To investigate apoptosis of mouse leukemia cell (WEHI-3) induced by econazole and its mechanism, apoptosis induced by econazole was examined by flow cytometry, while free calcium ([Ca(2+)]i) was determined by Fura-2 fluorescein load technique. The protein was isolated from endoplasmic reticulum of WEHI-3 cells, and then the expression of caspase-12 and caspase-7 was evaluated by Western blot. The results showed that WEHI-3 exhibited typical change of apoptosis when it was treated by econazole, [Ca(2+)]i was significantly higher in comparison with the control. The expression of caspase-12 and caspase-7 enhanced as the econazole concentration increased. In conclusion, econazole can induce WEHI-3 cell apoptosis and the caspase-12 plays a key role in this process.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Blotting, Western ; Calcium ; metabolism ; Caspase 12 ; metabolism ; Caspase 7 ; metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Econazole ; pharmacology ; Flow Cytometry ; Leukemia ; metabolism ; pathology

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of advanced glycated albumin (AGE-alb) on the activation of caspase-12, a key molecule in endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS)-associated apoptotic pathway, and to elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms of macrophage apoptosis. RAW264.7 macrophages were treated with AGE-alb (2, 4 and 6 g/L), control albumin (C-alb, 4 g/L), tunicamycin (TM, 4 mg/L), or pretreated with 4-phenylbutyric acid (PBA, 5 mmol/L) for 1 h and then treated with AGE-alb (4 g/L). After incubation for 24 h, the cell viability and apoptosis were determined by using MTT assay and TUNEL detection kit, respectively. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity in media was determined by using an assay kit. The protein levels of caspase-12 were examined by Western blot analysis. The results showed that like TM (an ERS inducer), incubation with AGE-alb led to significant decrease in viability and increase in LDH activity in media and apoptotic rate in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, AGE-alb induced activation of caspase-12 especially at the concentration of 4 and 6 g/L (P < 0.01), which was similar to TM. However, PBA (an ERS inhibitor) protected RAW264.7 macrophages from AGE-alb-induced decrease in viability and increases in LDH activity and apoptosis. Moreover, PBA also inhibited the caspase-12 activation induced by AGE-alb (P < 0.05). These results suggest that AGE-alb may induce apoptosis in RAW 264.7 macrophages, and the mechanism may be related to the activation of ERS-associated apoptotic pathway mediated by caspase-12.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; Caspase 12 ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Survival ; Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress ; Macrophages ; Mice ; Phenylbutyrates ; Serum Albumin ; Tunicamycin

OBJECTIVESTo study the inhibition of primary mouse hepatocyte apoptosis by small interfering RNA (siRNAs) against caspase-12.

METHODSThe Balb/c mouse primary hepatocytes were isolated in situ with two-step liver perfusion with 0.5 g/L collagenase type IV, and apoptosis were induced with 4 micromol/L thapsigargin (TG). The three kingds of siRNAs targeting different gene sites (130, 214, 521) were synthetized chemically. The single-stranded RNAs were annealed to produce double-stranded siRNAs, then the mouse primary hepatocytes were transfected by oligofectamine package. The inhibition of caspase-12 was analyzed with RT-PCR and Western-blot. The viable hepatocytes following the induction of apoptosis were evaluated with MTT.

RESULTSAll the three kinds of siRNAs could obviously inhibit normal mouse hepatocyte caspase-12 mRNA. The siRNA (214) were more effective than the other two when the concentration was 100 nmol/L. The caspase-12 mRNA expression was inhibited by 52.08%, while that of siRNA (521) was 30.73% (t=4.30, P <0.05). However when the concentration was 200 nmol/L, the inhibitions were similar (88.07%, 86.22% and 89.41% respectively). siRNA (214) could downregulate the expression of apoptotic hepatocytes procaspase-12 by 51.43% ( t=4.30, P <0.01). Contrasted with apoptotic hepatocytes, the cell activity, which was analyzed with MTT, increased by 48.76% (t=2.23, P <0.01).

