β-catenin和WISP-1在糖尿病大鼠心肌中的表达

目的观察Wnt信号通路中β-catenin及其下游靶基因WISP～1在糖尿病大鼠心肌组织中的表达,分析Wnt/β-catenin信号通路在糖尿病大鼠心肌损伤中的作用。方法雄性SD大鼠随机分为正常对照组（Control Group）和糖尿病模型组（DMGroup）,腹腔注射STZ55mg／kg诱导糖尿病大鼠模型,喂养至8周。测定大鼠的空腹血糖、心体比和心肌羟脯氨酸含量;电镜观察心肌超微结构变化,免疫组化法观察心肌组织β-catenin和WISP-1的表达。结果与对照组相比,糖尿病组大鼠空腹血糖水平明显增加,心体比增加,心肌羟脯氨酸含量增高。心肌超微结构显示肌纤维断裂,线粒体呈空泡样改变。心肌β-catenin和WISP-1蛋白表达增加。结论糖尿病大鼠心肌组织β-catenin和其下游靶基因WISP-1表达增加,提示Wnt／β-catenin信号通路的激活参与糖尿病所致的心肌损伤。     

2型糖尿病大鼠心肌IR、IRS-1的表达与罗格列酮及APP5肽类似物P165的干预效应

目的研究2型糖尿病大鼠心肌胰岛素信号转导通路蛋白胰岛素受体（IR）、胰岛素受体底物-1（IRS-1）的表达与正常SD大鼠的区别,并探讨进行罗格列酮及APP5肽类似物P165干预后对上述蛋白表达的影响。方法60只SD大鼠随机分为正常对照组（C组）、正常对照＋罗格列酮组（C＋RSG组）、2型糖尿病组（T2DM组）、2型糖尿病＋罗格列酮组（T2DM＋RSG组）、糖尿病给予P165小剂量组（T2DM＋P165小剂量组）、糖尿病给予P165大剂量组（T2DM＋P165大剂量组）,其中糖尿病动物采用高脂饮食后给予小剂量STZ腹腔注射的方法造模。后将各组SD大鼠处死,采用免疫组织化学染色和Western blot的方法检测心肌组织IR、IRS-1的表达。结果（1）2型糖尿病组（T2DM组）心肌组织IR、IRS-1的表达水平显著低于对照组（C组）;（2）2型糖尿病＋罗格列酮组（T2DM＋RSG组）心肌组织IR、IRS-1的表达水平显著高于T2DM组;（3）免疫组化染色发现2型糖尿病＋P165小/大剂量组（T2DM＋P165小/大剂量组）心肌组织IR、IRS-1免疫反应阳性颗粒沉着的累积光密度值显著高于T2DM组;Western blot结果显示T2DM＋P165小/大剂量组心肌组织IRS-1的表达水平显著高于T2DM组;而IR的表达水平与T2DM组相比无差别。结论（1）2型糖尿病大鼠心肌存在胰岛素抵抗或信号转导障碍;（2）罗格列酮干预后可以改善2型糖尿病心肌的胰岛素信号转导异常;（3）P165对2型糖尿病大鼠心肌胰岛素信号转导具有调节作用,其作用靶点可能为胰岛素受体底物。     

胰岛素信号通路、炎症信号通路与泛素-蛋白酶体系统的交互作用

胰岛素抵抗是肥胖和2型糖尿病的主要表征。胰岛素信号通路根据是否需要胰岛素受体底物（insulin receptor substrate, IRS）介导可分为IRS介导和非IRS介导的信号通路,其中以IRS介导的信号通路为主。肥胖可增强炎性细胞因子表达并活化IKKβ/NF κB和JNK等炎症信号通路,抑制IRS酪氨酸磷酸化,从而阻止胰岛素的信号转导,降低胰岛素的敏感性,表现为胰岛素抵抗。泛素 蛋白酶体系统作为机体蛋白降解的主要途径,与胰岛素和炎症信号通路联系密切,一方面胰岛素信号通路的阻断可活化泛素依赖的蛋白降解,另一方面,泛素依赖的蛋白降解系统也可直接降解胰岛素和炎症信号通路的关键蛋白,影响胰岛素的作用。本文拟综述肥胖时,胰岛素信号通路、炎症相关信号通路和泛素 蛋白酶体系统之间的交互作用,在分子水平上探讨胰岛素抵抗的发生机制。     

血管紧张素Ⅱ受体阻断对心肌成纤维细胞信号转导相关基因表达谱的影响

为了研究血管紧张素Ⅱ（angiotensinⅡ,AngⅡ）受体在成年大鼠心肌成纤维细胞的信号转导机制,分离及培养成年Sprague-Dawley大鼠心肌成纤维细胞,采用免疫组化染色测定AngⅡ受体的蛋白表达。将细胞随机分为四组进行药物干预48h：AngⅡ组、AngⅡ＋losartan组、AngⅡ＋PD123319组和AngⅡ＋losartan＋PD123319组。抽提mRNA制备cDNA探针,与G蛋白耦联受体信号通路发现者基因芯片杂交,筛选表达差异的基因。发现血管紧张素Ⅱ 1型（angiotensinⅡ type1,AT1）受体被losartan阻断后,AngⅡ刺激的心肌成纤维细胞血管紧张素Ⅱ2型（angiotensinⅡ type2,AT2）受体蛋白高表达;34个基因表达差异在2倍以上,30个下调,4个上调,其最大改变不超过20倍;9条信号通路被活化：cAMP／PKA、Ca^2＋、PKC、PLC、MAPK、PI-3K、NO-cGMP、Rho、NF-κB通路。当AT2受体被PD123319阻断时,64个基因表达差异在2倍以上,48个下调,16个上调;11条途径基础活化,其中7个基因的改变在30倍以上：Cyp19a1（37倍）、I1lr2（42倍）、Cflar（53倍）、Bcl21（31倍）、Pik3cg（278倍）、Cdknla（90倍）、Agt（162倍）。在AT1受体阻断的基础上再阻断AT2受体,46个基因表达差异在2倍以上,36个下调,10个上调;11条信号途径全部活化。其结果与单独阻断AT2受体信号途径基本一致。RT-PCR选取IL-1β和TNF-α进行验证,结果与芯片各组间的变化趋势基本相符。结果表明,在成年大鼠心肌成纤维细胞,AT2受体阻断明显不同于AT1受体阻断,在信号转导通路相关基因表达谱上,两者有显著差异。     

凝血酶1和转化生长因子β在糖尿病大鼠心肌细胞高表达的研究(简报)

糖尿病心肌病是极度危险的糖尿病并发症之一.它的发病机制目前尚未明确.本研究采用30只Sprague-Dawley大鼠随机分为2组:糖尿病大鼠组(15只),尾静脉注射链脲佐茵素造模,正常组大鼠(15只),尾静脉注射生理盐水,成模4周后采用苏木精-伊红染色及透射电子显微镜观察两组大鼠心肌细胞纤维显微结构和超微结构的病理改变,同时免疫组织化学SABC法对糖尿病大鼠与正常大鼠心肌细胞中凝血酶1(TSP-1)和转化生长因子β(TGF-β)的表达进行观察.糖尿病大鼠成模前,两组动物的体重、血糖和尿糖检测结果间无显著差异(P>0.05).成模四周后,糖尿病大鼠与正常大鼠体重、血糖和尿糖检测结果有显著性差异(P<0.01).光镜和电子显微镜观察显示糖尿病大鼠心肌组织结构有明显改变.糖尿病大鼠心肌细胞内TSP-1和TGF-β的表达显著增强(P<0.01).本研究结果表明TSP-1和TGF-β在糖尿痛大鼠的表达增加可能是糖尿病心肌病发病的一个重要因素.     

凝血酶1和转化生长因子β在糖尿病大鼠心肌细胞高表达僦（简报）

糖尿病心肌病是极度危险的糖尿病并发症之一,它的发病机制目前尚未明确。本研究采用30只Sprague--Dawley大鼠随机分为2组：糖尿病大鼠组（15只）,尾静脉注射链脲佐菌素造模,正常组大鼠（15只）,尾静脉注射生理盐水,成模4周后采用苏木精-伊红染色及透射电子显微镜观察两组大鼠心肌细胞纤维显微结构和超微结构的病理改变．同时免疫组织化学SABC法对糖尿病大鼠与正常大鼠心肌细胞中凝血酶1（TSP—1）和转化生长因子β（TGF—β）的表达进行观察。糖尿病大鼠成模前,两组动物的体重、血糖和尿糖检测结果间无显著差异（P〉0．05）。成模四周后,糖尿痛大鼠与正常大鼠体重、血糖和尿糖检测结果有显著性差异（P〈0．01）。光镜和电子显微镜观察显示糖尿病大鼠心肌组织结构有明显改变。糖尿病大鼠心肌细胞内TSP-1和TGF—β的表达显著增强（P〈0．01）。本研究结果表明TSP—1和TGF-β在糖尿病大鼠的表达增加可能是糖尿病心肌病发病的一个重要因素。     

厄贝沙坦对糖尿病大鼠心肌损伤中Notch1信号通路的影响

目的：观察厄贝沙坦对糖尿病大鼠心肌损伤的作用,分析Notch1信号通路在其中的变化。方法：实验分4组：正常对照组（CON）、高糖高脂组（HC）、糖尿病组（DM）和厄贝沙坦+糖尿病组（Ir+DM）。制作2型糖尿病（T2DM）大鼠模型成功后,第8周开始检测大鼠空腹血糖水平（FBG）、全心质量及左心室重量,计算心脏指数（H/B）及左室重量指数（LVWI）,检测大鼠血浆甘油三酯（TG）、胆固醇（TC）水平,检测心肌组织超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）活性、丙二醛（MDA）含量变化,免疫组化检测Bcl-2、Bax表达变化,Western blot检测大鼠心肌组织Notch1、Hes-1及Jagged-1的蛋白表达。结果：与CON组相比,HC组H/B、LVWI、FBG无明显变化,血脂、MDA含量明显升高,SOD活性、Bcl-2/Bax及Notch1、Hes-1、Jagged-1蛋白表达降低;与HC组相比,DM组H/B、LVWI、FBG、MDA含量增加明显,血脂水平无明显变化,SOD活性、Bcl-2/Bax及Notch1信号通路蛋白表达进一步降低;与DM组相比,厄贝沙坦干预组H/B、LVWI明显降低,血脂、血糖水平无明显变化,但SOD活性、Bcl-2/Bax增加,MDA含量降低,同时Notch1信号通路相关蛋白表达增加。结论：糖尿病可导致大鼠发生心肌损伤,厄贝沙坦可能通过增强Notch1信号通路的表达发挥心肌保护作用。     

白介素-1 β通过JNK/p38信号-转导通路调控肾系膜细胞表达α-平滑肌肌动蛋白

为探讨细胞内丝裂素原活化蛋白激酶（MAPK）家族各亚类信号转导通路在炎症性细胞因子白介素－1β（IL－1β）对大鼠肾系膜细胞（rMC)表型标志物α-平滑肌肌动蛋白（α－SMA）表达及其分布中的调控作用,以IL－1β（10ng/ml)刺激体外培养的rMC,用电穿孔基因转染及免疫杂交法观察IL－1β对α－SMA基因启动子活性及蛋白表达的作用,并用共聚焦荧光显微镜及透射电镜观察IL－1β刺激前后细胞内α-SMA及微丝的分布变化。通过应用PD98059和SB203580特异阻断ERK和p38通路、共转染显性失活JNKK基因特异阻断JNK通路,观察阻断对IL－1β刺激所致α-SMA表达或启动子活性的影响。结果显示,IL－1β刺激6h可明显上调α－SMA启动子活性,在1－2d内显著促进其蛋白合成;IL－1β刺激24h后,细胞内α-SMA及微丝在细胞核周的分布增加。阻断ERK通路对IL－1β诱导的α-SMA表达无明显影响;阻断JNK及p38通路均可使IL－1β诱导的α－SMA表达明显受抑;阻断p38通路的作用比阻断JNK通路更强,而且对基础状态的α-SMA表达也有抑制作用。上述结果提示,IL－1β可刺激rMC发生表型转化,其表型标志物α－SMA可通过基因转录增强而增加蛋白表达,在细胞内的分布向核周转位积聚。JNK及p38通路是介导IL－1β刺激rMC α-SMA表达的主要信号转导途径,而ERK通路不影响IL－1β的这一作用。     

