eIF3a与肿瘤发生、演进和干预的研究进展

真核翻译起始因子3(Eukaryotic translation factor 3,eIF3)是由多个亚单位组成的复合因子,其中eIF3a是其最大的亚单位。很多研究表明在酵母和哺乳动物细胞中,eIF3都参与了m RNA翻译起始,并对蛋白质的合成有很好的调控作用。值得一提的是eIF3a通过调控一系列与肿瘤的生成、细胞周期的调控DNA修复等过程相关的m RNA的翻译从而在肿瘤的发生、演进和干预中发挥重要作用。此外,研究发现eIF3a对RAF-MEK-ERK信号通路有抑制作用。eIF3a对蛋白质翻译的调节及其对RAF-MEK-ERK信号通路的影响使其有望成为肿瘤治疗的新靶点。本文将着重围绕eIF3a在肿瘤发生、演进和干预中的作用进行概述。     

Lentivirus-mediated knockdown of eukaryotic translation initiation factor 3 subunit D inhibits proliferation of HCT116 colon cancer cells

Dysregulation of protein synthesis is emerging as a major contributory factor in cancer development. eIF3D (eukaryotic translation initiation factor 3 subunit D) is one member of the eIF3 (eukaryotic translation initiation factor 3) family, which is essential for initiation of protein synthesis in eukaryotic cells. Acquaintance with eIF3D is little since it has been identified as a dispensable subunit of eIF3 complex. Recently, eIF3D was found to embed somatic mutations in human colorectal cancers, indicating its importance for tumour progression. To further probe into its action in colon cancer, we utilized lentivirus-mediated RNA interference to knock down eIF3D expression in one colon cancer cell line HCT116. Knockdown of eIF3D in HCT116 cells significantly inhibited cell proliferation and colony formation in vitro. Flow cytometry analysis indicated that depletion of eIF3D led to cell-cycle arrest in the G2/M phase, and induced an excess accumulation of HCT116 cells in the sub-G1 phase representing apoptotic cells. Signalling pathways responsible for cell growth and apoptosis have also been found altered after eIF3D silencing, such as AMPKα (AMP-activated protein kinase alpha), Bad, PRAS40 [proline-rich Akt (PKB) substrate of 40 kDa], SAPK (stress-activated protein kinase)/JNK (c-Jun N-terminal kinase), GSK3β and PARP [poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase]. Taken together, these findings suggest that eIF3D might play an important role in colon cancer progression.     

The translational regulator eIF3a: The tricky eIF3 subunit!

Regulation of gene expression is a fundamental step in cellular physiology as abnormalities in this process may lead to de-regulated growth and cancer. Translation of mRNA is mainly regulated at the rate-limiting initiation step, where many eukaryotic initiation factors (eIFs) are involved. The largest and most complex initiation factor is eIF3 which plays a role in translational regulation, cell growth and cancer. The largest subunit of eIF3 is eIF3a, although it is not required for the general function of eIF3 in translation initiation. However, eIF3a may play a role as a regulator of a subset of mRNAs and has been demonstrated to regulate the expression of p27^kip1, tyrosinated α-tubulin and ribonucleotide reductase M2 subunit. These molecules have a pivotal role in the regulation of the cell cycle. Moreover, the eIF3a mRNA is ubiquitously expressed in all tissues at different levels and is found elevated in a number of cancer types. eIF3a can modulate the cell cycle and may be a translational regulator for proteins important for entrance into S phase. The expression of eIF3a is decreased in differentiated cells in culture and the suppression of eIF3a expression can reverse the malignant phenotype and change the sensitivity of cells to cell cycle modulators. However, the role of eIF3a in cancer is still unclear. In fact, some studies have identified eIF3a to be involved in cancer development, while other results indicate that it could provide protection against evolution into higher malignancy. Together, these findings highlight the “tricky” and interesting nature of eIF3a.     

敲除eIF4B基因对小鼠胚胎肝脏细胞凋亡的影响北大核心CSCD

真核翻译起始因子4B(eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4B,eIF4B)在mRNA翻译起始、细胞存活和增殖过程中发挥着关键作用,然而其在生物体内的生物学功能仍存在许多疑问。本研究利用eIF4B基因敲除小鼠模型,结合苏木精和伊红(hematoxylin-eosin,HE)染色、流式细胞术、Western blotting和免疫组化等一系列实验技术手段,探究了eIF4B在胚胎发育过程中的功能及作用机理。结果显示,eIF4B敲除小鼠胚胎的肝脏呈现严重病理损伤,主要表现为胚肝细胞的凋亡和坏死,而小鼠胚胎的肺脏、脑、胃和胰腺则发育正常。进一步研究发现,在eIF4B敲除小鼠的胚胎肝脏中活化型caspase 3(cleaved-caspase 3)的表达水平显著升高。此外,eIF4B敲除小鼠的胚胎成纤维细胞和胚胎肝脏中mTOR通路下游信号分子p70S6K的表达和磷酸化水平以及4EBP1的磷酸化水平显著升高。综上所述,eIF4B敲除导致cleaved-caspase 3表达增加和mTOR信号通路过度活化,促进胚肝细胞的凋亡,致使小鼠胚肝发育异常,最终引发小鼠胚胎死亡。本研究揭示了eIF4B在胚胎发育过程中的重要作用,为深入了解eIF4B在生物体内的生物学功能提供了新的科学依据。     

