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)

Physical forces activate apoptosis and gene expression, but the mechanism is unknown. For this purpose, adult myocytes were stretched in an equibiaxial stretch apparatus and the magnitude of cell death was examined 4 and 24 h later. The possibility of stretch-mediated activation of p53 and p53-dependent genes was evaluated at 30 min, 2, 4, 8, and 24 h. Myocyte apoptosis increased by 4.4- and 7.6-fold at 4 and 24 h after stretch. p53 binding to the promoter of angiotensinogen, AT1 receptor, and Bax also increased. Expression of angiotensinogen, AT1 receptor, p53, and Bax increased and Bcl-2 decreased in stretched myocytes. The changes in AT1 receptor, p53, Bax, and Bcl-2 became more apparent with the duration of stretch. Angiotensin II concentration in the medium increased at 10 min, reaching maximal levels at 1 and 20 h. The AT1 blocker, losartan, abolished apoptosis in stretched myocytes. Myocyte volume was not influenced by stretch. In conclusion, stretch-mediated release of angiotensin II is coupled with apoptosis and the activation of p53 which may be responsible for the prolonged upregulation of the local renin-angiotensin system and the increased susceptibility of myocytes to undergo apoptosis.
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PMID:Stretch-mediated release of angiotensin II induces myocyte apoptosis by activating p53 that enhances the local renin-angiotensin system and decreases the Bcl-2-to-Bax protein ratio in the cell. 952 75

Previous findings have shown that hypotensive doses of losartan prevent the excess of apoptosis present in the hypertrophied left ventricle of adult spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). This study was designed to determine whether angiotensin II facilitates apoptosis in cardiomyocytes of adult SHR. Primary cultures of ventricular cardiomyocytes from 30-week-old normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY) and SHR with left ventricular hypertrophy were exposed to 10(-)(9) mol/L angiotensin II for 24 hours. Apoptotic cells were assessed by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase assay and confirmed by Annexin V detection. The expression of Bax-alpha, Bcl-2, p53, and caspase-3 proteins was assessed by Western blot assays. The expression of BAX gene was assessed by Northern blot. Angiotensin II increased (P<0.01) cardiomyocyte apoptosis, and this effect was higher (P<0.001) in SHR cells than in WKY cells. Whereas losartan (10(-7) mol/L) blocked the apoptotic effect of the octapeptide in cells from the two strains of rats, PD123319 (10(-7) mol/L) inhibited angiotensin II-mediated apoptosis only in SHR cells. Angiotensin II stimulated (P<0.01) Bax-alpha protein, and this effect was higher (P<0.01) in SHR cells than in WKY cells. Angiotensin II did not modify Bcl-2, p53, and BAX mRNA in cells from the two strains of rats. Angiotensin II induced a similar increase (P<0.05) in the ratio caspase-3/procaspase-3 (an index of caspase-3 activation) in cardiomyocytes from the two strains of rats. The present in vitro results indicate that SHR cardiomyocytes exhibit enhanced susceptibility to angiotensin II-induced apoptosis. Ligand binding to angiotensin II type 1 and type 2 receptors leading to changes in posttranscriptional processing of Bax-alpha and accumulation of this proapoptotic protein may be involved in the abnormal response of SHR cardiomyocytes. These data support a role for angiotensin II in apoptosis observed in the left ventricle of these rats.
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PMID:Mechanisms of increased susceptibility to angiotensin II-induced apoptosis in ventricular cardiomyocytes of spontaneously hypertensive rats. 1111 26

Angiotensin II (Ang II) is central to the pathobiology of atherosclerosis. In endothelial cells (EC), Ang II induces apoptosis. The MAP kinase ERK1/2 plays a key role in regulating cell survival. We therefore investigated the effect of Ang II on ERK1/2. Incubation of EC with Ang II led to the dephosphorylation of ERK1/2 (43% of control). To characterize the phosphatase involved, we investigated the effect of Ang II on MAP kinase phosphatase expression. Ang II induced MAP kinase phosphatase-3 (MKP-3) mRNA levels to about 2-fold, whereas MKP-1 expression was not affected. Transfection with a dominant negative MKP-3 construct (dnMKP-3mt) prevented the Ang II-induced ERK1/2 dephosphorylation and apoptosis in EC (p < 0.001). ERK1/2 inactivation has been shown to result in the dephosphorylation and proteasomal degradation of the antiapoptotic protein Bcl-2. Ang II induced the degradation of Bcl-2 wild type, whereas the dephosphorylation-resistant Bcl-2 construct mimicking phosphorylation by ERK1/2 was resistant to Ang II stimulation. These results indicate that Ang II-induced apoptosis signaling in human EC is mediated via MKP-3-dependent dephosphorylation of ERK1/2, which in turn leads to the degradation of Bcl-2.
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PMID:Angiotensin II-induced upregulation of MAP kinase phosphatase-3 mRNA levels mediates endothelial cell apoptosis. 1199 72

