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At least 379 records · Page 21Linked to original sources
PubMed2001

Death receptor-independent cytochrome c release and caspase activation mediate thymidine kinase plus ganciclovir-mediated cytotoxicity in LN-18 and LN-229 human malignant glioma cells.

Suicide gene therapy using viral transfer of herpes simplex virus type I (HSV-1) thymidine kinase (TK) and subsequent ganciclovir (GCV) chemotherapy was the first approach used in clinical trials of somatic gene therapy for glioblastoma. The molecular pathways mediating TK/GCV-induced cell death remain to be elucidated. Here, we report that adenoviral (Ad)-TK/GCV-induced death is p53-independent and does not involve altered CD95 or CD95L expression. Ectopic expression of the preferential caspase 8 inhibitor, crm-A, inhibits Ad-CD95L-induced cell death but has no effect on TK/GCV cytotoxicity. LN-18 glioma cells selected for resistance to death receptor-mediated cell death do not acquire cross-resistance to TK/GCV. TK/GCV triggers mitochondrial cytochrome c release and activation of caspases 3, 7, 8 and 9 in a death receptor-independent manner. These events are associated with the loss of BCL-X(L). Forced expression of a BCL-X(L) transgene, or co-exposure to a pseudosubstrate caspase inhibitor, zVAD-fmk, inhibit TK/GCV cytotoxicity. Double-transfected cell lines expressing crm-A and enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP) show that the bystander effect in vitro is also death receptor- and caspase 8-independent. TK/GCV therapy does not kill glioma cells in synergy with cancer chemotherapy drugs, including lomustine, temozolomide and topotecan. In contrast, there is strong synergy of TK/GCV and CD95L. Thus, TK/GCV-induced cell death involves a mitochondria-dependent loop of caspase acvtivation that can be synergistically enhanced by death receptor agonists such as CD95L. TK/GCV-mediated sensitization of glioma cells to CD95L expressed on immune effector cells or parenchymal brain cells might account for the immune system's and bystander effects of TK/GCV therapy observed in rodent glioma models in vivo.

Adenoviridae↗
PubMed2001

Cell density mediated pericellular hypoxia leads to induction of HIF-1alpha via nitric oxide and Ras/MAP kinase mediated signaling pathways.

Environmental signals in the cellular milieu such as hypoxia, growth factors, extracellular matrix (ECM), or cell-surface molecules on adjacent cells can activate signaling pathways that communicate the state of the environment to the nucleus. Several groups have evaluated gene expression or signaling pathways in response to increasing cell density as an in vitro surrogate for in vivo cell-cell interactions. These studies have also perhaps assumed that cells grown at various densities in standard in vitro incubator conditions do not have different pericellular oxygen levels. However, pericellular hypoxia can be induced by increasing cell density, which can exert profound influences on the target cell lines and may explain a number of findings previously attributed to normoxic cell-cell interactions. Thus, we first sought to test the hypothesis that cell-cell interactions as evaluated by the surrogate approach of increasing in vitro cell density in routine normoxic culture conditions results in pericellular hypoxia in prostate cancer cells. Second, we sought to evaluate whether such interactions affect transcription mediated by the hypoxia response element (HRE). Thirdly, we sought to elucidate the signal transduction pathways mediating the induction of HRE in response to cell density induced pericellular hypoxia in routine normoxic culture conditions. Our results indicate that paracrine cell interactions can induce nuclear localization of HIF-1a protein and this translocation is associated with strong stimulation of the HRE-reporter activity. We also make the novel observation that cell density-induced activity of the HRE is dependent on nitric oxide production, which acts as a diffusible paracrine factor secreted by densely cultured cells. These results suggest that paracrine cell interactions associated with pericellular hypoxia lead to the physiological induction of HRE activity via the cooperative action of Ras, MEK1, HIF-1a via pericellular diffusion of nitric oxide. In addition, these results highlight the importance of examining pericellular hypoxia as a possible stimulus in experiments involving in vitro cell density manipulation even in routine normoxic culture conditions.

