E1A激活基因阻遏子(CREG)过表达通过抑制p38/JNK信号分子活化对抗人血管平滑肌细胞凋亡

血管平滑肌细胞(VSMCs)凋亡参与了动脉粥样硬化(AS)及冠状动脉介入治疗(PCI)术后再狭窄(RS)等心血管疾病的发生发展过程．E1A激活基因阻遏子(CREG)是新近发现的一种分泌型糖蛋白,在维持细胞和组织稳态方面发挥重要作用．前期研究发现CREG蛋白过表达能够对抗血清饥饿诱导的人血管平滑肌细胞(hVSMCs)凋亡,进一步探讨CREG对hVSMCs凋亡的调控作用及相关的分子机制．以逆转录病毒稳定转染的CREG过表达及表达抑制的hVSMCs为模型,应用两种药物Staurosporine (STS) 和Etoposide (VP-16) 诱导细胞发生凋亡,检测细胞凋亡和相关信号通路变化．结果显示,在药物干预后,CREG表达抑制时细胞凋亡明显增多,而CREG过表达明显抑制hVSMCs凋亡．同时也发现,CREG表达抑制时p38及JNK活性明显增强,而CREG过表达时p38和JNK活性被抑制．经腺病毒转染和药物干预抑制p38表达后,细胞凋亡均受到抑制,而且在p38活性被抑制的同时,JNK活化也受到抑制．说明p38和JNK表现为协同作用．结果也显示,VSMCs分化指标SM α-actin和SM MHC与CREG表达呈一致趋势,而细胞外基质蛋白Fibronection与CREG表达呈负相关．以上结果提示,CREG在维持VSMCs表型转换方面发挥重要作用,并且通过p38和JNK信号转导通路对hVSMCs凋亡进行调控．CREG可能对于AS和PCI术后RS的防治具有重要价值．     

E1A 激活基因阻遏子促进人血管平滑肌细胞分化和迁移

为探讨 E1A 激活基因阻遏子 (cellular repressor of E1A-stimulated genes , CREG) 蛋白在人血管平滑肌细胞株 HITASY 分化和迁移中的调控作用,构建了重组逆转录病毒载体 pLNCX₂( ＋ )/CREG 和 pLXSN( － )/CREG. 以带绿色荧光蛋白 (green fluorescent protein , GFP) 的空载体 pLNCX( ＋ )/GFP 和正常 HITASY 为对照,用磷酸钙共沉淀法将重组逆转录病毒载体转染 293 细胞,包装出完整的逆转录病毒后,感染 HITASY. 经 G418 筛选,获得稳定感染的细胞克隆 . 应用免疫荧光染色、蛋白质印迹等方法检测 CREG 和平滑肌分化标志蛋白α- 肌动蛋白 (SMα -actin) 表达,同时通过刮伤实验、慢速显微摄像技术检测细胞迁移能力以及用明胶酶谱方法分析细胞基质金属蛋白酶 (matrix metalloproteinase , MMPs) 的活性 . 结果表明： pLNCX₂( ＋ )/CREG 稳定感染的 HITASY 中 CREG 和 SMα-actin 蛋白表达上调, MMP-2 和 MMP-9 活性升高,细胞迁移速度加快; pLXSN( － )/CREG 稳定感染的 HITASY 中 CREG 和 SMα -actin 蛋白表达下调, MMP-2 和 MMP-9 活性降低,细胞迁移速度减慢 . 上述研究提示 CREG 在诱导血管平滑肌细胞分化的同时促进细胞迁移 .     

CREG促进小鼠腹腔巨噬细胞溶酶体发生及溶酶体组织蛋白酶表达*

目的:研究E1A激活基因阻遏子(Cellular repressor of E1A-stimulated genes,CREG)对小鼠腹腔巨噬细胞溶酶体发生及溶酶体组织蛋白酶表达的影响。方法:应用loss-of-function和gain-of-function模型,Lysotracker Red染色和透射电镜观察CREG对小鼠腹腔巨噬细胞溶酶体发生的影响,并通过细胞免疫荧光染色和Western blot方法,观察CREG对小鼠腹腔巨噬细胞溶酶体组织蛋白酶表达的影响。结果:Lysotracker Red染色和透射电镜证实CREG可促进小鼠腹腔巨噬细胞溶酶体发生;细胞免疫荧光染色和Western blot方法证实CREG可促进小鼠腹腔巨噬细胞溶酶体组织蛋白酶cathepsin B及cathepsin S表达。结论:CREG可促进小鼠腹腔巨噬细胞溶酶体发生及组织蛋白酶cathepsin B及cathepsin S表达。     

