UNIPROT:P42574 - FACTA Search

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

The rate of osteoblast apoptosis is a critical determinant of the rate of bone formation. Because the calcium-binding protein calbindin-D(28k) has anti-apoptotic properties in neuronal cells and lymphocytes, we searched for the presence of this protein in osteoblastic cells and investigated whether it can modify their response to proapoptotic signals. Calbindin-D(28K) was expressed at low levels in several osteoblastic cell lines and at high levels in primary cultures of murine osteoblastic cells. Transient transfection of rat calbindin-D(28k) cDNA blocked tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha)-induced apoptosis in osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells, as determined by cell viability and nuclear morphology of cells cotransfected with the green fluorescent protein targeted to the nucleus, whereas transfection of the empty vector had no effect. Calbindin-D(28k) levels in several stably transfected MC3T3-E1 lines were directly related to protection from TNFalpha-induced apoptosis. Purified rat calbindin-D(28k) markedly reduced the activity of caspase-3, a critical molecule for the degradation phase of apoptosis, in a cell-free assay. In addition, cell extracts from MC3T3-E1 cells expressing high levels of calbindin-D(28k) decreased caspase-3 activity, compared with extracts from vector-transfected cells. This effect was apparently unrelated to the calcium binding properties of calbindin, as chelation of calcium by EGTA or addition of other calcium-binding proteins such as calbindin-D(9k), S100, calmodulin, and osteocalcin, did not affect caspase-3 activity. Last, calbindin-D(28k) interacts with the active form of caspase-3 as demonstrated by a GST pull-down assay. These results demonstrate that calbindin-D(28k) is a biosynthetic product of osteoblasts with a role in the regulation of apoptosis. They also reveal that the antiapoptotic properties of calbindin-D(28k) may result not only from calcium buffering but also from the ability of the protein to interact with and to inhibit caspase-3 activity, a property that is independent of its calcium binding capability.
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PMID:Calbindin-D28k is expressed in osteoblastic cells and suppresses their apoptosis by inhibiting caspase-3 activity. 1083 28

Many agents, such as the endoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+) ATPase inhibitor, thapsigargin, or the ionophore, ionomycin, induce apoptosis by transiently elevating [Ca(2+)](i). The role of [Ca(2+)](i) in apoptosis induced by agents that do not immediately increase [Ca(2+)](i), such as 5-FdUr, TGF beta-1, doxorubicin, or radiation, is far more controversial. In the present paper, [Ca(2+)](i) was measured continuously for 120 h. in prostate and bladder cancer cell lines exposed to these four agents: 5-FdUR, TGF beta-1, doxorubicin, or radiation. Each of them consistently induced a delayed [Ca(2+)](i) rise associated with the morphological changes that characterize the execution phase of apoptosis (i.e. rounding, blebbing). This [Ca(2+)](i) rise occurred in two consecutive steps (< or = 10 microM and >10 microM) and resulted from a Ca(2+) influx from the extracellular medium. This delayed supramicromolar [Ca(2+)](i) rise was also observed previously in breast, prostate and bladder cancer cell lines exposed to thapsigargin. This influx regulated transcriptional reprogramming of Gadd153 and is required to activate cytochrome c release, caspase-3 activation, loss of clonal survival and DNA fragmentation. When cells were maintained in low extracellular Ca(2+) media, these phenomena were temporarily delayed but occurred on return to normal Ca(2+) medium. Similarly, apoptosis could be delayed by overexpressing the Ca(2+)-binding proteins, Calbindin-D(28K) and parvalbumin. As this delayed >or = 10 microM [Ca(2+)](i) elevation was observed in a number of cell lines exposed to a variety of different agents, we conclude that such elevation constitutes a key and general event of apoptosis in these malignant cells.
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PMID:A supramicromolar elevation of intracellular free calcium ([Ca(2+)](i)) is consistently required to induce the execution phase of apoptosis. 1197 14

The aim of this study was to investigate the vagal motoneuronal degeneration after right vagotomy using in situ hybridization, RT-PCR, and immunohistochemistry methods. The morphology of the vagal motoneurons in dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus nerve (DMV) and nucleus of ambiguus (NA) after right vagotomy was examined by using Nissl staing and TUNEL. The expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), bcl-2, bax, and caspase-3 in DMV and NA of rats after right vagotomy was studied. Additionally, the involvement of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor-calcium-neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) pathway in the vagal motoneuronal degeneration was addressed by double-immunolabeling analysis of nNOS with NMDAR1 and calbindin D28K in right-vagotomized rats. The neurons in right DMV and NA displayed a darkly stained, shrunken morphology at 1 day and 5 days following right vagotomy as shown by Nissl staining. Quantitative analysis revealed that, at 1 day and 5 days following right vagotomy, the number of neurons in right DMV, but not NA, was significantly reduced in comparison with that of control rats. Occasional TUNEL-positive neurons were detected in right DMV of rat at 1 day after right vagotomy. The expression of iNOS protein and mRNA was absent in DMV and NA of control rats. However, the iNOS mRNA expression was induced bilaterally in DMV and NA at 1 day postoperation and continued to be up-regulated until 5 days after vagotomy as shown by in situ hybridization. Immunohistochemistry analysis also showed the increased expression of iNOS in bilateral DMV and NA of vagotomized rats. RT-PCR analysis revealed the enhanced bcl-2 and reduced bax mRNA levels and subsequent up-regulation of both bcl-2 and bax mRNA in right sides of the vagotomized brainstems at 1 day and 5 days postoperation, respectively. In situ hybridization analysis confirmed the up-regulation of bcl-2 and bax mRNA in right DMV and NA of the rats at 5 days following operation. Immunohistochemistry analysis showed up-regulated Bcl-2 immunoreactivity and undetectable changes in Bax immunoreactivity in DMV and NA of rats at 1 day after vagotomy, whereas enhancement of both Bcl-2 and Bax immunoreactivity was observed at 5 days postoperation. In addition, the caspase-3 mRNA level was elevated ipsilaterally in DMV and NA at 1 day and 5 days following right vagotomy. Double-immunofluorescence analysis showed complete colocalization of nNOS with NMDAR1 and with calbindin in ipsilateral DMV and NA at 10 days following right vagotomy. This study suggests that the signal pathway for NMDAR1-calcium-nNOS and the up-regulation of iNOS in DMV and NA may be involved in the vagal motor neurodgeneration after right vagotomy. Furthermore, our results imply that the apoptosis pathway mediated by Bcl-2, Bax, and caspase-3 may be activated in vagal motoneurons after right vagotomy.
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PMID:Molecular analysis of the vagal motoneuronal degeneration after right vagotomy. 1212 81

The present study was designed to evaluate the time course and manner of Purkinje cell death following a single ethanol dose delivered intragastrically on postnatal day (PN) 4 to rat pups. Analysis included immunolabeling of Purkinje cells with antibody specific for calbindin D28k and counting of Purkinje cells in each lobule of a mid-vermal slice. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling analysis and immunodetection for cleaved (activated) caspase-3 enzyme was used to identify apoptosis, with calbindin D28k co-immunolabeling to identify apoptotic Purkinje cells. Finally, immunodetection for cytochrome c, again with co-labeling using calbindin D28k antibody, identified intracellular release of cytochrome c from the mitochondria into the cytoplasm of Purkinje cells. The data demonstrate that a single dose of ethanol results in a significant and extensive, lobular dependent loss of Purkinje cells within 24 h after administration. Extensive loss in the early developing lobules (I-III, VIII-X) and less to no loss in the later developing lobules (IV-VII) is consistent with prior literature reports on the ethanol-induced effects on Purkinje cells at this age. Clear and consistent evidence of apoptotic Purkinje cells was identified and the pattern was transient in nature. Finally, cytochrome c is released from the mitochondria of Purkinje cells in a time course consistent with the activation of the mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis. These data support the hypothesis that ethanol-induced loss of Purkinje cells involves apoptotic mechanisms. Furthermore, the initiation of apoptosis by ethanol is consistent with ethanol-induced interruptions of Purkinje cell neurotrophic support leading to activation of the mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis.
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PMID:Time course and manner of Purkinje neuron death following a single ethanol exposure on postnatal day 4 in the developing rat. 1220 2

The domain organization of calretinin (CR) was predicted to involve all six EF-hand motifs (labeled I to VI) condensed into a single domain, as characterized for calbindin D28k (Calb), the closest homolog of calretinin. Unperturbed (1)H,(15)N HSQC NMR spectra of a (15)N-labeled calretinin fragment (CR III-VI, residues 100-271) in the presence of the unlabeled complimentary fragment (CR I-II, residues 1-100) show that these fragments do not interact. Size exclusion chromatography and affinity chromatography data support this conclusion. The HSQC spectrum of (15)N-labeled CR is similar to the overlaid spectra of individual (15)N-labeled CR fragments (CR I-II and CR III-VI), also suggesting that these regions do not interact within intact CR. In contrast to these observations, but in accordance with the Calb studies, we observed interactions between other CR fragments: CR I (1-60) with CR II-VI (61-271), and CR I-III (1-142) with CR IV-VI (145-271). We conclude that CR is formed from at least two independent domains consisting of CR I-II and CR III-VI. The differences in domain organization of Calb and CR may explain the specific target interaction of Calb with caspase-3. Most importantly, the comparison of CR and Calb domain organizations questions the value of homologous modeling of EF-hand proteins, and perhaps of other protein families.
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PMID:Calretinin and calbindin D28k have different domain organizations. 1249 41

