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)

Liver fibrosis and cirrhosis may be reversible, possibly through the selective clearance of activated hepatic stellate cells/myofibroblasts by apoptosis. Hepatic stellate cells transdifferentiate into myofibroblast-phenotype cells in culture, a process that recapitulates hepatic stellate cell activation in vivo. Bakuchiol, a prenylated phenolic terpene isolated from the seed of Psoralea corylifolia L. (Leguminosae), reduced activated hepatic stellate cells when treated to rats during liver injury recovery period as demonstrated by alpha-smooth muscle actin immunostaining in rat liver and induced apoptosis in activated hepatic stellate cells/myofibroblasts as demonstrated by DNA fragmentation, activation of caspase-3, release of cytochrome c into the cytoplasm, translocation of Bax into mitochondria, and the proteolytic cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) in vitro. Bakuchiol-induced apoptosis was prevented by z-DEVD-fmk, a specific inhibitor of caspase-3, and z-VAD-fmk, a general caspase inhibitor, suggesting that bakuchiol-induced apoptosis occurs through a caspase-3-dependent pathway in vitro. Bakuchiol treatment stimulated the activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK), c-Jun NH2-terminal protein kinase (JNK), and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) in vitro. Pretreatment with SP600125 attenuated the bakuchiol-induced translocation of Bax into mitochondria, cytochrome c release into the cytosol, caspase-3 activation, and PARP cleavage. In contrast, preincubation with SB203580, a p38 MAPK inhibitor, and U0126, an ERK inhibitor, had no effect on bakuchiol-induced cell death and caspase-3 activity. Taken together, these findings indicate that bakuchiol induces caspase-3-dependent apoptosis through the activation of JNK, followed by Bax translocation into mitochondria in rat liver myofibroblasts.
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PMID:Bakuchiol-induced caspase-3-dependent apoptosis occurs through c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase-mediated mitochondrial translocation of Bax in rat liver myofibroblasts. 1729 78

Garcinol, a polyisoprenylated benzophenone, from the Garcinia indica fruit rind, has been suggested to be an anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer agent. To explore the possible use of this redox-sensitive compound as a colon cancer preventive agent, we investigated the effects of garcinol and its oxidative derivatives, cambogin, garcim-1, and garcim-2, on the growth of HT-29 and HCT-116 colon cancer cells, as well as IEC-6 and INT-407 normal immortalized intestinal cells. Garcinol and its derivatives showed potent growth-inhibitory effects on all intestinal cells, showing IC50 of 3.2-21.4 microM after a 3-day treatment. Garcim-1 exhibited the strongest effect with IC50 of 3.2-5.9 microM. Garcinol was more effective in inhibiting growth of cancer cells than that of normal immortalized cells. Flow-cytometric analysis showed increased sub-G1 cells by treatment with garcinol and cambogin. Induction of apoptosis by garcinol and cambogin (2-10 microM) was also observed based on caspase-3 activation and enhanced annexin V staining. The inhibitory effect of garcinol on cell growth was much more pronounced in the absence of fetal bovine serum (FBS), decreasing IC50 to 1.5 from 11.8 microM in 72-h incubations and to 3 from 38 microM in 24-h incubations, possibly due to the binding of garcinol to FBS, which markedly reduced cellular levels of garcinol. Under these conditions, redox reactions seem not to be involved in the inhibition. In contrast to the inhibitory effect, low concentrations (<1 microM) of garcinol and cambogin stimulated the growth of both normal and cancer cells by 10-100%, and the activity seemed to be mediated by reactive oxygen species. In the presence of superoxide dismutase/catalase or N-acetyl cysteine, low concentrations of garcinol (<1 microM) decreased cell growth. Garcinol (0.5-1 microM) also increased the phosphorylation of extracellular signal-related kinase 1/2 and AKT and the level of survivin, and the effects were abolished in the presence of superoxide dismutase/catalase. Our results indicate that garcinol and its derivatives can inhibit intestinal cell growth, but low concentrations of garcinol can stimulate cell growth. It remains to be determined whether the currently observed stimulatory and inhibitory effects of garcinol on colon cell growth occur in vivo.
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PMID:Effects of garcinol and its derivatives on intestinal cell growth: Inhibitory effects and autoxidation-dependent growth-stimulatory effects. 1738 2

