Evidence for caspase effects on release of cytochrome c and AIF in a model of ischemia in cortical neurons

Neuronal apoptosis following ischemia can be mediated by a caspase-dependent pathway, which involves the mitochondrial release of cytochrome c that initiates a cascade of caspase activation. In addition, there is a caspase-independent pathway, which is mediated by the release of apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF). Using caspase inhibitor gene therapy, we investigated the roles of caspases on the mitochondrial release of cyt c and the release of AIF. Specifically, we used herpes simplex virus-1 amplicon vectors to ectopically express a viral caspase inhibitor (crmA or p35) in mixed cortical cultures exposed to oxygen/glucose deprivation. Overexpression of either crmA or p35 (but not the caspase-3 inhibitor DEVD) inhibited the release of AIF; this suggests that there can be cross-talk between the caspase-dependent and the ostensibly caspase-independent pathway. In addition, both crmA overexpression and DEVD inhibited cyt c release, suggesting a positive feedback loop involving activated caspases stimulating cyt c release.     

问号钩端螺旋体经线粒体相关信号通路诱导巨噬细胞凋亡的研究

目的 确定线粒体相关信号转导途径在问号钩端螺旋体(简称钩体)诱导小鼠单核-巨噬细胞凋亡过程中的作用.方法 建立问号钩体黄疸出血群赖株诱导小鼠单核-巨噬样细胞株J774A.1凋亡模型.采用透射电镜观察感染细胞线粒体病变情况,JC-1染色法检测感染细胞线粒体膜电位变化,荧光探针DCFH-DA检测感染细胞内活性氧(ROS)水平.采用试剂盒检测感染细胞caspase-8和caspage-9活性变化.流式细胞术检测感染细胞凋亡情况以及cagpage阻断剂阻断凋亡的效果.采用Western blot检测线粒体内和胞质中的细胞色素c(cytc)以及凋亡诱导因子(Air)、核酸内切酶G(EndoG)和Smac水平.应用免疫荧光染色法检测AIF和EndoG从细胞质至核内的转位.结果 问号钩体赖株可诱导J774A.1细胞凋亡.感染细胞的线粒体有明显病变,线粒体膜电位降低且胞内活性氧水平升高.感染细胞caspage-8活化,caspase-9则否,但caspase阻断剂不能完全阻断细胞凋亡.感染细胞AIF和EndoG从线粒体释放至胞质并转位至细胞核内.未检测到感染细胞胞质内CytC水平升高及Smac的释放.结论 线粒体可通过非caspase途径的AIF和EndoG参与问号钩体诱导单核一巨噬细胞凋亡的过程.     

问号钩端螺旋体经线粒体相关信号通路诱导巨噬细胞凋亡的研究

目的 确定线粒体相关信号转导途径在问号钩端螺旋体(简称钩体)诱导小鼠单核-巨噬细胞凋亡过程中的作用.方法 建立问号钩体黄疸出血群赖株诱导小鼠单核-巨噬样细胞株J774A.1凋亡模型.采用透射电镜观察感染细胞线粒体病变情况,JC-1染色法检测感染细胞线粒体膜电位变化,荧光探针DCFH-DA检测感染细胞内活性氧(ROS)水平.采用试剂盒检测感染细胞caspase-8和caspage-9活性变化.流式细胞术检测感染细胞凋亡情况以及cagpage阻断剂阻断凋亡的效果.采用Western blot检测线粒体内和胞质中的细胞色素c(cytc)以及凋亡诱导因子(Air)、核酸内切酶G(EndoG)和Smac水平.应用免疫荧光染色法检测AIF和EndoG从细胞质至核内的转位.结果 问号钩体赖株可诱导J774A.1细胞凋亡.感染细胞的线粒体有明显病变,线粒体膜电位降低且胞内活性氧水平升高.感染细胞caspage-8活化,caspase-9则否,但caspase阻断剂不能完全阻断细胞凋亡.感染细胞AIF和EndoG从线粒体释放至胞质并转位至细胞核内.未检测到感染细胞胞质内CytC水平升高及Smac的释放.结论 线粒体可通过非caspase途径的AIF和EndoG参与问号钩体诱导单核一巨噬细胞凋亡的过程.     

