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Related Concept Videos

Apoptosis01:30

Apoptosis

Apoptosis is a combination of two Greek words, 'apo' and 'ptosis,' meaning separation and falling off, respectively. Hippocrates used this word to describe gangrene, which was caused due to bandaging of fractured bones. Apoptosis was distinguished from necrosis in 1970 when John Kerr reported observations of morphological changes occurring during apoptosis. During one experiment, he observed that the disruption of blood supply to the liver tissue resulted in a size reduction of the tissue.
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Cellular Injury V: Apoptosis and Autophagy

Cells respond to damage and stress through highly coordinated processes that decide whether they survive or undergo controlled self-destruction. Two major pathways involved in this regulation are apoptosis, a type of programmed cell death, and autophagy, a survival mechanism that helps cells adapt to adverse conditions.ApoptosisApoptosis removes aged or injured cells to maintain tissue balance. During this process, the cell shrinks, chromatin condenses and fragments, and membrane-bound...
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The Intrinsic Apoptotic Pathway

Internal cellular stress, such as cellular injury or hypoxia, triggers intrinsic apoptosis. The B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) family of proteins are the primary regulators of the intrinsic apoptotic pathway. For example, during DNA damage, checkpoint proteins, such as Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated (ATM protein) and Checkpoints Factor-2 (Chk2) proteins, are activated. These proteins phosphorylate p53 which further activates pro-apoptotic proteins, such as Bax, Bak, PUMA, and Noxa, and inhibits...
Management of Insomnia01:19

Management of Insomnia

The sleep cycle, an integral part of human health, consists of several stages with distinct characteristics and functions. It begins with a transition from wakefulness to sleep, known as the light sleep phase, followed by the restorative deep sleep phase, essential for physical recovery and growth. The cycle concludes with the Rapid Eye Movement (REM) phase, characterized by high brain activity and vivid dreaming. Insomnia, a prevalent sleep disorder, involves difficulty falling asleep, staying...
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Melatonin congeners like ramelteon (Rozerem) and tasimelteon (Hetlioz) selectively bind to melatonin receptors (MT1 and MT2) and thus mimic the actions of melatonin, a hormone that regulates sleep-wake cycles. Tasimelteon is primarily used for non-24-hour sleep-wake disorder, common in blind patients. They are also used to treat conditions like insomnia...
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Caspase, a family of cysteine proteases, serve as effectors in apoptosis. The ced3 gene in C.elegans was first identified to be involved in apoptosis. This gene encodes the ced-3 caspase that is similar to the interleukin-1-beta converting enzyme or ICE in mammals. In addition to apoptosis, caspases also function in the inflammatory response. Inflammatory caspases are essential in activating pro-inflammatory cytokines that recruit immune cells and block the replication of pathogens inside cells.

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Enhancement of Apoptotic and Autophagic Induction by a Novel Synthetic C-1 Analogue of 7-deoxypancratistatin in Human Breast Adenocarcinoma and Neuroblastoma Cells with Tamoxifen
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Enhancement of Apoptotic and Autophagic Induction by a Novel Synthetic C-1 Analogue of 7-deoxypancratistatin in Human Breast Adenocarcinoma and Neuroblastoma Cells with Tamoxifen

Published on: May 30, 2012

Melatonin as an apoptosis antagonist.

Flavia Radogna1, Laura Paternoster, Maria Cristina Albertini

  • 1Dipartimento di Biologia, Università di Roma Tor Vergata, via della Ricerca Scientifica, 1, 00133, Roma, Italy. flavia.radogna@libero.it

Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences
|March 27, 2007
PubMed
Summary

Melatonin (Mel) does not induce apoptosis in U937 cells. Instead, this pineal hormone significantly reduces apoptosis, even at high concentrations, suggesting a protective role against cell death.

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Strategies for Tracking Anastasis, A Cell Survival Phenomenon that Reverses Apoptosis
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Strategies for Tracking Anastasis, A Cell Survival Phenomenon that Reverses Apoptosis

Published on: February 16, 2015

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Enhancement of Apoptotic and Autophagic Induction by a Novel Synthetic C-1 Analogue of 7-deoxypancratistatin in Human Breast Adenocarcinoma and Neuroblastoma Cells with Tamoxifen
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Enhancement of Apoptotic and Autophagic Induction by a Novel Synthetic C-1 Analogue of 7-deoxypancratistatin in Human Breast Adenocarcinoma and Neuroblastoma Cells with Tamoxifen

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Strategies for Tracking Anastasis, A Cell Survival Phenomenon that Reverses Apoptosis
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Strategies for Tracking Anastasis, A Cell Survival Phenomenon that Reverses Apoptosis

Published on: February 16, 2015

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Endocrinology
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Melatonin (Mel) is a pineal hormone regulating circadian rhythms.
  • Melatonin modulates non-neural cells via MT1/MT2 receptors, exhibiting immunomodulatory, oncostatic, and antiproliferative effects.
  • A common belief is that Melatonin induces or potentiates apoptosis in tumor cells.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effect of Melatonin on apoptosis in U937 human monocytic cells.
  • To determine if Melatonin is apoptogenic or potentiates apoptosis in tumor cells.
  • To clarify the role of Melatonin in cellular apoptosis pathways.

Main Methods:

  • U937 human monocytic cells, expressing MT1 receptors, were treated with Melatonin at various concentrations (up to 1 mM) and time points (up to 48 h).
  • Apoptosis was induced using both intrinsic (cell-damaging agents) and extrinsic (physiological) pathways.
  • Melatonin concentration in cell culture was assessed, considering potential sequestration by fetal calf serum (FCS).

Main Results:

  • Melatonin did not induce or potentiate apoptosis in U937 cells under tested conditions.
  • Melatonin significantly reduced apoptosis induced by both intrinsic and extrinsic pathways.
  • High Melatonin doses (>or=100 microM) were initially required for the antiapoptotic effect, seemingly incompatible with receptor affinity.
  • In FCS-free conditions, significantly lower Melatonin doses demonstrated an antiapoptotic effect, indicating receptor involvement.

Conclusions:

  • Melatonin is not apoptogenic on U937 cells and does not potentiate apoptosis.
  • Melatonin exhibits a significant antiapoptotic effect, protecting cells from induced cell death.
  • The antiapoptotic activity of Melatonin is likely receptor-mediated, with FCS affecting effective cellular concentrations.