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)

Lats2, also known as Kpm, is the second mammalian member of the novel Lats tumor suppressor gene family. Recent studies have demonstrated that Lats2 negatively regulates the cell cycle by controlling G1/S and/or G2/M transition. To further understand the role of Lats2 in the control of human cancer development, we have expressed the protein in human lung cancer cells by transduction of a replication-deficient adenovirus expressing human Lats2 (Ad-Lats2). Using a variety of techniques, including Annexin V uptake, cleavage of PARP, and DNA laddering, we have demonstrated that the ectopic expression of human Lats2 induced apoptosis in two lung cancer cell lines, A549 and H1299. Caspases-3, 7, 8, and 9 were processed in the Ad-Lats2-transduced cells; however, it was active caspase-9, not caspase-8, that initiated the caspase cascade. Inhibitors specific to caspase-3 and 9 delayed the onset of Lats2-mediated apoptosis. Western blot analysis revealed that anti-apoptotic proteins, BCL-2 and BCL-x(L), but not the pro-apoptotic protein, BAX, were downregulated in Ad-Lats2-transduced human lung cancer cells. Overexpression of either Bcl-2 or Bcl-x(L) in these cells lead to the suppression of Lats2-mediated caspase cleavage and apoptosis. These results show that Lats2 induces apoptosis through downregulating anti-apoptotic proteins, BCL-2 and BCL-x(L), in human lung cancer cells.
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PMID:Putative tumor suppressor Lats2 induces apoptosis through downregulation of Bcl-2 and Bcl-x(L). 1526 83

Tri-n-butyltin (TBT), a biocide, is known for its immunotoxicity and hepatotoxicity and is a well-characterised mitochondrial toxin. This report investigates the mechanisms involved in induction of apoptosis by TBT in primary cultures of rat hepatocytes. Release of cytochrome c from mitochondria into the cytosol was apparent after 15 min of exposure to 2.5 microM TBT. In addition, activity of initiator caspase-9 increased after 30 min, representing activation of the mitochondrial pathway in hepatocytes. The death receptor pathway was also activated by TBT, as indicated by recruitment of the adaptor protein FADD from the cytosol to the membrane as soon as 15 min after treatment. In addition, levels of the pro-apoptotic protein Bid decreased in the cytosol, while there was an increase in levels of the cleaved form tBid, in TBT-treated hepatocytes. Activity of initiator caspase-8 increased after 30 min. The principal effector caspase-3 was activated following 30 min of treatment with TBT. Activation was confirmed by immunodetection of a 17-kDa cleaved fragment. Apoptotic substrates such as Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase and DNA fragmentation factor-45 are cleaved by caspase-3 to ensure the dismantlement of the cell. Cleavage of Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase into a 85-kDa fragment appeared after 30 min of TBT treatment. DNA fragmentation factor-45 disappeared in TBT-exposed rat hepatocytes. This is the first detailed study reporting the involvement of initiator and effector caspases, cleavage of their intracellular substrates and activation of both death receptor and mitochondrial pathways in TBT-induced apoptosis in rat hepatocytes. The comprehension of molecular events of apoptosis is important for the evaluation of the risk to humans and animals.
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PMID:Involvement of mitochondrial and death receptor pathways in tributyltin-induced apoptosis in rat hepatocytes. 1527 21

Reperfusion of myocardial tissue can result in programmed cell death. Nevertheless, relatively little information exists concerning pathways initiated in vivo that ultimately commit cardiac cells to apoptosis during ischemia/reperfusion. The goal of the present study was to determine whether mitochondrial-mediated mechanisms of apoptosis are initiated during in vivo cardiac ischemia/reperfusion. We provide evidence that the content of cytochrome c in the cytosol increases exclusively during reperfusion. Over the same time interval Bax, a pro-apoptotic protein implicated in release of cytochrome c from mitochondria, was found to disappear from cytosolic extracts. This was associated with the appearance of tightly associated Bax in the mitochondrial fraction. Cytochrome c from reperfused cytosolic extracts is present as a high molecular weight oligomer consistent with formation of the apoptosome. In addition, pro-caspase-9 was found to disappear exclusively during reperfusion. Therefore, the results of the current study indicate that the mitochondrial-mediated pathway of apoptosis is initiated as a result of in vivo cardiac ischemia/reperfusion.
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PMID:Initiation of mitochondrial-mediated apoptosis during cardiac reperfusion. 1551 96

