PUMA作为细胞保护和肿瘤治疗靶点的研究进展

PUMA(p53 up-regulated modulator of apoptosis)是Bcl-2蛋白家族的促凋亡成员之一,具有强大的促凋亡作用。研究发现PUMA表达水平的降低与肿瘤的发生密切相关,上调PUMA在肿瘤细胞中的表达可以增强肿瘤细胞对放化疗的敏感性。PUMA的缺失可以有效降低由放、化疗引起的正常组织损伤。该文简要综述了PUMA在肿瘤治疗以及在放化疗引起的正常组织损伤中的作用进展。     

PUMA与心肌细胞凋亡的研究进展

p53上调的凋亡调节物(p53 upregulated modulator of apoptosis,PUMA)是新近发现的一种具有促凋亡作用的p53靶基因.与以往发现的其他p53靶基因比较,PUMA在促凋亡作用中有两个重要的特点:一是PUMA几乎介导p53依赖的所有凋亡信号;二是PUMA不仅介导p53依赖的凋亡信号,而且还可以介导p53非依赖的凋亡信号.也就是说,尽管PUMA是p53靶基因,但是其在p53非依赖细胞凋亡中也发挥重要作用.由此可见,PUMA是一个强大的促凋亡因子.在心肌细胞,PUMA参与缺血/再灌注、内质网应激、阿霉素等多种刺激诱导的细胞凋亡.因此,PUMA在心肌细胞凋亡中发挥重要作用.     

促凋亡基因p53AIP1的研究进展

p53AIPl基因是近年发现的促凋亡基因,在p53依赖性的凋亡通路中起重要作用。p53AIPl介导线粒体凋亡途径,其表达依赖于p53蛋白的Ser^46的磷酸化。p53AIPl可直接促进凋亡,其促凋亡作用可能强于p53本身,并对p53抗性的肿瘤细胞也有作用。因此,对p53AIPl的深入研究可能会为对p53基因治疗有抗性的肿瘤患者带来新的希望。     

p53转录非依赖活性介导细胞凋亡

p53主要通过两条途径诱导细胞凋亡：p53作为转录因子,促进细胞凋亡的靶基因的表达上调,如PUMA、NOXA、PIDD、p53AIP1、COP1等,并通过这些蛋白参与内源和外源凋亡途径;另一方面,胞浆中的p53能转位到线粒体,激活内源性的线粒体途径,促进凋亡。后者已成为研究p53促凋亡机制的热点。本文就p53对转录非依赖活性诱导细胞凋亡途径的研究进展作一概述。     

PUMA在结肠癌细胞中的表达及诱导细胞凋亡中的作用

目的:通过5-Fu诱导携带有野生型p53基因的HCT116和携带有突变性p53基因的HT-29两种结肠癌细胞系,比较两株细胞在各时间点凋亡水平和PUMA mRNA表达情况的差异,探讨PUMA对细胞凋亡的作用及诱导其表达的基本途径。方法:用逆转录聚合酶链反应(RT—PCR)检测不同结肠癌细胞株HT-29、HCT116在抗肿瘤药物5-Fu作用下不同时间点结肠癌细胞株内PUMA mRNA表达水平的差异,用吖啶橙/溴化乙啶(AO/EB)荧光染色检测各时间点细胞的凋亡水平,分析其与PUMAmRNA表达水平之间的关系。结果:携带有野生型P53基因的结肠癌细胞株HCT116在5-Fu作用下6h即可出现PUMA mRNA的表达,随着药物作用时间的延长其表达强度增加,并且与细胞凋亡水平呈正相关;含有突变型P53基因的结肠癌细胞株HT-29在5-Fu作用下无PUMA的表达。结论:通过5-Fu诱导细胞凋亡出现的PUMA表达需要野生型P53基因,突变型P53基因无法诱导PUMA的表达。PUMA与结肠癌细胞凋亡水平呈正相关,是一种促凋亡蛋白。     

穿心莲内酯恢复突变型p53野生型功能的作用及机制研究

目的 p53是人体内重要的肿瘤抑制因子,但在人类肿瘤中因高频突变而失去抑癌功能。突变型p53 (mutant p53,mutp53)可促进肿瘤的发生、发展和转移。由于在肿瘤细胞中通常有较高表达,mutp53已成为区别于正常细胞的一个特异性抗肿瘤靶点。本研究旨在探索穿心莲内酯的抗肿瘤作用机制,为寻找靶向mutp53的抗肿瘤化合物提供理论依据。方法 构建可以快速筛选具有恢复mutp53下游转录因子的荧光素酶系统,观察穿心莲内酯对H1299-p53 R273H-PUMAluciferase和H1299-p53R175H-PUMA-luciferase细胞中PUMA基因的表达情况;采用免疫荧光实验,检测穿心莲内酯对HT29(R273H)和SK-BR-3 (R175H)细胞中mutp53的表达影响;采用免疫印迹实验进一步观察穿心莲内酯恢复了mutp53肿瘤细胞中p53下游靶蛋白PUMA、p21、Noxa的表达;随后采用MTT和流式细胞分析,检测穿心莲内酯对肿瘤细胞增殖和凋亡的影响;此外,还通过si RNA敲低Hsp70表达后,研究穿心莲内酯对mutp53下游基因的重激活作用。结果 穿心莲内酯可以...     

p53上调凋亡调制物的促凋亡作用

p53上调凋亡调制物(p53up-regulated modulator of apoptosis,PUMA)是Bcl-2家族中BH3-only(Bcl-2 homology 3-only)蛋白质家族成员,通过其BH3结构域与所有的Bcl-2抗凋亡蛋白质结合,引发线粒体功能障碍和胱天蛋白酶(caspase)级联反应,诱导细胞凋亡。PUMA被证实在多种病理性应激介导的细胞凋亡中发挥着至关重要的作用,因而成为近年研究的热点。     

槲皮素对结肠癌细胞生长的影响

通过MTT试验观察槲皮素对结肠癌细胞系RKO生长的影响;通过流式细胞仪技术观察槲皮素对细胞周期和细胞凋亡的影响;采用RT-PCR和western印迹技术,确定槲皮素对p21、p27和p53表达的影响.MTT法显示槲皮素加药组生长抑制作用明显,且具有剂量依赖性;流式细胞仪分析结果显示,经5μmol/L槲皮素作用后细胞周期明显阻滞在G0/G1期;5、10、20μmol/L3个剂量组的细胞凋亡率分别为23.4%、24.2%、47.9%,而对照组为13.2%;p21和p27的mRNA及蛋白质表达水平上调,促凋亡蛋白p53表达水平上调.因此,槲皮素对RKO生长有明显的抑制作用,槲皮素可能通过上调p21和p27表达使RKO细胞周期阻滞于G0/G1期,可能通过上调促凋亡蛋白p53表达诱导RKO细胞发生凋亡.     

靶向PUMA的siRNA对缺氧/复氧诱导大鼠心肌细胞凋亡的保护作用

为探讨p53上调凋亡调制物(p53 up-regulated modulator of apoptosis,PUMA)在大鼠心肌细胞缺氧/复氧(hypoxia/reoxygenatio,H/R)损伤中的作用,本研究将靶向PUMA的siRNA(si-PUMA)转染大鼠心肌细胞以建立PUMA沉默表达模型,观察其对心肌细胞H/R损伤的影响.RT-PCR和Western印迹结果表明,最适转染浓度50 nmol/L si-PUMA能靶向抑制H/R损伤心肌细胞的PUMA表达;MTT法检测心肌细胞存活率及培养基乳酸脱氢酶(lactate dehydrogenase,LDH)活性测定结果发现,si-PUMA组细胞存活率较H/R 6 h模型组明显提高,培养液中LDH活性显著降低(P<0.01);分光光度法及Annexin V-FITC/PI联合染色流式细胞凋亡检测结果显示,si-PUMA组caspase-3活性较H/R 6h组明显下调,细胞凋亡率明显降低(P<0.01);RT-PCR结果提示,与H/R6 h组相比,si-PUMA组Bax及Bcl-2表达分别出现显著下调及上调(P<0.05).以上结果表明,靶向PUMA的siRN...     

