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)

After an ischemic stroke, neurons in the core are rapidly committed to die, whereas neuron death in the slowly developing penumbra is more amenable to therapeutic intervention. Microglia activation contributes to delayed inflammation, but because neurotoxic mechanisms in the penumbra are not well understood, we developed an in vitro model of microglia activation and propagated neuron killing. To recapitulate inflammatory triggers in the core, microglia were exposed to oxygen glucose-deprived neurons and astrocytes. To model the developing penumbra, the microglia were washed and allowed to interact with healthy naive neurons and astrocytes. We found that oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD)-stressed neurons released glutamate, which activated microglia through their group II metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs). Microglia activation involved nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB), a transcription factor that promotes their proinflammatory functions. The activated microglia became neurotoxic, killing naive neurons through an apoptotic mechanism that was mediated by tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), and involved activation of both caspase-8 and caspase-3. In contrast to some earlier models (e.g., microglia activation by lipopolysaccharide), neurotoxicity was not decreased by an inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) inhibitor (S-methylisothiourea) or a peroxynitrite scavenger [5,10,15,20-tetrakis(N-methyl-4'-pyridyl)porphinato iron (III) chloride], and did not require p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activation. The same microglia neurotoxic behavior was evoked without exposure to OGD-stressed neurons, by directly activating microglial group II mGluRs with (2S,2'R,3'R)-2-(2'3'-dicarboxycyclopropyl) glycine or glutamate, which stimulated production of TNF-alpha (not nitric oxide) and mediated TNF-alpha-dependent neurotoxicity through activation of NF-kappaB (not p38 MAPK). Together, these results support potential therapeutic strategies that target microglial group II mGluRs, TNFalpha overproduction, and NF-kappaB activation to reduce neuron death in the ischemic penumbra.
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PMID:Mechanisms of microglia-mediated neurotoxicity in a new model of the stroke penumbra. 1857 26

We and others have shown that prior exposure to the volatile anesthetic isoflurane induces ischemic tolerance in the brain. Our results also suggest that isoflurane preconditioning reduces cell apoptosis in the penumbral region of rat brain. We designed this study to determine whether isoflurane preconditioning decreased mitochondria-dependent cell apoptosis. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to or not exposed to 2% isoflurane for 30 min at 24 h before the permanent middle cerebral arterial occlusion. Western blotting was used to quantify protein expression in the cytosolic and mitochondrial fractions of non-ischemic brain cortex and brain cortex in the ischemic core and penumbra. Isoflurane preconditioning significantly decreased the infarct volume of cerebral cortex and improved neurological outcome. Isoflurane increased the expression of the antiapoptotic B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) proteins in the cerebral cortex of rats without brain ischemia. Rats preconditioned with isoflurane before brain ischemia had increased Bcl-2 expression in the penumbra. Isoflurane preconditioning reduced the release of cytochrome c from the mitochondria and the activation of caspase 3 in the penumbra. However, isoflurane preconditioning did not alter the translocation of Bid and Bax from the cytosol to the mitochondria, identified mechanisms for Bcl-2 to block the release of cytochrome c from the mitochondria. Our results suggest that isoflurane preconditioning increases Bcl-2 expression to block the release of cytochrome c from the mitochondria to decrease the cell apoptosis in the penumbra.
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PMID:Isoflurane preconditioning increases B-cell lymphoma-2 expression and reduces cytochrome c release from the mitochondria in the ischemic penumbra of rat brain. 1835 6

Our previous studies have shown that ferulic acid (4-hydroxy-3-methoxycinnamic acid, FA) inhibits intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) expression in the ischemic striatum after 2 h of reperfusion in a transient middle cerebral artery occlusion model in rats. The purpose of this study is to further investigate the neuroprotective effects of FA during reperfusion after cerebral ischemia. Rats were subjected to 90 min of ischemia; they were then sacrificed after 2, 10, 24 and 36 h of reperfusion. ICAM-1 and macrophage-1 antigen (Mac-1) mRNA were detected using semi-quantitative RT-PCR at 2 h of reperfusion. Mac-1, 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (4-HNE), 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), active caspase 3, neuronal nuclei (NeuN) and TUNEL positive cells were measured at 2, 10, 24 and 36 h of reperfusion. FA (100 mg/kg, i.v.) administered immediately after MCAo inhibited ICAM-1 and Mac-1 mRNA expression in the striatum at 2 h of reperfusion, and reduced the number of Mac-1, 4-HNE and 8-OHdG positive cells in the ischemic rim and core at 10, 24 and 36 h of reperfusion. FA decreased TUNEL positive cells in the penumbra at 10 h, and in the ischemic boundary and core at 24 and 36 h of reperfusion. FA curtailed active caspase 3 expression in the penumbra at 10 h and restored NeuN-labeled neurons in the penumbra and ischemic core at 36 h of reperfusion. FA decreased the level of ICAM-1 mRNA and the number of microglia/macrophages, and subsequently down-regulated inflammation-induced oxidative stress and oxidative stress-related apoptosis, suggesting that FA provides neuroprotection against oxidative stress-related apoptosis by inhibiting ICAM-1 mRNA expression after cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats.
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PMID:Ferulic acid provides neuroprotection against oxidative stress-related apoptosis after cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury by inhibiting ICAM-1 mRNA expression in rats. 1840 Feb 11

