综述: 造血干细胞衰老的研究进展

成体干细胞衰老是组织器官老化的重要原因之一.越来越多的证据显示,免疫系统的衰老起始于造血干细胞(HSC)功能的下降,即造血干细胞的衰老直接影响免疫系统的功能.然而,有关HSC衰老的机理和分子机制仍旧不清楚.在这篇综述中,我们总结了造血干细胞衰老的表型,同时从细胞内在及外在两个方面探讨论了HSC衰老的分子机制.     

Stem cell ageing and non-random chromosome segregation

Adult stem cells maintain the mature tissues of metazoans. They do so by reproducing in such a way that their progeny either differentiate, and thus contribute functionally to a tissue, or remain uncommitted and replenish the stem cell pool. Because ageing manifests as a general decline in tissue function, diminished stem cell-mediated tissue maintenance may contribute to age-related pathologies. Accordingly, the mechanisms by which stem cell regenerative potential is sustained, and the extent to which these mechanisms fail with age, are fundamental determinants of tissue ageing. Here, we explore the mechanisms of asymmetric division that account for the sustained fitness of adult stem cells and the tissues that comprise them. In particular, we summarize the theory and experimental evidence underlying non-random chromosome segregation-a mitotic asymmetry arising from the unequal partitioning of chromosomes according to the age of their template DNA strands. Additionally, we consider the possible consequences of non-random chromosome segregation, especially as they relate to both replicative and chronological ageing in stem cells. While biased segregation of chromosomes may sustain stem cell replicative potential by compartmentalizing the errors derived from DNA synthesis, it might also contribute to the accrual of replication-independent DNA damage in stem cells and thus hasten chronological ageing.     

RNAi-based screening identifies the Mms22L-Nfkbil2 complex as a novel regulator of DNA replication in human cells

Cullin 4 (Cul4)-based ubiquitin ligases emerged as critical regulators of DNA replication and repair. Over 50 Cul4-specific adaptors (DNA damage-binding 1 (Ddb1)-Cul4-associated factors; DCAFs) have been identified and are thought to assemble functionally distinct Cul4 complexes. Using a live-cell imaging-based RNAi screen, we analysed the function of DCAFs and Cul4-linked proteins, and identified specific subsets required for progression through G1 and S phase. We discovered C6orf167/Mms22-like protein (Mms22L) as a putative human orthologue of budding yeast Mms22, which, together with cullin Rtt101, regulates genome stability by promoting DNA replication through natural pause sites and damaged templates. Loss of Mms22L function in human cells results in S phase-dependent genomic instability characterised by spontaneous double-strand breaks and DNA damage checkpoint activation. Unlike yeast Mms22, human Mms22L does not stably bind to Cul4, but is degraded in a Cul4-dependent manner and upon replication stress. Mms22L physically and functionally interacts with the scaffold-like protein Nfkbil2 that co-purifies with histones, several chromatin remodelling and DNA replication/repair factors. Together, our results strongly suggest that the Mms22L-Nfkbil2 complex contributes to genome stability by regulating the chromatin state at stalled replication forks.     

DNA damage response by single-strand breaks in terminally differentiated muscle cells and the control of muscle integrity

DNA single-strand breaks (SSB) formation coordinates the myogenic program, and defects in SSB repair in post-mitotic cells have been associated with human diseases. However, the DNA damage response by SSB in terminally differentiated cells has not been explored yet. Here we show that mouse post-mitotic muscle cells accumulate SSB after alkylation damage, but they are extraordinarily resistant to the killing effects of a variety of SSB-inducers. We demonstrate that, upon SSB induction, phosphorylation of H2AX occurs in myotubes and is largely ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM)-dependent. However, the DNA damage signaling cascade downstream of ATM is defective as shown by lack of p53 increase and phosphorylation at serine 18 (human serine 15). The stabilization of p53 by nutlin-3 was ineffective in activating the cell death pathway, indicating that the resistance to SSB inducers is due to defective p53 downstream signaling. The induction of specific types of damage is required to activate the cell death program in myotubes. Besides the topoisomerase inhibitor doxorubicin known for its cardiotoxicity, we show that the mitochondria-specific inhibitor menadione is able to activate p53 and to kill effectively myotubes. Cell killing is p53-dependent as demonstrated by full protection of myotubes lacking p53, but there is a restriction of p53-activated genes. This new information may have important therapeutic implications in the prevention of muscle cell toxicity.     

