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)

Antineoplasic agents such as cisplatin and adriamycin execute their pharmacological role by triggering apoptosis. We have studied the mechanism of apoptosis induction by cisplatin and adriamycin. Both drugs activated JNK with slow and persistent kinetics. Adriamycin activated caspase-3 before the rise in JNK activity, while the response to cisplatin occurs hours after JNK activation. The increase in JNK activity was necessary for cisplatin-mediated apoptosis but it was dispensable for adriamycin-induced cell death. Cells derived from c-jun knock out mice were more resistant to cisplatin cell death than normal cells, but no difference was observed in response to adriamycin. Activation of JNK and cell death by cisplatin is mediated by the MEKK1/SEK1 cascade, since expression of dominant negative expression vectors of these kinases blocked both processes. p38 was also activated by cisplatin with similar kinetics as JNK. AP-1 complexes were activated by cisplatin including mainly c-jun/ATF-2 heterodimers suggesting that AP-1-dependent transcription partially mediated cisplatin-induced apoptosis.
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PMID:Lack of c-Jun activity increases survival to cisplatin. 1040 93

Events accompanying sequential exposure of U937 leukemic cells to the deoxycytidine (dCyd) analogs 1-[beta-D-arabinofuranosyl]cytosine (ara-C) or 2',2'-difluorodeoxycytidine (gemcitabine; dFdC) followed by two protein kinase C (PKC) activators [bryostatin 1 (BRY) or phorbol 12'-myristate 13'-acetate (PMA)] exhibiting disparate differentiation-inducing abilities were characterized. A 24-hr exposure to 10 nM BRY or PMA after a 6-hr incubation with 1 microM ara-C or 100 nM dFdC resulted in equivalent increases in apoptosis, caspase-3 activation, and polyADP-ribose polymerase degradation, as well as identical DNA cleavage patterns. BRY and PMA did not modify retention of the lethal ara-C metabolite ara-CTP or alter ara-CTP/dCTP ratios. Unexpectedly, pretreatment of cells with ara-C or dFdC opposed BRY- and PMA-related induction of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors (CDKIs) p21CIP1 and/or p27KIP1. These effects were not mimicked by the DNA polymerase inhibitor aphidicolin or by VP-16, a potent inducer of apoptosis. Inhibition of PKC activator-induced CDKI expression by ara-C and dFdC did not lead to redistribution of proliferating cell nuclear antigen but was accompanied by sub-additive or antagonistic effects on leukemic cell differentiation. Sequential exposure of cells to ara-C followed by BRY or PMA led to substantial reductions in clonogenicity that could not be attributed solely to apoptosis. Finally, pretreatment of cells with ara-C attenuated PMA- and BRY-mediated activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase, an enzyme implicated in CDKI induction. Collectively, these findings suggest that pretreatment of leukemic cells with certain dCyd analogs interferes with CDKI induction by the PKC activators PMA and BRY, and that this action may contribute to modulation of apoptosis and differentiation in cells exposed sequentially to these agents.
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PMID:Inhibition of protein kinase C activator-mediated induction of p21CIP1 and p27KIP1 by deoxycytidine analogs in human leukemia cells: relationship to apoptosis and differentiation. 1040 25

