肽类生长因子对抗癌基因的诱导作用

观察了肽类生长因子对２ＢＳ细胞中抗癌基因表达的影响,结果表明,ＥＧＦ或ＦＧＦ均可明显诱导２ＢＳ细胞中Ｒｂ基因的表达,其幅度分别为３０５％,２４３％;ＥＧＦ也可诱导２ＢＳ细胞中ＴＧＦβ１基因表达增加３０－５０％,但ＦＧＦ对ＴＧＦβ１的表达无明显影响;ＥＧＦ或ＦＧＦ对Ｐ５３基因的表达均无明显诱导作用。上述结果为生长因子作用机制研究及生长因子与抗癌基因的关系提供了新的线索。     

人主动脉硫酸乙酰肝素蛋白聚糖对培养的人血管壁细胞生长的作用

通过培养的人主动脉平滑肌细胞（ｈＡＳＭＣ）及脐静脉内皮细胞（ｈＵＶＥＣ）,应用３Ｈ－ＴｄＲ参入、Ｎｏｒｔｈｅｒｎｂｌｏｔ分析、逆转录多聚酶链反应（ＲＴ－ＰＣＲ）、放射免疫分析（ＲＩＡ）、和紫外比色法等技术观察了人主动脉中硫酸乙酰肝素蛋白聚糖（ＨＳＰＧ）对ｈＡＳＭＣ和ｈＵＶＥＣＤＮＡ合成的作用及对血小板源生长因子（ＰＤＧＦ）、ＰＤＧＦ受体、转化生长因子β（ＴＧＦ－β）、内皮素－１（ＥＴ－１）或碱性成纤维细胞生长因子（ｂＦＧＦ）基因表达和肾素－血管紧张系统（ＲＡＳ）的影响,结果显示,ＨＳＰＧ明显抑制培养的ｈＡＳＭＣ基础的ＤＮＡ合成（ｃｐｍ值为：１０３８５±３２６３ｖｓ,２５５４１±６４２１,Ｐ＜０．０１）及外源性ＰＤＧＦ诱导的ＤＮＡ合成（ｃｐｍ值为：９８７８±１９４７ｖｓ．１３４８１±４４ｌ０,Ｐ＜０．０５）;抑制ＰＤＧＦＡ链、ＴＧＦ－Ｂｐ和ＥＴ－１ｍＲＮＡ表达,提高ＰＤＧＦａ和β受体ｍＲＮＡ的表达;显著降低ｈＡＳＭＣ培养液中血管紧张素Ⅱ（ＡｎｇⅡ）的浓度和血管紧张素转换酶（ＡＣＥ）的活性,推测ＨＳＰＧ抑制ＰＤＧＦＡ链、ＴＧＦ－β及ＥＴ－１ｍＲＮＡ表达,降低ＡＣＥ活性及ＡｎｇⅡ浓度是其抑制ｈＡＳＭＣ增殖的重要机     

血管活性肠肽、表皮生长因子上调支气管上皮细胞bcl-2基因表达

为探索肺内调节血管活性肠肽（ＶＩＰ）和表皮生长因子（ＥＧＦ）抗氧化保护的基因机制,用逆转录聚合酶链式反应（ＲＴ－ＰＣＲ）及Ｓｏｕｔｈｅｍｂｌｏｔ杂交等方法检测的代培养的兔支气管上皮（ＢＥＣ）内ｂｃｌ－２和ｃ－ｍｙｃ基因的表达中加入去甲肾上腺素观察ＶＩＰ、ＥＧＦ热应激对这两个基因表达的影响。结果显示：（１）基基础情况下ＢＥＣ内有ｂｃｌ－２和ｃ－ｍｙｃ基因的低水平表达;（２）ＥＧＦ和ＶＩＰ明显增强ｂｃ     

二甲亚砜与维甲酸对人卵巢癌细胞COC1的生长抑制及转化生长因子β_1表达的影响

本实验以人卵巢癌细胞株（ＣＯＣ１）为模型,观察诱导分化剂二甲亚砜（ＤＭＳＯ）与维甲酸（ＲＡ）对该细胞生长增殖、ＤＮＡ合成和转化生长因子β１（ＴＧＦβ１）在细胞内表达的影响。结果显示：ＤＭＳＯ与ＲＡ对人卵巢细胞ＣＯＣ１生长有明显的抑制作用,生长曲线表明作用５天后其生长抑制率分别为６２．７％和４２．１％;３Ｈ－胸腺嘧啶核苷（３Ｈ－ＴｄＲ）掺入实验说明ＤＭＳＯ组与ＲＡ组的单位时间计数率（ＣＰＭ）明显低于对照组（Ｐ＜０．０１）。用药３天后百分掺入抑制率分别为６０．４％与３７．９％,表明ＤＭＳＯ与ＲＡ抑制ＣＯＣ１细胞的ＤＮＡ合成;免疫细胞化学反应表明,ＤＭＳＯ或ＲＡ处理５天后,对照组细胞ＴＧＦβ１表达为阳性,定位于胞浆,而处理组细胞ＴＧＦβ１呈阴性或弱阳性反应。以上结果提示ＤＭＳＯ和ＲＡ对人卵巢癌细胞有一定的诱导分化作用。     

人转化生长因子β1在大肠杆菌中的分泌表达

为了研究双体形式生长因子的原核基因工程,尝试了人转化生长因子β１（ｈＴＧＦβ１）基因的分泌表达．通过缺失突变,构建了能表达具有天然一级结构的ｈＴＧＦβ１单体蛋白的周质分泌表达质粒．采用双顺反子表达系统,使ＴＧＦβ１在周质中获得了高效可溶性表达．研究了改善转运通路对重组蛋白分泌表达的影响,发现共表达σ３２基因和ｄｓｂＡ基因,可促进周质中ＴＧＦβ１双体分子的形成;而共表达ｓｅｃＥ／Ｙ基因对ＴＧＦβ１的分泌表达则没有明显影响．通过共表达ｋｉｌ基因,使ＴＧＦβ１在胞外培养基中获分泌表达,并在胞外折叠、组装形成具有生物活性的双体分子     

ES细胞分化为血管样结构的机理探讨—TGF—β1在血管形成中的作用

本文利用小鼠ＥＳ细胞的拟胚一培养和三维胶原蛋白培养系统研究了外源ｒｈＴＧＦ－β１对ＥＳ细胞分化为血管样样结构的影响。结果发现,远方介培养中添加外源ｒｈＴＧＦ－β１或细胞经基因转染面有过度表达的ＴＧＦ－β１的ＥＳ－Ｔ６细胞分化为血管样结构的频率明显地受到抑制,相似于其亲本ＥＳ－５细胞的分化水平。在Ｉ型胶原三维培养系统中的单层ＥＳ－５细胞培液中添加ｒｈＴＧＦ－β１时,明显地促进ＥＳ－５细胞形成血管样结     

雌激素诱发大鼠原位与移植垂体催乳素瘤中催乳素基因与TGFα和TGF …

利用本实验室建立的１７β－雌二醇诱致Ｓｐｒａｇｕｅ－Ｄａｗｌｅｙ（ＳＤ）大鼠原位垂体和异体移植于肾囊的垂体同时形成催乳素瘤的动物模型,采用Ｎｏｒｔｈｅｍ印迹杂交方法,我们观察了Ｅ２长期作用（１２０ｄ）后诱发的原位与移植垂体ＰＲＬ瘤中ＰＲＬ基因和两种转化生长因子ＴＧＦα和ＴＧＦβ１基因表达水平的改变。结果表明：在Ｅ２长期作用后,原位垂体与异体移植于肾囊,从而远离下丘脑的垂体均可形成垂体ＰＲＬ瘤;原位     

重组人碱性成纤维细胞生长因子(bFGF)融合蛋白的高效表达及鉴定

碱性成纤维细胞生长因子（ｂＦＧＦ）参与了许多细胞生长和分化的调控过程。本文采用重组ＤＮＡ技术在大肠杆菌中高效表达了人ｂＦＧＦ。首先将编码人ｂＦＧＦ基因克隆到ｐＸＴ表达载体中与其上游的一短Ｓ导肽共一阅读框架,ｂＦＧＦ基因的表达受强的Ｔ７启动子调控。采用ＢＬ２１（ＤＥ３）大肠杆菌作为宿主菌,用ＩＰＴＧ诱导ＢＬ２１（ＤＥ３）细菌合成的Ｔ７ＲＮＡ聚合酶,后者可催化高水平的ｂＦＧＦ基因表达,其ｂＦＧＦ产量可占总菌体蛋白的４２.５％。采用肝素Ｓｅｐｈａｒｏｓｅ一步亲和层析法直接从诱导后的细菌裂解产物中得到纯化的重组人ｂＦＧＦ蛋白。经Ｗｅｓｔｅｒｎ印迹分析证明该蛋白可被人ｂＦＧＦ特异性单克隆抗体所识别。进一步研究证明该蛋白具有刺激ＮＲ６Ｒ－３Ｔ３成纤维细胞增殖的生物学活性,并且这一活性可被人ｂＦＧＦ特异性中和抗体所中和。     

