Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UNIPROT:P10415 (Bcl-2)
33,771 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Mutations in genes coding for dystrophin, for alpha, beta, gamma, and delta-sarcoglycans, or for the alpha2 chain of the basement membrane component merosin (laminin-2/4) cause various forms of muscular dystrophy. Analyses of integrins showed an abnormal expression and localization of alpha7beta1 isoforms in myofibers of merosin-deficient human patients and mice, but not in dystrophin-deficient or sarcoglycan-deficient humans and animals. It was shown previously that skeletal muscle fibers require merosin for survival and function (Vachon, P.H., F. Loechel, H. Xu, U.M. Wewer, and E. Engvall. 1996. J. Cell Biol. 134:1483-1497). Correction of merosin deficiency in vitro through cell transfection with the merosin alpha2 chain restored the normal localization of alpha7beta1D integrins as well as myotube survival. Overexpression of the apoptosis-suppressing molecule Bcl-2 also promoted the survival of merosin-deficient myotubes, but did not restore a normal expression of alpha7beta1D integrins. Blocking of beta1 integrins in normal myotubes induced apoptosis and severely reduced their survival. These findings (a) identify alpha7beta1D integrins as the de facto receptors for merosin in skeletal muscle; (b) indicate a merosin dependence for the accurate expression and membrane localization of alpha7beta1D integrins in myofibers; (c) provide a molecular basis for the critical role of merosin in myofiber survival; and (d) add new insights to the pathogenesis of neuromuscular disorders.
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PMID:Integrins (alpha7beta1) in muscle function and survival. Disrupted expression in merosin-deficient congenital muscular dystrophy. 931 89

We used the human myelomonoblastic leukemia cell line PLB-985 to study the effects of temperatures ranging from 37 degrees C to 43 degrees C for 1 h on the induction of apoptosis and cell cycle distribution in leukemia cells. The threshold temperature for the onset of apoptosis was 42 degrees C. Whereas hyperthermia exerted no effect on the expression of Bcl-2 and Bax, heat induced a >30-fold increase of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha mRNA expression and a significant increase in TNF-alpha protein secretion. This endogenous production of TNF-alpha correlated directly with the temperature-induced apoptode effect. Blocking TNF-alpha expression via treatment with pyrrolidinedithiocarbamate or blocking TNF-alpha activity with neutralizing antibodies abrogated heat-provoked apoptosis. In addition, exposure of cell culture supernatant of heat-treated PLB-985 cells to untreated cells induced an apoptotic effect. These data indicate a TNF-a-mediated self eradication of the leukemia cells after heat exposure. Inducing apoptosis with wild-type TNF-alpha or p55 and p75 protein muteins demonstrated that this effect was mediated by the p55 receptor. Interestingly, the autocrine suicidal loop found in immature leukemia cells was lost after granulocytic differentiation with 0.5% N,N-dimethylformamide. These data should be of critical importance for the understanding of the biological impact of fever as well as for developing therapeutic approaches to malignant diseases
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PMID:Role of tumor necrosis factor alpha in hyperthermia-induced apoptosis of human leukemia cells. 1041 2

Gas6 is a growth factor membrane of the vitamin K-dependent family of proteins which is preferentially expressed in quiescent cells. Gas6 was identified as the ligand for Axl tyrosine kinase receptor family. Consistent with this, Gas6 was previously reported to induce cell cycle re-entry of serum-starved NIH3T3 cells and to prevent cell death after complete growth factor withdrawal, the survival effect being uncoupled from Gas6-induced mitogenesis. We have previously demonstrated that both Gas6 mitogenic and survival effects are mediated by Src and the phosphatidylinositol3-OH kinase (PI3K). Here we report that Ras is required for Gas6 mitogenesis but is dispensable for its survival effect. Gas6-induced survival requires the activity of the small GTPases of the Rho family, Rac and Rho, together with the downstream kinase Pak. Overexpression of the respective dominant negative constructs abrogates Gas6-mediated survival functions. Addition of Gas6 to serum starved cells results in the activation of AKT/PKB and in the phosphorylation of the Bcl-2 family member, Bad. By ectopic expression of a catalytically inactive form of AKT/PKB, we demonstrate that AKT/PKB is necessary for Gas6-mediated survival functions. We further show evidence that Gas6 stimulation of serum starved NIH3T3 cells results in a transient ERK, JNK/SAPK and p38 MAPK activation. Blocking ERK activation did not influence Gas6-induced survival, suggesting that such pathway is not involved in Gas6 protection from cell death. On the contrary we found that the late constitutive increase of p38 MAPK activity associated with cell death was downregulated in Gas6-treated NIH3T3 cells thus suggesting that Gas6 might promote survival by interfering with this pathway. Taken together the evidence here provided identity elements involved in Gas6 signalling more specifically elucidating the pathway responsible for Gas6-induced cell survival under conditions that do not allow cell proliferation.
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PMID:Gas6-mediated survival in NIH3T3 cells activates stress signalling cascade and is independent of Ras. 1043 35

The common gammac-chain is an essential signaling component shared by all known T cell growth factor (TCGF) receptors (i.e., IL-2, IL-4, IL-7, IL-9, and IL-15). In the present study, we have studied the effect of gammac-chain blockade on T cell activation and allograft rejection. Treatment of B6AF1 (H-2b/d.k) recipient mice with anti-gammac mAbs induced long-term survival of DBA/2 (H-2d) islet allografts (>150 days, n = 8), whereas control Ab-treated mice rejected the islet allografts within 17 days (n = 6). The state of engraftment induced by the anti-gammac mAbs was remarkably stable, as recipient mice bearing the primary islet allografts accepted a second DBA/2 islet allograft without further immunosuppression and systemic administration of high doses of IL-2Ig fusion protein failed to provoke rejection. Blocking the gammac-chain inhibited T cell proliferation and induced T cell apoptosis by repressing expression of Bcl-2. Our data suggest that one means of inducing T cell apoptosis and stable allograft survival can be achieved via gammac-chain blockade.
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PMID:Blocking the common gamma-chain of cytokine receptors induces T cell apoptosis and long-term islet allograft survival. 1064 Jul 30

There is increasing evidence suggesting that chondrocyte death may contribute to the progression of osteoarthritis (OA). This study focused on the characterization of signaling cascade during NO-induced cell death in human OA chondrocytes. The NO generator, sodium nitroprusside (SNP), promoted chondrocyte death in association with DNA fragmentation, caspase-3 activation, and down-regulation of Bcl-2. Both caspase-3 inhibitor Z-Asp(OCH3)-Glu(OCH3)-Val-Asp(OCH3)-CH2F and caspase-9 inhibitor Z-Leu-Glu(OCH3)-His-Asp(OCH3)-CH2F prevented the chondrocyte death. Blocking the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway by the mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 1/2 inhibitor PD98059 or p38 kinase inhibitor SB202190 also inhibited the SNP-mediated cell death, suggesting possible requirements of both extracellular signal-related protein kinase 1/2 and p38 kinase for the NO-induced cell death. Furthermore, the selective inhibition of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 by NS-398 or the inhibition of COX-1/COX-2 by indomethacin blocked the SNP-induced cell death. The chondrocyte death induced by SNP was associated with an overexpression of COX-2 protein (as determined by Western blotting) and an increase in PGE2 release. PD98059 and SB202190, but neither Z-DEVD FMK nor Z-LEHD FMK completely inhibited the SNP-mediated PGE2 production. Analysis of interactions between PGE2 and the cell death showed that PGE2 enhanced the SNP-mediated cell death, whereas PGE2 alone did not induce the chondrocyte death. These data indicate that NO-induced chondrocyte death signaling includes PGE2 production via COX-2 induction and suggest that both extracellular signal-related protein kinase 1/2 and p38 kinase pathways are upstream signaling of the PGE2 production. The results also demonstrate that exogenous PGE2 may sensitize human OA chondrocytes to the cell death induced by NO.
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PMID:The induction of cell death in human osteoarthritis chondrocytes by nitric oxide is related to the production of prostaglandin E2 via the induction of cyclooxygenase-2. 1097 59

Apoptosis of arterial cells induced by oxidized low density lipoproteins (OxLDL) is thought to contribute to the progression of atherosclerosis. However, most data on apoptotic effects and mechanisms of OxLDL were obtained with extensively oxidized LDL unlikely to occur in early stages of atherosclerotic lesions. We now demonstrate that mildly oxidized LDL generated by incubation with oxygen radical-producing xanthine/xanthine oxidase (X/XO) induces apoptosis in primary cultures of human coronary endothelial and SMC, as determined by TUNEL technique, DNA laddering, and FACS analysis. Apoptosis was markedly reduced when X/XO-LDL was generated in the presence of different oxygen radical scavengers. Apoptotic signals were mediated by intramembrane domains of both Fas and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptors I and II. Blocking of Fas ligand (FasL) reduced apoptosis by 50% and simultaneous blocking of FasL and TNF receptors by 70%. Activation of apoptotic receptors was accompanied by an increase of proapoptotic and a decrease in antiapoptotic proteins of the Bcl-2 family and resulted in marked activation of class I and II caspases. Mildly oxidized LDL also activated MAP and Jun kinases and increased p53 and other transcription factors (ATF-2, ELK-1, CREB, AP-1). Inhibitors of Map and Jun kinase significantly reduced apoptosis. Our results provide the first evidence that OxLDL-induced apoptosis involves TNF receptors and Jun activation. More important, they demonstrate that even mildly oxidized LDL formed in atherosclerotic lesions may activate a broad cascade of oxygen radical-sensitive signaling pathways affecting apoptosis and other processes influencing the evolution of plaques. Thus, we suggest that extensive oxidative modifications of LDL are not necessary to influence signal transduction and transcription in vivo.
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PMID:Mildly oxidized low density lipoprotein activates multiple apoptotic signaling pathways in human coronary cells. 1102 84

To determine how hyaluronidase increases certain cancer cell sensitivity to tumor necrosis factor (TNF) cytotoxicity, we report here the isolation and characterization of a hyaluronidase-induced murine WW domain-containing oxidoreductase (WOX1). WOX1 is composed of two N-terminal WW domains, a nuclear localization sequence, and a C-terminal alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) domain. WOX1 is mainly located in the mitochondria, and the mitochondrial targeting sequence was mapped within the ADH domain. Induction of mitochondrial permeability transition by TNF, staurosporine, and atractyloside resulted in WOX1 release from mitochondria and subsequent nuclear translocation. TNF-mediated WOX1 nuclear translocation occurred shortly after that of nuclear factor-kappaB nuclear translocation, whereas both were independent events. WOX1 enhanced TNF cytotoxicity in L929 cells via its WW and ADH domains as determined using stable cell transfectants. In parallel with this observation, WOX1 also enhanced TRADD (TNF receptor-associated death domain protein)-mediated cell death in transient expression experiments. Antisense expression of WOX1 raised TNF resistance in L929 cells. Enhancement of TNF cytotoxicity by WOX1 is due, in part, to its significant down-regulation of the apoptosis inhibitors Bcl-2 and Bcl-x(L) (>85%), but up-regulation of pro-apoptotic p53 ( approximately 200%) by the ADH domain. When overexpressed, the ADH domain mediated apoptosis, probably due to modulation of expression of these proteins. The WW domains failed to modulate the expression of these proteins, but sensitized COS-7 cells to TNF killing and mediated apoptosis in various cancer cells independently of caspases. Transient cotransfection of cells with both p53 and WOX1 induced apoptosis in a synergistic manner. WOX1 colocalizes with p53 in the cytosol and binds to the proline-rich region of p53 via its WW domains. Blocking of WOX1 expression by antisense mRNA abolished p53 apoptosis. Thus, WOX1 is a mitochondrial apoptogenic protein and an essential partner of p53 in cell death.
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PMID:Hyaluronidase induction of a WW domain-containing oxidoreductase that enhances tumor necrosis factor cytotoxicity. 1105 90

NF-kappaB is a critical mediator of macrophage inflammatory responses, but its role in regulating macrophage survival has yet to be elucidated. Here, we demonstrate that constitutive NF-kappaB activation is essential for macrophage survival. Blocking the constitutive activation of NF-kappaB with pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate or expression of IkappaBalpha induced apoptosis in macrophagelike RAW 264.7 cells and primary human macrophages. This apoptosis was independent of additional death-inducing stimuli, including Fas ligation. Suppression of NF-kappaB activation induced a time-dependent loss of mitochondrial transmembrane potential (DeltaPsi(m)) and DNA fragmentation. Examination of initiator caspases revealed the cleavage of caspase 9 but not caspase 8 or the effector caspase 3. Addition of a general caspase inhibitor, z-VAD. fmk, or a specific caspase 9 inhibitor reduced DNA fragmentation but had no effect on DeltaPsi(m) collapse, indicating this event was caspase independent. To determine the pathway leading to mitochondrial dysfunction, analysis of Bcl-2 family members established that only A1 mRNA levels were reduced prior to DeltaPsi(m) loss and that ectopic expression of A1 protected against cell death following inactivation of NF-kappaB. These data suggest that inhibition of NF-kappaB in macrophages initiates caspase 3-independent apoptosis through reduced A1 expression and mitochondrial dysfunction. Thus, constitutive NF-kappaB activation preserves macrophage viability by maintaining A1 expression and mitochondrial homeostasis.
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PMID:Macrophages require constitutive NF-kappaB activation to maintain A1 expression and mitochondrial homeostasis. 1107 86

The sIgG(+) lymphoblastoid B cell line CESS spontaneously produces a high amount of NGF and expresses both high affinity (p140(Trk-A)) and low affinity (p75(NTR)) NGF receptors. Blocking NGF signals with neutralizing antibodies or specific Trk-A inhibitors induces a rapid phosphorylation of antiapoptotic Bcl-2 protein, followed by caspase activation, and apoptotic death of CESS cells. Bcl-2 phosphorylation in several sites within a approximately 60 aa "loop" domain of protein is known to regulate its antiapoptotic function. Accordingly, CESS cells expressing the loop deletional mutant cDNA constructs Bcl-2 Delta40-91 were completely resistant to apoptosis induced by NGF withdrawal, indicating that Bcl-2 phosphorylation is a critical event. NGF withdrawal induces p38 MAPK, but not JNK, activation in CESS cells, and SB203580, a specific inhibitor of p38 MAPK, is able to prevent both Bcl-2 phosphorylation and apoptosis, indicating that p38 MAPK is the enzyme responsible for these events.
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PMID:NGF withdrawal induces apoptosis in CESS B cell line through p38 MAPK activation and Bcl-2 phosphorylation. 1109 80

We find that the prostate cancer cell lines ALVA-31, PC-3, and DU 145 are highly sensitive to apoptosis induced by TRAIL (tumor-necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand), while the cell lines TSU-Pr1 and JCA-1 are moderately sensitive, and the LNCaP cell line is resistant. LNCaP cells lack active lipid phosphatase PTEN, a negative regulator of the phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3-kinase/Akt pathway, and demonstrate a high constitutive Akt activity. Inhibition of PI 3-kinase using wortmannin and LY-294002 suppressed constitutive Akt activity and sensitized LNCaP cells to TRAIL. Treatment of LNCaP cells with TRAIL alone induced cleavage of the caspase 8 and XIAP proteins. However, processing of BID, mitochondrial release of cytochrome c, activation of caspases 7 and 9, and apoptosis did not occur unless TRAIL was combined with either wortmannin, LY-294002, or cycloheximide. Blocking cytochrome c release by Bcl-2 overexpression rendered LNCaP cells resistant to TRAIL plus wortmannin treatment but did not affect caspase 8 or BID processing. This indicates that in these cells mitochondria are required for the propagation rather than the initiation of the apoptotic cascade. Infection of LNCaP cells with an adenovirus expressing a constitutively active Akt reversed the ability of wortmannin to potentiate TRAIL-induced BID cleavage. Thus, the PI 3-kinase-dependent blockage of TRAIL-induced apoptosis in LNCaP cells appears to be mediated by Akt through the inhibition of BID cleavage.
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PMID:Elevated AKT activity protects the prostate cancer cell line LNCaP from TRAIL-induced apoptosis. 1127 84


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