Nitric oxide (NO) is a short-lived gaseous free radical that predominantly functions as a messenger and effector molecule. It affects a variety of physiological processes, including programmed cell death (PCD) through cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP)-dependent and - independent pathways. In this field, dominant discoveries are the diverse apoptosis networks in mammalian cells, which involve signals primarily via death receptors (extrinsic pathway) or the mitochondria (intrinsic pathway) that recruit caspases as effector molecules. In plants, PCD shares some similarities with animal cells, but NO is involved in PCD induction via interacting with pathways of phytohormones. NO has both promoting and suppressing effects on cell death, depending on a variety of factors, such as cell type, cellular redox status, and the flux and dose of local NO. In this article, we focus on how NO regulates the apoptotic signal cascade through protein S-nitrosylation and review the recent progress on mechanisms of PCD in both mammalian and plant cells.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; physiology ; Caspases ; metabolism ; Caspases, Effector ; metabolism ; Cyclic GMP ; metabolism ; Mitochondria ; metabolism ; physiology ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; physiology ; Plant Cells ; Plant Physiological Phenomena ; Signal Transduction ; physiology

Pyroptosis ; Ketoglutaric Acids ; Gasdermins ; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins/metabolism* ; Caspases/metabolism* ; Inflammasomes/metabolism*

The aim of study was to investigate the effect of a traditional Chinese medicine, emodin, on proliferation and apoptosis in T lymphocytic leukemic cell line Jurkat and its mechanisms. Cell proliferation inhibition was detected by MTT assay. Cell apoptosis was measured by DNA ladder and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end-labeling (TUNEL) assay. The expressions of related proteins and caspase family members were determined by Western blot. The results showed that emodin inhibited proliferation in Jurkat cells, with an IC50 about 20 micromol/L and induced cell apoptosis in both time-and dose-dependent manners. The expressions of proliferation-related protein C-MYC, hTERT and apoptosis-related protein BCL-2 were down-regulated in a time dependent manner after the treatment with emodin. The expressions of procaspase-3, -8 and -9 all decreased while activated caspase-3 and PARP expressions were up-regulated. It is concluded that emodin can remarkably inhibit cell proliferation and induce apoptosis in Jurkat cells. The down-regulation of proliferation-related proteins C-MYC, hTERT and apoptosis-related protein BCL-2 expressions and activation of caspase cascade may be involved in the process of apoptosis.
Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Caspases ; metabolism ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Emodin ; metabolism ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Jurkat Cells

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of valproate acid sodium(VPA) on apoptosis of human gastric cancer cell BGC-823 and to explore its possible mechanism.

METHODSCell growth inhibition was examined by MTT assay. Apoptosis rate was detected by FCM with Annexin V/PI staining. The activities and protein expression levels of caspase 3, caspase 8 and caspase 9 were examined by spectrophotometry and indirect immunofluorescence technique respectively.

RESULTSThe growth inhibition rate and apoptosis rate of human gastric cancer cells, treated with 0.75-4.00 mmol/L VPA for 24 h and 48 h, elevated in time- and dose-dependent manner. Apoptosis rates of VPA 0.75 mmol/L 24 h and 48 h were (7.2 +/- 0.5)% and (9.2 +/- 1.0)%, of VPA 4.00 mmol/L 24 h and 48 h were (16.7 +/- 2.2)% and (20.4 +/- 1.6)% respectively, which were significantly different as compared to the control [24 h, (4.9 +/- 0.2)%, 48 h, (5.1 +/- 0.8)%] (P< 0.001). The activities and protein expression levels of caspase 3 and caspase 9 were up-regulated compared with the control group (P< 0.001), meanwhile the activity and protein expression of caspase 8 enhanced slightly after VPA treatment for 48 h.

CONCLUSIONVPA can inhibit the growth and induce the apoptosis of BGC-823 cells mainly through the activation of caspase 9 pathway.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Caspases ; metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Humans ; Stomach Neoplasms ; pathology ; Valproic Acid ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo study mechanismt of Fufang Haishe capsule for dementia by observing the effect of it on PC-12 cell apoptosis, which was induced by beta-amyloid protein (Abl-42).

METHODNerve growth factor (NGF) was used to cultivate the PC-12 cells. Fufang Haishe capsule at different concentrations was added into the culture medium so as to identify the nontoxic concentrations with MTT. To analyze the PC-12 cell apoptosis respectively by MTT assay, Flow cytometry (FCM technique) with different concentrations of Fufang Haishe capsule (0.01, 0.1, 1, 5 mg x mL(-1)), adding Ab or not Western blot was used to detect apoptosis which was measured on the implementation of caspase-9 and caspase-3 activity.

RESULTFufang Haishe capsule could significantly inhibit the apoptosis of PC-12 cells induced by Abeta with increased colorimetric MTT asay ( compare among the control group and concentration 0, 0.01, 0.1, 1 and 5 mg x mL(-1) group, which is the same below: 1.75 +/- 0.12, 0.73 +/- 0.35, 0.79 +/- 0.11, 0.83 +/- 0.07, 1.31 +/- 0.07, 1.80 +/- 0.38, P < 0.01) and the decreased apoptosis rate of the cells which was analysed by flow cytometry (1.93 +/- 0.41)%, (46.17 +/- 4.08)%, (35.35 +/- 4.63)%, (28.62 +/- 3.81)%, (15.13 +/- 3.15)%, (7.84 +/- 1.76)%, P < 0.01. In addition, Fufang Haishe capsule inhibited the activity of caspase-9 and caspase-3 of PC-12 cells which was induced by Abeta.

CONCLUSIONFufang Haishe capsule significantly inhibite apoptosis of PC-12 cells induced by Abeta. The mechanism might be that Fufang Haishe capsule decrease the activity of the apoptosis implementing protein,caspase-9 and caspase-3.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Capsules ; Caspases ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; PC12 Cells ; Rats

Many pathologic and physiologic changes occur after brain injury. Many genes control these changes. Caspase plays an important role in neuron cell apoptosis and has concern with secondary brain injury. It is of great significance in the forensic science.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; Brain Injuries/pathology* ; Caspases/metabolism* ; Forensic Medicine ; Humans ; Time Factors

OBJECTIVETo examine the correlation between the mRNA and proteins expressions of gastrin(GAS), and the association of protein expression of GAS with apoptosis index(AI) and apoptosis regulation gene Fas/FasL, caspases in colorectal cancer.

METHODSThe expressions of GAS mRNA in tumor tissues of 79 cases with colorectal cancer were detected by nested RT-PCR. Cell apoptosis was detected by molecular biology in situ apoptosis detecting technic(TUNEL). Protein expressions of GAS, Fas/FasL, and caspases were detected by immunohistochemical staining (SP method).

RESULTSThe positive correlation was found between the mRNA and proteins expressions of GAS(rGAS=0.99, P<0.01). The mRNA and protein expressions of GAS in well and moderately differentiated cancers were significantly lower than those in poorly differentiated cancers (chi(2)(high vs low)=10.47, 10.23, P<0.01, chi(2)(middle vs low)=6.68, 4.95, P<0.05). The mRNA and protein expressions of GAS in papillary and tubular adenocarcinomas were significantly lower than those in mucinous adenocarcinomas, signet-ring cell carcinoma and undifferentiated carcinoma (chi(2)(papillary vs mucinous and signet-ring)=4.80, 6.22, chi(2)(papillary vs undifferentiation)=5.44, 8.43, chi(2)(tubular vs mucinous and signet-ring)=4.40, 4.38, chi(2)(tubular vs undifferentiation)=4.92, 6.43, P<0.05, respectively). The mRNA and protein expressions of GAS in Dukes' stages A, B were significantly lower than those in Dukes stages C, D (chi(2)=4.84, 4.45, P<0.01). The AI in GAS high and moderate expression groups of colorectal cancer were significantly lower than that in low expression group (q(high vs low)=6.71, q(middle vs low)=4.60, P<0.01). The positive expression rate of FasL was significantly different among GAS high, moderate and low expression groups of colorectal cancer (chi(2)=9.35, P<0.01). The positive expression rate of FasL in GAS high and moderate expression groups was higher than that in low expression group (chi(2)high vs low=6.24, chi(2)(middle vs low)=4.74, P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSGAS plays an important role in the regulation of cell apoptosis in colorectal carcinoma, whose mechanism may be related to the aberrant expression of Fas/FasL. GAS will be one of the indicators of the biological behavior in colorectal carcinoma.