The low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein (LRP), a member of the low-density lipoprotein receptor gene family, mediates cellular signal transduction pathways. In this study we investigated the role of LRP in cell death. We found that incubation of mouse embryonic fibroblasts in serum-free media induces caspase-3 activation, an effect that is attenuated in LRP-deficient (LRP(-/-)) mouse embryonic fibroblasts. Since we previously demonstrated that middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) in mice induces shedding of the LRP ectodomain, we investigated here whether cerebral ischemia induces regulated intramembrane proteolysis of LRP and whether this process is related to cell death. We found that MCAO induces an increase in gamma-secretase activity in the ischemic hemisphere and that treatment with the gamma-secretase inhibitor L-685,458 improves the neurological outcome and results in a 50% decrease in the volume of the ischemic lesion. Furthermore, MCAO caused nuclear translocation of the intracellular domain of LRP in neurons within the area of ischemic penumbra, and this effect was attenuated in mice treated with L-685,458. Finally, inhibition of either LRP or gamma-secretase attenuated cerebral ischemia-induced caspase-3 cleavage and apoptotic cell death. In summary, our results indicate that gamma-secretase-mediated regulated intramembrane proteolysis of LRP results in cell death under ischemic conditions.
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PMID:Regulated intramembrane proteolysis of the low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein mediates ischemic cell death. 1840 1

The transcription factor NF-kappaB is a key regulator of inflammation and cell survival. NF-kappaB activation increases following cerebral ischemia. We previously showed accelerated aging process in NF-kappaB p50 subunit knockout (p50 -/-) mice under physiological condition. The present investigation concerned the role of NF-kappaB p50 gene in ischemia-induced neuronal cell death. In an animal model of permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO), infarct formation, apoptotic cell death and cell proliferation were examined in adult wild type (WT) and p50-/- mice. The ischemic infarct volume was significantly larger in p50-/- mice than that in WT mice. Consistently, the numbers of cells in the penumbra region positive to terminal deoxynucleotidyltransferase (TdT)-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end-labeling (TUNEL) and caspase-3 staining were significantly more in p50-/- mice than that in WT mice. To identify proliferation after cerebral ischemia, bromodeoxyurindine (BrdU) was intraperitoneal injected daily after MCAO. Ischemia increased BrdU positive cells in the penumbra, subventricular zone, corpus callosum, and cerebral cortex, while cell proliferation was hampered in p50-/- mice. These results suggest that NF-kappaB signaling is a neuroprotective mechanism and may play a role in cell proliferation in the stroke model of permanent MCAO.
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PMID:Cell death and proliferation in NF-kappaB p50 knockout mouse after cerebral ischemia. 1865 23

X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP) is a potent suppressor of neuronal death. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of XIAP after ischemia in the human and rat developing brain. Autopsy specimens from 19 children with neuropathologic diagnosis of focal cerebral ischemic infarct were processed immunohistochemically for XIAP expression. XIAP positive cells were compared in pathologically classified acute (1-4 d), subacute (5-30 d), and chronic (months) strokes vs. age-matched controls with normal brain histology. For the animal studies, ischemia was induced in 1-wk-old rats by unilateral carotid artery occlusion and transient hypoxia. XIAP expression was quantified at four time points after ischemia in the infarct core and peri-infarct area. Neuronal XIAP expression was higher in the penumbra of subacute human infarcts compared with controls (p < 0.05). XIAP expression in the peri-infarct of rat pup was highest at 7 d postischemic injury (p < 0.05). The increase in XIAP expression was associated with a reduction in activated caspase-3 in ischemic neonatal rat brain. Our results demonstrate that XIAP expression postischemic injury is delayed in both species and may continue for several days. Therefore, potentiation of XIAP expression may be neuroprotective in the developing brain.
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PMID:X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein expression after ischemic injury in the human and rat developing brain. 1870 98

The p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75(NTR)) is involved in neuronal functions ranging from induction of apoptosis and growth inhibition to the promotion of survival. p75(NTR) expression is induced in the central nervous system (CNS) by a range of pathological conditions, where it seems to have a role in neuronal death and axonal growth inhibition. The cellular mechanisms driving p75(NTR) expression in cell lines and primary neurons is Sp1 dependent (Ramos et al. [2007] J. Neurosci. 27:1498). In this study, we analyzed the spatiotemporal profile of p75(NTR) expression after an ischemic lesion induced by cortical devascularization (CD). Our results show that p75(NTR) expression occurs in isolated neurons of the ischemic lesion site. The p75(NTR+) neurons presented morphological alterations and active caspase-3 staining. Some p75(NTR+) neurons were also positive for sortilin. The peak of p75(NTR) expression was localized 3 days postlesion (3DPL) in the penumbra. Sp1 transcription factor nuclear localization was observed in p75(NTR+) neurons. The overall level of Sp1 expression was increased until 14DPL on the ipsilateral hemisphere. With primary cortical neurons, we demonstrated that p75(NTR) expression is induced by excitotoxic stress and correlated with increased Sp1 abundance. We conclude that p75(NTR) expression is localized in selected neurons of the ischemic lesion and that these neurons are probably condemned to apoptotic cell death. In primary neuronal culture, it is clear that excitotoxicity and Sp1 are involved in induction of p75(NTR) expression, although, in vivo, some additional mechanisms are likely to be involved in the control of p75(NTR) expression in specific neurons in vivo.
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PMID:p75 NTR expression is induced in isolated neurons of the penumbra after ischemia by cortical devascularization. 1915 69

