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)

Active anti-stroke fraction of Cerebral preparation (extract of water-soluble molecules from brain tissue of animals with hemorrhagic stroke) decreased caspase-3 expression and improved survival of experimental animals in the acute period after hemorrhagic stroke.
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PMID:Effect of active fraction of cerebral on expression of caspase-3 and beta-amyloid precursor protein during therapy of hemorrhagic stroke in the acute and delayed periods. 1602 8

Epidemiological studies indicate a relationship between water disinfectant by-products (DBP) and adverse pregnancy outcomes (APO) including neural tube defects. These studies suggest that fetal brain may be vulnerable to DBP during early stages of development. Therefore, we examined several molecular markers commonly known to indicate chemical-induced neurotoxicity during fetal brain development following prenatal exposure to the DBP; chloroacetonitrile (CAN). Pregnant mice, at gestation day 6 (GD6), were treated with a daily oral dose of CAN (25 mg/kg). At GD12, two groups of animals were treated with an i.v. tracer dose of [2-14C]-CAN. These animals were sacrificed at 1 and 24 h after treatment and processed for quantitative in situ micro-whole-body autoradiography. The remaining groups of animals continued to receive CAN. At GD18, control and treated animals were weighed, anesthetized, and fetuses were obtained and their brains were removed for biochemical and immunohistochemical analyses. Whole-body autoradiography studies indicate a significant uptake and retention of [2-14C]-CAN/metabolites (M) in fetal brain (cerebral cortex, hippocampus, cerebellum) at 1 and 24 h. There was a 20% reduction in body weight and a 22% reduction in brain weight of fetuses exposed to CAN compared to controls. A significant increase in oxidative stress markers was observed in various fetal brain regions in animals exposed to CAN compared to controls. This was indicated by a 3- to 4-fold decrease in the ratio of the reduced to oxidized form of glutathione (GSH/GSSG), increased lipid peroxidation (1.3-fold), and increased 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine levels (1.4-fold). Cupric silver staining indicated a significant increase in the number of degenerating neurons in cortical regions in exposed animals. In animals exposed to CAN there was increase in nuclear DNA fragmentation (TUNEL staining) detected in the cerebral cortex and cerebellum (2-fold increase in apoptotic indices). Caspase-3 activity in cerebral cortex and cerebellum of treated animals were also increased (1.7- and 1.5-fold, respectively). In conclusion, this study indicates that CAN/M crossed the placenta and accumulated in fetal brain tissues where it caused oxidative stress and neuronal apoptosis. These events could predispose the fetus to altered brain development leading to APO as well as behavioral and learning and memory deficits.
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PMID:Fetal origin of adverse pregnancy outcome: the water disinfectant by-product chloroacetonitrile induces oxidative stress and apoptosis in mouse fetal brain. 1605 34

Low sensitivity is characteristic of many proteomics methods. Presented here is an approach that combines proteomics based on difference gel electrophoresis (DIGE) with bioinformatic pathways analysis to identify both abundant and relatively nonabundant proteins in inner medullary collecting duct (IMCD) altered in abundance during escape from vasopressin-induced antidiuresis. Rats received the vasopressin analog dDAVP by osmotic minipump plus either a daily water load (vasopressin escape) or only enough water to replace losses (control). Immunoblotting confirmed the hallmark of vasopressin escape, a decrease in aquaporin-2, and demonstrated a decrease in the abundance of the urea transporter UT-A3. DIGE identified 22 mostly high-abundance proteins regulated during vasopressin escape. These proteins were analyzed using pathways analysis software to reveal protein clusters incorporating the proteins identified by DIGE. A single dominant cluster emerged that included many relatively low-abundance proteins (abundances too low for DIGE identification), including several transcription factors. Immunoblotting confirmed a decrease in total and phosphorylated c-myc, a decrease in c-fos, and increases in c-jun and p53. Furthermore, immunoblotting confirmed hypothesized changes in other proteins in the proposed network: Increases in c-src, receptor for activated C kinase 1, calreticulin, and caspase 3 and decreases in steroid receptor co-activator 1, Grp78/BiP, and annexin A4. This combined approach proved capable of uncovering regulatory proteins that are altered in response to a specific physiologic perturbation without being detected directly by DIGE. The results demonstrate a dominant protein regulatory network in IMCD cells that is altered in association with vasopressin escape, providing a new framework for further studies of signaling in IMCD.
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PMID:Combined proteomics and pathways analysis of collecting duct reveals a protein regulatory network activated in vasopressin escape. 1607 66