Quinolone(s) (QNs) is widely used in infection therapy due to its good antimicrobial characteristics. However, QNs-induced arthropathy of immature animals has led to restrictions on the therapeutic use of these antimicrobial agents. The exact mechanism(s) of QNs-induced chondrotoxicity remain unknown. In the present study, we investigated the possible mechanism of ofloxacin (one typical QNs)-induced injuries of chondrocytes. Juvenile rabbit joint chondrocytes cultured in alginate microspheres were incubated with ofloxacin at concentrations of 0, 2, 5, 10, 20, and 40 microg/ml for up to 96 h. Concentration of 10 microg/ml ofloxacin induced apoptosis of chondrocyte with visible apoptotic signs, including degradation of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase, caspase-3 activation, and DNA ladder formation. Furthermore, extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (phospho-ERK1/2) and growth factor receptor-bound protein 2 (Grb2) were significantly reduced, and similar changes were also observed in the beta(1)-integrin receptor as assessed by immunoblotting. However, the mRNA level of beta(1)-integrin obtained from reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction remained unchanged. Results of beta(1)-integrin immunoprecipitation have also shown that beta(1)-integrin did not interact with activated intracellular signaling proteins. In addition, ofloxacin did not induce apoptosis and decrease beta(1)-integrin expression in chondrocytes supplemented with Mg(2+), and the ofloxacin-induced apoptosis was caspase-8-dependent, inhibition of which did not affect the expression mode of phospho-ERK1/2 and beta(1)-integrin. Our results demonstrate that ofloxacin affects beta(1)-integrin receptor functions and the ERK mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway, causing caspase-8-dependent apoptosis after exposure of 48 h.
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PMID:Apoptosis in microencapsulated juvenile rabbit chondrocytes induced by ofloxacin: role played by beta(1)-integrin receptor. 1740 Aug 90

Weight control by exercise and dietary calorie restriction (DCR) has been associated with reduced cancer risk, but the underlying mechanisms are not well understood. This study was designed to compare the effects of weight loss by increasing physical activity or decreasing calorie intake on tumor promoter-induced Ras-MAPK and PI3K-Akt pathways. SENCAR mice were randomly assigned to one of the following five groups: ad libitum-fed sedentary control, ad libitum-fed exercise (AL+Exe), exercise but pair-fed at the amount as controls (PF+Exe), 20% DCR, and 20% DCR plus exercise (DCR+Exe). After 10 weeks, body weight and body fat significantly decreased in the groups of DCR, DCR+Exe, and PF+Exe when compared with the controls. AL+Exe did not induce weight loss due to, at least in part, increased food intake. Plasma IGF-1 levels reduced significantly in DCR and DCR+Exe but not PF+Exe. The protein H-Ras and activated Ras-GTP significantly decreased in TPA-induced skin tissues of DCR-fed mice but not exercised mice. PI3K protein, phosphoserine Akt, and p42/p44-MAPK were reduced, however, in both DCR and PF+Exe groups. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated that the significantly reduced H-Ras occurred in subcutaneous fat cells, while the reduced PI3K and PCNA took place only in the epidermis. Plasma leptin decreased in PF+Exe, DCR, and DCR+Exe, while the caspase-3 activity increased in DCR+Exe only. Genomic microarray analysis further indicated that the expression of 34 genes relevant to PI3K and 31 genes to the MAPK pathway were significantly regulated by either DCR or PF+Exe treatments. The reduced PI3K in PF+Exe mice was partially reversed by IGF-1 treatment. The overall results of this study demonstrated that DCR abrogated both Ras and PI3K signaling, which might inhibit TPA-induced proliferation and anti-apoptosis. Selective inhibition of PI3K by PF+Exe but not AL+Exe seems more attributable to the magnitude of the caloric deficit and/or body fat loss than diet versus exercise comparison.
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PMID:Effects of dietary calorie restriction or exercise on the PI3K and Ras signaling pathways in the skin of mice. 1764 68

Constitutive activation of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway in human cancers is often associated with mutational activation of BRAF or RAS. MAPK/ERK kinase 1/2 kinases lie downstream of RAS and BRAF and are the only acknowledged activators of ERK1/2, making them attractive targets for therapeutic intervention. AZD6244 (ARRY-142886) is a potent, selective, and ATP-uncompetitive inhibitor of MAPK/ERK kinase 1/2. In vitro cell viability inhibition screening of a tumor cell line panel found that lines harboring BRAF or RAS mutations were more likely to be sensitive to AZD6244. The in vivo mechanisms by which AZD6244 inhibits tumor growth were investigated. Chronic dosing with 25 mg/kg AZD6244 bd resulted in suppression of growth of Colo-205, Calu-6, and SW-620 xenografts, whereas an acute dose resulted in significant inhibition of ERK1/2 phosphorylation. Increased cleaved caspase-3, a marker of apoptosis, was detected in Colo-205 and Calu-6 but not in SW-620 tumors where a significant decrease in cell proliferation was detected. Chronic dosing of AZD6244 induced a morphologic change in SW-620 tumors to a more differentiated phenotype. The potential of AZD6244 in combination with cytotoxic drugs was evaluated in mice bearing SW-620 xenografts. Treatment with tolerated doses of AZD6244 and either irinotecan or docetaxel resulted in significantly enhanced antitumor efficacy relative to that of either agent alone. These results indicate that AZD6244 has potential to inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis and differentiation, but the response varies between different xenografts. Moreover, enhanced antitumor efficacy can be obtained by combining AZD6244 with the cytotoxic drugs irinotecan or docetaxel.
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PMID:AZD6244 (ARRY-142886), a potent inhibitor of mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase kinase 1/2 kinases: mechanism of action in vivo, pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic relationship, and potential for combination in preclinical models. 1769 18

