NF-kappaB-dependent regulation of the timing of activation-induced cell death of T lymphocytes

One of the mechanisms by which activated T cells die is activation-induced cell death (AICD). This pathway requires persistent stimulation via the TCR and engagement of death receptors. We found that TCR stimulation led to transient nuclear accumulation of the NF-kappaB component p65/RelA. In contrast, nuclear c-Rel levels remained high even after extended periods of activation. Loss of nuclear p65/RelA correlated with the onset of AICD, suggesting that p65/RelA target genes may maintain cell viability. Quantitative RNA analyses showed that three of several putative NF-kappaB-dependent antiapoptotic genes were expressed with kinetics that paralleled nuclear expression of p65/RelA. Of these three, ectopic expression only of Gadd45beta protected significantly against AICD, whereas IEX-1 and Bcl-x(L) were much less effective. We propose that the timing of AICD, and thus the length of the effector phase, are regulated by transient expression of a subset of p65/RelA-dependent antiapoptotic genes.     

Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (CCL-2) integrates mechanical and endocrine signals that mediate term and preterm labor

Recent evidence suggests that leukocytes infiltrate uterine tissues at or around the time of parturition, implicating inflammation as a key mechanism of human labor. MCP-1 (also known as C-C chemokine motif ligand 2, CCL-2) is a proinflammatory cytokine that is up-regulated in human myometrium during labor. Myometrium was collected from pregnant rats across gestation and at labor. Total RNA and proteins were subjected to real-time PCR and ELISA, respectively. Ccl-2 gene and protein expression was significantly up-regulated in the gravid rat myometrium before and during labor, which might suggest that it is regulated positively by mechanical stretch of the uterus imposed by the growing fetus and negatively by physiological withdrawal of progesterone (P4). We confirmed in vivo that: 1) administration of P4 receptor antagonist RU486 induced an increase in Ccl-2 mRNA and preterm labor, whereas 2) artificial maintenance of elevated P4 levels at late gestation caused a significant decrease in gene expression and blocked labor; 3) Ccl-2 was elevated specifically in the gravid horn of unilaterally pregnant rats suggesting that mechanical strain imposed by the growing fetus controls its expression in the myometrium; 4) in vitro static mechanical stretch of primary rat myometrial smooth muscle cells (25% elongation) induced a release of Ccl-2 protein, which was repressed by pretreatment with P4 (1 microM); and 5) stretch enhanced their monocyte chemoattractant activity. These data indicate that Ccl-2 protein serves to integrate mechanical and endocrine signals contributing to uterine inflammation and the induction of labor and thus may represent a novel target for therapeutic prevention of preterm labor in humans.     

Nurr1 protein is required for N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA) receptor-mediated neuronal survival

NMDA receptor (NMDAR) stimulation promotes neuronal survival during brain development. Cerebellar granule cells (CGCs) need NMDAR stimulation to survive and develop. These neurons differentiate and mature during its migration from the external granular layer to the internal granular layer, and lack of excitatory inputs triggers their apoptotic death. It is possible to mimic this process in vitro by culturing CGCs in low KCl concentrations (5 mm) in the presence or absence of NMDA. Using this experimental approach, we have obtained whole genome expression profiles after 3 and 8 h of NMDA addition to identify genes involved in NMDA-mediated survival of CGCs. One of the identified genes was Nurr1, a member of the orphan nuclear receptor subfamily Nr4a. Our results report a direct regulation of Nurr1 by CREB after NMDAR stimulation. ChIP assay confirmed CREB binding to Nurr1 promoter, whereas CREB shRNA blocked NMDA-mediated increase in Nurr1 expression. Moreover, we show that Nurr1 is important for NMDAR survival effect. We show that Nurr1 binds to Bdnf promoter IV and that silencing Nurr1 by shRNA leads to a decrease in brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) protein levels and a reduction of NMDA neuroprotective effect. Also, we report that Nurr1 and BDNF show a similar expression pattern during postnatal cerebellar development. Thus, we conclude that Nurr1 is a downstream target of CREB and that it is responsible for the NMDA-mediated increase in BDNF, which is necessary for the NMDA-mediated prosurvival effect on neurons.     

Cyclic mechanical stretch contributes to network development of osteocyte-like cells with morphological change and autophagy promotion but without preferential cell alignment in rat

Osteocytes play important roles in controlling bone quality as well as preferential alignment of biological apatite c-axis/collagen fibers. However, the relationship between osteocytes and mechanical stress remains unclear due to the difficulty of three-dimensional (3D) culture of osteocytes in vitro. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of cyclic mechanical stretch on 3D-cultured osteocyte-like cells. Osteocyte-like cells were established using rat calvarial osteoblasts cultured in a 3D culture system. Cyclic mechanical stretch (8% amplitude at a rate of 2 cycles min^?1) was applied for 24, 48 and 96 consecutive hours. Morphology, cell number and preferential cell alignment were evaluated. Apoptosis- and autophagy-related gene expression levels were measured using quantitative PCR. 3D-cultured osteoblasts became osteocyte-like cells that expressed osteocyte-specific genes such as Dmp1, Cx43, Sost, Fgf23 and RANKL, with morphological changes similar to osteocytes. Cell number was significantly decreased in a time-dependent manner under non-loaded conditions, whereas cyclic mechanical stretch significantly prevented decreased cell numbers with increased expression of anti-apoptosis-related genes. Moreover, cyclic mechanical stretch significantly decreased cell size and ellipticity with increased expression of autophagy-related genes, LC3b and atg7. Interestingly, preferential cell alignment did not occur, irrespective of mechanical stretch. These findings suggest that an anti-apoptotic effect contributes to network development of osteocyte-like cells under loaded condition. Spherical change of osteocyte-like cells induced by mechanical stretch may be associated with autophagy upregulation. Preferential alignment of osteocytes induced by mechanical load in vivo may be partially predetermined before osteoblasts differentiate into osteocytes and embed into bone matrix.     

Mechanical stretch enhances the expression of resistin gene in cultured cardiomyocytes via tumor necrosis factor-alpha

The heart is a resistin target tissue and can function as an autocrine organ. We sought to investigate whether cyclic mechanical stretch could induce resistin expression in cardiomyocytes and to test whether there is a link between the stretch-induced TNF-alpha and resistin. Neonatal Wistar rat cardiomyocytes grown on a flexible membrane base were stretched by vacuum to 20% of maximum elongation at 60 cycles/min. Cyclic stretch significantly increased resistin protein and mRNA expression after 2-18 h of stretch. Addition of PD-98059, TNF-alpha antibody, TNF-alpha receptor antibody, and ERK MAP kinase small interfering RNA 30 min before stretch inhibited the induction of resistin protein. Cyclic stretch increased, whereas PD-98059 abolished, the phosphorylated ERK protein. Gel-shift assay showed a significant increase in DNA-protein binding activity of NF-kappaB after stretch, and PD-98059 abolished the DNA-protein binding activity induced by cyclic stretch. DNA binding complexes induced by cyclic stretch could be supershifted by p65 monoclonal antibody. Cyclic stretch increased resistin promoter activity, whereas PD-98059 and p65 antibody decreased resistin promoter activity. Cyclic stretch significantly increased TNF-alpha secretion from myocytes. Recombinant resistin protein and conditioned medium from stretched cardiomyocytes reduced glucose uptake in cardiomyocytes, and recombinant small interfering RNA of resistin or TNF-alpha antibody reversed glucose uptake. In conclusion, cyclic mechanical stretch enhances resistin expression in cultured rat neonatal cardiomyocytes. The stretch-induced resistin is mediated by TNF-alpha, at least in part, through ERK MAP kinase and NF-kappaB pathways. Glucose uptake in cardiomyocytes was reduced by resistin upregulation.     

