UNIPROT:P42574 - FACTA Search

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Query: UNIPROT:P42574 (caspase-3)
45,978 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Massive hepatectomy associated with infection induces liver dysfunction, or even multiple organ failure and death. Glycyrrhizin has been shown to exhibit anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether glycyrrhizin could attenuate endotoxin-induced acute liver injury after partial hepatectomy. Male Wistar rats (6 to 8 weeks old, weighing 200-250 g) were randomly assigned to three groups of 24 rats each: sham, saline and glycyrrhizin. Rats were injected intravenously with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) 24 h after 70% hepatectomy. Glycyrrhizin, pre-administered three times with 24 h intervals 48 h before hepatectomy, prolonged the survival of rats submitted to partial hepatectomy and LPS injection, compared with saline controls. Glycyrrhizin was shown to attenuate histological hepatic changes and significantly reduced serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and lactic dehydrogenase, at all the indicated times (6 rats from each were sacrificed 1, 3, 6, and 9 h after LPS injection), compared with saline controls. Glycyrrhizin also significantly inhibited hepatocyte apoptosis by down-regulating the expression of caspase-3 and inhibiting the release of cytochrome C from mitochondria into the cytoplasm. The anti-inflammatory activity of glycyrrhizin may rely on the inhibition of release of tumor necrosis factor-a, myeloperoxidase activity, and translocation of nuclear factor-kappa B into the nuclei. Glycyrrhizin also up-regulated the expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen, implying that it might be able to promote regeneration of livers harmed by LPS. In summary, glycyrrhizin may represent a potent drug protecting the liver against endotoxin-induced injury, especially after massive hepatectomy.
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PMID:Glycyrrhizin attenuates endotoxin- induced acute liver injury after partial hepatectomy in rats. 1799 67

Fulminant hepatic failure is a serious disease that has a poor cure rate unless liver transplantation is performed. Edaravone, a free radical scavenger, has been approved for the treatment of acute cerebral infarction, and its mechanism of action involves scavenging free radicals generated in ischemic tissues. We assessed the ability of 3-methyl-1-phenyl-2-pyrazolim-5-one (edaravone) to prevent Fas-induced acute liver failure in mice and examined the mechanisms underlying the observed effects. BALB/c mice were administered 0.25 microg/g (i.v.) body weight of a purified hamster agonist anti-Fas monoclonal antibody (clone Jo2). The mice also received either edaravone or isotonic sodium chloride solution before or after Jo2 treatment. Edaravone improved the survival rate of the mice markedly. Histopathological findings and serum aspartate aminotransferase levels showed that edaravone reduced the degree of liver injury caused by Jo2. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated 2'-deoxyuridine 5'-triphosphate nick end labeling staining showed that edaravone reduced the number of apoptotic hepatocytes. Edaravone also prevented cytochrome c release and caspase 3 activity, recognized as markers of apoptosis after mitochondrial disruption. Therefore, we considered that the antiapoptotic activity of edaravone involved blocking signals in the mitochondria-dependent pathway of Fas-induced apoptosis. Mitochondrial Bcl-xL and Bax, which form a channel in the mitochondrial membrane and, by their balance, regulate its permeability, are involved in mitochondrial disruption. Western blotting showed that the Bcl-xL-Bax ratio of the edaravone group was much higher than that of the control group. In conclusion, edaravone might protect hepatocytes from Fas-induced mitochondria-dependent apoptosis by regulating mitochondrial Bcl-xL and Bax.
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PMID:Edaravone prevents Fas-induced fulminant hepatic failure in mice by regulating mitochondrial Bcl-xL and Bax. 1818 Jun 97

