丹参联合β-榄香烯对肝星形细胞LX-2增殖和凋亡的影响

目的：探讨丹参联合B-榄香烯对肝星形细胞LX-2增殖和凋亡的影响。方法：体外培养肝星形细胞LX-2,分别将丹参（浓度为1、2、4、6、8mg／ml）,β-榄香烯（浓度为25、50、100、150、200μg／ml）,单独作用于LX-2细胞后24h、48h用CCK-8（CellCountKit-8）法检测细胞的增殖情况,并选取合适的药物浓度（丹参3．6mg／ml,β-榄香烯125μg／ml）,然后进行联合用药,加药24h、48h后用CCK-8（Cell CountKit-8）法检测细胞的增殖情况,用流式细胞术检测细胞的凋亡率。结果：OCCK-8法显示丹参（浓度为1、2、4、6、8mg／ml）,8-榄香烯（浓度为25、50、100、150、200μg／ml）作用LX-2细胞24h、48h后,其增殖抑制率均明显高于正常对照组（P〈0．05）,并且呈浓度和时间依赖性。②联合用药（丹参3．6mg／ml,β-榄香烯125μg／ml）时,LX-2细胞的增殖抑制率和凋亡率均显著高于单独用药（P〈0．01）。结论：丹参、β-榄香烯单独或二者联合作用均能抑制LX-2细胞的增殖,且联合应用的作用显著高于单独用药,可协同促进LX-2细胞的凋亡。     

TRAIL联合多西紫杉醇诱导喉鳞癌Hep-2细胞凋亡的实验研究

目的：观察肿瘤坏死因子相关凋亡诱导配体（TRAIL）联合多西紫杉醇应用于人喉鳞癌Hep-2细胞生长的抑制增殖和诱导凋亡作用。方法：实验分四组,1组对照组,2组为应用TRAIL组,3组单独应用多西紫杉醇,4组联合应用TRAIL及多西紫杉醇。分别应用MTT、流式细胞仪检测细胞凋亡率,倒置显微镜观察细胞的形态学改变。结果：TRAIL与多西紫杉醇联合作用于Hep-2细胞,能显著增强对Hep-2细胞的杀伤、抑制增殖及诱导凋亡作用,其联合应用的凋亡抑制率明显高于单独应用TRAIL组和多西紫杉醇组（P〈0．05）。结论：TRAIL与多西紫杉醇联用能显著提高对喉鳞癌Hep-2细胞的生长抑制和诱导凋亡作用。     

E1A激活基因阻遏子过表达抑制体外人血管平滑肌细胞凋亡

为探讨E1A激活基因阻遏子（cellular repressor of E1A-stimulated genes,CREG）对人血管平滑肌细胞（vascular smooth muscl ecells,VSMCs）凋亡的影响及调控机制,应用正、反义重组逆转录病毒表达载体pLNCX,（＋）／CREG及pLXSN（-）／CREG制备稳定感染人胸廓内动脉平滑肌细胞克隆株（human internal thoracic artery-Shenyang,HITASY）细胞模型,观察CREG蛋白过表达及表达抑制对平滑肌细胞凋亡的影响。荧光显微镜下观察DAPI染色后凋亡细胞核形态,AnnexinV／PI流式细胞术检测细胞凋亡率,RT-PCR技术分析凋亡相关基因caspase-9mRNA的表达,蛋白质印迹法分析p38丝裂原活化蛋白激酶（p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase,p38MAPK）、磷酸化p38MAPK（phosphorylated p38 mitogen-activated proteinkinase,P-p38 MAPK）的表达变化。研究结果显示,CREG蛋白过表达明显抑制血清饥饿诱导的HITASY细胞凋亡的发生;同时细胞中p38MAPK、P-p38MAPK的表达增加。相反,抑制CREG蛋白表达则引起正常血清培养状态下VSMCs的自发凋亡明显增加,同时细胞内p38MAPK、P-p38MAPK表达显著下降。进一步研究发现,预先应用特异性抑制剂SB203580阻断p38MAPK信号转导通路后,CREG蛋白过表达引起的细胞凋亡抑制作用被明显减弱,血清饥饿后CREG蛋白过表达引起的HITASY细胞凋亡现象明显增加。上述结果提示,CREG蛋白过表达可以抑制体外培养的VSMCs凋亡,p38MAPK信号转导通路可能介导CREG蛋白对VSMCs凋亡的抑制作用。     

