Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0017638 (glioma)
30,880 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

The cell survival activity of human glioma cells is largely dependent on autocrine fibroblast growth factor (FGF) signaling. Caspases, a family of cysteine proteases, play an integral part in the execution phase of apoptosis. To better understand the mechanism of resistance to apoptosis in human glioma cells, we investigated the effect of a blockade of endogenous FGF signaling through the expression of the dominant negative type I FGF receptor (DNFGFR) in U251MG cells. The cells were infected with adenovirus vector expressing DNFGFR (AdDNFGFR) and apoptosis was semi-quantified by the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate nick end-labeling (TUNEL) method and flow cytometric annexin V assay. The activation of caspase-3, -8, and -9, the activation of Akt, a serine/threonine protein kinase, and the cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) were analyzed by immunoblotting. The infection with AdDNFGFR (multiplicity of infection of 200) induced marked apoptosis, along with a down-regulation of akt phosphorylation, and activation of caspase-9 and -3, but not -8. By contrast, LacZ virus (a control) had minimal effects. The level of the cleaved form of PARP was increased in a time-dependent fashion, and this increase was inhibited by adding Z-DEVD-FMK, a caspase-3 inhibitor, and Z-LEHD-FMK, a caspase-9 inhibitor. Moreover, ultraviolet exposure (100 J/m(2)) induced apoptosis and caspase-8, but not caspase-9, activation. Our data suggested that the induction of apoptosis through the inhibition of endogenous FGF signaling is caspase-9 pathway- dependent. The suppression of this or other specific anti-apoptotic pathways may lead to genetic or pharmacological manipulations that favorably modulate the malignant behavior of human gliomas.
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PMID:Caspase-9 pathway activation by inhibiting endogenous fibroblast growth factor signaling in human glioma cells. 1820 70

Melanoma differentiation-associated gene-7/interleukin-24 (mda-7/IL-24) is a novel cytokine displaying selective apoptosis-inducing activity in transformed cells without harming normal cells. The present studies focused on defining the mechanism(s) by which a GST-MDA-7 fusion protein inhibits cell survival of primary human glioma cells in vitro. GST-MDA-7 killed glioma cells with diverse genetic characteristics that correlated with inactivation of ERK1/2 and activation of JNK1-3. Activation of JNK1-3 was dependent on protein kinase R-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase (PERK), and GST-MDA-7 lethality was suppressed in PERK-/- cells. JNK1-3 signaling activated BAX, whereas inhibition of JNK1-3, deletion of BAX, or expression of dominant-negative caspase-9 suppressed lethality. GST-MDA-7 also promoted a PERK-, JNK-, and cathepsin B-dependent cleavage of BID; loss of BID function promoted survival. GST-MDA-7 suppressed BAD and BIM phosphorylation and heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) expression. GST-MDA-7 caused PERK-dependent vacuolization of LC3-expressing endosomes whose formation was suppressed by incubation with 3-methyladenine, expression of HSP70 or BiP/GRP78, or knockdown of ATG5 or Beclin-1 expression but not by inhibition of the JNK1-3 pathway. Knockdown of ATG5 or Beclin-1 expression or overexpression of HSP70 reduced GST-MDA-7 lethality. Our data show that GST-MDA-7 induces an endoplasmic reticulum stress response that is causal in the activation of multiple proapoptotic pathways, which converge on the mitochondrion and highlight the complexity of signaling pathways altered by mda-7/IL-24 in glioma cells that ultimately culminate in decreased tumor cell survival.
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PMID:Caspase-, cathepsin-, and PERK-dependent regulation of MDA-7/IL-24-induced cell killing in primary human glioma cells. 1828 15

