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

Anchorage-dependent cells that are prevented from attaching to an extracellular matrix substrate stop proliferating and may undergo apoptosis. Cell adhesion to a substrate is mediated by the integrin family of cell surface receptors, which are known to elicit intracellular signals upon cell adhesion. We show here that Chinese hamster ovary cells expressing the alpha 5 beta 1 integrin, which is a fibronectin receptor, do not undergo apoptosis upon serum withdrawal when the cells are plated on fibronectin. However, the alpha v beta 1 integrin, which is also a fibronectin receptor and binds fibronectin on the same RGD motif as alpha 5 beta 1, did not prevent apoptosis on fibronectin of the same cells. The cytoplasmic domain of the integrin alpha 5 subunit was required for the alpha 5 beta 1-mediated cell survival on fibronectin. The fibronectin-mediated survival effect appeared to be independent of the level of tyrosine phosphorylation of the focal adhesion kinase, which is induced by integrin-mediated cell attachment. The expression of the Bcl-2 protein, which counteracts apoptosis, was elevated in cells attaching to fibronectin through alpha 5 beta 1; cells attaching through alpha v beta 1 survived only if exogenous Bcl-2 was provided. Thus, alpha 5 beta 1, but not the closely related alpha v beta 1 integrin, appears to suppress apoptotic cell death through the Bcl-2 pathway.
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PMID:The alpha 5 beta 1 integrin supports survival of cells on fibronectin and up-regulates Bcl-2 expression. 754 Nov 42

Overexpression of the B cell leukemia/lymphoma-2 (bcl-2) gene has been shown to confer a survival advantage on cells by inhibiting apoptosis. In epithelia, the bcl-2 gene is also related to development and differentiation, and the protein is strongly expressed in the embryo in the epithelial cells of the developing mammary gland. To investigate directly the effect of bcl-2 on human epithelial cells, we used an amphotropic recombinant retrovirus to introduce the gene into nontumorigenic cell lines developed from luminal epithelial cells cultured from milk. Here we demonstrate that while bcl-2 overexpression does not directly induce the tumorigenic phenotype, it provides a survival advantage to the mammary epithelial cells by inhibiting cell death at confluence or under conditions of serum starvation, bcl-2 can also affect the phenotype of the original epithelial cells, and promote epithelial-mesenchymal conversion, accompanied by loss of the cell adhesion molecules E-cadherin and alpha 2 beta 1 integrin. The extent of the epithelial-mesenchymal conversion varies with small differences in the phenotype of the parental line and with the level of expression of Bcl-2 and in some cases cell lines emerge with a mixed phenotype. The increased survival of Bcl-2-expressing cells at confluence results in multilayering, and the development of three- dimensional structures. Where a mixed phenotype is observed these structures consist of an outer layer of polarized epithelial cells separated by a basement membrane-like layer from an inner mass of fibroblastoid cells. Branching morphogenesis of bcl-2 transfectants is also observed in collagen gels (in the absence of fibroblast growth factors). The results strongly indicate that by increasing their survival under restrictive growth conditions, and by modifying the epithelial phenotype, bcl-2 can influence the specific morphogenetic behavior of mammary epithelial cells.
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PMID:bcl-2 overexpression inhibits cell death and promotes the morphogenesis, but not tumorigenesis of human mammary epithelial cells. 777 80

Recently, both Bcl-2, which promotes cell survival, and Bax, which promotes cell death, have been implicated as major players in the control of apoptotic pathways, and it has been suggested that the ratio of Bcl-2 and Bax protein controls the relative susceptibility of cells to death stimuli. We have used M1 myeloid leukemia cells and genetically engineered M1 variants as a model system to study apoptosis induced by two distinct apoptotic stimuli. This includes apoptosis induced by activation of wild type p53 function of a temperature sensitive p53 transgene expressed in M1 cells, which do not express endogenous p53, and apoptosis induced by TGF beta 1. It is shown that the kinetics of apoptosis induced by p53 is more rapid than apoptosis induced by TGF beta 1. It is also shown that ectopic expression of Bcl-2, at levels which blocked TGF beta 1-induced apoptosis of M1 cells, delayed, but did not block, p53-induced apoptosis. Both p53 and TGF beta 1 down-regulated endogenous Bcl-2 expression, but only p53 up-regulated Bax expression, where bax has been identified as a p53 immediate early response gene. Thus, the p53-mediated up-regulation of Bax may provide at least a partial explanation for the more rapid rate of apoptosis induced by p53 compared to by TGF beta 1, as well as for the ineffectiveness of ectopoic Bcl-2 to abrogate p53-mediated apoptosis. These findings provide first insights to the molecular mechanisms which mediate p53-induced apoptosis, identifying bax and bcl-2 as p53 regulated genes, and serve as a paradigm of how the intracellular balance of Bcl-2 to Bax is differentially altered by distinct death stimuli.
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PMID:Immediate early up-regulation of bax expression by p53 but not TGF beta 1: a paradigm for distinct apoptotic pathways. 818 78

