Z-VAD(OMe)-FMK is a cell-permeable and irreversible pan-caspase inhibitor. It inhibits cleavage of PARP, preventing apoptosis when used at 10-50 μM.

Z-VAD.FMK was a poor inhibitor of PARP protease activity in cell lysates. Z-VAD.FMK (10 μM) is a potent inhibitor of Fas-induced apoptosis [1]. CPP32 is activated during camptothecin-induced apoptosis, and Z-VAD-fmk blocks all features of apoptosis. However, Z-VAD-fmk is inactive in a cell-free system reconstituted from nuclei of untreated HL60 cells and cytosol from camptothecin-treated cells [2]. z-VAD-FMK suppressed TUNEL and caspase-3 staining in endothelial cells, decreased caspase-3 activation, reduced BBB permeability, relieved vasospasm, abolished brain edema, and improved neurological outcome [3].

LPS (30 mg/kg) was administered intravenously to Institute for Cancer Research mice. Z-VAD.fmk was injected before and after the administration of LPS. The injection of Z-VAD.fmk suppressed the caspase-3 activity in lung tissues and significantly decreased the number of terminal dUTP nick-end labeling-positive cells [4]. Treatment with the specific caspase inhibitor Z-VAD-FMK (i.p.) prior to heat-killed group B streptococcus (i.p.) delayed but did not prevent preterm delivery [5].

The human monocytic tumour cell line, THP.1 and the leukaemic T-cell line, Jurkat (clone E-6) were maintained in RPMI 1640 supplemented with 10% (v/v) heat-inactivated fetal calf serum, 100 units/ml penicillin and 100 μg/ml streptomycin in an atmosphere of 5% CO2 in air at 37 °C. The cells were maintained in logarithmic growth phase by routine passage every 2–3 days. To induce apoptosis in THP.1 cells, 2×10^6 cells/ml were incubated either alone or in the presence of cycloheximide (25 μM) and TLCK (100 μM) as previously described. In order to assess the possible effects of various ICE-like protease inhibitors, THP.1 cells were also pretreated for 1 h with Z-VAD.FMK (10 μM), Ac-DEVD-CHO (20 μM) and Ac-YVAD-CHO (20 μM) before being exposed to the apoptotic stimulus. To induce apoptosis in Jurkat cells, 2×10^6 cells/ml were stimulated with 200 ng/ml anti-human Fas as described previously [1].

Mice used in this study were 5- to 6-week-old (20 to 22 g) ICR males. Mice were injected with 30 mg/kg LPS from E. coli serotype O111:B4 through the tail vein. Z-VAD.fmk was dissolved at 2 mg/ml in 1% dimethyl sulfoxide in sterile saline, and administered to mice by the method of Rodriguez et al. A single intravenous injection of Z-VAD.fmk (0.25 mg) was made 15 minutes before LPS injection, followed by three intravenous injections of Z-VAD.fmk (0.1 mg each) per hour. Control mice were injected with the same volume of 1% DMSO in sterile saline [4].