2,2'-Dipyridyl↗
PubMed2002

Blockade of superoxide generation prevents high-affinity immunoglobulin E receptor-mediated release of allergic mediators by rat mast cell line and human basophils.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have shown that rat peritoneal mast cells and mast cell model rat basophilic leukaemia (RBL-2H3) cells generate intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) in response to antigen challenge. However, the physiological significance of the burst of ROS is poorly understood. OBJECTIVE: The present study was undertaken to investigate the role of superoxide anion in mediator release in rat and human cell systems. METHODS: RBL-2H3 cells were directly stimulated with anti-rat FcepsilonRI alpha-subunit monoclonal antibody (mAb). For the analysis of human cell system, leucocytes were isolated by dextran sedimentation from healthy volunteers or from patients, and challenged either with anti-human FcepsilonRI mAb or with the relevant antigens. Superoxide generation was determined by chemiluminescence-based methods. The releases of histamine and leukotrienes (LT)s were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorben assay (ELISA). RESULTS: Cross-linking of FcepsilonRI on RBL-2H3 cells or on human leucocytes from healthy donors by the anti-FcepsilonRI mAb resulted in a rapid generation of superoxide anion, as determined by chemiluminescence using superoxide-specific probes. Similarly, leucocytes from patients generated superoxide anion in response to the challenge with the relevant allergen but not with the irrelevant allergen. Furthermore, diphenyleneiodonium (DPI), a well-known inhibitor of flavoenzymes suppressed the superoxide generation and the release of histamine and LTC4 induced by the anti-FcepsilonRI mAb or by allergen in parallel. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that both RBL-2H3 cells and human basophils generate superoxide anion upon FcepsilonRI cross-linking either by antibody or by allergen challenge and that blockade of the generation prevents the release of allergic mediators. The findings strongly support the role of superoxide generation in the activation of mast cells and basophils under both physiological and pathological conditions. The findings suggest that drugs regulating the superoxide generation have potential therapeutic use for allergic disorders.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Interaction of natural killer cells with MHC class II: reversal of HLA-DR1-mediated protection of K562 transfectant from natural killer cell-mediated cytolysis by brefeldin-A.

Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I antigens on tumour cell surfaces have been shown to modulate target susceptibility to natural killer (NK) cell-mediated lysis in some, although not all, systems investigated. MHC class II expression may also affect NK cell function, but the mechanism by which MHC class II antigen regulates NK cell activity has not been fully examined. In this study we induced HLA-DR1 expression by gene transfection into the classic NK-sensitive K562 cell line to study the interaction of NK cells with MHC class II molecules and the effect of brefeldin-A (BFA), an endogenous antigen-processing pathway blocker, on NK-target cell interaction. We demonstrated that the expression of HLA-DR1 on the cell surface reduced K562 cell susceptibility to NK lysis by peripheral blood monuclear cells and a NK cell line. The effect was demonstrable in prolonged (8 hr) cytotoxicity assays and was blocked by pretreatment of target cells with anti-HLA-DR antibody. Treatment of K562 DR transfectant with BFA abrogated the resistance of K562 transfectant to NK-mediated cytolysis. These findings indicate that HLA class II molecules regulate NK cell function and target recognition, and suggest that endogenous peptides presented through MHC molecules are responsible for regulating NK cytolysis.

Brefeldin A↗
PubMed1999

Stimulation of adenosine A1 receptors attenuates dopamine D1 receptor-mediated increase of NGFI-A, c-fos and jun-B mRNA levels in the dopamine-denervated striatum and dopamine D1 receptor-mediated turning behaviour.

Adenosine A1 receptors antagonistically and specifically modulate the binding and functional characteristics of dopamine D1 receptors. In the striatum this interaction seems to take place in the GABAergic strionigro-strioentopeduncular neurons, where both receptors are colocalized. D1 receptors in the strionigro-strioentopeduncular neurons are involved in the increased striatal expression of immediate-early genes induced by the systemic administration of psychostimulants and D1 receptor agonists. Previous results suggest that a basal expression of the immediate-early gene c-fos tonically facilitates the functioning of strionigro-strioentopeduncular neurons and facilitates D1 receptor-mediated motor activation. The role of A1 receptors in the modulation of the expression of striatal D1 receptor-regulated immediate-early genes and the D1 receptor-mediated motor activation was investigated in rats with a unilateral lesion of the ascending dopaminergic pathways. The systemic administration of the A1 agonist N6-cyclopentyladenosine (CPA, 0.1 mg/kg) significantly decreased the number of contralateral turns induced by the D1 agonist SKF 38393 (3 mg/kg). Higher doses of CPA (0.5 mg/kg) were necessary to inhibit the turning behaviour induced by the D2 agonist quinpirole (0.1 mg/kg). By using in situ hybridization it was found that CPA (0.1 mg/kg) significantly inhibited the SKF 38393-induced increase in the expression of NGFI-A and c-fos mRNA levels in the dopamine-denervated striatum. The increase in jun-B mRNA expression could only be inhibited with the high dose of CPA (0.5 mg/kg). A stronger effect of the A1 agonist was found in the ventral striatum (nucleus accumbens) compared with the dorsal striatum (dorsolateral caudate-putamen). The results indicate the existence of antagonistic A1-D1 receptor-receptor interactions in the dopamine-denervated striatum controlling D1 receptor transduction at supersensitive D1 receptors.

2,3,4,5-Tetrahydro-7,8-dihydroxy-1-phenyl-1H-3-ben↗
PubMed2001

Programmed cell death mediated by ced-3 and ced-4 protects Caenorhabditis elegans from Salmonella typhimurium-mediated killing.

Programmed cell death (PCD) in mammals has been implicated in several disease states including cancer, autoimmune disease, and neurodegenerative disease. In Caenorhabditis elegans, PCD is a normal component of development. We find that Salmonella typhimurium colonization of the C. elegans intestine leads to an increased level of cell death in the worm gonad. S. typhimurium-mediated germ-line cell death is not observed in C. elegans ced-3 and ced-4 mutants in which developmentally regulated cell death is blocked, and ced-3 and ced-4 mutants are hypersensitive to S. typhimurium-mediated killing. These results suggest that PCD may be involved in the C. elegans defense response to pathogen attack.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Cap-binding protein 1-mediated and eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E-mediated pioneer rounds of translation in yeast.

Nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD) in mammalian cells is restricted to newly synthesized mRNA that is bound at the 5' cap by the major nuclear cap-binding complex and at splicing-generated exon-exon junctions by exon junction complexes. This messenger ribonucleoprotein has been called the pioneer translation initiation complex and, accordingly, NMD occurs as a consequence of nonsense codon recognition during a pioneer round of translation. Here, we characterize the nature of messenger ribonucleoprotein that is targeted for NMD in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Data indicate that NMD targets both cap-binding complex (Cbc)1p- and eukaryotic translation initiation factor (eIF)4E-bound mRNAs, unlike in mammalian cells, where NMD does not detectably target eIF4E-bound mRNA. First, intron-containing pre-mRNAs in yeast are detectably bound by either Cbc1p, or, unlike in mammalian cells, eIF4E, indicating that mRNAs can be derived from either Cbc1p- or eIF4E-bound pre-mRNAs. Second, the ratio of nonsense-containing Cbc1p-bound mRNA to nonsense-free Cbc1p-bound mRNA, which was < 0.4 for those mRNAs tested here, is essentially identical to the ratio of the corresponding nonsense-containing eIF4E-bound mRNA to nonsense-free eIF4E-bound mRNA, and both ratios increase in cells treated with the translational inhibitor cycloheximide (CHX). These data, together with data presented here and elsewhere showing that Cbc1p-bound transcripts are precursors to eIF4E-bound transcripts, demonstrate that Cbc1p-bound mRNA is targeted for NMD. In support of the idea that eIF4E-bound mRNA is also targeted for NMD, eIF4E-bound mRNA is targeted for NMD in strains that lack Cbc1p. These results suggest that both Cbc1p- and eIF4E-mediated pioneer rounds of translation occur in yeast.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed2002

Chk2 is dispensable for p53-mediated G1 arrest but is required for a latent p53-mediated apoptotic response.

