异构体ΔASPP2可拮抗ASPP2对p53（细胞）凋亡功能的增强作用

p53 凋亡刺激蛋白2(apoptosis stimulating protein 2 of p53, ASPP2)能够与p53 蛋白结合特异性地增强其促细胞凋亡功能,进而发挥肿瘤抑制作用．我们发现的1个比ASPP2少300多个N端氨基酸的异构体ΔASPP2.目前,ΔASPP2对p53起何种作用尚不清楚．在本研究中,我们构建了rAd-ASPP2、rAd-ΔASPP2腺病毒,利用rAd-p53、rAd-ASPP2、rAd-ΔASPP2 感染p53缺失的细胞系H1299,在MMS的作用下研究ASPP2 和 ΔASPP2 对p53介导的细胞凋亡的影响．结果发现,p53自身过表达能明显促进肿瘤细胞的凋亡;ASPP2可显著增强p53介导的MMS引起的H1299细胞凋亡的作用;然而,ΔASPP2对p53介导的细胞凋亡没有明显影响但却显著抑制rAd-ASPP2 增强的rAd-p53的促细胞凋亡作用．p53-ASPP2 复合体可能改变p53 蛋白的构象,促进p53 和增强子Bax的结合活性．p53 转录调控基因的表达研究显示,ΔASPP2的存在可显著抑制ASPP2增强p53 介导的bax基因转录活性, 提示ΔASPP2可能与ASPP2结合后来抑制p53的凋亡基因转录活性．     

ASPP2以p53非依赖形式促进自噬引起Hep3B细胞凋亡

p53凋亡刺激蛋白2（apoptosis stimulating protein 2 of p53, ASPP2）能特异性地与p53蛋白结合并增强其促凋亡的功能,进而发挥抗肿瘤作用. 本室前期研究发现,ASPP2可以通过p53-DRAM自噬途径诱导细胞凋亡. 在本研究中,利用ASPP2 腺病毒感染Hep3B细胞(p53缺陷型肝癌细胞系)并用甲基磺酸(MMS)处理后; Calcein AM/PI和M30染色检测细胞凋亡;GFP-LC3质粒转染细胞后检测自噬; 荧光定量PCR和免疫印迹检测自噬基因表达. 结果表明,ASPP2在p53缺陷的Hep3B细胞内可诱导发生凋亡;在MMS存在和缺失条件下, Adr-ASPP2均引起自噬体水平升高及自噬基因的表达增 加,且MMS协同Adr-ASPP2能使自噬水平增加; 进一步用VPS34 siRNA和DRAM siRNA抑 制自噬发现,细胞凋亡水平下降, 说明由Adr-ASPP2诱发经损伤相关自噬调节蛋白（ DRAM）介导的自噬参与了肝癌细胞系凋亡的发生. 综上结果表明,ASPP2可以通过非p53依赖的DRAM介导自噬,并促进肝癌细胞凋亡. 该研究可为肝癌的基因治疗提供新的思路.     

ASPP2过表达可增强DRAM介导的自噬对HepG2细胞的促调亡作用

p53凋亡刺激蛋白2（apoptosis stimulating protein 2 of p53, ASPP2）能特异性地与p53蛋白结合并增强其促凋亡功能,进而发挥抗肿瘤作用.最近文献提示,自噬对肿瘤发生、发展及肿瘤细胞对抗肿瘤药物的反应都具有重要作用.在本研究中,甲基磺酸(MMS)处理HepG2细胞24 h后,用calcein AM/PI和M30染色检测细胞凋亡,可引起早期（M30免疫组化阳性）和晚期细胞凋亡（PI染色阳性）. 给HepG2细胞转染GFP-LC3质粒后,发现MMS处理24 h可引起自噬的发生. ASPP2腺病毒（rAd-ASPP2）感染HepG2细胞引起ASPP2过表达后,再用MMS处理24 h,能引起更明显的早期、晚期细胞凋亡和自噬. 荧光定量PCR检测发现,rAd-ASPP2诱导了更高的BCL-2相关X蛋白基因（BAX）和p53蛋白的目的基因p53诱导的自噬调节蛋白（p53-induced modulator of autophagy,DRAM）的表达. 但仅用rAd-ASPP2处理HepG2细胞不能引起自噬和凋亡.利用2条DRAM特异性的siRNA下调DRAM的表达,发现rAd-ASPP2引起的自噬被完全抑制, 早期和晚期凋亡均部分被抑制,同时BAX 的mRNA水平也明显下降. 以上结果说明,ASPP2可通过上调BAX和DRAM基因的转录而促进MMS引起的HepG2细胞凋亡; 另外,DRAM介导的自噬是ASPP2促进MMS引起的肿瘤细胞凋亡的机制之一. 该研究可为肝癌的基因治疗提供新的思路.     

