Cell death and the caspase cascade

Injury in Minipig Parotid Glands following Fractionated Exposure to 30 Gy of Ionizing Radiation

Objective

To explore the effects of 30 Gy of 60Co γ-rays on apoptosis and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in minipig parotid cells as a possible mechanism for radiation-induced parotid injury.

Study Design

Experimental study.

Setting

Department of Radiotherapy, First Affiliated Hospital, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China.

Subjects and Methods

Forty male minipigs were divided into control and irradiated groups. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase deoxyuridine triphosphate nick-end labeling was used for detecting apoptosis in the parotid cells, immunohistochemistry, and western blots were used to test expression of the B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) and BCL2-associated X (Bax) proteins, and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction was used to analyze the expression of Bcl-2, Bax, p53, and caspase-3 messenger ribonucleic acid. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect ROS levels in the parotid tissue.

Results

At each time point, the apoptotic rates in the irradiated group were higher than those in the control group. Furthermore, the ROS and expression levels of Bax, p53, and caspase-3 messenger ribonucleic acid and proteins gradually increased and were higher than those in the control group. Conversely, the expression of Bcl-2 was decreased in the irradiated group ( P < .05).

Conclusions

Ionizing radiation induces the production of ROS and promotes changes in the expression of several apoptotic proteins, which increases apoptosis and likely contributes to the mechanism of radiation-induced parotid injury.

Silica phagocytosis causes apoptosis and necrosis by different temporal and molecular pathways in alveolar macrophages

Chronic inhalation of crystalline silica is an occupational hazard that results in silicosis due to the toxicity of silica particles to lung cells. Alveolar macrophages play an important role in clearance of these particles, and exposure of macrophages to silica particles causes cell death and induction of markers of apoptosis. Using time-lapse imaging of MH-S alveolar macrophages, a temporal sequence was established for key molecular events mediating cell death. The results demonstrate that 80 % of macrophages die by apoptosis and 20 % by necrosis by clearly distinguishable pathways. The earliest detectable cellular event is phago-lysosomal leakage, which occurs between 30 and 120 min after particle uptake in both modes of death. Between 3 and 6 h later, cells undergoing apoptosis showed a dramatic increase in mitochondrial transmembrane potential, closely correlated with activation of both caspase-3 and 9 and cell blebbing. Externalization of phosphatidyl serine and nuclear condensation occurred 30 min-2 h after the initiation of cell blebbing. Cells undergoing necrosis demonstrated mitochondrial membrane depolarization but not hyperpolarization and no caspase activation. Cell swelling followed the decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential, distinguishing necrosis from apoptosis. All cells undergoing apoptosis followed the same temporal sequence, but the time lag between phago-lysosomal leakage and the other events was highly variable from cell to cell. These results demonstrate that crystalline silica exposure can result in either apoptosis or necrosis and each occurs in a well-defined but temporally variable order. The long time gap between phago-lysosomal leakage and hyperpolarization is not consistent with a simple scenario of phago-lysosomal leakage leading directly to cell death. The results highlight the importance of using a cell by cell time-lapse analysis to investigate a complex pathway such as silica induced cell death.

Ex vivo perfusion of mid-to-late-gestation mouse placenta for maternal-fetal interaction studies during pregnancy

Ex vivo perfusion systems offer a reliable, reproducible method for studying acute physiological responses of an organ to various environmental manipulations. Unlike in vitro culture systems, the cellular organization, compartmentalization and three-dimensional structure of ex vivo-perfused organs are maintained. These particular parameters are crucial for the normal physiological function of the placenta, which supports fetal growth through transplacental exchange, nutritional synthesis and metabolism, growth factor promotion and regulation of both maternally and fetally derived molecules. The perfusion system described here, which can be completed in 4-5 h, allows for integrated, physiological studies of de novo synthesis and metabolism and transport of materials across the live mouse placenta, not only throughout a normal gestation period but also following a variety of individual or combined genetic and environmental perturbations compromising placental function.

