E-钙粘素及相关蛋白的研究进展

E-钙粘素介导上皮细胞的同型相互作用,在形态发生、信号转导、细胞极性及组织细胞完整性的维持中起着重要作用。E-钙粘素介导的黏附功能紊乱将导致细胞间粘连松散,与肿瘤侵袭转移密切相关,与肾脏疾病的相关性也越来越受到重视。其相关蛋白在疾病的发生、发展过程中,也起了不可忽视的作用,现就E-钙粘素及相关蛋白的研究进展做一综述。     

TGF-β1对人正常胎盘滋养层细胞表达E-钙粘素的调节

E-钙粘素是在胚胎发育中最早表达的分子之一,它可以与Catenin家族成员形成钙粘素/Catenin复合物参与多种细胞功能,对于胚胎植入和胎盘发生具有重要作用.通过RT-PCR、免疫组织化学、细胞粘附分析等方法,在人正常妊娠和输卵管妊娠母胎界面上,发现E-钙粘素主要定位于绒毛细胞滋养层细胞和滋养层细胞柱,从滋养层细胞柱近端向远端,其蛋白质水平逐渐降低.正常胎盘组织中E-钙粘素水平在妊娠早期较高,妊娠中期直至分娩期均维持低水平.在体外培养的人正常胎盘细胞滋养层细胞系(NPC细胞)中,转化生长因子β(TGFβ1)显著上调E-钙粘素蛋白和mRNA的表达,并呈现时间和剂量依赖性,同时,TGFβ1促进NPC细胞之间的粘附.上述结果表明,胎盘中存在E-钙粘素的旁分泌调节机制,E-钙粘素可通过调节滋养层细胞粘附而参与细胞侵润的有节制调控.     

硫化砷对人结肠癌细胞株HCT116生长及迁移能力的影响

目的:研究硫化砷对人结肠癌细胞株HCT116迁移能力的影响及其作用机制.方法:以HCT116细胞为研究对象,通过MTT法观察硫化砷对肿瘤细胞活性及增殖能力的影响,通过划痕实验观察硫化砷处理后细胞的迁移能力.Western B1ot、Real-time PCR检测硫化砷处理前后细胞内E-钙粘素、P53、Notch1蛋白的表达及相应mRNA水平的变化.结果:硫化砷对HCT116细胞有抑制增殖的作用,此作用随着剂量的增加而增强.选取无毒剂量的硫化砷(1 μM)处理HCT116细胞24h后,细胞的迁移能力降低了52.00％±7.55％.Western Blot及Real-time PCR结果显示,硫化砷处理后,HCT116细胞内的E-钙粘素蛋白水平及mRNA水平均明显升高,P53蛋白水平增高,但对Notch1蛋白及mRNA水平无明显影响.结论:一定剂量范围的硫化砷能抑制HCT116细胞增殖,并能降低其迁移能力.硫化砷降低HCT116细胞的迁移能力,其机制可能是通过上调P53蛋白的水平,从而增高E-钙粘素的表达实现的.     

E-钙黏蛋白复合体及其对肿瘤细胞的作用

E-钙黏蛋白是一类重要的细胞黏附分子．介导细胞一细胞黏附。它同时也被认为是一种抑癌分子,其抑癌作用通过加强细胞间黏附和抑制细胞增殖来发挥。在相当数量的恶性肿瘤中存在E-钙黏蛋白复合体黏附功能失常．使得肿瘤细胞易于向远处转移。该介绍E-钙黏蛋白复合体的结构、功能及调控机制,E-钙黏蛋白复合体与细胞信号转导之间的关系。另外,还讨论了E-钙黏蛋白的抑癌作用,肿瘤细胞中E-钙黏蛋白缺失的机制,以及钙黏蛋白转换在肿瘤中的意义。     

LRP16基因通过雌激素受体α介导抑制Ishikawa细胞中E-钙黏着素的转录活性

目的:既往研究表明LRP16基因过表达通过下调E-钙黏着素促进子宫内膜癌Ishikawa细胞的侵袭生长,本研究目的在于探讨LRP16基因下调E-钙黏着素的分子途径。方法:用免疫组化方法检测LRP16基因过表达的Ishikawa细胞中E-钙黏着素的表达;用共转染与荧光素酶实验检测LRP16基因对E-钙黏着素启动子转录活性的影响;用染色质免疫共沉淀实验检测雌激素受体α(ERα)与LRP16蛋白在E-钙黏着素启动子区的招募状况。结果:E-钙黏着素在LRP16过表达的Ishikawa细胞中的表达水平明显下调;LRP16抑制了E-钙黏着素启动子的转录活性,该效应呈现对雌激素(E2)存在的依赖性特征;LRP16本身没有与E-钙黏着素启动子区结合,但明显抑制了ERα与E-钙黏着素启动子区的结合。结论:LRP16通过抑制ERα对E-钙黏着素基因的转录激活活性,下调E-钙黏着素在Ishikawa细胞中的表达水平。     

