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)

Neuroblastoma is a common solid tumor of children that arises from the sympathetic nervous system. Much work has consequently focused on the possibility of inducing marked cell death in neuroblastoma, and the new effective drugs are required. We have newly synthesized LB-18, closely related to lembehyne A (LB-A), a polyacetylene derived from a kind of marine sponge. LB-A has been shown to induce p21/WAF1 and causes G1 phase arrest in mouse neuroblastoma Neuro2A cells; however, we show here that LB-18 causes cell death in human neuroblastoma KP-N-TK cells in a dose-dependent manner. TUNEL assay and flow cytometric analysis showed that the cell death caused by LB-18 was associated with the DNA damage but the pan-caspase inhibitor, zVAD-fmk, could not prevent the cell death. Western blot analysis and cleavage of the caspase-3 or -7 substrate assay showed that LB-18 could not activate caspases 3, 7, 8 and 9. These results suggest that LB-18 causes caspase-independent cell death in human neuroblastoma cells. In the future, LB-18 may be useful for cancer therapeutics, especially for neuroblastoma.
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PMID:A novel synthetic drug, LB-18, closely related to lembehyne-A derived from a marine sponge, induces caspase-independent cell death to human neuroblastoma cells. 1677 97

In this study, we first report the chemopreventive effect of rugosin E in human breast cancer cell line, MDA-MB-231. Treatment with rugosin E decreased the cell proliferation of MDA-MB-231 cells in a dose-dependent manner. Rugosin E treatment arrested MDA-MB-231 cells at G0/G1 phase. This effect was strongly associated with concomitant decrease in the level of cyclin D1, cyclin D2, cyclin E, cdk2, cdk4, and cdk6, and increase of p21/WAF1. In addition, rugosin E also induced apoptotic cell death. Rugosin E increased in the expression of Bax, Bak, and Bcl-Xs, but decreased the levels of Bcl-2 and Bcl-X(L), and subsequently triggered mitochondria apoptotic pathway (release of cytochrome c, activation of caspase-9, and caspase-3). In addition, pre-treatment of cells with caspase-9 inhibitor blocked rugosin E-induced cell proliferation and apoptosis, indicating caspase-9 activation was involved in rugosin E-mediated MDA-MB-231 cells apoptosis. Rugosin E inhibited the constitutively activated and inducible NF-kappaB in both its DNA-binding activity and transcriptional activity. Furthermore, rugosin E also inhibited the TNF-alpha-activated NF-kappaB-dependent reporter gene expression of cyclin D1, c-Myc, XIAP, Bcl-2, and Bcl-X(L) were all downregulated by rugosin E. Our results indicated that rugosin E inhibits the activation of NF-kappaB, and this may provide a molecular basis for drug development in the prevention and treatment of cancer by rugosin E.
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PMID:Rugosin E, an ellagitannin, inhibits MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cell proliferation and induces apoptosis by inhibiting nuclear factor-kappaB signaling pathway. 1696 81

The effect of surfactin on the proliferation of LoVo cells, a human colon carcinoma cell line, was examined. Surfactin strongly blocked the proliferation of LoVo cells by inducing pro-apoptotic activity and arresting the cell cycle, according to several lines of evidence on DNA fragmentation, Annexin V staining, and altered levels of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase, caspase-3, p21(WAF1/Cip1), p53, CDK2 and cyclin E. The anti-proliferative activity of surfactin was mediated by inhibiting extracellular-related protein kinase and phosphoinositide 3-kinase/Akt activation, as assessed by phosphorylation levels. Therefore, our data suggest that surfactin may have anti-cancer properties as a result of its ability to downregulate the cell cycle and suppress its survival.
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PMID:Surfactin from Bacillus subtilis displays anti-proliferative effect via apoptosis induction, cell cycle arrest and survival signaling suppression. 1729 58

