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)

Previous studies have shown that proteins extracted from Zebrafish embryo share some cytostatic characteristics in cancer cells. Our study was conducted to ascertain the biological properties of this protein network. Cancer cell growth and apoptosis were studied in Caco2 cells treated with embryonic extracts. Cell proliferation was significantly inhibited in a dose-dependent manner. Cell-cycle analysis in treated cells revealed a marked accumulation in the G(2)/M phase preceding induction of apoptosis. Embryo proteins induced a significant reduction in FLIP levels, and increased caspase-3 and caspase-8 activity as well as the apoptotic rate. Increased phosphorylated pRb values were obtained in treated Caco2 cells: the modified balance in pRb phosphorylation was associated with an increase in E2F1 values and c-Myc over-expression. Our data support previous reports of an apoptotic enhancing effect displayed by embryo extracts, mainly through the pRb/E2F1 apoptotic pathway, which thus suggests that Zebrafish embryo proteins have complex anti-cancer properties.
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PMID:Zebrafish embryo proteins induce apoptosis in human colon cancer cells (Caco2). 1682 Sep 66

Human endometrial epithelial cells undergo apoptosis immediately before the menstrual period. Apoptotic signalling was analysed using human endometrial tissue and a human endometrial carcinoma cell line (HHUA). Activity levels of caspase-3, -8, and -9 were elevated in human endometrium during the late secretory phase and in HHUA cells incubated with an anti-Fas monoclonal antibody (mAb). Fas-mediated apoptosis of HHUA cells was blocked by prior exposure to inhibitors of caspase-9, -8 and -3. In HHUA cells treated with anti-Fas mAb, a release of cytochrome c was detected in the cytosolic fraction, in addition a full-length Bid was degraded. Full-length FLIP(L) (p55) was degraded during apoptosis, and p29 (regarded as the product of p55 cleavage) appeared instead of FLIP(L). In normal human endometrial tissue, Bid degradation was also observed in a cyclic manner with a peak during the early secretory phase of the menstrual cycle. Furthermore, the release of cytochrome c was seen in the early secretory phase. However, expression of FLIP(S) was only observed during the menstrual cycle in normal endometrial tissue. We concluded that the main apoptotic signalling in both normal human endometrial tissue and HHUA cells exposed to anti-Fas mAb is the mitochondrial pathway via Bid degradation. Although the function of FLIP is still unknown on normal endometrial tissue, it may be regulated by FLIP(L) expression on HHUA cells derived from human endometrial carcinoma.
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PMID:Caspase cascade of Fas-mediated apoptosis in human normal endometrium and endometrial carcinoma cells. 1687 Sep 53

High temperature requirement A2 (HtrA2)/Omi is a mitochondrial serine protease that is released into the cytosol from mitochondria and in turn promotes caspase activation by proteolyzing inhibitor of apoptosis proteins. Here we asked whether treatment with an HtrA2/Omi inhibitor, 5-[5-(2-nitrophenyl)furfuryliodine]-1,3-diphenyl-2-thiobarbituric acid (UCF-101), restores heart dysfunction following ischemia/reperfusion injury in vivo. Rats underwent a 30-min ischemia by occluding the left anterior descending artery, followed by 24 h reperfusion. UCF-101 (0.75 or 1.5 micromol/kg, i.p.) was administered 10 min before reperfusion. UCF-101 treatment significantly recovered the mean arterial blood pressure and ameliorated contractile dysfunction of the left ventricle 72 h after reperfusion with concomitant reduction of infarct size. Cardio-protection mediated by UCF-101 was correlated with reduced X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP) degradation and inhibition of Caspase-9, Caspase-3, and Caspase-7 processing. Furthermore, UCF-101 prevented loss of membrane integrity by inhibiting fodrin breakdown in cardiomyocytes. UCF-101-induced cytoprotection was also correlated with reduced Fas ligand expression and inhibition of FLIP degradation following ischemia/reperfusion. These results suggest that UCF-101 rescues cardiomyocytes from ischemia/reperfusion injury by inhibiting XIAP degradation and Fas/Fas-ligand-induced apoptosis, thereby ameliorating ischemia/reperfusion-induced myocardial dysfunction.
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PMID:Inhibition of HtrA2/Omi ameliorates heart dysfunction following ischemia/reperfusion injury in rat heart in vivo. 1718 30

Although receptor activator of nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB ligand (RANKL) signaling has been shown to prolong the survival of mature dendritic cells (DCs), the association of RANKL pathway with Fas-mediated apoptosis is obscure. Here, we found that bone marrow-derived DCs (BMDCs) from the Fas-deficient strain MRL/lpr mice, could survive much longer than normal DCs. The expressions of Bcl-x and Bcl-2 and the nuclear transport of NF-kappaB of RANKL-stimulated BMDCs from MRL/lpr mice were significantly up-regulated. By contrast, Fas expression of BMDCs from normal C57BL/6 and MRL(+/+) mice was increased by RANKL stimulation, and an enhanced DC apoptosis was found when stimulated with both RANKL and anti-Fas mAb, which was associated with activation of caspase-3 and caspase-9. Furthermore, the expression of FLIP(L), an inhibitory molecule against Fas-mediated apoptosis, in normal DCs was significantly decreased by RANKL and anti-Fas mAb. Indeed, the adoptive transfer of RANKL-stimulated DCs resulted in rapid acceleration of autoimmunity in MRL/lpr recipients. These findings indicate that the crosstalk between RANKL and Fas signaling in DCs might control immune tolerance.
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PMID:Crosstalk between RANKL and Fas signaling in dendritic cells controls immune tolerance. 1737 40

