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)

We describe two types of artificial gene-regulation systems responding to cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) or caspase-3. These molecular systems use newly synthesized cationic polymers, PAK and PAC. The PAK polymer includes substrate oligopeptide for PKA, ARRASLG, as receptor of PKA signal, while the PAC polymer possesses oligopeptide that is comprised of a substrate sequence of caspase-3, DEVD, and a cationic oligolysine, KKKKKK. These polymers formed stable complexes with DNA to totally suppress the gene expression. However, PKA or caspase-3 signal disintegrates the PAK-DNA or the PAC-DNA complex, respectively. This liberates the DNA and activated the gene expression. These systems are the first concept of an intracellular signal-responsive gene-regulation system using artificial polymer. We expect that these systems can be applied to the novel highly cell specific gene delivery strategy that is involved in our previously proposed new drug delivery concept, the drug delivery system based on responses to cellular signals.
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PMID:Intracellular signal-responsive artificial gene regulation for novel gene delivery. 1221 34

Cholangiocarcinoma is known to be relatively resistant to chemotherapy. One alternative approach is to use a combination of an immunomodulating agent with an anticancer drug. Here we studied the synergistic actions of TNF-alpha and triptolide (a diterpene epoxide prepared from Tripterygium wilfordii), previously shown to have antitumor activity against hamster cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) cells. Three human CCA cell lines (HuCCA-1, HubCCA-1, KKU-100 cell lines) were subjected to a combined treatment of TNF-alpha (0.1-10 ng/ml) and triptolide (5-50 ng/ml) for 24 hours in microculture plates. The combination of TNF-alpha and triptolide had a significantly increased cytotoxic activity over that of triptolide alone (p < 0.05). Under the same conditions, TNF-alpha by itself was not cytotoxic to these cell lines. Similarly, the combined treatment could also accelerate apoptotic cell death in all three human cholangiocarcinoma cell lines. The combined treatment of TNF-alpha at 10 ng/ml and triptolide at 50 ng/ml for 6-10 hours achieved a percentage of apoptotic cells shown by DAPI staining of 18-65%, compared to only 6-20% apoptotic cells for triptolide alone. Analyzing the possible mechanisms of the combined treatment, we found by Western blot that at 6 hours, there was a poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) cleavage which was not detectable by the treatment of either TNF-alpha or triptolide alone. The cleavage of PARP was inhibited when the cells were pretreated with the enzyme inhibitor AC-DEVD-CMK, suggesting that apoptosis induced by the combination of TNF-alpha and triptolide involved activation of caspase 3. These results indicate that apoptosis of human cholangiocarcinoma cell lines as induced by a combination of TNF-alpha and triptolide is mediated through caspase 3 activation.
Asian Pac J Allergy Immunol 2002 Sep
PMID:Synergistic cytotoxicity and apoptosis induced in human cholangiocarcinoma cell lines by a combined treatment with tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and triptolide. 1258 40

