Caspase 3 inhibition attenuates hydrogen peroxide-induced DNA fragmentation but not cell death in neuronal PC12 cells

Background To explore whether cytotoxicity of local anesthetics is related to apoptosis, the authors examined how local anesthetics affect mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) family members, extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERKs), c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNKs)-stress-activated protein kinases, and p38 kinase, which are known to play important roles in apoptosis. Methods Cell death was evaluated using PC12 cells. Morphologic changes of cells, cellular membrane, and nuclei were observed. DNA fragmentation was electrophoretically assayed. Western blot analysis was performed to analyze phosphorylation of the MAPK family, cleavage of caspase-3 and poly(adenosine diphosphate-ribose) polymerase. Intracellular Ca2+ concentration was measured using a calcium indicator dye. Results Tetracaine-induced cell death was shown in a time- and concentration-dependent manner and characterized by nuclear condensation or fragmentation, membrane blebbing, and internucleosomal DNA fragmentation. Caspase-3 activation and phosphorylation of ERK, JNK, and p38 occurred in the cell death. PD98059, an inhibitor of ERK, enhanced tetracaine-induced cell death and JNK phosphorylation, whereas ERK phosphorylation was inhibited. Curcumin, an inhibitor of JNK pathway, attenuated the cell death. Increase of intracellular Ca2+ concentration was detected. In addition to the increase of ERK phosphorylation and the decrease of JNK phosphorylation, two Ca2+ chelators protected cells from death. Neither cell death nor phosphorylation of the MAPK family was caused by tetrodotoxin. Nifedipine did not affect tetracaine-induced apoptosis. Conclusions Tetracaine induces apoptosis of PC12 cells via the MAPK family. ERK activation protects cells from death, but JNK plays the opposite role. Toxic Ca2+ influx caused by tetracaine seems to be responsible for the cell death, but blocking of Na+ channels or L-type Ca2+ channels is unlikely involved in the tetracaine's action for apoptosis.

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Nerve growth factor withdrawal-induced cell death in neuronal PC12 cells resembles that in sympathetic neurons.

The Journal of Cell Biology ◽

10.1083/jcb.119.6.1669 ◽

1992 ◽

Vol 119 (6) ◽

pp. 1669-1680 ◽

Cited By ~ 156

Author(s):

P W Mesner ◽

T R Winters ◽

S H Green

Keyword(s):

Cell Death ◽

Protein Synthesis ◽

Nerve Growth Factor ◽

Growth Factor ◽

Programmed Cell Death ◽

Pc12 Cells ◽

Sympathetic Neurons ◽

Nerve Growth ◽

Neuronal Pc12 Cells ◽

New Protein

Previous studies have shown that in neuronal cells the developmental phenomenon of programmed cell death is an active process, requiring synthesis of both RNA and protein. This presumably reflects a requirement for novel gene products to effect cell death. It is shown here that the death of nerve growth factor-deprived neuronal PC12 cells occurs at the same rate as that of rat sympathetic neurons and, like rat sympathetic neurons, involves new transcription and translation. In nerve growth factor-deprived neuronal PC12 cells, a decline in metabolic activity, assessed by uptake of [3H]2-deoxyglucose, precedes the decline in cell number, assessed by counts of trypan blue-excluding cells. Both declines are prevented by actinomycin D and anisomycin. In contrast, the death of nonneuronal (chromaffin-like) PC12 cells is not inhibited by transcription or translation inhibitors and thus does not require new protein synthesis. DNA fragmentation by internucleosomal cleavage does not appear to be a consistent or significant aspect of cell death in sympathetic neurons, neuronal PC12 cells, or nonneuronal PC12 cells, notwithstanding that the putative nuclease inhibitor aurintricarboxylic acid protects sympathetic neurons, as well as neuronal and nonneuronal PC12 cells, from death induced by trophic factor removal. Both phenotypic classes of PC12 cells respond to aurintricarboxylic acid with similar dose-response characteristics. Our results indicate that programmed cell death in neuronal PC12 cells, but not in nonneuronal PC12 cells, resembles programmed cell death in sympathetic neurons in significant mechanistic aspects: time course, role of new protein synthesis, and lack of a significant degree of DNA fragmentation.

