ABCA1介导胆固醇外流及抗炎的信号通路研究进展

ABCA1抗动脉粥样硬化的作用主要通过以下两种途径:介导细胞内胆固醇流出和抑制炎症。载脂蛋白与ABCA1的相互作用可激活多个信号通路,包括JAK2/STAT3、蛋白激酶A(PKA)、Rho家族G蛋白CDC42和蛋白激酶C(PKC)等信号通路。ABCA1通过修饰细胞膜脂筏或直接激活信号通路而介导脂质流出和发挥抗炎功能。对这些信号通路的认识,能为动脉粥样硬化相关疾病提供新的治疗靶点。     

高糖和LY294002干预影响足细胞内Ⅳ型胶原表达

探讨高糖和PI3K/Akt通路对足细胞内Ⅳ型胶原(Col Ⅳ)表达的影响。体外培养小鼠足细胞,给予高糖(30mmol/L)处理后,分别于0,12,24,48h收集细胞,采用免疫细胞化学染色法和Western blot技术检测Col Ⅳ的表达;Western blot技术检测Akt的活化及LY294002对Col Ⅳ表达的抑制效应。结果表明,高糖诱导足细胞内Col Ⅳ蛋白表达增多,24h明显,各时间点与高糖刺激前相比均有统计学差异(P<0.05);高糖激活Akt蛋白磷酸化,p-Akt随刺激时间延长表达增多。PI3K/Akt通路抑制剂LY294002孵育细胞24h后,可减弱高糖诱导的足细胞内Col Ⅳ的表达(P<0.05)。因此,高糖可能通过激活PI3K/Akt通路上调足细胞内Ⅳ型胶原表达。     

PI3K/Akt通路在高糖诱导足细胞分泌Ⅳ型胶原中的作用

目的探讨磷酸酰肌醇3激酶/蛋白激酶B（PI3K/Akt）信号通路在高糖诱导足细胞分泌Ⅳ型胶原（ColⅣ）中的作用。方法体外培养小鼠肾足细胞,给予高糖刺激（30mmol/L）处理0h、12h、24h、48h,正常糖（5mmol/L）分别培养相同时间作为对照,采用免疫细胞化学染色法和蛋白印迹法检测p-Akt、ColⅣ的表达。结果高糖可以诱导足细胞内p-Akt蛋白表达,随刺激时间延长分泌增多,24h达到高峰,各时间点相比有统计学差异（P〈0.05）;足细胞内ColⅣ蛋白表达随高糖刺激时间延长逐渐增多,并与p-Akt表达呈正相关关系（r=0.834,P=0.001）。结论高糖可能通过激活PI3K/Akt通路诱导足细胞分泌Ⅳ型胶原。     

抑制外周神经元PAR2-PKA/PKCε通路对痛转化模型大鼠痛阈的影响

目的 探讨外周神经元蛋白酶激活受体2-蛋白激酶A/蛋白激酶Cε(PAR2-PKA/PKCε)通路在痛转化中的作用,寻找同时干预急性痛和慢性痛的可能方案。方法 SD大鼠随机分为空白组、假诱发组、诱发组、抑制剂1组和抑制剂2组。除空白组和假诱发组,所有大鼠均通过先后足部注射角叉菜胶和前列腺素E2(PGE2)建立痛觉敏化诱发模型。PGE2于角叉菜胶注射后7 d进行足部注射。抑制剂1组和抑制剂2组大鼠于PGE2注射前/后,分别给予PAR2抑制剂。观察角叉菜胶/生理盐水,注射前、注射后5 h、3 d、6 d、7 d 0.5 h、7 d 4 h和7 d 24 h大鼠机械痛阈(PWTs)的变化,检测角叉菜胶注射后7 d 24 h造模侧背根神经节(DRG)中PAR2、蛋白激酶A(PKA)和蛋白激酶(PKCε)表达。结果 痛觉敏化诱发模型建立成功。角叉菜胶注射后7 d给予PGE2,显著延长了PGE2诱发疼痛的存在时间,角叉菜胶注射后7 d 24 h假诱发组大鼠PWTs与同期空白组相比差异无显著性(P0.05),而诱发组大鼠PWTs明显低于同期空白组和假诱发组大鼠(P0.01)。诱发组大鼠造模侧DRG中PAR2和PKCε表达在角叉菜胶注射后7 d 24 h明显提升,高于同期假诱发组和空白组(P0.05)。给予PAR2抑制,不论时间均能显著翻转角叉菜胶注射后7 d 24 h,诱发组大鼠由PGE2诱发的疼痛(P0.05),并抑制DRG中PKCε表达。但,给予PAR2抑制剂不能影响PGE2诱发的急性疼痛和调制DRG中PKA含量。结论 抑制PAR2表达能阻断急性痛向慢性痛转化,这可能与其抑制DRG中PAR2-PKCε通路激活有关。但抑制PAR2并不能干预急性痛,这可能是因为DRG中PAR2相关通路未参与急性痛的产生。     

