Inhibition Of Mitochondrial Apoptosis Pathway Research Articles

The inhibitory effect of quercetin-3-glucuronide on pulmonary injury in vitro and in vivo.

Pulmonary injury is defined as a progressive inflammation. Extensive pro-inflammatory cytokines are secreted from alveolus, associated with the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and apoptosis. The model of endotoxin lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated lung cells has been applied to mimic the pulmonary injury. Some antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds can be used as chemopreventive agents of pulmonary injury. Quercetin-3-glucuronide (Q3G) has been showed to exert antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, anti-aging and anti-hypertension effects. The aim of the study is to examine the inhibitory potential of Q3G on pulmonary injury and inflammation in vitro and in vivo. Firstly, human lung fibroblasts MRC-5 cells pre-treated with LPS were demonstrated to cause survival loss and ROS generation, were recovered by Q3G. Q3G also exhibited the anti-inflammatory effects on the LPS-treated cells with a reduction in the activation of NLRP3 [nucleotide-binding and oligomerization domain (NOD)-like receptor protein 3] inflammasome, leading to pyroptosis. Also, Q3G showed the anti-apoptotic effect in the cells might be mediated via inhibition of mitochondrial apoptosis pathway. To further explore in vivo pulmonary-protective effect of Q3G, C57BL/6 mice were intranasally exposed to a combination of LPS and elastase (LPS/E) to perform the pulmonary injury model. The results revealed that Q3G ameliorated pulmonary function parameters and lung edema in the LPS/E-induced mice. Q3G also suppressed the LPS/E-stimulated inflammation, pyroptosis and apoptosis in the lungs. Taken together, this study suggested the lung-protective potential of Q3G via downregulation of inflammation, pyroptotic and apoptotic cell death, contributing to its chemopreventive activity of pulmonary injury.

Enhancement of O-GlcNAcylation on Mitochondrial Proteins with 2-(4-Methoxyphenyl)ethyl-2-acetamido-2-deoxy-β-d-pyranoside, Contributes to the Mitochondrial Network, Cellular Bioenergetics and Stress Response in Neuronal Cells under Ischemic-like Conditions.

O-GlcNAcylation is a nutrient-driven post-translational modification known as a metabolic sensor that links metabolism to cellular function. Recent evidences indicate that the activation of O-GlcNAc pathway is a potential pro-survival pathway and that acute enhancement of this response is conducive to the survival of cells and tissues. 2-(4-Methoxyphenyl)ethyl-2-acetamido-2-deoxy-β-d-pyranoside (SalA-4g), is a salidroside analogue synthesized in our laboratory by chemical structure-modification, with a phenyl ring containing a para-methoxy group and a sugar ring consisting of N-acetylglucosamine. We have previously shown that SalA-4g elevates levels of protein O-GlcNAc and improves neuronal tolerance to ischemia. However, the specific target of SalA-4g regulating O-GlcNAcylation remains unknown. To address these questions, in this study, we have focused on mitochondrial network homeostasis mediated by O-GlcNAcylation in SalA-4g’s neuroprotection in primary cortical neurons under ischemic-like conditions. O-GlcNAc-modified mitochondria induced by SalA-4g demonstrated stronger neuroprotection under oxygen glucose deprivation and reoxygenation stress, including the improvement of mitochondrial homeostasis and bioenergy, and inhibition of mitochondrial apoptosis pathway. Blocking mitochondrial protein O-GlcNAcylation with OSMI-1 disrupted mitochondrial network homeostasis and antagonized the protective effects of SalA-4g. Collectively, these data demonstrate that mitochondrial homeostasis mediated by mitochondrial protein O-GlcNAcylation is critically involved in SalA-4g neuroprotection.

PNS-R1 inhibits Dex-induced bronchial epithelial cells apoptosis in asthma through mitochondrial apoptotic pathway

Dexamethasone (Dex) are widely used for the treatment of asthma. However, they may cause apoptosis of bronchial epithelial cells and delay the recovery of asthma. Therefore, it is an urgent problem to find effective drugs to reduce this side effects. Panax notoginseng saponins R1 (PNS-R1) is known to exhibit anti-oxidative and anti-apoptotic properties in many diseases. We aim to investigate whether PNS-R1 can reduce Dex-induced apoptosis in bronchial epithelial cells. In this study, the anti-apoptotic effects of PNS-R1 were investigated by conducting in vitro and in vivo. Annexin V-FITC/PI staining flow cytometry analysis and TUNEL assay were conducted to detect apoptotic cells. Mitochondrial membrane potential was detected by JC-1 analysis. Western blotting and immunohistochemical analysis were conducted to measure caspase3, Bcl-2, Bax, Cyt-c, Apaf-1, cleaved-caspase3 and cleaved-caspase9 levels in lung tissues and 16HBE cells. Our findings demonstrated that Dex could induce apoptosis of bronchial epithelial cells and upregulate caspase3 expression of lung tissues. Western blot showed that Dex increased Bax, Cyt-c, Apaf-1, cleaved-caspase9, cleaved-caspase3 expression and decreased Bcl-2 expression. PNS-R1 could suppress Dex-induced apoptosis of bronchial epithelial cells by inhibiting Bax, Cyt-c, Apaf-1, cleaved-caspase9, cleaved-caspase3 expression and upregulating Bcl-2 expression. Flow cytometry analysis showed PNS-R1 alleviated JC-1 positive cells induced by Dex in 16HBE cells. These results showed that PNS-R1 alleviated Dex-induced apoptosis in bronchial epithelial cells by inhibition of mitochondrial apoptosis pathway. Furthermore, our findings highlighted the potential use of PNS-R1 as an adjuvant drug to treat asthma.