Caspase 9 gene polymorphism and susceptibility to lumbar disc disease in the Han population in northern China

Many studies have demonstrated that apoptosis is involved in the development of disc degeneration. The initiator caspase 9 is activated through the apoptosome-driven intrinsic apoptotic pathway. The present study aimed to assess the potential association between the caspase 9 gene polymorphism and lumbar disc herniation (LDH) susceptibility, as well as severe grades of disc degeneration in the Han population in northern China. Genotyping was performed using the polymerase chain reaction and polymorphism was analyzed by restriction endonuclease cleavage in 387 patients with LDH and 412 control subjects. The allelic frequencies of caspase 9 Ex5+32 A were 0.483 and 0.391 in case patients and control subjects, respectively. Compared to those with the AA genotype, subjects with the GA/GG genotype have a higher risk to develop LDH (odds ratio 1.91; 95% confidence interval 1.29-2.81). Moreover, the GA/GG genotype was found to contribute to the risk of more severe grades of disc degeneration, as observed in magnetic resonance imaging scan. In conclusion, this study suggests that the single nucleotide polymorphism in the caspase 9 Ex5 + 32 G/A may be associated with LDH and disc degeneration in the Han population of northern China.

The defects in development and apoptosis of cardiomyocytes in mice lacking the transcriptional factor Pax-8

BACKGROUND

Cardiac-specific deletion of ALK3 is lethal in mid-gestation with ventricular septum malformations (VSM). This study was designed to define the Pax-8's role in heart development and cardiomyocyte apoptosis.

METHODS

Pathologic changes in the hearts of Pax-8 or ALK3 knockout and wild type control mice were determined by light and electron microscopy. Analysis of cardiomyocyte apoptosis was performed by TUNEL. The effect of Pax-8 gene deficiency on caspase-3 activity was examined after transfecting Pax-8 siRNA into cultured myoblast cell line.

RESULTS

Mice with ALK3 or Pax-8 gene knockout but not wild type control animals showed the development of VSM. Increased cardiomyocyte apoptosis was found in homozygotes. Echocardiography showed that Pax-8 homozygote mice developed malfunction of the heart. Furthermore, the caspase-3 activity was significantly higher in the cells treated with Pax-8 siRNA as compared to those treated with negative control siRNA in H9C2 (2-1) cell line.

CONCLUSIONS

The Pax-8 gene may play a crucial role in heart development and regulating cardiocyte apoptosis. Knockout of Pax-8 may exert a similar effect on myocardial morphology and apoptosis as those seen in ALK3 knockouts. Furthermore, the ventricular septum malformations could be partially attributed to accelerated cardiomyocyte apoptosis.

Detection of apoptosis usingin situ markers for DNA strand breaks in the failing human heart. Fact or epiphenomenon?

The role of apoptosis and the methods used for its detection in failing human hearts are controversial. Recent data have challenged the hypothesis that in situ markers for DNA strand breaks mirror apoptotic (TUNEL and Taq in situ ligation assay) and/or necrotic (Pfu in situ ligation assay) cell death, and thus provide evidence that apoptotic cell loss contributes to the progression of heart failure. Experimental data cast doubt not only upon the specificity of the TUNEL technique but also the Taq in situ ligation assay as a reliable method for the detection of apoptotic cell death and provide compelling new evidence that the occurrence of cardiomyocyte cell death as defined by the detection of DNA strand breaks using either TUNEL or Taq and Pfu in situ ligation assays is an epiphenomena that is not related to the evolution of heart failure. Cardiomyocyte positivity for in situ markers of DNA strand breaks is a feature of hypertrophic cardiomyopathic hearts, irrespective of the underlying pathology or the presence or absence of heart failure. These data raise concerns regarding the extent of apoptosis in cardiomyopathy and the contribution of this process to the progression of heart failure.

Early and persistent activation of myocardial apoptosis, bax and caspases: insights into mechanisms of progression of heart failure

The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that persistent myocardial apoptosis contributes to progression of heart failure in a canine model of pacing-induced cardiomyopathy. Dogs were paced at 250 beats per minute for 1 week (n=9), 3 weeks (n=14) and 4 weeks (n=14) with normal dogs served as controls (n=12). Myocardial apoptosis was assessed by multiple methods including DNA fragmentation and in situ terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) staining, bax and bcl-2 protein expression, and caspase activity. Pacing produced a progressive increase in left ventricular (LV) end diastolic pressure (LVEDP) and plasma norepinephrine levels with no significant increase in LV mass. The number of apoptotic cells was markedly increased after 1 week of pacing and remained increased at 4 weeks of pacing with characteristic DNA laddering. The increase in apoptosis was associated with bax protein expression and caspase activation while there was no detectable changes in bcl-2 protein expression. The estimated total number of apoptotic cells correlated with cardiac output and LVEDP (r=-0.69 and 0.59, respectively, P<0.001). Plasma norepinephrine and bax protein expression correlated significantly with the estimated total number of apoptotic myocytes (r=0.62 and 0.42, respectively, P<0.01). In conclusion, an early and persistent activation of myocardial apoptosis and pro-apoptotic factors is likely an important mechanism that contributes to the progression of heart failure in canine pacing-induced cardiomyopathy.

