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)

The ribosome-inhibiting proteins from Viscum album L., i.e. the mistletoe lectins (ML), were recognized to induce apoptosis in various tumour cell lines and human lymphocytes. However, several aspects of ML-induced cell death are unclear. We report that the galNAc-binding ML III incubated with human lymphocytes mediates a very effective death signal resulting in the binding of Annexin-V and expression of mitochondrial membrane proteins Apo2.7, but also in an influx of the DNA intercalating dye propidium iodide. The addition of the ribosome-inhibiting protein Volkensin also induced Apo2.7 molecules, while Momordin, lacking a carbohydrate-binding chain, did not enter the cell membrane and thus did not affect the cells. However, we observed ML III to preferentially affect CD8+ cells with a memory phenotype (CD62L(lo)) as compared to their CD8+ CD62L(hi) counterparts, CD4+ T cells and CD19+ B cells. Furthermore, ML III did not induce sister chromatid exchange-inducing DNA lesions but reduced the intensity of telomeric signals, increased the frequencies of telomeric associations and C-anaphases and reduced nuclear Bcl-2 and p53 proteins. Whatever the exact mechanisms are, our results provide strong evidence that the ML III-mediated cytotoxicity involves distinct killing pathways, i.e. (1) primary cell death via an induction of apoptosis which may not be dependent on protein and/or RNA synthesis and may not involve p53 and Bcl-2 proteins and (2) a loss of telomeres resulting in chromosomal instability in the surviving cells which is incompatible with life. However, we cannot exclude the possibility that this effect is due to a decrease in nuclear p53 proteins.
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PMID:Induction of apoptosis by the N-acetyl-galactosamine-specific toxic lectin from Viscum album L. is associated with a decrease of nuclear p53 and Bcl-2 proteins and induction of telomeric associations. 975 Dec 57

Certain nonmetallic porphyrins have potent antitumor activity upon visible light irradiation. Treatment of HeLa cells with nanomolar amounts of the photochemo therapeutic agent verteporfin and red light mobilized caspases 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, and 9, caused degradation of specific caspase substrates, and resulted in morphologic changes consistent with apoptosis. Caspase processing was detectable by 1 hour after light irradiation. The mitochondrial 7A6 epitope, recognized by monoclonal antibody APO2.7, became accessible, and cytochrome c was detectable within the cytosolic fraction of cells treated with verteporfin immediately after light irradiation. The general caspase inhibitor benzyloxycarboyl-Val-Ala-Asp-fluoromethylketone did not prevent 7A6 expression produced by photosensitization at peptide concentrations which completely prevented caspase activation and cleavage of caspase-specific substrates. Enforced overexpression of Bcl-2 or Bcl-xL prevented cytochrome c release and 7A6 expression produced by ultraviolet B light treatment, but did not prevent cytochrome c release or 7A6 expression elicited by verteporfin photosensitization. Bcl-2 or Bcl-xL overexpression delayed morphologic changes, depressed caspase activation, and limited substrate degradation, but did not protect against loss of viability after verteporfin photosensitization. This observation indicates that cells overexpressing Bcl-2 or Bcl-xL exhibit resistance to caspase activation even after the appearance of cytochrome c in the cytosol. Porphyrin photosensitizers are effective chemotherapeutic agents that elicit primary proapoptotic mitochondrial events even in the setting of heightened Bcl-2 or Bcl-xL expression.
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PMID:Early release of mitochondrial cytochrome c and expression of mitochondrial epitope 7A6 with a porphyrin-derived photosensitizer: Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL overexpression do not prevent early mitochondrial events but still depress caspase activity. 1046 33

Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) enhanced the growth-inhibitory activities of dexamethasone (Dex) and 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (VD3) on human monocytoid leukemia U937 cells. TGF-beta and VD3 synergistically increased the expression of differentiation-associated markers such as the CD11b and CD14 antigens, whereas TGF-beta and Dex did not. On the other hand, TGF-beta and Dex synergistically increased the number of Apo2.7-positive cells, which represents the early stage of apoptosis, whereas TGF-beta and VD3 did not, suggesting that TGF-beta enhanced apoptosis with Dex and enhanced monocytic differentiation with VD3. In the presence of TGF-beta, the retinoblastoma susceptibility gene product, pRb, was synergistically dephosphorylated by Dex as well as VD3. TGF similarly enhanced the expression of the p21Waf1 gene in U937 cells treated with Dex and VD3. TGF-beta dose-dependently increased the expression of Bcl-2 and Bad and decreased the expression of Bcl-X(L) in U937 cells. Dex enhanced the down-regulation of Bcl-X(L) expression in TGF-beta-treated cells, whereas VD3 blocked this down-regulation of Bcl-X(L). However, the down-regulation of Bcl-X(L) by treatment with the antisense oligomer did not affect the apoptosis or differentiation of U937 cells. The apoptosis of CD14-positive cells was suppressed in the VD3 plus TGF-beta-treated cultures. These results suggest that the expression of CD14 is involved in the survival of differentiated cells.
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PMID:Role of CD14 expression in the differentiation-apoptosis switch in human monocytic leukemia cells treated with 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 or dexamethasone in the presence of transforming growth factor beta1. 1054 74

Bag-1 is a heat shock 70 kDa (Hsp70)-binding protein that can collaborate with Bcl-2 in suppressing apoptosis under some conditions. Here, we report that 11 of 12 human glioma cell lines express Bag-1 protein in vitro. Moreover, 15 of 19 human glioblastomas expressed Bag-1 as assessed by immunohistochemistry in primary tumor specimens. To examine the biological effects of Bag-1 in glioma cells, we expressed Bag-1 or Bcl-2 transgenes in 2 human malignant glioma cell lines, LN-18 and LN-229. Bag-1 significantly slowed glioma cell growth and reduced clonogenicity of both cell lines in vitro. Coexpressed Bcl-2 abrogated these effects of Bag-1. Intracranial LN-229 glioma xenografts implanted into nude mice revealed a substantial growth advantage afforded by Bcl-2. Bag-1 had no such effect, either in the absence or presence of Bcl-2. Upon serum starvation in vitro, Bcl-2 prevented cell death whereas Bag-1 did not. Both Bcl-2 and Bag-1 slowed proliferation of serum-starved cells when expressed alone. Importantly, coexpression of Bcl-2 and Bag-1 provided a distinct growth advantage under conditions of serum starvation that is probably the result of (i) the death-preventing activity of Bcl-2 and (ii) the property of Bag-1 to overcome a Bcl-2-mediated enhancement of exit from the cell cycle. In contrast to these Bcl-2/Bag-1 interactions observed under serum starvation conditions, Bag-1 did not further enhance the strong protection from staurosporine-, CD95 (Fas/Apo1) ligand-, Apo2 ligand (TRAIL)- or chemotherapeutic drug-induced apoptosis afforded by Bcl-2. Taken together, these results indicate a role for Bag-1/Bcl-2 interactions in providing a survival advantage to cancer cells in a deprived microenvironment that may be characteristic of ischemic/hypoxic tumors such as human glioblastoma multiforme, and suggest that Bcl-2/Bag-1 interactions also modulate cell proliferation.
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PMID:Bag-1 and Bcl-2 gene transfer in malignant glioma: modulation of cell cycle regulation and apoptosis. 1076 42

Previously we have reported a differential expression of CD95/CD95L and Bcl-2 family of genes in multidrug resistant tumor cells. TRAIL, a member of the TNF receptor family, induces apoptosis in many tumor cells by binding to DR4 (TRAIL receptor 1) and DR5 (TRAIL receptor 2). In contrast, TRAIL-induced apoptosis is prevented by a decoy receptor (DcR1, TRID or TRAIL receptor 3). In the present study, we compared the expression of TRAIL, DR4, DR5, and TRID between a drug sensitive HL60, a myeloid leukemia cell line, and its multidrug resistant (MDR) sublines that either overexpressed MDR 1 gene (HL60/Tax) or MRP gene (HL60/AR), using RT-PCR. TRAIL mRNA was expressed in HL60 cells but was present in low levels in HL60/AR cells and was completely lacking in HL60/Tax cells. Both DR4 and DR5 were undetectable in HL60/Tax but were present at comparable levels in HL60/AR and drug sensitive HL60 cells. TRID were absent in HL60 and HL60/Tax cells, but was present in low but comparable levels in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and HL60/AR cells. These data suggest that the multidrug resistance in MDR HL60 cell lines, regardless of overexpression of MDR 1 or MRP, may be due to different mechanisms. In HL60/AR cells it appears that MDR may be due to decreased expression of TRAIL and constitutive expression of TRID, whereas in HL60/Tax cells, MDR could be due to the absence of TRAIL and/or DR4 and DR5.
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PMID:Expression of TRAIL (Apo2L), DR4 (TRAIL receptor 1), DR5 (TRAIL receptor 2) and TRID (TRAIL receptor 3) genes in multidrug resistant human acute myeloid leukemia cell lines that overexpress MDR 1 (HL60/Tax) or MRP (HL60/AR). 1081 86