抑制Hedgehog信号通路改变结肠癌细胞基因表达谱

Hedgehog（Hh）信号通路在机体发育和肿瘤发生中发挥着重要作用。在该研究中,Western blot检测三株结肠癌细胞Hedgehog信号通路组分的表达,结果表明三株结肠癌细胞中HT-29细胞Hedgehog信号通路组分较完整。采用MTT和BrdU法检测Hedgehog信号通路膜受体Smo特异性抑制剂环杷明和末端转录因子Gli1/2的特异性抑制剂GANT61对HT-29细胞的影响,提示这两种抑制剂均显著抑制HT-29细胞生存率和细胞增殖率,且GANT61比环杷明更敏感。表达谱芯片检测阻断Hedgehog信号通路后HT-29细胞基因谱的变化,结合生物信息学分析,揭示HT-29细胞经环杷明和GANT61处理后基因表达呈现抑制特征,其差异基因表达主要以下调为主,其中环杷明主要影响细胞内源刺激等,而GANT61主要影响代谢和类固醇合成,并与MAPK信号通路有关联,两者均能影响细胞免疫及凋亡相关通路。这些结果提示,Hh信号通路有可能作为结肠癌的治疗靶点。     

聚合度7-15的壳寡糖抑制脂多糖刺激的单核细胞产生TNF-α和IL-8的作用研究

本文通过建立脂多糖刺激的单核细胞炎症损伤模型,观察聚合度7-15的壳寡糖对炎性单核细胞白细胞介素-8(IL-8)和肿瘤坏死因子-α(TNF-α)表达的影响,及对p38丝裂原激活的蛋白激酶(p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases,p38MAPK)信号通路磷酸化的影响。采用p38信号通路抑制剂(SB203580)验证抑制p38信号通路对脂多糖诱导的单核细胞表达IL-8和TNF-α的作用,从而探索壳寡糖抑制单核细胞炎性损伤的分子机制。结果表明壳寡糖可抑制脂多糖诱导的单核细胞表达IL-8和TNF-α,并且抑制p38信号蛋白的磷酸化水平。因此,初步认为壳寡糖可能通过抑制炎性U937细胞中p38MAPK信号通路抑制IL-8和TNF-α的表达。     

过表达磷脂酶D3影响成肌细胞中Akt磷酸化水平

磷脂酶D(PLD)催化卵磷脂(Phosphatidylc holine,PC)水解产生胆碱(Choline)和磷脂酸(Phosphatidic acid,PA),其代谢产物参与调控细胞内许多生理和生化过程。在过表达磷脂酶D3(PLD3)的成肌细胞(C2C12细胞)中,研究了PLD3对胰岛素刺激后Akt通路激活的影响。研究结果表明,PLD3过表达细胞的Akt磷酸化水平比对照组低,并且不受胰岛素浓度变化的调控。虽然PLD3过表达细胞中Akt磷酸化水平随胰岛素刺激时间的延长而有所增加,但磷酸化总水平比对照组低。磷脂酶D抑制剂丁-1醇能够抑制对照组胰岛素刺激下Akt磷酸化,却不能抑制PLD3过表达细胞的Akt磷酸化,并且PLD3过表达细胞Akt磷酸化水平比对照组高6倍。用磷脂酸(PA)做刺激时,对照组的Akt磷酸化明显增加,而PLD3过表达细胞株的Akt磷酸化没有显著变化;用PA和胰岛素同时刺激时,PLD3过表达株和对照组的Akt磷酸化均比PA单独刺激时降低。这说明PLD3的过表达抑制成肌细胞内胰岛素信号的传导。     

NF-κB“圈套”抑制PC12细胞中NF-κB活性模型的建立

目的:观察NF-κB"圈套"(κB-decoy)寡核苷酸对LPS诱导PC12细胞中NF-κB活化的抑制过程,建立κB-de-coy抑制NF-κB活化的细胞模型。方法:将培养于6孔板的PC12细胞进行分组转染,实验组:LF2000+κB-decoy(6μg/well);对照组:LF2000+错配-decoy;正常组:LF2000。转染48h后,加入LPS(200ng/ml),作用0.5～4h。分别用免疫细胞化学染色和Westernblot方法检测PC12细胞内NF-κB的表达及活化。结果:与正常组相比较,转染错配-decoy的对照组细胞,随着LPS刺激时间的延长,NF-κB的表达和活化明显增加(P0.01),2～4h达到高峰;与对照组相比较,转染κB-decoy实验组的PC12细胞,随着LPS刺激时间的延长,NF-κB的表达处于较稳定水平,在LPS刺激的各时间点中明显低于对照组(P0.01)。结论:κB-decoy可以降低生理状态下PC12细胞内NF-κB的正常表达水平,抑制病理状态下NF-κB的活化。     

Regulation of basal expression of catecholamine-synthesizing enzyme genes by PACAP.

We have previously reported that the cAMP/protein kinase A (PKA) pathway is important in the gene regulation of both induction and basal expressions of the catecholamine synthesizing enzymes tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and dopamine beta-hydroxylase (DBH). The neuropeptide pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide (PACAP) has been shown to activate the intracellular cAMP/PKA pathway. In the present study, using primary cultured bovine adrenal medullary cells, we determined whether the basal activity of the PACAP receptor might play a role in the maintenance of the basal expression of these enzyme genes via the cAMP/PKA pathway. The potent PACAP receptor antagonist PACAP (6-38) caused a reduction of TH and DBH mRNA levels in a dose dependent manner as well as their enzyme activities and TH protein level. The effects of PACAP (6-38) and the PKA inhibitor H-89 exhibited generally similar trends, and were not additive in the reduction of TH and DBH gene expression and activities, suggesting that they take a common intracellular signaling pathway. The antagonist also caused decreases in the intracellular norepinephrine and epinephrine levels similar to the effect of H-89. Taken together, the data suggests that PACAP is involved in the regulation of maintenance of the catecholamine synthesizing enzymes TH and DBH by utilizing the cAMP/PKA pathway.     

PACAP stimulates the sustained phosphorylation of tyrosine hydroxylase at serine 40

Tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) is the rate-limiting enzyme in catecholamine synthesis. Its activity is controlled by PACAP, acutely by phosphorylation at Ser40 and chronically by protein synthesis. Using bovine adrenal chromaffin cells we found that PACAP, acting via the continuous activation of PACAP 1 receptors, sustained the phosphorylation of TH at Ser40 and led to TH activation for up to 24 h in the absence of TH protein synthesis. The sustained phosphorylation of TH at Ser40 was not mediated by hierarchical phosphorylation of TH at either Ser19 or Ser31. PACAP caused sustained activation of PKA, but did not sustain activation of other protein kinases including ERK, p38 kinase, PKC, MAPKAPK2 and MSK1. The PKA inhibitor H89 substantially inhibited the acute and the sustained phosphorylation of TH mediated by PACAP. PACAP also inhibited the activity of PP2A and PP2C at 24 h. PACAP therefore sustained TH phosphorylation at Ser40 for 24 h by sustaining the activation of PKA and causing inactivation of Ser40 phosphatases. The PKA activator 8-CPT-6Phe-cAMP also caused sustained phosphorylation of TH at Ser40 that was inhibited by the PKA inhibitor H89. Using cyclic AMP agonist pairs we found that sustained phosphorylation of TH was due to both the RI and the RII isotypes of PKA. The sustained activation of TH that occurred as a result of TH phosphorylation at Ser40 could maintain the synthesis of catecholamines without the need for further stimulus of the adrenal cells or increased TH protein synthesis.     

The protein kinase A inhibitor, H-89, directly inhibits KATP and Kir channels in rabbit coronary arterial smooth muscle cells

The effects of the protein kinase A (PKA) inhibitor H-89 on ATP-sensitive K+ (KATP) and inward rectifier K+ (Kir) currents were examined in rabbit coronary arterial smooth muscle cells using the patch clamp technique. The H-89, in a dose-dependent manner, inhibited KATP and Kir currents with apparent Kd values of 1.19+/-0.18 and 3.78+/-0.37 microM, respectively. H-85, which is considered as an inactive form of H-89, inhibited KATP and Kir currents, similar to the result of H-89. KATP and Kir currents were not affected by either Rp-8-CPT-cAMPs, which is a membrane-permeable selective PKA inhibitor, or KT 5720, which is also known as a PKA inhibitor. Also, these two drugs did not significantly alter the effects of H-89 on the KATP and Kir currents. These results suggest that H-89 directly inhibits the KATP and Kir currents of rabbit coronary arterial smooth muscle cells independently of PKA inhibition.     

