Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UNIPROT:P04637 (p53)
 77,613 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Interferons are a family of cytokines that exerts antiviral, antitumor and immunomodulatory actions by inducing a complex set of proteins. One of the best known IFN-induced protein is the dsRNA-dependent protein kinase (PKR), that mediates both antiviral and anticellular activities. PKR inhibits translation initiation through the phosphorylation of the alpha subunit of the initiation factor eIF-2 (eIF-2 alpha) and also controls the activation of several transcription factors such as NF-kappa B, p53, or STATs. In addition, PKR mediates apoptosis induced by many different stimuli, such as treatment with LPS, TNF-alpha, viral infection, or serum starvation. The mechanism of apoptosis induction by PKR involves phosphorylation of eIF-2 alpha and activation of NF-kappa B. In this way, expression of different genes is regulated by PKR. Among the genes upregulated in response to PKR are Fas, Bax and p53. The pathway of PKR-induced apoptosis involves FADD activation of caspase 8 by a mechanism independent of Fas and TNFR. Since IFNs are used as drugs for different disorders such as viral infection and cancer, understanding the pathway of apoptosis induction triggered by PKR should be useful in the rational design of IFN therapies.
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PMID:Induction of apoptosis by the dsRNA-dependent protein kinase (PKR): mechanism of action. 1123 38

The cytoplasmic adaptor protein FADD is an essential component of the death-inducing signaling complexes (DISCs) that assemble when TNF receptor family members, such as Fas, are ligated. FADD inititates the proteolytic cascade that leads to apoptosis by binding to and promoting the autocatalytic activation of caspase-8 [1-4]. Surprisingly, FADD (but not caspase-8) is also required for T cells to proliferate upon their stimulation with mitogens [5-9]. Using transgenic mice expressing a dominant-negative mutant of FADD (FADD-DN), we show that functional FADD is required for T cells to proliferate in response to antigens in vivo as well as to mitogens in culture. The costimulation of wild-type and FADD-DN T cells with mitogens revealed that FADD-DN T cells have a cell-autonomous defect in intracellular signaling. In contrast to another study [6], p53 deficiency did not rescue mitogen-induced proliferation of FADD-DN T cells, and neither did enforced expression of the apoptosis inhibitor Bcl-2. Like wild-type T cells, FADD-DN T cells stimulated with mitogens mobilized intracellular calcium and activated members of the NF-kappaB transcription factor family as well as p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and p44/42 MAPK. Therefore, FADD must act downstream of or in parallel to these signaling pathways.
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PMID:Effects of a dominant interfering mutant of FADD on signal transduction in activated T cells. 1125 Jan 57

Activation of p53 induces apoptosis in various cell types. However, the mechanism by which p53 induces apoptosis is still unclear. We reported previously that the activation of a temperature-sensitive mutant p53 (p53(138Val)) induced activation of caspase 3 and apoptosis in Jurkat cells. To elucidate the pathway linking p53 and downstream caspases, we examined the activation of caspases 8 and 9 in apoptotic cells. The results showed that both caspases were activated during apoptosis as judged by the appearance of cleavage products from procaspases and the caspase activities to cleave specific fluorogenic substrates. The significant inhibition of apoptosis by a tetrapeptide inhibitor of caspase 8 and caspase 9 suggested that both caspases are required for apoptosis induction. In addition, the membrane translocation of Bax and cytosolic release of cytochrome c, but not loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, were detected at an early stage of apoptosis. Moreover, Bax translocation, cytochrome c release, and caspase 9 activation were blocked by the broad-spectrum caspase inhibitor, Z-VAD-fmk and the caspase 8-preferential inhibitor, Ac-IETD-CHO, suggesting that the mitochondria might participate in apoptosis by amplifying the upstream death signals. In conclusion, our results indicated that activation of caspase 8 or other caspase(s) by p53 triggered the membrane translocation of Bax and cytosolic release of cytochrome c, which might amplify the apoptotic signal by activating caspase 9 and its downstream caspases.
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PMID:Caspase-dependent cytosolic release of cytochrome c and membrane translocation of Bax in p53-induced apoptosis. 1128 52