This study examined the potential role of angiotensin type 2 (AT(2)) receptor on angiogenesis in a model of surgically induced hindlimb ischemia. Ischemia was produced by femoral artery ligature in both wild-type and AT(2) gene-deleted mice (Agtr2(-)/Y). After 28 days, angiogenesis was quantitated by microangiography, capillary density measurement, and laser Doppler perfusion imaging. Protein levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), Bax, and Bcl-2 were determined by Western blot analysis in hindlimbs. The AT(2) mRNA level (assessed by semiquantitative RT-PCR) was increased in the ischemic hindlimb of wild-type mice. Angiographic vessel density and laser Doppler perfusion data showed significant improvement in ischemic/nonischemic leg ratio, 1.9- and 1.7-fold, respectively, in Agtr2(-)/Y mice compared with controls. In ischemic leg of Agtr2(-)/Y mice, revascularization was associated with an increase in the antiapoptotic protein content, Bcl-2 (211% of basal), and a decrease (60% of basal) in the number of cell death, determined by TUNEL method. Angiotensin II treatment (0.3 mg/kg per day) raised angiogenic score, blood perfusion, and both VEGF and eNOS protein content in ischemic leg of wild-type control but did not modulate the enhanced angiogenic response observed in untreated Agtr2(-)/Y mice. Finally, immunohistochemistry analysis revealed that VEGF was mainly localized to myocyte, whereas eNOS-positive staining was mainly observed in the capillary of ischemic leg of both wild-type and AT(2)-deficient mice. This study demonstrates for the first time that the AT(2) receptor subtype may negatively modulate ischemia-induced angiogenesis through an activation of the apoptotic process.
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PMID:Antiangiogenic effect of angiotensin II type 2 receptor in ischemia-induced angiogenesis in mice hindlimb. 1203 96

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from gram-negative bacteria circulates in acute, subacute, and chronic conditions. It was hypothesized that LPS directly induces cardiac apoptosis. In adult rat ventricular myocytes (isolated with depyrogenated digestive enzymes to minimize tolerance), LPS (10 ng/ml) decreased the ratio of Bcl-2 to Bax at 12 h; increased caspase-3 activity at 16 h; and increased annexin V, propidium iodide, and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end-labeling staining at 24 h. Apoptosis was blocked by the caspase inhibitor benzyloxycarbonyl-valine-alanine-aspartate fluoromethylketone (Z-VAD-fmk), captopril, and angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT(1)) inhibitor (losartan), but not by inhibitors of AT(2) receptors (PD-123319), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFRII:Fc), or nitric oxide (N(G)-monomethyl-L-arginine). Angiotensin II (100 nmol/l) induced apoptosis similar to LPS without additive effects. LPS in vivo (1 mg/kg iv) increased apoptosis in left ventricular myocytes for 1-3 days, which dissipated after 1-2 wk. Losartan (23 mg. kg(-1). day(-1) in drinking water for 3 days) blocked LPS-induced in vivo apoptosis. In conclusion, low levels of LPS induce cardiac apoptosis in vitro and in vivo by activating AT(1) receptors in myocytes.
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PMID:Lipopolysaccharide induces apoptosis in adult rat ventricular myocytes via cardiac AT(1) receptors. 1212 89

