HIF-NOS信号通路对哺乳动物卵巢NO依赖性功能的调控作用

一氧化氮(NO)作为气体明星分子和信号分子,在哺乳动物体内不同的生理调节过程中具有非常重要的作用,尤其是哺乳动物卵巢功能的调控.一氧化氮合酶(NOS)是NO合成的限速酶,是调节NO合成的关键环节,也是NO依赖性功能调控的重要环节.因此,调节NOS转录/合成的信号通路对哺乳动物卵巢NO依赖性功能具有至关重要的调控作用.最近的研究发现,缺氧诱导因子(HIF)作为转录因子,参与许多与缺氧相关靶基因的转录调控,如NOS和血管内皮生长因子(VEGF)等.本文一方面描述了NO合成及其调控的分子机制,另一方面阐明了HIF作为转录因子对NOS的转录调控,从而揭示HIF在NO依赖性卵巢功能调控中的重要作用,同时为进一步研究哺乳动物卵巢功能的调控提供新的研究方向和理论基础.     

FAK/mTOR信号通在肿瘤细胞中的调控作用

粘附斑激酶（focal adhesion kinase,FAK）是一种胞质非受体酪氨酸激酶,是整合素信号通路里一个重要的调节因子,在肿瘤细胞中高表达,与细胞迁移、粘附和侵袭有关。mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin)是非典型性的Ser/Thr激酶,属于PIKK（phosphatidylinositol kinase related kinase）超家族,介导营养信号调控细胞生长、分化及代谢等生理过程。近年的研究发现FAK通过三条途径与mTOR相关联,组成FAK/mTOR信号通路,在肿瘤细胞的增殖、迁移及肿瘤微环境中发挥着重要的调控作用。本文综述了FAK、mTOR和FAK/mTOR信号通路的特点及对肿瘤细胞调控作用的研究概况,为肿瘤治疗提供参考。     

长链非编码RNA介导Wnt/β-catenin信号通路调控骨代谢的研究进展

骨代谢的平衡取决于骨形成及骨吸收之间的动态平衡,Wnt/β-catenin信号通路能够广泛参与骨吸收及骨形成的调控,在维持骨代谢平衡中发挥着重要作用。近年来有研究表明,长链非编码RNA (Long non-coding RNA,lncRNA)也广泛参与骨代谢各阶段的调节,还能通过Wnt/β-catenin信号通路参与骨代谢平衡的调控。目前关于lncRNA介导Wnt/β-catenin信号通路调控骨代谢的综述报道较为鲜见。鉴于此,文中主要以Wnt/β-catenin信号通路为切入点,概述lncRNA在骨代谢中的调控作用,发现lncRNA能够通过靶向作用于miRNA间接调控Wnt/β-catenin信号通路,也能通过Wnt/β-catenin信号通路上的关键因子直接激活或抑制Wnt/β-catenin信号通路,进而发挥其对骨代谢的调控作用,这些发现为lncRNA调控骨代谢作用机制的研究提供了新的思路和方向。     

FLT4 调控羊驼黑色素细胞中黑色素生成

血管内皮素生长因子受体3（vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 3,VEGFR-3/FLT4）与黑色素瘤细胞的生长有关,其可能对毛色及黑色素生成有一定的调控作用。为探讨FLT4基因对羊驼毛色及黑色素生成的影响,本文采用免疫组织化学、qRT-PCR、Western印迹对FLT4在不同毛色羊驼皮肤毛囊中的表达进行了研究。结果显示,FLT4在不同毛色毛囊中外根鞘及毛乳头阳性表达不同,且棕色皮肤比白色皮肤阳性信号强;FLT4 mRNA在棕色羊驼皮肤的表达量明显高于白色羊驼皮肤 (P<0.01);FLT4蛋白在棕色皮肤中的表达量明显高于白色皮肤(P<0.01);为进一步研究FLT4对黑色素生成的影响;通过对体外培养的羊驼皮肤黑色素细胞中添加不同浓度的FLT4蛋白（0, 1, 10, 50, 100 ng/mL）,与对照组相比,添加FLT4蛋白后酪氨酸酶(TYR)、酪氨酸相关蛋白-1(TYRP1)、受体酪氨酸激酶 c-KIT、小眼畸形相关转录因子(MITF)的 mRNA和蛋白质表达明显增加, 10 ng/mL组表达量最高(P<0.01);黑色素含量测定结果表明,不同浓度的FLT4蛋白处理的羊驼皮肤黑色素细胞的黑色素含量比对照组明显升高,添加FLT4蛋白10 ng/mL表达量最高(P<0.01)。由此可知,FLT4可以通过调节毛色相关基因的表达进而引起黑色素细胞中黑色素含量的变化。     