异构体ΔASPP2可拮抗ASPP2对p53（细胞）凋亡功能的增强作用

p53 凋亡刺激蛋白2(apoptosis stimulating protein 2 of p53, ASPP2)能够与p53 蛋白结合特异性地增强其促细胞凋亡功能,进而发挥肿瘤抑制作用．我们发现的1个比ASPP2少300多个N端氨基酸的异构体ΔASPP2.目前,ΔASPP2对p53起何种作用尚不清楚．在本研究中,我们构建了rAd-ASPP2、rAd-ΔASPP2腺病毒,利用rAd-p53、rAd-ASPP2、rAd-ΔASPP2 感染p53缺失的细胞系H1299,在MMS的作用下研究ASPP2 和 ΔASPP2 对p53介导的细胞凋亡的影响．结果发现,p53自身过表达能明显促进肿瘤细胞的凋亡;ASPP2可显著增强p53介导的MMS引起的H1299细胞凋亡的作用;然而,ΔASPP2对p53介导的细胞凋亡没有明显影响但却显著抑制rAd-ASPP2 增强的rAd-p53的促细胞凋亡作用．p53-ASPP2 复合体可能改变p53 蛋白的构象,促进p53 和增强子Bax的结合活性．p53 转录调控基因的表达研究显示,ΔASPP2的存在可显著抑制ASPP2增强p53 介导的bax基因转录活性, 提示ΔASPP2可能与ASPP2结合后来抑制p53的凋亡基因转录活性．     

Uncoupling of PUMA Expression and Apoptosis Contributes to Functional Heterogeneity in Renal Cell Carcinoma — Prognostic and Translational Implications

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is characterized by a profound disruption of proapoptotic signaling networks leading to chemo- and radioresistance. A key mediator of DNA damage-induced apoptosis is the BH3-only protein PUMA. Given its central role in proapoptotic signaling, we analyzed a series of more than 600 precision-annotated primary RCC specimens for PUMA protein expression. We found a reduced expression of PUMA in 22.6% of RCCs analyzed. Unexpectedly, however, PUMA deficiency was not associated with more aggressive tumor characteristic as expected. Instead, a reduced PUMA expression was associated with a lower TNM stage, lower histopathologic grade, and more favorable cancer-specific patient survival. A direct correlation in a separate patient cohort revealed a profound disconnection between PUMA expression and apoptosis as exemplified by the fact that the tumor with the highest level of apoptotic cells was PUMA deficient. In a series of in vitro studies, we corroborated these results and discovered the highest propensity to undergo apoptosis in an RCC cell line with virtually undetectable PUMA expression. At the same time, PUMA expression was not necessarily associated with stronger apoptosis induction, which underscores the striking functional heterogeneity of PUMA expression and apoptosis in RCC. Collectively, our findings suggest that PUMA-independent mechanisms of cell death exist and may play an important role in suppressing malignant progression. They underscore the functional heterogeneity of RCCs and suggest that PUMA expression alone may not be a suitable predictive biomarker. A better understanding of alternative proapoptotic pathways, however, may help to design novel therapeutic strategies for patients with advanced RCC.     

Zinc Induces Expression of the BH3-only Protein PUMA Through p53 and ERK Pathways in SH-SY5Y Neuroblastoma Cells

Accumulating evidence suggests that zinc (Zn²⁺) contributes to neuronal death in pathologic states such as ischemia. p53-upregulated modulator of apoptosis (PUMA), which is a BH3-only protein, is known to promote apoptosis through a tumor suppressor p53-dependent and -independent mechanism. In this study, we examined the effect of Zn²⁺ on the induction of the PUMA gene in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells. The expression of PUMA was induced by Zn²⁺ in a dose- and time-dependent manner. A reporter assay revealed that Zn²⁺ activated the PUMA promoter. In addition, the mutation of the p53 binding site in the PUMA promoter region reduced promoter activation by Zn²⁺. These findings suggest that p53 participates in Zn²⁺-induced PUMA expression. Furthermore, we also demonstrated here that Zn²⁺ stimulates the phosphorylation of ERK and that the MEK-ERK pathway inhibitor, U0126, suppressed Zn²⁺-induced PUMA expression. Taken together, these results indicate that Zn²⁺ regulates the induction of PUMA through p53 and ERK pathways.     

