ROS-Ca(2+) is associated with mitochondria permeability transition pore involved in surfactin-induced MCF-7 cells apoptosis

The surfactin can inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis in cancer cells. Moreover, surfactin can induce cell death in human breast cancer MCF-7 cells through mitochondrial pathway. However, the molecular mechanism involved in this pathway remains to be elucidated. Here, the reactive oxygen species (ROS) and Ca(2+) on mitochondria permeability transition pore (MPTP) activity, and MCF-7 cell apoptosis which induced by surfactin were investigated. It is found that surfactin evoked mitochondrial ROS generation, and the surfactin-induced cell death was prevented by N-acetylcysteine (NAC, an inhibitor of ROS). An increasing cytoplasmic Ca(2+) concentration was detected in surfactin-induced MCF-7 apoptosis, which was inhibited by 1,2-bis (2-aminophenoxy) ethane-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid (BAPTA-AM, a chelator of calcium). In addition, the relationship between ROS generation and the increase of cytoplasm Ca(2+) was determined. The results showed that surfactin initially induced the ROS formation, leading to the MPTP opening accompanied with the collapse of mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨ(m)). Then the cytoplasmic Ca(2+) concentration increased in virtue of the changes of mitochondrial permeability, which was prevented by BAPTA-AM. Besides, cytochrome c (cyt c) was released from mitochondria to cytoplasm through the MPTP and activated caspase-9, eventually induced apoptosis. In summary, surfactin has notable anti-tumor effect on MCF-7 cells, however, there was no obvious cytotoxicity on normal cells.     

Simultaneously targeting mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum by photodynamic therapy induces apoptosis in human lymphoma cells

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) and photodetection with protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) precursors have widely been used in the diseases with abnormally proliferative cells, but the mechanism of the modality is not fully understood yet. In this study 70-95% of apoptotic cells after PDT with PpIX precursor, hexaminolevulinate (HAL) in two human lymphoma cell lines, Namalwa and Bjab, were confirmed by fluorescence microscopy, electron microscopy and flow cytometry. HAL-derived PpIX was mainly distributed in the mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum (ER), both of which were initial targets after light exposure causing two major pathways simultaneously involved in the apoptotic induction. One was the mitochondrial pathway including the release of cytochrome c, cleavage of caspases-9/-3, poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase and DNA fragmentation factor. The other was the ER stress-mediated pathway triggering a transient increase in the cytosolic Ca(2+) level after photodamage to the ER calcium pump protein SERCA2. The released Ca(2+) further initiated the caspase-8 cleavage. The use of both extracellular Ca(2+) chelator EGTA and intracellular Ca(2+) chelator BAPTA-AM confirmed that such cytosolic Ca(2+) originated from the ER rather than extracellular Ca(2+)-containing medium. About 30% of the apoptosis was blocked with BAPTA-AM alone; while a complete inhibition of such apoptosis was achieved with a combination of the caspase-9 inhibitor Z-LEHD-FMK and caspase-8 inhibitor Z-IETD-FMK, thus quantifying each role of the mitochondrial and ER pathways.     

The coxsackievirus 2B protein suppresses apoptotic host cell responses by manipulating intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis

Enteroviruses, small cytolytic RNA viruses, confer an antiapoptotic state to infected cells in order to suppress infection-limiting apoptotic host cell responses. This antiapoptotic state also lends protection against cell death induced by metabolic inhibitors like actinomycin D and cycloheximide. The identity of the viral antiapoptotic protein and the underlying mechanism are unknown. Here, we provide evidence that the coxsackievirus 2B protein modulates apoptosis by manipulating intracellular Ca(2+) homeostasis. Using fluorescent Ca(2+) indicators and organelle-targeted aequorins, we demonstrate that ectopic expression of 2B in HeLa cells decreases the Ca(2+) content of both the endoplasmic reticulum and the Golgi, resulting in down-regulation of Ca(2+) signaling between these stores and the mitochondria, and increases the influx of extracellular Ca(2+). In our studies of the physiological importance of the 2B-induced alterations in Ca(2+) signaling, we found that the expression of 2B suppressed caspase activation and apoptotic cell death induced by various stimuli, including actinomycin D and cycloheximide. Mutants of 2B that were defective in reducing the Ca(2+) content of the stores failed to suppress apoptosis. These data implicate a functional role of the perturbation of intracellular Ca(2+) compartmentalization in the enteroviral strategy to suppress intrinsic apoptotic host cell responses. The putative down-regulation of an endoplasmic reticulum-dependent apoptotic pathway is discussed.     