Mechanisms Underlying Production And Externalization of Oxidized Phosphatidylserine in Apoptosis: Involvement of Mitochondria

The present study was performed by using selective inhibitors of caspase-8 and caspase-3 functioning upstream and downstream from mitochondria, respectively to determine whether mitochondria are involved in the mechanisms underlying production and externalization of oxidized phosphatidylserine (PSox) during Fas-mediated apoptosis. Treatment with anti-Fas antibody induced caspase-3 activation, chromatin condensation, release of cytochrome c (cyt c) from mitochondria into the cytosol as well as production of PSox and its exposure to the cell surface in Jurkat cells. Inhibition of caspase-8 by pretreatment with Z-IETD-FMK, a membrane permeable selective caspase-8 inhibitor reduced mitochondrial cyt c release, the amount of PSox not only within but also on the surface of Jurkat cells, caspase-3 activation, and apoptotic cell number after treatment with anti-Fas antibody. In contrast, Z-DEVD-FMK, a membrane permeable selective caspase-3 inhibitor was unable to inhibit cyt c release, and the amount of PSox both within and on the surface of the cells after anti-Fas antibody, although it suppressed caspase-3 activation and apoptosis. Thus, these results strongly suggest that mitochondria play an important role in production of PSox and subsequent its externalization during apoptosis.     

5-Aminolevulinic acid-based photodynamic therapy suppressed survival factors and activated proteases for apoptosis in human glioblastoma U87MG cells

Glioblastoma is the most common astrocytic brain tumor in humans. Current therapies for this malignancy are mostly ineffective. Photodynamic therapy (PDT), an exciting treatment strategy based on activation of a photosensitizer, has not yet been extensively explored for treating glioblastoma. We used 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) as a photosensitizer for PDT to induce apoptosis in human malignant glioblastoma U87MG cells and to understand the underlying molecular mechanisms. Trypan blue dye exclusion test showed a decrease in cell viability after exposure to increasing doses of 5-ALA for 4h followed by PDT with a broad spectrum blue light (400-550 nm) at a dose of 18J/cm(2) for 1h and then incubation at 37 degrees C for 4h. Following 0.5 and 1mM 5-ALA-based PDT (5-ALA-PDT), Wright staining and ApopTag assay showed occurrence of apoptosis morphologically and biochemically, respectively. After 5-ALA-PDT, down regulation of nuclear factor kappa B (NFkappaB) and baculovirus inhibitor-of-apoptosis repeat containing-3 (BIRC-3) protein indicated inhibition of survival signals. Besides, 5-ALA-PDT caused increase in Bax:Bcl-2 ratio and mitochondrial release of cytochrome c and apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF). Activation of calpain, caspase-9, and caspase-3 occurred in course of apoptosis. Calpain and caspase-3 activities cleaved alpha-spectrin at specific sites generating 145kD spectrin breakdown product (SBDP) and 120kD SBDP, respectively. The results suggested that 5-ALA-PDT induced apoptosis in U87MG cells by suppression of survival signals and activation of proteolytic pathways. Thus, 5-ALA-PDT can be an effective strategy for inducing apoptosis in glioblastoma.     

β-榄香烯对宫颈癌细胞PI-3K/Akt信号通路活化和凋亡相关蛋白表达的影响

目的研究β-榄香烯对人宫颈Hela细胞凋亡相关蛋白caspase-3、caspase-9表达和PI-3K/Akt信号通路的影响。方法实验分为对照组和β-榄香烯处理组,应用AnnexinV-FITC凋亡检测试剂盒及流式细胞仪检测细胞凋亡率,并采用免疫荧光、Western Blot方法检测Akt、p-Akt、天冬氨酸特异性半胱氨酸蛋白酶3(caspase-3),天冬氨酸特异性半胱氨酸蛋白酶9(caspase-9)、凋亡诱导因子(AIF)、细胞色素C(Cyto c)蛋白表达。结果β-榄香烯以剂量和时间依赖方式抑制宫颈癌细胞增殖和细胞活性。与对照组相比,β-榄香烯处理组凋亡细胞数量和相关凋亡蛋白(caspase-3、caspase-9、AIF、Cyto c)表达水平升高,β-榄香烯作用组p-Akt的表达水平明显升高。结论β-榄香烯抑制宫颈癌细胞增殖和诱导细胞凋亡可能与上调凋亡相关蛋白表达和PI-3K/Akt信号通路相关。     

Thimerosal induces neuronal cell apoptosis by causing cytochrome c and apoptosis-inducing factor release from mitochondria

There is a worldwide increasing concern over the neurological risks of thimerosal (ethylmercury thiosalicylate) which is an organic mercury compound that is commonly used as an antimicrobial preservative. In this study, we show that thimerosal, at nanomolar concentrations, induces neuronal cell death through the mitochondrial pathway. Thimerosal, in a concentration- and time-dependent manner, decreased cell viability as assessed by calcein-ethidium staining and caused apoptosis detected by Hoechst 33258 dye. Thimerosal-induced apoptosis was associated with depolarization of mitochondrial membrane, generation of reactive oxygen species, and release of cytochrome c and apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) from mitochondria to cytosol. Although thimerosal did not affect cellular expression of Bax at the protein level, we observed translocation of Bax from cytosol to mitochondria. Finally, caspase-9 and caspase-3 were activated in the absence of caspase-8 activation. Our data suggest that thimerosal causes apoptosis in neuroblastoma cells by changing the mitochondrial microenvironment.     

Photodynamic therapy induced Fas-mediated apoptosis in human carcinoma cells

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a clinical approach that utilizes light-activated drugs for the treatment of a variety of pathologic conditions. Human poorly (CNE2) and moderately differentiated (TW0-1) human nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) cells undergo rapid apoptosis when treated with PDT sensitized with Hypocrellin A (HA) and Hypocrellin B (HB). It has been shown that these compounds have a strong photodynamic effect on tumors and viruses. The initiating events of PDT sensitized HA and HB-induced apoptosis are poorly defined. In the current study, we sought to determine whether Fas/FasL upregulation and involvement of mitochondrial events are an early event in HA and HB-treated PDT induced apoptosis. Loss of mitochondrial transmembrane potential, release of cytochrome c, involvement of caspases-8 and -3 and the status caspase-3 specific substrate PARP, were evaluated in PDT treated tumor cells. Photoactivation of HA and HB enhanced both CD95/CD95L expression and induced CD95-signaling dependent cell death in all tumor cell lines studied. CD95/ CD95L expression appeared within 2 h following light activation and appeared to be a primary event in PDT induced apoptosis. Furthermore, these results indicate that release of mitochondrial cytochrome c into the cytoplasm is a secondary event following the activation of initiator caspase-8 preceding caspase-3 activation, cleavage of PARP and DNA fragmentation. Cytochrome c appeared in the cytosol within 2-3 h post PDT. Cleavage of PARP was observed at 3-4 h following PDT and caspase-3 specific inhibitor DEVD-CHO and broad-spectrum caspases inhibitor z-VAD-fmk blocked caspase-3 activation and PARP cleavage suggesting that caspase-3 plays an important role in HA and HB-induced apoptosis.     