Hippo-YAP/TAZ信号通路在干细胞增殖、分化及器官再生中的研究进展

Hippo-YAP/TAZ信号通路最初在果蝇中被发现,是器官发育和肿瘤生长过程中重要的调节者。通过调控细胞增殖、凋亡和分化等过程影响器官再生。近年来,对于Hippo-YAP/ TAZ信号通路在调节干细胞 (SC)增殖、自我更新及分化过程中的相关机制有了较大进展。本综述拟通过介绍Hippo-YAP/TAZ信号通路在SC增殖及多向分化过程中的作用、调控机制及器官再生方面的研究进展,为应用SC治疗疾病提供相关理论基础。     

SOCS3通过JNK和STAT3信号通路调控AKT

蛋白激酶B(AKT),在细胞存活、代谢、迁移和侵袭等信号通路中起着重要的调控作用。细胞信号转导抑制因子3(SOCS3)主要参与酪氨酸蛋白激酶(JAK)/信号传导子和转录激活子3(STAT3)传导途径的负反馈调节,可能参与AKT的磷酸化,进而调控肿瘤的发生。根据SOCS3蛋白的生物学特性和AKT信号通路的激活途径,综述了SOCS3在AKT信号通路中的调控作用,以期针对SOCS3靶向AKT信号通路进行抗肿瘤研究,为肿瘤的治疗提供一种新的思路。     

miRNA通过PPAR和AMPK/SREBPs信号通路调控脂质代谢

机体内脂质的稳态受到多条信号通路及其交错形成的复杂网络的调节,其中过氧化物酶体增殖物激活受体(peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor,PPAR)信号通路可促进脂质生成,而腺苷酸活化的蛋白激酶(AMP-activated protein kinase,AMPK)信号通路促进脂肪酸的分解。miRNA作为一种转录后调控因子,可以调控脂质合成、分解等过程,在脂质代谢异常相关的疾病中具有重要的调控地位。本文基于61个已被报道受miRNA调控的脂质代谢相关基因,绘制这些基因之间的互作网络,从PPAR以及AMPK/SREBPs(sterol regulatory element-binding proteins)信号途径的角度综述了miRNA对脂质代谢的调控作用。     

LncRNA00067110通过靶向Cabyr调控B16-F10细胞增殖、凋亡和黑色素生成

长非编码RNA(lncRNA)是一类转录长度大于200个核苷酸的非编码RNA。现已证明,多个lncRNA是潜在的癌症治疗靶点。LncRNA00067110是从小鼠黑色素瘤B16-F10细胞和正常黑色素细胞转录物组图谱中发现的差异表达基因。为研究lncRNA00067110是否调控B16-F10细胞的增殖、凋亡和黑色素生成,本文通过LncTar预测和双荧光酶活性验证了钙结合酪氨酸磷酸化调节蛋白(Cabyr) 和lncRNA00067110存在靶向关系。通过构建lncRNA00067110的过表达载体,转染B16-F10细胞,经过对B16-F10细胞的转录图谱分析,并对细胞增殖、凋亡和黑色素生成的表型以及相关基因表达变化进行了检测。结果显示,lncRNA00067110靶向Cabyr,在过表达lncRNA00067110的B16细胞中,17个基因呈差异表达。其中,Cabyr的表达被上调,细胞增殖相关基因MEK/ERK/MNK/CREB和黑色素生成相关基因TYR家族成员及CREB的mRNA和蛋白质水平显著被下调,凋亡相关基因AKT和Bcl-2的mRNA水平和蛋白质丰度被上调。进一步通过细胞增殖和凋亡的表型的变化验证了lncRNA00067110的功能。结果提示,lncRNA00067110通过靶向Cabyr,调控相关基因表达,从而抑制B16-F10细胞的增殖和黑色素生成,并诱导黑色素瘤细胞的凋亡,可能成为治疗和抑制黑色素瘤的新的靶点。     

