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

Therapeutic preparations of normal human IgG for i.v. use (i.v.Ig) exhibit a broad spectrum of immunoregulatory activities in vitro and in vivo. I.v.Ig has been shown to inhibit the proliferation of activated B and T lymphocytes and of several autonomously growing cell lines. In this study, we demonstrate that i.v.Ig induces apoptosis in leukemic cells of lymphocyte and monocyte lineage and in CD40-activated normal tonsillar B cells, involving, at least in part, Fas (CD95/APO-1) and activation of caspases. I.v.Ig-induced apoptosis was higher in Fas-sensitive HuT78 cells than in Fas-resistant HuT78.B1 mutant cells, and soluble Fas inhibited IVIg-induced apoptosis. I.v.Ig immunoprecipitated Fas from Fas-expressing transfectants and recognized purified Fas/glutathione-S-transferase fusion proteins upon immunoblotting. Affinity-purified anti-Fas Abs from i.v.Ig induced apoptosis of CEM T cells at a 120-fold lower concentration than unfractionated i.v.Ig. Inhibitors of cysteine proteases of the caspase family, caspase 1 (IL-1beta-converting enzyme) and caspase 3 (Yama/CPP32b), partially inhibited i.v.Ig-induced apoptosis of CEM cells. Furthermore, cleavage of poly(A)DP-ribose polymerase into an 85-kDa signature death fragment was observed in CEM cells following i.v.Ig treatment. Thus, normal IgG induces apoptosis in lymphocytes and monocytes. Our results provide evidence for a role of Fas, bring new insights into the mechanisms of action of i.v.Ig in autoimmune diseases, and suggest a role of normal Ig in controlling cell death and proliferation.
 ...
PMID:Therapeutic preparations of normal polyspecific IgG (IVIg) induce apoptosis in human lymphocytes and monocytes: a novel mechanism of action of IVIg involving the Fas apoptotic pathway. 975 5

Apoptosis mediated by anticancer drugs may involve activation of death-inducing ligand/receptor systems such as CD95 (APO-1/Fas), cleavage of caspases, and perturbance of mitochondrial functions. We investigated the sequence of these events in SHEP neuroblastoma cells transfected with Bcl-2 or Bcl-X(L) using two different drugs, namely, doxorubicin (Doxo), which activates the CD95/CD95 ligand (CD95-L) system, and betulinic acid (Bet A), which does not enhance the expression of CD95 or CD95-L and which, as shown here, directly targets mitochondria. Apoptosis induced by both drugs was inhibited by Bcl-2 or Bcl-X(L) overexpression or by bongkrekic acid, an agent that stabilizes mitochondrial membrane barrier function, suggesting a critical role for mitochondria. After Doxo treatment, enhanced CD95/CD95-L expression and caspase-8 activation were not blocked by Bcl-2 or Bcl-X(L) and were found in cells with a mitochondrial transmembrane potential (delta psi(m)) that was still normal (delta psi(m)high cells). In marked contrast, after Bet A treatment, caspase-8 activation occurred in a Bcl-2- or Bcl-X(L)-inhibitable fashion and was confined to cells that had lost their delta psi(m) (delta psi(m)low cells). Mitochondria from cells treated with either Doxo or Bet A induced cleavage of both caspase-8 and caspase-3 in cytosolic extracts. Thus, caspase-8 activation may occur upstream or downstream of mitochondria, depending on the apoptosis-initiating stimulus. In contrast to caspase-8, cleavage of caspase-3 or poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase was always restricted to delta psi(m)low cells, downstream of the Bcl-2- or Bcl-X(L)-controlled checkpoint of apoptosis. Cytochrome c, released from mitochondria undergoing permeability transition, activated caspase-3 but not caspase-8 in a cell-free system. However, both caspases were activated by apoptosis-inducing factor, indicating that the mechanism of caspase-8 activation differed from that of caspase-3 activation. Taken together, our findings demonstrate that perturbance of mitochondrial function constitutes a central coordinating event in drug-induced cell death.
 ...
PMID:Molecular ordering of apoptosis induced by anticancer drugs in neuroblastoma cells. 976 78