Although it was originally proposed that the major role of calbindin is to facilitate the vitamin D dependent movement of calcium through the cytosolic compartment of the intestinal or renal cell, we found that calbindin also has a major role in different cell types in protecting against apoptotic cell death. Calbindin, which buffers calcium, can inhibit apoptosis induced by different proapoptotic stimuli. Expression of calbindin-D(28k) in neural cell suppressed the proapoptotic actions of presenilin-1, which is causally linked to familial Alzheimer's disease, by preventing calcium mediated mitochondrial damage and the subsequent release of cytochrome c. Calbindin, by buffering intracellular calcium can also protect HEK 293 kidney cells from parathyroid hormone induced apoptosis that was found to be mediated by a phospholipase C dependent increase in intracellular calcium. In addition, cytokine mediated destruction of pancreatic beta cells can be prevented by calbindin. Induction by cytokines of nitric oxide, peroxynitrite and lipid hydroperoxide production was significantly decreased in calbindin expressing beta cells. Thus, calbindin-D(28k), by inhibiting free radical formation, can protect islet beta cells from autoimmune destruction in type 1 diabetes. Calbindin-D(28k) can also protect against apoptosis in bone cells. Calbindin was found to block apoptosis in osteocytic and osteoblastic cells. Our findings suggest that calbindin is capable of directly inhibiting the activity of caspase-3, a common downstream effector of multiple apoptotic signaling pathways, and that this inhibition results in an inhibition of tumor necrosis factor (TNFalpha) and glucocorticoid induced apoptosis in bone cells. Thus, while part of calbindin's protective effect may result from buffering rises in intracellular calcium, other mechanisms of action, such as inhibition of caspase activity, also play a significant role in the prevention of apoptosis by calbindin-D(28k). These findings have implications for the prevention of degeneration in different cell types and therefore could prove important for the therapeutic intervention of many diseases, including diabetes and osteoporosis.
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PMID:Biological actions and mechanism of action of calbindin in the process of apoptosis. 1522 9

We describe the genetic and neurological features of toppler, a spontaneous autosomal mutation that appeared in a colony of FVB/N mice and that manifests as severe ataxia appearing at around 12 days of age, worsening with age. The lifespan of affected mice is 8-12 months, with occasional mice living longer. Both homozygous males and females are fertile, and females are able to nurture litters. Histological examination of brain revealed no striking abnormalities other than the loss of cerebellar Purkinje cells. The toppler mutation was mapped to mouse chromosome 8, and to assess whether it was novel or a recurrence of a previously described chromosome 8 mouse mutant, toppler mice were crossed with the nervous and tottering mouse mutants. These studies demonstrate that toppler is a unique mouse mutation. Purkinje cell abnormalities in toppler mice were obvious around postnatal day (P) 14, i.e., toppler Purkinje cells already exhibited abnormal morphology. Staining for calbindin, a calcium binding protein enriched in Purkinje cells, showed altered dendritic morphology. Between P14 and P30, dramatic Purkinje cell loss occurred, although there were differences in the degree of Purkinje cell loss in each lobule. At P30, the surviving Purkinje cells expressed zebrin II. From P30 through 6 months, many of the remaining Purkinje cells gradually degenerated. Purkinje cell loss was analyzed by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated biotinylated UTP nick end labeling (TUNEL), and Purkinje cells were TUNEL-positive most abundantly at P21. In addition, Bergmann glia were TUNEL positive at P21, and they expressed activated caspase-3 at earlier time points. Interestingly, despite the apparent death of some Bergmann glia, there was up-regulation of glial fibrillary acidic protein, expressed in astrocytes as well as Bergmann glia. Given the changes in both Purkinje cells and glia in toppler cerebellum, this may be a very useful model in which to investigate the developmental interaction of Purkinje cells and Bergmann glia.
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PMID:The toppler mouse: a novel mutant exhibiting loss of Purkinje cells. 1524 93

