SARA is dispensable for functional TGF-β signaling

Smad anchor for receptor activation (SARA or ZFYVE9) has been proposed to mediate transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) signaling by direct interaction with the non-activated Smad proteins and the TGF-β receptors; however, these findings are controversial. We demonstrate no correlation between SARA expression and the levels of TGF-β-induced phosphorylation of Smads in various B-cell lymphomas. Moreover, knockdown of SARA in HeLa cells did not interfere with TGF-β-induced Smad activation, Smad nuclear translocation, or induction of TGF-β target genes. Various R-Smads and TGF-β receptors did not co-immunoprecipitate with SARA. Collectively, our results demonstrate that SARA is dispensable for functional TGF-β-mediated signaling.     

Regulation of TGF-β signal transduction by mono- and deubiquitylation of Smads

Polyubiquitylation leading to proteasomal degradation is a well-established mechanism for regulating TGF-β signal transduction components such as receptors and Smads. Recently, an equally important role was suggested for monoubiquitylation of both Smad4 and receptor-associated Smads that regulates their function without protein degradation. Monoubiquitylation of Smads was discovered following the identification of deubiquitylases required for TGF-β signaling, suggesting that continuous cycles of Smad mono- and deubiquitylation are required for proper TGF-β signal transduction. Here we summarize and discuss recent work on Smad mono- and deubiquitylation.     

TGF-β/Smads信号转导通路的研究进展

转化生长因子（TGF）-β超家族成员的重要生物学功能正日益引起人们的重视。受体介导的胞内信号转导研究近年有较大进展,特别是Smads蛋白介导的信号转导通路为阐明TGF-β超家族的作用机理提供了一条重要线索。TGF-β/Smads信号的转导受到机体严密的调控,并与其他信号通路存在着广泛的交叉对话效应。综述了对TGF-β/Smads信号转导通路的机制、调控,及其在维持机体正常生理功能和疾病发生中的作用的研究进展。     

抑制型Smad对TGF-β信号通路的负调控研究进展

转化生长因子TGF-β超家族是一类在结构上相关的蛋白,目前发现在哺乳动物中有超过30多个细胞因子可能属于这一超家族。它们在各类细胞中广泛参与细胞生长、黏附、迁移、分化及凋亡等过程。其中抑制型Smad(I-Smads,包括Smad6和Smad7)是TGF-β/BMP信号通路里重要的抑制型蛋白,在多种细胞与组织的发育过程以及疾病的发生过程中扮演着重要的角色。对其研究已经过10多年,取得许多重大的进展,但也还有很多重要的问题还没有解决。着重介绍I-Smads对TGF-β信号通路的负调控研究进展。     

Hsp70 and Hsp90 oppositely regulate TGF-β signaling through CHIP/Stub1

Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signaling plays an important role in regulation of a wide variety of cellular processes. Canonical TGF-β signaling is mediated by Smads which were further regulated by several factors. We previously reported that E3 ubiquitin ligase CHIP (carboxyl terminus of Hsc70-interacting protein, also named Stub1) controlled the sensitivity of TGF-β signaling by modulating the basal level of Smad3 through ubiquitin-mediated degradation. Here, we present evidence that Hsp70 and Hsp90 regulate the complex formation of Smad3/CHIP. Furthermore, we observed that over-expressed Hsp70 or inhibition of Hsp90 by geldanamycin (GA) leads to facilitated CHIP-induced ubiquitination and degradation of Smad3, which finally enhances TGF-β signaling. In contrast, over-expressed Hsp90 antagonizes CHIP mediated Smad3 ubiquitination and degradation and desensitizes cells in response to TGF-β signaling. Taken together, our data reveal an opposite role of Hsp70 and Hsp90 in regulating TGF-β signaling by implicating CHIP-mediated Smad3 ubiquitination and degradation. This study provides a new insight into understanding the regulation of the TGF-β signaling by chaperones.     