CONCLUSIONsiRNAs could effectively downregulate the expression of caspase-12 at mRNA and protein levels and prevent mouse primary hepatocytes from apoptosis.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; physiology ; Caspase 12 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Hepatocytes ; cytology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo design and synthesize ribozymes targeting 138 and 218 sites of the mRNA nucleotide of mouse caspase-12, a key intermedium of ER stress mediated apoptosis, and to identify their activities through in vitro transcription and cleavage.

METHODSThe mouse caspase-12 gene fragment was obtained by RT-PCR and cloned into the PGEM-T vector under the control of T7 RNA polymerase promoter. The transcription product of the target was labeled with a-32P UTP, while ribozymes were not labeled. Ribozyme and target RNA were incubated for 90 min at 37 degree C in a reaction buffer to perform the cleavage reaction.

RESULTSIt was found that under a condition of 37 degree C, pH 7.5 and with Mg2+ in a concentration of 10 mmol/L, Rz138 and Rz218 both cleaved targets at predicted sites, and the cleavage efficiency of Rz138 was 100%.

CONCLUSIONRz138 and Rz218 prepared in vitro possess the perfect specific catalytic cleavage activity. Rz138 has excellent cleavage efficiency. It may be a promising tool to prevent ER stress induced apoptosis through catalytic cleavage of caspase-12 mRNA in vivo. It also can be used to verify whether caspase-12 is necessary in ER stress induced apoptosis.

Animals ; Base Sequence ; Caspase 12 ; genetics ; Endoplasmic Reticulum ; metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Oxidative Stress ; genetics ; RNA, Catalytic ; chemistry ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of curcumin (CUR) on cycteinyl aspirate specific protease-12 (Caspase-12) and pneumocyte apoptosis in pulmonary ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury mice.

METHODSThe in vivo unilateral in situ pulmonary I/R injury mouse model was established in C57BL/6J mice. Sixty experimental mice were randomly divided into six groups by random digit table, i. e., the sham-operation group (Sham), the I/R group, the I/R + dimethyl sulfoxide group (I/R + DMSO), the I/R + low dose CUR pre-treated group (I/R + CUR-100), the I/R + middle dose CUR pre-treated group (I/R + CUR-150), the I/R + high dose CUR pre-treated group (I/R + CUR-200), 10 in each group. Mice were euthanized and their left lungs were excised. Wet lung weight to dry lung weight (W/D) and the total lung water content (TLW) were tested. The morphological changes of the lung tissue were observed and index of quantitative evaluation for alveolar damage (IQA) detected under light microscope. The ultra-microstructure of the lung tissue was observed under electron microscope. The mRNA and protein expression levels of Caspase-12 and glucose regulated protein (GRP78) were detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blot. Apoptosis index (AI) of the lung tissue was determined by terminal-deoxynucleoitidyl transferase mediated nick end labeling (TUNEL) method.

RESULTSCompared with the Sham group, expression levels of Caspase-12, GRP78 mRNA and protein all significantly increased in the I/R group (P < 0.05); W/D, TLW, IQA, and AI were all notably higher (P < 0.05, P < 0.01); the morphological and ultrastructural injury of the lung tissue were notably observed in I/R group. Compared with the I/R + DMSO group, expression levels of GRP78 mRNA and protein were increasingly higher in the I/R + CUR-100 group, the I/R + CUR-150 group, and the I/R +CUR-200 group (P < 0.05), expression levels of Caspase-12 mRNA and protein were lower (P < 0.05); W/D, TLW, IQA, and AI also decreased (P < 0.05, P < 0.01); the morphological and ultrastructural injury of the lung tissue were gradually alleviated in the I/R + CUR groups.

CONCLUSIONCUR had better effect on the lung protection against I/R injury, which might be related to inhibition for pneumocyte apoptosis associated with Caspase-12 in excessive unfolded protein response (UPR).