Fas (APO-1/CD95) is a cell-surface protein that can mediate apoptosis upon specific ligand or antibody binding. The Bcl-2 protein may function as a modulator of Fas-induced apoptosis by blocking a downstream activation step, and Bcl-2 expression in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) cells appears to depend partly on expression of a wild-type (wt) p53 tumor suppressor gene (Findley et al, Blood 1997; 89: 2986). We therefore investigated the relationship between sensitivity to Fas-mediated apoptosis and (1) Fas expression, (2) p53 status, and (3) Bcl-2 protein levels in pediatric ALL cell lines and primary leukemic cells. Cell lines included 21 B cell precursor (BCP)-ALL and four T-ALL lines; in five cases, cryopreserved primary leukemic cells from which these lines were established were also examined. Additionally, we evaluated the effect of anti-Fas monoclonal antibody on the activation of protease CPP32 and induction of apoptosis in these lines. By SSCP analysis and DNA sequencing, we detected p53 mutations (mt) in eight out of 25 ALL cell lines (exon-7, codon 248 n=6; exon-8, codon 273, n=2). The expression of Fas and Bcl-2 was examined by immunofluorescence staining and quantified as the number of molecules of equivalent soluble fluorochrome (MESF). Elevated levels of Fas were expressed in all six lines with a mutation of p53 in codon 248 (1500 to 10800 MESF). Although Fas was detectable in seven of the 17 lines with wt-p53, expression was lower (150-900 MESF) compared with mt-p53+ lines. Bcl-2 was expressed in 10 of the 25 lines. Most (9/10) wt-p53+ lines expressed Bcl-2, whereas only one of eight mt-p53+ lines and no p53-null lines expressed this protein. Treatment of Fas-positive lines with anti-Fas monoclonal antibody (200 ng/ml) for 6 h induced activation of CPP32 and apoptosis in eight of 13 Fas+ lines. Sensitivity to Fas-mediated apoptosis was associated with a mt-p53 phenotype and absence of Bcl-2 expression. Six of eight Fas+/Fas-sensitive (S) lines were mt-53+/Bcl-2-, whereas only two Fas+/Fas-S lines were wt-p53+/Bcl-2+; both of these latter lines expressed low levels of Bcl-2 compared to Fas-resistant lines. In contrast, four of five Fas+/Fas-resistant (R) lines were wt-p53+/Bcl-2+; the exception was p53-null/Bcl-2- but expressed a low level of Fas (150 MESF). Activation of the cysteine protease CPP32 and cleavage of its substrate poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase (PARP) was also detected in Fas-S but not Fas-R lines. We obtained similar results from both the primary leukemic cells and the corresponding cell lines in five cases: overexpression of Fas and Fas-sensitivity were present in mt-p53+/Bcl-2- but not wt-p53+/Bcl-2+ cells. These results suggest that some pediatric ALL cells expressing mt-p53+ may be sensitive to Fas-mediated apoptosis due to high levels of Fas expression and lack of Bcl-2, and further suggest that molecular methods of activating Fas may be useful for therapy of refractory ALL with the Fas+/mt-p53+ phenotype.
 ...
PMID:Sensitivity to Fas-mediated apoptosis in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia is associated with a mutant p53 phenotype and absence of Bcl-2 expression. 982 51

Sendai virus (SV) infection and replication lead to a strong cytopathic effect with subsequent death of host cells. We now show that SV infection triggers an apoptotic program in target cells. Incubation of infected cells with the peptide inhibitor z-VAD-fmk abrogated SV-induced apoptosis, indicating that proteases of the caspase family were involved. Moreover, proteolytic activation of two distinct caspases, CPP32/caspase-3 and, as shown for the first time in virus-infected cells, FLICE/caspase-8, could be detected. So far, activation of FLICE/caspase-8 has been described in apoptosis triggered by death receptors, including CD95 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-R1. In contrast, we could show that SV-induced apoptosis did not require TNF or CD95 ligand. We further found that apoptosis of infected cells did not influence the maturation and budding of SV progeny. In conclusion, SV-induced cell injury is mediated by CD95- and TNF-R1-independent activation of caspases, leading to the death of host cells without impairment of the viral life cycle.
 ...
PMID:Sendai virus infection induces apoptosis through activation of caspase-8 (FLICE) and caspase-3 (CPP32). 984 76

The mechanism by which radiation induces human peripheral T cell apoptosis is not known. We examined sequential changes in post-irradiated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC(S)) taken from normal volunteers, by using flow-cytometer and an anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody, annexin V, propidium iodide, anti-Fas antibody, and anti-Fas ligand antibody. After 5 or 10 Gy of irradiation with a 60Co radiation therapy unit, most of the human peripheral T cells showed positivity against annexin V in 15 h, and positivity against propidium iodide in 23 h after irradiation. On a microscopy-video system, approximately 80% of mononuclear cells revealed apoptotic changes in 24 h after irradiation. Because of its proposed role in activation-induced cytotoxicity, we also examined the Fas (CD95/Apo-1) pathway in killing T cells by irradiation. Irradiated PBMC, displayed no increase in surface Fas expression and caspase-3 activity relative to non-irradiated cells. In addition, the anti-Fas ligand failed to eliminate the apoptotic death of PBMC, after irradiation. These results suggest that irradiation induces direct apoptosis of T cells by a Fas-independent mechanism.
 ...
PMID:Radiation kills human peripheral T cells by a Fas-independent mechanism. 985 24

To study the role of various caspases during apoptosis, we have designed a series of caspase inhibitors based on the cowpox virus cytokine response modifier A (crmA) protein. Wild-type crmA inhibits caspases 1 and 8 and thereby protects cells from apoptosis triggered by ligation of CD95 or tumour necrosis factor (TNF) receptors, but it does not protect against death mediated by other caspases. By replacing the tetrapeptide pseudosubstrate region of crmA (LVAD) with tetrapeptides that are optimal substrates for the different families of caspases, or with the four residues from the cleavage site of the baculovirus protein p35 (DQMD), we have generated a family of caspase inhibitors that show altered ability to protect against cell death. Although DEVD is the optimal substrate for caspase 3, crmA DEVD was degraded rapidly and was a weaker inhibitor than crmA DQMD, which was not degraded. Unlike wild-type crmA and crmA DEVD, crmA DQMD was able to inhibit apoptosis caused by direct activation of caspase 3 and protected lymphoid cells from death induced by radiation and dexamethasone. Significantly, the protected cells were capable of sustained growth.
 ...
PMID:Inhibition of apoptosis and clonogenic survival of cells expressing crmA variants: optimal caspase substrates are not necessarily optimal inhibitors. 988 90

Calpain activity is thought to be essential for the execution of apoptotic cell death in certain experimental models. In the present study, the physiological inhibitor of calpain, calpastatin, was found to be cleaved in three different apoptotic systems. The 110-120 kDa calpastatin protein of Jurkat T-lymphocytes and U937 monocytic leukemia cells was cleaved to a 65-70 kDa form after the induction of apoptosis with anti-CD95 monoclonal antibody, staurosporine or TNF. Cleavage of calpastatin in apoptotic cells occurred simultaneously with the cleavage of the DNA repair enzyme, poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase. The caspase inhibitors VAD-cmk and IETD-fmk prevented calpastatin cleavage in all three systems. Calpain inhibitor I, however, suppressed calpastatin cleavage only during TNF-induced apoptosis. Other protease inhibitors, such as lactacystin and pepstatin A, did not confer any significant protection against apoptotic calpastatin cleavage. The results from in vitro incubations with cell lysates and purified enzymes showed that calpain I, calpain II and recombinant caspase-3, all cleaved calpastatin, with varying efficiency. In conclusion, the results of the present study suggest that caspases may cleave calpastatin and thus, regulate calpain activity during apoptotic cell death.
 ...
PMID:Cleavage of the calpain inhibitor, calpastatin, during apoptosis. 989 9

Stimulation of the CD95/Fas/Apo-1 receptor leads to apoptosis through activation of the caspase family of cysteine proteases and disruption of the mitochondrial transmembrane potential (Deltapsim). We show that, in Jurkat human T cells and peripheral blood lymphocytes, Fas-induced apoptosis is preceded by 1) an increase in reactive oxygen intermediates (ROI) and 2) an elevation of Deltapsim. These events are followed by externalization of phosphatidylserine (PS), disruption of Deltapsim, and cell death. The caspase inhibitor peptides, DEVD-CHO, Z-VAD.fmk, and Boc-Asp.fmk, blocked Fas-induced PS externalization, disruption of Deltapsim, and cell death, suggesting that these events are sequelae of caspase activation. By contrast, in the presence of caspase inhibitors, ROI levels and Deltapsim of Fas-stimulated cells remained elevated. Because ROI levels and Deltapsim are regulated by the supply of reducing equivalents from the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP), we studied the impact of transaldolase (TAL), a key enzyme of the PPP, on Fas signaling. Overexpression of TAL accelerated Fas-induced mitochondrial ROI production, Deltapsim elevation, activation of caspase-8 and caspase-3, proteolysis of poly(A)DP-ribose polymerase, and PS externalization. Additionally, suppression of TAL diminished these activities. Therefore, by controlling the balance between mitochondrial ROI production and metabolic supply of reducing equivalents through the PPP, TAL regulates susceptibility to Fas-induced apoptosis. Early increases in ROI levels and Deltapsim as well as the dominant effect of TAL expression on activation of caspase-8/Fas-associated death domain-like IL-1beta-converting enzyme, the most upstream member of the caspase cascade, suggest a pivotal role for redox signaling at the initiation of Fas-mediated apoptosis.
 ...
PMID:Elevation of mitochondrial transmembrane potential and reactive oxygen intermediate levels are early events and occur independently from activation of caspases in Fas signaling. 997 3

Astrocytes are a major cellular component of the brain that are capable of intense proliferation and metabolic activity during diverse inflammatory brain diseases (such as multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's dementia, tumor, HIV encephalitis, or prion disease). In this biological process, called reactive gliosis, astrocyte apoptosis is frequently observed and could be an important mechanism of regulation. However, the factors responsible for apoptosis in human astrocytes are poorly defined. Here, we report that short term cultured astrocytes derived from different brain regions express significant levels of CD95 at their surface. Only late passage astrocytes are sensitive to CD95 ligation using either CD95 mAb or recombinant CD95 ligand. Blocking experiments using caspase inhibitors with different specificities (DEVD-CHO, z-VAD-fmk, and YVAD-cmk), an enzymatic activity assay, and immunoblotting show that CPP32/caspase-3 play a prominent role in CD95-induced astrocyte death. In contrast, early passage astrocytes are totally resistant to death, but a significant increase in astrocytic IL-8 secretion (p < 0.001, by Wilcoxon's test for paired samples) is observed after CD95 triggering. Production of IL-8 contributes to the resistance of astrocytes to CD95 ligation. Furthermore, in the presence of IFN-gamma, resistant astrocytes became sensitive to CD95-mediated death. These data suggest that microenvironmental factors can influence the consequences of CD95 ligation on astrocytes. Therefore, we propose that CD95 expressed by human astrocytes plays a pivotal role in the regulation of astrocyte life and death and may be a key factor in inflammatory processes in the brain, such as reactive gliosis.
 ...
PMID:CD95 (Fas/Apo-1) as a receptor governing astrocyte apoptotic or inflammatory responses: a key role in brain inflammation? 997 11

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play an important role in cell death induced by many different stimuli. This study shows that hydrogen peroxide-induced apoptosis in T-cells did not require tyrosine kinase p561ck, phosphatase CD45, the CD95 receptor and its associated Caspase-8. H2O2-triggered cell death led to the induced cleavage and activation of Caspase-3. Hydrogen peroxide-treatment of T-cells resulted in the formation of mitochondrial permeability transition pores, a rapid decrease of the mitochondrial transmembrane potential delta psi(m) and the release of Cytochrome C. Inhibition of the mitochondrial permeability transition by bongkrekic acid (BA), or interference with the mitochondrial electron transport system by rotenone or menadione prevented the cytotoxic effect of H2O2. Antimycin A, a mitochondrial inhibitor that increases the release of mitochondrial ROS (MiROS), enhanced apoptosis. Overexpression of Bcl-2 and the viral anti-apoptotic proteins BHRF-1 and E1B 19K counteracted H2O2-induced apoptosis. Pharmacological and genetic inhibition of transcription factor NF-kappaB protected cells from hydrogen peroxide-elicited cell death. This detrimental effect of NF-kappaB mediating hydrogen peroxide-induced cell death presumably relies on the induced expression of death effector genes such as p53, which was NF-kappaB-dependently upregulated in the presence of H2O2.
 ...
PMID:Hydrogen peroxide-induced apoptosis is CD95-independent, requires the release of mitochondria-derived reactive oxygen species and the activation of NF-kappaB. 998 25


<< Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Next >>