Tocotrienols and tocopherols represent the two subgroups that make up the vitamin E family of compounds. However, tocotrienols display significantly more potent apoptotic activity in neoplastic mammary epithelial cells than tocopherols. Studies were conducted to determine the intracellular mechanism(s) mediating tocotrienol-induced apoptosis in neoplastic +SA mouse mammary epithelial cells in vitro. An initial step in apoptosis is the activation of 'initiator' caspases (caspase-8 or -9) that subsequently activate 'effector' caspases (caspase-3, -6 and -7) and induce apoptosis. Treatment with cytotoxic doses of alpha-tocotrienol (20 microM) resulted in a time-dependent increase in caspase-8 and caspase-3 activity. Combined treatment with specific caspase-8 or caspase-3 inhibitors completely blocked alpha-tocotrienol-induced apoptosis and caspase-8 or caspase-3 activity, respectively. In contrast, alpha-tocotrienol treatment had no effect on caspase-9 activation, and combined treatment with a specific caspase-9 inhibitor did not block alpha-tocotrienol-induced apoptosis in (+)SA cells. Since caspase-8 activation is associated with the activation of death receptors, such as Fas, tumor necrosis factor (TNF), or TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) receptors, studies were conducted to determine the exact death receptor(s) and ligand(s) involved in mediating tocotrienol-induced caspase-8 activation and apoptosis. Treatment with Fas-ligand (FasL), Fas-activating antibody, or TRAIL failed to induce cell death in (+)SA neoplastic mammary epithelial cells, suggesting that these cells are resistant to death receptor-induced apoptosis. Moreover, treatment with cytotoxic doses of alpha-tocotrienol did not alter the intracellular levels of Fas, FasL, or Fas-associated death domain (FADD) in these cells. Western blot analysis also showed that alpha-tocotrienol did not induce FasL or FADD translocation from the cytosolic to membrane fraction in these cells. Finally, treatment with Fas-blocking antibody did not reverse the tocotrienol-induced apoptosis in (+)SA cells. These data demonstrate that tocotrienol-induced caspase-8 activation and apoptosis is not mediated through death receptor activation in malignant (+)SA mammary epithelial cells. Resistance to death receptor-induced apoptosis has been shown to be associated with increased expression of apoptosis-inhibitory proteins, such as FLICE-inhibitory protein (FLIP), and enhanced signalling of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/PI3K-dependent kinase (PDK)/Akt mitogenic pathway. Additional studies showed that treatment with cytotoxic doses of alpha-tocotrienol decreased total, membrane, and cytosolic levels of FLIP, and reduced phosphorylated PDK-1 (active) and phosphorylated-Akt (active) levels in these cells. In summary, these findings demonstrate that tocotrienol-induced caspase-8 activation and apoptosis in malignant (+)SA mammary epithelial cells is not mediated through the activation of death receptors, but appears to result from the suppression of the PI3K/PDK/Akt mitogenic signalling pathway, and subsequent reduction in intracellular FLIP expression.
Asia Pac J Clin Nutr 2005
PMID:Intracellular mechanisms mediating tocotrienol-induced apoptosis in neoplastic mammary epithelial cells. 1632 43

The effects of tocotrienols on murine liver cell viability and their apoptotic events were studied over a dose range of 0-32 microg mL(-1). Normal murine liver cells (BNL CL.2) and murine liver cancer cells (BNL 1ME A.7R.1) were treated with tocotrienols (T(3)), alpha tocopherol (alpha-T) and the chemo drug, Doxorubicin (Doxo, as a positive control). Cell viability assay showed that T(3) significantly (P < or = 0.05) lowered the percentage of BNL 1ME A.7R.1 cell viability in a dose-responsive manner (8-16 microg mL(-1)), whereas T did not show any significant (P>0.05) inhibition in cell viability with increasing treatment doses of 0-16 microg mL(-1). The IC(50) for tocotrienols were 9.8, 8.9, 8.1, 9.7, 8.1 and 9.3 microg mL(-1) at 12, 24, 36, 48, 60 and 72 hours respectively. Early apoptosis was detected 6 hours following T(3) treatment of BNL 1ME A.7R.1 liver cancer cells, using Annexin V-FITC fluorescence microscopy assay for apoptosis, but none were observed for the non-treated liver cancer cells at the average IC(50) of 8.98 microg mL(-1) tocotrienols for liver cancer cells. Several apoptotic bodies were detected in BNL 1ME A.7R.1 liver cancer cells at 6 hours post-treatment with tocotrienols (8.98 microg mL(-1)) using Acridine Orange/Propidium Iodide fluorescence assay. However, only a couple of apoptotic bodies were seen in the non-treated liver cancer cells and the BNL CL.2 normal liver cells. Some mitotic bodies were also observed in the T(3)-treated BNL 1ME A.7R.1 liver cancer cells but were not seen in the untreated BNL 1ME A.7R.1 cells and the BNL CL.2 liver cells. Following T(3)-treatment (8.98 microg mL(-1)) of the BNL 1ME A.7R.1 liver cancer cells, 24.62%, 25.53% and 44.90% of the cells showed elevated active caspase 3 activity at 9, 12 and 24 hours treatment period, respectively. DNA laddering studies indicated DNA fragmentation occurred in the T(3)-treated liver cancer cells, BNL 1ME A.7R.1 but not in non-treated liver cancer cells and the T(3)-treated and non-treated normal liver cells. These results suggest that tocotrienols were able to reduce the cell viability in the murine liver cancer cells at a dose of 8-32 microg mL(-1) and that this decrease in percentage cell viability may be due to apoptosis.
Asia Pac J Clin Nutr 2005
PMID:Effects of tocotrienols on cell viability and apoptosis in normal murine liver cells (BNL CL.2) and liver cancer cells (BNL 1ME A.7R.1), in vitro. 1632 44