Regulation of γ-Aminobutyric Acid Synthesis in the Brain

Abstract: γ-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) is synthesized in brain in at least two compartments, commonly called the transmitter and metabolic compartments, and because reglatory processes must serve the physiologic function of each compartment, the regulation of GABA synthesis presents a complex problem. Brain contains at least two molecular forms of glutamate decarboxylase (GAD), the principal synthetic enzyme for GABA. Two forms, termed GAD₆₅ and GAD₆₇, are the products of two genes and differ in sequence, molecular weight, interaction with the cofactor, pyridoxal 5′-phosphate (pyridoxal-P), and level of expression among brain regions. GAD₆₅ appears to be localized in nerve terminals to a greater degree than GAD₆₇, which appears to be more uniformly distributed throughout the cell. The interaction of GAD with pyridoxal-P is a major factor in the short-term regulation of GAD activity. At least 50% of GAD is present in brain as apoenzyme (GAD without bound cofactor; apoGAD), which serves as a reservoir of inactive GAD that can be drawn on when additional GABA synthesis is needed. A substantial majority of apoGAD in brain is accounted for by GAD₆₅, but GAD₆₇ also contributes to the pool of apoGAD. The apparent localization of GAD₆₅ in nerve terminals and the large reserve of apo-GAD₆₅ suggest that GAD₆₅ is specialized to respond to short-term changes in demand for transmitter GABA. The levels of apoGAD and the holoenzyme of GAD (holoGAD) are controlled by a cycle of reactions that is regulated by physiologically relevant concentrations of ATP and other polyanions and by inorganic phosphate, and it appears possible that GAD activity is linked to neuronal activity through energy metabolism. GAD is not saturated by glutamate in synaptosomes or cortical slices, but there is no evidence that GABA synthesis in vivo is regulated physiologically by the availability of glutamate. GABA competitively inhibits GAD and converts holo- to apoGAD, but it is not clear if intracellular GABA levels are high enough to regulate GAD. There is no evidence of short-term regulation by second messengers. The syntheses of GAD₆₅ and GAD₆₇ proteins are regulated separately. GAD₆₇ regulation is complex; it not only is present as apoGAD₆₇, but the expression of GAD₆₇ protein is regulated by two mechanisms: (a) by control of mRNA levels and (b) at the level of translation or protein stability. The latter mechanism appears to be mediated by intracellular GABA levels.     

A p38 MAPK-CREB pathway functions to pattern mesoderm in Xenopus

Dorsal-ventral patterning is specified by signaling centers secreting antagonizing morphogens that form a signaling gradient. Yet, how morphogen gradient is translated intracellularly into fate decisions remains largely unknown. Here, we report that p38 MAPK and CREB function along the dorsal-ventral axis in mesoderm patterning. We find that the phosphorylated form of CREB (S133) is distributed in a gradient along the dorsal-ventral mesoderm axis and that the p38 MAPK pathway mediates the phosphorylation of CREB. Knockdown of CREB prevents chordin expression and mesoderm dorsalization by the Spemann organizer, whereas ectopic expression of activated CREB-VP16 chimera induces chordin expression and dorsalizes mesoderm. Expression of high levels of p38 activator, MKK6E or CREB-VP16 in embryos converts ventral mesoderm into a dorsal organizing center. p38 MAPK and CREB function downstream of maternal Wnt/β-catenin and the organizer-specific genes siamois and goosecoid. At low expression levels, MKK6E induces expression of lateral genes without inducing the expression of dorsal genes. Loss of CREB or p38 MAPK activity enables the expansion of the ventral homeobox gene vent1 into the dorsal marginal region, preventing the lateral expression of Xmyf5. Overall, these data indicate that dorsal-ventral mesoderm patterning is regulated by differential p38/CREB activities along the axis.     

