Pharmacological inhibition of Bax-induced cell death: Bax-inhibiting peptides and small compounds inhibiting Bax

Exp Biol Med (Maywood). 2019 May;244(8):621-629. doi: 10.1177/1535370219833624. Epub 2019 Mar 5.

Abstract

Bax induces mitochondria-dependent programed cell death. While cytotoxic drugs activating Bax have been developed for cancer treatment, clinically effective therapeutics suppressing Bax-induced cell death rescuing essential cells have not been developed. This mini-review will summarize previously reported Bax inhibitors including peptides, small compounds, and antibodies. We will discuss potential applications and the future direction of these Bax inhibitors.

Keywords: Apoptosis; Bax; Bax inhibitor; Ku70; cell death; cell-penetrating peptide; drug delivery.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Apoptosis / drug effects*
  • Apoptosis / physiology
  • Brain Ischemia / drug therapy
  • Brain Ischemia / pathology
  • Cell-Penetrating Peptides / pharmacokinetics
  • Cell-Penetrating Peptides / pharmacology*
  • Cell-Penetrating Peptides / therapeutic use
  • Cell-Penetrating Peptides / toxicity
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Drug Carriers
  • Drug Design
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments / pharmacology
  • Ku Autoantigen / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Mitochondria / physiology
  • Mitochondrial Membrane Transport Proteins / drug effects
  • Mitochondrial Membranes / drug effects
  • Mitochondrial Permeability Transition Pore
  • Neurodegenerative Diseases / drug therapy
  • Neurodegenerative Diseases / pathology
  • Organ Preservation / methods
  • Pinocytosis
  • Protein Multimerization / drug effects
  • Pulmonary Fibrosis / drug therapy
  • Pulmonary Fibrosis / pathology
  • Rats
  • Retinal Degeneration / drug therapy
  • Retinal Degeneration / pathology
  • bcl-2-Associated X Protein / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • bcl-2-Associated X Protein / deficiency
  • bcl-2-Associated X Protein / immunology
  • bcl-2-Associated X Protein / metabolism

Substances

  • BAX protein, human
  • Bax protein, mouse
  • Cell-Penetrating Peptides
  • Drug Carriers
  • Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments
  • Mitochondrial Membrane Transport Proteins
  • Mitochondrial Permeability Transition Pore
  • bcl-2-Associated X Protein
  • Ku Autoantigen