H-89 potentiates adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 cells by activating insulin signaling independently of protein kinase A

Among four kinds of protein kinase A (PKA) inhibitors tested, H-89 exhibited a unique action to remarkably enhance adipocyte differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells, whereas the other three PKA inhibitors, PKA inhibitor Fragment 14-22 (PKI), Rp-cAMP, and KT 5720, did not enhance adipocyte differentiation. H-85, which is an inactive form of H-89, exhibited a similar enhancing effect on adipocyte differentiation. H-89 also potentiated the phosphorylation of Akt and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2 in 3T3-L1 cells, which function as downstream signaling of insulin. Phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitor wortmannin and mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK) inhibitor PD 98059 suppressed both the H-89-induced promotion of adipocyte differentiation and the H-89-induced potentiation of phosphorylation of Akt and ERK1/2. Rho kinase inhibitor Y-27632 also promoted the phosphorylation of both Akt and ERK1/2 and enhanced adipocyte differentiation, although its effect was somewhat less than that of H-89. Even when cells were treated with a mixture of Y-27632 and H-89, the additive enhancing effects on both the insulin signaling and adipocyte differentiation were not detected. Therefore, it is suggested that the major possible mechanism whereby H-89 potentiates adipocyte differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells is activation of insulin signaling that is elicited mostly by inhibiting Rho/Rho kinase pathway.     

Intracellular signaling molecules involved in vasoactive intestinal peptide-mediated wound healing in human bronchial epithelial cells

Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), a non-adrenergic, non-cholinergic neuromediator, plays an important role in maintaining the bronchial tone of the airway and has anti-inflammatory properties. Recently, we reported that VIP enhances wound repair in human bronchial epithelial cells (HBEC). In the present study, we have identified the intracellular signaling molecules that are involved in VIP-mediated wound healing in HBEC. The effects of VIP on wound repair of HBEC were partially blocked by H-7 (a protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor), W-7 (a calmodulin inhibitor), H-89 (a protein kinase A (PKA) inhibitor), and PD98059 (a specific extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) inhibitor). VIP-induced chemotactic migration was inhibited in the presence of W-7, H-89, PD98059 or H-7. H-7, W-7, and H-89 were also found to decrease VIP-induced expression of Ki67 as well as the proliferation index in HBEC. Furthermore, H-7, W-7, H-89, and PD98059 inhibited the expression of E-cd protein and mRNA induced by VIP. These results suggest that intracellular signaling molecules such as PKA, PKC, ERK, and calmodulin play important role in VIP-mediated wound healing of HBEC.     

Stimulation of Cell Elongation in Teleost Rod Photoreceptors by Distinct Protein Kinase Inhibitors

Abstract: The rod photoreceptors of teleost retinas elongate in the light. To characterize the role of protein kinases in elongation, pharmacological studies were carried out with rod fragments consisting of the motile inner segment and photosensory outer segment (RIS-ROS). Isolated RIS-ROS were cultured in the presence of membrane-permeant inhibitors that exhibit selective activity toward specific serine/threonine protein kinases. We report that three distinct classes of protein kinase inhibitors stimulated elongation in darkness: (1) cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA)-selective inhibitors (H-89 and KT5720), (2) a protein kinase C (PKC)-selective inhibitor (GF 109203X) that affects most PKC isoforms, and (3) a kinase inhibitor (H-85) that does not affect PKC and PKA in vitro. Other kinase inhibitors tested neither stimulated elongation in darkness nor inhibited light-induced elongation; these include the myosin light chain kinase inhibitors ML-7 and ML-9, the calcium-calmodulin kinase II inhibitor KN-62, and inhibitors or activators of diacylglycerol-dependent PKCs (sphingosine, calphostin C, chelerythrine, and phorbol esters). The myosin light chain kinase inhibitors as well as the PKA and PKC inhibitors H-89 and GF 109203X all enhanced light-induced elongation. These observations suggest that light-induced RIS-ROS elongation is inhibited by both PKA and an unidentified kinase or kinases, possibly a diacylglycerol-independent form of PKC.     

