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)

Celecoxib is being evaluated as a chemopreventive agent. However, its mechanism of action is not clear because high doses were used for in vitro studies to obtain antitumor effects. We found that celecoxib inhibited the growth of premalignant and malignant human bronchial epithelial cells with IC(50) values between 8.9 and 32.7 micromol/L, irrespective of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression. Normal human bronchial epithelial cells were less sensitive to celecoxib. Because these concentrations were higher than those attainable in vivo (<or=5.6 micromol/L), we surmised that combining celecoxib with the synthetic retinoid N-(4-hydroxyphenyl) retinamide (4HPR) might improve its efficacy. Treatment of premalignant lung cell lines with combinations of clinically relevant concentrations of celecoxib (<or=5 micromol/L) and 4HPR (<or=0.25 micromol/L) resulted in greater growth inhibition, apoptosis induction, and suppression of colony formation than did either agent alone. This combination also decreased the levels of Bcl-2, induced the release of mitochondrial cytochrome c, activated caspase-9 and caspase-3, and induced cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase at concentrations at which each agent alone showed no or minimal effects. Furthermore, combinations of celecoxib and 4HPR suppressed the phosphorylation levels of serine/threonine kinase Akt and its substrate glycogen synthase kinase-3beta more effectively than the single agents did. Accordingly, overexpression of constitutively active Akt protected bronchial epithelial cells from undergoing apoptosis after incubation with both celecoxib and 4HPR. These findings indicate that activation of the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway and suppression of the Akt survival pathway mediate the augmented apoptosis and suggest that this combination may be useful for lung cancer chemoprevention.
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PMID:Involvement of mitochondrial and Akt signaling pathways in augmented apoptosis induced by a combination of low doses of celecoxib and N-(4-hydroxyphenyl) retinamide in premalignant human bronchial epithelial cells. 1701 36

Arsenic is an environmental toxicant that recently has been shown to have anticancer activity against a number of types of cancer cells by inducing apoptosis. Glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK3), a serine/threonine kinase, is an important pro-apoptotic signaling enzyme. Although GSK3 has been shown to promote apoptosis caused by a wide variety of insults, a role for GSK3 in arsenic-induced apoptosis has not yet been identified. Investigation of the involvement of GSK3 in arsenite-induced apoptosis demonstrated that arsenite induced apoptosis in SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells, activating the executioner caspase-3 which caused cleavage of poly-ADP ribose-polymerase (PARP). Two selective GSK3 inhibitors, lithium and SB216763, attenuated caspase-3 activation and PARP cleavage induced by arsenite treatment indicating that GSK3 contributed to arsenite-induced apoptosis. Apoptotic signaling following exposure to arsenite involved cytochrome C release from mitochondria, and this was reduced by inhibition of GSK3 indicating that GSK3 promotes arsenite-induced apoptotic signaling upstream of mitochondrial disruption. Moreover, arsenite induced the translocation of Bax and p53 to the mitochondria and the activation-associated oligomerization of Bax, and these crucial events were reduced by inhibition of GSK3, indicating that GSK3 promotes arsenite-induced apoptosis by facilitating signals leading to mitochondrial apoptotic events. Taken together, the findings from this study reveal that GSK3 promotes arsenite-induced apoptosis by facilitating signaling leading to disruption of mitochondria.
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PMID:GSK3 promotes arsenite-induced apoptosis via facilitation of mitochondria disruption. 1784 3

Recovery from ischaemic stroke is dependent on survival of neurones, particularly in peri-infarcted regions. Angiogenesis is critical for the development of new microvessels resulting in the re-formation of collateral circulation associated with enhanced neuronal survival and reduced morbidity and mortality. Recently, the identification of a neurovascular niche has been described, where the co-ordinated effects of angiogenesis and migration of neuroprogenitor cells to damaged stroke regions were shown to be vital in the process of tissue remodelling. Cdk5, a serine/threonine kinase is highly expressed in the central nervous system, particularly following ischaemic stroke and its aberrant activation is directly associated with neuronal apoptosis and death. In contrast, recent evidence suggests that increased expression of Cdk5 by endothelium might be protective against cell death and/or promote angiogenesis leading to increased vessel formation and reperfusion. Owing to its known interaction with over 20 substrates including caspase-3, MEF2, Tau and p53, Cdk5 could be a master switch controlling both neuronal survival and revascularisation. Therefore its cell-specific pharmacological or genetic modulation using novel nanotechnology-based delivery systems could be of benefit when considering future stroke therapies.
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PMID:Cyclin-dependent kinase-5 targeting for ischaemic stroke. 1898 42

The developing central nervous system (CNS) is particularly susceptible to ethanol toxicity. The loss of neurons underlies many of the behavioral deficits observed in fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). The mechanisms of ethanol-induced neuronal loss, however, remain incompletely elucidated. We demonstrated that glycogen synthase kinase 3beta (GSK3beta), a multifunctional serine/threonine kinase, was involved in ethanol neurotoxicity. The activity of GSK3beta is negatively regulated by its phosphorylation at serine 9 (Ser9). Ethanol induced dephosphorylation of GSK3beta at Ser9 and the activation of Bax as well as caspase-3 in the developing mouse brain. These ethanol-induced alterations were ameliorated by the pretreatment of a GSK3beta inhibitor, lithium. To determine the role of GSK3beta in ethanol neurotoxicity, we overexpressed wild-type (WT), S9A mutant or dominant-negative (DN) mutant GSK3beta in a neuronal cell line (SK-N-MC). Ethanol only modestly reduced the viability of parental SK-N-MC cells but drastically induced caspase-3 activation and apoptosis in cells overexpressing WT or S9A GSK3beta, indicating that the high levels of GSK3beta or the active form of GSK3beta increased cellular sensitivity to ethanol. Contrarily, overexpression of DN GSK3beta conferred resistance to ethanol toxicity. Lithium and other specific GSK3beta inhibitors abolished the hypersensitivity to ethanol caused by WT or S9A overexpression. Bax, a proapoptotic protein, is a substrate of GSK3beta. Cells overexpressing WT or S9A GSK3beta were much more sensitive to ethanol-induced Bax activation than parental SK-N-MC cells. Our results indicate that GSK3beta may be a mediator of ethanol neurotoxicity, and its expression status in a cell may determine ethanol vulnerability.
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PMID:Overexpression of glycogen synthase kinase 3beta sensitizes neuronal cells to ethanol toxicity. 1938 7

Enzastaurin, an oral serine/threonine kinase inhibitor, suppresses signaling through protein kinase C (PKC)-beta and the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/AKT pathways. We preclinically evaluated enzastaurin alone and in combination with gemcitabine for transitional cell cancer (TCC). Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was done on 105 human samples from a microarray to show the expression of PKC-beta. The preclinical antitumor activity of enzastaurin and gemcitabine as single agents and in combination against aggressive human -lines (-SUP and 5637) and murine subcutaneous xenografts bearing 5637 cells was determined. Western Blot was done on tumor cells in vitro to detect signaling through PKC-beta, GSK-3beta, and AKT. The effect on cell migration was determined in vitro. Modulation of proliferation (Ki-67), apoptosis (cleaved caspase-3), and angiogenesis (CD31) in vivo was determined by IHC. IHC done on human TCC samples from a microarray showed the expression of PKC-beta in 33% of tumors. Enzastaurin induced significant apoptosis and inhibited proliferation in vitro at low micromolar concentrations. The in vitro inhibitory activity of combination enzastaurin and gemcitabine by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay seemed synergistic. Western Blotting revealed down-regulation of Akt, PKC-beta, and GSK-3 beta phosphorylation. Enzastaurin inhibited migration at an earlier time point independent of antiproliferative activity. Combination therapy had significantly superior antitumor activity in murine xenografts compared with untreated controls, whereas single agents did not. IHC showed reduced Ki-67 and CD31 and increased cleaved caspase-3 with combination therapy compared with controls. Enzastaurin showed preclinical antitumor activity against human TCC and enhanced the activity of gemcitabine.
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PMID:Enzastaurin shows preclinical antitumor activity against human transitional cell carcinoma and enhances the activity of gemcitabine. 1950 73

