title: Immunohistochemical localization of caspase-3, caspase-9 and Bax in U87 glioblastoma xenografts.
abstract: Development of new therapies for glioblastoma requires animal models that mimic the biological characteristics of human brain tumors. On the other hand, potential antitumoral effects of a new therapeutic strategy are often established by evaluation of tumor cells apoptosis. Caspases are key mediators in the regulation and execution of apoptosis. Caspase-9 is activated during the intrinsic pathway downstream of mitochondria while caspase-3 is an effector caspase that initiates degradation of the cell in the final stages of apoptosis. Bax is a pro-apoptotic member of the Bcl-2 family that play key roles in the regulation of intrinsic apoptotic signaling. In the present study we investigated the immunohistochemical distribution of caspase 3, 9 and Bax in intracranial U87 glioblastoma xenograft. Immunohistochemistry showed that the glioblastoma xenografts contain cells positive for caspase-3, caspase-9, and Bax.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Biology, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, Splaiul Independentei 91-95, R-050095 Bucharest, Romania. otilia@bio.unibuc.ro
authors.forename: Otilia
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Zarnescu
authors.forename: Felix Mircea
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Brehar
authors.forename: Mihaela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chivu
authors.forename: Alexandru Vladimir
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Ciurea
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism*; D053453:Caspase 9 / Q000378:metabolism*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D005909:Glioblastoma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; D053148:Caspase 3; D053453:Caspase 9