A potential role for extracellular signal-regulated kinases in prostaglandin F2alpha-induced protein synthesis in smooth muscle cells

To understand the mechanisms of prostaglandin F2alpha (PGF2alpha)-induced protein synthesis in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC), we have studied its effect on two major signal transduction pathways: mitogen-activated protein kinases and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-kinase) and their downstream targets ribosomal protein S6 kinase (p70(S6k)) and eukaryotic initiation factor eIF4E and its regulator 4E-BP1. PGF2alpha induced the activities of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 2 (ERK2) and Jun N-terminal kinase 1 (JNK1) groups of mitogen-activated protein kinases, PI3-kinase, and p70(S6k) in a time-dependent manner in growth-arrested VSMC. PGF2alpha also induced eIF4E and 4E-BP1 phosphorylation, global protein synthesis, and basic fibroblast growth factor-2 (bFGF-2) expression in VSMC. Whereas inhibition of PI3-kinase by wortmannin completely blocked the p70(S6k) activation, it only partially decreased the ERK2 activity, and had no significant effect on global protein synthesis and bFGF-2 expression induced by PGF2alpha. Rapamycin, a potent inhibitor of p70(S6k), also failed to prevent PGF2alpha-induced global protein synthesis and bFGF-2 expression, although it partially decreased ERK2 activity. In contrast, inhibition of ERK2 activity by PD 098059 led to a significant loss of PGF2alpha-induced eIF4E and 4E-BP1 phosphorylation, global protein synthesis, and bFGF-2 expression. PGF2alpha-induced phosphorylation of eIF4E and 4E-BP1 was also found to be sensitive to inhibition by both wortmannin and rapamycin. These findings demonstrate that 1) PI3-kinase-dependent and independent mechanisms appear to be involved in PGF2alpha-induced activation of ERK2; 2) PGF2alpha-induced eIF4E and 4E-BP1 phosphorylation appear to be mediated by both ERK-dependent and PI3-kinase-dependent rapamycin-sensitive mechanisms; and 3) ERK-dependent eIF4E phosphorylation but not PI3-kinase-dependent p70(S6k) activation correlates with PGF2alpha-induced global protein synthesis and bFGF-2 expression in VSMC.     

Nitric oxide attenuates insulin- or IGF-I-stimulated aortic smooth muscle cell motility by decreasing H2O2 levels: essential role of cGMP

Insulin and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) both play important roles in vascular remodeling. Moreover, nitric oxide (NO) is well established as a counterregulatory agent that opposes the actions of several vascular agonists, in part by decreasing smooth muscle motility. We tested the hypothesis that NO blocks insulin or IGF-I-induced rat aortic smooth muscle cell motility via a mechanism involving the attenuation of agonist-induced elevation of hydrogen peroxide levels and cGMP as mediator. Insulin or IGF-I induced an increase of hydrogen peroxide levels and cell motility. Both effects were blocked by catalase or diphenyleneiodonium, indicating that hydrogen peroxide elevation is necessary for induction of cell motility. Two NO donors mimicked the effects of catalase, indicating that NO decreases cell motility by suppressing agonist-induced elevation of hydrogen peroxide. A cGMP analogue mimicked the effect of NO, whereas a guanyl cyclase inhibitor blocked the effect of NO on hydrogen peroxide levels, indicating that elevation of cGMP is both necessary and sufficient to account for the reduction of hydrogen peroxide levels. A NO donor as well as a cGMP analogue attenuated insulin-stimulated NADPH activity, indicating that NO decreases hydrogen peroxide levels by inhibiting the generation of superoxide, via a cGMP-mediated mechanism. Finally, exogenous hydrogen peroxide increased cell motility and reversed the inhibitory effect of cGMP. These results support the view that NO plays an antioxidant role via reduction of hydrogen peroxide in cultured rat aortic smooth muscle cells and that this effect is both necessary and sufficient to account for its capacity to decrease cell motility.     

A requirement for calcium-independent phospholipase A2 in thrombin-induced arachidonic acid release and growth in vascular smooth muscle cells

Thrombin is a potent mitogen for vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC). To understand its mitogenic signaling events, we have studied the role of calcium-independent phospholipase A2 (iPLA2). Without affecting its levels, thrombin increased iPLA2 activity in a time-dependent manner in VSMC. Thrombin also induced arachidonic acid release and DNA synthesis by about 2-fold as compared with control. Down-regulation of iPLA2 activity by its specific inhibitor, bromoenol lactone, or its expression by antisense oligonucleotides, significantly reduced thrombin-induced arachidonic acid release and DNA synthesis in VSMC. To learn the mechanism of thrombin-stimulated iPLA2 activity, we next tested the role of p38 MAPK. Thrombin stimulated p38 MAPK phosphorylation and activity in a time-dependent manner in VSMC. Inhibition of p38 MAPK activity by SB203580 and SB202190 resulted in decreased iPLA2 activity, arachidonic acid release, and DNA synthesis induced by thrombin in VSMC. Together, these results for the first time demonstrate that iPLA2 plays a role in thrombin-induced arachidonic acid release and growth in VSMC and that these responses are mediated by p38 MAPK.     