钙依赖性粘附素及其信号转导

钙依赖性粘附素介导的粘附连接在决定和维持发育及成年机体的组织结构中起着重要作用。钙依赖性粘附素结合的特异性取决于其细胞外段,但完整的生理性粘附还需其胞质尾段与胞质相关蛋白以及细胞骨架的相互作用和联系。粘附连接的调节涉及到钙依赖性粘附素基因表达、聚集和磷酸化以及缝隙连接通讯等;此外,钙依赖性粘附素－连环素复合体还参与信号转导过程,从而影响组织的结构和功能。     

多个生物标志物预测宫颈上皮内瘤和宫颈癌的风险

目的:研究生物蛋白指标是否可以作为宫颈癌和高分级宫颈上皮内瘤样病变(CIN)的肿瘤标志物。方法:采用免疫组织化学方法检测包括宫颈内皮瘤和宫颈癌在内的292例标本中9个蛋白指标的表达,包括E-钙粘素(E-cadherin),细胞外信号调节激酶-1(ERK-1),基质金属蛋白酶-2(MMP-2),nm23-H1,核因子NF-κB,p16INK4A,存活素(survivin),人端粒酶逆转录酶(hTERT),血管内皮生长因子(VEGF-C),然后采用统计方法进行分析,构建变量模型,计算反映指标,与靶受体反应的特征曲线进行比较,确定上述蛋白标记物在预测宫颈癌存活率以及高分级CIN的作用。结果:所有个标记物中,nm23-H1及p16 INK4a对宫颈癌的生存率的单变量分析有明显的意义,在对所有标记物做细致详尽的分析后发现,其中3个标记物(E-钙粘素、VEGF-C、survivin)可对高分级的CIN进行预测。宫颈癌的生存率的有效的预测因子中,只有nm23-H1可以作为有效的预测因素。结论:联合检测多个生物蛋白,如E-钙粘素、VEGF-C、survivin指标可以有效的预测高危CIN的恶变风险,同时nm23-H1则可以为宫颈癌的预后提供参考。     

LRP16通过调控E-钙粘合素的表达促进MCF-7细胞的侵袭生长

LRP16在原代乳腺癌组织中表达水平与雌激素受体α（ERα）表达状态以及腋窝淋巴结侵袭数目密切相关.为研究LRP16基因对乳腺癌MCF-7细胞侵袭生长的影响,并探讨涉及的分子机制,采用基质胶黏附实验与Transwell方法,检测内源性LRP16表达抑制MCF-7细胞的体外黏附、侵袭生长与迁移特征.结果表明,抑制LRP16在MCF-7细胞中的表达,降低了细胞的体外黏附、侵袭与迁移能力;采用FVB小鼠进行的实验性转移试验结果显示,抑制LRP16显著降低了MCF-7细胞的肺转移结节数目;为探索可能的分子机制,采用Western印迹方法,检测了LRP16对乳腺癌转移相关分子MMP-2, MMP-9, CD44和E-钙黏着蛋白表达的影响,结果在LRP16抑制的MCF-7细胞中只有E-钙黏着蛋白蛋白表达上调.进一步的Northern印迹与免疫组化实验结果表明,抑制LRP16可上调MCF-7细胞中E 钙黏着蛋白基因的mRNA与蛋白表达水平;共转染与双荧光素酶方法检测LRP16对E-钙黏着蛋白基因启动子的表达调控效应,结果显示,LRP16抑制E 钙黏着蛋白基因基因5′-近端启动子的转录激活,该抑制效应选择性存在于内源性ERα阳性细胞,并且依赖于雌激素的存在;染色质免疫共沉淀方法（ChIP）检测ERα与E-钙黏着蛋白基因启动子的相互作用,结果显示,在LRP16基因表达缺陷的MCF-7细胞中,ERα抗体沉淀到E-钙黏着蛋白基因启动子的DNA序列;上述研究结果表明,抑制LRP16基因表达,削弱了激素依赖型乳腺癌细胞的侵袭生长能力,其分子机制涉及了LRP16通过ERα介导对E-钙黏着蛋白基因基因转录激活的调控.     

