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)

The transcription factor nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) plays a pivotal role in the coordinated transactivation of cytokine and adhesion molecule genes involved in endothelial activation. Although recent reports have documented the contribution of NF-kappaB to apoptosis, it is still controversial. Especially, the role of NF-kappaB in endothelial apoptosis is largely unknown. Hypoxia significantly induced human aortic endothelial cell death and apoptosis in a time-dependent manner (P<0.01), accompanied by NF-kappaB activation. Decrease in total cell number and increase in apoptotic cells induced by hypoxia were significantly attenuated by NF-kappaB decoy, but not by scrambled decoy, oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs) (P<0.01). Increase in DNA fragmentation induced by hypoxia was also significantly inhibited by NF-kappaB decoy ODNs as compared with scrambled decoy ODNs (P<0.01). Moreover, transfection of NF-kappaB decoy ODNs resulted in a significant decrease in caspase-3-like activity, which is a common pathway for apoptosis, compared with scrambled decoy ODNs. Importantly, transfection of NF-kappaB decoy ODNs significantly increased protein of bcl-2, an inhibitor of apoptosis, and did not alter bax, a promoter of apoptosis, thereby resulting in a significant increase in the ratio of bcl-2 to bax (P<0.01). bcl-2 mRNA was also decreased by hypoxia, whereas transfection of NF-kappaB decoy ODNs significantly attenuated decrease in bcl-2 mRNA. These results demonstrate that activation of NF-kappaB by hypoxia induced endothelial apoptosis in a bcl-2-dependent manner. The importance of NF-kappaB in endothelial apoptosis was confirmed by the observation that pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate, a potent NF-kappaB inhibitor, prevented endothelial apoptosis, caspase 3-like activity, and bcl-2 downregulation induced by hypoxia. To test this hypothesis in vivo, we transfected NF-kappaB decoy ODNs into rat intact carotid artery after reperfusion injury. Reperfusion injury was associated with a significant increase in endothelial apoptosis at 24 hours, whereas NF-kappaB decoy ODN treatment markedly decreased terminal deoxynucleotidyltransferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL)-positive endothelial cells at 24 hours after reperfusion (P<0.01). Here, using synthetic double-stranded DNA with high affinity for NF-kappaB as a decoy approach, we demonstrated that activation of NF-kappaB by hypoxia caused aortic endothelial cell death and apoptosis through the suppression of bcl-2. NF-kappaB-mediated endothelial apoptosis induced by hypoxia may be involved in the pathogenesis of endothelial dysfunction observed in cardiovascular ischemic diseases.
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PMID:Hypoxia-induced endothelial apoptosis through nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB)-mediated bcl-2 suppression: in vivo evidence of the importance of NF-kappaB in endothelial cell regulation. 1080 70

Primary biliary cirrhosis is characterized by the immune-mediated, progressive destruction of interlobular bile ducts. Lymphoid cells migrate into the biliary epithelial layer through integrin alpha(4)/fibronectin interaction and are responsible for chronic destructive cholangitis. The bile ducts express intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and vascular cellular adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), and infiltrating lymphocytes express LFA1 and VLA4, facilitating their interaction. Epithelioid granulomas contain foamy cells ingesting biliary lipids, and CD1d was detectable in epithelioid granulomas, suggesting that the biliary substance(s) which are leaked is a trigger for chronic destructive cholangitis. Apoptotic biliary destruction is brought about by antigen-specific and non-specific reactions. Shrunken biliary epithelial cells with pyknotic nuclei positive for terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate nick-end labelling (TUNEL) may reflect apoptotic processes. Increased expression of caspase-3 and -8 with DNA fragmentation factor on the bile ducts may reflect molecular events during apoptosis, and down-regulation of Bcl-2 of biliary epithelial cells seems to facilitate apoptosis. Multiple factors, particularly the Fas system, are stimuli of apoptosis. Anoikis with decreased biliary expression of integrin 6, a ligand for laminin, may also be involved in biliary epithelial apoptosis.
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PMID:Destruction of bile ducts in primary biliary cirrhosis. 1097 14

