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

Both cAMP and retinoids play a role in cell differentiation and the control of cell growth. A site-selective cAMP analog, 8-Cl-cAMP and retinoic acid synergistically inhibit growth and induce apoptosis in certain cancer cells. In advanced or recurrent malignant diseases, retinoic acid (RA) is not effective even at doses that are toxic to the host. The objective of our present study was to examine the mechanism(s) of synergistic effects of retinoic acid (9-cis, 13-cis or all-trans RA) and 8-Cl-cAMP on apoptosis in human ovarian cancer NIH: OVCAR-3 and OVCAR-8 cells. RA induced growth inhibition and apoptosis in OVCAR-3 and OVCAR-8 cells. 8-Cl-cAMP acted synergistically with RA in inducing and activating retinoic acid receptor beta (RARbeta) which correlates with growth inhibition and apoptosis in both cell types. In addition, induction of apoptosis by RA plus 8-Cl-cAMP requires caspase-3 activation followed by cleavage of anti-poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase. Furthermore, mutations in CRE-related motif within the RARbeta promoter resulted in loss of both transcriptional activation of RARbeta and synergy between RA and 8-Cl-cAMP. RARbeta expression appears to be associated with induction of apoptosis. Introduction of the RARbeta gene into OVCAR-3 cells resulted in gain of RA sensitivity. Loss of RARbeta expression, therefore, may contribute to the tumorigenicity of human ovarian cancer cells. Thus, combined treatment with RA and 8-Cl-cAMP may provide an effective means for inducing RARbeta expression leading to apoptosis in ovarian cancer cells.
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PMID:Synergistic effects of 8-Cl-cAMP and retinoic acids in the inhibition of growth and induction of apoptosis in ovarian cancer cells: induction of retinoic acid receptor beta. 1071 18

Stimulation of beta-adrenergic receptor normally results in signaling by the heterotrimeric G protein G(s), leading to the activation of adenylyl cyclase, production of cAMP, and activation of cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA). Here we report that cell death of thymocytes can be induced after stimulation of beta-adrenergic receptor, or by addition of exogenous cAMP. Apoptotic cell death in both cases was observed with the appearance of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated UTP end labeling reactivity and the activation of caspase-3 in S49 T cells. Using thymocytes deficient in either Galpha(s) or PKA, we find that engagement of beta-adrenergic receptors initiated a Galpha(s)-dependent, PKA-independent pathway leading to apoptosis. This alternative pathway involves Src family tyrosine kinase Lck. Furthermore, we show that Lck protein kinase activity can be directly stimulated by purified Galpha(s). Our data reveal a new signaling pathway for Galpha(s), distinct from the classical PKA pathway, that accounts for the apoptotic action of beta-adrenergic receptors.
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PMID:Apoptotic signaling through the beta -adrenergic receptor. A new Gs effector pathway. 1076 82

