Percentage Of Caspase-3 Research Articles

Flow cytometric detection of IFN-γ production and Caspase-3 activation in CD4+ T lymphocytes to discriminate between healthy and Mycobacterium bovis naturally infected water buffaloes

Tuberculosis has a negative economic impact on buffalo farming, and it poses a potential threat to human health. Interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) plays a central role in protection against mycobacterial diseases, illustrating the importance of T-cell mediated immune responses in tuberculosis infection. Recently, the expression of Caspase-3, a critical executor of apoptosis, in M. tuberculosis-specific IFN-γ+CD4+ T cells was used as a new marker to distinguish active from latent tuberculosis infection in humans.The aims of this work were to develop a whole blood flow cytometric assay to detect the production of IFN-γ and the activation of Caspase-3 by CD4+ T lymphocytes from water buffalo and to evaluate whether these parameters can discriminate between healthy and M. bovis naturally infected buffaloes. A total of 35 Italian Mediterranean buffaloes were grouped in two groups: uninfected and M. bovis infected (based on the results of antemortem diagnostic tests: single intradermal tuberculin (SIT) and ELISA IFN-γ tests). Whole blood was incubated for 6 h with tubercular antigens: PPD-B, PPD-A, ESAT-6/CFP-10 and a new mix of precocious secreted antigens (PA). Our results showed a significant increase in the percentage of IFN-γ+CD4+ T cells in infected compared to the uninfected animals after each stimulus. Improved sensitivity of the assay was obtained by including the stimulation with the new mix of PA. Interestingly, we observed a concomitant decrease in percentage of Caspase-3+CD4+ T cells in M. bovis infected animals compared to the control healthy ones, regardless of the stimulus used. Overall, these results showed that M. bovis infection activates CD4+ T lymphocytes to produce IFN-γ and at the same time causes a concomitant decrease of Caspase-3 activation in CD4+ T cells. This study for the first time in water buffalo describes the development of a whole blood flow cytometric assay for the detection of IFN-γ producing CD4+ T cells and proposes the expression of active Caspase-3 as an additional bovine TB biomarker. Although further studies are needed to better understand the mechanisms of Caspase-3-mediated cell death during tuberculosis, our data can help to better understand the cellular immune response to M. bovis infection in buffalo species.

Comparative pathology and immunohistochemistry of Newcastle disease in domestic chicken (Gallus-gallus domesticus) and Alabio duck (Anas platyrhynchos Borneo).

Newcastle disease is very pathogenic in chickens, whereas in ducks, the disease does not show any clinical symptoms. To compare the clinical symptoms features, pathological lesions, viral distribution, and apoptosis response caused by the Newcastle disease virus (NDV) in domestic chicken and Alabio duck. Forty domestic chickens and 40 Alabio ducks were separated into four groups: domestic chicken and Alabio duck treatment groups, where each was infected by NDV velogenic ducks/Aceh Besar_IND/2013/eoAC080721 in 106ELD50 dosage. The domestic chicken and Alabio duck control groups were each inoculated with Phosphate Buffer Saline. The infection route was intraorbital, 0.1 ml in volume. Symptoms were observed from day 1 until day 7 post-infection (PI). Necropsy was performed on days 1, 2, 3, 5, and 7 PI for organ collection. Symptoms observed were disorders in the respiratory, gastrointestinal, and nervous systems, followed by 100% mortality in domestic chickens. In Alabio ducks, there were only depression and slight lethargy. The lesion in domestic chicken day 1 appeared by the lungs, thymus, Fabricius bursa, spleen, and kidney. On day 3 PI, lesions were also found in the heart, proventriculus, duodenum, and cecal tonsil. On days 5 and 7 PI, the trachea and brain lesions were found. In Alabio ducks, lesions were found in the lungs, thymus, spleen, and proventriculus on day 1. Afterward, on day 3, light lesions were found in the heart. On day 5, lesions were found in the trachea and brain; finally, on day 7, light lesions were only found in the thymus, spleen, and brain. Immunopositive reaction NDV in domestic chicken was highest in the proventriculus, duodenum, cecal tonsil, and lymphoreticular organs. In the Alabio duck, it was highest in the duodenum and cecal tonsil. The caspase-3 percentage in domestic chicken increased on day 3 PI; in Alabio ducks, on day 2 PI. Clinical symptoms and pathological lesions were faster and more severe in domestic chickens. The immunopositive reaction NDV in domestic chicken continued to increase, while in Alabio ducks, it decreased until the last observation day. Apoptosis percentage increased earlier in the Alabio duck than in domestic chicken.

