Caspase-3 and caspase-7 but not caspase-6 cleave Gas2 in vitro: implications for microfilament reorganization during apoptosis

1999 ◽  
Vol 112 (23) ◽  
pp. 4475-4482 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Sgorbissa ◽  
R. Benetti ◽  
S. Marzinotto ◽  
C. Schneider ◽  
C. Brancolini

Apoptosis is characterized by proteolysis of specific cellular proteins by a family of cystein proteases known as caspases. Gas2, a component of the microfilament system, is cleaved during apoptosis and the cleaved form specifically regulates microfilaments and cell shape changes. We now demonstrate that Gas2 is a substrate of caspase-3 but not of caspase-6. Proteolytic processing both in vitro and in vivo is dependent on aspartic residue 279. Gas2 cleavage was only partially impaired in apoptotic MCF-7 cells which lack caspase-3, thus indicating that different caspases can process Gas2 in vivo. In vitro Gas2 was processed, albeit with low affinity, by caspase-7 thus suggesting that this caspase could be responsible for the incomplete Gas2 processing observed in UV treated MCF-7 cells. In vivo proteolysis of Gas2 was detected at an early stage of the apoptotic process when the cells are still adherent on the substrate and it was coupled to the specific rearrangement of the microfilament characterizing cell death. Finally we also demonstrated that Gas2 in vitro binds to F-actin, but this interaction was unaffected by the caspase-3 dependent proteolytic processing.

Molecules ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (8) ◽  
pp. 1776 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maryam Seifaddinipour ◽  
Reyhaneh Farghadani ◽  
Farideh Namvar ◽  
Jamaludin Bin Mohamad ◽  
Nur Airina Muhamad

Pistacia (Pistacia vera) hulls (PV) is a health product that has been determined to contain bioactive phytochemicals which have fundamental importance for biomedical use. In this study, PV ethyl acetate extraction (PV-EA) fractions were evaluated with the use of an MTT assay to find the most cytotoxic fraction, which was found to be F13b1/PV-EA. After that, HPTLC was used for identify the most active compounds. The antioxidant activity was analyzed with DPPH and ABTS tests. Apoptosis induction in MCF-7 cells by F13b1/PV-EA was validated via flow cytometry analysis and a distinctive nuclear staining method. The representation of genes like Caspase 3, Caspase 8, Bax, Bcl-2, CAT and SOD was assessed via a reverse transcription (RT_PCR) method. Inhabitation of Tubo breast cancer cell development was examined in the BALB-neuT mouse with histopathology observations. The most abundant active components available in our extract were gallic acid and the flavonoid quercetin. The F13b1/PV-EA has antiradical activity evidence by its inhibition of ABTS and DPPH free radicals. F13b1/PV-EA displayed against MCF-7 a suppressive effect with an IC50 value of 15.2 ± 1.35 µg/mL. Also, the expression of CAT, SOD, Caspase 3, Caspase 8 and Bax increased and the expression of Bcl-2 decreased. F13b1/PV-EA dose-dependently inhibited tumor development in cancer-induced mice. Thus, this finding introduces F13b1/PV-EA as an effectual apoptosis and antitumor active agent against breast cancer.


2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (5) ◽  
pp. 444
Author(s):  
Ramona Meanti ◽  
Laura Rizzi ◽  
Elena Bresciani ◽  
Laura Molteni ◽  
Vittorio Locatelli ◽  
...  

Hexarelin, a synthetic hexapeptide, exerts cyto-protective effects at the mitochondrial level in cardiac and skeletal muscles, both in vitro and in vivo, may also have important neuroprotective bioactivities. This study examined the inhibitory effects of hexarelin on hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced apoptosis in Neuro-2A cells. Neuro-2A cells were treated for 24 h with various concentrations of H2O2 or with the combination of H2O2 and hexarelin following which cell viability and nitrite (NO2−) release were measured. Cell morphology was also documented throughout and changes arising were quantified using Image J skeleton and fractal analysis procedures. Apoptotic responses were evaluated by Real-Time PCR (caspase-3, caspase-7, Bax, and Bcl-2 mRNA levels) and Western Blot (cleaved caspase-3, cleaved caspase-7, MAPK, and Akt). Our results indicate that hexarelin effectively antagonized H2O2-induced damage to Neuro-2A cells thereby (i) improving cell viability, (ii) reducing NO2− release and (iii) restoring normal morphologies. Hexarelin treatment also reduced mRNA levels of caspase-3 and its activation, and modulated mRNA levels of the BCL-2 family. Moreover, hexarelin inhibited MAPKs phosphorylation and increased p-Akt protein expression. In conclusion, our results demonstrate neuroprotective and anti-apoptotic effects of hexarelin, suggesting that new analogues could be developed for their neuroprotective effects.


Molecules ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (6) ◽  
pp. 1399 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Kubatka ◽  
Martin Kello ◽  
Karol Kajo ◽  
Marek Samec ◽  
Karin Jasek ◽  
...  

Comprehensive oncology research suggests an important role of phytochemicals or whole plant foods in the modulation of signaling pathways associated with anticancer action. The goal of this study is to assess the anticancer activities of Cinnamomum zeylanicum L. using rat, mouse, and cell line breast carcinoma models. C. zeylanicum (as bark powder) was administered in the diet at two concentrations of 0.1% (w/w) and 1% (w/w) during the whole experiment in chemically induced rat mammary carcinomas and a syngeneic 4T1 mouse model. After autopsy, histopathological and molecular evaluations of mammary gland tumors in rodents were carried out. Moreover, in vitro analyses using MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells were performed. The dominant metabolites present in the tested C. zeylanicum essential oil (with relative content over 1%) were cinnamaldehyde, cinnamaldehyde dimethyl acetal, cinnamyl acetate, eugenol, linalool, eucalyptol, limonene, o-cymol, and α-terpineol. The natural mixture of mentioned molecules demonstrated significant anticancer effects in our study. In the mouse model, C. zeylanicum at a higher dose (1%) significantly decreased tumor volume by 44% when compared to controls. In addition, treated tumors showed a significant dose-dependent decrease in mitotic activity index by 29% (0.1%) and 45.5% (1%) in comparison with the control group. In rats, C. zeylanicum in both doses significantly reduced the tumor incidence by 15.5% and non-significantly suppressed tumor frequency by more than 30% when compared to controls. An evaluation of the mechanism of anticancer action using valid oncological markers showed several positive changes after treatment with C. zeylanicum. Histopathological analysis of treated rat tumor specimens showed a significant decrease in the ratio of high-/low-grade carcinomas compared to controls. In treated rat carcinomas, we found caspase-3 and Bax expression increase. On the other hand, we observed a decrease in Bcl-2, Ki67, VEGF, and CD24 expressions and MDA levels. Assessment of epigenetic changes in rat tumor cells in vivo showed a significant decrease in lysine methylation status of H3K4m3 and H3K9m3 in the high-dose treated group, a dose-dependent increase in H4K16ac levels (H4K20m3 was not changed), down-regulations of miR21 and miR155 in low-dose cinnamon groups (miR22 and miR34a were not modulated), and significant reduction of the methylation status of two out of five gene promoters—ATM and TIMP3 (PITX2, RASSF1, PTEN promoters were not changed). In vitro study confirmed results of animal studies, in that the essential oil of C. zeylanicum displayed significant anticancer efficacy in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells (using MTS, BrdU, cell cycle, annexin V/PI, caspase-3/7, Bcl-2, PARP, and mitochondrial membrane potential analyses). As a conclusion, C. zeylanicum L. showed chemopreventive and therapeutic activities in animal breast carcinoma models that were also significantly confirmed by mechanistic evaluations in vitro and in vivo.