187389-52-2

C22H30FN3O7

467.494

Z-Val-Ala-Asp(OMe)-FMK;Z-VAD-FMK;Z-VAD(OMe)-FMK

[1]Zhu Q, Ding L, Zi Z, et al. Viral-Mediated AURKB Cleavage Promotes Cell Segregation and Tumorigenesis[J]. Cell reports. 2019 Mar 26;26(13):3657-3671.e5. [2]Wu X, Luo Q, Zhao P, et al. JOSD1 inhibits mitochondrial apoptotic signalling to drive acquired chemoresistance in gynaecological cancer by stabilizing MCL1[J]. Cell Death & Differentiation. 2020, 27(1): 55-70. [3]Slee EA, et al. Benzyloxycarbonyl-Val-Ala-Asp (OMe) fluoromethylketone (Z-VAD.FMK) inhibits apoptosis by blocking the processing of CPP32. Biochem J. 1996 Apr 1;315 ( Pt 1):21-4. [4]Equils O, et al. Pretreatment with pancaspase inhibitor (Z-VAD-FMK) delays but does not prevent intraperitoneal heat-killed group B Streptococcus-induced preterm delivery in a pregnant mouse model. Infect Dis Obstet Gynecol. 2009;2009:749432. [5]Lu Z, Zhang G, Zhang Y, et al. Isoalantolactone induces apoptosis through reactive oxygen species-dependent upregulation of death receptor 5 in human esophageal cancer cells[J]. Toxicology and applied pharmacology. 2018, 352: 46-58. [6]Shimizu T, Pommier Y. Camptothecin-induced apoptosis in p53-null human leukemia HL60 cells and their isolated nuclei: effects of the protease inhibitors Z-VAD-fmk and dichloroisocoumarin suggest an involvement of both caspases and serine proteases. Leukemia. 1997 Aug;11(8):1238-44. [7]Wang S, Li F, Qiao R, et al. Arginine-Rich Manganese Silicate Nanobubbles as a Ferroptosis-Inducing Agent for Tumor-Targeted Theranostics[J]. ACS nano. 2018 Dec 26;12(12):12380-12392. [8]Park S, et al. Neurovascular protection reduces early brain injury after subarachnoid hemorrhage. Stroke. 2004 Oct;35(10):2412-7. [9]Kawasaki M, et al. Protection from lethal apoptosis in lipopolysaccharide-induced acute lung injury in mice by a caspaseinhibitor. Am J Pathol. 2000 Aug;157(2):597-603. [10]Shao C S, Zhou X H, Zheng X X, et al. Ganoderic acid D induces synergistic autophagic cell death except for apoptosis in ESCC cells[J]. Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 2020, 262: 113213.

[1]Wang S, Li F, Qiao R, et al. Arginine-Rich Manganese Silicate Nanobubbles as a Ferroptosis-Inducing Agent for Tumor-Targeted Theranostics. ACS nano. 2018 Dec 26;12(12):12380-12392. [2]Wen L, Guo R, You L, et al. Major triterpenoids in Chinese hawthorn “Crataegus pinnatifida” and their effects on cell proliferation and apoptosis induction in MDA-MB-231 cancer cells. Food and chemical toxicology. 2017 Feb;100:149-160. [3]Shao C S, Zhou X H, Zheng X X, et al. Ganoderic acid D induces synergistic autophagic cell death except for apoptosis in ESCC cells. Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 2020, 262: 113213. [4]Lu Z, Zhang G, Zhang Y, et al. Isoalantolactone induces apoptosis through reactive oxygen species-dependent upregulation of death receptor 5 in human esophageal cancer cells. Toxicology and applied pharmacology. 2018, 352: 46-58. [5]Liao X, Fan Y, Hou J, et al. Identification of Chaetocin as a Potent non-ROS-mediated Anticancer Drug Candidate for Gastric Cancer. Journal of Cancer. 2019, 10(16): 3678-3690. [6]Zhang P, Zhang J, Quan H, et al. Effects of butein on human osteosarcoma cell proliferation, apoptosis, and autophagy through oxidative stress. Human & Experimental Toxicology. 2022, 41: 09603271221074346. [7]Ouyang S, Li H, Lou L, et al. Inhibition of STAT3-ferroptosis negative regulatory axis suppresses tumor growth and alleviates chemoresistance in gastric cancer. Redox Biology. 2022: 102317 [8]Zhu Q, Ding L, Zi Z, et al. Viral-Mediated AURKB Cleavage Promotes Cell Segregation and Tumorigenesis. Cell Reports. 2019 Mar 26;26(13):3657-3671.e5 [9]Xia Z, Zhang X, Liu P, et al. GNA13 regulates BCL2 expression and the sensitivity of GCB-DLBCL cells to BCL2 inhibitors in a palmitoylation-dependent manner. Cell Death & Disease. 2021, 12(1): 1-11. [10]Zhu L, Han Z, He Y, et al. Caspase-1-Dependent Pyroptosis Mediates Adjuvant Activity of Platycodin D as an Adjuvant for Intramuscular Vaccines. Cells. 2022, 11(1): 134.

H2O:<1 mg/mL
Ethanol:<1 mg/mL
DMSO:93 mg/mL (198.93 mM)
Powder: -20°C for 3 years
In solvent: -80°C for 2 years