Aspirin induces apoptosis through mitochondrial cytochrome c release
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Updated: Oct 11, 2026

Activation of Apoptosis by Cytoplasmic Microinjection of Cytochrome c
Published on: June 29, 2011
M Piqué1, M Barragán, M Dalmau
1Departament de Ciències Fisiològiques II, Universitat de Barcelona, L'Hospitalet, Spain.
Abstract:
Aspirin and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs induce apoptosis in many cell types. Although the involvement of caspases has been demonstrated, the mechanism leading to caspase activation remains unknown. We have studied the role of the mitochondrial pathway in aspirin-induced apoptosis. The apoptotic effect of aspirin was analyzed in different cell lines (Jurkat, MOLT-4, Raji and HL-60) showing induction of mitochondrial cytochrome c release and caspases 9, 3 and 8 processing. Furthermore, early aspirin-induced cytochrome c release was not affected by the caspase inhibitor Z-VAD x fmk and preceded loss of mitochondrial membrane potential. Therefore, aspirin-induced apoptosis involves caspase activation through cytochrome c release.
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