The Role of Alpha-Synuclein in Melanin Synthesis in Melanoma and Dopaminergic Neuronal Cells

The relatively high co-occurrence of Parkinson’s disease (PD) and melanoma has been established by a large number of epidemiological studies. However, a clear biological explanation for this finding is still lacking. Ultra-violet radiation (UVR)-induced skin melanin synthesis is a defense mechanism against UVR-induced damage relevant to the initiation of melanoma, whereas, increased neuromelanin (NM), the melanin synthesized in dopaminergic neurons, may enhance the susceptibility to oxidative stress-induced neuronal injury relevant to PD. SNCA is a PD-causing gene coding for alpha-Synuclein (α-Syn) that expresses not only in brain, but also in skin as well as in tumors, such as melanoma. The findings that α-Syn can interact with tyrosinase (TYR) and inhibit tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), both of which are enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of melanin and dopamine (DA), led us to propose that α-Syn may participate in the regulation of melanin synthesis. In this study, by applying ultraviolet B (UVB) light, a physiologically relevant stimulus of melanogenesis, we detected melanin synthesis in A375 and SK-MEL-28 melanoma cells and in SH-SY5Y and PC12 dopaminergic neuronal cells and determined effects of α-Syn on melanin synthesis. Our results showed that UVB light exposure increased melanin synthesis in all 4 cell lines. However, we found that α-Syn expression reduced UVB light-induced increase of melanin synthesis and that melanin content was lower when melanoma cells were expressed with α-Syn, indicating that α-Syn may have inhibitory effects on melanin synthesis in melanoma cells. Different from melanoma cells, the melanin content was higher in α-Syn-over-expressed dopaminergic neuronal SH-SY5Y and PC12 cells, cellular models of PD, than that in non-α-Syn-expressed control cells. We concluded that α-Syn could be one of the points responsible for the positive association between PD and melanoma via its differential roles in melanin synthesis in melanoma cells and in dopaminergic neuronal cells.     

The Melanogenesis Alteration Effects of Achillea millefolium L. Essential Oil and Linalyl Acetate: Involvement of Oxidative Stress and the JNK and ERK Signaling Pathways in Melanoma Cells

The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) family, including extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)1/2, c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK)1/2 and p38 MAPK, is known to be activated by ultraviolet (UV) radiation in melanocytes to regulate melanin production. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play important roles in the pathway of ERK and JNK activation. It has been established that the essential oil of Achillea millefolium L. (AM-EO) has activities that suppress the oxidative stress and inflammatory responses. Thus, we analyzed the effects of AM-EO on melanogenesis in melanocyte stimulating hormone (α-MSH) treated melanoma cells. The results demonstrated that AM-EO suppresses melanin production by decreasing tyrosinase activity through the regulation of the JNK and ERK signaling pathways. This effect might be associated with the AM-EO activity leading to the suppression of ROS, and linalyl acetate is its major functional component. Therefore, we propose that AM-EO has the potential to treat hyperpigmentation in the future.     

Negative regulation of melanogenesis by phospholipase D1 through mTOR/p70 S6 kinase 1 signaling in mouse B16 melanoma cells

Melanogenesis is a principal parameter of differentiation in melanocytes and melanoma cells. Our recent study has demonstrated that phospholipase D1 (PLD1) regulates the melanogenic signaling through modulating the expression of tyrosinase, the rate-limiting step enzyme in the melanin biosynthesis. The current study was designed to gain more insight into the involvement of PLD1 in the regulation of melanogenesis. To investigate the role of PLD1, we examined the effect of knockdown of endogenous PLD1 by small interference RNA (siRNA) on melanogenesis in B16 melanoma cells. It was shown that the melanin synthesis was induced in PLD1-knockdowned cells, and also that the level of melanin synthesis was well correlated with increases in expression level of tyrosinase and its related proteins (Tyrp1 and Dct). Furthermore, the reduction of expression levels of PLD1 by siRNA transfection was accompanied by diminution of ribosomal S6 kinase 1 (S6K1) phosphorylation. The activity of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is essential for phosphorylation of S6K1 and the treatment malanoma cells with rapamycin, a potent inhibitor of mTOR effectively induced melanogenesis. The results obtained here provide possible evidence that PLD1 exerts a negative regulatory role in the melanogenic process through mTOR/S6K1 signaling.     

A growing family: Adding mutated Erbb4 as a novel cancer target

As the upward spiral of novel cancer gene discoveries and novel molecular compounds continues to accelerate, a repetitive theme in molecular drug development remains the lack of activity of initially promising agents when given to patients in clinical trials. It is however invigorating that a few targeted agents directed against a select group of a few ‘cancer gene superfamilies’ have escaped this all to common fate, and have evolved into novel, clinically meaningful molecular therapy strategies. Targeting dysregulated signaling of the epidermal growth factor family of transmembrane receptors (Erbb family) has encompassed over the last decade an ever increasing role in personalized treatment approaches in an increasing number of human malignancies. Erbbs are receptor tyrosine kinases that are important regulators of several signaling pathways. Two of its family members (Erbb1/EGFR and Erbb2/HER2) have previously been shown to be somatically mutated in large fraction of human cancers. To determine if this family is somatically mutated in melanoma, its sequences were recently analyzed and one of its members, Erbb4, was found to be somatically mutated in 19% of melanoma cases. Functional analysis of seven of its mutations was shown to increase its catalytic and transformation abilities as well as providing essential survival signals. Similar to other Erbb family members, mutant Erbb4 seems to confer ‘oncogene addiction’ on melanoma cells, making it an attractive therapeutic target. Gaining further understanding into the oncogenic mechanism of Erbb4 may not only help in the development of targeted therapy in melanoma patients but might accelerate the acceptance of a novel taxonomy of cancer which is based on the genomic perturbations in cancer genes and cancer gene families and their response to targeted agents.     

Epigenetic regulation in human melanoma: past and future

The development and progression of melanoma have been attributed to independent or combined genetic and epigenetic events. There has been remarkable progress in understanding melanoma pathogenesis in terms of genetic alterations. However, recent studies have revealed a complex involvement of epigenetic mechanisms in the regulation of gene expression, including methylation, chromatin modification and remodeling, and the diverse activities of non-coding RNAs. The roles of gene methylation and miRNAs have been relatively well studied in melanoma, but other studies have shown that changes in chromatin status and in the differential expression of long non-coding RNAs can lead to altered regulation of key genes. Taken together, they affect the functioning of signaling pathways that influence each other, intersect, and form networks in which local perturbations disturb the activity of the whole system. Here, we focus on how epigenetic events intertwine with these pathways and contribute to the molecular pathogenesis of melanoma.     

Quantitative proteomics and phosphoproteomics reveal novel insights into complexity and dynamics of the EGFR signaling network

The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR/ErbB1/Her1) belongs to the ErbB family of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) and is a key player in the regulation of cell proliferation, differentiation, survival, and migration. Overexpression and mutational changes of EGFR have been identified in a variety of human cancers and the regulation of EGFR signaling plays a critical role in tumor development and progression. Due to its biological significance the EGFR signaling network is a widely used model system for the development of analytical techniques. Novel quantitative proteomics and phosphoproteomics approaches play an important role in the characterization of signaling pathways in a time and stimulus dependent manner. Recent studies discussed in this review provide new insights into different aspects of EGFR signal transduction, such as regulation and dynamics of its phosphorylation sites, association with interaction partners and identification of regulated phosphoproteins. Correlation of data from functional proteomics studies with results from other fields of signal transduction research by systems biology will be necessary to integrate and translate these findings into successful clinical applications.     