Permissive hypercapnia and hypercapnic hypoxia inhibit signaling pathways of neuronal apoptosis in ischemic/hypoxic rats.

In the present study, we aimed to test the hypothesis that hypercapnia, independently and/or in combination with hypoxia, can activate signaling pathways related to the inhibition of proapoptotic (caspase-dependent and caspase-independent) factors and the induction of antiapoptotic factors in facilitating adaptation to hypoxia/ischemia. Following exposure to permissive hypercapnia and/or normobaric hypoxia, the degree of apoptosis was evaluated in experimental ischemia models in vivoand in vitro. The percentages of caspase-3, apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF), Bax, and Bcl-2 in astrocytes and neurons derived from male Wistar rats were also calculated. In vitro, cells were subjected to various types of respiratory exposure (hypoxia and/or hypercapnia for 24 or 12h) as well as further sublethal chemical hypoxia. The percentages of these molecules in nerve cells in the ischemic penumbra of the brain after photothrombotic injury were also calculated. The degree of apoptosis was found to decrease in ischemic penumbra, mostly due to the hypercapnic component. It was also discovered that the levels of caspase-3, AIF, and Bax decreased in this region, whereas the Bcl-2 levels increased following exposure to hypercapnia and hypercapnic hypoxia. This integrative assessment of the rate of apoptosis/necrosis in astrocyte and neuron cultures shows that the combination of hypercapnia and hypoxia resulted in the maximum neuroprotective effect. The levels of apoptosis mediators in astrocyte and neuron cultures were calculated after modeling chemical hypoxia in vitro. These results show that the exposure models where permissive hypercapnia and normobaric hypoxia were combined also had the most pronounced inhibitory effects on apoptotic signaling pathways.

Protective Effects of Taif Rosewater Against Testicular Impairment Induced By Lead Intoxication In Rats.

This study explored treatment with Taif rosewater (RW) to protect against lead acetate-(PbAc) induced male testicular impairment. Male Wistar rats were divided into four groups and provided drinking water containing 4% Taif RW, PbAc, 4% Taif RW followed by PbAc or normal water (controls). Serum for hormonal assays and testicular tissue for histopathological and immunohistochemical examinations and molecular study were obtained. Epididymal spermatozoa were collected for analysis. PbAc significantly reduced serum levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinising hormone (LH) and testosterone, as well as sperm count and motility percentage. It also caused a significant reduction in SOD and catalase activities, testicular CYTP450SCC , CYP17α, StAR mRNA expressions and the percentage of Bcl-2 immunoreactivity. The percentage of caspase-3 and NF-ĸB immunoreactivities, as well as sperm abnormalities, was increased, as did the testicular degeneration associated with vacuolation and necrosis of spermatogenic cells. Pretreatment with Taif RW significantly reduced the negative effects of PbAc as shown by the increases in serum gonadotropins level, SOD and catalase activities, and percentage of Bcl-2 immunoreactivity, decreases in the percentage of caspase-3 and NF-ĸB immunoreactivities, and improved testicular histology and sperm parameters. These data provide evidence that Taif RW protects against testicular toxicity caused by PbAc.

Apoptosis induction on human breast cancer T47D cell line by extracts of Ancorina sp.

