apoptotic markers

Overview

Apoptotic markers are proteins that play crucial roles in the regulation of apoptosis, a programmed cell death process essential for maintaining cellular homeostasis and eliminating damaged or unwanted cells. Key apoptotic markers include pro-apoptotic proteins such as Bax and anti-apoptotic proteins like Bcl-2. The balance between these proteins determines a cell's fate, influencing whether it undergoes apoptosis or survives. Dysregulation of these markers is implicated in various diseases, including cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, and cardiovascular diseases, making them significant targets for therapeutic interventions.

Focus of Latest Publications

Recent studies have extensively investigated apoptotic markers in various contexts, particularly in cancer therapy and neuroprotection. For instance, a study published in RNA Biology (PMID: 42133791) demonstrated that bevacizumab induces apoptosis in glioblastoma cells by upregulating miR-4695-5p, which in turn inhibits PKMYT1, leading to changes in the expression of apoptotic markers such as Bax and Bcl-2. Similarly, research in the European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry (PMID: 41905101) revealed that multi-target pyrazolopyrimidine-coumarin derivatives significantly elevated p53 and Bax levels while reducing Bcl-2 expression, indicating a shift towards apoptosis.

In another study, the GLP-1 receptor agonist liraglutide was shown to promote anticancer activities in MCF-7 breast cancer cells by modulating apoptotic markers, including increased expression of Bax and caspase-3, alongside the inhibition of Bcl-2 (PMID: 42152582). Furthermore, the neuroprotective effects of FuBIG against diabetic neuroinflammation were linked to the upregulation of Bcl-2 and downregulation of pro-apoptotic proteins like Bax and caspase-3 (PMID: 41911662).

The interplay between apoptotic markers was also highlighted in studies involving various therapeutic agents. For example, treatment with Tetrahydroberberine activated the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway, evidenced by the upregulation of Bax and cleaved caspase-3, while downregulating Bcl-2 (PMID: 41780784). Additionally, the use of astaxanthin in pancreatic cancer cells demonstrated its ability to induce apoptosis by modulating the expression of Bax and Bcl-2, leading to cell cycle arrest (PMID: 41895184).

These findings underscore the importance of apoptotic markers in understanding the mechanisms of action of various therapies, including those targeting the B-cell lymphoma 2 (BCL2) protein, and their potential in developing novel cancer treatments.