Fluid flow induces Rankl expression in primary murine calvarial osteoblasts

Mechanical loading of bone generates fluid flow within the mineralized matrix that exerts fluid shear stress (FSS) on cells. We examined effects of FSS on receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B ligand (RANKL), a critical factor for osteoclast formation. Primary murine osteoblasts were subjected to pulsatile FSS (5 Hz, 10 dynes/cm(2)) for 1 h and then returned to static culture for varying times (post-FSS). Protein levels were measured by Western analysis and mRNA by Northern analysis, RT-PCR and quantitative PCR. There were 20- to 40-fold increases in RANKL mRNA at 2-4 h post-FSS. RANKL protein was induced by 2 h post-FSS and remained elevated for at least 8 h. Effects were independent of cyclooxygenase-2 activity. Small increases (up to three-fold) in mRNA of the decoy receptor for RANKL, osteoprotegerin, were seen. Five min of FSS, followed by static culture, was as effective in stimulating RANKL mRNA as 4 h of continuous FSS. FSS induced cAMP activity, and H-89, a protein kinase A (PKA) inhibitor, blocked the FSS induction of RANKL. H-89 also inhibited the PKC pathway, but specific PKC inhibitors, GF109203X and Go6983, did not inhibit FSS-induced RANKL. FSS induced phosphorylation of ERK1/2, and PD98059, an inhibitor of the ERK pathway, inhibited the FSS induction of RANKL mRNA 60%-90%. Thus, brief exposure to FSS resulted in sustained induction of RANKL expression after stopping FSS, and this induction was dependent on PKA and ERK signaling pathways. Increased RANKL after mechanical loading may play a role in initiating bone remodeling.     

A novel mechanism of G protein-dependent phosphorylation of vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein

Vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein (VASP) is a major substrate of protein kinase A (PKA). Here we described the novel mechanism of VASP phosphorylation via cAMP-independent PKA activation. We showed that in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) alpha-thrombin induced phosphorylation of VASP. Specific inhibition of Galpha13 protein by the RGS domain of a guanine nucleotide exchange factor, p115RhoGEF, inhibited thrombin-dependent phosphorylation of VASP. More importantly, Galpha13-induced VASP phosphorylation was dependent on activation of RhoA and mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase, MEKK1, leading to the stimulation of the NF-kappaB signaling pathway. alpha-Thrombin-dependent VASP phosphorylation was inhibited by small interfering RNA-mediated knockdown of RhoA, whereas Galpha13-dependent VASP phosphorylation was inhibited by a specific RhoA inhibitor botulinum toxin C3 and by a dominant negative mutant of MEKK1. We determined that Galpha13-dependent VASP phosphorylation was also inhibited by specific PKA inhibitors, PKI and H-89. In addition, the expression of phosphorylation-deficient IkappaB and pretreatment with the proteasome inhibitor MG-132 abolished Galpha13- and alpha-thrombin-induced VASP phosphorylation. In summary, we have described a novel pathway of Galpha13-induced VASP phosphorylation that involves activation of RhoA and MEKK1, phosphorylation and degradation of IkappaB, release of PKA catalytic subunit from the complex with IkappaB and NF-kappaB, and subsequent phosphorylation of VASP.     

PKA inhibitor, H-89, affects the intracellular transit of regulated secretory proteins in rat lacrimal glands

We tested the effectof H-89, a protein kinase A (PKA) inhibitor, on the intracellulartransit of the regulated secretory proteins in rat lacrimal glands. Weshow that H-89, by itself, induces the secretion of newly synthesizedproteins trafficking in its presence but not of proteins already storedin the mature secretory granules. This secretion does not depend on thepresence of extracellular Ca²⁺. The proteins released areidentical to those secreted after cholinergic stimulation or under theaction of the ionophore A-23187, but the secretion level is ~40%lower. The effect of H-89 seems to be due to PKA inhibition becauseother protein kinase inhibitors (calphostin C, chelerythrine, H-85) donot induce secretion. We further show that H-89 does not modify therate of glycoprotein galactosylation but induces the secretion of newlygalactosylated glycoproteins. Finally, we used a "20°C block"procedure to show that H-89 affects a trans-Golgi network (TGN)or post-TGN step of the secretory pathway. Our results demonstratethat, in lacrimal cells, H-89 affects the intracellular trafficking ofsecretory proteins, suggesting a role for PKA in this process.