活性氧类与mTOR信号通路

哺乳动物雷帕霉素靶蛋白(mammalian target of rapamycin,mTOR)是整合细胞内外各种信号,调节蛋白质翻译与细胞生长增殖等多种生理活动的中心信号分子。活性氧类(reactive oxygen species,ROS)作为第二信使分子,可介导多种细胞信号通路并发挥广泛的生理效应。近年的研究发现ROS可通过一定的途径激活或抑制mTOR通路。而作为反馈调节,mTOR通路活性的轻度上调可促进细胞抗氧化物质的生成,而过度激活则会促进ROS生成,并增加细胞对氧化应激的敏感性,形成正反馈。本文将ROS与mTOR之间相互调节与相互作用的特点及机制的研究进展作一综述。     

血管生成素基因组结合序列的筛选与鉴定

血管生成素（angiogenin,ANG）调控细胞增殖、迁移、分化等生物学过程,但其作用的分子机制尚未完全明了. 目前认为,ANG可结合到rDNA区域促进rRNA转录,也可能与mRNA有结合.为全面鉴定细胞内可结合ANG的基因组序列,我们利用染色质免疫共沉淀结合DNA芯片技术（ChIP-chip）对HeLa细胞的基因组DNA进行了筛选,共获得了1 248个结合片段. 我们进一步分析了这些结合片段附近分布的基因,发现有699个可能受ANG结合调控的基因. 基因注释和聚类分析显示,这些可能受ANG调控的基因主要与肿瘤发生发展有关（特别是结直肠癌和前列腺癌）,并且与TGF-β和Wnt信号通路相关. 最后,我们验证了ANG不仅与WNT6、CCNE1、APC2、FZD8和EGFR基因的启动子区域有直接结合,而且调控其表达.以上研究结果为深入研究ANG的功能机制提供了线索.     

Tadalafil Integrates Nitric Oxide-Hydrogen Sulfide Signaling to Inhibit High Glucose-induced Matrix Protein Synthesis in Podocytes

Diabetes-induced kidney cell injury involves an increase in matrix protein expression that is only partly alleviated by current treatment, prompting a search for new modalities. We have previously shown that hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) inhibits high glucose-induced protein synthesis in kidney podocytes. We tested whether tadalafil, a phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitor used to treat erectile dysfunction, ameliorates high glucose stimulation of matrix proteins by generating H₂S in podocytes. Tadalafil abrogated high glucose stimulation of global protein synthesis and matrix protein laminin γ1. Tadalafil inhibited high glucose-induced activation of mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 and laminin γ1 accumulation in an AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)-dependent manner. Tadalafil increased AMPK phosphorylation by stimulating calcium-calmodulin kinase kinase β. Tadalafil rapidly increased the expression and activity of the H₂S-generating enzyme cystathionine γ-lyase (CSE) by promoting its translation. dl-Propargylglycine, a CSE inhibitor, and siRNA against CSE inhibited tadalafil-induced AMPK phosphorylation and abrogated the tadalafil effect on high glucose stimulation of laminin γ1. In tadalafil-treated podocytes, we examined the interaction between H₂S and nitric oxide (NO). N^ω-Nitro-l-arginine methyl ester and 1H-[1,2,4]-oxadiazolo-[4,3-a]-quinoxalin-1-one, inhibitors of NO synthase (NOS) and soluble guanylyl cyclase, respectively, abolished tadalafil induction of H₂S and AMPK phosphorylation. Tadalafil rapidly augmented inducible NOS (iNOS) expression by increasing its mRNA, and siRNA for iNOS and 1400W, an iNOS blocker, inhibited tadalafil stimulation of CSE expression and AMPK phosphorylation. We conclude that tadalafil amelioration of high glucose stimulation of synthesis of proteins including matrix proteins in podocytes requires integration of the NO-H₂S-AMPK axis leading to the inhibition of high glucose-induced mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 activity and mRNA translation.     

mTOR信号通路对脂肪生成的调控作用

脂肪组织是一种主要的能量储存和内分泌器官。脂肪生成是一系列复杂的细胞分化过程,受到细胞营养水平、激素和代谢物等调节。哺乳动物雷帕霉素靶蛋白(mammalian target of rapamycin, mTOR)复合物包括哺乳动物雷帕霉素靶蛋白复合体1(mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1,mTORC1)和mTORC2两种蛋白质复合体。mTOR复合物含有的脂质激酶样域奠定了mTOR通路调控脂肪生成的基础。对mTORC1和mTORC2的部分组成蛋白质研究也验证了mTOR调控成脂的功能。基于前期的研究,我们综述了miR-199a-3p、miR-103、miR-188、68 kD有丝分裂中的Src相关底物(Src-associated substrate in mitosis of 68 kD,Sam68)、内皮抑素等物质通过mTORC1和mTORC2蛋白质复合体调控脂肪生成的机制。同时,进一步构建了包括胰岛素/IGF通路、PI3K-AKT通路、氨基酸通路、AMPK通路、cAMP通路、cGMP通路、NOTCH通路以及影响上述通路的bta-miR-15...     

