高糖诱导滋养层细胞内质网应激及凋亡

目的探讨高糖对滋养层细胞系HTR-8内质网应激及凋亡的影响。方法用不同浓度的含糖培养基培养人滋养层细胞系HTR-8细胞24小时,实时定量PCR检测细胞中内质网应激相关分子CHOP、GRP78、ATF6、XBP-1 mRNA的表达水平;Western blot检测CHOP、GRP78蛋白表达水平;流式细胞术检测细胞早期凋亡率。结果实时定量PCR结果显示,与正常血糖及渗透压对照组相比,高糖组CHOP及XBP-1 mRNA表达水平显著升高,GRP78 mRNA表达降低,ATF6表达无差异;Western blot检测显示,CHOP蛋白表达水平升高,GRP78蛋白表达水平降低;流式细胞术检测显示,高糖组细胞早期凋亡率增加。正常血糖组与渗透压对照组相比,CHOP、GRP78、ATF6、XBP-1 mRNA、蛋白表达水平及细胞早期凋亡率均无差异。结论高糖能激活滋养层细胞HTR-8内质网应激,并诱导细胞凋亡。     

苦豆碱对缺氧/复氧损伤的人脐静脉内皮细胞保护机制研究

苦豆碱(aloperine,ALO)是一种具有抗炎、抗肿瘤及抗感染功效的生物碱,但其对人脐静脉内皮细胞缺氧/复氧损伤的影响尚不明确。本研究利用人脐静脉内皮细胞建立了体外缺氧/复氧损伤的细胞模型,对细胞进行分组处理:对照组、缺氧/复氧损伤组、苦豆碱(20、50和100μmol/L)预处理组。对细胞活力、细胞内乳酸盐脱氢酶(LDH)、丙二醛(MDA)和超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性,细胞内白细胞介素-1β(IL-1β)和肿瘤坏死因子α(TNF-α),以及内质网应激相关蛋白GRP78,XBP-1和凋亡相关蛋白CHOP的表达进行了检测。我们发现与缺氧/复氧损伤组相比,苦豆碱预处理能显著提高细胞活力和SOD活性、降低LDH活性、MDA含量以及IL-1β和TNF-α的水平(P0.05)。另外,苦豆碱预处理还显著下调缺氧/复氧损伤引起的GRP78、XBP-1和CHOP水平的上升(P0.05)。本研究证实苦豆碱能够提高细胞抗脂质过氧化反应的能力、降低炎症因子水平、抑制内质网应激引起的细胞凋亡,改善缺氧/复氧损伤引起的内皮细胞损伤。     

内质网应激在晚期糖基化终产物诱导心肌细胞损伤中的作用

目的:研究晚期糖基化终产物(AGEs)对原代培养SD乳鼠心肌细胞的损伤,探讨内质网应激在AGEs诱导心肌细胞损伤中的作用.方法:原代培养SD大鼠乳鼠心肌细胞,随机分为对照组、AGEs组.MTT法检测心肌细胞存活率,Western blot法检测内质网应激蛋白GRP 78和CHOP蛋白表达水平.结果:与对照组相比,AGEs具有损伤心肌细胞的作用,并呈现剂量和时间依赖性;AGEs可以诱导内质网应激相关蛋白GRP 78和CHOP的高表达,并呈现剂量依赖性增加.结论:AGEs可以导致心肌细胞损伤,GRP 78和CHOP蛋白表达水平升高,提示内质网应激通路可能参与了AGEs诱导的心肌细胞损伤.     

内质网应激预处理对人正常肝细胞缺氧再复氧损伤的保护作用

目的:研究内质网应激预处理对人肝细胞缺氧复氧损伤的保护作用。方法:将培养的人肝细胞分为4组:正常对照(C)组、细胞缺氧复氧损伤(H/R)组、内质网应激(ER)组、内质网应激预处理(ERP+H/R)组。收集各组细胞,以流式细胞仪检测细胞凋亡,Western-bloting及RT-PCR检测内质网应激特异蛋白GRP78表达水平,并通过透射电镜观察各组细胞超微结构改变。结果:ERP+H/R组细胞凋亡率明显低于H/R组(P<0.05),ER及ERP+H/R组GRP78蛋白表达明显高于H/R组(P<0.05)。结论:内质网应激预处理对肝细胞缺氧复氧损伤具有明显的保护作用,内质网应激特异性蛋白GRP78可能在肝细胞缺氧复氧损伤中作为一种关键性的保护蛋白出现。     

AMPK调控内质网应激抵抗COPD大鼠肺泡上皮细胞凋亡的实验研究

目的:初步探讨AMPK在内质网应激所致COPD大鼠肺泡上皮细胞凋亡中所起的作用及机制。方法:实验分三组:对照组,COPD模型组,AICAR干预组,以香烟烟雾烟熏加气管内滴注脂多糖方法构建COPD大鼠模型,取大鼠肺组织行HE染色病理观察,免疫组化,western blot检测p-AMPK/AMPK,ORP150,caspase-3及CHOP表达,TUNEL法检测各组凋亡情况。结果:病理HE染色提示模型组大量炎症细胞浸润,肺大疱形成,支气管壁发生狭窄;AICAR干预组炎症细胞较模型组减少。与正常对照组相比,免疫组化及western blot均提示模型组中p-AMPK和ORP150蛋白表达含量增强,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。而AICAR干预组中p-AMPK/AMPK及ORP150蛋白表达较模型组明显上升,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。内质网应激相关凋亡指标CHOP及caspase-3的表达在模型组明显增强,较正常组比较差异有显著性(P0.05),而AICAR组中凋亡指标较模型组明显下调。结论:AMPK可以保护肺泡上皮细胞免于香烟烟雾所致内质网应激凋亡,且有可能通过增加ORP150来实现其保护作用。     

银杏叶提取物对AGEs诱导心肌细胞内质网应激的影响

目的：探索银杏叶提取物对晚期糖基化终产物（AGEs）作用下心肌细胞损伤以及内质网应激标记性分子GRP 78和CHOP的影响。方法：原代培养SD大鼠乳鼠心肌细胞,随机分为对照组、AGEs组、AGEs＋银杏叶提取物组。MTT法检测心肌细胞存活率,Western blot法检测GRP 78和CHOP蛋白表达水平。结果：与对照组比较,AGEs组48、72 h时心肌细胞存活率降低;与AGEs组比较,银杏叶提取物处理增加心肌细胞存活率。与对照组比较,AGEs组GRP 78和CHOP蛋白表达水平显著升高;与AGEs组比较,银杏叶提取物组GRP 78和CHOP表达水平显著下调。结论：银杏叶提取物能够抑制AGEs诱导的心肌细胞损伤,其机制可能与拮抗GRP 78和CHOP的表达,减轻内质网应激有关。     