Taurine, an amino acid that exhibits anti-angiotensin II and osmoregulatory activity, is found in very high concentration in the heart. When the intracellular content of taurine is dramatically reduced, the heart develops contractile defects and undergoes an eccentric form of hypertrophy. The development of myocyte hypertrophy has been largely attributed to angiotensin II, whose growth properties are antagonized by taurine. Overt heart failure is usually associated with myocyte death, including death due to angiotensin II-induced apoptosis. However, the effect of taurine deficiency on angiotensin II-induced apoptosis has not been examined. To investigate this effect, taurine-deficient cells, produced by incubating rat neonatal cardiomyocytes with medium containing the taurine transport inhibitor, beta-alanine, were exposed to angiotensin II. The peptide increased terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate nick end-labeling (TUNEL) staining and caspase 9 activation more in the taurine-deficient than the normal cell. Angiotensin II also promoted the translocation of protein kinase C (PKC)epsilon and PKCdelta, the expression of Bax, and the activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), effects that were greater in the taurine-deficient cell. However, the data ruled out a role for extracellular signal-related kinase (ERK), Bad, and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase in the beta-alanine-angiotensin II interaction. Because PKC and JNK affect the expression and phosphorylation state of certain Bcl-2 family members, they appear to contribute to the potentiation of angiotensin II-induced apoptosis by taurine deficiency.
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PMID:Possible cause of taurine-deficient cardiomyopathy: potentiation of angiotensin II action. 1271 6

Loss of cardiomyocytes by apoptosis is proposed to cause heart failure. Angiotensin II (ANG II), an important neurohormonal factor during heart failure, can induce cardiomyocyte apoptosis. Inasmuch as hexarelin has been reported to have protective effects in this process, we examined whether hexarelin can prevent cardiomyocytes from ANG II-induced cell death. Cultured cardiomyocytes from neonatal rats were stimulated with ANG II. Apoptosis was evaluated using fluorescence microscopy, TdT-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) method, flow cytometry, DNA laddering, and analysis of cell viability by (3,4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT). It was found that incubation with 0.1 micromol/l ANG II for 48 h increased cardiomyocyte apoptosis. Administration of 0.1 micromol/l hexarelin significantly decreased this ANG II-induced apoptosis and DNA fragmentation and increased myocyte viability. To further investigate the underlying mechanisms, caspase-3 activity assay and mRNA expression of Bax, Bcl-2, and growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHS-R; the supposed hexarelin binding site) were examined. GHS-R mRNA was abundantly expressed in cardiomyocytes and was upregulated after administration of hexarelin. These results suggest that hexarelin abates cardiomyocytes from ANG II-induced apoptosis possibly via inhibiting the increased caspase-3 activity and Bax expression induced by ANG II and by increasing the expression of Bcl-2, which is depressed by ANG II. Whether the upregulated expression of GHS-R induced by hexarelin is associated with this antiapoptotic effect deserves further investigation.
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PMID:Hexarelin protects rat cardiomyocytes from angiotensin II-induced apoptosis in vitro. 1461 77

Angiotensin II stimulates NADPH oxidase activity in vascular cells. However, it is not fully understood whether angiotensin II, which plays an important role in heart failure, stimulates NADPH oxidase activation and expression in cardiac myocytes. Previous studies have shown that angiotensin II induces myocyte apoptosis, but whether the change is mediated via NADPH oxidase remains to be elucidated. In this study we proposed to determine whether angiotensin II stimulated NADPH oxidase activation and NADPH oxidase subunit p47-phox expression in H9C2 cardiac muscle cells. If so, we would determine whether the NADPH oxidase inhibitor apocynin prevented angiotensin II-induced apoptosis. The results showed that angiotensin II increased NADPH oxidase activity, p47-phox protein and mRNA expression, intracellular reactive oxygen species, and apoptosis in H9C2 cells. Angiotensin II elevated p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activity, decreased Bcl-2 protein, and increased Bax protein and caspase-3 activity. Apocynin treatment inhibited angiotensin II-induced NADPH oxidase activation and increases in p47-phox expression, intracellular reactive oxygen species, and apoptosis. The effect of apocynin on apoptosis was associated with reduced p38 MAPK activity, increased Bcl-2 protein, and decreased Bax protein and caspase-3 activity. These results suggest that angiotensin II-induced apoptosis is mediated via NADPH oxidase activation probably through p38 MAPK activation, a decrease in Bcl-2 protein, and caspase activation.
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PMID:NADPH oxidase is involved in angiotensin II-induced apoptosis in H9C2 cardiac muscle cells: effects of apocynin. 1641 6