Apoptosis of vascular endothelial cells (VECs) and concomitant proliferation of the underlying vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) in large arteries are the key features of atherosclerosis and restenosis. However, the mechanisms underlying endothelial cell death and abnormal smooth muscle cell proliferation during the development of vascular lesions remain unclear. We have previously demonstrated that treatment with inhibitors of the aldehyde-metabolizing enzyme and aldose reductase (AR) attenuates restenosis of balloon-injured rat carotid arteries. The inhibition of AR also prevents the apoptosis of VECs induced by the tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha). Apoptosis of the VECs was determined by the incorporation of [3H]-thymidine and the activation of caspase-3. Stimulation of the VECs with TNF-alpha led to an increase in the DNA-binding activity of the transcription factor, nuclear factor-kappa binding protein (NF-kappaB) and the induction of the adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1. Treatment of VECs with the AR inhibitor, tolrestat, prevented the activation of NF-kappaB and diminished ICAM-1 induction stimulated by TNF-alpha. These results indicate an obligatory requirement of AR activity in the transduction of intracellular signaling initiated by the ligation of the TNF-alpha receptors leading to the activation of NF-kappaB. Although the specific signaling events interrupted by AR inhibition remain unknown, our results suggest that product(s) of AR catalysis may be essential for NF-kappaB activation. These observations could form the basis of future investigations into the therapeutic utility of AR inhibitors in preserving endothelial function and integrity during atherosclerosis and diabetes.
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PMID:Role of aldose reductase in TNF-alpha-induced apoptosis of vascular endothelial cells. 1260 46

The CEACAM1 cell adhesion molecule is a member of the carcinoembryonic antigen family. In the mouse, four distinct isoforms are generated by alternative splicing. These encode either two or four immunoglobulin domains linked through a transmembrane domain to a cytoplasmic domain that encompasses either a short 10-amino acid tail or a longer one of 73 amino acids. Inclusion of exon 7, well conserved in evolution, generates the long cytoplasmic domain. A potential caspase recognition site in mouse, rat, and human CEACAM1-L also becomes available within the peptide encoded by exon 7. We used CEACAM1-L-transfected mouse colon carcinoma CT51 cells treated with three different apoptotic agents to study its fate during cell death. We found that CEACAM1-L is cleaved resulting in rapid degradation of most of its 8-kDa cytoplasmic domain. Caspase-mediated cleavage was demonstrated using purified recombinant caspases. The long cytoplasmic domain was cleaved specifically by caspase-3 in vitro but not by caspase-7 or -8. Moreover cleavage of CEACAM1-L in apoptotic cells was blocked by addition of a selective caspase-3 inhibitor to the cultures. Using point and deletion mutants, the conserved DQRD motif in the membrane-proximal cytoplasmic domain was identified as a caspase cleavage site. We also show that once CEACAM1-L is caspase-cleaved it becomes a stronger adhesion molecule than both the shorter and the longer expressing isoforms.
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PMID:The cell adhesion molecule CEACAM1-L is a substrate of caspase-3-mediated cleavage in apoptotic mouse intestinal cells. 1263 8

This study demonstrates that in human osteosarcoma cells treatment with 3-aminobenzamide (3-AB), a potent inhibitor of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), induces morphological and biochemical features of differentiation, the duration of which depends on whether or not the normal RB gene is expressed. In Saos-2 cells expressing a non-functional Rb protein, 3-AB treatment induced the formation of transient, short dendritic-like protrusions. In RB-transfected-Saos-2 cells (a clone previously generated in our laboratory that shows stable expression of wild-type Rb protein), 3-AB induced marked and prolonged changes with the formation of long dendritic-like protrusions and the appearance of stellate (osteocyte-like) cells. In MG-63 cells producing a wild-type Rb protein, 3-AB treatment had more marked effects, with a larger number of cells assuming the stellate appearance of osteocytes, which were connected to each other via junctions resembling small channels. Regardless of cell type, at some point after 3-AB treatment the differentiative attempt failed and the cells died. Death was apoptotic, as demonstrated by chromatin condensation and fragmentation, specific cleavage of PARP and Lamin-B, processing of caspase-3 and the appearance of Bax immunoreactive species. Enzymatic assay and RT-PCR of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) - an enzyme whose levels markedly decrease when osteoblasts undergo terminal differentiation into osteocytes - showed that 3-AB treatment markedly lowered ALP expression. Simultaneously, 3-AB treatment markedly increased the expression of CD44, a transmembrane multifunctional adhesion molecule and sensitive marker of osteocytic differentiation. This study hypothesizes a cross-talk between pRb and PARP and suggests that PARP may be a useful target for anticancer drugs.
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PMID:The effect of 3-aminobenzamide, inhibitor of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase, on human osteosarcoma cells. 1461 22