In general, oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) cells are relatively resistant to tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL)-mediated apoptosis during culture in vitro. Here, we studied the role of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI 3-K)/Akt in survival and apoptosis of these cells. The PI 3-K inhibitors wortmannin and LY294002 markedly suppressed phosphorylation of Akt and accelerated TRAIL-mediated apoptosis in OSCC cells. Addition of TRAIL to PI 3-K inhibitor-treated cells resulted in caspase-8 activation and loss of mitochondrial membrane potential. Furthermore, inhibitors of caspase-3, -8 and -9 reduced the accelerative effect of PI 3-K inhibitors on TRAIL-mediated apoptosis. These results suggest that the pro-apoptotic effect of PI 3-K inhibitors on TRAIL-mediated apoptosis may contribute to both the extrinsic and intrinsic pathways. Although PI 3-K inhibitors did not affect expression of the TRAIL receptors DR4 and DR5, we observed a marked reduction in expression of cellular FLICE-inhibitory protein (c-FLIP), Bcl-2, cellular inhibitor of apoptosis protein-1 (cIAP-1) and X-linked IAP (XIAP), whereas Bax was up-regulated and no significant difference was observed in expression of Bcl-xL, Bak or cIAP-2. Therefore, the PI 3-K/Akt signaling pathway provides partial regulation of TRAIL-mediated apoptosis in OSCC cells via modulation of c-FLIP, Bcl-2, Bax, cIAP-1 and XIAP expression. These results suggest that PI 3-K inhibitors may represent a novel strategy for overcoming resistance to TRAIL-mediated apoptosis in OSCC cells.
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PMID:Enhanced susceptibility to tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand-mediated apoptosis in oral squamous cell carcinoma cells treated with phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase inhibitors. 1739 18

The Fas/CD95 receptor-ligand system plays an essential role in apoptosis that contributes to secondary damage after spinal cord injury (SCI), but the mechanism regulating the efficiency of FasL/Fas signaling in the central nervous system (CNS) is unknown. Here, FasL/Fas signaling complexes in membrane rafts were investigated in the spinal cord of adult female Fischer rats subjected to moderate cervical SCI and sham operation controls. In sham-operated animals, a portion of FasL, but not Fas was present in membrane rafts. SCI resulted in FasL and Fas translocation into membrane raft microdomains where Fas associates with the adaptor proteins Fas-associated death domain (FADD), caspase-8, cellular FLIP long form (cFLIPL ), and caspase-3, forming a death-inducing signaling complex (DISC). Moreover, SCI induced expression of Fas in clusters around the nucleus in both neurons and astrocytes. The formation of the DISC signaling platform leads to rapid activation of initiator caspase-8 and effector caspase-3, and the modification of signaling intermediates such as FADD and cFLIP(L) . Thus, FasL/Fas-mediated signaling after SCI is similar to Fas expressing Type I cell apoptosis.
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PMID:FasL, Fas, and death-inducing signaling complex (DISC) proteins are recruited to membrane rafts after spinal cord injury. 1751 37

Mesenchymal stem cells have been intensively studied for their potential use in reparative strategies for neurodegenerative diseases and traumatic injuries. We used mesenchymal stem cells (rMSC) from rat bone marrow to evaluate the therapeutic potential after spinal cord injury (SCI). Immunohistochemistry confirmed a large number of apoptotic neurons and oligodendrocytes in caudal segments 2 mm away from the lesion site. Expression of caspase-3 on both neurons and oligodendrocytes after SCI was significantly downregulated by rMSC. Caspase-3 downregulation by rMSC involves increased expression of FLIP and XIAP in the cytosol and inhibition of PARP cleavage in the nucleus. Animals treated with rMSC had higher Basso, Beattie, Bresnahan (BBB) locomotor scoring and better recovery of hind limb sensitivity. Treatment with rMSC had a positive effect on behavioral outcome and histopathological assessment after SCI. The ability of rMSC to incorporate into the spinal cord, differentiate and to improve locomotor recovery hold promise for a potential cure after SCI.
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PMID:Mesenchymal stem cells from rat bone marrow downregulate caspase-3-mediated apoptotic pathway after spinal cord injury in rats. 1756 36