Localization of Smad6 and Smad7 in the Rat Kidney and Their Regulated Expression in the Anti-Thy-1 Nephritis

Under normal conditions, kidney expresses Smad6 and Smad7 most abundantly among the organs of the body. To understand the physiological roles of these Smad expressions in the kidney, we first identified the sites of Smad6 and Smad7 expression in the rat kidney by in situ hybridization. The expression of Smad7 in the rat kidney was only observed in the glomeruli, while Smad6 was expressed in both the glomeruli and thick ascending limb of Henle's loop. In order to investigate whether Smad6 and 7 are also involved in the negative feedback loop of TGF-β signaling in vivo, we examined the changes of mRNA levels of these Smads in the glomeruli of rat anti-Thy1 (1–22–3) nephritis, a model where the expression of TGF-β in the glomeruli has been shown to be most up-regulated from day 4 to 14 after the antibody injection. Unexpectedly, 7 days after injection, the levels of Smad6 and Smad7 did not increase but rather decreased to ∼70% of the levels on day 0. During that period, Smad7 immunostaining was observed in the glomerular endothelial cells (GEN) where Smad3 immunostaining was also observed. This suggested that Smad7 expression was not augmented by the TGF-β signal in GEN in vivo in anti-Thy-1 nephritis. The absence of up-regulation of these inhibitory Smads may be involved in the pathogenesis of anti-Thy-1 nephritis.     

Effects of SARA on Oxygen–Glucose Deprivation in PC12 Cell Line

Ischemic stroke is a major composition of cerebrovascular disease, seriously threatening to human health in the world. Activin A (ActA), belonging to transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) super family, plays an important role in the hypoxic-ischemic brain injury through ActA/Smads pathway. While as an essential phosphorylation assistor in TGF-β signaling, the functions and mechanisms of smad anchor for receptor activation (SARA) in ischemic brain injury remain poorly understood. To solve this problem and explore the pathological processes of ischemic stroke, we used an Oxygen–Glucose deprivation (OGD) model in nerve growth factor-induced differentiated rattus PC12 pheochromocytoma cells and down regulated the expressions of SARA by RNA interference technology. Our results showed that the repression of SARA before OGD exposure reduced the expressions of Smad2, 3, 4 mRNA and the phosphorylation rate of Smad2 protein, but it did not affect the mRNA expressions of Smad7. After OGD treatment, ActA/Smads pathway was activated and the expression of SARA in the SARA pre-repression group was significantly up-regulated. The pre-repression of SARA increased the sensitivities of nerve-like cells to OGD damage. Moreover, the mRNA expression of Smad7 which was supposed to participate in the negative feedback of ActA/Smads pathway was also elevated due to OGD injury. Taken together, these results suggest a positive role of SARA in assisting the phosphorylation of Smad2 and maintaining the neuron protective effect of ActA/Smads pathway.     

TGF-β singaling and cancer: structural and functional consequences of mutations in Smads

Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) and related cytokines control the development and homeostasis of many tissues by regulating the expression of genes that determine cell phenotype. Recent progress has elucidated the way in which members of the TGF-β family initiate their signal through transmembrane receptors and transmit it to target genes via the Smad family of signal-transducing proteins. This review describes TGF-β signaling pathways as currently understood and mutations of the genes that encode Smads that disrupt the function of these proteins and cause various forms of cancer.     

Smad4介导转化生长因子-β信号调节骨骼发育和稳态维持的功能

转化生长因子-β（TGF-β）是一个包括数十种TGF-βs、骨形态发生蛋白（BMPs）等配体在内的生长因子超家族,在哺乳动物整体和组织器官发育过程中具有广泛而重要的功能。Smad4是细胞内TGF-β信号通路的核心信号转导分子。为了深入研究Smad4介导的TGF-β信号在骨骼发育过程中的生理功能,我们利用转基因技术研制了软骨细胞、肥大型软骨细胞和成骨细胞分别特异性表达Cre重组酶的转基因小鼠,利用条件基因敲除技术研制了不同类型骨骼细胞Smad4基因敲除的小鼠模型。表型分析结果揭示了Smad4在软骨细胞增殖和分化、骨重塑以及稳态维持过程中的功能以及相关的分子机制,为理解人类相关骨骼疾病的发生及其机理提供了新的线索。