Plasma membrane sequestration of apoptotic protease-activating factor-1 in human B-lymphoma cells: a novel mechanism of chemoresistance

Burkitt lymphoma (BL) is a highly aggressive B-cell neoplasm harboring chromosomal rearrangements of the c-myc oncogene. BL cells frequently resist apoptosis induction by chemotherapeutic agents; however, the mechanism of unresponsiveness has not been elucidated. Here, we show that cytochrome c fails to stimulate apoptosome formation and caspase activation in cytosolic extracts of human BL-derived cell lines, due to insufficient levels of apoptotic protease-activating factor-1 (Apaf-1). Enforced expression of Apaf-1 increased its concentration in the cytosolic compartment, restored cytochrome c-dependent caspase activation, and rendered the prototypic Raji BL cell line sensitive to etoposide- and staurosporine-induced apoptosis. Surprisingly, in nontransfected BL cells, the bulk of Apaf-1 was found to associate with discrete domains in the plasma membrane. Disruption of lipid raft domains or the actin cytoskeleton of Raji cells liberated Apaf-1 and restored sensitivity to cytochrome c-dependent apoptosis, indicating that constitutive Apaf-1 retained its ability to promote caspase activation. Moreover, disruption of lipid rafts sensitized BL cells to apoptosis induced by etoposide. Together, our findings suggest that ectopic (noncytosolic) localization of Apaf-1 may constitute a novel mechanism of chemoresistance in B lymphoma.     

Melatonin provokes cell death in human B-lymphoma cells by mitochondrial-dependent apoptotic pathway activation

Apoptosis is an important cell suicide programme involved in physiological and pathological processes. Apoptosis can be induced in different ways depending on cell type and acquired signal. Melatonin, the major secretory product of the pineal gland, participates in many important physiological functions and displays a remarkable functional versatility exhibiting antioxidant, oncostatic, anti-aging, and immunomodulatory properties. Recently, it has been shown that, in addition to pineal gland, human lymphoid cells are an important physiological source of melatonin and that may be involved in the regulation of the immune system. In this work, we examine the effect of melatonin on RAMOS-1 human leukaemic cells. Cell growth and viability, DNA fragmentation and JC-1, and annexin V expression have been determined. To elucidate the mechanism of action of melatonin, Western blot analyses for Bcl-2 and caspase-3 expression, and cytochrome c release were carried out. The results suggest that the apoptotic effect of melatonin is associated with cell-cycle arrest, downregulation of Bcl-2, mitochondrial membrane depolarization, cytochrome c release and activation of caspase-3. The intrinsic (mitochondrial dependent) pathway of caspase activation is the 'point of no return' commitment to cell death. Taken together, our study indicates that melatonin may play a role as potential therapeutic drug in specific lymphoproliferative diseases.     

Nitric oxide. A novel signal transduction mechanism for transcellular communication

Nitric oxide first captured the interest of biologists when this inorganic molecule was found to activate cytosolic guanylate cyclase and stimulate cyclic guanosine monophosphate (GMP) formation in mammalian cells. Further studies led to the finding that nitric oxide causes vascular smooth muscle relaxation and inhibition of platelet aggregation by mechanisms involving cyclic GMP and that several clinically used nitrovasodilators owe their biological actions to nitric oxide. Nitric oxide possesses physicochemical and pharmacological properties that make it an ideal candidate for a short-term regulator or modulator of vascular smooth muscle tone and platelet function. Nitric oxide is synthesized by various mammalian tissues including vascular endothelium, macrophages, neutrophils, hepatic Kupffer cells, adrenal tissue, cerebellum, and other tissues. Nitric oxide is synthesized from endogenous L-arginine by a nitric oxide synthase system that possesses different cofactor requirements in different cell types. The nitric oxide formed diffuses out of its cells of origin and into nearby target cells, where it binds to the heme group of cytosolic guanylate cyclase and thereby causes enzyme activation. This interaction represents a novel and widespread signal transduction mechanism that links extracellular stimuli to the biosynthesis of cyclic GMP in nearby target cells. The small molecular size and lipophilic nature of nitric oxide enable communication with nearby cells containing cytosolic guanylate cyclase. The extent of transcellular communication is limited by the short half-life of nitric oxide, thereby ensuring a localized response. Labile nitric oxide-generating molecules such as S-nitrosothiols may be involved as precursors or effectors. Further research will provide a deeper understanding of the biology of nitric oxide and the nature of associated pathophysiological states.     