双氢青蒿素联合奥沙利铂对人结肠癌HCT116细胞的增殖及凋亡的影响北大核心CSCD

研究双氢青蒿素(DHA)与奥沙利铂(L-OHP)联合对人结肠癌HCT116细胞的增殖及凋亡的影响,初步探讨凋亡的作用机制。运用MTT法检测不同浓度DHA、L-OHP及DHA与L-OHP联合对HCT116细胞的抑制作用,计算DHA与L-OHP是否发挥协同作用。实验结果显示DHA与L-OHP均对HCT116细胞增殖有抑制作用,二者联合在一定浓度下发挥协同作用。应用Annexin V-FITC/PI双染检测药物联用后细胞凋亡情况,结果显示联合组比DHA组和L-OHP组凋亡率提高(P <0. 01)。通过检测凋亡相关蛋白Bcl-2及Bax含量及casepase-3、casepase-8活性发现,与单药组比较DHA、L-OHP联合组Bcl-2/Bax降低,casepase-3、casepase-8活性提高(P <0. 01)。研究结果表明DHA与奥沙利铂联合能够显著抑制结肠癌HCT116细胞的增殖,在一定浓度下发挥协同作用,且能诱导细胞凋亡,其机制可能与加重DNA损伤,下调Bcl-2/Bax,激活casepase-3、casepase-8有关。     

PUMA在结肠癌细胞中的表达及诱导细胞凋亡中的作用

目的:通过5-Fu诱导携带有野生型p53基因的HCT116和携带有突变性p53基因的HT-29两种结肠癌细胞系,比较两株细胞在各时间点凋亡水平和PUMA mRNA表达情况的差异,探讨PUMA对细胞凋亡的作用及诱导其表达的基本途径。方法:用逆转录聚合酶链反应(RT—PCR)检测不同结肠癌细胞株HT-29、HCT116在抗肿瘤药物5-Fu作用下不同时间点结肠癌细胞株内PUMA mRNA表达水平的差异,用吖啶橙/溴化乙啶(AO/EB)荧光染色检测各时间点细胞的凋亡水平,分析其与PUMAmRNA表达水平之间的关系。结果:携带有野生型P53基因的结肠癌细胞株HCT116在5-Fu作用下6h即可出现PUMA mRNA的表达,随着药物作用时间的延长其表达强度增加,并且与细胞凋亡水平呈正相关;含有突变型P53基因的结肠癌细胞株HT-29在5-Fu作用下无PUMA的表达。结论:通过5-Fu诱导细胞凋亡出现的PUMA表达需要野生型P53基因,突变型P53基因无法诱导PUMA的表达。PUMA与结肠癌细胞凋亡水平呈正相关,是一种促凋亡蛋白。     

人巨细胞病毒即刻早期蛋白IE2在Tet-On系统调控下的表达及其抗凋亡作用

即刻早期蛋白IE2是人巨细胞病毒(HCMV)感染后最先表达的蛋白质,具有调节细胞周期和抑制细胞凋亡的作用。但IE2蛋白的表达水平与其抗凋亡活性之间的关系尚不清楚。本实验通过建立Tet-On系统调控下表达HCMVIE2蛋白的细胞株,在不同诱导条件下检测IE2蛋白对细胞凋亡和p53表达的影响。结果发现IE2蛋白能抑制TNF-α诱导的细胞凋亡,其抑制效应与IE2蛋白的表达量相关,而原位杂交结果显示IE2蛋白不影响p53的表达,提示IE2蛋白可能通过多种途径抑制细胞凋亡。     

