RhoA和血清反应因子(SRF)介导E1A激活基因阻遏子诱导人血管平滑肌细胞分化

为探讨E1A激活基因阻遏子(CREG)对人血管平滑肌细胞(VSMCs)分化的调控机制,应用重组逆转录病毒表达载体pLNCX2( )/CREG及pLXSN(-)/CREG制备稳定感染HITASY细胞模型,观察CREG蛋白过表达及表达抑制对人VSMCs分化的影响并探讨其调控机制.结果显示:pLNCX2( )/CREG稳定感染细胞呈分化表型,细胞细长变成组织样聚集生长趋势,细胞中CREG蛋白和平滑肌分化标志蛋白平滑肌α-肌动蛋白(SMα-actin)表达显著增加,同时SMα-actin相关调控因子——血清反应因子(SRF)入核转位,RhoA总蛋白表达上调,以Rho激酶特异性抑制剂Y-27632作用后,CREG诱导的SMα-actin表达下调的同时SRF出核转位;pLXSN(-)/CREG稳定感染的细胞体积变大,细胞极性消失,呈无序生长,细胞中CREG和SMα-actin蛋白表达显著降低,同时伴有SRF出核转位及RhoA总蛋白表达下调.免疫共沉淀分析发现,CREG蛋白能被分泌到VSMCs培养基中表达,并可与细胞膜受体6-磷酸甘露糖/胰岛素样生长因子Ⅱ型受体(M6P/IGF2R)发生直接相互作用.用蛋白磷酸酶PP2A特异性抑制剂okadaicacid减少M6P/IGF2R在细胞膜表面分布,可明显抑制CREG过表达引起的RhoA、SRF和SMα-actin表达.上述结果提示,在体外培养的人VSMCs中,CREG可能作为一种分泌型蛋白质通过与细胞膜受体M6P/IGF2R相互作用,依次激活SMα-actin蛋白相关调控因子RhoA和SRF引起SMα-actin表达增加,促进VSMCs向分化表型转换.     

Rac1蛋白活化加速缺氧诱导的人血管内皮细胞衰老

为阐明Rac1蛋白在人脐静脉内皮细胞（human umbilical vein endothelial cells,HUVECs）衰老中的作用及分子机制,我们采用持续缺氧的方法诱导内皮细胞衰老,检测缺氧前后内皮细胞衰老标志基因SA-β-Gal和PAI-1的表达、细胞周期分布和细胞增殖情况,同时分析缺氧前后细胞内Rac1蛋白的表达.结果显示,持续缺氧96 h后,HUVECs体积变大,细胞浆内颗粒和空泡增多,SA-β-Gal活性明显增加,PAI-1基因表达升高,细胞发生G1期阻滞,细胞增殖受抑,活化型Rac1蛋白表达上调,提示持续缺氧诱导的内皮细胞衰老可能与Rac1蛋白的活化有关.为进一步明确内皮细胞衰老与Rac1蛋白的关系,应用逆转录病毒将持续活化型Rac1（V12Rac1）和主导抑制型Rac1（N17Rac1）基因分别瞬时感染HUVECs,比较三种HUVECs（HUVECs,V12Rac1-HUVECs,N17Rac1-HUVECs）缺氧后的衰老变化,并分析其下游调控分子--血清反应因子（serum response factor,SRF）的表达和定位变化.研究发现,缺氧培养V12Rac1-HUVECs 48 h即可引起细胞衰老,表现为SA-β-Gal活性明显增加,PAI-1基因表达升高,细胞出现明显的G1期阻滞并且细胞增殖受抑,其改变与缺氧96 h的HUVECs相似;而N17Rac1明显抑制缺氧引起的内皮细胞衰老发生.上述结果说明,Rac1蛋白活化可以加速缺氧诱导的内皮细胞衰老,而抑制Rac1蛋白的活性则可抑制缺氧诱导的内皮细胞衰老.为进一步研究Rac1蛋白引起内皮细胞衰老的机制,通过免疫荧光染色及Western blot分析检测三种细胞缺氧处理后SRF的表达,发现：与HUVECs细胞比较,V12Rac1引起缺氧48 h HUVECs核蛋白中SRF的表达明显下降,SRF入核转位受到明显抑制;而N17Rac1感染后,缺氧HUVECs细胞核蛋白中SRF表达明显增多.上述结果提示：缺氧状态下Rac1蛋白活化能够明显加速HUVECs衰老,而抑制Rac1蛋白活性则明显抑制缺氧诱导的HUVECs衰老,SRF蛋白的核转位活化参与了Rac1蛋白调控HUVECs衰老的发生.     

SM22α对血管平滑肌细胞肌动蛋白聚合和交联的调节

目的:探讨平滑肌22alpha(SM22α)调节血管平滑肌细胞(VSMC)骨架重构的分子机制。方法:血清饥饿法诱导VSMC由合成型转化成收缩型,转染pEGFP-SM22α表达质粒后观察SM22α在细胞中的分布及其与肌动蛋白纤丝(F-actin)的定位关系;应用反义技术封闭内源性SM22α表达,蛋白分步提取和Western blot分析检测敲减SM22α基因表达对肌动蛋白单体G-actin聚合的影响;F-actin体外交联实验观察SM22α对F-actin交联成束的影响。结果:SM22α在细胞中的分布与F-actin相一致;抑制内源性SM22α表达后,细胞中的SMα-actin主要以可溶性单体G-actin形式存在;F-actin体外交联实验结果表明,GST-SM22α蛋白纯品可促进F-actin交联形成粗大、束状的应力纤维,而敲减内源性SM22α的细胞裂解液促进F-actin交联的活性明显降低。结论:SM22α是参与VSMC细胞骨架重构的调节蛋白,不仅可促进G-actin聚合形成F-actin,而且还可加速F-actin交联成束,在VSMC骨架重构过程中起着十分重要的作用。     

姜黄素诱导人成骨肉瘤MG-63细胞凋亡过程中hnRNP A2/B1表达与定位

姜黄素(curcumin)诱导处理的人成骨肉瘤MG-63细胞,在光镜和电镜观察细胞凋亡的基础上,对hnRNP A2/B1在核基质中存在、分布及其与凋亡相关基因产物在MG-63细胞中的共定位关系进行了研究.经姜黄素处理后,细胞出现染色质凝聚、细胞核固缩、凋亡小体等典型的细胞凋亡形态特征;双向凝胶电泳和质谱鉴定结果显示,hnRNP A2/B1存在于MG-63细胞核基质蛋白组分中,在姜黄素处理后细胞核基质蛋白中表达下调.蛋白质印迹杂交结果,证实hnRNP A2/B1在姜黄素处理前后的MG-63细胞核基质蛋白中的存在及其表达下调变化.免疫荧光显微镜观察显示,hnRNP A2/B1定位于MG-63细胞核基质纤维上,经姜黄素处理后出现分布位置与表达水平变化.激光扫描共聚焦显微镜的观察结果显示,hnRNP A2/B1在MG-63细胞凋亡过程中与Bax、Bcl-2、Fas和p53等基因产物具有共定位关系,且其共定位区域发生了变化.研究结果证实了hnRNP A2/B1定位于核基质纤维上,是一种核基质蛋白,在姜黄素诱导人成骨肉瘤MG-63凋亡过程中的表达与分布变化及其与凋亡相关基因的关系显然对MG-63细胞凋亡具有重要影响,这为深入揭示肿瘤细胞凋亡的机制提供了重要科学依据和深入探索的新方向.     

CX3CL1介导人脐静脉内皮细胞骨架改变的功能研究

该研究探讨了趋化因子CX3CL1对人脐静脉内皮细胞(human umbilical vein endothelial cells,HUVECs)骨架的影响及其作用机制。CX3CL1刺激HUVECs后,采用免疫荧光染色技术检测细胞骨架蛋白纤维状肌动蛋白(F-actin)的分布和形态改变,采用Western blot技术检测胞质内F-actin和磷酸化促分裂原活化蛋白激酶(mitogen activated protein kinases,MAPKs)的三种亚型[p38、细胞外调节蛋白激酶1/2(extracellular regulated protein kinase 1/2,ERK1/2)和c-Jun氨基末端激酶(c-Jun N-terminal kinase,JNK)]的表达水平。结果显示,10 nmol/L CX3CL1刺激HUVECs 30 min后,细胞的致密外周带逐渐被破坏,胞质内有应力纤维形成;120 min后,外周带消失,胞质内有大量的致密应力纤维形成;180 min后,胞质内应力纤维减少,少数细胞可见致密外周带。10 nmol/L CX3CL1刺激HUVECs30 min后,F-actin的表达水平逐渐升高,并于120 min后达峰值;10 nmol/L CX3CL1刺激HUVECs 1 min后,磷酸化p38、ERK1/2和JNK表达水平升高,5 min后三者的表达水平达峰值;5μg/m L抗CX3CR1抗体抑制10 nmol/L CX3CL1刺激HUVECs后,磷酸化p38、ERK1/2和JNK的表达水平降低;30μmol/L p38的特异性抑制剂SB203580和ERK1/2的特异性抑制剂PD98059抑制10 nmol/L CX3CL1刺激HUVECs后,胞质内应力纤维减少,应力纤维变短,F-actin的表达水平降低。以上研究结果表明,CX3CL1能通过p38和ERK1/2信号通路以时间依赖方式介导HUVECs细胞骨架的重构。     

牵张应力对成骨肉瘤细胞MG-63中RhoA和ROCK表达的影响

目的:探索机械牵张应力对人成骨肉瘤细胞MG-63中RhoA/ROCK信号通路的影响。方法:将同一条件培养的细胞MG-63分为实验组(加力)与对照组(不加力),实验组采用Flexcell牵张应力加载系统,选择12%形变率作为加载应力值,分为五个时间组,分别加载1 h,4 h,8 h,12 h,24 h,RT-PCR检测RhoA、ROCK mRNA水平表达的变化,Western-Blot检测RhoA与Rock蛋白含量变化。结果:RT-PCR显示MG-63细胞受应力刺激后1 h RhoA、ROCK均未见明显变化(P0.05),4小时后略有升高(P0.05),在8 h达到最大值(P0.05),12、24 h降低,但仍高于对照组(P0.05);Western-Blot显示MG-63细胞受应力刺激后1 h RhoA、ROCK均未见明显变化,4 h仍未见明显变化,在8 h达到最大值,12、24 h降低,高于对照组。结论:机械牵张力加载下MG-63细胞内RhoA、ROCK表达升高并随时间增加出现峰值,提示其可能在成骨细胞力学信号转导过程中发挥重要作用。     

PDCD5在类风湿关节炎成纤维样滑膜细胞凋亡中表达上调

为了研究程序化细胞死亡因子5(PDCD5)在类风湿关节炎成纤维样滑膜细胞凋亡中的作用,在不同的时间加入有效剂量100 nmol/L雷公藤内醇酯（triptolide）后,采用实时定量PCR、RT-PCR、Western 印迹和直接免疫荧光染色方法检测体外分离培养的类风湿关节炎成纤维样滑膜细胞中PDCD5在mRNA和蛋白水平的表达及蛋白表达特征.在雷公藤内醇酯诱导类风湿关节炎成纤维样滑膜细胞凋亡的过程中,PDCD5mRNA表达水平明显地渐次增加,呈现一种明确的时间依赖性递增表达模式,而PDCD5蛋白有时间依赖性表达上调持续16 h,并维持在相对恒定水平.直接免疫荧光染色结果显示,在正常体外培养的类风湿关节炎成纤维样滑膜细胞中,PDCD5蛋白的表达较弱,且主要分布在细胞浆.经雷公藤内醇酯处理4 h后,大多数细胞有PDCD5蛋白的聚集,直至12 h,细胞核周围PDCD5蛋白聚集显著增强.36 h后,PDCD5蛋白以核固缩的形式存在于凋亡的RA FLS中,细胞核染色质明显浓缩,片段化并出现了凋亡小体.上述结果表明,在类风湿关节炎成纤维样滑膜细胞凋亡的过程中,PDCD5表达上调并在凋亡早期出现核转位,PDCD5蛋白核转位要早于凋亡小体形成.PDCD5蛋白核转位是类风湿关节炎成纤维样滑膜细胞凋亡的早期事件,PDCD5不仅参与了类风湿关节炎成纤维样滑膜细胞的凋亡过程,而且在类风湿关节炎滑膜增生的凋亡调节中起到重要调节作用.     

Apelin-13对LPS诱导人脐静脉内皮细胞屏障损伤的干预作用*

目的: 探讨Apelin-13对LPS诱导人脐静脉内皮细胞(HUVECs)屏障损伤的影响。方法: 将体外培养的HUVECs分为4组:正常对照组、LPS组、Apelin-13+LPS组、Apelin-13组。用5 μg/ml LPS作用细胞24 h, 复制屏障功能受损模型。1 μmol/L Apelin-13提前30 min给予,再给予LPS作用24 h,确定Apelin-13的影响。通过CCK8法检测Apelin-13对细胞活力的影响;Western blot检测血管内皮细胞钙粘蛋白(VE-cadherin)、纤维状肌动蛋白(F-actin)表达变化;免疫荧光检测VE-cadherin、F-actin的表达变化及核转录因子Kappa B(NF-κB p65)入核情况。结果: 与正常对照组相比,单独给予Apelin-13对细胞活力无明显影响。与正常对照组相比,LPS组细胞活力明显下降(P＜0.01),VE-cadherin蛋白表达下降(P＜0.01)、F-actin蛋白表达升高(P＜0.05),NF-κB p65入核明显增加。与LPS组相比,Apelin-13明显增加细胞活力(P＜0.01),VE-cadherin蛋白表达增加(P＜0.05)、F-actin蛋白表达下降(P＜0.01),蛋白NF-κB p65入核下降明显。结论: Apelin-13可减轻LPS诱导的人脐静脉内皮细胞损伤及屏障受损,其机制可能与抑制炎症相关。     

大熊猫供核体细胞在兔卵胞质中可去分化而支持早期重构胚发育

体外培养的成年大熊猫骨骼肌细胞、子宫上皮细胞和乳腺细胞 ,分别作为供核细胞移植进入去核兔卵母细胞中以构建异种重构胚 .3种组织来源的体细胞在去核兔卵质中均可去分化、恢复全能性和替代合子核进行卵裂 ,并支持早期重构胚发育 .其中以乳腺细胞效果最好 ,子官上皮细胞次之 ,骨骼肌细胞最差 .对比实验表明 ,胞质直接注射法结合重构卵在体培养可比电融合法加体外培养方案获得更大比例的囊胚率 .染色体分析表明异种重构胚的核遗传物质来自大熊猫供体体细胞核 .线粒体DNA分析表明重构囊胚中存在有大熊猫线粒体 .这些结果初步说明 :( 1 )卵胞质使体细胞核去分化不具种特异性 ;( 2 )哺乳动物异种重构胚早期发育中 ,异种细胞核与细胞质之间是相容的 .     

Rac1/MAPK/ERK 通路介导脂多糖LPS 诱导的人内皮细胞 单层通透性增高机制研究

目的:探讨LPS诱导的人内皮细胞单层通透性改变的分子机制。方法:应用逆转录病毒为载体,感染并筛选稳定表达持续活化型Rac1和主导抑制型Rac1的人HUVEC细胞,应用LPS刺激并观察细胞骨架蛋白F-actin和HUVEC单层通透性的改变。同时应用Western blot方法检测LPS刺激前后细胞中MAPK/ERK信号通路的改变及加入PD98059阻断ERK表达后,细胞内F-actin的改变情况。结果:与正常HUVEC相比较,LPS刺激后,感染活化型Rac1和主导抑制型Rac1的HUVEC中F-actin重构并形成大量应力纤维,细胞单层通透性显著增加。而抑制型Rac1感染后的HUVEC中F-actin无重构现象,同时细胞单层通透性无明显增加。LPS刺激前后,各组细胞中ERK1/2总蛋白均无明显改变。LPS刺激后,感染活化型Rac1的HUVEC中,p-ERK增加。经PD98059阻断后,细胞内p-ERK表达下降同时伴随F-actin解聚发生。结论:LPS诱导的内皮细胞通透性增加是经过Rac1-MAPK/ERK通路介导的。     

LIM kinase and Diaphanous cooperate to regulate serum response factor and actin dynamics

The small GTPase RhoA controls activity of serum response factor (SRF) by inducing changes in actin dynamics. We show that in PC12 cells, activation of SRF after serum stimulation is RhoA dependent, requiring both actin polymerization and the Rho kinase (ROCK)-LIM kinase (LIMK)-cofilin signaling pathway, previously shown to control F-actin turnover. Activation of SRF by overexpression of wild-type LIMK or ROCK-insensitive LIMK mutants also requires functional RhoA, indicating that a second RhoA-dependent signal is involved. This is provided by the RhoA effector mDia: dominant interfering mDia1 derivatives inhibit both serum- and LIMK-induced SRF activation and reduce the ability of LIMK to induce F-actin accumulation. These results demonstrate a role for LIMK in SRF activation, and functional cooperation between RhoA-controlled LIMK and mDia effector pathways.     

RhoA and Rho-kinase dependent and independent signals mediate TGF-beta-induced pulmonary endothelial cytoskeletal reorganization and permeability

Transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta is a potent inflammatory mediator involved in acute lung injury. TGF-beta directly increases pulmonary endothelial myosin light chain (MLC) phosphorylation, which is associated with increased endothelial stress fiber formation, gap formation, and protein permeability, all hallmarks of pulmonary endothelial responses during acute lung injury. We performed the following experiments in pulmonary endothelial monolayers to determine whether RhoA and Rho-kinase mediate these TGF-beta-induced responses. TGF-beta caused the sustained activation of RhoA 2 h posttreatment associated with increased MLC phosphorylation. Inhibition of either RhoA or Rho-kinase with either C3 exoenzyme or Y-27632 blocked MLC phosphorylation. In addition, both C3 and Y-27632 partially attenuated the maximal TGF-beta-induced increase in permeability but did not affect the initial phase of compromised barrier integrity. Inhibition of Rho-kinase completely blocked the TGF-beta-induced increase in the content of filamentous actin (F-actin) but only partially inhibited TGF-beta-induced changes in actin reorganization. To assess the contribution of Rho-kinase in RhoA-mediated responses independent of additional TGF-beta-induced signals, cells were infected with a constitutively active RhoA adenovirus (RhoAQ63L) with or without Y-27632. RhoAQ63L increased MLC phosphorylation, F-actin content, and permeability. Treatment with Y-27632 blocked these responses, suggesting that Rho-kinase mediates these RhoA-induced effects. Collectively, these data suggest the following: 1) the RhoA/Rho-kinase pathway is an important component of TGF-beta-induced effects on endothelial MLC phosphorylation, cytoskeletal reorganization, and barrier integrity; and 2) additional signaling mechanisms independent of the RhoA/Rho-kinase signaling cascade contribute to TGF-beta-induced changes in cytoskeletal organization and permeability.     

Sphingosylphosphorylcholine induces stress fiber formation via activation of Fyn-RhoA-ROCK signaling pathway in fibroblasts

Sphingosylphosphorylcholine (SPC), a bioactive sphingolipid, has recently been reported to modulate actin cytoskeleton rearrangement. We have previously demonstrated Fyn tyrosine kinase is involved in SPC-induced actin stress fiber formation in fibroblasts. However, Fyn-dependent signaling pathway remains to be elucidated. The present study demonstrates that RhoA-ROCK signaling downstream of Fyn controls stress fiber formation in SPC-treated fibroblasts. Here, we found that SPC-induced stress fiber formation was inhibited by C3 transferase, dominant negative RhoA or ROCK. SPC activated RhoA, which was blocked by pharmacological inhibition of Fyn activity or dominant negative Fyn. Constitutively active Fyn (ca-Fyn) stimulated stress fiber formation and localized with F-actin at the both ends of stress fibers, both of which were prevented by Fyn translocation inhibitor eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). In contrast, inhibition of ROCK abolished only the formation of stress fibers, without affecting the localization of ca-Fyn. These results allow the identification of the molecular events downstream SPC in stress fiber formation for a better understanding of stress fiber formation involving Fyn.     

Rac and Rho play opposing roles in the regulation of hypoxia/reoxygenation-induced permeability changes in pulmonary artery endothelial cells

Hypoxia/reoxygenation-induced changes in endothelial permeability are accompanied by endothelial actin cytoskeletal and adherens junction remodeling, but the mechanisms involved are uncertain. We therefore measured the activities of the Rho GTPases Rac1, RhoA, and Cdc42 during hypoxia/reoxygenation and correlated them with changes in endothelial permeability, remodeling of the actin cytoskeleton and adherens junctions, and production of ROS. Dominant negative forms of Rho GTPases were introduced into cells by adenoviral gene transfer and transfection, and inhibitors of NADPH oxidase, PI3 kinase, and Rho kinase were used to characterize the signaling pathways involved. In some experiments constitutively activated forms of RhoA and Rac1 were also used. We show for the first time that hypoxia/reoxygenation-induced changes in endothelial permeability result from coordinated actions of the Rho GTPases Rac1 and RhoA. Rac1 and RhoA rapidly respond to changes in oxygen tension, and their activity depends on NADPH oxidase- and PI3 kinase-dependent production of ROS. Rac1 acts upstream of RhoA, and its transient inhibition by acute hypoxia leads to activation of RhoA followed by stress fiber formation, dispersion of adherens junctions, and increased endothelial permeability. Reoxygenation strongly activates Rac1 and restores cortical localization of F-actin and VE-cadherin. This effect is a result of Rac1-mediated inhibition of RhoA and can be prevented by activators of RhoA, L63RhoA, and lysophosphatidic acid. Cdc42 activation follows the RhoA pattern of activation but has no effect on actin remodeling, junctional integrity, or endothelial permeability. Our results show that Rho GTPases act as mediators coupling cellular redox state to endothelial function.