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)

Efficacy of a safe and clinically utilized polyethylene glycol formulation (PEG-3350) to suppress intestinal tumors was investigated in the Apc(min) mouse-model of experimental carcinogenesis. Furthermore, based on our previous finding on the induction of apoptosis in HT-29 cells by PEG, we evaluated its ability to stimulate epithelial cell apoptosis in both Apc(min) mouse as well as AOM-treated rat as a potential molecular mechanism of chemoprevention. Twenty-two Apc(min) mice were randomized equally to PEG or vehicle (control) supplementation. Tumors were scored and uninvolved intestinal mucosal apoptosis was assayed using a modified terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated nick end-labeling (TUNEL) assay and by immunohistochemical detection of cleaved caspase-3. Supplementation of Apc(min) mice with 10% PEG 3350 (in drinking water) resulted in a 48% (P<0.05) reduction in intestinal tumor burden and induced 2-3 fold increase in mucosal apoptosis. Dietary supplementation of polyethylene glycol (5%) also stimulated colonic mucosal apoptosis 4-5 fold in AOM-treated rats, the regimen that we previously reported to reduce tumor burden by 76% (P<0.05). In summary, we demonstrate, for the first time, that PEG does protect against Apc(min) mouse tumorigenesis. The correlation between pro-apoptotic actions and chemopreventive efficacy of PEG in these models strongly implicates induction of apoptosis as one of the impending mechanisms of chemoprevention.
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PMID:Polyethylene glycol inhibits intestinal neoplasia and induces epithelial apoptosis in Apc(min) mice. 1537 30

We have previously demonstrated an increase in proapoptotic caspase-3 in the kidney of Han:SPRD rats with polycystic kidney disease (PKD). The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of caspase inhibition on tubular cell apoptosis and proliferation, cyst formation, and renal failure in the Han:SPRD rat model of PKD. Heterozygous (Cy/+) and littermate control (+/+) male rats were weaned at 3 weeks of age and then treated with the caspase inhibitor IDN-8050 (10 mg/kg per day) by means of an Alzet (Palo Alto, CA) minipump or vehicle [polyethylene glycol (PEG 300)] for 5 weeks. The two-kidney/total body weight ratio more than doubled in Cy/+ rats compared with +/+ rats. IDN-8050 significantly reduced the kidney enlargement by 44% and the cyst volume density by 29% in Cy/+ rats. Cy/+ rats with PKD have kidney failure as indicated by a significant increase in blood urea nitrogen. IDN-8050 significantly reduced the increase in blood urea nitrogen in the Cy/+ rats. The number of proliferating cell nuclear antigen-positive tubular cells and apoptotic tubular cells in non-cystic and cystic tubules was significantly reduced in IDN-8050-treated Cy/+ rats compared with vehicle-treated Cy/+ rats. On immunoblot, the active form of caspase-3 (20 kDa) was significantly decreased in IDN-8050-treated Cy/+ rats compared with vehicle-treated Cy/+ rats. In summary, in a rat model of PKD, caspase inhibition with IDN-8050 (i) decreases apoptosis and proliferation in cystic and noncystic tubules; (ii) inhibits renal enlargement and cystogenesis, and (iii) attenuates the loss of kidney function.
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PMID:Caspase inhibition reduces tubular apoptosis and proliferation and slows disease progression in polycystic kidney disease. 1586 19

Recombinant reversed caspase-3 (rev-caspase-3) is a pro-apoptotic gene capable of intracellular autocatalytic processing, which leads to programmed cell death. Folate receptor-specific intracellular delivery of the rev-caspase-3 gene into KB cells over-expressing folate receptors was explored by employing the folate-poly(ethylene glycol)-polyethylenimine (FOL-PEG-PEI) conjugate as a nonviral polymeric carrier. Using luciferase as a reporter gene, the conditions for formulation of DNA/polymer polyplexes were pre-optimized to attain the highest folate receptor-mediated gene transfection efficiency. FOL-PEG-PEI conjugate complexed with rev-caspase-3 plasmid in an optimized condition gave rise to a great increase in expression and activation of exogenous rev-caspase-3 in KB cells when pretreated with doxorubicin. The synthesized conjugate exhibited higher transfection efficiency than other commercially available transfection agents due to a unique mechanism of folate-receptor mediated endocytic gene transfer. The transfected cells showed a significant extent of apoptosis by rev-caspase-3. This study suggests the potential of using folate-receptor-mediated delivery of rev-caspase-3 gene for inducing tumor cell death in a target-specific manner.
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PMID:Folate receptor-mediated intracellular delivery of recombinant caspase-3 for inducing apoptosis. 1613 16