Adult ; Aged ; Caspases ; metabolism ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Fas Ligand Protein ; metabolism ; Female ; Gastrins ; metabolism ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Young Adult ; fas Receptor ; metabolism

Acute and chronic neurodegenerative diseases are illnesses associated with high morbidity and mortality, and few or no effective options are available for their treatments. Many neurodegenerative diseases are included in them, for example, stroke, brain trauma, spinal cord injury, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Huntington's disease, Alzheimer's disease, and Parkinson's disease. Given that central nervous system tissue has very limited, if any, regenerative capacity, it is of utmost importance to limit the damage caused by neuronal death. During the past decade, considerable progress has been made in understanding the process of cell death. In this article, we review the causes and mechanisms of neuronal-cell death, especially as it pertains to the caspases family of proteases associated with cell death. The results may be helpful to the experimental research and clinical application of neurodegenerative diseases.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; physiology ; Caspases ; metabolism ; Cell Death ; Humans ; Neurodegenerative Diseases ; enzymology ; pathology ; Neurons ; pathology ; Peptide Hydrolases ; metabolism

The present study was aimed to investigate whether Gasdermin D (GSDMD)-mediated pyroptosis participated in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced sepsis-associated acute kidney injury (AKI), and to explore the role of caspase-1 and caspase-11 pyroptosis pathways in this process. The mice were divided into four groups: wild type (WT), WT-LPS, GSDMD knockout (KO) and KO-LPS. The sepsis-associated AKI was induced by intraperitoneal injection of LPS (40 mg/kg). Blood samples were taken to determine the concentration of creatinine and urea nitrogen. The pathological changes of renal tissue were observed via HE staining. Western blot was used to investigate the expression of pyroptosis-associated proteins. The results showed that the concentrations of serum creatinine and urea nitrogen in the WT-LPS group were significantly increased, compared with those in the WT group (P < 0.01); whereas serum creatinine and urea nitrogen in the KO-LPS group were significantly decreased, compared with those in the WT-LPS group (P < 0.01). HE staining results showed that LPS-induced renal tubular dilatation was mitigated in GSDMD KO mice. Western blot results showed that LPS up-regulated the protein expression levels of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), GSDMD and GSDMD-N in WT mice. GSDMD KO significantly down-regulated the protein levels of IL-1β, caspase-11, pro-caspase-1, caspase-1(p22) induced by LPS. These results suggest that GSDMD-mediated pyroptosis is involved in LPS-induced sepsis-associated AKI. Caspase-1 and caspase-11 may be involved in GSDMD cleavage.
Animals ; Mice ; Acute Kidney Injury ; Caspase 1 ; Caspases/metabolism* ; Creatinine ; Lipopolysaccharides ; Mice, Knockout ; Nitrogen ; Sepsis ; Urea ; Gasdermins/metabolism*

CD43 (sialophorin, leukosialin) is a heavily sialylated surface protein expressed on most leukocytes and platelets including T cells. Although CD43 antigen is known to have multiple and complex structure, exact function of CD43 in each cell type is not completely understood. Here we evaluated the role of CD43 in Fas (CD95)-induced cell death in human T lymphoblastoid cell line, Jurkat. Crosslinking CD43 antigen by K06 mAb increased the Fas-mediated Jurkat cell apoptosis and the augmentation was inhibited by treatment with caspase inhibitors. Further, CD43 signaling of Jurkat cells induced Fas oligomerization on the cell surfaces implying that CD43 ligation have effects on early stage of Fas-induced T cell death. These also suggest that CD43 might play an important role in contraction of the immune response by promotion of Fas-induced apoptosis in human T cells.
Receptor Aggregation/immunology ; Jurkat Cells ; Humans ; Caspases/metabolism ; Apoptosis/*immunology ; Antigens, Surface/metabolism ; Antigens, CD95/metabolism/*physiology ; Antigens, CD43/metabolism/*physiology ; Antibodies, Monoclonal/metabolism