The proteins Bcl-2 and Bcl-X(L) prevent apoptosis, but their mechanism of action is unclear. We examined the role of Bcl-2 and Bcl-X(L) in the regulation of cytosolic Ca(2+), nitric oxide production (NO), c-Jun NH(2)-terminal kinase (JNK) activation, and apoptosis in Jurkat T cells. Thapsigargin (TG), an inhibitor of the endoplasmic reticulum-associated Ca(2+) ATPase, was used to disrupt Ca(2+) homeostasis. TG acutely elevated intracellular free Ca(2+) and mitochondrial Ca(2+) levels and induced NO production and apoptosis in Jurkat cells transfected with vector (JT/Neo). Buffering of this Ca(2+) response with 1, 2-bis(o-aminophenoxy)ethane-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid tetra(acetoxymethyl) ester (BAPTA-AM) or inhibiting NO synthase activity with N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride (L-NAME) blocked TG-induced NO production and apoptosis in JT/Neo cells. By contrast, while TG produced comparable early changes in the Ca(2+) level (i.e., within 3 h) in Jurkat cells overexpressing Bcl-2 and Bcl-X(L) (JT/Bcl-2 or JT/Bcl-X(L)), NO production, late (36-h) Ca(2+) accumulation, and apoptosis were dramatically reduced compared to those in JT/Neo cells. Exposure of JT/Bcl-2 and JT/Bcl-X(L) cells to the NO donor, S-nitroso-N-acetylpenacillamine (SNAP) resulted in apoptosis comparable to that seen in JT/Neo cells. TG also activated the JNK pathway, which was blocked by L-NAME. Transient expression of a dominant negative mutant SEK1 (Lys-->Arg), an upstream kinase of JNK, prevented both TG-induced JNK activation and apoptosis. A dominant negative c-Jun mutant also reduced TG-induced apoptosis. Overexpression of Bcl-2 or Bcl-X(L) inhibited TG-induced loss in mitochondrial membrane potential, release of cytochrome c, and activation of caspase-3 and JNK. Inhibition of caspase-3 activation blocked TG-induced JNK activation, suggesting that JNK activation occurred downstream of caspase-3. Thus, TG-induced Ca(2+) release leads to NO generation followed by mitochondrial changes including cytochrome c release and caspase-3 activation. Caspase-3 activation leads to activation of the JNK pathway and apoptosis. In summary, Ca(2+)-dependent activation of NO production mediates apoptosis after TG exposure in JT/Neo cells. JT/Bcl-2 and JT/Bcl-X(L) cells are susceptible to NO-mediated apoptosis, but Bcl-2 and Bcl-X(L) protect the cells against TG-induced apoptosis by negatively regulating Ca(2+)-sensitive NO synthase activity or expression.
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PMID:Bcl-2 and Bcl-X(L) block thapsigargin-induced nitric oxide generation, c-Jun NH(2)-terminal kinase activity, and apoptosis. 1040 55

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) is a highly pleiotropic cytokine whose activity is at least partially regulated by the redox status of the cell. The cellular redox status is controlled primarily by glutathione, a major cellular antioxidant, whose synthesis is regulated by the rate-limiting enzyme gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase (gamma-GCS). In the present report we investigated the effect of gamma-GCS overexpression on the TNF-induced activation of nuclear transcription factors NF-kappa B and AP-1, stress-activated protein kinase/c-Jun amino-terminal kinase (JNK) and apoptosis. Transfection of cells with gamma-GCS cDNA blocked TNF-induced NF-kappa B activation, cytoplasmic I kappa B alpha degradation, nuclear translocation of p65, and NF-kappa B-dependent gene transcription. gamma-GCS overexpression also completely suppressed NF-kappa B activation induced by phorbol ester and okadaic acid, whereas that induced by H2O2, ceramide, and lipopolysaccharide was minimally affected. gamma-GCS also abolished the activation of AP-1 induced by TNF and inhibited TNF-induced activation of JNK and mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase. TNF-mediated cytotoxicity and activation of caspase-3 were both abrogated in gamma-GCS-overexpressing cells. Overall, our results indicate that most of the pleiotropic actions of TNF are regulated by the glutathione-controlled redox status of the cell.
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PMID:Overexpression of gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase suppresses tumor necrosis factor-induced apoptosis and activation of nuclear transcription factor-kappa B and activator protein-1. 1043 45