曲古抑菌素A（TSA）对骨肉瘤细胞株143B增殖和凋亡的作用及其机制

观察曲古抑菌素A（TSA）对骨肉瘤细胞株143B增殖及凋亡的作用,并探讨其机制。TSA与p38抑制剂（SB203580,3μmol／L）及JNK抑制剂（SP600125,0．5μmol／L）单独或同时处理143B细胞,分别以MTT、台盼蓝染色、流式细胞术和JC—1（测定线粒体跨膜电位）法检,TSA对143B细胞的增殖、存活、周期以及凋亡的影响。应用RT-PCR、Westernblot检测Bax、Bcl．2、p38／JNK表达。结果显示,TsA能够以时间和剂量依赖方式抑制143B细胞增殖,使细胞周期阻滞于GdG。与G2／M期,并能诱导143B细胞凋亡,引起线粒体膜电位降低,促凋亡蛋白Bax表达上调,抑凋亡蛋白Bcl．2表达下调,同时使p38／ⅢK活化增加。p38／JNK4检测剂则能逆转TSA对Bax／Bcl．2的上调及抑制作用。研究结果揭示,TSA可以时间剂量依赖方式抑制143BN胞增殖,阻滞细胞周期,诱导细胞凋亡;其诱导细胞凋亡的机制可能与活化MAPK通路中p38和JNK的活性从而激发线粒体凋亡通路有关。     

p38丝裂素活化蛋白激酶介导低氧预处理诱导的内质网应激相关的心肌细胞保护

钙网蛋白（calreticulin,CRT）和caspase-12是重要的内质网（endoplasmic reticulum,ER）应激分子,本实验在心肌细胞低氧／复氧（hypoxia／reoxygenation,H／R）模型上观察低氧预处理（hypoxic preconditioning,HPC）对CRT和caspase-12表达及活化的影响,探讨内质网应激（endoplasmic reticulum stress,ERS）在HPC保护机制中的意义及其细胞信号转导机制。原代培养的Sprague-Dawley乳鼠心肌细胞随机分为6组：H／R组、HPC＋H／R组、SB203580＋HPC＋H／R组、SP600125＋HPC＋H／R组、HPC组和对照组。以细胞存活率、乳酸脱氢酶（lactate dehydrogenase,LDH）活性及流式细胞术检测细胞损伤情况：Western blot方法检测CRT和caspase-12表达、活化及p38丝裂素活化蛋白激酶（mitogen—activated protein kinases,MAPK）、cJun N-terminal kinase（JNK）磷酸化水平。结果表明：（1）HPC具有细胞保护作用,与H／R组比较,HPC＋H／R组细胞凋亡率和LDH漏出分别降低6．6％和70．0％,存活率增高6．4％：HPC前以特异性p38MAPK抑制剂SB203580预孵育消除HPC的保护作用,与HPC＋H／R组相比,细胞凋亡率和LDH漏出分别增高5．4％和2．1倍,存活率降低5．4％,JNK特异性抑制剂SP600125预孵育对HPC的保护作用无明显影响。（2）H／R明显上调CRT表达（较对照组高8．1倍）和caspase-12活性（较对照组高33．2倍）;单独HPC可诱导CRT表达增多（较对照组高2．6倍）,但上调程度较H／R组低60％。H／R前进行HPC降低CRT过表达程度（降低72．4％）及caspase-12活化水平（降低59．6％）。（3）HPC前应用p38MAPK抑制剂,抑制CRT表达上调（分别较HPC＋H／R组和HPC组低63．9％和71．9％）,并消除HPC减轻H／R上调caspase-12活性的作用（较HPC＋H／R组高7．1倍）;HPC前抑制JNK活性对CRT、caspase-12表达和活化均无明显影响。上述结果提示：HPC可激发适当的ERS,抑制H／R诱导的过度ERS,减少ER凋亡信号介导的细胞凋亡。p38MAPK信号途径在HPC诱导的ER应激分子表达、抑制ER凋亡信号分子活化等机制中发挥重要作用。     

褪黑素通过提高p53和Fas的表达促进小鼠肝癌H22细胞凋亡

目的：研究褪黑素（MLT）对小鼠肝癌细胞株H22的促凋亡作用及其机理。方法：采用丫啶橙（AO）染色、培养液乳酸脱氢酶（LDH）活性检测和流式细胞术（FCM）观察MLT的促凋亡作用;采用RT-PCR方法检测MLT处理前后细胞的p53 mRNA、Fas mRNA的水平。结果：AO染色后H22细胞呈现明显核浓缩的凋亡形态;培养液LDH活性检测及FCM分析均提示MLT诱导H22细胞发生凋亡;RT-PCR结果显示p53、Fas表达增强。结论：MLT能促进H22细胞p53和Fas的表达,从而诱导细胞发生凋亡。     

CD/5-FC对KSHV肿瘤转化基因K12诱导NIH3T3转化细胞的杀伤作用

采用分子克隆技术构建含卡波济肉瘤相关疱疹病毒(Kaposi’s sarcoma—associated herpesvirus,KSHV)转化基因K12和含胞嘧啶脱氨酶(CD)基因重组逆转录病毒表达质粒,分别命名为LZRS-K12和pLXSN—Fcy∷Fur。将LZRS-K12质粒转染NIH3T3细胞系,诱导细胞转化获得具有肿瘤细胞生物学特性的N／K12细胞,进一步将pLXSN—Fcy∷Fur质粒转染N／K12细胞,获得含CD基因的N／K12／FF细胞。加入5-氟胞嘧啶(5-FC)后,采用MTT法、流式细胞仪和免疫组化(IHC)等方法,分别检测细胞存活率、凋亡率及凋亡相关蛋白的表达。结果显示,N／K12／FF细胞在使用5-FC后存活率明显下降。流式细胞仪检测结果显示,5-FC作用后的N／K12／FF细胞的凋亡率与作用前相比增加了4．6％。与此同时,经5-FC作用后的N／K12和N／K12／FF细胞的生长周期发生了明显变化,均表现为G0-G1期细胞比率降低,S和G2-M期细胞比率增高。5-FC使得N／K12细胞的增殖主要阻滞在G2-M期,而N／K12／FF细胞的增殖主要阻滞在S期。IHC检测结果表明,N／K12细胞在5-FC使用前后Fas和Fas-L表达改变均不明显;而N／K12／FF细胞在5-FC使用后的Fas和Fas-L表达水平均明显高于5-FC使用前的水平。提示,CD／5-FC对KSHV肿瘤转化基因K12诱导NIH3T3转化细胞具有杀伤作用;凋亡有可能介导了部分杀伤过程;Fas和Fas-L有可能部分参与凋亡的诱导。     