The inhibition of the caspase-3 enzyme is reported to increase neuronal cell survival following cerebral ischemia. The peptide Z-DEVD-FMK is a specific caspase inhibitor, which significantly reduces vulnerability to the neuronal cell death. However, this molecule is unable to cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and to diffuse into the brain tissue. Thus, the development of an effective delivery system is needed to provide sufficient drug concentration into the brain to prevent cell death. Using the avidin (SA)-biotin (BIO) technology, we describe here the design of chitosan (CS) nanospheres conjugated with poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) bearing the OX26 monoclonal antibody whose affinity for the transferrin receptor (TfR) may trigger receptor-mediated transport across the BBB. These functionalized CS-PEG-BIO-SA/OX26 nanoparticles (NPs) were characterized for their particle size, zeta potential, drug loading capacity, and release properties. Fluorescently labeled CS-PEG-BIO-SA/OX26 nanoparticles were administered systemically to mice in order to evaluate their efficacy for brain translocation. The results showed that an important amount of nanoparticles were located in the brain, outside of the intravascular compartment. These findings, which were also confirmed by electron microscopic examination of the brain tissue indicate that this novel targeted nanoparticulate drug delivery system was able to translocate into the brain tissue after iv administration. Consequently, these novel nanoparticles are promising carriers for the transport of the anticaspase peptide Z-DEVD-FMK into the brain.
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PMID:Development and brain delivery of chitosan-PEG nanoparticles functionalized with the monoclonal antibody OX26. 1628 48

We have previously shown that local administration of polyethylene glycol (PEG, MW: 2000 Da, 50% by weight), a known membrane repair agent, immediately after trauma in guinea pig spinal cord repairs neuronal membrane disruptions and reduces oxidative injury. Here we report that a similar application of PEG resulted in marked decreases in apoptotic cell death and caspase-3 activity. We suggest that PEG may suppress apoptosis through interactions with mitochondria. This is based on our current findings that in isolated mitochondria, PEG improves mitochondrial function and reduces the release of cytochrome c, a pro-apoptotic cell death factor. This hypothesis is further supported by our previous observation that PEG enters injured cells after spinal cord injury, placing PEG in a position to directly interact with mitochondria. In summary, we conclude that PEG reduces both necrosis and apoptosis through two distinct yet synergistic pathways: repair of disrupted plasma membranes and protection of mitochondria through direct interaction.
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PMID:Polyethylene glycol inhibits apoptotic cell death following traumatic spinal cord injury. 1751 12

The role of reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated cell signal transduction pathways emanating from engineered cell substrates remains unclear. To elucidate the role, polymers derived from the amino acid L-tyrosine were used as synthetic matrix substrates. Variations in their chemical properties were created by co-polymerizing hydrophobic L-tyrosine derivatives with uncharged hydrophilic poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG, Mw = 1,000 Da), and negatively charged desaminotyrosyl-tyrosine (DT). These substrates were characterized for their intrinsic ability to generate ROS, as well as their ability to elicit Saos-2 cell responses in terms of intracellular ROS production, actin remodeling, and apoptosis. PEG-containing substrates induced both exogenous and intracellular ROS production, whereas the charged substrates reduced production of both types, indicating a coupling of exogenous ROS generation and intracellular ROS production. Furthermore, PEG-mediated ROS induction caused nuclear translocation of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase and an increase in caspase-3 activity, confirming a link with apoptosis. PEG-rich pro-oxidant substrates caused cytoskeletal actin remodeling through beta-actin cleavage by caspase-3 into fractins. The fractins co-localized to the mitochondria and reduced the mitochondrial membrane potential. The remnant cytosolic beta-actin was polymerized and condensed, events consistent with apoptotic cell shrinkage. The cytoskeletal remodeling was integral to the further augmentation of intracellular ROS production. Conversely, the anti-oxidant DT-containing charged substrates suppressed the entire cascade of apoptotic progression. We demonstrate that ROS activity serves an important role in "outside-in" signaling for cells grown on substrates: the ROS activity couples exogenous stress, driven by substrate composition, to changes in intracellular signaling. This signaling causes cell apoptosis, which is mediated by actin remodeling.
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PMID:Synthetic polymeric substrates as potent pro-oxidant versus anti-oxidant regulators of cytoskeletal remodeling and cell apoptosis. 1901 72

