scholarly journals Cloning and Characterization of Rat Caspase-9: Implications for a Role in Mediating Caspase-3 Activation and Hippocampal Cell Death after Transient Cerebral Ischemia

2002 ◽  
Vol 22 (5) ◽  
pp. 534-546 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guodong Cao ◽  
Yumin Luo ◽  
Tetsuya Nagayama ◽  
Wei Pei ◽  
R. Anne Stetler ◽  
...  

Delayed hippocampal neurodegeneration after transient global ischemia is mediated, at least in part, through the activation of terminal caspases, particularly caspase-3, and the subsequent proteolytic degradation of critical cellular proteins. Caspase-3 may be activated by the membrane receptor-initiated caspase-8–dependent extrinsic pathway and the mitochondria-initiated caspase-9–dependent intrinsic pathway; however, the precise role of these deduced apoptosis-signaling pathways in activating caspase-3 in ischemic neurons remains elusive. The authors cloned the caspase-9 gene from the rat brain and investigated its potential role in mediating ischemic neuronal death in a rat model of transient global ischemia. Caspase-9 gene expression and protease activity were extremely low in the adult brain, whereas they were developmentally upregulated in newborn rats, especially at postnatal 12 weeks, a finding consistent with the theory of an essential role for caspase-9 in neuronal apoptosis during brain development. After 15-minute transient global ischemia, caspase-9 was overexpressed and proteolytically activated in the hippocampal CA1 neurons at 8 to 72 hours of reperfusion. The temporal profile of caspase-9 activation coincided with that of cytochrome c release and caspase-3 activation, but preceded CA1 neuronal death. Immunoprecipitation experiments revealed that there was enhanced formation of Apaf-1/caspase-9 complex in the hippocampus 8 and 24 hours after ischemia. Furthermore, intracerebral ventricular infusion of the relatively specific caspase-9 inhibitor N-benzyloxycarbonyl-Leu-Glu-His-Asp-fluoro-methylketone before ischemia attenuated caspase-3–like activity and significantly enhanced neuronal survival in the CA1 sector. In contrast, inhibition of caspase-8 activity had no significant effect on caspase-3 activation or neuronal survival. These results suggest that the caspase-9–dependent intrinsic pathway may be the primary mechanism responsible for the activation of caspase-3 in ischemic hippocampal neurons.

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (8) ◽  
pp. 597-604
Author(s):  
Li Pang ◽  
Shouqin Ji ◽  
Jihong Xing

Background: Central pro-inflammatory cytokine (PIC) signal is involved in neurological deficits after transient global ischemia induced by cardiac arrest (CA). The present study was to examine if blocking acid sensing ion channels (ASICs) using amiloride in the Central Nervous System can alleviate neurological deficits after the induction of CA and further examine the participation of PIC signal in the hippocampus for the effects of amiloride. Methods: CA was induced by asphyxia and then cardiopulmonary resuscitation was performed in rats. Western blot analysis and ELISA were used to determine the protein expression of ASIC subunit ASIC1 in the hippocampus, and the levels of PICs. As noted, it is unlikely that this procedure is clinically used although amiloride and other pharmacological agents were given into the brain in this study. Results: CA increased ASIC1 in the hippocampus of rats in comparison with control animals. This was associated with the increase in IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α together with Caspase-3 and Caspase-9. The administration of amiloride into the lateral ventricle attenuated the upregulation of Caspase-3/Caspase-9 and this further alleviated neurological severity score and brain edema. Inhibition of central IL-6 and TNF-α also decreased ASIC1 in the hippocampus of CA rats. Conclusion: Transient global ischemia induced by CA amplifies ASIC1a in the hippocampus likely via PIC signal. Amiloride administered into the Central Nervous System plays a neuroprotective role in the process of global ischemia. Thus, targeting ASICs (i.e., ASIC1a) is suggested for the treatment and improvement of CA-evoked global cerebral ischemia.


1998 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 248-256 ◽  
Author(s):  
Binhui Ni ◽  
Xin Wu ◽  
Yuan Su ◽  
Diane Stephenson ◽  
E. Barry Smalstig ◽  
...  

The authors recently cloned a cDNA for an ICE/CED3-related cysteine protease from rat brain, which is closely related to human CPP32 (now designated caspase-3). In situ hybridization histochemistry revealed a profound developmental regulation of the caspase-3 transcript in rat brain, with relatively high levels of caspase-3 mRNA observed in neurons of the fetal and neonatal brain and low levels of mRNA in neurons of the adult brain. The authors report that transient forebrain ischemia, which results in a delayed apoptotic death of CA1 pyramidal neurons, results in prolonged expression of caspase-3 mRNA in these same pyramidal neurons. Up-regulation of caspase-3 mRNA in CA1 pyramidal neurons is prominent 24 hours after transient global ischemia, and expression is maintained at higher levels for at least 72 hours after ischemia. However, by 96 hours after ischemia, a marked decrease in caspase-3 mRNA expression is observed in CA1 pyramidal neurons, showing severe degenerative changes (e.g., nuclear condensation). By contrast, there is no change in the expression of a closely related member of caspase family, caspase-2, in CA1 pyramidal neurons after global ischemia. Instead, caspase-2 mRNA is induced in lamina layers of cerebral cortex 24 hours after the ischemia. A selective and prolonged induction of the caspase-3 gene in committed CA1 pyramidal neurons suggests that transcriptional activation of this caspase-3 gene may be involved in the apoptotic cell death cascade of CA1 neurons after transient global ischemia.


2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nabilah Muhammad Nadzri ◽  
Ahmad Bustamam Abdul ◽  
Mohd Aspollah Sukari ◽  
Siddig Ibrahim Abdelwahab ◽  
Eltayeb E. M. Eid ◽  
...  

Zerumbone (ZER) isolated fromZingiber zerumbetwas previously encapsulated with hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HPβCD) to enhance ZER’s solubility in water, thus making it highly tolerable in the human body. The anticancer effects of this new ZER-HPβCD inclusion complex via apoptosis cell death were assessed in this study for the first time in liver hepatocellular cells, HepG2. Apoptosis was ascertained by morphological study, nuclear stain, and sub-G1 cell population accumulation with G2/M arrest. Further investigations showed the release of cytochrome c and loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, proving mitochondrial dysfunction upon the ZER-HPβCD treatment as well as modulating proapoptotic and anti-apototic Bcl-2 family members. A significant increase in caspase 3/7, caspase 9, and caspase 8 was detected with the depletion of BID cleaved by caspase 8. Collectively, these results prove that a highly soluble inclusion complex of ZER-HPβCD could be a promising anticancer agent for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma in humans.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Xinlu Wang ◽  
Xuanxuan Hao ◽  
Youping Wang ◽  
Bin Li ◽  
Lin Cui ◽  
...  

Shenfuyixin granule (SFYXG, i.e., Xinshuaikang granule) is a prescription, commonly used in the clinical experience, which plays a significant role in the treatment of heart failure. The purpose of this present research was to investigate the protective effect of SFYXG, and the mechanism about anti-H2O2-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis in the neonatal rat cardiomyocytes. Myocardial cells, as is well known, were divided into 4 groups: normal, model, SFYXG, and coenzyme Q10 group, respectively. Cells viability was determined by MTT assay. Flow cytometry and AO/EB staining were implemented to test the apoptosis rate and intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) level. Mitochondrion membrane potential (MMP) was evaluated by JC-1 fluorescence probe method. The myocardial ultrastructure of mitochondrion was measured by electron microscope. The related mRNA expression levels of Bax, Bcl-2, Caspase-3, caspase-8, and caspase-9 were detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Also, the expression levels of Bax and Bcl-2 protein were detected by Western blot, and the expression levels of caspase-3, caspase-8, and caspase-9 protein were tested by caspase-Glo®3 Assay, caspase-Glo®8 Assay, and caspase-Glo®9 Assay, respectively. GAPDH was used as the internal reference gene/protein. The results revealed that SFYXG (0.5 mg/ml) raised the viability of myocardial cell, weakened the apoptosis rate and ROS level, corrected the mitochondrion membrane potential stability, and improved cell morphology and ultrastructure of myocardial mitochondrion. Furthermore, SFYXG upregulated the antiapoptosis gene of Bcl-2, but downregulated the proapoptosis genes of Bax, caspase-3, and caspase-9. In conclusion, SFYXG could appear to attenuate myocardial injury by its antioxidative and antiapoptosis effect.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amir Saber ◽  
Nasim Abedimanesh ◽  
Mohammad-Hossein Somi ◽  
Ahmad Yari Khosroushahi