Hypoxic/ischemic condition induces neuronal apoptotic events, which consequently lead to neuronal cell death. However, its specific mechanistic pathways remain obscure. Cobalt chloride (CoCl(2)) could mimic the hypoxic condition including the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). In this report, we investigated the signal pathway of CoCl(2)-induced apoptosis in PC12 cells. The main mechanism for these apoptosis appeared to be mitochondria-mediated pathway accompanied with loss of the mitochondrial transmembrane potential (Delta Psi m) followed by cytochrome c release from the mitochondria into the cytosol, resulting in the activation of caspase-9 and caspase-3. Also, upregulation of pro-apoptotic protein Bax, and downregulation of anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 by presence of CoCl(2) appeared significantly and it might result in activating mitochondria-mediated apoptosis. We showed that expression of Fas and Fas ligand was upregulated and caspase-8 was significantly activated in CoCl(2)-induced apoptotic cells. In addition, ZB4, an antagonistic Fas-antibody, inhibited the activation of caspase-8 by CoCl(2), indicating that Fas receptor was involved in this pathway. These results demonstrate that CoCl(2) induce apoptosis in PC12 cells via different dual apoptosis pathway through death receptor as well as mitochondria.
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PMID:Involvement of mitochondrial- and Fas-mediated dual mechanism in CoCl2-induced apoptosis of rat PC12 cells. 1551 34

Grape seed proanthocyanidins (GSP) have been shown to inhibit skin chemical carcinogenesis and photocarcinogenesis in mice. The mechanisms responsible for the anticarcinogenic effects of GSP are not clearly understood. Here, we report that treatment of JB6 C141 cells (a well-developed cell culture model for studying tumor promotion in keratinocytes) and p53+/+ fibroblasts with GSP resulted in a dose-dependent induction of apoptosis. GSP-induced (20-80 g/ml) apoptosis was observed by using immunofluorescence (27-90% apoptosis) and flow cytometry (18-87% apoptosis). The induction of apoptosis by GSP was p53-dependent because it occurred mainly in cells expressing wild-type p53 (p53+/+; 15-80%) to a much greater extent than in p53-deficient cells (p53-/-; 6-20%). GSP-induced apoptosis in JB6 C141 cells was associated with increased expression of the tumor-suppressor protein, p53, and its phosphorylation at Ser15. The antiapoptotic proteins, Bcl-2 and Bcl-xl, were downregulated by GSP, whereas the expression of the pro-apoptotic protein, Bax, and the levels of cytochrome c release, Apaf-1, caspase-9, and cleaved caspase 3 (p19 and p17) were markedly increased in JB6 C141 cells. The downregulation of Bcl-2 and upregulation of Bax were also observed in wild-type p53 (p53+/+) fibroblasts but was not observed in their p53-deficient counterparts. These data clearly demonstrate that GSP-induced apoptosis is p53-dependent and mediated through the Bcl-2, Bax, and caspase 3 pathways.
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PMID:Grape seed proanthocyanidins induce apoptosis through p53, Bax, and caspase 3 pathways. 1572 Aug 15

We investigated the molecular mechanisms involved in the anti-proliferative activity exerted by conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) on the estrogen unresponsive MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cell line. The effects on cell proliferation, cell cycle progression and induction of apoptosis were examined. CLA caused the reduction of cell proliferation along with the accumulation of cells in the S phase of the cycle. The occurrence of apoptosis in these cells was indicated by flow cytometry data and further confirmed by the onset of cells with morphological features typical of apoptosis. ERK1/2 reduction and upregulation of pro-apoptotic protein Bak were induced. These events were associated with: (a) reduced levels of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-x(L), (b) the translocation of cytochrome c from the mitochondria to the cytosol, (c) the cleavage of pro-caspase-9 and pro-caspase-3. From the above data, we are induced to think that CLA may trigger apoptosis in the estrogen unresponsive MDA-MB-231 cell line via mechanisms involving above all the mitochondrial pathway.
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PMID:Conjugated linoleic acid induces apoptosis in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells through ERK/MAPK signalling and mitochondrial pathway. 1588 90

Resistance of cancer cells to anoikis, apoptosis induced by cell detachment from the extracellular matrix, is thought to represent a critical feature of the malignant phenotype. Mechanisms that control anoikis of normal and cancer cells are understood only in part. Previously we found that anoikis of non-malignant intestinal epithelial cells is driven by detachment-induced down-regulation of Bcl-X(L), a protein that blocks apoptosis through preventing the release of death-promoting factors from the mitochondria. Mitochondrial proteins the release of which causes anoikis are presently unknown. Similar to what was previously observed by others for keratinocytes and fibroblasts, we show here that anoikis of intestinal epithelial cells does not involve caspase-9, a target of a mitochondrial protein cytochrome c. Furthermore, Smac/Diablo, another mitochondrial pro-apoptotic factor, does not appear to play a role in detachment-dependent apoptosis of these cells either. Instead, anoikis of intestinal epithelial cells is triggered by the release of a mitochondrial protein Omi/HtrA2, an event driven by detachment-induced down-regulation of Bcl-X(L). Moreover, we established that oncogenic ras inhibits anoikis by preventing the release of Omi/HtrA2. This effect of ras required ras-induced down-regulation of a pro-apoptotic protein Bak and could be blocked by an inhibitor of phosphoinositide 3-kinase, a target of Ras that was previously implicated by us in the down-regulation of Bak and blockade of anoikis. We conclude that Omi/HtrA2 is an inducer of anoikis and an important regulator of ras-induced transformation.
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PMID:Oncogenic Ras inhibits anoikis of intestinal epithelial cells by preventing the release of a mitochondrial pro-apoptotic protein Omi/HtrA2 into the cytoplasm. 1646 71

