induced apoptosis and oxidative stress in cultured renal tubular cells and animal model of GM-induced AKI. GM induced the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) with an increase in NADPH oxidase (NOX) activity and mitochondrial oxidation in NRK-52E cells that were ameliorated with RGE. GM-induced apoptosis of NRK-52E cells, which was associated with an increased expression of mitochondrial Bax, cytosolic cytochrome c, and cleaved caspase-9 and -3, along with a decrease in bcl-2 expression, was also blocked by RGE. In an animal model of GM-induced AKI, RGE treatment significantly attenuated renal dysfunction, cell apoptosis, and tubular damage. RGE ameliorated ROS production in rats with GM-induced AKI, as demonstrated by an increase in the reduced form of glutathione in renal cortex and a decrease in urinary excretion of 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine. Our results suggest that RGE protects the kidney from GM-induced AKI via the mechanism of modulation of oxidative stress.
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PMID:Renoprotective effect of red ginseng in gentamicin-induced acute kidney injury. 2511 92

Ginseng has gained its popularity as an adaptogen since ancient days because of its triterpenoid saponins, known as ginsenosides. These triterpenoid saponins are unique and classified as protopanaxatriol and protopanaxadiol saponins based on their glycosylation patterns. They play many protective roles in humans and are under intense research as various groups continue to study their efficacy at the molecular level in various disorders. Ginsenosides Rb1 and Rg1 are the most abundant ginsenosides present in ginseng roots, and they confer the pharmacological properties of the plant, whereas ginsenoside Rg3 is abundantly present in Korean Red Ginseng preparation, which is highly known for its anticancer effects. These ginsenosides have a unique mode of action in modulating various signaling cascades and networks in different tissues. Their effect depends on the bioavailability and the physiological status of the cell. Mostly they amplify the response by stimulating phosphotidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate 3-kinase/protein kinase B pathway, caspase-3/caspase-9-mediated apoptotic pathway, adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase, and nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells signaling. Furthermore, they trigger receptors such as estrogen receptor, glucocorticoid receptor, and N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor. This review critically evaluates the signaling pathways attenuated by ginsenosides Rb1, Rg1, and Rg3 in various tissues with emphasis on cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and neurodegenerative disorders.
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PMID:Molecular signaling of ginsenosides Rb1, Rg1, and Rg3 and their mode of actions. 2971 58