Key Publications

Jun Synthesis, and pharmacological evaluation of iminoguanidine derivatives: Identification of FuBIG showing protective effects against diabetic neuroinflammation with a favorable lactate metabolism profile. (European journal of medicinal chemistry, 2026, PMID 41911662): "FuBIG inhibited neuronal apoptosis by up-regulating anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 and down-regulating pro-apoptotic proteins Bax and Caspase-3."
Jun Multi-target pyrazolopyrimidine-coumarin derivatives as potent CA IX/XII and tubulin polymerization inhibitors: Design, synthesis, and biological evaluation. (European journal of medicinal chemistry, 2026, PMID 41905101): "Molecular analysis revealed elevated p53 expression (3.43-fold), increased Bax level (12.34-fold), reduced Bcl-2 expression (4.37-fold), and enhanced caspase-7 activation (7.35-fold)."
Jun Design, synthesis, and mechanism of anti-cancer activity of novel spiro tetramic acids. (Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry letters, 2026, PMID 41620144): "8d also induced cell apoptosis through the mitochondrial pathways, as evidenced by alterations in the expressions of pertinent proteins, including Bcl-2 and Bax."
Jun Multifaceted evaluation of cysteamine-loaded nanoliposomes in buffalo sperm cryopreservation: Impacts on motility, ultrastructural integrity, oxidative balance, apoptotic gene expression, and fertility. (Cryobiology, 2026, PMID 41946112): "The percentage of apoptotic sperm cells decreased significantly, accompanied by upregulation of the anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 gene and downregulation of pro-apoptotic genes Bax and caspase 3."
Jun The GLP-1 Receptor Agonist Liraglutide Promotes Anticancer Activities in MCF7 Breast and PC-3 Prostate Cancer Cells by Modulating Glycolysis, Oxidative Stress and Adipokines. (Journal of biochemical and molecular toxicology, 2026, PMID 42152582): "Antiproliferative effects were evident through induced apoptosis and cell cycle arrest alongside inhibition of CCND1, CCND3, BCL2 and survivin with increased p21, p27, BAX and Caspase-3 expression."
Jun Lead Discovery via Scaffold Refinement: Structure-Guided Optimization of 1,2,4-Triazolo[1,5-a]Pyrimidines as Potent Dual EGFR/CDK-2 Inhibitors Targeting Colorectal Carcinoma. (Drug development research, 2026, PMID 42200498): "These leads induced G2/M cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in HCT-116 cells via upregulation of Bax, cytochrome c, and caspase-3, and downregulation of VEGF, AKT-1, and Bcl-2."
Jun Herkinorin Exerted Neuroprotective Effects After Spinal Cord Injury by Suppression of NF-κB Pathway Activation. (Neurochemical research, 2026, PMID 42219409): "Western blot and immunofluorescence staining of proteins Map2, GAP43 and Ace-tubulin to assess microtubule stabilization and Bax, Bad, Bcl2 as well as cleaved caspase3 to detect apoptosis."
Jun Integrative Database-Driven In Silico and In Vitro Study of Anemarrhena asphodeloides Bunge Highlighting Hippeastrine as a Regulator of the HSP90/PI3K/Akt/mTOR Axis in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma. (Advanced biology, 2026, PMID 42216572): "...with HSP90AA1, HSP90AB1, and CASP3 upregulated in OSCC, linked to poorer survival."
Jun Integrated computational and structural understanding of Prunus bokharensis-derived β-Glucan: HRMS, network pharmacology, docking, and MD simulations to discover multi-target interactions for immunomodulation, antimelanoma lipid-hormone axis modulation, and erythroprotection. (Computers in biology and medicine, 2026, PMID 42054915): "...which caused BAX to increase and BCL2 to decrease but maintained Caspase-3 at its normal level."
Jun Integrated Serum Pharmacochemistry, Metabolomics, and Network Pharmacology Uncover Potential Active Components and Mechanisms of Shenling Baizhu Powder in Treating Ulcerative Colitis With Spleen Deficiency and Dampness Stagnation. (Biomedical chromatography : BMC, 2026, PMID 42089391): "...the expression levels of AKT1, p-AKT1, mTOR, Caspase 3, TLR2, TLR4, ERK1/2, STAT1, MyD88, NFκB, and BCL2 in colon tissues were detected in UC-SDDS rats treated with SLBZP."