The clinical efficacy of the CD20-specific chimeric monoclonal antibody rituximab is significantly hampered by intrinsic or acquired resistance to therapy. Rituximab activates antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity/complement-dependent cytotoxicity-dependent lysis but also induces apoptosis by cross-linking of its target antigen CD20. Recent reports indicate that this apoptotic activity of rituximab can be synergized by cotreatment with Fas agonists. Here, we report on a strategy designed to exploit and optimize the synergy between rituximab and Fas signaling by genetically fusing a rituximab-derived antibody fragment to soluble Fas ligand (sFasL). The resultant fusion protein, designated scFvRit:sFasL, potently induced CD20-restricted apoptosis in a panel of malignant B-cell lines (10 of 11) and primary patient-derived malignant B cells (two of two non-Hodgkin lymphoma and five of six B cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia). ScFvRit:sFasL efficiently activated CD20 and Fas apoptotic signaling, resulting in a far superior proapoptotic activity compared with cotreatment with rituximab and Fas agonists. ScFvRit:sFasL lacked activity toward normal human B cells and also lacked systemic toxicity in nude mice with no elevation of aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase levels or liver caspase-3 activity. In conclusion, scFvRit:sFasL efficiently activates CD20 and Fas-apoptotic signaling and may be useful for the elimination of malignant B cells.
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PMID:Superior activity of fusion protein scFvRit:sFasL over cotreatment with rituximab and Fas agonists. 1819 57

In recent studies, the cytotoxic activity of NO has been investigated for its potential use in anticancer therapies. Nitrosated human serum albumin (NO-HSA) may act as a reservoir of NO in vivo. However, there are no published reports regarding the effects of NO-HSA on cancer. Therefore, the present study investigated the antitumor activity of NO-HSA. NO-HSA was prepared by incubating HSA, which had been sulfhydrylated using iminothiolane, with isopentyl nitrite (6.64 mol NO/mol HSA). Antitumor activity was examined in vitro using murine colon 26 carcinoma (C26) cells and in vivo using C26 tumor-bearing mice. Exposure to NO-HSA increased the production of reactive oxygen species in C26 cells. Flow cytometric analysis using rhodamine 123 showed that NO-HSA caused mitochondrial depolarization. Activation of caspase-3 and DNA fragmentation were observed in C26 cells after incubation with 100 muM NO-HSA for 24 h, and NO-HSA inhibited the growth of C26 cells in a concentration-dependent manner. The growth of C26 tumors in mice was significantly inhibited by administration of NO-HSA compared with saline and HSA treatment. Immunohistochemical analysis of tumor tissues demonstrated an increase in terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nickend labeling-positive cells in NO-HSA-treated mice, suggesting that inhibition of tumor growth by NO-HSA was mediated through induction of apoptosis. Biochemical parameters (such as serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, aspartate aminotransferase, and alanine aminotransferase) showed no significant differences among the three treatment groups, indicating that NO-HSA did not cause hepatic or renal damage. These results suggest that NO-HSA has the potential for chemopreventive and/or chemotherapeutic activity with few side effects.
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PMID:Design and evaluation of S-nitrosylated human serum albumin as a novel anticancer drug. 1821 31

The purpose of this study was to investigate the protective effects of the saponins isolated from the root of Platycodi Radix (Changkil saponins: CKS) on carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4))-induced hepatotoxicities in mice. Pretreatment with CKS prior to the administration of CCl(4) significantly prevented the increase in serum alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase activities and hepatic lipid peroxidation formation. In addition, CKS prevented CCl(4)-induced apoptosis and necrosis, as indicated by a liver histopathologic study and DNA laddering. To determine whether Fas/Fas ligand (FasL) pathway involved in CCl(4)-induced acute liver injury, Fas and FasL proteins and caspase-3, -8 activities were tested by western blotting and ELISA. CKS markedly decreased CCl(4)-induced Fas/FasL protein expression levels and in turn attenuated CCl(4)-induced caspase-3, -8 activities in mouse livers. Additionally, CKS protected the CCl(4)-induced depletion of hepatic glutathione levels. The effect of CKS on CYP2E1, the major isozyme involved in CCl(4) bioactivation, was investigated. Treatment with CKS resulted in a significant decrease in the CYP2E1-dependent hydroxylation of aniline. In addition, CKS exhibited antioxidant effects on FeCl(2)-ascorbate induced lipid peroxidation in liver homogenates, and on superoxide radical scavenging activity. These findings suggest that the protective effects of CKS against CCl(4)-induced acute liver injury possibly involve mechanisms related to its ability to block CYP2El-mediated CCl(4) bioactivation and its free radical scavenging effects, and that is also protects against Fas/FasL pathway mediated apoptosis.
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PMID:Protective effect of saponins derived from the roots of Platycodon grandiflorum against carbon tetrachloride induced hepatotoxicity in mice. 1829 69