心肌细胞凋亡的信号传导机制研究

细胞凋亡在心血管疾病发病机制中扮演了重要角色 ,细胞凋亡信号的异常表达使心肌细胞数量不断减少 ,其中含有 BH3( Bcl-2 Homology3 )结构域的凋亡促进分子 (如 Bax,Bid,BNIP3等 )在凋亡信号传导途径中发挥了重要作用。     

JNK信号通路介导MDR1/P-gp调控人结肠癌多药耐药

目的:探讨在人结肠癌多药耐药细胞株HCT8/V中JNK信号传导通路与多药耐药1(MDR1)基因表达的关系.方法:MTT法检测人结肠癌多药耐药细胞株HCT8/V及其敏感株HCT8细胞对多种抗肿瘤药物的敏感性;抑制JNK信号通路的激活后,采用双荧光素酶活性报告基因检测MDR1启动子转录活性的表达;实时荧光定量PCR检测MD...     

Carvedilol prevents epinephrine-induced apoptosis in human coronary artery endothelial cells: modulation of Fas/Fas ligand and caspase-3 pathway

BACKGROUND: Several studies have shown that carvedilol, a multiple action neurohumoral antagonist, reduces mortality in patients with congestive heart failure (CHF). In addition to being a beta-adrenoceptor antagonist, carvedilol is a potent antioxidant. Since there is evidence for elevation of catecholamine levels in plasma and coronary artery endothelial cell injury in CHF, the present study was designed to test the hypothesis that carvedilol inhibits epinephrine-induced apoptosis, and the inhibitory effect is mediated by modulation of Fas, Fas ligand (FasL) and caspase-3 pathway, in cultured human coronary artery endothelial cells (HCAECs). METHODS AND RESULTS: HCAECs were exposed to epinephrine alone, carvedilol + epinephrine, or atenolol + epinephrine for 24 h. Epinephrine increased the number of apoptotic cells, measured by in situ nick end-labeling staining (from 4.2 +/- 1.3% to 28.6 +/- 6.0%, P < 0.01, n = 6) and by DNA laddering on agarose gel electrophoresis. Epinephrine also increased Fas and FasL protein expression (P < 0.01 vs. control, n = 6), and activated intracellular protease caspase-3 (P < 0.01 vs. control, n = 6). These effects of epinephrine were completely inhibited by carvedilol. Atenolol in equimolar concentration also attenuated epinephrine-mediated effects, but the effects of atenolol were less marked than those of carvedilol (P < 0.01). To explore the basis of differential effects of carvedilol and atenolol, effects of these agents on epinephrine-induced lipid peroxidation was measured. Lipid peroxidation was completely blocked by carvedilol, whereas equimolar concentration of atenolol had much less (P < 0.05) effect. CONCLUSION: Epinephrine induces apoptosis in HCAECs, and this effect is associated with activation of Fas-FasL and caspase-3 signal transduction pathway. Carvedilol can, more effectively than atenolol, inhibit these effects of epinephrine. The potent antioxidant effect of carvedilol is probably responsible for the superior effect.     

Adenosine triphosphate induces activation of caspase-3 in apoptosis of human granulosa-luteal cells

Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) has been shown to induce programmed cell death in various systems. However, little is known about the effect of ATP on human granulosa-luteal cells (hGLCs). The present study was designed to examine the effect of ATP on the activation of the caspase signaling pathway and its role in inducing programmed cell death. Human GLCs were collected from patients undergoing in vitro fertilization programs, and then were cultured in FBS-supplemented DMEM for 3 days prior to our studies. To examine the dose-response relationship, hGLCs were treated with increasing concentrations of ATP (10 microM, 100 microM, 1 mM or 10 mM) for 24 hours. For time-course experiments, hGLCs were treated with 10 mM ATP for 6, 12, or 24 hours. Western blot analysis was performed using antibodies against the pro- and active forms of caspase-3, -9, or PARP. To quantify the induction of apoptosis, DNA fragmentation was measured using the cell death detection enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. To examine the effect of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in protecting cells from apoptosis, hGLCs were treated with 10 IU hCG in the presence of 10 mM ATP for 12 hours. It was demonstrated that ATP was capable of inducing DNA fragmentation in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Furthermore, Western blot analysis, which detected the pro- and active forms of caspase-3, or PARP, demonstrated that ATP activated the caspase-signaling pathway, leading to the proteolytic conversion of pro-caspase-3 to active caspase-3, and the subsequent cleavage of the caspase substrate PARP. Based on our observation, caspase-9 was not triggered by ATP. Interestingly, hCG attenuated the effect of ATP in activating the caspase signaling pathway. To our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of the ATP-induced activation of the caspase signaling pathway in the human ovary. These results support the notion that the caspase-signaling pathway is involved in mediating ATP actions in the human ovary.     

JNK信号转导通路在β-淀粉样蛋白25-35诱导PC12细胞凋亡中的作用机制

目的研究β淀粉样蛋白25-35(Aβ25-35)诱导大鼠嗜铬细胞瘤(PC12)细胞凋亡的机制以及c-Jun氨基端激酶(JNK)抑制剂SP600125的保护作用，探讨在Aβ25-35细胞毒性中JNK—c-Jun信号转导通路的可能作用机制。方法在培养的PC12细胞中加入Aβ25-35共孵育，用磷脂酰丝氨酸外翻分析(Annexin V)方法和流式细胞仪检测PC12细胞的凋亡，用免疫印迹法检测不同时间点的JNK及c-Jun蛋白活性。结果PC12细胞经过Aβ25-35处理后发生凋亡，呈时间依赖性细胞生存率下降，免疫学方法检测显示细胞在Aβ25-35处理早期出现磷酸化JNK和磷酸化c-Jun的表达增高，且这一过程可被SP600125抑制。流式细胞仪检测显示在使用SP600125后，细胞生存率上升，差异具有统计学意义。结论体外PC12细胞培养显示Aβ25-35可诱导细胞凋亡，SP600125对Aβ25-35的细胞毒性具有保护作用，JNK—c-Jun信号转导通路可能参与了上述细胞毒作用机制。     

Heme-dependent activation of guanylate cyclase by nitric oxide: a novel signal transduction mechanism.

The interaction between nitric oxide (NO) synthesized in one cell and cytosolic guanylate-cyclase-bound heme located in adjacent target cells to generate the NO-heme adduct of guanylate cyclase represents a novel and widespread signal transduction mechanism that links extracellular stimuli to the biosynthesis of cyclic GMP in target cells. A variety of chemical factors interact with selective extracellular receptors and trigger the biosynthesis of NO from L-arginine. The unique chemistry of NO endows this molecule with the capacity to diffuse rapidly into nearby cells and stimulate cyclic GMP formation. Cyclic GMP acts as a messenger in each cell type to trigger different but complementary cellular responses within a localized environment. This transcellular signaling is a form of rapid intercellular communication allowing the simultaneous local initiation of increased blood flow, inhibition of platelet-induced thrombosis and other cellular functions.     

黏着斑激酶相关非激酶对肝星状细胞凋亡及细胞外信号调节激酶的影响

目的 应用黏着斑激酶相关非激酶(FRNK)表达质粒瞬时转染纤维连接蛋白(FN)预刺激的肝星状细胞(HSC),探讨FRNK对HSC凋亡及细胞外信号调节激酶(ERK)的影响.方法 在体外,以FN诱导HSC增殖,采用脂质体介导的方法用FRNK表达质粒瞬时转染HSC,应用膜联蛋白/碘化丙啶双标记流式细胞术、DNA凝胶电泳技术和透射电镜技术检测细胞的凋亡,Western blot及RT-PCR方法检测FRNK、黏着斑激酶(FAK),p FAK(Tyr397)、半胱氨酸天冬氨酸特异性蛋白酶-3(caspase-3)、ERK1、p-ERK蛋白及其mRNA表达. 结果FRNK表达质粒成功转染HSC,在翻译后水平抑制FAK磷酸化.与空质粒组比较,FRNK表达质粒转染HSC48 h后,HSC凋亡率由9.28%±1.05%增至25.37%±1.92%(P<0.01),caspase-3蛋白由185.82±9.69增至264.17±12.60(P<0.01),caspase-3 mRNA由1.07±0.27增至4.19±0.48(P<0.01).FRNK抑制FAK磷酸化和在翻译和转录水平抑制ERK1、p-ERK的表达,而FN则促进FAK和ERK1,p-ERK在翻译和转录水平的表达. 结论在脂质体介导下瞬时转染FRNK表达质粒,可使外源性的FRNK在HSC内大量表达,在翻译后水平抑制FAK磷酸化;并可能通过FAK-ERK信号转导通路诱导FN刺激的HSC发生凋亡.     

