Toxoplasma gondii induce apoptosis of neural stem cells via endoplasmic reticulum stress pathway

Parasitology ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 141 (7) ◽  
pp. 988-995 ◽  
Author(s):  
TENG WANG ◽  
JIE ZHOU ◽  
XIAOFENG GAN ◽  
HUA WANG ◽  
XIAOJUAN DING ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stem Cells ◽  
Endoplasmic Reticulum ◽  
Toxoplasma Gondii ◽  
Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress ◽  
Neural Stem Cells ◽  
Underlying Mechanism ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Apoptotic Pathway ◽  
Caspase 12 ◽  
Induced Apoptosis

SUMMARYToxoplasma gondii is a major cause of congenital brain disease; however, the underlying mechanism of neuropathogenesis in brain toxoplasmosis remains elusive. To explore the role of T. gondii in the development of neural stem cells (NSCs), NSCs were isolated from GD14 embryos of ICR mice and were co-cultured with tachyzoites of T. gondii RH strain. We found that apoptosis levels of the NSCs co-cultured with 1×106 RH tachyzoites for 24 and 48 h significantly increased in a dose-dependent manner, as compared with the control. Western blotting analysis displayed that the protein level of C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP) was up-regulated, and caspase-12 and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) were activated in the NSCs co-cultured with the parasites. Pretreatment with endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) inhibitor (TUDCA) and caspase-12 inhibitor (Z-ATAD-FMK) inhibited the expression or activation of the key molecules involved in the ERS-mediated apoptotic pathway, and subsequently decreased the apoptosis levels of the NSCs induced by the T. gondii. The findings here highlight that T. gondii induced apoptosis of the NSCs through the ERS signal pathway via activation of CHOP, caspase-12 and JNK, which may constitute a potential molecular mechanism responsible for the cognitive disturbance in neurological disorders of T. gondii.

Autophagy triggers endoplasmic reticulum stress and C/EBP homologous protein-mediated apoptosis in OGD/R-treated neurons in a caspase-12-independent manner

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ying Tian ◽  
Liang Wang ◽  
Zhiqiang Qiu ◽  
Yulun Xu ◽  
Rongrong Hua
Keyword(s):  
Endoplasmic Reticulum ◽  
Cortical Neurons ◽  
Neuronal Apoptosis ◽  
Glucose Deprivation ◽  
Oxygen Glucose Deprivation ◽  
Caspase 8 ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Homologous Protein ◽  
Caspase 12 ◽  
Induced Apoptosis

We reported that a high level of autophagy was initiated by oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) and was maintained in neurons even after oxygen-glucose deprivation followed by reoxygenation (OGD/R), accompanied by neuronal apoptosis. This study focused on autophagy-induced apoptosis and its signaling network, especially the role of endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS). Analysis of primary cultured cortical neurons from mice showed that the autophagy-induced apoptosis depended on Caspase-8 and -9 but not Caspase-12. This finding did not mean that the endoplasmic reticulum did not participate in this process. Increases in the levels of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) biomarkers and Binding immunoglobulin protein (BiP) were induced by autophagy in OGD/R-treated neurons. In addition, as an apoptotic transcription factor induced by ER stress, C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP) expression was significantly increased in neurons after OGD/R. This result suggested that the autophagy-Bip-CHOP-caspase (8 and 9)-dependent apoptotic signaling pathway at least partly participated in autophagy-induced apoptosis in primary cortical neurons. It revealed that ER induced apoptosis in neurons suffering from OGD/R injury in an ER stress-CHOP-dependent manner rather than a caspase-12-dependent manner. However, more research on signaling or cross-linking networks and intermediate links are needed. The realization of caspase-12-independent BiP-CHOP neuronal apoptosis pathway has expanded our understanding of the neuronal apoptosis network, which may eventually provide endogenous interventional strategies for OGD/R injury after stroke.

scholarly journals Melatonin Relieves Busulfan-Induced Spermatogonial Stem Cell Apoptosis of Mouse Testis by Inhibiting Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress

2017 ◽  
Vol 44 (6) ◽  
pp. 2407-2421 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yanhua Cui ◽  
Lipeng Ren ◽  
Bo Li ◽  
Jia Fang ◽  
Yuanxin Zhai ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Endoplasmic Reticulum ◽  
Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress ◽  
Caspase 3 ◽  
Survival Rates ◽  
Underlying Mechanism ◽  
Pcr Analysis ◽  
Caspase 12 ◽  
Apoptosis Proteins