右美托咪定对A549细胞缺氧/复氧损伤时细胞凋亡及CHOP的影响

目的：探讨右美托咪定（Dex）对缺氧/复氧所致的A549细胞（起源于肺泡Ⅱ型上皮细胞系）损伤及对CCAAT/增强子结合蛋白同源蛋白（CHOP）表达的影响。方法：将处于对数生长期的A549细胞随机分为4组（n=10）：常氧培养组（N组）,Dex常氧组（D组）,缺氧/复氧组（H组）,缺氧/复氧+Dex组（HD组）。D组和HD组在造模开始时加入1 nmol/L Dex,N组和D组细胞常氧培养30 h,H组和HD组细胞缺氧6 h,复氧24 h。之后用倒置显微镜观察细胞形态学变化。采用CCK-8法检测A549细胞活力。原位末端标记（TUNEL）法检测A549细胞的凋亡指数（AI）。蛋白免疫印迹法（Western blot）和逆转录-聚合酶链反应（RT-PCR）分别检测A549细胞CHOP、Grp78、caspase-3蛋白和CHOP、Grp78 mRNA表达水平。结果：与N组比较,H组细胞数量减少,细胞形态发生改变。A549细胞的吸光度值明显下降（P<0.01）,AI值升高（P<0.01）,凋亡细胞数明显增加。CHOP、Grp78、caspase-3蛋白和CHOP、Grp78 mRNA表达显著上升（P<0.01）。与H组相比,HD组细胞损伤减轻,吸光度值上调（P<0.01）,凋亡细胞数明显减少（P<0.01）。CHOP、caspase-3蛋白,CHOP mRNA表达降低（P<0.01）。结论：Dex可有效减少缺氧/复氧引起的A549细胞凋亡,其机制可能与Dex对抗CHOP信号通路所致的凋亡有关。     

缺氧复氧诱导脐静脉内皮细胞凋亡的机制

目的探讨缺氧复氧诱导人脐静脉内皮细胞凋亡发生的机制.方法体外培养人脐静脉内皮细胞,随机分为5组:缺氧0h(对照组)、3h、6h、12h、24h复氧组.向培养瓶内通入95%N2和5%CO2按不同时间孵育,随后通入5%CO2和95%空气复氧2h,建立内皮细胞缺氧复氧模型.采用台盼蓝染色、TUNEL技术对凋亡和死亡细胞进行定量分析,DNA电泳观察内皮细胞凋亡的形态学.Western blot检测细胞凋亡调节蛋白Bcl-2和Bax表达强度,同时检测丝裂原活化蛋白激酶(MAPK)中磷酸化ERK1/2的表达.采用凝胶成像分析系统灰度扫描检测蛋白质表达相对量.结果缺氧复氧后内皮细胞凋亡明显,而且内皮细胞凋亡数随缺氧时间延长而增多(P<0.05).Western blot表明缺氧复氧增强内皮细胞Bax的表达,对Bcl-2的表达量和磷酸化ERK1/2没有明显影响,使Bcl-2/Bax比值减小.结论缺氧复氧可以诱导内皮细胞凋亡,证实缺氧复氧上调促凋亡蛋白Bax的表达,对抑制凋亡蛋白Bcl-2的表达无显著影响.首次证实缺氧复氧诱导内皮细胞凋亡是取决于Bcl-2/Bax比值,而不是通过MAPK磷酸化途径.     

红景天苷对脂多糖诱导大鼠肺泡巨噬细胞和Ⅱ型肺泡上皮细胞共培养炎性介质分泌的影响

本研究旨在探讨红景天苷(salidroside, Sal)对脂多糖(lipopolysaccharide, LPS)诱导大鼠肺泡巨噬细胞NR 8383和II型肺泡上皮细胞RLE-6TN共培养炎性活化的影响。CCK-8比色法检测细胞增殖百分率,Western blot检测磷酸化AKT (p-AKT)和总AKT蛋白表达,酶联免疫吸附法测定细胞培养上清中肿瘤坏死因子α(tumor necrosis factorα, TNF-α)、巨噬细胞炎性蛋白2(macrophage inflammatory protein-2, MIP-2)和白介素10 (interleukin-10, IL-10)的含量。结果显示:与对照组相比,32和128μg/mL Sal预处理RLE-6TN细胞或共培养RLE-6TN和NR 8383细胞1 h后继续培养24 h,细胞增殖百分率显著增加(P 0.05);与对照组相比,32和128μg/mL Sal预处理RLE-6TN细胞,p-AKT/AKT蛋白比值显著增加(P 0.05)。32μg/mL Sal预处理不仅抑制LPS诱导NR 8383细胞分泌TNF-α和MIP-2 (P 0.05),而且加强RLE-6TN和NR 8383细胞共培养对LPS诱导NR 8383细胞分泌TNF-α和MIP-2的抑制作用(P 0.05)。此外,32μg/mL Sal预处理能促进LPS诱导NR 8383细胞分泌IL-10 (P 0.05),并能加强RLE-6TN和NR 8383细胞共培养对LPS诱导NR 8383细胞分泌IL-10的促进作用(P 0.05)。以上结果提示,Sal不仅能直接抑制LPS诱导的NR 8383炎性活化,还可能通过PI3K/AKT信号通路促进RLE-6TN增殖,参与II型肺泡上皮细胞对LPS诱导肺泡巨噬细胞炎性活化的调节作用。     

