title: Ethanol-induced apoptosis in mouse liver: Fas- and cytochrome c-mediated caspase-3 activation pathway.
abstract: Hepatic apoptosis has been shown to occur in both experimental and clinical alcoholic liver disease, but the signaling pathway remains unknown. This study was undertaken to examine specifically the involvement of the upstream signals, Fas and cytochrome c, in alcohol-induced caspase-3 activation and apoptosis in the liver. Male FVB mice were administrated intragastrically a single dose of alcohol at 6 g/kg, which has been shown to represent binge drinking in humans. Hepatic apoptosis was detected by a terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick-end labeling assay. Active form of caspase-3 was identified by immunoperoxidase staining and confirmed by immunogold labeling and was found to be in the cytosol and nucleus. Enzymic assay further confirmed caspase-3 activation and nucleus localization. Systemic administration of caspase-3 inhibitor, Ac-DEVD-FMK, inhibited caspase-3 activity and abrogated apoptosis. Elevation of cytosolic cytochrome c was found by immunoperoxidase staining, immunogold labeling, and Western blot. Increased Fas ligand expression was detected by immunoperoxidase staining. Intravenous administration of a neutralizing Fas ligand monoclonal antibody resulted in suppression of caspase-3 activation and attenuation of apoptosis, but did not inhibit mitochondrial cytochrome c release. The results thus demonstrate that Fas/Fas ligand system-mediated caspase-3 activation plays a central role in the ethanol-induced hepatic apoptosis.
authors: Departments of Medicine and Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Kentucky 40202, USA.
authors: Z
authors: Z
authors: Zhou
authors: X
authors: X
authors: Sun
authors: Y J
authors: YJ
authors: Kang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000494:pharmacology; D017209:Apoptosis; D053148:Caspase 3; D061945:Caspase Inhibitors; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism*; D015853:Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D003574:Cytochrome c Group / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D009842:Oligopeptides / Q000494:pharmacology; D013997:Time Factors; D014018:Tissue Distribution / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061945:Caspase Inhibitors; D015853:Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; D003574:Cytochrome c Group; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; C505658:Fasl protein, mouse; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D009842:Oligopeptides; C110772:benzoylcarbonyl-aspartyl-glutamyl-valyl-aspartyl-fluoromethyl ketone; D000431:Ethanol; C505409:Casp3 protein, mouse; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases