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)

Salicylates and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) induce apoptosis in a variety of cancer cells, including those of colon, prostate, breast, and leukemia. We examined the effects of sodium salicylate (NaSal) on reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and the association of these effects with apoptotic tumor cell death. We demonstrate that NaSal mediates ROS production followed by a decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential (deltapsi(m)), release of cytochrome c, and activation of caspase-9 and caspase-3. However, expression of Bcl-2 or Bcl-x(L) prevents ROS production and subsequent loss of deltapsi(m), thereby inhibiting apoptotic cell death. The presence of ROS scavengers and an inhibitor of NADPH oxidase or expression of a dominant negative form of Rac1 blocks ROS production, deltapsi(m) collapse, and the subsequent activation of caspases. These observations indicate that NaSal mediates ROS production critical in the triggering of apoptotic tumor cell death through a Rac1-NADPH oxidase-dependent pathway. Our data collectively imply that NaSal-induced ROS are key mediators of deltapsi(m) collapse, which leads to the release of cytochrome c followed by caspase activation, culminating in tumor apoptosis.
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PMID:Molecular ordering of ROS production, mitochondrial changes, and caspase activation during sodium salicylate-induced apoptosis. 1256 69

We address the specific role of cytoplasmic Ca(2+) overload as a cell death trigger by expressing a receptor-operated specific Ca(2+) channel, vanilloid receptor subtype 1 (VR1), in Jurkat cells. Ca(2+) uptake through the VR1 channel, but not capacitative Ca(2+) influx stimulated by the muscarinic type 1 receptor, induced sustained intracellular [Ca(2+)] rises, exposure of phosphatidylserine, and cell death. Ca(2+) influx was necessary and sufficient to induce mitochondrial damage, as assessed by opening of the permeability transition pore and collapse of the mitochondrial membrane potential. Ca(2+)-induced cell death was inhibited by ruthenium red, protonophore carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone, or cyclosporin A treatment, as well as by Bcl-2 expression, indicating that this process requires mitochondrial calcium uptake and permeability transition pore opening. Cell death occurred without caspase activation, oligonucleosomal/50-kilobase pair DNA cleavage, or release of cytochrome c or apoptosis inducer factor from mitochondria, but it required oxidative/nitrative stress. Thus, Ca(2+) influx triggers a distinct program of mitochondrial dysfunction leading to paraptotic cell death, which does not fulfill the criteria for either apoptosis or necrosis.
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PMID:Calcium influx through receptor-operated channel induces mitochondria-triggered paraptotic cell death. 1257 Dec 38

Estrogens are neuroprotective against glutamate excitotoxicity caused by an excessive rise in intracellular calcium ([Ca(2+)](i)). In this study, we demonstrate that 17 beta-estradiol (E(2)) treatment of hippocampal neurons attenuated the excitotoxic glutamate-induced rise in bulk-free [Ca(2+)](i) despite potentiating the influx of Ca(2+) induced by glutamate. E(2)-induced attenuation of bulk-free [Ca(2+)](i) depends on mitochondrial sequestration of Ca(2+), which is blocked in the presence of the combination of rotenone and oligomycin or in the presence of antimycin, which collapse the mitochondrial membrane potential, thereby preventing mitochondrial Ca(2+) transport. Release of mitochondrial Ca(2+) by carbonyl cyanide p-trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone (FCCP) after excitotoxic glutamate treatment resulted in a greater [Ca(2+)](i) in E(2)-treated cells, indicating an E(2)-induced increase in the mitochondrial calcium ([Ca(2+)](m)) load. The increased [Ca(2+)](m) load was accompanied by increased expression of Bcl-2, which can promote mitochondrial Ca(2+) load tolerance. These findings provide a mechanism of E(2)-induced neuronal survival by attenuation of excitotoxic glutamate [Ca(2+)](i) rise via increased mitochondrial sequestration of cytosolic Ca(2+) coupled with an increase in Bcl-2 expression to sustain mitochondrial Ca(2+) load tolerance and function.
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PMID:Mechanism of estrogen-mediated neuroprotection: regulation of mitochondrial calcium and Bcl-2 expression. 1260 81

The molecular mechanisms underlying the initiation and control of the release of cytochrome c during mitochondrion-dependent apoptosis are thought to involve the phosphorylation of mitochondrial Bcl-2 and Bcl-x(L). Although the c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) has been proposed to mediate the phosphorylation of Bcl-2/Bcl-x(L) the mechanisms linking the modification of these proteins and the release of cytochrome c remain to be elucidated. This study was aimed at establishing interdependency between JNK signalling and mitochondrial apoptosis. Using an experimental model consisting of isolated, bioenergetically competent rat brain mitochondria, these studies show that (i) JNK catalysed the phosphorylation of Bcl-2 and Bcl-x(L) as well as other mitochondrial proteins, as shown by two-dimensional isoelectric focusing/SDS/PAGE; (ii) JNK-induced cytochrome c release, in a process independent of the permeability transition of the inner mitochondrial membrane (imPT) and insensitive to cyclosporin A; (iii) JNK mediated a partial collapse of the mitochondrial inner-membrane potential (Deltapsim) in an imPT- and cyclosporin A-independent manner; and (iv) JNK was unable to induce imPT/swelling and did not act as a co-inducer, but as an inhibitor of Ca-induced imPT. The results are discussed with regard to the functional link between the Deltapsim and factors influencing the permeability transition of the inner and outer mitochondrial membranes. Taken together, JNK-dependent phosphorylation of mitochondrial proteins including, but not limited to, Bcl-2/Bcl-x(L) may represent a potential of the modulation of mitochondrial function during apoptosis.
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PMID:c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK)-mediated modulation of brain mitochondria function: new target proteins for JNK signalling in mitochondrion-dependent apoptosis. 1261 94

The process of apoptosis is genetically regulated form of cell death, which is tightly connected, with maintaining of tissue homeostasis in multicellular organisms. Mitochondria play a key role in this process being involved in ATP synthesis, production of oxygen free radicals, control of Ca2+ ions, extrusion of apoptogenic molecules such as cytochrome c, apoptosis inducing factor, Smac/DIABLO protein and several procaspases. Changes in the flux of ions and water across the inner mitochondrial membrane characterize the early phase of apoptosis, during which an increase in matrix volume may precede a collapse of mitochondrial membrane potential (delta psi m). These changes are suppressed by Bcl-2/Bcl-XL facilitated by Bax, and mediated at least by so-called permeability transition pore complex which is one of possible mechanisms involved in mitochondrial membrane permeabilization (MMP).
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PMID:Protooncogene bcl-2 in process of apoptosis. Review article. 1268 54

The Bcl-2 family proteins are major regulators of cell survival and death in human leukaemia. BH3-containing peptides induce apoptosis by binding to the hydrophobic pocket of the anti-apoptotic proteins, such as Bcl-2 or Bcl-XL. A small cell-permeable compound, BH3I-2' (3-iodo-5-chloro-N-[2-chloro-5-((4-chlorophenyl)sulphonyl)phenyl]-2-hydroxybenzamide), has been recently reported to have a function similar to Bak BH3 peptide. BH3I-2' induces apoptosis by disrupting interactions mediated by the BH3 domain, between pro-apoptotic and anti-apoptotic members of the Bcl-2 family. This study found that BH3I-2' induced cytochrome c release from the mitochondrial outer membrane in a Bax-dependent manner and that this correlated with the sensitivity of leukaemic cells to apoptosis. Moreover, it also induced rapid damage to the inner mitochondrial membrane, represented by a rapid collapse of mitochondrial membrane potential (DeltaPsim), prior to the cytochrome c release. This occurred both in whole cells and isolated mitochondria, and was not associated with the sensitivity of cells to BH3I-2'-induced apoptosis. Exogenous Bcl-2 or Bcl-XL neutralized BH3I-2'in vitro and diminished its effect on the inner mitochondrial membrane. Our results indicate that BH3I-2' not only induces cytochrome c release from the outer mitochondrial membrane but also damages the inner mitochondrial membrane, probably by interacting with Bcl-2 family proteins.
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PMID:BH3-domain mimetic compound BH3I-2' induces rapid damage to the inner mitochondrial membrane prior to the cytochrome c release from mitochondria. 1269 57

Mitochondria play central roles in cellular metabolism and apoptosis and are a major source of reactive oxygen species (ROS). We investigated the role of ROS and mitochondria in radiation-induced apoptosis in multiple myeloma cells. Two distinct levels of ROS were generated following irradiation: a small increase observed early, and a pronounced late increase, associated with depletion of reduced glutathione (GSH) and collapse of mitochondrial membrane potential (deltapsi(m)). Exogenous ROS and caspase-3 induced deltapsi(m) drop and cytochrome c release from mitochondria, which could be prevented by molecular (dominant-negative caspase-9) and pharmacologic (zVAD-fmk) caspase inhibitors and overexpression of Bcl-2. Exogenous ROS also induced mitochondrial permeability transition (PT) pore opening and cytochrome c release in isolated mitochondria, which could be blocked by inhibition of PT with cyclosporin A. These results indicate that the late ROS production is associated with increased PT pore opening and decreased deltapsi(m), and GSH, events associated with caspase activation and cytochrome c release.
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PMID:The late increase in intracellular free radical oxygen species during apoptosis is associated with cytochrome c release, caspase activation, and mitochondrial dysfunction. 1270 Jun 32

Although the mechanisms that underlie cardiac cell death remain cryptic, there is emerging evidence that mitochondria may play a pivotal role in this process. The mitochondrion initially deemed the "power house " is now considered to be a central integration site for biological signals that promote cell life or cell death. Since mitochondria contain the necessary apoptotic machinery to activate the cell-death pathway, it is now appreciated that mitochondria play a key decision-making role in whether a cell will live or die following a noxious signal-literally a "license to kill ". Permeability changes to the outer mitochondrial membrane, collapse of membrane potential, permeability pore complex assembly, release of cytotoxic proteins and caspase activation are associated with the mitochondrial-death pathway. Members of the Bcl-2 gene family can promote or suppress cell death by modulating mitochondrial function. Activation of the mitochondrial-death pathway has been reported in several cardiac pathologies and believed to account for the reported apoptosis observed in these disease entities. Given the meager and limited ability of cardiac muscle for repair or self-renewal after injury, the inordinate loss of cardiac cells is considered to be a key underlying factor in ventricular remodeling and decline in ventricular performance in patients with ischemic heart disease or post-myocardial infarction. This review will provide mechanistic insight into the involvement and contribution of the mitochondrion as a regulator of cell death in health and disease with particular focus on the heart.
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PMID:Mitochondria-assisted cell suicide: a license to kill. 1278 72

Plateletactivating factor (PAF) is a key mediator in pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) but mechanisms of PAF-induced mucosal injury are poorly understood. To determine whether apoptosis and the Bcl-2-family of apoptosis regulatory gene products play a role in PAF-induced mucosal injury, we stably and conditionally overexpressed bcl-2 in rat small intestinal epithelial cells-6 under the control of a lactose-inducible promoter. Western blot analysis and immuno-histochemistry were used to verify inducible Bcl-2 and to analyze Bcl-2 and a proapoptotic member of the Bcl-2 family, Bax, subcellular distribution. DNA fragmentation was quantified by ELISA, caspase activity was measured by using fluorogenic peptide substrates, and mitochondrial membrane potential was assayed by 5,5',6,6'-tetrachloro-1,1',3,3'-tetraethylbenzimidazolylcarbocyanine iodide (JC-1) and fluorescence digital imaging. Bcl-2 expression was highly inducible by lactose analog isopropyl-beta-(d)-thiogalactoside (IPTG) and was localized predominantly to mitochondria. In the absence of bcl-2 overexpression and after treatment with PAF, Bax translocated to mitochondria, and mitochondrial membrane potential collapsed within 1 h, followed by caspase-3 activation, which peaked at 6 h with an ensuing DNA fragmentation maximizing at 18 h. After IPTG-induction of bcl-2 expression, PAF failed to induce DNA fragmentation, caspase-3 activation, Bax translocation, or a collapse of mitochondrial membrane potential. These data are the first to show that PAF can activate apoptotic machinery in enterocytes via a mechanism involving Bax translocation and collapse of mitochondrial membrane potential and that both of these events are under control by bcl-2 expression levels. A better understanding of the role of PAF and Bcl-2 family of apoptosis regulators in epithelial cell death might aid design of better therapeutic or preventive strategies for IBDs.
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PMID:Platelet-activating factor-induced apoptosis is blocked by Bcl-2 in rat intestinal epithelial cells. 1451 86

Signaling through the B cell antigen receptor (BCR) is a key determinant in the regulation of B cell physiology. Depending on additional factors, such as microenvironment and developmental stage, ligation of the BCR can trigger B lymphocyte activation, proliferation, or apoptosis. The regulatory mechanisms determining B cell apoptosis and survival are not completely known. Using the murine B lymphoma cell line WEHI-231 as a model system, we investigated the role of Bad phosphorylation, a pro-apoptotic member of the Bcl-2 family, in anti-IgM mediated apoptosis. For apoptotic analysis we focused in particular on the mitochondrial potential (deltapsi(m)) collapse which has been reported as a rate-limiting step in the BCR-induced cell death of immature B lymphocytes. Bad phosphorylation at serine 112, 136 and 155 was found in WEHI-231 cell control cultures and its hypophosphorylation on the three sites correlated with the appearance of apoptosis when cross-linking surface IgM. Furthermore, treatment of cells with specific PK inhibitors known to be involved in serine phosphorylation of Bad (LY294002 for PI3K and H-89 for PKA) mimiced or enhanced BCR-induced cell death. These results strongly suggest that regulation of Bad phosphorylation plays an active role in mediating anti-IgM-induced apoptosis of immature B cells.
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PMID:Changes in bad phosphorylation are correlated with BCR-induced apoptosis of WEHI-231 immature B cells. 1458 39


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