肝刺激因子对肝癌细胞增殖的调节作用

初断乳雄性ＳＤ大鼠的肝匀浆以超速离心和柱层析法分离纯化肝刺激因子（ＨＳＳ）,观察其对肝癌细胞增殖、细胞表皮生长因子（ＥＧＦ）受体表达及受体磷酸化的影响。结果表明,ＨＳＳ具有明显的促肝癌细胞分裂增殖能力,提高细胞周期中Ｓ期细胞所占比例。ＨＳＳ促肝癌细胞增殖作用与其促ＥＧＦ受体表达有关,表现为：（１）ＨＳＳ上调７０ｋＤ ＥＧＦ受体蛋白表达,此作用与ＥＧＦ合用后明显加强,即呈协同效应;（２）ＨＳＳ上调Ｅ     

转化生长因子—β对细胞外基质基因表达调节作用的研究进展

转化生长因子－β是一类具有激素样活性的多肽生长因子,许多正常和转化细胞均可合成并分泌ＴＧＦ－β,ＴＧＦ－β既可刺激细胞的增殖,又可刺激细胞的分化,对细胞进行双向调节。细胞外基质对细胞的增殖和分化也具有控制作用,ＥＣＭ主要成份的ｍＲＮＡ表达可被ＴＧＦ－β诱导和调节,而且两者具有一定的相关性。提示ＴＧＦ－β可能是通过ＥＣＭ实现其对细胞的双向调节。     

雌二醇通过TGFβ1促进前列腺间质细胞MMP-2的表达

基质金属蛋白酶-2 (matrix metalloproteinase-2, MMP-2)在前列腺间质细胞中表达,转化生长因子β1(transforming growth factor β1, TGFβ1)可以通过上调基质金属蛋白酶的表达促进肿瘤细胞迁移. 我们近期发现,雌二醇可以诱导原代前列腺间质细胞TGFβ1表达. 由此我们提出,雌二醇通过上调TGFβ1促进前列腺间质细胞MMP-2表达的假说. 用实时定量RT-PCR和酶谱电泳技术分别检测添加雌二醇、TGFβ1、雌二醇和TGFβ1中和抗体、TG Fβ1和放线菌素D或TGFβ1和放线菌酮,对前列腺间质细胞系WPMY-1中MMP-2表达的调节作用及其分子机制;荧光素酶活性实验检测TGFβ1对MMP-2启动子活性的影响. 结果显示,雌二醇和TGFβ1均以剂量依赖方式促进WPMY-1中MMP-2蛋白水平表达,而对其mRNA表达没有调节作用. 雌二醇可以在转录和翻译水平上促进TGFβ1表达;TGFβ1不能促进MMP-2启动子的活性;雌二醇对MMP-2蛋白表达的促进作用可以被TGFβ1中和抗体阻断. 放线菌酮而非放线菌素D可以抑制TGFβ1对MMP-2表达的上调作用. 表明雌二醇可以在TGFβ1的介导下促进WPMY-1中MMP-2的表达;TGFβ1对MMP-2表达的促进作用是一种转录后的调节机制.结果提示,雌二醇上调间质细胞MMP-2的表达可能是雌激素参与前列腺癌转移和进展的机制之一.     

FGF2 antagonizes aberrant TGFβ regulation of tropomyosin: role for posterior capsule opacity

Transforming growth factor (TGF) β2 and fibroblast growth factor (FGF) 2 are involved in regulation of posterior capsule opacification (PCO) and other processes of epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) such as cancer progression, wound healing and tissue fibrosis as well as normal embryonic development. We previously used an in vivo rodent PCO model to show the expression of tropomyosin (Tpm) 1/2 was aberrantly up‐regulated in remodelling the actin cytoskeleton during EMT. In this in vitro study, we show the Tpms family of cytoskeleton proteins are involved in regulating and stabilizing actin microfilaments (F‐actin) and are induced by TGFβ2 during EMT in lens epithelial cells (LECs). Importantly, we found TGFβ2 and FGF2 played contrasting roles. Stress fibre formation and up‐regulation of α‐smooth muscle actin (αSMA) induced by TGFβ2 could be reversed by Tpm1/2 knock‐down by siRNA. Expression of Tpm1/2 and stress fibre formation induced by TGFβ2 could be reversed by FGF2. Furthermore, FGF2 delivery to TGFβ‐treated LECs perturbed EMT by reactivating the mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK)/ extracellular signal‐regulated kinase (ERK) pathway and subsequently enhanced EMT. Conversely, MEK inhibitor (PD98059) abated the FGF2‐mediated Tpm1/2 and αSMA suppression. However, we found that normal LECs which underwent EMT showed enhanced migration in response to combined TGFβ and FGF2 stimulation. These findings may help clarify the mechanism reprogramming the actin cytoskeleton during morphogenetic EMT cell proliferation and fibre regeneration in PCO. We propose that understanding the physiological link between levels of FGF2, Tpm1/2 expression and TGFβs‐driven EMT orchestration may provide clue(s) to develop therapeutic strategies to treat PCO based on Tpm1/2.     