It is hypothesized that chronic prenatal ethanol exposure (CPEE), via maternal ethanol administration, increases mitochondrial-directed apoptosis in the hippocampus of the term fetus that precedes loss of hippocampal CA1 pyramidal cells. To test this hypothesis, timed pregnant guinea pigs received chronic oral administration of: 4 g ethanol/kg maternal body weight/day, isocaloric-sucrose/pair-feeding or water throughout gestation. At gestational day 65 (term fetus) and postnatal day 0 (neonate), individual offspring were euthanized, and the brain was excised and dissected. CPEE, compared with the isocaloric-sucrose/pair-fed and water control groups, decreased the brain weight of the term fetus and neonate. CPEE did not alter the density of CA1 pyramidal cells in the hippocampus of the term fetus and neonate. In the term fetus, CPEE increased cytochrome c content in the cytosolic fraction of the hippocampus, altered the mitochondrial localization of cytochrome c in cells of the dorsal hippocampus, and increased the percentage of cells in the dorsal hippocampus containing activated caspase-3 and cleaved poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase. The data indicate that CPEE increases neuroapoptosis in the hippocampus of term fetus, which appears to occur via an intrinsic, mitochondrial-directed mechanism initiated by leakage of pro-apoptotic cytochrome c from mitochondria into the cytoplasm.
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PMID:Chronic prenatal ethanol exposure increases apoptosis in the hippocampus of the term fetal guinea pig. 1611 42

Recent studies suggest that caspase-3-mediated mechanisms are essential for neuronal plasticity. N-benzyloxycarbonyl-Asp(OMe)-Glu(OMe)-Val- Asp(OMe)-fluoromethyl ketone (z-DEVD-fmk), a caspase inhibitor with predominant specificity toward caspase-3, has been shown to block long-term potentiation in hippocampal slices. Intrahippocampal infusion of a caspase-3 inhibitor to rats has been shown to significantly impair spatial memory in the water maze. The present work was designed to study whether i.c.v. administration of a caspase-3 inhibitor z-DEVD-fmk impairs learning in other tasks related to specific forms of memory in rats. The rats received bilateral injections of z-DEVD-fmk or N-benzyloxycarbonyl-Phe-Ala-fluoromethyl ketone (z-FA-fmk) ("control" peptide) at a dose of 3 nmol. Administration of z-DEVD-fmk significantly decreased the number of avoidance reactions in some blocks of trials in the active avoidance (shuttle box) learning, while z-FA-fmk had no effect as compared with intact rats. However, only a slight effect of the caspase inhibitor across the session was found. z-DEVD-fmk impaired development of some essential components of the two-way active avoidance performance, such as escape reaction, conditioned fear reaction, and inter-trial crossings. Measurement of caspase-3 activity in rat brain regions involved in active avoidance learning revealed most expressed z-DEVD-fmk-related inhibition of the enzyme activity (about 30%) in the fronto-parietal cortex. A similar effect was close to significant in the hippocampus, but not in the other cerebral structures studied. In primary cultures of cerebellar neurons z-DEVD-fmk (2-50 microM) inhibited caspase-3 activity by 60-87%. We suggest that moderate inhibition of caspase-3 resulting from the central administration of z-DEVD-fmk to rats may impair active avoidance learning. Taking into account previous data on the involvement of neuronal caspase-3 in neuroplasticity phenomena we assume that the enzyme may be important for selected forms of learning.
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PMID:Central administration of a caspase inhibitor impairs shuttle-box performance in rats. 1619 88

Daidzein (D), a soy isoflavone, is almost completely metabolized in the gut and liver. This biotransformation converts D to more water-soluble products and may affect its biological activity. The ability of daidzein metabolites to modulate 17beta-estradiol (E2)-sensitive gene transcription, cell growth, and a proapoptotic cascade was determined in human cancer cells devoid of any estrogen receptor (ER) and rendered E2 sensitive after transfection with ERbeta. The data show that D and some but not all of its metabolites 1) induce promoter activity, 2) reduce proliferation, 3) promote p38/mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) phosphorylation, and 4) activate a proapoptotic cascade involving the cleavage of caspase-3 and its substrate poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase (PARP) in human cancer cells in an ERbeta-dependent manner. Pretreatment of cells with ICI 182,780, a pure antiestrogen, completely prevented the actions of D and its metabolites. These findings highlight the important and complex influence of metabolic transformation on key physiological effects of isoflavones and demonstrate the need to take biotransformation into account when assessing the potential health benefits of consuming soy isoflavones.
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PMID:Daidzein-sulfate metabolites affect transcriptional and antiproliferative activities of estrogen receptor-beta in cultured human cancer cells. 1625 31

The present study was conducted to investigate a possible protection of ferulic acid against excitotoxic effects of maternal intragastric (ig) administration of monosodium glutamate (MSG) at a late stage of pregnancy on developing mouse fetal brain. [(3)H]-labeled glutamate was used as radiotracer to study the effect of ferulic acid on distribution of MSG in mouse fetal brain. MSG dissolved in distilled water (2.0 g/kg body weight, 640 kBq of [(3)H]glutamate/mouse, ig) or/and sodium ferulate (SF) (20, 40, 80 mg/kg body weight, ip), was given to pregnant mice at 17-19 days; the distribution of [(3)H] glutamate in the mouse fetal brains was measured at 30, 60, 90, 120 min after administration of MSG or/and SF. Maternal mice were given MSG (1.0, 2.0, 4.0 g/kg body weight, ig) or/and SF (20, 40, 80 mg/kg body weight, ip) simultaneously at 17-19 days of pregnancy, and then behavioral tests and histopathological observations were used to analyze glutamate-induced functional and morphological changes of the brains of their offspring, and Western blot analysis was performed for examining expressions of bcl-2 and caspase-3. The results showed that SF obviously inhibited the uptake of labeled glutamate in fetal brain. In addition, SF countered the effects of MSG on behavior, histopathology, genetic toxicity, and expression of apoptosis-related gene. The results suggest that ferulic acid is a novel competitive N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist and neuroprotector. In conclusion, maternal administration of ferulic acid has potent protective effects against glutamate-induced neurotoxicity in their filial mice.
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PMID:Potent protection of ferulic acid against excitotoxic effects of maternal intragastric administration of monosodium glutamate at a late stage of pregnancy on developing mouse fetal brain. 1625 84

We have recently demonstrated the antiproliferative and apoptotic activities of herbal traditional Chinese medicines, including the analomous fruit extract of Gleditsia sinensis, the fresh juice of Scutellaria barbata and the warmed water extract of Radix Sophorae Tonkinensis on a series of human carcinoma cells. Here, we further report the potential anti-cancer activity of the warmed water extract of Brucea javanica (BJE). Four cancer cell lines, including A549 non-small cell lung cancer, Hep3B hepatocellular carcinoma, MDA-MB231 breast cancer and SLMT-1 oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma, were incubated with BJE and strong apoptotic induction was observed under inverted microscopic investigation for all of the four cell lines tested. Using the MDA-MB231 breast cancer cell line as an experimental model, additional analyses supported the hypothesis that the mitochondrial membrane potential depolarization pathway was induced by BJE. The APO-1/Fas receptor death induction pathway was not activated under the influence of BJE, as studied by staining with Fas ligand and Fas receptor specific antibodies. Accordingly, only weak activation of caspase 8 was observed upon BJE treatment. On the other hand, caspase 3 activity was stimulated up to five-fold in BJE-treated cells compared to untreated controls. Oligonucleosomal DNA fragmentation formation was detected by labelling the nucleic acid ladders with TdT-mediated dUTP nick end labelling. Collectively, BJE-induced cancer cell death proceeds through a mitochondrial dependent pathway associated with caspase 3 activation.
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PMID:Antiproliferative and apoptosis-inducing activity of Brucea javanica extract on human carcinoma cells. 1627

Nephrotoxicity is one of the main side effects caused by cisplatin (CP), a widely used antineoplastic agent. Here, we examined the effect of a novel water-soluble carbon monoxide-releasing molecule (CORM-3) on CP-mediated cytotoxicity in renal epithelial cells and explored the potential therapeutic benefits of carbon monoxide in CP-induced nephrotoxicity in vivo. Exposure of LLC-PK(1) cells to CP (50 microM) caused significant apoptosis as evidenced by caspase-3 activation and an increased number of floating cells. Treatment with CORM-3 (1-50 microM) resulted in a remarkable and concentration-dependent decrease in CP-induced caspase-3 activity and cell detachment. This effect involved activation of the cGMP pathway as 1H-oxadiazole [4, 3-a] quinoxaline-1-ore (ODQ), a guanylate cyclase inhibitor, completely abolished the protection elicited by CORM-3. Using a rat model of CP-induced renal failure, we found that treatment with CP (7.5 mg/kg) caused a significant elevation in plasma urea (6.6-fold) and creatinine (3.1-fold) levels, which was accompanied by severe morphological changes and marked apoptosis in tubules at the corticomedullary junction. A daily administration of CORM-3 (10 mg/kg ip), starting 1 day before CP treatment and continuing for 3 days thereafter, resulted in amelioration of renal function as shown by reduction of urea and creatinine levels to basal values, a decreased number of apoptotic tubular cells, and an improved histological profile. A negative control (iCORM-3) that is incapable of liberating CO failed to prevent renal dysfunction mediated by CP, indicating that CO is directly involved in renoprotection. Our data demonstrate that CORM-3 can be used as an effective therapeutic adjuvant in the treatment of CP-induced nephrotoxicity.
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PMID:Protection against cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity by a carbon monoxide-releasing molecule. 1652 24

Hypoxia is a frequent challenge to aquatic vertebrates as compared with that for their terrestrial counterparts. All vertebrates respond to hypoxia in a similar, but not identical manner, indicating that these responses appeared early in the evolution of vertebrates. The aim of this study is to find out the effects of hypoxia on apoptosis in the central nervous system (CNS) of sturgeon, an archaic fish. With the regional specialization of the CNS, we hypothesize that if cell death does occur, the response will vary between regions, i.e., some CNS areas will be more susceptible to hypoxia than the others would. Sturgeons (Acipenser shrenckii) were subjected to hypoxia by exposure to either air or hypoxic water. After 6- or 30-h recovery they were sacrificed and the following regions of the CNS: retina, olfactory lobe, optic tectum, pituitary, cerebellum, pons/medulla, and spinal cord were examined by the terminal transferase mediated dUTP nick end labeling technique and for the cleaved fragment of activated caspase-3 by Western blotting. In hypoxia-treated sturgeons, the retina, optic tectum, pituitary, and spinal cord were found to have significantly more apoptotic cells than did untreated sturgeons at both 6 and 30 h after the hypoxic insults, indicating prolonged damage. Apoptosis was confirmed by Western blotting of the cleaved fragment of activated caspase-3. Olfactory lobe, cerebellum, and pons/medulla had relatively few apoptotic cells. The CNS of sturgeon showed a differential pattern of apoptosis in response to hypoxia.
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PMID:Hypoxia-induced differential apoptosis in the central nervous system of the sturgeon (Acipenser shrenckii). 1631 35


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