Intracellular signaling pathways that are involved in protection of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) from apoptosis remain poorly understood. This study examines the effect of activators of cAMP/cGMP signaling on apoptosis in non-transfected VSMC and in VSMC transfected with c-myc (VSMC-MYC) or with its functional analogue, E1A-adenoviral protein (VSMC-E1A). Serum-deprived VSMC-E1A exhibited the highest apoptosis measured as the content of chromatin and low molecular weight DNA fragments, phosphatidylserine content in the outer surface of plasma membrane and caspase-3 activity (ten-, five-, four- and tenfold increase after 6 h of serum withdrawal, respectively). In VSMC-E1A, the addition of an activator of adenylate cyclase, forskolin, abolished chromatin cleavage, DNA laddering, caspase-3 activation and the appearance of morphologically-defined apoptotic cells triggered by 6 h of serum deprivation. In non-transfected VSMC and in VSMC-MYC, 6 h serum deprivation led to approximately six- and threefold activation of chromatin cleavage, respectively, that was also blocked by forskolin. In VSMC-E1A, inhibition of apoptosis was observed with other activators of cAMP signaling (cholera toxin, isoproterenol, adenosine, 8-Br-cAMP), whereas 6 h incubation with modulators of cGMP signaling (8-Br-cGMP, nitroprusside, atrial natriuretic peptide, L-NAME) did not affect the development of apoptotic machinery. The antiapoptotic effect of forskolin was abolished in 24 h of serum deprivation that was accompanied by normalization of intracellular cAMP content and protein kinase A (PKA) activity. Protection of VSMC-E1A from apoptosis by forskolin was blunted by PKA inhibitors (H-89 and KT5720), whereas transfection of cells with PKA catalytic subunit attenuated apoptosis triggered by serum withdrawal. The protection of VSMC-E1A by forskolin from apoptosis was insensitive to modulators of cytoskeleton assembly (cytochalasin B, colchicine). Neither acute (30 min) nor chronic (24 h) exposure of VSMC to forskolin modified basal and serum-induced phosphorylation of the MAP kinase ERK1/2. Thus, our results show that activation of cAMP signaling delays the development of apoptosis in serum-deprived VSMC at a site upstream of caspase-3 via activation of PKA and independently of cAMP-induced reorganization of the cytoskeleton network and the ERK1/2-terminated MAPK signaling cascade.
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PMID:Activation of cAMP signaling transiently inhibits apoptosis in vascular smooth muscle cells in a site upstream of caspase-3. 1045 77

Peroxynitrite, a product of nitric oxide and superoxide, is one of the most potent oxidants and it has been suggested to be involved in many neurodegenerative disorders. The mechanism of the cytotoxicity by peroxynitrite was examined using 3-morpholinosydonimine (SIN-1) as a peroxynitrite donor and SH-SY5Y cells as a model of dopamine neurons. SIN-1 was found to induce apoptotic cell death with typical nucleosomal DNA fragmentation with activation of caspase 3-like proteases. The signal transduction of apoptosis was studied in concern to mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs). After SIN-1 treatment, phosphorylation of p38 was detected, followed by that of Erk. SB202190, an inhibitor of p38, suppressed Erk phosphorylation to the basal level and partially reduced the activation of caspase 3-like proteases and also the cell death. These results suggest that peroxynitrite may activate p38 MAPK pathway to induce apoptosis in dopamine cells via activation of caspase 3-like proteases.
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PMID:Mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway mediates peroxynitrite-induced apoptosis in human dopaminergic neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells. 1049 22

Inflammatory diseases such as proliferative glomerulonephritis are associated with the production of nitric oxide (NO), which can initiate apoptotic/necrotic cell death. We studied the role of the p42/44 mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and c-Jun N-terminal kinases1/2 (JNK1/2) in NO-evoked cytotoxicity in rat mesangial cells (MC). The NO donor S-nitrosoglutathione time- and concentration-dependently promoted apoptotic cell death as detected by JNK1/2 and caspase-3 activation as well as DNA fragmentation. By using Ro 318220, a JNK1/2 activator, we established a correlation between apoptosis and JNK1/2 activation. Apoptosis is antagonized by the addition of fetal calf serum or the simultaneous generation of NO and superoxide (O(2)(-)), another biological inflammatory mediator. Fetal calf serum-induced protection required p42/44 MAPK activation as inhibition of the p42/44 MAPK pathway by the MAPK kinase-1 inhibitor PD 98059 attenuated MC protection. In contrast, cytoprotection by NO/O(2)(-) cogeneration demanded reduced glutathione but was p42/44 MAPK unrelated. Depletion of glutathione reversed NO/O(2)(-)-evoked survival to cell destruction and reinstalled JNK1/2 activity. In conclusion, different signal transduction pathways facilitate protection against NO-induced JNK1/2 activation and apoptosis in rat MC.
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PMID:Protection against nitric oxide-induced apoptosis in rat mesangial cells demands mitogen-activated protein kinases and reduced glutathione. 1049 57