Show 36 more publications

Jun Integrated UPLC-QTOF-MS and Network Pharmacology for Predicting Active Constituents and Pharmacological Mechanisms of Yinxingye Tablets Against Oxidative Stress. (Biomedical chromatography : BMC, 2026, PMID 42104588): "Based on virtual target prediction, 211 targets of 76 active constituents with identifiable structures were identified, and HSP90AA1, SRC, CASP3, MAPK8, MMP9, IGF1, RAF1, and PPARG were defined as the hub targets involved in the antioxidant stress effects of Yinxingye tablets."
May Inhibition of RNA polymerase II-activating CDK9 and CDK12/13, but not of cell cycle relevant CDKs, induces apoptosis by downregulating the short-lived Bcl-2 proteins Mcl1 and Bfl1/A1. (Cell death & disease, 2026, PMID 42204137): "Since Mcl1 and A1 antagonize the pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 proteins Bak and Bax, apoptosis induction by AZD4573 or SR4835 was blocked in Bak- and Bax/Bak-deficient Jurkat cells and strongly reduced in Bax-deficient cells."
May LS21013A-06, a PDE4 inhibitor, preserves blood-brain barrier integrity in experimental ischemic stroke models through PKA-dependent modulation of LECT2. (European journal of pharmacology, 2026, PMID 42044766): "...LECT2 knockdown preserved TJ and AJ proteins, reduced Bax upregulation, restored Bcl-2 expression, and diminished reactive oxygen species accumulation."
May Integrating network pharmacology with ex-vivo analysis to assess the effect of IL-2 in halting breast cancer: involvement of Treg/CTLA-4/Blimp-1/caspase-3. (Scientific reports, 2026, PMID 42192107): "Results of network pharmacology illustrated that there were 35 common targets including CD4, CTLA-4 and caspase 3."
Jan Ethanolic extract of Otostegia fruticosa induces ROS-dependent apoptosis and reduces migration of MDA-MB-231 cells in vitro. (PloS one, 2026, PMID 42189838): "Altogether, this study demonstrates that Otostegia fruticosa induces apoptosis and inhibits metastasis in MDA-MB-231 cells by regulating caspase-3, 8, and 9, Bcl2, Bax, and Bid."
May Tetrahydroberberine targets the bcl-2 promoter G-quadruplex to trigger mitochondrial apoptosis and inhibit nasopharyngeal carcinoma progression. (Chemico-biological interactions, 2026, PMID 41780784): "Notably, THB treatment activated the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway, as evidenced by the upregulation of the pro-apoptotic protein Bax and cleaved caspase-3, accompanied by the downregulation of the anti-apoptotic protein bcl-2."
May MEK inhibitor cobimetinib increases calreticulin and induces immune modulation in TNBC. (Journal of molecular medicine (Berlin, Germany), 2026, PMID 42183887): "Cobimetinib also evoked caspase-8 activation with increased Bax and Bak expression, while caspase inhibitor suppressed cobimetinib-induced CRT expression and apoptosis."
May Molecular insights into induction of apoptosis and regulation of cell cycle proliferation by cycloartane triterpenoids from Dysoxylum malabaricum in breast cancer cells. (Journal of molecular histology, 2026, PMID 42165934): "Further mechanistic studies revealed that increased levels of cleaved PARP-1, Bax, Cytochrome c, cleaved caspase-9 and cleaved caspase-3, along with decreased levels of PCNA, mutated p53 and Bcl-2, confirm mitochondrial-mediated cell death."
May Virtual screening targeting the conserved domain of the IAV M2 protein reveals the potential broad-spectrum anti-IAV activity of ajmaline. (Biochemical and biophysical research communications, 2026, PMID 41881854): "...coupled with suppression of apoptosis (Bax downregulation)."
May Exosomes derived from Bcl-2-engineered iPSC-cardiomyocytes mitigate aortic valve calcification and inhibit cardiomyocyte apoptosis. (International journal of pharmaceutics, 2026, PMID 41985595): "They upregulate bcl2, downregulate bax, restore miR-132 expression, and inhibit the abnormal elevation of IL-1β, thereby notably reducing the apoptosis of valve interstitial cells, enhancing cardiac function, and alleviating leaflet thickening and fibrosis."
May Neuroprotective effects of myrtenol against brain injury following isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarction in male rats. (Metabolic brain disease, 2026, PMID 42159792): "Western blot analysis was used for the assessment of inflammatory (TNF and NF-κB), cell death (Bax, Bcl2, and Cleaved caspase-3), and nuclear factor erythroid-related factor-2 (Nrf2) markers in brain tissue."
May Structure-Based Design of UVRAG-BAX Binding Interface-Targeting Compound Induces Apoptosis and ROS in Breast Cancer Cells. (Biochemistry, 2026, PMID 42117566): "...targeting the interaction interface of the UVRAG-BAX protein complex."
