title: Caspase-8 activation and bid cleavage contribute to MCF7 cellular execution in a caspase-3-dependent manner during staurosporine-mediated apoptosis.
abstract: There are at least two distinct classes of caspases, initiators (e.g. caspases-8, -9, and -10) and effectors (e.g. caspase-3). Furthermore, it is believed that there are two distinct primary apoptotic signaling pathways, one of which is mediated by death receptors controlled by caspases-8/10, and the other by the release of cytochrome c and activation of a caspase-9/Apaf1/cytochrome c apoptosome. However, several recent reports have demonstrated that caspase-8, and its substrate Bid, are frequently activated in response to certain apoptotic stimuli in a death receptor-independent manner. These results suggest that significant cross-talk may exist between these two distinct signaling arms, allowing each to take advantage of elements unique to the other. Here we provide evidence that activation of caspase-8, and subsequent Bid cleavage, does indeed participate in cytochrome c-mediated apoptosis, at least in certain circumstances and cell types. Furthermore, the participation of activated caspase-3 is essential for activation of caspase-8 and Bid processing to occur. Although caspase-8 activation is not required for the execution of a cytochrome c-mediated death signal, we found that it greatly shortens the execution time. Thus, caspase-8 involvement in cytochrome c-mediated cell death may help to amplify weaker death signals and ensure that apoptosis occurs within a certain time frame.
authors.affiliation: Department of Tumor Cell Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee 38101, USA.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Lahti
authors.forename: V J
authors.initials: VJ
authors.lastname: Kidd
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology*; D053148:Caspase 3; D053181:Caspase 8; D053453:Caspase 9; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism*; D003574:Cytochrome c Group / Q000378:metabolism; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D006801:Humans; D006868:Hydrolysis; D019311:Staurosporine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D003574:Cytochrome c Group; C505407:CASP3 protein, human; C505530:CASP8 protein, human; C506433:CASP9 protein, human; D053148:Caspase 3; D053181:Caspase 8; D053453:Caspase 9; D020169:Caspases; D019311:Staurosporine