title: Up-regulation of Bax and endonuclease G, and down-modulation of Bcl-XL involved in cardiotoxin III-induced apoptosis in K562 cells.
abstract: Cardiotoxin III (CTX III), a basic polypeptide with 60 amino acid residues isolated from Naja naja atra venom, has been reported to have anticancer activity. CTX III-induced K562 cell apoptosis was confirmed by DNA fragmentation (DNA ladder, sub-G1 formation) and phosphatidylserine (PS) externalization with an IC(50) value of 1.7 microg/ml at 48 h. A mechanistic analysis demonstrated that CTX III-induced apoptotic cell death was accompanied by up-regulation of both Bax and endonuclease G (Endo G), and downregulation of Bcl-X(L). CTX III had no effect on the levels of Bcl-2, Bid, XIAP survivin, and AIF proteins. CTX III treatment caused loss of the mitochondrial membrane potential (DeltaPsim), release of mitochondrial cytochrome c to the cytosol, and activation of both caspase-9 and -3. CTX III-induced apoptosis was significantly blocked by the broad-spectrum caspase inhibitor Z-VAD-FMK. However, CTX III did not generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) and antioxidants, including N-acetylcysteine and catalase, did not block CTX III-induced apoptosis in K562 cells. Modulation of Bax, Bcl-XL, and the Endo G proteins, release of mitochondrial cytochome c, and activation of caspase-3 and -9 all are involved in the CTX III-triggered apoptotic process in human leukemia K562 cells.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicinal and Applied Chemistry, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Sheng-Huei
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Ching-Ming
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Chien
authors.forename: Mei-Chin
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Yi-Hsiung
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Xiu-Wei
authors.initials: XW
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Shinne-Ren
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Lin
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D004179:Cobra Cardiotoxin Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D045304:Cytochromes c / Q000378:metabolism; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D004706:Endodeoxyribonucleases / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D051034:Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D020014:K562 Cells; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D051336:Mitochondrial Membranes / Q000187:drug effects; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D051020:bcl-X Protein / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D004179:Cobra Cardiotoxin Proteins; D051034:Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; D051020:bcl-X Protein; C082202:cardiotoxin III, Naja naja atra; D045304:Cytochromes c; D004706:Endodeoxyribonucleases; C052391:endonuclease G; D020169:Caspases