Characterization of calcium release-activated apoptosis of LNCaP prostate cancer cells

Apoptosis inhibition rather than enhanced cellular proliferation occurs in prostate cancer (CaP), the most commonly diagnosed malignancy in American men. Therefore, it is important to characterize residual apoptotic pathways in CaP cells. When intracellular Ca(2+) stores are released and plasma membrane "store-operated" Ca(2+) entry channels subsequently open, cytosolic [Ca(2+)] increases and is thought to induce apoptosis. However, cells incapable of releasing Ca(2+) stores are resistant to apoptotic stimuli, indicating that Ca(2+) store release is also important. We investigated whether release of intracellular Ca(2+) stores is sufficient to induce apoptosis of the CaP cell line LNCaP. We developed a method to release stored Ca(2+) without elevating cytosolic [Ca(2+)]; this stimulus induced LNCaP cell apoptosis. We compared the apoptotic pathways activated by intracellular Ca(2+) store release with the dual insults of store release and cytosolic [Ca(2+)] elevation. Earlier processing of caspases-3 and -7 occurred when intracellular store release was the sole Ca(2+) perturbation. Apoptosis was attenuated in both conditions in stable transfected cells expressing antiapoptotic proteins Bclx(L) and catalytically inactive caspase-9, and in both scenarios inactive caspase-9 became complexed with caspase-7. Thus, intracellular Ca(2+) store release initiates an apoptotic pathway similar to that elicited by the dual stimuli of cytosolic [Ca(2+)] elevation and intracellular store release.     

Calcium as a mediator of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3-induced apoptosis

Cellular calcium has been implicated in induction of apoptosis. We have shown that 1,25(OH)(2)D(3)-induced apoptosis is associated with a sustained increase in concentration of intracellular Ca(2+) ([Ca(2+)](i)) resulting from depletion of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) Ca(2+) stores and activation of the voltage-insensitive Ca(2+) entry pathway [1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D(3), intracellular Ca(2+) and apoptosis in breast cancer cells, in: A.W. Norman, R. Bouillon, M. Thomasset (Eds.), Vitamin D: Chemistry, Biology and Clinical Applications of the Steroid Hormone, University of California, Riverside, 1997, pp. 473-474; Vitamin D and intracellular calcium, in: P. Quinn, V. Kagan (Eds.), Subcellular Biochemistry: Fat-Soluble Vitamins, Plenum Press, New York, 1998, pp. 271-297; 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D(3) and calcium signaling, in: A.W. Norman, R. Bouillon, M. Thomasset (Eds.), Vitamin D Endocrine System: Structural, Biological, Genetic and Clinical Aspects, University of California, Riverside, 2000, pp. 715-718; 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D(3) triggers calcium-mediated apoptosis in breast cancer cells, in: A.W. Norman, R. Bouillon, M. Thomasset (Eds.), Vitamin D Endocrine System: Structural, Biological, Genetic and Clinical Aspects, University of California, Riverside, 2000, pp. 399-402; Endocrine 9 (1998) 321]. This study was undertaken to investigate mechanism of 1,25(OH)(2)D(3)-induced apoptosis in breast cancer cells and compare effects of the hormone on Ca(2+) and apoptosis in cancer and normal human mammary epithelial cells. The treatment of MCF-7 breast cancer cells with 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) induced a sustained increase in [Ca(2+)](i) and activated the Ca(2+)-dependent proapoptotic proteases, micro-calpain and caspase-12, as evaluated with antibodies to active (cleaved) forms of the enzymes and the calpain substrate. The selective inhibition of Ca(2+) binding sites of micro-calpain decreased apoptotic indices in the 1,25(OH)(2)D(3)-treated cells. 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) did not induce apoptosis in normal human mammary epithelial cells (HMECs), as evaluated by DNA fragmentation (TUNEL), loss of the plasma membrane asymmetry (Annexin V assay) and morphological criteria. In these cells, 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) triggered a transient Ca(2+) response, which was not accompanied by the calpain and caspase activation. HMEC, but not MCF-7 cells expressed the Ca(2+) binding protein calbindin-D(28k) and buffered Ca(2+) increases induced by a Ca(2+) ionophore ionomycin. In conclusion, we have identified the novel apoptotic pathway in breast carcinoma cells treated with 1,25(OH)(2)D(3): increase in [Ca(2+)](i) -->micro-calpain activation --> caspase-12 activation --> apoptosis. Our findings also imply that differences of Ca(2+) regulatory mechanisms in breast cancer versus normal mammary epithelial cells underlay resistance of normal cells and susceptibility of cancer cells to 1,25(OH)(2)D(3)-induced Ca(2+)-mediated apoptosis.     