Melanoma differentiation associated gene-7/interleukin 24 (mda-7/IL-24) is a cytokine displaying selective apoptosis-inducing activity in tumors, including glioblastoma (GBM), without damaging normal cells. The present studies focused on defining whether an adenovirus expressing MDA-7/IL-24, Ad.mda-7, infused into pre-formed invasive primary human GBM tumors growing in athymic mouse brains altered tumor cell growth and animal survival, and whether Ad.mda-7 radiosensitized GBM cells and enhanced the survival benefit of irradiation. Ad.mda-7 directly radiosensitized glioma cells in vitro in a JNK1-3- and caspase 9-dependent fashion and demonstrated bystander-effect killing and radiosensitization of GBM cells when primary human astrocytes were infected with Ad.mda-7. Infusion of Ad.mda-7 into pre-formed glioma tumors caused a rapid decrease in proliferation and blood vessel density and an increase in cell killing. Irradiation of Ad.mda-7 infected tumors enhanced cell death. Cell killing correlated with pro-caspase 3 cleavage, enhanced phosphorylation of JNK1-3 and reduced phosphorylation of ERK1/2. Ad.mda-7 enhanced the survival of animals implanted with GBM6 and GBM12 tumors, and significantly increased the survival benefit of irradiation in animals bearing GBM12 tumors. Ad.mda-7 toxicity was evident against CD133+ and CD133- GBM cells; upon tumor re-growth approximately 70-100 days after virus infusion, the relative CD133+ level within the tumor was profoundly reduced with lower Ki67 reactivity and increased beta-galactosidase staining. Infusion of Ad.mda-7 into an immune competent rat brain did not cause normal tissue toxicity 1-4 weeks after infusion using T1 and T2 weighted MRI and H&E staining. Our data demonstrate that Ad.mda-7 prolongs the survival of animals bearing GBM tumors and does so through multiple mechanisms including direct tumor cell killing and selection for surviving cells that are more differentiated and potentially displaying a putatively senescent phenotype.
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PMID:MDA-7/IL-24 plus radiation enhance survival in animals with intracranial primary human GBM tumors. 1837 44

The progression of glioma to more malignant phenotypes results from the stepwise accumulation of genetic alterations and the consequent disruption of the apoptotic pathway and augmentation of survival signaling. REIC/Dkk-3, a member of the human Dickkopf (Dkk) family, plays a role as a suppressor of the growth of several human cancers; however, to date it has not been identified in brain tumors. We compared the gene and protein expression of REIC/Dkk-3 in human malignant glioma and normal brain tissues using quantitative real-time PCR, Western blotting, and immunohistochemistry. We also performed small interfering REIC/Dkk-3 (siREIC/Dkk-3) knockdown and REIC/Dkk-3 overexpression experiments to examine the role of REIC/Dkk-3 in human malignant glioma cells in vitro. In brain tissue from patients with malignant glioma, the gene and protein expression of REIC/Dkk-3 was lower than in normal brain tissue and was related to the malignancy grade. In the primary glioblastoma cell line, REIC/Dkk-3 transfection led to apoptosis owing to the activation of phosphorylated JUN, caspase-9, and caspase-3 and the reduction of beta-catenin; in REIC/Dkk-3 knockdown experiments, cell growth was augmented. Our results suggest that REIC/Dkk-3 regulates the growth and survival of these cells in a caspase-dependent and -independent way via modification of the Wnt signaling pathway. Our work is the first documentation that the gene and protein expression of REIC/Dkk-3 is down-regulated in human malignant glioma. Our demonstration of the mechanisms underlying REIC/Dkk-3-induced cell death indicates that REIC/Dkk-3 plays a pivotal role in the biology of human malignant glioma and suggests that REIC/Dkk-3 is a promising candidate for molecular target therapy.
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PMID:REIC/Dkk-3 induces cell death in human malignant glioma. 1844 32

We have previously demonstrated the effectiveness of simultaneous RNA interference (RNAi)-mediated downregulation of urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) in inhibiting tumor invasion in vitro and in vivo. In particular, we have shown that the downregulation of uPAR and MMP-9 inhibits intracranial tumor growth. The mechanism of the inhibition of tumor growth has not yet been determined. In this study, we have attempted to explain the mechanisms involved in the inhibition of invasiveness and tumor growth in vitro. SNB19 glioma cells were transfected with scrambled vector plasmid (pSV) and a siRNA-expressing plasmid targeting either uPAR (pU) or MMP-9 (pM) singly or in combination (pUM). Untransfected cells were also used as a control. Western blotting and RT-PCR analyses showed the downregulation of uPAR in pU-transfected cells and MMP-9 in pM-transfected cells. In cells transfected with pUM, we observed down-regulation of both uPAR and MMP-9, thereby indicating the specificity of the siRNA-expressing plasmids. An increase in caspase 9 expression was observed in cells transfected with pUM whereas no change in the level of caspase 9 was observed in pU or pM-transfected cells. Additionally, no change in the expression level of caspase 8 was observed. However, an increase in the expression level of cleaved PARP was observed in the case of cells transfected with pU, pM and pUM. Cells transfected with pUM showed the highest levels of cleaved PARP expression. Expression levels of APAF-1 were also higher in pUM-transfected cells with no change in expression levels of controls and in pU and pM-transfected cells. Total CAD expression levels did not change under any of the transfection conditions. However, immunohistochemical studies demonstrated that CAD was translocated to the nucleus, thereby indicating DNA damage. As determined by Western blot analysis of subcellular fractions, cytoplasmic levels of cytochrome c were also increased. We determined the extent of DNA damage using the TUNEL assay (poly-A termination of free -OH ends of degraded nuclear DNA). Based on our results we conclude that the simultaneous downregulation of uPAR and MMP-9 induces apoptosome-mediated apoptosis.
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PMID:Simultaneous downregulation of uPAR and MMP-9 induces overexpression of the FADD-associated protein RIP and activates caspase 9-mediated apoptosis in gliomas. 1881 92

