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)

Alteration in genes which takes place during malignant conversion and progression could be potential targets for gene therapy. We previously identified REIC/Dkk-3 as a gene whose expression is reduced in many human cancers. Here, we showed that expression of REIC/Dkk-3 was consistently reduced in human prostate cancer tissues in a stage-dependent manner. Forced expression of REIC/Dkk-3 induced apoptosis in human prostate cancer cell lines lacking endogenous REIC/Dkk-3 expression but not in REIC/Dkk-3-proficient normal prostate epithelial and stromal cells. The apoptosis involved c-Jun-NH2-kinase activation, mitochondrial translocation of Bax, and reduction of Bcl-2. A single injection of an adenovirus vector carrying REIC/Dkk-3 showed a dramatic antitumor effect on a xenotransplanted human prostate cancer. Thus, REIC/Dkk-3 could be a novel target for gene-based therapy of prostate cancer.
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PMID:Adenovirus-mediated overexpression of REIC/Dkk-3 selectively induces apoptosis in human prostate cancer cells through activation of c-Jun-NH2-kinase. 1626 78

Trimidox (3,4,5-trihydroxybenzamidoxime) has been shown to reduce the activity of ribonucleotide reductase accompanied by growth inhibition and the differentiation of mammalian cells. Here we examine the induction of apoptosis by trimidox in several human leukaemia cell lines, focusing on the release of cytochrome c and the activation of caspase proteases in the human B cell line NALM-6. Induction of apoptosis by trimidox (300 microM) was detected in NALM-6, HL-60 (premyelocytic leukaemia cells), MOLT-4 (an acute lymphoblastic leukaemia cells), Jurkat (a T-cell leukaemia cells), U937 (expressing many monocyte-like characteristics), and K562 (erythroleukaemia). NALM-6 was most affected by trimidox among leukaemia cells; therefore, we employed NALM-6 cells in the subsequent experiments. The cells showed a time-dependent increase in DNA damage after trimidox (250 microM) treatment. A significant increase in the amount of cytochrome c release was detected after treatment with trimidox. Bcl-2 and Bax protein expressions were not changed by trimidox. Caspase-3 and -9 were activated by incubation with trimidox, whereas caspase-8 was not. Furthermore, trimidox-induced apoptosis was prevented by a broad-spectrum caspase inhibitor, a caspase-3, and a caspase-9 inhibitor, but not by a caspase-8 inhibitor. Inhibition of c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK) by SP600125 appreciably protected cells from trimidox-induced apoptosis, but no effect inhibition of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) by SB203580. In contrast, extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) inhibitors U0126 and PD98059 strongly potentiated the apoptotic effect of trimidox. This report shows that the induction of apoptosis by trimidox occurs through a cytochrome c-dependent pathway, which sequentially activates caspase-3 and caspase-9.
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PMID:Trimidox induces apoptosis via cytochrome c release in NALM-6 human B cell leukaemia cells. 1643 90

This study first investigates the anticancer effect of plumbagin (5-hydroxy-2-methyl-1,4-naphthoquinone) in human nonsmall cell lung cancer cells, A549. Plumbagin has exhibited effective cell growth inhibition by inducing cancer cells to undergo G2/M phase arrest and apoptosis. Blockade of cell cycle was associated with increased levels of p21 and reduced amounts of cyclinB1, Cdc2, and Cdc25C. Plumbagin treatment also enhanced the levels of inactivated phosphorylated Cdc2 and Cdc25C. Blockade of p53 activity by dominant-negative p53 transfection partially decreased plumbagin-induced apoptosis and G2/M arrest, suggesting it might be operated by p53-dependent and independent pathway. Plumbagin treatment triggered the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway indicated by a change in Bax/Bcl-2 ratios, resulting in mitochondrial membrane potential loss, cytochrome c release, and caspase-9 activation. We also found that c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK) is a critical mediator in plumbagin-induced cell growth inhibition. Activation of JNK by plumbagin phosphorylated p53 at serine 15, resulting in increased stability of p53 by decreasing p53 and MDM2 interaction. SP600125 (anthra [1,9-cd]pyrazol-6(2H)-one-1,9-pyrazoloanthrone), a specific inhibitor of JNK, significantly decreased apoptosis by inhibiting the phosphorylation of p53 (serine 15) and subsequently increased the interaction of p53 and MDM2. SP6000125 also inhibited the phosphorylation of Bcl-2 (Ser70) induced by plumbagin. Further investigation revealed that plumbagin's inhibition of cell growth effect was also evident in a nude mice model. Taken together, these results suggest a critical role for JNK and p53 in plumbagin-induced G2/M arrest and apoptosis of human nonsmall cell lung cancer cells.
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PMID:Plumbagin (5-hydroxy-2-methyl-1,4-naphthoquinone) induces apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in A549 cells through p53 accumulation via c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase-mediated phosphorylation at serine 15 in vitro and in vivo. 1663 41

Myasthenia gravis (MG) and experimental autoimmune MG (EAMG) are T cell-dependent, antibody-mediated autoimmune diseases. A dual altered peptide ligand (APL) that is composed of the tandemly arranged two single amino acid analogues of two myasthenogenic peptides, p195-212 and p259-271, was demonstrated to down-regulate in vitro and in vivo MG-associated autoreactive responses. The aims of this study were to investigate the possible role of Fas-FasL-mediated apoptosis in the down-regulatory mechanism of the dual APL. We demonstrate here the effect of the dual APL on expression of key molecules involved in the Fas-FasL pathway, in a p195-212-specific T cell line, in mice immunized with Torpedo acetylcholine receptor and in mice afflicted with EAMG (induced with the latter). In vitro and in vivo results show that the dual APL up-regulated expression of Fas and FasL on the CD4 cells. Expression of the pro-apoptotic molecules, caspase 8 and caspase 3, was significantly up-regulated, while anti-apoptotic cFLIP and Bcl-2 were down-regulated upon treatment with the dual APL. The dual APL also increased phosphorylation of the mitogen-activated protein kinases, c-Jun-NH2-terminal kinase and p-38, known to play a role in the regulation of FasL expression. Further, in the T cell line incubated with the dual APL as well as in mice of the SJL inbred strain immunized with the myasthenogenic peptide and treated concomitantly with the dual APL, the percentage of apoptotic cells increased. Results strongly indicate that up-regulation of apoptosis via the Fas-FasL pathway is one of the mechanisms by which the dual APL reverses EAMG manifestations in C57BL/6 mice.
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PMID:A dual altered peptide ligand down-regulates myasthenogenic T cell responses and reverses experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis via up-regulation of Fas-FasL-mediated apoptosis. 1682 2

Hint1 is a member of the evolutionarily conserved family of histidine triad proteins that acts as a haplo-insufficient tumor suppressor inducing spontaneous tumor formation in Hint+/- and Hint-/- mouse models. However, the molecular mechanisms for the tumor-suppressing activity are poorly defined. In this respect, we have recently shown that Hint1, by interaction with Pontin and Reptin, inhibits T-cell factor/beta-catenin-mediated transcription of Wnt target genes. In this study, we have found that, after transient transfection with Hint1, SW480 and MCF-7 cells undergo apoptosis as analyzed by pro-caspase-3 and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase cleavage, M30 CytoDEATH staining, cytochrome c release, and DNA fragmentation enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Hint1 is involved in the regulation of apoptotic pathways by inducing an up-regulation of p53 expression coinciding with an up-regulation of the proapoptotic factor Bax and a concomitant down-regulation of the apoptosis inhibitor Bcl-2. Bad and Puma levels remained unchanged. Further analyses revealed that Hint1 is associated with the Bax promoter and is a component of the Tip60 histone acetyltransferase complex and, in this context, appears to be involved in the regulation of Bax expression. Knockdown of Hint1 by short hairpin RNA resulted in down-regulation of p53 and Bax but had no effect on Bcl-2 expression. A mutant Hint1 (H112N) protein defective in enzymatic activity as an AMP-NH2 hydrolase was not impaired in induction of apoptosis, suggesting that the Hint1 pro-apoptotic activity is independent of the Hint1 enzymatic activity.
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PMID:The histidine triad protein Hint1 triggers apoptosis independent of its enzymatic activity. 1683 43

Nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) is a transcription factor that plays a critical role in the inappropriate survival of various types of malignant cells. Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) is the most common B-cell malignancy in the Western world. Although overexpression and regulation of NF-kappaB has been described in CLL, its function remains unclear. Exposure of CLL cells to BAY117082 or Kamebakaurin, potent pharmacological inhibitors of the NF-kappaB pathway, accelerated apoptosis in approximately 70% of cases. Sensitivity to NF-kappaB pathway inhibitors was not related to the prognostic markers VH status, CD38 or Zap70 expression, or to the levels of nuclear NF-kappaB. Normal peripheral B cells were resistant to the apoptosis-inducing effects of these compounds. Cell death induced by the inhibitors was associated with activation of caspase-9 and -3, and loss of mitochondrial membrane polarization, but did not involve changes in the expression of Bcl-2 or Mcl-1. Inhibitors caused an increase in c-jun NH2-terminal kinase activity in CLL, but this did not appear to be important for apoptosis. Microarray analysis identified some potential novel NF-kappaB target genes, including interleukin-16- and the Bcl-2- related survival protein Bcl-w. These results demonstrate that a substantial proportion of CLL are dependent on NF-kappaB for enhanced survival and suggest that inhibition of NF-kappaB may have therapeutic potential.
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PMID:Pharmacological inhibitors of NF-kappaB accelerate apoptosis in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia cells. 1692 35

Ghrelin is an endogenous ligand for the GH secretagogue receptor, produced and secreted mainly from the stomach. Ghrelin stimulates GH release and induces positive energy balances. Previous studies have reported that ghrelin inhibits apoptosis in several cell types, but its antiapoptotic effect in neuronal cells is unknown. Therefore, we investigated the role of ghrelin in ischemic neuronal injury using primary hypothalamic neurons exposed to oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD). Here we report that treatment of hypothalamic neurons with ghrelin inhibited OGD-induced cell death and apoptosis. Exposure of neurons to ghrelin caused rapid activation of ERK1/2. Ghrelin-induced activation of ERK1/2 and the antiapoptotic effect of ghrelin were blocked by chemical inhibition of MAPK, phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase, protein kinase C, and protein kinase A. Ghrelin attenuated OGD-induced activation of c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase and p-38 but not ERK1/2. We also investigated ghrelin regulation of apoptosis at the mitochondrial level. Ghrelin protected cells from OGD insult by inhibiting reactive oxygen species generation and stabilizing mitochondrial transmembrane potential. In addition, ghrelin-treated cells showed an increased Bcl-2/Bax ratio, prevention of cytochrome c release, and inhibition of caspase-3 activation. Finally, in vivo administration of ghrelin significantly reduced infarct volume in an animal model of ischemia. Our data indicate that ghrelin may act as a survival factor that preserves mitochondrial integrity and inhibits apoptotic pathways.
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PMID:Ghrelin inhibits apoptosis in hypothalamic neuronal cells during oxygen-glucose deprivation. 1705 24

Ionizing radiation can induce DNA damage and cell death by generating reactive oxygen species (ROS). The objective of this study was to investigate the radioprotective effect of paeoniflorin (PF, a main bioactive component in the traditional Chinese herb peony) on irradiated thymocytes and discover the possible mechanisms of protection. We found 60Co gamma-ray irradiation increased cell death and DNA fragmentation in a dose-dependent manner while increasing intracellular ROS. Pretreatment of thymocytes with PF (50-200 microg/ml) reversed this tendency and attenuated irradiation-induced ROS generation. Hydroxyl-scavenging action of PF in vitro was detected through electron spin resonance assay. Several anti-apoptotic characteristics of PF, including the ability to diminish cytosolic Ca2+ concentration, inhibit caspase-3 activation, and upregulate Bcl-2 and downregulate Bax in 4Gy-irradiated thymocytes were determined. Extracellular regulated kinase (ERK), c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK), and p38 kinase were activated by 4Gy irradiation, whereas its activations were partly blocked by pretreatment of cells with PF. The presence of ERK inhibitor PD98059, JNK inhibitor SP600125 and p38 inhibitor SB203580 decreased cell death in 4Gy-irradiated thymocytes. These results suggest PF protects thymocytes against irradiation-induced cell damage by scavenging ROS and attenuating the activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinases.
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PMID:Protective effect of paeoniflorin on irradiation-induced cell damage involved in modulation of reactive oxygen species and the mitogen-activated protein kinases. 1709 10

The anti-apoptotic molecule, Bcl-2, is well known to play an important role in the chemoresistance of breast cancer. We have previously demonstrated that phosphorylation of Fas-associated death domain-containing protein (FADD) at 194 serine through c-jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK) activation sensitizes breast cancer cells to chemotherapy through accelerating cell cycle arrest at G2/M, and that Bcl-2 phosphorylation downstream of JNK/FADD plays an important role in cell growth suppression by paclitaxel. In this study, the clinicopathological association of phosphorylated Bcl-2 (P-Bcl-2) with estrogen, progesterone, c-erbB-2 receptors, p53 expressions and phosphorylated FADD/JNK (P-FADD/JNK) was analyzed immunohistochemically using 107 human breast cancer specimens. Expression of P-Bcl-2 was found to significantly correlate with lymphatic invasion, lymph node metastasis, but not histological differentiation, tumor grade or vascular and fatty invasion. The positivity of P-Bcl-2 was also significantly correlated to that of P-FADD/JNK. Thus, P-Bcl-2 as well as the P-FADD/JNK parameter might be useful markers for cancer progression, independent of the hormone receptor status, in human breast cancers.
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PMID:Bcl-2 phosphorylation has pathological significance in human breast cancer. 1711 50

3Beta-hydroxyolean-12-en-27-oic acid (1), a biologically active, pentacyclic triterpenoid isolated from the rhizomes of Astilbe chinensis, was found to be considerably more cytotoxic toward human colorectal carcinoma (COLO-205) and human cervical squamous carcinoma (HeLa) cells than its congener oleanolic acid (4). This suggests that the position of the COOH group significantly affects the cytotoxicity of oleanane-type pentacyclic triterpene carboxylic acids. To elucidate the underlying biological mechanism responsible for the cytotoxicity of 1, we investigated its growth-inhibitory effect on COLO-205 cells. Compound 1 induced a marked concentration- and time-dependent inhibition of cell proliferation, with the typical morphological characteristics of apoptosis, and under formation of DNA ladders in agarose-gel electrophoresis. Flow-cytometric analysis showed that the cell cycle of COLO-205 cells exposed to 1 was arrested in the G0/G1 phase. Also, 1 increased and decreased the expression of Bax and Bcl-2 proteins, respectively, and lowered the mitochondrial transmembrane potential (delta psi(m)). The peptidic caspase-3 inhibitor NH2-Asp-Glu-Val-Asp-CHO (at 1 microM) could increase the viability of COLO-205 cells previously treated with 1. These results indicate that 1 induces efficient cell apoptosis through down-regulating Bcl-2 expression, up-regulating Bax expression, lowering delta psi(m), and by activating the caspase-3 pathway.
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PMID:3 Beta-hydroxyolean-12-en-27-oic acid: a cytotoxic, apoptosis-inducing natural drug against COLO-205 cancer cells. 1719 18


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