Cell lines

Human colon cancer, HCT116, human embryonic fibroblastand 293 cell lines

Preparation method

Soluble in DMSO >10 mM. General tips for obtaining a higher concentration: Please warm the tube at 37 ℃ for 10 minutes and/or shake it in the ultrasonic bath for a while. Stock solution can be stored below -20℃ for several months.

Reaction Conditions

20 μM Z-LEHD-FMK for 30 mins followed by 20ng/ml TRAIL for 4 hours

Applications

Z-LEHD-FMK completely protects HCT116 and 293 cells from TRAIL-induced toxicity. Z-LEHD-FMK also protected human hepatocytes from TRAIL-induced apoptosis. The colony growth of HCT116 is reduced in the presence of TRAIL, and there are significantly more colonies present when the HCT116 cells were incubated in the presence of TRAIL and Z-LEHD-FMK.

Animal models

Adult male Wistar albino rats, 250 to 350 g, spinal cord injury model

Dosage form

Intravenous 0.8-mM/kg injection of z-LEHD-fmk.

Preparation method

Dry-form z-LEHD-fmk was dissolved in dimethylsulfoxide prepared with phosphatebuffered saline.

Applications

At 24 hours post-injury, the mean apoptotic cell count in trauma-only controls was significantly higher than that in z-LEHD-fmk–treated group. Electron microscopy results also show Z-LEHD-FMK treatment protected neurons, glia, myelin, axons, and intracellular organelles. The specimens treated with z-LEHD-fmk displays significantly fewer apoptotic cells and diminished axonal demyelination.

Other notes

Please test the solubility of all compounds indoor, and the actual solubility may slightly differ with the theoretical value. This is caused by an experimental system error and it is normal.

Z-LEHD-FMK is a specific and irreversible inhibitor of caspase-9 [1].

Caspase-9 is an initiator caspase and plays an important role in the mitochondrial death pathway. Caspase-9 is activated during programmed cell death and cleaves procaspase-7 and procaspase-3.

Z-LEHD-FMK is a specific and irreversible caspase-9 inhibitor. In HCT116 human colon cancer cell line and 293 human embryonic kidney cell line, Z-LEHD-FMK inhibited apoptosis mediated by tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL). These results suggested that TRAIL induced death through the mitochondrial pathway in some human cells. In a colony assay, Z-LEHD-FMK inhibited the reduction of colony growth of HCT116 induced by TRAIL. In normal human hepatocytes, Z-LEHD-FMK protected cells from TRAIL-induced apoptosis. These results suggested that a combination of Z-LEHD-FMK and TRAIL selectively killed cancer cells while protecting normal liver cells [1].

In rats with focal ischemia/reperfusion, Z-LEHD-FMK improved neurological outcome by 63% and reduced infarction volume by 49% [2]. In spinal cord trauma rat model, Z-LEHD-FMK reduced apoptotic cell count and protected neurons, myelin, axons, glia and intracellular organelles in the spinal cord [3].

References:
[1].  Ozoren N, Kim K, Burns TF, et al. The caspase 9 inhibitor Z-LEHD-FMK protects human liver cells while permitting death of cancer cells exposed to tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand. Cancer Res, 2000, 60(22): 6259-6265.
[2].  Mouw G, Zechel JL, Zhou Y, et al. Caspase-9 inhibition after focal cerebral ischemia improves outcome following reversible focal ischemia. Metab Brain Dis, 2002, 17(3): 143-151.
[3].  Colak A, Karaoglan A, Barut S, et al. Neuroprotection and functional recovery after application of the caspase-9 inhibitor z-LEHD-fmk in a rat model of traumatic spinal cord injury. J Neurosurg Spine, 2005, 2(3): 327-334.