The sequence LPFFD (iAbeta(5)) prevents amyloid-beta peptide (Abeta) fibrillogenesis and neurotoxicity, hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease (AD), as previously demonstrated. In this study iAbeta(5) was covalently linked to poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and the activity of conjugates was assessed and compared to the activity of the peptide alone by in vitro studies. The conjugates were characterized by MALDI-TOF. Competition binding assays established that conjugates retained the ability to bind Abeta with similar strength as iAbeta(5). Transmission electron microscopy analysis showed that iAbeta(5) conjugates inhibited amyloid fibril formation, which is in agreement with binding properties observed for the conjugates towards Abeta. The conjugates were also able to prevent amyloid-induced cell death, as evaluated by activation of caspase 3. These results demonstrated that the biological activity of iAbeta(5) is not affected by the pegylation process.
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PMID:Design and biological activity of beta-sheet breaker peptide conjugates. 1925 Jun 44

This study was designed to determine the role of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFalpha) in apoptosis observed in the myocardium and limbic system after myocardial ischemia. PEG sTNFRI, a recombinant, human, soluble p55 Type 1 TNF receptor (3 mg/kg) or vehicle (saline) was administered s.c. to male Sprague-Dawley rats on days 5, 3 and 1 before myocardial ischemia. The animals were then subjected, under anesthesia, to left anterior descending coronary artery occlusion for 40 min, followed by 15-min or 72-h reperfusion. Caspase-3 and -8 activities as well as terminal dUTP nick-end labelling-positive cells were examined in the myocardium (subendocardial and subepicardial regions), lateral (LA) and medial amygdala (MA) and hippocampus (CA1, CA3, dentate gyrus (DG)). After 15 min of reperfusion, the subendocardial and CA1 regions presented an increase in caspase-3 activity, whereas caspase-8 activity appeared to be augmented in the DG. PEG sTNFRI inhibited caspase-8 activation in the DG. After 72 h of reperfusion, plasma TNFalpha levels were reduced in the treated groups. The DG, CA1, CA3 and MA showed an increment of caspase-8 activity, which was reversed by PEG sTNFRI, except in the MA. Furthermore, caspase-3 activity was increased in the CA1, DG, LA and MA. These results indicate that TNFalpha contributes to apoptosis via activation of the extrinsic pathway in the limbic system after myocardial infarction, which is not the case in the myocardium.
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PMID:Tumor necrosis factor-alpha participates in apoptosis in the limbic system after myocardial infarction. 1972 97

Novel phytosphingosine derivatives have been developed based on the inhibition of sphingosine kinase, which has been implicated in cell growth and inhibition of ceramide-mediated apoptosis. This study evaluated the cytotoxic effects and underlying mechanisms of action of novel phytosphingosine derivatives, including N-monomethylphytosphingosine (MMPH) and N,N-dimethylphytosphingosine (DMPH) and the pegylated forms MMPH-PEG and DMPH-PEG, in human leukemia HL60 cells. In viability and proliferation assays using WST-1, all four drugs induced suppression of cell growth and viability in a concentration-dependent manner. Among them, DMPH had the highest antileukemic activity and induced apoptosis via caspase-8, caspase-3, and caspase-9 activation. The apoptotic effect was also associated with Fas/FasL upregulation, Bid cleavage, Bcl-2 downregulation, Bax upregulation, mitochondrial membrane depolarization, and cytochrome c release. DMPH decreased the phosphorylation of ERK and inhibited daunorubicin-induced ERK activation. Furthermore, DMPH displayed synergistic cytotoxicity with daunorubicin in a sequence-dependent manner. Our findings indicate that DMPH has potential as an effective cytotoxic agent for leukemia.
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PMID:Cytotoxic effects of novel phytosphingosine derivatives, including N,N-dimethylphytosphingosine and N-monomethylphytosphingosine, in human leukemia cell line HL60. 2000 Dec 29

A novel microtubule destabilizer, substituted methoxybenzoyl-ary-thiazole (SMART)-100, was synthesized, which showed good anticancer activity in HepG2 cells. SMART-100 was able to circumvent multidrug resistance (MDR) and effectively inhibited the growth of cell lines that overexpress P-glycoprotein (P-gp). SMART-100 inhibited P-gp activity, which may be responsible for its ability to overcome MDR. Since SMART-100 is poorly soluble in water, it was formulated in polyethylene-b-poly(D,L-lactide) (PEG-PLA) micelles. The solubility of SMART-100 was increased by more than 1.1x10(5) folds. SMART-100 loaded PEG-PLA micelles could effectively inhibit HepG2 cell growth and arrest cell cycle progression at G2/M phase, followed by appearance of a sub-G1 phase, which is indicative of cell apoptosis. Increased Caspase-3 activity was also observed when HepG2 cells were treated with SMART-100. The anticancer activity of SMART-100 loaded PEG-PLA micelles was also evaluated on luciferase expressing C4-2-Luc cell lines by IVIS imaging. Our results suggest that SMART-100 has the potential to treat resistant cancers.
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PMID:Synthesis, formulation and in vitro evaluation of a novel microtubule destabilizer, SMART-100. 2006 Apr 30


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