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)

Caspase-3(-like) proteases play important roles in controlling mammalian apoptosis. However, the downstream events from the caspase-3(-like) protease activation to death of cells are still unclear. Previously, we reported that hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) was generated by the activation of caspase-3(-like) proteases in the process of tyrosine kinase inhibitor-induced apoptosis in human small cell lung carcinoma Ms-1 cells. In the present study, we examined whether generation of H2O2 is a critical event for the apoptotic pathway downstream of caspase-3(-like) protease activation by various anticancer drugs. Anticancer drugs such as camptothecin, vinblastine, inostamycin, and adriamycin induced activation of caspase-3(-like) proteases and apoptosis. Generation of H2O2 was commonly detected after treatment with each of the four anticancer drugs, and scavenging of H2O2 caused cells to fail to undergo apoptosis. Moreover, anticancer drug-induced H2O2 production was inhibited not only by an inhibitor of caspase-3(-like) proteases but also by diphenyleneiodonium chloride, an inhibitor of flavonoid-containing enzymes such as NADPH oxidase. However, activation of caspase-3(-like) proteases was not inhibited by diphenyleneiodonium chloride. These findings suggest that activation of caspase-3(-like) proteases by various anticancer drugs causes generation of H2O2 presumably through the activation of NADPH oxidase, thereby inducing apoptosis. Therefore, H2O2 may function as a common mediator for apoptosis induced by various anticancer drugs.
 ...
PMID:Requirement of caspase-3(-like) protease-mediated hydrogen peroxide production for apoptosis induced by various anticancer drugs. 975 37

Glucocorticoids are known to promote apoptosis of eosinophils, normal and neoplastic lymphoid cells, and blastic cells in some patients with acute myeloid leukemia. We investigated the biochemical signal transduction pathways, in particular, the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and activation of caspases in dexamethasone (DEX)-induced apoptosis of eosinophils, and we compared them with those in DEX-sensitive myeloid and lymphoid leukemia cell lines. The GC-receptor antagonist completely abolished DEX-induced apoptosis of eosinophils and leukemia cells. Among inhibitors related to the ROS system, diphenylene iodonium (DPI), a nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide diphosphate (NADPH) oxidase inhibitor, strongly inhibited both spontaneous and DEX-induced apoptosis of eosinophils at concentrations as low as 0.2 to 2 mumol/L, while promoting apoptosis of leukemia cells in a dose-dependent manner. Apocynin, another NADPH oxidase inhibitor, and antioxidants did not affect the apoptosis of eosinophils or leukemia cells. DEX treatment did not change intracellular production of O2- and H2O2, and it decreased the extracellular release of O2- in both cells. These results suggest little or no involvement of ROS generation in DEX-induced apoptosis of both cells. Although among peptide-based caspase inhibitors, only z-VAD-FMK, a broad caspase inhibitor, partially inhibited the apoptosis of eosinophils and leukemia cells, DEX treatment increased the activities of caspases 2-, 3-, 6-, and 8-like proteases assessed by colorimetry in both cells, suggesting the involvement of a similar caspase activation pathway in DEX-induced apoptosis in both cells. DPI markedly reduced caspase 3-like activity in eosinophils, while augmenting the activity in leukemia cells, indicating that DPI acts upstream of caspase 3 activation opposingly in both cells. Thus, the action of DPI in eosinophils seems peculiar in respect to apoptosis induction, and DPI appears to exert an influence on unknown targets rather than those involved in NADPH oxidase inhibition.
 ...
PMID:Glucocorticoid-induced apoptotic pathways in eosinophils: comparison with glucocorticoid-sensitive leukemia cells. 1090 53

We previously reported that primary cultures of guinea pig gastric pit cells expressed all of the phagocyte NADPH oxidase components (gp91-, p22-, p67-, p47-, and p40-phox) and could spontaneously release superoxide anion (O(2)(-)). We demonstrate here that pit cells express a nonphagocyte-specific gp91-phox homolog (Mox1) but not gp91-phox. Inclusion of catalase significantly inhibited [(3)H]thymidine uptake during the initial 2 days of culture. Pit cells, matured on day 2, slowly underwent spontaneous apoptosis. Scavenging O(2)(-) and related oxidants by superoxide dismutase plus catalase or N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) and inhibiting Mox1 oxidase by diphenylene iodonium activated caspase 3-like proteases and markedly enhanced chromatin condensation and DNA fragmentation. This accelerated apoptosis was completely blocked by a caspase inhibitor, z-Val-Ala-Asp-CH(2)F. Mox1-derived reactive oxygen intermediates constitutively activated nuclear factor-kappaB, and inhibition of this activity by nuclear factor-kappaB decoy oligodeoxynucleotide accelerated their spontaneous apoptosis. These results suggest that O(2)(-) produced by the pit cell Mox1 oxidase may play a crucial role in the regulation of their spontaneous apoptosis as well as cell proliferation.
 ...
PMID:Regulation of growth and apoptosis of cultured guinea pig gastric mucosal cells by mitogenic oxidase 1. 1109 39

Bacterial superinfections are an important cause of morbidity and mortality during influenza A virus (IAV) epidemics. We demonstrate that incubation with the combination of IAV and Streptococcus pneumoniae caused marked reductions in survival of neutrophils in vitro compared with treatment with control buffer or IAV or S. pneumoniae alone. This cooperative effect was in part mediated by acceleration of neutrophil apoptosis as evidenced by increases in annexin-V binding and caspase-3 activation. However, GM-CSF did not increase survival of neutrophils exposed to IAV and S. pneumoniae. IAV enhanced neutrophil uptake of S. pneumoniae significantly. Furthermore, the combination of IAV and S. pneumoniae caused significantly more hydrogen peroxide production than IAV or S. pneumoniae alone. This increased respiratory burst activity contributed to the diminished neutrophil survival caused by IAV and S. pneumoniae. The NADPH oxidase inhibitor, diphenyleneiodonium, significantly improved survival of neutrophils treated with IAV and S. pneumoniae. These findings may help to explain the increased susceptibility of IAV-infected patients to infections with S. pneumoniae.
 ...
PMID:Neutrophil survival is markedly reduced by incubation with influenza virus and Streptococcus pneumoniae: role of respiratory burst. 1120 67

Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is known to both induce and inhibit apoptosis, however the mechanisms are unclear. We found that H2O2 inhibited the activity of recombinant caspase-3 and caspase-8, half-inhibition occurring at about 17 microM H2O2. This inhibition was both prevented and reversed by dithiothreitol while glutathione had little protective effect. 100-200 microM H2O2 added to macrophages after induction of caspase activation by nitric oxide or serum withdrawal substantially inhibited caspase activity. Activation of H2O2-producing NADPH oxidase in macrophages also caused catalase-sensitive inactivation of cellular caspases. The data suggest that the activity of caspases in cells can be directly but reversibly inhibited by H2O2.
 ...
PMID:Caspases are reversibly inactivated by hydrogen peroxide. 1144 67

Influenza A virus (IAV)-induced impairment of neutrophil function or survival may be a cause of bacterial superinfection of IAV-infected subjects. This study was performed to determine the mechanism through which the combination of IAV and Escherichia coli co-operatively reduces neutrophil survival. Neutrophil binding of annexin-V and caspase-3 activation was significantly increased by either IAV or E. coli, supporting the concept that the micro-organisms accelerate neutrophil apoptosis. The anti-apoptotic agent granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) did not improve, but further reduced, survival of neutrophils treated with IAV and E. coli. As addition of E. coli resulted in greater neutrophil uptake of IAV and greater neutrophil respiratory burst responses to IAV, this study tested whether respiratory burst activation by IAV and E. coli contributes to reducing neutrophil survival. The cell-permeant NADPH oxidase inhibitor, diphenylene iodonium, significantly increased survival of neutrophils treated with either E. coli alone or the combination of IAV and E. coli. In contrast, catalase, which is not cell permeant, did not alter survival of E. coli- and IAV-treated neutrophils. Azide enhanced neutrophil hydrogen peroxide responses to IAV and E. coli, and reduced survival of these cells. These results indicate that co-operative induction of intracellular respiratory burst responses by IAV and E.coli mediates the reduced neutrophil survival caused by these pathogens in vitro.
 ...
PMID:Role of the respiratory burst in co-operative reduction in neutrophil survival by influenza A virus and Escherichia coli. 1201 55

In addition to direct bactericidal activities, such as phagocytosis and generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), neutrophils can regulate the inflammatory response by undergoing apoptosis. We found that infection of human neutrophils with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) induced rapid cell death displaying the characteristic features of apoptosis such as morphologic changes, phosphatidylserine exposure, and DNA fragmentation. Both a virulent (H37Rv) and an attenuated (H37Ra) strain of Mtb were equally effective in inducing apoptosis. Pretreatment of neutrophils with antioxidants or an inhibitor of NADPH oxidase markedly blocked Mtb-induced apoptosis but did not affect spontaneous apoptosis. Activation of caspase-3 was evident in neutrophils undergoing spontaneous apoptosis, but it was markedly augmented and accelerated during Mtb-induced apoptosis. The Mtb-induced apoptosis was associated with a speedy and transient increase in expression of Bax protein, a proapoptotic member of the Bcl-2 family, and a more prominent reduction in expression of the antiapoptotic protein Bcl-x(L). Pretreatment with an inhibitor of NADPH oxidase distinctly suppressed the Mtb-stimulated activation of caspase-3 and alteration of Bax/Bcl-x(L) expression in neutrophils. These results indicate that infection with Mtb causes ROS-dependent alteration of Bax/Bcl-x(L) expression and activation of caspase-3, and thereby induces apoptosis in human neutrophils. Moreover, we found that phagocytosis of Mtb-induced apoptotic neutrophils markedly increased the production of proinflammatory cytokine TNF-alpha by human macrophages. Therefore, the ROS-dependent apoptosis in Mtb-stimulated neutrophils may represent an important host defense mechanism aimed at selective removal of infected cells at the inflamed site, which in turn aids the functional activities of local macrophages.
 ...
PMID:Mycobacterium tuberculosis promotes apoptosis in human neutrophils by activating caspase-3 and altering expression of Bax/Bcl-xL via an oxygen-dependent pathway. 1205 53

Resolution of inflammation requires clearance of activated neutrophils by phagocytes in a manner that protects adjacent tissues from injury. Mechanisms governing apoptosis and clearance of activated neutrophils from inflamed areas are still poorly understood. We used dimethylsulfoxide-differentiated HL-60 cells showing inducible oxidase activity to study NADPH oxidase-induced apoptosis pathways typical of neutrophils. Activation of the NADPH oxidase by phorbol myristate acetate caused oxidative stress as shown by production of superoxide and hydrogen peroxide, depletion of intracellular glutathione, and peroxidation of all three major classes of membrane phospholipids, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, and phosphatidylserine. In addition, phorbol myristate acetate stimulation of the NADPH oxidase caused apoptosis, as evidenced by apoptosis-specific phosphatidylserine externalization, increased caspase-3 activity, chromatin condensation, and nuclear fragmentation. Furthermore, phorbol myristate acetate stimulation of the NADPH oxidase caused recognition and ingestion of dimethylsulfoxide-differentiated HL-60 cells by J774A.1 macrophages. To reveal the apoptosis-related component of oxidative stress in the phorbol myristate acetate-induced response, we pretreated cells with a pancaspase inhibitor, benzyloxycarbonyl-Val-Ala-Asp-fluoromethyl ketone (z-VAD-fmk), and found that it caused partial inhibition of hydrogen peroxide formation as well as selective protection of only phosphatidylserine, whereas more abundant phospholipids, phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine, were oxidized to the same extent in the absence or presence of z-VAD-fmk. In contrast, inhibitors of NADPH oxidase activity, diphenylene iodonium and staurosporine, as well as antioxidant enzymes, superoxide dismutase/catalase, completely protected all phospholipids against peroxidation, inhibited expression of apoptotic biomarkers and externalization of phosphatidylserine, and reduced phagocytosis of differentiated HL-60 cells by J774A.1 macrophages. Similarly, zymosan-induced activation of the NADPH oxidase resulted in the production of superoxide and oxidation of different classes of phospholipids of which only phosphatidylserine was protected by z-VAD-fmk. Accordingly, zymosan caused apoptosis in differentiated HL-60 cells, as evidenced by caspase-3 activation and phosphatidylserine externalization. Finally, zymosan triggered caspase-3 activation and extensive SOD/catalase-inhibitable phosphatidylserine exposure in human neutrophils. Overall, our results indicate that NADPH oxidase-induced oxidative stress in neutrophil-like cells triggers apoptosis and subsequent recognition and removal of these cells through pathways dependent on oxidation and externalization of phosphatidylserine.
 ...
PMID:NADPH oxidase-dependent oxidation and externalization of phosphatidylserine during apoptosis in Me2SO-differentiated HL-60 cells. Role in phagocytic clearance. 1237 50

Salicylates and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) induce apoptosis in a variety of cancer cells, including those of colon, prostate, breast, and leukemia. We examined the effects of sodium salicylate (NaSal) on reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and the association of these effects with apoptotic tumor cell death. We demonstrate that NaSal mediates ROS production followed by a decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential (deltapsi(m)), release of cytochrome c, and activation of caspase-9 and caspase-3. However, expression of Bcl-2 or Bcl-x(L) prevents ROS production and subsequent loss of deltapsi(m), thereby inhibiting apoptotic cell death. The presence of ROS scavengers and an inhibitor of NADPH oxidase or expression of a dominant negative form of Rac1 blocks ROS production, deltapsi(m) collapse, and the subsequent activation of caspases. These observations indicate that NaSal mediates ROS production critical in the triggering of apoptotic tumor cell death through a Rac1-NADPH oxidase-dependent pathway. Our data collectively imply that NaSal-induced ROS are key mediators of deltapsi(m) collapse, which leads to the release of cytochrome c followed by caspase activation, culminating in tumor apoptosis.
 ...
PMID:Molecular ordering of ROS production, mitochondrial changes, and caspase activation during sodium salicylate-induced apoptosis. 1256 69

Pentagalloylglucose (5GG) is a potent and specific inhibitor of NADPH dehydrogenase or xanthine oxidase. In our previous study, we showed that 5GG was able to induce apoptosis in HL-60 cells in a time- and concentration-dependent manner via the activation of caspase-3. Recently, we found that 5GG was capable of perturbing the cell cycle of the human breast cancer cell line MCF-7. DNA flow cytometric analysis showed that 5GG exhibited the ability of blocking MCF-7 cell cycle progression at the G1 phase. The level of several G1 phase-related cyclins and cyclin-dependent kinases did not change in these cells during a 24-hr exposure to 5GG. However, the activity of cyclin E/CDK2 was decreased in a concentration- and time-dependent manner and the activity of cyclin D/CDK4 was inhibited when serum-starved synchronized cells were released from synchronization. p27(Kip) and p21(Cip), inhibitors of cyclin/CDK complexes in G1-phase, were gradually increased after 5GG treatment in a time-dependent manner and the induction of p21(Cip) was correlated with an increase in p53 levels. These results suggest that the suppression of cell-cycle progression in the G1 phase by 5GG was mediated in MCF-7 cells, at least in part, by either the inhibition of cyclin D/CDK4 and cyclin E/CDK2 activity or the induction of the CDK inhibitors p27(Kip) and p21(Cip).
 ...
PMID:Induction of G1 phase arrest in MCF human breast cancer cells by pentagalloylglucose through the down-regulation of CDK4 and CDK2 activities and up-regulation of the CDK inhibitors p27(Kip) and p21(Cip). 1278 29


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