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

In previous studies we demonstrated that IGF-I induces proliferation of pituitary lactotrophs. In addition to its mitotrophic actions, IGF-I is known to prevent apoptosis induced by diverse stimuli in several cell types. In this study, we investigated the action of IGF-I on pituitary cell survival and the intracellular signaling transduction pathway implicated in this effect. Treatment of cultured male rat pituitary cells with IGF-I (10(-7) M) for 24 h prevented pituitary cell death induced by serum deprivation. The protective effect of IGF-I was blocked by phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3-kinase) inhibitor, LY294002, but was unaffected by PD98059, which inhibits MAP/ERK kinase (MEK1). IGF-I activation of PI3-kinase induced the phosphorylation and activation of the serine/threonine kinase Akt. Moreover, IGF-I increased the phosphorylation of the pro-apoptotic factor Bad and the levels of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 through the PI3-kinase pathway in primary pituitary cells.
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PMID:IGF-I inhibits apoptosis through the activation of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt pathway in pituitary cells. 1529 50

Nitric oxide (NO), produced from L-arginine and molecular oxygen in a reaction catalyzed by one of three NO synthase isoenzymes, can prevent or induce neuronal apoptosis depending on its concentration and cellular redox state. This molecule affords neuroprotection by post-translational S-nitrosylation of NMDA receptor, caspases and p21ras, and increases the expression of cytoprotective genes such as HSP70, heme oxygenase and Bcl-2. Moreover, the NO/cGMP pathway activates the anti-apoptotic serine/threonine kinase Akt by protein kinase G-dependent activation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase. A high concentration of NO and peroxynitrite, a reaction product of NO with superoxide anion, can promote apoptotic pathways in neuronal cells through the indirect activation of caspases. We review the molecular mechanism by which NO exerts both pro- and anti-apoptotic actions in neuronal cells and the clinical implications for regulating neuronal apoptosis.
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PMID:Regulation of programmed cell death in neuronal cells by nitric oxide. 1534 Nov 93

DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK), a nuclear serine/threonine kinase, is responsible for the DNA double-strand break repair. Cells lacking or with dysfunctional DNA-PK are often associated with mis-repair, chromosome aberrations, and complex exchanges, all of which are known to contribute to the development of human cancers including glioblastoma. Two human glioblastoma cell lines were used in the experiment, M059J cells lacking the catalytic subunit of DNA-PK, and their isogenic but DNA-PK proficient counterpart, M059K. We found that M059K cells were much more sensitive to staurosporine (STS) treatment than M059J cells, as demonstrated by MTT assay, TUNEL detection, and annexin-V and propidium iodide (PI) staining. A possible mechanism responsible for the different sensitivity in these two cell lines was explored by the examination of Bcl-2, Bax, Bak, and Fas. The cell death stimulus increased anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 and decreased pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 members (Bak and Bax) and Fas in glioblastoma cells deficient in DNA-PK. Activation of DNA-PK is known to promote cell death of human tumor cells via modulation of p53, which can down-regulate the anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 member proteins, induce pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 family members and promote a Bax-Bak interaction. Our experiment also demonstrated that the mode of glioblastoma cell death induced by STS consisted of both apoptosis and necrosis and the percentage of cell death in both modes was similar in glioblastoma cell lines either lacking DNA-PK or containing intact DNA-PK. Taken together, our findings suggest that DNA-PK has a positive role in the regulation of apoptosis in human glioblastomas. The aberrant expression of Bcl-2 family members and Fas was, at least in part, responsible for decreased sensitivity of DNA-PK deficient glioblastoma cells to cell death stimuli.
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PMID:Glioblastoma cells deficient in DNA-dependent protein kinase are resistant to cell death. 1549 13

The serine/threonine kinase Akt inhibits mitochondrial cytochrome c release and apoptosis induced by a variety of proapoptotic stimuli. The antiapoptotic activity of Akt is coupled, at least in part, to its effects on cellular metabolism. Here, we provide genetic evidence that Akt is required to maintain hexokinase association with mitochondria. Targeted disruption of this association impairs the ability of growth factors and Akt to inhibit cytochrome c release and apoptosis. Targeted disruption of mitochondria-hexokinase (HK) interaction or exposure to proapoptotic stimuli that promote rapid dissociation of hexokinase from mitochondria potently induce cytochrome c release and apoptosis, even in the absence of Bax and Bak. These effects are inhibited by activated Akt, but not by Bcl-2, implying that changes in outer mitochondrial membrane (OMM) permeability leading to apoptosis can occur in the absence of Bax and Bak and that Akt inhibits these changes through maintenance of hexokinase association with mitochondria.
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PMID:Hexokinase-mitochondria interaction mediated by Akt is required to inhibit apoptosis in the presence or absence of Bax and Bak. 1557 36

The Raf-1 serine/threonine kinase is a key protein that is implicated in the transmission of many growth and cell survival signals. In the present study we demonstrate that apoptosis of hematopoietic cells induced by IL-3-deprivation is associated with the cleavage of Raf-1, resulting in the separation of the N-terminal regulatory domain and the C-terminal kinase domain. Raf-1 cleavage specifically occurs upon triggering of the mitochondrial death pathway, and coincides with the activation of specific caspases. Moreover, Bcl-2 overexpression or treatment with the caspase inhibitor z-VAD.fmk completely prevented Raf-1 cleavage, whereas caspase inhibition by treatment of cells with Ac-DEVD.fmk or z-IETD.fmk, or CrmA overexpression had no effect. Furthermore, in vitro cleavage studies indicate that caspase-9, which is the apical protease in the mitochondrial death pathway, is able to cleave Raf-1 at position D279. Cell fractionation studies showed that the Raf-1 C-terminal fragment that is generated upon IL-3 withdrawal is localized predominantly to the mitochondria. In addition, constitutive expression of this C-terminal Raf-1 fragment fused to a mitochondrial targeting sequence in Ba/F3 pre-B cells significantly delays apoptosis induced by IL-3 withdrawal. These results suggest an important role for caspase-9 mediated cleavage of Raf-1 in the negative feedback regulation of hematopoietic cell apoptosis induced by growth factor withdrawal.
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PMID:Apoptosis of hematopoietic cells induced by growth factor withdrawal is associated with caspase-9 mediated cleavage of Raf-1. 1567 27

PKC-delta is a serine/threonine kinase that mediates diverse signal transduction pathways. We previously demonstrated that overexpression of PKC-delta slowed the G1 progression of Caco-2 colon cancer cells, accelerated apoptosis, and induced cellular differentiation. In this study, we further characterized the PKC-delta dependent signaling pathways involved in these tumor suppressor actions in Caco-2 cells overexpressing PKC-delta using a Zn2+ inducible expression vector. Consistent with a G1 arrest, increased expression of PKC-delta caused rapid and significant downregulation of cyclin D1 and cyclin E proteins (50% decreases, P<0.05), while mRNA levels remained unchanged. The PKC agonist, phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (TPA, 100 nM, 4 h), induced two-fold higher protein and mRNA levels of p21(Waf1), a cyclin-dependent kinase (cdk) inhibitor in PKC-delta transfectants compared with empty vector (EV) transfected cells, whereas the PKC-delta specific inhibitor rottlerin (3 microM) or knockdown of this isoenzyme with specific siRNA oligonucleotides blocked p21(Waf1) expression. Concomitantly, compared to EV control cells, PKC-delta upregulation decreased cyclin D1 and cyclin E proteins co-immunoprecipitating with cdk6 and cdk2, respectively. In addition, overexpression of PKC-delta increased binding of cdk inhibitor p27(Kip1) to cdk4. These alterations in cyclin-cdks and their inhibitors are predicted to decrease G1 cyclin kinase activity. As an independent confirmation of the direct role PKC-delta plays in cell growth and cell cycle regulation, we knocked down PKC-delta using specific siRNA oligonucleotides. PKC-delta specific siRNA oligonucleotides, but not irrelevant control oligonucleotides, inhibited PKC-delta protein by more than 80% in Caco-2 cells. Moreover, PKC-delta knockdown enhanced cell proliferation ( approximately 1.4-2-fold, P<0.05) and concomitantly increased cyclin D1 and cyclin E expression ( approximately 1.7-fold, P<0.05). This was a specific effect, as nontargeted PKC-zeta was not changed by PKC-delta siRNA oligonucleotides. Consistent with accelerated apoptosis in PKC-delta transfectants, compared to EV cells, PKC-delta upregulation increased proapoptotic regulator Bax two-fold at mRNA and protein levels, while antiapoptotic Bcl-2 protein was decreased by 50% at a post-transcriptional level. PKC-delta specific siRNA oligonucleotides inhibited Bax protein expression by more than 50%, indicating that PKC-delta regulates apoptosis through Bax. Taken together, these results elucidate two critical mechanisms regulated by PKC-delta that inhibit cell cycle progression and enhance apoptosis in colon cancer cells. We postulate these antiproliferative pathways mediate an important tumor suppressor function for PKC-delta in colonic carcinogenesis.
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PMID:Protein kinase C delta inhibits Caco-2 cell proliferation by selective changes in cell cycle and cell death regulators. 1643 69