连环蛋白家族成员P120ctn的作用及相关机制

连环蛋白P120可在细胞连接处与E-钙黏蛋白结合形成连环蛋白-钙黏蛋白复合体,调控钙黏蛋白介导的细胞黏附作用;在胞质内可与Rho家族GTP酶相互作用调节细胞骨架的运动;在细胞核内可与核转录因子NF-κB和转录抑制因子Kaiso结合,影响炎性反应和细胞增殖.P120对细胞黏附、细胞动力、炎性反应和细胞增殖的影响使其与损伤修复和肿瘤的发生、发展密切相关.深入研究P120的作用及其相关机制对于进一步研究损伤后修复及肿瘤预防和治疗具有深远的意义.     

脂联素的研究进展及与多种疾病的关系

超重和肥胖对心血管疾病,糖尿病及其它疾病的发生发展及预后有着重要的意义。脂联素是脂肪细胞介导的分泌蛋白,在体内和体外的大量实验中,都被证实具有多种功能:抗炎、改善胰岛素抵抗、抗动脉粥样硬化、降血糖、降血脂、抗氧化等。作为生物标记物,脂联素在临床研究中受到广泛关注。根据最新的研究结果,本文简要的介绍了脂联素的主要结构特征,作用机制,参与胰岛μ细胞的功能和存活、胰岛素抵抗的作用,以及与多种疾病之间的关系。作为唯一一个在肥胖患者体内水平下调的脂肪因子,脂联素对肥胖症、糖尿病、心血管疾病、肾脏疾病的保护作用及其分子机制的研究具有深远的意义,为相关疾病的预防和治疗提供新的思路。同时相关研究也为药物治疗提供可靠的下游靶点。     

Rap1 regulates the formation of E-cadherin-based cell-cell contacts

In epithelial tissues, cells are linked to their neighbors through specialized cell-cell adhesion proteins. E-cadherin is one of the most important membrane proteins for the establishment of intimate cell-cell contacts, but the molecular mechanism by which it is recruited to contact sites is largely unknown. We report here that the cytoplasmic domain of E-cadherin interacts with C3G, a guanine nucleotide exchange factor for Rap1. In epithelial cell cultures, ligation of the extracellular domain of E-cadherin enhances Rap1 activity, which in turn is necessary for the proper targeting of E-cadherin molecules to maturing cell-cell contacts. Furthermore, our data suggest that Cdc42 functions downstream of Rap1 in this process. We conclude that Rap1 plays a vital role in the establishment of E-cadherin-based cell-cell adhesion.     

E-cadherin is required for intestinal morphogenesis in the mouse

E-cadherin, the primary epithelial adherens junction protein, has been implicated as playing a critical role in nucleating formation of adherens junctions, tight junctions, and desmosomes. In addition to its role in maintaining structural tissue integrity, E-cadherin has also been suggested as an important modulator of cell signaling via interactions with its cytoplasmic binding partners, catenins, as well as with growth factor receptors. Therefore, we proposed that loss of E-cadherin from the developing mouse intestinal epithelium would disrupt intestinal epithelial morphogenesis and function. To test this hypothesis, we used a conditional knockout approach to eliminate E-cadherin specifically in the intestinal epithelium during embryonic development. We found that E-cadherin conditional knockout mice failed to survive, dying within the first 24 hours of birth. Examination of intestinal architecture at E18.5 demonstrated severe disruption to intestinal morphogenesis in animals lacking E-cadherin in the epithelium of the small intestine. We observed changes in epithelial cell shape as well as in the morphology of villi. Although junctional complexes were evident, junctions were abnormal, and barrier function was compromised in E-cadherin mutant intestine. We also identified changes in the epithelial cell populations present in E-cadherin conditional knockout animals. The number of proliferating cells was increased, whereas the number of enterocytes was decreased. Although Wnt/β-catenin target mRNAs were more abundant in mutants compared with controls, the amount of nuclear activated β-catenin protein was dramatically lower in mutants compared with controls. In summary, our data demonstrate that E-cadherin is essential for intestinal epithelial morphogenesis and homeostasis during embryonic development.     