Metastasis to the bone is seen in 56% of patients with neuroblastoma and contributes to morbidity and mortality. Using a murine model of bone invasion, we have reported previously that neuroblastoma cells invade the bone by activating osteoclasts. Here, we investigated the antitumoral and antiosteolytic activities of zoledronic acid, a bisphosphonate inhibitor of osteoclasts, in combination with cytotoxic chemotherapy in our model. We first show that zoledronic acid given at the same time (early prevention) or 2 weeks after tumor cell injection (late prevention) significantly prevented the formation of severe osteolytic lesions. It also prevented formation of these lesions when given 4 weeks after tumor cell injection (intervention) when combined with chemotherapy including cyclophosphamide and topotecan. The combination of zoledronic acid + cyclophosphamide/topotecan also significantly improved survival (P < 0.001). In mice treated with zoledronic acid, we observed a marked inhibition of osteoclasts inside the bone associated with a decrease in tumor cell proliferation and increase in tumor cell apoptosis. In vitro, zoledronic acid inhibited neuroblastoma cell proliferation and induced apoptosis, and these effects were significantly enhanced by the addition of 4-hydroxyperoxycyclophosphamide (4-HC). The proapoptotic effect of zoledronic acid and zoledronic acid in combination with 4-HC on tumor cells was associated with an increase in caspase-3 activity and a decrease in phosphorylated Bcl-2, Bcl-2, and Bcl-X(L) expression. Zoledronic acid inhibited the association of Ras with the plasma membrane and activation of c-Raf, Akt, and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2. The data indicate that zoledronic acid, in addition to inhibiting osteoclasts, is active against tumor cells and suggest that zoledronic acid in combination with cytotoxic chemotherapy may be effective in children with neuroblastoma that has metastasized to the bone.
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PMID:The activity of zoledronic Acid on neuroblastoma bone metastasis involves inhibition of osteoclasts and tumor cell survival and proliferation. 1790 43

There is growing interest in the potential beneficial effects of flavonoids in the aging and diseased brain. We have investigated the potential of the flavanone hesperetin and two of its metabolites, hesperetin-7-O-beta-d-glucuronide and 5-nitro-hesperetin, to inhibit oxidative stress-induced neuronal apoptosis. Exposure of cortical neurons to hydrogen peroxide led to the activation of apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1 via its de-phosphorylation at Ser963, the phosphorylation of c-jun N-terminal kinase and c-Jun (Ser73) and the activation of caspase 3 and caspase 9. Whilst hesperetin glucuronide failed to exert protection, both hesperetin and 5-nitro-hesperetin were effective at preventing neuronal apoptosis via a mechanism involving the activation/phosphorylation of both Akt/protein kinase B and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1 and 2 (ERK1/2). Protection against oxidative injury and the activation of Akt and ERK1/2 followed a bell-shaped response and was most apparent at 100 nmol/L concentrations. The activation of ERK1/2 and Akt by flavanones led to the inhibition of the pro-apoptotic proteins, apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1, by phosphorylation at Ser83 and Bad, by phosphorylation at both Ser136 and Ser112 and to the inhibition of peroxide-induced caspase 9 and caspase 3 activation. Thus, flavanones may protect neurons against oxidative insults via the modulation of neuronal apoptotic machinery.
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PMID:Activation of pro-survival Akt and ERK1/2 signalling pathways underlie the anti-apoptotic effects of flavanones in cortical neurons. 1796 Dec 1