Celecoxib is being evaluated as a chemopreventive agent. However, its mechanism of action is not clear because high doses were used for in vitro studies to obtain antitumor effects. We found that celecoxib inhibited the growth of premalignant and malignant human bronchial epithelial cells with IC(50) values between 8.9 and 32.7 micromol/L, irrespective of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression. Normal human bronchial epithelial cells were less sensitive to celecoxib. Because these concentrations were higher than those attainable in vivo (<or=5.6 micromol/L), we surmised that combining celecoxib with the synthetic retinoid N-(4-hydroxyphenyl) retinamide (4HPR) might improve its efficacy. Treatment of premalignant lung cell lines with combinations of clinically relevant concentrations of celecoxib (<or=5 micromol/L) and 4HPR (<or=0.25 micromol/L) resulted in greater growth inhibition, apoptosis induction, and suppression of colony formation than did either agent alone. This combination also decreased the levels of Bcl-2, induced the release of mitochondrial cytochrome c, activated caspase-9 and caspase-3, and induced cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase at concentrations at which each agent alone showed no or minimal effects. Furthermore, combinations of celecoxib and 4HPR suppressed the phosphorylation levels of serine/threonine kinase Akt and its substrate glycogen synthase kinase-3beta more effectively than the single agents did. Accordingly, overexpression of constitutively active Akt protected bronchial epithelial cells from undergoing apoptosis after incubation with both celecoxib and 4HPR. These findings indicate that activation of the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway and suppression of the Akt survival pathway mediate the augmented apoptosis and suggest that this combination may be useful for lung cancer chemoprevention.
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PMID:Involvement of mitochondrial and Akt signaling pathways in augmented apoptosis induced by a combination of low doses of celecoxib and N-(4-hydroxyphenyl) retinamide in premalignant human bronchial epithelial cells. 1701 36

Germ line mutations in the bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) receptor type II (BMPRII) gene have been found in >50% of familial idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH) patients and in 30% of sporadic cases of IPAH. Mutations of BMPRII occur in the extracellular ligand-binding domain, in the cytoplasmic serine/threonine kinase domain, or in the long carboxy terminus domain of unknown function. In this study, we demonstrate that BMPs promote apoptotic cell death in normal human pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) by activation of caspases-3, -8, and -9, cytochrome c release, and downregulation of Bcl-2. Normal PASMCs expressing a kinase domain mutant or a carboxy-terminal domain deletion mutant of BMPRII identified in IPAH patients are resistant to BMP-mediated apoptosis. This dominant-negative effect may act in heterozygous patients and lead to the development of the pulmonary vascular medial hypertrophy found in IPAH patients. Our study also demonstrates an essential role of the carboxy terminus domain of BMPRII in the activation of the apoptotic signaling cascade.
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PMID:BMP-dependent activation of caspase-9 and caspase-8 mediates apoptosis in pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells. 1703 Sep 3

Calcineurin (CaN) is a calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein phosphatase that has an important role in ischemia-induced apoptosis. The serine/threonine kinase, Akt, which is also known as protein kinase B, has an important role in the cell death/survival pathways. Akt is activated by its phosphorylation, which is positively regulated by phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) and negatively regulated by a class of protein phosphatases (PPs) in tissue. However, the relationship between CaN and Akt after transient ischemia remains unclear. In the present study, we investigated whether CaN is involved in neuronal cell apoptosis and Akt dephosphorylation that occur during ischemic injury. We examined the interdependence between CaN and Akt/protein kinase B (PKB) in the rat retina after transient ischemia. After ischemic damage, we detected changes in levels of CaN, Akt and Bad in rats in the presence or absence FK506, CaN inhibitor. Our results show that CaN cleavage reduced Akt phosphorylation at Thr308 and Ser473, and led to apoptosis via dephosphorylation of the proapoptotic Bcl-2 family member Bad. After treatment with FK506, Akt and Bad dephosphorylation was greatly reduced. The total number of TUNEL-positive neurons was reduced by intravitreal injection of FK506 after transient ischemia. These results indicate that CaN cleavage negatively regulates Akt phosphorylation and is involved in retinal cell apoptosis after transient ischemia.
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PMID:Calcineurin mediates AKT dephosphorylation in the ischemic rat retina. 1870 31

The contribution of basophils in allergic disease and other Th2-type immune responses depends on their persistence at sites of inflammation, but the ligands and molecular pathways supporting basophil survival are largely unknown. The comparison of rates of apoptosis and of the expression of antiapoptotic proteins in different human granulocyte types revealed that basophils have a considerably longer spontaneous life span than neutrophils and eosinophils consistent with high levels of constitutive Bcl-2 expression. Interleukin-3 (IL-3) is the only ligand that efficiently protects basophils from apoptosis as evidenced by screening a large number of stimuli. IL-3 up-regulates the expression of the antiapoptotic proteins cIAP2, Mcl-1, and Bcl-X(L) and induces a rapid and sustained de novo expression of the serine/threonine kinase Pim1 that closely correlates with cytokine-enhanced survival. Inhibitor studies and protein transduction of primary basophils using wild-type and kinase-dead Pim1-Tat fusion-proteins demonstrate the functional importance of Pim1 induction in the IL-3-enhanced survival. Our data further indicate that the antiapoptotic Pim1-mediated pathway operates independently of PI3-kinase but involves the activation of p38 MAPK. The induction of Pim1 leading to PI3-kinase-independent survival as described here for basophils may also be a relevant antiapoptotic mechanism in other terminally differentiated leukocyte types.
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PMID:IL-3 induces a Pim1-dependent antiapoptotic pathway in primary human basophils. 1876 89


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