佛手苷内酯对磷酸三钙磨损颗粒诱导骨细胞损伤的影响及机制*

目的:研究佛手苷内酯(BP)对磷酸三钙(TCP)磨损颗粒诱导骨细胞损伤的影响,并阐明其可能作用机制。方法:将TCP磨损颗粒与小鼠骨细胞MLO-Y4细胞共孵育48 h建立骨细胞体外损伤模型,随机分为正常对照(Control)组、TCP磨损颗粒(TCP,0.1 mg/ml)组、佛手苷内酯(1 μmol/L)组、佛手苷内酯(5 μmol/L)组和佛手苷内酯(20 μmol/L)组。MTT法和Calcein-AM染色检测各组骨细胞活性和形态改变;Hoechst 33342染色和流式细胞术分析各组骨细胞凋亡情况;实时荧光定量PCR检测各组骨细胞特征蛋白牙本质基质蛋白-1(DMP-1)、骨硬化蛋白(SOST)、成纤维细胞生长因子23(FGF23)的mRNA水平;Western blot法检测各组骨细胞中内质网应激标志蛋白葡萄糖调节蛋白78(GRP78)、蛋白激酶R样内质网激酶(PERK)、磷酸化PERK(p-PERK)、真核细胞翻译起始因子2α (eIF2α)、磷酸化eIF2α(p-eIF2α)、活性转录因子(ATF4)和 C/EBP 同源蛋白(CHOP)等的表达及caspase-3的活化变化。结果:与Control组比较,TCP组骨细胞的活性和DMP-1的mRNA水平显著降低(P＜0.05),骨细胞凋亡率及SOST、FGF23的mRNA水平显著增加(P＜0.05),GRP78、ATF4和CHOP等蛋白质表达、p-PERK/PERK值和p-eIF2α/eIF2α值显著升高;与TCP组比较,佛手苷内酯组骨细胞损伤明显减轻,骨细胞凋亡率显著减少(P＜ 0.05),GRP78、ATF4和CHOP等蛋白质表达、p-PERK/PERK值和p-eIF2α/PERK值也明显下降(P＜0.05)。结论:佛手苷内酯可明显抑制TCP磨损颗粒所致的骨细胞损伤,其机制可能与减弱TCP磨损颗粒诱导的内质网应激反应及PERK通路的活化密切相关。     

蛋白激酶R样内质网激酶信号通路在内质网应激中作用的研究进展

蛋白激酶R样内质网激酶(protein kinase R-like ER kinase,PERK)是一种位于内质网膜上的I型跨膜蛋白,属于eIF2α上游激酶家族.当发生内质网应激时,PERK被激活,通过磷酸化真核细胞起始因子2α(eukaryotic initiation factor 2α,eIF2α)抑制蛋白质合成,并活化转录活化因子4介导的细胞凋亡途径,参与细胞的整合应激反应.PERK本身的活性可以被特异性的磷酸酶去磷酸化抑制,所调控的信号途径在心力衰竭、缺血-再灌注损伤及代谢异常等病理过程中发挥重要作用.     

ATF4在内质网应激调控成骨分化中的作用

为避免内质网中未折叠蛋白质的过度累积,真核细胞能激活一系列信号通路来维持内质网稳态,这个过程称为内质网应激。在骨生长发育中,适宜的内质网应激有助于成骨细胞、破骨细胞和软骨细胞的生长,可以促进骨髓间充质干细胞向成骨细胞分化。而过度的内质网应激会抑制成骨分化,严重的甚至导致骨质疏松、成骨不全等相关骨病的发生。内质网应激时可激活未折叠蛋白质反应,其主要是通过PERK/eIF2α/ATF4信号通路,上调转录激活因子4(ATF4)的表达。ATF4位于许多成骨分化调节因子的下游,是促进成骨分化的关键因子,在内质网应激对成骨分化的调节中发挥重要作用。在成骨分化过程中,适宜的内质网应激能通过激活PERK信号通路,诱导ATF4表达增加,进而上调骨钙素、骨涎蛋白等成骨所必需基因的表达,促进成骨分化。过度的内质网应激会激活ATF4/CHOP促凋亡途径,并导致Bax、胱天蛋白酶等凋亡信号分子的大量产生,进而导致细胞凋亡,抑制成骨分化。由于ATF4在ERS和成骨分化中的重要作用,ATF4在骨质疏松、成骨不全等骨相关疾病的治疗中具有重要意义。本文通过综述ATF4在内质网应激调控成骨分化中的作用机制,为相关骨性疾病治疗提供理论依据。     