7-Difluoromethyl-5, 4’-Dimethoxygenistein Reverses LPC-Induced Apoptosis of HUVE-12 Cells Through Regulating Mitochondrial Apoptosis Pathway

7-Difluoromethyl-5, 4’-dimethoxygenistein (DFMG), prepared by the difluoromethylation and alkylation of Genistein, is a new active chemical entity. In this study, we investigated the inhibitory effect of DFMG on Lysophosphatidyl choline (LPC)-induced apoptosis of human umbilical vein endothelial cells-12 (HUVEC-12) through mitochondrial apoptosis pathway. Lysophosphatidyl choline (LPC) was used to build apoptosis model in HUVEC-12 cells. The apoptosis rate in each group was determined by using flow cytometry of ANNEXIN V/PI staining. The mean ffluorescence intensity (MFI) of mitochondria mmembrane ppotential (MMP) was determined by using flow cytometry. The expression levels of cytochrome C (CytC), p-JNK and PARP were detected by performing western blotting assay. The activities of caspase-3 and caspase-9 were detected by a colorimetric method with caspase colorimetric assay kits. As compared with the control group, DFMG notably decreased the apoptosis rate, the MFI of the MMP, and the generation of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) induced by LPC. In addition, DFMG had suppressive effects on the expressions of CytC, P-JNK, and PARP, as well as on the activities of caspase-3 and caspase-9 in LPC-treated HUVEC-12 cells. DFMG can antagonize LPC-induced apoptosis of HUVE-12 cells. The underlying mechanism may be involved in the inhibition of mitochondrial apoptosis pathway. Keywords: Apoptosis, 7-Difluoromethyl-5, 4'-dimethoxygenistein, mitochondrial, Cytochrome C, Lysophosphatidyl choline.

ER stress responses in the absence of apoptosome: A comparative study in CASP9 proficient vs deficient mouse embryonic fibroblasts

Cells respond to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress through the unfolded protein response (UPR), autophagy and cell death. In this study we utilized casp9+/+ and casp9−/− MEFs to determine the effect of inhibition of mitochondrial apoptosis pathway on ER stress-induced-cell death, UPR and autophagy. We observed prolonged activation of UPR and autophagy in casp9−/− cells as compared with casp9+/+ MEFs, which displayed transient activation of both pathways. Furthermore we showed that while casp9−/− MEFs were resistant to ER stress, prolonged exposure led to the activation of a non-canonical, caspase-mediated mode of cell death.

The Protective Effect of <i>Stichopus japonicus</i> Fucoidan on PC12 Cells with Hypoxia/Reoxygenation Injury

In this study the effect of fucoidan SJP-3 extracted from Stichopus Japonicus was used to evaluate the protective effect on PC12 cells with hypoxia/reoxygenation injury. SJP-3 can stabilize the mitochondrial membrane potential and resistant Cyt-C/mitochondrial apoptotic pathway via increasing the Bcl-2 expression and decreasing expression of the Bax, caspase-3, caspase-9 suggesting that SJP-3 may exert a protective effects on neural cells with hypoxia/reoxygenation injury through the protection of mitochondria, the stability of mitochondrial membrane potential and inhibition of mitochondrial apoptosis pathway.

Protective Effects of Chinese Propolis and Its Component, Chrysin, against Neuronal Cell Death via Inhibition of Mitochondrial Apoptosis Pathway in SH-SY5Y Cells

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress has been implicated in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative and ischemic disorders. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of Chinese propolis and its constituents [chrysin, galangin, pinocembrin, caffeic acid, and caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE)] against tunicamycin-induced neuronal cell death in SH-SY5Y cells. Both Chinese propolis and chrysin concentration-dependently inhibited such cell death, the tunicamycin-induced activation of caspase-3, and the effects of tunicamycin on mitochondria [release of cytochrome c into the cytosol and disruption of the mitochondrial membrane potential (DeltaPsim)]. Furthermore, Chinese propolis and chrysin each inhibited staurosporine-induced cell death. These findings indicate that the inhibitory effects of Chinese propolis against neuronal cell death induced by ER stress or staurosporine may be exerted primarily by chrysin. Moreover, the mechanism underlying the protective effects may, at least partly, involve inhibitions of caspase-3 activity and the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway.