Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts: Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound   Target Concepts: 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)

Excessive activation of glutamate receptors mediates neuronal death, but the intracellular signaling pathways that mediate this type of neuronal death are only partly understood. Previously, we have demonstrated that calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II-alpha(B) (CaMKII-alpha(B)) containing a nuclear localizing signal but not CaMKII-alpha is altered in retinal neurons exposed to N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA). The present study describes a prospective function of CaMKII-alpha(B) in signal transduction leading to apoptosis. The terminal deoxyribonucleotidyl transferase (TdT)-mediated biotin-16-dUTP nick-end labelling (TUNEL) method was used to detect fragmented DNA in fixed tissue sections of rat retina. The TUNEL assay confirmed that cell death occurs in the inner nuclear and ganglion cell layers following injection of 4 mM NMDA. A specific AIP (myristoylated autocamtide-2-related inhibitory peptide) with proven cell permeability inhibits CaMKII activity in vivo. Neuroprotection achieved by 500 microM AIP was complete when administered 2 h before and coincident with the NMDA application. Additionally, 100 microM of AIP protects only partially against the NMDA-induced excitotoxicity. The conformationally active fragment of caspase-3 (17 kDa), known to be involved in neuronal apoptosis was apparent within 30 min and at 2 h postinjection with NMDA. This activation was inhibited by 500 microM AIP when administered 2 h before and coincident with the NMDA application. The results suggest that CaMKII-alpha(B) isoform plays a role in excitotoxicity-induced neuronal apoptosis.
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PMID:Neuroprotective effect of AIP on N-methyl-D-aspartate-induced cell death in retinal neurons. 1114 4

The neuroprotective mechanisms of the Ca2+/calmodulin kinase (CaMK) signaling pathway were studied in primary cerebellar neurons in vitro. When switched from depolarizing culture conditions HK (extracellular K+ 30 mM) to LK (K+ 5 mM), these neurons rapidly undergo nuclear fragmentation, a typical feature of apoptosis. We present evidence that blockade of L-type Ca2+ channels (nifedipine sensitive) but not N/P/Q-type Ca2+ channels (omega-conotoxin MVIIC sensitive) triggered apoptosis and CPP32/caspase-3-like activity. The entry into apoptosis was associated with a progressive caspase-3-dependent cleavage of CaMKIV, but not of CaMKII. CaMKIV function in neuronal apoptosis was further investigated by overexpression of CaMKIV mutants by gene transfer. A dominant-active CaMKIV mutant inhibited LK-induced apoptosis whereas a dominant-negative form induced apoptosis in HK, suggesting that CaMKIV exerts neuroprotective effects. The transcription factor CREB is a well-described nuclear target of CaMKIV in neurons. When switched to LK, the level of phosphorylation of CREB, after an initial drop, further declined progressively with kinetics comparable to those of CaMKIV degradation. This decrease was abolished by caspase-3 inhibitor. These data are compatible with a model where Ca2+ influx via L-type Ca2+ channels prevents caspase-dependent cleavage of CaMKIV and promotes neuronal survival by maintaining a constitutive level of CaMKIV/CREB-dependent gene expression.
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PMID:Calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase type IV (CaMKIV) inhibits apoptosis induced by potassium deprivation in cerebellar granule neurons. 1114 1

We previously demonstrated a loss in Ca(2+)/Calmodulin-dependent protein kinase (CaM kinase) activity in SH-SY5Y undergoing thapsigargin-mediated apoptosis. To extend that finding we report that CaM kinase inhibition potentiates thapsigargin-mediated cell death. CaM kinase inhibitor KN93 on its own exhibits little toxicity up to 10 mM, as measured by release of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) into the culture medium. In SH-SY5Y cells pretreated with KN93 and the non-selective protein kinase inhibitor k252a and then treated with 2 mM thapsigargin, loss of viability is significantly greater than in cells treated with thapsigargin alone. Pretreatment with the pan-caspase inhibitor Z-D-DCB prevented the thapsigargin-mediated increase in LDH release. Furthermore, thapsigargin-induced caspase-3-like activation, demonstrated by poly(ADP)ribose polymerase cleavage and pro-caspase-3 processing, was elevated in the presence of KN93.
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PMID:Calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase inhibition potentiates thapsigargin-mediated cell death in SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells. 1124 32

Cerebellar granule neuron (CGN) survival depends on activity of the myocyte enhancer factor-2 (MEF2) transcription factors. Neuronal MEF2 activity is regulated by depolarization via a mechanism that is presently unclear. Here, we show that depolarization-mediated MEF2 activity and CGN survival are compromised by overexpression of the MEF2 repressor histone deacetylase-5 (HDAC5). Furthermore, removal of depolarization induced rapid cytoplasm-to-nuclear translocation of endogenous HDAC5. This effect was mimicked by addition of the calcium/calmodulin-dependent kinase (CaMK) inhibitor KN93 to depolarizing medium. Removal of depolarization or KN93 addition resulted in dephosphorylation of HDAC5 and its co-precipitation with MEF2D. HDAC5 nuclear translocation triggered by KN93 induced a marked loss of MEF2 activity and subsequent apoptosis. To selectively decrease CaMKII, CGNs were incubated with an antisense oligonucleotide to CaMKIIalpha. This antisense decreased CaMKIIalpha expression and induced nuclear shuttling of HDAC5 in CGNs maintained in depolarizing medium. Selectivity of the CaMKIIalpha antisense was demonstrated by its lack of effect on CaMKIV-mediated CREB phosphorylation. Finally, antisense to CaMKIIalpha induced caspase-3 activation and apoptosis, whereas a missense control oligonucleotide had no effect on CGN survival. These results indicate that depolarization-mediated calcium influx acts through CaMKII to inhibit HDAC5, thereby sustaining high MEF2 activity in CGNs maintained under depolarizing conditions.
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PMID:Inactivation of the myocyte enhancer factor-2 repressor histone deacetylase-5 by endogenous Ca(2+) //calmodulin-dependent kinase II promotes depolarization-mediated cerebellar granule neuron survival. 1289 70

The brain-specific Ras/Rap GTPase-activating protein synGAP is a major component of the postsynaptic density at glutamatergic synapses. It is a target for phosphorylation by Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II, which up-regulates its GTPase-activating activity. Thus, SynGAP may play an important role in coupling N-methyl-D-aspartate-type glutamate receptor activation to signaling pathways downstream of Ras or Rap. Homozygous deletion of synGAP is lethal within the first few days after birth. Therefore, to study the functions of synGAP, we used the cre/loxP recombination system to produce conditional mice mutants in which gradual loss of synGAP begins at approximately 1 week, and usually becomes maximal by 3 weeks, after birth. The resulting phenotypes fall into two groups. In a small group, the level of synGAP protein is reduced to 20-25% of wild type, and they die at 2-3 weeks of age. In a larger group, the levels remain higher than approximately 40% of wild type, and they survive and remain healthy. In all mutants, however, an abnormally high number of neurons in the hippocampus and cortex undergo apoptosis, as detected by caspase-3 activation. The effect is cell autonomous, occurring only in neuronal types in which the synGAP gene is eliminated. The level of caspase-3 activation in neurons correlates inversely with the level of synGAP protein measured at 2 and 8 weeks after birth, indicating that neuronal apoptosis is enhanced by reduction of synGAP. These data show that synGAP plays a role in regulation of the onset of apoptotic neuronal death.
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PMID:A role for synGAP in regulating neuronal apoptosis. 1573 80

Evidence suggests that the autoimmune cardiomyopathy produced by a peptide corresponding to the sequence of the second extracellular loop of the beta(1)-adrenergic receptor (beta(1)-EC(II)) is mediated via a biologically active anti-beta(1)-EC(II) antibody, but the mechanism linking the antibody to myocyte apoptosis and cardiac dysfunction has not been well elucidated. Since the beta(1)-EC(II) autoantibody is a partial beta(1)-agonist, we speculate that the cardiomyopathy is produced by the beta(1)-receptor-mediated stimulation of the CaMKII-p38 MAPK-ATF6 signaling pathway and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, and that excess norepinephrine (NE) exaggerates the cardiomyopathy. Rabbits were randomized to receive beta(1)-EC(II) immunization, sham immunization, NE pellet, or beta(1)-EC(II) immunization plus NE pellet for 6 mo. Heart function was measured by echocardiography and catheterization. Myocyte apoptosis was determined by terminal deoxytransferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling and caspase-3 activity, whereas CaMKII, MAPK family (JNK, p38, ERK), and ER stress signals (ATF6, GRP78, CHOP, caspase-12) were measured by Western blot, immunohistochemistry, and kinase activity assay. beta(1)-EC(II) immunization produced progressive LV dilation, systolic dysfunction, and myocyte apoptosis. These changes were associated with activation of GRP78 and CHOP and increased cleavage of caspase-12, as well as increased CaMKII activity, increased phosphorylation of p38 MAPK, and nucleus translocation of cleaved ATF6. NE pellet produced additive effects. In addition, KN-93 and SB 203580 abolished the induction of ER stress and cell apoptosis produced by the beta(1)-EC(II) antibody in cultured neonatal cardiomyocytes. Thus ER stress occurs in autoimmune cardiomyopathy induced by beta(1)-EC(II) peptide, and this is enhanced by increased NE and caused by activation of the beta(1)-adrenergic receptor-coupled CaMKII, p38 MAPK, and ATF6 pathway.
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PMID:Cardiomyocyte apoptosis in autoimmune cardiomyopathy: mediated via endoplasmic reticulum stress and exaggerated by norepinephrine. 1754 81

Auto-antibodies against the beta(1)-adrenoceptors are present in 30-40% of patients with dilated cardiomyopathy. Recently, a synthetic peptide corresponding to a sequence of the second extracellular loop of the human beta(1)-adrenoceptor (beta(1)-EC(II)) has been shown to produce endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, myocyte apoptosis and cardiomyopathy in immunized rabbits. To study the direct cardiac effects of anti-beta(1)-EC(II) antibody in intact animals and if they are mediated via beta(1)-adrenoceptor stimulation, we administered IgG purified from beta(1)-EC(II)-immunized rabbits to recombination activating gene 2 knock-out (Rag2(-/-)) mice every 2 weeks with and without metoprolol treatment. Serial echocardiography and cardiac catheterization showed that beta(1)-EC(II) IgG reduced cardiac systolic function after 3 months. This was associated with increase in heart weight, myocyte apoptosis, activation of caspase-3, -9 and -12, and increased ER stress as evidenced by upregulation of GRP78 and CHOP and cleavage of ATF6. The Rag2(-/-) mice also exhibited increased phosphorylation of CaMKII and p38 MAPK. Metoprolol administration, which attenuated the phosphorylation of CaMKII and p38 MAPK, reduced the ER stress, caspase activation and cell death. Finally, we employed the small-interfering RNA technology to reduce caspase-12 in cultured rat cardiomyocytes. This reduced not only the increase of cleaved caspase-12 but also of the number of myocyte apoptosis produced by beta(1)-EC(II) IgG. Thus, we conclude that ER stress plays an important role in cell death and cardiac dysfunction in beta(1)-EC(II) IgG cardiomyopathy, and the effects of beta(1)-EC(II) IgG are mediated via the beta(1)-adrenergic receptor.
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PMID:Adoptive passive transfer of rabbit beta1-adrenoceptor peptide immune cardiomyopathy into the Rag2-/- mouse: participation of the ER stress. 1815 31

Calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II-alpha (CaMKII-alpha) has been implicated in a number of receptor mediated events in neurons. Pharmacological blockade of CaMKII-alpha has been shown to prevent phosphorylation of NMDA-R2A and R2B receptor subunits, suggesting that this enzyme may be linked to receptor trafficking of glutamate receptors and serve as a regulatory protein for neuronal cell death. In the retina, inhibition of CaMKII-alpha has been reported to be neuroprotective against NMDA-induced cell death by preventing the activation of the caspase-3 dependent pathway. However, the effects of CaMKII-alpha blockade on the caspase-3 independent, PARP-1 dependent and the non-programmed cell death pathways have not previously been investigated. In the present study, blockade of CaMKII-alpha with the highly specific antagonist myristoylated autocamtide-2-related inhibitory peptide (AIP) was used in a rat in vivo model of retinal toxicity to compare the effects of on NMDA-induced caspase-3-dependent, PARP-1 dependent and the non-programmed (necrosis) cell death pathways. Results confirmed that AIP fully attenuates caspase-3 activation for at least 8 h following NMDA insult and also significantly improves retinal ganglion cell survival. However, this blockade had little effect on reducing the loss of plasma membrane selectivity (LPMS, e.g. necrosis) in cells located in the ganglion cell and inner nuclear layers and did not alter NMDA-induced PARP-1 hyperactivation, or prevent TUNEL labeling following a moderate NMDA-insult. These findings support a specific role for CaMKII-alpha in mediating the caspase-3 dependent cell death pathway and provide evidence that it is not directly linked to the signaling of either the PARP-1 dependent or the non-programmed cell death pathways.
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PMID:Selective blockade of CaMKII-alpha inhibits NMDA-induced caspase-3-dependent cell death but does not arrest PARP-1 activation or loss of plasma membrane selectivity in rat retinal neurons. 1913 86