Suicide gene therapy using viral transfer of herpes simplex virus type I (HSV-1) thymidine kinase (TK) and subsequent ganciclovir (GCV) chemotherapy was the first approach used in clinical trials of somatic gene therapy for glioblastoma. The molecular pathways mediating TK/GCV-induced cell death remain to be elucidated. Here, we report that adenoviral (Ad)-TK/GCV-induced death is p53-independent and does not involve altered CD95 or CD95L expression. Ectopic expression of the preferential caspase 8 inhibitor, crm-A, inhibits Ad-CD95L-induced cell death but has no effect on TK/GCV cytotoxicity. LN-18 glioma cells selected for resistance to death receptor-mediated cell death do not acquire cross-resistance to TK/GCV. TK/GCV triggers mitochondrial cytochrome c release and activation of caspases 3, 7, 8 and 9 in a death receptor-independent manner. These events are associated with the loss of BCL-X(L). Forced expression of a BCL-X(L) transgene, or co-exposure to a pseudosubstrate caspase inhibitor, zVAD-fmk, inhibit TK/GCV cytotoxicity. Double-transfected cell lines expressing crm-A and enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP) show that the bystander effect in vitro is also death receptor- and caspase 8-independent. TK/GCV therapy does not kill glioma cells in synergy with cancer chemotherapy drugs, including lomustine, temozolomide and topotecan. In contrast, there is strong synergy of TK/GCV and CD95L. Thus, TK/GCV-induced cell death involves a mitochondria-dependent loop of caspase acvtivation that can be synergistically enhanced by death receptor agonists such as CD95L. TK/GCV-mediated sensitization of glioma cells to CD95L expressed on immune effector cells or parenchymal brain cells might account for the immune system's and bystander effects of TK/GCV therapy observed in rodent glioma models in vivo.
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PMID:Death receptor-independent cytochrome c release and caspase activation mediate thymidine kinase plus ganciclovir-mediated cytotoxicity in LN-18 and LN-229 human malignant glioma cells. 1131 26

One of the main functions of the tumor suppressor p53 is the induction of programmed cell death. Here we investigated in detail the molecular mechanisms that underlay p53 transactivation-dependent apoptosis in the human colon cancer cell line DLD-1. Although p53 upregulated the death receptors Fas, TRAIL-R1 and TRAIL-R2 in this cell line, p53-induced cell death occurred without detectable caspase-8 activation whereas, activation of caspase-9 and caspase-3 was readily observed. In addition to the upregulation of death receptors, p53 induced the pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 family members Bik and Bak and downregulated the anti-apoptotic Bcl-xL protein. Moreover, in RNase protection assay analyses as well as in reporter gene analyses we found a p53-dependent upregulation of the death receptor-inhibitory protein cFLIP. Together, these data argue for a p53-mediated activation of the mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis. In contrast to recently published data obtained in different cellular systems, there was no evidence for an essential role of NF-kappaB in p53-induced cell death. Moreover, induction of p53 interfered with TNF-induced NF-kappaB activation independently from apoptosis-induction.
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PMID:p53 upregulates cFLIP, inhibits transcription of NF-kappaB-regulated genes and induces caspase-8-independent cell death in DLD-1 cells. 1131 89

Fumonisins are mycotoxins produced by Fusarium moniliforme, a prevalent fungus that infects corn and other cereal grains. Fumonisin B1(FB1 is the most common mycotoxin produced by F. moniliforme, suggesting it has toxicologic significance. The structure of FB1 resembles sphingoid bases, and it inhibits ceramide synthase. Because sphingoid bases regulate cell growth, differentiation, transformation, and apoptosis, it is not surprising to find that FB1 can alter growth of certain mammalian cells. Previous studies concluded FB1-induced apoptosis, or cell cycle arrest, in African green monkey kidney fibroblasts (CV-1). In this study we have identified genes that inhibit FB1 induced apoptosis in CV-1 cells and two mouse embryo fibroblasts (MEF). A baculovirus gene, inhibitor of apoptosis (CpIAP), protected these cells from apoptosis. CpIAP blocks apoptosis induced by the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) pathway as well as other mechanisms. Further support for the involvement of the TNF signal transduction pathway in FB1 induced apoptosis was the cleavage of caspase 8. Inhibition of caspases by the baculovirus gene (italic)p35 also inhibited FB1-induced apoptosis. The tumor suppressor gene p53 was not required for FB1 induced apoptosis because p53-/- MEF undergo apoptosis following FB1 treatment. Furthermore, Bcl-2 was not an effective inhibitor of FB1-induced apoptosis in CV-1 cells or p53+/+ MEF. In summary, these results provide new information to help understand the mechanism by which FB1 induces apoptosis.
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PMID:Analysis of fumonisin B1-induced apoptosis. 1135 1

We analyzed a set of 103 non-small cell lung carcinomas (NSCLCs) for caspase-3, -6 and -8 expression and apoptosis. Additionally, the expression of bcl-2, bax and p53 were studied. Caspase-3 positivity appeared as diffuse, cytoplasmic staining and was restricted to the tumor area. In contrast, the immunoreactivity for caspase-6 was intense, granular and mostly located in single cells or groups of tumor cells showing apoptotic morphology. The caspase-8 expression pattern was a combination of the two other caspases studied, featuring both diffuse and single-cell patterns restricted to the tumor area. No significant differences were seen in caspase -3, -6 and -8 expression between tumors of different histological types or grades. The number of apoptotic cells and bodies was significantly higher in NSCLCs, in which caspase-8 immunostaining was mainly seen in single cells (p = 0.017), whereas caspase -3 and -6 expression had no association with apoptosis. It is apparent that, in lung tissue, up-regulation of caspase expression is a phenomenon associated solely with neoplasia and reflects the readiness of the tumor cells to undergo apoptosis. Interestingly, caspases -3, -6 and -8 each have an individual staining pattern in NSCLC, perhaps reflecting their different position in the caspase hierarchy.
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PMID:Expression of caspases-3, -6 and -8 and their relation to apoptosis in non-small cell lung carcinoma. 1141 Aug 65

