Changes of adrenomedullin and receptor activity modifying protein 2 (RAMP2) in myocardium and aorta in rats with isoproterenol-induced myocardial ischemia

Adrenomedullin is a potent vasodilator peptide originally isolated from a pheochromocytoma. Recently, a novel adrenomedullin receptor has been identified as a complex of calcitonin receptor-like receptor (CRLR) and receptor activity modifying protein 2 (RAMP2). To explore the pathophysiological roles of adrenomedullin and its receptor component RAMP2 in ischemic cardiovascular diseases, we studied the changes of adrenomedullin and RAMP2 mRNA in myocardium and aorta in rats with isoproterenol (ISO)-induced myocardial impairment. In ISO-treated rats, heart became enlarged markedly, the ratio of heart to body weight was increased by 54% (P<0.01), and myocardial malondialdehyde content and plasma lactate dehydrogenase activity was elevated by 43% (P<0.01) and 138% (P<0.01), respectively. Immunoreactive adrenomedullin (ADM) in plasma, myocardium and aorta was augmented by 116.7% (P<0.01), 50.8% (P<0.01) and 12.5% (P>0.05), respectively. ADM mRNA in myocardium and aorta was increased by 96.8% (P<0.01) and 38.5% (P<0.01), respectively. RAMP2 mRNA in myocardium and aorta was increased by 19.6% (P<0.05) and 15.8% (P<0.01), respectively. These results suggest that the increase of ADM level and the up-regulation of ADM and RAMP2 gene in myocardium and aorta may be significant in the pathogenesis of ischemic myocardiopathy.     

Transmodulation between phospholipase D and c-Src enhances cell proliferation

Phospholipase D (PLD) has been implicated in the signal transduction pathways initiated by several mitogenic protein tyrosine kinases. We demonstrate for the first time that most notably PLD2 and to a lesser extent the PLD1 isoform are tyrosine phosphorylated by c-Src tyrosine kinase via direct association. Moreover, epidermal growth factor induced tyrosine phosphorylation of PLD2 and its interaction with c-Src in A431 cells. Interaction between these proteins is via the pleckstrin homology domain of PLD2 and the catalytic domain of c-Src. Coexpression of PLD1 or PLD2 with c-Src synergistically enhances cellular proliferation compared with expression of either molecule. While PLD activity as a lipid-hydrolyzing enzyme is not affected by c-Src, wild-type PLDs but not catalytically inactive PLD mutants significantly increase c-Src kinase activity, up-regulating c-Src-mediated paxillin phosphorylation and extracellular signal-regulated kinase activity. These results demonstrate the critical role of PLD catalytic activity in the stimulation of Src signaling. In conclusion, we provide the first evidence that c-Src acts as a kinase of PLD and PLD acts as an activator of c-Src. This transmodulation between c-Src and PLD may contribute to the promotion of cellular proliferation via amplification of mitogenic signaling pathways.     

Attenuation of leukocyte-endothelium interaction by antioxidant enzymes

This report assessed the effect of overexpressing Cu,Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD) and/or catalase on the interaction of mononuclear cells (MNCs) and endothelial cells (ECs). ECs were obtained from the aorta of wild-type mice and transgenic mice overexpressing Cu,ZnSOD and/or catalase. MNCs were obtained from wild-type mice. Treatment of wild-type ECs with CuSO4-oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL) significantly elevated the expression of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and increased the adherence of MNCs. Overexpression of Cu,ZnSOD and/or catalase in ECs attenuated the adherence of MNCs and the expression of cell adhesion molecules induced by oxLDL. For example, ECs overexpressing Cu,ZnSOD and/or catalase showed significantly less expression of VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 and less number of adherent MNCs than wild-type ECs. Moreover, ECs overexpressing Cu,ZnSOD and catalase in combination showed significantly less expression of VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 and less number of adherent MNCs than those overexpressing either Cu,ZnSOD or catalase alone. These results suggest that combinational overexpression of Cu,ZnSOD and catalase can reduce the expression of cell adhesion molecules and inhibit the adherence of leukocyte to ECs more efficiently than overexpression of Cu,ZnSOD or catalase alone.     