Background/Aims: Busulfan is commonly used for cancer chemotherapy. Although it has the advantage of increasing the survival rate of patients, it can cause male infertility via damaging the testes and reducing sperm counts. Therefore, the underlying mechanism should be explored, and new agents should be developed to protect the male reproductive system from busulfan-induced damage. Endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) is considered a key contributor to numerous pathologies. Despite several studies linking ERS to toxicants, studies have yet to determine whether ERS is a contributing factor to busulfan-induced testicular damage. Melatonin is a well-known broad-spectrum antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antitumour agent, but the effects of melatonin on busulfan-induced ERS in mouse testes damage are less documented. Methods: The effects of melatonin were measured by immunofluorescence staining, Western blot, qRT-PCR analysis and flow cytometry assay. The underlying mechanism was investigated by measuring ERS. Results: We found that ERS was strongly activated in mouse testes (in vivo) and the C18-4 cell line (in vitro) after busulfan administration. ERS-related apoptosis proteins such as caspase-12, CHOP and caspase-3 were activated, and the expression of apoptotic proteins such as P53 and PUMA were upregulated. Furthermore, we investigated whether melatonin reduced the extent of damage to mouse testes and improved the survival rates of busulfan-treated mice. When exploring the underlying mechanisms, we found melatonin could counteract ERS by decreasing the expression levels of the ERS markers GRP78, ATF6, pIRE1 and XBP1 in mouse testes and mouse SSCs (C18-4 cells). Moreover, it blocked the activation of ERS-related apoptosis proteins caspase-12, CHOP and caspase-3 and suppressed P53 and PUMA expression stimulated by busulfan both in vivo and in vitro. Conclusion: Our results demonstrate that ERS is an important mediator for busulfan-induced apoptosis. The attenuation of ERS by melatonin can prevent busulfan-treated SSCs apoptosis and protect busulfan-treated testes from damage. Thus, this study suggests that melatonin may alleviate the side effects of busulfan for male patients during clinical treatment.

scholarly journals Reactive Oxygen Species-Triggered Trophoblast Apoptosis Is Initiated by Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress via Activation of Caspase-12, CHOP, and the JNK Pathway in Toxoplasma gondii Infection in Mice

2012 ◽  
Vol 80 (6) ◽  
pp. 2121-2132 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiucai Xu ◽  
Tingting Liu ◽  
Aimei Zhang ◽  
Xingxing Huo ◽  
Qingli Luo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Oxidative Stress ◽  
Reactive Oxygen Species ◽  
Endoplasmic Reticulum ◽  
Toxoplasma Gondii ◽  
Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress ◽  
Reactive Oxygen ◽  
Oxygen Species ◽  
Jnk Pathway ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Caspase 12

ABSTRACTToxoplasma gondiiinfection in pregnant women may result in abortion or in fetal teratogenesis; however, the underlying mechanisms are still unclear. In this paper, based on a murine model, we showed that maternal infection with RH strainT. gondiitachyzoites induced elevated production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), local oxidative stress, and subsequent apoptosis of placental trophoblasts. PCR array analysis of 84 oxidative stress-related genes demonstrated that 27 genes were upregulated at least 2-fold and that 9 genes were downregulated at least 2-fold in theT. gondiiinfection group compared with levels in the control group. The expression of NADPH oxidase 1 (Nox1) and glutathione peroxidase 6 (Gpx6) increased significantly, about 25-fold. The levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) increased significantly withT. gondiiinfection, and levels of glutathione (GSH) decreased rapidly.T. gondiiinfection increased the early expression of endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) markers, followed by cleavage of caspase-12, activation of ASK1/JNK, and increased apoptosis of trophoblasts, bothin vivoandin vitro. The apoptosis of trophoblasts, the activation of caspase-12 and the ASK1/JNK pathway, and the production of peroxides were dramatically inhibited by pretreatment withN-acetylcysteine (NAC). The upregulation of Nox1 was contact dependent and preceded the increase in levels of ERS markers and the activation of the proapoptosis cascade. Thus, we concluded that apoptosis in placental trophoblasts was initiated predominantly by ROS-mediated ERS via activation of caspase-12, CHOP, and the JNK pathway in acuteT. gondiiinfection. Elevated ROS production is the central event inT. gondii-induced apoptosis of placental trophoblasts.

Caspase-12 is involved in stretch-induced apoptosis mediated endoplasmic reticulum stress

APOPTOSIS ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 432-442 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qiang Zhang ◽  
Jianing Liu ◽  
Shulan Chen ◽  
Jing Liu ◽  
Lijuan Liu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Endoplasmic Reticulum ◽  
Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress ◽  
Caspase 12 ◽  
Induced Apoptosis
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