Activation and expansion of interstitial fibroblasts and myofibroblasts play an essential role in the evolution of renal fibrosis. After obstructive injury, mice lacking tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA) have fewer myofibroblasts and less interstitial fibrosis than wild-type controls. This suggests that tPA controls the size of the fibroblast/myofibroblast population in vivo, and this study sought to determine the underlying mechanism. In vitro, tPA inhibited staurosporine or H(2)O(2)-induced caspase-3 activation, prevented cellular DNA fragmentation, and suppressed the release of cytochrome C from mitochondria into the cytosol in a rat interstitial fibroblast cell line (NRK-49F). tPA also protected TGF-beta1-activated myofibroblasts from apoptosis. This antiapoptotic effect of tPA was independent of its protease activity but required its membrane receptor, the LDL receptor-related protein 1 (LRP-1). Deletion or knockdown of LRP-1 abolished tPA-mediated cell survival, whereas re-introduction of an LRP-1 minigene in a mouse LRP-1-deficient fibroblast cell line (PEA-13) restored the cytoprotective ability of tPA. tPA triggered a cascade of survival signaling involving extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (Erk1/2), p90RSK, and phosphorylation of Bad. Blockade of Erk1/2 activation abrogated the antiapoptotic effect of tPA, whereas expression of constitutively active MEK1 promoted cell survival similar to tPA. In vivo, compared with wild-type controls, apoptosis of interstitial myofibroblasts was increased in tPA(-/-) mice after obstructive injury, and myofibroblasts were completely depleted 4 wk after relief of the obstruction. Together, these findings illustrate that tPA is a survival factor that prevents apoptosis of renal interstitial fibroblasts and myofibroblasts through an LRP-1-, Erk1/2-, p90RSK-, and Bad-dependent mechanism.
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PMID:tPA protects renal interstitial fibroblasts and myofibroblasts from apoptosis. 1819 3

2-Chloro-2'-deoxyadenosine (CdA; cladribine) is a chemotherapeutic agent used in the treatment of certain leukemias. However, the signalling events that govern CdA-mediated cytotoxicity in leukemia cells remain unclear. We show here that CdA treatment caused Jurkat human T leukemia cells to die via apoptosis in a dose- and time-dependent fashion. Bcl-2 overexpression protected Jurkat T leukemia cells from CdA-induced apoptosis and loss of mitochondrial transmembrane potential (Delta Psi m). Furthermore, mitochondria that were isolated from Jurkat T leukemia cells and then exposed to CdA showed a loss of Delta Psi m, indicating that CdA directly compromised outer mitochondrial membrane integrity. CdA treatment of Jurkat T leukemia cells resulted in the activation of caspase-3, -8, and -9, while inhibition of these caspases prevented the CdA-induced loss of Delta Psi m, as well as DNA fragmentation. In addition, caspase-3 inhibition prevented caspase-8 activation while caspase-8 inhibition prevented caspase-9 activation. Death receptor signalling was not involved in CdA-induced apoptosis since cytotoxicity was not affected by FADD-deficiency or antibody neutralization of either Fas ligand or tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL). Taken together, these data suggested that CdA-induced apoptosis in Jurkat T leukemia cells was mediated via a caspase-3-dependent mitochondrial feedback amplification loop. CdA treatment also increased p38 mitogen-activated protein (MAPK) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1 and 2 (ERK1/2) phosphorylation in Jurkat T leukemia cells. Although ERK1/2 inhibition did not affect CdA-mediated cytotoxicity, inhibition of p38 MAPK had an enhancing effect, which suggested a cytoprotective function for p38 MAPK. Agents that inhibit p38 MAPK might therefore increase the effectiveness of CdA-based chemotherapy.
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PMID:2-Chloro-2'-deoxyadenosine-induced apoptosis in T leukemia cells is mediated via a caspase-3-dependent mitochondrial feedback amplification loop. 1849 95

The purpose of the study was to investigate the antitumor effects of Isatin and the related mechanism. Human neuroblastoma cells (SH-SY5Y) were exposed to Isatin at different concentrations for 48 h. Apoptotic features were demonstrated by means of nuclei staining with Hoechst 33258 and flow cytometry with propidium iodide (PI). Expressions of Bcl-2, Bax and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) mRNA were analyzed via RT-PCR. Expressions of Bcl-2, Bax proteins and phosphorylated extracellular signal regulated protein kinases (ERKs, p42/p44) were analyzed via Western blot. Activation of caspase-3 was assayed by flow cytometry with anti-active caspase-3-McAb-PE. VEGF protein was determined by ELISA kits. And the results showed that apoptosis of SH-SY5Y cells were induced by Isatin in a dose-dependent manner. Expressions of Bcl-2, VEGF mRNA and Bcl-2, VEGF proteins were down-regulated, while expressions of Bax mRNA and Bax protein were not changed obviously. Expression of phosphorylated ERKs decreased, but the level of activated caspase-3 increased after treatment of Isatin. These results suggest that Isatin promotes the apoptosis of neuroblastoma cells, therefore, it might be a potential candidate for the treatment of neuroblastoma.
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PMID:Antitumor effects of Isatin on human neuroblastoma cell line (SH-SY5Y) and the related mechanism. 1856 13


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