Background: Breast cancer is the second leading cause of death in women. Alternative medicine with high efficacy is needed for breast cancer treatments, for example induction of apoptosis using natural products. It has been found that many natural apoptosis-inducing compounds are isolated from marine sponge. The objective of this study is to analyze the ability of extracts of the sponge Ancorina sp. to induce apoptosis on human breast cancer T47D cell line and find out its mechanism. Methods: T47D cells were treated with crude extracts of methanol, dichloromethane:methanol (1:1) and dichloromethane Ancorina sp. for 24 h, and doxorubicin was used as a positive control. Methods used for this study were MTT assay to examine cell viability and determine IC 50 of the three extracts, while the percentage of apoptosis and caspase-3 were investigated by flow cytometry. Results: IC 50 values of methanol, dichloromethane:methanol (1:1), and dichloromethane extract were 84.25, 121.45, and 99.85μg/mL respectively. The percentages of apoptotic cells after treatment with methanol, dichloromethane:methanol (1:1), and dichloromethane extracts were 88.68, 27.54 and 53.63% respectively, whereas the percentage of caspase-3 was 77.87, 12.66 and 12.97%, respectively. Conclusions: These results revealed that all extracts of Ancorina sp. have strong or moderate cytotoxicity and have the ability to induce apoptosis on T47D human breast cancer cell line. However, methanol crude extract has high efficacy to induce apoptosis through caspase-3 activation compared to the other extracts. Hence methanol extract warrants further investigation as a natural medicine for human breast cancer.

Apoptosis induction on human breast cancer T47D cell line by extracts of Ancorina sp.

Background: Breast cancer is the second leading cause of death in women. Alternative medicine with high efficacy is needed for breast cancer treatments, for example induction of apoptosis using natural products. It has been found that many natural apoptosis-inducing compounds are isolated from marine sponge. The objective of this study is to analyze the ability of extracts of the sponge Ancorina sp. to induce apoptosis on human breast cancer T47D cell line and find out its mechanism. Methods: T47D cells were treated with crude extracts of methanol, dichloromethane:methanol (1:1) and dichloromethane Ancorina sp. for 24 h, and doxorubicin was used as a positive control. Methods used for this study were MTT assay to examine cell viability and determine IC 50 of the three extracts, while the percentage of apoptosis and caspase-3 were investigated by flow cytometry. Results: IC 50 values of methanol, dichloromethane:methanol (1:1), and dichloromethane extract were 84.25, 121.45, and 99.85μg/mL respectively. The percentages of apoptotic cells after treatment with methanol, dichloromethane:methanol (1:1), and dichloromethane extracts were 88.68, 27.54 and 53.63% respectively, whereas the percentage of caspase-3 was 77.87, 12.66 and 12.97%, respectively. Conclusions: These results revealed that all extracts of Ancorina sp. have strong or moderate cytotoxicity and have the ability to induce apoptosis on T47D human breast cancer cell line. However, methanol crude extract has high efficacy to induce apoptosis through caspase-3 activation compared to the other extracts. Hence methanol extract warrants further investigation as a natural medicine for human breast cancer.

Apoptosis induction on human breast cancer T47D cell line by extracts of Ancorina sp.

Background:Breast cancer is the second leading cause of death in women. Alternative medicine with high efficacy is needed for breast cancer treatments, for example induction of apoptosis using natural products. It has been found that many natural apoptosis-inducing compounds are isolated from marine sponge. The objective of this study is to analyze the ability of extracts of the spongeAncorinasp. to induce apoptosis on human breast cancer T47D cell line and find out its mechanism.Methods:T47D cells were treated with crude extracts of methanol, dichloromethane:methanol (1:1) and dichloromethaneAncorinasp. for 24 h, and doxorubicin was used as a positive control. Methods used for this study were MTT assay to examine cell viability and determine IC50of the three extracts, while the percentage of apoptosis and caspase-3 were investigated by flow cytometry.Results:IC50values of methanol, dichloromethane:methanol (1:1), and dichloromethane extract were 84.25, 121.45, and 99.85μg/mL respectively. The percentages of apoptotic cells after treatment with methanol, dichloromethane:methanol (1:1), and dichloromethane extracts were 88.68, 27.54 and 53.63% respectively, whereas the percentage of caspase-3 was 77.87, 12.66 and 12.97%, respectively.Conclusions:These results revealed that all extracts ofAncorinasp. have strong or moderate cytotoxicity and have the ability to induce apoptosis on T47D human breast cancer cell line. However, methanol crude extract has high efficacy to induce apoptosis through caspase-3 activation compared to the other extracts. Hence methanol extract warrants further investigation as a natural medicine for human breast cancer.