The effects of the protein kinase C (PKC) activator and down-regulator bryostatin 1 were examined with respect to paclitaxel-induced apoptosis and antiproliferative activity in human myeloid leukemia cells (U937) displaying enforced expression of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-xL. Overexpression of Bcl-xL blocked various aspects of paclitaxel-mediated apoptosis, including caspase-3 activation, degradation of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (Delta Psim), and release of cytochrome c. However, subsequent (but not prior) exposure of paclitaxel-treated U937/Bcl-xL cells (500 nM; 6 h) to bryostatin 1 (10 nM; 15 h) restored the extent of apoptosis, caspase activation, and mitochondrial damage to levels approximating those in paclitaxel-treated empty-vector control cells (U937/Neo). Potentiation of paclitaxel-induced apoptosis by bryostatin 1 in U937/Bcl-xL cells occurred primarily in the G2M cell population, and was associated with alterations in Bcl-xL gel mobility and a reduction in paclitaxel-mediated stimulation of CDK1 activity. Enhancement of paclitaxel-induced apoptosis by bryostatin 1 in Bcl-xL overexpressors was accompanied by a corresponding reduction in clonogenic potential. In contrast to its effects on apoptosis, bryostatin 1 failed to restore paclitaxel-mediated increases in free Bax levels in U937/Bcl-xL cells. Lastly, the actions of bryostatin 1 were mimicked by a pharmacologic inhibitor of the MEK1/MAP kinase pathway (PD98059), but not by SB203580, an inhibitor of p 38 MAP kinase. Moreover, sequential exposure of both U937/Neo or/Bcl-xL cells to paclitaxel followed by bryostatin 1 or PD98059 was associated with a net reduction in MAP kinase activity. Collectively, these findings indicate that protection against paclitaxel-mediated mitochondrial dysfunction and apoptosis in human U937 leukemia cells conferred by Bcl-xL overexpression can be substantially overcome by bryostatin 1 and possibly other agents that interrupt the MAP kinase signal transduction pathway.
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PMID:Bryostatin 1 enhances paclitaxel-induced mitochondrial dysfunction and apoptosis in human leukemia cells (U937) ectopically expressing Bcl-xL. 1051 58

The earliest observed apoptotic change in a macrophage-like cell line, J774.1, treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in the presence of cycloheximide (CHX) was a selective increase in caspase-3-like activity. The addition of polymyxin B, TPCK, herbimycin A, or genistein, all of which inhibited LPS-induced tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) production by macrophages, suppressed the activation of the caspase-3-like protease in these macrophages treated simultaneously with CHX. However, SB202190 and SB203580, inhibitors of MAP kinase, and PD98059, an inhibitor of MAP-kinase kinase (MEK), showed no effect on the activation of the caspase-3-like protease or on the cell damage of the macrophages treated with LPS and CHX, whereas they inhibited LPS-induced TNF-alpha production. These results suggest that some of the early signals in LPS-treated macrophages are common to the subsequent pathways for TNF-alpha production and caspase-3-like protease activation, but the later signals, like MAP-kinase kinase or MAP-kinase, are not involved in the pathways for caspase-3-like protease activation.
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PMID:LPS-induced signals in activation of caspase-3-like protease, a key enzyme regulating apoptotic cell damage into a macrophage-like cell line, J774.1, in the presence of cycloheximide. 1053 27

The effect of Bad overexpression on apoptosis was demonstrated by a mouse Bad transgene stably expressed in NIH/3T3 cells. The cells overexpressing Bad treated with either serum starvation or ceramide showed apoptotic characteristics evident at 18 and 8 h, respectively. Whether serum deprivation and ceramide utilize a common death pathway requires further investigation. The time for the first apoptosis detection was shortened to 2 h and was prominent at 4 h, while above that time cells were maintained under serum-depleted conditions in the presence of ceramide (40 microM). Further investigation revealed that the activity of caspase-3 (CPP32) was elevated after ceramide treatment in Bad-transfected cells compared to that of the cells without Bad transfection, indicating the involvement of caspase cascade. Furthermore, the Bad-transfected cells showed reduced phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK). Taken together, we hypothesize that Bad-overexpressing NIH/3T3 cells in the presence of ceramide undergo apoptosis by activating caspase cascade. Simultaneously, the cell survival pathway was blocked possibly by inactivation of the MAPK pathway such as the down-regulation of ERK.
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PMID:Bad overexpression sensitizes NIH/3T3 cells to undergo apoptosis which involves caspase activation and ERK inactivation. 1054 99


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