亚精胺诱导自噬的作用机制

亚精胺(spermidine)是含有3个胺基的低分子量脂肪族碳化物,是存在于所有生物体中的天然多胺之一。自噬(autophagy)对于降解细胞内受损蛋白质和细胞器是必需的。外源性亚精胺可作为自噬的天然诱导剂,并且是安全和无毒的。新近研究表明,亚精胺可通过AKT/AMPK-FoxO3-Atg途径诱导自噬,还能促进组蛋白脱乙酰基酶4(histone deacetylase 4,HDAC4)向细胞核转运,降低细胞质HDAC4含量,进而增强微管相关蛋白1S(microtubule-associated protein 1S,MAP1S)乙酰化和稳定性以激活自噬。此外,亚精胺可作为乙酰转移酶抑制剂调节EP300活性,进而改变Atg5、Atg7、LC3和Atg12的乙酰化状态。同时,还可通过诱导哺乳动物雷帕霉素靶蛋白(mammalian target of rapamycin,mTOR)去磷酸化,激活ULK1/2-Atg13-FIP200复合物参与调控动物机体内的自噬过程。本文就自噬概念和亚精胺诱导自噬作用途径的最新研究进展作一综述。     

Rapamycin inhibits the invasive ability of thyroid cancer cells by down‐regulating the expression of VEGF‐C in vitro

The aim of this study was to observe the effects of rapamycin on proliferation, apoptosis and invasion of SW579 in vitro. The proliferation and apoptosis of SW579 cells were detected by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium and flow cytometry. Transwell assay was used to observe the changes of invasive ability of SW579 cells after being treated with rapamycin. The effects of rapamycin on the expression of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signalling and vascular endothelial growth factor C (VEGF‐C) were observed by Western blot. The inhibition and apoptosis rates increased obviously when the concentration of rapamycin was 20 nm. When the rapamycin concentration was 10 nm, the invasive ability of SW579 cells changed significantly than when it was 5 nm. Our data showed that when the concentrations of rapamycin were over 20 nm, the expression of mTOR and p70S6K decreased significantly, and the expression of PTEN increased notably. There were no remarkable variations observed when we detected the expression of Akt. We found the expression of VEGF‐C was high in SW579 cells and decreased slightly when the cells were treated with 5 nm rapamycin. When the concentration of rapamycin was over 5 nm, significant changes were observed. Rapamycin could inhibit the proliferation and induce the apoptosis of human thyroid cancer cells in vitro by mTOR inhibition. No obvious changes observed in the expression of AKT indicated that there might be a feedback loop effect by the mTOR inhibition induced by rapamycin. Rapamycin could inhibit the invasive ability of SW579 cells by down‐regulating the expression of VEGF‐C. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Anti-proliferative effect of rosiglitazone on angiotensin II-induced vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation is mediated by the mTOR pathway

VSMC (vascular smooth muscle cell) proliferation contributes significantly to intimal thickening in atherosclerosis, restenosis and venous bypass graft diseases. Ang II (angiotensin II) has been implicated in VSMC proliferation though the activation of multiple growth-promoting signals. Although TZDs (thiazolidinediones) can inhibit VSMC proliferation and reduce Ang II-induced fibrosis, the mechanism underlying the inhibition of VSMC proliferation and fibrosis needs elucidation. We have used primary cultured rat aortic VSMCs and specific antibodies to investigate the inhibitory mechanism of rosiglitazone on Ang II-induced VSMC proliferation. Rosiglitazone treatment significantly inhibited Ang II-induced rat aortic VSMC proliferation in a dose-dependent manner. Western blot analysis showed that rosiglitazone significantly lowered phosphorylated ERK1/2 (extracellular-signal-regulated kinase 1/2), Akt (also known as protein kinase B), mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin), p70S6K (70 kDa S6 kinase) and 4EBP1 (eukaryotic initiation factor 4E-binding protein) levels in Ang II-treated VSMCs. In addition, PPAR-γ (peroxisome-proliferator-activated receptor γ) mRNA increased significantly and CTGF (connective tissue growth factor), Fn (fibronectin) and Col III (collagen III) levels decreased significantly. The results demonstrate that the rosiglitazone directly inhibits the pro-atherosclerotic effect of Ang II on rat aortic VSMCs. It also attenuates Ang II-induced ECM (extracellular matrix) molecules and CTGF production in rat aortic VSMCs, reducing fibrosis. Importantly, PPAR-γ activation mediates these effects, in part, through the mTOR-p70S6K and -4EBP1 system.     