Hypericin induced death receptor-mediated apoptosis in photoactivated tumor cells

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a malignant disease of the head/neck region with a 5-year survival level of approximately 65%. To explore the novel therapeutic strategies in the management of this disease, the potential effects of photodynamic therapy (PDT) in NPC cells were investigated. PDT, a new mode of treatment, is based on the combined use of light-absorbing compounds and light irradiation. Two human NPC cells such as, poorly differentiated (NPC/CNE2) and moderately differentiated (NPC/TW0-1) and other types of tumor cells like colon (CCL-220.1) and bladder (SD) undergo rapid apoptosis when treated with PDT sensitized with hypericin (HY). It has been shown that this compound has a strong photodynamic effect on tumors and viruses. However, the initiating events of PDT sensitized HY-induced apoptosis are not identified completely. In this study, we sought to determine whether Fas/FasL upregulation and involvement of mitochondrial events are an early event in HY-treated PDT induced apoptosis. Loss of mitochondrial transmembrane potential, release of cytochrome c, involvement of caspases 8 and 3 and the status caspase-3 specific substrate PARP, were evaluated in PDT treated tumor cells. Photosensitization of HY enhanced both CD95/CD95L expression and induced CD95-signaling dependent cell death in all tumor cell lines studied. CD95/CD95L expression appeared within 2 h following light irradiation and appeared to be a principal event in PDT induced apoptosis. Furthermore, these results indicate that release of mitochondrial cytochrome c into the cytoplasm within 2-3 h post PDT is a secondary event following the activation of initiator caspase-8 preceding Apaf-1, caspase-9 and caspase-3 activation, cleavage of PARP and DNA fragmentation.     

Actinomycin D enhances TRAIL-induced caspase-dependent and -independent apoptosis in SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells

Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) has attracted great attention as a promising anti-cancer reagent. Recombinant soluble TRAIL (rsTRAIL) derivatives induce apoptosis in various cancer cells, but not in most normal cells. However, a number of cancerous cell types are resistant to TRAIL cytotoxicity, limiting its application in cancer therapy. In the present study, we report that actinomycin D (Act D) pretreatment increases apoptosis in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells treated with rsTRAIL. Both caspase-9 and caspase-7, but not caspase-3, were activated during the apoptosis process. z-VAD-fmk, a pan-caspase inhibitor, only partially suppressed apoptosis of the cells, suggesting that the Act D-enhanced apoptosis of SH-SY5Y occurred via caspase-dependent and -independent manners. In cells pretreated with Act D, we found decreased mitochondrial transmembrane potential, high levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and up-regulated apoptotic-inducing factor (AIF). Cell death was blocked in cells stably transfected with AIF-siRNA plasmid. Taken together, these data indicate that Act D sensitizes SH-SY5Y cells to rsTRAIL-induced apoptosis via caspase activation, impairment of the mitochondrial membrane, release of ROS, and up-regulation of AIF expression. This study provides a novel strategy for the therapy of malignant neuroblastoma resistant to rsTRAIL cytotoxicity.     

Early activation of the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway in Vesicular Stomatitis virus-infected cells

Vesicular Stomatitis Virus (VSV) has been shown to induce apoptosis in a caspase-dependent manner, but the precise apoptotic pathway remains unknown. We found that caspases 9 and 3, but not caspase 8, were activated during VSV-induced apoptosis in infected Vero cells. Since caspase 9 is related to the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway, we analyzed some mitochondrial events such as changes in the mitochondrial transmembrane potential (Deltapsim) and mitochondrial release of apoptogenic proteins such as cytochrome c and the apoptosis inducing factor (AIF). We found that VSV infection triggers the dissipation of the Deltapsim and the release of both cytochrome c and AIF from the mitochondrial intermembrane space very early in the VSV infection. These results indicate that the trigger of apoptosis in VSV-infected cells occurs through the early activation of the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway. On the other hand, intracellular levels of the anti-apoptotic proteins, such as Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL, and the pro-apoptotic protein Bax, were assessed during viral infection. These analyses showed that as viral infection proceeded, the cellular level of Bcl-xL decreased, while the levels of Bax and Bcl-2 remained unaffected. The significance of the Bcl-xL modulation is also discussed.     

