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

Tau phosphorylation was examined in argyrophilic grain disease (AGD) by using the phosphospecific tau antibodies Thr181, Ser202, Ser214, Ser 396 and Ser422, and antibodies to non-phosphorylated and phosphorylated mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK), stress-activated kinase (SAPK), c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), p38 kinase (p-38), alpha-calcium/calmodulin-dependent kinase II (alphaCaM kinase II), and glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3), all of which regulate phosphorylation at specific sites of tau. This is the first study in which the role of protein kinases in tau phosphorylation has been examined in AGD. Hyperphosphorylated tau accumulated in grains and pre-tangles in the hippocampus, dentate gyrus, entorhinal and trans-entorhinal cortices, and amygdala in all cases. Ballooned neurons in the amygdala, entorhinal, insular and cingulate cortex, and claustrum contained alphaB-crystallyn and phosphorylated neurofilament epitopes. Some astrocytes and scattered oligodendrocytes containing coiled bodies were recognized with anti-tau antibodies. A few tangles were observed in the entorhinal cortex and hippocampus corresponding to Alzheimer's disease (AD) stages I-III of Braak and Braak. None of the present cases was associated with progressive supranuclear palsy or with alpha-synuclein pathology. Two bands of phospho-tau of 64 and 68 kDa were observed in Western blots of sarkosyl-insoluble fractions enriched with abnormal filaments in AGD, a pattern that contrasts with the 4-band pattern obtained in AD. No modifications in the expression of non-phosphorylated MEK-1, ERK2 and GSK-3alpha/beta, as revealed by immunohistochemistry, were seen in AGD, but sarkosyl-insoluble fractions were particularly enriched in JNK-1 and alphaCaM kinase II. Increased expression of the phosphorylated (P) forms of MAPK/ERK, SAPK/JNK, p38 and GSK-3beta was found in grains and tau-containing cells in AGD. MAPK/ERK-P immunoreactivity was observed in pre-tangles and, diffusely, in the cytoplasm of ballooned neurons, but not in grains. Strong SAPK/JNK-P and P38-P, and moderate GSK-3b-P immunoreactivities selectively occured in grains, in neurons with pre-tangles and in the peripheral region of the cytoplasm of ballooned neurons. MAPK/ERK-P, SAPK/JNK-P, p38-P and GSK-3beta-P were expressed in tau-containing astrocytes and in oligodendrocytes with coiled bodies. Western blots revealed kinase expression in sarkosyl-insoluble fractions but none of the phospho-kinase antibodies recognized hyper-phosphorylated tau protein. These findings indicate complex, specific profiles of tau phosphorylation and concomitant activation of precise kinases that have the capacity to phosphorylate tau at specific sites in AGD. These kinases co-localize abnormal tau in selected structures and cells, including neurons with pre-tangles, ballooned neurons, astrocytes and oligodendrocytes. Most of these kinases are involved in cell death and cell survival in certain experimental paradigms. However, double-labeling studies with the method of in situ end-labeling of nuclear DNA fragmentation and cleaved (active) caspase-3 immunohistochemistry show no expression of apoptosis and death markers in cells bearing phosphorylated kinases.
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PMID:Phosphorylated protein kinases associated with neuronal and glial tau deposits in argyrophilic grain disease. 1258 May 46

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 present study was undertaken to evaluate the implication of delta-opioid receptor function in neurogenesis and neuroprotection. We found that the stimulation of delta-opioid receptors by the selective delta-opioid receptor agonist SNC80 [(+)-4-[(alphaR)-alpha-((2S,5R)-4-allyl-2,5-dimethyl-1-piperazinyl)-3-methoxybenzyl]-N,N-diethylbenzamide] (10 nm) promoted neural differentiation from multipotent neural stem cells obtained from embryonic C3H mouse forebrains. In contrast, either a selective micro-opioid receptor agonist, [D-Ala2, N-Me-Phe4, Gly5-ol]-enkephalin (DAMGO), or a specific kappa-opioid receptor agonist, (-)-trans-(1S,2S)-U-50488 hydrochloride (U50,488H), had no such effect. In addition to neural differentiation, the increase in cleaved caspase 3-like immunoreactivity induced by H2O2 (3 microm) was suppressed by treatment with SNC80 in cortical neuron/glia co-cultures. These effects of SNC80 were abolished by a Trk-dependent tyrosine kinase inhibitor: (8R*,9S*,11S*)-(-)-9-hydroxy-9-methoxycarbonyl-8-methyl-2,3,9,10-tetrahydro-8,11-epoxy-1H,8H,11H-2,7b,11a-triazadibenzo(a,g)cycloocta(cde)trinden-1-one (K-252a). The SNC80-induced neural differentiation was also inhibited by treatment with the protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitor, mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK) inhibitor or Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) inhibitor. These findings raise the possibility that delta-opioid receptors play a crucial role in neurogenesis and neuroprotection, mainly through the activation of Trk-dependent tyrosine kinase, which could be linked to PI3K, PKC, CaMKII and MEK.
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PMID:Role of delta-opioid receptor function in neurogenesis and neuroprotection. 1669 56

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


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