This study was designed to investigate the protective effects of the phenethyl ester of caffeic acid (CAPE) against carbon tetrachoride (CCl(4))-induced hepatotoxicities in mice. Pretreatment with CAPE prior to administration of CCl(4) significantly prevented the increases in serum alanine, aspartate aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase activities, hepatic lipid peroxidation formation, and depletion of glutathione content. In addition, CAPE prevented CCl(4)-induced apoptosis and necrosis, as indicated by liver histopathology and DNA laddering studies. To determine whether the Fas/Fas ligand (FasL) pathway is involved in CCl(4)-induced acute liver injury, Fas and FasL proteins and caspase-3 and -8 activities were tested by western blotting and ELISA. CAPE markedly decreased CCl(4)-induced Fas/FasL protein expression levels and, in turn, attenuated CCl(4)-induced caspase-3 and -8 activities in mouse liver. Moreover, the effect of CAPE on CYP2E1, the major isozyme involved in CCl(4) bioactivation, was investigated. Treatment with CAPE significantly decreased the CYP2E1-dependent hydroxylation of aniline. In addition, CAPE attenuated the CCl(4)-mediated depletion of antioxidant enzyme (catalase, superoxide dismutase and glutathione-S-transferase) activities. These findings suggest that the protective effects of CAPE against CCl(4)-induced acute liver injury may involve its ability to block CYP2El-mediated CCl(4) bioactivation and to protect against Fas/FasL-mediated apoptosis.
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PMID:Protective effect of caffeic acid phenethyl ester against carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatotoxicity in mice. 1843 64

Cyclo-trans-4-L-hydroxyprolyl-L-serine (JBP485) is a dipeptide isolated from Laennec, and Laennec is a hydrolyzate of human placenta. Evidence has indicated that JBP485 exhibits potent anti-hepatitis activity. In this study, we investigated the protective effect and possible mechanisms of action of JBP485 in Concanavalin A (Con A)-induced hepatotoxicity in vitro. Two in vitro models were established. Model I: primary cultured female rat hepatocytes were only incubated with Con A (50 microg/ml); model II: co-culture system of hepatocytes and autologous splenic lymphocytes, both were stimulated with Con A (20 microg/ml). JBP485 (25 microM) was pre-incubated with the two models. Our results showed that JBP485 reduced cellular aspartate aminotransferase (AST), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) leakage following the application of Con A in both of the models. Potential protective mechanisms were elucidated by measuring DNA fragmentations, immunocytochemistry and RT-PCR. We showed that DNA fragmentations in hepatocytes were attenuated in the JBP485 pre-incubated groups, and at the same time, immunocytochemistry and RT-PCR indicated that expression levels of caspase-3 protein and mRNA in the JBP485 treated groups were decreased compared with those in the untreated groups. Moreover, intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) was also down-regulated by this dipeptide. The results indicate that JBP485 exhibits hepatoprotective effect through inhibition of hepatocyte apoptosis and ICAM-1 expression.
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PMID:Protective effect of JBP485 on concanavalin A-induced hepatocyte toxicity in primary cultured rat hepatocytes. 1857 Nov 56

