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)

Depolarization promotes the survival of cerebellar granule neurons via activation of the transcription factor myocyte enhancer factor 2D (MEF2D). Removal of depolarization induces hyperphosphorylation of MEF2D on serine/threonine residues, resulting in its decreased DNA binding and susceptibility to caspases. The subsequent loss of MEF2-dependent gene transcription contributes to the apoptosis of granule neurons. The kinase(s) that phosphorylates MEF2D during apoptosis is currently unknown. The serine/threonine kinase, glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta (GSK-3 beta), plays a pro-apoptotic role in granule neurons. To investigate a potential role for GSK-3 beta in MEF2D phosphorylation, we examined the effects of lithium, a non-competitive inhibitor of GSK-3 beta, on MEF2D activity in cultured cerebellar granule neurons. Lithium inhibited caspase-3 activation and chromatin condensation in granule neurons induced to undergo apoptosis by removal of depolarizing potassium and serum. Concurrently, lithium suppressed the hyperphosphorylation and caspase-mediated degradation of MEF2D. Moreover, lithium sustained MEF2 DNA binding and transcriptional activity in the absence of depolarization. Lithium also attenuated MEF2D hyperphosphorylation and apoptosis induced by calcineurin inhibition under depolarizing conditions, a GSK-3 beta-independent model of neuronal death. In contrast to lithium, MEF2D hyperphosphorylation was not inhibited by forskolin, insulin-like growth factor-I, or valproate, three mechanistically distinct inhibitors of GSK-3 beta. These results demonstrate that the kinase that phosphorylates and inhibits the pro-survival function of MEF2D in cerebellar granule neurons is a novel lithium target distinct from GSK-3 beta.
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PMID:A myocyte enhancer factor 2D (MEF2D) kinase activated during neuronal apoptosis is a novel target inhibited by lithium. 1278 68

In the serum-free culture of rat embryonic neurons, most neurons rapidly died by necrosis, which was revealed by propidium iodide (PI)-positive staining as early as 3 h after the start of culture and by marked membrane disruption and mitochondrial swelling in transmission electron microscopic (TEM) analysis. However, neither nuclear condensation/fragmentation stained with Hoechst 33342 nor activated caspase-3-like immunoreactivity was observed. In the serum-deprived culture, on the other hand, neurons showed apoptotic features, such as caspase-3 activation and nuclear damages in TEM analysis. Insulin at relatively higher concentrations, up to 100 microg/ml, ameliorated the rapid decrease in survival activity measured with 2-(2-methoxy-4-nitrophenyl)-3-(4-nitrophenyl)-5-(2,4-disulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium, monosodium salt WST-8 assay and PI staining in the serum-free culture, despite the fact that brain-derived neurotrophic factor and insulin-like growth factor-I had no survival effect even at concentrations up to 100 microg/ml. Insulin-induced survival effects were abolished by the protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor calphostin C but not by the phosphatidyl inositol-3-OH-kinase inhibitor wortmannin or the mitogen-activated protein kinase inhibitors PD98059 or U0126. Insulin significantly stimulated the PKC activity in cell lysates and suppressed the mitochondrial swelling and membrane disruption in TEM analysis in a calphostin C-reversible manner. All of these findings suggest that insulin inhibited the neuronal necrosis resistant to known neurotrophic factors under the serum-free culture through PKC mechanisms.
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PMID:Neuronal necrosis inhibition by insulin through protein kinase C activation. 1280

Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) prevents apoptosis in many cell types. We have reported that tyrosine residues in FAK are dephosphorylated and FAK is degraded during mannitol-induced apoptosis in human neuroblastoma cells. Several studies suggest that FAK dephosphorylation and degradation are separate events. The current study defines the relationship between FAK dephosphorylation and degradation in neuroblastoma cells using okadaic acid (OA). OA, a serine phosphatase inhibitor, promotes serine/threonine phosphorylation, which in turn blocks tyrosine phosphorylation. OA induced focal adhesion loss, actin cytoskeleton disorganization, and cellular detachment, which corresponded to a loss of FAK Tyr397 phosphorylation. These changes preceded caspase-3 activation, Akt and MAP kinase activity loss, protein ubiquitination, and cellular apoptosis. Insulin-like growth factor-I prevented mannitol-induced, but not OA-induced, substrate detachment and FAK Tyr397 dephosphorylation, and the effects of OA on FAK Tyr397 phosphorylation were irreversible. The proteolytic degradation of FAK is temporally distinct from its tyrosine dephosphorylation, occurring when apoptotic pathways are already initiated and during a generalized destruction of signaling proteins. Therefore, agents resulting in the dephosphorylation of FAK may be beneficial for therapeutic treatment, irrespective of FAK protein levels, as this may result in apoptosis, which cannot be prevented by growth factor signaling.
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PMID:Degradation and dephosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase during okadaic acid-induced apoptosis in human neuroblastoma cells. 1467 Jan 78

Insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) was found to promote proliferation, cell survival, and inhibition of apoptosis. But in some instances, IGF-I was found to mildly induce apoptosis, i. e. Fas-mediated apoptosis in human MG63 osteosarcoma cells. In the present study, we intended to further investigate IGF-I dependent pathways leading either to proliferation and cell survival or to cell death. MG63 osteosarcoma cells were treated with serum free medium alone or in combination with IGF-I, a neutralizing antibody against the human IGF-I receptor (alphaIR-3) or non-immune control IgG (1) for two to six days. We investigated cell survival (cell count), proliferation (CD71-FACS), apoptosis (Annexin-V-FACS, Caspase-3 activity, PCD) and anti-apoptosis (112-Ser Bad phosphorylation), and regulation of IGF-I receptor surface expression (IGF-I receptor-FACS). We found that IGF-I treatment (48 h) stimulated cell growth and proliferation, but also mildly induced apoptosis. IGF-I activated specific apoptotic pathways (Caspase-3 activation, Annexin-V binding and DNA degradation), as well as anti-apoptotic signals (Bad phosphorylation at serine 112). alphaIR-3 blocked cell proliferation, strongly induced apoptosis, and inhibited Bad-phosphorylation. Thus, IGF-I treatment overall resulted in increased tumour cell mass, despite a detectable stimulation of apoptosis; in other words proliferation exceeded cell death. If IGF-I was first added on day 0, 2, or 4 of serum free culture, we found decreasing IGF-I specific effects on proliferation and apoptosis. In parallel, we found a down-regulation of IGF-I receptors (FACS) by serum withdrawal, which was partly reversed if IGF-I was added. Therefore receptor number might have an impact on IGF-I function in MG63 cells. In conclusion, co-activation of apoptosis and proliferation by IGF-I might result in higher cell turnover in MG63 osteosarcoma cells. Furthermore, in sarcomas or carcinomas showing clinical association to IGF-I levels and malignancy, IGF-I dependent apoptosis and proliferation could be a significant mechanism of malignant tumour growth.
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PMID:Insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) stimulates proliferation but also increases caspase-3 activity, Annexin-V binding, and DNA-fragmentation in human MG63 osteosarcoma cells: co-activation of pro- and anti-apoptotic pathways by IGF-I. 1471 Mar 59

The aim of the present study was to test the hypothesis that growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) act at a local level to inhibit luteal cell apoptosis. Luteal cells collected from the corpora lutea at different stages of the luteal phase were cultured for 24 h in M 199 medium supplemented with 5% of calf serum to cause attachment cells to the plastic. After 24 h, the media were changed and various concentrations of GH (10, 100 or 200 ng/ml) or IGF-I (30, 50 or 100 ng/ml) were added to the culture medium. Twenty-four hours later, cells were fixed for morphological assessment of apoptotic cells utilising a Hoechst staining technique. To support morphological observations, measurements of caspase-3 activity in cultured porcine luteal cells were performed. Increased incidence of apoptotic bodies and caspase-3 activity accompanied luteal regression and was associated with a decreased progesterone (P4) secretion by luteal cells. GH stimulated P4 secretion by luteal cells collected from developing (ELP) and mature (MLP) corpora lutea but had no effect on its secretion by cells collected from regressing corpora lutea (LLP). Moreover, it had no effect on the incidence of apoptotic bodies in all types of corpora lutea. However, suppression of caspase-3 activity was observed with 100 and 200 ng of GH/ml in all types of corpora lutea. IGF-I had a stimulatory effect on P4 secretion by ELP and MLP, decreased the incidence of apoptotic bodies and suppressed caspase-3 activity in cultures treated with all doses used. In conclusion, our results indicate that both GH and IGF-1 trigger anti-apoptotic effects either indirectly, by increasing progesterone secretion, or directly, through the inhibition of caspase-3 activity and subsequent prevention of apoptotic body formation.
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PMID:Effect of growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor-I on spontaneous apoptosis in cultured luteal cells collected from early, mature, and regressing porcine corpora lutea. 1503 3