A simple and efficient algorithm for gene selection using sparse logistic regression

MOTIVATION: This paper gives a new and efficient algorithm for the sparse logistic regression problem. The proposed algorithm is based on the Gauss-Seidel method and is asymptotically convergent. It is simple and extremely easy to implement; it neither uses any sophisticated mathematical programming software nor needs any matrix operations. It can be applied to a variety of real-world problems like identifying marker genes and building a classifier in the context of cancer diagnosis using microarray data. RESULTS: The gene selection method suggested in this paper is demonstrated on two real-world data sets and the results were found to be consistent with the literature. AVAILABILITY: The implementation of this algorithm is available at the site http://guppy.mpe.nus.edu.sg/~mpessk/SparseLOGREG.shtml Supplementary Information: Supplementary material is available at the site http://guppy.mpe.nus.edu.sg/~mpessk/SparseLOGREG.shtml     

Arabidopsis thaliana model system reveals a continuum of responses to root endophyte colonization

We surveyed the non-mycorrhizal model plant Arabidopsis thaliana microscopically for its ability to form dark septate endophyte (DSE) symbioses in field, greenhouse, and laboratory studies. The laboratory studies were also used to estimate host growth responses to 34 Periconia macrospinosa and four Microdochium sp. isolates. Consistent with broad host range observed in previous experiments, field-, greenhouse-, and laboratory-grown A. thaliana were colonized by melanized inter- and intracellular hyphae and microsclerotia or chlamydospores indicative of DSE symbiosis. Host responses to colonization were variable and depended on the host ecotype. On average, two A. thaliana accessions (Col-0 and Cvi-0) responded negatively, whereas one (Kin-1) was unresponsive, a conclusion consistent with our previous analyses with forbs native to the field site where the fungi originate. Despite the average negative responses, examples of positive responses were also observed, a conclusion also congruent with earlier studies. Our results suggest that A. thaliana has potential as a model for more detailed dissection of the DSE symbiosis. Furthermore, our data suggest that host responses are controlled by variability in the host and endophyte genotypes.     

SR59230A, a beta-3 adrenoceptor antagonist, inhibits ultradian brown adipose tissue thermogenesis and interrupts associated episodic brain and body heating

Brown adipose tissue (BAT) thermogenesis occurs episodically in an ultradian manner approximately every 80-100 min during the waking phase of the circadian cycle, together with highly correlated increases in brain and body temperatures, suggesting that BAT thermogenesis contributes to brain and body temperature increases. We investigated this in conscious Sprague-Dawley rats by determining whether inhibition of BAT thermogenesis via blockade of beta-3 adrenoceptors with SR59230A interrupts ultradian episodic increases in brain and body temperatures and whether SR59230A acts on BAT itself or via sympathetic neural control of BAT. Interscapular BAT (iBAT), brain, and body temperatures, tail artery blood flow, and heart rate were measured in unrestrained rats. SR59230A (1, 5, or 10 mg/kg ip), but not vehicle, decreased iBAT, body, and brain temperatures in a dose-dependent fashion (log-linear regression P < 0.01, R(2) = 0.3, 0.4, and 0.4, respectively, n = 10). Ultradian increases in BAT, brain, and body temperature were interrupted by administration of SR59230A (10 mg/kg ip) compared with vehicle, resuming after 162 ± 24 min (means ± SE, n = 10). SR59230A (10 mg/kg ip) caused a transient bradycardia without any increase in tail artery blood flow. In anesthetized rats, SR59230A reduced cooling-induced increases in iBAT temperature without affecting cooling-induced increases in iBAT sympathetic nerve discharge. Inhibition of BAT thermogenesis by SR59230A, thus, reflects direct blockade of beta-3 adrenoceptors in BAT. Interruption of episodic ultradian increases in body and brain temperature by SR59230A suggests that BAT thermogenesis makes a substantial contribution to these increases.     

Cullin4B/E3-ubiquitin ligase negatively regulates beta-catenin

Beta-catenin is the key transducer of Wingless-type MMTV integration site family member (Wnt) signalling, upregulation of which is the cause of cancer of the colon and other tissues. In the absence of Wnt signals, beta-catenin is targeted to ubiquitin-proteasome-mediated degradation. Here we present the functional characterization of E3-ubiquitin ligase encoded by cul4B. RNAi-mediated knock-down of Cul4B in a mouse cell line C3H T10 (1/2) results in an increase in beta-catenin levels. Loss-of-function mutation in Drosophila cul4 also shows increased beta-catenin/Armadillo levels in developing embryos and displays a characteristic naked-cuticle phenotype. Immunoprecipitation experiments suggest that Cul4B and beta-catenin are part of a signal complex in Drosophila, mouse and human. These preliminary results suggest a conserved role for Cul4B in the regulation of beta-catenin levels.