Pathophysiology of chronic heart failure

Heart failure is a changing paradigm. The hemodynamic model, which served our needs well from the 1950s through the early 1980s, has now been largely abandoned, except for the management of decompensated patients in the hospital. The pathophysiology is exceedingly complex and involves structural changes, such as loss of myofilaments, apoptosis and disorganization of the cytoskeleton, as well as disturbances in Ca(2+) homeostasis, alteration in receptor density, signal transduction, and collagen synthesis. A more contemporary working hypothesis is that heart failure is a progressive disorder of left ventricular remodeling, usually resulting from an index event, that culminates in a clinical syndrome characterized by impaired cardiac function and circulatory congestion. This change in the framework of our understanding of the pathophysiology of heart failure is predicated on the results of numerous clinical trials conducted during the past 20 years. New therapies are now evolving that are designed to inhibit neuroendocrine and cytokine activation, whereas drugs specifically designed to heighten cardiac contractility and "unload" the left ventricle have proven to be unhelpful in long-term management of patients with chronic heart failure. However, the hemodynamic model is still relevant for patients in the hospital with decompensated heart failure, where positive inotropic drugs and vasodilators are still widely used. The modern treatment of chronic heart failure is now largely based on the neurohormonal hypothesis, which states that neuroendocrine activation is important in the progression of heart failure and that inhibition of neurohormones is likely to have long-term benefit with regard to morbidity and mortality. Thus, the evolution of treatment for chronic heart failure as a result of clinical trials has provided much enlightenment for our understanding of the fundamental biology of the disorder, a reversal of the usual flow of information from basic science to clinical investigation.

Cellular characterization of an in-vitro cell culture model of seal-induced cardiac ischaemia

The lack of a well-characterized in-vitro cell culture model of load-induced cardiac ischaemia has hampered investigations into the mechanism of ischemic injury. We therefore developed a new in-vitro model of cardiac ischaemia that mimics distinct features of ischaemic injury. Neonatal rat heart cells were cultured in a sealed flask for 24-72 h. In this environment, the cells were exposed to stresses of hypoxia, acidosis and stagnant incubation medium. The pO2 and pH of the medium gradually decreased during the ischaemic insult and ultimately fell to a level of 14 mmHg and pH 6.8, respectively. The model triggered severe cell injury, including morphological degeneration, CPK release, beating impairment and ATP depletion. Apoptosis occurred in some cardiomyocytes as early as 24 h after onset of seal-induced ischaemia. This was evidenced by positive nuclear staining using Hoechst 33258 and by the induction of caspase-3 mRNA. By 72 h, internucleosomal DNA fragmentation was observed in 45% of the myocytes; however, a non-myocyte preparation subjected to the same ischaemic insult exhibited no evidence of DNA fragmentation. These results demonstrate that neonatal cardiomyocytes subjected to the new simulated ischaemia model exhibit several similarities to cardiac ischaemia, including the simultaneous appearance of necrosis, breakdown of cellular ATP, beating cessation and apoptosis. The new model should prove useful in unravelling the molecular alterations underlying ischaemic injury and myocardial apoptosis.

Transforming growth factor-beta induces apoptosis in activated murine T cells through the activation of caspase 1-like protease

Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) has been known as a potent immunosuppressive cytokine that can induce apoptosis in lymphoid cells. We established an IL-2-independent cell line, CTLL-2A, from murine T cell line CTLL-2. CTLL-2A expressed higher levels of CD95, CD69, and CD18 molecules than CTLL-2 did, suggesting a more activated state in CTLL-2A than in the CTLL-2 by phenotype. Exposing both CTLL-2 and CTLL-2A to TGF-beta results in differential apoptosis patterns defined by DNA fragmentation and plasma membrane alteration. Among the bcl-2 family members, bcl-2, bcl-w, and bcl-x(L) were also differently expressed in these two cell lines. In CTLL-2A, bcl-x(L) was amplified as a major anti-apoptotic molecule, and TGF-beta-induced cell death was more enhanced than in the original cell line. Caspase 1-like protease was activated by TGF-beta treatment and consequently it cleaved bcl-x(L) in CTLL-2A. TGF-beta-induced DNA fragmentation and cleavage of bcl-x(L) were inhibited by pretreatment with tetra peptide caspase 1 inhibitor, YVAD.cmk. These findings suggest that TGF-beta induces cell death in activated murine T cells through cleavage of bcl-x(L) via activated caspase 1-like protease, which may act as an important executor in that process.

