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

Cell death is of broad physiological and pathological importance, making quantification of biochemical events associated with cell demise a high priority for experimental pathology. Fibrosis is a common consequence of tissue injury involving necrotic cell death. Using tissue specimens from experimental mouse models of traumatic brain injury, cardiac fibrosis, and cancer, as well as human tumor specimens assembled in tissue microarray (TMA) format, we undertook computer-assisted quantification of specific immunohistochemical and histological parameters that characterize processes associated with cell death. In this study, we demonstrated the utility of image analysis algorithms for color deconvolution, colocalization, and nuclear morphometry to characterize cell death events in tissue specimens: (a) subjected to immunostaining for detecting cleaved caspase-3, cleaved poly(ADP-ribose)-polymerase, cleaved lamin-A, phosphorylated histone H2AX, and Bcl-2; (b) analyzed by terminal deoxyribonucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling assay to detect DNA fragmentation; and (c) evaluated with Masson's trichrome staining. We developed novel algorithm-based scoring methods and validated them using TMAs as a high-throughput format. The proposed computer-assisted scoring methods for digital images by brightfield microscopy permit linear quantification of immunohistochemical and histochemical stainings. Examples are provided of digital image analysis performed in automated or semiautomated fashion for successful quantification of molecular events associated with cell death in tissue sections.
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PMID:Image analysis algorithms for immunohistochemical assessment of cell death events and fibrosis in tissue sections. 1928 54

Recent evidence from a wide variety of biological systems has indicated important regulatory roles for post-translation histone modifications in cellular processes such as regulation of gene expression, DNA damage response and recombination. Phosphorylation of histone H2AX at serine 139 is a critical event in the response to DNA damage, but the functional implications of this modification are not yet clear. To investigate the role of H2AX phosphorylation we ectopically expressed epitope-tagged H2AX or mutants at the phosphorylation site. GFP-tagged wild type H2AX, H2AX Ser139Ala or H2AX Ser139Glu proteins were efficiently expressed, localizing exclusively to the interphase nucleus and to condensed chromosomes during mitosis. Biochemical fractionation indicated that epitope-tagged H2AX proteins are incorporated into nucleosomes. Expression of H2AX Ser139Ala, which disrupts the phosphorylation site partially suppressed early G(2)/M arrest following ionizing radiation, and cells expressing this mutant were more sensitive to DNA damage. Conversely, expression of H2AX Ser139Glu, designed as phosphorylation mimic, induced a decrease in the number of cells in mitosis in the absence of DNA damage. Interestingly, this decrease induced by H2AX Ser139Glu was independent of the formation of 53BP1-containing foci and was partially suppressed in CHK2-deficient cells, suggesting a role for CHK2 in this process. Further analyses revealed that expression of either mutant lead to apoptosis and induced higher caspase-3/7 activity compared to expression of wild type H2AX. In addition, we also identified Lys119 as a site for ubiquitination that controls H2AX half-life. Phosphorylation of Ser139 and ubiquitination of K119 are not interdependent. Taken together these results demonstrate a role for H2AX Serine 139 phosphorylation in cell cycle regulation and apoptosis, and for Lysine 119 in the control of H2AX turnover.
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PMID:Ectopic expression of histone H2AX mutants reveals a role for its post-translational modifications. 1930 55

Pluripotent human embryonic stem (hES) cells require mechanisms to maintain genomic integrity in response to DNA damage that could compromise competency for lineage-commitment, development, and tissue-renewal. The mechanisms that protect the genome in rapidly proliferating hES cells are minimally understood. Human ES cells have an abbreviated cell cycle with a very brief G1 period suggesting that mechanisms mediating responsiveness to DNA damage may deviate from those in somatic cells. Here, we investigated how hES cells react to DNA damage induced by ionizing radiation (IR) and whether genomic insult evokes DNA repair pathways and/or cell death. We find that hES cells respond to DNA damage by rapidly inducing Caspase-3 and -8, phospho-H2AX foci, phosphorylation of p53 on Ser15 and p21 mRNA levels, as well as concomitant cell cycle arrest in G2 based on Ki67 staining and FACS analysis. Unlike normal somatic cells, hES cells and cancer cells robustly express the anti-apoptotic protein Survivin, consistent with the immortal growth phenotype. SiRNA depletion of Survivin diminishes hES survival post-irradiation. Thus, our findings provide insight into pathways and processes that are activated in human embryonic stem cells upon DNA insult to support development and tissue regeneration.
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PMID:Survival responses of human embryonic stem cells to DNA damage. 1937 64