2022 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yang Yang ◽  
Quanfeng Zhao ◽  
Zhe Peng ◽  
Yunjiang Zhou ◽  
Miao-Miao Niu ◽  
...  

Chemoresistance is a major therapeutic obstacle in the treatment of breast cancer. Therefore, how to overcome chemoresistance is a problem to be solved. Here, a glutathione (GSH)/cathepsin B (CB) dual-controlled nanomedicine formed by cyclic disulfide-bridged peptide (cyclic-1a) as a potent anticancer agent is reported. Under the sequential treatment of GSH and CB, cyclic-1a can efficiently self-assemble into nanofibers. In vitro studies show that cyclic-1a promotes the apoptosis of MCF-7/DOX cells by inducing the cleavages of caspase-3 and PARP. In vivo studies confirm that cyclic-1a significantly inhibits the progression of MCF-7/DOX cells-derived xenograft in nude mice, with no obvious adverse reactions. This study provides a paradigm of GSH/CB dual-controlled nanomedicine for high-efficacy and low-toxic DOX-resistant breast cancer therapy.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Jungeun Kim ◽  
Jae-Myung Yoo ◽  
Jin Soo Kim ◽  
Sun-Gun Kim ◽  
Jong Eel Park ◽  
...  

Mountain ginseng has been used generally as a pharmacopuncture for cancer therapy in clinical practice in Northeast Asia. Nonetheless, there have been few scientific reports for the anticancer action of mountain ginseng. In this study, we investigated whether mountain ginseng extract (MGE) could inhibit the growth of breast cancer in in vitro and in vivo models. MGE showed stronger cytotoxicity than farm-cultivated ginseng extract (FGE) through promoting ROS generation. Also MGE dose-dependently brought about mitochondrial dysfunction in MCF-7 cells. In addition, MGE induced apoptosis through enhancing the activities of caspase-3/7 by regulation of expression of Bcl-2, Bax, cytochrome c, and cleaved caspase-3 in the MCF-7 cells. Consistent with the in vitro results, MGE significantly reduced tumor weights compared with FGE in mice transplanted with MCF-7 cells, and it regulated the expression of apoptosis-related proteins, such as Bcl-2, Bax, cytochrome c, cleaved caspase-3, and cleaved PARP, in the tumor tissues. Additionally, MGE included higher total ginsenoside contents than FGE. In conclusion, MGE, which is richer in ginsenosides, exerts a stronger anticancer action than FGE in breast cancer. The anticancer action of MGE may be closely correlated with caspase-mediated apoptosis through upregulating ROS generation. Therefore, these findings may be helpful for a clinical understanding of the anticancer mechanism of MGE for breast cancer patients.


2004 ◽  
Vol 378 (1) ◽  
pp. 161-168 ◽  
Author(s):  
Björn ROTTER ◽  
Yolande KROVIARSKI ◽  
Gaël NICOLAS ◽  
Didier DHERMY ◽  
Marie-Christine LECOMTE

The spectrin–actin scaffold underlying the lipid bilayer is considered to participate in cell-shape stabilization and in the organization of specialized membrane subdomains. These structures are dynamic and likely to undergo frequent remodelling during changes in cell shape. Proteolysis of spectrin, which occurs during apoptosis, leads to destabilization of the scaffold. It is also one of the major processes involved in membrane remodelling. Spectrins, the main components of the membrane skeleton, are the targets for two important protease systems: m- and µ-calpains (Ca2+-activated proteases) and caspase-3 (activated during apoptosis). In this paper, we show that caspase-2 also targets spectrin in vitro, and we characterize Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent regulation of spectrin cleavage by caspases. Yeast two-hybrid screening reveals that the large isoform (1/L) of procaspase-2 specifically binds to αII-spectrin, while the short isoform does not. Like caspase-3, caspase-2 cleaves αII-spectrin in vitro at residue Asp-1185. This study emphasizes a role of executioner caspase for caspase-2. We also demonstrated that the executioner caspase-7 but not caspase-6 cleaves spectrin at residue Asp-1185 in vitro. This spectrin cleavage by caspases 2, 3 and 7 is inhibited by the Ca2+-dependent binding of calmodulin to spectrin. In contrast, calmodulin binding enhances spectrin cleavage by calpain at residue Tyr-1176. These results indicate that αII-spectrin cleavage is highly influenced by Ca2+ homoeostasis and calmodulin, which therefore represent potential regulators of the stability and the plasticity of the spectrin-based skeleton.


2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 183 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Kubatka ◽  
Martin Kello ◽  
Karol Kajo ◽  
Marek Samec ◽  
Alena Liskova ◽  
...  

Comprehensive scientific data provide evidence that isolated phytochemicals or whole plant foods may beneficially modify carcinogenesis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the oncostatic activities of Rhus coriaria L. (sumac) using animal models (rat and mouse), and cell lines of breast carcinoma. R. coriaria (as a powder) was administered through the diet at two concentrations (low dose: 0.1% (w/w) and high dose: 1 % (w/w)) for the duration of the experiment in a syngeneic 4T1 mouse and chemically-induced rat mammary carcinoma models. After autopsy, histopathological and molecular analyses of tumor samples in rodents were performed. Moreover, in vitro analyses using MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells were conducted. The dominant metabolites present in tested R. coriaria methanolic extract were glycosides of gallic acid (possible gallotannins). In the mouse model, R. coriaria at a higher dose (1%) significantly decreased tumor volume by 27% when compared to controls. In addition, treated tumors showed significant dose-dependent decrease in mitotic activity index by 36.5% and 51% in comparison with the control group. In the chemoprevention study using rats, R. coriaria at a higher dose significantly reduced the tumor incidence by 20% and in lower dose non-significantly reduced tumor frequency by 29% when compared to controls. Evaluations of the mechanism of oncostatic action using valid clinical markers demonstrated several positive alterations in rat tumor cells after the treatment with R. coriaria. In this regard, histopathological analysis of treated tumor specimens showed robust dose-dependent decrease in the ratio of high-/low-grade carcinomas by 66% and 73% compared to controls. In treated rat carcinomas, we found significant caspase-3, Bax, and Bax/Bcl-2 expression increases; on the other side, a significant down-regulation of Bcl-2, Ki67, CD24, ALDH1, and EpCam expressions and MDA levels. When compared to control specimens, evaluation of epigenetic alterations in rat tumor cells in vivo showed significant dose-dependent decrease in lysine methylation status of H3K4m3 and H3K9m3 and dose-dependent increase in lysine acetylation in H4K16ac levels (H4K20m3 was not changed) in treated groups. However, only in lower dose of sumac were significant decreases in the expression of oncogenic miR210 and increase of tumor-suppressive miR145 (miR21, miR22, and miR155 were not changed) observed. Finally, only in lower sumac dose, significant decreases in methylation status of three out of five gene promoters–ATM, PTEN, and TIMP3 (PITX2 and RASSF1 promoters were not changed). In vitro evaluations using methanolic extract of R. coriaria showed significant anticancer efficacy in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells (using Resazurin, cell cycle, annexin V/PI, caspase-3/7, Bcl-2, PARP, and mitochondrial membrane potential analyses). In conclusion, sumac demonstrated significant oncostatic activities in rodent models of breast carcinoma that were validated by mechanistic studies in vivo and in vitro.


2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (17) ◽  
pp. 1483-1493
Author(s):  
Ricardo Imbroisi Filho ◽  
Daniel T.G. Gonzaga ◽  
Thainá M. Demaria ◽  
João G.B. Leandro ◽  
Dora C.S. Costa ◽  
...  

Background: Cancer is a major cause of death worldwide, despite many different drugs available to treat the disease. This high mortality rate is largely due to the complexity of the disease, which results from several genetic and epigenetic changes. Therefore, researchers are constantly searching for novel drugs that can target different and multiple aspects of cancer. Experimental: After a screening, we selected one novel molecule, out of ninety-four triazole derivatives, that strongly affects the viability and proliferation of the human breast cancer cell line MCF-7, with minimal effects on non-cancer cells. The drug, named DAN94, induced a dose-dependent decrease in MCF-7 cells viability, with an IC50 of 3.2 ± 0.2 µM. Additionally, DAN94 interfered with mitochondria metabolism promoting reactive oxygen species production, triggering apoptosis and arresting the cancer cells on G1/G0 phase of cell cycle, inhibiting cell proliferation. These effects are not observed when the drug was tested in the non-cancer cell line MCF10A. Using a mouse model with xenograft tumor implants, the drug preventing tumor growth presented no toxicity for the animal and without altering biochemical markers of hepatic function. Results and Conclusion: The novel drug DAN94 is selective for cancer cells, targeting the mitochondrial metabolism, which culminates in the cancer cell death. In the end, DAN94 has been shown to be a promising drug for controlling breast cancer with minimal undesirable effects.


2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 340-349
Author(s):  
Ebrahim S. Moghadam ◽  
Farhad Saravani ◽  
Ernest Hamel ◽  
Zahra Shahsavari ◽  
Mohsen Alipour ◽  
...  

Objective: Several anti-tubulin agents were introduced for the cancer treatment so far. Despite successes in the treatment of cancer, these agents cause toxic side effects, including peripheral neuropathy. Comparing anti-tubulin agents, indibulin seemed to cause minimal peripheral neuropathy, but its poor aqueous solubility and other potential clinical problems have led to its remaining in a preclinical stage. Methods: Herein, indibulin analogues were synthesized and evaluated for their in vitro anti-cancer activity using MTT assay (on the MCF-7, T47-D, MDA-MB231 and NIH-3T3 cell lines), annexin V/PI staining assay, cell cycle analysis, anti-tubulin assay and caspase 3/7 activation assay. Results: One of the compounds, 4a, showed good anti-proliferative activity against MCF-7 cells (IC50: 7.5 μM) and low toxicity on a normal cell line (IC50 > 100 μM). All of the tested compounds showed lower cytotoxicity on normal cell line in comparison to reference compound, indibulin. In the annexin V/PI staining assay, induction of apoptosis in the MCF-7 cell line was observed. Cell cycle analysis illustrated an increasing proportion of cells in the sub-G-1 phase, consistent with an increasing proportion of apoptotic cells. No increase in G2/M cells was observed, consistent with the absence of anti-tubulin activity. A caspase 3/7 assay protocol showed that apoptosis induction by more potent compounds was due to activation of caspase 3. Conclusion: Newly synthesized compounds exerted acceptable anticancer activity and further investigation of current scaffold would be beneficial.


Author(s):  
Ya-Nan Li ◽  
Ni Ning ◽  
Lei Song ◽  
Yun Geng ◽  
Jun-Ting Fan ◽  
...  

Background: Deoxypodophyllotoxin, isolated from theTraditional Chinese Medicine Anthriscus sylvestris, is well-known because of its significant antitumor activity with strong toxicity in vitro and in vivo. Objective: In this article, we synthesized a series of deoxypodophyllotoxin derivatives, and evaluated their antitumor effectiveness.Methods:The anti tumor activity of deoxypodophyllotoxin derivatives was investigated by the MTT method. Apoptosis percentage was measured by flow cytometer analysis using Annexin-V-FITC. Results: The derivatives revealed obvious cytotoxicity in the MTT assay by decreasing the number of late cancer cells. The decrease of Bcl-2/Bax could be observed in MCF-7, HepG2, HT-29 andMG-63 using Annexin V-FITC. The ratio of Bcl-2/Bax in the administration group was decreased, which was determined by the ELISA kit. Conclusion: The derivatives of deoxypodophyllotoxin could induce apoptosis in tumor cell lines by influencing Bcl-2/Bax.


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