重金属诱导细胞凋亡的分子机制

重金属诱导的细胞凋亡是一个十分复杂的过程,不同种类的重金属以及同类重金属离子的不同价态所诱导的凋亡效应及其分子机制不尽相同。目前的研究表明,重金属与DNA形成加合物而导致DNA损伤可能是引发细胞凋亡的重要步骤：多种重金属能通过激活内质网、线粒体钙通道,使Ca^2 释放进入细胞质而引发凋亡;重金属还能使细胞中ROS升高,在直接导致DNA损伤的同时,启动与线粒体相关的细胞凋亡信号通路。此外,ROS还能通过MAPKs增强JNK介导的：FasL和Fas表达,最终使caspase-3和caspase-7激活,从而促进凋亡的发生。重金属诱导细胞凋亡还涉及一系列重要基因和蛋白质的参与,包括促进凋亡的Src家族酪氨酸激酶、bax、fas和p53等基因及相关蛋白,抑制凋亡的Sp1锌指转录因子、bcl-2和myc等基因及相关蛋白。部分重金属如镉、锌等对细胞凋亡具有诱导和拮抗双重效应,其中拮抗效应主要是通过与自由钙离子协同进行的,而诱导效应则可能是通过调节caspase-3活性而实现的。     

紫草素促进肺癌A549细胞凋亡

目的:探讨紫草素对A549人肺癌细胞凋亡的影响和可能的作用机制。方法:采用不同浓度的紫草素对体外培养的A549人肺癌细胞进行干预,CCK-8法和流式细胞术分别检测紫草素对A549细胞增殖和凋亡的影响,Western blot观察凋亡相关蛋白(Bcl-2和Bax)表达水平的变化,激光共聚焦显微镜检测紫草素处理12 h并用JC-1染色的A549细胞线粒体膜电位改变。结果:CCK-8分析显示,0.5μM、1μM、2μM、4μM和6μM实验组A549细胞相对存活率分别为(83.71±1.02)%、(57.47±2.78)%、(27.39±1.96)%、(16.96±1.47)%和(14.72±1.93)%,与对照组相比实验组A549细胞相对存活率明显降低;流式细胞术结果表明,1μM、2μM、4μM实验组A549细胞的凋亡率分别为(13.80±1.76)%、(40.90±3.48)%和(78.80±2.52)%,与对照组相比紫草素呈剂量依赖型促进A549细胞凋亡;Western blot结果证实,紫草素能降低A549细胞中Bcl-2蛋白的表达量,而升高Bax蛋白的水平;激光共聚焦显微镜扫描结果显示紫草素能降低A549细胞的线粒体膜电位,呈剂量依赖型。结论:紫草素能显著促进A549细胞凋亡,其机制可能与下调抗凋亡蛋白Bcl-2的表达和上调促凋亡蛋白Bax的表达有关。     

紫草素对人肝癌HepG2细胞增殖的抑制及诱导凋亡作用

目的:观察紫草素抑制人肝癌HepG2细胞增殖及凋亡诱导的作用。方法:用不同浓度的紫草素处理HepG2细胞,MTT检测紫草素对HepG2细胞生长增殖的抑制作用;比色法测定Caspase-3酶活性;Western blot法检测磷酸化Akt蛋白(pAkt)的表达。结果:紫草素能够抑制人肝癌HepG2细胞的增殖,并呈浓度、时间依赖性,紫草素与HepG2细胞作用24小时后Caspase-3酶活性显著增强,显示紫草素诱导的调亡作用随时间的延长而增加;同时,紫草素处理HepG2细胞后,随着药物浓度的增加,磷酸化Akt蛋白表达下降。结论:紫草素可抑制人肝癌细胞HepG2的增殖,诱导HepG2细胞凋亡,凋亡机制可能与紫草素抑制PI3K/Akt信号途径有关。     

维甲酸诱导的人大肠癌细胞凋亡

本研究应用光镜、电镜技术、DNA凝胶电泳、流式细胞术及末端脱氧核苷酰转移酶原位标记(TUNEL法),观察全反式维甲酸ATRA诱导的人大肠癌CCL229细胞凋亡特征。RA诱导CCL229细胞凋亡,光、电镜下观察到凋亡小体形成等典型的形态学改变,琼脂糖凝胶电泳上呈现特征性的DNA ladder,DNA直方图上显示亚二倍体峰。10-8mol/L-105mol/L范围内,RA诱导CCL229细胞凋亡表现出时间和剂量依赖性。     

真菌诱导子对新疆紫草悬浮培养细胞的生长和紫草素合成的影响

４种真菌诱导子诱导新疆紫草悬浮培养细胞对细胞紫草素的合成均有促进作用,其中以黑曲霉诱导子效果最高,而且促进细胞紫草素的外排,约３０％的紫草素存在于培养液中;诱导促使细胞苯丙氨酸解氨酶活性显著提高,培养液中紫草素的含量变化与苯丙氨酸解氨酶活性变化呈正相关性。     

紫草素对肝癌细胞SMMC-7721凋亡的影响及其机制

目的:探讨紫草素对肝癌SMMC-772细胞的作用及分子机制.方法:SMMC-7721细胞分别经0、5、20、80、320 ng/ml的紫草素作用0h、24 h、48 h和72 h后,适时采用CCK8法观察该细胞增殖的活性,hoechst染色分析细胞的核型变化,流式细胞仪检测细胞凋亡水平,Western blot证实细胞...     

真菌诱导子对新疆紫草悬浮培养细胞的生长和紫草素合成的影响

4种真菌诱导子诱导新疆紫草悬浮培养细胞对细胞紫草素的合成均有促进作用,其中以黑曲霉诱导子效果最高,而且促进细胞紫草素的外排,约30％的紫草素存在于培养液中;诱导促使细胞苯丙氨酸解氨酶活性显著提高,培养液中紫草素的含量变化与苯丙氨酸解氨酶活性变化呈正相关性。     

羊栖菜多糖通过激活Caspase途径诱导Lovo细胞凋亡

研究了羊栖菜多糖（Sargassum Fusiforme Polysaccharides,SFPS）诱导人大肠癌lovo细胞凋亡及凋亡过程中caspase-3、caspase-8、caspase-9的活性变化。MTT法检测SFPS对lovo细胞增殖的抑制率;通过电镜、琼脂糖凝胶电泳、流式细胞术鉴定细胞凋亡;应用Western印迹法测定caspase-3酶原和caspase-9的变化;RToPCR检测caspase-3 mRNA表达;caspase-3,caspase-8、caspase-9活性检测试剂盒观察caspase-3、caspase-8、caspase-9的活性改变。结果显示,SFPS对lovo细胞增殖有显著抑制作用,经形态变化、DNA条带和流式细胞分析,可见明显的细胞凋亡特征。SFPS处理lovo细胞后,发现caspase-3酶原蛋白表达降低,caspase-3 mRNA高表达,并具有剂量和时间的依赖性。而在检测蛋白中,也发现caspase-9被激活进而形成具有活性的片段。另外,caspase的活性检测也进一步发现caspase-3、caspase-9的活性逐步增高。实验结果提示SFPS在体外诱导lovo胞凋亡,这可能是SFPS抑制肿瘤增殖的机制之一,并且是通过激活启动caspase-9,进而激活下游效应caspase-3的级联反应来实现的。     

紫草素对人脑胶质瘤U251 细胞增殖和凋亡的影响

目的:观察紫草素对体外培养的人脑胶质瘤U251细胞的增殖和凋亡的影响。方法:应用MTT法和Annexin V-FITC/PI双染流式细胞术分别检测2.5、5、10μM/L的紫草素对U251细胞的体外抑杀作用以及凋亡诱导作用,进一步应用Western blot方法检测紫草素对凋亡相关蛋白Bcl-2及Bax表达水平的影响。结果:紫草素对人U251胶质瘤细胞具有明显的增殖抑制作用,且呈一定的剂量依赖性和时间依赖性。紫草素可明显上调U251细胞Bax的表达,下调Bcl-2的表达,与对照组相比存在显著性差异(P0.05)。结论:紫草素对人胶质瘤U251细胞具有明显的抑制增殖和促进凋亡作用。     

