视黄酸对胃癌细胞周期的调控

视黄酸(RA)能够抑制许多类型癌细胞生长、诱导细胞凋亡和调节细胞周期。本文研究了全反式视黄酸(ATRA)对人胃癌细胞的作用机理。结果表明,ATRA通过诱导细胞滞留在G_0/G_1期而显著抑制胃癌细胞生长,但ATRA不能诱导胃癌细胞凋亡;ATRA调控细胞周期与c-myc、磷酸化Rb水平的下调和p21~(WAF1/CIP1)、p53水平的上调有关,而cyclinD_1和CDK_4水平没有明显变化。在RA抗性细胞中,ATRA不能调节这些基因表达。结果证实,ATRA对胃癌细胞生长抑制与其诱导细胞滞留在G_0/G_1期有关,而与细胞凋亡的诱导无关,许多重要的、与周期相关的分子,包括cmyc、p21~(WAF1/CIP1、p53和Rb等参与细胞周期的调控。     

蛋白激酶C与细胞周期

近年的研究表明,PKC涉及到细胞的周期调节。在酵母细胞和哺乳动物细胞均发现PKC参与细胞周期调控,从而提示PKC可能在进化上是一种保守的细胞周期调节子。一般认为PKC在两个点上对细胞周期起作用,即G1期和G2期到M期的过渡期（G2／M）。在G1期,PKC分别在早G1期和晚G1期作用有所不同,主要作用表现在使细胞停留在G1期的中末阶段,这一过程,主要涉及到抑制肿瘤抑制因子－成视网膜细胞瘤（Rb)蛋白的磷酸化。PKC的主要作用是降低周期素依赖激酶CDK2的活性、降低周期素E和A的表达和增加周期素依赖的周期抑制蛋白p21^WAF1和p27^KIP1的表达;在G2／M期,PKC对细胞周期的调节主要与Cdc2(CDK1)的活性抑制有关。     

G1阻滞中p21-E2F间的相互作用

前列腺素A2(PGA2)具有强的体内、外抗增殖活性,引起细胞周期阻滞,同时,可诱导cdk抑制物p21蛋白的表达,后者亦可介导多种细胞的G1阻滞.提示p21^waf1/cip1在PGA2诱导的细胞周期阻滞中具有重要作用.主要介绍了近两年来有关p21^waf1/cip1与转录因子E2F间的相互作用的研究,阐述p21^waf1/cip1在PGA2介导的细胞周期阻滞中的作用机制.     

BRD7调控Rb/E2F通路的分子机制研究

BRD7是采用cDNA代表性差异分析法克隆的一个新的Bromodomain基因,过表达BRD7可抑制鼻咽癌细胞的生长和细胞周期进程,同时发现BRD7基因可以调控Rb/E2F通路的活性.该研究旨在进一步探讨BRD7调控Rb/E2F通路的分子机制.通过蛋白质印迹和RT-PCR实验方法发现,BRD7能够降低Rb的磷酸化水平,抑制cyclinD1、cyclinE的蛋白质表达,上调CDK4抑制子P19的mRNA表达,但对CDK4和CDK2的蛋白质表达没有明显影响;通过荧光素酶实验从转录调控水平进一步证实了BRD7能够明显抑制cyclinD1启动子活性;采用反义核酸技术抑制COS7细胞内源性BRD7的表达后,发现cyclinD1、cyclinE、磷酸化Rb的蛋白质表达水平上调,并且可以促进细胞生长.这些结果表明:BRD7参与调控Rb/E2F信号通路中重要靶分子的表达,抑制Rb/E2F通路的活性,从而阻止细胞周期G1-S期进程,抑制鼻咽癌细胞生长.     

cAMP对转化细胞中几种基因表达及CREB DNA结合活性的影响

 从癌基因、抑癌基因及转录因子 CREB(c AMP反应序列结合蛋白 )对 CRE DNA序列结合活性的相关性 ,对 db- c AMP处理的小鼠 C3H10 T1 /2转化细胞增殖抑制作用进行了研究 .实验结果表明 ,转化细胞中 PKA(蛋白激酶 A)活性显著低于正常细胞 ,而 PKC(蛋白激酶 C)活性则显著高于正常细胞 .斑点印迹和 Northern印迹分析显示转化细胞中 c- myc和 Ca M(钙调素 )基因表达明显高于正常细胞 ,而 p53基因和 Rb基因表达则明显低于正常细胞 ,这些差别与 C3H10 T1/ 2 转化细胞增殖失控有关 .转化细胞经 db- c AMP(1 mmol/L)处理后 ,细胞增殖受到明显抑制 ,db- c AMP处理0 .5h后 ,转化细胞中 PKA活性便明显增强 ,PKC活性则被显著抑制 ,处理 2 h后 ,c- myc和 Ca M基因表达下降 ,而 p53和 Rb基因表达则增强 ,这些变化与 c AMP抑制 C3H10 T1/ 2 转化细胞增殖有密切联系 .凝胶阻滞电泳分析显示 db- c AMP(1 mmol/L )处理短时间内 ,CREB对 CRE DNA序列无结合活性 ,1 2 h后开始出现较弱的结合活性 ,2 4 h后才明显加强 ,表明在 db- c AMP处理的早期 ,调控区中含有 CRE序列的基因不参与 db- c AMP对细胞增殖抑制的调节 ,即与 CREB磷酸化及其相应的 DNA结合活性无相关性 .     

p16INK4a基因的功能及其调控

p16INK4a蛋白能抑制CDK4和CDK6的活性,使pRb处于非磷酸化或低磷酸化状态而能与转录因子E2Fs结合,从而抑制DNA 的合成,阻止细胞由G1期进入S期.p16INK4a的表达受Ets1和Ets2的正调控,受Bmi-1的负调控.p16INK4a基因缺失、突变、甲基化、RNA剪接加工错误可导致细胞周期失控和癌变.应用p16INK4a对某些肿瘤进行基因治疗的研究正在进行中.     

植物D型细胞周期蛋白

D型细胞周期蛋白(cyclinD,CycD)调控着细胞周期G1/S的转换,基本过程为CycD在外界环境刺激下积累,并与周期蛋白依赖激酶(cyclin-dependentkinase,CDK)形成有活性的激酶,促进成视网膜细胞瘤蛋白(retinoblastoma,Rb)磷酸化,使E2F因子释放,由此促使G1/S转换,这一调控系统在高等真核生物中具有很高的保守性。CycD与其他细胞周期蛋白表达有所不同,其受到生长因子的强烈诱导,去掉生长因子后,表达水平迅速下降,导致细胞被抑制在G1期。大量研究表明,CycD是细胞周期中一个关键的“感受因子”,CycD基因的表达是细胞周期进程中的限速因子,影响着植物的生长发育。现对植物CycD的特征以及在细胞周期中的功能进行综述,并探讨了其在植物生长发育中的作用。     

一氧化氮和氧自由基诱导缺氧再给氧心肌细胞凋亡的bcl-2和p53信号通路研究

观察了心肌缺氧再给氧损伤的一氧化氮(nitric oxide, NO)和氧自由基机制. 新生Wistar大鼠心肌细胞置于95% N₂ /5% CO₂环境培养24 h, 然后置于95% O₂ /5% CO₂环境培养4 h造成缺氧再给氧心肌细胞损伤模型. 单纯缺氧组心肌细胞置于95% N₂/5% CO₂环境培养24 h, 但不再给氧. NO供体硝普钠(SNP, 5 mmol/L)、NO合酶抑制剂Nw-硝基-L-精氨酸甲酯(L-NAME, 100 mmol/L)和其异构体Nw-硝基-D-精氨酸甲酯(D-NAME, 100 mmol/L)以及超氧化物歧化酶/过氧化氢酶(SOD/CAT, 各100 U/mL)分别于缺氧前加入培养基. 正常对照组心肌细胞置于95% 空气/5% CO₂环境下培养. 结果显示, 缺氧24 h能增加培养介质中NO, 硫代巴比妥酸反应产物(TBARS)和乳酸脱氢酶(LDH)水平, 再给氧降低培养介质中NO和 水平, 增加TBARS和LDH水平. 缺氧上调bcl-2和p53和p21/waf1/cip1蛋白表达水平, 而再给氧下调bcl-2蛋白表达水平, 上调p53和p21/waf1/cip1蛋白表达水平. 同时, 缺氧增加心肌细胞凋亡率, 而再给氧增加心肌细胞坏死率. NO供体硝普钠(SNP)增加培养介质中 和TBARS水平, 下调bcl-2蛋白表达而上调p53和p21/waf1/cip1蛋白表达水平, 增加DNA断裂、凋亡及坏死细胞率. L-NAME和 SOD/CAT分别降低培养介质中 和TBARS水平, 它们均能上调bcl-2蛋白表达而下调p53和p21/waf1/cip1蛋白表达水平, 抑制DNA断裂、凋亡及坏死细胞率, 而D-NAME则无此作用. 以上结果表明, 在缺氧再给氧所致心肌细胞死亡过程中, NO和氧自由基参与下调bcl-2蛋白表达水平和上调p53和p21/waf1/cip1蛋白表达水平, 相应地激发细胞凋亡程序, 并提示一氧化氮及氧自由基诱导心肌细胞凋亡的机制与调节 bcl-2和p53和p21/waf1/cip1信号通路有关.     