Renal aquaporins and sodium transporters with special focus on urinary tract obstruction

The discovery of aquaporin-1 (AQP1) by Agre and colleagues explained the long-standing biophysical question of how water specifically crosses biological membranes. These studies led to the discovery and identification of a whole new family of membrane proteins, the aquaporins. At present, at least seven aquaporins are expressed at distinct sites in the kidney and 4 members of this family (AQP1-4) have been demonstrated to play pivotal roles in the physiology and pathophysiology for renal regulation of body water balance. Osmotic equilibration via renal aquaporins is maintained by active transport of NaCl. The major sodium transporters and channels in the individual renal tubule segments have been identified and the regulation of these transporters and channels are fundamental for renal sodium reabsorption and for establishing the driving force. In this mini-review the role of renal aquaporins and sodium transporters and channels is briefly described and their key role for the impaired urinary concentrating capacity in response to urinary tract obstruction is reviewed. Thus this review updates previous detailed reviews (1-5).     

Structural insights on Smad function in TGFbeta signaling

TGFbeta signaling plays a central role in regulating a broad range of cellular responses in a variety of organisms. TGFbeta signaling from the cell membrane to the nucleus is mediated by the Smad family of proteins. During the past five years of intense investigation, key events in TGFbeta signaling have been documented at the molecular and cellular level. Recent structural studies have improved our understanding of how specificity is generated in the TGFbeta signaling pathways. Despite this progress, significant questions remain regarding the precise mechanisms of signaling and point to the urgent need for well-controlled biochemical studies. Rather than giving a comprehensive review on Smad-mediated TGFbeta signaling, this review focuses on functional insights provided by recent structural studies and discusses several existing controversies.     

Radiation hybrid comparative mapping between human chromosome 17 and porcine chromosome 12 demonstrates conservation of gene order

A comparative study of human chromosome 17 (HSA17) and pig chromosome 12 (SSC12) was conducted using both somatic cell hybrid panel (SCHP) and radiation hybrid (RH) panel analysis. Sequences from an expressed sequence tag (EST) project in pig reproduction were examined and six genes and ESTs originally believed to map to HSA17 were selected for this study. The genes/ESTs were TATA box binding protein-associated factor (TAF2N/RBP56), alpha-2-plasmin inhibitor (SERPINF2/PLI), H3 histone family 3B (H3F3B), aminopeptidase puromycin sensitive (NPEPPS), an expressed sequence tag (ESTMI015) and P311 protein (P311). The SCHP analysis mapped five genes/ESTs (TAF2N, H3F3B, SERPINF2, NPEPPS and ESTMI015) to SSC12q11-q15 and SSC12p11-p15 with 100% concordance, and assigned P311 to SSC2 (1/2q24)-q29 with 100% concordance. Radiation hybrid analysis of all six genes confirmed the SCHP mapping results, with average retention frequency of 25%. Recent human sequence data demonstrated that P311 is actually located on HSA5q. As HSA5q and SSC2q show conserved syntenic regions predicted from bi-directional painting, our P311 mapping data is consistent with these results. An expanded comparative SSC12 RH map integrating the five new type I markers and 23 previously mapped loci was established using a LOD score threshold of 4.8. The gene order of the five genes/ESTs on the SSC12 framework RH map (H3F3B-ESTMI015-NPEPPS-TAF2N-SERPINF2) is identical to the HSA17 GB4 map but with inversion of the map as conventionally drawn.     

Activated PAK4 regulates cell adhesion and anchorage-independent growth

The serine/threonine kinase PAK4 is an effector molecule for the Rho GTPase Cdc42. PAK4 differs from other members of the PAK family in both sequence and function. Previously we have shown that an important function of this kinase is to mediate the induction of filopodia in response to activated Cdc42. Since previous characterization of PAK4 was carried out only with the wild-type kinase, we have generated a constitutively active mutant of the kinase to determine whether it has other functions. Expression of activated PAK4 in fibroblasts led to a transient induction of filopodia, which is consistent with its role as an effector for Cdc42. In addition, use of the activated mutant revealed a number of other important functions of this kinase that were not revealed by studying the wild-type kinase. For example, activated PAK4 led to the dissolution of stress fibers and loss of focal adhesions. Consequently, cells expressing activated PAK4 had a defect in cell spreading onto fibronectin-coated surfaces. Most importantly, fibroblasts expressing activated PAK4 had a morphology that was characteristic of oncogenic transformation. These cells were anchorage independent and formed colonies in soft agar, similar to what has been observed previously in cells expressing activated Cdc42. Consistent with this, dominant-negative PAK4 mutants inhibited focus formation by oncogenic Dbl, an exchange factor for Rho family GTPases. These results provide the first demonstration that a PAK family member can transform cells and indicate that PAK4 may play an essential role in oncogenic transformation by the GTPases. We propose that the morphological changes and changes in cell adhesion induced by PAK4 may play a direct role in oncogenic transformation by Rho family GTPases and their exchange factors.     