川楝素诱导人胃癌MGC-803细胞凋亡及其机制

目的: 本研究旨在探讨川楝素诱导人胃癌MGC-803细胞凋亡及其机制。方法: 将人胃癌MGC-803细胞分为5组,每组3个复孔,采用氟尿嘧啶(5-FU)和0 nmol/L川楝素(TSN)分别作为阳性对照和阴性对照。其余3组分别加入终浓度为30 nmol/L、50 nmol/L、70 nmol/L的川楝素。川楝素处理细胞48 h后,利用激光共聚焦显微镜观察细胞形态结构变化;流式细胞术检测线粒体膜电位变化;酶标法检测Caspase-3和Caspase-9活性;利用qRT-PCR和Western blot检测凋亡相关基因Bcl-2、Bax、Cyt c和APAF-1 mRNA和蛋白水平。结果: 与0 nmol/L TSN组相比,30 nmol/L、50 nmol/L、70 nmol/L的川楝素作用于人胃癌MGC-803细胞48 h,可见细胞体积缩小,细胞核裂解,部分染色质凝集等形态学变化;Caspase-3和Caspase-9活性升高(P＜0.05);而线粒体膜电位明显下降(P＜ 0.05);Bax、Cyt c和APAF-1 基因mRNA及蛋白表达量显著升高(P＜0.05),Bcl-2 基因mRNA及蛋白表达量显著降低(P＜0.05)。结论: 川楝素通过上调Bax、Cyt c和APAF-1的表达,下调Bcl-2基因表达,增强Caspase-3、Caspase-9活性诱导人胃癌MGC-803细胞凋亡。     

Design and synthesis of novel azapeptide activators of apoptosis mediated by caspase-9 in cancer cells

A set of azapeptides was designed based on the Ala-Val-Pro-Ile peptide (derived from Smac protein) to activate caspase-9 and induce apoptosis in breast cancer cells. The diversity-oriented synthesis of the aza-peptides 5–9 was accomplished by alkylation of the aza-residue of aza-Gly-Pro dipeptide 15 using potassium tert-butoxide and a range of different alkyl halides. The resulting protected aza-dipeptide building blocks were then introduced into mimics 5–9 using standard coupling conditions. Biological evaluation of 5–9 was performed in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells, and indicated that the aza-Gly and aza-Phe analogs 5 and 7 were most efficient in inducing cell death by a caspase-9 mediated apoptotic pathway. Revealing a relationship between azabicycloalkanone and aza peptide mimics, novel AVPI mimics were synthesized which exhibit utility for studying structure–activity relationships to develop leads for activating apoptosis in cancer cells.     

The involvement of mitochondria and the caspase-9 activation pathway in rituximab-induced apoptosis in FL cells

Despite the wide use of anti-CD20 antibody rituximab in the cancer treatment of B cell malignancies, the signalling pathways of CD20-induced apoptosis are still not understood. By using dominant negative (DN)-caspase-9 overexpressing follicular lymphoma cells we demonstrated that the activation of caspase-9 was essential for rituximab-mediated apoptosis. The death receptor pathway mediated by caspase-8 activation was not involved in rituximab-mediated apoptosis since overexpression of FLIP_short or FLIP_long proteins, inhibitors of caspase-8 activation, could not inhibit rituximab-induced apoptosis. However, the death receptor pathway activation by anti-Fas antibodies showed an additive effect on rituximab-induced apoptosis. The stabilisation of the mitochondrial outer membrane by Bcl-x_L overexpression inhibited cell death, showing the important role of mitochondria in rituximab-induced apoptosis. Interestingly, the rituximab-induced release of cytochrome c and collapse of mitochondrial membrane potential were regulated by caspase-9. We suggest that caspase-9 and downstream caspases may feed back to mitochondria to amplify mitochondrial disruption during intrinsic apoptosis.     