HMBA对人肝癌SMMC—7721细胞周期相关基因表达的影响

本文研究HMBA对人肝癌SMMC－7721细胞周期G0／G1期阻滞相关基因表达的影响。免疫细胞化学和核酸原位杂交检测结果显示,HMBA可明显上调p21^WAF1/CIP1、p16蛋白表达并增强p21^WAF1/CIP1基因转录,同时对CDK4、Cyclin D1蛋白表达以及c-myc基因转录均具有明显的下调作用。结果表明,HMBA可通过增强p21^WAF1/CIP1、p16基因表达而抑制Cyclin D1-CDK4活性,最终导致细胞进入S期所需的c-myc等基因转录活性下降,从而将细胞周期阻滞于G0／G1期,诱导人肝癌细胞分化。     

CKI p15INK4B高表达对人黑色素瘤细胞cyclinDl和c-myc表达的影响及生长特性的改变

通过 DNA体外重组和转染技术 ,将已构建好的含有 p1 5基因的质粒 p XJ- 41 - p1 5转染 p1 5缺失的人黑色素瘤细胞 A 375,经 G 41 8筛选出阳性单克隆 ,并经 PCR、Western等检测 ,证明建立了 p1 5稳定高表达的细胞模型 .生长曲线和 FCM实验表明 ,与对照组细胞相比 ,实验组细胞增殖能力减弱 ,G1期细胞增加 ,S期细胞减少 .同时 ,细胞血清依赖性有所恢复 ,在软琼脂的集落形成能力下降 ,显示出细胞部分恶性表型逆转 .进一步免疫印迹实验表明 ,癌基因 c- myc的蛋白表达水平明显下降 .Cyclin D1的表达受到抑制 ,而 CDK4的表达则基本不变 .以上结果显示出 ,p1 5基因高表达能够抑制人黑色素瘤细胞的增殖及部分恶性表型 ,负调细胞周期进程 ,而 c- Myc蛋白和 G1期引擎分子 Cyclin D1表达的被抑制可能是 p1 5负调细胞增殖的分子机理之一     

视黄酸对胃癌细胞周期的调控

Retinoic acid can induce growth inhibition and apoptosis, and regulate cell cycle in many types of cancer cell lines. In this study, we investigated the role of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) and its mechanism of action in human gastric cancer cell lines. Our results demonstrated that ATRA effectively inhibited growth in three of four gastric cancer cell lines by induction of G0/G1 arrest, and did not induce apoptosis in four gastric cancer cell lines. In RA-sensitive cell lines, ATRA-induced G0/G1 arrest is associated with down regulaton of c-myc and hyperphosphorylated Rb expression, and up regulation of p21WAF1/CIP1 and p53 expression. There were no significant changes in cyclin D1 or CDK4 expression induced by ATRA. Futhermore, expression of these genes were not regulated by ATRA in ATRA-resistant gastric cancer cell line. These results indicate that growth inhibition, rather than apoptosis, is correlated with G0/G1 arrest of these cell lines, more important molecules related cell cycle, including c-myc, p21WAF1/CIP1, p53 and Rb, are involveed in regulation of cell cycle in gastric cancer cells.     

MDM2 promotes p21waf1/cip1 proteasomal turnover independently of ubiquitylation

The CDK inhibitor p21waf1/cip1 is degraded by a ubiquitin-independent proteolytic pathway. Here, we show that MDM2 mediates this degradation process. Overexpression of wild-type or ring finger-deleted, but not nuclear localization signal (NLS)-deleted, MDM2 decreased p21waf1/cip1 levels without ubiquitylating this protein and affecting its mRNA level in p53(-/-) cells. This decrease was reversed by the proteasome inhibitors MG132 and lactacystin, by p19(arf), and by small interfering RNA (siRNA) against MDM2. p21waf1/cip1 bound to MDM2 in vitro and in cells. The p21waf1/cip1-binding-defective mutant of MDM2 was unable to degrade p21waf1/cip1. MDM2 shortened the half-life of both exogenous and endogenous p21waf1/cip1 by 50% and led to the degradation of its lysine-free mutant. Consequently, MDM2 suppressed p21waf1/cip1-induced cell growth arrest of human p53(-/-) and p53(-/-)/Rb(-/-)cells. These results demonstrate that MDM2 directly inhibits p21waf1/cip1 function by reducing p21waf1/cip1 stability in a ubiquitin-independent fashion.     

Dissociation of bone morphogenetic protein-mediated growth arrest and apoptosis of mouse B cells by HPV-16 E6/E7

We have previously found that bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2), a member of the transforming growth factor-beta family, induces cell-cycle arrest in the G1 phase and apoptotic cell death of HS-72 mouse hybridoma cells. In this study, we show that BMP-2 did not alter expression of cyclin D, cyclin E, cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (CDK2), CDK4, p27KIP1, p16INK4a, or p15INK4b, but enhanced expression of p21(CIP1/WAF1). Accumulation of p21(CIP1/WAF1) resulted in increased binding of p21(CIP1/WAF1) to CDK4 and concomitantly caused a profound decrease in the in vitro retinoblastoma protein (Rb) kinase activity of CDK4. Furthermore, the ectopic expression of human papilloma virus type-16 E7, an inhibitor of p21(CIP1/WAF1) and Rb, reverted G1 arrest induced by BMP-2. Expression of E6/E7, without increasing the p53 level, blocked inhibition of Rb phosphorylation and G1 arrest, but did not attenuate cell death in BMP-treated HS-72 cells. Taken together, these results suggest that inhibition of Rb phosphorylation by p21(CIP1/WAF1) is responsible for BMP-2-mediated G1 arrest and that BMP-2-induction of apoptosis might be independent of Rb hypophosphorylation.     

Overexpression of cyclin D1 inhibits TNF-induced growth arrest

Although activated macrophages destroy cancer cells more effectively than normal cells, the facility to escape activated macrophages is a characteristic of tumor cells. One of the mechanisms responsible for the specific killing of tumor cells by macrophages is the production of the cytokine tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF). Therefore, resistance to TNF may provide such cancer cells a selective advantage against host elimination. In the present work we explore the possibility that cyclin D1 overrides the cytostatic effect of TNF. We show that TNF induces p21(waf1) protein in malignant melanoma A375 cells and its binding to CDK2/4 and 6 proteins, and thereby inhibiting the activity of these complexes. This inhibition leads the cells to a G1 arrest. Overexpression of cyclin D1 in these cells makes them insensitive to TNF treatment with the recovery of CDK activity, however, is unable to overcome the inhibitory action of etoposide blocking the cells on G2/M. The bypass of TNF-induced G1 arrest seems to be related to the increase in the stability of cyclin D bound CDK complexes, increasing the total amount of CDK2/4 and 6 complexes and leading to a functional down titration of the p21(waf1) molecules. In these conditions the TNF-induced increase of p21(waf1) is not sufficient to inhibit the high amount of cyclin D-bound complexes. This hypothesis is supported by the fact that a reduction in the levels of p21(waf1) protein, induced by the expression of a mRNA antisense against p21(waf1), is also able to bypass of TNF-induced arrest. Our results confirm that p21(waf1) has an essential role in TNF-induced arrest and that the deregulation of cyclin D1 may be one of the mechanisms to escape physiological signals to restrict tumoral growth.     

The antiproliferative effect of beta-carotene requires p21waf1/cip1 in normal human fibroblasts.

In normal human fibroblasts, beta-carotene induces a cell-cycle delay in the G1 phase independent of its provitamin A activity via a mechanism not yet elucidated. In this study we provide biochemical evidence showing that delayed progression through the G1 phase occurs concomitantly with: an increase in both nuclear-bound and total p21waf1/cip1 protein levels; an increase in the amount of p21waf1/cip1 associated with cdk4; the inhibition of cyclin D1-associated cdk4 kinase activity; and a reduction in the levels of hyperphosphorylated forms of retinoblastoma protein, and particularly, in phosphorylated Ser780. The role of p21waf1/cip1 in the antiproliferative effect of the carotenoid was further supported by genetic evidence that neither changes in cell-cycle progression nor in the phosphorylation status of retinoblastoma protein were observed in p21waf1/cip1-deficient human fibroblasts treated with beta-carotene. These results clearly demonstrate that p21waf1/cip1 is involved directly in the molecular pathway by which beta-carotene inhibits cell-cycle progression.     