PACE4对异丙肾上腺素诱导的心肌细胞凋亡的影响及其机制

目的:研究前体蛋白转化酶枯草溶菌素(PACE4)对异丙肾上腺素(ISO)诱导的心肌细胞凋亡的作用及其可能的作用机制。方法:构建pFLAG-PACE4重组表达载体并转染H9c2心肌细胞。将心肌细胞分为四组:正常对照组(无任何干预因素)、ISO组(10μmol/L ISO)、ISO+pFLAG组(空载质粒pFLAG转染+10μmol/LISO)、ISO+pFLAG-PACE4组(pFLAG-PACE4重组表达质粒转染+10μmol/LISO)。采用AnnexinV-FITC/PI双染法测定心肌细胞凋亡率;蛋白免疫印迹法检测活性半胱氨酸蛋白酶(caspase)-3、caspase-12、钙网蛋白、葡萄糖调节蛋白78(GRP78)、CCAAT/增强子结合蛋白同源蛋白(CHOP)、活化转录因子4(ATF4)和PERK的表达以及真核起始因子2α(eIF2α)的磷酸化水平。结果:与正常对照组相比,ISO组中PACE4表达水平明显降低,而转染pFLAG-PACE4质粒后,其表达水平显著增加。PACE4过表达可以显著抑制ISO诱导的细胞凋亡和caspase-3以及caspase-12的蛋白表达。ISO处理显著增加内质网应激分子钙网蛋白、GRP78和CHOP的表达,而PACE4过表达则可以抑制这些蛋白的表达。ISO诱导的PERK、eIF2α和ATF4的表达可以显著被PACE4过表达抑制。结论:PACE4过表达可以抑制ISO诱导的H9c2心肌细胞凋亡,其机制可能与PERK信号通路介导的内质网应激反应有关。     

ATF4在内质网应激调控成骨分化中的作用

为避免内质网中未折叠蛋白质的过度累积,真核细胞能激活一系列信号通路来维持内质网稳态,这个过程称为内质网应激。在骨生长发育中,适宜的内质网应激有助于成骨细胞、破骨细胞和软骨细胞的生长,可以促进骨髓间充质干细胞向成骨细胞分化。而过度的内质网应激会抑制成骨分化,严重的甚至导致骨质疏松、成骨不全等相关骨病的发生。内质网应激时可激活未折叠蛋白质反应,其主要是通过PERK/eIF2α/ATF4信号通路,上调转录激活因子4(ATF4)的表达。ATF4位于许多成骨分化调节因子的下游,是促进成骨分化的关键因子,在内质网应激对成骨分化的调节中发挥重要作用。在成骨分化过程中,适宜的内质网应激能通过激活PERK信号通路,诱导ATF4表达增加,进而上调骨钙素、骨涎蛋白等成骨所必需基因的表达,促进成骨分化。过度的内质网应激会激活ATF4/CHOP促凋亡途径,并导致Bax、胱天蛋白酶等凋亡信号分子的大量产生,进而导致细胞凋亡,抑制成骨分化。由于ATF4在ERS和成骨分化中的重要作用,ATF4在骨质疏松、成骨不全等骨相关疾病的治疗中具有重要意义。本文通过综述ATF4在内质网应激调控成骨分化中的作用机制,为相关骨性疾病治疗提供理论依据。     

氧化应激对磷酸三钙磨损颗粒诱导的假体周围骨溶解的影响及其机制

目的：探讨氧化应激对磷酸三钙（TCP）磨损颗粒诱导的假体周围骨溶解的影响及其作用机制。方法：36只雄性ICR小鼠随机分为3组（n=12）：假手术（Sham）组、TCP磨损颗粒（TCP）组和N-乙酰-L-半胱氨酸（NAC）组。将TCP磨损颗粒30 mg包埋于小鼠颅骨顶部构建假体周围骨溶解模型,于术后第2天颅顶骨膜局部注射NAC（1.0 mg/kg）,隔日1次,持续2周后处死动物采血、取颅骨。抗酒石酸酸性磷酸酶（TRAP）染色观察小鼠颅骨假体周围骨溶解情况;ELISA和化学比色法检测血清中肿瘤坏死因子-α（TNF-α）、白介素-1β（IL-1β）、白介素-6（IL-6）和总抗氧化能力（T-AOC）含量及超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）活性;Western blot检测假体周围骨组织中内质网应激标志蛋白葡萄糖调节蛋白78（GRP78）、蛋白激酶R样内质网激酶（PERK）、磷酸化PERK（p-PERK）、真核细胞翻译起始因子2α（eIF2α）和磷酸化eIF2α（p-eIF2α）的表达。结果：与Sham组比较,TCP组小鼠血清TNF-α、IL-1β和IL-6水平及假体周围骨溶解面积显著增加（P<0.05）,T-AOC含量和SOD活性明显降低（P<0.05）,GRP78蛋白质表达、p-PERK/PERK和p-eIF2α/eIF2α值显著升高。与TCP组比较,NAC组小鼠血清TNF-α、IL-1β和IL-6水平及骨溶解面积明显减少（P<0.05）,血清T-AOC含量和SOD活性明显增加（P<0.05）,GRP78蛋白质表达、p-PERK/PERK和p-eIF2α/eIF2α值明显降低。结论：抑制氧化应激可阻止TCP磨损颗粒诱导的假体周围骨溶解,其机制可能与PERK/eIF2α通路的失活有关。     

内质网应激在乙型脑炎病毒诱导神经元细胞凋亡中的作用及机制研究

内质网应激(Endoplasmic reticulum stress,ERS)的激活与创伤、缺血再灌注等病理刺激引起的神经元凋亡有关,流行性乙型脑炎病毒(JEV)感染能够促进神经元凋亡、激活ERS,但ERS在JEV诱导神经元细胞凋亡中的作用尚不清楚.为了研究ERS在JEV诱导神经元细胞凋亡中的作用及机制,本研究以神经细胞株SH-SY5Y为对象,感染JEV并加用ERS激动剂、ERS抑制剂或转染阴性对照(NC) siRNA、蛋白激酶R样内质网激酶(PERK)siRNA,检测细胞存活率、凋亡率、ERS蛋白PERK、肌醇必需酶-1α(IRE1α)、活化转录因子6(ATF6)及凋亡蛋白C/EBP同源蛋白(CHOP)、含半胱氨酸的天冬氨酸蛋白水解酶12(Caspase-12)、Bcl-2相关X蛋白(Bax)的表达.结果 显示:JEV组SH-SY5Y细胞的凋亡率及PERK、CHOP、Caspase-12、Bax的表达水平高于对照组,存活率低于对照组(P＜0.05),IRE1α、ATF6的表达水平与对照组比较无显著差异(P＞0.05).与JEV组比较,激动剂组SH-SY5Y细胞的凋亡率及PERK、CHOP、Caspase-12、Bax的表达水平显著增加,存活率显著降低(P＜0.05);抑制剂组SH-SY5Y细胞的凋亡率及PERK、CHOP、Caspase-12、Bax的表达水平显著降低,存活率显著增加(P＜0.05);与si-NC+JEV组比较,si-PERK+JEV组SH-SY5Y细胞的凋亡率及PERK、CHOP、Caspase-12、Bax的表达水平P显著降低,存活率显著增加(P＜0.05).以上结果表明ERS的PERK通路激活与JEV诱导神经元凋亡有关.     