Significance of eIF4E expression in skin squamous cell carcinoma

Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is a malignant tumour of keratinising epidermal cells. This type of skin cancer is the second leading cause of death after melanoma, and it is the second most common type of non-melanoma skin cancer after basal cell carcinoma. The cellular and molecular events involved in the progression of skin cancers are largely unknown. Increased protein synthesis is necessary for the transition of cells from quiescence to proliferation. Translational control is critical for the proper regulation of the cell cycle, tissue induction and growth. Eukaryotic initiation factor eIF4E, an important regulator of translation, plays critical roles in neo-plastic transformation and cancer progression. We investigated eIF4E expression in 49 skin samples (six normal tissues, eight Bowen diseases, seven stage I, 10 stage II, 13 stage III and five stage IV SCCs). Results obtained demonstrated that all SCC samples, evaluated by SDS-PAGE, Western blotting and cap-affinity chromatography using m7GTP-sepharose, presented eIF4E expression (13.6+/-1.2), whereas, starting from stage 0 (4.1+/-0.9) to stage I (7.4+/-1.4), stage II (12.1+/-2.4), stage III (18.1+/-3.0) and stage IV (26.2+/-3.8) SCCs, a constant and significant increase of protein over expression (P<0.001) was observed. A high expression of eIF4E is correlated with advanced stages. The results presented in this study demonstrate a possible role of eIF4E in SCC.     

PRMT5 is essential for the eIF4E-mediated 5′-cap dependent translation

It is becoming clear that PRMT5 plays essential roles in cell cycle progression, survival, and responses to external stresses. However, the precise mechanisms underlying such roles of PRMT5 have not been clearly understood. Previously, we have demonstrated that PRMT5 participates in cellular adaptation to hypoxia by ensuring 5′-cap dependent translation of HIF-1α. Given that c-Myc and cyclin D1 expressions are also tightly regulated in 5′-cap dependent manner, we here tested the possibility that PRMT5 promotes cell proliferation by increasing de novo syntheses of the oncoproteins. c-Myc and cyclin D1 were found to be noticeably downregulated by PRMT5 knock-down. A RNA immunoprecipitation analysis, which can identify RNA–protein interactions, showed that PRMT5 is required for the interaction among eIF4E and 5′-UTRs of HIF-1α, c-Myc and cyclin D1 mRNAs. In addition, PRMT5 knock-down inhibited cell proliferation by inducing cell cycle arrest at the G1 phase. More importantly, ectopic expression of eIF4E significantly rescued the cell cycle progression and cell proliferation even in PRMT5-deficeint condition. Based on these results, we propose that PRMT5 determines cell fate by regulating 5′-cap dependent translation of proteins essential for proliferation and survival.     

A Critical Role of the mTOR/eIF2α Pathway in Hypoxia-Induced Pulmonary Hypertension

Enhanced proliferation of pulmonary arterial vascular smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) is a key pathological component of vascular remodeling in hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension (HPH). Mammalian targeting of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling has been shown to play a role in protein translation and participate in the progression of pulmonary hypertension. Eukaryotic translation initiation factor-2α (eIF2α) is a key factor in regulation of cell growth and cell cycle, but its role in mTOR signaling and PASMCs proliferation remains unknown. Pulmonary hypertension (PH) rat model was established by hypoxia. Rapamycin was used to treat rats as an mTOR inhibitor. Proliferation of primarily cultured rat PASMCs was induced by hypoxia, rapamycin and siRNA of mTOR and eIF2α were used in loss-of-function studies. The expression and activation of eIF2α, mTOR and c-myc were analyzed. Results showed that mTOR/eIF2α signaling was significantly activated in pulmonary arteries from hypoxia exposed rats and PASMCs cultured under hypoxia condition. Treatment with mTOR inhibitor for 21 days attenuated vascular remodeling, suppressed mTOR and eIF2α activation, inhibited c-myc expression in HPH rats. In hypoxia-induced PASMCs, rapamycin and knockdown of mTOR and eIF2α by siRNA significantly abolished proliferation and increased c-myc expression. These results suggest a critical role of the mTOR/eIF2αpathway in hypoxic vascular remodeling and PASMCs proliferation of HPH.