ER stress induces caspase-8 activation,stimulating cytochrome c release and caspase-9 activation

Excess ER stress induces caspase-12 activation and/or cytochrome c release, causing caspase-9 activation. Little is known about their relationship during ER stress-mediated cell death. Upon ER stress, P19 embryonal carcinoma (EC) cells showed activation of various caspases, including caspase-3, caspase-8, caspase-9, and caspase-12, and extensive DNA fragmentation. We examined the relationship between ER stress-mediated cytochrome c/caspase-9 and caspase-12 activation by using caspase-9- and caspase-8-deficient mouse embryonic fibroblasts and a P19 EC cell clone [P19-36/12 (-) cells] lacking expression of caspase-12. Caspase-9 and caspase-8 deficiency inhibited and delayed the onset of DNA fragmentation but did not inhibit caspase-12 processing induced by ER stress. P19-36/12 (-) cells underwent apoptosis upon ER stress, with cytochrome c release and caspase-8 and caspase-9 activation. The dominant negative form of FADD and z-VAD-fmk inhibited caspase-8, caspase-9, Bid processing, cytochrome c release, and DNA fragmentation induced by ER stress, suggesting that caspase-8 and caspase-9 are the main caspases involved in ER stress-mediated apoptosis of P19-36/12 (-) cells. Caspase-8 deficiency also inhibited the cytochrome c release induced by ER stress. Thus, in parallel with the caspase-12 activation, ER stress triggers caspase-8 activation, resulting in cytochrome c/caspase-9 activation via Bid processing.     

Caspase-9抑制剂对SD大鼠椎间盘软骨终板细胞凋亡的影响

目的探讨caspase-9抑制剂对低胎牛血清培养诱导的大鼠椎间盘软骨终板细胞凋亡影响的研究。方法取3月龄SD大鼠椎间盘软骨终板,序贯消化法获取细胞原代培养,以1%FBS培养48 h为诱导凋亡条件。实验分为1%FBS凋亡组、caspase-9抑制剂组（Z-LEHD-FMK）及DMSO对照组,分别处理细胞48 h,后经流式细胞仪检测细胞凋亡率、Western blot检测procaspase-9,active caspase-9及active caspase-3的表达。结果流式细胞仪检测显示,caspases-9抑制剂组细胞凋亡率（26.3±2.56）%与1%FBS组（40.8±0.84）%及DMSO组（40.2±1.56）%相比凋亡率较低,有显著统计学差异（P〈0.05）;Western blot检测caspases-9抑制剂组active caspase-9及active caspase-3较1%FBS凋亡组及DMSO对照组表达均明显减少,有显著统计学意义（P〈0.05）。结论 Caspase-9抑制剂能明显抑制低胎牛血清培养诱导的大鼠椎间盘软骨终板细胞凋亡,有望成为治疗椎间盘退变的新型药物。     

Bid is cleaved upstream of caspase-8 activation during TRAIL-mediated apoptosis in human osteosarcoma cells

TRAIL induces apoptosis in many malignant cell types. In this study, we used the human papilloma virus (HPV) 16 E6 protein as a molecular tool to probe the TRAIL pathway in HCT116 colon carcinoma cells and U2OS osteosarcoma cells. Intriguingly, we found that while E6 protected HCT116 cells from TRAIL, U2OS cells expressing E6 remained sensitive to TRAIL. Furthermore, silencing FADD and procaspase-8 expression with siRNA did not prevent TRAIL-induced apoptosis in U2OS cells. However, siBid provided significant protection from TRAIL, and the cleavage kinetics of Bid and caspase-8 revealed that Bid was cleaved prior to the activation of caspase-8. Cathepsin B activity in U2OS cells was significantly activated shortly after exposure to TRAIL, and the cathepsin B inhibitor, CA074Me, inhibited both TRAIL- and anti-DR5-mediated apoptosis and delayed the cleavage of Bid. These findings suggest that TRAIL activates a pathway dependent on Bid, but largely independent of FADD and caspase-8, in U2OS cells.     