CREB and cAMP response element-mediated gene expression in the ischemic brain

Cerebral ischemia triggers robust phosphorylation of cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) and CRE-mediated gene expression in neurons. Glutamate receptor activation and subsequent calcium influx may activate CREB shortly after ischemia. CREB activation leads to expression of genes encoding neuroprotective molecules, such as the antiapoptotic protein Bcl-2, and contributes to survival of neurons after ischemic insult. Recent studies have suggested that CREB may be involved in acquisition of ischemic tolerance, a phenomenon that occurs after sublethal ischemic stress. CREB activation is also involved in the survival of newborn neurons in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus after ischemia. Therefore, CREB-related therapeutics may be promising for brain protection and endogenous neurogenesis and could promote functional recovery in ischemic stroke patients. This minireview summarizes our current understanding for the role of CREB in regulating CRE-mediated gene expression during cerebral ischemia.     

结直肠癌组织miR-137-3p、miR-410-3p表达水平与上皮间充质转化和预后的关系分析

摘要 目的：探讨结直肠癌（CRC）组织微小RNA-137-3p（miR-137-3p）、微小RNA-410-3p（miR-410-3p）的表达与上皮间充质转化（EMT）和预后的关系。方法：选取2017年2月至2019年2月本院收治的115例接受CRC根治术治疗的患者，采用实时荧光定量聚合酶链式反应（qRT-PCR）检测癌组织及癌旁组织中miR-137-3p、miR-410-3p表达、EMT标志物E-钙粘蛋白（E-cadherin）、波形蛋白（Vimentin）的mRNA表达并进行相关性分析，分析癌组织中miR-137-3p、miR-410-3p表达与CRC临床病理特征的关系。术后随访3年，采用Kaplan-Meier法分析miR-137-3p、miR-410-3p高表达和低表达患者的预后情况。结果：癌组织中miR-137-3p表达及E-cadherin mRNA表达水平低于癌旁组织，miR-410-3p表达及Vimentin mRNA表达水平高于癌旁组织（P＜0.05）。癌组织中miR-137-3p表达与E-cadherin mRNA表达水平、miR-410-3p表达与Vimentin mRNA表达水平分别呈正相关（P＜0.05），癌组织中miR-137-3p表达与Vimentin mRNA表达水平、miR-410-3p表达与E-cadherin mRNA表达水平分别呈负相关（P＜0.05）。miR-137-3p、miR-410-3p表达与TNM分期、肿瘤分化程度、淋巴结转移有关（P＜0.05）。Kaplan-Meier生存曲线分析显示，miR-137-3p低表达、miR-410-3p高表达患者3年累积生存率下降（P＜0.05）。结论：CRC组织中miR-137-3p表达下调、miR-410-3p表达上调，miR-137-3p、miR-410-3p表达水平与EMT密切相关，且miR-137-3p高表达、miR-410-3p低表达患者的预后更好。     

Influence of sustained mechanical stress on Egr-1 mRNA expression in cultured human endothelial cells

Restenosis after initially successful balloon angioplasty of coronary artery stenosis remains a major problem in clinical cardiology. Previous studies have identified pathogenetic factors which trigger cell proliferation and vascular remodeling ultimately leading to restenosis. Since there is evidence that endothelial cells adjacent to the angioplasty wound area synthesize factors which may initiate this process, we investigated the effects of mechanical stimulation on endothelial gene expression in vitro and focussed on the influence of sustained mechanical stress on expression of immediate early genes which have previously been shown to be induced in the vascular wall in vivo. Primary cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) and the human endothelial cell line EA.hy 926 were plated on collagen-coated silicone membranes and subjected to constant longitudinal stress of approximately 20% for 10 min to 6 h. Total RNA was isolated and the expression of the immediate early genes c-Fos and Egr-1 was studied by Northern blot analysis. We found a rapid upregulation c-Fos and Egr-1 mRNA which started at 10 min and reached its maxima at 30 min. HUVEC lost most of their stretch response after the third passage whereas immediate early gene expression was constantly in EA.hy 926 cells. Using specific inhibitors we investigated the contribution of several signal transduction pathways to stretch-activated Egr-1 mRNA expression. We found significant suppression of stretch-induced Egr-1 mRNA expression by protein kinase C (PKC) inhibition (p < 0.05) and by calcium depletion (EA.hy926, p < 0. 05; HUVEC, p = 0.063). No effect on stretch-activated Egr-1 mRNA expression was detected by inhibition of protein kinase A, blockade of stretch-activated cation channels or inhibition of microtubule synthesis. We conclude that sustained mechanical strain induces Egr-1 mRNA expression by PKC- and calcium-dependent mechanisms.     

