Distribution of activated caspase-3 in relation with apoptosis in human malignant gliomas.
Activated caspase-3has been immunohistochemically studied in 30glioblastomas. Its distribution has been compared with that of apoptotic nuclei demonstrated by terminal dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) and morphology. The best procedure for the demonstration of caspase-3 requires formalin fixation, followed by Carnoy fixation, with microwave irradiation. The number of positive cells is lower than that of apoptotic nuclei shown by TUNEL technique, especially in perinecrotic pseudo-palisadings, and there are also qualitative variations. Positive staining occurs in nuclei, cytoplasms or in both cell compartments. The interpretation of Caspase-3 positive staining is based on its crucial position in the final pathway to apoptosis and on the mechanisms by which it cleaves cytoplasmic and nuclear proteins among which inhibitory/caspase-activated DNase system is included.
Schiffer
D
D
Department of Neuroscience, University of Turin, Via Cherasco, 15, 10126, Turin, Italy. schiffer@medfarm.unito.it
Fiano
V
V
Chiadò-Piat
L
L
Mortara
P
P
Richiardi
P
P
Cavalla
P
P
D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology*; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology*; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism*; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D005910:Glioma / Q000201:enzymology*; D006801:Humans; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling
C505407:CASP3 protein, human; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases