线粒体促凋亡因子Omi/HtrA2在乳腺癌中的表达及意义

目的本文旨在通过检测促凋亡分子Omi/HtrA2在乳腺良恶性肿瘤组织中的表达,探讨其与乳腺癌发病的关系及临床意义.方法采用免疫组化EnVinsion system法检测63例乳腺癌及37例乳腺纤维腺瘤组织中Omi/HtrA2的表达情况,同时检测这些组织中Caspase-3蛋白的表达.结果 Omi/HtrA2在乳腺纤维腺瘤中表达显著低于乳腺癌中的表达(P<0.05),而Caspase-3则在乳腺纤维腺瘤中表达显著高于乳腺癌中的表达(P<0.05),但二者的表达与乳腺癌的临床分期均无明显相关性(P>0.05).结论线粒体促凋亡蛋白Omi/HtrA2的在乳腺癌中高表达与其发生发展有关.     

线粒体促凋亡因子Omi/HtrA2在肝癌组织中表达的研究

目的探讨丝氨酸蛋白酶Omi/HtrA2在肝癌组织、癌旁组织与正常肝组织中的表达及意义。方法应用免疫组化SABC法检测43例肝癌、30例癌旁组织及10例正常肝组织中Omi/HtrA2的表达。结果29例(67·44%)肝癌中Omi/HtrA2蛋白表达阳性,30例癌旁组织和10正常肝组织没有或只有少量很弱的表达。肝癌高分化组中Omi/HtrA2蛋白的表达明显高于中、低分化组(P<0·01)。另外,Omi/HtrA2表达与肿瘤大小及临床分期相关,但Omi/HtrA2表达与肝硬化、有无癌栓、HBsAg和AFP无关。结论肝细胞癌可能需要Omi/HtrA2的表达来促进凋亡,Omi/HtrA2的表达对肝癌的发展有重要作用。     

丝氨酸蛋白酶HtrA2/Omi可参与调节线粒体中的适配蛋白p66Shc

目的:p66Shc在线粒体内积累和HtrA2/Omi的功能缺陷都能导致线粒体损伤,诱导细胞凋亡.探讨在线粒体中HtrA2对p66Shc的调控作用.方法:构建p66Shc和成熟型HtrA2的真核表达质粒,共转染HEK293T细胞,免疫印迹法(Western blot)检测p66Shc蛋白;构建原核表达质粒,大肠杆菌纯化蛋白,体外切割实验,SDS-PAGE分离后考马斯亮蓝染色检测;提取HtrA2功能缺陷小鼠( mnd2)大脑组织的线粒体,检测线粒体内p66Shc的蛋白水平.结果:细胞实验和体外实验证明HtrA2可以切割p66Shc,且在mnd2小鼠大脑中,线粒体内p66Shc的蛋白水平明显升高(P＜0.05).结论:p66Shc是HtrA2的直接底物,且HtrA2参与调节线粒体中p66Shc的蛋白水平,揭示了HtrA2发挥神经保护功能新的可能机制.     

验证性筛选PDZ结构域结合配体文库快速研究HtrA2/Omi PDZ结构域的结合特性

HtrA2/Omi是一种线粒体丝氨酸蛋白酶, 在哺乳动物细胞中具有双重功能, 即诱导细胞凋亡和参与维持线粒体活性的动态平衡. PDZ结构域是最重要的蛋白质相互作用结构域之一, 参与多种生物学过程, 如细胞信号转导、蛋白质降解、细胞骨架组织等. 最近研究发现, HtrA2/Omi蛋白的PDZ结构域与配体的相互作用, 可以调节HtrA2/Omi蛋白自身的水解酶活性.以HtrA2/Omi PDZ结构域为研究对象, 用酵母双杂交系统验证性筛选PDZ结构域结合配体文库, 快速研究该结构域的结合特性, 并在人类全蛋白质组范围内预测并发现该结构域新的相互作用蛋白, 最后分析这些新的相互作用所能够形成的最小相互作用网络来评估其可信度. 研究结果揭示了HtrA2/Omi PDZ结构域新的结合特性, 即: 不仅能够结合已报道的II类PDZ配体而且还可以结合I类和III类PDZ配体, 并且配体-3位氨基酸具有一定范围内的可变性. 而且, 发现了7个新的HtrA2/Omi PDZ结构域相互作用蛋白, 为进一步阐明HtrA2/Omi蛋白的生物学功能提供了重要线索. 同时证明了验证性筛选目的结构域结合配体文库, 这一结构域结合特性研究新策略的实用性和高效性.     

孤儿核受体Nur77对缺/复氧损伤中心肌细胞自噬的调节

目的:研究孤儿核受体Nur77对缺/复氧损伤中心肌细胞自噬的调节作用。方法:差速贴壁法分离乳鼠心肌细胞,经免疫荧光染色鉴定纯度。缺氧(1%O_2、5%CO_2和94%N_2)培养12 h后,常氧培养2 h构建心肌细胞缺/复氧损伤。实时定量PCR和western blot的方法检测Nur77的表达变化。通过siRNA转染抑制心肌细胞nur77表达,通过自噬标志蛋白表达改变作为细胞自噬水平的变化。结果:原代分离的心肌细胞纯度95%以上。缺氧12 h和缺/复氧(12 h/2 h)刺激后,心肌细胞中Nur77表达都明显升高(P0.01)。与缺氧组相比,缺/复氧组细胞质中的水平明显增加(P0.01),细胞核中Nur77水平无明显变化。抑制Nur77后,缺/复氧组自噬水平明显降低,缺氧组心肌细胞自噬水平无明显变化。结论:Nur77参与缺/复氧损伤中心肌细胞自噬水平的调节。     

凋亡诱导因子介导缺氧/复氧致肥大心肌细胞凋亡的作用

心肌细胞凋亡导致心肌组织合胞体功能丧失,最终使代偿性心肌肥大向心力衰竭转化。过去的研究已经确认天门冬氨酸特异性半胱氨酸蛋白酶(caspartate-specificcysteinylproteinase,caspase)依赖机制在心肌细胞凋亡中的作用,但对caspase非依赖机制即凋亡诱导因子(apoptosis-inducingfactor,AIF)在心肌细胞凋亡中的作用尚不明确。本研究应用血管紧张素Ⅱ(0.1μmol/L培养12h)诱导培养的小鼠肥大心肌细胞,利用三气孵箱建立缺氧/复氧模型以模拟缺血再灌注。应用RT-PCR、Westernblot、siRNA基因转染、Hoechst33258染色法检测AIF在mRNA和蛋白质水平的表达及细胞凋亡的变化,分析AIF在缺氧/复氧致肥大心肌细胞凋亡中的意义。结果如下:(1)与对照组比较,缺氧8h组(H8h)和缺氧12h组(H12h)AIFmRNA及蛋白表达水平均显著升高(mRNA:0.52±0.04及0.85±0.10vs0.29±0.08,P<0.05;蛋白质:2.07±0.15和3.12±0.19vs0.29±0.04,P<0.05),即随缺血时间的延长,AIFmRNA及蛋白表达水平均显著增加。(2)与对应单纯缺氧组比较,缺氧后给予复氧刺激,H8h/R组和H12h/R组AIFmRNA及蛋白表达水平均显著升高(mRNA:1.09±0.12和1.41±0.23,P<0.05;蛋白质:4.57±0.25和5.71±0.27,P<0.05)。仅在H8h/R及H12h/R组,可见AIF核转位显著增加。(3)AIFsiRNA转染可显著抑制肥大心肌细胞AIF的表达,对缺氧时细胞凋亡无明显影响(P>0.05),但可显著降低缺氧/复氧诱导的肥大心肌细胞凋亡率(P<0.05)。同时抑制AIF及caspase-3活性,可显著加强单一抑制剂对缺氧/复氧诱导的肥大心肌细胞凋亡的抑制作用。(4)抑制caspase-3活性对缺氧/复氧诱导的AIF核转位无明显影响。上述结果提示,缺氧/复氧时AIFmRNA、蛋白表达和核转位均显著增加,且在缺氧/复氧诱导肥大心肌细胞凋亡中具有重要的作用。     

多巴胺受体(DR2)激活对乳鼠心肌细胞缺氧/再灌注损伤的保护作用及其机制

目的:观察多巴胺受体(DR2)激活对乳鼠心肌细胞缺氧/再灌注损伤的影响,并探讨其机制。方法:复制原代培养乳鼠心肌细胞缺氧/再灌注损伤模型,细胞随机分为正常组(Control)、缺氧/再灌注组(H/R)、DR2激动剂组(溴麦角环肽,Bro)、抑制剂组(氟哌啶醇,Hal)。倒置显微镜、透射电镜、流式细胞仪检测细胞凋亡情况;检测细胞培养液乳酸脱氢酶(LDH)、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性和丙二醛(MDA)含量;RT-PCR和Western blot方法检测心肌细胞促凋亡因子(Cyt C、caspase-3、caspase-8、caspase-9、Fas及Fas-L)及抑凋亡因子(Bc-l 2)mRNA和蛋白表达。结果:与正常组相比,H/R组细胞凋亡率、LDH活性、MDA含量、促凋亡因子及抑凋亡因子表达均增加,唯有SOD活性降低;与H/R组比较,Bro组可减轻或逆转上述指标的变化;Hal组上述指标变化不明显。结论:DR2激活可抑制缺氧/再灌注所致的乳鼠心肌细胞损伤和凋亡,机制与减少氧自由基有关。     

EPO对缺血/再灌注损伤大鼠心肌细胞Mfn2蛋白表达及心肌细胞凋亡的影响

目的观察重组人促红细胞生成素（recombinant human erythropoietin,rhEPO）对缺血/再灌注损伤大鼠心肌细胞Mitofusin2（Mfn2）蛋白表达的影响及其抗心肌细胞凋亡的作用。方法选取成年SD大鼠35只,随机分为正常组（Normal）,假手术组（Sham）,缺血再灌注组（I/R）,缺血再灌注EPO治疗组（I/R＋EPO）。各组分别于再灌注3h和24h后,剪取心脏缺血/再灌注损伤区域,用脱氧核苷酸末端转移酶介导的缺口末端标记法（TUNEL）检测心肌细胞凋亡,免疫组化法检测Mfn2蛋白的表达。结果再灌注3h和24h后,与正常组和假手术组相比,I/R组Mfn2蛋白的表达和心肌细胞凋亡均显著增加;与I/R组相比,I/R＋EPO组Mfn2蛋白的表达和心肌细胞凋亡均显著降低。结论EPO可以下调缺血再灌注损伤后心肌细胞Mfn2蛋白的表达,抑制心肌细胞的凋亡。     

GRP75经由Raf/Mek/Erk1/2信号转导通路抑制缺糖诱导的细胞凋亡

本文旨在探讨促存活信号通路Raf/Mek/Erk1/2是否参与了葡萄糖调节蛋白75(glucose-regulated protein75,GRP75)对缺糖诱导的细胞凋亡的抑制作用。GRP75过表达的PC12细胞给予Raf/Mek/Erk1/2通路抑制剂U0126预处理之后,无糖培养6、12和24h,同时以DMSO预处理的GRP75过表达PC12细胞组为对照。Western blot检测Erk1/2的磷酸化和表达水平,MTT实验检测细胞存活率,Hoechst 33258染色观察凋亡细胞核的形态学改变,流式细胞仪检测细胞亚二倍体峰,免疫荧光检测细胞色素c(cytochrome c,Cytc)向胞浆的弥散情况。结果显示:U0126在没有影响Erk1/2表达水平的前提下,阻断了GRP75对Erk1/2磷酸化水平的维持;U0126处理组的凋亡率明显高于对照组;U0126处理组Cytc从线粒体向胞浆释放的时间明显早于对照组,同时Cytc向胞浆的弥散程度大于对照组。以上结果提示,U0126通过抑制Erk1/2磷酸化,阻断了缺糖状态下GRP75对Cytc释放和细胞凋亡的抑制作用,这表明GRP75是通过Raf/Mek/Er...     

MFN1介导的线粒体融合在心肌细胞凋亡中的作用研究

目的:探讨线粒体融合关键蛋白MFN1介导的线粒体融合在调控心肌细胞凋亡中的作用。方法:通过si RNA降低体外培养H9C2心肌细胞中MFN1的表达后,采用Western blot检测线粒体细胞色素c(Cyto c)释放及其下游凋亡效应分子Caspase9与Caspase3活性,流式细胞术检测细胞内活性氧(ROS)的产生情况,流式细胞术检测细胞凋亡的情况。结果:干扰MFN1可显著促进H9C2心肌细胞内细胞色素c由线粒体释放至胞浆,促进Caspase9与Caspase3的激活,增加细胞内活性氧ROS产生并提高细胞凋亡率(均P0.05)。结论:MFN1介导的线粒体融合可保护心肌细胞凋亡,其机制可能与抑制ROS产生与细胞色素C释放有关。     

The serine protease Omi/HtrA2 is involved in XIAP cleavage and in neuronal cell death following focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion

Omi/HtrA2 is a pro-apoptotic mitochondrial serine protease involved in both forms of apoptosis, caspase-dependent as well as caspase-independent cell death. However, the impact of Omi/HtrA2 in the apoptotic cell machinery that takes place in vivo under pathological conditions such as cerebral ischemia remains unknown. The present study was monitored in order to examine whether Omi/HtrA2 plays a decisive role in apoptosis observed after focal cerebral ischemia in rats. Male adult rats were subjected to 90min of focal cerebral ischemia followed by reperfusion and treated with vehicle or ucf-101, a novel and specific Omi/HtrA2 inhibitor, prior reperfusion. Focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion induced a mitochondrial up-regulation of Omi/HtrA2 and significantly increased cytosolic accumulation of Omi/HtrA2. Furthermore, ischemia led to activation of caspase-3 and degradation X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP). Treatment of animals prior ischemia with ucf-101, the specific inhibitor of Omi/HtrA2, was able to (1) reduce the number of TUNEL-positive cells, to (2) attenuate the XIAP-breakdown and to (3) reduce the infarct size. This study shows for the first time that focal cerebral ischemia in rats results in Omi/HtrA2 translocation from the mitochondria to the cytosol, where it participates in neuronal cell death. Blocking the proteolytic activity of Omi/HtrA2 with specific inhibitors, such as the ucf-101, could be a novel way to afford neuroprotection and minimize cellular damage in cerebral ischemia/reperfusion.     

Translocation of the Serine Protease Omi/HtrA2 from Mitochondria into the Cytosol Upon Seizure-Induced Hippocampal Injury in the Neonatal Rat Brain

Omi/HtrA2 is a pro-apoptotic mitochondrial serine protease involved in caspase-dependent as well as caspase-independent cell death upon various brain injuries. However, the role of Omi/HtrA2 in neuronal death induced by status epilepticus (SE) in the immature brain has not been reported. In this study, we analyzed the contribution of serine protease Omi/HtrA2, its substrate X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP) and the caspase-3 activation to damage of hippocamplal CA1 cells following lithium-pilocarpine SE in P14 rat pups. Status epilepticus in the immature brain significantly induced translocation of Omi/HtrA2 from mitochondria into the cytosol, increased cytosolic accumulation of Omi/HtrA2, induced appearance of XIAP-breakdown products and enhanced caspase-3 activity in the selectively vulnerable hippocampal CA1-subfield. Taken together, these results demonstrate for the first time that SE in the immature brain results in Omi/HtrA2 accumulation in the cytosol, where it probably promotes neuronal death by neutralizing and cleaving XIAP, one of the most potent endogenous inhibitors of apoptosis.     

Changes of mitochondrial pathway in hypoxia/reoxygenation induced cardiomyocytes apoptosis

The role of mitochondrial apoptotic pathway in cardiomyocytes subjected to hypoxia/reoxygenation(H/R) was studied. Cultured cardiomyocytes from neonatal Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to hyoxia/reoxygenation, the apoptotic cardiomyocytes were stained with Annexin-V-FITC, Hoechst 33342 and TUNEL assay. Mitochondrial transmembrane potential of cardiomyocytes was assessed by JC-1 under fluorescence microscope, the expressions of bcl-2, bax, cytochrome c, apoptosis-induced factor (AIF), and caspase-3 were tested by western-blot. Our data showed apoptosis of cardiomyocytes was significantly increased during H/R, accompanied by translocation of bax to mitochondria, release of cytochrome c and AIF to cytosol. The results indicate that the mitochondrial-mediated apoptotic pathway is initiated as a result of H/R.     

Akt attenuation of the serine protease activity of HtrA2/Omi through phosphorylation of serine 212

The serine protease HtrA2/Omi is released from the mitochondria into the cytosol following apoptosis stimuli, leading to the programmed cell death in caspase-dependent and -independent manners. The function of HtrA2/Omi closely relates to its protease activity, which is required for cleavage of its substrate such as the members of the X-linked inhibitor of apoptotic protein family. However, the regulation of HtrA2/Omi by signaling molecule has not been documented. Here we report that serine/threonine kinases Akt1 and Akt2 phosphorylate mitochondria-released HtrA2/Omi on serine 212 in vivo and in vitro, which results in attenuation of its serine protease activity and pro-apoptotic function. Abolishing HtrA2/Omi phosphorylation by Akt through mutation of serine 212 to alanine (HtrA2/Omi-S212A) retains its serine protease activity and induces more apoptosis as compared with wild-type HtrA2/Omi. Conversely, HtrA2/Omi-S212D, a mutant mimicking phosphorylation, lost the protease activity and failed to induce the programmed cell death. Furthermore, the phosphorylated HtrA2/Omi fails to cleave X-linked inhibitor of apoptotic protein without interfering with their complex formation. In addition, Akt inhibits the release of HtrA2/Omi from the mitochondria into the cytoplasm in response to cisplatin treatment. These data reveal for the first time that HtrA2/Omi is directly regulated by Akt and provide a mechanism by which Akt induces cell survival at post-mitochondrial level.     

Characterization of a novel and specific inhibitor for the pro-apoptotic protease Omi/HtrA2

Omi/HtrA2 is a mammalian serine protease with high homology to bacterial HtrA chaperones. Omi/HtrA2 is localized in mitochondria and is released to the cytoplasm in response to apoptotic stimuli. Omi/HtrA2 induces cell death in a caspase-dependent manner by interacting with the inhibitor of apoptosis protein as well as in a caspase-independent manner that relies on its protease activity. We describe the identification and characterization of a novel compound as a specific inhibitor of the proteolytic activity of Omi/HtrA2. This compound (ucf-101) was isolated in a high throughput screening of a combinatorial library using bacterially made Omi-(134-458) protease and fluorescein-casein as a generic substrate. ucf-101 showed specific activity against Omi/HtrA2 and very little activity against various other serine proteases. This compound has a natural fluorescence that was used to monitor its ability to enter mammalian cells. ucf-101, when tested in caspase-9 (-/-) null fibroblasts, was found to inhibit Omi/HtrA2-induced cell death.     