The in vivo actions of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) on prenatal and early postnatal brain development were investigated in transgenic (Tg) mice that overexpress IGF-I prenatally under the control of regulatory sequences from the nestin gene. Tg mice demonstrated increases in brain weight of 6% by embryonic day (E) 18 and 27% by postnatal day (P) 12. In Tg embryos at E16, the volume of the cortical plate was significantly increased by 52% and total cell number was increased by 54%. S-phase labeling with 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine revealed a 13-15% increase in the proportion of labeled neuroepithelial cells in Tg embryos at E14. In Tg mice at P12, significant increases in regional tissue volumes were detected in the cerebral cortex (29%), subcortical white matter (52%), caudate-putamen (37%), hippocampus (49%), dentate gyrus (71%) and habenular complex (48%). Tg mice exhibited significant increases in the total number of neurons in the cerebral cortex (27%), caudate-putamen (27%), dentate gyrus (69%), medial habenular nucleus (61%) and lateral habenular nucleus (36%). In the cerebral cortex and subcortical white matter of Tg mice, the total numbers of glial cells were significantly increased by 37% and 42%, respectively. The numerical density of apoptotic cells in the cerebral cortex, labeled by antibodies against active caspase-3, was reduced by 26% in Tg mice at P7. Our results demonstrate that IGF-I can both promote proliferation of neural cells in the embryonic central nervous system in vivo and inhibit their apoptosis during postnatal life.
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PMID:In vivo effects of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) on prenatal and early postnatal development of the central nervous system. 1509 33

We have previously shown that endogenous IGF-I regulates human intestinal smooth muscle cell proliferation by activation of phosphatidylinositol 3 (PI3)-kinase- and Erk1/2-dependent pathways that jointly regulate cell cycle progression and cell division. Whereas insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) stimulates PI3-kinase-dependent activation of Akt, expression of a kinase-inactive Akt did not alter IGF-I-stimulated proliferation. In other cell types, Akt-dependent phosphorylation of glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta (GSK-3 beta) inhibits its activity and its ability to stimulate apoptosis. The aim of the present study was to determine whether endogenous IGF-I regulates Akt-dependent GSK-3 beta phosphorylation and activity and whether it regulates apoptosis in human intestinal muscle cells. IGF-I elicited time- and concentration-dependent GSK-3 beta phosphorylation (inactivation) that was measured by Western blot analysis using a phospho-specific GSK-3beta antibody. Endogenous IGF-I stimulated GSK-3 beta phosphorylation and inhibited GSK-3 beta activity (measured by in vitro kinase assay) in these cells. IGF-I-dependent GSK-3 beta phosphorylation and the resulting GSK-3 beta inactivation were mediated by activation of a PI3-kinase-dependent, phosphoinositide-dependent kinase-1 (PDK-1)-dependent, and Akt-dependent mechanism. Deprivation of serum induced beta-catenin phosphorylation, increased in caspase 3 activity, and induced apoptosis of muscle cells, which was inhibited by either IGF-I or a GSK-3 beta inhibitor. Endogenous IGF-I inhibited beta-catenin phosphorylation, caspase 3 activation, and apoptosis induced by serum deprivation. IGF-I-dependent inhibition of apoptosis, similar to GSK-3 beta activity, was mediated by a PI3-kinase-, PDK-1-, and Akt-dependent mechanism. We conclude that endogenous IGF-I exerts two distinct but complementary effects on intestinal smooth muscle cell growth: it stimulates proliferation and inhibits apoptosis. The growth of intestinal smooth muscle cells is regulated jointly by the net effect of these two processes.
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PMID:Endogenous IGF-I protects human intestinal smooth muscle cells from apoptosis by regulation of GSK-3 beta activity. 1529 58

Insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) protects neurons of the peripheral nervous system from apoptosis, but the underlying signaling pathways are not well understood. We studied IGF-I mediated signaling in embryonic dorsal root ganglia (DRG) neurons. DRG neurons express IGF-I receptors (IGF-IR), and IGF-I activates the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt pathway. High glucose exposure induces apoptosis, which is inhibited by IGF-I through the PI3K/Akt pathway. IGF-I stimulation of the PI3K/Akt pathway phosphorylates three known Akt effectors: the survival transcription factor cyclic AMP response element binding protein (CREB) and the pro-apoptotic effector proteins glycogen synthase kinase-3beta (GSK-3beta) and forkhead (FKHR). IGF-I regulates survival at the nuclear level through accumulation of phospho-Akt in DRG neuronal nuclei, increased CREB-mediated transcription, and nuclear exclusion of FKHR. High glucose increases expression of the pro-apoptotic Bcl protein Bim (a transcriptional target of FKHR). However, IGF-I does not regulate Bim or anti-apoptotic Bcl-xL protein expression levels, which suggests that IGF-I neuroprotection is not through regulation of their expression. High glucose also induces loss of the initiator caspase-9 and increases caspase-3 cleavage, effects blocked by IGF-I. These data suggest that IGF-I prevents apoptosis in DRG neurons by regulating PI3K/Akt pathway effectors, including GSK-3beta, CREB, and FKHR, and by blocking caspase activation.
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PMID:Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and Akt effectors mediate insulin-like growth factor-I neuroprotection in dorsal root ganglia neurons. 1531 68