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the mechanisms involved in the induction of apoptosis in newborn cultured cardiomyocytes by activation of adenosine (ADO) A3 receptors and to examine the protective effects of beta-adrenoceptors. The selective agonist for A3 ADO receptors Cl-IB-MECA (2-chloro-N6-iodobenzyl-5-N-methylcarboxamidoadenosine) and the antagonist MRS1523 (5-propyl-2-ethyl-4-propyl-3-(ethylsulfanylcarbonyl)-6-phenylpy rid ine-5-carboxylate) were used. High concentrations of the Cl-IB-MECA (> or = 10 microM) agonist induced morphological modifications of myogenic cells, such as rounding and retraction of cell body and dissolution of contractile filaments, followed by apoptotic death. In addition, Cl-IB-MECA caused a sustained and reversible increase in [Ca2+]i, which was prevented by the selective antagonist MRS1523. Furthermore, MRS1523 protected the cardiocytes if briefly exposed to Cl-IB-MECA and partially protected from prolonged (48 h) agonist exposure. Apoptosis induced by Cl-IB-MECA was not redox-dependent, since the mitochondrial membrane potential remained constant until the terminal stage of cell death. Cl-IB-MECA activated caspase-3 protease in a concentration-dependent manner after 7 h of treatment and more effectively after 18 h of exposure. Bcl-2 protein was readily detected in control cells, and its expression was significantly decreased after 24 and 48 h of treatment with Cl-IB-MECA. Beta-adrenergic stimulation antagonized the pro-apoptotic effects of Cl-IB-MECA, probably through a cAMP/protein kinase A-independent mechanism, since addition of dibutyryl-cAMP did not abolish the apoptosis induced by Cl-IB-MECA. Incubation of cultured myocytes with isoproterenol (5 microM) for 3 or 24 h almost completely abolished the increase in [Ca2+]i. Prolonged incubation of cardiomyocytes with isoproterenol and Cl-IB-MECA did not induce apoptosis. Our data suggest that the apoptosis-inducing signal from activation of adenosine A3 receptors (or counteracting beta-adrenergic signal) leads to the activation of the G-protein-coupled enzymes and downstream pathways to a self-amplifying cascade. Expression of different genes within this cascade is responsible for orchestrating either cardiomyocyte apoptosis or its protection.
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PMID:Induction of apoptosis in rat cardiocytes by A3 adenosine receptor activation and its suppression by isoproterenol. 1085 59

Site-specific S-glutathionylation is emerging as a novel mechanism by which S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO) may modify functionally important protein thiols. Here, we show that GSNO-Sepharose mimicks site-specific S-glutathionylation of the transcription factors c-Jun and p50 by free GSNO in vitro. Both c-Jun and p50 were found to bind to immobilized GSNO through the formation of a mixed disulphide, involving a conserved cysteine residue located in the DNA-binding domains of these transcription factors. Furthermore, we show that c-Jun, p50, glycogen phosphorylase b, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, creatine kinase, glutaredoxin and caspase-3 can be precipitated from a mixture of purified thiol-containing proteins by the formation of a mixed-disulphide bond with GSNO-Sepharose. With few exceptions, protein binding to this matrix correlated well with the susceptibility of the investigated proteins to undergo GSNO- but not diamide-induced mixed-disulphide formation in vitro. Finally, it is shown that covalent GSNO-Sepharose chromatography of HeLa cell nuclear extracts results in the enrichment of proteins which incorporate glutathione in response to GSNO treatment. As suggested by DNA-binding assays, this group of nuclear proteins include the transcription factors activator protein-1, nuclear factor-kappaB and cAMP-response-element-binding protein. In conclusion, we introduce GSNO-Sepharose as a probe for site-specific S-glutathionylation and as a novel and potentially useful tool to isolate and identify proteins which are candidate targets for GSNO-induced mixed-disulphide formation.
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PMID:Novel application of S-nitrosoglutathione-Sepharose to identify proteins that are potential targets for S-nitrosoglutathione-induced mixed-disulphide formation. 1088 Mar 56

Beta-amyloid (A beta) accumulation is believed to contribute to neuronal cell death in Alzheimer's disease. To understand the role of cAMP in the regulation of A beta induced cell death, we used 8-chlorophenylthio-cAMP (8-CPT-cAMP, a cAMP analog) to raise intracellular cAMP levels. Exposure of rat cortical neurons to A beta(25-35) resulted in a gradual increase in lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) over 48 h, which was preceded by a transient elevation in caspase-3-like activity. In the presence of 8CPT-cAMP, both caspase-3 activity and LDH release was significantly reduced. These data suggest that elevation of intracellular cAMP levels attenuate A beta-induced neurotoxicity and may delay or prevent the onset of A beta-induced neurodegeneration.
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PMID:cAMP delays beta-amyloid (25-35) induced cell death in rat cortical neurons. 1092 88

Caspase-3 knockout mice exhibit thickening of the internal granule cell layer of the cerebellum. Concurrently, it has been shown that intracerebral injection of pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) induces a transient increase of the thickness of the cerebellar cortex. In the present study, we have investigated the possible effect of PACAP on caspase activity in cultured cerebellar granule cells from 8-day-old rat. Incubation of granule neurons with PACAP for 24 h promoted cell survival and prevented DNA fragmentation. Exposure of cerebellar granule cells to the specific caspase-3 inhibitor N-benzyloxycarbonyl-Asp-Glu-Val-Asp fluoromethylketone (Z-DEVD-FMK) for 24 h markedly enhanced cell survival and inhibited apoptotic cell death. Time-course studies revealed that PACAP causes a prolonged inhibition of caspase-3 activity without affecting caspase-1. Administration of graded concentrations of PACAP for 3 h induced a dose-dependent inhibition of caspase-3 activity. Incubation of granule cells with both dibutyryl-cAMP (dbcAMP) and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) mimicked the inhibitory effect of PACAP on caspase-3. Cotreatment of cultured neurons with the protein kinase A inhibitor H89 and the protein kinase C inhibitor chelerythrine abrogated the effect of PACAP on caspase-3 activity. In contrast, the ERK kinase inhibitor U0126 did not affect the action of PACAP on caspase-3 activity. These data demonstrate that PACAP prevents cerebellar granule neurons from apoptotic cell death through a protein kinase A- and protein kinase C-dependent inhibition of caspase-3 activity.
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PMID:The neuroprotective effect of pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide on cerebellar granule cells is mediated through inhibition of the CED3-related cysteine protease caspase-3/CPP32. 1108 78

Previous studies revealed that expression and activation of cyclooxygenase-2 (Cox-2) conveyed a protective principle in murine macrophages, thus attenuating pro-apoptotic actions of chemotherapeutic agents or programmed cell death as a result of massive nitric oxide (NO) generation. Expression of Cox-2 was achieved by treatment of cells with lipopolysaccharide/interferon-gamma or nontoxic doses of NO releasing agents. We reasoned E-type prostanoid formation, and in turn an intracellular cAMP increase as the underlying protective mechanism. To prove our hypothesis, we analyzed the effects of lipophilic cAMP-analogs on NO, cisplatin, or etoposide induced apoptosis in RAW 264.7 macrophages. Selected apoptotic parameters comprised DNA fragmentation (diphenylamine assay), annexin V staining of phosphatidylserine, caspase activity (quantitated by the cleavage of a fluorogenic caspase-3-like substrate Ac-DEVD-AMC), and mitochondrial membrane depolarisation (delta psi). Western blots detected accumulation of the tumor suppressor protein p53, relocation of cytochrome c to the cytosol, and expression of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-xL. Prestimulation with lipophilic cAMP-analogs attenuated apoptosis with the notion that cell death parameters were basically absent. To verify gene induction by cAMP in association with protection we established activation of cAMP response element binding protein (CREB) by gel-shift analysis and moreover, treated macrophages with oligonucleotides containing a cAMP-responsive element (CRE) in order to scavenge CREB. Decoy oligonucleotides, but not control oligonucleotides, attenuated cAMP-evoked protection and reestablished pro-apoptotic parameters. We conclude that gene induction by cAMP protects macrophages towards apoptosis that occurs as a result of excessive NO formation or addition of chemotherapeutica. Attenuating programmed cell death by the cAMP-signaling system may be found in association with Cox-2 expression and tumor formation.
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PMID:Attenuation of macrophage apoptosis by the cAMP-signaling system. 1110 34

The mechanism by which kappa-opioid receptor (kappaor) modulated apoptosis was investigated in CNE2 human epithelial tumor cells. Induction of these cells to undergo apoptosis with staurosporine was associated with a massive increase in intracellular cAMP level. The inhibition of the increase in cAMP partially inhibited apoptosis as evidenced by a reduction of PARP and caspase-3 cleavage. Accordingly, a low but significant level of apoptosis is induced in these cells by the elevation of cAMP through the addition of forskolin and isobutylmethylxanthine. The existence of a cAMP-dependent and a cAMP-independent apoptotic pathway is therefore suggested. Receptor binding studies, RT-PCR experiments and Western blot analysis demonstrated the presence of type 1 kappaor in the CNE2 cells. Stimulation of kappaor in these cells resulted in the production of inositol (1,4,5)-trisphosphate, reduction of cAMP level and a marked enhancement of staurosporine-induced apoptosis. The potentiation of apoptosis by kappaor was prevented by inhibition of phospholipase C but was slightly enhanced by the presence of the active cAMP analogues, 8-CPT-cAMP and dibutyryl-cAMP. These data demonstrate for the first time that the phospholipase C pathway activated by type 1 kappaor expressed by cancer cells is involved in the potentiation of apoptosis.
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PMID:kappa-Opioid receptor potentiates apoptosis via a phospholipase C pathway in the CNE2 human epithelial tumor cell line. 1111 38