Lycopene Attenuates Tulathromycin and Diclofenac Sodium-Induced Cardiotoxicity in Mice.

Recent experiments showed a potential cardiotoxic effect of the macrolide antibiotic (tulathromycin). This study was performed to investigate whether diclofenac sodium (DFS) potentiates the cardiotoxicity of tulathromycin and increases the cardioprotective effects of lycopene against DFS and tulathromycin. Seven groups (eight per group) of adult Swiss albino mice received saline (control), tulathromycin (a single subcutaneous dose of 28 mg/kg/bw on day 14), DFS (a single oral dose of 100 mg/kg/bw on day 14), tulathromycin plus DFS, or lycopene (oral, 10 mg/kg/bw daily for 15 d) combined with tulathromycin, DFS, or both. Compared to the control group, the administration of tulathromycin or DFS (individually or in combination) caused significantly elevated (p < 0.05) serum levels of Creatine kinase-myocardial B fraction (CK-MB), lactate dehydrogenase, and cardiac-specific troponin-T and tissue levels of nitric oxide and malondialdehyde that were accompanied by significantly decreased tissue reduced glutathione content and glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, and catalase antioxidant enzyme activity. Upon histopathological and immunohistochemical examination, the mean pathology scores and the percentages of caspase-3-, Bax-, and CK-positive regions were significantly higher in the tulathromycin- and/or DFS-treated groups than in control mice. For all these parameters, the pathological changes were more significant in the tulathromycin–DFS combination group than in mice treated with either drug individually. Interestingly, co-administration of lycopene with tulathromycin and/or DFS significantly ameliorated the changes described above. In conclusion, DFS could potentiate the cardiotoxic effects of tulathromycin, whereas lycopene can serve as a cardioprotective agent against DFS and tulathromycin.

Apoptosis of peritoneal leucocytes during early stages of Fasciola hepatica infections in sheep

Several immunomodulatory properties have been described in Fasciola hepatica infections. Apoptosis has been shown to be an effective mechanism to avoid the immune response in helminth infections. The aim of the present work was to study apoptosis in peritoneal leucocytes of sheep experimentally infected with F. hepatica during the early stages of infection. Five groups (n=5) of sheep were used. Groups 2–5 were orally infected with 200 metacercariae (mc) and sacrificed at 1, 3, 9 and 18days post-infection (dpi), respectively. Group 1 was used as the uninfected control (UC). Apoptosis was detected using three different methods 1) immunocytochemistry (ICC) with a polyclonal antibody anti-active caspase-3; 2) an annexin V flow cytometry assay using the Annexin V-FITC/propidium iodide (PI); and 3) transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The differential leucocyte count revealed that the majority of peritoneal granulocytes were eosinophils, which increased significantly at 9 and 18 dpi with respect to the uninfected controls. The ICC study revealed that the percentage of caspase-3+ apoptotic peritoneal leucocytes increased significantly from 3 dpi onwards with respect to the uninfected controls. The flow cytometry annexin V assay detected a very significant (P<0.001) increase of apoptotic peritoneal macrophages, lymphocytes and granulocytes, which remained higher than in the UC until 18 dpi. Transmission electron microscopy studies also confirmed the presence of apoptosis in peritoneal eosinophils at 18 dpi. This is the first report of apoptosis induced by F. hepatica in the peritoneal leucocytes of sheep in vivo. The results of this work suggest the importance of apoptosis induction for the survival of the juvenile parasites in the peritoneal migratory stages of infection.

Caspase-3 expression in normal oral epithelium, oral submucous fibrosis and oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Context:The epithelium atrophy, as the oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF) progresses, is believed to be an after effect of stromal fibrosis, hyalinization, decrease in vascularity and cellularity and is considered as “ischemic atrophy.” Due to hypoxia, caspase-3 get activation and subsequent decrease in viable cell count can occur.Aims and Objectives:To determine caspase-3 expression in various grades of OSMF and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) to find out whether upregulation of apoptosis is responsible for the epithelial changes in OSMF.Subjects and Methods:The control tissue (15 samples from normal oral mucosa) and study group comprising 97 cases of OSMF of different grades and OSCC associated with OSMF were stained with caspase-3 antibody, and the percentage of positive cells was calculated using ImageJ software.Statistical Analysis:The results obtained were statistically analyzed using ANOVA and Tukey's honest significance difference test and Mann–Whitney U-test.Results:There was a nuclear expression of caspase-3 in basal and parabasal layers of normal epithelium. There was cytoplasmic expression of caspase-3 in OSMF without dysplasia, total absence of caspase-3 expression in dysplastic epithelium and in majority cases of OSCC. The caspase-3 percentage was increased in OSMF (0%–53%) when compared with OSCC (0%–8%). The statistical comparison of caspase-3 among normal, OSMF and OSCC patients revealed significant correlation (P < 0.00010). The comparison within different grades of OSMF and between dysplastic and nondysplastic epithelium OSMF also showed significance (P < 0.019).Conclusions:The decreased expression of caspase-3 in disease progression reflects its role in the malignant transformation.

Gene transfer of the adaptor Lnk (SH2B3) prevents porcine endothelial cell activation and apoptosis: implication for xenograft’s cytoprotection

Targeting protective gene expression to porcine endothelium by genetic modification of the donor could improve xenograft survival by controlling cell activation and death. We previously found that, in endothelial cells (EC), the molecular adaptor Lnk (SH2B3) is a negative regulator of cytokine signaling. We also have shown that Lnk is upregulated in pig EC (PAEC) in response to tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF) and xenoreactive natural antibodies (XNA) binding. The present study investigated whether ectopic expression of human Lnk using gene transfer may be efficient to control signaling pathways associated with inflammation and apoptosis in porcine aortic endothelial cells (PAEC). Endothelial cells cultures were established from WT and Gal(-/-) pigs and transduced with a recombinant adenovirus encoding human Lnk. Phenotype and functions of transduced PAEC expressing Lnk were analyzed by flow cytometry, western blot and XNA and complement-dependent assays. The regulatory functions of Lnk toward inflammation were assessed in TNF-activated EC, and the protective functions were tested toward TNF-induced apoptosis and anoïkis. Apoptosis assays included DNA content analysis and caspase-3/7 activity. First, we found that as a result of adenoviral transduction, human Lnk was efficiently and similarly expressed in EC from WT or Gal(-/-) pigs. Lnk expression or EC transduction caused no significant change in the binding of XNA (IgG and IgM) to PAEC and has no effect on complement activation and C5b-9 formation. We demonstrated that expression of human Lnk efficiently inhibits TNF signaling in PAEC and decreases VCAM-1 induction by 46.3 ± 1.2% compared to controls (n = 6, **P < 0.01). Furthermore, expression of Lnk was associated with a significant decrease in the percentage of caspase-3/7-dependent apoptosis caused by TNF in the presence of actinomycin D and also reduces cell death by anoïkis by 25.0 ± 1.9% compared to controls (n = 5, **P < 0.01). Together, these findings indicate that the signaling adaptor Lnk is effective to reduce PAEC activation and apoptosis. Thus, Lnk is a potential candidate for the modulation of signaling pathways to protect vascular EC from inflammation in xenotransplantation.