PTEN基因诱导人胚肾293细胞凋亡和细胞周期停滞

为了研究抑癌基因PTEN过表达对HEK293细胞凋亡和细胞周期停滞的作用,以野生型PTEN和PTEN突变子(T910G)表达质粒分别转染无PTEN表达的人胚肾293细胞,采用细胞质梯度DNA方法检测细胞凋亡,以流式细胞仪分析细胞周期.发现PTEN过表达能够诱导人胚肾293细胞质中出现梯度DNA,293细胞发生凋亡,PTEN过表达改变细胞周期分布,G0/G1期细胞增加13%,S期细胞下降15%.PTEN突变子对细胞凋亡和G1细胞停滞的影响略弱于野生型PTEN.PTEN基因过表达明显下调血小板衍生生长因子(PDGF)诱导的蛋白激酶B(PKB)和p42,p44-促分裂原活化蛋白激酶(MAPK)磷酸化水平,PTEN突变子对p42,p44-MAPK磷酸化水平的调节作用略弱于野生型PTEN.PTEN通过抑制细胞增殖,诱导细胞凋亡而影响细胞生长.     

ARF——一种新的抑癌因子的研究进展

INK4a/ARF基因位于人染色体9p21,是人类肿瘤中最常见的基因失活位点之一.INK4a/ARF基因有两套各自独立的启动子,通过可变阅读框,能够编码两种蛋白质：p16^INK4a和p14^ARF（ARF在鼠细胞中为p19^ARF）.p16作为CDK4/6的抑制因子,能够阻断pRb磷酸化,将细胞周期阻断在G1期;而ARF可结合原癌蛋白MDM2,稳定p53,将细胞周期阻断在G1期和G2/M转换期,或诱导细胞凋亡.因此ARF蛋白和p16一样也是一种肿瘤抑制因子.     

p14ARF对人黑色素瘤细胞增殖的影响及其作用机理的初探

ARF(alternative reading frame)作为INK4a/ARF的β转录产物,能够稳定p53, 诱导细胞周期阻断或凋亡.利用高表达p14^ARF的人黑色素瘤细胞模型,探讨了ARF抑制细胞增殖的分子作用机理.研究发现p14^ARF高表达能将细胞周期阻断在G1和G2期, p53, p21^cip1和p27^kip1蛋白水平明显增强, 而p-ERK1/2,CyclinD1和CyclinE蛋白水平下降, 明显抑制细胞生长. 提示p14^ARF能通过ERK(extracellular signal-regulated kinase)信号通路相互协调作用抑制A375细胞增殖.     

斜纹夜蛾核多角体病毒抑制苜蓿丫纹夜蛾核多角体病毒诱导的斜纹夜蛾细胞凋亡

野生型苜蓿丫纹夜蛾核多角体病毒(Autographa californica multicapsid nucleopolyhedrovirus, AcMNPV)感染斜纹夜蛾(Spodoptera litura)细胞系Sl-zsu-1,可引起典型的细胞凋亡;但可以在草地夜蛾(Spodoptera frugiperda)细胞Sf-9中复制并形成多角体.比较了AcMNPV p35基因在病毒感染两种细胞的复制和转录情况,认为p35在非受纳细胞中及时有效的表达能阻止细胞发生凋亡;共感染实验结果表明,斜纹夜蛾核多角体病毒(Spodoptera litura multicapsid nucleopolyhedrovirus, SpltMNPV)可以抑制AcMNPV诱导的细胞凋亡并可帮助病毒进行复制,推测SpltMNPV基因组中与p35同源的p49基因挽救了细胞的自杀行为.     

蛇毒NGF对PC12细胞MAPK表达的影响

有丝分裂原激活的蛋白激酶（MAPK）是磷酸化瀑布中涉及的一类重要蛋白激酶.阐明各种胞外因素对MAPK的调节,以及各种外界信息所经历的具体过程是摆在研究者面前的挑战性任务.用含有长白白眉蝮蛇（A.halys）蛇毒神经生长因子(NGF)的培养基培养PC12细胞, 观察MAPK和MAPK激酶(MAPKK)表达及MAPK的活性.结果表明,A.halys蛇毒NGF使PC12细胞的MAPK和MAPKK的表达及MAPK活性明显增加.当蛇毒NGF浓度在25～100 μg/L时,随浓度的增加,酶的表达和活性呈线性增加.由A.halys蛇毒NGF诱导的MAPK和MAPKK表达的增加依赖于蛋白激酶C(PKC).     

IGF-1抑制妊娠合并糖尿病诱导的鼠胚胎细胞凋亡

为研究妊娠合并糖尿病对孕妇及胎儿产生危害的机制,构建妊娠合并糖尿病的昆明小鼠动物模型,检测不同浓度葡萄糖对体外培养胚泡细胞生长的影响．观察不同浓度胰岛素样生长因子-1(insulin-like growth factor-1, IGF-1)对体外高糖环境胚泡细胞发育的影响,利用细胞核DNA双染实验观察不同浓度IGF-1作用下胚泡细胞的凋亡．采用实时定量PCR(RT-PCR)分析不同凋亡相关基因在体外培养胚泡中的表达情况．结果显示,随着葡萄糖浓度的增加,胚泡细胞总数减少,高浓度葡萄糖(≥30 mmol/L)则能显著性抑制胚泡细胞的生长(P < 0.01)．RT-PCR检测发现妊娠合并糖尿病小鼠的胚泡igf-1表达下调,且与葡萄糖的浓度成正相关．凋亡相关基因bcl-2和bcl-xl的表达随着体外IGF-1培养浓度的增加而表达上调,而p53基因和凋亡相关基因Bax的表达则下调．细胞凋亡实验显示,随着IGF-1浓度的增加,体外培养胚泡细胞的凋亡逐渐降低,当IGF-1浓度达到100 μg/L时,几乎未发现细胞凋亡．因此,高血糖能抑制胚泡细胞的生长发育,导致igf-1的表达下调,而IGF-1能抑制胚泡细胞的凋亡,有利于胚泡细胞的生长发育．     

细胞周期和骨架在CNE-2Z细胞凋亡中的变化

采用DNA电泳、PI染色流式细胞仪(FCM)分析和激光共聚焦显微镜(LCM)观察, 检测了蛋白激酶C(PKC)抑制剂诱导CNE-2Z细胞凋亡时细胞周期和骨架的改变. PKC抑制剂staurospoine(ST)、sphingosine(SS), 终浓度分别为1×10^-6 mol/L和4×10^-5 mol/L, 诱导细胞24 h.结果发现处理组细胞均有典型的DNA亚二倍体峰, DNA电泳有梯状图谱; 细胞周期百分比SS组较对照组S期增加及G1期减少明显(P＜0.05); ST组G2期增加、G1和S期显著减少(P＜0.01). 对照组细胞染色质分布均匀; 胞质微丝呈细颗粒状, 均匀分布. 诱导细胞染色质碎裂呈不规则缺损; 胞质微丝散乱, 颗粒粗大, 排列不均. 结果表明, SS、ST可诱导CNE-2Z细胞凋亡, 细胞周期和骨架在细胞凋亡时, 均发生了明显改变.     

N-乙酰氨基葡萄糖转移酶Ⅴ过表达对人肝癌细胞粘着斑复合物介导的信号转导作用

为了探讨过表达N 乙酰氨基葡萄糖转移酶Ⅴ (GnT Ⅴ )后 772 1细胞侵袭、迁移等行为改变的机制 ,检测了GnT Ⅴ 772 1及pcDNA3 772 1两组细胞中与恶性表型密切相关的粘着斑激酶 (focalad hesionkinase ,FAK)、PTEN蛋白、蛋白激酶B(PKB)等重要信号分子的表达水平 ,同时测定了 2组细胞非贴壁依赖生长的能力 .利用Western印迹方法检测FAK、PTEN、PKB的表达或磷酸化水平 .利用poly hema使细胞非贴壁生长 ,2组细胞悬浮无血清培养 2 0h ,采用流式细胞仪方法检测细胞的失巢凋亡 (anoikis) .研究发现 ,转染GnT Ⅴ后的肝癌细胞的FAK表达无明显变化 ,FAK的酪氨酸磷酸化水平增高 70 %;而PTEN的表达下降了 4 9%;PKB的磷酸化增加 2 0 0 %;pcDNA3 772 1细胞已有明显凋亡 ,而转染GnT Ⅴ的 772 1细胞未发生凋亡 .结果提示 ,转染GnT Ⅴ后的肝癌细胞迁移力增强 ,可能与其FAK的磷酸化程度升高 ,激酶活力增强有关 ;而能逃逸失巢凋亡是因为PTEN的表达下降 ,PTEN蛋白的磷酸酶活性降低 ,细胞Akt PKB磷酸化水平保持在较高水平 .     

N-乙酰氨基葡萄糖转移酶Ⅴ过表达对人肝癌细胞粘着斑复合物介导的信号转导作用

为了探讨过表达N 乙酰氨基葡萄糖转移酶Ⅴ (GnT Ⅴ )后 772 1细胞侵袭、迁移等行为改变的机制 ,检测了GnT Ⅴ 772 1及pcDNA3 772 1两组细胞中与恶性表型密切相关的粘着斑激酶 (focalad hesionkinase ,FAK)、PTEN蛋白、蛋白激酶B(PKB)等重要信号分子的表达水平 ,同时测定了 2组细胞非贴壁依赖生长的能力 .利用Western印迹方法检测FAK、PTEN、PKB的表达或磷酸化水平 .利用poly hema使细胞非贴壁生长 ,2组细胞悬浮无血清培养 2 0h ,采用流式细胞仪方法检测细胞的失巢凋亡 (anoikis) .研究发现 ,转染GnT Ⅴ后的肝癌细胞的FAK表达无明显变化 ,FAK的酪氨酸磷酸化水平增高 70 %;而PTEN的表达下降了 4 9%;PKB的磷酸化增加 2 0 0 %;pcDNA3 772 1细胞已有明显凋亡 ,而转染GnT Ⅴ的 772 1细胞未发生凋亡 .结果提示 ,转染GnT Ⅴ后的肝癌细胞迁移力增强 ,可能与其FAK的磷酸化程度升高 ,激酶活力增强有关 ;而能逃逸失巢凋亡是因为PTEN的表达下降 ,PTEN蛋白的磷酸酶活性降低 ,细胞Akt PKB磷酸化水平保持在较高水平 .     

ASPP2增强结肠癌HCT116细胞对奥沙利铂的化疗敏感性

为研究ASPP2对奥沙利铂诱导的结肠癌细胞系HCT116 p53+/+(野生型)凋亡及周期的影响.利用ASPP2（rAd-ASPP2）及p53腺病毒（rAd-p53）感染HCT116 p53+/+细胞,经奥沙利铂50 μmol/L诱导细胞凋亡及周期改变.Western印迹检测ASPP2及p53的表达水平;MTT法检测ASPP2腺病毒对奥沙利铂诱导的HCT116细胞活性的影响;Calcein/PI吸收试验检测细胞凋亡情况;流式细胞术分析细胞周期分布. 结果显示,ASPP2、p53共同过表达,或者ASPP2单独过表达均能增强奥沙利铂诱导的HCT116 p53+/+细胞增殖抑制,以及S期抑制并伴有细胞凋亡水平的升高;而无奥沙利铂诱导时,ASPP2对HCT116 p53+/+细胞的活性、细胞周期及细胞凋亡水平的影响无统计学意义. 上述结果表明,ASPP2能够增强奥沙利铂诱导HCT116 p53+/+细胞的增殖抑制、细胞周期抑制和细胞凋亡.     

Activation of Akt/protein kinase B overcomes a G(2)/m cell cycle checkpoint induced by DNA damage

Activation of Akt, or protein kinase B, is frequently observed in human cancers. Here we report that Akt activation via overexpression of a constitutively active form or via the loss of PTEN can overcome a G(2)/M cell cycle checkpoint that is induced by DNA damage. Activated Akt also alleviates the reduction in CDC2 activity and mitotic index upon exposure to DNA damage. In addition, we found that PTEN null embryonic stem (ES) cells transit faster from the G(2)/M to the G(1) phase of the cell cycle when compared to wild-type ES cells and that inhibition of phosphoinositol-3-kinase (PI3K) in HEK293 cells elicits G(2) arrest that is alleviated by activated Akt. Furthermore, the transition from the G(2)/M to the G(1) phase of the cell cycle in Akt1 null mouse embryo fibroblasts (MEFs) is attenuated when compared to that of wild-type MEFs. These results indicate that the PI3K/PTEN/Akt pathway plays a role in the regulation of G(2)/M transition. Thus, cells expressing activated Akt continue to divide, without being eliminated by apoptosis, in the presence of continuous exposure to mutagen and accumulate mutations, as measured by inactivation of an exogenously expressed herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase (HSV-tk) gene. This phenotype is independent of p53 status and cannot be reproduced by overexpression of Bcl-2 or Myc and Bcl-2 but seems to counteract a cell cycle checkpoint mediated by DNA mismatch repair (MMR). Accordingly, restoration of the G(2)/M cell cycle checkpoint and apoptosis in MMR-deficient cells, through reintroduction of the missing component of MMR, is alleviated by activated Akt. We suggest that this new activity of Akt in conjunction with its antiapoptotic activity may contribute to genetic instability and could explain its frequent activation in human cancers.     

Down-regulation of PKHD1 induces cell apoptosis through PI3K and NF-κB pathways

Mutations in PKHD1 (polycystic kidney and hepatic disease gene 1) gene cause the autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease (ARPKD). Fibrocystin/polyductin (FPC), encoded by PKHD1, is a membrane-associated receptor-like protein. Although it is widely accepted that cystogenesis is mostly due to aberrant cell proliferation and apoptosis, it is still unclear how apoptosis is regulated. The aim of this study is to analyze the relationship among apoptosis, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt and nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) in FPC knockdown kidney cells. We show that PKHD1-silenced HEK293 cells demonstrate a higher PI3K/Akt activity. Selective inhibition of PI3K/Akt using LY294002 or wortmannin in these cells increases serum starvation-induced HEK293 cell apoptosis with a concomitant decrease in cell proliferation and higher caspase-3 activity. PI3K/Akt inhibition also leads to increased NF-κB activity in these cells. We conclude that the PI3K/Akt pathway is involved in apoptotic function in PKHD1-silenced cells, and PI3K/Akt inhibition correlates with upregulation of NF-κB activity. These observations provide a potential platform for determining FPC function and therapeutic investigation of ARPKD.     

Impaired trafficking and intracellular retention of mutant kidney anion exchanger 1 proteins (G701D and A858D) associated with distal renal tubular acidosis

Abstract

Novel compound heterozygous mutations, G701D, a recessive mutation, and A858D, a mild dominant mutation, of human solute carrier family 4, anion exchanger, member 1 (SLC4A1) were identified in two pediatric patients with distal renal tubular acidosis (dRTA). To examine the interaction, trafficking, and cellular localization of the wild-type and two mutant kidney AE1 (kAE1) proteins, we expressed the proteins alone or together in human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293T and Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) epithelial cells. In individual expressions, wild-type kAE1 was localized at the cell surface of HEK 293T and the basolateral membrane of MDCK cells. In contrast, kAE1 G701D was mainly retained intracellularly, while kAE1 A858D was observed intracellularly and at the cell surface. In co-expression experiments, wild-type kAE1 formed heterodimers with kAE1 G701D and kAE1 A858D, and promoted the cell surface expression of the mutant proteins. The co-expressed kAE1 G701D and A858D could also form heterodimers but showed predominant intracellular retention in HEK 293T and MDCK cells. Thus impaired trafficking of the kAE1 G701D and A858D mutants would lead to a profound decrease in functional kAE1 at the basolateral membrane of α-intercalated cells in the distal nephron of the patients with dRTA.     

过表达UHRF2通过上调p53及p21表达引起HEK293细胞G1期阻滞

UHRF2（ubiquitin like with PHD and ring finger domains 2）是新近发现的具有多个结构域的核蛋白,在细胞周期调控和表观遗传学中发挥重要作用．近期研究提示,UHRF2是肿瘤抑制蛋白p53的1个E3连接酶,在体内外能与p53相互结合并促进其泛素化,过表达UHRF2能使细胞周期停滞于G1期．然而,UHRF2介导的G1期阻滞及其与p53联系尚不清楚．通过共转染UHRF2质粒及p53特异性小干扰RNA(siRNAs)到HEK293细胞构建细胞模型,探索UHRF2引起细胞周期停滞与p53之间的关系．结果显示,UHRF2能促进HEK293细胞中p53的稳定,从而引起p21 (CIP1/WAF1)基因表达,并使细胞周期停滞于G1期;但在siRNA抑制p53的表达后p21(CIP1/WAF1)表达降低,UHRF2引起的细胞周期阻滞消除．研究结果提示,UHRF2可通过稳定p53,上调p21的表达,从而介导细胞周期阻滞于G1期;同时UHRF2可能参与细胞周期调控及DNA损伤反应（DNA damage response, DDR）．UHRF2稳定p53的具体分子机制及其在DDR中的作用有待进一步研究证明．     

PTEN induces cell cycle arrest by decreasing the level and nuclear localization of cyclin D1

PTEN is a tumor suppressor frequently inactivated in brain, prostate, and uterine cancers that acts as a phosphatase on phosphatidylinositol-3,4,5-trisphosphate, antagonizing the activity of the phosphatidylinositol 3'-OH kinase. PTEN manifests its tumor suppressor function in most tumor cells by inducing G(1)-phase cell cycle arrest. To study the mechanism of cell cycle arrest, we established a tetracycline-inducible expression system for PTEN in cell lines lacking this gene. Expression of wild-type PTEN but not of mutant forms unable to dephosphorylate phosphoinositides reduced the expression of cyclin D1. Cyclin D1 reduction was accompanied by a marked decrease in endogenous retinoblastoma (Rb) protein phosphorylation on cyclin D/CDK4-specific sites, showing an early negative effect of PTEN on Rb inactivation. PTEN expression also prevented cyclin D1 from localizing to the nucleus during the G(1)- to S-phase cell cycle transition. The PTEN-induced localization defect and the cell growth arrest could be rescued by the expression of a nucleus-persistent mutant form of cyclin D1, indicating that an important effect of PTEN is at the level of nuclear availability of cyclin D1. Constitutively active Akt/PKB kinase counteracted the effect of PTEN on cyclin D1 translocation. The data are consistent with an oncogenesis model in which a lack of PTEN fuels the cell cycle by increasing the nuclear availability of cyclin D1 through the Akt/PKB pathway.     

Akt Activation Emulates Chk1 Inhibition and Bcl2 Overexpression and Abrogates G2 Cell Cycle Checkpoint by Inhibiting BRCA1 Foci

Akt is perhaps the most frequently activated oncoprotein in human cancers. Overriding cell cycle checkpoint in combination with the inhibition of apoptosis are two principal requirements for predisposition to cancer. Here we show that the activation of Akt is sufficient to promote these two principal processes, by inhibiting Chk1 activation with concomitant inhibition of apoptosis. These activities of Akt cannot be recapitulated by the knockdown of Chk1 alone or by overexpression of Bcl2. Rather the combination of Chk1 knockdown and Bcl2 overexpression is required to recapitulate Akt activities. Akt was shown to directly phosphorylate Chk1. However, we found that Chk1 mutants in the Akt phosphorylation sites behave like wild-type Chk1 in mediating G2 arrest, suggesting that the phosphorylation of Chk1 by Akt is either dispensable for Chk1 activity or insufficient by itself to exert an effect on Chk1 activity. Here we report a new mechanism by which Akt affects G2 cell cycle arrest. We show that Akt inhibits BRCA1 function that induces G2 cell cycle arrest. Akt prevents the translocation of BRCA1 to DNA damage foci and, thereby, inhibiting the activation of Chk1 following DNA damage.     

