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)

Dietary phytochemicals have been shown to be protective against various types of cancers. However, the precise underlying protective mechanisms are poorly understood. In the present study, we report that treatment of A549 cells with quercetin resulted in a dose-dependent reduction in cell viability and DNA synthesis with the rate of apoptosis equivalent to 1.2 +/- 0.8, 6.3 +/- 0.9, 16.5 +/- 1.5, 36.4 +/- 2.6 and 42.5 +/- 5.8% on treatment with 0.1% dimethylsulfoxide, 14.5, 29.0, 43.5 and 58.0 micro M quercetin, respectively. Concomitantly, quercetin treatments led to a 1.1-, 1.1-, 2.5- and 3.5-fold increase in Bax. Similar elevations were also observed in Bad, which increased 1.1-, 2.1-, 2.2- and 2.3-fold, respectively, as compared with control. While Bcl-2 was decreased by 30%, Bcl-x(L) was elevated in a dose-dependent fashion. Quercetin also induced the cleavage of caspase-3, caspase-7 and PARP (poly ADP-ribose polymerase). While Akt-1 and phosphorylated Akt-1 were inhibited, the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) was phosphorylated following quercetin treatment in a dose-dependent fashion. Phosphorylation of ERK and c-Jun occurred at 3 h and was sustained over 14 h. Phosphorylation of MEK1/2 was increased in concordance with ERK activation. Quercetin-induced phosphorylation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and cleavage of caspase-3 occurred 6 h after quercetin exposure and before cleavage of caspase-7 and PARP was detected. Inhibition of MEK1/2 but not PI-3 kinase, p38 kinase or JNK abolished quercetin-induced phosphorylation of c-Jun, cleavage of caspase-3 and -7, cleavage of PARP and apoptosis. Inhibition of caspase activation completely blocked quercetin-induced apoptosis. Expression of constitutively activated MEK1 in A549 cells led to activation of caspase-3 and apoptosis. The results suggest that in addition to inactivation of Akt-1 and alteration in the expression of the Bcl-2 family of proteins, activation of MEK-ERK is required for quercetin-induced apoptosis in A549 lung carcinoma cells.
Carcinogenesis 2004 May
PMID:The role of activated MEK-ERK pathway in quercetin-induced growth inhibition and apoptosis in A549 lung cancer cells. 1468 22

Cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) have recently raised considerable interest in view of their key role in the regulation of the cell cycle progression. In proliferating cells, distinct CDKs associated with specific cyclins coordinate in an orchestrated way the appropriate transition between different phases of the cell cycle. Mutations and/or aberrant expression of distinct CDKs and their regulatory components lead to uncontrolled proliferation and finally to carcinogenesis. However, in post-mitotic neurons, all CDKs with the exception of CDK5 are silent. CDK5, a proline-directed serine/threonine kinase exhibiting a close structural homology to the mitotic CDKs, binds to p35, the neuron-specific regulatory subunit of CDK5. CDK5 is very abundant in mature neurons and seems to regulate neurotransmitter release through phosphorylation and down-regulation of calcium channel activity. Therefore, the inhibition of CDKs in neurons after oxidative stress and in neurodegenerative disorders has a protective action. Selective CDKs inhibitors were developed as promising drugs for cancer therapy due to their ability to arrest cell cycle progression. The aim of this study was to compare the anti-proliferative effect of roscovitine (ROSC), a potent CDKs inhibitor, with that of cisplatin (CP) on human breast cancer MCF-7 cells. ROSC exerted stronger inhibitory effect on proliferation and cell cycle progression of MCF-7 than CP. Accumulation of G(2)/M arrested cells starting 6 h after onset of ROSC treatment coincided with a strong up-regulation of the p53. Reconstitution with caspase-3 sensitized MCF-7 cells to CP action. It implicates that ROSC inhibits more selectively and efficaciously the proliferation of human breast carcinoma cells.
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PMID:Dual action of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors: induction of cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. A comparison of the effects exerted by roscovitine and cisplatin. 1470 84

Heparin/heparan sulfate interacting protein (HIP, also known as ribosome protein L29) is involved in cell-cell and cell-extracellular matrix interactions and influences cell proliferation, migration and differentiation. In the present study, we investigated the role of HIP in anticancer drug-induced apoptosis. Both colon cancer HCT-116 and HT-29 cells showed dose-dependent down-regulation of HIP expression when treated with sodium butyrate. The down-regulation was negatively correlated with the percentage of apoptotic cells (R = -0.955, P = 0.03 and R = -0.792, P = 0.06 for HCT-116 and HT-29 cells, respectively). The correlation between HIP expression and apoptosis in HCT-116 cells was also evident in the differential expression of HIP in the floating and adherent cell populations. Most apoptotic cells were distributed in the floating population. HIP expression in this population was approximately 30% lower than adherent and untreated control cells. HIP expression in HCT-116 cells was also significantly decreased in parallel with apoptosis after treatment with 50 micro M camptothecin and 20 micro M 5-fluorouracil. This indicates that the down-regulation of HIP may be a general phenomenon in anticancer drug-induced apoptosis. The down-regulation of HIP occurred in the early phase of apoptosis, in parallel with the activation of caspase-3 and the externalization of phosphatidylserine. The functional significance of HIP in apoptosis was shown by knocking down the expression of HIP using small interfering RNA. A 50% reduction in HIP expression was sufficient to increase the percentage of apoptotic cells (from 11 to 20%) and increase the sensitivity of the cells to apoptosis induced by 1 mM butyrate by 60%. These results indicate that HIP may play an important role in anticancer drug-induced apoptosis.
Carcinogenesis 2004 Jun
PMID:Heparin/heparan sulfate interacting protein plays a role in apoptosis induced by anticancer drugs. 1472 79

In this study we show that benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) and the cyclopenta polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (CP-PAH) cyclopenta[c,d]pyrene (CPP), benz[j]aceanthrylene (B[j]A) and benz[l]aceanthrylene (B[l]A) induce apoptosis in Hepa1c1c7 cells, as measured by fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry. The compounds induced formation of the active form of caspase-3, cleavage of its intracellular substrate, poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase (PARP), and DNA fragmentation. B[j]A was found to be the most potent in inducing apoptosis, followed by B[a]P, CPP and B[l]A. All compounds increased expression of CYP1A1 with relative potencies B[j]A > B[a]P >> CPP > B[l]A, corresponding well with their relative apoptotic responses. alpha-Naphthoflavone (alphaNF), an inhibitor of CYP1A1, reduced the induced apoptosis. B[a]P and CP-PAH exposure also resulted in an accumulation of the tumour suppressor protein p53. No changes were observed in the protein levels of Bax and Bcl-2, whereas the anti-apoptotic Bcl-xl protein was down-regulated, as judged by western blot analysis. Fluorescence microscopic analysis revealed a translocation of p53 to the nucleus and of Bax to the mitochondria. Furthermore, caspase-8 was activated and Bid cleaved. Interestingly, the levels of anti-apoptotic phospho-Bad (Ser155 and Ser112) had a biphasic increase after B[a]P or CPP treatment. Whereas alphaNF markedly reduced the activation of B[a]P to reactive metabolites, as measured by covalent binding to macromolecules, it did not inhibit the up-regulation of phospho-Bad. Neither of the compounds triggered apoptosis in primary cultures of rat lung cells (Clara cells, type 2 cells and lung alveolar macrophages), possibly due to a lack of CYP1A1 induction. In conclusion, B[a]P and the CP-PAH induced apoptotic as well as anti-apoptotic signals in Hepa1c1c7 cells.
Carcinogenesis 2004 May
PMID:Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons induce both apoptotic and anti-apoptotic signals in Hepa1c1c7 cells. 1472 87

The chemopreventive properties of the isothiocyanates have been attributed to their ability to inhibit phase I enzymes that activate procarcinogens, induce phase II protective enzymes and trigger apoptosis in transformed cells. In this study we provide evidence for a new mechanism of chemoprevention, wherein sublethal doses of phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC) sensitize cells to Fas-mediated apoptosis. The phenomenon was observed in the Fas-resistant T24 bladder carcinoma cell line and in Jurkat T cells overexpressing the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2. Caspase-3-like activity was increased up to 20-fold of that observed with either PEITC or anti-Fas antibody alone. While PEITC activated ERK, JNK and p38, inhibitors of these MAP kinases did not block apoptosis. PEITC transiently depleted cellular glutathione, providing a putative mechanism for sensitizing the cells to apoptosis. However, lowering glutathione with buthionine sulfoximine did not mimic the effect of PEITC. Instead, we propose that PEITC promotes apoptosis by directly modifying intracellular thiol proteins. The ability of PEITC to sensitize cells to receptor-mediated apoptosis provides an additional mechanism to explain its chemopreventive properties.
Carcinogenesis 2004 May
PMID:The chemopreventive agent phenethyl isothiocyanate sensitizes cells to Fas-mediated apoptosis. 1472 92

p120 RasGTPase-activating protein (RasGAP), the main regulator of Ras GTPase family members, is cleaved at low caspase activity into an N-terminal fragment that triggers potent anti-apoptotic signals via activation of the Ras/PI-3 kinase/Akt pathway. When caspase activity is increased, RasGAP fragment N is further processed into two fragments that effectively potentiate apoptosis. Expression of RasGAP protein and its cleavage was assessed in human lung cancer cells with different histology and responsiveness to anticancer drug-induced apoptosis. Here we show that therapy-sensitive small lung carcinoma cell (SCLC) lines have lower RasGAP expression levels and higher spontaneous cleavage with formation of fragment N compared to therapy-resistant non-small cell lung carcinoma cell (NSCLC) lines. The first RasGAP cleavage event strongly correlated with the increased level of spontaneous apoptosis in SCLC. However, generation of protective RasGAP fragment N also related to the potency of SCLC to develop secondary therapy-resistance. In response to etoposide (ET), RasGAP fragment N was further cleaved in direct dependence on caspase-3 activity, which was more pronounced in NSCLC cells. Caspase inhibition, while effectively preventing the second cleavage of RasGAP, barely affected the first cleavage of RasGAP into fragment N that was always detectable in NSCLC and SCLC cells. These findings suggest that different levels of RasGAP and fragment N might play a significant role in the biology and different clinical course of both subtypes of lung neoplasms. Furthermore, constitutive formation of RasGAP fragment N can potentially contribute to primary resistance of NSCLC to anticancer therapy by ET but also to secondary therapy-resistance in SCLC.
Carcinogenesis 2004 Jun
PMID:RasGTPase-activating protein is a target of caspases in spontaneous apoptosis of lung carcinoma cells and in response to etoposide. 1474 24

Although a high alimentary intake of antioxidant vitamins such as ascorbic acid may play an important role in cancer prevention, a high level of antioxidants may have quite different effects at different stages of the transformation process. In cancer development, the resistance of cells to apoptosis is one of the most crucial steps. We have tested the effects of ascorbic acid on apoptosis in HT-29 human colon carcinoma cells when induced by two potent apoptosis inducers, the classical antitumor drug camptothecin or the flavonoid flavone. Apoptosis was assessed based on caspase-3-like activity, plasma membrane disintegration and finally nuclear fragmentation and chromatin condensation. Ascorbic acid dose-dependently inhibited the apoptotic response of cells to camptothecin and flavone. RT-PCR analysis and western blot analysis revealed that ascorbic acid specifically blocked the decrease of bcl-X(L) by camptothecin or flavone. An increased generation of mitochondrial O(2)(-.) precedes the down-regulation of bcl-X(L) by camptothecin and flavone and ascorbic acid at a concentration of 1 mM prevented the generation of this reactive oxygen species. In conclusion, ascorbic acid functions as a potent antioxidant in mitochondria of human colon cancer cells and thereby blocks drug-mediated apoptosis induction allowing cancer cells to become insensitive to chemotherapeutics.
Carcinogenesis 2004 May
PMID:Ascorbic acid suppresses drug-induced apoptosis in human colon cancer cells by scavenging mitochondrial superoxide anions. 1475 75

The ability of melanoma cells to evade engagement of apoptosis plays a significant role in their resistance to chemotherapy. In an attempt to lower the apoptotic threshold of melanoma cells as a possible strategy to increase their drug sensitivity, we generated a hammerhead ribozyme to down-regulate the expression of the anti-apoptotic protein survivin. The JR8 human melanoma cell line was stably transfected with the active ribozyme RZsurv (targeting the 3' end of the GUC294 triplet in the exon 3 of the survivin mRNA) or the catalytically inactive ribozyme mutRZsurv (carrying a mutation in the catalytic core of RZsurv). Two polyclonal cell populations expressing the active (JR8/RZsurv) or the mutant (JR8/mutRZsurv) ribozyme were selected for the study. JR8/RZsurv cells were characterized by a markedly lower survivin protein level than JR8 parental cells, whereas a negligible reduction in survivin expression was observed in JR8/mutRZsurv cells. JR8/RZsurv cells showed a significantly increased sensitivity to the topoisomerase-I inhibitor topotecan (as detected by clonogenic cell survival) compared with JR8/mutRZsurv cells. Moreover, the extent of drug-induced apoptosis (in terms of percentage of apoptotic nuclei and level of caspase-9 and caspase-3 catalytic activity) was significantly greater in JR8/RZsurv than in JR8/mutRZsurv cells. Finally, an increased antitumor activity of oral topotecan was observed in JR8/RZsurv cells grown as xenograft tumors in athymic nude mice compared with JR8/mutRZsurv cells. These results demonstrate that attenuation of survivin expression renders human melanoma cells more susceptible to topotecan-induced apoptosis and more responsive to in vivo treatment, and support the concept that survivin is an attractive target for new therapeutic interventions in melanoma.
Carcinogenesis 2004 Jul
PMID:Ribozyme-mediated down-regulation of survivin expression sensitizes human melanoma cells to topotecan in vitro and in vivo. 1476 61

3-Amino-1,4-dimethyl-5H-pyrido[4,3-b]indole (Trp-P-1) is one of the dietary carcinogens. At the initial step in the carcinogenic process, its exocyclic amino group is metabolically activated to the hydroxyamino derivative by the cytochrome P450 (CYP) 1A and 1B subfamily and then form DNA adducts, which are considered to be the main cause of DNA damage during the carcinogenic process. On the other hand, our previous study has shown that Trp-P-1 exhibits cytotoxicity to primary cultured rat hepatocytes, via induction of caspase-9-dependent apoptosis without being metabolized by CYP 1A1. In the present study, we investigated what type of DNA damage would be involved in the induction of apoptosis induced by Trp-P-1. When RL-34 cells derived from normal rat liver were treated with a high (30 microM) concentration of Trp-P-1, apoptotic events such as the loss of cell viability, nuclear condensation and the activation of caspase-3 were observed. In these apoptotic cells, intracellular topoisomerase I activity was inhibited and histone H2AX phosphorylation, which occurs after introduction of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs), was observed in the early phase of the apoptosis. On the other hand, treatment with a non-apoptotic concentration (1 microM) of Trp-P-1 increased the formation of 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine. The formation of DNA adducts was detected at almost the same level in both cells exposed to the apoptotic and non-apoptotic concentrations of Trp-P-1. These results indicate that Trp-P-1-induced apoptosis was triggered by DNA DSBs through the inhibition of topoisomerase I but not the formation of DNA adducts.
Carcinogenesis 2004 Jul
PMID:3-Amino-1,4-dimethyl-5H-pyrido[4,3-b]indole (Trp-P-1) triggers apoptosis by DNA double-strand breaks caused by inhibition of topoisomerase I. 1497 28

Ultraviolet A radiation from sunlight is a major human health concern, as it is not absorbed by the ozone layer and can deeply penetrate into the skin causing skin damage. To study the molecular mechanism involved in the ultraviolet A effect, human HaCaT keratinocytes were exposed to ultraviolet A at doses of 10 J per cm2 and 30 J per cm2. Ultraviolet A irradiation caused dose- and time-dependent apoptotic cell death, as evidenced by DNA fragmentation, flow cytometry, and the activation of caspase-3. To study the genes altered by ultraviolet A at an apoptosis-inducing dose (30 J per cm2), cells were harvested immediately after ultraviolet A treatment (0 h), and 6 h and 24 h after ultraviolet A exposure. Total RNA was extracted for microarray and real-time RT-PCR analysis, and cellular proteins were extracted for western blot analysis. Of the selected critical genes/proteins, the induction of c-Jun, c-myc, and p33ING1, and the repression of epidermal growth factor receptor, inhibitor of apoptosis protein, and survivin pathways, could be involved in ultraviolet-A-induced apoptosis. On the other hand, the late induction of cyclin D1 and cyclin-dependent kinase 4 was indicative of possible cell cycle recovery in surviving cells. Real-time RT-PCR analysis confirmed these results and a majority of the protein levels paralleled their corresponding RNA levels. In addition, ultraviolet A treatment altered the expression of genes involved in signal transduction, RNA processing, structural proteins, and metabolism in a time-dependent manner. This initial microarray analysis could advance our understanding of cellular responses to ultraviolet A exposure, and provide a platform from which to further study ultraviolet-A-induced apoptosis and carcinogenesis.
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PMID:Expression profiling of human keratinocyte response to ultraviolet A: implications in apoptosis. 1500 41


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