CD59、CD55在T细胞活化信号转导中的协同作用

目的：研究糖基磷脂酰肌醇（GeD）锚固蛋白CD59、CD55在脂筏介导T细胞信号转导通路中的协同效应。方法：应用siRNA技术,构建特异性针对CD55与CD59基因的重组载体pSUPER—siCD55,pSUPER—siCD59。实验分为未转染的Jurkat细胞组（I组）、转染pSUPER空质粒的Jurkat细胞组（Ⅱ组）、转染pSUPER—siCD59重组质粒的Jurkat细胞组（Ⅲ组）及转染pSUPER—siCD55重组质粒的Jurkat细胞组（Ⅳ组）。RT—PCR检测转染细胞中CD55和CD59基因的表达。噻唑蓝（MTT）比色法和激光共聚焦扫描显微镜分别检测CD55与CD59联合作用对4组Jurkat细胞的增殖效应以及细胞内钙离子的变化。结果：稳定转染后,Ⅲ组细胞CD59分子的表达和Ⅳ组细胞CD55分子的表达被成功抑制。Ⅰ组和Ⅱ组细胞CD55与CD59联合作用后增殖能力和钙离子浓度均明显高于Ⅲ组、Ⅳ组（P〈0．05）,Ⅰ组和Ⅱ组之间无差异。结论：CD59和CD55在T细胞活化信号转导通路中存在协同效应。     

TK/GCV系统体外诱导成纤维细胞凋亡

 在体外培养并鉴定增生性瘢痕成纤维细胞（ Ｆ Ｂ）的基础上,采用重组逆转录病毒 Ｇ Ｔ Ｋ 介导并联合应用 ｇａｎｃｉｃｌｏｖｉｒ 对 Ｆ Ｂ细胞进行体外杀伤,以探究 Ｔ Ｋ／ Ｇ Ｃ Ｖ 系统体外杀伤成纤维细胞的机制．经光镜、电镜及凝胶电泳等实验发现,在 Ｔ Ｋ／ Ｇ Ｃ Ｖ 对瘢痕成纤维细胞的杀伤过程中存在明显的细胞凋亡现象．这提示 Ｔ Ｋ／ Ｇ Ｃ Ｖ 系统对体外培养的瘢痕成纤维细胞的杀伤作用部分是通过细胞凋亡途径实现的．     

康莱特联合阿霉素诱导骨肉瘤细胞凋亡的实验研究

目的研究康莱特对骨肉瘤细胞的诱导凋亡作用及其相关机制,探寻骨肉瘤的中西医结合化疗方案.方法免疫组化及RT-PCR方法检测不同浓度康莱特作用下骨肉瘤细胞的Fas表达,并将康莱特与阿霉素单独及联合应用于骨肉瘤细胞,采用MTT法检测细胞毒性作用,流式细胞仪定量分析凋亡细胞所占比例,倒置相差显微镜、荧光显微镜下观察凋亡细胞形态改变.结果康莱特可上调骨肉瘤细胞的Fas表达并诱导凋亡,康莱特浓度达到10μl/ml时,细胞抑制率不再明显改变,但如与1μlg/ml阿霉素合用将使细胞抑制率进一步提升(P<0.01).细胞形态观察及凋亡率测定也显示,康莱特与阿霉素联用可诱导更多骨肉瘤细胞凋亡.结论康莱特可通过上调Fas表达诱导骨肉瘤细胞凋亡,康莱特与阿霉素合用可提高杀伤骨肉瘤细胞.     

Cutting edge: Rac GTPases sensitize activated T cells to die via Fas

In activated CD4(+) T cells, TCR restimulation triggers apoptosis that depends on interactions between the death receptor Fas and its ligand, FasL. This process, termed restimulation-induced cell death (RICD), is a mechanism of peripheral immune tolerance. TCR signaling sensitizes activated T cells to Fas-mediated apoptosis, but what pathways mediate this process are not known. In this study we identify the Rho GTPases Rac1 and Rac2 as essential components in restimulation-induced cell death. RNA interference-mediated knockdown of Rac GTPases greatly reduced Fas-dependent, TCR-induced apoptosis. The ability of Rac1 to sensitize T cells to Fas-induced apoptosis correlated with Rac-mediated cytoskeletal reorganization, dephosphorylation of the ERM (ezrin/radixin/moesin) family of cytoskeletal linker proteins, and the translocation of Fas to lipid raft microdomains. In primary activated CD4(+) T cells, Rac1 and Rac2 were independently required for maximal TCR-induced apoptosis. Activating Rac signaling may be a novel way to sensitize chronically stimulated lymphocytes to Fas-induced apoptosis, an important goal in the treatment of autoimmune diseases.     