Molecular inhibition of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling is a promising cancer treatment strategy. We examined whether inhibition of EGFR signaling would affect the susceptibility of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) cells to Fas-mediated apoptosis. Treatment of OSCC cells with an anti-EGFR monoclonal antibody, C225, and an EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor, AG1478, which target the extracellular and intracellular domains of the receptor, respectively, inhibited phosphorylation of EGFR and its downstream effector molecule Akt and amplified the induction of Fas-mediated apoptosis. In OSCC cells treated with EGFR inhibitors, Fas-mediated apoptosis was accompanied by caspase-8 activation but not Bid cleavage. Caspase-3 and -8 inhibitors reduced the effect of EGFR inhibitors on Fas-mediated apoptosis in OSCC cells, but a caspase-9 inhibitor did not. These results indicate that the pro-apoptotic activity of EGFR inhibitors in OSCC cells depends on the extrinsic pathway of the caspase cascade. Although EGFR inhibitors did not affect the expression of Fas, the Fas-associated death domain protein, or procaspase-8 in OSCC cells, the inhibition downregulated cellular FLICE-inhibitory protein (c-FLIP). Moreover, knockdown of c-FLIP in HSC-2 cells with a small interfering RNA strongly enhanced Fas-mediated apoptosis. These results suggest that the EGFR signaling pathway may, in part, regulate Fas-mediated apoptosis in OSCC cells through c-FLIP expression.
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PMID:Epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors enhance susceptibility to Fas-mediated apoptosis in oral squamous cell carcinoma cells. 1768 85

Human umbilical cord blood stem cells (hUCB), due to their primitive nature and ability to develop into nonhematopoietic cells of various tissue lineages, represent a potentially useful source for cell-based therapies after spinal cord injury (SCI). To evaluate their therapeutic potential, hUCB were stereotactically transplanted into the injury epicenter, one week after SCI in rats. Our results show the presence of a substantial number of surviving hUCB in the injured spinal cord up to five weeks after transplantation. Three weeks after SCI, apoptotic cells were found especially in the dorsal white matter and gray matter, which are positive for both neuron and oligodendrocyte markers. Expression of Fas on both neurons and oligodendrocytes was efficiently downregulated by hUCB. This ultimately resulted in downregulation of caspase-3 extrinsic pathway proteins involving increased expression of FLIP, XIAP and inhibition of PARP cleavage. In hUCB-treated rats, the PI3K/Akt pathway was also involved in antiapoptotic actions. Further, structural integrity of the cytoskeletal proteins alpha-tubulin, MAP2A&2B and NF-200 has been preserved in hUCB treatments. The behavioral scores of hind limbs of hUCB-treated rats improved significantly than those of the injured group, showing functional recovery. Taken together, our results indicate that hUCB-mediated downregulation of Fas and caspases leads to functional recovery of hind limbs of rats after SCI.
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PMID:Umbilical cord blood stem cell mediated downregulation of fas improves functional recovery of rats after spinal cord injury. 1770 59

The human runt-related transcription factor 3 gene (RUNX3) is considered to be a candidate tumor suppressor gene in gastric carcinoma. However, the role of RUNX3 in the regulation of cell proliferation remains unclear. In the present study, we constructed an adenoviral vector encoding human RUNX3 cDNA under the control of a Tet-responsive promoter (Ad-Tet-FLAG-RUNX3), which regulates the expression of RUNX3 in the presence or absence of doxycycline. A recombinant adenoviral expression vector encoding LacZ (Ad-Tet-LacZ) was used as a negative control. The effect of the transduction of RUNX3 on cell growth was examined using the Tet-On system in a human gastric carcinoma cell line, MKN-1. Exogenous RUNX3 expression was induced successfully by Ad-Tet-FLAG-RUNX3, but not Ad-Tet-LacZ, in the presence of doxycycline in the MKN-1 cells. At 72 h after infection, the proliferative activity in RUNX3-expressing cells was 55% or less of that of the control cells. Flow cytometry revealed that the sub-G(1) peak was increased in cells expressing RUNX3 (34.11%), indicating that the inhibition of cell growth was due to apoptosis, which was confirmed based on Hoechst 33258 staining, the release of cytochrome c from mitochondria into the cytosol, and detection of cleaved caspase-3 by western blotting in MKN-1 cells. Comprehensive analysis using a cDNA microarray showed that RUNX3 upregulated 17 apoptosis-related genes (including FADD, TRAF6, caspase-2, ING1, ING4, Calpain 10, and DNase1) and downregulated 135 apoptosis-related genes (including FLIP, PEA15, TXN2, HSPD1, IKK, and TIAL1) in MKN-1 cells. Pathway analyses to generate functional networks of the genes suggested that promotion of the formation of the death-inducing signaling complex and activation of the mitochondria-mediated pathway were associated with RUNX3-induced apoptosis. In conclusion, our findings suggest that exogenous RUNX3 expression suppressed cell proliferation by inducing apoptosis via the death-receptor mitochondria-mediated pathway in MKN-1 cells.
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PMID:Apoptotic pathway induced by transduction of RUNX3 in the human gastric carcinoma cell line MKN-1. 1795 89


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