Induction of apoptosis is one of the most active strategies in cancer chemoprevention and the ability of medicinal plants in this regard has attracted major research interest. The present study was designed to investigate the apoptosis inducing capacity of an ethanolic neem leaf extract (ENLE) during 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA)-induced hamster buccal pouch carcinogenesis using the apoptosis-associated proteins Bcl-2, Bim, caspase 8 and caspase 3 as markers. Topical application of DMBA to the hamster cheek pouch for 14 weeks resulted in well developed squamous cell carcinomas associated with increased expression of Bcl-2 and decreased expression of Bim, caspase 8 and caspase 3. Administration of ENLE inhibited DMBA-induced hamster buccal pouch (HBP) carcinogenesis, as revealed by the absence of neoplasms, with induction of Bim and caspases 8 and 3 and inhibition of Bcl-2 expression. Our results suggest that the chemopreventive effects of ENLE may be mediated by induction of apoptosis.
Asian Pac J Cancer Prev
PMID:Ethanolic neem (Azadirachta indica) leaf extract induces apoptosis in the hamster buccal pouch carcinogenesis model by modulation of Bcl-2, Bim, caspase 8 and caspase 3. 1643 3

Programmed cell death or apoptosis is a physiological process by which genetically damaged cells or undesired cells can be eliminated. Various morphological and molecular changes undergoing during the process of apoptosis are the formation of apoptotic blebs of the cell membrane, cell shrinkage, condensation of chromatin and the disruption of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) into typical fragments of multiples of 180 base pairs. These changes can be detected in a number of ways. DNA ladder formation, which is observed following gel electrophoresis technique although is widely accepted but does not reflect the DNA breakdown in individual cell and also may miss contributions from small sub-populations in a heterogeneous cell population. Alkaline comet assay as measured by single cell gel electrophoresis, on the other hand, accurately measures DNA fragmentation on a single cell level and allows analysis of subpopulation of cells. The assay was originally developed for measuring DNA damage of cells exposed to any genotoxic agent. However, the comet image generated by an apoptotic cell is different from that obtained with a cell treated for a short time with a genotoxic agent. Correlation of comet formation with various other established parameters of apoptosis is very important. The present study aims to correlate different features of apoptosis with the formation of comet tail in human leukemia K-562 cells using tea extracts. Apoptosis as measured by formation of apoptotic bodies, flow cytometric analysis, activation of caspase 3 and 8, and expressions of apoptosis related genes such as bcl-2 and bax showed high degree of correlation with comet tail moment. This indicates that comet assay can accurately reflect measure of DNA fragmentation and hence can be used to detect a cell undergoing apoptosis.
Asian Pac J Cancer Prev
PMID:Tea-induced apoptosis in human leukemia K562 cells as assessed by comet formation. 1683 11

Lung cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer related death in most developed and many developing countries of the world. Due to lack of validated screening methods and poor prognosis, treatment of lung cancer has not improved significantly over the last two decades. Therefore the risk of the disease needs to be minimized by preventive measures. One approach for lung cancer prevention envisages reversal or restriction of precancerous lesions by chemopreventive intervention. It demands a deeper understanding of the pathogenesis of the disease and identification of the ideal point of intervention. In the present investigation, tea components, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) and theaflavins (TF) were assessed for their chemopreventive potential when administered in the post initiation phase of lung carcinogenesis in an experimental mouse model. Histopathological changes in lungs of mice administered benzo(a)pyrene (BP) were followed serially and correlated with the expression of Cox-2, caspase-3 and caspase-7, which play key roles in histopathogenesis of neoplasia. The observations strongly indicate that both EGCG and TF can influence the expression of these genes to modulate the process of carcinogenesis, resulting in delayed onset and lowered incidence of pre-invasive lung lesions.
Asian Pac J Cancer Prev
PMID:Black tea polyphenols restrict benzopyrene-induced mouse lung cancer progression through inhibition of Cox-2 and induction of caspase-3 expression. 1725 Apr 49