E1A激活基因阻遏子过表达抑制体外人血管平滑肌细胞凋亡

为探讨E1A激活基因阻遏子（cellular repressor of E1A-stimulated genes,CREG）对人血管平滑肌细胞（vascular smooth muscl ecells,VSMCs）凋亡的影响及调控机制,应用正、反义重组逆转录病毒表达载体pLNCX,（＋）／CREG及pLXSN（-）／CREG制备稳定感染人胸廓内动脉平滑肌细胞克隆株（human internal thoracic artery-Shenyang,HITASY）细胞模型,观察CREG蛋白过表达及表达抑制对平滑肌细胞凋亡的影响。荧光显微镜下观察DAPI染色后凋亡细胞核形态,AnnexinV／PI流式细胞术检测细胞凋亡率,RT-PCR技术分析凋亡相关基因caspase-9mRNA的表达,蛋白质印迹法分析p38丝裂原活化蛋白激酶（p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase,p38MAPK）、磷酸化p38MAPK（phosphorylated p38 mitogen-activated proteinkinase,P-p38 MAPK）的表达变化。研究结果显示,CREG蛋白过表达明显抑制血清饥饿诱导的HITASY细胞凋亡的发生;同时细胞中p38MAPK、P-p38MAPK的表达增加。相反,抑制CREG蛋白表达则引起正常血清培养状态下VSMCs的自发凋亡明显增加,同时细胞内p38MAPK、P-p38MAPK表达显著下降。进一步研究发现,预先应用特异性抑制剂SB203580阻断p38MAPK信号转导通路后,CREG蛋白过表达引起的细胞凋亡抑制作用被明显减弱,血清饥饿后CREG蛋白过表达引起的HITASY细胞凋亡现象明显增加。上述结果提示,CREG蛋白过表达可以抑制体外培养的VSMCs凋亡,p38MAPK信号转导通路可能介导CREG蛋白对VSMCs凋亡的抑制作用。     

RhoA和血清反应因子(SRF)介导E1A激活基因阻遏子诱导人血管平滑肌细胞分化

为探讨E1A激活基因阻遏子(CREG)对人血管平滑肌细胞(VSMCs)分化的调控机制,应用重组逆转录病毒表达载体pLNCX2( )/CREG及pLXSN(-)/CREG制备稳定感染HITASY细胞模型,观察CREG蛋白过表达及表达抑制对人VSMCs分化的影响并探讨其调控机制.结果显示:pLNCX2( )/CREG稳定感染细胞呈分化表型,细胞细长变成组织样聚集生长趋势,细胞中CREG蛋白和平滑肌分化标志蛋白平滑肌α-肌动蛋白(SMα-actin)表达显著增加,同时SMα-actin相关调控因子——血清反应因子(SRF)入核转位,RhoA总蛋白表达上调,以Rho激酶特异性抑制剂Y-27632作用后,CREG诱导的SMα-actin表达下调的同时SRF出核转位;pLXSN(-)/CREG稳定感染的细胞体积变大,细胞极性消失,呈无序生长,细胞中CREG和SMα-actin蛋白表达显著降低,同时伴有SRF出核转位及RhoA总蛋白表达下调.免疫共沉淀分析发现,CREG蛋白能被分泌到VSMCs培养基中表达,并可与细胞膜受体6-磷酸甘露糖/胰岛素样生长因子Ⅱ型受体(M6P/IGF2R)发生直接相互作用.用蛋白磷酸酶PP2A特异性抑制剂okadaicacid减少M6P/IGF2R在细胞膜表面分布,可明显抑制CREG过表达引起的RhoA、SRF和SMα-actin表达.上述结果提示,在体外培养的人VSMCs中,CREG可能作为一种分泌型蛋白质通过与细胞膜受体M6P/IGF2R相互作用,依次激活SMα-actin蛋白相关调控因子RhoA和SRF引起SMα-actin表达增加,促进VSMCs向分化表型转换.     