FBXL20 promotes breast cancer malignancy by inhibiting apoptosis through degradation of PUMA and BAX

Apoptosis is a programmed cell death that efficiently removes damaged cells to maintain tissue homeostasis. Defect in apoptotic machinery can lead to tumor development, progression, and resistance to chemotherapy. PUMA (p53 upregulated modulator of apoptosis) and BAX (BCL2-associated X protein) are among the most well-known inducers of apoptosis. It has been reported that expression levels of BAX and PUMA are controlled at the posttranslational level by phosphorylation. However, the posttranslational regulation of these proapoptotic proteins remains largely unexplored. In this study, using biochemical, molecular biology, flow cytometric, and immunohistochemistry techniques, we show that PUMA and BAX are the direct target of the F-box protein FBXL20, which restricts their cellular levels. FBXL20 directs the proteasomal degradation of PUMA and BAX in a protein kinase AKT1-dependent manner to promote cancer cell proliferation and tumor growth. Interestingly, inactivation of AKT1 results in activation of another protein kinase GSK3α/β, which facilitates the proteasomal degradation of FBXL20 by another F-box protein, FBXO31. Thus, a switch between two signaling kinases AKT1 and GSK3α/β modulates the functional activity of these proapoptotic regulators, thereby determining cell survival or death. RNAi-mediated ablation of FBXL20 results in increased levels of PUMA as well as BAX, which further enhances the sensitivity of cancer cells to chemotherapeutic drugs. We showed that high level expression of FBXL20 in cancer cells reduces therapeutic drug-induced apoptosis and promotes chemoresistance. Overall, this study highlights the importance of targeting FBXL20 in cancers in conjunction with chemotherapy and may represent a promising anticancer strategy to overcome chemoresistance.     

Critical role of p53 upregulated modulator of apoptosis in benzyl isothiocyanate-induced apoptotic cell death

Benzyl isothiocyanate (BITC), a constituent of edible cruciferous vegetables, decreases viability of cancer cells by causing apoptosis but the mechanism of cell death is not fully understood. The present study was undertaken to determine the role of Bcl-2 family proteins in BITC-induced apoptosis using MDA-MB-231 (breast), MCF-7 (breast), and HCT-116 (colon) human cancer cells. The B-cell lymphoma 2 interacting mediator of cell death (Bim) protein was dispensable for proapoptotic response to BITC in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells as judged by RNA interference studies. Instead, the BITC-treated MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells exhibited upregulation of p53 upregulated modulator of apoptosis (PUMA) protein. The BITC-mediated induction of PUMA was relatively more pronounced in MCF-7 cells due to the presence of wild-type p53 compared with MDA-MB-231 with mutant p53. The BITC-induced apoptosis was partially but significantly attenuated by RNA interference of PUMA in MCF-7 cells. The PUMA knockout variant of HCT-116 cells exhibited significant resistance towards BITC-induced apoptosis compared with wild-type HCT-116 cells. Attenuation of BITC-induced apoptosis in PUMA knockout HCT-116 cells was accompanied by enhanced G2/M phase cell cycle arrest due to induction of p21 and down regulation of cyclin-dependent kinase 1 protein. The BITC treatment caused a decrease in protein levels of Bcl-xL (MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells) and Bcl-2 (MCF-7 cells). Ectopic expression of Bcl-xL in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells and that of Bcl-2 in MCF-7 cells conferred protection against proapoptotic response to BITC. Interestingly, the BITC-treated MDA-MB-231 cells exhibited induction of Bcl-2 protein expression, and RNA interference of Bcl-2 in this cell line resulted in augmentation of BITC-induced apoptosis. The BITC-mediated inhibition of MDA-MB-231 xenograft growth in vivo was associated with the induction of PUMA protein in the tumor. In conclusion, the results of the present study indicate that Bim-independent apoptosis by BITC in cancer cells is mediated by PUMA.