脑微血管内皮细胞条件培养液对MIP-1β诱导大鼠小胶质细胞迁移影响的机制

目的:研究经通络方药作用后的脑微血管内皮细胞条件培养液对MIP-1β诱导的大鼠小胶质细胞迁移的影响,以及由MIP-1β在小胶质细胞上的受体-CCR5介导细胞信号转导通路的调控作用.方法:将通络方药作用后的大鼠脑微血管内皮细胞条件培养液加入到由5nM MIP-1β刺激6h后的原代大鼠小胶质细胞中,利用Transwell细胞迁移系统来观察小胶质细胞迁移,用Western blot法检测小胶质细胞CCR5,p-p38,P-JNK表达情况.结果:脑微血管内皮细胞条件培养液能够显著减少小胶质细胞迁移到Transwell下层的细胞数量(P<0.01),降低小胶质细胞上MIP-1β的受体CCR5表达,同时抑制了其下游信号蛋白p38和JNK的磷酸化.结论:通络方药作用后的脑微血管内皮细胞务件培养液可抑制由MIP-1β诱导的大鼠小胶质细胞迁移,其作用发挥可能是通过抑制MIP-1β的受体CCR5表达,降低了其下游通路上p38和JNK蛋白磷酸化程度实现.     

β-CM7干预对糖尿病大鼠心肌肾素-血管紧张素系统的影响及其保护机制

本文旨在探究β-CM7对糖尿病大鼠心肌组织肾素-血管紧张素系统(Renin angiotensin system,RAS)的影响及其保护机制。32只雄性SD大鼠通过相应处理被分为正常对照组、模型对照组、胰岛素治疗组(3.7×10~(–8) mol/d)及β-CM7干预组(7.5×10~(–8) mol/d)。连续饲养30 d后,处死大鼠取心肌。β-CM7在干预糖尿病模型后,组织中AngⅡ含量显著降低,Ang1-7含量极显著升高;AT1受体和Mas受体mRNA表达均显著升高;ACE和ACE2的mRNA表达均显著升高,且酶活均显著升高。综上可得,β-CM7可以通过激活RAS的负性调节通路"ACE2-Ang1-7-Mas轴"显著抑制大鼠心肌ACE mRNA和蛋白的强表达,缓解AngⅡ对心肌组织的损伤,提示β-CM7抑制心肌损伤的作用可能与ACE/ACE2通路有关。     

GRASP-1 is a neuronal scaffold protein for the JNK signaling pathway

GRASP-1 is a neuronally enriched protein that interacts with the AMPA-type glutamate receptor/GRIP complex. GRASP-1 can be cleaved by Caspase-3 in both normal and ischemic brains although the functional significance of this cleavage remains elusive. We investigated signal transduction pathways that might lie downstream of GRASP-1 and found that GRASP-1 potently activates JNK pathway signaling, with no effect on ERK signaling. Such JNK pathway activating activity requires binding of GRASP-1 to both JNK and the upstream JNK pathway activator MEKK-1. Furthermore, mutations that prevent Caspase 3-cleavage of GRASP-1 dramatically inhibit the JNK pathway activating activity of GRASP-1, suggesting a novel link between Caspase-3 activation and JNK pathway signaling. These results suggest that GRASP-1 serves as a scaffold protein to facilitate MEKK-1 activation of JNK signaling in neurons.     

Expression of farnesyl pyrophosphate synthase is increased in diabetic cardiomyopathy

Farnesyl pyrophosphate synthase (FPPS)-catalyzed isoprenoid intermediates are involved in diabetic cardiomyopathy. This study investigated the specific role of FPPS in the development of diabetic cardiomyopathy. We demonstrated that FPPS expression was elevated in both in vivo and in vitro models of diabetic cardiomyopathy. FPPS inhibition decreased the expression of proteins related to cardiac fibrosis and cardiomyocytic hypertrophy, including collagen I, collagen III, connective tissue growth factor, natriuretic factor, brain natriuretic peptide, and β-myosin heavy chain. Furthermore, FPPS inhibition and knockdown prevented phosphorylated c-Jun N-terminal kinase 1/2 (JNK1/2) activation in vitro. In addition, a JNK1/2 inhibitor downregulated high-glucose-induced responses to diabetic cardiomyopathy. Finally, immunofluorescence revealed that cardiomyocytic size was elevated by high glucose and was decreased by zoledronate, small-interfering farnesyl pyrophosphate synthase (siFPPS), and a JNK1/2 inhibitor. Taken together, our findings indicate that FPPS and JNK1/2 may be part of a signaling pathway that plays an important role in diabetic cardiomyopathy.     