Biochemical and molecular basis of thimerosal-induced apoptosis in T cells: a major role of mitochondrial pathway

The major source of thimerosal (ethyl mercury thiosalicylate) exposure is childhood vaccines. It is believed that the children are exposed to significant accumulative dosage of thimerosal during the first 2 years of life via immunization. Because of health-related concerns for exposure to mercury, we examined the effects of thimerosal on the biochemical and molecular steps of mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis in Jurkat T cells. Thimerosal and not thiosalcylic acid (non-mercury component of thimerosal), in a concentration-dependent manner, induced apoptosis in T cells as determined by TUNEL and propidium iodide assays, suggesting a role of mercury in T cell apoptosis. Apoptosis was associated with depolarization of mitochondrial membrane, release of cytochrome c and apoptosis inducing factor (AIF) from the mitochondria, and activation of caspase-9 and caspase-3, but not of caspase-8. In addition, thimerosal in a concentration-dependent manner inhibited the expression of XIAP, cIAP-1 but did not influence cIAP-2 expression. Furthermore, thimerosal enhanced intracellular reactive oxygen species and reduced intracellular glutathione (GSH). Finally, exogenous glutathione protected T cells from thimerosal-induced apoptosis by upregulation of XIAP and cIAP1 and by inhibiting activation of both caspase-9 and caspase-3. These data suggest that thimerosal induces apoptosis in T cells via mitochondrial pathway by inducing oxidative stress and depletion of GSH.     

Apoptosis induction by interleukin-2-activated cytotoxic lymphocytes in a squamous cell carcinoma cell line and Daudi cells - involvement of reactive oxygen species-dependent cytochrome c and reactive oxygen species-independent apoptosis-inducing factors

Investigation of the induction of apoptosis by cytotoxic lymphocytes has mainly focused on the signalling associated with Fas and its adaptor proteins. The signal pathway via mitochondria, however, has not been sufficiently elucidated in cytotoxic lymphocyte-induced apoptosis. We examined the release of mitochondrial proapoptotic factors by lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells in two cell lines. LAK cell-induced DNA fragmentation of the target cells was suppressed to approximately 50% of control levels by the addition of neutralizing monoclonal antibody to Fas and a granzyme B inhibitor. When intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) were scavenged, the LAK cell-induced DNA fragmentation was decreased to approximately 60% of the non-treated cell level. Co-cultivation of Daudi cells with LAK cells increased cytosolic and mitochondrial ROS levels. Activation of procaspase-3 and apoptosis by treatment of oral squamous cell carcinoma cells (OSC) with LAK cells was partially inhibited by pretreatment of OSC cells with ROS scavengers and mitochondrial complex inhibitors. Furthermore, cytochrome c and apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) were released from mitochondria by OSC cell treatment with supernatants of LAK cells. The supernatant-induced cytochrome c release was suppressed by mitochondrial complex inhibitors, but the inhibitors did not inhibit the release of AIF. These results indicate that LAK cells induce target cell apoptosis via not only the Fas/Fas ligand system and granzyme B, but also ROS-dependent cytochrome c and ROS-independent AIF release.     

Curcumin activated both receptor-mediated and mitochondria-mediated proteolytic pathways for apoptosis in human glioblastoma T98G cells