The cellular stress response can mediate cellular protection through expression of heat shock protein (Hsp70), which can interfere with the process of apoptotic cell death. Factors regulating renal epithelial cell apoptosis include angiotensin II. In the present study, we have examined the relationship between the Hsp70 expression and the apoptotic pathway in the kidneys from low-protein-fed rats (8% protein). The possible cytoprotective role of Hsp70 has been evaluated during low-protein feeding and after reincorporation of 24% protein in the diet. The effect of angiotensin II AT1 receptor inhibition has also been studied. Rats were fed with a low-protein (LP) diet (8% protein) for 14 days, and then the animals were recovered by means of a normal protein diet (24% protein) (RP) for 14, 21, and 30 days, and control rats received 24% protein (NP) in the diet. LP and NP rats treated with Losartan (10 mg/kg) were also evaluated. The following methods were performed on the kidneys: terminal deoxynucleotidyltransferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling assay for apoptosis, reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction assay for AT1, Bax, and Bcl-2 messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) expression, and immunohistochemical and Western blot for Hsp70 and caspase 3 protein expression and activity. In the LP group, the cells of the medullary ducts (MDs) showed increased apoptosis associated with weak immunoreaction for Hsp70 and decreased Hsp70 protein levels. In these animals, enhanced proapoptotic ratio Bax/Bcl-2 linked to decreased procaspase 3 protein levels with increased caspase 3 activation were demonstrated. A cytoprotection attributed to Hsp70 could be noted in the RP rats after 21 days of reincorporation of the normal diet, and in the LP-fed group treated with Losartan. In these cases, the MD cells displayed decreased apoptosis and increased Hsp70 expression in colocalization staining, and high Hsp70 levels in cytosolic fraction. A decreased proapoptotic ratio Bax/Bcl-2, associated with increased Bcl-2 mRNA, was also observed. Our results provide evidence for an antiapoptotic, cytoprotective effect of Hsp70 in kidney MD cells of rats with LP intake, when the animals were recovered with 24% protein in diet and after angiotensin II AT1 receptor inhibition. Angiotensin II seems to play a role in the pathogenesis of tubule epithelial cell apoptosis during LP feeding.
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PMID:Heat shock protein 70 expression is associated with inhibition of renal tubule epithelial cell apoptosis during recovery from low-protein feeding. 1727 80

Apoptosis of alveolar type II (ATII) cells in response to high-amplitude mechanical stretch represents an important mechanism of ventilation-induced lung injury. Previously, it was demonstrated in an in vitro model that stretch-induced ATII cell apoptosis was prevented by angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors. This study investigates the mechanism by which ACE inhibitors prevent stretch-induced apoptosis and elucidates the role of bradykinin as an endogenous anti-apoptotic factor. Rat ATII cells cultured on flexible membranes were subjected to cyclic stretch (40 cycles/min; 30% increase in surface area) and compared with static controls. Angiotensinogen, the bradykinin precursor T-kininogen, and bradykinin receptor expression were measured by RT-PCR; Angiotensin II and phosphoinositol 3 OH-kinase (PI3K) activity (as phospho-Akt) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; and Bcl-2 and Bcl-X(L) were measured by Western blot. Stretch did not influence angiotensinogen expression or induce angiotensin II generation. The angiotensin II receptor antagonist saralasin did not prevent stretch-induced apoptosis, whereas ACE inhibitors did. Stretch reduced ATII cell bradykinin release (T-kininogen expression and bradykinin supernatant concentration), and subsequently led to reduced PI3K activity and decreased concentrations of the anti-apoptotic proteins Bcl-2/Bcl-X(L). Bradykinin substitution or addition of keratinocyte or hepatocyte growth factor prevented stretch-induced decrease in PI3K activity and Bcl-2/Bcl-X(L) and reduced stretch-induced apoptosis. Mechanical stretch impairs a constitutively expressed, autocrine anti-apoptotic ATII cell survival signal involving bradykinin-mediated stimulation of the PI3K-Akt-Bcl-2/Bcl-X(L) pathway. Restoration of this pathway prevents stretch-induced apoptosis. This may be beneficial when mechanical ventilation cannot completely avoid alveolar overdistension to maintain oxygenation.
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PMID:Stretch-induced alveolar type II cell apoptosis: role of endogenous bradykinin and PI3K-Akt signaling. 1763 Mar 21


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