May NADPH exerts neuroprotection in ischemic stroke by reinforcing blood-brain barrier integrity and stimulating angiogenesis. (Neuropharmacology, 2026, PMID 41638470): "Through network pharmacology analysis and molecular docking, five key molecular targets of NADPH in IS were identified: HIF-1α, SRC, NLRP3, CASP3, and AKT1."
May Apoptotic/cell cycle arrest potential of dusty miller methanol extract against Paca-2 pancreatic cancer cells via upregulating Bax/Bcl2: A HPLC-ESI-MS/MS, GNPS-based molecular networking and network pharmacology studies. (Journal of chromatography. B, Analytical technologies in the biomedical and life sciences, 2026, PMID 41895184): "Further analysis highlighted JM's potent effect on the pancreatic cells (Paca2) (IC50 = 29.1 µg/mL), where it induced apoptosis via upregulating pro-apoptotic Bax and downregulating anti-apoptotic Bcl2, and caused G1 phase cell cycle arrest, confirmed by flow cytometry."
May Bevacizumab induces apoptosis in glioblastoma cells by upregulating miR-4695-5p to inhibit PKMYT1. (RNA biology, 2026, PMID 42133791): "RT-qPCR quantified changes in miR-4695-5p, Bax, and Bcl-2 expression."
May Proteasome inhibition by bortezomib induces stress-response-mediated cytotoxicity in uterine leiomyosarcoma cells. (Biochemical and biophysical research communications, 2026, PMID 41861709): "Western blot analysis further revealed enhanced cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase and caspase-3, along with modulation of cell cycle regulatory proteins, including upregulation of p21 and differential regulation of p53 between the two cell lines."
May Neuroprotective Potential of Encapsulated Pomegranate Peel Polyphenols in Doxorubicin- Induced Neurotoxicity. (Plant foods for human nutrition (Dordrecht, Netherlands), 2026, PMID 42120770): "Mechanistically, it alleviated inflammation by downregulating the expression of pro-inflammatory markers NF-kB (p65) and TNF-α; restored acetylcholine levels, and reduced apoptosis markers (caspase 3 and cytochrome c)."
May Glutathione as a Potential Neuroprotectant Against MDMA-Induced Oxidative Stress, Neuroinflammation, and Apoptosis in the Rat Brain. (Neurochemical research, 2026, PMID 42090092): "Caspase-3 activity was markedly elevated, indicating enhanced apoptosis."
May Clemizole Mitigates Traumatic Brain Injury by Inhibiting Oxidative Stress, Neuroinflammation, and Apoptosis. (ACS chemical neuroscience, 2026, PMID 41968889): "Furthermore, Clemizole activated the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, decreasing the expression of pro-apoptotic proteins (Bax, caspase-9 and caspase-3) and restoring Bcl-2 levels."
May Protective Effects of 3,4-Dihydropyrimidin-2(1H)-one Derivatives on Oxidative Stress Injury following Subarachnoid Hemorrhage. (ACS chemical neuroscience, 2026, PMID 42047211): "Furthermore, the administration of 300 mg/kg DHPMs was linked to augmented Nrf2, apoptosis proteins Bax, Caspase-3, CHOP-1, inflammation proteins interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-18, TJ proteins Occludin, claudin-5, and zonulaoccludens-1 (ZO-1) protein expressions, and diminished heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) and apoptosis protein Bcl-2 protein expressions."
May Synergetic anticancer activity of psidium guajava-mediated palladium nanoparticles via apoptosis induction and metastasis suppression in osteosarcoma cells. (Scientific reports, 2026, PMID 42108266): "...there was an increase in the Bax, cleaved active Caspase-3, and TP53 expression levels with a decrease in the Bcl-2, CDK2, MMP-2, and MMP-9 expression in the PdNPs-PGLE-treated cells compared to control cells (p < 0.05)."
May Redox-mediated activation of PI3K/PTEN pathways by A. baumannii OMV-V. myrtillus conjugate in pancreatic cancer cells. (Archives of microbiology, 2026, PMID 42101625): "Furthermore, the 50 µg/mL OMV +250 µg/mL V. myrtillus treatment group showed approximately a 0.75-fold increase in PTEN and BAX gene expression, accompanied by a correlated decrease in AKT and BCL-2 gene expression, compared to the control group."
May Mechanistic insights into the neuroprotective effects of yangyin formula on cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury via the IL-17A/MAPK/NF-κB signaling pathway. (Journal of molecular histology, 2026, PMID 42101703): "Furthermore, YYF suppressed IL-17A, TNF-α, IL-1β, Caspase-3, p38 MAPK, and NF-κB p65 expression in brain and serum, with effects comparable to IL-17A inhibition."
May Molecular docking of polyphenols and screening of antioxidant and anticancer activity of Artemisia monosperma leaf extracts in human cancer cells. (Scientific reports, 2026, PMID 42069779): "AMM induced DNA fragmentation and modulated apoptosis-related gene expression (Bax, Bcl-2, p53) in HUH-7 cells and caused cell cycle arrest at G0/G1 phase in HCT-116 cells."