The protective effect of salidroside (SDS) isolated from Rhodiola sachalinensis A. BOR. (Crassulaceae), was investigated in acetaminophen (APAP)-induced hepatic toxicity mouse model in comparison to N-acetylcysteine (NAC). Drug-induced hepatotoxicity was induced by an intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of 300 mg/kg (sub-lethal dose) of APAP. SDS was given orally to mice at a dose of 50 or 100 mg/kg 2 h before the APAP administration in parallel with NAC. Mice were sacrificed 12 h after the APAP injection to determine aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) levels in serum and glutathione (GSH) depletion, malondialdehyde (MDA) accumulation, and caspase-3 expression in liver tissues. SDS significantly protected APAP-induced hepatotoxicity for SDS improved mouse survival rates better than NAC against a lethal dose of APAP and significantly blocked not only APAP-induced increases of AST, ALT, and TNF-alpha but also APAP-induced GSH depletion and MDA accumulation. Histopathological and immunohistochemical analyses also demonstrated that SDS could reduce the appearance of necrosis regions as well as caspase-3 and hypoxia inducible factor-1alpha (HIF-1alpha) expression in liver tissue. Our results indicated that SDS protected liver tissue from the APAP-induced oxidative damage via preventing or alleviating intracellular GSH depletion and oxidation damage, which suggested that SDS would be a potential antidote against APAP-induced hepatotoxicity.
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PMID:Protective effects of salidroside against acetaminophen-induced toxicity in mice. 1867 83

The natural history of pediatric nonalcoholic steatohepatitis is still unknown; however, there are differences between adult and pediatric presentation. Apoptosis may play an important role in pathophysiologic pathways involved in liver damage and progression. Our aim was to detect early apoptosis markers, activated caspase-3 and cleaved cytokeratin-18, in hepatocytes and to correlate their presence with clinical, serologic, and histologic characteristics in pediatric nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. Twenty-five pediatric nonalcoholic steatohepatitis liver biopsies were evaluated by immunohistochemistry for presence of activated caspase-3 and cleaved cytokeratin-18. Biopsy specimens were semiquantitatively graded for activity (steatosis, inflammation, and ballooning) and fibrosis. Records were reviewed for serum aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, cholesterol, triglycerides, and body mass index, which was elevated in 92% of cases. Serum aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase were elevated in 32% and 68% of cases, respectively. Sixty percent of biopsies exhibited lobular steatosis grade 3, 84% lobular inflammatory activity grade 1, 72% ballooning grade 1, and 76% fibrosis stage 3. Cleaved cytokeratin-18 was associated with milder fibrosis (P = .02) and inflammation (P = .07), although there was no association with steatosis grade. Activated caspase-3 detection was also associated with low inflammatory grade (P = .03) but not with fibrosis and steatosis. This study reveals interesting differential features concerning nonalcoholic steatohepatitis histologic characteristics and apoptosis markers compared with adult cases. Because, in this pediatric series, apoptosis seemed to be an early event in the cascade of liver injury steps, it would be useful to consider caspase inhibitors as potential therapeutic strategies to prevent liver damage progression.
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PMID:Apoptosis markers in liver biopsy of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis in pediatric patients. 1871 20

In the present work, we investigated the protective effects of the ethanol extract of Aralia continentalis roots (AC) on tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BHP)-induced hepatotoxicity in a cultured Hepa1c1c7 cell line and in mouse liver. Pretreatment with AC prior to the administration of t-BHP significantly prevented the increase in serum levels of hepatic enzyme markers (ALT, AST) and lipid peroxidation and reduced oxidative stress, as measured by glutathione content, in the liver. Histopathological evaluation of the livers also revealed that AC reduced the incidence of liver lesions. The in vitro study showed that AC significantly reduced t-BHP-induced oxidative injury in Hepa1c1c7 cells, as determined by cell cytotoxicity, intracellular glutathione content, lipid peroxidation, reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, and caspase-3 activation. Also, AC up-regulated phase II genes including heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), NAD(P)H:quinone reductase, and glutathione S-transferase. Moreover, AC induced Nrf2 nuclear translocation and ERK1/2 and p38 activation, pathways that are involved in inducing Nrf2 nuclear translocation. Taken together, these results suggest that the protective effects of AC against t-BHP-induced hepatotoxicity may, at least in part, be due to its ability to scavenge ROS and to regulate the antioxidant enzyme HO-1 via the ERK1/2 and p38/Nrf2 signaling pathways.
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PMID:Protective mechanisms of Aralia continentalis extract against tert-butyl hydroperoxide-induced hepatotoxicity: in vivo and in vitro studies. 1882 57

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