CD47 augments Fas/CD95-mediated apoptosis

Fas (CD95) mediates apoptosis of many cell types, but the susceptibility of cells to killing by Fas ligand and anti-Fas antibodies is highly variable. Jurkat T cells lacking CD47 (integrin-associated protein) are relatively resistant to Fas-mediated death but are efficiently killed by Fas ligand or anti-Fas IgM (CH11) upon expression of CD47. Lack of CD47 impairs events downstream of Fas activation including caspase activation, poly-(ADP-ribose) polymerase cleavage, cytochrome c release from mitochondria, loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, and DNA cleavage. Neither CD47 signaling nor raft association of CD47 is required to enable Fas apoptosis. CH11 induces association of Fas and CD47. Primary T cells from CD47-null mice are also protected from Fas-mediated killing relative to wild type T cells. Thus CD47 associates with Fas upon its activation and augments Fas-mediated apoptosis.     

Critical role of CFTR-dependent lipid rafts in cigarette smoke-induced lung epithelial injury

Apoptosis of lung epithelial and endothelial cells by exposure to cigarette smoke (CS) severely damages the lung tissue, leading to the pathogenesis of emphysema, but the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. We have recently established a direct correlation between decreased lipid raft CFTR expression and emphysema progression through increased ceramide accumulation. In the present work, we investigated the role of membrane CFTR in regulating apoptosis and autophagy responses to CS exposure. We report a constitutive and CS-induced increase in the number of TUNEL-positive apoptotic cells in Cftr(-/-) murine lungs compared with Cftr(+/+) murine lungs that also correlated with a concurrent increase in the expression of ceramide, NF-κB, CD95/Fas, lipid raft proteins, and zonula occludens (ZO)-1/2 (P < 0.001). We also verified that stable wild-type CFTR expression in CFBE41o(-) cells controls constitutively elevated caspase-3/7 activity (-1.6-fold, P < 0.001). Our data suggest that membrane CFTR regulates ceramide-enriched lipid raft signaling platforms required for the induction of Fas-mediated apoptotic signaling. In addition, lack of membrane CFTR also modulates autophagy, as demonstrated by the significant increase in constitutive (P < 0.001) and CSE-induced (P < 0.005) perinuclear accumulation of green fluorescent protein-microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain-3 (LC3) in the absence of membrane CFTR (CFBE41o(-) cells). The significant constitutive and CS-induced increase (P < 0.05) in p62 and LC3β expression in CFTR-deficient cells and mice corroborates these findings and suggest a defective autophagy response in the absence of membrane CFTR. Our data demonstrate the critical role of membrane-localized CFTR in regulating apoptotic and autophagic responses in CS-induced lung injury that may be involved in the pathogenesis of severe emphysema.     

Piwil2 Inhibits Keratin 8 Degradation through Promoting p38-Induced Phosphorylation To Resist Fas-Mediated Apoptosis

The piwi-like 2 (piwil2) gene is widely expressed in tumors and protects cells from apoptosis induced by a variety of stress stimuli. However, the role of Piwil2 in Fas-mediated apoptosis remains unknown. Here, we present evidence that Piwil2 inhibits Fas-mediated apoptosis. By a bacterial two-hybrid screening, we identify a new Piwil2-interacting partner, keratin 8 (K8), a major intermediate filament protein protecting the cell from Fas-mediated apoptosis. Our results show that Piwil2 binds to K8 and p38 through its PIWI domain and forms a Piwil2/K8/P38 triple protein-protein complex. Thus, Piwil2 increases the phosphorylation level of K8 Ser-73 and then inhibits ubiquitin-mediated degradation of K8. As a result, the knockdown of Piwil2 increases the Fas protein level at the membrane. In addition to our previous finding that Piwil2 inhibits the expression of p53 through the Src/STAT3 pathway, here we demonstrate that Piwil2 represses p53 phosphorylation through p38. Our present study indicates that Piwil2 plays a role in Fas-mediated apoptosis for the first time and also can affect p53 phosphorylation in tumor cells, revealing a novel mechanism of Piwil2 in apoptosis, and supports that Piwil2 plays an active role in tumorigenesis.     