乙型肝炎病毒上调的lnc-HUR1抑制肝癌细胞凋亡北大核心CSCD

Lnc-HUR1是乙型肝炎病毒(hepatitis B virus,HBV)上调的长链非编码RNA,具有促进肝癌细胞增殖和促进肝癌发生发展的功能。为探究lnc-HUR1对肝癌细胞凋亡的影响,通过免疫印迹、实时荧光定量PCR、双荧光素酶报告基因、免疫共沉淀、流式细胞术等实验方法,检测lnc-HUR1对肝癌细胞凋亡的影响。转化生长因子-β(tansforming growth factor-β,TGF-β)、五氟尿嘧啶和星孢菌素诱导肝癌细胞凋亡的实验结果显示,过表达lnc-HUR1能够显著降低caspase3/7的活性以及PARP-1的剪切,而敲低lnc-HUR1则能够显著增加caspase3/7的活性,促进PARP-1的剪切;Annexin-Ⅴ和PI联合染色实验也表明过表达lnc-HUR1能够抑制细胞凋亡,敲低lnc-HUR1能够促进细胞的凋亡。同时过表达lnc-HUR1能够在RNA水平和蛋白水平上调凋亡抑制因子Bcl-2(B cell lymphoma-2)、下调促凋亡因子BAX(B cell lymphoma-2-associated x),从而抑制细胞的凋亡。在CCL4诱导的小鼠急性肝损伤模型中,lnc-HUR1转基因小鼠肝组织中Bcl-2的表达高于对照小鼠。染色质免疫共沉淀(chromatin immunoprecipitation,ChIP)实验也证实lnc-HUR1能够降低p53在Bcl-2和BAX启动子区的富集。以上结果说明,lnc-HUR1通过促进凋亡抑制因子Bcl-2及抑制凋亡促进因子BAX的表达抑制肝癌细胞的凋亡。进一步的实验表明,在HCT116细胞中lnc-HUR1能够调控Bcl-2和BAX的转录,而在HCT116 p53−/−细胞中,lnc-HUR1对Bcl-2和BAX的表达没有影响,说明lnc-HUR1对肝癌细胞凋亡的抑制作用依赖于p53的活性。综上所述,HBV上调的lnc-HUR1具有抑制肝癌细胞凋亡的作用,lnc-HUR1通过抑制p53转录活性,上调凋亡抑制因子Bcl-2、抑制凋亡促进因子BAX的转录,从而抑制细胞凋亡。上述结果提示Lnc-HUR1在HBV相关肝癌发生发展中发挥重要作用。     

双氢青蒿素联合奥沙利铂对人结肠癌HCT116细胞的增殖及凋亡的影响

研究双氢青蒿素(DHA)与奥沙利铂(L-OHP)联合对人结肠癌HCT116细胞的增殖及凋亡的影响,初步探讨凋亡的作用机制。运用MTT法检测不同浓度DHA、L-OHP及DHA与L-OHP联合对HCT116细胞的抑制作用,计算DHA与L-OHP是否发挥协同作用。实验结果显示DHA与L-OHP均对HCT116细胞增殖有抑制作用,二者联合在一定浓度下发挥协同作用。应用Annexin V-FITC/PI双染检测药物联用后细胞凋亡情况,结果显示联合组比DHA组和L-OHP组凋亡率提高(P 0. 01)。通过检测凋亡相关蛋白Bcl-2及Bax含量及casepase-3、casepase-8活性发现,与单药组比较DHA、L-OHP联合组Bcl-2/Bax降低,casepase-3、casepase-8活性提高(P 0. 01)。研究结果表明DHA与奥沙利铂联合能够显著抑制结肠癌HCT116细胞的增殖,在一定浓度下发挥协同作用,且能诱导细胞凋亡,其机制可能与加重DNA损伤,下调Bcl-2/Bax,激活casepase-3、casepase-8有关。     

新的抑癌基因ASPP对p53作用的研究进展

p53是一个肿瘤抑制蛋白,它是通过调节相关基因表达,诱导细胞凋亡。p53诱导细胞凋亡的机制多年来一直不太清楚,而最近发现的ASPP(apoptosis stimulating protein of p53)蛋白家族对p53诱导细胞凋亡的机制研究有了新的进展。本文就此作一综述。     