The majority of elderly men are affected by benign and malign diseases of the prostate that are governed by endocrine factors and local stromal/epithelial and luminal/epithelial interactions. Prostate epithelial cells secrete numerous factors into the seminal plasma (SMP) that are thought to be responsible for nutrition, accurate pH, and ionic environment of sperm. Our hypothesis assumes that prostatic factors responsible for optimal fertility might have retrograde influences on epithelial cell growth, differentiation, and function. SMP was analyzed for proteins and other biologically active substances by size exclusion high-performance liquid chromatography. Each fraction was investigated for its effect on cell growth and death. A low molecular mass fraction (2-4 kDa) was responsible for inducing apoptosis in proliferating prostate epithelial cells. Signal transduction was mediated by the production of cAMP; no significant changes in tyrosine phosphorylation of membrane receptors were observed. Mechanisms of apoptosis, i.e., caspase- and mitochondria-dependent pathways, were investigated in prostate epithelial cells by caspase activity assays, annexin/propidium iodide staining, changes in mitochondrial potential, p53, Par-4, Bax, and Bcl-2 protein levels. SMP induced p53- and Bcl-2-dependent apoptosis without activation of caspase-3. Obviously, SMP contains protective factors that help eliminate degenerated cells and control epithelial renewal. Age-related changes in the composition of SMP or the susceptibility of epithelial cells might, therefore, contribute to proliferative prostatic diseases
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PMID:A low-molecular-weight fraction of human seminal plasma activates adenylyl cyclase and induces caspase 3-independent apoptosis in prostatic epithelial cells by decreasing mitochondrial potential and Bcl-2/Bax ratio. 1125 85

Infants suffering uteroplacental insufficiency and hypoxic ischemic injury often demonstrate cerebral apoptosis. Our objective was to determine the global effects of uteroplacental insufficiency upon cerebral gene expression of the apoptosis related proteins Bcl-2 and Bax and their role in increasing vulnerability to hypoxia-induced cerebral apoptosis. We therefore caused uteroplacental insufficiency and growth retardation by performing bilateral uterine artery ligation upon pregnant rats 2 days prior to term delivery and elicited further perinatal fetal hypoxia by placing maternal rats in 14% FiO(2) 3 h prior to delivery. We quantified cerebral levels of Bcl-2 and Bax mRNA, lipid peroxidation, caspase-3 activity, and cAMP in control and growth retarded term rat pups that experienced either normoxia or hypoxia. Uteroplacental insufficiency alone caused a significant decrease in cerebral Bcl-2 mRNA levels without altering cerebral Bax mRNA levels, malondialdehyde levels, or caspase-3 activity. In contrast, uteroplacental insufficiency and subsequent fetal hypoxia significantly increased cerebral Bax mRNA levels, lipid peroxidation and caspase-3 activity; Bcl-2 mRNA levels continued to be decreased. Hypoxia alone increased cerebral cAMP levels, whereas uteroplacental insufficiency and subsequent hypoxia decreased cerebral cAMP levels. We speculate that the decrease in Bcl-2 gene expression increases the vulnerability towards cerebral apoptosis in fetal rats exposed initially to uteroplacental insufficiency and subsequent hypoxic stress.
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PMID:Uteroplacental insufficiency lowers the threshold towards hypoxia-induced cerebral apoptosis in growth-retarded fetal rats. 1125 77


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