Abstract Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common type of cancer worldwide. Fruit and vegetables have some active compounds such as flavonoids and polyphenols that protect against malignancies through their antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, anti-proliferative, neuro, and hepatoprotective properties. Red beetroot (Beta vulgaris) contains red (betacyanins) and yellow (betaxanthins) pigments known as betalains. Betanin makes up 75-95% of the total betacyanins, possessed a wide range of favorable biological effects such as chemopreventive, anticarcinogenic, anti-tumorogenic, antiangiogenic, and proapoptotic effects. Methods: Red beetroot hydro-alcoholic extract and betanin were used to treat Caco-2 and HT-29 colorectal cancer cells, as well as KDR/293 normal epithelial cells. The half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) was determined by prescreening MTT tests in the range of 20 to 140 µg/ml at 24 and 48 h. The cytotoxicity and apoptosis-inducing evaluations were performed via MTT assay, DAPI staining, and FACS-flow cytometry tests using determined times and doses. Moreover, the expression level of six important genes involving in the apoptosis pathway (Bcl-2, BAD, Caspase-3, Caspase-8, Caspase-9, and Fas-R) were determined using the real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method.Results: The IC50 doses for HT-29 and Caco-2 cell lines were determined to be about 92 μg/mL, 107 μg/mL for beetroot hydro-alcoholic extract, and 64 μg/mL, 90 μg/mL for betanin at 48 h, respectively. Our findings showed that beetroot extract and betanin significantly inhibit the growth of HT-29 and Caco-2 cell lines, time and dose-dependently, without considerable adverse effects on KDR/293 normal cells. Moreover, DAPI staining and flow cytometry results revealed significant apoptosis symptoms in treated cancerous cell lines. The expression level of pro-apoptotic genes involved in intrinsic and extrinsic apoptosis pathways (BAD, Caspase-3, Caspase-8, Caspase-9, and Fas-R) in treated HT-29 and Caco-2 cells was higher than untreated and normal cells, whereas the anti-apoptotic gene (Bcl-2) was downregulated. Conclusion: Beetroot hydro-alcoholic extract and betanin significantly inhibited cell proliferation and induced cell apoptosis (intrinsic and extrinsic pathways) via modification of effective genes in both colorectal cancer cell lines with no significant cytotoxic effects on KDR/293 normal cells. The mechanism of the anticancer effects of red beetroot extract and betanin needs to be further studied.


2006 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 181-186 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhen He ◽  
James Meschia ◽  
Thomas Brott ◽  
Dennis Dickson ◽  
Michael Mckinney

2009 ◽  
Vol 83 (18) ◽  
pp. 9273-9282 ◽  
Author(s):  
Subbiah Pugazhenthi ◽  
Donald H. Gilden ◽  
Sreekala Nair ◽  
Anne McAdoo ◽  
Mary Wellish ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Simian varicella virus (SVV) causes varicella in primates, becomes latent in ganglionic neurons, and reactivates to produce zoster. SVV produces a cytopathic effect in monkey kidney cells in tissue culture. To study the mechanism by which SVV-infected cells die, we examined markers of apoptosis 24 to 64 h postinfection (hpi). Western blot analysis of virus-infected cell lysates revealed a significant increase in the levels of the cleaved active form of caspase-3, accompanied by a parallel increase in caspase-3 activity at 40 to 64 hpi. Caspase-9, a marker for the intrinsic pathway, was activated significantly in SVV-infected cells at all time points, whereas trace levels of the active form of caspase-8, an extrinsic pathway marker, was detected only at 64 hpi. Bcl-2 expression at the mRNA and protein levels was decreased by 50 to 70% throughout the course of virus infection. Release of cytochrome c, an activator of caspase-9, from mitochondria into the cytoplasm was increased by 200% at 64 hpi. Analysis of Vero cells infected with SVV expressing green fluorescent protein (SVV-GFP) at 64 hpi revealed colocalization of the active forms of caspase-3 and caspase-9 and terminal deoxynucleotidyltransferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL) staining with GFP. A significant decrease in the bcl-2 mRNA levels along with an abundance of mRNA specific for SVV genes 63, 40, and 21 was seen in the fraction of Vero cells that were infected with SVV-GFP. Together, these findings indicate that SVV induces apoptosis in cultured Vero cells through the intrinsic pathway in which Bcl-2 is downregulated.


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