Legionella pneumophila, the agent of human Legionnaire's disease is a Gram-negative, rod-shaped bacterium. During infection, the bacteria invade human cells and replicate intracellularly. L. pneumophila can induce apoptosis in human myeloid and epitheloid cells and this may contribute to the development of pathology and disease. However, the molecular mechanism of apoptosis induction is still uncertain. Here we investigate this process. Legionella efficiently induced apoptosis in myeloid cells, T cells and fibroblasts. Induction of apoptosis involved activation of the initiator caspase-9 and effector caspases. Caspase activity was required for cell death. Analysis of mutant cells showed that the death receptor pathway was not involved in Legionella-induced apoptosis. Surprisingly, caspase activity was found almost exclusively in cells that did not harbor bacteria. Infection with Legionella caused the activation of the pro-apoptotic protein Bax and the release of cytochrome c. Mouse embryonic fibroblasts deficient for Bax and/or Bak were protected from Legionella-induced caspase activation. These results show a clear contribution of the mitochondrial pathway to Legionella-induced apoptosis.
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PMID:Induction of apoptosis by Legionella pneumophila in mammalian cells requires the mitochondrial pathway for caspase activation. 1647 63

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is an important mediator of liver regeneration and repair that is also elevated in chronic liver diseases, including fatty liver of obesity and cirrhosis. IL-6 has been reported both to delay and accelerate liver regeneration. We examined the effects on liver injury and regeneration of a continuous administration of exogenous IL-6 to mice by injection of an IL-6-expressing CHO-cell line in athymic nude mice and by osmotic mini-pump delivery of recombinant murine IL-6. Short-term IL-6 administration (1-2 days) accelerated early recovery of liver mass, whereas more long-term administration (5-7 days) markedly impaired liver regeneration. Similarly, short-term IL-6 treatment increased hepatic resistance to the lethal effects of the Fas agonist Jo-2, but on more prolonged IL-6 exposure the Jo-2 resistance vanished. IL-6 administration initially induced expression of the anti-apoptotic proteins Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL, correlating with protection against Fas-mediated cell death. More prolonged IL-6 administration, however, resulted in marked induction of the pro-apoptotic protein Bax. This result coincided with increased activation of the type II or intrinsic, mitochondrial path to cell death, manifested by increased caspase-9 activation and increased cytochrome c release after Jo-2 exposure. These data demonstrate that IL-6 can function acutely to improve hepatic regeneration and repair, but that more chronic exposure not only abolishes the protective effects of IL-6, but actually sensitizes the liver to injury and death. In conclusion, elevated IL-6 in certain chronic liver diseases contributes to an increased likelihood of liver failure after injury.
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PMID:Paradoxical effects of short- and long-term interleukin-6 exposure on liver injury and repair. 1649 6

D-501036 [2,5-bis(5-hydroxymethyl-2-selenienyl)-3-hydroxymethyl-N-methylpyrrol], a novel selenophene derivative, is a highly potent cytotoxic agent with broad spectrum antitumor activity. The present study was undertaken to explore the mechanism(s) through which D-501036 exerts its action mode on the cancer cell death. D-501036 was found to suppress the growth of KB and HepG(2) cells in an irreversible manner. The results of annexin-V assays and PARP cleavage studies were consistent with the D-501036-induced apoptosis. Findings provided a strong support for the induction of mitochondria-mediated apoptosis by this drug. The examination of two canonical pathways of initiation caspases, those for caspases -8 and -9, revealed that caspase-9 protein and the activities of caspases -9 and -3 were increased in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The concentrations of Fas/Fas-L and procaspase-8 and the activity of caspase-8 were not altered. Furthermore, the mitochondrial membrane potential permeability and the release of cytochrome c to the cytosol were both increased by D-501036. The concentrations of the pro-apoptotic protein Bax and translocation of Bax from the cytosol to the mitochondria were increased in response to D-501036, whereas the concentrations of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 were decreased. Two DNA damage-related pro-apoptotic proteins, Puma and Noxa, were upregulated in a dose- and time-dependent manner. These pro-apoptotic and anti-apoptotic proteins are downstream effectors of p53. Accordingly, the phosphorylated and total forms of p53 were induced and p53 was translocated from the cytosol to the mitochondria in response to D-501036 treatment. Collectively, we conclude that D-501036 induces cellular apoptosis through the p53-associated mitochondrial pathway.
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PMID:Mitochondria-mediated and p53-associated apoptosis induced in human cancer cells by a novel selenophene derivative, D-501036. 1715 Jan 95


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