杭州市中心城区大气PM2.5暴露致大鼠肺部损伤作用研究

目的：探讨杭州市中心城区大气细颗粒物（PM2.5）对大鼠肺部的损伤及其对内质网应激通路的激活作用。方法：在杭州中心城区采用大容积空气颗粒物采样器将PM2.5颗粒采集于石英纤维滤膜上,将收集的PM2.5洗脱于超纯水中,再经真空冰冻干燥处理。将24只雄性SD大鼠随机分为3组：空白对照组,PM2.5低剂量组（5 mg/kg BW）和高剂量组（25 mg/kg BW）。采用气管滴注法进行染毒,每周1次,连续染毒4周。末次染毒24 h后麻醉动物,取左肺行HE染色,观察肺组织病理学改变。以化学比色法检测右肺肺泡灌洗液（BALF）中总抗氧化能力（T-AOC）含量、超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）活性和乳酸脱氢酶（LDH）活性,ELISA法测定BALF中肿瘤坏死因子-α（TNF-α）、白介素-1β（IL-1β）和白介素-6（interleukin-6,IL-6）水平。Western blot法检测肺组织中内质网应激标志物葡萄糖调节蛋白78（GRP78）表达、磷酸化蛋白激酶受体样内质网激酶（PERK）,磷酸化真核细胞翻译起始因子2α（eIF2α）,C/EBP同源蛋白（CHOP）,肌醇依赖酶1α（IRE1α）,X盒结合蛋白1（XBP1）蛋白的水平。结果：与空白对照组相比,低剂量和高剂量PM2.5染毒均能导致大鼠肺部出现明显的肺泡壁增厚、肺泡腔缩小、间质增生和炎细胞浸润,且随着染毒剂量增加组织损伤加重。PM2.5染毒组大鼠BALF中T-AOC含量和SOD活性呈剂量依赖性下降（P<0.05）;而BALF中的LDH活性则呈剂量依赖性上升（P<0.05）。PM2.5染毒导致大鼠肺部促炎因子TNF-α、IL-1β和IL-6的释放呈剂量依赖性增加（P<0.05）。高剂量PM2.5染毒组大鼠肺组织中GRP78、磷酸化PERK（p-PERK）、磷酸化eIF2α（p-eIF2α）、CHOP、IRE1α和剪切型X盒结合蛋白1（XBP1-S）表达显著升高,而未剪切型XBP1（XBP1-U）表达明显下降。结论：杭州市中心城区PM2.5染毒可引起大鼠肺部的炎性损伤,上述损伤可能与肺部氧化应激和内质网应激通路的激活相关。     

蛋白激酶B抗细胞凋亡的信号转导机制

蛋白激酶B是抗细胞凋亡的重要调节子。蛋白激酶B的抗细胞凋亡机制主要涉及：磷酸化FoxO降低其与凋亡有关的转录活性;使凋亡抑制剂存活蛋白(survivin)的表达增加;使NF-κB活化并转位入核,启动抗凋亡基因的转录;使胱天蛋白酶-8(caspase-8)抑制剂FLIP(FADD—like ICE inhibitory protein)的表达增加;磷酸化MDM2使其转位入核进而抑制p53的促凋亡作用;使糖原合成酶激酶3失活;磷酸化Bad使其与Bcl-2或Bcl—XL解离而抗细胞凋亡;直接磷酸化胱天蛋白酶-9使其激活下游胱天蛋白酶的能力降低。     

Induction of ER stress in response to oxygen-glucose deprivation of cortical cultures involves the activation of the PERK and IRE-1 pathways and of caspase-12

Disturbance of calcium homeostasis and accumulation of misfolded proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) are considered contributory components of cell death after ischemia. However, the signal-transducing events that are activated by ER stress after cerebral ischemia are incompletely understood. In this study, we show that caspase-12 and the PERK and IRE pathways are activated following oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) of mixed cortical cultures or neonatal hypoxia–ischemia (HI). Activation of PERK led to a transient phosphorylation of eIF2α, an increase in ATF4 levels and the induction of gadd34 (a subunit of an eIF2α-directed phosphatase). Interestingly, the upregulation of ATF4 did not lead to an increase in the levels of CHOP. Additionally, IRE1 activation was mediated by the increase in the processed form of xbp1, which would be responsible for the observed expression of edem2 and the increased levels of the chaperones GRP78 and GRP94. We were also able to detect caspase-12 proteolysis after HI or OGD. Processing of procaspase-12 was mediated by NMDA receptor and calpain activation. Moreover, our data suggest that caspase-12 activation is independent of the unfolded protein response activated by ER stress.     