Involvement of caspase-3 activation in squamocin-induced apoptosis in leukemia cell line HL-60

Annonaceous acetogenins have potent antitumor effect in vitro and in vivo. Squamocin is one of the annonaceous acetogenins and has been reported to have antiproliferative effect on cancer cells. Our results from this study showed that squamocin inhibited proliferation of HL-60 cells with IC50 value of 0.17 microg/ml and induced apoptosis of HL-60 cells. Investigation of the mechanism of squamocin-induced apoptosis revealed that treatment of HL-60 cells with squamocin resulted in extensive nuclear condensation. DNA fragmentation, cleavage of the death substrate poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) and induction of caspase-3 activity. Pretreatment of HL-60 cells with caspase-3 specific inhibitor DEVD-CHO prevented squamocin-induced DNA fragmentation, PARP cleavage and cell death. The expression levels of protein bcl-2, bax have no change in response to squamocin treatment in HL-60 cells, whereas stress-activated protein kinase (SAPK/JNK) was activated after treatment with squamocin in HL-60 cells. These results suggest that apoptosis of HL-60 cells induced by squamocin requires caspase-3 activation and is related to SAPK activation.     

A methylene chloride fraction of Saururus chinensis induces apoptosis through the activation of caspase-3 in prostate and breast cancer cells

The aerial parts of Saururus chinensis (SC) have been used for the treatment of edema, fever, jaundice, and inflammatory diseases in Korean folk medicine for centuries. However, the mechanism by which SC exerts these anti-tumorigenic activities in human prostate and breast cancer cells has not yet been fully understood. In this study, we report on the methylene chloride fraction from SC exerting cytotoxicity against prostate and breast cancer cells in a dose-dependent manner. Specifically, SC exerted the most potent cytotoxicity in LNCaP and MCF-7 cells. SC was shown to down-regulate various angiogenetic (VEGF), proliferative (Cyclin D₁), anti-apoptotic (Bcl-2) gene products in these cells. SC also increased the number of annexin V-positive apoptotic bodies and the sub-G1 DNA contents of the cell cycle undergoing apoptosis through caspase-3 activation in both LNCaP and MCF-7 cells. We further confirmed that caspase-3 plays an important role in SC-induced apoptosis in LNCaP and MCF-7 cells through the use of the caspase-3 inhibitor. Moreover, we observed that SC potentiated paclitaxel-induced apoptosis in MCF-7 cells and sauchinone is a major active constituent of SC, which could induce apoptosis in the cells. Taken together, our data provide the evidence that SC induces apoptosis depending on caspase-3 activation and overcomes the natural biological resistance to chemotherapy found in human prostate and breast cancer cells.     

Cathepsin L participates in the remodeling of the midgut through dissociation of midgut cells and activation of apoptosis via caspase-1

The larval midgut in holometabolous insects must undergo a remodeling process during metamorphosis to form the pupal-adult midgut. However, the molecular mechanism of larval midgut cell dissociation remains unknown. Here, we show that the expression and activity of Helicoverpa armigera cathepsin L (Har-CatL) are high in the midgut at the mid-late stage of the 6th-instar larvae and are responsive to the upstream hormone ecdysone. Immunocytochemistry shows that signals for Har-CatL-like are localized in midgut cells, and an inhibitor experiment demonstrates that Har-CatL functions in the dissociation of midgut epithelial cells. Mechanistically, Har-CatL can cleave pro-caspase-1 into the mature peptide, thereby increasing the activity of caspase-1, which plays a key role in apoptosis, indicating that Har-CatL is also involved in the apoptosis of midgut cells by activating caspase-1. We believe that this is the first report that Har-CatL regulates the dissociation and apoptosis of the larval midgut epithelium for midgut remodeling.     

Spirooxindole-pyrrolidine heterocyclic hybrids promotes apoptosis through activation of caspase-3

A small library of spirooxindole-pyrrolidine hybrids have been synthesized for the first time in an ionic liquid, [bmim]Br in good to excellent yields employing a new class of non-stabilized azomethine ylides derived from isatin and tyrosine, a combination that has been rarely employed for the in situ generation of azomethine ylides using [3+2] cycloaddition strategy. Following the synthesis and characterization of the spirooxindole-pyrrolidine heterocyclic hybrids, they were tested for their anticancer activity as against the changes in the concentrations and time periods with different in vitro cell cultures containing cancer and non-cancer cells, where the results revealed for a potential therapeutic activity. Further analysis for the mechanism of cell death by the cancer cells indicated for the caspase-dependent apoptotic pathway, specifically mediated by caspase-3. Based on these results, it can be demonstrated that the synthesized spirooxindole-pyrrolidine hybrids may serve as one of the better therapeutic agents used for the treatment of malignant tumors.