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Caspase 12 ; metabolism ; Curcumin ; pharmacology ; Heat-Shock Proteins ; metabolism ; Lung ; blood supply ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Reperfusion Injury ; metabolism ; pathology ; prevention & control

OBJECTIVEGRP78 is a sensitive marker of endoplasmic reticulum stress. Caspase-12 is involved in apoptosis induced by endoplasmic reticulum stress. This study was designed to explore the changes of GRP78 and caspase-12 mRNA in neonatal rats with experimental hypoxic-ischemic white matter damage (WMD) and investigate the roles of endoplasmic reticulum stress in the WMD.

METHODSTwo-day-old rats were randomized to WMD and control groups (n=49 each). The pups were sacrificed at 0, 2, 4, 6, 12, 24 and 72 hrs after hypoxia-ischemia (HI). The light microscope was used to observe the brain pathological changes. Real time PCR was used to detect the expression of GRP78 mRNA and caspase-12 mRNA in the white matter tissue.

RESULTSThe expression of GRP78 mRNA began increasing 2 hrs after HI and peaked at 6 hrs in the WMD group, demonstrating significant differences at 2, 4, 6, 12, 24 and 72 hrs compared with the control group (P<0.05). The caspase-12 mRNA expression in the WMD group began increasing 6 hrs after HI and demonstrated significantly increased levels 6, 12 and 24 hrs after HI compared with those in the control group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSGRP78 and caspase-12 mRNA expression increased significantly in neonatal rats with WMD. This suggests that endoplasmic reticulum stress may be induced following HI. Endoplasmic reticulum stress seems to be involved in the apoptosis of oligodendrocytes induced by HI in neonatal rats with WMD.

Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Brain ; pathology ; Caspase 12 ; genetics ; Disease Models, Animal ; Heat-Shock Proteins ; genetics ; Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of adenosine preconditioning on cell apoptosis and expressions of glucose-regulated protein (GRP-78) and cysteinyl aspartate-specific protease 12 (caspase-12) in rats with spinal cord ischemia-reperfusion injury.

METHODSTwenty-seven rats were randomized into 3 equal groups and subjected to sham operation (group A), spinal cord ischemia-reperfusion injury (group B), or ischemia-reperfusion injury with adenosine treatment. Spinal cord ischemia-reperfusion injury was induced by cross-clamping of the abdominal aorta inferior to the left renal artery. The spinal cord function was assessed using the Modified Tarlov Scale at 6, 12, and 24 h after reperfusion. At 24 h after reperfusion, histological analysis was carried out with HE staining; cell apoptosis and viability were determined with TUNEL staining, and the expressions of GRP-78 and caspase-12 proteins were determined with Western blotting.

RESULTSHE staining of the spinal cord showed extensive spinal cord injury such as cell edema in group B as compared with group C. Compared with group A, group B showed a significantly increased number of apoptotic cells; the number of apoptotic cells in group B was greater than that in group C. Compared with group B, group C showed significantly increased GRP-78 expression (P<0.01) and decreased caspase-12 expression (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONAdenosine can up-regulate GRP-78 expression and down-regulate caspase-12 expression, and protects the spinal cord against ischemia-reperfusion injury by inhibiting cell apoptosis.

Adenosine ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Caspase 12 ; metabolism ; Heat-Shock Proteins ; metabolism ; Ischemic Preconditioning ; methods ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reperfusion Injury ; metabolism ; Spinal Cord Ischemia ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study the proliferation and apoptosis in carbon tetrachloride induced rat liver fibrosis.

METHODSWistar rats were injected subcutaneously with 40% CCl4-olive oil twice weekly for 12 weeks. Liver tissues were obtained at the end of 4, 8, 12 and 16 weeks for histological examination, hydroxyproline (Hyp) assay and proteomic analysis. After two dimension electrophoresis (2-DE), the silver stained gels were analyzed with PDQUEST 2-DE. More than 30 differentially expressed proteins were identified by MALDI-TOF-MS.