Activation of ER stress and apoptosis by hydrogen peroxide in HeLa cells: protective role of mild heat preconditioning at 40°C

The accumulation of misfolded proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) during stress conditions causes activation of the unfolded protein response (UPR). If this adaptive response cannot restore ER homeostasis, cells undergo ER-mediated apoptosis. This study determines whether thermotolerance developed at a mild temperature (40°C) can alter induction of ER-mediated stress and apoptosis by H(2)O(2) in HeLa cells. Protein expression of PERK, p-PERK, eIF2α and p-eIF2α was increased in thermotolerant compared to non-thermotolerant cells. Thus, mild thermotolerance enhanced pro-survival effects of the PERK/eIF2α branch of the UPR. A short exposure (15 min) of cells to H(2)O(2) (15-50 μM) activated the UPR: expression of p-PERK, p-eIF2α and p-IRE1α increased, and ATF6 cleavage occurred. Longer exposure (1-3h) to H(2)O(2) induced ER-mediated apoptosis, whereby CHOP expression increased, and enzymatic activity of calpain, caspase-7, -4, -12 and -9 also increased. These pro-apoptotic events and clonogenic cell killing were all diminished in thermotolerant cells. Activation of caspases-4/-12 was decreased by the calcium chelator BAPTA-AM, and by inhibitors of calpain and caspase-7, confirming the roles of calcium, calpain and caspase-7 in activation of ER-mediated apoptosis by H(2)O(2). In thermotolerant cells with decreased levels of PERK by siRNA, there was partial reversal of resistance to H(2)O(2)-induced apoptosis. Hence, a causal connection exists between the ER stress response and resistance to H(2)O(2)-induced apoptosis. Mild thermotolerance plays a protective, anti-apoptotic role by increasing the threshold for induction of ER-mediated apoptosis by H(2)O(2). Moreover, the adaptive response (UPR) dominates during milder H(2)O(2) stress, whereas ER-mediated apoptosis occurs during more severe stress.     

Ultraviolet light inhibits translation through activation of the unfolded protein response kinase PERK in the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum

Exposure to ultraviolet light can cause inflammation, premature skin aging, and cancer. UV irradiation alters the expression of multiple genes that encode functions to repair DNA damage, arrest cell growth, and induce apoptosis. In addition, UV irradiation inhibits protein synthesis, although the mechanism is not known. In this report, we show that UV irradiation induces phosphorylation of eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2 on the alpha-subunit (eIF2alpha) and inhibits protein synthesis in a dosage- and time-dependent manner. The UV-induced phosphorylation of eIF2alpha was prevented by the overexpression of a non-phosphorylatable mutant of eIF2alpha (S51A). PERK is an eIF2alpha protein kinase localized to the endoplasmic reticulum that is activated by the accumulation of unfolded proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum. Expression of trans-dominant-negative mutants of PERK also prevented eIF2alpha phosphorylation upon UV treatment and protected from the associated translation attenuation. The luminal domain of dominant-negative mutant PERK formed heterodimers with endogenous PERK to inhibit the PERK signaling pathway. In contrast, eIF2alpha phosphorylation was not inhibited by overexpression of a trans-dominant-negative mutant kinase, PKR, supporting the theory that UV-induced eIF2alpha phosphorylation is specifically mediated by PERK. These results support a novel mechanism by which UV irradiation regulates translation via an endoplasmic reticulum-stress signaling pathway.     

6-Shogaol induces apoptosis in human hepatocellular carcinoma cells and exhibits anti-tumor activity in vivo through endoplasmic reticulum stress