Involvement of endoplasmic reticulum stress and activation of MAP kinases in beta-lapachone-induced human prostate cancer cell apoptosis

Beta-lapachone, an o-naphthoquinone, induces various carcinoma cells to undergo apoptosis, but the mechanism is poorly understood. In the present study, we found that the beta-lapachone-induced apoptosis of DU145 human prostate carcinoma cells was associated with endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, as shown by increased intracellular calcium levels and induction of GRP-78 and GADD-153 proteins, suggesting that the endoplasmic reticulum is a target of beta-lapachone. Beta-Lapachone-induced DU145 cell apoptosis was dose-dependent and accompanied by cleavage of procaspase-12 and phosphorylation of p38, ERK, and JNK, followed by activation of the executioner caspases, caspase-7 and calpain. However, pretreatment with the general caspase inhibitor, z-VAD-FMK, or calpain inhibitors, including ALLM or ALLN, failed to prevent beta-lapachone-induced apoptotic cell death. Blocking the enzyme activity of NQO1 with dicoumarol, a known NQO1 inhibitor, or preventing an increase in intracellular calcium levels using BAPTA-AM, an intracellular calcium chelator, substantially inhibited MAPK phosphorylation, abolished the activation of calpain, caspase-12 and caspase-7, and provided significant protection of beta-lapachone-treated cells. These findings show that beta-lapachone-induced ER stress and MAP kinase phosphorylation is a novel signaling pathway underlying the molecular mechanism of the anticancer effect of beta-lapachone.     

Mechanism of A23187-induced apoptosis in HL-60 cells: dependency on mitochondrial permeability transition but not on NADPH oxidase

Calcium ions (Ca(2+)) are involved in a number of physiological cellular functions including apoptosis. An elevation in intracellular levels of Ca(2+) in A23187-treated HL-60 cells was associated with the generation of both intracellular and extracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and induction of apoptotic cell death. A23187-induced apoptosis was prevented by cyclosporin A, a potent inhibitor of mitochondrial permeability transition (MPT). The generation of extracellular ROS was suppressed by the NADPH oxidase inhibitor diphenylene iodonium, and by superoxide dismutase, but these agents had no effect on A23187-induced apoptosis. In contrast, the blocking of intracellular ROS by a cell-permeant antioxidant diminished completely the induction of MPT and apoptosis. In isolated mitochondria, the addition of Ca(2+) induced a typical MPT concomitant with the generation of ROS, which leads to augmentation of intracellular ROS levels. These results indicate that intracellular not extracellular ROS generated by A23187 is associated with the opening of MPT pores that leads to apoptotic cell death.     

Polymethoxylated flavones induce Ca(2+)-mediated apoptosis in breast cancer cells

Flavonoids, polyphenolic phytochemicals which include flavones and isoflavones, are present in the common human diet. It has been suggested that these compounds may exert anticancer activity; however, the mechanisms involved remain unknown. We have recently shown (Sergeev, 2004, Biochem Biophys Res Commun 321: 462-467) that isoflavones can activate the novel apoptotic pathway mediated by cellular Ca(2+). Here, we report that polymethoxyflavones (PMFs) derived from sweet orange (Citrus sinensis L.) inhibit growth of human breast cancer cells via Ca(2+)-dependent apoptotic mechanism. The treatment of MCF-7 breast cancer cells with 5-hydroxy-3,6,7,8,3',4'-hexamethoxyflavone (5-OH-HxMF) and 3'-hydroxy-5,6,7,4'-tetramethoxyflavone (3'-OH-TtMF) induced a sustained increase in concentration of intracellular Ca(2+) ([Ca(2+)](i)) resulting from both depletion of the endoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+) stores and Ca(2+) influx from the extracellular space. This increase in [Ca(2+)](i) was associated with the activation of the Ca(2+)-dependent apoptotic proteases, mu-calpain and caspase-12, as evaluated with the calpain and caspase-12 peptide substrates and antibodies to active (cleaved) forms of the enzymes. Corresponding non-hydroxylated PMFs, 3,5,6,7,8,3',4'-heptamethoxyflavone (HpMF) and 5,6,7,3',4'-pentamethoxyflavone (PtMF), were dramatically less active in inducing Ca(2+)-mediated apoptosis. Our results strongly suggest that the cellular Ca(2+) modulating activity of flavonoids underlies their apoptotic mechanism and that hydroxylation of PMFs is critical for their ability to induce an increase in [Ca(2+)](i) and, thus, activate Ca(2+)-dependent apoptotic proteases.     