CR (VI) induces cell growth arrest through hydrogen peroxide‐mediated reactions

Cr (VI) compounds are widely used in industries and are recognized human carcinogens. The mechanism of carcinogenesis associated with these compounds is not well understood. The present study focused on Cr (VI)induced cell growth arrest in human lung epithelial A549 cells, using flow cytometric analysis of DNA content. Treatment of the cells with Cr (VI) at 1 M caused a growth arrest at G₂/M phase. An increase in Cr (VI) concentration enhanced the growth arrest. At a concentration of 25 M, Cr (VI)induced apoptosis became apparent. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) or sodium formate did not alter the Cr (VI)induced cell growth arrest. While catalase inhibited growth, indicating H₂O₂ is an important mediator in Cr (VI)induced G₂/M phase arrest. Electron spin resonance (ESR) spin trapping measurements showed that incubation of cells with Cr (VI) generated hydroxyl radical (OH). Catalase inhibited the OH radical generation, indicating that H₂O₂ was generated from cells stimulated by Cr (VI), and that H₂O₂ functioned as a precursor for OH radical generation. The formation of H₂O₂ from Cr (VI)stimulated cells was also measured by the change in fluorescence of scopoletin in the presence of horseradish peroxidase. The mechanism of reactive oxygen species generation involved the reduction of molecular oxygen as shown by oxygen consumption assay. These results support the following conclusions: (a) Reactive oxygen species are generated in Cr (VI)stimulated A549 cells through reduction of molecular oxygen, (b) Among the reactive oxygen species generated, H₂O₂ played a major role in causing G₂/M phase arrest in human lung epithelial cells.     

Distinct apoptotic phenotypes induced by radiation and ceramide in both p53-wild-type and p53-mutated lymphoblastoid cells

The tumour suppressor gene p53 and the intracellular signalling molecule ceramide have both been shown to play crucial roles in the induction of apoptosis by ionising radiation. In this study we examined whether p53 and ceramide are involved in independent signal pathways, inducing different types of apoptosis. TK6 (p53^wt/wt) and WTK1 (p53^mut/mut) lymphoblastoid cells were treated with ionising radiation or N-acetyl-d-sphingosine (C₂-ceramide). Flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy studies were performed to characterise the time kinetics and morphological features of induced apoptosis. Ceramide- and radiation-induced apoptotic cells display characteristic differences in morphology and DNA staining and ceramide-induced apoptosis is expressed much faster than radiation-induced apoptosis. Radiation-induced apoptosis is p53-dependent and ceramide-induced apoptosis is p53-independent. The p53 pathway and the ceramide pathway are two independent signal pathways leading to distinct types of apoptosis. Since p53 is very often dysfunctional in tumour cells, modifying the ceramide pathway is a promising strategy to increase tumour sensitivity to radiation and other anticancer agents. Received: 19 April 2001 / Accepted: 15 October 2001     

失血性休克引起大鼠肠系膜动脉平滑肌依钙K^＋通道活动改变

在由股动脉放血制备的失血性休克大鼠模型急性分离的肠系膜动脉平滑肌细胞上,利用膜片箝单通道记录技术观察了血管平滑肌依钙K^ 通道（BKca)的活动,发现在对去甲肾上腺素（NE）反应性增高的休克代偿期,BKca的开放概率（P0)和单位电导都显著较正常动物的低,P0的改变主要是由通道的慢关闭时间常数（τcs)增大引起关闭时间延长所致;而处于对NE反应性降低的休克失代偿期,BKca的P0和单位电导都高于正常动物,P0的变化也主要是τcs减小所致。