Activation of caspase-8 in drug-induced apoptosis of B-lymphoid cells is independent of CD95/Fas receptor-ligand interaction and occurs downstream of caspase-3

The activation of caspase-8, a crucial upstream mediator of death receptor signaling, was investigated in epirubicin- and Taxol-induced apoptosis of B-lymphoma cells. This study was performed because the CD95/Fas receptor-ligand interaction, recruitment of the Fas-associated death domain (FADD) adaptor protein, and subsequent activation of procaspase-8 have been implicated in the execution of drug-induced apoptosis in other cell types. Indeed, active caspase-8 was readily detected after treatment of mature and immature B-lymphoid cells with epirubicin or Taxol. However, neither constitutive nor drug-induced expression of the CD95/Fas ligand was detectable in B-lymphoma cells. Furthermore, overexpression of a dominant-negative FADD mutant (FADDdn) did not block caspase-8 processing and subsequent DNA fragmentation, indicating that drug-induced caspase-8 activation was mediated by a CD95/Fas-independent mechanism. Instead, caspase-8 cleavage was slightly preceded by activation of caspase-3, suggesting that drug-induced caspase-8 activation in B-lymphoma cells is a downstream event mediated by other caspases. This assumption was confirmed in 2 experimental systems-zDEVD-fmk, a cell-permeable inhibitor of caspase-3-like activity, blocked drug-induced caspase-8 cleavage, and depletion of caspase-3 from cell extracts impaired caspase-8 cleavage after in vitro activation with dATP and cytochrome c. Thus, these data indicate that drug-induced caspase-8 activation in B-lymphoma cells is independent of death receptor signaling and is mediated by postmitochondrial caspase-3 activation.     

PI3K在CD_3mAb活化T细胞信号转导中的作用

目的探讨磷脂酰肌酶-3激酶（PI3K）在CD3mAb活化T细胞信号转导途径中的作用。方法分离获取健康人外周血单个核细胞（PBMC）,用不同浓度的PI3K特异性抑制剂LY294002处理后再用CD3mAb活化T细胞。0、6、12、24、48、72h后检测总T细胞CD69分子的表达及IL-2表达情况,培养10d后计数总T细胞的增殖情况。结果LY294002呈浓度依赖性地抑制总T细胞CD69的表达、IL-2的产生和T细胞增殖。结论PI3K参与CD3mAb诱导T淋巴细胞活化的信号转导途径,对T细胞的充分活化必不可少。     

信号转导子和激活子3通路调控大鼠血管平滑肌细胞增殖迁移机制研究

目的研究转录信号转导子和激活子3（stat3）通路与大鼠血管平滑肌细胞（VSMCs）增殖迁移的关系,明确VSMCs增殖的信号转导过程。方法应用脂质体转染Stat3反义寡核苷酸作用于大鼠VSMCs,应用酶联免疫法（ELISA）检测Stat3水平变化及MTF法检测细胞增殖状态,蛋白免疫印迹法（Western blot）检测stat3、磷酸化stat3及其靶基因产物Cyclin D1、Bcl—XL的表达。结果转染Stat3反义寡核苷酸后,大鼠VSMCs中Stat3水平明显下降（P〈0．01）,同时其增殖水平降低,而相应空白对照组、脂质体组、转染正义寡核苷酸组变化不明显。转染Stat3反义寡核苷酸的VSMCs中stat3、p-Stat 3、Cyclin D1蛋白表达水平随作用时间延长而下降（P〈0．01）,而Bcl—xL水平无明显变化。结论癌基因stat3信号通路与大鼠VSMCs增殖高度相关,可能通过其下游靶基因Cyclin D1影响其增殖,而阻断此通路则可抑制VSMCs的增殖。     

细胞外信号调节激酶1/2在血管内皮细胞衰老中的表达变化及作用

目的观察细胞外信号调节激酶1/2(ERK1/2)在血管紧张素Ⅱ(AngⅡ)诱导的内皮细胞中不同时点的表达变化。方法制备AngⅡRPMI1640培养液(10-6 mol/L)培养人脐静脉内皮细胞,采用MTT测定内皮细胞存活率,β-gal染色、细胞周期分析鉴定细胞衰老,透射电子显微镜观察衰老细胞超微结构。细胞免疫化学染色法分析Bcl-2、Bax蛋白表达变化,Western印迹测定磷酸化ERK1/2水平。结果 AngⅡ诱导组存活的细胞数为对照组的〔(81.9±0.04)%,P<0.01)〕;约80%的细胞呈现β-gal阳性染色,流式细胞仪检测细胞周期停滞于G0～G1,证实细胞衰老;透射电子显微镜可见AngⅡ诱导组衰老的细胞体积较大,核形不规则,细胞核染色质浓缩和凝聚。与对照组相比,Bcl-2 mRNA表达呈持续性降低,Bcl-2/Bax比值下降,ERK1/2磷酸化水平于12 h明显增加,24 h达到高峰(P<0.01),36 h下降至稳定,总ERK1/2蛋白水平无明显变化。结论ERK1/2信号转导途径参与AngⅡ诱导内皮细胞衰老的发生、发展过程,并可能通过调控内皮细胞Bcl-2/Bax比值来实现。     