Recent advances in cell cycle regulation have led to a suggestion of therapeutically targeting cell cycle checkpoint pathways in cancer cells to increase the toxicity of DNA-damaging agents. In this study, we investigate whether knockdowns of checkpoint kinases Chk1 and Chk2 by RNA interfering potentiate the cytotoxicity and abrogate G(2)/M checkpoint induced by DNA-damaging agent lidamycin (LDM) in HCT116 cells with different p53 status. Our results showed that Chk1 knockdown enhanced the cytotoxicity of LDM through abrogating G(2)/M arrest and increasing apoptosis to a greater extent in HCT116 p53(-/-) cells than in p53(wt) cells. Abrogation of LDM-induced G(2)/M arrest by Chk1 knockdown was associated with reducing the inactivated phosphorylations of Cdc25C and Cdc2. LDM-induced gamma-H2AX was increased in cells with Chk1 knockdown, indicating that DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) were enhanced. Furthermore, knockdown of Chk1 also increased LDM-mediated apoptotic cell death in p53 knockout cells with activation of caspase-2 and caspase-3. On the contrary, knockdown of Chk2 had no impact on G(2)/M arrest or apoptosis induced by LDM. Moreover, dual knockdown of Chk1 and Chk2 failed to achieve better efficacy than Chk1 alone. Taken together, we suggest that Chk1 is a potential therapeutic target to sensitize human p53 deficient cancer cells to LDM.
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PMID:Knockdown of Chk1 sensitizes human colon carcinoma HCT116 cells in a p53-dependent manner to lidamycin through abrogation of a G2/M checkpoint and induction of apoptosis. 1950 82

A number of nuclear events occur during apoptosis, including DNA laddering, nuclear lamina breakdown, phosphorylation of histones H2B and histone H2AX, and the tight binding to chromatin of HMGB1 and CAD, the nuclease responsible for DNA laddering. We have performed an epistasis analysis to investigate whether these events cluster together in pathways. We find that all depend directly or indirectly on caspase-3 activation. CAD activation, H2AX phosphorylation and DNA laddering cluster together into a pathway, but all other events appear to be independent of each other downstream of caspase-3, and likely evolved subject to different functional pressures.
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PMID:Several nuclear events during apoptosis depend on caspase-3 activation but do not constitute a common pathway. 1964 21

We previously reported that 1-nitropyrene (1-NP) and 3-nitrofluoranthene (3-NF) elicited apoptotic cell death as well as non-apoptotic programmed cell deaths (PCDs) with paraptotic and necroptotic characteristics, respectively. In the present study, we have further confirmed and extended these findings. Flow cytometric analyses of 1-NP-exposed/3NF-exposed Hepa1c1c7 cells revealed that caspase-3 was only activated in the subpopulation of cells corresponding to that with classic apoptotic morphology. Immunocytochemical analysis indicated that leucocyte elastase inhibitor-derived DNaseII (LEI/L-DNaseII), apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) and endonuclease G (EndoG) were more clearly translocated to the nucleus following 3-NF exposure than after 1-NP. These 3-NF-induced changes in AIF and EndoG translocation were reduced by necrostatin-1, an inhibitor of necroptotic cell death. Both compounds lead to accumulation of lipid droplets and induced DNA damage. Activation of checkpoint kinase (CHK) 1 and H2AX, but not ataxia telangiectasia mutated and CHK2, were observed. Furthermore, inhibition of p53 using pifithrin-alpha reduced the cell death induced by both compounds, suggesting a role of DNA damage/CHK1/p53 pathway in the death process. 1-NP-induced cell death was in addition characterized by increased oxidative damage and intracellular accumulation of Ca(2+). These findings further support the notion that 1-NP elicited apoptotic cell death and PCD with paraptotic characteristics, while 3-NF induced apoptosis and a PCD with necroptotic features.
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PMID:Signalling pathways involved in 1-nitropyrene (1-NP)-induced and 3-nitrofluoranthene (3-NF)-induced cell death in Hepa1c1c7 cells. 1970 35

Hypericum perforatum (St. John's wort) is well-established for its antidepressant activity throughout the world and also various other species within this genus are used in different folk medicines. Hyperforin of St. John's wort inhibited growth of cancer cell lines and the use of hypericin (another compound of H. perforatum) in cancer photodynamic therapy is proposed. Therefore, we investigated the anti-cancer properties of H. adenotrichum Spach (Guttiferae), an endemic species in Turkey called 'kantaron', which is used for wound healing and antiseptic effects. Freeze-dried plant was extracted with petroleum ether, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, and methanol and the bioactivity of these extracts was analysed by proliferation assay, cell death determination, by investigating protein expression profiles specific for cell cycle arrest and apoptosis as well as composition by HPLC. The strongest anti-proliferative activity was determined for the petroleum ether extract with an IpC50 of approximately 5.8 microg/ml medium (referring to 1 mg dried plant) which correlated with cyclin D1 suppression and p21 induction. This extract also induced phosphorylation of H2AX, and activated caspase-3 followed by signature-type cleavage of PARP resulting in approximately 50% apoptosis at 23.2 microg/ml after 24 h of treatment. Neither hyperforin, hypericin, or amentoflavone contributed to these properties. To the best of our knowledge, we report for the first time that the endemic plant H. adenotrichum Spach exhibits potent p53-independent anti-neoplastic properties due to yet unexplored Hypericum constituents.
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PMID:In vitro anti-neoplastic activity of the ethno-pharmaceutical plant Hypericum adenotrichum Spach endemic to Western Turkey. 1972 64