Injectable dexamethasone (DXM) is widely used during the postnatal period in premature infants. However, this treatment has been associated with an increased incidence of neuromotor disorders. Few studies have directly addressed the impact of DXM therapy on neuronal differentiation. We used a murine model of postnatal steroid therapy in which mouse pups aged 3 and 4 postnatal days (P) received intraperitoneal injections of 1 mg . kg(-1) . 12 h(-1) of an injectable preparation that contained DXM and sulfites (DXM), pure DXM, or sulfites. The animals were weighed before they were killed on P5, P10, or P21, and their brains were investigated by immunohistochemistry with markers for neuronal differentiation. DXM administration was associated with a 20-30% reduction in body and brain weight gains and in cortical thickness on P5 and P10. gamma-Amino-butyric acid+ (GABA+) interneuron density was significantly increased (+50%) in the cerebral cortex of the animals given injectable DXM on P5 to P21 compared with controls (p < 0.01). In parallel, the density of cortical neurons expressing two interneuron markers (calbindin 28-kD and calretinin) increased significantly. These alterations occurred with injectable DXM but not with pure DXM or sulfites alone. In contrast, none of the study treatments modified the expression of other markers for neuronal transmission or axon myelination. In the animals that were given injectable DXM, cleaved caspase 3 antibody showed increased neuronal cell death, but calbindin antibody did not. In conclusion, in a murine model of postnatal steroid therapy, injectable DXM induced a selective increase in GABAergic neurons in the cerebral cortex.
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PMID:Injectable dexamethasone administration enhances cortical GABAergic neuronal differentiation in a novel model of postnatal steroid therapy in mice. 1555 3

Amphetamine (AMPH) is a psychostimulant whose chronic abuse may cause impairments in attention and memory in humans. These cognitive deficits might be related to neurotoxic effects of the drug. One such toxic effect is the well-described destruction of striatal dopaminergic terminals in mammals. In the present study, we investigated the possibility that AMPH might also cause neuronal apoptosis in the rodent striatum. Administration of a dose of the drug (10 mg/kg, 4 times, every 2 h) that is toxic to dopaminergic terminals resulted in the appearance of striatal cells that were positive for cleaved caspase-3 and for terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated biotin-dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL), observations that are indicative of an ongoing apoptotic process. Dual immunofluorescence staining revealed that cleaved caspase-3-positive cells express calbindin and DARPP-32, but not somatostatin, parvalbumin, or cholinergic markers. In addition, AMPH also caused increased expression of p53 and Bax at both transcript and protein levels; in contrast, Bcl-2 levels were decreased after the AMPH injections. Moreover, Bax knockout mice showed resistance to AMPH-induced apoptotic cell death but not to AMPH-induced destruction of dopaminergic terminals. When taken together, these observations indicate that injections of doses of AMPH that are known to destroy striatal dopamine terminals can also cause apoptotic death of postsynaptic medium spiny projection neurons via mitochondria-dependent mechanisms.
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PMID:Amphetamine induces apoptosis of medium spiny striatal projection neurons via the mitochondria-dependent pathway. 1573 Dec 93

A relatively early and substantial loss of basal forebrain cholinergic neurons is a constant feature of Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, the mechanisms that contribute to the selective vulnerability of these neurons are not fully delineated. In the present series of experiments, we determined the possible contribution of apoptotic processes and other pathologic cascades to the degeneration of the cholinergic neurons of the nucleus basalis of Meynert (NBM) in AD. In contrast to neurons in the frontal cortex which showed prominent DNA fragmentation as detected by the TUNEL method, no DNA fragmentation was observed within the NBM in any of the AD or normal brains. Similarly, immunoreactivity for the apoptotic signals Fas, Fas-ligand, Bax, Bcl-x, caspase-8, caspase-9 and caspase-3 was absent from the NBM of AD and control brains. In contrast, a substantial subpopulation of cholinergic neurons within the NBM in AD displayed prominent immunoreactivity for the apoptotic signal Fas-associated death domain (FADD) in the form of tangles. FADD immunoreactivity was also present in dystrophic neurites. FADD-positive tangle-like structures were localized in neurons which contained immunoreactivity for the cholinergic marker choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) and the low affinity neurotrophin receptor p75NTR. While many of the NBM cholinergic neurons in control brains contained immunoreactivity for the calcium binding protein calbindin-D28K (CB), the NBM neurons in AD displayed a substantial loss of CB immunoreactivity. Importantly, most of FADD-immunoreactive cholinergic neurons were devoid of CB immunoreactivity, and, conversely, most CB-positive cholinergic neurons had no FADD immunoreactivity. FADD immunoreactivity within the basal forebrain was colocalized with phosphorylated tau immunoreactive tangles and dystrophic neurites. In contrast, FADD immunoreactivity did not appear to be related to the primarily diffuse amyloid-beta deposits intermingled between cholinergic neurons in AD NBM. Finally, many CD68-positive microglia were observed surrounding the NBM cholinergic neurons in AD. In conclusion, the findings of the present study indicate that, while the FADD apoptotic signaling pathway may be triggered within the basal forebrain cholinergic neurons in AD, the apoptotic cascade is most likely aborted as no DNA fragmentation was detected and the executioner caspase-3 was not up-regulated within these neurons. The findings also suggest possible relationships between loss of CB, FADD expression and phosphorylation of tau within the basal forebrain cholinergic neurons in AD.
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PMID:Apoptotic signals within the basal forebrain cholinergic neurons in Alzheimer's disease. 1608 17

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