早期干预ERK在脊髓的激活可阻断外周神经损伤引起的神经病理性疼痛的发生

本文采用大鼠坐骨神经慢性压迫损伤引起的神经病理痛模型,研究脊髓背角细胞外信号调节激酶(extracellular signal-regulatedkinase,ERK)在外周神经损伤引起的神经病理疼痛发生中的作用.结果显示,单侧坐骨神经压迫性损伤后1天,大鼠损伤侧脊髓背角ERK的磷酸化(激活)水平显著上调,其下游转录因...     

模式识别受体激活状态对小胶质细胞p38-MAPK磷酸化水平的影响

为了探讨小胶质细胞模式识别受体（pattern recognition receptor,PRR）激活状态对Aβ42诱导下的细胞应激性p38丝裂原活化蛋白激酶（p38-mitogen activated protein kinase,p38-MAPK）磷酸化及细胞吞噬能力的影响,在不同模式识别受体（SRA,TRL2,SRB,CD36）的抗体存在的条件下用寡聚物Aβ42蛋白（oAβ42）孵育并活化小胶质细胞,测定细胞活化后的p38-MAPK激酶磷酸化水平和小胶质细胞模式识别受体TLR2的阻断对细胞Aβ42吞噬量的影响。结果发现,与正常小胶质细胞对比,模式识别受体SRA（scavenger receptor A）及TLR2受体（toll-like receptor 2）被相应抗体阻断的小胶质细胞在受到Aβ42蛋白激活时,p38-MAPK的磷酸化水平显著降低;TLR2受体被其抗体阻断后小胶质细胞对Aβ42的吞噬量降低,说明该模式识别受体激活状态影响胶质细胞吞噬能力,该过程与p38-MAPK的磷酸化水平相关。而受体内吞抑制剂对小胶质细胞的Aβ42蛋白的吞入量没有显著影响,说明上述细胞对寡聚物Aβ42的吞入过程并非经典的受体内吞过程。TLR家族受体有望成为阿尔茨海默病(Alzheimei Disease, AD)免疫治疗的潜在治疗靶标。     

CREB 和NF-κB在p38MAPK所致脊髓星形胶质细胞活化中的作用

目的:探讨CREB和NF-κB在p38MAPK所致脊髓星形胶质细胞活化中的作用,明确脊髓星形胶质细胞活化中p38MAPK细胞信号转导途径的作用。方法:分离培养SPF大鼠脊髓星形胶质细胞,设正常组、SP刺激组(SP组,10-7mol/L)、SP刺激+SB203580(10μmol/L)阻断p38MAPK组(SP+SB组)、SP刺激+PD98059(10μmol/L)阻断CREB组(SP+PD组)、SP刺激+SN50(10μmol/L)阻断NF-κB(SP+SN组)。WB法、免疫荧光法、ELISA法检测12 h和24 h时p-p38、p-CREB、NF-κBp65水平及GFAP、TNF-、IL-1β水平变化。结果:SP组脊髓星形胶质细胞p-p38、p-CREB、NF-κBp65显著升高,GFAP水平显著增高,同时TNF-和IL-1β水平显著增高。与SP组比较,用SB203580阻断p38MAPK通路后,SP+SB组p-p38、p-CREB、NF-κBp65显著降低,GFAP、TNF-和IL-1β水平显著降低。用PD98059阻断CREB通路后,SP+PD组p-p38、NF-κBp65无显著变化,p-CREB显著降...     