Sustained enhancement of Ca(2+) influx by glibenclamide induces apoptosis in RINm5F cells

Cytosolic Ca(2+) elevations are known to be involved in triggering apoptosis in many tissues, but the effect of sustained enhancement of Ca(2+) influx on apoptosis in beta cells remains unknown. We have found that the viability of RINm5F cells is decreased dose-dependently by continuous exposure to glibenclamide at concentrations from 10(-7) to 10(-4) M, and that this effect is partially ameliorated by pretreatment with cycloheximide. Electrophoresis of the cells exposed to glibenclamide revealed ladder-like fragmentation characteristic of apoptosis, and which also is suppressed by cycloheximide pretreatment. By using terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end-labeling (TUNEL) staining, we detected increased DNA fragmentation in the nuclei of the cells exposed to glibenclamide, and staining with Hoechst 33342 and propidium iodide showed a dose-dependent increase in the number of cells with the chromatin condensation and fragmentation in their nuclei that is characteristic of apoptosis. The effects of glibenclamide on cell viability and apoptotic cell death were partially inhibited by treatment with Ca(2+) channel blocker, and by reducing the extracellular Ca(2+) concentration during glibenclamide exposure, suggesting that they may be derived from increased Ca(2+) influx. Furthermore, only the percentage of apoptotic cells, and not that of necrotic cells, increased with the increasing intracellular Ca(2+) concentration during glibenclamide exposure. In conclusion, we have demonstrated that the sustained enhancement of Ca(2+) influx caused by glibenclamide exposure can induce apoptotic cell death in a pure beta cell line.     

Diospyrin derivative, an anticancer quinonoid, regulates apoptosis at endoplasmic reticulum as well as mitochondria by modulating cytosolic calcium in human breast carcinoma cells

Diospyrin diethylether (D7), a bisnaphthoquinonoid derivative, exhibited an oxidative stress-dependent apoptosis in several human cancer cells and tumor models. The present study was aimed at evaluation of the increase in cytosolic calcium [Ca(2+)](c) leading to the apoptotic cell death triggered by D7 in MCF7 human breast carcinoma cells. A phosphotidylcholine-specific phospholipase C (PC-PLC) inhibitor, viz. U73122, and an antioxidant, viz. N-acetylcysteine, could significantly prevent the D7-induced rise in [Ca(2+)](c) and PC-PLC activity. Using an endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-Ca(2+) mobilizer (thapsigargin) and an ER-IP3R antagonist (heparin), results revealed ER as a major source of [Ca(2+)](c) which led to the activation of calpain and caspase12, and cleavage of fodrin. These effects including apoptosis were significantly inhibited by the pretreatment of Bapta-AM (a cell permeable Ca(2+)-specific chelator), or calpeptin (a calpain inhibitor). Furthermore, D7-induced [Ca(2+)](c) was found to alter mitochondrial membrane potential and induce cytochrome c release, which was inhibited by either Bapta-AM or ruthenium red (an inhibitor of mitochondrial Ca(2+) uniporter). Thus, these results provided a deeper insight into the D7-induced redox signaling which eventually integrated the calcium-dependent calpain/caspase12 activation and mitochondrial alterations to accentuate the induction of apoptotic cell death.     