6-Shogaol is an active compound isolated from Ginger (Zingiber officinale Rosc). In this work, we demonstrated that 6-shogaol induces apoptosis in human hepatocellular carcinoma cells in relation to caspase activation and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress signaling. Proteomic analysis revealed that ER stress was accompanied by 6-shogaol-induced apoptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma cells. 6-shogaol affected the ER stress signaling by regulating unfolded protein response (UPR) sensor PERK and its downstream target eIF2α. However, the effect on the other two UPR sensors IRE1 and ATF6 was not obvious. In prolonged ER stress, 6-shogaol inhibited the phosphorylation of eIF2α and triggered apoptosis in SMMC-7721 cells. Salubrinal, an activator of the PERK/eIF2α pathway, strikingly enhanced the phosphorylation of eIF2α in SMMC-7721 cells with no toxicity. However, combined treatment with 6-shogaol and salubrinal resulted in significantly increase of apoptosis and dephosphorylation of eIF2α. Overexpression of eIF2α prevented 6-shogaol-mediated apoptosis in SMMC-7721 cells, whereas inhibition of eIF2α by small interfering RNA markedly enhanced 6-shogaol-mediated cell death. Furthermore, 6-shogaol-mediated inhibition of tumor growth of mouse SMMC-7721 xenograft was associated with induction of apoptosis, activation of caspase-3, and inactivation of eIF2α. Altogether our results indicate that the PERK/eIF2α pathway plays an important role in 6-shogaol-mediated ER stress and apoptosis in SMMC-7721 cells in vitro and in vivo.     

20(S)-protopanaxadiol induces apoptosis in human umbilical vein endothelial cells by activating the PERK-eIF2alpha-ATF4 signaling pathway

20(S)-protopanaxadiol (PPD)-type ginsenosides are generally believed to be the most pharmacologically active components of Panax ginseng. These compounds induce apoptotic cell death in various cancer cells, which suggests that they have anti-cancer activity. Anti-angiogenesis is a promising therapeutic approach for controlling angiogenesis-related diseases such as malignant tumors, age-related macular degeneration, and atherosclerosis. Studies showed that 20(S)-PPD at low concentrations induces endothelial cell growth, but in our present study, we found 20(S)-PPD at high concentrations inhibited cell growth and mediated apoptosis in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). The mechanism by which high concentrations of 20(S)-PPD mediate endothelial cell apoptosis remains elusive. The present current study investigated how 20(S)-PPD induces apoptosis in HUVECs for the first time. We found that caspase-9 and its downstream caspase, caspase-3, were cleaved into their active forms after 20(S)-PPD treatment. Treatment with 20(S)-PPD decreased the level of Bcl-2 expression but did not change the level of Bax expression. 20(S)-PPD induced endoplasmic reticulum stress in HUVECs and stimulated UPR signaling, initiated by protein kinase R-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase (PERK) activation. Total protein expression and ATF4 nuclear import were increased, and CEBP-homologous protein (CHOP) expression increased after treatment with 20(S)-PPD. Furthermore, siRNA-mediated knockdown of PERK or ATF4 inhibited the induction of CHOP expression and 20(s)-PPD-induced apoptosis. Collectively, our findings show that 20(S)-PPD inhibits HUVEC growth by inducing apoptosis and that ATF4 expression activated by the PERK-eIF2α signaling pathway is essential for this process. These findings suggest that high concentrations of 20(S)-PPD could be used to treat angiogenesis-related diseases.     

Toll-like receptor activation suppresses ER stress factor CHOP and translation inhibition through activation of eIF2B

Activation of Toll-like receptors (TLRs) induces the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) unfolded protein response (UPR) to accommodate essential protein translation. However, despite increased levels of phosphorylated eIF2α (p-eIF2α), a TLR-TRIF-dependent pathway assures that the cells avoid CHOP induction, apoptosis and translational suppression of critical proteins. As p-eIF2α decreases the functional interaction of eIF2 with eIF2B, a guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF), we explored the hypothesis that TLR-TRIF signalling activates eIF2B GEF activity to counteract the effects of p-eIF2α. We now show that TLR-TRIF signalling activates eIF2B GEF through PP2A-mediated serine dephosphorylation of the eIF2B ?-subunit. PP2A itself is activated by decreased Src-family-kinase-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of its catalytic subunit. Each of these processes is required for TLR-TRIF-mediated CHOP suppression in ER-stressed cells in vitro and in vivo. Thus, in the setting of prolonged, physiologic ER stress, a unique TLR-TRIF-dependent translational control pathway enables cells to carry out essential protein synthesis and avoid CHOP-induced apoptosis while still benefiting from the protective arms of the UPR.