Role of PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling in the cell cycle progression of human prostate cancer

Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers among men. Recent studies demonstrated that PI3K signaling is an important intracellular mediator which is involved in multiple cellular functions including proliferation, differentiation, anti-apoptosis, tumorigenesis, and angiogenesis. In the present study, we demonstrate that the inhibition of PI3K activity by LY294002, inhibited prostate cancer cell proliferation and induced the G(1) cell cycle arrest. This effect was accompanied by the decreased expression of G(1)-associated proteins including cyclin D1, CDK4, and Rb phosphorylation at Ser780, Ser795, and Ser807/811, whereas expression of CDK6 and beta-actin was not affected by LY294002. The expression of cyclin kinase inhibitor, p21(CIP1/WAF1), was induced by LY294002, while levels of p16(INK4) were decreased in the same experiment. The inhibition of PI3K activity also inhibited the phosphorylation and p70(S6K), but not MAPK. PI3K regulates cell cycle through AKT, mTOR to p70(S6K). The mTOR inhibitor rapamycin has similar inhibitory effects on G(1) cell cycle progression and expression of cyclin D1, CDK4, and Rb phosphorylation. These results suggest that PI3K mediates G(1) cell cycle progression and cyclin expression through the activation of AKT/mTOR/p70(S6K) signaling pathway in the prostate cancer cells.     

Effects of Iejimalide B, a marine macrolide, on growth and apoptosis in prostate cancer cell lines

Iejimalide B, a marine macrolide, causes growth inhibition in a variety of cancer cell lines at nanomolar concentrations. We have investigated the effects of Iejimalide B on cell cycle kinetics and apoptosis in the p53+/AR+ LNCaP and p53-/AR- PC-3 prostate cancer cell lines. Iejimalide B, has a dose and time dependent effect on cell number (as measured by crystal violet assay) in both cell lines. In LNCaP cells Iejimalide B induces a dose dependent G0/G1 arrest and apoptosis at 48 h (as measured by Apo-BrdU staining). In contrast, Iejimalide B initially induces G0/G1 arrest followed by S phase arrest but does not induce apoptosis in PC-3 cells. qPCR and Western analysis suggests that Iejimalide B modulates the steady state level of many gene products associated with cell cycle (including cyclins D, E, and B and p21(waf1/cip1)) and cell death (including survivin, p21B and BNIP3L) in LNCaP cells. In PC-3 cells Iejimalide B induces the expression of p21(waf1/cip1), down regulates the expression of cyclin A, and does not modulate the expression of the genes associated with cell death. Comparison of the effects of Iejimalide B on the two cell lines suggests that Iejimalide B induces cell cycle arrest by two different mechanisms and that the induction of apoptosis in LNCaP cells is p53-dependent.     

Redox control of G(1)/S cell cycle regulators during nitric oxide-mediated cell cycle arrest

Redox regulation of cell cycle progression during nitric oxide (NO) mediated cytostasis is not well-understood. In this study, we investigated the role of the intracellular antioxidant glutathione (GSH) in regulating specific signaling events that are associated with NO-mediated cell cycle arrest. Manipulation of intracellular GSH content through pharmacological inhibition of glutamate-cysteine ligase (GCL) indicated that GSH depletion potentiated nitrosative stress, DNA damage, phosphorylation of the tumor suppressor p53 (Ser-18) and upregulation of p21(cip1/waf1) upon NO stimulation. However, we found that neither overexpression of a dominant negative p53 nor pharmacological inhibition of p53 with cyclic pifithrin-alpha (cPFT-alpha) was sufficient to reverse NO-mediated cell cycle arrest or hypophosphorylation of retinoblastoma protein (Rb). We found that the decrease in cyclin D1 levels induced by NO was GSH-sensitive implying that the redox regulation of NO-mediated cytostasis was a multifaceted process and that both p53/p21(cip1/waf1) and p53 independent cyclin D1 pathways were involved. Together, our results demonstrate that GSH serves as an important component of cellular protective mechanisms against NO-derived nitrosative stress to regulate DNA damage checkpoint.