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Internucleosomal DNA cleavage and neuronal cell survival/death

The Journal of Cell Biology ◽

10.1083/jcb.122.3.523 ◽

1993 ◽

Vol 122 (3) ◽

pp. 523-532 ◽

Cited By ~ 129

Author(s):

A Batistatou ◽

LA Greene

Keyword(s):

Cell Death ◽

Cell Survival ◽

Pc12 Cells ◽

Dna Fragmentation ◽

Cell Cultures ◽

Pc12 Cell ◽

Dna Cleavage ◽

Sympathetic Neurons ◽

Term Survival ◽

Serum Withdrawal

Serum-free PC12 cell cultures have been used to study the mechanisms of neuronal death after neurotrophic factor deprivation. We previously reported that PC12 cells undergo "apoptotic" internucleosomal DNA cleavage after withdrawal of trophic support. Here, we have used a sensitive method to detect PC12 cell DNA fragmentation within three hrs of serum removal and have exploited this assay to examine several aspects regarding the mechanisms of neuronal survival/death. Major advantages of this assay are that it permits acute experiments to be performed well before other manifest signs of cell death and under conditions that cannot be applied chronically. We find that this apopotic DNA fragmentation is distinct from the random DNA degradation that occurs during necrotic death. Major observations include the following: (a) There is a good correlation between the ability of trophic substances to promote PC12 cell survival and to inhibit early DNA fragmentation. (b) Phorbol ester, an activator of PKC, acutely suppresses DNA fragmentation, but does not promote long-term survival or inhibition of endonuclease activity when applied chronically due to its downregulation of PKC. (c) Cells undergoing apoptosis within 3 h of serum withdrawal have a "commitment point" of only 1.0-1.5 h beyond which they can no longer be rescued by NGF. (d) Aurin, a non-carboxylic analog of the endonuclease inhibitor ATA, also inhibits DNA fragmentation and promotes short-term survival of PC12 cells. (e) Macromolecular synthesis is not required for DNA fragmentation or for NGF to prevent this event. (f) Extracellular Ca2+ is not required for internucleosomal DNA cleavage caused by serum withdrawal or for suppression of this by NGF. (g) DNA fragmentation can also be detected in cultures of rat sympathetic neurons as early as 10 h after removal of NGF. As in PC12 cell cultures, this precedes morphological signs of cell death.

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Anticancer effects of mifepristone on human uveal melanoma cells

Cancer Cell International ◽

10.1186/s12935-021-02306-y ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Prisca Bustamante Alvarez ◽

Alexander Laskaris ◽

Alicia A. Goyeneche ◽

Yunxi Chen ◽

Carlos M. Telleria ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cell Death ◽

