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Query: UNIPROT:P10415 (Bcl-2)
 33,771 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) induces apoptosis in a variety of cells. We have previously shown that TGF-beta 1 rapidly induces apoptosis in the FaO rat hepatoma cell line. We have now studied the effect of TGF-beta 1 on the expression of different members of the Bcl-2 family in these cells. We observed no detectable changes in the steady-state levels of Bcl-2, Bcl-X(L), and Bax. However, TGF-beta 1 induced caspase-dependent cleavage of BAD at its N terminus to generate a 15-kDa truncated protein. Overexpression of the 15-kDa truncated BAD protein enhanced TGF-beta 1-induced apoptosis, whereas a mutant BAD resistant to caspase 3 cleavage blocked TGF-beta 1-induced apoptosis. Overexpression of Smad3 dramatically enhanced TGF-beta 1-induced cleavage of BAD and apoptosis, whereas antisense Smad3 blocked TGF-beta 1-induced apoptosis and BAD cleavage. These results suggest that TGF-beta 1 induces apoptosis through the cleavage of BAD in a Smad3-dependent mechanism.
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PMID:Transforming growth factor beta 1 induces apoptosis through cleavage of BAD in a Smad3-dependent mechanism in FaO hepatoma cells. 1183 4

Although Smad 3 is known to serve as a signaling intermediate for the transforming growth factor beta (TGFbeta) family in nonreproductive tissues, its role in the ovary is unknown. Thus, we used a recently generated Smad 3-deficient (Smad 3-/-) mouse model to test the hypothesis that Smad 3 alters female fertility and regulates the growth of ovarian follicles from the primordial stage to the antral stage. In addition, we tested whether Smad 3 affects the levels of proteins that control apoptosis, survival, and proliferation in the ovarian follicle. To test this hypothesis, breeding studies were conducted using Smad 3-/- and wild-type mice. In addition, ovaries were collected from Smad 3-/- and wild-type mice on Postnatal Days 2-90. One ovary from each animal was used to estimate the total number of primordial, primary, and antral follicles. The other ovary was used for immunohistochemical analysis of selected members of the B-cell lymphoma/leukemia-2 family of protooncogenes (Bax, Bcl-2, Bcl-x), proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), and cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (Cdk-2). The results indicate that Smad 3-/- mice have reduced fertility compared with wild type mice. The results also indicate that Smad 3 may not affect the size of the primordial follicle pool at birth, but it may regulate growth of primordial follicles to the antral stage. Further, the results indicate that Smad 3 may regulate the expression of Bax and Bcl-2, but not Bcl-x, Cdk-2, and PCNA. Collectively, these data suggest that Smad 3 may play an important role in the regulation of ovarian follicle growth and female fertility.
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PMID:Smad 3 may regulate follicular growth in the mouse ovary. 1190 9

Differential gene expression analysis, using high-density microarray chips, demonstrated 300-400 genes to be deregulated in mantle cell lymphomas (MCLs) compared with normal B-cell populations. To investigate the significance of this genetic signature in lymphoma etiology and diagnostics, we selected 90 annotated genes involved in a number of cellular functions for further analysis. Our findings demonstrated a normal gene expression of CCR7, which indicated a normal homing to primary follicles, which was in contrast to other receptors for B-cell trafficking, such as a significant down-regulation for CXCR5 and CCR6, as well as down-regulation of IL4R involved in differentiation. This indicated that the malignant transformation of a normal B cell could have appeared during the transition of a primary follicle to a germinal center, i.e., after an initial B-cell activation. Genes involved in blockage of antiproliferative signals in normal cells were also deregulated, e.g., gene expression of TGF beta 2 and Smad3 was suppressed in MCLs. Furthermore, lymphoproliferative signal pathways were active in MCLs compared with normal B cells, because genes encoding, e.g., IL10R alpha and IL18 were up-regulated, as were oncogenes like Bcl-2 and MERTK. Genes encoding receptors for different neurotransmitters mediating B-cell stimulation, such as norepinephrine and cannabinoids were also up-regulated, again illustrating deregulation of a complex network of genes involved in growth and differentiation. Furthermore, hierarchical cluster analysis revealed two subpopulations of MCLs, which indicates that despite the homogeneous and strong overexpression of cyclin D1, further subtyping might be possible.
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PMID:Mantle cell lymphomas express a distinct genetic signature affecting lymphocyte trafficking and growth regulation as compared with subpopulations of normal human B cells. 1215 46