In response to genotoxic stress, mammalian cells can activate cell cycle checkpoint pathways to arrest the cell for repair of DNA damage or induce apoptosis to eliminate damaged cells. The checkpoint kinase, Chk2, has been implicated in both of these responses and is believed to function in an ataxia telangiectasia (Atm)-dependent manner. We show here that Chk2-/- mouse embryo fibroblasts (MEFs), unlike Atm-/- or p53-/- MEFs, behaved like normal MEFs in manifesting p21 induction and G(1) arrest upon exposure to gamma-irradiation. Therefore, Chk2 is not involved in p53-mediated G(1) arrest. To examine the role of Chk2 in p53-dependent apoptotic response, we used adenovirus E1A-expressing MEFs. We show that Chk2-/- cells, like p53-/- cells, did not undergo DNA damage-induced apoptosis, whereas Atm-/- cells behaved like normal cells in invoking an apoptotic response. Furthermore, this apoptosis could occur in the absence of protein synthesis, suggesting that it is preexisting, or "latent," p53 that mediates this response. We conclude that Chk2 is not involved in Atm- and p53-dependent G(1) arrest, but is involved in the activation of latent p53, independently of Atm, in triggering DNA damage-induced apoptosis.

Adenoviridae↗
PubMed1997

ER-27319, an acridone-related compound, inhibits release of antigen-induced allergic mediators from mast cells by selective inhibition of fcepsilon receptor I-mediated activation of Syk.

Engagement of the mast cell high-affinity receptor for immunoglobulin E (IgE), FcepsilonRI, induces tyrosine phosphorylation of Syk, a non-receptor tyrosine kinase, that has been demonstrated as critical for degranulation. Herein we describe a synthetic compound, ER-27319, as a potent and selective inhibitor of antigen or anti-IgE-mediated degranulation of rodent and human mast cells. ER-27319 affected neither Lyn kinase activity nor the antigen-induced phosphorylation of the FcepsilonRI but did effectively inhibit the tyrosine phosphorylation of Syk and thus its activity. As a consequence, tyrosine phosphorylation of phospholipase C-gamma1, generation of inositol phosphates, release of arachidonic acid, and secretion of histamine and tumor necrosis factor alpha were also inhibited. ER-27319 did not inhibit the anti-CD3-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of phospholipase C-gamma1 in Jurkat T cells, demonstrating a specificity for Syk-induced signals. In contrast the tyrosine phosphorylation and activation of Syk, induced by in vitro incubation with the phosphorylated immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motif (ITAM) of FcepsilonRI gamma subunit or by antigen activation of RBL-2H3 cells, was specifically inhibited by ER-27319. However, when ER-27319 was added to immunoprecipitated Syk, derived from activated cells, no effect was seen on Syk activity. ER-27319 did not inhibit the tyrosine phosphorylation of Syk induced by activation in the presence of Igbeta ITAM or the anti-IgM-induced phosphorylation of Syk in human peripheral B cells. Therefore, ER-27319 selectively interferes with the FcepsilonRI gamma phospho-ITAM activation of Syk in vitro and in intact cells. These results confirm the importance of Syk in FcepsilonRI-mediated responses in mast cells and demonstrate the mast cell selectivity and therapeutic potential of ER-27319 in the treatment of allergic disease.

Acridines↗
PubMed1996

Antiestrogenic effects of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin are mediated by direct transcriptional interference with the liganded estrogen receptor. Cross-talk between aryl hydrocarbon- and estrogen-mediated signaling.

Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) ligands have diverse biological effects including striking antiestrogenic activity. We have investigated at the molecular level the antiestrogenic activity of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD). We show that the previously documented TCDD-mediated decrease in estradiol-inducible gene products such as cathepsin D (cat D) is due to a sharp decline in mRNA accumulation despite any change in estrogen receptor (ER) mRNA levels. The decline in cat D mRNA level is most likely due to a decrease in transcription of the cat D gene since TCDD blocks the ability of ER to transactivate from an estrogen response element. AhR is required for this activity as TCDD is no longer antiestrogenic in a mutant cell line that is deficient in functional AhR. We provide evidence that the loss of transactivation potential by ER in the presence of TCDD is due to a sharp decrease in its ability to bind to an estrogen response element. Reciprocally, estradiol treatment blocked TCDD-induced accumulation of CYP1A1 mRNA and AhR-mediated activation of the CYP1A1 promoter. This is due to the ability of liganded ER to interfere with the binding of AhR to the xenobiotic response element. These results provide a molecular mechanism for the antiestrogenic effects of TCDD and demonstrate the presence of a two-way crosstalk between the intracellular signaling pathways involving estrogens and aryl hydrocarbons.

Cathepsin D↗
PubMed2001

Analysis of fertilin alpha (ADAM1)-mediated sperm-egg cell adhesion during fertilization and identification of an adhesion-mediating sequence in the disintegrin-like domain.

Fertilin alpha (also known as ADAM1) is a member of the ADAM (A disintegrin and A metalloprotease domain) family of proteins. In this study, we examine the mechanism of mouse fertilin alpha's in adhesion of sperm to the egg plasma membrane during fertilization. We find that recombinant forms of fertilin alpha corresponding to either the disintegrin-like domain or the cysteine-rich domain and the EGF-like repeat can perturb sperm-egg binding, suggesting that both of these domains can participate in fertilin alpha-mediated adhesion events. In further examination of the fertilin alpha disintegrin-like domain, we find that a subdomain of disintegrin-like domain with the sequence DLEECDCG outside the putative disintegrin loop but with homology to the fertilin beta disintegrin loop can inhibit the binding of both sperm and recombinant fertilin alpha to eggs, suggesting that this is an adhesion-mediating motif of the fertilin alpha disintegrin-like domain. This sequence also inhibits the binding of recombinant fertilin beta to eggs and thus is the first peptide sequence found to block two different sperm ligands. Finally, a monoclonal antibody to the tetraspanin protein CD9, KMC.8, inhibited the binding of recombinant fertilin alpha to eggs in one type of binding assay, suggesting that, under certain conditions, fertilin alpha may interact with a KMC.8-sensitive binding site on the egg plasma membrane.

ADAM Proteins↗
PubMed2003

Mitochondrially localized active caspase-9 and caspase-3 result mostly from translocation from the cytosol and partly from caspase-mediated activation in the organelle. Lack of evidence for Apaf-1-mediated procaspase-9 activation in the mitochondria.

Active caspase-9 and caspase-3 have been observed in the mitochondria, but their origins are unclear. Theoretically, procaspase-9 might be activated in the mitochondria in a cytochrome c/Apaf-1-dependent manner, or activated caspase-9 and -3 may translocate to the mitochondria, or the mitochondrially localized procaspases may be activated by the translocated active caspases. Here we present evidence that the mitochondrially localized active caspase-9 and -3 result mostly from translocation from the cytosol (into the intermembrane space) and partly from caspase-mediated activation in the organelle rather than from the Apaf-1-mediated activation. Apaf-1 localizes exclusively in the cytosol and, upon apoptotic stimulation, translocates to the perinuclear area but not to the mitochondria. In most cases, the mitochondrially localized procaspase-9 and -3 are released early during apoptosis and translocate to the cytosol and/or perinuclear area. Cytochrome c and the mitochondrial matrix protein Hsp60 are also rapidly released to the cytosol early during apoptosis. Both the early release of proteins like cytochrome c and Hsp60 from the mitochondria as well as the later translocation of the active caspase-9/-3 are partially inhibited by cyclosporin A, an inhibitor of mitochondrial membrane permeabilization. The mitochondrial active caspases may function as a positive feedback mechanism to further activate other or residual mitochondrial procaspases, degrade mitochondrial constituents, and disintegrate mitochondrial functions.

Apoptosis↗
PubMed2004

Isoforms of the Ets transcription factor NERF/ELF-2 physically interact with AML1 and mediate opposing effects on AML1-mediated transcription of the B cell-specific blk gene.