重组人E1A激活基因阻遏子/myc-His融合糖蛋白的纯化及功能鉴定

目的:纯化重组人E1A激活基因阻遏子(hCREG)糖蛋白,验证重组hCREG糖蛋白具有抑制体外培养的人胸廓内动脉平滑肌细胞(HITASY)增殖的生物学功能。方法:根据6×His亲和层析原理,应用Ni-NTA柱纯化重组hCREG蛋白,纯化后蛋白通过HiTrap脱盐柱脱盐。用流式细胞周期分析研究添加0.5μg/ml、1μg/ml及2μg/ml重组hCREG/myc-His融合糖蛋白对体外培养HITASY细胞增殖的影响。用BrdU掺入方法研究重组蛋白对体外培养HITASY细胞增殖的影响。结果:根据6×His亲和层析原理用Ni-NTA纯化重组hCREG蛋白,浓缩并脱盐后的重组hCREG蛋白浓度为1.6mg/ml,纯度为92%,此蛋白仍保留了糖基化形式。流式细胞仪细胞周期分析结果提示重组hCREG蛋白可抑制体外培养的HITASY细胞增殖,且低浓度组的抑制效应要高于高浓度组。BrdU掺入实验结果提示,添加2μg/ml重组hCREG蛋白组与对照组相比可显著抑制体外培养的HITASY细胞增殖,组间比较有统计学差异(P0.05)。结论:具有生物学功能的重组hCREG/myc-His糖蛋白的成功纯化,为hCREG蛋白的功能研究及生物工程制备提供了实验平台。     

转录因子E2F1抑制CREG表达调控体外培养的人血管平滑肌细胞分化

为探讨转录因子E2F1在血管平滑肌细胞(vascular smooth muscle cells,VSMCs)表型转化中的作用及其对E1A激活基因阻遏子(cellular repressor of E1A-stimulated genes,CREG)表达调控的分子机制,应用生物信息学方法,定位人CREG(hCREG)基因启动子并确定转录因子E2F1在hCREG启动子区的结合位点,PCR方法克隆并构建hCREG基因启动子绿色荧光报告基因载体,以hCREG启动子区E2F1结合位点为模板,化学合成E2F1寡聚脱氧核苷酸(ODN)和错配E2F1ODN,利用转录因子"诱骗(Decoy)"策略,用E2F1ODN转染体外培养的VSMCs以阻断E2F1与hCREG基因启动子区的结合,蛋白质印迹(Western blot)分析检测阻断前后细胞内hCREG蛋白、报告基因绿色荧光蛋白(green fluorescent protein,GFP)和平滑肌细胞分化标志蛋白SMα-actin表达变化.结果显示:分化表型HITASY细胞中E2F1表达下调伴出核转位,而增殖表型的HITASY细胞中E2F1蛋白表达明显增加且定位于核内.进一步应用FuGene6瞬时转染E2F1ODN和错配E2F1ODN于体外培养HITASY细胞中,蛋白质印迹分析发现,转染E2F1ODN后,HITASY细胞中hCREG、SMα-actin和GFP表达均较未阻断组及错配组细胞明显增加.上述研究结果证实,E2F1是hCREG基因转录的重要调控因子,能够直接结合于hCREG启动子区阻遏hCREG表达,参与hCREG蛋白对VSMCs表型转化的调控作用.     