Modulation of Fas-mediated apoptosis by lipid rafts in T lymphocytes

In type I cells, Fas-mediated cell death requires cytoplasmic membrane subdomains called microdomains or lipid rafts. On the contrary, Fas signaling is independent of these structures in type II cells. We report that in human T cells, CD28, CD59, and CD55 are all localized into lipid rafts and that CD28 is concentrated into microdomains enriched in ganglioside GM1, whereas CD59 and CD55 are not. Moreover, CD28 cross-linking leads to the formation of lipid raft clusters which exclude CD59 and CD55, and reciprocally. Coligation of Fas with CD55 or CD59 inhibits the apoptotic signal, whereas CD28 recruitment amplifies the Fas signaling pathway. Therefore, we conclude that 1) different types of microdomains exist on the cell surface, with distinct functional properties and 2) the recruitment of these distinct structures may differentially modulate the Fas pathway. Moreover, our results demonstrate that Fas-induced apoptosis can be controlled at the level of the cytoplasmic membrane.     

Hepatitis C virus core inhibits the Fas-mediated p38 mitogen activated kinase signaling pathway in hepatocytes

The p38 mitogen activated kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway plays an essential role in regulating many cellular processes, including inflammation, cell differentiation, and cell death. Here, we report that the hepatitis C virus (HCV) core inhibits the Fas-mediated p38 signaling pathway. The Fas-mediated p38 activation is suppressed in core-expressing HepG2 cell lines, as well as in the hepatocytes of transgenic mice. In addition, core protein blocked the Fas-mediated activation of apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1 (ASK1), a major upstream MAPKKK of p38. Treatment of a specific p38 inhibitor (SB203580) or overexpression of a kinase-defective mutant, ASK1 (K709R), promoted Fas-mediated cell death in HepG2 cells. This suggests that the p38 and ASK1 activation is required for cell survival against Fas-mediated cell death. In addition, we observed that the HCV core protein enhances Fas-mediated liver injury and lethality in transgenic mice. Collectively, our findings suggest that the HCV core inhibits the Fas-mediated p38 signaling pathway, which results in accelerated Fas-mediated cell death.     

Activation of the Rb/E2F1 pathway by the nonproliferative p38 MAPK during Fas (APO1/CD95)-mediated neuronal apoptosis

Aberrant activation of the Rb/E2F1 pathway in cycling cells, in response to mitogenic or nonmitogenic stress signals, leads to apoptosis through hyperphosphorylation of Rb. To test whether in postmitotic neurons the Rb/E2F1 pathway can be activated by the nonmitogenic stress signaling, we examined the role of the p38 stress-activated protein kinase (SAPK) in regulating Rb phosphorylation in response to Fas (CD95/APO1)-mediated apoptosis of cultured cerebellar granule neurons (CGNs). Anti-Fas antibody induced a dramatic and early activation of p38. Activated p38 was correlated with the induction of hyperphosphorylation of both endogenous and exogenous Rb. The p38-selective inhibitor, SB203580, attenuated such an increase in pRb phosphorylation and significantly protected CGNs from Fas-induced apoptosis. The cyclin-dependent kinase-mediated Rb phosphorylation played a lesser role in this neuronal death paradigm, since cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors, such as olomoucine, roscovitine, and flavopiridol, did not significantly prevent anti-Fas antibody-evoked neuronal apoptosis. Hyperphosphorylation of Rb by p38 SAPK resulted in the release of Rb-bound E2F1. Increased E2F1 modulated neuronal apoptosis, since E2F1-/- CGNs were significantly less susceptible to Fas-mediated apoptosis in comparison with the wild-type CGNs. Taken together, these studies demonstrate that neuronal Rb/E2F1 is modulated by the nonproliferative p38 SAPK in Fas-mediated neuronal apoptosis.     

