PEMT2过表达抑制大鼠肝癌细胞PI3K, Akt的表达(英)

为探讨磷脂酰乙醇胺-N-甲基转移酶2(PEMT2)过表达抑制大鼠肝癌细胞增殖的机制,构建了PEMT2高表达细胞克隆,并采用半定量RT-PCR、免疫细胞化学及流式细胞仪技术,研究了PEMT2过表达对PI3K/Akt信号转导途径的影响.实验结果显示,PEMT2过表达可抑制细胞PI3K和Akt的表达,并诱导细胞凋亡.这一结果提示,PI3K/Akt信号转导途径下调可能是PEMT2抑制肝癌细胞增殖的部分机制.     

miRNA-492在肝癌中表达变化的研究

目的:通过观察miRNA-492在肝细胞株L02、肝胚细胞瘤HepT1细胞株和肝癌SMMC-7721细胞株中的表达差异,以及在正常肝脏组织、肝母细胞瘤组织和原发性肝癌组织中的含量差异,探讨其与不同类型肝脏肿瘤发生发展的关系.方法:应用Real time-PCR方法检测miRNA-492在正常L02肝细胞株和肝癌HepT1、SMMC-7721细胞株的含量.同时采集和检测原发性肝癌患者术中取得的正常肝脏组织和癌症组织,以及肝母细胞瘤患者瘤组织的含量.结果:1)与正常人L02肝细胞相比,miRNA-492在肝癌HepT1细胞株中的表达显著升高(P＜0.001),但在SMMC-7721细胞株中略升高,无统计学差异.2)与正常肝脏组织相比,miRNA-492在肝母细胞瘤的瘤组织中含量显著升高(P＜0.01),但原发性肝癌的癌组织略升高,无统计学差异.结论:miRNA-492在不同肝癌细胞株中表达不同,在肝胚细胞瘤中表达升高,且在肝母细胞瘤瘤组织中的表达高于正常肝脏组织.但原发性肝癌癌组织中变化不明显,这说明miRNA-492与某些类型肝癌,特别是肝母细胞瘤的发生发展有关.     

miRNA-181在肝癌中表达变化的研究

目的:观察微小RNA(miRNA)-181在正常人肝细胞L02、肝癌细胞株SMMC7221和Hep3B中的表达,以及在正常肝脏组织和肝癌组织中的表达,探讨其与肝癌发生发展的关系.方法:应用荧光实时定量PCR方法检测miRNA-181,包括miRNA-181a、miRNA-181b、miRNA-181c、miRNA-181d,在正常肝细胞和肝癌细胞的含量.同时收集并检测肝细胞癌患者术中取得的正常肝脏组织和癌症组织的含量.结果:MiRNA-181在肝癌细胞株中的表达明显高于正常人肝细胞(P＜0.05或P＜0.001).MiRNA-181在肝癌组织中表达明显高于正常肝脏组织(P＜0.05).结论:MiRNA-181在不同肝癌细胞株中表达不同,但都高于正常肝细胞,并且miRNA-181在肝癌组织中的表达高于正常肝脏组织.这说明miRNA-181与肝癌的发生发展有相关性,可能成为肝癌诊断和预后的一个指标.     

pLNCX-pemt2重组载体的构建ptpemt2基因在大鼠肝癌CBRH-7919细胞中的表达

为进一步研究pemt2对肝癌细胞生长抑制的作用机制提供方便的实验模型,构建了pLNCX-pemt2重组体.将目的基因pemt2连接入含有neo抗性基因的真核细胞表达载体pLNCX中,构建pLNCX-pemt2重组子,并用磷酸钙沉淀法将其转入大鼠肝癌CBRH-7919细胞中,应用PCR、Western印迹及[3H]SAM参入等技术对其转染、表达及活性进行鉴定.转染pLNCX-pemt2的大鼠肝癌细胞,PEMT2成功表达(分子量为22.5kD);高表达克隆PEMT2的表达量对照组高约5倍,其活性比对照组高2.1倍;细胞生长的倍增时间从21.54±7.08h延长到43.22±7.11h.结果表明,pLNCX-pemt2重组体转入肝癌细胞后,PEMT2蛋白得到高效表达,明显抑制肝癌细胞生长.     

pLNCX-pemt2重组载体的构建及pemt2基因在大鼠肝癌CBRH-7919细胞中的表达

为进一步研究 pemt2对肝癌细胞生长抑制的作用机制提供方便的实验模型 ,构建了p LNCX- pemt2重组体 .将目的基因 pemt2连接入含有 neo抗性基因的真核细胞表达载体 p LNCX中 ,构建 p LNCX- pemt2重组子 ,并用磷酸钙沉淀法将其转入大鼠肝癌 CBRH- 791 9细胞中 ,应用PCR、Western印迹及 [3 H]SAM参入等技术对其转染、表达及活性进行鉴定 .转染 p LNCX- pemt2的大鼠肝癌细胞 ,PEMT2成功表达 (分子量为 2 2 .5k D) ;高表达克隆 PEMT2的表达量比对照组高约 5倍 ,其活性比对照组高 2 .1倍 ;细胞生长的倍增时间从 2 1 .54± 7.0 8h延长到 43.2 2± 7.1 1h.结果表明 ,p LNCX- pemt2重组体转入肝癌细胞后 ,PEMT2蛋白得到高效表达 ,明显抑制肝癌细胞生长 .     

pLNCX-pemt2重组载体的构建及pemt2基因在大鼠肝癌CBRH-7919细胞中的表达

为进一步研究 pemt2对肝癌细胞生长抑制的作用机制提供方便的实验模型 ,构建了p LNCX- pemt2重组体 .将目的基因 pemt2连接入含有 neo抗性基因的真核细胞表达载体 p LNCX中 ,构建 p LNCX- pemt2重组子 ,并用磷酸钙沉淀法将其转入大鼠肝癌 CBRH- 791 9细胞中 ,应用PCR、Western印迹及 [3 H]SAM参入等技术对其转染、表达及活性进行鉴定 .转染 p LNCX- pemt2的大鼠肝癌细胞 ,PEMT2成功表达 (分子量为 2 2 .5k D) ;高表达克隆 PEMT2的表达量比对照组高约 5倍 ,其活性比对照组高 2 .1倍 ;细胞生长的倍增时间从 2 1 .54± 7.0 8h延长到 43.2 2± 7.1 1h.结果表明 ,p LNCX- pemt2重组体转入肝癌细胞后 ,PEMT2蛋白得到高效表达 ,明显抑制肝癌细胞生长 .     

SDS-PAGE分析肝癌细胞和正常肝细胞膜蛋白

目的:采用SDS-聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳(SDS-PAGE)方法获得肝癌细胞株HepG2和人正常肝细胞株L-02蛋白质表达谱,期待找到与肝癌细胞相关的差异蛋白。方法:体外培养肝癌细胞株HepG2和正常肝细胞株L-02,分离提取细胞膜蛋白,用SDS-PAGE分析细胞膜蛋白。结果:2种细胞膜蛋白的疏水相和亲水相蛋白区带位置基本相同,但肝癌细胞株HepG2膜蛋白在相对分子质量66×103处有较清晰的异常蛋白区带。结论:肝癌细胞HepG2除了具有与正常肝细胞相同的组成物质外,还有自己独特的蛋白质表达谱,这一实验可为癌症的研究提供一定的参考。     

不同来源肝细胞在体外降脂药物评价中药效反应的对比

目的:通过对比不同来源的人肝癌细胞系HepG2和原代大鼠肝细胞在体外降脂药物评价中药效反应,指导两种肝细胞在体外降脂药物评价中的实际应用。方法:用游离脂肪酸(油酸/棕榈酸,2:1)诱导HepG2细胞、原代大鼠肝细胞脂肪变性,并用100μmol·L-1苯扎贝特干预,检测细胞内甘油三酯(TG)、总胆固醇(TC)、活性氧(ROS)含量,细胞内脂滴数目、并检测细胞上清液中丙二醛(MDA)含量和超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性。结果:FFA刺激使HepG2细胞和原代大鼠肝细胞脂质沉积(TG、脂滴)和氧化应激(ROS、MDA、SOD)水平上升。苯扎贝特对HepG2细胞1 mmol·L-1FFA造模组和原代大鼠肝细胞0.5 mmol·L-1FFA造模组脂质沉积和氧化应激水平改善显著;而HepG2细胞0.5 mmol·L-1FFA造模组和原代大鼠肝细胞1 mmol·L-1FFA造模组脂质沉积和氧化应激水平在苯扎贝特干预后变化不明显。结论:在相同FFA造模浓度,原代大鼠肝细胞病理特征变化更为明显;苯扎贝特对两种肝细胞在脂质沉积和氧化应激水平的作用也不完全相同。因而HepG2细胞和原代大鼠肝细胞在体外降脂药物评价中药效反应是不完全相同的。     