Polo-like kinase 1 inhibitors,mitotic stress and the tumor suppressor p53

Polo-like kinase 1 has been established as one of the most attractive targets for molecular cancer therapy. In fact, multiple small-molecule inhibitors targeting this kinase have been developed and intensively investigated. Recently, it has been reported that the cytotoxicity induced by Plk1 inhibition is elevated in cancer cells with inactive p53, leading to the hypothesis that inactive p53 is a predictive marker for the response of Plk1 inhibition. In our previous study based on different cancer cell lines, we showed that cancer cells with wild type p53 were more sensitive to Plk1 inhibition by inducing more apoptosis, compared with cancer cells depleted of p53. In the present work, we further demonstrate that in the presence of mitotic stress induced by different agents, Plk1 inhibitors strongly induced apoptosis in HCT116 p53^+/+ cells, whereas HCT116 p53^−/− cells arrested in mitosis with less apoptosis. Depletion of p53 in HCT116 p53^+/+ or U2OS cells reduced the induction of apoptosis. Moreover, the surviving HCT116 p53^−/− cells showed DNA damage and a strong capability of colony formation. Plk1 inhibition in combination with other anti-mitotic agents inhibited proliferation of tumor cells more strongly than Plk1 inhibition alone. Taken together, the data underscore that functional p53 strengthens the efficacy of Plk1 inhibition alone or in combination by strongly activating cell death signaling pathways. Further studies are required to investigate if the long-term outcomes of losing p53, such as low differential grade of tumor cells or defective DNA damage checkpoint, are responsible for the cytotoxicity of Plk1 inhibition.     

Bak compensated for Bax in p53-null cells to release cytochrome c for the initiation of mitochondrial signaling during Withanolide D-induced apoptosis

The goal of cancer chemotherapy to induce multi-directional apoptosis as targeting a single pathway is unable to decrease all the downstream effect arises from crosstalk. Present study reports that Withanolide D (WithaD), a steroidal lactone isolated from Withania somnifera, induced cellular apoptosis in which mitochondria and p53 were intricately involved. In MOLT-3 and HCT116p53+/+ cells, WithaD induced crosstalk between intrinsic and extrinsic signaling through Bid, whereas in K562 and HCT116p53-/- cells, only intrinsic pathway was activated where Bid remain unaltered. WithaD showed pronounced activation of p53 in cancer cells. Moreover, lowered apoptogenic effect of HCT116p53-/- over HCT116p53+/+ established a strong correlation between WithaD-mediated apoptosis and p53. WithaD induced Bax and Bak upregulation in HCT116p53+/+, whereas increase only Bak expression in HCT116p53-/- cells, which was coordinated with augmented p53 expression. p53 inhibition substantially reduced Bax level and failed to inhibit Bak upregulation in HCT116p53+/+ cells confirming p53-dependent Bax and p53-independent Bak activation. Additionally, in HCT116p53+/+ cells, combined loss of Bax and Bak (HCT116Bax-Bak-) reduced WithaD-induced apoptosis and completely blocked cytochrome c release whereas single loss of Bax or Bak (HCT116Bax-Bak+/HCT116Bax+Bak-) was only marginally effective after WithaD treatment. In HCT116p53-/- cells, though Bax translocation to mitochondria was abrogated, Bak oligomerization helped the cells to release cytochrome c even before the disruption of mitochondrial membrane potential. WithaD also showed in vitro growth-inhibitory activity against an array of p53 wild type and null cancer cells and K562 xenograft in vivo. Taken together, WithaD elicited apoptosis in malignant cells through Bax/Bak dependent pathway in p53-wild type cells, whereas Bak compensated against loss of Bax in p53-null cells.     

Association of the ERK1/2 and p38 kinase pathways with nitric oxide-induced apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in colon cancer cells

To investigate the mechanism by which nitric oxide (NO) induces cell death in colon cancer cells, we compared two types of colon cancer cells with different p53 status: HCT116 (p53 wild-type) cells and SW620 (p53-deficient) cells. We found that S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO), the NO donor, induced apoptosis in both types of colon cancer cells. However, SW620 cells were much more susceptible than HCT116 cells to apoptotic death by NO. We investigated the role of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) and p38 kinase on NO-induced apoptosis in both types of colon cancer cells. GSNO treatment effectively stimulated activation of the ERK1/2 and p38 kinase in both types of cells. In HCT116 cells, pretreatment with PD98059, an inhibitor of ERK1/2, or SB203580, an inhibitor of p38 kinase, had no marked effect on GSNO-induced apoptosis. However, in SW620 cells, SB203580 significantly reduced the NO-induced apoptosis, whereas PD098059 increases NO-induced apoptosis. Furthermore, we found evidence of cell cycle arrest of the G₀/G₁ phase in SW620 cells but not in HCT116 cells. Inhibition of ERK1/2 with PD098059, or of p38 kinase with SB203580, reduced the GSNO-induced cell cycle arrest of the G₀/G₁ phase in SW620 cells. We therefore conclude that NO-induced apoptosis in colon cancer cells is mediated by a p53-independent mechanism and that the pathways of ERK1/2 and p38 kinase are important in NO-induced apoptosis and in the cell cycle arrest of the G₀/G₁ phase.     

p53‐dependent G1 arrest in 1st or 2nd cell cycle may protect human cancer cells from cell death after treatment with ionizing radiation and Chk1 inhibitors

Objectives: This study was performed to explore the strategy of combining Chk1 inhibitors with ionizing radiation (IR) to selectively target p53‐deficient cancer cells. Materials and methods: Survival and cell cycle progression were measured in response to IR and the Chk1 inhibitors, UCN‐01 and CEP‐3891, in colon carcinoma HCT116 p53+/+ and p53?/? cells, and in osteosarcoma U2OS‐VP16 cells with conditional expression of dominant‐negative p53 (p53DD). Results: Clonogenic survival was selectively reduced in HCT116 p53?/? compared to p53+/+ cells after treatment with UCN‐01 and IR, and HCT116 p53+/+ cells also displayed strong p53‐dependent G₁ arrest in the 1st cell cycle after IR. In contrast, clonogenic survival was affected similarly in U2OS‐VP16 cells with and without expression of p53DD. However, death of U2OS‐VP16 cells was p53 dependent as assessed by cell viability assay at 72 h, and this was associated with p53‐dependent G₁ arrest in the 2nd cell cycle after treatment. Notably, HCT116 cells were overall more resistant than U2OS cells to cytotoxic effects of Chk1 inhibitors. Conclusion: Our results suggest that p53‐dependent G₁ arrest in both 1st and 2nd cell cycles may protect human cancer cells from cell death after treatment with IR and Chk1 inhibitors. However, a challenge for future clinical use will be that different cancers display different intrinsic sensitivity to such inhibitors.     

Interaction of p53 and ASPPs regulates rhesus monkey embryonic stem cells conversion to neural fate concomitant with apoptosis

The tumor suppressor p53 is a key regulator of cell apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. Recent studies show that the delicate balance of p53 expression is important for neural tube defects, neuronal degeneration, embryonic lethality, as well as differentiation and dedifferentiation. Moreover, p53 showed different regulatory patterns between rodent and primate embryonic stem cells (ESCs). However, the role of p53 and apoptosis stimulating protein of p53 (ASPP) during neural differentiation (ND) from primate ESCs is still unknown. In this study, using an FGF-2 and/or HGF selectively containing ND culture systems for rhesus monkey ESCs (rESCs), the changes of p53 and ASPPs, and p53 targets, i.e. BAX and p21, were analyzed. Our results showed that the expression patterns of ASPP1/ASPP2 and iASPP were opposite in rESCs but similar in differentiated cells, and the expression of p53 was approximately consistent with BAX, but not p21. These findings indicate that the strong expression of iASPP in ESCs and weak expression of ASPP1/ASPP2 maintain the stability of stemness; and in ND niche, unimpaired iASPP may decrease its inhibition of ASPP1/ASPP2 expression, the interaction of p53 and ASPPs causing rESCs to convert towards a neural fate concomitant with apoptosis, but not to cell cycle arrest.