Tag Archives: caspase-3
Angiotensin, vascular endothelial growth factor and caspase-3 levels in blood serum of smoking students
I. A. A. K. Al-Samarai1, A. J. Al Samer1, H. N. Mohammed2
1Department of Applied Chemistry, College of Applied Science,
University of Samarra, Saleh Aden, Iraq;
2Department of Biotechnology, College of Applied Science,
University of Samarra, Saleh Aden, Iraq;
e-mail: israa.a@uosamarra.edu.iq
Received: 18 July 2025; Revised: 18 September 2025;
Accepted: 28 November 2025; Available on-line: 23 December 2025
Smoking cigarettes is currently considered a widespread behavioral habit among university students due to psychological, social, and behavioral factors. Smoking is believed to impair renin-angiotensin system, blood pressure regulation, endothelial function, and cells viability, particularly in the lungs or blood vessels. The study aimed to assess the level of angiotensin, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), caspase-3 and the activity of antioxidants glutathione S-transferase (GST) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in the blood serum of students at Samarra University (Iraq). The study lasted from 20/2 /2025 to 20/4/ 2025 and involved 100 male students aged 18-28 years. The first group consisted of 30 nonsmoker students and the second included 70 smoker students, whose daily cigarette consumption ranged between 60-100 cigarettes. The results showed a significant increase in angiotensin, VEGF and caspase-3 levels, measured by ELISA, and a significant decrease in GST and SOD activity in the blood serum of smoker students compared to nonsmokers. A high negative correlation between angiotensin, GST and SOD activity in both smokers and nonsmokers, and a positive correlation between angiotensin and caspase-3 levels in smokers were observed, indicating the promising use of studied parameters as indicators of adverse effects caused by smoking.
Localization and level of proapoptotic protein regulators in a rat lung tissue during development of acute experimental bronchopneumonia
D. S. Ziablitsev1*, A. O. Tykhomyrov2, O. O. Dyadyk3,
S. V. Kolesnikova1, S. V. Ziablitsev1
1Bogomolets National Medical University, Kyiv, Ukraine;
2Palladin Institute of Biochemistry, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv;
3Shupyk National Healthcare University of Ukraine, Kyiv;
*e-mail: denis898@ukr.net
Received: 20 July 2022; Revised: 13 September 2022;
Accepted: 04 November 2022; Available on-line: 14 November 2022
Apoptosis plays an important role in the development of acute inflammatory lung injury (AILI) and its consequences, which can be realized in different cells with distinct intensity and rate. The aim of this study was to determine the distribution and expression intensity of apoptosis markers in the lungs of rats in the AILI model with endotracheal introduction of capron thread and LPS. Immunoblotting and immunohistochemical studies were performed using monoclonal antibodies against Bax and caspase-3 proteins. It was shown that Bax level increased significantly with the peak on the 7th day. The second peak of Bax 40 dimeric form was noted on the 21st day. The level of both pro-caspase-3 and active caspase-3 was also dramatically increased with a maximum on the 5th day and the second peak of active caspase-3 content was observed on the 21st day. These changes reflected the activation of apoptosis in key trigger periods of AILI during the development of exudative hemorrhagic pneumonia and subsequent fibrotic remodeling of the lungs.