Breakdown of mucin as barrier to digestive enzymes in the ischemic rat small intestine

Loss of integrity of the epithelial/mucosal barrier in the small intestine has been associated with different pathologies that originate and/or develop in the gastrointestinal tract. We showed recently that mucin, the main protein in the mucus layer, is disrupted during early periods of intestinal ischemia. This event is accompanied by entry of pancreatic digestive enzymes into the intestinal wall. We hypothesize that the mucin-containing mucus layer is the main barrier preventing digestive enzymes from contacting the epithelium. Mucin breakdown may render the epithelium accessible to pancreatic enzymes, causing its disruption and increased permeability. The objective of this study was to investigate the role of mucin as a protection for epithelial integrity and function. A rat model of 30 min splanchnic arterial occlusion (SAO) was used to study the degradation of two mucin isoforms (mucin 2 and 13) and two epithelial membrane proteins (E-cadherin and toll-like receptor 4, TLR4). In addition, the role of digestive enzymes in mucin breakdown was assessed in this model by luminal inhibition with acarbose, tranexamic acid, or nafamostat mesilate. Furthermore, the protective effect of the mucin layer against trypsin-mediated disruption of the intestinal epithelium was studied in vitro. Rats after SAO showed degradation of mucin 2 and fragmentation of mucin 13, which was not prevented by protease inhibition. Mucin breakdown was accompanied by increased intestinal permeability to FITC-dextran as well as degradation of E-cadherin and TLR4. Addition of mucin to intestinal epithelial cells in vitro protected against trypsin-mediated degradation of E-cadherin and TLR4 and reduced permeability of FITC-dextran across the monolayer. These results indicate that mucin plays an important role in the preservation of the mucosal barrier and that ischemia but not digestive enzymes disturbs mucin integrity, while digestive enzymes actively mediate epithelial cell disruption.     

Overexpression of cathepsin Z contributes to tumor metastasis by inducing epithelial-mesenchymal transition in hepatocellular carcinoma

The aim of this study was to characterize the oncogenic function and mechanism of Cathepsin Z (CTSZ) at 20q13.3, a frequently amplified region in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Real-time PCR were used to compare CTSZ expression between paired HCC tumor and non-tumor specimens. CTSZ gene was stably transfected into HCC line QGY-7703 cells and its role in tumorigenicity and cell motility was characterized by soft agar, wound-healing, transwell invasion and cell adhesion assay, and tumor xenograft mouse model. Western blot analysis was used to study expression of proteins associated with epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT).Upregulation of CTSZ was detected in 59/137 (43%) of primary HCCs, which was significantly associated with advanced clinical stage (P = 0.000). Functional study found that CTSZ could increase colony formation in soft agar and promote cell motility. Further study found that the metastatic effect of CTSZ was associated with its role in inducing epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) by upregulating mesenchymal markers (fibronectin and vimentin) and downregulating epithelial markers (E-cadherin and α-catenin). In addition, CTSZ could also upregulate proteins associated with extracellular matrix remodeling such as MMP2, MMP3 and MMP9. Taken together, our data suggested that CTSZ was a candidate oncogene within the 20q13 amplicon and it played an important role in HCC metastasis.     

CA125/MUC16 interacts with Src family kinases,and over-expression of its C-terminal fragment in human epithelial cancer cells reduces cell–cell adhesion

MUC16/CA125 is over-expressed in human epithelial tumors including ovarian, breast and some other carcinomas. The purpose of this study is to investigate how cell surface MUC16 is functionally involved in tumor progression, with a special focus on the role of its cytoplasmic tail. Forced expression of C-terminal MUC16 fragment (MUC16C) in epithelial cancer cells increased cell migration. We found that MUC16C directly interacted with Src family kinases (SFKs). Notably, localizations of E-cadherin and β-catenin at the cell–cell contacts were more diffuse in MUC16C transfectants compared with mock transfectants. Furthermore, MUC16C transfectants showed reduced Ca²⁺-dependent cell–cell adhesion, but the treatment of cells with PP2, a SFKs inhibitor, restored this. Because cell surface MUC16 is also associated with the E-cadherin/β-catenin complex, the over-expression of MUC16 and its interaction with SFKs may enhance SFKs-induced deregulation of E-cadherin. Thus, our results suggest a role for cell surface MUC16 in cell–cell adhesion of epithelial cancer cells.