Transforming growth factor-beta (TGFbeta) is a potent growth inhibitor and inducer of apoptosis in B lymphocytes and is essential for immune regulation and maintenance of self-tolerance. Here we show that exogenous overexpression of Smad3 potentiates TGFbeta-induced apoptosis and expression of the pro-apoptotic protein Bim in WEHI 231 B lymphocytes. Overexpression of dominant-negative forms of Smad3 abrogate these TGFbeta-induced responses. We also demonstrate that TGFbeta induces Bim protein expression concomitant with its induction of apoptosis in the mouse progenitor B lymphocyte cell line, Ba/F3. Enhanced expression of Bim protein induced by TGFbeta is associated with an increased association of Bim with Bcl-2 and a concomitant loss of mitochondrial membrane potential. Furthermore, we find that the anti-apoptotic effect of the pro-survival cytokine CD40 results in the abrogation of TGFbeta-mediated Bim induction. Our data provide the first evidence of Bim expression levels that are increased by the addition of a pro-apoptotic cytokine, TGFbeta, and also suggest that the TGFbeta-specific transcription factor Smad3 plays a role in mediating Bim expression levels and apoptosis.
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PMID:Smad3 potentiates transforming growth factor beta (TGFbeta )-induced apoptosis and expression of the BH3-only protein Bim in WEHI 231 B lymphocytes. 1263 28

Smad 3 is a signaling intermediate for the transforming growth factor beta (TGFbeta) family; however, little is known about the role this protein plays in the regulation of the ovarian surface epithelium (OSE). Using a transgenic mouse model, we found that in the absence of Smad 3 there was a distinct morphological alteration of OSE cells. Wild-type (WT) OSE was flat with thin cells, while Smad 3-deficient (Smad 3 -/-) OSE was thick with plump cuboidal cells. WT OSE had less immunostaining for proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and estrogen receptor alpha (ERalpha) than Smad 3 -/- OSE. However, there were no differences in the number of apoptotic cells or Bax and Bcl-2 levels between WT and Smad 3 -/- OSE. Although WT mice had higher levels of serum estradiol than Smad 3 -/- mice, WT and Smad 3 -/- mice had similar levels of progesterone. These data suggest that Smad 3 regulates OSE morphological appearance and proliferation in the absence of high serum estradiol levels or alterations in progesterone levels.
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PMID:Smad 3 regulates proliferation of the mouse ovarian surface epithelium. 1284 4

Apoptosis of fibroblasts may be key for the removal of cells following repair processes. Contraction of three-dimensional collagen gels is a model of wound healing and remodeling. Here two potent inducers of contraction, TGF-beta1 and fetal calf serum (FCS) were evaluated for their effect on fibroblast apoptosis in contracting collagen gels. Human fetal lung fibroblasts were cultured in floating type I collagen gels, exposed to TGF-beta1 or FCS, and allowed to contract for 5 days. Apoptosis was evaluated using TUNEL and confirmed by DNA content profiling. Both TGF-beta1 and serum significantly augmented collagen gel contraction. TGF-beta1 also increased apoptosis assessed by TUNEL positivity and DNA content analysis. In contrast, serum did not affect apoptosis. TGF-beta1 induction of apoptosis was associated with augmented expression of Bax, a pro-apoptotic member of the Bax/Bcl-2 family, inhibition of Bcl-2, an anti-apoptotic member of the same family, and inhibition of both cIAP-1 and XIAP, two inhibitors of the caspase cascade. Serum was associated with an increase in cIAP-1 and Bcl-2, anti-apoptotic proteins. Interestingly, serum was also associated with an apparent increase in Bax, a pro-apoptotic protein. Blockade of Smad3 with either siRNA or by using murine fibroblasts deficient in Smad3 resulted in a lack of TGF-beta induction of augmented contraction and apoptosis. Contraction induced by different factors, therefore, may be differentially associated with apoptosis, which may be related to the persistence or resolution of the fibroblasts that accumulate following injury.
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PMID:TGF-beta1 and serum both stimulate contraction but differentially affect apoptosis in 3D collagen gels. 1632 12

Transforming growth factor-beta superfamily has been implicated in tumorigenesis. We have recently shown that Nodal, a member of transforming growth factor-beta superfamily, and its receptor, activin receptor-like kinase 7 (ALK7), inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis in human epithelial ovarian cancer cell lines. In this study, we further investigated the cellular mechanisms underlying the apoptotic action of ALK7 using an immortalized ovarian surface epithelial cell line, IOSE397, and an epithelial ovarian cancer cell line, OV2008. Infection of these cells with an adenoviral construct carrying constitutively active ALK7 (Ad-ALK7-ca) potently induced cell death; all cells died after 3 and 5 days of Ad-ALK7-ca infection in IOSE397 and OV2008 cells, respectively. ALK7-ca induced the expression of proapoptotic factor Bax but suppressed the expression of antiapoptotic factors Bcl-2, Bcl-XL, and Xiap. Silencing of Bax by small interfering RNA in IOSE397 cells significantly reduced ALK7-ca-induced apoptosis as measured by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling assay but partially blocked ALK7-ca-induced caspase-3 activation and did not affect the down-regulation of Xiap by ALK7-ca. Dominant-negative Smad2, Smad3, and Smad4 blocked ALK7-ca-regulated Xiap and Bax expression and caspase-3 activation. Thus, ALK7-induced apoptosis is at least in part through two Smad-dependent pathways, Bax/Bcl-2 and Xiap.
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PMID:Activin receptor-like kinase 7 induces apoptosis through up-regulation of Bax and down-regulation of Xiap in normal and malignant ovarian epithelial cell lines. 1660 37

In the liver, derangement of TGF-beta signaling is associated with an increased incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but the mechanism is not clear. We report here that forced expression of a major TGF-beta signaling transducer, Smad3, reduces susceptibility to HCC in a chemically induced murine model. This protection is conferred by Smad3's ability to promote apoptosis by repressing Bcl-2 transcription in vivo through a GC-rich element in the Bcl-2 promoter. We also show that the proapoptotic activity of Smad3 requires both input from TGF-beta signaling and activation of p38 MAPK, which occurs selectively in the liver tumor cells. Thus, Smad3 enables the tumor suppression function of TGF-beta by serving as a physiological mediator of TGF-beta-induced apoptosis.
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PMID:Smad3 reduces susceptibility to hepatocarcinoma by sensitizing hepatocytes to apoptosis through downregulation of Bcl-2. 1676 64

Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) signaling is known to depend on the formation of Smad2/3-Smad4 transcription regulatory complexes. However, the signaling functions of Smad2/3-Smad4 during TGF-beta-induced responses are obscure as TGF-beta also initiates a number of other signaling pathways. In this study, we systematically assessed the contribution of TGF-beta-Smad2/3-Smad4 signaling to both target gene transcription and apoptosis. Individual Smads were selectively knocked down in Hep3B cells by stable RNA interference (RNAi). We identified TGF-beta-responsive genes using genome-wide oligonucleotide microarrays and confirmed their dependency on Smad2, Smad3, or Smad4 by the combination of RNAi and microarray assay. The major finding from our microarray analysis was that of the 2,039 target genes seen to be regulated via TGF-beta induction, 190 were differentially transcriptionally controlled by Smad2-Smad4 and Smad3-Smad4 signaling and the latter control mechanism appeared to be functionally more important. We also found indirect evidence of competition between Smad2 and Smad3 for their activation when controlling the transcription of target genes. Functional analysis revealed that Smad3 and Smad4 were the predominant mediators of TGF-beta-induced apoptosis in Hep3B cells. We provide evidence that up-regulation of Bcl-2-interacting mediator of cell death (Bim), under the transcriptional control of Smad3-Smad4 signaling, is crucial to TGF-beta-induced apoptosis in Hep3B cells.
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PMID:Identification of the gene transcription and apoptosis mediated by TGF-beta-Smad2/3-Smad4 signaling. 1796 May 85

Alterations in genes encoding transforming growth factor-beta-signaling components contribute to colon cancer in humans. Similarly, mice deficient in the transforming growth factor-beta signaling molecule, Smad3, develop colon cancer, but only after a bacterial trigger occurs, resulting in chronic inflammation. To determine whether Smad3-null lymphocytes contribute to increased cancer susceptibility, we crossed Smad3-null mice with mice deficient in both B and T lymphocytes (Rag2(-/-) mice). Helicobacter-infected Smad3/Rag2-double knockout (DKO) mice had more diffuse inflammation and increased incidence of adenocarcinoma compared with Helicobacter-infected Smad3(-/-) or Rag2(-/-) mice alone. Adoptive transfer of WT CD4(+)CD25(+) T-regulatory cells provided significant protection of Smad3/Rag2-DKO from bacterial-induced typhlocolitis, dysplasia, and tumor development, whereas Smad3(-/-) T-regulatory cells provided no protection. Immunohistochemistry, real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, and Western blot analyses of colonic tissues from Smad3/Rag2-DKO mice 1 week after Helicobacter infection revealed an influx of macrophages, enhanced nuclear factor-kappaB activation, increased Bcl(XL)/Bcl-2 expression, increased c-Myc expression, accentuated epithelial cell proliferation, and up-regulated IFN-gamma, IL-1alpha, TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, and IL-6 transcription levels. These results suggest that the loss of Smad3 increases susceptibility to colon cancer by at least two mechanisms: deficient T-regulatory cell function, which leads to excessive inflammation after a bacterial trigger; and increased expression of proinflammatory cytokines, enhanced nuclear factor-kappaB activation, and increased expression of both pro-oncogenic and anti-apoptotic proteins that result in increased cell proliferation/survival of epithelial cells in colonic tissues.
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PMID:Bacterial infection of Smad3/Rag2 double-null mice with transforming growth factor-beta dysregulation as a model for studying inflammation-associated colon cancer. 1911 84


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