Aldo-keto reductase 1C15 as a quinone reductase in rat endothelial cell: Its involvement in redox cycling of 9,10-phenanthrenequinone

Abstract

9,10-Phenanthrenequinone (9,10-PQ), a redox-active quinone in diesel exhausts, triggers cellular apoptosis via reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in its redox cycling. This study found that induction of CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein-homologous protein (CHOP), a pro-apoptotic factor derived from endoplasmic reticulum stress, participates in the mechanism of rat endothelial cell damage. The 9,10-PQ-mediated CHOP induction was strengthened by a proteasome inhibitor (MG132) and the MG132-induced cell sensitization to the 9,10-PQ toxicity was abolished by a ROS inhibitor, suggesting that ROS generation and consequent proteasomal dysfunction are responsible for the CHOP up-regulation caused by 9,10-PQ. Aldo-keto reductase (AKR) 1C15 expressed in rat endothelial cells reduced 9,10-PQ into 9,10-dihydroxyphenanthrene concomitantly with superoxide anion formation, implying its participation in evoking the 9,10-PQ-redox cycling. The 9,10-PQ-induced damage was augmented by AKR1C15 over-expression. 9,10-PQ also provoked the AKR1C15 up-regulation, which sensitized against the quinone toxicity. These results suggest the presence of a negative feedback loop exacerbating the quinone toxicity in rat endothelial cells.     

Prevention of diabetic nephropathy in rats through enhanced renal antioxidative capacity by inhibition of the proteasome

AimsOxidative stress may play an important role in the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy (DN). Recent studies have shown that the ubiquitin–proteasome pathway (UPP) and oxidative stress have interaction. We aimed to investigate whether inhibiting the proteasome has a preventive effect on DN through suppression of renal oxidative stress.Main methodsMale Sprague–Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups: a normal control (NC) group, a streptozotocin-induced DN model group, and a DN plus MG132 (10 μg/kg) treatment group.Key findingsIncreased 24-h urinary protein excretion rate (UPER) and renal pathological changes were all improved after MG132 administration. Furthermore, enhanced renal 26S proteasome activity and concentration in DN rats were effectively reduced after MG132 administration. Increased p47phox and nitrotyrosine (NT) expressions in kidneys of DN rats were decreased after MG132 treatment. Renal mRNA and protein expressions of NF-E2 related factor 2 (Nrf2) were up-regulated by MG132 in comparison to DN alone. Decreased renal mRNA expression of superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) in DN rats was heightened after MG132 intervention. Depressed activities of renal SOD, CAT and GPx in DN rats were also improved by MG132 treatment. Increased renal nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) activity was inhibited after MG132 administration in DN rats at the end of 12 weeks.SignificanceOur present data suggest that inhibition of the proteasome by low-dose MG132 has a preventive effect on DN development and progression in rats through the up-regulation of antioxidant genes.     

Endoplasmic reticulum stress contributes to the cell death induced by UCH-L1 inhibitor

At the neuropathological level, Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized by the accumulation of misfolded proteins, which can trigger the unfolded protein response (UPR). UCH-L1 is a component of ubiquitin proteasome system (UPS). It is reported that the loss of its function will impair ubiquitin proteasome system and cause toxicity to cells. But its mechanism has not been illustrated. In this study, we detected the protein expression of Bip/Grp78 and the spliced form of XBP-1 to examine the activation of unfolded protein response after SK-N-SH cells being treated with LDN-57444, a UCH-L1 inhibitor which could inhibit UCH-L1 hydrolase activity. Our data showed that UCH-L1 inhibitor was able to cause cell death through the apoptosis pathway by decreasing the activity of ubiquitin proteasome system and increasing the levels of highly ubiquitinated proteins, both of which can activate unfolded protein response. There is a lot of evidence that unfolded protein response is activated as a protective response at the early stage of the stress; this protective response can switch to a pro-apoptotic response when the stress persists. In this study, we demonstrated this switch by detecting the upregulation of CHOP/Gadd153. Taken together, our data indicated that the apoptosis induced by UCH-L1 inhibitor may be triggered by the activation of endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS). Moreover, we provide a new cell model for studying the roles of UCH-L1 in Parkinson's disease.     

Sodium Butyrate Induces Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress and Autophagy in Colorectal Cells: Implications for Apoptosis

Purpose

Butyrate, a short-chain fatty acid derived from dietary fiber, inhibits proliferation and induces cell death in colorectal cancer cells. However, clinical trials have shown mixed results regarding the anti-tumor activities of butyrate. We have previously shown that sodium butyrate increases endoplasmic reticulum stress by altering intracellular calcium levels, a well-known autophagy trigger. Here, we investigated whether sodium butyrate-induced endoplasmic reticulum stress mediated autophagy, and whether there was crosstalk between autophagy and the sodium butyrate-induced apoptotic response in human colorectal cancer cells.

Methods

Human colorectal cancer cell lines (HCT-116 and HT-29) were treated with sodium butyrate at concentrations ranging from 0.5–5mM. Cell proliferation was assessed using MTT tetrazolium salt formation. Autophagy induction was confirmed through a combination of Western blotting for associated proteins, acridine orange staining for acidic vesicles, detection of autolysosomes (MDC staining), and electron microscopy. Apoptosis was quantified by flow cytometry using standard annexinV/propidium iodide staining and by assessing PARP-1 cleavage by Western blot.

Results

Sodium butyrate suppressed colorectal cancer cell proliferation, induced autophagy, and resulted in apoptotic cell death. The induction of autophagy was supported by the accumulation of acidic vesicular organelles and autolysosomes, and the expression of autophagy-associated proteins, including microtubule-associated protein II light chain 3 (LC3-II), beclin-1, and autophagocytosis-associated protein (Atg)3. The autophagy inhibitors 3-methyladenine (3-MA) and chloroquine inhibited sodium butyrate induced autophagy. Furthermore, sodium butyrate treatment markedly enhanced the expression of endoplasmic reticulum stress-associated proteins, including BIP, CHOP, PDI, and IRE-1a. When endoplasmic reticulum stress was inhibited by pharmacological (cycloheximide and mithramycin) and genetic (siRNA targeting BIP and CHOP) methods, the induction of BIP, PDI, IRE1a, and LC3-II was blocked, but PARP cleavage was markedly enhanced.

Discussion

Taken together, these results suggested that sodium butyrate-induced autophagy was mediated by endoplasmic reticulum stress, and that preventing autophagy by blocking the endoplasmic reticulum stress response enhanced sodium butyrate-induced apoptosis. These results provide novel insights into the anti-tumor mechanisms of butyric acid.     

