Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
1
pubmed:dateCreated
2000-2-3
pubmed:abstractText
Sepsis induces extensive lymphocyte cell death that may contribute to immune depression and morbidity/mortality in the disorder. bcl-2 is a member of a new class of oncogenes that prevents cell death from an array of noxious stimuli. Transgenic mice that overexpress BCL-2 in T lymphocytes are resistant to sepsis-induced T cell apoptosis, and mortality was decreased in sepsis. The purpose of this study was to identify key initiator and executioner "caspases" involved in sepsis-induced lymphocyte apoptosis and to determine if BCL-2 acts prior to caspase activation. Thymi were removed 5-22 h post-cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) or sham surgery. Apoptosis was evaluated in thymocytes by annexin-V FITC labeling and flow cytometry. Caspase-1 activity was determined by western blot analysis of the procaspase protein and p20 subunit of the activated caspase; activities of caspases -2, -6, and -9 were determined by colorimetric assays using specific substrates conjugated to a color reporter molecule. Caspase-3 activity was determined both by western blot and by a fluorogenic assay in which a fluorescent compound was generated. Thymocytes from CLP mice had markedly increased apoptosis and activation of caspases -2, -3, -6, and -9 in comparison with thymocytes of sham-operated mice. Caspase-1 was not activated. BCL-2 prevented sepsis-induced thymocyte apoptosis and inhibited activation of all caspases. We conclude that sepsis causes activation of multiple caspases and that BCL-2 acts upstream as an inhibitor of caspase activation. The pattern of caspase activation suggests a mitochondrial mediated pathway.
pubmed:grant
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Jan
pubmed:issn
1073-2322
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
13
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
1-7
pubmed:dateRevised
2007-11-14
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
2000
pubmed:articleTitle
Caspases -2, -3, -6, and -9, but not caspase-1, are activated in sepsis-induced thymocyte apoptosis.
pubmed:affiliation
Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S., Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't