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)

The nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are believed to mediate their anticancer effects by inducing apoptosis but the molecular mechanisms of their apoptotic effects remain largely unknown. Here we report that two different NSAIDs, sulindac sulfide and SC-'236 engage the death receptor 5 (DR5) and mitochondrial pathways to mediate apoptosis in human colon cancer cells. We show that sulindac sulfide and SC-'236-induced apoptosis is coupled with upregulation of DR5, caspase 8 activation and Bid cleavage. Thus, a cross talk appears to exist between the DR5 and mitochondrial pathways during apoptosis induced by these NSAIDs. We further show that sulindac sulfide and SC-'236-induced DR5 upregulation occurs independent of the COX inhibitory effects of these NSAIDs. Using Bax-proficient (Bax+/-) and Bax-deficient (Bax-/-) HCT116 human colon cancer cells, we further demonstrate that Apo2L/TRAIL differentially modulates the apoptotic effects of sulindac sulfide and SC-'236. For example, sulindac sulfide upregulates DR5 in both Bax-deficient and proficient cells, but Apo2L/TRAIL efficiently potentiates sulindac sulfide-induced apoptosis as well as activation of caspase-8, -9 and -3 only in Bax-proficient cells. SC-'236 also upregulates DR5 in both Bax-proficient and Bax-deficient cells but Apo2L/TRAIL potentiates SC-'236-mediated apoptosis and caspases-8 and -3 activation in both Bax-proficient and Bax-deficient cells. Further, in Bax-deficient cells, neither sulindac sulfide nor SC-'236 in combination with Apo2L/TRAIL effectively promotes the release of cytochrome c from mitochondria into cytosol and caspase-9 activation. Collectively, our results suggest that unlike sulindac sulfide, SC-'236 in combination with Apo2L/TRAIL can overcome Bax deficiency to induce apoptosis. These results have important clinical implications in that the tumors harboring Bax mutations are likely to develop resistance to sulindac but not to SC-'236-like NSAIDs. In conclusion, the data presented herein form the basis of future in-depth studies to further explore the utility of Apo2L/TRAIL and NSAIDs, in combination, as a novel cancer preventive/therapeutic strategy.
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PMID:Apo2L/TRAIL differentially modulates the apoptotic effects of sulindac and a COX-2 selective non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent in Bax-deficient cells. 1220 15

2-Methoxyestradiol (2ME2), a natural metabolite of estradiol, is a potent antitumor and antiangiogenic agent. In vitro, 2ME2 inhibits the proliferation of a wide variety of cell lines and primary cultures, and in numerous models in vivo, it has been shown to be an effective inhibitor of tumor growth and angiogenesis. 2ME2 is currently in several Phase I and Phase II clinical trials under the name Panzem. Although various molecular targets have been proposed for this compound, the mechanism by which 2ME2 exerts its effects is still uncertain. This study shows that 2ME2 uses the extrinsic pathway for induction of apoptosis. 2ME2 treatment results in up-regulation of death receptor 5 (DR5) protein expression in vitro and in vivo and renders cells more sensitive to the cytotoxic activities of the DR5 ligand tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL). 2ME2-induced apoptosis requires caspase activation and kinetic studies show the sequential activation of caspase-8, caspase-9, and caspase-3. Blockage of death receptor signaling by expression of dominant-negative Fas-associated death domain severely attenuates the ability of 2ME2 to induce apoptosis. Because 2ME2 administration has not manifested dose-limiting toxicity in the clinic, DR5 expression may serve as a surrogate marker for biological response.
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PMID:2-methoxyestradiol up-regulates death receptor 5 and induces apoptosis through activation of the extrinsic pathway. 1254 4