Specific protein interaction of human Pag with Omi/HtrA2 and the activation of the protease activity of Omi/HtrA2

The human PAG gene product (hPag), one member of the TSA/AhpC family, is overexpressed by oxidative stress, which causes apoptosis. To investigate the apoptotic signal transduction mediated by hPag, hPag-binding protein was screened using the yeast two-hybrid system. Omi/HtrA2 was identified as the hPag-binding protein. Omi/HtrA2, a potent proapoptotic factor, is released from the mitochondria into the cytoplasm as the mature form showing serine protease activity during apoptosis in response to oxidative stress. We found that hPag was able to interact with the mature form of Omi/HtrA2, not with the precursor form of Omi/HtrA2. The binding of Omi/HtrA2 to hPag was shown to involve the PDZ-binding domain in Omi/HtrA2. Also, the carboxyl-terminal domain of hPag was shown to be critical for the protein interaction. Using the yeast two-hybrid system and in vitro binding assay, the reduced form of hPag was able to interact with Omi/HtrA2. Interestingly, the protease activity given by the mature form of Omi/HtrA2 was significantly activated by the binding to hPag. Taken together, these results suggest that the specific protein interaction may participate as a molecular switch in modulating cell death in response to oxidative stress.     

Binding specificity and regulation of the serine protease and PDZ domains of HtrA2/Omi

Inhibitor of apoptosis proteins (IAPs) prevent apoptosis through direct inhibition of caspases. The serine protease HtrA2/Omi has an amino-terminal IAP interaction motif like that found in Reaper, which displaces IAPs from caspases, leading to enhanced caspase activity. The cell death-promoting properties of HtrA2/Omi are not only exerted through its capacity to oppose IAP inhibition of caspases but also through its integral serine protease activity. We have used peptide libraries to determine the optimal substrate sequence for cleavage by HtrA2 and also the preferred binding sequence for its PDZ domain. Using these peptides, we show that the PDZ domain of HtrA2/Omi suppresses the proteolytic activity unless it is engaged by a binding partner. Subjecting HtrA2/Omi to heat shock treatment also increases its protease activity. Unexpectedly, binding of X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP) to the Reaper motif of HtrA2/Omi results in a marked increase in proteolytic activity, suggesting a new role for IAPs. When HtrA2/Omi is released from mitochondria following an apoptotic stimulus, binding to IAPs may switch their function from caspase inhibition to serine protease activation. Thus although IAP overexpression can suppress caspase activation, it could have the opposite effect on HtrA2/Omi-dependent cell death. This, together with the ability of HtrA2/Omi to degrade IAPs, may limit the overall cellular protection that can be provided by these proteins.     

The serine protease Omi/HtrA2 regulates apoptosis by binding XIAP through a reaper-like motif

The inhibitor-of-apoptosis proteins (IAPs) play a critical role in the regulation of apoptosis by binding and inhibiting caspases. Reaper family proteins and Smac/DIABLO use a conserved amino-terminal sequence to bind to IAPs in flies and mammals, respectively, blocking their ability to inhibit caspases and thus promoting apoptosis. Here we have identified the serine protease Omi/HtrA2 as a second mammalian XIAP-binding protein with a Reaper-like motif. This protease autoprocesses to form a protein with amino-terminal homology to Smac/DIABLO and Reaper family proteins. Full-length Omi/HtrA2 is localized to mitochondria but fails to interact with XIAP. Mitochondria also contain processed Omi/HtrA2, which, following apoptotic insult, translocates to the cytosol, where it interacts with XIAP. Overexpression of Omi/HtrA2 sensitizes cells to apoptosis, and its removal by RNA interference reduces cell death. Omi/HtrA2 thus extends the set of mammalian proteins with Reaper-like function that are released from the mitochondria during apoptosis.