Nonmuscle Myosin II Is Required for Internalization of the Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor and Modulation of Downstream Signaling

Ligand-induced internalization of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is an important process for regulating signal transduction, cellular dynamics, and cell-cell communication. Here, we demonstrate that nonmuscle myosin II (NM II) is required for the internalization of the EGFR and to trigger the EGFR-dependent activation of ERK and AKT. The EGFR was identified as a protein that interacts with NM II by co-immunoprecipitation and mass spectrometry analysis. This interaction requires both the regulatory light chain 20 (RLC20) of NM II and the kinase domain of the EGFR. Two paralogs of NM II, NM II-A, and NM II-B can act to internalize the EGFR, depending on the cell type and paralog content of the cell line. Loss (siRNA) or inhibition (25 μm blebbistatin) of NM II attenuates the internalization of the EGFR and impairs EGFR-dependent activation of ERK and AKT. Both internalization of the EGFR and downstream signaling to ERK and AKT can be partially restored in siRNA-treated cells by introduction of wild type (WT) GFP-NM II, but cannot be restored by motor mutant NM II. Taken together, these results suggest that NM II plays a role in the internalization of the EGFR and EGFR-mediated signaling pathways.     

The role of tumor necrosis factor-α for interleukin-10 production by murine dendritic cells

In the present study, we examined the role of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) in interleukin (IL)-10 production by dendritic cells (DCs) using bone-marrow derived DCs from wild type (WT) and TNF-α knockout (TNF-α^−/−) mice. Toll-like receptor (TLR) stimulation induced substantial level of IL-10 production by WT DCs, but significantly low level of IL-10 production by TNF-α^−/− DCs. In contrast, no significant difference was detected in IL-12 p40 production between WT and TNF-α^−/− DCs. Addition of TNF-α during TLR stimulation recovered the impaired ability of TNF-α^−/− DCs for IL-10 production. This recovery appeared to be associated with an activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase, p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase, and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt following the TNF-α addition. Blocking these kinases significantly inhibited IL-10 production by TNF-α^−/− DCs stimulated with TLR ligands plus TNF-α. Thus, TNF-α may be a key molecule to regulate the balance between anti-inflammatory versus inflammatory cytokine production in DCs.     

Autocrine EGF receptor activation mediates endothelial cell migration and vascular morphogenesis induced by VEGF under interstitial flow

We show here that autocrine ligand activation of epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor in combination with interstitial flow is critically involved in the morphogenetic response of endothelial cells to VEGF stimulation. Human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) monolayers cultured on a collagen gel and exposed to low interstitial flow in the absence of EGF and VEGF remained viable and mitotic but exhibited little evidence of vascular morphogenesis. Addition of VEGF produced a flow-dependent morphogenetic response within 48 to 72 h, characterized by branched capillary-like structures. The response was substantially abolished by inhibitors related to the autocrine EGF receptor pathway including Galardin, AG1478, PD98059, and an EGF receptor-blocking antibody, indicating that regulation of the morphogenetic process operates via autocrine EGF receptor activation. Moreover, we observed that in our system the EGF receptor was always activated independently of the interstitial flow, and, in addition, the EGF receptor inhibitors used above reduced the phosphorylation state of the receptor, correlating with inhibition of capillary morphogenesis. Finally, 5'bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) labeling identified dividing cells at the monolayer but not in the extending capillary-like structures. EGF pathway inhibitors Galardin and AG1478 did not reduce BrdU incorporation in the monolayer, indicating that the EGF-receptor-mediated morphogenetic behavior is mainly due to cell migration rather than proliferation. Based on these results, we propose a two-step model for in vitro capillary morphogenesis in response to VEGF stimulation with interstitial fluid flow: monolayer maintenance by mitotic activity independent of EGF receptors and a migratory response mediated by autocrine EGF receptor activation wherein cells establish capillary-like structures.     

Sulf2 gene is alternatively spliced in mammalian developing and tumour tissues with functional implications

SULF2 enzyme regulates the activities of a number of signalling pathways that in many tissues are up-regulated during development and disease. As we recently showed for avian Sulf1, the present study demonstrates that mammalian Sulf2 gene can also generate functionally distinct splice variants that would regulate normal development and tumour growth differentially. It is thus important to distinguish SULF1/SULF2 isoforms in mammalian tissues to understand their functional and clinical relevance to disease. This study demonstrates that unlike normal adult lung with little or no SULF2 expression, this enzyme is expressed at high levels in most lung tumours showing differential cellular distribution of full length and shorter SULF2 variants in such tumours. Furthermore, we show that the short SULF2 splice variants are associated with those signalling pathways that are inhibited by full length SULF1/SULF2 variants and therefore could promote growth in such lung tumours.     

Cyclic phosphatidic acid and lysophosphatidic acid induce hyaluronic acid synthesis via CREB transcription factor regulation in human skin fibroblasts

Cyclic phosphatidic acid (cPA) is a naturally occurring phospholipid mediator and an analog of the growth factor-like phospholipid lysophosphatidic acid (LPA). cPA has a unique cyclic phosphate ring at the sn-2 and sn-3 positions of its glycerol backbone. We showed before that a metabolically stabilized cPA derivative, 2-carba-cPA, relieved osteoarthritis pathogenesis in vivo and induced hyaluronic acid synthesis in human osteoarthritis synoviocytes in vitro. This study focused on hyaluronic acid synthesis in human fibroblasts, which retain moisture and maintain health in the dermis. We investigated the effects of cPA and LPA on hyaluronic acid synthesis in human fibroblasts (NB1RGB cells). Using particle exclusion and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, we found that both cPA and LPA dose-dependently induced hyaluronic acid synthesis. We revealed that the expression of hyaluronan synthase 2 messenger RNA and protein is up-regulated by cPA and LPA treatment time dependently. We then characterized the signaling pathways up-regulating hyaluronic acid synthesis mediated by cPA and LPA in NB1RGB cells. Pharmacological inhibition and reporter gene assays revealed that the activation of the LPA receptor LPAR₁, G_i/o protein, phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase (PI3K), extracellular-signal-regulated kinase (ERK), and cyclic adenosine monophosphate response element-binding protein (CREB) but not nuclear factor κB induced hyaluronic acid synthesis by the treatment with cPA and LPA in NB1RGB cells. These results demonstrate for the first time that cPA and LPA induce hyaluronic acid synthesis in human skin fibroblasts mainly through the activation of LPAR₁-G_i/o followed by the PI3K, ERK, and CREB signaling pathway.     

Rapamycin decreases tau phosphorylation at Ser214 through regulation of cAMP-dependent kinase

Preventing or reducing tau hyperphosphorylation is considered to be a therapeutic strategy in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Rapamycin may be a potential therapeutic agent for AD, because the rapamycin-induced autophagy may enhance the clearance of the hyperphosphorylated tau. However, recent rodent studies show that the protective effect of rapamycin may not be limited in the autophagic clearance of the hyperphosphorylated tau. Because some tau-related kinases are targets of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), we assume that rapamycin may regulate tau phosphorylation by regulating these kinases. Our results showed that in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells, treatment with rapamycin induced phosphorylation of the type IIα regulatory (RIIα) subunit of cAMP-dependent kinase (PKA). Rapamycin also induced nuclear translocation of the catalytic subunits (Cat) of PKA and decreases in tau phosphorylation at Ser214 (pS214). The above effects of rapamycin were prevented by pretreatment with the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MEK)/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) inhibitor U0126. In addition, these effects of rapamycin might not depend on the level of tau expression, because similar results were obtained in both the non-tau-expressing wild type human embryonic kidney 293 (HEK293) cells and HEK293 cells stably transfected with the longest isoform of recombinant human tau (tau441; HEK293/tau441). These findings suggest that rapamycin decreases pS214 via regulation of PKA. Because tau phosphorylation at Ser214 may prime tau for further phosphorylation by other kinases, our findings provide a novel possible mechanism by which rapamycin reduces or prevents tau hyperphosphorylation.     

Hydrogen peroxide signaling is required for glucocorticoid-induced apoptosis in lymphoma cells

Glucocorticoid-induced apoptosis is exploited clinically for the treatment of hematologic malignancies. Determining the required molecular events for glucocorticoid-induced apoptosis will identify resistance mechanisms and suggest strategies for overcoming resistance. In this study, we found that glucocorticoid treatment of WEHI7.2 murine thymic lymphoma cells increased the steady-state [H(2)O(2)] and oxidized the intracellular redox environment before cytochrome c release. Removal of glucocorticoids after the H(2)O(2) increase resulted in a 30% clonogenicity; treatment with PEG-CAT increased clonogenicity to 65%. Human leukemia cell lines also showed increased H(2)O(2) in response to glucocorticoids and attenuated apoptosis after PEG-CAT treatment. WEHI7.2 cells that overexpress catalase (CAT2, CAT38) or were selected for resistance to H(2)O(2) (200R) removed enough of the H(2)O(2) generated by glucocorticoids to prevent oxidation of the intracellular redox environment. CAT2, CAT38, and 200R cells showed a 90-100% clonogenicity. The resistant cells maintained pERK survival signaling in response to glucocorticoids, whereas the sensitive cells did not. Treating the resistant cells with a MEK inhibitor sensitized them to glucocorticoids. These data indicate that: (1) an increase in H(2)O(2) is necessary for glucocorticoid-induced apoptosis in lymphoid cells, (2) increased H(2)O(2) removal causes glucocorticoid resistance, and (3) MEK inhibition can sensitize oxidative stress-resistant cells to glucocorticoids.     

NR2B、pERK、pElk-1共同参与大鼠逃避性学习和记忆

目的：探讨NR2B-pERK—pElk-1途径是否参与了大鼠各学习记忆相关脑区Y-迷宫逃避性学习和记忆。方法：健康雄性成年SD大鼠45只,共分为4组：①ifenprodil腹腔注射组（ifenprodilip,14只）,②DMSO腹腔注射组（DMSOip,15只）;③ifenprodil脑室注射组（ifenprodilic,8只）;④DMSO脑室注射组（DMSOic,8只）。以Y迷宫训练和测试成绩作为行为学评定指标,用免疫组织化学和Westernblot方法观察大鼠学习记忆相关脑区pERK1／2和pElk-1的变化。结果：ifenprodilip组与DMSOip组动物的Y迷宫学习成绩没有明显差异（P〉0．05）,但ifenprodilip组Y迷宫记忆成绩差于DMSOip组（P〈0.05）。腹腔注射ifenprodil导致Y迷宫训练后各脑区pERK1／2和pElk-1表达的普遍下降,其中以海马、边缘区、杏仁核最为明显,与DMSOip组相比差异有显著性（P〈0.05）。ifenprodilic组与DMSOic组第一次Y迷宫测试成绩没有明显差异（P〉0.05）。第一次测试后立即脑室给药并在给药后6h测试Y迷宫记忆再巩固成绩,发现ifenprodilic组成绩下降,与DMSOic组相比有明显差异（P〈0．05）,而且ifenprodilic组动物各脑区的pERKl／2和pElk-1表达与DMSOic组相比均普遍下降,其中pElk-1表达在尾壳核和边缘区几乎完全消失。结论：NR2B对于大鼠Y迷宫长期记忆的形成、记忆再巩固过程是必要的．NR2B的失活将破坏这些过程。同时NI毪B的失活减弱了Y迷宫训练后及记忆再巩固测试后学习记忆相关脑区pElk-1和pERK1／2表达,其中在尾壳核和边缘区,NR2B的失活使记忆再巩固测试后pElk-1表达完全被阻断。     

右美托咪啶对神经痛大鼠脊髓背角pERK、pCREB表达的影响

目的:评价右美托咪啶对神经病理性痛大鼠脊髓背角神经元磷酸化胞外反应激酶(phosphoryltion of extracellular regulated protein kinases,p ERK)、磷酸化c AMP反应元件结合蛋白(phosphoryltion of Camp response element bound protein,p CREB)蛋白表达的影响。方法:健康成年雄性Wistar大鼠54只,6~8周龄,体重180~220 g,采用随机数字表法,将其分为3组(n=18):假手术组(S组)、慢性神经病理性痛组(C组)和右美托咪啶组(D组)。S组仅分离坐骨神经但不结扎,C组和D组采用结扎坐骨神经的方法制备大鼠坐骨神经慢性压迫性损伤(chronic constriction injury,CCI)的神经病理性痛模型,D组于术后即刻开始至处死前1d腹腔注射右美托咪啶50μg/kg,1次/d,S组和C组注射等容量生理盐水。于术前1 d、术后3、7、14 d时以缩足阈值(paw withdrawal threshold,PWT)测定大鼠机械痛阈和辐射热的缩足潜伏期(paw withdrawl latency,PWL)测定大鼠的热痛阈,并于术后测定痛阈后灌注处死大鼠,取L4-6脊髓组织,采用免疫组织化学法检测脊髓背角神经元p ERK、p CREB的表达水平。结果:与S组比较,C组和D组术后3、7、14 d时MWT降低,TWL缩短,脊髓背角p ERK、p CREB表达上调(P0.05);与C组比较,D组术后3、7、14 d时MWT升高,TWL延长,脊髓背角p ERK、p CREB表达下调(P0.05)。与术前1 d比较,C组和D组术后3、7、14 d时MWT降低,TWL缩短;与术后3 d时比较,C组和D组7、14 d时MWT降低,TWL缩短,脊髓背角p ERK、p CREB表达上调(P0.05)。结论:右美托咪啶可减轻大鼠慢性神经病理性痛,抑制p ERK、p CREB的表达可能是其作用机制之一。     

Ganoderiol F, a ganoderma triterpene, induces senescence in hepatoma HepG2 cells

Ganoderiol F (GolF), a tetracyclic triterpene, was isolated from Ganoderma amboinense and found to induce senescence of cancer cell lines. GolF induced growth arrest of cancer cell lines HepG2, Huh7 and K562, but exerted much less effect in hepatoma Hep3B cells and normal lung fibroblast MRC5 cells, and no effect on peripheral blood mononuclear cells. GolF treatment of the cancer cells, with the exception of Hep3B, resulted in prompt inhibition of DNA synthesis and arrest of cell progression cycle in G1 phase. Short-term exposure of HepG2 cells to GolF temporarily arrested progression of the cell cycle; cell growth was recovered if the drug was withdrawn from the medium after a 24-h exposure. After 18 days of continuous treatment of HepG2 cells with 30 muM GolF, over 50% of cells were found to be enlarged and flattened, and were beta-galactosidase positive phenotypes of senescent cells. GolF was found to inhibit activity of topoisomerases in vitro, which may contribute to the inhibition of cellular DNA synthesis. Activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase EKR and up-regulation of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p16 were found in early stages of GolF treatment and were presumed to cause cell-cycle arrest and trigger premature senescence of HepG2 cells. The growth-arrest and senescence induction capability on cancer cells suggest anticancer potential of GolF.