Evidence for proteasomal degradation of Kv1.5 channel protein

BACKGROUND: The voltage-gated potassium channel Kv1.5 plays a critical role in the maintenance of the membrane potential. While protein degradation is one of the major mechanisms for the regulation of channel functions, little is known on the degradation mechanism of Kv1.5. METHODS AND RESULTS: Kv1.5 was expressed in COS cells and its degradation, intracellular localization, and channel activities were assessed by pulse-chase analysis, immunofluorescence, and patch clamp techniques, respectively. Expressed Kv1.5 had a half-life time of approximately 6.7 h, which was prolonged by the proteasome inhibitors of MG132, ALLN, proteasomal inhibitor 1, or lactacystine, but not by a lysosomal inhibitor chloroquine. MG132 increased the protein level of Kv1.5, as well as the level of its ubiquitinated form in a dose-dependent manner. Similar effects of MG132 on endogenous Kv1.5 were seen in cultured rat atrial cells. Within a cell, Kv1.5 was mainly localized in both the endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus. MG132 increased the immunoreactivity of Kv1.5 in these compartments and also increased Ik(ur) currents through the cell-surface Kv1.5. Pretreatment with either brefeldin A or colchicine abolished MG132-induced increase in Ik(ur) currents. CONCLUSION: Kv1.5 is degraded by the proteasome. The inhibition of the proteasome increased Ik(ur) currents secondary to stabilization of the channel protein in the endoplasmic reticulum/Golgi apparatus.     

Proteasome inhibition represses unfolded protein response and Nox4, sensitizing vascular cells to endoplasmic reticulum stress-induced death

BACKGROUND: Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress has pathophysiological relevance in vascular diseases and merges with proteasome function. Proteasome inhibition induces cell stress and may have therapeutic implications. However, whether proteasome inhibition potentiates ER stress-induced apoptosis and the possible mechanisms involved in this process are unclear. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Here we show that proteasome inhibition with MG132, per se at non-lethal levels, sensitized vascular smooth muscle cells to caspase-3 activation and cell death during ER stress induced by tunicamycin (Tn). This effect was accompanied by suppression of both proadaptive (KDEL chaperones) and proapoptotic (CHOP/GADD153) unfolded protein response markers, although, intriguingly, the splicing of XBP1 was markedly enhanced and sustained. In parallel, proteasome inhibition completely prevented ER stress-induced increase in NADPH oxidase activity, as well as increases in Nox4 isoform and protein disulfide isomerase mRNA expression. Increased Akt phosphorylation due to proteasome inhibition partially offset the proapoptotic effect of Tn or MG132. Although proteasome inhibition enhanced oxidative stress, reactive oxygen species scavenging had no net effect on sensitization to Tn or MG132-induced cell death. CONCLUSION/RELEVANCE: These data indicate unfolded protein response-independent pathways whereby proteasome inhibition sensitizes vascular smooth muscle to ER stress-mediated cell death. This may be relevant to understand the therapeutic potential of such compounds in vascular disease associated with increased neointimal hyperplasia.     

Ubiquitin-proteasome-dependent degradation of apolipoprotein B100 in vitro

Apolipoprotein B100 (apoB) is a large secretory protein that forms very low density lipoprotein in liver. An in vitro degradation assay was developed using rabbit reticulocyte (RR) lysate in order to investigate the mechanism of intracellular degradation of newly synthesized apoB by the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. [³H]apoB, isolated from [³H]leucine pulsed/chased Hep G2 cells, was degraded 51% when incubated for 2 h at 37°C in an assay mixture that included RR lysate (source of the ubiquitin conjugation system and proteasome) and an exogenous ATP regenerating system. ApoB degradation was ATP-dependent and degradation fragments were not observed suggesting that the very large apoB molecule was extensively degraded. ApoB degradation was decreased to 50% when potent proteasome inhibitors, clasto-lactacystin β-lactone (10 μM) or MG-132 (50 μM), were added to the reaction mixture, but was not affected by the cysteine protease inhibitor, E-64, or the serine protease inhibitor, phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride. ApoB degradation was inhibited by the mutant ubiquitin protein K48R and by ubiquitin aldehyde, an inhibitor of ubiquitin-protein isopeptidases. During incubation ubiquitination of apoB increased even as apoB was being degraded. These results suggest that in vitro degradation of apoB, a large secretory protein that is normally found in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) lumen or associated with the ER membrane, was proteasome-dependent and involved both ubiquitination and deubiquitination steps.