Interactions with an appropriate ECM are crucial for normal cell behaviour. The basement membrane contributes to both the tissue-specific lactational function and survival of mammary epithelial cells, possibly through a similar beta 1-integrin-dependent mechanism. Of current interest is whether the downstream intracellular signals diverge, with milk expression regulated through cell shape and the Jak-Stat pathway and survival mediated through controls on the Bcl-2/Bax and Ice checkpoints.
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PMID:Signalling in extracellular-matrix-mediated control of epithelial cell phenotype. 856 57

Neurodegeneration associated with Alzheimer's disease is believed to involve toxicity to beta-amyloid (A beta) and related peptides. Treatment of cultured rat hippocampal neurons with A beta 1-40 (1 microM) or the active fragment A beta 25-35 (1 microM) for 5 days led to a approximately 40-50% decrease in neuronal viability. The hydrophilic antioxidant ascorbic acid (300 microM) and the lipophilic antioxidant 2-mercaptoethanol (10 microM) both protected significantly against A beta neurotoxicity. Despite the protective effects of these antioxidants, both acute and chronic treatments with A beta 25-35 did not increase production of superoxide anions, as monitored with the fluorescent probe hydroethidine. Similarly, overexpression of Cu/Zn-superoxide dismutase using adenovirus-mediated gene transfer did not protect against A beta neurotoxicity. A beta neurotoxicity, however, was prevented in cultures infected with a recombinant, replication-defective adenovirus overexpressing the Ca2+ binding protein calbindin D28k. Transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) has been shown to protect neurons against both Ca(2+)- and free radical-mediated neuronal degeneration. We found that A beta neurotoxicity was significantly attenuated by single treatments with TGF-beta 1 (0.1-10 ng/ml) and prevented by repetitive treatments (10 ng/ml/day). The protective effects of TGF-beta 1 were associated with a preservation of mitochondrial potential and function, as determined with rhodamine-123-based microfluorimetry. Because both increased oxidative stress and pathophysiological Ca2+ fluxes can impair mitochondrial function, preservation of mitochondrial potential by TGF-beta 1 could be directly associated with its protection against A beta neurotoxicity. The ability of TGF-beta 1 to increase the expression of the anti-apoptotic proteins Bcl-2 and Bcl-XL is discussed in this context.
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PMID:Protective effect of transforming growth factor-beta 1 on beta-amyloid neurotoxicity in rat hippocampal neurons. 863 65

We previously showed that TGF alpha synergizes with c-myc in mammary tumorigenesis through inhibition of Myc-induced apoptosis. We therefore examined the effects of growth factors on apoptosis induction in several cell lines from MMTV-myc mammary tumors. When EGF was withdrawn or TGF beta 1 was added, cells became apoptotic after 15 h (by ELISA and morphology). Northern and Western analysis revealed high levels of Bax and p53, and low or undetectable levels of Bcl-2 and Bcl-xS under all treatment condition. In contrast, Bcl-xL expression was highest in the presence of EGF or TGF alpha, with a significant reduction upon removal of EGF or exposure to TGF beta. In mouse mammary tumors, the relative Bcl-xL/Bax ratio was higher in TGF alpha/Myc double transgenics than in Myc single transgenics, in agreement with the in vitro data. Our results suggest a role for Bcl-xL in the regulation of apoptosis by EGF and TGF beta in mammary epithelial cells.
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PMID:Role for Bcl-xL in the regulation of apoptosis by EGF and TGF beta 1 in c-myc overexpressing mammary epithelial cells. 885 33

During embryological development and throughout life, regulation of the thickness of skin is likely to involve modulation of keratinocyte proliferation, differentiation, and cell death. One major mechanism of cell death is apoptosis; but the precise relationship between apoptosis and differentiation has not been well-defined. In this report, we demonstrate that when cultured undifferentiated keratinocytes have their adhesive interactions interrupted by either enzymatic treatment (ie, trypsin) and suspension in a semi-solid methyl cellulose medium, or exposure to antibodies against beta 1 integrins and E-cadherin, induction of differentiation occurs (expression of involucrin), as well as apoptosis (positive terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (Tdt)-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay and DNA fragmentation). However, these events are not directly interdependent processes, as determined by two-color immunofluorescence staining. Thus, apoptosis can occur without evidence of differentiation and vice versa. The process o apoptosis in keratinocytes was dissected at the molecular level and found to be correlated with increased expression of Bax and decreased levels of Bcl-XL, with no role for either Bcl-2 or Bcl-XS. We conclude that keratinocytes do not need to undergo differentiation before undergoing apoptosis.
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PMID:Apoptosis in keratinocytes is not dependent on induction of differentiation. 901 Apr 53

The a beta peptide induces cell death in neurons grown in cell culture. Previous studies have shown that the mechanism of a beta-mediated cell death of central nervous system neurons appears to be via apoptosis. Apoptosis is an active process that involves both gene transcription and translation. Using semi-quantitative polymerase chain reaction, we have analyzed the levels of a variety of transcripts in primary neuronal cultures treated with a beta that are likely to play important roles in apoptosis. Following addition of 10 microM a beta 1-42 the immediate early response gene, c-fos, shows a rapid and sustained increase in transcript level while c-jun levels increase at a slower rate. Bcl-2 and its homologues, bcl-X and bax, also increase in amount with bcl-2 and bcl-X increasing more rapidly than bax. These data provide support indicating that a beta-mediated cell death in central nervous system neurons is an active process similar to that seen in apoptosis.
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PMID:Changes in gene transcription during a beta-mediated cell death. 911 17

Adhesion molecules include ligands and receptors. Together they provide cells with anchorage and traction for migration, and the receptors also mediate signals that control cell polarity, survival, growth, differentiation and gene expression. Integrins are a major group of versatile adhesion receptors that serve both adhesive and signaling functions. They possess shared and unique specifics both outside and inside the cell. Many of the integrins share an affinity toward the RGD recognition sequence in their extracellular matrix ligands, but are still capable of distinguishing different RGD-containing proteins. The shared signaling pathways are likely to include changes in intracellular Ca2+ and PIP2 concentrations, and the activation of protein kinase C and focal adhesion kinase. Examples of integrin-specific signaling include that the alpha v beta 3 integrin (vitronectin receptor) can potentiate the effects of insulin and certain other growth factors and that the alpha 5 beta 1 integrin (fibronectin receptor) supports cell survival in serum-free cultures by up-regulating the anti-apoptosis protein Bcl-2. Another integrin function is that some integrins, in particular alpha 5 beta 1, are necessary for fibronectin matrix formation. Overexpression of alpha 5 beta 1, which results in the assembly of additional fibronectin matrix, reduces tumorigenicity of cultured tumor cells. Systemic treatment of tumor-bearing mice with an artificially generated fibronectin matrix suppresses metastasis. These and other findings indicate that the ligand binding and signaling functions of integrins offer targets for new therapeutic approaches.
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PMID:Integrins as signaling molecules and targets for tumor therapy. 915 Apr 52

Cell adhesion to the extracellular matrix (ECM) has been implicated in apoptosis in anchorage-dependent cell types. We recently found that a peptide derived from fibronectin (termed III14-2) inhibits the integrin-mediated cell adhesion to ECM. Using this antiadhesive peptide and a variety of ECM proteins, we show here a critical role of the integrin-ECM protein interaction in apoptotic regulation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). HUVEC in suspension underwent apoptosis under the serum-free conditions, as judged by nuclear and DNA fragmentations. This apoptosis was suppressed to varying degrees when alpha 5 beta 1, alpha v beta 3, and alpha 2 beta 1 integrins were occupied with either soluble or immobilized ECM proteins such as fibronectin, vitronectin, and type I collagen, respectively. Peptide III14-2, which had no effect by itself on the HUVEC apoptosis, disrupted the ligation of alpha 5 beta 1 and alpha v beta 3 but no alpha 2 beta 1 and ultimately led the cells to apoptosis, indicating that this antiadhesive peptide indirectly induces apoptosis by blocking cell survival signal delivered from alpha 5 beta 1 and alpha v beta 3 integrins. Genistein, a protein tyrosine kinase inhibitor, slightly reduced the rescuing effect of fibronectin, whereas sodium orthovanadate and bombesin, which increase in the level of protein tyrosine phosphorylation, made HUVEC less susceptible to apoptosis and blocked the effect of peptide III14-2. HUVEC adhesion to fibronectin substrate raised the tyrosine phosphorylation level of focal adhesion kinase and the expression of cytoprotective Bcl-2 protein, both of which were reversed by the antiadhesive effect of peptide III14-2. Thus, the opposing effects of ECM proteins, including fibronectin and vitronectin, and peptide III14-2 on HUVEC apoptosis appear to be due to the opposing effects of these factors on the signaling pathway which includes tyrosine phosphorylation of FAK and Bcl-2 expression.
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PMID:Modulation of apoptotic cell death by extracellular matrix proteins and a fibronectin-derived antiadhesive peptide. 966 6


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