Resistin promotes cardiac hypertrophy via the AMP-activated protein kinase/mammalian target of rapamycin (AMPK/mTOR) and c-Jun N-terminal kinase/insulin receptor substrate 1 (JNK/IRS1) pathways

Resistin has been suggested to be involved in the development of diabetes and insulin resistance. We recently reported that resistin is expressed in diabetic hearts and promotes cardiac hypertrophy; however, the mechanisms underlying this process are currently unknown. Therefore, we wanted to elucidate the mechanisms associated with resistin-induced cardiac hypertrophy and myocardial insulin resistance. Overexpression of resistin using adenoviral vector in neonatal rat ventricular myocytes was associated with inhibition of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activity, activation of tuberous sclerosis complex 2/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway, and increased cell size, [(3)H]leucine incorporation (i.e. protein synthesis) and mRNA expression of the hypertrophic marker genes, atrial natriuretic factor, brain natriuretic peptide, and β-myosin heavy chain. Activation of AMPK with 5-aminoimidazole-4-carbozamide-1-β-D-ribifuranoside or inhibition of mTOR with rapamycin or mTOR siRNA attenuated these resistin-induced changes. Furthermore, resistin increased serine phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate (IRS1) through the activation of the apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1/c-Jun N-terminal Kinase (JNK) pathway, a module known to stimulate insulin resistance. Inhibition of JNK (with JNK inhibitor SP600125 or using dominant-negative JNK) reduced serine 307 phosphorylation of IRS1. Resistin also stimulated the activation of p70(S6K), a downstream kinase target of mTOR, and increased phosphorylation of the IRS1 serine 636/639 residues, whereas treatment with rapamycin reduced the phosphorylation of these residues. Interestingly, these in vitro signaling pathways were also operative in vivo in ventricular tissues from adult rat hearts overexpressing resistin. These data demonstrate that resistin induces cardiac hypertrophy and myocardial insulin resistance, possibly via the AMPK/mTOR/p70(S6K) and apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1/JNK/IRS1 pathways.     

The I1-imidazoline receptor in PC12 pheochromocytoma cells activates protein kinases C, extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and c-jun N-terminal kinase (JNK).

We sought to further elucidate signal transduction pathways for the I1-imidazoline receptor in PC12 cells by testing involvement of protein kinase C (PKC) isoforms (betaII, epsilon, zeta), and the mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) ERK and JNK. Stimulation of I1-imidazoline receptor with moxonidine increased enzymatic activity of the classical betaII isoform in membranes by about 75% and redistributed the atypical isoform into membranes (40% increase in membrane-bound activity), but the novel isoform of PKC was unaffected. Moxonidine and clonidine also increased by greater than two-fold the proportion of ERK-1 and ERK-2 in the phosphorylated active form. In addition, JNK enzymatic activity was increased by exposure to moxonidine. Activation of ERK and JNK followed similar time courses with peaks at 90 min. The action of moxonidine on ERK activation was blocked by the I1-receptor antagonist efaroxan and by D609, an inhibitor of phosphatidylcholine-selective phospholipase C (PC-PLC), previously implicated as the initial event in I1-receptor signaling. Inhibition or depletion of PKC blocked activation of ERK by moxonidine. Two-day treatment of PC12 cells with the I1/alpha2-agonist clonidine increased cell number by up to 50% in a dose related manner. These data suggest that ERK and JNK, along with PKC, are signaling components of the I1-receptor pathway, and that this receptor may play a role in cell growth.     

Differential regulation of angiotensin II-induced expression of connective tissue growth factor by protein kinase C isoforms in the myocardium

Protein kinase C (PKC) and angiotensin II (AngII) can regulate cardiac function in pathological conditions such as in diabetes or ischemic heart disease. We have reported that expression of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) is increased in the myocardium of diabetic mice. Now we showed that the increase in CTGF expression in cardiac tissues of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats was reversed by captopril and islet cell transplantation. Infusion of AngII in rats increased CTGF mRNA expression by 15-fold, which was completely inhibited by co-infusion with AT1 receptor antagonist, candesartan. Similarly, incubation of cultured cardiomyocytes with AngII increased CTGF mRNA expression by 2-fold, which was blocked by candesartan and a general PKC inhibitor, GF109203X. The role of PKC isoform-dependent action was further studied using adenoviral vector-mediated gene transfer of dominant negative (dn) PKC or wild type PKC isoforms. Expression of dnPKCalpha, -epsilon, and -zeta isoforms suppressed AngII-induced CTGF expression in cardiomyocytes. In contrast, expression of dominant negative PKCdelta significantly increased AngII-induced CTGF expression, whereas expression of wild type PKCdelta inhibited this induction. This inhibitory effect was further confirmed in the myocardium of transgenic mice with cardiomyocyte-specific overexpression of PKCdelta (deltaTg mice). Thus, AngII can regulate CTGF expression in cardiomyocytes through a PKC activation-mediated pathway in an isoform-selective manner both in physiological and diabetic states and may contribute to the development of cardiac fibrosis in diabetic cardiomyopathy.     