Regulating the suppressors: apoptosis and inflammation govern the survival of tumor-induced myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC)

Immune suppressive myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) are present in most cancer patients where they inhibit innate anti-tumor immunity and are a significant obstacle to cancer immunotherapy. Inflammation is a known inducer of Gr1(+)CD11b(+) MDSC; however, the factors/conditions that regulate MDSC survival and half-life have not been identified. We have used mass spectrometry (MS) and proteomic analysis to identify proteins and pathways that regulate MDSC survival. This analysis revealed high expression of caspase family proteins and the Fas-FasL, p38 MAPK, and TGFβ pathways, suggesting that Fas-FasL apoptosis regulates MDSC survival. Flow cytometry, confocal microscopy, and western blot analyses confirmed the MS findings and demonstrated that Fas(+) MDSC are susceptible to Fas-mediated killing in vitro. In vivo studies with FasL-deficient and Fas-deficient mice demonstrated that Fas-FasL interactions are essential for MDSC apoptosis and for rejection of established metastatic disease and survival and that FasL(+) T cells are the effector population mediating MDSC apoptosis. MS findings validated by biological experiments demonstrated that inflammation increases MDSC levels by protecting MDSC from Fas-mediated apoptosis, possibly by activating p38 MAPK. These results demonstrate that MDSC half-life in vivo is regulated by FasL(+) T cells and that inflammation increases MDSC levels by conferring resistance to Fas-mediated apoptosis and identifies T cells as the relevant effector cells causing MDSC apoptosis in vivo. This newly recognized mechanism for regulating MDSC levels identifies potential new targets for decreasing MDSC in cancer patients.     

Oxaliplatin enhances TRAIL-induced apoptosis in gastric cancer cells by CBL-regulated death receptor redistribution in lipid rafts

Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) is a member of the tumor necrosis factor family that selectively induces apoptosis in cancer cells. However, gastric cancer cells are insensitive to TRAIL. In the present study, we show that oxaliplatin enhanced TRAIL-induced apoptosis of MGC803, BGC823, and SGC7901 cells. Oxaliplatin promoted death receptor 4 (DR4) and death receptor 5 (DR5) clustering into aggregated lipid rafts, while the cholesterol-sequestering agent nystatin partially prevented lipid raft aggregation, DR4 and DR5 clustering, and reduced apoptosis. Furthermore, the expression of the casitas B-lineage lymphoma (Cbl) family was downregulated by oxaliplatin. Transfection of c-Cbl or Cbl-b partially reversed oxaliplatin-induced lipid raft aggregation. These results indicated that oxaliplatin enhanced TRAIL-induced gastric cancer cell apoptosis at least partially through Cbl-regulated death receptor redistribution in lipid rafts.     

Recruitment of active glycogen synthase kinase-3 into neuronal lipid rafts

Glycogen synthase kinase (GSK)-3beta has emerged as a key molecule that regulates neuronal apoptosis. To examine the molecular mechanism(s) through which GSK-3beta regulates this process, we studied the subcellular localization of GSK-3beta following exposure of the cells to well-characterized apoptotic stimuli. Here, we report that the induction of apoptosis by withdrawal of serum and potassium triggers dephosphorylation of GSK-3beta at serine 9 and subsequent translocation of these molecules into neuronal lipid raft microdomains. Inhibition of GSK-3beta by small molecule inhibitors blocks specific phosphorylation of lipid raft associated protein Tau. Consistent with the notion that the lipid raft domains may serve as a platform for the cellular signaling complexes, disruption of lipid rafts protected neurons from apoptosis induced by withdrawal of serum and potassium as well as by HIV-1 Tat. Our observations reveal novel interaction of GSK-3beta and raft domains, and suggest that such interaction could contribute to neuronal apoptosis.