E1A激活基因阻遏子基因表达变化与颈动脉血管重塑的关系

E1A激活基因阻遏子(CREG)是一种广泛表达的小分子糖蛋白,但其生物学功能仍不完全清楚.为了探索病理性血管重塑的病理生理机制以及CREG在其中发挥的调控作用,采用颈动脉导丝损伤模型构建小鼠病理性血管重塑模型,应用小动物超声、Masson染色、免疫组织化学染色、RT-PCR、Western-blot等方法检测小鼠颈动脉内膜-中膜厚度、胶原含量、Ⅰ型胶原和CREG表达变化.结果表明,小鼠颈动脉损伤后3 d血管壁CREG m RNA和蛋白质水平迅速下降,损伤后7 d CREG表达回升,至损伤后14 d和28 d基本恢复到正常对照组水平.血管损伤后3 d血管壁中Ⅰ型胶原m RNA水平开始升高,损伤后7 d血管壁开始增厚,管壁中Ⅰ型胶原表达水平继续增高,损伤后14 d和28 d新生内膜形成,管腔严重狭窄,Ⅰ型胶原在管壁和新生内膜内大量表达.血管损伤早期CREG表达水平的变化与病理性血管重塑程度呈负相关关系,CREG的表达为先迅速降低,再逐渐回升,而胶原表达和血管重塑程度则表现为持续加重.上述研究结果提示,CREG基因表达参与血管损伤导致的病理性血管重塑过程,并可能决定了血管重塑的进程和结局.     

E1A激活基因阻遏子过表达诱导体外培养大鼠平滑肌细胞分化

为探讨E1A激活基因阻遏子蛋白(CREG)对血管平滑肌细胞表型转换的调控机制,应用pRC/CMV-hCREG真核表达载体转染体外培养的大鼠血管平滑肌细胞(VSMCs),观察了转染前后细胞的表型改变.结果发现,pRC/CMV-hCREG质粒转染后,大鼠平滑肌细胞增殖受抑,细胞分化标志蛋白SM α-actin表达显著增加.免疫共沉淀分析发现,CREG与血清反应因子(SRF)发生相互作用形成复合体,在CREG基因过表达时,与CREG结合的SRF蛋白增加.凝胶迁移阻滞分析(GSMA)和抗体凝胶迁移阻滞分析(supershift)显示,过表达的CREG蛋白与SRF蛋白共同结合到 SM α-actin基因启动子区CArG位点上,可能参与 SM α-actin表达的调控. 构建SM α-actin promoter- pCAT^® 3报告基因载体并与pRC/CMV-hCREG质粒共转染VSMCs也证实,CREG蛋白过表达可增强SM α-actin基因表达.上述研究提示,CREG蛋白可能是调控VSMCs表型转换的重要分子.     

Apelin-13促进血管平滑肌细胞增殖、迁移和血管新生内膜增生

研究apelin-13对血管平滑肌细胞（vascular smooth muscle cell, VSMC）增殖和迁移的影响及其作用机制.用免疫印迹分析检测apelin-13对VSMC增殖、迁移以及分化相关基因表达的影响,结果表明,apelin-13能以时间和浓度依赖的方式诱导VSMC增殖和迁移相关基因cyclin D1和MMP-2表达,促进细胞增殖和迁移;同时使VSMC分化标志基因SM22α和SM α-actin表达水平降低.而且,用鬼笔环肽对细胞骨架进行染色的结果显示,apelin-13可以促进VSMC从收缩表型向增殖表型转化.体内实验也表明,敲低apelin可抑制球囊损伤诱导的新生内膜形成,提示apelin-13在体内具有促进血管新生内膜形成的作用.总之,本文结果表明,apelin 13通过调节VSMC增殖、迁移以及分化基因表达,进而促进其从分化型向增殖型转化,并向内膜下迁移和增殖.     

Cellular repressor of E1A-stimulated genes regulates vascular endothelial cell migration by the ILK/AKT/mTOR/VEGF(165) signaling pathway

The migration of vascular endothelial cells plays a critical role in a variety of vascular physiological and pathological processes, such as embryonic development, angiogenesis, wound healing, re-endothelialization, and vascular remodeling. This study clarified the role and mechanism of a new vascular homeostasis regulator, Cellular repressor of E1A-stimulated genes (CREG), in the migration of primary human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). A wound healing assay and transwell migration model showed that upregulation of CREG expression induced HUVEC migration and it was positively correlated with the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor. Furthermore, wild type integrin-linked kinase reversed the poor mobility of CREG knock-down HUVECs; in contrast, kinase-dead integrin-linked kinase weakened the migration of HUVECs. We also studied the effect of CREG on HUVEC migration by the addition of an mTOR inhibitor, recombinant vascular endothelial growth factor₁₆₅, neutralizing antibody of vascular endothelial growth factor₁₆₅ and AKT siRNA, and we concluded that CREG induces endothelial cell migration by activating the integrin-linked kinase/AKT/mTOR/VEGF₁₆₅ signaling pathway.     

IQGAP1-Dependent Signaling Pathway Regulates Endothelial Cell Proliferation and Angiogenesis

Background

Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR-2) signaling is an obligate requirement for normal development and pathological angiogenesis such as cancer and age-related macular degeneration. Although autophosphorylation of tyrosine 1173 (Y1173) of VEGFR-2 is considered a focal point for its angiogenic signal relay, however, the mechanism of phosphorylation of Y1173, signaling proteins that are recruited to this residue and their role in angiogenesis is not fully understood.

Methodology/Principal Findings

In this study we demonstrate that c-Src kinase directly through its Src homology 2 (SH2) domain and indirectly via c-Cbl binds to phospho-Y1057 of VEGFR-2. Activation of c-Src kinase by a positive feedback mechanism phosphorylates VEGFR-2 at multi-docking site, Y1173. c-Src also catalyzes tyrosine phosphorylation of IQGAP1 and acts as an adaptor to bridge IQGAP1 to VEGFR-2. In turn, IQGAP1 activates b-Raf and mediates proliferation of endothelial cells. Silencing expression of IQGAP1 and b-Raf revealed that their activity is essential for VEGF to stimulate angiogenesis in an in vivo angiogenesis model of chicken chorioallantoic membrane (CAM).

Conclusions/Significance

Angiogenesis contributes to the pathology of numerous human diseases ranging from cancer to age-related macular degeneration. Determining molecular mechanism of tyrosine phosphorylation of VEGFR-2 and identification of molecules that are relaying its angiogenic signaling may identify novel targets for therapeutic intervention against angiogenesis-associated diseases. Our study shows that recruitment and activation of c-Src by VEGFR-2 plays a pivotal role in relaying angiogenic signaling of VEGFR-2; it phosphorylates VEGFR-2 at Y1173, facilitates association and activation of IQGAP1 and other signaling proteins to VEGFR-2. IQGAP1-dependent signaling, in part, is critically required for endothelial cell proliferation, a key step in angiogenesis. Thus, Y1057 of VEGFR-2 serves to regulate VEGFR-2 function in a combinatorial manner by supporting both diversity of recruitment of angiogenic signaling proteins to VEGFR-2, and its ability to promote angiogenesis.     

Akt1 in Endothelial Cell and Angiogenesis

Akt, also known as Protein kinase B (PKB), regulates essential cellular functions such as migration, proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, and metabolism. Akt influences the expression and/or activity of various pro- and anti-angiogenic factors and Akt isoforms (Akt1, Akt2 and Akt3) have been proposed as therapeutic targets for angiogenesis-related anomalies such as cancer and ischemic injury.     

Cellular repressor of E1A-stimulated genes attenuates cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis

Cellular repressor of E1A-stimulated genes (CREG) is a secreted glycoprotein of 220 amino acids. It has been proposed that CREG acts as a ligand that enhances differentiation and/or reduces cell proliferation. CREG has been shown previously to attenuate cardiac hypertrophy in vitro . However, such a role has not been determined in vivo . In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that overexpression of CREG in the murine heart would protect against cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis in vivo . The effects of constitutive human CREG expression on cardiac hypertrophy were investigated using both in vitro and in vivo models. Cardiac hypertrophy was produced by aortic banding and infusion of angiotensin II in CREG transgenic mice and control animals. The extent of cardiac hypertrophy was quantitated by two-dimensional and M-mode echocardiography as well as by molecular and pathological analyses of heart samples. Constitutive over-expression of human CREG in the murine heart attenuated the hypertrophic response, markedly reduced inflammation. Cardiac function was also preserved in hearts with increased CREG levels in response to hypertrophic stimuli. These beneficial effects were associated with attenuation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)-extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1 (MEK-ERK1)/2-dependent signalling cascade. In addition, CREG expression blocked fibrosis and collagen synthesis through blocking MEK-ERK1/2-dependent Smad 2/3 activation in vitro and in vivo . Therefore, the expression of CREG improves cardiac functions and inhibits cardiac hypertrophy, inflammation and fibrosis through blocking MEK-ERK1/2-dependent signalling.