Activation and translocation of PKCdelta is necessary for VEGF-induced ERK activation through KDR in HEK293T cells

VEGF-KDR/Flk-1 signal utilizes the phospholipase C-gamma-protein kinase C (PKC)-Raf-MEK-ERK pathway as the major signaling pathway to induce gene expression and cPLA2 phosphorylation. However, the spatio-temporal activation of a specific PKC isoform induced by VEGF-KDR signal has not been clarified. We used HEK293T (human embryonic kidney) cells expressing transiently KDR to examine the activation mechanism of PKC. PKC specific inhibitors and human PKCdelta knock-down using siRNA method showed that PKCdelta played an important role in VEGF-KDR-induced ERK activation. Myristoylated alanine-rich C-kinase substrate (MARCKS) translocates from the plasma membrane to the cytoplasm depending upon phosphorylation by PKC. Translocation of MARCKS-GFP induced by VEGF-KDR stimulus was blocked by rottlerin, a PKCdelta specific inhibitor, or human PKCdelta siRNA. VEGF-KDR stimulation did not induce ERK phosphorylation in human PKCdelta-knockdown HEK293T cells, but co-expression of rat PKCdelta-GFP recovered the ERK phosphorylation. Y311/332F mutant of rat PKCdelta-GFP which cannot be activated by tyrosine-phosphorylation but activated by DAG recovered the ERK phosphorylation, while C1B-deletion mutant of rat PKCdelta-GFP, which can be activated by tyrosine-phosphorylation but not by DAG, failed to recover the ERK phosphorylation in human PKCdelta-knockdown HEK293T cell. These results indicate that PKCdelta is involved in VEGF-KDR-induced ERK activation via C1B domain.     

Biological activity of rainbow trout Ea4-peptide of the pro-insulin-like growth factor (pro-IGF)-I on promoting attachment of breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231) via alpha2- and beta1-integrin

E-peptide of pro-IGF-I was considered as biologically inactive. We have demonstrated that rainbow trout (rt) Ea4-peptide exerted biological activities in several established tumor cell lines [Chen et al., 2002; Kuo and Chen, 2002]. Here we report the activity of rtEa4-peptide in promoting attachment of human breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231). While rtEa2-, rtEa3-, and rtEa4-peptides enhanced the attachment of MDA-MB-231 cells in a dose dependent manner, rtEa4-peptide possessed the highest activity. Antibodies specific to alpha2 and beta1 integrins significantly inhibited the attachment of cells to rtEa4-peptide coated-plates by 40%. In addition, rtEa4-peptide induced the expression of fibronectin 1 and laminin receptor genes in MDA-MB-231 cells. Blocking new protein synthesis by cycloheximide significantly reduced the attachment of MDA-MB-231 cells to rtEa4-peptide coated wells by 50%. These results suggest that rtEa4-peptide may promote cell attachment by interacting with alpha2/beta1 integrin receptors at the cell surface and by inducing the expression of fibronectin 1 and laminin receptor genes. Expression of fibronectin 1 gene induced by rtEa4-peptide in MDA-MB-231 cells was abolished by inhibitors of PI3K, PKC, Mek1/2, JNK1/2, and p38 MAPK signaling transduction molecules. These results suggested that induction of fibronectin 1 gene expression in MDA-MB-231 cells by rtEa4-peptide may be mediated via PI3K, PKC, Mek1/2, JNK1/2, and p38 MAPK signal transduction molecules.     

Protein kinase C Theta inhibits insulin signaling by phosphorylating IRS1 at Ser(1101)

Obesity and stress inhibit insulin action by activating protein kinases that enhance serine phosphorylation of IRS1 and have been thus associated to insulin resistance and the development of type II diabetes. The protein kinase C (PKC) is activated by free-fatty acids, and its activity is higher in muscle from obese diabetic patients. However, a molecular link between PKC and insulin resistance has not been defined yet. Here we show that PKC phosphorylates IRS1 at serine 1101 blocking IRS1 tyrosine phosphorylation and downstream activation of the Akt pathway. Mutation of Ser(1101) to alanine makes IRS1 insensitive to the effect of PKC and restores insulin signaling in culture cells. These results provide a novel mechanism linking the activation of PKC to the inhibition of insulin signaling.     

Signal Transduction Cross Talk Mediated by Jun N-Terminal Kinase-Interacting Protein and Insulin Receptor Substrate Scaffold Protein Complexes

Scaffold proteins have been established as important mediators of signal transduction specificity. The insulin receptor substrate (IRS) proteins represent a critical group of scaffold proteins that are required for signal transduction by the insulin receptor, including the activation of phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase. The c-Jun NH₂-terminal kinase (JNK)-interacting proteins (JIPs) represent a different group of scaffold molecules that are implicated in the regulation of the JNK. These two signaling pathways are functionally linked because JNK can phosphorylate IRS1 on the negative regulatory site Ser-307. Here we demonstrate the physical association of these signaling pathways using a proteomic approach that identified insulin-regulated complexes of JIPs together with IRS scaffold proteins. Studies using mice with JIP scaffold protein defects confirm that the JIP1 and JIP2 proteins are required for normal glucose homeostasis. Together, these observations demonstrate that JIP proteins can influence insulin-stimulated signal transduction mediated by IRS proteins.The c-Jun NH₂-terminal kinase (JNK)-interacting proteins (JIPs) are implicated in the regulation of the JNK signal transduction pathway (8, 28). The JIP1 and JIP2 proteins are structurally related with similar modular domains (SH3 and PTB) and binding sites for the mixed-lineage protein kinase (MLK) group of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) kinase kinases, the MAPK kinase MKK7, and JNK (19). These JIP proteins also interact with the microtubule motor protein kinesin, several guanine nucleotide exchange factors, the phosphatase MKP7, Src-related protein kinases, and AKT to form multifunctional protein complexes (19).One potential physiological role of JIP scaffold proteins is the response to metabolic stress, insulin resistance, and diabetes. Several lines of evidence support this hypothesis. First, JIP1 is required for metabolic stress-induced activation of JNK in white adipose tissue (12). Second, MLKs that interact with JIP proteins are implicated as essential components of a signaling pathway that mediates the effects of metabolic stress on JNK activation (13). Third, studies have demonstrated that the human Jip1 gene may contribute to the development of type 2 diabetes, because a Jip1 missense mutation was found to segregate with type 2 diabetes (26). Collectively, these data suggest that JIP proteins play a role in the cellular response to metabolic stress and the regulation of insulin resistance.It is established that the insulin receptor substrate (IRS) group of scaffold proteins plays a central role in insulin signaling (27). Treatment of cells with insulin causes tyrosine phosphorylation of the insulin receptor, the recruitment of IRS proteins to the insulin receptor, and the subsequent tyrosine phosphorylation of IRS proteins on multiple residues that act as docking sites for insulin-regulated signaling molecules, including phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (27). Negative regulation of IRS proteins is implicated as a mechanism of insulin resistance and can be mediated by multiple pathways, including IRS protein phosphorylation and degradation. Thus, the mTOR/p70^S6K (21, 22, 24) and the SOCS-1/3 (20) signaling pathways can regulate IRS protein degradation. Multisite phosphorylation on Ser/Thr residues can also regulate IRS protein function, including JNK phosphorylation of IRS1 on the inhibitory site Ser-307 that prevents recruitment of IRS1 to the activated insulin receptor (2).The IRS and JIP groups of scaffold proteins may function independently to regulate JNK-dependent and insulin-dependent signal transduction. However, functional connections between these scaffold proteins have been identified. Thus, studies using Jip1^−/− mice demonstrate that JIP1 is required for high-fat-diet-induced JNK activation in white adipose tissue, IRS1 phosphorylation on the inhibitory site Ser-307, and insulin resistance (12). These data suggest that JIP scaffold proteins function cooperatively with IRS proteins to regulate signal transduction by the insulin receptor. The purpose of this study was to examine cross talk between the JIP and IRS scaffold complexes. We demonstrate that the JIP and IRS scaffold complexes physically interact in an insulin-dependent manner and confirm that JIP proteins influence normal glucose homeostasis.