Signaling pathways activated by epidermal growth factor receptor or fibroblast growth factor receptor differentially regulate branching morphogenesis in fetal mouse submandibular glands

Although growth factor signaling is required for embryonic development of organs, individual signaling mechanisms regulating these organotypic processes are just beginning to be defined. We compared signaling activated in fetal mouse submandibular glands (SMGs) by three growth factors, epidermal growth factor (EGF), fibroblast growth factor (FGF) 7, or FGF10, and correlated it with specific events of branching morphogenesis. Immunoblotting showed that EGF strongly stimulated phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase-1/2 (ERK-1/2) and weakly stimulated phosphorylation of phospholipase C γ 1 (PLC γ 1) and phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase (PI3K) in cultured E14 SMG. However, FGF7 and FGF10 stimulated phosphorylation of both PLC γ 1 and PI3K, but elicited only minimal phosphorylation of ERK-1/2. Morphological study of mesenchyme-free SMG epithelium cultured in Matrigel revealed that EGF induced cleft formation of endpieces, that FGF7 stimulated both cleft formation and stalk elongation, but that FGF10 induced only stalk elongation. In mesenchyme-free SMG epithelium cultured with EGF, FGF7 and FGF10, U0126 (MEK inhibitor) completely blocked cleft formation, whereas U73122 (PLC γ 1 inhibitor) suppressed stalk elongation. These finding suggest that EGF stimulates cleft formation and drives branch formation via ERK-1/2, and that FGF7 stimulates both cleft formation and stalk elongation via PLC γ 1 and partly via ERK-1/2, but that FGF10 stimulates stalk elongation mainly via PLC γ 1.     

Heterogenous induction of carcinoma-associated fibroblast-like differentiation in normal human prostatic fibroblasts by co-culturing with prostate cancer cells

In the tumor microenvironment, carcinoma-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are considered to play a critical role in the promotion of tumorigenesis. However, the mechanisms that generate CAFs are not well elucidated. To understand how CAFs are generated during primary cancer progression, we investigated the biochemical characteristics of normal human prostate stromal cells (PrSC) co-cultured with human prostate cancer (PCa) cells in vitro. In primary cultures of human PCa-derived stromal cells (PCaSC-8 and PCaSC-9), expression of TNC, ACTA2, EGF, FGF7, and IGF1 mRNA was generally higher than PrSC but gene expression patterns were not uniform between PCaSC-8 and PCaSC-9 cells. Transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) protein levels in both PCaSC-8 and PCaSC-9 cells were generally higher than PrSC but levels of both secreted proteins were not same. When PrSCs were co-cultured with androgen-sensitive LNCaP cells or its sublines, androgen-low-sensitive E9 cells and androgen-insensitive AIDL cells, mRNA expression of IGF1 was significantly increased in all combinations. In contrast, expression of COL1A1, TNC, and ACTA2 mRNA was significantly increased only in LNCaP + PrSC and E9 + PrSC co-cultures. Protein production of VEGF was significantly increased only in LNCaP + PrSC and E9 + PrSC co-cultures. Increase of TGFβ protein was observed only in E9 + PrSC co-cultures. These biochemical characteristics of PrSC were partially recapitulated in TGFβ-treated PrSC. We have demonstrated that normal fibroblasts co-cultured with cancer cells become activated and exhibit biochemical characteristics of CAFs in a heterogenous manner. Our results suggest that heterogenous induction of CAF-like differentiation might be strongly dependent on biochemical characteristics of adjacent cancer cells.     