CREB和NF-κB在p38MAPK所致脊髓星形胶质细胞活化中的作用（英文）

目的：探讨CREB和NF-κB在p38MAPK所致脊髓星形胶质细胞活化中的作用,明确脊髓星形胶质细胞活化中p38MAPK细胞信号转导途径的作用。方法：分离培养SPF大鼠脊髓星形胶质细胞,设正常组、SP刺激组（SP组,10-7mol/L）、SP刺激＋SB203580（10μmol/L）阻断p38MAPK组（SP＋SB组）、SP刺激＋PD98059（10μmol/L）阻断CREB组（SP＋PD组）、SP刺激＋SN50（10μmol/L）阻断NF-κB（SP＋SN组）。WB法、免疫荧光法、ELISA法检测12 h和24 h时p-p38、p-CREB、NF-κBp65水平及GFAP、TNF-、IL-1β水平变化。结果：SP组脊髓星形胶质细胞p-p38、p-CREB、NF-κBp65显著升高,GFAP水平显著增高,同时TNF-和IL-1β水平显著增高。与SP组比较,用SB203580阻断p38MAPK通路后,SP＋SB组p-p38、p-CREB、NF-κBp65显著降低,GFAP、TNF-和IL-1β水平显著降低。用PD98059阻断CREB通路后,SP＋PD组p-p38、NF-κBp65无显著变化,p-CREB显著降低,GFAP水平降低,同时TNF-和IL-1β水平降低。用SN50阻断NF-κB通路后,SP＋SN组p-p38、p-CREB无显著变化,NF-κBp65显著降低,GFAP水平降低,同时TNF-和IL-1β水平降低。结论：体外培养中,SP刺激后脊髓星形胶质细胞显著活化,p38MAPK活化后通过CREB及NF-κB信号途径导致胶质细胞炎性因子水平显著升高。     

氟氏佐剂诱导大鼠慢性前列腺炎疼痛模型中L5-S2脊髓中枢小胶质细胞的活化

目的:观察大鼠慢性前列腺炎疼痛模型中L5-S2脊段背角小胶质细胞活化的变化.方法:通过前列腺完全弗氏佐剂注射制作大鼠慢性前列腺炎疼痛模型,对照组注射生理盐水,观察时间为0、4、12、24d,用热辐射痛阈测定法和前列腺病理进行疼痛模型鉴定,采用实时荧光定量RT-PCR检测L5-S2脊段后角中小胶质细胞标志物IBA-1的表达.结果:成功建立慢性前列腺炎疼痛大鼠模型,并观察到L5-S2脊髓背角中存在小胶质细胞的活化.结论:慢性前列腺炎疼痛可以引起L5-S2脊髓中枢小胶质细胞活化,小胶质细胞异常活化可引起神经炎性疼痛,有可能与慢性前列腺炎疼痛的持续和泛化有密切关系.     

cAMP反应元件结合蛋白介导磷酸化细胞外信号调节激酶在神经病理性痛形成中的作用

采用行为学、免疫组织化学和Western blot方法,观察鞘内注射细胞外信号调节激酶(extracellular signal-regulate kinase,ERK)信号转导通路阻滞剂对慢性压迫性损伤(chronic constriction injury,CCI)大鼠痛行为及脊髓背角内磷酸化cAMP反应元件结合蛋白(phosphorylated cAMP response-element binding protein,pCREB)和Fos表达变化的影响,探讨ERK／CREB转导通路在神经病理性疼痛中的作用。结果表明,CCI可明显增加双侧脊髓背角pCREB、损伤侧脊髓背角浅层Fos阳性神经元表达,以CCI后3与5d时尤为显著。鞘内沣射促分裂原活化蛋白激酶激酶(mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase,MEK)阻滞剂U0126及ERK反义寡核苷酸在减轻大鼠痛行为的同时,能明显抑制双侧脊髓背角内pCREB的表达,同时,Fos阳性神经元的表达也明显减少。大鼠痛行为及脊髓背角pCREB和Fos的表达在时相上一致。上述结果提示pCREB参与pERK介导的神经病理性疼痛。     

聚合度7-15的壳寡糖抑制脂多糖刺激的单核细胞产生TNF-α和IL-8的作用研究

本文通过建立脂多糖刺激的单核细胞炎症损伤模型,观察聚合度7-15的壳寡糖对炎性单核细胞白细胞介素-8(IL-8)和肿瘤坏死因子-α(TNF-α)表达的影响,及对p38丝裂原激活的蛋白激酶(p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases,p38MAPK)信号通路磷酸化的影响。采用p38信号通路抑制剂(SB203580)验证抑制p38信号通路对脂多糖诱导的单核细胞表达IL-8和TNF-α的作用,从而探索壳寡糖抑制单核细胞炎性损伤的分子机制。结果表明壳寡糖可抑制脂多糖诱导的单核细胞表达IL-8和TNF-α,并且抑制p38信号蛋白的磷酸化水平。因此,初步认为壳寡糖可能通过抑制炎性U937细胞中p38MAPK信号通路抑制IL-8和TNF-α的表达。     

抑制p38MAPK信号通路对Bpiv3复制的影响

由牛副流感病毒3型(Bovine parainfluenza virus type 3,Bpiv3)感染引起的牛副流感病已成为各国牛场最重要的传染病之一,每年都会给世界养牛业造成巨大的经济损失,但关于该病致病的分子机制研究较少。本研究通过观察Bpiv3感染对MDBK细胞中丝裂原活化蛋白激酶(MKK3)及其下游分子p38丝裂酶原活化的蛋白激酶(p38MAPK)的表达的影响,探讨相关的信号转导机制,对p38 MAPK通路在Bpiv3感染过程中的作用进行了初步研究。Bpiv3感染细胞后,采用Western Blot检测MKK3,p38 MAPK在蛋白水平的表达变化,并采用ELISA法检测细胞上清中IL-6,IL-8,IL-13和TNF-α的水平变化,采用SPSS 12软件进行统计学分析。结果表明,Bpiv3在感染后能够诱导MKK3的激活以及p38的磷酸化,激活了p38 MAPK信号通路。而且p38 MAPK信号通路参与了Bpiv3的复制过程。ELISA检测Bpiv3感染后以及使用抑制剂SB202190处理后的细胞上清中IL-6、IL-8、IL-13和TNF-α的水平发现,p38 MAPK信号通路参与了Bpiv3诱导的炎症反应。研究证实Bpiv3感染能够激活p38 MAPK通路,显著上调MKK3的表达并诱导p38发生磷酸化,进一步激活下游分子发挥生物学活性,促进Bpiv3的复制及诱导促炎细胞因子的产生。p38 MAPK信号通路的激活可能是Bpiv3感染诱发炎症反应的机制之一。     

脑微血管内皮细胞条件培养液对MIP-1β诱导大鼠小胶质细胞迁移影响的机制

目的:研究经通络方药作用后的脑微血管内皮细胞条件培养液对MIP-1β诱导的大鼠小胶质细胞迁移的影响,以及由MIP-1β在小胶质细胞上的受体-CCR5介导细胞信号转导通路的调控作用.方法:将通络方药作用后的大鼠脑微血管内皮细胞条件培养液加入到由5nM MIP-1β刺激6h后的原代大鼠小胶质细胞中,利用Transwell细胞迁移系统来观察小胶质细胞迁移,用Western blot法检测小胶质细胞CCR5,p-p38,P-JNK表达情况.结果:脑微血管内皮细胞条件培养液能够显著减少小胶质细胞迁移到Transwell下层的细胞数量(P<0.01),降低小胶质细胞上MIP-1β的受体CCR5表达,同时抑制了其下游信号蛋白p38和JNK的磷酸化.结论:通络方药作用后的脑微血管内皮细胞务件培养液可抑制由MIP-1β诱导的大鼠小胶质细胞迁移,其作用发挥可能是通过抑制MIP-1β的受体CCR5表达,降低了其下游通路上p38和JNK蛋白磷酸化程度实现.     

MKP-1和磷酸化ERK蛋白在急性脊髓损伤大鼠模型中表达的实验研究

探讨丝裂原活化蛋白激酶(Mitogen activated protein kinase,MAPK)相关蛋白丝裂原活化蛋白激酶磷酸酶(Mitogen activated protein kinase phoshatase-1,MKP-1)和磷酸化细胞外信号调节激酶(Extracellular sigIlal-regulated kinases,ERK)在大鼠脊髓损伤后表达的变化及其意义.20只SD大鼠随,机分为实验组及假手术对照组.实验组采用改良Allen'S打击法制作脊髓损伤动文为实验组及假手术对照组同法暴露脊髓,但不损伤脊髓.2组大鼠术后12h取手术段脊髓,用苏木精--伊红染色观察损伤脊髓组织病理变化和检测脊髓标本损伤段的MKP-1和磷酸化ERK蛋白表达的差异.实验组脊髓HE染色显示存在大量出血坏死后形成的囊腔,组织和神经细胞水肿以及神经纤维溶解消失.免疫组化和Western Blot结果发现.术后第12h实验组MKP-1蛋白的表达减少,同时磷酸化ERK-1蛋白的表达量却明显增加,差别有显著性意义(P<0.01).脊髓组织受重物打击后可下调MKP-1蛋白的表达,同时显著增加磷酸化ERK蛋白,而这可能是脊髓损伤的机制之一.     

The P2Y(2) nucleotide receptor mediates tissue factor expression in human coronary artery endothelial cells

The discovery of the role of P2Y(12) receptor in platelet aggregation leads to a new anti-thrombotic drug Plavix; however, little is known about non-platelet P2Y receptors in thrombosis. This study tested the hypothesis that endothelial P2Y receptor(s) mediates up-regulation of tissue factor (TF), the initiator of coagulation cascade. Stimulation of human coronary artery endothelial cells (HCAEC) by UTP/ATP increased the mRNA level of TF but not of its counterpart-tissue factor pathway inhibitor, which was accompanied by up-regulation of TF protein and cell surface activity. RT-PCR revealed a selective expression of P2Y(2) and P2Y(11) receptors in HCAEC. Consistent with this, TF up-regulation was inhibited by suramin or by siRNA silencing of P2Y(2) receptor, but not by NF-157, a P2Y(11)-selective antagonist, suggesting a role for the P2Y(2) receptor. In addition, P2Y(2) receptor activated ERK1/2, JNK, and p38 MAPK pathways without affecting the positive NF-κB and negative AKT regulatory pathways of TF expression. Furthermore, TF up-regulation was abolished or partially suppressed by inhibition of p38 or JNK but not ERK1/2. Interestingly, blockade of the PLC/Ca(2+) pathway did not affect P2Y(2) receptor activation of p38, JNK, and TF induction. However, blockade of Src kinase reduced phosphorylation of p38 but not JNK, eliminating TF induction. In contrast, inhibition of Rho kinase reduced phosphorylation of JNK but not p38, decreasing TF expression. These findings demonstrate that P2Y(2) receptor mediates TF expression in HCAEC through new mechanisms involving Src/p38 and Rho/JNK pathways, possibly contributing to a pro-thrombotic status after vascular injury.     

Nerve growth factor-induced stimulation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase in PC12 cells is partially mediated via G(i/o) proteins

Differentiation of PC12 cells by nerve growth factor (NGF) requires the activation of various mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) including p38 MAPK. Accumulating evidence has suggested cross-talk regulation of NGF-induced responses by G protein-coupled receptors, thus we examined whether NGF utilizes G(i/o) proteins to regulate p38 MAPK in PC12 cells. Induction of p38 MAPK phosphorylation by NGF occurred in a time- and dose-dependent manner and was partially inhibited by pertussis toxin (PTX). NGF-dependent p38 MAPK phosphorylation became insensitive to PTX treatment upon transient expressions of Galpha(z) or the PTX-resistant mutants of Galpha(i2) and Galpha(oA). Moreover, Galpha(i2) was co-immunoprecipitated with the TrkA receptor from PC12 cell lysates. To discern the participation of various signaling intermediates, PC12 cells were treated with a panel of specific inhibitors prior to the NGF challenge. NGF-induced p38 MAPK phosphorylation was abolished by inhibitors of Src (PP1, PP2, and SU6656) and MEK1/2 (U0126). Inhibition of the p38 MAPK pathway also suppressed NGF-induced PC12 cell differentiation. In contrast, inhibitors of JAK2, phospholipase C, protein kinase C and Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent kinase II did not affect the ability of NGF to activate p38 MAPK. Collectively, these studies indicate that NGF-dependent p38 MAPK activity may be mediated via G(i2) protein, Src, and the MEK/ERK cascade.     

Roles of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinases 5 in spinal microglia and primary sensory neurons for neuropathic pain

Neuropathic pain that occurs after peripheral nerve injury is poorly controlled by current therapies. Increasing evidence shows that mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) play an important role in the induction and maintenance of neuropathic pain. Here we show that activation of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinases 5 (ERK5), also known as big MAPK1, participates in pain hypersensitivity caused by nerve injury. Nerve injury increased ERK5 phosphorylation in spinal microglia and in both damaged and undamaged dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons. Antisense knockdown of ERK5 suppressed nerve injury-induced neuropathic pain and decreased microglial activation. Furthermore, inhibition of ERK5 blocked the induction of transient receptor potential channels and brain-derived neurotrophic factor expression in DRG neurons. Our results show that ERK5 activated in spinal microglia and DRG neurons contributes to the development of neuropathic pain. Thus, blocking ERK5 signaling in the spinal cord and primary afferents has potential for preventing pain after nerve damage.     

Signaling of ATP receptors in glia-neuron interaction and pain

ATP causes the activation of p38 or ERK1/2, mitogen activated protein kinases (MAPKs) resulting in the release of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF) and Interleukin-6 (IL-6) from microglia. We examined the effect of TNF and IL-6 on the protection from PC12 cell death by serum deprivation. When PC12 cells were incubated with serum-free medium for 32 hr, their viability decreased to 30 %. IL-6 alone slightly protected the death of PC12 cells, whereas TNF alone did not show any protective effect. In the meanwhile, when PC12 cells were pretreated with TNF for 6 hr and then incubated with IL-6 under the condition of serum-free, the viability of PC12 cells dramatically increased. TNF induced an increase of IL-6 receptor (IL-6R) expression in PC12 cells at 4-6 hr. These data suggested that 6 hr pretreatment with TNF increased IL-6R expression in PC12 cells, leading to an enhancement of IL-6-induced neuroprotective action.To elucidate the role of p38 in pathological pain, we investigated whether p38 is activated in the spinal cord of the neuropathic pain model. In the rats displaying a marked allodynia, the level of phospho-p38 was increased in the microglia of injury side in the dorsal horn. Intraspinal administration of p38 inhibitor suppressed the allodynia. These results demonstrate that neuropathic pain hypersensitivity depends upon the activation of p38 signaling pathway in microglia in the dorsal horn following peripheral nerve injury.     

Real-time imaging reveals that P2Y2 and P2Y12 receptor agonists are not chemoattractants and macrophage chemotaxis to complement C5a is phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)- and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)-independent

Adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) has been implicated in the recruitment of professional phagocytes (neutrophils and macrophages) to sites of infection and tissue injury in two distinct ways. First, ATP itself is thought to be a chemotactic "find me" signal released by dying cells, and second, autocrine ATP signaling is implicated as an amplifier mechanism for chemotactic navigation to end-target chemoattractants, such as complement C5a. Here we show using real-time chemotaxis assays that mouse peritoneal macrophages do not directionally migrate to stable analogs of ATP (adenosine-5'-(γ-thio)-triphosphate (ATPγS)) or its hydrolysis product ADP (adenosine-5'-(β-thio)-diphosphate (ADPβS)). HPLC revealed that these synthetic P2Y(2) (ATPγS) and P2Y(12) (ADPβS) receptor ligands were in fact slowly degraded. We also found that ATPγS, but not ADPβS, promoted chemokinesis (increased random migration). Furthermore, we found that photorelease of ATP or ADP induced lamellipodial membrane extensions. At the cell signaling level, C5a, but not ATPγS, activated Akt, whereas both ligands induced p38 MAPK activation. p38 MAPK and Akt activation are strongly implicated in neutrophil chemotaxis. However, we found that inhibitors of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K; upstream of Akt) and p38 MAPK (or conditional deletion of p38α MAPK) did not impair macrophage chemotactic efficiency or migration velocity. Our results suggest that PI3K and p38 MAPK are redundant for macrophage chemotaxis and that purinergic P2Y(2) and P2Y(12) receptor ligands are not chemotactic. We propose that ATP signaling is strictly autocrine or paracrine and that ATP and ADP may act as short-range "touch me" (rather than long-range find me) signals to promote phagocytic clearance via cell spreading.     