Adaptive responses of the endothelium to stress

It is now established that endothelial cells acquire several functional properties in response to a diverse array of extracellular stimuli. This expression of an altered phenotype is referred to as endothelial cell activation, and it includes several activities that promote inflammation and coagulation. While it is recognized that endothelial cell activation has a principal role in host defense, recent studies also demonstrate that endothelial cells are capable of complex molecular responses that protect the endothelium against various forms of stress including heat shock, hypoxia, oxidative stress, shock, ischemia-reperfusion injury, toxins, wounds, and mechanical stress. In this review, we examine endothelial cell genotypic and phenotypic responses to stress. Also, we highlight important cellular stress responses that, although not yet demonstrated directly in endothelial cells, likely exist as part of the repertoire of stress responses in endothelium. A detailed understanding of the molecular mechanisms mediating the adaptive responses of endothelial cells to stress should facilitate the development of novel therapeutics to aid in the management of diverse surgical diseases and their complications.

Prevention of corneal keratocyte apoptosis after argon fluoride excimer laser irradiation with the free radical scavenger ubiquinone Q10

PURPOSE

To assess in vitro the potential of the free radical scavenger ubiquinone Q10 in preventing keratocyte apoptosis after argon fluoride (ArF) excimer laser irradiation.

METHODS

Cultured rabbit keratocytes were irradiated at very low single-pulse laser fluences. The cumulative effects generated by three total fluence doses between 12 and 45 mJ/cm2, representative of single-pulse subablative doses during photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) in humans, were evaluated. We employed the following parameters to compare pretreated (10 microM ubiquinone Q10) and untreated samples: 1) number and morphology of living cells by Trypan blue test and ultramicroscopy, respectively; 2) level of free-radical formation assessed by malonaldehyde quantitation; 3) cellular energy level evaluated by ATP assay.

RESULTS

Excimer laser irradiation kills cultured keratocytes by inducing apoptosis. The effect increases with the cumulative fluence dose. In the samples pretreated with ubiquinone Q10 there were significantly fewer cumulative apoptotic events than in the untreated ones. Quantitative analysis of malonaldehyde cellular levels suggested this protective action of ubiquinone Q10 was connected with its ability to scavenge laser-generated free radicals. ATP assay also confirmed that it raised cellular energy levels.

CONCLUSIONS

The treatment of corneal keratocytes with relatively low concentrations of ubiquinone Q10 can prevent apoptosis after ArF excimer laser irradiation. If these findings are confirmed on human keratocytes this treatment could be usefully exploited in the PRK surgical procedure. That might lead to a reduction in the occurrence of haze and curvature regression triggered by programmed cell death.

Involvement of caspase-3 and GD3 ganglioside in ceramide-induced apoptosis in Farber disease

Farber's disease (FD) is a rare genetic disorder caused by ceramidase deficiency, which results in ceramide accumulation in lung, liver, colon, skeletal muscle, cartilage, and bone. Although this disease has been symptomatically characterized, little is known about its molecular pathogenetic process. Because recent studies reported that ceramide accumulation induces GD3 ganglioside formation and apoptosis, we investigated, in tissue obtained via colonoscopy from seriously involved patients, the possible involvement of ceramide in FD colonocyte destruction. Histochemical and TUNEL analyses of paraffin-embedded sections revealed that 45 +/- 4.3% of FD colonocytes showed morphological signs of apoptosis compared with the 8 +/- 2.3% of constitutive epithelial cell death. Importantly, immunohistochemical study for pro-apoptotic factors showed that GD3 accumulation co-localized with active caspase-3 and cleaved K18 in FD colon tissue. These findings provide evidence for a role of the apoptotic ceramide pathway in the pathogenesis of FD.

Life and death of the cell

The study of apoptosis is among the most active and fast-moving areas of biomedical research. New insights into the genetic and biochemical mechanisms involved in this morphologically distinct form of cell death are providing a better understanding of many different diseases and may permit the development of prophylactic and therapeutic agents to regulate and preserve normal cellular functions.