Astaxanthin prevents TGFβ1-induced pro-fibrogenic gene expression by inhibiting Smad3 activation in hepatic stellate cells

Background

Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a subset of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, the most common chronic liver disease in the U.S. Fibrosis, a common feature of NASH, results from the dysregulation of fibrogenesis in hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). In this study, we investigated whether astaxanthin (ASTX), a xanthophyll carotenoid, can inhibit fibrogenic effects of transforming growth factor β1 (TGFβ1), a key fibrogenic cytokine, in HSCs.

Methods

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation was measured in LX-2, an immortalized human HSC cell line. Quantitative realtime PCR, Western blot, immunocytochemical analysis, and in-cell Western blot were performed to determine mRNA and protein of fibrogenic genes, and the activation of Smad3 in TGFβ1-activated LX-2 cells and primary mouse HSCs.

Results

In LX-2 cells, ROS accumulation induced by tert-butyl hydrogen peroxide and TGFβ1 was abolished by ASTX. ASTX significantly decreased TGFβ1-induced α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and procollagen type 1, alpha 1 (Col1A1) mRNA as well as α-SMA protein levels. Knockdown of Smad3 showed the significant role of Smad3 in the expression of α-SMA and Col1A1, but not TGFβ1, in LX-2 cells. ASTX attenuated TGFβ1-induced Smad3 phosphorylation and nuclear translocation with a concomitant inhibition of Smad3, Smad7, TGFβ receptor I (TβRI), and TβRII expression. The inhibitory effect of ASTX on HSC activation was confirmed in primary mouse HSCs as evidenced by decreased mRNA and protein levels of α-SMA during activation.

Conclusion

Taken together, ASTX exerted anti-fibrogenic effects by blocking TGFβ1-signaling, consequently inhibiting the activation of Smad3 pathway in HSCs.

General significance

This study suggests that ASTX may be used as a preventive/therapeutic agent to prevent hepatic fibrosis.     

Downregulation of fibroblast growth factor 5 inhibits cell growth and invasion of human nonsmall-cell lung cancer cells

The morbidity and mortality rates of nonsmall-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) have increased in recent years. We aimed to explore the biological role of fibroblast growth factor 5 (FGF5) in NSCLC. We first established that the expression of FGF5 was increased in NSCLC tissues compared with the normal adjacent tissues. The expression of FGF5 was also increased in NSCLC cell lines. The effect of FGF5 silencing on cell proliferation, cell cycle, apoptosis, migration, and invasion of H661 and CALU1 cells was then examined. Downregulation of FGF5 significantly inhibited cell proliferation and induced G1 phase cell cycle arrest compared with the negative control small interfering (siNC) groups. Cell apoptosis was promoted by siFGF5 treatment. Cell migration and invasion of H661 and CALU1 cells with siFGF5 transfection were markedly diminished compared with the siNC groups. In addition, migration and invasion-associated proteins (E-cadherin, matrix metalloproteinase-2 [MMP-2], and MMP-9) and epithelial mesenchymal transition markers (N-cadherin, vimentin, snail, and slug) were also regulated by FGF5 siRNA treatment. Gene set enrichment analysis on The Cancer Genome Atlas dataset showed that the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) cell cycle and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) pathways were correlated with FGF5 expression, which was further confirmed in NSCLC cells by Western blot analysis. Our results indicated that FGF5 silencing suppressed cell growth and invasion via regulation of the cell cycle and VEGF pathways. Therefore, FGF5 may serve as a promising therapeutic strategy for NSCLC.     

Modulation of transforming growth factor alpha-dependent expression of epidermal growth factor receptor gene by transforming growth factor beta, triiodothyronine, and retinoic acid

We have investigated the actions of transforming growth factor (TGF) type alpha on epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor mRNA expression in MDA-468 human mammary carcinoma cells in serum-free media. We found that exposure of MDA-468 cells to TGF alpha results in elevated levels of EGF receptor mRNA. This increase in mRNA accumulation showed time and dose dependence. Addition of TGF beta 1 enhanced the accumulation of EGF receptor mRNA induced by TGF alpha in a time- and dose-dependent manner. We also found that triiodothyronine at physiological concentrations exerts synergistic control on the action of TGF alpha alone, or in association with TGF beta 1, on EGF receptor mRNA expression. Similarly, retinoic acid treatment also enhanced in a time- and dose-dependent manner the TGF alpha-dependent response of EGF receptor mRNA and acted synergistically with TGF beta 1. The results described here suggest that optimum regulation of EGF receptor gene expression by TGF alpha is a complex process involving synergistic interactions with heterologous growth factors and hormones.