哺乳动物不育系20样激酶MST1

哺乳动物不育系20样激酶1(mammalian sterile 20-like kinase 1,Mst1)基因是果蝇Hippo基因在哺乳动物中的同源基因,编码丝氨酸/苏氨酸激酶,主要参与细胞生长、增殖、凋亡以及器官大小等的调控。最近的研究表明,Mst1基因具有抑癌作用,其功能的缺失与肿瘤的发生密切相关。本文就MST1的结构与功能、促凋亡作用机制及其在医学研究中的应用作一简要综述。     

PKC-MEK-MAPK-dependent signal transduction pathway mediates the stimulation of lysyl oxidase expression by serum and PDGF in rat aortic smooth muscle cells

Lysyl oxidase (LO) plays a critical role in the stabilization and insolubilization of fibrous structural proteins of the extracellular matrix and has been implicated in the suppression of Ras-induced tumorigenesis. Several prior reports demonstrate that the expression of this catalyst is strongly influenced by a variety of effectors of cell function and is responsive to the growth state of fibrogenic cells. Using specific inhibitors of components of signal transduction pathways, the present study reveals that a PKC-MEK-MAPK-dependent pathway is critical to the enhanced expression of the LO gene in response to variations in the levels of the serum component of the growth medium and in response to platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF). PDGF is shown to be the major component of fetal bovine serum, which stimulates the activity of a LO promoter construct.     

大鼠肺动脉平滑肌细胞缺氧后STAT3活性变化与细胞增殖关系的研究

目的：探讨信号转导及转录活化因子3（STAT3）对缺氧大鼠肺动脉平滑肌细胞（PASMCs）增殖的影响及作用机制。方法：组织块法原代培养PASMCs,用AG490预孵育后进行缺氧处理,半定量RT-PCR,Westernblot法分别检测缺氧2h、6h、12h、16h、24h组STAT3酪氨酸活性水平变化;半定量RT-PCR检测缺氧条件下上述时相点c-mycmRNA水平变化;^3H-TdR掺入法观察缺氧条件下细胞增殖变化。结果：Western blot定量分析显示缺氧培养6h组STAT3酪氨酸磷酸化水平升高,12h组达高峰,16h略有下降;缺氧培养2h组c-mycmRNA表达升高,4h达高峰,6h下降,12h恢复至正常水平;^3H-TdR掺入法结果显示缺氧6h组细胞^3H-TdR掺入量的增加,并随缺氧时间延长变化更为显著。AG490抑制缺氧诱导STAT3酪氨酸磷酸化及c-mycmRNA表达。结论：①STAT3活化和c-myc表达参与缺氧PASMcS增殖;②在缺氧PASMCs增殖过程中STAT3上调c-myc表达。     

PVT1促进PAH大鼠肺动脉平滑肌细胞增殖和迁移的作用机制研究

摘要 目的：研究浆细胞瘤多样异位基因1（PVT1）在肺动脉高压（PAH）大鼠中对于肺动脉平滑肌细胞(PASMCs)增殖和迁移的作用及其可能的机制。方法：将16只成年雄性SD大鼠随机分为肺动脉高压组（PAH组）和对照组,每组8只大鼠。PAH组大鼠通过单次项背部皮下注射MCT溶液造模,对照组大鼠给予单次项背部皮下注射等量生理盐水。通过胸右心室穿刺法测量右心室压力。取各组大鼠肺组织,并进行原代肺动脉平滑肌细胞分离培养。通过RT-qPCR和Western blot检测PVT1及Fxr1在PAH组织及PASMCs中的表达水平;通过HE染色评估PAH组织的血管壁形态;免疫荧光法检测HPASMC的纯度;CCK-8法和伤口愈合迁移实验检测PASMCs增殖和迁移情况。结果：与对照组相比,PAH组大鼠肺组织血管壁厚度偏厚、肺动脉压显著升高（P<0.05）。PVT1在PAH组大鼠的PAH组织和PASMCs中的表达水平显著上调（P<0.05）,且其表达与肺动脉压呈正相关。与对照组相比,转染sh-PVT1的PASMCs显示出较低的细胞活力,同时转染sh-PVT1有效敲低了PASMCs中PVT1的表达水平（P<0.01）。与对照组相比,PVT1的敲低抑制了PASMCs迁移能力（P<0.01）。在转染pcDNA-PVT1的PASMCs中发现较高的增殖能力,PVT1的过表达促进了PASMCs迁移能力（P<0.01）。与对照组相比,Fxr1在PAH模型组的PAH组织和PASMCs中的表达水平显著上调（P<0.01）。结论：PVT1通过调节Fxr1的表达促进PASMCs的增殖和迁移,PVT1可能是PAH诊断和预测指标。     

Different signaling responses to anti-proliferative agents in human aortic and venous smooth muscle cells

Proliferation of smooth muscle cells (SMCs) contributes to the stenosis of coronary arteries and vascular grafts. Local delivery of anti-proliferative drugs can prevent vascular stenosis. To understand the cellular responses to anti-proliferative agents, we investigated the signaling events in cultured human aortic SMCs (ASMCs), saphenous venous SMCs (VSMCs), and dermal fibroblasts (DFs) in response to paclitaxel or etoposide. Cellular mitochondrial and proliferative activities were examined with the methylthiazoletetrazolium (MTT) dye reduction and the bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation assay, respectively. Cell proliferation was almost completely suppressed by paclitaxel or etoposide, but apoptosis was achieved in only about 50% of cells at the highest drug concentrations, suggesting the presence of compensatory mechanisms to prevent apoptosis. Examination of three important signaling pathways revealed significant differences between ASMCs, VSMCs, and DFs. Treatment with either paclitaxel or etoposide caused a transient phosphorylation/activation of p42 MAPK in ASMCs and DFs, but had no effect on phospho-p42/44 MAPK in VSMCs. High-dose etoposide enhanced p38 MAPK activation in ASMCs, but not in VSMCs. The p38 inhibitor, PD169316, partially inhibited etoposide-induced ASMC apoptosis, but induced apoptosis in VSMCs. The effects of etoposide and paclitaxel on Akt also differed between ASMCs and VSMCs. These observations indicate that ASMCs and VSMCs differ in the response of signaling pathways to anti-proliferative agents. In ASMCs, p42/44 MAPK appears to serve a pro-survival role, whereas p38 MAPK is a pro-apoptotic regulator. In contrast, p38 MAPK is an important pro-survival regulator in VSMCs and p42/44 MAPK appears to play a minor role in responding to anti-proliferative drugs.     

钙与植物乙烯反应的关系研究

研究了Ca2 对番茄 (LycopersiconesculentumMillcv.Lichun)黄化幼苗乙烯反应的影响。通过测定不同Ca2 浓度条件下番茄黄化幼苗的“三重反应”、内源乙烯释放量、乙烯受体基因NEVER_RIPE(NR)表达量及胞内CaM含量的变化 ,结果发现 ,随着培养基中Ca2 浓度从 0mmol/L增加到 3.8mmol/L ,番茄黄化幼苗的“三重反应”表型明显增强 ,内源乙烯释放量、NR基因的表达量及胞内CaM的含量都有不同程度的增加 ;当Ca2 浓度由 3.8mmol/L进一步增加到 10mmol/L时 ,番茄黄化幼苗“三重反应”表型受到抑制 ,内源乙烯释放量、NR基因的表达量及胞内CaM的含量都有所下降。因此 ,Ca2 对番茄黄化幼苗“三重反应”的影响与Ca2 调节内源乙烯合成和乙烯受体基因的表达有关 ,而且Ca2 可能是通过CaM含量的变化来调节乙烯作用的     

Gastric body cholinergic contractile signal transduction in M2 and M3 receptor knockout mice

Abstract

Although most smooth muscles express a greater density of M₂ than M₃ muscarinic receptors, based on the potency of subtype selective muscarinic receptor antagonists, the M₃ subtype predominantly mediates contraction. The effect of inhibitors of putative contractile signal transduction pathway enzymes on carbachol-induced contractions was determined in wild-type (WT) mice and mice lacking either the M₂ (M₂KO) or the M₃ (M₃KO) receptor subtype. Contractile responses to KCl, then increasing carbachol concentrations in the presence and absence of enzyme inhibitors was determined. The KCl-induced contraction was not different between strains. The carbachol response was unaffected in the M₂KO strain but decreased 42% in M₃KO mice (p?<?0.01). Darifenacin potency was high in both WT and M₂KO strains, indicating M₃-mediated contractions, and low in the M₃KO strain, suggesting M₂-mediated contractions. The phosphatidyl inositol-specific phospholipase C (Pi-PLC) inhibitor ET-18-OCH₃ had no effect. Inhibition of phosphatidyl choline-specific phospholipase C (PC-PLC) and sphingomyelin synthase with D609 decreased maximal contraction in all strains. M₃-mediated contractions in the M₂KO strain were decreased 54% by the protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor chelerythrine. M₂-mediated contractions in the M₃KO and WT strains were decreased by the Rho kinase (ROCK) inhibitor Y27632 as well as the ROCK, PKA and PKG inhibitor H89. The M₃ subtype activates PKC and either PC-PLC or sphingomyelin synthase, while the M₂ subtype activates ROCK and either PC-PLC or sphingomyelin synthase. These studies suggest that multiple parallel pathways mediate cholinergic contractions in stomach body smooth muscle.     

Modulation of cyclin dependent kinase inhibitor proteins and ERK1/2 activity in allylamine-injured vascular smooth muscle cells

Chronic oxidative injury by allylamine (AAM) induces proliferative vascular smooth muscle cell (vSMC) phenotypes in the rat aorta similar to those seen in rodent and human atherosclerotic lesions. The proliferative advantage of AAM vSMC compared to control cells is maintained with serial passage of the cells and the advantage is nullified when AAM cells are seeded on a collagen substrate. In this study, we evaluate the potential role of cyclin dependent kinase inhibitors, p27 and p21, and mitogen activated protein (MAP) kinases, ERK1/2, in mediating the proliferative advantage of AAM stressed vSMC over control cells on plastic or collagen substrates. p27 levels in randomly cycling cells were comparable in both cell types irrespective of the substrate. In contrast, basal levels of p21 were 1.9 +/- 0.3 (P < 0.05)-fold higher in randomly cycling AAM cells seeded on plastic compared to controls, a difference that was lost on a collagen substrate. Following G0 synchronization, basal levels of both p27 and p21 were higher in AAM cells seeded on plastic compared to controls (1.7 +/- 0.2 and 2.0 +/- 0.3-fold, respectively, P < 0.05), but these differences were lost upon mitogenic stimulation. Pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC) decreased p27 and p21 levels in cycling AAM cells relative to controls in a substrate-dependent manner. AAM cells seeded on plastic exhibited enhanced ERK1/2 activation upon mitogenic stimulation; seeding on collagen nullified this advantage. The duration of ERK1/2 activation was prolonged in AAM cells independently of the seeding substrate. We conclude that substrate-dependent acquisition of proliferative phenotypes following repeated cycles of AAM injury correlates with modulation of the cyclin dependent kinase inhibitors, p27 and p21.     

cAMP inhibits mammalian target of rapamycin complex-1 and -2 (mTORC1 and 2) by promoting complex dissociation and inhibiting mTOR kinase activity

cAMP and mTOR signalling pathways control a number of critical cellular processes including metabolism, protein synthesis, proliferation and cell survival and therefore understanding the signalling events which integrate these two signalling pathways is of particular interest. In this study, we show that the pharmacological elevation of [cAMP]_i in mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) and human embryonic kidney 293 (HEK293) cells inhibits mTORC1 activation via a PKA-dependent mechanism. Although the inhibitory effect of cAMP on mTOR could be mediated by impinging on signalling cascades (i.e. PKB, MAPK and AMPK) that inhibit TSC1/2, an upstream negative regulator of mTORC1, we show that cAMP inhibits mTORC1 in TSC2 knockout (TSC2^−/−) MEFs. We also show that cAMP inhibits insulin and amino acid-stimulated mTORC1 activation independently of Rheb, Rag GTPases, TSC2, PKB, MAPK and AMPK, indicating that cAMP may act independently of known regulatory inputs into mTOR. Moreover, we show that the prolonged elevation in [cAMP]_i can also inhibit mTORC2. We provide evidence that this cAMP-dependent inhibition of mTORC1/2 is caused by the dissociation of mTORC1 and 2 and a reduction in mTOR catalytic activity, as determined by its auto-phosphorylation on Ser2481. Taken together, these results provide an important insight into how cAMP signals to mTOR and down-regulates its activity, which may lead to the identification of novel drug targets to inhibit mTOR that could be used for the treatment and prevention of human diseases such as cancer.     

A novel muscle-specific beta 1 integrin binding protein (MIBP) that modulates myogenic differentiation

Myogenesis is regulated by cell adhesion receptors, including integrins of the beta1 family. We report the identification of a novel muscle-specific beta1 integrin binding protein (MIBP). MIBP binds to the membrane-proximal cytoplasmic region shared by beta1A and beta1D integrins, and the binding occurs in vivo as well as in vitro. Furthermore, we show that MIBP is abundantly expressed by C2C12 myogenic cells before fusion, and the expression of MIBP is dramatically downregulated during subsequent differentiation. Finally, we show that overexpression of MIBP in C2C12 cells resulted in a suppression of fusion and terminal differentiation, suggesting that MIBP may play a key role in controlling the progression of muscle differentiation.     

AQP1促进肺动脉平滑肌细胞的增殖与迁移（应作者要求撤稿）

该文应作者要求已撤稿。肺动脉平滑肌细胞（PASMCs）的迁移和增殖是肺动脉重塑进而造成肺动脉高压的主要病理基础。水通道蛋白1（AQP1）具有促进上皮细胞、内皮细胞迁移的作用,但机制不清。由于AQP1也表达于血管平滑肌细胞,推测AQP1可能参与缺氧诱导的PASMCs增殖及迁移。通过PCR和免疫印迹分析,检测AQP的表达以及缺氧对AQP表达水平的影响,并通过细胞迁移以及增殖实验观察AQP1在缺氧诱导的PASMCs迁移与增殖中的作用。AQP1在PASMCs和主动脉平滑肌细胞（AoSMCs）均表达,但缺氧只增加PASMCs中AQP1的表达,以及促进PASMCs的迁移与增殖。敲除AQP1可抑制PASMCs的增殖以及缺氧诱导的细胞增殖和迁移。过表达AQP1促进PASMCs的增殖和迁移。缺氧促进β联蛋白在PASMCs内的表达。敲除β联蛋白后,抑制AdAQP1所介导的PASMCs迁移与增殖。这些结果表明,缺氧可促进AQP1在肺动脉内的表达,AQP1可通过β联蛋白对PASMCs的增殖和迁移进行调节。     

Recombinase-mediated cassette exchange (RMCE): traditional concepts and current challenges

Traditional DNA transduction routes used for the modification of cellular genomes are subject to unpredictable alterations, as the cell-intrinsic repair machinery may affect both the integrity of the transgene and the recipient locus. These problems are overcome by recombinase-mediated cassette exchange (RMCE) approaches enabling predictable expression patterns by the nondisruptive insertion of a gene cassette at a pre-characterized genomic locus. The destination is marked by a “tag” consisting of two heterospecific recombination target sites (RTs) at the flanks of a selection marker. Provided on a circular donor vector, an analogous cassette encoding the gene of interest can cleanly replace the resident cassette under the influence of a site-specific recombinase. RMCE was first based on the yeast integrase Flp but had to give way to the originally more active phage-derived Cre enzyme. To be effective, both Tyr-recombinases have to be applied at a considerable concentration, which, in the case of Cre, triggers endonucleolytic activities and therefore cellular toxicity. This review addresses the particularities of both recombination routes depending on the structure of the synaptic complex and on improved integrase and RT variants. While the performance of Flp-RMCE can now firmly rely on optimized Flp variants and multiple sets of functional target sites (FRTs), the Cre system suffers from the promiscuity of its RT mutants, which is explained in molecular terms. At present, RMCE enters applications in the stem cell field. Remarkable efforts are noted in the framework of various mouse mutagenesis programs, which, in their first phase, have targeted virtually all genes and now start to shift their emphasis from gene trapping to gene modification.