D‐tyrosine negatively regulates melanin synthesis by competitively inhibiting tyrosinase activity

Although L‐tyrosine is well known for its melanogenic effect, the contribution of D‐tyrosine to melanin synthesis was previously unexplored. Here, we reveal that, unlike L‐tyrosine, D‐tyrosine dose‐dependently reduced the melanin contents of human MNT‐1 melanoma cells and primary human melanocytes. In addition, 500 μM of D‐tyrosine completely inhibited 10 μM L‐tyrosine‐induced melanogenesis, and both in vitro assays and L‐DOPA staining MNT‐1 cells showed that tyrosinase activity is reduced by D‐tyrosine treatment. Thus, D‐tyrosine appears to inhibit L‐tyrosine‐mediated melanogenesis by competitively inhibiting tyrosinase activity. Furthermore, we found that D‐tyrosine inhibited melanogenesis induced by α‐MSH treatment or UV irradiation, which are the most common environmental factors responsible for melanin synthesis. Finally, we confirmed that D‐tyrosine reduced melanin synthesis in the epidermal basal layer of a 3D human skin model. Taken together, these data suggest that D‐tyrosine negatively regulates melanin synthesis by inhibiting tyrosinase activity in melanocyte‐derived cells.     

灌喂氧化鱼油后黄颡鱼胃肠道黏膜黑色素细胞分化和黑色素合成途径基因的差异表达

以黄颡鱼(Pelteobagrus fulvidraco)为实验对象, 灌喂氧化鱼油、鱼油7d后, 提取胃肠道黏膜总RNA, 采用RNA-seq测序并做转录组分析, 分析了黑色素生物合成途径关键酶(酪氨酸酶)及其相关蛋白基因、黑素体运动的3个蛋白基因、α黑素细胞刺激激素途径和WNT/β-catenin、EDN3和EDNRB、KIT及其配体KITL3个信号通路的主要蛋白基因的差异表达活性。结果显示, 黄颡鱼胃肠道黏膜中存在黑色素细胞分化和发育过程、黑色素合成及其调控途径的代谢网络, 通过绘制代谢网络得到了关键性酶或蛋白质的基因信息。在灌喂氧化鱼油后, 控制黑色素合成途径主要基因的表达活性显著下调, 可能导致黑色素合成量的不足; α-MSH激素途径主要基因差异表达上调, 具备促进黑色素细胞分化和发育的调控基础; 而调控黑色素细胞分化和发育的3个信号通路主要基因也有差异表达。因此, 黄颡鱼受灌喂氧化鱼油的影响, 黑色素细胞分化和发育过程受到较大影响, 会影响到鱼体成熟的黑色素细胞的数量, 同时, 黑色素的生物合成量不足将导致引起黄颡鱼体色的变化。     

Tumor Suppressor p53 Down-Regulates Tissue-Specific Expression of Tyrosinase Gene in Human Melanoma Cell Lines

Tyrosinase, the key gene in melanin pigment synthesis, is tissue-specifically expressed in melanocytic cells. Expression of this gene is regulated by various hormones, carcinogens, and environmental factors. The molecular basis underlying tyrosinase gene regulation is still not clear. In this report, we present the effects of tumor suppressor p53 protein on tyrosinase gene expression and melanin synthesis in human melanoma. After stable transfection of wild type p53 expression plasmid into a highly pigmented melanoma cell line, overexpression of wt p53 suppressed the pigmentation of the melanoma cells. The loss of pigmentation was associated with the loss of endogenous tyrosinase expression at the activity and mRNA levels. In order to determine whether the p53 repression of tyrosinase mRNA involved modulation of tyrosinase promoter activity, transient transfection approaches involving p53 expression plasmid and construct containing chloramphenicol acetyl transferase (CAT) reporter gene linked to 270 bp tissue-specific tyrosinase promoter have been used. p53 specifically repressed CAT gene expression from the tyrosinase promoter and not from the Rous sarcoma virus promoter. These data suggest that in human melanoma p53 down-regulates the tissue-specific expression of tyrosinase gene and subsequent melanin synthesis.