Protein kinase signaling cascades in CNS trauma

Advances in our understanding of the signaling pathways and cellular functions regulated by protein kinase cascades have paved the way to study their role in the response of brain and spinal cord to traumatic injury. Mechanical forces imparted by trauma stimulate mitogen-activated protein kinases and protein kinase B/Akt as well as cause changes in the state of phosphorylation of glycogen synthase kinase-3beta. Extracellular ATP released by mechanical strain stimulates P2 purinergic receptors that are coupled to these protein kinase signaling pathways. These kinases regulate gene expression, cell survival, proliferation, differentiation, growth arrest, and apoptosis, thereby affecting cell fate, repair and plasticity after trauma. Elucidation of the molecular responses of protein kinase cascades to mechanical strain and the genes regulated by these signaling pathways may lead to therapeutic opportunities to minimize losses in motor skills and cognitive function caused by trauma to the central nervous system.     

CREB regulates the expression of neuronal glucose transporter 3: a possible mechanism related to impaired brain glucose uptake in Alzheimer’s disease

Impaired brain glucose uptake and metabolism precede the appearance of clinical symptoms in Alzheimer disease (AD). Neuronal glucose transporter 3 (GLUT3) is decreased in AD brain and correlates with tau pathology. However, what leads to the decreased GLUT3 is yet unknown. In this study, we found that the promoter of human GLUT3 contains three potential cAMP response element (CRE)-like elements, CRE1, CRE2 and CRE3. Overexpression of CRE-binding protein (CREB) or activation of cAMP-dependent protein kinase significantly increased GLUT3 expression. CREB bound to the CREs and promoted luciferase expression driven by human GLUT3-promoter. Among the CREs, CRE2 and CRE3 were required for the promotion of GLUT3 expression. Full-length CREB was decreased and truncation of CREB was increased in AD brain. This truncation was correlated with calpain I activation in human brain. Further study demonstrated that calpain I proteolysed CREB at Gln₂₈–Ala₂₉ and generated a 41-kDa truncated CREB, which had less activity to promote GLUT3 expression. Importantly, human brain GLUT3 was correlated with full-length CREB positively and with activation of calpain I negatively. These findings suggest that overactivation of calpain I caused by calcium overload proteolyses CREB, resulting in a reduction of GLUT3 expression and consequently impairing glucose uptake and metabolism in AD brain.     

MAPK and SRC-kinases control EGR-1 and NF-kappa B inductions by changes in mechanical environment in osteoblasts

Bone loss occurs in microgravity whereas an increase in bone mass is observed after skeletal loading. This tissue adaptation involves changes in osteoblastic proliferation and differentiation whose mechanisms remain largely unknown. In this context, we investigated the expression and the nuclear translocation of Egr-1 and NF-kappa B, in a simulated microgravity model (clinostat) and in a model of mechanical strain (Flexcell). We performed RT-PCR and immunocytochemistry analyses at baseline and up to 2 h after stimulation (a mitogenic regimen, 1% stretch, 0.05 Hz, 10 min, or clinorotation 50 rpm, 10 min) in osteoblastic ROS17/2.8 cells. Egr-1 induction as well as NF-kappa B nuclear translocation were activated by mechanical changes. PKC downregulation and COX1/2 inhibition did not alter these inductions. In contrast, ERK1/2, p38(MAPK) and src-kinases pathways were differentially involved in both models. Thus, we demonstrated that changes in the mechanical environment induced an activation of Egr-1 and NF-kappa B with specific kinetics and involved various transduction pathways including MAPKs and src-kinases. These could partially explain the later alterations of proliferation observed.