Recent studies have shown that somatostatin (SOM) inhibits interleukin 6 (IL-6) and interferon gamma (IFNgamma) production by lymphocytes and peritoneal macrophages, whereas substance P (SP) enhances these cytokines production. To define the mechanism of the cytokine production enhancements and inhibitions by SOM and SP, we examined the expression of apoptosis modulator, p53, Bcl-2, Bax, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), Fas, caspase-8 and nitric oxide (NO) in thioglycolate-elicited peritoneal macrophages. SOM caused up-regulation of p53, Bcl-2, Fas and caspase-8 activities, and down-regulation of iNOS expression and NO production. On the other hand, SP slightly induces p53 and highly induces Bcl-2, iNOS expression and NO production. These data suggest that apoptosis by SOM may occur by a Bax- and NO-independent p53 accumulation, and through Fas and caspase-8 activation pathways, and that the inducible expression of Bcl-2 and NO production by SP may contribute to prevent the signals of apoptosis by Bax, and via Fas and caspase-8 activation.
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PMID:Regulation of apoptosis by somatostatin and substance P in peritoneal macrophages. 1149 78

The p53 tumor suppressor plays a key role in the cell's response to genotoxic stress and loss of this 'guardian of the genome' is an important step in carcinogenesis. The ability of p53 to induce apoptosis through transactivation of its target genes is critical for its function as tumor suppressor. We have found that overexpression of p53 in human cancer cell lines resulted in apoptosis as measured by PARP cleavage. Furthermore we observed cleavage of both caspase 9 and caspase 8 after overexpression of p53 and found that p53-dependent apoptosis was inhibited by either cellular (c-Flip-s, Bcl-X(L)) or pharmacological inhibitors of caspase 8 or caspase 9 respectively. These results indicate that p53 is mediating apoptosis through both the mitochondrial and death receptor pathways. To elucidate the relevant p53 target genes and examine the caspase pathways utilized in vivo, we treated p53+/+ and age matched p53-/- mice with 5 Gy ionizing radiation or 0.5 mg/animal dexamethasone and harvested tissues at 0, 6 and 24 h. We examined the mRNA expression of p21, bax, KILLER/DR5, FAS/APO1 and EI24/PIG8 using TaqMan real time quantitative RT-PCR in the spleen, thymus and small intestine. Although the basal mRNA levels of these genes did not depend on the presence of p53, we observed a p53-dependent induction of all these targets in response to gamma-irradiation and a p53-independent regulation for p21 and KILLER/DR5 in response to dexamethasone. Furthermore, we have demonstrated that the relative induction of these p53 target genes is tissue specific. Despite observing otherwise similar levels of death in these tissues, our findings suggest that in some cases apoptosis mediated through p53 occurs by redundant pathways or by a 'group effect' while in other tissues one or few targets may play a key role in p53-dependent apoptosis. Surprisingly, KILLER/DR5 is the dominantly induced transcript in both the spleen and small intestine suggesting a potentially important role for this p53 target gene in vivo.
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PMID:Tissue specific expression of p53 target genes suggests a key role for KILLER/DR5 in p53-dependent apoptosis in vivo. 1149 83

Caspase-8 is a member of the cysteine protease family that modulates apoptosis induced by a variety of cell death signals and has recently been found to be activated during the process of anoikis, which is a form of apoptosis caused by loss of anchorage in epithelial cells. We previously demonstrated that the inhibition of anoikis promotes peritoneal dissemination of human gastric carcinoma MKN45 cells, which are anchorage dependent. This suggests that augmentation of anoikis may suppress dissemination of carcinoma cells. To determine whether extrinsic overexpression of caspase-8 can augment anoikis in MKN45 cells, we transfected them with the caspase-8 gene using an adenoviral (Adv) vector (Adv-caspase-8). Here we demonstrate that Adv-caspase-8 infection, at 15 multiplicity of infection (MOI), can augment anoikis in MKN45 cells and suppresses MKN45 peritoneal dissemination in SCID mice. The inhibitory effect on peritoneal dissemination resulted in a prolonged survival compared with that in control mice. In contrast, the Adv-caspase-8 (15 MOI) had no distinct effect on cell viability or growth either of attached MKN45 cells or of s.c. tumor growth in SCID mice. Thus, Adv-mediated overexpression of caspase-8 suppressed peritoneal dissemination mainly through augmentation of anoikis. In addition, Adv-caspase-8-mediated augmentation of anoikis was similarly observed in another gastric carcinoma MKN74 cell line. In contrast, Adv-p53 could not augment anoikis in MKN45 cells. These results imply that Adv-mediated gene transfer of caspase-8 can selectively induce apoptosis in detached carcinoma cells and, thus, shows potential as a novel cancer therapy against dissemination of gastric and probably other carcinoma cells originating from epithelial tissues.
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PMID:Adenovirus-mediated transfection of caspase-8 augments anoikis and inhibits peritoneal dissemination of human gastric carcinoma cells. 1158 25


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