As S-phase checkpoints play critical roles in maintaining genomic integrity and replicating the human genome correctly, understanding the molecular mechanism by which they regulate the therapeutic response is of great interest. Previously, we reported that the cytotoxic effect of a zinc-bound form of Apo2 ligand/tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (Apo2L/TRAIL), which is currently evaluated in clinical trials, in combination with low-dose CPT-11, induces apoptosis of C4-2 human prostate cancer cells and tissues. Here, we show that apoptosis, induced synergistically by this combination treatment, was associated with accumulation of cells in early S phase, indicated by cell cycle analyses, increased proliferating cell nuclear antigen, and Chk2-Thr(68) phosphorylation in tumors xenografted in mice. The combination treatment induced an S-phase checkpoint response through activation of Chk2 and Chk1 by the ataxia telangiectasia mutated and ataxia telangiectasia mutated and Rad3 related kinases, leading to phosphorylation and decreased Cdc25A levels. Cdc25A-dependent regulation of cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (Cdk2) and changes in association of p21(WAF1/CIP1) and hSpy1 with Cdk2 resulted in inhibition of Cdk2-associated kinase activity. Knockdown of ataxia telangiectasia mutated/Chk2 and ataxia telangiectasia mutated and Rad3 related/Chk1 by small inhibitory RNAs abrogated the S-phase checkpoint and accelerated apoptosis, resulting in caspase-3 activation and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 cleavage following combination treatment. Thus, Apo2L/TRAIL + CPT-11 treatment-induced apoptosis is regulated through an S-phase checkpoint controlled by the Chk2-Cdc25A and Chk1-Cdc25A pathways and inhibition of Cdk2-associated kinase activity. Low-dose CPT-11 and aphidicolin increased the proportion of S-phase cells and sensitized cells to Apo2L/TRAIL, by inducing phosphatidylserine externalization, caspase activation, and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 cleavage. Combinations with S-phase arrest-inducing chemotherapeutic drugs may represent promising avenues for clinical development of Apo2L/TRAIL.
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PMID:S-phase checkpoints regulate Apo2 ligand/TRAIL and CPT-11-induced apoptosis of prostate cancer cells. 1743 Nov 15

In the course of screening for anticancer agents, a novel active compound, F3-2-5, was isolated from culture broth of Streptomyces sp., KACC91015. Its structure was identified using nuclear magnetic resonance, mass spectrometry, and molecular modeling experiments, and confirmed by total synthesis. The growth of various human cancer cell lines was inhibited in a dose-dependent manner by 0.06-0.48 mM F3-2-5 over 24 h. Its IC(50) values were estimated at 37 microM on HeLa, 72 microM on A549, and 190 microM on HT-29 cells. However, F3-2-5 had no antiproliferative effect on normal lymphocytes and normal fibroblasts used as controls. Moreover, it affected cell cycle regulation and caused apoptosis of the HeLa cells; chromatin condensation and DNA fragmentation were observed in cells exposed to 80 microM F3-2-5. Western blot analysis revealed that F3-2-5 inhibited phosphorylation of retinoblastoma protein (pRb) and reduced expression of cyclin-dependent kinase-4 and -6, and cyclin D1 and E, while levels of p53 and p21(WAF1/CIP1) increased. Taken together, these findings show that F3-2-5 inhibits proliferation of HeLa cells by inducing G(1) phase arrest as a consequence of inhibition of pRb phosphorylation following up-regulation of p21(WAF1/CIP1) and p53. Furthermore, apoptosis in HeLa cells treated with F3-2-5 was associated with an increase in Bax and p53, leading to release of cytochrome c, activation of caspase-3, and -8, and cleavage of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase.
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PMID:Novel anticancer agent, benzyldihydroxyoctenone, isolated from Streptomyces sp. causes G1 cell cycle arrest and induces apoptosis of HeLa cells. 1743 36

Epidemiological data suggest that epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) possesses chemopreventive properties against cancer. In this study, we examined the molecular mechanisms of EGCG in human pancreatic cancer cells. EGCG caused growth arrest at G1 stage of cell cycle through regulation of cyclin D1, cdk4, cdk6, p21/WAF1/CIP1 and p27/KIP1, and induced apoptosis through generation of reactive oxygen species and activation of caspase-3 and caspase-9. EGCG inhibited expressions of Bcl-2 and Bcl-XL and induced expressions of Bax, Bak, Bcl-XS and PUMA. Mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) derived from Bax and Bak double knockout mice exhibited greater protection against EGCG-induced apoptosis than wild-type or single knockout MEFs. EGCG caused Bax activation in p53 -/- MEFs, suggesting that EGCG can induce apoptosis in the absence of p53. Furthermore, the activities of Ras, Raf-1 and ERK1/2 were inhibited, whereas the activities of MEKK1, JNK1/2 and p38 MAP kinases were induced by EGCG. Inhibition of cRaf-1 or ERK enhanced EGCG-induced apoptosis, whereas inhibition of JNK or p38 MAP kinase inhibited EGCG-induced apoptosis. EGCG inhibited the activation of p90 ribosomal protein S6 kinase, and induced the activation of cJUN. Our results suggest that EGCG induces growth arrest and apoptosis through multiple mechanisms, and can be used for pancreatic cancer prevention.
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PMID:Epigallocatechin-3-gallate inhibits cell cycle and induces apoptosis in pancreatic cancer. 1756 28

Aberrant cytoplasmic sequestration has been reported as an alternative mechanism of p53 inactivation to mutation in neuroblastoma. We hypothesized that p53 localization and function in neuroblastoma is related to differentiation status. Eighty-two untreated and 24 paired pre and post-chemotherapy neuroblastomas were studied by immunocytochemistry for p53, p21(WAF1), BAX, Bcl2 and Ki67. Predominantly nuclear p53 was detected in undifferentiated neuroblastoma, and both nuclear and cytoplasmic p53 in differentiating neuroblastoma. The nuclear p53 labeling index (LI) correlated with the Ki67 LI (r = 0.51, p <0.001), and weakly with p21(WAF1) (r = 0.37), but not with BAX or Bcl2. There was a significant reduction in p53, p21(WAF1) and Ki67 LI after chemotherapy (p < 0.01), an increase in BAX (p <0.05), but no change in Bcl2. p53 localization and function were examined in two p53 wild-type undifferentiated and 9-cis retinoic acid differentiated neuroblastoma cell lines. Using immunocytochemistry, immunofluorescence and cell fractionation, p53 was found to be predominantly nuclear in both undifferentiated and differentiated cells. Following irradiation, there was upregulation of p53, p21(WAF1) and MDM2, but less induced PARP and caspase 3 cleavage in differentiated cells, suggesting intact p53 transcriptional function, but resistance to apoptosis. p53 function in undifferentiated and differentiated cells was confirmed by upregulation of p21(WAF1) and MDM2 following Nutlin-3 treatment. In conclusion, p53 is predominantly nuclear and functional in neuroblastoma regardless of differentiation status.
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PMID:p53 is nuclear and functional in both undifferentiated and differentiated neuroblastoma. 1791 39

