Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UNIPROT:P42574 (caspase-3)
 45,978 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Normal cells in culture divide a certain amount of times and undergo a process termed replicative senescence. Telomere loss is thought to control entry into senescence. Activation of telomerase in tumors bypasses cellular senescence and is thus a requirement for tumor progression. We reported previously the preferential incorporation of 3'-azido-2', 3'-dideoxythymidine (AZT) in telomeric sequences of immortalized cells in culture. In this work, we have investigated the effects of chronic in vitro AZT exposure on F3II mouse mammary carcinoma cells. We demonstrate, for the first time, that AZT-treated tumor cells have a reduced tumorigenicity in syngeneic BALB/c mice. Tumor incidence was reduced and survival was prolonged in animals inoculated with AZT-treated cells when comparing with control counterparts. The number and size of spontaneous metastases were also decreased in animals inoculated with AZT-treated cells. In addition, we present evidence of morphological and biochemical signs of senescence, as shown by the staining for senescence associated beta-galactosidase activity, and induction of programmed cell death, as demonstrated by an increase of caspase-3 activity, in tumor cells exposed to AZT. These data indicate that chronic exposure of mammary carcinoma cells to AZT may be sufficient to induce a senescent phenotype and to reduce tumorigenicity.
Breast Cancer Res Treat 2001 Jan
PMID:Chronic in vitro exposure to 3'-azido-2', 3'-dideoxythymidine induces senescence and apoptosis and reduces tumorigenicity of metastatic mouse mammary tumor cells. 1126 35

Fas-mediated apoptosis results in the activation of caspases, which subsequently cleave cellular substrates that are essential for normal cell viability. In the present study, we show that the Ras-related GTP-binding protein Cdc42 is susceptible to caspase-catalyzed proteolysis in a number of cell lines, including NIH3T3 fibroblasts, human breast cancer cells (e.g. T47D), and COS-7 cells. Both caspase-3 and caspase-7 were able to catalyze the cleavage of Cdc42, whereas caspase-6 and caspase-8 were without effect. The susceptibility to the caspase-stimulated degradation is specific; although Rac can also serve as a caspase substrate, neither Rho nor Ras is degraded. Caspase sensitivity is conferred by a consensus sequence (DXXD) that lies immediately upstream of the Rho insert regions (residues 122-134) of Cdc42 and Rac. The removal of a stretch of residues (120) that includes the insert region or site-directed mutagenesis of either aspartic acid 118 or 121 within a constitutively active background (i.e. Cdc42(F28L)) as well as a wild-type Cdc42 background yields Cdc42 molecules that provide a marked protection against Fas ligand-induced apoptosis. Overall, these results are consistent with a model in which Cdc42 acts downstream of Fas, perhaps to influence the rate of apoptosis, with the ultimate caspase-mediated degradation of Cdc42 then allowing for a maximal apoptotic response.
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PMID:Cdc42 is a substrate for caspases and influences Fas-induced apoptosis. 1127 72

Treatment of human breast carcinoma MCF7 cells with doxorubicin, one of the most active antineoplastic agents used in clinical oncology, induces apoptosis and leads to increases in sphingosine levels. The transient generation of this sphingolipid mediator preceded cytochrome c release from the mitochondria and activation of the executioner caspase-7 in MCF7 cells which do not express caspase-3. Bcl-x(L) overexpression did not affect sphingosine generation whereas it reduced apoptosis triggered by doxorubicin and completely blocked apoptosis triggered by sphingosine. Exogenous sphingosine-induced apoptosis was also accompanied by cytochrome c release and activation of caspase-7 in a Bcl-x(L)-sensitive manner. Furthermore, neither doxorubicin nor sphingosine treatment affected expression of Fas ligand or induced activation of the apical caspase-8, indicating a Fas/Fas ligand-independent mechanism. Our results suggest that a further metabolite of ceramide, sphingosine, may also be involved in mitochondria-mediated apoptotic signaling induced by doxorubicin in human breast cancer cells.
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PMID:Sphingosine generation, cytochrome c release, and activation of caspase-7 in doxorubicin-induced apoptosis of MCF7 breast adenocarcinoma cells. 1131 18

Telomeres are essential for cell survival and have been implicated in the mitotic control. The telomeric protein Pin2/TRF1 controls telomere elongation and its expression is tightly regulated during cell cycle. We previously reported that overexpression of Pin2/TRF1 affects mitotic progression. However, the role of Pin2/TRF1 at the interface between cell division and cell survival remains to be determined. Here we show that overexpression of Pin2 induced apoptosis in cells containing short telomeres, but not in cells with long telomeres. Furthermore, before entering apoptosis, Pin2-expressing cells first accumulated in mitosis and strongly stained with the mitosis-specific MPM2 antibody. Moreover, Pin2-induced apoptosis is potentiated by arresting cells in mitosis, but suppressed by accumulating cells in G1. In addition, overexpression of Pin2 also resulted in activation of caspase-3, and its proapoptotic activity was significantly reduced by inhibition of caspase-3. These results indicate that up-regulation of Pin2/TRF1 can specifically induce entry into mitosis and apoptosis, likely via a mechanism related to activation of caspase-3. Significantly, we also found that, out of 51 human breast cancer tissues and 10 normal controls examined, protein levels of Pin2/TRF1 in tumors were significantly lower than in normal tissues, as detected by immunoblotting analysis and immunocytochemistry. Since down-regulation of Pin2/TRF1 allows cells to maintain long telomeres, these results suggest that down-regulation of Pin2/TRF1 may be important for cancer cells to extend their proliferative potential.
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PMID:Telomeric protein Pin2/TRF1 induces mitotic entry and apoptosis in cells with short telomeres and is down-regulated in human breast tumors. 1131 93

Resveratrol is a naturally occurring product found in grapes and wine. The effect of synthetic resveratrol on the growth of estrogen receptor (ER)-positive (KPL-1 and MCF-7) and -negative (MKL-F) human breast cancer cell lines was examined. Resveratrol at low concentrations caused cell proliferation in ER-positive lines (KPL-1, < or = 22 microM; MCF-7, < or = 4 microM) whereas at high concentrations (> or = 44 microM) it caused suppression of cell growth in all three cell lines examined. Growth suppression was due to apoptosis as seen by the appearance of a sub-G1 fraction. The apoptosis cascade up-regulated Bax and Bak protein, down-regulated Bcl-xL protein, and activated caspase-3. Resveratrol (52-74 microM) antagonized the effect of linoleic acid, a potent breast cancer cell stimulator, and suppressed the growth of both ER-positive and -negative cell lines. Thus, resveratrol could be a promising anticancer agent for both hormone-dependent and hormone-independent breast cancers, and may mitigate the growth stimulatory effect of linoleic acid in the Western-style diet.
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PMID:Resveratrol inhibits human breast cancer cell growth and may mitigate the effect of linoleic acid, a potent breast cancer cell stimulator. 1131 61

Diallyl disulfide (DADS) is an oil-soluble organosulfur compound found in garlic. The effect of synthetic DADS on the growth of estrogen receptor (ER)-positive (KPL-1 and MCF-7) and -negative (MDA-MB-231 and MKL-F) human breast cancer cell lines was examined. In an in vitro MTT assay, regardless of ER status, DADS at an IC(50) of 1.8-18.1 microM after 72 h incubation caused inhibition of growth in all four cell lines examined. Growth inhibition was due to apoptosis as seen by the appearance of a sub G1 fraction. In MDA-MB-231 cells, the apoptosis cascade comprised up-regulation of Bax protein (142%), down-regulation of Bcl-X(L) protein (38%) and activation of caspase-3 (438%) compared with controls. In an in vivo assay by orthotopic (right thoracic mammary fat pad) transplantation of KPL-1 cells in female nude mice, intraperitoneal injection of 1 or 2 mg DADS three times a week from the day of tumor cell inoculation until the end of the experiment (after 35 days) caused growth retardation and 43% reductions in primary tumor weight, respectively, compared with DADS-untreated mice without apparent side effects. Cell proliferation as evaluated by proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA)-labeling in transplanted tumor of DADS-untreated mice was 59.6%, and 1 and 2 mg DADS-treated mice was 44.6 and 44.5%, respectively. In MDA-MB-231 cells, DADS antagonized the effect of linoleic acid (LA), a potent breast cancer cell stimulator (at DADS = 1.8 microM and LA > or = 6.5x10(2) microM concentration), and synergized the effect of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), a potent breast cancer cell suppressor (at DADS >3 x 10(-3) microM and EPA > 6.3 x 10(-1) microM concentration). Thus, DADS could be a promising anticancer agent for both hormone-dependent and -independent breast cancers, and may harmonize with polyunsaturated fatty acids known as modulators of breast cancer cell growth.
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PMID:Growth inhibitory effects of diallyl disulfide on human breast cancer cell lines. 1137 95

Bisphosphonate (BP), a specific inhibitor of osteoclasts, has been widely used as a beneficial agent for the treatment of bone metastases in patients with breast cancer. It is well recognized that BP reduces osteolysis by promoting apoptosis in osteoclasts. However, recent animal and human data suggest that BPs not only reduce osteolysis associated with metastatic breast cancer, but also decrease tumor burden in bone. The mechanisms by which tumor burden is decreased following BP administration are unknown. Here we examined the effects of the BP ibandronate on MDA-231 human breast cancer cells in bone metastases in a well-characterized animal model of bone metastasis. Ibandronate, which was administered (s.c. daily; 4 microg/mouse/day) after bone metastases were established, inhibited the progression of established osteolytic bone metastases as assessed by radiographic analysis. Histological and histomorphometrical examination revealed that ibandronate reduced osteoclastic bone resorption, with increased apoptosis in osteoclasts. Furthermore, ibandronate also significantly decreased the MDA-231 tumor burden, with increased apoptosis in MDA-231 breast cancer cells in bone metastases. In contrast, ibandronate failed to inhibit MDA-231 tumor formation with no effects on apoptosis in MDA-231 breast cancer cells in the orthotopic mammary fat pads. These data suggest that the effects of ibandronate on apoptosis in MDA-231 breast cancer cells are restricted in bone in which ibandronate selectively deposits. Consistent with these in vivo results, a relatively high concentration of ibandronate (100 microM) increased caspase-3 activity and induced DNA fragmentation in MDA-231 breast cancer cells in culture. Moreover, a caspase inhibitor, z-Val-Ala-Asp-fluoromethyl ketone, blocked ibandronate-induced DNA fragmentation in MDA-231 cells, suggesting an involvement of caspase-3 in ibandronate-induced apoptosis. Our results suggest that BP suppresses bone metastases through promotion of apoptosis in metastatic cancer cells as well as in osteoclasts. However, it still remains open whether BP has direct anticancer actions in vivo.
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PMID:The bisphosphonate ibandronate promotes apoptosis in MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells in bone metastases. 1138 70

In this study, we asked whether overexpression of caspase-3, a central downstream executioner of apoptotic pathways, might sensitize breast cancer cells with acquired drug resistance (MT1/ADR) to drug-induced apoptosis. As control, we employed caspase-3 negative and caspase-3-transfected MCF-7 cells. Whereas mock-transfected MCF-7 cells were resistant to epirubicin, etoposide and paclitaxel (taxol), the same drugs led to breakdown of nuclear DNA in caspase-3-transfected MCF-7 cells. MT1/ADR cells express low levels of wild type caspase-3 but show defective caspase activation and apoptosis upon drug exposure. These cells also display a less efficient activation of the mitochondrial permeability transition. Caspase-3-transfected MT1/ADR clones showed a 2.8-fold increase in the protein level and a 3.7-fold higher specific enzyme activity. Procaspase-3 overexpression was not toxic and did not affect background apoptosis. Interestingly, procaspase-3-transfected MT1/ADR cells were more sensitive to cytotoxic drugs as compared with vector-transfected controls and DNA fragmentation nearly reached the levels of the original drug sensitive MT1 cells. Thus, overexpression of caspase-3 enhances chemosensitivity especially in situations where activation of the mitochondrial apoptosome is disturbed.
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PMID:Overexpression of caspase-3 restores sensitivity for drug-induced apoptosis in breast cancer cell lines with acquired drug resistance. 1142 Jun 87

The cytokine hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor (HGF/SF) has been found to protect a variety of epithelial and cancer cell types against cytotoxicity and apoptosis induced by DNA damage, but the specific apoptotic signaling events and the levels at which they are blocked by HGF/SF have not been identified. We found that treatment of MDA-MB-453 human breast cancer cells with adriamycin (also known as doxorubicin, a DNA topoisomerase IIalpha inhibitor) induced a series of time-dependent events, including the mitochondrial release of cytochrome c and apoptosis-inducing factor, mitochondrial membrane depolarization, activation of a set of caspases (caspase-9, -3, -7, -2, and -8), cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), and up-regulation of expression of the Fas ligand. All of these events were blocked by preincubation of the cells with HGF/SF. In contrast, the pan-caspase inhibitor benzyloxycarbonyl-VAD-fluoromethylketone blocked some of these events (e.g. caspase-3 activation and PARP cleavage) but did not block cytochrome c release or mitochondrial depolarization. These findings suggest that HGF/SF functions, in part, upstream of the mitochondria to block mitochondrial apoptosis signaling, prevent activation of multiple caspases, and protect breast cancer cells against apoptosis.
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PMID:Hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor blocks the mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis signaling in breast cancer cells. 1157 Dec 97

We have constructed a replication-deficient adenovirus encoding a nonphosphorylatable Thr(34)-->Ala mutant of the apoptosis inhibitor survivin (pAd-T34A) to target tumor cell viability in vitro and in vivo. Infection with pAd-T34A caused spontaneous apoptosis in cell lines of breast, cervical, prostate, lung, and colorectal cancer. In contrast, pAd-T34A did not affect cell viability of proliferating normal human cells, including fibroblasts, endothelium, or smooth muscle cells. Infection of tumor cells with pAd-T34A resulted in cytochrome c release from mitochondria, cleavage of approximately 46-kDa upstream caspase-9, processing of caspase-3 to the active subunits of approximately 17 and 19 kDa, and increased caspase-3 catalytic activity. When compared with chemotherapeutic regimens, pAd-T34A was as effective as taxol and considerably more effective than adriamycin in induction of tumor cell apoptosis and enhanced taxol-induced cell death. In three xenograft breast cancer models in immunodeficient mice, pAd-T34A suppressed de novo tumor formation, inhibited by approximately 40% the growth of established tumors, and reduced intraperitoneal tumor dissemination. Tumors injected with pAd-T34A exhibited loss of proliferating cells and massive apoptosis by in situ internucleosomal DNA fragmentation. These data suggest that adenoviral targeting of the survivin pathway may provide a novel approach for selective cancer gene therapy.
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PMID:Cancer gene therapy using a survivin mutant adenovirus. 1180 41


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