Modulation of protein phosphatase 2a by adenosine A1 receptors in cardiomyocytes: role for p38 MAPK

Adenosine A1 receptor activation causes protein phosphatase 2a (PP2a) activation in ventricular myocytes. This attenuates beta-adrenergic functional effects in the heart (Liu Q and Hofmann PA. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 283: H1314-H1321, 2002). The purpose of the present study was to identify the signaling pathway involved in the translocation/activation of PP2a by adenosine A1 receptors in ventricular myocytes. We found that N6-cyclopentyladenosine (CPA; an adenosine A1 receptor agonist)-induced PP2a translocation was blocked by p38 MAPK inhibition but not by JNK inhibition. CPA increased phosphorylation of p38 MAPK, and this effect was abolished by pertussis toxin and inhibitors of the cGMP pathway. Moreover, CPA-induced PP2a translocation was blocked by inhibition of the cGMP pathway. Guanylyl cyclase activation mimicked the effects of CPA and caused p38 MAPK phosphorylation and PP2a translocation. Finally, CPA-induced dephosphorylations of troponin I and phospholamban were blocked by pertussis toxin and attenuated by p38 MAPK inhibition. These results suggest that adenosine A1 receptor-mediated PP2a activation uses a pertussis toxin-sensitive Gi protein-guanylyl cyclase-p38 MAPK pathway. This proposed, novel pathway may play a role in acute modulation of cardiac function.     

Pro-survival effects of JNK and p38 MAPK pathways in LPS-induced activation of BV-2 cells

Identifying MAPK pathways and understanding their role in microglial cells may be crucial for understanding the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases since activated microglia could contribute to the progressive nature of neurodegeneration. In this study we show that the JNK pathway plays an important role in the survival of resting microglia BV-2 cells, as evidenced by Annexin-V positive staining and caspase-3 activation in cells treated with the specific JNK inhibitor SP600125. During LPS-induced activation of BV-2 cells inhibition of the p38 and JNK pathways with SB203580 and SP600125, respectively, results in apoptosis as detected by apoptotic markers. In the presence SP600125 the phosphorylation of p38 was significantly increased both in control and LPS-activated BV-2 cells. This suggests that the pro-survival role of JNK is possible due to its abrogation of a potentially apoptotic signal mediated by p38 MAPK pathway. Furthermore, inhibition of the p38 MAPK pathway during LPS-induced activation of BV-2 cells resulted in an increased phosphorylation of c-Jun, suggesting that the pro-survival effect of p38 MAPK during inflammatory conditions involves the JNK pathway. In conclusion, the results of this study demonstrate that both the JNK and p38 MAPK pathways possess anti-apoptotic functions in the microglial cell line BV-2 during LPS-induced activation.     

Purinergic receptors activating rapid intracellular Ca increases in microglia

We provide both molecular and pharmacological evidence that the metabotropic, purinergic, P2Y(6), P2Y(12) and P2Y(13) receptors and the ionotropic P2X(4) receptor contribute strongly to the rapid calcium response caused by ATP and its analogues in mouse microglia. Real-time PCR demonstrates that the most prevalent P2 receptor in microglia is P2Y(6) followed, in order, by P2X(4), P2Y(12), and P2X(7) = P2Y(13). Only very small quantities of mRNA for P2Y(1), P2Y(2), P2Y(4), P2Y(14), P2X(3) and P2X(5) were found. Dose-response curves of the rapid calcium response gave a potency order of: 2MeSADP>ADP=UDP=IDP=UTP>ATP>BzATP, whereas A2P4 had little effect. Pertussis toxin partially blocked responses to 2MeSADP, ADP and UDP. The P2X(4) antagonist suramin, but not PPADS, significantly blocked responses to ATP. These data indicate that P2Y(6), P2Y(12), P2Y(13) and P2X receptors mediate much of the rapid calcium responses and shape changes in microglia to low concentrations of ATP, presumably at least partly because ATP is rapidly hydrolyzed to ADP. Expression of P2Y(6), P2Y(12) and P2Y(13) receptors appears to be largely glial in the brain, so that peripheral immune cells and CNS microglia share these receptors. Thus, purinergic, metabotropic, P2Y(6), P2Y(12), P2Y(13) and P2X(4) receptors might share a role in the activation and recruitment of microglia in the brain and spinal cord by widely varying stimuli that cause the release of ATP, including infection, injury and degeneration in the CNS, and peripheral tissue injury and inflammation which is signaled via nerve signaling to the spinal cord.     

LncRNA NONRATT021972 siRNA attenuates P2X7 receptor expression and inflammatory cytokine production induced by combined high glucose and free fatty acids in PC12 cells

Diabetic neuropathy (DNP) is a frequent chronic complication of diabetes mellitus with potentially life-threatening outcomes. High glucose and elevated free fatty acids (FFAs) have been recently recognized as major causes of nervous system damage in diabetes. Our previous study has indicated extracellular stimuli, such as high glucose and/or FFA stress, may activate the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway and induce a p38 MAPK-dependent sensitization of the P2X7 receptor and release of inflammatory factors in PC12 cells, while the mechanisms underlying remain to be elucidated. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) play important roles in diverse biological processes, including activation of a series of pathway signalings. Here, we showed combined high d-glucose and FFAs (HGHF) induced an increment of lncRNA-NONRATT021972 (NONCODE ID, nc021972) in PC12 cells. Nc021972 small interference RNA (siRNA) alleviated HGHF-induced activation of p38 MAPK, expression of the P2X7 receptor, and [Ca²⁺]_i increment upon P2X7 receptor activation. Further experiments showed that there existed a crosstalk between nc021972 and the p38 MAPK signaling pathway. Inhibition of p38 MAPK signaling decreased nc021972-induced expression of the P2X7 receptor and [Ca²⁺]_i increment upon P2X7 receptor activation. Also, nc021972 siRNA inhibited HGHF-induced PC12 release of TNF-α and IL-6 and rescued decreased cell viability mediated by the P2X7 receptor. Therefore, inhibition of nc021972 may serve as a novel therapeutic strategy for diabetes complicated with nervous inflammatory diseases.     

Paeoniflorin attenuated bupivacaine-induced neurotoxicity in SH-SY5Y cells via suppression of the p38 MAPK pathway

Bupivacain, a common local anesthetic, can cause neurotoxicity and permanent neurological disorders. Paeoniflorin has been widely reported as a potential neuroprotective agent in neural injury models. However, the roles and molecular basis of paeoniflorin in bupivacaine-induced neurotoxicity are still undefined. In the current study, 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay was performed to detect cell viability. Apoptotic rate was measured through double-staining of Annexin V-FITC and propidium iodide on a flow cytometer. Western blot assay was carried out to examine the protein levels of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK), phosphorylated-p38 MAPK (p-p38 MAPK), Bcl-2, and Bax. caspase-3 activity was determined using a caspase-3 activity assay kit. We found that paeoniflorin dose-dependently attenuated bupivacaine-induced viability inhibition and apoptosis in SH-SY5Y cells. Moreover, paeoniflorin inhibited bupivacaine-induced activation of p38 MAPK pathway in SH-SY5Y cells. Paeoniflorin alone showed no significant effect on cell viability, apoptosis and p38 MAPK signaling in SH-SY5Y cells. Inhibition of p38 MAPK signaling by SB203580 or small interfering RNA targeting p38 (si-p38) abated bupivacaine-induced viability inhibition and apoptosis in SH-SY5Y cells. In conclusion, paeoniflorin alleviated bupivacaine-induced neurotoxicity in SH-SY5Y cells via suppression of the p38 MAPK pathway, highlighting the potential values of paeoniflorin in relieving bupivacaine-induced neurotoxicity.