CD26/dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPPIV) is a cell surface-bound ectopeptidase with important roles in T-cell activation and tumour biology. We now report that CD26/DPPIV enhances sensitivity to apoptosis induced by the antineoplastic agents doxorubicin and etoposide. In particular, CD26/DPPIV presence is associated with increased susceptibility to the mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis, documented by enhanced cleavage of poly (ADP ribose) polymerase (PARP), caspase-3 and caspase-9, Bcl-xl, and Apaf-1, as well as increased expression of death receptor 5 (DR5). We also show that the caspase-9-specific inhibitor z-LEHD-fmk inhibits drug-mediated apoptosis, leading to decreased PARP and caspase-3 cleavage, and reduced DR5 expression. Importantly, through detailed studies that demonstrate the association between topoisomerase II alpha expression and DPPIV activity, our data provide further evidence of the key role played by CD26 in biological processes.
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PMID:CD26/dipeptidyl peptidase IV enhances expression of topoisomerase II alpha and sensitivity to apoptosis induced by topoisomerase II inhibitors. 1452 Apr 73

Apo2L/TRAIL (tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis inducing ligand (TRAIL), also known as Apo2L) is a potentially important anticancer agent awaiting clinical trials. Unfortunately, however, some cancer cells exhibit resistance to Apo2L/TRAIL, which could limit the use of this potentially promising anticancer agent. Although the molecular basis of the inherent or acquired resistance to Apo2L/TRAIL remains unclear, previous studies indicate that Bax deficiency can confer resistance to Apo2L/TRAIL. Proteasome inhibition is also emerging as a promising therapeutic strategy to manage human malignancies. Here, we report that proteasome inhibitor MG132 upregulates Apo2L/TRAIL death receptor 5 expression in both Bax-proficient and -deficient HCT116 cells. MG132 effectively cooperated with Apo2L/TRAIL to induce apoptosis in both Bax-proficient and -deficient cells that was coupled with caspases-8 and -3 activation and Bid cleavage. Although both agents in combination also induced cytochrome c and Smac release from mitochondria into cytosol and activated caspase-9 in Bax-proficient cells, their effects on these events were significantly diminished in Bax-deficient cells. These results suggest that Bax is not absolutely required for death receptor 5-dependent apoptotic signals and MG132 by upregulating DR5 effectively cooperates with Apo2L/TRAIL to overcome Bax deficiency-induced resistance to Apo2L/TRAIL. Our results have important clinical implications in that the use of Apo2L/TRAIL and proteasome inhibitors in combination could prove to be a novel therapeutic strategy to manage the Apo2L/TRAIL-resistant tumors.
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PMID:Proteasome inhibitor MG132 upregulates death receptor 5 and cooperates with Apo2L/TRAIL to induce apoptosis in Bax-proficient and -deficient cells. 1469 51

15-Deoxy-Delta(12,14)-prostaglandin J(2) (15d-PGJ(2)), the terminal derivative of the PGJ series, is emerging as a potent antineoplastic agent among cyclopentenone prostaglandins derivatives and also known as the endogenous ligand of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma). On the other hand, death receptor 5 (DR5) is a specific receptor for tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL), which is one of the most promising candidates for new cancer therapeutics. Here, we report that 15d-PGJ(2) induces DR5 expression at both mRNA and protein levels, resulting in the synergistic sensitization of TRAIL-induced apoptosis in human neoplastic cells, such as Jurkat human leukemia cells or PC3 human prostate cancer cells. 15d-PGJ(2) significantly increased DR5 mRNA stability, whereas it did not activate DR5 promoter activity. Synthetic PPARgamma agonists, such as pioglitazone or rosiglitazone, did not mimic the DR5-inducing effects of 15d-PGJ(2), and a potent PPARgamma inhibitor GW9662 failed to block DR5 induction by 15d-PGJ(2), suggesting PPARgamma-independent mechanisms. Cotreatment with 15d-PGJ(2) and TRAIL enhanced the sequential activation of caspase-8, caspase-10, caspase-9, caspase-3, and Bid. DR5/Fc chimera protein, zVAD-fmk pancaspase inhibitor, and caspase-8 inhibitor efficiently blocked the activation of these apoptotic signal mediators and the induction of apoptotic cell death enhanced by cotreatment with 15d-PGJ(2) and TRAIL. Moreover, a double-stranded small interfering RNA targeting DR5 gene, which suppressed DR5 up-regulation by 15d-PGJ(2), significantly attenuated apoptosis induced by cotreatment with 15d-PGJ(2) and TRAIL. These results suggest that 15d-PGJ(2) is a potent sensitizer of TRAIL-mediated cancer therapeutics through DR5 up-regulation.
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PMID:15-Deoxy-Delta12,14-prostaglandin J(2) induces death receptor 5 expression through mRNA stabilization independently of PPARgamma and potentiates TRAIL-induced apoptosis. 1689 69