Calcium signaling in cancer and vitamin D

Calcium signals induced by the Ca(2+) regulatory hormone 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) may determine the fate of the cancer cell. We have shown that, in breast cancer cell lines, 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) induces a sustained increase in concentration of intracellular Ca(2+) ([Ca(2+)](i)) by depleting the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) Ca(2+) stores via inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor/Ca(2+) release channel and activating Ca(2+) entry from the extracellular space via voltage-insensitive Ca(2+) channels. In normal cells, 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) triggered a transient Ca(2+) response via activation of voltage-dependent Ca(2+) channels, which were absent in breast cancer cells. The normal cells, but not breast cancer cells, expressed the Ca(2+) binding/buffering protein calbindin-D(28k) and were capable of buffering [Ca(2+)](i) increases induced by a mobilizer of the ER Ca(2+) stores, thapsigargin, or a Ca(2+) ionophore, ionomycin. The 1,25(OH)(2)D(3)-induced sustained increase in [Ca(2+)](i) in breast cancer cells was associated with induction of apoptotic cell death, whereas the transient [Ca(2+)](i) increase in normal cells was not. The forced expression of calbindin-D(28k) in cytosol or increase in the cytosolic Ca(2+) buffering capacity with the cell-permeant Ca(2+) buffer BAPTA prevented induction of apoptosis with 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) in cancer cells. The sustained increase in [Ca(2+)](i) in breast cancer cells was associated with activation of the Ca(2+)-dependent apoptotic proteases, mu-calpain and caspase-12, as evaluated with antibodies to active (cleaved) forms of the enzymes and the fluorogenic peptide substrates. Selective inhibition of the Ca(2+) binding sites of mu-calpain decreased apoptotic indices in the cancer cells treated with 1,25(OH)(2)D(3), thapsigargin, or ionomycin. The mu-calpain activation preceded expression/activation of caspase-12, and calpain was required for activation/cleavage of caspase-12. Certain non-calcemic vitamin D analogs (e.g., EB 1089) triggered a sustained [Ca(2+)](i) increase, activated Ca(2+)-dependent apoptotic proteases, and induced apoptosis in breast cancer cells in a fashion similar to that of 1,25(OH)(2)D(3). The 1,25(OH)(2)D(3)-induced transient Ca(2+) response in normal mammary epithelial cells was not accompanied by activation of mu-calpain and caspase-12. In conclusion, we have identified the novel apoptotic pathway in breast carcinoma cells treated with 1,25(OH)(2)D(3): increase in [Ca(2+)](i)-->mu-calpain activation-->caspase-12 activation-->apoptosis. Our results support the hypothesis that 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) directly activates this apoptotic pathway by inducing a sustained increase in [Ca(2+)](i). Differences of Ca(2+) regulatory mechanisms in cancer versus normal cells seem to allow 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) and vitamin D analogs to induce Ca(2+)-mediated apoptosis selectively in breast cancer cells. Thus, deltanoids may prove to be useful in the treatment of tumors susceptible to induction of Ca(2+)-mediated apoptosis.     

The novel endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-targeted protein HAP induces cell apoptosis by the depletion of the ER Ca(2+) stores

HAP, a novel human apoptosis-inducing protein, was identified to localize exclusively to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) in our previous work. In the present work, we reported that ectopic overexpression of HAP proteins caused the rapid and sustained elevation of the intracellular cytosolic Ca(2+), which originated from the reversible ER Ca(2+) stores release and the extracellular Ca(2+) influx. The HeLa cells apoptosis induced by HAP proteins was not prevented by establishing the clamped cytosolic Ca(2+) condition, or by buffering of the extracellular Ca(2+) with EGTA, suggesting that the depletion of ER Ca(2+) stores rather than the elevation of cytosolic Ca(2+) or the extracellular Ca(2+) entry contributed to HAP-induced HeLa cells apoptosis. Caspase-3 was also activated in the process of HAP-triggered apoptotic cell death.     