Normal endothelial and epithelial cells undergo apoptosis when cell adhesion and spreading are disrupted, implying a critical role of focal adhesions in cell survival. Cten is a focal adhesion molecule of the tensin family. In contrast to other tensins, cten expression is limited to very few tissues, such as the prostate, and only in epithelial cells. Here, we have explored the potential roles of cten in apoptosis. We found cten was cleaved during apoptosis induced by staurosporine in normal prostate epithelial cells. By using recombinant caspases and site-directed mutagenesis, we have identified caspase-3 as the major protease to digest cten at the DSTD(570 downward arrow)S site. The biological relevance of cten-cleaved fragments was demonstrated by cells ectopically expressing these fragments. Cten fragment (residues 571-715) containing the phosphotyrosine-binding domain significantly reduced the growth rate. Detection of cleaved poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase and annexin binding in cells expressing cten (571-715) indicated that a fraction of cells underwent apoptosis. These results demonstrate that cten is a target of caspase-3 and the resultant fragments could further promote apoptosis.
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PMID:Cleavage of cten by caspase-3 during apoptosis. 1580 67

We have identified a novel glycoprotein from Urginea indica bulbs with potent in vivo antitumor activity against growth of an ascites tumor, mouse mammary carcinoma. In this paper we report characterization of a 29 kDa glycoprotein from U. indica and demonstrate the mechanism of antiangiogenic and proapoptotic activity. N-terminal sequence of the high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) pure glycoprotein showed sequence homology to an extent of 40-50% with known angiogenesis inhibitor and apoptosis-inducing protein from C. elegans and G. gallus respectively. Our results on antiangiogenic property of the glycoprotein include inhibition of in vivo angiogenesis assays, decreased micro vessel density count and CD31 antigen staining in 29 kDa glycoprotein treated mice peritoneum. In vitro inhibition of vascular endothelial growth factor induced proliferation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) by the glycoprotein further supports its antiangiogenic activity. The mechanism of antiangiogenesis involved inhibition of translocation of nuclear factor kappa B to the nucleus resulting in decreased expression of vascular endothelial growth factor gene as is demonstrated by our results on quantification of vascular endothelial growth factor levels in the glycoprotein treated tumor bearing mice. Our results on activation of Caspase-3 with concomitant translocation of caspase activated DNase to the tumor cell nuclei resulting in DNA fragmentation induced by the glycoprotein in vivo clearly demonstrated a parallel proapoptotic activity of the glycoprotein.
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PMID:Antiangiogenic and proapoptotic activity of a novel glycoprotein from U. indica is mediated by NF-kappaB and Caspase activated DNase in ascites tumor model. 1621 5