Cell Growth ◽

Progesterone Receptor ◽

Dna Fragmentation ◽

Cell Lines ◽

Caspase 3 ◽

Annexin V ◽

Dependent Manner ◽

Concentration Dependent Manner ◽

Free Dna

Abstract Background Uveal melanoma (UM), the most prevalent intraocular tumor in adults, is a highly metastatic and drug resistant lesion. Recent studies have demonstrated cytotoxic and anti-metastatic effects of the antiprogestin and antiglucocorticoid mifepristone (MF) in vitro and in clinical trials involving meningioma, colon, breast, and ovarian cancers. Drug repurposing is a cost-effective approach to bring approved drugs with good safety profiles to the clinic. This current study assessed the cytotoxic effects of MF in human UM cell lines of different genetic backgrounds. Methods The effects of incremental concentrations of MF (0, 5, 10, 20, or 40 μM) on a panel of human UM primary (MEL270, 92.1, MP41, and MP46) and metastatic (OMM2.5) cells were evaluated. Cells were incubated with MF for up to 72 h before subsequent assays were conducted. Cellular functionality and viability were assessed by Cell Counting Kit-8, trypan blue exclusion assay, and quantitative label-free IncuCyte live-cell analysis. Cell death was analyzed by binding of Annexin V-FITC and/or PI, caspase-3/7 activity, and DNA fragmentation. Additionally, the release of cell-free DNA was assessed by droplet digital PCR, while the expression of progesterone and glucocorticoid receptors was determined by quantitative real-time reverse transcriptase PCR. Results MF treatment reduced cellular proliferation and viability of all UM cell lines studied in a concentration-dependent manner. A reduction in cell growth was observed at lower concentrations of MF, with evidence of cell death at higher concentrations. A significant increase in Annexin V-FITC and PI double positive cells, caspase-3/7 activity, DNA fragmentation, and cell-free DNA release suggests potent cytotoxicity of MF. None of the tested human UM cells expressed the classical progesterone receptor in the absence or presence of MF treatment, suggesting a mechanism independent of the modulation of the cognate nuclear progesterone receptor. In turn, all cells expressed non-classical progesterone receptors and the glucocorticoid receptor. Conclusion This study demonstrates that MF impedes the proliferation of UM cells in a concentration-dependent manner. We report that MF treatment at lower concentrations results in cell growth arrest, while increasing the concentration leads to lethality. MF, which has a good safety profile, could be a reliable adjuvant of a repurposing therapy against UM.

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Epicatechin and its in vivo metabolite, 3′-O-methyl epicatechin, protect human fibroblasts from oxidative-stress-induced cell death involving caspase-3 activation

Biochemical Journal ◽

10.1042/bj3540493 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 354 (3) ◽

pp. 493-500 ◽

Cited By ~ 69

Author(s):

Jeremy P. E. SPENCER ◽

Hagen SCHROETER ◽

Gunter KUHNLE ◽

S. Kaila S. SRAI ◽

Rex M. TYRRELL ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Oxidative Stress ◽

Hydrogen Peroxide ◽

Cell Death ◽

Caspase 3 ◽

Cell Damage ◽

Protective Action ◽

Human Fibroblasts ◽

Membrane Damage ◽

Antioxidant Properties

There is considerable current interest in the cytoprotective effects of natural antioxidants against oxidative stress. In particular, epicatechin, a major member of the flavanol family of polyphenols with powerful antioxidant properties in vitro, has been investigated to determine its ability to attenuate oxidative-stress-induced cell damage and to understand the mechanism of its protective action. We have induced oxidative stress in cultured human fibroblasts using hydrogen peroxide and examined the cellular responses in the form of mitochondrial function, cell-membrane damage, annexin-V binding and caspase-3 activation. Since one of the major metabolites of epicatechin in vivo is 3′-O-methyl epicatechin, we have compared its protective effects with that of epicatechin. The results provide the first evidence that 3′-O-methyl epicatechin inhibits cell death induced by hydrogen peroxide and that the mechanism involves suppression of caspase-3 activity as a marker for apoptosis. Furthermore, the protection elicited by 3′-O-methyl epicatechin is not significantly different from that of epicatechin, suggesting that hydrogen-donating antioxidant activity is not the primary mechanism of protection.