The therapeutic effect of curcumin (CCM), a polyphenolic compound from the rhizome of Curcuma longa, has not yet been examined in glioblastoma. We used human glioblastoma T98G cells to explore the efficacy of CCM for inducing apoptosis and identifying proteolytic mechanisms involved in this process. Trypan blue dye exclusion test showed decrease in cell viability with increasing dose of CCM. Wright staining and ApopTag assay showed, respectively, morphological and biochemical features of apoptosis in T98G cells exposed to 25 microM and 50 microM of CCM for 24 h. Treatment with CCM activated receptor-mediated pathway of apoptosis as Western blotting showed activation of caspase-8 and cleavage of Bid to tBid. Besides, CCM caused an increase in Bax:Bcl-2 ratio, and mitochondrial release of cytochrome c, Second mitochondrial activator of caspases/Direct IAP binding protein with low pI (Smac/Diablo), and apoptosis-inducing-factor (AIF) indicating involvement of mitochondria-mediated pathway as well. Down regulation of the nuclear factor kappa B (NFkappaB), increased expression of inhibitor of nuclear factor kappa B alpha (IkappaB alpha), and decreased expression of inhibitor-of-apoptosis proteins (IAPs) such as c-IAP1 and c-IAP2 in T98G cells following CCM treatment suggested suppression of survival signal. Activation of caspase-9 and caspase-3 was detected in generation of 35 kD and 20 kD active fragments, respectively. Calpain and caspase-3 activities cleaved 270 kD alpha-spectrin at specific sites to generate 145 kD spectrin break down product (SBDP) and 120 kD SBDP, respectively. Our results strongly suggest that CCM induced both receptor-mediated and mitochondria-mediated proteolytic mechanisms for induction of apoptosis in T98G cells.     

Induction of apoptosis by hexaminolevulinate-mediated photodynamic therapy in human colon carcinoma cell line 320DM.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) typically involves systemic or topical administration of a tumor-localizing photosensitizer or prodrug and its subsequent activation by visible light. This results primarily in singlet oxygen-induced photodamage to the tumor. 5-Aminolevulinic acid (ALA) and its derivatives have recently been widely used for PDT due to their selective induction in tumor of endogenous protoporphyrin IX (PpIX), a potent photosensitizer. Although ALA-PDT has achieved successful results in the treatment of several clinical oncological and nononcological diseases, the mechanisms of this modality are still not fully elucidated. In the present study, the human colon carcinoma cell line 320DM was treated in vitro with PDT using hexaminolevulinate (HAL), a hexylester of ALA known to be 50 to 100 times more efficient at producing PpIX formation than ALA itself. PpIX production increased with increasing HAL concentrations in the cells and phototoxicity of the cells was enhanced with increasing light (450 nm) doses. HAL-PDT induced apoptotic cell death, as measured by nuclear staining of Hoechst 33342 for fluorescence microscopy, DNA electrophoresis and TdT staining for flow cytometry. PDT with 5 muM of HAL and a light dose of 640 mJ/cm2 produced a 75% apoptotic cell population 40 hr after the treatment. Furthermore, the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential coincident with the release of cytochrome c from the mitochondria into the cytosol led to a rapid activation of caspase-9 and caspase-3 (an executioner), indicating that the selective damage to the mitochondria by HAL-PDT can induce a cytochrome-c-mediated apoptotic response in the 320DM cells.     

Activation-induced cell death of human melanoma specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes is mediated by apoptosis-inducing factor

Activation-induced cell death (AICD) of T cells can be an impediment towards achieving a robust and long-lived cytolytic T lymphocyte (CTL) response from active specific immunization or after adoptive cell transfer in cancer immunotherapy. The mechanism of AICD in primary CTL, however, remains poorly understood. It is widely believed that AICD is driven by signals from death receptors (DR) and that the cell death takes place in a caspase-dependent manner, although it has been shown that AICD of T cells can be induced by internal triggers and that death takes place in a caspase-independent manner. We show here that AICD in human melanoma epitope-specific primary CTL involves selective mitochondrio-nuclear translocation of the apoptosis inducing factor (AIF) without cytochrome c release, caspase-3 and caspase-8 activation, and results from large-scale DNA fragmentation. The c-jun-N terminal kinase (JNK) inhibitor, SP600125, blocks the mitochondrio-nuclear translocation of AIF and prevents AICD in these CTL. These findings suggest that the AICD in human melanoma epitope specific primary CTL is mediated by mitochondrial AIF release and JNK is involved in regulation of this death process.     