We previously reported that a novel alkylphospholipid type antitumor agent edelfosine (ET-18-O-CH3 ; 1-O-octadecyl-2-O-methyl-glycero-3-phosphocholine) induced apoptosis in human breast epithelial cells transfected with the H-ras oncogene (MCF10A-ras) which was causally linked to cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) up-regulation and production of 15-deoxy-Delta 12,14-prostaglandins J2 (15d-PGJ2). ET-18-O-CH3 treatment also enhanced the production of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), a major COX-2 product. In this study, we found that ET-18-O-CH3 treatment resulted in elevated mRNA expression of the PGE2 receptor subunit, EP2 receptor. Exogenously added PGE2 inhibited the growth of MCF10A-ras cells and induced proteolytic cleavage of caspase 3. ET-18-O-CH3 also inhibited constitutive activation of ERK1/2, p38 MAPK, and Akt/protein kinase B, which was blunted by a selective COX-2 inhibitor SC58635. In addition, ET-18-O-CH3 inhibited DNA binding activity of NF-kappa B in MCF10A-ras cells, and this was again attenuated by SC58635. Based on these findings, it is likely that ET-18-O-CH3 inactivates ERK1/2, Akt, and NF-kappaB signaling via COX-2 induction in MCF10A-ras cells, thereby inducing apoptosis of these cells.
Asia Pac J Clin Nutr 2008
PMID:The antitumor ether lipid edelfosine (ET-18-O-CH3) induces apoptosis in H-ras transformed human breast epithelial cells: by blocking ERK1/2 and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases as potential targets. 1829 38

Alk(en)yl sulfides are characteristic flavor components of garlic. Several lines of epidemiological study indicate that the risk of a certain cancer can be prevented by consumption of garlic. In this manuscript, we examined the anticancer property of garlic-derived alk(en)yl sulfides, and the molecular basis especially for diallyl trisulfide which is a major constituent of the garlic oil. Alk(en)yl sulfides with different numbers of sulfur atom (i.e., mono-, di-, and trisulfide) were synthesized and purified (>99%). The anticancer activity of the alk(en)yl sulfides was primarily examined using human colon cancer cells HCT-15 and DLD-1. The growth of the cells was significantly suppressed by diallyl trisulfide, but neither diallyl monosulfide nor diallyl disulfide showed such an effect. The number of cells arrested at G2/M phase, the cells with a sub-G1 DNA content, and the cells with caspase-3 activity were dramatically increased by diallyl trisulfide treatment. Diallyl trisulfide disrupted microtubule network formation of the cells, and microtubule fragments could be seen at the interphase. There was a specific oxidative modification of cysteine residues Cys12 beta and Cys354 beta, forming S-allylmercaptocysteines in the tubulin molecule. These results suggest that diallyl trisulfide is responsible, at least in part, for the epidemiologically proven anticancer effect for garlic eaters.
Asia Pac J Clin Nutr 2008
PMID:Anticancer effects of diallyl trisulfide derived from garlic. 1829 48

Kaempferia parviflora Wall. ex. Baker is a Thai herb containing many flavonoids that have anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic and antioxidant activities. The objective of this study was to demonstrate apoptotic effects of Kaempferia parviflora Wall. ex. Baker rhizome ethanolic extract on HL-60 cells in vitro. The extract suppressed HL-60 cell growth and decreased cell viability in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Apoptotic cell death was demonstrated by changes in cell morphology, externalization of phosphatidylserine on the cell surface, loss in mitochondrial transmembrane potential and activation of caspase 3. Apoptosis induced by K. parviflora Wall. ex. Baker rhizome ethanolic extract was enhanced by treatment with paclitaxel or doxorubicin, and inhibitors of Akt, PI3-K and MEK.
Asian Pac J Cancer Prev
PMID:Ethanolic rhizome extract from Kaempferia parviflora Wall. ex. Baker induces apoptosis in HL-60 cells. 1925 45


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