We previously isolated different isoforms of a new Ets transcription factor family member, NERF/ELF-2, NERF-2, NERF-1a, and NERF-1b. In contrast to the inhibitory isoforms NERF-1a and NERF-1b, NERF-2 acts as a transactivator of the B cell-specific blk promoter. We now report that NERF-2 and NERF-1 physically interact with AML1 (RUNX1), a frequent target for chromosomal translocations in leukemia. NERF-2 bound to AML1 via an interaction site located in a basic region upstream of the Ets domain. This is in contrast to most other Ets factors such as Ets-1 that bind to AML1 via the Ets domain, suggesting that different Ets factors utilize different domains for interaction with AML1. The interaction between AML1 and NERF-2 led to cooperative transactivation of the blk promoter, whereas the interaction between AML1 and NERF-1a led to repression of AML1-mediated transactivation. To delineate the differences in function of the different NERF isoforms, we determined that the transactivation domain of NERF-2 is encoded by the N-terminal 100 amino acids, which have been replaced in NERF-1a by a 19-amino acid transcriptionally inactive sequence. Furthermore, acidic domains A and B, which are conserved in NERF-2 and the related proteins ELF-1 and MEF/ELF-4, but not in NERF-1a, are largely responsible for NERF-2-mediated transactivation. Because translocation of the Ets factor Tel to AML1 is a frequent event in childhood pre-B leukemia, understanding the interaction of Ets factors with AML1 in the context of a B cell-specific promoter might help to determine the function of Ets factors and AML1 in leukemia.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2004

An evolutionary conserved pathway of nuclear factor-kappaB activation involving caspase-mediated cleavage and N-end rule pathway-mediated degradation of IkappaBalpha.

The Drosophila nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB)-like transcription factor Relish is activated by an endoproteolytic cleavage step mediated by the Drosophila caspase Dredd. We have examined the contribution of the caspase cascade to NF-kappaB activation via TRAIL, a mammalian tumor necrosis factor family ligand that is a potent activator of caspases. Our results demonstrate that TRAIL activates NF-kappaB in two phases as follows: an early caspase independent phase and a late caspase dependent phase. The late phase of the TRAIL-induced NF-kappaB is critically dependent on caspase 8 and can be blocked by pharmacological and genetic inhibitors of caspase 8 activation, such as benzyloxycarbonyl-VAD-fluoromethyl ketone, benzyloxycarbonyl-IETD-fluoromethyl ketone, and small interfering RNA targeting caspase 8 and FADD. Whereas caspase 3 is required for TRAIL-induced apoptosis, it is not involved in TRAIL-induced NF-kappaB activation. The late phase of TRAIL-induced NF-kappaB activation involves caspase mediated cleavage of IkappaBalpha between Asp(31) and Ser(32) residues to generate an N-terminal truncated fragment that is degraded by the proteasome via the N-end rule pathway. Our results demonstrate that caspases play an evolutionarily conserved role as regulated entry points to the N-end rule pathway and in NF-kappaB activation in mammalian cells.

Amino Acid Chloromethyl Ketones↗
PubMed2005

Small interference RNA-mediated gene silencing of human biliverdin reductase, but not that of heme oxygenase-1, attenuates arsenite-mediated induction of the oxygenase and increases apoptosis in 293A kidney cells.

BVR reduces biliverdin, the HO-1 and HO-2 product, to bilirubin. Human biliverdin (BVR) is a serine/threonine kinase activated by free radicals. It is a leucine zipper (bZip) DNA-binding protein and a regulatory factor for 8/7-bp AP-1-regulated genes, including HO-1 and ATF-2/CREB. Presently, small interference (si) RNA constructs were used to investigate the role of human BVR in sodium arsenite (As)-mediated induction of HO-1 and in cytoprotection against apoptosis. Activation of BVR involved increased serine/threonine phosphorylation but not its protein or transcript levels. The peak activity at 1 h (4-5-fold) after treatment of 293A cells with 5 mum As preceded induction of HO-1 expression by 3 h. The following suggests BVR involvement in regulating oxidative stress response of HO-1: siBVR attenuated As-mediated increase in HO-1 expression; siBVR, but not siHO-1, inhibited As-dependent increased c-jun promoter activity; treatment of cells with As increased AP-1 binding of nuclear proteins; BVR was identified in the DNA-protein complex; and AP-1 binding of the in vitro translated BVR was phosphorylation-dependent and was attenuated by biliverdin. Most unexpectedly, cells transfected with siBVR, but not siHO-1, displayed a 4-fold increase in apoptotic cells when treated with 10 mum As as detected by flow cytometry. The presence of BVR small interference RNA augmented the effect of As on levels of cytochrome c, TRAIL, and DR-5 mRNA and cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase. The findings describe the function of BVR in HO-1 oxidative response and, demonstrate, for the first time, not only that BVR advances the role of HO-1 in cytoprotection but also affords cytoprotection independent of heme degradation.