独蒜兰乙酸乙酯萃取物通过内源性线粒体通路诱导白血病K562细胞和HL-60细胞凋亡

目的:探讨独蒜兰乙酸乙酯萃取物对人慢性粒细胞白血病K562细胞和急性髓性白血病HL-60细胞增殖及凋亡的影响以及诱导凋亡的途径。方法:采用XTT法、台盼蓝拒染法、Annexin V-FITC/PI双染法、PI染色法、4',6-二脒基-2-苯基吲哚(DAPI)染色和Western blot法研究不同浓度独蒜兰乙酸乙酯萃取物对上述2种白血病细胞增殖、凋亡、细胞周期和凋亡相关蛋白表达等方面的影响。结果:独蒜兰正丁醇萃取物对K562细胞活力几乎没有抑制作用,而乙酸乙酯萃取物能显著抑制K562和HL-60细胞的活力和增殖。乙酸乙酯萃取物对于HL-60细胞作用24 h的半数抑制浓度(IC_(50))为(42.14±2.54)mg/L,对于K562细胞的IC_(50)为(51.28±3.12)mg/L。Annexin V-FITC/PI和DAPI染色结果显示,乙酸乙酯萃取物呈剂量依赖性诱导2种细胞凋亡,且50 mg/L的乙酸乙酯萃取物作用后K562细胞的凋亡率为33.1%,而HL-60细胞的凋亡率为63.1%,说明HL-60细胞对乙酸乙酯萃取物更加敏感,伴有典型的细胞核凋亡形态学改变。PI染色结果显示HL-60细胞和K562细胞都被阻滞于G_2期。Western blot结果显示,随着药物浓度的升高,细胞凋亡抑制蛋白Bcl-2的表达降低,而促凋亡蛋白Bax、cleaved caspase-3和活化的多腺苷二磷酸核糖聚合酶的表达逐渐升高,内源性线粒体凋亡的特征胞浆中细胞色素C和凋亡诱导因子表达也逐渐升高。结论:独蒜兰乙酸乙酯萃取物能显著抑制K562和HL-60细胞增殖,并通过触发内源性线粒体凋亡通路诱导这2种细胞凋亡。     

The protection of Bcl-2 overexpression on rat cortical neuronal injury caused by analogous ischemia/reperfusion in vitro

Recent studies have suggested that neuronal apoptosis in cerebral ischemia could arise from dysfunction of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and mitochondria. B-cell lymphoma/leukemia-2 gene (Bcl-2) has been described as an inhibitor both in programmed cell death (PCD) and ER dysfunction during apoptosis, and the Bcl-2 family play a key role in regulating the PCD, both locally at the ER and from a distance at the mitochondrial membrane. However, its signal pathways and concrete mechanisms in endoplasmic reticulum-initiated apoptosis remain incompletely understood. We therefore investigate whether ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) causes neuronal apoptosis in part via cross-talk between ER and mitochondria or not, and how the overexpression of Bcl-2 prevents this form of cell death. Here we show that analogous I/R-induced cell death occurs consequent to interactions of ER stress and mitochondrial death pathways. The participation of the mitochondrial pathway was demonstrated by the release of cytochrome C (cyt C) from mitochondrial into cytoplasmic fractions and caspase-9 cleavage. The involvement of ER stress was further supported by the observable increase of glucose-regulated protein 78(GRP78)/BiP expression and caspase-12 activity. Furthermore, prior to these changes, swelling of the ER lumen and dissociation of ribosomes from rough ER were detected by electron microscopy. Bcl-2 overexpression inhibits the release of cyt C and the activation of caspase-9/-8/-3 but not caspase-12 based on the results of Western blot. These suggest that cross-talk between ER and mitochondria participate in neuronal damage after ischemia/reperfusion. Bcl-2 overexpression could suppress I/R-induced neuronal apoptosis via influencing mitochondrial integrity.