Ca2+ homeostasis and apoptotic resistance of neuroendocrine-differentiated prostate cancer cells

Neuroendocrine (NE) differentiation is a hallmark of advanced, androgen-independent prostate cancer, for which there is no successful therapy. NE tumor cells are nonproliferating and escape apoptotic cell death; therefore, an understanding of the apoptotic status of the NE phenotype is imperative for the development of new therapies for prostate cancer. Here, we report for the first time on alterations in intracellular Ca(2+) homeostasis, which is a key factor in apoptosis, caused by NE differentiation of androgen-dependent prostate cancer epithelial cells. NE-differentiating regimens, either cAMP elevation or androgen deprivation, resulted in a reduced endoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-store content due to both SERCA 2b Ca(2+) ATPase and luminal Ca(2+) binding/storage chaperone calreticulin underexpression, and to a downregulated store-operated Ca(2+) current. NE-differentiated cells showed enhanced resistance to thapsigargin- and TNF-alpha-induced apoptosis, unrelated to antiapoptotic Bcl-2 protein overexpression. Our results suggest that targeting the key players determining Ca(2+) homeostasis in an attempt to enhance the proapoptotic potential of malignant cells may prove to be a useful strategy in the treatment of advanced prostate cancer.     

Phosphoinositide 3-kinase accelerates calpain-dependent proteolysis of fodrin during hypoxic cell death

We have shown recently that phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI 3-kinase) accelerates the hypoxia-induced necrotic cell death of H9c2, derived from rat cardiomyocytes, by enhancing metabolic acidosis. Here we show the downstream events of acidosis that cause hypoxic cell death. Hypoxia induces the proteolysis of fodrin, a substrate of calpain. Intracellular Ca(2+) chelation by BAPTA, and the addition of SJA6017, a specific peptide inhibitor of calpain, also reduces cell death and fodrin proteolysis, indicating that Ca(2+) influx and calpain activation might be involved in these events. The overexpression of wild type PI 3-kinase accelerates fodrin proteolysis, while dominant-negative PI 3-kinase reduces it. Both (N-ethyl-N-isopropyl)amiloride (EIPA), an inhibitor of the Na(+)/H(+) exchanger, and KB-R7943, an inhibitor of the Na(+)/Ca(2+) exchanger, reduce hypoxic cell death and fodrin proteolysis. The depletion of intracellular Ca(2+ )stores by thapsigargin, an inhibitor of endoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-ATPase, also reduces cell death and fodrin proteolysis, indicating that Ca(2+ )release from intracellular Ca(2+ )stores might be also involved. These results indicate that PI 3-kinase might accelerate hypoxic cell death by enhancing the calpain-dependent proteolysis of fodrin.     

Depletion of intracellular Ca2+ by caffeine and ryanodine induces apoptosis of chinese hamster ovary cells transfected with ryanodine receptor

Recent studies have suggested a central role for Ca(2+) in the signaling pathway of apoptosis and certain anti-apoptotic effects of Bcl-2 family of proteins have been attributed to changes in intracellular Ca(2+) homeostasis. Here we report that depletion of Ca(2+) from endoplasmic reticulum (ER) leads to apoptosis in Chinese hamster ovary cells. Stable expression of ryanodine receptor (RyR) in these cells enables rapid and reversible changes of both cytosolic Ca(2+) and ER Ca(2+) content via activation of the RyR/Ca(2+) release channel by caffeine and ryanodine. Sustained depletion of the ER Ca(2+) store leads to apoptosis in Chinese hamster ovary cells, whereas co-expression of Bcl-xL and RyR in these cells prevents apoptotic cell death but not necrotic cell death. The anti-apoptotic effect of Bcl-xL does not correlate with changes in either the Ca(2+) release process from the ER or the capacitative Ca(2+) entry through the plasma membrane. The data suggest that Bcl-xL likely prevents apoptosis of cells at a stage downstream of ER Ca(2+) release and capacitative Ca(2+) entry.     

Activation of a cysteine protease in MCF-7 and T47D breast cancer cells during beta-lapachone-mediated apoptosis

beta-Lapachone (beta-lap) effectively killed MCF-7 and T47D cell lines via apoptosis in a cell-cycle-independent manner. However, the mechanism by which this compound activated downstream proteolytic execution processes were studied. At low concentrations, beta-lap activated the caspase-mediated pathway, similar to the topoisomerase I poison, topotecan; apoptotic reactions caused by both agents at these doses were inhibited by zVAD-fmk. However at higher doses of beta-lap, a novel non-caspase-mediated "atypical" cleavage of PARP (i.e., an approximately 60-kDa cleavage fragment) was observed. Atypical PARP cleavage directly correlated with apoptosis in MCF-7 cells and was inhibited by the global cysteine protease inhibitors iodoacetamide and N-ethylmaleimide. This cleavage was insensitive to inhibitors of caspases, granzyme B, cathepsins B and L, trypsin, and chymotrypsin-like proteases. The protease responsible appears to be calcium-dependent and the concomitant cleavage of PARP and p53 was consistent with a beta-lap-mediated activation of calpain. beta-Lap exposure also stimulated the cleavage of lamin B, a putative caspase 6 substrate. Reexpression of procaspase-3 into caspase-3-null MCF-7 cells did not affect this atypical PARP proteolytic pathway. These findings demonstrate that beta-lap kills cells through the cell-cycle-independent activation of a noncaspase proteolytic pathway.     

Evidence supporting a role for calcium in apoptosis induction by the synthetic triterpenoid 2-cyano-3,12-dioxooleana-1,9-dien-28-oic acid (CDDO)

The synthetic triterpenoid 2-cyano-3,12-dioxooleana-1,9-dien-28-oic acid (CDDO) is a novel anticancer agent that induces apoptosis in tumor cells. The cytotoxic stress underpinning CDDO-induced apoptosis has not been established. This study compared and contrasted the effects of CDDO on COLO 16 human skin cancer cells and their respiration-deficient (rho(0)) clones to elucidate the stress signal responsible for initiating apoptosis. CDDO promoted apoptosis in COLO 16 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The rho(0) clones appeared to be more sensitive to CDDO-induced apoptosis implying that the disruption of mitochondrial respiration was not directly associated with triggering cell death. After a 4-h exposure to CDDO, mitochondrial inner transmembrane potential-sensitive dyes revealed mitochondrial hyperpolarization in the COLO 16 cells and mitochondrial depolarization in the rho(0) clones. Electron microscopy illustrated that this exposure also promoted mitochondrial condensation, endoplasmic reticulum dilation, and chromatin condensation in the COLO 16 cells. Endoplasmic reticulum dilation and chromatin condensation were also observed in the rho(0) clones, but the mitochondria in these cells were markedly swollen implying that the disruption of intracellular Ca(2+) homeostasis was associated with cell death. A Ca(2+)-sensitive dye confirmed that CDDO increased cytoplasmic free Ca(2+) in the COLO 16 cells, their rho(0) clones, as well as in malignant breast and lung epithelial cells. A cell-permeant Ca(2+) chelator reduced the CDDO-induced increase in cytoplasmic free Ca(2+), and inhibited caspase activation, the development of apoptotic morphology, and DNA fragmentation in the COLO 16 cells, implying that Ca(2+) played a pivotal role in signaling the initiation of apoptosis.     

Apoptosis-like cell death of human breast cancer cell line MCF-7 induced by buprenorphine hydrochloride

The analgesic buprenorphine hydrochloride (Bph) induced apoptosis-like cell death in the caspase-3-deficient human breast cancer cell line, MCF-7. This apoptosis-like cell death activated key molecules in the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway: cytochrome c, caspase-9, caspase-7, and caspase-6. Bph caused the release of fluorescent protein from the mitochondria of MCF-7 cells transfected with the pDsRed2-Mito-vector in a time-dependent manner, suggesting disruption of the mitochondrial membrane. Zn(2+) as high as 2 mM did not inhibit the DNase that took part in this apoptosis. Thus, this unidentified DNase might resemble other DNases involved in apoptosis-like cell death whose activity is not inhibited by zinc ion.     

Plasma membrane ion channels in suicidal cell death

The machinery leading to apoptosis includes altered activity of ion channels. The channels contribute to apoptotic cell shrinkage and modify intracellular ion composition. Cl(-) channels allow the exit of Cl(-), osmolytes and HCO(3)(-) leading to cell shrinkage and cytosolic acidification. K(+) exit through K(+) channels contributes to cell shrinkage and decreases intracellular K(+) concentration, which in turn favours apoptotic cell death. K(+) channel activity further determines the cell membrane potential, a driving force for Ca(2+) entry through Ca(2+) channels. Ca(2+) may enter through unselective cation channels. An increase of cytosolic Ca(2+) may stimulate several enzymes executing apoptosis. Specific ion channel blockers may either promote or counteract suicidal cell death. The present brief review addresses the role of ion channels in the regulation of suicidal cell death with special emphasis on the role of channels in CD95 induced apoptosis of lymphocytes and suicidal death of erythrocytes or eryptosis.