Bax蛋白在大鼠肝癌发生过程中的表达和意义

通过动态观察Bax蛋白在实验性大鼠肝癌发生过程中肝细胞的表达,探讨Bax蛋白与肝癌发生的关系及其生物学意义。用DEN饲喂大鼠,分别于第4、8、12、16、18周处死大鼠,取其肝脏,石蜡切片,ABC法免疫组织化染色。结果显示：正常成年大鼠肝细胞均有中等程度Bax蛋白表达。至诱癌第4周大鼠肝小叶内有少数肝细胞呈Bax蛋白免疫阳性反应,随诱癌发展进程,呈Bax蛋白免疫阳性反应肝细胞进一步减少,第12周,只可见肝细胞增生结节的多数肝细胞呈Bax蛋白免疫阳性反应。诱癌晚期（第18周）,癌结节内肝癌细胞均呈Bax免疫反应阳性,其强度较正常肝细胞明显增强,Bax蛋白免疫反应产物为胞质内粗大的棕褐色颗粒。部争肝细胞胞质和胞膜均呈阳性,肝癌细胞最为常见。结果表明：Bax蛋白表达减少或缺失是肝癌发生过程中的早期事件,可能参与肝癌的启动过程。     

Overexpression of PEMT2 downregulates the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in rat hepatoma cells

Phosphatidylethanolamine N-methyltransferase 2 (PEMT2) is an isoform of PEMT that converts phosphatidylethanolamine to phosphatidylcholine in mammalian liver. Overexpression of PEMT2 led to inhibition of proliferation of hepatoma cells [J. Biol. Chem. 269 (1994) 24531]. The present study aims to unravel the molecular mechanism of the reduced proliferation, especially the signaling transducer proteins involved in this process. Thus, we chose PI3K/Akt pathway that is initiated by growth factors and leads to cell survival and proliferation. Rat hepatoma CBRH-7919 cells transfected with pemt2-cDNA showed that: (1) signaling proteins including c-Met, PDGF receptor, PI3K, Akt and Bcl-2 all had reduced expression as shown by Western blotting studies; (2) flow cytometric and DNA ladder assays showed that 22.9% of the pemt2-transfected cells were undergoing apoptosis; (3) the activity of Akt was decreased as shown by Western blotting using antibody directed against p-Akt (Thr308); (4) wortmannin and PD98059, inhibitors of PI3K and MEK, respectively, both inhibited Akt activity, indicating that PI3K and MAPK pathways were merging at Akt in CBRH-7919 cells. The above results suggest that overexpression of PEMT2 strongly downregulated the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway at multiple sites and induced apoptosis. This, at least partly, explains the molecular mechanism of impaired proliferation induced by pemt2 transfection.     

An unexpected requirement for phosphatidylethanolamine N-methyltransferase in the secretion of very low density lipoproteins

Phosphatidylethanolamine N-methyltransferase (PEMT) catalyzes the conversion of phosphatidylethanolamine to phosphatidylcholine (PC). We investigated whether there was diminished secretion of lipoproteins from hepatocytes derived from mice that lacked PEMT (Pemt(-/-)) compared with Pemt(+/+) mice. Hepatocytes were incubated with 0.75 mm oleate, the media were harvested, and triacylglycerol (TG), PC, apolipoprotein (apo) B100, and apoB48 were isolated and quantified. Compared with hepatocytes from Pemt(+/+) mice, hepatocytes from Pemt(-/-) mice secreted 50% less TG, whereas secretion of PC was unaffected. Fractionation of the secreted lipoproteins on density gradients demonstrated that the decrease in TG was in the very low density lipoprotein (VLDL)/low density lipoprotein fractions. The secretion of apoB100 was decreased by approximately 70% in VLDLs/low density lipoproteins, whereas there was no significant decrease in apoB48 secretion in any fraction. Transfection of McArdle hepatoma cells (that lack PEMT) with PEMT cDNA enhanced secretion of TG in the VLDLs. Because the levels of PC in the hepatocytes and hepatoma cells were unaffected by the lack of PEMT expression, there appears to be an unexpected requirement for PEMT in the secretion of apoB100-containing VLDLs.     

Inactivation of PEMT2 in hepatocytes initiated by DENA in fasted/refed rats

Phosphatidylethanolamine N-methyltransferase (PEMT) is the enzyme that converts phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) into phosphatidylcholine. We have previously shown that PEMT suppressed hepatoma growth by triggering apoptosis. We investigate whether PEMT controlled cell death and cell proliferation triggered by fasting/refeeding and whether it is a marker of early preneoplastic lesions. The induction of programmed cell death and suppression of cell proliferation by fasting were associated with enhanced PEMT expression and activity, and with a decrease in CTP:phosphocholine cytidylyltransferase expression. Refeeding returned the liver growth and expression of CTP:phosphocholine cytidylyltransferase to control levels, while the expression of PEMT decreased to below control values. After DENA administration, PEMT protein, evaluated by Western blotting, slightly increased, but it remained below control levels. The treatment with 20 mg/kg DENA to refed rats induced the appearance of initiated hepatocytes that were negative for PEMT expression. Present findings indicate that PEMT is a novel tumour marker for early liver preneoplastic lesions.     

Why expression of phosphatidylethanolamine N-methyltransferase does not rescue Chinese hamster ovary cells that have an impaired CDP-choline pathway

The mutant Chinese hamster ovary cell line (CHO), MT58, has a temperature-sensitive mutation in CTP:phosphocholine cytidylyltransferase (CT), preventing phosphatidylcholine (PC) synthesis at 40 degrees C which results in apoptosis. Previous studies (Houweling, M., Cui, Z., and Vance, D. E. (1995) J. Biol. Chem. 270, 16277-16282) showed that expression of wild-type CT-alpha rescued the cells at 40 degrees C, whereas expression of phosphatidylethanolamine N-methyltransferase-2 (PEMT2) did not, even though PC levels appeared to be maintained at wild-type levels after 24 h at the restrictive temperature. We report that the failure of PEMT2 to rescue the MT58 cell line is due to inadequate long term PC synthesis. We found that changing the medium every 24 h rescued the PEMT2-expressing MT58 cells grown at 40 degrees C. This was due to the uptake and utilization of lipids in the serum. At 40 degrees C, PC levels in the wild-type CHO cells and CT-expressing MT58 cells increased over time whereas PC levels did not change in both the MT58 and PEMT2-expressing MT58 cell lines. Further investigation found that both the PEMT2-expressing MT58 and MT58 cell lines accumulated triacylglycerol at 40 degrees C. Pulse-chase experiments indicated that lyso-PC accumulated to a higher degree at 40 degrees C in the PEMT2-expressing MT58 cells compared with CT-expressing MT58 cells. Transfection of the PEMT-expressing MT58 cells with additional PEMT2 cDNA partially rescued the growth of these cells at 40 degrees C. Inhibition of PC degradation, by inhibitors of phospholipases, also stimulated PEMT-expressing MT58 cell growth at 40 degrees C. Best results were observed using a calcium-independent phospholipase A(2) inhibitor, methyl arachidonyl fluorophosphonate. This inhibitor also increased PC mass in the PEMT2-expressing MT58 cells. When the cells are shifted to 40 degrees C, PC degradation by enzymes such as phospholipases is greater than PC synthesis in the mutant PEMT2-expressing MT58 cells. Taken together, these results indicate that PEMT2 expression fails to rescue the mutant cell line at 40 degrees C because it does not maintain PC levels required for cellular replication.     

Some features of cyclic adenosine monophosphate metabolism in mouse liver and hepatoma 22]

The levels of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and two forms of cAMP phosphodiesterase with low (PDE1) and high (PDE2) affinity for the substrate were determined in homogenates from mouse liver and transplanted hepatoma 22. The level of cAMP in the tumour is 3 times lower than that in liver. By te kinetic parameters (Vmax, Km, pH optimum) adenylate cyclase from tumour does not show any significant differences as compared to the liver enzyme; the enzyme from hepatoma is, however, more sensitive to activation by F- ions. The activities of adenylate cyclase in liver and tumour cells are the same. Phosphodiesterases of cAMP from tumour and liver cells are similar in their Km values (3,3-10(-4) M for PDE1 and 2-10(-6) M for PDE2); however, the maximal and real rates of cAMP hydrolysis in hepatoma are much higher than in liver. The fact that both cAMP phosphodiesterase activities have similar dependence on Mg2+ and Ca2+ concentrations, suggests that PDE1 is a latent form of PDE2. In tumour cells the equilibrium between these two forms is probably shifted towards the enzyme with high affinity for the substrate. The results suggest that a decreased cAMP level in hepatoma cells (as compared to the liver) is due to the activation of PDE2.     

Localization-independent regulation of homocysteine secretion by phosphatidylethanolamine N-methyltransferase

Genetic ablation of phosphatidylethanolamine N-methyltransferase (PEMT) in mice causes a 50% reduction in plasma homocysteine (Hcy) levels. Because hyperhomocysteinemia is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease, resolution of the molecular basis for this reduction is of significant clinical interest. The PEMT pathway is a metabolically channeled process localized to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). To assess the importance of PEMT localization for Hcy homeostasis, we identified and ablated the minimal ER targeting motif. Mutagenesis of a conserved, C-terminal lysine residue (197) relocalized the enzyme to the Golgi, demonstrating that Lys-197 is essential for targeting PEMT to the ER. To evaluate the functional significance of PEMT localization, hepatoma cell lines were generated that stably expressed either ER- or Golgi-localized PEMT only. Intriguingly, stable expression of PEMT in either the ER or the Golgi caused increased Hcy secretion. Moreover, PEMT-mediated Hcy secretion correlated with the methyltransferase activity of the enzyme, independently of subcellular localization. Thus, our data suggest that Hcy homeostasis is regulated concomitantly with PEMT activity but independently of PEMT localization.     

Changes in ganglioside contents, plasma sialic acid and cAMP levels in experimental hepatoma in mice

The present study was designed to assess whether changes in glycolipids and cyclic AMP contents might serve as markers for the diagnosis of malignancy in the liver. The experimental model was a transplantable murine hepatoma. Experimental mice were divided into three groups: (1) a therapeutic group, which had been transplanted with hepatoma and treated with the antimetabolism drug 5-flurouracil (0.2 mg/day i.p.), (2) a control group, which had been transplanted with hepatoma and treated with 0.2 ml 0.9% NaCl/day and (3) a normal group of mice. The ganglioside and cAMP contents in the hepatoma tissue, plasma cAMP, total- and lipid-bound sialic acid levels and red blood cell membrane sialic acid levels were determined. Results showed that the ganglioside content, total and lipid-bound sialic acid levels in the control group were significantly higher than those in the livers of normal mice (p < 0.01) while these respective values in the therapeutic group were significantly lower than those in the control group (p < 0.01). The cAMP levels of tumor tissues and plasma in the control group were lower than those in normal mice. No significant difference in red blood cell membrane sialic acid content was observed between the therapeutic and control groups though levels for both were higher than those in normal mice. These results indicate that ganglioside content and sialic acid levels in hepatoma tissues were significantly elevated, and cAMP levels in hepatoma tissues were significantly decreased during proliferation and abnormal differentiation.     

Induction of tyrosine aminotransferase in H-35 hepatoma cells by cAMP captured in phospholipid vesicles

The uptake, metabolism, and action of cAMP, captured within phospholipid vesicles, in H-35 hepatoma cells were studied. Sonication of lipids in buffer containing cAMP resulted in the formation of 300-A unilamellar lipid vesicles, capturing cAMP in the internal aqueous cavity. Incubation of H-35 hepatoma cells with vesicles containing cAMP (vesicle-cAMP) resulted in rapid incorporation of the vesicle content; apparent saturation of uptake was reached after approximately 30 min of incubation at 37 degrees C. Uptake of vesicle-cAMP was linear over a 10- fold vesicle concentration range. Pretreatment of cells with combined inhibitors of glycolysis and respiration inhibited vesicle uptake by 27%, suggesting vesicle fusion with the cell membrane as a predominant pathway of vesicle uptake. Studies on the metabolism of incorporated cAMP indicated that greater than 50% of the cell-associated radioactivity, derived from vesicle-[3H]cAMP, was preserved as cAMP at the end of a 20-min incubation at 37 degrees C. The incorporation of vesicle-cAMP by H-35 hepatoma cells resulted in increased tyrosine aminotransferase (TAT) activity. The concentration of vesicle-cAMP needed to produce a half-maximal increase in TAT activity was 10 microM, approximately two orders of magnitude lower than that of exogenously added dbcAMP. cAMP was ineffective when added extracellularly. The kinetic relationship of the cAMP-induced increase in TAT activity and the binding of cAMP to its receptor protein, in intact H-35 cells, was examined using vesicle-trapped 8-N3-cAMP, a photoaffinity labeling analogue of cAMP. Incubation of H-35 hepatoma cells with vesicle-8-N3-cAMP resulted in increased TAT activity, preceded by the binding of 8-N3-cAMP to the regulatory subunit of type II cAMP-dependent protein kinase. The use of lipid vesicles provides a means of modulating intracellular cAMP concentration without adding cyclic nucleotide in the millimolar concentration range to the extracellular medium. The increased efficiency of intracellular delivery of cyclic nucleotide with retention of biological activity, provides a useful technique in examining the relationship of occupancy of specific cAMP-receptor protein(s) and the occurrence of a cAMP- mediated biological response in intact cells.