In vitro nitric oxide (NO) regulates calpain and caspase-3 activation, and in vivo neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS), calpain and caspase-3 participate in the ischemic brain injury. Our objective was to investigate whether nNOS was involved in the ischemic brain injury through activating calpain and caspase-3 during experimental stroke. Rats received 1-h ischemia by intraluminant filament, and then reperfused for 23h (R 23h). nNOS inhibitor 7-nitroindozale (7-NI, 50mg/kg) was administrated intraperitoneally 5min before ischemia. Our data showed that treatment with 7-NI markedly reduced neurological deficits, the brain swelling, and the infarct volume at R 23h. Enzyme studies revealed significant suppression of the activities of m-calpain and caspase-3 in penumbra and core, and the activities of mu-calpain in penumbra, but not in core, in 7-NI-treated rats versus vehicle-treated rats. Western blot analysis demonstrated that 7-NI markedly increased the levels of MAP-2 and spectrin in penumbra and core compared with vehicle-treated rats. Histopathological studies displayed that 7-NI significantly reduced the necrotic cell death in penumbra and core, and apoptotic cell death in penumbra, but not in core. These data demonstrate the involvement of NO produced by nNOS in the ischemic neuronal injury through affecting the activation of calpain and caspase-3 in penumbra and core after experimental stroke, which provides a new perspective on possible mechanisms of action of nNOS inhibition in cerebral ischemia.
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PMID:Inhibition of nNOS reduces ischemic cell death through down-regulating calpain and caspase-3 after experimental stroke. 1916 6

Ketone bodies have been shown to be favorable alternative metabolic substrates and are protective under neuropathologies. At the same time, cytochrome c release has been reported following traumatic brain injury (TBI) and precipitates apoptosis via the mitochondrial pathway. The present study investigated the effects of a ketogenic diet (KD) on TBI. TBI was produced using the Feeney weight-drop model and the animals were fed either normal diet (ND) or KD. Brain edema was estimated by wet/dry weight ratio; cytochrome c was detected by Western blotting; cellular apoptosis in the penumbra area was examined by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) and active caspase-3 immunohistochemical staining. The results show that brain edema, cytochrome c release, and cellular apoptosis were induced after TBI and that KD reduced these changes dramatically. These findings suggest that KD has potential therapeutic benefit in TBI.
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PMID:Ketogenic diet reduces cytochrome c release and cellular apoptosis following traumatic brain injury in juvenile rats. 1920 46

1. Asialoerythropoietin (aEPO), a derivative of cytokine erythropoietin, has been shown to have neuroprotective effects without haematological complications when administered in single or repeated doses. The present study examines our hypothesis that aEPO may provide neuroprotection against programmed apoptotic cell death when administered in a continuous low dose. 2. Focal cerebral ischaemia was introduced by occlusion of the middle cerebral artery using a surgically placed intraluminal filament in young male Sprague Dawley rats (9 weeks old). After 90 min ischaemia, reperfusion was established by filament removal. Both study and control groups had implanted osmotic minipumps through which they received either aEPO (1 microL/h; 20 microg/kg per 24 h) or normal saline (1 microL/h) for 4 days. On Day 4, infarct volume, the number of apoptotic cells and concentrations of activated caspase 3 and 9 were evaluated in the penumbra region. 3. Asialoerythropoietin was detected in the cerebrospinal fluid of the study group, whereas none was detected in the control group. Although there were no significant changes in haematocrit levels or behaviour scores (on Days 1 and 4) between the study and control groups, aEPO administration significantly reduced infarct volume in the study group compared with the control group (168 +/- 19 vs 249 +/- 28 mm(3), respectively; P < 0.05). 4. The number of terminal deoxyribonucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-digoxigenin nick end-labelling (TUNEL)-positive cells and the concentration of activated caspase 3 and 9 in the penumbra region were significantly lower in the study group compared with the control group. 5. In conclusion, our data suggest that aEPO provides a short-term, possibly histological, protection in young adult male rats when administered immediately after reperfusion.
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PMID:Effect of continuous infusion of asialoerythropoietin on short-term changes in infarct volume, penumbra apoptosis and behaviour following middle cerebral artery occlusion in rats. 1965 Jul 97


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