DNA损伤监测及修复相关酶与细胞衰老

衰老是细胞的重要生命现象之一,衰老假说之一认为细胞中残留DNA损伤的积累可加速细胞的衰老.因此,细胞内DNA损伤监测及修复系统的正常运行与细胞衰老调控密切相关,DNA损伤监测及修复相关酶如PARP、DNA-PK、ATM、p53等在细胞衰老中的调控作用日益受到广泛关注.研究这些蛋白质分子间的相互作用及其在细胞衰老过程中的调控功能,有利于揭示DNA损伤应激、损伤修复调控与细胞衰老之间的内在联系,为抗衰老研究及从衰老角度治疗肿瘤提供新的思路.     

Loss of the Xeroderma Pigmentosum Group A Gene (XPA) Enhances Apoptosis of Cultured Cerebellar Neurons Induced by UV but Not by Low-K+ Medium

Abstract: To study the involvement of the xeroderma pigmentosum group A gene ( XPA ) in neuronal apoptosis, we cultured cerebellar neurons from mice lacking XPA gene ( XPA ^−/−) and induced apoptosis by exposure to UV irradiation or medium containing a low concentration of potassium (low-K⁺ medium). When cerebellar neurons from postnatal days 15–16 wild-type mice were treated with UV irradiation, apoptotic neuronal death was observed after 24–48 h. About 60% of neurons survived 48 h after UV irradiation at a dose of 5 J/m². On the other hand, neurons from XPA ^−/− mice showed a significantly increased vulnerability to UV irradiation, and >90% of neurons died 48 h after UV irradiation at a dose of 5 J/m². In contrast, low-K⁺ medium induced apoptosis of neurons from mice of each genotype with the same kinetics. These results suggest that the XPA gene is involved in neuronal DNA repair and that it thereby influences apoptosis induced by DNA damage in cultured cerebellar neurons.     

An Integrated Approach for Analysis of the DNA Damage Response in Mammalian Cells: NUCLEOTIDE EXCISION REPAIR,DNA DAMAGE CHECKPOINT,AND APOPTOSIS*

DNA damage by UV and UV-mimetic agents elicits a set of inter-related responses in mammalian cells, including DNA repair, DNA damage checkpoints, and apoptosis. Conventionally, these responses are analyzed separately using different methodologies. Here we describe a unified approach that is capable of quantifying all three responses in parallel using lysates from the same population of cells. We show that a highly sensitive in vivo excision repair assay is capable of detecting nucleotide excision repair of a wide spectrum of DNA lesions (UV damage, chemical carcinogens, and chemotherapeutic drugs) within minutes of damage induction. This method therefore allows for a real-time measure of nucleotide excision repair activity that can be monitored in conjunction with other components of the DNA damage response, including DNA damage checkpoint and apoptotic signaling. This approach therefore provides a convenient and reliable platform for simultaneously examining multiple aspects of the DNA damage response in a single population of cells that can be applied for a diverse array of carcinogenic and chemotherapeutic agents.     

小鼠脑室内注射神经干细胞裂解液促进谷氨酸盐诱导的兴奋性神经元损伤的修复

先前的研究已经证实,阿魏酸钠诱导分化的PC12细胞裂解液的无细胞滤液具有改善抑郁症样模型大鼠的行为学障碍、上调其海马和大脑皮质神经生长因子(nerve growth factor,NGF)和脑源性神经营养因子(brain-derived neurotrophic factor,BDNF)的表达、增加海马神经干细胞(neural stem cells,NSCs)/神经前体细胞(neural progenitor cells)增殖的效果。该研究的目的在于探讨神经干细胞裂解液的无细胞滤液(cell-free filtrate ofneural stem cell lysates,FNSCL)脑室内注射促进谷氨酸盐诱导的成年小鼠兴奋性神经元损伤修复的可能性。成年小鼠谷氨酸单钠(monosodiumglutamate,MSG,2.0g/(kg·d))灌胃,连续10日,造成兴奋性神经元损伤模型。自孕15 d的昆明种小鼠取胎脑,分离、培养神经干细胞,免疫细胞化学法检测巢蛋白(nestin)抗原,制备神经干细胞裂解液的无细胞滤液。MSG+NSCs组动物在MSG灌胃后接收脑室内NSCs移植,MSG+FNSCL组动物在MSG灌胃...     

时钟节律与细胞周期

昼夜节律和细胞周期是生命有机体中两种主要的节律性、周期性的活动,参与机体代谢与生理节律．在分子水平上,它们的周期性活动是由一种周期性振荡的网络构成的,这种网络由一系列节律性表达的蛋白所形成．研究发现,多种节律因子通过调节周期蛋白的表达影响细胞周期进程,如G ₁-S期,REV-ERBa抑制p21促进细胞进程,RORα激活p21抑制细胞进程,DEC1抑制cyclinD1,CLOCK/BMAL1负调控c-Myc;G ₂-M期,BMAL1/CLOCK、BMAL1/NPAS2或Cry1作用于Wee1抑制或激活G_2-M期进程．此外,昼夜节律钟蛋白也参与了DNA损伤修复及细胞死亡的过程：Per1、Tim分别作用于ATM、ATR,因而促进细胞周期停滞,p53缺失的细胞中敲除Cry促进细胞凋亡过程,抑制了肿瘤的形成,DEC1以p53依赖的方式促细胞衰老等．同时,节律因子的紊乱引起多种疾病的产生．因此,阐明昼夜节律对细胞周期及死亡的影响,将为肿瘤的治疗提供分子理论基础．     

Studies on DNA Damage and Repair in the Mammalian Brain

Methods for studying breaks in DNA strands and their repair, originally developed for prokaryotes and cultured cell lines, have been applied to preparations from rat brain. The relative sensitivities of these methods, which include alkaline sucrose density gradient sedimentation, nucleoid sedimentation, and ADP-ribosyltransferase assay, are compared.     

乳腺癌易感蛋白1在DNA损伤修复中的作用

人类乳腺癌易感基因1(breast cancer susceptibility gene 1,BRCA1)首先是在乳腺癌家族中发现的,是具有遗传倾向的乳腺癌和卵巢癌易感基因,其基因的突变与家族性乳腺癌及卵巢癌的发生有密切联系。BRCA1是一种抑癌基因,其基因产物可以参与维持基因组稳定性的多条细胞信号通路,例如DNA损伤诱导的细胞周期调控、DNA损伤修复、基因转录调节、细胞凋亡、泛素化等重要的细胞活动。本文就近几年来BRCA1在DNA损伤修复中的作用的研究进展作一综述,包括DNA损伤诱导的细胞周期检查点的激活和DNA损伤修复两方面。     

Uhrf2 is important for DNA damage response in vascular smooth muscle cells

Emerging evidence shows that Uhrf1 plays an important role in DNA damage response for maintaining genomic stability. Interestingly, Uhrf1 has a paralog Uhrf2 in mammals. Uhrf1 and Uhrf2 share similar domain architectures. However, the role of Uhrf2 in DNA damage response has not been studied yet. During the analysis of the expression level of Uhrf2 in different tissues, we found that Uhrf2 is highly expressed in aorta and aortic vascular smooth muscle cells. Thus, we studied the role of Uhrf2 in DNA damage response in aortic vascular smooth muscle cells. Using laser microirradiation, we found that like Uhrf1, Uhrf2 was recruited to the sites of DNA damage. We dissected the functional domains of Uhrf2 and found that the TTD, PHD and SRA domains are important for the relocation of Uhrf2 to the sites of DNA damage. Moreover, depletion of Uhrf2 suppressed DNA damage-induced H2AX phosphorylation and DNA damage repair. Taken together, our results demonstrate the function of Uhrf2 in DNA damage response.