Fetal brown adipocytes are insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) target cells. To assess the importance of the IGF-I receptor (IGF-IR) in brown adipocytes during fetal life, we have generated immortalized brown adipocyte cell lines from the IGF-IR(-/-) mice. Using this experimental model, we demonstrate that the lack of IGF-IR in fetal brown adipocytes increased the susceptibility to apoptosis induced by serum withdrawal. Culture of cells in the absence of serum and growth factors produced rapid DNA fragmentation (4 h) in IGF-IR(-/-) brown adipocytes, compared with the wild type (16 h). Consequently, cell viability was decreased more rapidly in fetal brown adipocytes in the absence of IGF-IR. Furthermore, caspase-3 activity was induced much earlier in cells lacking IGF-IR. At the molecular level, IGF-IR deficiency in fetal brown adipocytes altered the balance of the expression of several proapoptotic (Bcl-xS and Bim) and antiapoptotic (Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL) members of the Bcl-2 family. This imbalance was irreversible even though in IGF-IR-reconstituted cells. Likewise, cytosolic cytochrome c levels increased rapidly in IGF-IR-deficient cells compared with the wild type. A rapid entry of Foxo1 into the nucleus accompanied by a rapid exit from the cytosol and an earlier activation of caspase-8 were observed in brown adipocytes lacking IGF-IR upon serum deprivation. Activation of caspase-8 was inhibited by 50% in both cell types by neutralizing anti-Fas-ligand antibody. Adenoviral infection of wild-type brown adipocytes with constitutively active Foxol (ADA) increased the expression of antiapoptotic genes, decreased Bcl-xL and induced caspase-8 and -3 activities, with the final outcome of DNA fragmentation. Up-regulation of uncoupling protein-1 (UCP-1) expression in IGF-IR-deficient cells by transduction with PGC-1alpha or UCP-1 ameliorated caspase-3 activation, thereby retarding apoptosis. Finally, insulin treatment prevented apoptosis in both cell types. However, the survival effect of insulin on IGF-IR(-/-) brown adipocytes was elicited even in the absence of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt signaling. Thus, our results demonstrate for the first time the unique role of IGF-IR in maintaining the balance of death and survival in fetal brown adipocytes.
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PMID:Susceptibility to apoptosis in insulin-like growth factor-I receptor-deficient brown adipocytes. 1535 71

The role of regucalcin, a regulatory protein in intracellular signaling pathway, in cell death was investigated by using the cloned rat hepatoma H4-II-E cells overexpressing regucalcin. The hepatoma cells (wild-type) and stable regucalcin/pCXN2 transfectants were cultured for 72 h in a medium containing 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS) to obtain subconfluent monolayers. After culture for 72 h, cells were further cultured for 24-72 h in a medium containing either vehicle, insulin (10(-8) or 10(-7) M) or insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I; 10(-9) or 10(-8) M) in the absence of FBS. The number of wild-type cells was significantly decreased by culture for 24, 48, or 72 h in the presence of insulin (10(-8) or 10(-7) M) or IGF-I (10(-9) or 10(-8) M). Agarose gel electrophoresis showed the presence of low-molecular-weight deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) fragments of adherent wild-type cells cultured with insulin or IGF-I. The effect of insulin or IGF-I in stimulating cell death and DNA fragmentation in hepatoma cells (wild-type) was significantly prevented in transfectants overexpressing regucalcin. Meanwhile, epinephrine (10(-6) or 10(-5) M) or transforming growth factor-beta1 (10(-13) or 10(-12) M) did not cause cell death of hepatoma cells. Insulin-induced decrease in the number of wild-type cells was significantly prevented by culture with caspase-3 inhibitor (10(-8) M), although the effect of IGF-I was not inhibited. The effect of insulin or IGF-I in inducing the death of hepatoma cells (wild-type) was significantly prevented in the presence of N omega-nitro-L-arginine methylester (NAME), an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase. Genistein (10(-6) M), an inhibitor of protein tyrosine kinase, or vanadate (10(-5) M), an inhibitor of protein tyrosine phosphatase, caused a significant decrease in the number of hepatoma cells (wild-type). The effect of insulin in inducing the death of wild-type cells was not seen in the presence of genistein or vanadate. The effect of IGF-I on the death of wild-type cells was observed in the presence of genistein or vanadate. The effect of genistein on cell death was significantly prevented in transfectants. Such effect was not seen with vanadate. This study demonstrates that insulin or IGF-I stimulates cell death and apoptosis in the hepatoma cells, and that overexpression of regucalcin has a suppressive effect on cell death induced by insulin or IGF-I that is mediated through different signaling pathway.
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PMID:Overexpression of regucalcin suppresses cell death and apoptosis in cloned rat hepatoma H4-II-E cells induced by insulin or insulin-like growth factor-I. 1588 Jun 94


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