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Figure 6 | Molecular Medicine

Figure 6

From: Valproic Acid Sensitizes Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Cells to Apoptosis and Restores the Balance Between Pro- and Antiapoptotic Proteins

Figure 6

A model for the valproate mediated apoptosis sensitization in CLL cells. In order to futher analyze our observation that valproate promotes cell death in cultured CLL cells, we analyzed the single steps of apoptosis induction and indentified an activation of both classical apoptosis pathways. Following experiments indicated that CASPASE 8, the activator caspase of the extrinsic pathway, was activated first. The cleavage of BID provided a connection to the intrinsic pathway and the activation of CASPASE 9. This is further supported by the downregulation of the antiapoptotic protein Bcl-2, which leads to increased sensitivity towards the induction of apoptosis.

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Molecular Medicine

ISSN: 1528-3658