Ionizing radiation is a major tool for cancer treatment. The response of eukaryotic cells to ionizing radiation includes apoptosis, a process which requires activation of multiple genes. We sought to determine whether radiation-induced gene expression plays a role in radiation-induced apoptosis. We found Apo2 ligand (Apo2L, also called TRAIL) mRNA induction following gamma-irradiation of Jurkat, MOLT-4, CEM, and PBMC, all human T lineage-derived cells. Increased Apo2L protein levels were found in MOLT-4 and Jurkat cells. Radiation also activated the Apo2L death receptor (DR)5 (also called Apo2, TRAIL-R2, or KILLER) in MOLT-4 cells, which harbor a wild-type p53. We isolated 1152 bp of 5' flanking region of the Apo2L gene and a shorter fragment of 716 bp, both of which showed promoter activity driving the expression of a luciferase reporter gene; however, the response to radiation in MOLT-4 cells was lost when only 430 bp of 5' proximal flanking sequence was maintained. Exogenous Apo2L induced phosphatidylserine exposure on cell membranes, caspase 8 and caspase 3 activation, key markers of apoptosis, confirming that the Apo2L/DR5 pathway is functional in these cells. Bid, a Bcl-2 family protein also known to contribute to receptor-mediated apoptosis, was also activated. To determine whether Apo2L and DR5 were critical for radiation signaling to apoptosis, we stably expressed a dominant negative DR5delta-receptor in Jurkat cells. Cell survival was significantly augmented, indicating that increased Apo2L expression contributed to radiation-induced apoptosis. Clonogenic assays demonstrated that purified, recombinant soluble Apo2L enhanced the lethality of low, therapeutic doses (1-2 Gy) of gamma-irradiation. These data suggest that production of Apo2L may cooperate synergistically with the cytotoxic effect of radiation, and that combinations of Apo2L and radiation may become a powerful tool in clinical therapy.
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PMID:Apo2 ligand/TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand and death receptor 5 mediate the apoptotic signaling induced by ionizing radiation in leukemic cells. 1105 70

In this study we sought to clarify the role of the proapoptotic potential of mitochondria in the death pathway emanating from the TRAIL (APO-2L) and CD95 receptors in pancreatic carcinoma cells. We focused on the role of the Bcl-2 family member Bcl-XL, using three pancreatic carcinoma cell lines as a model system, two of which have high (Panc-1, PancTuI) and one has low (Colo357) Bcl-XL expression. In these cell lines, the expression of Bcl-XL correlated with sensitivity to apoptosis induced by TRAIL or anti-CD95. Flow cytometric analysis revealed cell surface expression of TRAIL-R1 and TRAIL-R2 on PancTuI and Colo357, and TRAIL-R2 on Panc-1 cells. In Colo357 cells retrovirally transduced with Bcl-XL, caspase-8 activation in response to treatment with TRAIL or anti-CD95 antibody was not different from parental cells and EGFP-transfected controls, however, apoptosis was completely suppressed as measured by the mitochondrial transmembrane potential deltapsim, caspase-3 activity (PARP cleavage) and DNA-fragmentation. Inhibition of Bcl-XL function by overexpression of Bax or administration of antisense oligonucleotides against Bcl-XL mRNA resulted in sensitization of Panc-1 cells to TRAIL and PancTuI cells to anti-CD95 antibody-induced cell death. The results show that Bcl-XL can protect pancreatic cancer cells from CD95- and TRAIL-mediated apoptosis. Thus, in these epithelial tumour cells the mitochondrially mediated 'type II' pathway of apoptosis induction is not only operative regarding the CD95 system but also regarding the TRAIL system.
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PMID:Bcl-XL protects pancreatic adenocarcinoma cells against CD95- and TRAIL-receptor-mediated apoptosis. 1111 25

