Abstract
Activated caspase-3-like proteases promote apoptotic cell death by cleaving cellular substrates. Caspase-3-like activity was measured in colonic carcinomas and in matched normal colonic mucosa from 31 patients and was significantly elevated in 25/ 31 colonic carcinomas and adenomas when compared to normal mucosa (P < 0.0001). Caspase-3-like activity was much higher in normal mucosa and tumours of female subjects than of males (P < 0.0001). No correlation was obtained between caspase-3-like activity and location of the tumour, tumour grade, stage, or patient age. The marked increase in caspase-3-like activity in colorectal carcinomas may reflect an increase in the proportion of cells undergoing spontaneous apoptosis.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Adenoma / enzymology*
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Adenoma / pathology
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Adult
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Aged
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Aged, 80 and over
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Amino Acid Chloromethyl Ketones / pharmacology
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Apoptosis
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Carcinoma / enzymology*
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Carcinoma / pathology
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Caspase 3
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Caspase Inhibitors
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Caspases / metabolism*
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Colorectal Neoplasms / enzymology*
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Colorectal Neoplasms / pathology
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Coumarins
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Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors / pharmacology
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Enzyme Precursors / antagonists & inhibitors
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Enzyme Precursors / metabolism*
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Female
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Humans
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Intestinal Mucosa / enzymology
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Jurkat Cells / enzymology
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Male
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Middle Aged
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Oligopeptides
Substances
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Amino Acid Chloromethyl Ketones
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Caspase Inhibitors
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Coumarins
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Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors
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Enzyme Precursors
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Oligopeptides
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benzyloxycarbonyl-aspartyl-glutamyl-valyl-aspartyl-7-amino-4-trifluoromethylcoumarin
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benzyloxycarbonylvalyl-alanyl-aspartyl fluoromethyl ketone
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CASP3 protein, human
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Caspase 3
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Caspases