Sulforaphane (SFN), a naturally occurring isothiocyanate, is an attractive agent due to its potent anticancer effects. SFN suppresses the proliferation of various cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. In this study, we report that SFN inhibited the proliferation of cultured murine osteosarcoma LM8 cells. Twenty micromolar SFN completely inhibited the growth of LM8 cells and caused G2/M-phase arrest. SFN induced the expression of p21(WAF1/CIP1) protein causing the cell cycle arrest in a dose-dependent manner. SFN induced apoptosis which was characterized by the appearance of cells with sub-G1 DNA content and the cleavage and activation of caspase-3. We showed that SFN induced the growth arrest and up-regulated the expression of p21(WAF1/CIP1) protein in a p53-independent manner in human osteosarcoma MG63 cells. We found that intraperitoneal administration of SFN (1 or 2 mg, 5 times/week) significantly inhibited the growth of LM8 xenografts to <30% of the controls in a preclinical animal model without causing any toxicity. In osteosarcoma cells, our findings provide in vivo evidence for the efficacy of SFN against the advanced growth of tumor. We showed that SFN induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in osteosarcoma cells and inhibits tumor xenograft growth. Furthermore, SFN is a potent inducer of p21(WAF1/CIP1) in osteosarcoma cells. These results raise the possibility that SFN may be a promising candidate for molecular-targeting chemotherapy against osteosarcoma.
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PMID:Sulforaphane induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in murine osteosarcoma cells in vitro and inhibits tumor growth in vivo. 1791 83

Sulfur is commonly used in Asia as an herbal medicine to treat inflammation and cancer, and potent chemopreventive effects have been demonstrated in various in vivo and in vitro models for sulfur-containing compounds found in naturally occurring products. Here, we report the growth inhibitory and apoptosis-related effects of a newly developed highly purified sulfur (HPS) on immortalized human oral keratinocytes (IHOKs) and on oral cancer cells representing two stages of oral cancer (HN4, HN12) based on a 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, Western blotting, cell cycle analysis, and nuclear staining. The purity of the sulfur preparation was verified by high-performance liquid chromatography. HPS inhibited the proliferation of immortalized and malignant oral keratinocytes in a dose- and time-dependent manner. FITC-annexin V staining, DNA fragmentation testing, and Hoechst 33258 staining revealed that HPS inhibited cell growth via apoptosis. HPS increased the sub-G1 cell cycle fraction, with decreased expression of cyclins D1, D2, and E and their activating partners cdk2, cdk4, and cdk6, and a concomitant induction of p53 and p21/WAF1. Furthermore, HPS treatment increased the cytosolic level of cytochrome c and resulted in caspase-3 activation; this effect was correlated with Bax up-regulation and Bcl-2 down-regulation. Thus, these data suggest that HPS is a potential candidate for anti-cancer therapy in oral cancer.
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PMID:Anti-cancer activity of highly purified sulfur in immortalized and malignant human oral keratinocytes. 1792 Feb 32

Programmed cell death (PCD) is involved in a variety of biologic events. Based on the morphologic appearance of the cells, there are two types of PCD as follows: apoptotic (type I) and autophagic (type II). However, the molecular machinery that determines the type of PCD is poorly defined. The purpose of this study was to show whether the presence of the cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) inhibitor p21(WAF1/CIP1), a modulator of apoptosis, determines which type of PCD the cell undergoes. Treatment with C(2)-ceramide was associated with both the cleavage of caspase-3 and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase and the degradation of autophagy-related Beclin 1 and Atg5 proteins, without a change in the cyclin-CDK activity, which culminated in apoptosis in p21(+/+) mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs). On the other hand, C(2)-ceramide did not cleave caspase-3 or poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase and kept Beclin 1 and Atg5 proteins stable in p21(-/-) MEFs, events that this time culminated in autophagy. When expression of the p21 protein was inhibited by small interfering RNA or when the overexpression of Beclin 1 or Atg5 was induced, autophagy rather than apoptosis was initiated in the p21(+/+) MEFs treated with C(2)-ceramide. In contrast, the exogenous expression of p21 or the silencing of Beclin 1 and Atg5 with small interfering RNA increased the number of apoptotic cells and decreased the number of autophagic cells among C(2)-ceramide-treated p21(-/-) MEFs. gamma-Irradiation, which endogenously generates ceramide, induced a similar tendency in these MEFs. These results suggest that p21 plays an essential role in determining the type of cell death, positively for apoptosis and negatively for autophagy.
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PMID:Pivotal role of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21WAF1/CIP1 in apoptosis and autophagy. 1795 3


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