脂肪组织中自噬信号通路及其功能

细胞自噬是一种真核生物中高度保守的代谢过程,包括巨自噬、微自噬以及分子伴侣介导的自噬等。自噬过程可以清除受损的细胞器,降解糖原、脂类和蛋白质等生物大分子物质,供细胞重新利用,维持细胞内代谢平衡。自噬障碍与多种疾病的病理发生过程息息相关,包括肿瘤、2型糖尿病、肥胖、骨骼肌病以及神经退行性疾病等。脂肪组织是人体脂质储存的重要场所,广泛分布于全身各处,如内脏和皮下等。脂肪组织通过储存冗余脂肪并分泌脂肪因子,防止脂肪的异位堆积和脂毒性的发生,维持机体的脂质稳态。近期的许多研究表明,自噬进程深度参与脂肪细胞的细胞分化与能量代谢。因此,深入探究脂肪组织自噬过程与机体脂质稳态的调控关系,有利于揭示机体脂质平衡的内在机制,为新型药物靶点的开发提供扎实的理论依据和数据支持。本文就近年来关于自噬影响脂肪组织脂质代谢的最新研究进展作一综述。     

Nutrient-regulated Phosphorylation of ATG13 Inhibits Starvation-induced Autophagy

Autophagy is a conserved catabolic process that utilizes a defined series of membrane trafficking events to generate a de novo double-membrane vesicle termed the autophagosome, which matures by fusing to the lysosome. Subsequently, the lysosome facilitates the degradation and recycling of the cytoplasmic cargo. In yeast, the upstream signals that regulate the induction of starvation-induced autophagy are clearly defined. The nutrient-sensing kinase Tor inhibits the activation of autophagy by regulating the formation of the Atg1-Atg13-Atg17 complex, through hyperphosphorylation of Atg13. However, in mammals, the ortholog complex ULK1-ATG13-FIP200 is constitutively formed. As such, the molecular mechanism by which mTOR regulates mammalian autophagy is unknown. Here we report the identification and characterization of novel nutrient-regulated phosphorylation sites on ATG13: Ser-224 and Ser-258. mTOR directly phosphorylates ATG13 on Ser-258 while Ser-224 is modulated by the AMPK pathway. In ATG13 knock-out cells reconstituted with an unphosphorylatable mutant of ATG13, ULK1 kinase activity is more potent, and amino acid starvation induced more rapid ATG13 and ULK1 translocation. These events culminated in a more rapid starvation-induced autophagy response. Therefore, ATG13 phosphorylation plays a crucial role in autophagy regulation.     

mTOR及其底物在HeLa细胞的细胞周期不同时相中的表达

为探讨细胞生长的机制 ,用RT PCR、Western印迹及蛋白激酶活性测定等方法对同步化的HeLa细胞的细胞周期不同时相中mTOR(mammaliantargetofrapamycin) ,p70S6激酶 (p70S6K)的α1 、α2 、β1 、β2 不同亚型及起始因子 4E结合蛋白 1 (4EBP1 )的表达进行了检测 .RT PCR的结果表明 :在G1 、S1 、G2 、M1 、M2 几个细胞周期时相中 ,mTOR的mRNA表达无明显变化 .mTOR的底物P70S6K的亚型α1 、α2 、β1 、β2 在M期表达均有明显增加 .4EBP1的表达在M期明显减少 .免疫印迹的结果与RT PCR的一致 ,即M期p70S6K的α1 、α2 、均有增加 ,4EBP1在M期减少 .活性测定表明 ,G2 期、M期mTOR较其它期有明显增加 ,4EBP1在M期活性有所下降 .研究结果表明 :mTOR、p70S6K、4EBP1很可能在HeLa细胞的生长中起重要的调节作用     

Rapamycin combined with MCC950 to treat multiple sclerosis in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a highly disabling demyelinating disease, which mainly affects young adults and is difficult to cure. Activated microglia may be involved in the process of neuronal cell damage and release inflammatory cytokines to injure neurons. Rapamycin (RAPA), an immunosuppressant, can induce autophagy in microglia to delay the process of the disease. As an inhibitor of NLRP3, MCC950 (CP-456773) can regulate the activation of inflammasome. An experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis model, a disease model of MS, was established to detect the role of activated microglia in the dynamic evolution of MS. Our research showed that RAPA and MCC950 could reduce both the clinical symptom and the release of cytokines in immune cells. MCC950 reduced interleukin-1β (IL-1β) production in vivo and enhanced the effect of RAPA. We hypothesized that inflammation and demyelination in the central nervous system can be reduced by inhibiting the immune response mediated by microglia. This study provides theoretical support to the therapeutic evaluation of RAPA and MCC950 to make the mammalian targets of RAPA and NLRP3 the therapeutic targets of MS.