May Natural product inspired scaffold hopping strategy: Identification of potent anticancer 2-arylpyridopyrimidinones that induce cytoplasmic and mitochondrial ROS and G2/M arrest. (Bioorganic chemistry, 2026, PMID 41666624): "Functional mechanistic studies with various biophysical experiments revealed the compound's pronounced effect in apoptosis induction and biological function interference, such as Bax upregulation, caspase-3/PARP cleavage, and AKT suppression, mitochondrial membrane potential disruption, accumulation of cytoplasmic and mitochondrial ROS, which led to sub-G0 accumulation and G2/M phase cell cycle arrest."
May Fragment merging design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of novel methyl Selanyl- And thiazolidinedione-based hybrids as potent anticancer inducing apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. (Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry, 2026, PMID 41785527): "Protein expression analysis in HCT116 cells showed that HB68 and HB147 upregulated pro-apoptotic markers (BAX, Caspases-3, -7, -9; 1.17-1.61 fold) and suppressed anti-apoptotic/invasion proteins (BCL-2, MMP2, MMP9; 1.46-2.01 fold), confirming intrinsic apoptosis activation."
May Comparative cryoprotective and fertility-enhancing effects of astaxanthin-loaded chitosan nanoparticles and free astaxanthin in buffalo bull semen. (Theriogenology, 2026, PMID 41691768): "downregulated the pro-apoptotic genes Bax and Caspase-3, and upregulated the anti-apoptotic gene BCL2."
May Hypoxia‑induced exosomal CAMTA1 promotes radio‑resistance in MDA‑MB‑231 cells by regulating NRG1 to mediate M2 macrophage polarization. (International journal of oncology, 2026, PMID 41891984): "Immunohistochemistry analysis was performed to assess the expressions of NRG1, Caspase-3 and CD163."
May Dysregulation of Drp1 and Mfn2 is associated with reduced PSD-95, synaptophysin, and BDNF expression in a rat model of Alzheimer's disease. (International journal of biological macromolecules, 2026, PMID 41932483): "Results showed significant downregulation of Mfn2 and synaptic proteins, with increased Drp1 and Bax expression in AD rats."
May Altered Sphingolipid Metabolism is Associated with Osimertinib Resistance in Nonsmall-Cell Lung Cancer. (Journal of proteome research, 2026, PMID 41988688): "this metabolic shift avoids ceramide-mediated apoptosis via caspase-3 activation."
May Statin-Associated Hepatotoxicity Linked to CASP8 Polymorphisms: Mechanistic Insights from Proteomic Analysis. (Yonsei medical journal, 2026, PMID 42044984): "Apoptotic caspases, including caspase-8 (CASP8) and caspase-3 (CASP3), are crucial in hepatotoxicity and may affect statin-associated hepatotoxicity."
May Protective effects of Crataegus monogyna against cisplatin-induced liver and kidney toxicity in rats. (Drug and chemical toxicology, 2026, PMID 42025193): "Liver and kidney tissues were also examined histologically and immunohistochemically for caspase-3, NF-κB-p65, TNF-α, and IL-6."
May Design, Green Synthesis, and Biological Evaluation of Novel Triaryl-Tethered Acryloyl Derivatives as New Generation β-Tubulin Inhibitors for Hepatocellular Carcinoma Treatment. (Drug development research, 2026, PMID 42059208): "Furthermore, the apoptosis-inducing activity of naphthalene-tethered acryloyl moiety 4i was correlated to the downregulation of Bcl-2 as well as elevation of both Bax and caspase 9 as concluded from RT-PCR immunoassay measurements."
Apr Transcriptomics and Experiments Verified that Astaxanthin Reduces the Apoptosis of Nerve Cells in Ischemic Stroke by Inhibiting the Toll-like Receptor Signaling Pathway. (Molecular neurobiology, 2026, PMID 42050264): "Also, ATX has reduced inflammation and apoptosis-related proteins such as TLR4, MyD88, NFκB, IL-1β, IL-6, Cyt C, and Caspase-3."
Jan Cytotoxicity in vitro assay in 3D vs. 2D L929 cell cultures - comparative analysis of the response to the latex extracts. (PloS one, 2026, PMID 42048322): "...the expression of Bax, Bcl2, Jkamp, Pidd1 and Cyp3a44 genes, and - to check whether this potential response depends on the cell age."
Apr Caffeic Acid Phenethyl Ester Enhanced the Klotho/SIRT1/Nrf2/HO-1 Axis to Protect Against Methylmercury-Induced ALS-Like Neurodegeneration. (Molecular neurobiology, 2026, PMID 42045773): "Cellular and Molecular analyses revealed that MTME+5 exposure significantly disrupted Klotho/SIRT-1/Nrf2/HO-1 antioxidant signaling, increased pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β), and elevated apoptotic markers (Bax, caspase-3) while depleting anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-10) and neuroprotective proteins."