Oxaliplatin, a chemotherapeutic drug, induces DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) and apoptosis in colorectal cancer cells. It has been shown that gamma-H2AX acts as a marker of DSBs. However, the molecular events associated with oxaliplatin-mediated cell cycle arrest and cell death remain unclear. In this study, we investigated the roles of p53 and gamma-H2AX following oxaliplatin treatment, as they are important effector proteins for apoptosis and DSB repair, respectively. Both phosphorylated-p53 (Ser-15) and gamma-H2AX were up-regulated and accumulated in the nuclei of p53-wild type human colorectal cancer HCT116 cells after exposure to oxaliplatin. Concomitantly, oxaliplatin-induced G2/M arrest was associated with a reduction in both cyclin B1 expression and phosphorylated-CDC2 (Thr-161). Release of G2/M arrest by caffeine was accompanied by a decrease in the levels of p53/p21; however, gamma-H2AX levels were unchanged. Furthermore, inhibition of p53 phosphorylation by pifithrin-alpha was sufficient to reduce the oxaliplatin-induced up-regulation of gamma-H2AX and apoptosis. Oxaliplatin-induced gamma-H2AX via a p53-independent pathway but did not cause caspase-3 activation in p53-null HCT116 cells. Interestingly, no changes were observed in the H2AX gene knockdown with regards to oxaliplatin-induced G2/M arrest in p53-wild type and S phase arrest in p53-null HCT116 cells. Taken together, these data indicate that a molecular pathway involving p53, gamma-H2AX and cell cycle arrest plays a pivotal role in the cellular response to oxaliplatin.
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PMID:Oxaliplatin-induced gamma-H2AX activation via both p53-dependent and -independent pathways but is not associated with cell cycle arrest in human colorectal cancer cells. 1973 49

DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) can result in cell death or genetic alterations when cells are subjected to radiation, exposure to toxins, or other environmental stresses. A complex DNA-damage-response pathway is activated to repair the damage, and the inability to repair these breaks can lead to carcinogenesis. One of the earliest responses to DNA DSBs is the phosphorylation of a histone, H2AX, at serine 139 (gamma-H2AX), which can be detected by a fluorescent antibody. A study was undertaken to compare the induction of DNA DSBs in normal (small airway epithelial) cells and cancer cells (A549) after exposure to asbestos (crocidolite), a proven carcinogen, silica, a suspected carcinogen, and titanium dioxide (TiO(2)), an inert particle recently reported to be carcinogenic in animals. The results indicate that crocidolite induced greater DNA DSBs than silica and TiO(2), regardless of cell type. DNA DSBs caused by crocidolite were higher in normal cells than in cancer cells. Silica and TiO(2) induced higher DNA DSBs in cancer cells than in normal cells. The production of reactive oxygen species was found to be highest in cells exposed to crocidolite, followed, in potency, by silica and TiO(2). The generation of reactive oxygen species was higher in normal cells than in cancer cells. Cell viability assay indicated that crocidolite caused the greatest cytotoxicity in both cell types. Apoptosis, measured by caspase 3/7 and poly (ADP-Ribose) polymerase activation, was highest in crocidolite-exposed cells, followed by TiO(2) and silica. The results of this study indicate that crocidolite has a greater carcinogenic potential than silica and TiO(2), judged by its ability to cause sustained genomic instability in normal lung cells.
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PMID:DNA double-strand breaks by asbestos, silica, and titanium dioxide: possible biomarker of carcinogenic potential? 1978 90

One hallmark of apoptosis is DNA degradation that first appears as high molecular weight fragments followed by extensive internucleosomal fragmentation. During apoptosis, the DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK) is activated. DNA-PK is involved in the repair of DNA double-strand breaks (DSB) and its catalytic subunit is associated with the nuclease ARTEMIS. Here, we report that, on initiation of apoptosis in human cells by agents causing DNA DSB or by staurosporine or other agents, ARTEMIS binds to apoptotic chromatin together with DNA-PK and other DSB repair proteins. ARTEMIS recruitment to chromatin showed a time and dose dependency. It required DNA-PK protein kinase activity and was blocked by antagonizing the onset of apoptosis with a pan-caspase inhibitor or on overexpression of the antiapoptotic BCL2 protein. In the absence of ARTEMIS, no defect in caspase-3, poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1, and XRCC4 cleavage or in H2AX phosphorylation was observed and DNA-PK catalytic subunit was still phosphorylated on S2056 in response to staurosporine. However, DNA fragmentation including high molecular weight fragmentation was delayed in ARTEMIS-deficient cells compared with cells expressing ARTEMIS. In addition, ARTEMIS enhanced the kinetics of MLL gene cleavage at a breakage cluster breakpoint that is frequently translocated in acute or therapy-related leukemias. These results show a facilitating role for ARTEMIS at least in early, site-specific chromosome breakage during apoptosis.
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PMID:ARTEMIS nuclease facilitates apoptotic chromatin cleavage. 1980 74


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