The positive inotropic effect produced by Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase inhibition has been used for the treatment of heart failure for over 200 years. Recently, administration of toxic doses of ouabain has been shown to induce cardiac myocyte apoptosis. However, whether prolonged administration of non-toxic doses of ouabain can also promote cardiac myocyte cell death has never been explored. The aim of this study was to assess whether non-toxic doses of ouabain can induce myocyte apoptosis and if so, to examine the underlying mechanisms. For this purpose, cardiac myocytes from rat and cat, two species with different sensitivity to digitalis, were cultured for 24h in the presence or absence of 2 microM (rat) and 25 nm-2 microM ouabain (cat). Cell viability and apoptosis assays showed that ouabain produced, in the rat, a 43+/-5% decrease in cell viability due to apoptosis (enhanced caspase-3 activity, increased Bax/Bcl-2 and TUNEL-positive nuclei) and necrosis (LDH release and trypan blue staining). Similar results were obtained with 25 nM ouabain in the cat. Ouabain-induced reduction in cell viability was prevented by the NCX inhibitor KB-R7943 and by the CaMKII inhibitors, KN93 and AIP. Furthermore, CaMKII overexpression exacerbated ouabain-induced cell mortality which in contrast was reduced in transgenic mice with chronic CaMKII inhibition. However, KN93 failed to affect ouabain-induced inotropy. In addition, whereas ERK(1/2) inhibition with PD-98059 had no effect on cell mortality, PI3K inhibition with wortmannin, exacerbated myocyte death. We conclude that ouabain triggers an apoptotic cascade that involves NCX and CaMKII as a downstream effector. Ouabain simultaneously activates an antiapoptotic cascade involving PI3K/AKT which is however, insufficient to completely repress apoptosis. The finding that KN93 prevents ouabain-induced apoptosis without affecting inotropy suggests the potential use of CaMKII inhibitors as an adjunct to digitalis treatment for cardiovascular disease.
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PMID:Na+/K+-ATPase inhibition by ouabain induces CaMKII-dependent apoptosis in adult rat cardiac myocytes. 2043 43

We aim to investigate the critical window of susceptibility to toluene exposure during brain development and the effects of fetal and neonatal toluene exposure on the expression of N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor subunits and related transduction pathway in infant mice hippocampus. Pregnant mice (GD 14), male offspring (postnatal day; PND 2) or PND 8 were exposed to either a filtered air control (0ppm), or 5, or 50ppm of toluene for 6h per day for 5 consecutive days. On PND 21, the expression levels of NMDA receptor subunits, cyclic AMP responsive element binding protein (CREB)-1, calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase (CaMK)-IV, and apoptotic related genes (Bax, Bcl) mRNAs in the hippocampus were estimated using quantitative real-time RT-PCR and immunohistochemical analyses. NR2B, CaMKIV and CREB1 mRNAs increased significantly in the hippocampus of mice exposed to 50ppm toluene on PND 2-6. In contrast, almost all memory function-related gene mRNAs and proapoptotic and anti-apoptotic ratio increased significantly in mice exposed to 5 or 50ppm toluene on PND 8-12. However, mice exposed to toluene on GD 14-18 showed no significant change. Increased active caspase-3 immunoreactive cells were found in hippocampal CA1 area of PND 21 male mice exposed to 5ppm toluene during PND 8-12. Our results suggest that late postnatal period may be a vulnerable and critical period to toluene exposure. Then, we have also examined the effect of toluene exposure in brain development on learning ability in young adult mice and found that poor spatial learning performance in PND 49 male mice exposed to 5ppm toluene during critical period. This is the first study to show that the early toluene exposure induces persistent of the alteration of memory function-related genes in infant mice and memory deficit in later life via modulating the synaptic morphology and function.
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PMID:Does early life toluene exposure alter the expression of NMDA receptor subunits and signal transduction pathway in infant mouse hippocampus? 2080 84


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