RESULTSThe degree of collagen deposition and hydroxyproline content of the fibrotic livers increased continuously during the 12 weeks of CCl4 administration, peaked at the end of week 12 (P < 0.05) and declined significantly at week 16 (P < 0.05). Significant differences were observed in two parameters at each time point between the control and the model group. Meanwhile, dramatic change of hepatic proteome in the model group rats was also seen. Differentially expressed proteins identified by MALDI-TOF-MS were categorized as proliferation-related proteins/enzymes (proliferating cell nuclear antigen p120, p40 and cyclin F ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme 7 UBC7), and apoptosis-related proteins, mainly caspase-12 which was absent in the control rats.

CONCLUSIONProliferation and apoptosis related proteins are expressed dynamically in different stages of rat liver fibrosis induced by CCl4.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Carbon Tetrachloride ; Carbon Tetrachloride Poisoning ; Caspase 12 ; metabolism ; Cell Proliferation ; Hydroxyproline ; metabolism ; Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; Male ; Proteins ; metabolism ; Proteome ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

OBJECTIVETo observe the expression of GRP78 (glucose regulated protein, GRP78), Caspase-12 and the change of neuron apoptosis in the juvenile rat hippocampus after status convulsive (SC), and to explore the effect of edaravone on them.

METHODSOne hundred and ninety-five juvenile male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into normal saline control group (NS group), status convulsive group (SC group) and edaravone treatment group (ED group). Each group was further divided into five subgroups in different executed time points after SC. The rats in status convulsive group were kindled into epilepsy by lithium-pilocarpine method. Expression of GRP78 mRNA and caspase-12 mRNA was detected with reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method. Expressions of GRP78 and caspase-12 protein were detected with immunohistochemical methods. The neuron apoptosis was observed by TdT-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL).

RESULTS(1) Measured by immunohistochemistry the value of OD of GRP78 (0.1480 ± 0.0164, 0.1682 ± 0.0114, and 0.1540 ± 0.0102, respectively, 12 h - 48 h points) and caspase-12 (0.1325 ± 0.0165, 0.1794 ± 0.0213, 0.1525 ± 0.0423, and 0.1309 ± 0.0199, respectively, 12 h-72 h points) positive cells in the SC group increased, there was a significant difference compared with NS group (GRP78: 0.1214 ± 0.0147, 0.1272 ± 0.0177, and 0.1260 ± 0.0157, respectively, 12 h-72 h points. Caspase-12: 0.1050 ± 0.0121, 0.1041 ± 0.0151, 0.1058 ± 0.0222, and 0.1036 ± 0.0186, respectively, 12 h - 72 h points) (P < 0.01, or P < 0.05). By ED intervention GRP78 (0.1550 ± 0.0131, 0.1886 ± 0.0154, and 0.1721 ± 0.0151, respectively, 12 h - 48 h points) positive cells value of the OD increased as compared with SC group (P < 0.01, or P < 0.05). and caspase-12 (0.1211 ± 0.0184, 0.1545 ± 0.0205, and 0.1085 ± 0.0219, respectively, 12 h, 24 h and 72 h points) positive cells value of the A decreased as compared with SC group (P < 0.01, or P < 0.05). (2) Measured by RT-PCR, the expression of GRP78 mRNA and caspase-12 mRNA trend was similar to protein. (3) The TUNEL positive cells in hippocampus CA(1) of SC group (11.41 ± 2.37) were more than that of NS group after the SC 12 h (P < 0.01), reached its highest level at 48 h (28.78 ± 5.11), after the intervention with edaravone (8.98 ± 2.22, 13.09 ± 2.54 and 20.57 ± 4.89, respectively, 12 h-48 h points), TUNEL positive cells showed a significant drop in SC group at 12 h-48 h time points (P < 0.01, or P < 0.05), but still significantly higher than that of the NS group (6.22 ± 1.50, 6.57 ± 1.61 and 6.72 ± 1.14, respectively) (P < 0.01, or P < 0.05), at the 4 h time point (NS group 6.29 ± 1.49, SC group 6.61 ± 1.71, ED group 5.75 ± 1.41) among the three groups, no significant difference in TUNEL positive cells was found (P = 0.759).