Reactive oxygen species-mediated activation of the Akt/ASK1/p38 signaling cascade and p21Cip1 downregulation are required for shikonin-induced apoptosis

Shikonin derivatives exert powerful cytotoxic effects, induce apoptosis and escape multidrug resistance in cancer. However, the diverse mechanisms underlying their anticancer activities are not completely understood. Here, we demonstrated that shikonin-induced apoptosis is caused by reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated activation of Akt/ASK1/p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and downregulation of p21^Cip1. In the presence of shikonin, inactivation of Akt caused apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1 (ASK1) dephosphorylation at Ser83, which is associated with ASK1 activation. Shikonin-induced apoptosis was enhanced by inhibition of Akt, whereas overexpression of constitutively active Akt prevented apoptosis through modulating ASK1 phosphorylation. Silencing ASK1 and MKK3/6 by siRNA reduced the activation of MAPK kinases (MKK) 3/6 and p38 MAPK, and apoptosis, respectively. Antioxidant N-acetyl cysteine attenuated ASK1 dephosphorylation and p38 MAPK activation, indicating that shikonin-induced ROS is involved in the activation of Akt/ASK1/p38 pathway. Expression of p21^Cip1 was significantly induced in early response, but gradually decreased by prolonged exposure to shikonin. Overexpression of p21^Cip1 have kept cells longer in G1 phase and attenuated shikonin-induced apoptosis. Depletion of p21^Cip1 facilitated shikonin-induced apoptosis, implying that p21^Cip1 delayed shikonin-induced apoptosis via G1 arrest. Immunohistochemistry and in vitro binding assays showed transiently altered localization of p21^Cip1 to the cytoplasm by shikonin, which was blocked by Akt inhibition. The cytoplasmic p21^Cip1 actually binds to and inhibits the activity of ASK1, regulating the cell cycle progression at G1. These findings suggest that shikonin-induced ROS activated ASK1 by decreasing Ser83 phosphorylation and by dissociation of the negative regulator p21^Cip1, leading to p38 MAPK activation, and finally, promoting apoptosis.     

早老素通过下调CDK4使HEK293T细胞周期阻滞

早老素（progerin）的累积导致儿童早老症（Hutchinson Gilford progeria syndrome, HGPS）的发生,并与正常衰老相关。早老素能使细胞内稳态失衡但分子机制仍有待深入研究。本研究旨在探讨早老素导入人胚胎肾293T细胞（human embryo kidney 293T cell, HEK293T）后细胞增殖、周期变化的分子机制。形态学观察发现过表达早老素的HEK293T细胞密度下降,(57±2.47)%细胞核形态皱缩。细胞增殖和周期实验证明早老素使细胞增殖减慢,发生G1/S期阻滞,G1细胞从 (42.3±1.31)%升至(47.2±1.26)%,而S期细胞从 (43.1±1.36)%降至 (38.5±1.42)%。Western印迹结果显示早老素的高表达引起p21蛋白表达上调（103.2±1.49）%,CDK4下调（63±1.52）%,而p53、ATM、CyclinE1以及p16等蛋白质水平均不变;HEK293T细胞中早老素的过表达导致γ H2AX水平下调（53±1.36）%,H2O2处理后变化趋势不变。我们的研究结果提示,早老素通过上调p21和下调CDK4使细胞发生周期阻滞,不能增加HEK293T细胞的损伤及衰老。     

Identification of 14-3-3zeta as a protein kinase B/Akt substrate

Protein kinase B/Akt (PKB/Akt) is a member of the ACG kinase family, which also includes protein kinase C, that phosphorylates a number of 14-3-3-binding proteins. 14-3-3 protein regulation of protein kinase C activity is modulated by 14-3-3 phosphorylation. We examined the hypothesis that PKB/Akt interacts with and phosphorylates 14-3-3zeta, leading to modulation of dimerization. By glutathione S-transferase pull-down, Akt precipitated recombinant 14-3-3zeta and endogenous 14-3-3zeta from HEK293 cell lysates. Recombinant active PKB/Akt phosphorylated recombinant 14-3-3zeta in an in vitro kinase assay. Transfection of active PKB/Akt into HEK293 cells resulted in phosphorylation of 14-3-3zeta. Based on a motif search of 14-3-3zeta, a potential PKB/Akt phosphorylation site, Ser-58, was mutated to alanine. PKB/Akt was unable to phosphorylate this mutant protein. Incubation of 14-3-3zeta with recombinant active PKB/Akt resulted in phosphorylation of 45% of the protein, as determined by a pI shift on two-dimensional electrophoresis, but 14-3-3zeta dimerization was not altered. These data indicate that PKB/Akt phosphorylates Ser-58 on 14-3-3zeta both in vitro and in intact cells. The functional relevance of this phosphorylation remains to be determined.