Aurora kinase A, also known as aurora A, is a serine/threonine kinase that plays critical roles in mitosis entry, chromosome alignment, segregation, and cytokinesis. Overexpression of aurora A has been observed in many solid tumors and some hematopoietic neoplasms, but little is known about its expression in myeloid diseases. Because cytogenetic abnormalities play an essential role in the pathogenesis of myeloid malignancies, we hypothesized that aurora A deregulation may be involved in myelodysplastic syndromes and acute myeloid leukemia and contribute to the chromosomal instability observed in these diseases. We assessed aurora A mRNA levels in CD34(+) bone marrow blasts from nine patients with acute myeloid leukemia, 20 patients with myelodysplastic syndromes, and five normal patients serving as controls. CD34(+) blasts were isolated from bone marrow aspirate specimens using magnetic activated cell separation technology. RNA was extracted from purified CD34(+) cells, and quantitative real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction for aurora A was performed. Immunocytochemical analyses for total aurora A, phosphorylated aurora A, Ki-67, and activated caspase 3 were performed on cytospin slides made from purified CD34(+) cells in myelodysplastic syndrome patients using standard methods. Aurora A mRNA and protein levels were correlated, as was aurora A mRNA level, with blast counts, cytogenetic abnormalities, and International Prognostic Scoring System score. We found that CD34(+) cells in myelodysplastic syndromes and acute myeloid leukemia expressed aurora A at significantly higher levels (P = 0.01 and P = 0.01, respectively) than normal CD34(+) cells. Aurora A mRNA levels correlated with total and phosphorylated protein levels (P = 0.0002 and P = 0.02, respectively). No significant correlation was found between aurora A mRNA level and blast count, blast viability, cytogenetic abnormalities, or the International Prognostic Scoring System score in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes. We conclude that aurora A is up-regulated in CD34(+) blasts from myeloid neoplasms.
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PMID:Analysis of Aurora kinase A expression in CD34(+) blast cells isolated from patients with myelodysplastic syndromes and acute myeloid leukemia. 1966 17

The serine/threonine kinase, PIM1, is involved in promoting cell survival in part by phosphorylation and inhibition of proapoptotic proteins. Apoptosis signaling kinase 1 (ASK1), a mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase, is involved in the so-called stress-activated pathways that contribute to apoptotic cell death. Here we show that PIM1 phosphorylates ASK1 specifically on serine residue 83 (Ser83) both in vitro and in vivo and that PIM1 binds to ASK1 in cells by co-immunoprecipitation. Using H1299 cells, our results further demonstrate that PIM1 phosphorylation of ASK1 decreases its kinase activity induced by oxidative stress. PIM1 phosphorylation of ASK1 on Ser83 inhibited ASK1-mediated c-Jun N-terminal kinase phosphorylation as well as p38 kinase phosphorylation. Under H(2)O(2)-induced stress conditions that normally lead to apoptosis, these phosphorylation events were associated with inhibition of caspase-3 activation and resulted in reduced cell death. Moreover, knockdown of PIM1 in H1299 cells decreased phosphorylation of endogenous Ser83 of ASK1 and was associated with a decrease in cell viability after H(2)O(2) treatment. Taken together, these data reveal a novel mechanism by which PIM1 promotes cell survival that involves negative regulation of the stress-activated kinase, ASK1.
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PMID:PIM1 phosphorylates and negatively regulates ASK1-mediated apoptosis. 1974 99

Malignant gliomas are highly resistant to current therapeutic approaches due to genetic alterations rendering them resistant to cell death. CK2, a ubiquitous and constitutively active serine/threonine kinase, frequently elevated in tumors, contributes to enhanced cell proliferation and resistance to apoptosis. Inhibition of CK2 expression or treatment with inhibitors of CK2 affected survival or induced apoptosis in various cancer cells. Here we compared cytotoxic effects of well-known and new CK2 inhibitors: 4,5,6,7-tetrabromo-1H-benzotriazole (TBB), 4,5,6,7-tetrabromo-1H-benzimidazole (TBI), 2-dimethylamino-4,5,6,7-tetrabromo-1H-benzimidazole (DMAT), the related 3-(4,5,6,7-tetrabromo-1H-benzimidazol-1-yl)propan-1-ol (MB001), 3-(4,5,6,7-tetrabromo-1H-1,2,3-benzotriazol-1-yl) propan-1-ol (MB002), 3-(4,5,6,7-tetrabromo-2H-1,2,3-benzotriazol-2-yl)propan-1-ol (MB003) and also structurally similar to above compounds pentabromobenzylisothiourea (ZKK1) and its derivatives (ZKK2-8) on cultured malignant glioma cells. TBI, ZKK1 and MB001-3 were more effective than TBB in inducing growth arrest and cell death in glioma cells. TBI and ZKK1 strongly induced apoptotic death involving caspase 3 and 7 activation followed by PARP cleavage. DMAT strongly upregulated the expression of cytotoxic ligand and its receptor Fas. Structural modifications of ZKK1 largely affected its efficacy: exchange of Br- to Cl- or F-substituents on the pentabromophenyl ring and inclusion of the bulky N-phenyl substituent in thiourea fragment of ZKK1 diminished cytotoxic activity, while N-substitution with short alkyl groups or an allyl group had opposite effects. Interestingly, TBI at moderate dose did not affect viability of non-transformed astrocytes, suggesting some specificity toward tumor cells in cytotoxic action. TBI, DMAT and ZKK1-induced apoptosis associated with caspase cascade activation in human malignant glioblastoma cells with mutated PT53 and PTEN genes. The reported data demonstrate that suitably modified polybromobenzene molecules exhibit a significant cytotoxic potential towards malignant glioblastoma cells.
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PMID:Efficacy and mechanism of anti-tumor action of new potential CK2 inhibitors toward glioblastoma cells. 1978 63

Apoptosis or programmed cell death has been demonstrated to play a role in the development of lung injury following hemorrhagic shock. A major pathway modulating the apoptotic response is the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/serine/threonine kinase (PI3K/Akt) pathway. Ciglitazone, a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-y (PPARy) ligand has previously been shown to attenuate lung inflammation following hemorrhagic shock. In vivo similar ligands have demonstrated anti-apoptotic effects with a reduction in organ injury in models of acute illness. In this study we examined the effect of ciglitazone on apoptosis and PI3K/Akt signaling in the lung following severe hemorrhage and resuscitation. Hemorrhagic shock was induced in male Wistar rats by withdrawing blood from the femoral artery to a mean arterial pressure of 50 mmHg. Animals were kept in shock for 3h at which time they were rapidly resuscitated by returning their shed blood. At the time of resuscitation and every hour thereafter, groups of animals received ciglitazone (10mg/kg) or DMSO intraperitoneally. Vehicle-treated rats had increased lung apoptosis following hemorrhage and resuscitation by Tunel staining. This was associated with increased activity of caspase-3. Ciglitazone treatment reduced lung apoptosis with a significant reduction in caspase-3 activity. This was associated with increased phosphorylation of the pro-survival kinase Akt. Thus, our data suggest that ciglitazone, a PPARy ligand, promotes cell survival in the lung following hemorrhagic shock.
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PMID:Ciglitazone, a novel inhibitor of lung apoptosis following hemorrhagic shock. 2036 35

Death-associated protein kinase (DAPK) is a serine/threonine kinase that participates in the modulation of apoptosis and tumor suppression. Our previous study revealed high levels of DAPK protein expression in differentiated endometrial adenocarcinoma cells. To clarify the role of DAPK in human endometrial adenocarcinomas, we down-regulated endogenous DAPK expression in HHUA cells, a well-differentiated endometrial adenocarcinoma cell line, using specific small-interfering RNAs (siRNAs). The suppression of endogenous DAPK expression triggered apoptosis in HHUA cells, as evidenced by an increase in the sub-G1 DNA content in flow cytometric analyses. The apoptosis induced by the DAPK siRNA transfections was caspase-dependent, as characterized by the activations of caspase-3, -8 and -9. RNase protection assays detected higher levels of tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL), DR4 and DR5 transcripts in the DAPK siRNA-transfected HHUA cells than in the control siRNA-transfected cells. Consistent with these findings, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays revealed that the DAPK siRNA transfections significantly increased the secretion of TRAIL protein from the cells. Treatment with recombinant human TRAIL protein dose-dependently suppressed the cell viability of HHUA cells. The present findings reveal that down-regulation of endogenous DAPK expression in HHUA cells induces caspase-dependent apoptosis, possibly through increased TRAIL, DR4 and DR5 signaling, thereby suggesting that DAPK expression is essential for HHUA cell survival. Consequently, endogenous DAPK mRNA may represent a potential candidate for molecularly targeted anticancer therapies.
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PMID:Targeted knockdown of death-associated protein kinase expression induces TRAIL-mediated apoptosis in human endometrial adenocarcinoma cells. 2051 12


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