Fatty acids differentially influence phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase signal transduction in endothelial cells: impact on adhesion and apoptosis

In contrast to n-6 fatty acids like arachidonic acid (AA), the anti-inflammatory potential of n-3 fatty acids such as docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) has been demonstrated. We examined the phosphatidylinositol (PI)3-kinase dependent effects of AA versus DHA on monocyte rolling, adhesion and transmigration through inflammatory activated human umbilical venous endothelial cells (HUVEC) as well as on apoptosis, to investigate the impact on vascular inflammation. HUVEC were pre-incubated with AA, DHA or sham, and stimulated with VEGF, TNF-alpha or staurosporine. Rolling and adhesion were investigated by means of a parallel flow chamber; transmigration was performed in a static assay. Activation of PI3-kinase was measured as phosphorylation of protein kinase B (Akt). Apoptosis was determined by caspase-3 activity and annexin-V analysis. Pre-incubation of HUVEC with DHA markedly decreased TNF-alpha-induced monocyte rolling, adhesion, and transmigration, although expression of endothelial adhesion molecules was unchanged. In contrast, AA increased TNF-alpha-induced rolling. Both fatty acids did not alter TNF-alpha-mediated upregulation of the adhesion molecules ICAM-1, VCAM-1, and E-selectin. The divergent effects of AA and DHA were abrogated with PI3-kinase inhibitors. After pre-incubation with DHA, VEGF-, TNF-alpha- and staurosporine-induced phosphorylation of Akt was decreased when compared to AA. DHA pre-incubation significantly increased staurosporine-induced apoptosis. In addition, DHA in comparison to AA augmented staurosporine-mediated increase in caspase-3 activity. In conclusion, DHA-induced a reduction in rolling, adhesion and transmigration of monocytes through inflammatory activated HUVEC that is in part PI3-kinase dependent. PI3-kinase driven phosphorylation of Akt and apoptosis of HUVEC as contribution to the resolution of inflammation is differentially modulated by DHA versus AA.     

核因子κB在被动致敏的人气道平滑肌细胞增殖中的信号转导作用

目的探讨核因子κB(NF-κB)是否参与被动致敏的人气道平滑肌细胞(HASMC)增殖及是否是蛋白激酶C(PKC)激活后的下游途径.方法用10%哮喘患者血清被动致敏HASMC,以10%非哮喘者血清为对照,并用吡咯烷二硫氨基甲酸(PDTC)及12-肉豆蔻酰-13-乙酸佛波酯(PMA)干预HASMC,用流式细胞术、MTT法及增殖细胞核抗原(PCNA)免疫荧光技术检测HASMC增殖;NF-κBp65免疫荧光技术及电泳迁移率改变分析(EMSA)检测NF-κB活性.结果 (1)哮喘血清处理的HASMC,S期细胞比例、吸光度值(A值)、PCNA表达阳性率、NF-κBp65阳性率及EMSA灰度值均较对照血清组增加(均P<0.05),PDTC预处理后上述指标均下降 (均P<0.05).(2)PMA+哮喘血清处理HASMC后,S期细胞比例、A值、PCNA表达阳性率、NF-κBp65阳性率及EMSA灰度值分别为(25.52±3.38)%、0.572±0.054、 (81.2±10.2)%、(26.5±5.0)%和71 654±12 293,PDTC预处理后上述指标均下降(均P<0.05).结论 NF-κB参与了哮喘血清被动致敏的HASMC增殖,在其增殖中存在着PKC/NF-κB信号途径.     

Changes in signal transduction downstream from the granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor receptor during differentiation of primary hemopoietic cells.

Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) is a multifunctional cytokine, having different effects on primitive hemopoietic cells and terminally differentiated end-cells of the myeloid lineage. Human primitive hemopoietic cells (CD34+) were obtained from the peripheral blood after mobilization and induced to proliferate and then differentiate with a combination of cytokines in vitro. Cells at different time points were then used to analyze the expression of the GM-CSF receptor and GM-CSF mediated activation of the JAK 2-STAT 5 and MAP kinase pathways. Scatchard analysis as measured by radioligand binding revealed that freshly purified CD34+ cells expressed 36+/-1 high affinity receptors per cell (mean +/- SE, n = 3) and the level of expression was not significantly different after 3 days in culture, but rose five- to tenfold by day 8. The day 0 CD34+ cells were hyporesponsive to GM-CSF, but by 3 days in culture the cells were still morphologically immature but were actively proliferating and exhibited maximal GM-CSF induced JAK 2-STAT 5 and MAP kinase activation at the optimal time point. Further culture of the CD34+ cells resulted in myeloid differentiation associated with prolongation of MAP kinase activation but not JAK 2-STAT 5 activation. These data indicate that the JAK 2-STAT 5 and MAP kinase pathways are independently regulated and that changes in these signaling pathways occur with differentiation.     

Effects of epidermal growth factor and its signal transduction inhibitors on apoptosis in human colorectal cancer cells

AIM:The study investigated if EGF signaling inhibitors, EGF antibody and tyrphostin 51 (a tyrosine kinase inhibitor),mediated the action of EGF on apoptosis and the expression of EGF receptors and p21 (a cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor) of human colorectal cancer cells.METHODS: Human colorectal adenocarcinoma cells (SW480) were incubated with 0.6mL/L dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO, the control group), 225ng/mL (37.5nmol/L) EGF in 0.6mL/L DMSO, 225ng/mL EGF+2.5μg/mL (17 nmol/L)EGF antibody in 0.6mL/L DMSO, or 225ng/mL EGF+215ng/mL (0.8μmol/L) tyrphostin 51 in 0.6mL/L DMSO.RESULTS:After 48h incubation, the levels of EGF in medium significantly increased (P&lt;0.05) in the EGF-treated groups.The numbers of apoptotic cells were significantly fewer (P&lt;0.05) in the EGF+EGF antibody and EGF+tyrphostin 51 groups than those in the control and EGF groups after 12h treatments. The expression of phosphorylated EGF receptors in the EGF, EGF+EGF antibody,and EGF+tyrphostin 51 groups was 176.8%, 62.4%, and 138.1% of the control group, respectively. The expression of p21 protein in the EGF, EGF+EGF antibody, and EGF+tyrphostin 51 groups was 115.7%, 4.8%, and 61.5% of the control group, respectively.CONCLUSION:The data suggest that EGF antibody and tyrphostin 51 can inhibit the action of EGF on apoptosis in human colorectal cancer cells through down-regulation of EGF receptor and p21 expression.     

Activation of caspase-8 in transforming growth factor-beta-induced apoptosis of human hepatoma cells.

Transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) has been shown to induce apoptosis in normal or transformed hepatocytes. To elucidate the biochemical pathways leading to apoptosis induced by TGF-beta1 in human hepatoma cells (HuH-7), we examined the expression of Bcl-2-related proteins and X-chromosome-linked inhibitor of apoptosis (XIAP), and activation of the caspase cascade following TGF-beta1 treatment. Bcl-xL expression began to decline at 12 hours after TGF-beta1 treatment and progressively decreased to very low levels in a time-dependent manner. Bax expression showed a little change throughout the experiment. On the other hand, activation of caspase-8 was clearly observed at 36 hours after TGF-beta1 treatment, followed by activation of caspase-9, and caspase-3 was activated at 48 hours after treatment at which time apoptosis of HuH-7 cells was observed. TGF-beta1 significantly decreased XIAP expression in HuH-7 cells. Addition of an inhibitor of caspase-8 or caspase-3 (IETD-FMK or DEVD-CHO) markedly inhibited TGF-beta1-induced apoptosis of HuH-7 cells. Fas/Fas ligand (FasL) interactions in HuH-7 cells were not involved in the apoptotic process. Furthermore, epidermal growth factor (EGF) also completely inhibited TGF-beta1-induced apoptosis of HuH-7 cells by inhibiting activation of the caspase cascade. Our results suggested that activation of caspase-3 initiated through caspase-8 activation is involved in the apoptotic process induced by TGF-beta1 in HuH-7 cells. Our results also showed that down-regulation of the expression of Bcl-xL and XIAP by TGF-beta1 may facilitate activation of caspase-3 in these cells.