CONCLUSIONSThe expression of GRP78 and caspase-12 increased after SC. Edaravone increased expression of GRP78 and decreased expression of caspase-12 in hippocampus rat with pilocarpine-induced seizures, reduced the number of neuronal apoptosis. These results suggest that edaravone may have protective effect against the hippocampal damage caused by status convulsive.

Animals ; Antipyrine ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Caspase 12 ; metabolism ; Heat-Shock Proteins ; metabolism ; Hippocampus ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Seizures ; metabolism

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of moxibustion at oppositely-located points "Mingmen" (GV 4) and "Shenque" (CV 8) on the motor function of the hind limbs and bladder function in rats with neurogenic bladder after suprasacral spinal cord injury (SCI), so as to explore the effect of this therapy on bladder tissue apoptosis mediated by endoplasmic reticulum stress pathway. METHODS: Twenty-eight female Wistar rats were randomly divided into a sham-operation group (8 rats) and a model establishment group (20 rats). Using the modified Allen's method, the spinal cord of T₁₀ segment was injured to establish a neurogenic bladder model in the model establishment group. Sixteen rats were modeled successfully and then divided into a model group (8 rats) and a moxibustion group (8 rats). In the moxibustion group, 2 h after consciousness regaining from modeling anesthesia, moxibustion was exerted at "Shenque" (CV 8) and "Mingmen" (GV 4), 2 cones at each acupoint in one intervention. The intervention was administered once every two days and 5-time intervention was required totally. After intervention, Basso, Beattie and Bresnahan locomotor rating scale (BBB) score for the motor function of the hind limbs, and the urodynamics indexes (maximum bladder capacity, urine leakage pressure and bladder compliance) were compared among groups. HE staining method was adopted to observe the morphological changes of bladder tissue. With Western blot method and real-time PCR assay, the protein and mRNA expressions of the endoplasmic reticulum stress-related genes (glucose- regulated protein 78 [GRP78], activating transcription factor 4 [ATF4] and cysteinyl aspartate specific proteinase-12 [Caspase-12]) were determined. RESULTS: The transitional epithelial cells were arranged irregularly, the bladder wall was getting thinner, and the cellular vacuolar degeneration and neutrophil infiltration were found in the model group. Whereas, compared with the model group, in the moxibustion group, the arrangement of transitional epithelial cells was clear and continuous in layers, the cellular vacuolar degeneration was mild and the infiltration presented in a small amount of neutrophil granulocytes. Compared with the sham-operation group, in the model group, the BBB score was reduced (P<0.01), the maximum bladder capacity and bladder compliance were increased (P<0.01), and the protein expression levels of GRP78, ATF4 and Caspase-12, as well as mRNA expressions were all increased (P<0.01). In comparison with the model group, in the moxibustion group, BBB score was increased (P<0.01), the maximum bladder capacity and bladder compliance were decreased (P<0.01), and the protein and mRNA expression levels of GRP78, ATF4 and Caspase-12 were all decreased (P<0.01). CONCLUSION Moxibustion at the "oppositely-located points" improves the urination function, alleviate urine retention in neurogenic bladder rats after spinal cord injury. The underlying mechanism may be related to the down-regulation of the expressions of GRP78, ATF4 and Caspase-12 in the endoplasmic reticulum stress pathway of the bladder tissues, and thus to alleviate the apoptosis of bladder tissue.
Animals ; Caspase 12/genetics* ; Electroacupuncture ; Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress ; Female ; Moxibustion ; RNA, Messenger ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Rats, Wistar ; Spinal Cord ; Spinal Cord Injuries/therapy* ; Urinary Bladder, Neurogenic/therapy*