Primary effusion lymphoma (PEL) is an incurable, aggressive B-cell malignancy that develops rapid resistance to conventional chemotherapy. In efforts to identify novel approaches to block proliferation of PEL cells, we found that sanguinarine, a natural compound isolated from the root plant Sanguinaria canadendid, inhibits cell proliferation and induces apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner in several PEL cell lines. Our data show that sanguinarine treatment of PEL cells results in up-regulation of death receptor 5 (DR5) expression via generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and causes activation of caspase-8 and truncation of Bid (tBid). Subsequently, tBid translocates to the mitochondria causing conformational changes in Bax, leading to loss of mitochondrial membrane potential and release of cytochrome c to the cytosol. Sanguinarine-induced release of cytochrome c results in activation of caspase-9 and caspase-3 and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) cleavage, leading to induction of caspase-dependent apoptosis. In addition, we show that pretreatment of PEL cells with carbobenzoxy-Val-Ala-Asp-fluoromethylketone, a universal inhibitor of caspases, abrogates caspase and PARP activation and prevents cell death induced by sanguinarine. Moreover, treatment of PEL cells with sanguinarine down-regulates expression of inhibitor of apoptosis proteins (IAP). Finally, N-acetylcysteine, an inhibitor of ROS, inhibits sanguinarine-induced generation of ROS, up-regulation of DR5, Bax conformational changes, activation of caspase-3, and down-regulation of IAPs. Taken together, our findings suggest that sanguinarine is a potent inducer of apoptosis of PEL cells via up-regulation of DR5 and raise the possibility that this agent may be of value in the development of novel therapeutic approaches for the treatment of PEL.
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PMID:Sanguinarine-dependent induction of apoptosis in primary effusion lymphoma cells. 1744 Jan 3

The Akt inhibitor, perifosine, is an alkylphospholipid exhibiting antitumor properties and is currently in phase II clinical trials for various types of cancer. The mechanisms by which perifosine exerts its antitumor effects, including the induction of apoptosis, are not well understood. The current study focused on the effects of perifosine on the induction of apoptosis and its underlying mechanisms in human non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells. Perifosine, at clinically achievable concentration ranges of 10 to 15 micromol/L, effectively inhibited the growth and induced apoptosis of NSCLC cells. Perifosine inhibited Akt phosphorylation and reduced the levels of total Akt. Importantly, enforced activation of Akt attenuated perifosine-induced apoptosis. These results indicate that Akt inhibition is necessary for perifosine-induced apoptosis. Despite the activation of both caspase-8 and caspase-9, perifosine strikingly induced the expression of the tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) receptor, death receptor 5, and down-regulated cellular FLICE-inhibitory protein (c-FLIP), an endogenous inhibitor of the extrinsic apoptotic pathway, with limited modulatory effects on the expression of other genes including Bcl-2, Bcl-X(L), PUMA, and survivin. Silencing of either caspase-8 or death receptor 5 attenuated perifosine-induced apoptosis. Consistently, further down-regulation of c-FLIP expression with c-FLIP small interfering RNA sensitized cells to perifosine-induced apoptosis, whereas enforced overexpression of ectopic c-FLIP conferred resistance to perifosine. Collectively, these data indicate that activation of the extrinsic apoptotic pathway plays a critical role in perifosine-induced apoptosis. Moreover, perifosine cooperates with TRAIL to enhance the induction of apoptosis in human NSCLC cells, thus warranting future in vivo and clinical evaluation of perifosine in combination with TRAIL in the treatment of NSCLC.
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PMID:The alkylphospholipid perifosine induces apoptosis of human lung cancer cells requiring inhibition of Akt and activation of the extrinsic apoptotic pathway. 1760 33

Goal of this study was to investigate the pro-apoptotic properties of RRR-gamma-tocopherol (gammaT) in human breast cancer cells. gammaT was shown to induce cancer cells but not normal cells to undergo apoptosis, sensitize cancer cells to Tumor necrosis factor-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand (TRAIL)-induced apoptosis, and increase death receptor 5 (DR5) mRNA, protein and cell surface expression. Knockdown of DR5 attenuated gammaT-induced apoptosis. Investigations of post-receptor signaling showed: caspase-8, Bid and Bax activation, increases in mitochondria permeability, cytochrome c release and caspase-9 activation. Thus, gammaT is a potent pro-apoptotic agent for human breast cancer cells inducing apoptosis via activation of DR5-mediated apoptotic pathway.
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PMID:RRR-gamma-tocopherol induces human breast cancer cells to undergo apoptosis via death receptor 5 (DR5)-mediated apoptotic signaling. 1802 15

This paper shows that the histone deacetylase inhibitor SAHA sensitised at sub-toxic doses human hepatocellular carcinoma cells (HepG2, Hep3B and SK-Hep1) to TRAIL-induced apoptosis, while it was ineffective in primary human hepatocytes (PHHs). In particular in HCC cells SAHA increased the expression of death receptor 5 (DR5) and caused a decrement of c-Flip. These two modifications provoked in the presence of TRAIL the rapid production of TRAIL-DISC and the activation of caspase-8. Consequently SAHA/TRAIL combination induced many apoptotic events, such as a cleavage of Bid into tBid, dissipation of mitochondrial membrane potential, activation of caspase-3 with the consequent cleavage of both NF-kB and Akt. The decrease in NF-kB level seemed to be responsible for the reduction in the content of IAP family antiapoptotic proteins while the decrease in Akt level caused a reduction in phospho-Bad. These events led to the activation of caspase-9, which contributed to the strong apoptotic activity of TRAIL. Sensitisation of human hepatocellular carcinoma cells to TRAIL-induced apoptosis by SAHA may suggest new strategies for the treatment of liver tumours.
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PMID:The histone deacetylase inhibitor suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid sensitises human hepatocellular carcinoma cells to TRAIL-induced apoptosis by TRAIL-DISC activation. 1964

Proapoptotic receptor agonists cause cellular demise through the activation of the extrinsic and intrinsic apoptotic pathways. Inhibitor of apoptosis (IAP) proteins block apoptosis induced by diverse stimuli. Here, we demonstrate that IAP antagonists in combination with Fas ligand (FasL) or the death receptor 5 (DR5) agonist antibody synergistically stimulate death in cancer cells and inhibit tumor growth. Single-agent activity of IAP antagonists relies on tumor necrosis factor-alpha signaling. By contrast, blockade of tumor necrosis factor-alpha does not affect the synergistic activity of IAP antagonists with FasL or DR5 agonist antibody. In most cancer cells, proapoptotic receptor agonist-induced cell death depends on amplifying the apoptotic signal via caspase-8-mediated activation of Bid and subsequent activation of the caspase-9-dependent mitochondrial apoptotic pathway. In the investigated cancer cell lines, induction of apoptosis by FasL or DR5 agonist antibody can be inhibited by knockdown of Bid. However, knockdown of X chromosome-linked IAP (XIAP) or antagonism of XIAP allows FasL or DR5 agonist antibody to induce activation of effector caspases efficiently without the need for mitochondrial amplification of the apoptotic signal and thus rescues the effect of Bid knockdown in these cells.
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PMID:X chromosome-linked inhibitor of apoptosis regulates cell death induction by proapoptotic receptor agonists. 1985 29


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