Jurkat T cells showed a major, early decrease in blue autofluorescence in response to Fas/Apo-1/CD95 cross-linking or stimulation with cell-permeant ceramide. This indicates the oxidation/depletion of NADH or NADPH before the onset of apoptosis. Kinetic studies, cytofluorimetric multiparameter analyses and cell sorting experiments indicated a close temporal relationship between NAD(P)H oxidation/depletion and the dissipation of the mitochondrial transmembrane potential (DeltaPsi(m)). In contrast, NAD(P)H depletion was detected well before several other changes associated with late apoptosis, including enhanced superoxide generation, phosphatidylserine exposure on the cell surface, loss of cytosolic K(+), decreased cytoplasmic pH, nuclear DNA fragmentation, cell shrinkage, loss of viability and the appearance of the mitochondrial antigen APO2.7. Full activation of caspase 9 and caspase 3 appeared to be correlated with the appearance of superoxide anions in the mitochondria, and followed the drop in NADPH. Overexpression of the apoptosis-inhibitory proto-oncogene Bcl-2, which encodes an inhibitor of the mitochondrial permeability transition (PT) pore, delayed both the DeltaPsi(m) disruption and the depletion of NAD(P)H. Similar effects were observed with the pharmacological PT pore inhibitors, bongkrekic acid and cyclosporin A. Thus there appears to be a close functional relationship between mitochondrial and cellular redox changes during early apoptosis; events that are inhibited by Bcl-2.
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PMID:Oxidation of pyridine nucleotides during Fas- and ceramide-induced apoptosis in Jurkat cells: correlation with changes in mitochondria, glutathione depletion, intracellular acidification and caspase 3 activation. 1113 1

Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) is a new cytokine that was proposed to specifically induce apoptosis of cancer cells. In tumor cells that are resistant to the cytokine, subtoxic concentrations of chemotherapeutic drugs can restore the response to TRAIL. The present study further explores the mechanisms that determine tumor cell sensitivity to TRAIL by comparing four human colon carcinoma cell lines We show that colon cancer cell sensitivity to TRAIL-induced apoptosis and cytotoxicity correlates with the expression of the death receptors TRAIL-R1 and TRAIL-R2 at the cell surface, as determined by now cytometry, whereas the two decoy receptors TRAIL-R3 and TRAIL-R4 can be detected only in permeabilized cells. Clinically relevant concentrations of cisplatin and doxorubicin sensitize the most resistant colon cancer cell lines to TRAIL-induced cell death without modifying the expression nor the localization of TRAIL receptors in these cells. TRAIL induces the activation of procaspase-8 and triggers caspase-dependent apoptosis off colon cancer cells. Cytotoxic drugs lower the signaling threshold required for TRAIL-induced procaspase-8 activation. In turn, caspase-8 cleaves Bid, a BH3 domain-containing proapoptotic molecule of the Bcl-2 family and activates effector caspases. Together, these data indicate that chemotherapeutic drugs sensitize colon tumor cells to TRAIL-mediated caspase-8 activation and apoptosis.
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PMID:Anticancer agents sensitize tumor cells to tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand-mediated caspase-8 activation and apoptosis. 1124 78

One of the main functions of the tumor suppressor p53 is the induction of programmed cell death. Here we investigated in detail the molecular mechanisms that underlay p53 transactivation-dependent apoptosis in the human colon cancer cell line DLD-1. Although p53 upregulated the death receptors Fas, TRAIL-R1 and TRAIL-R2 in this cell line, p53-induced cell death occurred without detectable caspase-8 activation whereas, activation of caspase-9 and caspase-3 was readily observed. In addition to the upregulation of death receptors, p53 induced the pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 family members Bik and Bak and downregulated the anti-apoptotic Bcl-xL protein. Moreover, in RNase protection assay analyses as well as in reporter gene analyses we found a p53-dependent upregulation of the death receptor-inhibitory protein cFLIP. Together, these data argue for a p53-mediated activation of the mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis. In contrast to recently published data obtained in different cellular systems, there was no evidence for an essential role of NF-kappaB in p53-induced cell death. Moreover, induction of p53 interfered with TNF-induced NF-kappaB activation independently from apoptosis-induction.
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PMID:p53 upregulates cFLIP, inhibits transcription of NF-kappaB-regulated genes and induces caspase-8-independent cell death in DLD-1 cells. 1131 89


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