The specific apoptotic role of T11TS has been well established in glioma animal models. T11TS specifically induces the glioma cells to die an apoptotic death via immune cross-talk with the two intracranial immune competent cells-microglia and the brain-infiltrating lymphocytes. To unearth the molecular cascades operative within the glioma cells and to some extent in the two interacting immunocytes, we had initiated studies where preliminary findings not only had indicated the involvement of death receptors but had also hinted to the involvement of other apoptotic regulators. Hence, to identify the molecular pathway of apoptosis involving other apoptotic regulators in the three cell types, the cells were studied for the intrinsic apoptotic death regulators that were engaged to maintain the mitochondrial membrane integrity. The proteins that were selected could be divided into three broad classes-the Bcl-2 family of proteins-Bid, Bax and Bcl-2; the guardian of the genome p53 and the proteins downstream of mitochondria-Apaf-1, cytochrome c, caspase-9 and caspase-3. Activated Bid as well as maximal p53 expression was observed in the first dose of T11TS thus dually activating the pro-apoptotic Bax in the first and second dose in the glioma cells. Concurrently, the pro-survival protein Bcl-2's expression level was very much down-regulated in the same two doses favoring the internal microenvironment to proceed for apoptosis. High expression of cytochrome c and Apaf-1 and the presence of active caspase-9 and active caspase-3 in all the T11TS-treated tumor-bearing groups further adjudicated apoptosis of the glioma cells with clear involvement of mitochondrial death pathway in the T11TS-treated animals. Even though expression of the apoptotic regulators remained more or less the same indicating the involvement of mitochondria in the two interacting immunocytes, the intensity of expression of these proteins was much lower than the tumor cells. The present work focuses on the mechanistic approach of how T11TS mediates apoptosis and hence is the first approach of its kind in the field of immunology where the immunotherapeutic molecule's mode of action has been worked out.
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PMID:Bax and Bid act in synergy to bring about T11TS-mediated glioma apoptosis via the release of mitochondrial cytochrome c and subsequent caspase activation. 1893 64

We have studied the apoptotic pathway activated in response to marine sponge extracts of Polymastia janeirensis. The effect on intracellular ROS production was also examined. Exposure of U138MG glioma cell line to doses higher than 5 microg/mL has decreased glioma cell viability, with an IC(50) <15 microg/mL for both aqueous and organic extracts. However, extracts at higher doses (50 and 100 microg/mL) have stronger cytotoxic effects, decreasing more than 90% of glioma cell viability. The antioxidant Trolox (100 microM) reversed the cell death percentage induced by extracts at 10 and 25 microg/mL. The type of cell death induced by such high doses was predominantly necrosis, while a high percentage of apoptotic glioma cells was found at 10 microg/mL. Moreover, inhibition of caspase-8 with Z-IETD (a caspase-8 inhibitor) had no effect on the amount of apoptosis induced by 10 microg/mL, but inhibition of caspase-9 with Z-LEHD (a caspase-9 inhibitor) decreased apoptosis. We also observed a dose-dependent increase in ROS production, and similarly to effects observed on viability of glioma cells, and on cell death, higher doses also had more severe effects. Co-treatment with Trolox significantly reduced ROS production by extracts at doses lower than 50 microg/mL. This is a first report demonstrating that marine sponge extracts of P. janeirensis induce oxidative cell death through a caspase-9 apoptotic pathway.
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PMID:Extracts of marine sponge Polymastia janeirensis induce oxidative cell death through a caspase-9 apoptotic pathway in human U138MG glioma cell line. 1900 82