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Effect of alpha-ketoglutarate and N-acetyl cysteine on cyanide-induced oxidative stress mediated cell death in PC12 cells

Toxicology and Industrial Health ◽

10.1177/0748233710365695 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 26 (5) ◽

pp. 297-308 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

RM Satpute ◽

J. Hariharakrishnan ◽

R. Bhattacharya

Keyword(s):

Oxidative Stress ◽

Cell Death ◽

Pc12 Cells ◽

Caspase 3 ◽

Critical Role ◽

Total Antioxidant Status ◽

Protective Effects ◽

Simultaneous Treatment ◽

Acetyl Cysteine

Cyanide is a mitochondrial poison, which is ubiquitously present in the environment. Cyanide-induced oxidative stress is known to play a key role in mediating the neurotoxicity and cell death in rat pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells. PC12 cells are widely used as a model for neurotoxicity assays in vitro. In the present study, we investigated the protective effects of alpha-ketoglutarate (A-KG), a potential cyanide antidote, and N-acetyl cysteine (NAC), an antioxidant against toxicity of cyanide in PC12 cells. Cells were treated with various concentrations (0.625—1.25 mM) of potassium cyanide (KCN) for 4 hours, in the presence or absence of simultaneous treatment of A-KG (0.5 mM) and NAC (0.25 mM). Cyanide caused marked decrease in the levels of cellular antioxidants like superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and glutathione reductase (GR). Lipid peroxidation indicated by elevated levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) was found to be accompanied by decreased levels of reduced glutathione (GSH) and total antioxidant status (TAS) of the cells. Cyanide-treated cells showed notable increase in caspase-3 activity and induction of apoptotic type of cell death after 24 hours. A-KG and NAC alone were very effective in restoring the levels of GSH and TAS, but together they significantly resolved the effects of cyanide on antioxidant enzymes, MDA levels, and caspase-3 activity. The present study reveals that combination of A-KG and NAC has critical role in abbrogating the oxidative stress-mediated toxicity of cyanide in PC12 cells. The results suggest potential role of A-KG and NAC in cyanide antagonism.

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Hyperglycemia Enhances DNA Fragmentation after Transient Cerebral Ischemia

Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow & Metabolism ◽

10.1097/00004647-200105000-00011 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 21 (5) ◽

pp. 568-576 ◽

Cited By ~ 25

Author(s):

Ping-An Li ◽

Ingrid Rasquinha ◽

Qing Ping He ◽

Bo K. Siesjö ◽

Katalin Csiszár ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Molecular Weight ◽

Cell Death ◽

Cytochrome C ◽

Dna Fragmentation ◽

Caspase 3 ◽

Cingulate Cortex ◽

Tunel Staining ◽

Dna Fragments ◽

Cytochrome C Release ◽

Klenow Polymerase

Previous histopathologic results have suggested that one mechanism whereby hyperglycemia (HG) leads to exaggerated ischemic damage involves fragmentation of DNA. DNA fragmentation in normoglycemia (NG) and HG rats subjected to 30 minutes of forebrain ischemia was studied by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated DNA nick-labeling (TUNEL) staining, by pulse-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), and by ligation-mediated polymerase chain reaction (LM-PCR). High molecular weight DNA fragments were detected by PFGE, whereas low molecular weight DNA fragments were detected using LM-PCR techniques. The LM-PCR procedure was performed on DNA from test samples with blunt (without Klenow polymerase) and 3′-recessed ends (with Klenow polymerase). In addition, cytochrome c release and caspase-3 activation were studied by immunocytochemistry. Results show that HG causes cytochrome c release, activates caspase-3, and exacerbates DNA fragments induced by ischemia. Thus, in HG rats, but not in control or NGs, TUNEL-stained cells were found in the cingulate cortex, neocortex, thalamus, and dorsolateral crest of the striatum, where neuronal death was observed by conventional histopathology, and where both cytosolic cytochrome c and active caspase-3 were detected by confocal microscopy. In the neocortex, both blunt-ended and stagger-ended fragments were detected in HG, but not in NG rats. Electron microscopy (EM) analysis was performed in the cingulate cortex, where numerous TUNEL-positive neurons were observed. Although DNA fragmentation was detected by TUNEL staining and electrophoresis techniques, EM analysis failed to indicate apoptotic cell death. It is concluded that HG triggers a cell death pathway and exacerbates DNA fragmentation induced by ischemia.

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