Paclitaxel is a microtubule-stabilizing and apoptosis-inducing drug that is commonly used to treat metastatic breast cancer, although the mechanism of paclitaxel-induced apoptosis remains incompletely understood. Furthermore, adhesion molecule expression is attenuated on mouse mastocytoma and human leukemia cells that survive short-term culture in the presence of paclitaxel. In the present study we show that MDA-MB-435 human breast carcinoma cells that survived culture for 72 h in the presence of submaximal cytotoxic concentrations of paclitaxel (0.02 and 0.01 microg/ml) showed decreased expression of the adhesion molecule ICAM-1. Paclitaxel treatment of MDA-MB-435 cells was associated with the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), dissipation of mitochondrial transmembrane potential, and the activation of caspase-3. The antioxidant glutathione protected MDA-MB-435 cells from paclitaxel-induced cytotoxicity and reduced ICAM-1 expression. In addition, a selective inhibitor of caspase-3 (Z-DEVD-FMK), as well as a pan-caspase inhibitor (Z-VAD-FMK), partially prevented the decrease in ICAM-1 expression observed following paclitaxel treatment, but did not protect against paclitaxel-induced cytotoxicity. We conclude that the paclitaxel-induced reduction in ICAM-1 expression by MDA-MB-435 breast carcinoma cells is both ROS- and caspase-dependent, whereas paclitaxel-induced cytotoxicity is ROS-dependent and does not involve caspases. Decreased ICAM-1 expression by breast carcinoma cells that survive paclitaxel treatment may negatively impact on cytotoxic lymphocyte-mediated destruction of paclitaxel-resistant breast cancer cells in the context of chemo-immunotherapy or chemo-adoptive immunotherapy.
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PMID:Contribution of reactive oxygen species and caspase-3 to apoptosis and attenuated ICAM-1 expression by paclitaxel-treated MDA-MB-435 breast carcinoma cells. 1627 28

Hypomagnesemia, which is frequently observed in patients treated with calcineurin inhibitors to prevent rejection after allogeneic transplantation, has been associated with a faster rate of decline in allograft function. The effect of hypomagnesemia on lung allograft has not been reported yet. In our model of isolated mouse lung, we have evaluated the early effects of allogeneic lung perfusion with blood from magnesium (Mg)-deficient mice for 3 h on lung activation and remodelling, compared to isogeneic perfusion. Hypomagnesemia (0.21+/-0.07 mmol Mg(2+)/l) was observed in blood from Mg-deficient mice, but no inflammatory pattern. The mRNA level of the intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1, but neither of the vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM)-1, nor of the cytokines tumor necrosis factor (TNF)alpha and interleukin (IL)-2, was enhanced (p<0.05). Although caspase-3 mRNA was transiently enhanced, no apoptotic cells were evidenced in lung tissues even after 3 h. Using cDNA array, we found that the genes encoding RANKL, RANK, TNFR2, NFATX, IL-1R2, IL-6R gp130, SOCS3, PDGFRB, P63, CSF3R, CXCL1, CXCL5, CX3CL1, CSF1, which are involved in inflammation and apoptosis regulation, were markedly up-regulated in allogeneic conditions. Our results support a limited allogeneic activation and an early stage of the inflammatory process in lung, at the time of inflammatory cell recruitment without lung tissue remodelling, as a result of hypomagnesemia. These findings suggest that cyclosporine-related hypomagnesemia, observed in most of the transplanted patients, does not constitute an additional risk for lung allograft outcome.
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PMID:Allogeneic activation is attenuated in a model of mouse lung perfused with magnesium-deficient blood. 1713 54

Multiple myeloma (MM) is still an incurable disease and adhesion of MM cells to bone marrow stromal cells is one of the hallmarks of the disease. Lymphocyte function associated antigen 1 (LFA-1) is an adhesion molecule that mediates lymphocyte adhesion, but its role in MM is only poorly understood. The aim of the presented study was to improve knowledge on LFA-1 and associated pathways in MM for the development of molecular targeted therapies. We demonstrate that LFA-1 is expressed in U266, RPMI-8226, OPM-2, and NCI-H929 MM cell lines and in primary cells of eight tested patients. The LFA-1 inhibitor LFA878 induces apoptosis in all four cell lines as revealed by annexin V staining and caspase 3 cleavage. Apoptosis is not hampered by adhesion to stromal cells. Additionally, the soluble ligand, intracellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1), which is increased in the serum of MM patients, does not protect from melphalan-induced apoptosis. Western blots demonstrate downregulation of FAK, PI3-K, and Akt upon LFA878 treatment. Additionally, sequential inhibition of the pathway by simultaneous application of Src family kinase or PI3-K inhibitors significantly increases LFA878 induced apoptosis. We conclude that LFA-1/FAK/PI3-K/Akt is a survival pathway in MM and that targeted inhibition may provide new therapeutic options.
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PMID:Inhibition of lymphocyte function associated antigen 1 by LFA878 induces apoptosis in multiple myeloma cells and is associated with downregulation of the focal adhesion kinase/phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase/Akt pathway. 1778 31


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