The cytotoxicity of berberine on C6 rat glioma cells indicated that berberine induced morphological changes and caused cell death through G2/M arrest and apoptosis. While undergoing apoptosis, there was a remarkable accumulation of G2/M cells with the upregulatoin of Wee1 but it also inhibited cyclin B, CDK1 and Cdc25c that led to G2/M arrest. Along with cytotoxicity in C6 cells, several apoptotic events including mitochondrial cytochrome c release, activation of caspase-9, -3 and -8 and DNA fragmentation were induced. Berberine increased the levels of GADD153 and GRP 78 in C6 cells based on the examination of Western blotting and this is a major hallmark of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. We also found that berberine promoted the production of reactive oxygen species and Ca2+ in C6 cells. Western blotting assay also showed that berberine inhibited the levels of anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 but increased the levels of pro-apoptotic protein Bax before leading to a decrease in the levels of mitochondrial membrane potential (DeltaPsim) followed by cytochrome c release that caused the activations of capase-9 and -3 for apoptotic occurrence. The caspase-8, -9 and -3 were activated by berberine in C6 cells based on the substrate solution (PhiPhiLux-G1D1, CaspaLux 8-L1D2, CaspaLux 9-M1D2 for caspase-3, -8 and -9, respectively) and analyzed by flow cytometer and each inhibitor of caspase-8, -9 and -3 led to increase the percentage of viable C6 cells after exposure to berberine. This finding was also confirmed by Western blot assay which showed that berberine promoted the active form of caspase-8, -9 and -3. These results demonstrate that the cytotoxicity of berberine in C6 rat glioma cells is attributable to apoptosis mainly through induced G2/M-arrested cells, in an ER-dependent manner, via a mitochondria-dependent caspase pathway regulated by Bax and Bcl-2.
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PMID:Involvement of reactive oxygen species and caspase-dependent pathway in berberine-induced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in C6 rat glioma cells. 1942 87

The soy isoflavone Daidzein has been reported to exhibit therapeutic activity in cancer. In this study glioblastoma cells and human astrocytes were treated with Daidzein, tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) or the combination of both. Treatment with subtoxic doses of Daidzein in combination with TRAIL induces rapid apoptosis in glioma cells. Notably, human astrocytes were not affected by the combined treatment consisting of Daidzein and TRAIL. Combined treatment with Daidzein and TRAIL augmented the activation of caspase-9, suggesting that Daidzein modulated the intrinsic apoptotic pathway. Daidzein did not modulate the expression of death receptors, c-FLIP, XIAP and survivin. However, Daidzein down-regulated bcl-2 and over-expression of bcl-2 attenuated apoptosis induced by the combination of Daidzein and TRAIL. In summary, bcl-2 is a key regulator in TRAIL-Daidzein mediated cell death in malignant glioma.
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PMID:Daidzein overcomes TRAIL-resistance in malignant glioma cells by modulating the expression of the intrinsic apoptotic inhibitor, bcl-2. 1942 88

The topoisomerase I inhibitor topotecan (TPT) is used in the therapy of different tumors including high-grade gliomas. We previously showed that TPT-induced apoptosis depends on p53 with p53 wild-type (wt) cells being more resistant because of p53-controlled degradation of topoisomerase I. Here, we show that p53-deficient (p53(-/-)) fibroblasts undergo excessive mitochondrial apoptosis featuring H2AX phosphorylation, Bcl-x(L) decline, cytochrome c release, caspase-9/-3/-2 activation, and cleavage of Bid. In wt and apaf-1(-/-) cells, caspase-2 did not become activated and Bid was not cleaved. In addition, p53(-/-) cells cotreated with TPT and caspase-3 inhibitor showed neither caspase-2 activation nor Bid cleavage, implying that caspase-2 is processed downstream of the apoptosome by caspase-3. Although processing of caspase-9/-3 was similar in wt and p53(-/-) cells, only p53(-/-) cells displayed active caspase-3. This was due to the proteasomal degradation of X-chromosome-linked inhibitor of apoptosis (XIAP) and survivin that inhibits caspase-3 activity. Accordingly, TPT-induced apoptosis in wt cells was increased after XIAP/survivin knockdown. Silencing of Bid led to reduction of TPT-triggered apoptosis. Data obtained with mouse fibroblasts could be extended to human glioma cells. In U87MG (p53wt) cells cotreated with TPT and pifithrin-alpha, or transfected with p53-siRNA, caspase-2 and Bid were significantly cleaved and XIAP/survivin was degraded. Furthermore, the knockdown of XIAP and survivin led to increased TPT-triggered apoptosis. Overall, the data show that p53-deficient/depleted cells are hypersensitive to TPT because they down-regulate XIAP and survivin, and thus amplify the intrinsic apoptotic pathway via caspase-3-mediated Bid cleavage. Therefore, in gliomas harboring wild-type p53, TPT-based therapy might be improved by targeted down-regulation of XIAP and survivin.
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PMID:Topotecan triggers apoptosis in p53-deficient cells by forcing degradation of XIAP and survivin thereby activating caspase-3-mediated Bid cleavage. 1981 71


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