Acetylcysteine↗
PubMed1994

Drug-mediated changes in the susceptibility of human lymphoblastoid B cells to NK-mediated cytolysis: studies with a triazene compound.

Previous studies have shown that treatment of leukemia-bearing mice with triazene compounds results in a profound alteration of the immunological properties of leukemic cells. These cells become highly immunogenic and susceptible to natural immunity (NI). Moreover, in a pilot clinical study, dacarbazine was found to suppress bone marrow blasts in patients with acute non-lymphoblastic leukemias. The cytotoxic mechanism involved could be of biochemical and immunological origin as well. Therefore experiments were carried out to test whether triazenes could influence the susceptibility of blast cells to human NI effector lymphocytes (represented, at least in part, by NK cells). The results obtained with target Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-immortalized B cells and effector cells of different donors, showed that: (a) multiple in vitro treatments of lymphoblastoid cells with methyl-triazene-benzoic acid (MTBA, a triazene compound active in vitro), gave origin to lines that were more resistant than the parental lines to the antitumor effects of MTBA; (b) MTBA-treated lines were more susceptible (37.5% of cases), or less susceptible (31.2% of cases) to NI than parental cells. Effector lymphocytes of various donors recognized different changes in susceptibility to natural killer (NK)-mediated lysis; (c) treatment of parental or MTBA-treated lines with interferon-beta reduced target cell susceptibility to NK-mediated cytolysis, but increased NK activity and lymphoblast chemosensitivity to MTBA.

Antineoplastic Agents↗
PubMed2001

TrkA mediates developmental sympathetic neuron survival in vivo by silencing an ongoing p75NTR-mediated death signal.

Developmental sympathetic neuron death is determined by functional interactions between the TrkA/NGF receptor and the p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75NTR). A key question is whether p75NTR promotes apoptosis by directly inhibiting or modulating TrkA activity, or by stimulating cell death independently of TrkA. Here we provide evidence for the latter model. Specifically, experiments presented here demonstrate that the presence or absence of p75NTR does not alter Trk activity or NGF- and NT-3-mediated downstream survival signaling in primary neurons. Crosses of p75NTR-/- and TrkA-/- mice indicate that the coincident absence of p75NTR substantially rescues TrkA-/- sympathetic neurons from developmental death in vivo. Thus, p75NTR induces death regardless of the presence or absence of TrkA expression. These data therefore support a model where developing sympathetic neurons are "destined to die" by an ongoing p75NTR-mediated apoptotic signal, and one of the major ways that TrkA promotes neuronal survival is by silencing this ongoing death signal.

Animals↗
PubMed1976

Cell-mediated immunity: delayed-type hypersensitivity and cytotoxic responses are mediated by different T-cell subclasses.

Cell-mediated immunity includes both the generation of cytotoxic cells and initiation of delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH). The resting T-cell population, before stimulation by antigen, already contains cells of the Lyl subclass that are programmed to initiate DTH (and helper function) but not cytotoxic responses, as well as Ly23 cells which can generate killer activity (and suppressive function) but not DTH. The central implication of these findings is that the broad division between humoral and cell-mediated immune responses does not precisely correspond to the division of labor among T-cell subclasses. The relative contribution of DTH-competent Lyl cells and cytotoxic Ly23 cells to the classical homograft response remains to be determined.

Animals↗