Neuroprotection of Interleukin-6 Against NMDA-induced Neurotoxicity is Mediated by JAK/STAT3, MAPK/ERK, and PI3K/AKT Signaling Pathways

We have previously shown that interleukin-6 (IL-6) has neuroprotective effect against N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA)-induced excitotoxicity. The current study aimed to reveal signal transduction pathways involved in the IL-6 neuroprotection. Cerebellar granule neurons (CGNs) from postnatal 8-day infant rats were exposed to IL-6 (120 ng/ml) for 8 days and stimulated with NMDA (100 μM) for 15 or 30 min. Dynamic intracellular Ca²⁺ fluorescence intensity, cytosolic Ca²⁺-dependent phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) expression, and apoptosis and necrosis in cultured CGNs were measured by laser scanning confocal microscope, real-time PCR and Western blot, and annexin V-FITC/propidium iodide staining, respectively. NMDA stimulation of neurons evoked an intracellular Ca²⁺ overload, an upregulated expression of cPLA2, and an increase in cell death. Chronic IL-6 exposure prevented the NMDA-evoked neuronal Ca²⁺ overload, cPLA2 expression upregulation, and apoptosis and necrosis. Anti-gp130 monoclonal antibody (mAb), a blocker of gp130 that is a 130-kDa signal-transducing β-subunit of IL-6 receptor complex, blocked these effects of IL-6 preventing NMDA neurotoxicity. AG490, PD98059, or LY294002, inhibitors specific for the intracellular signals, JAK, MAPK, and PI3K, respectively, partially blocked these IL-6 neuroprotective effects. Phosphorylation levels of STAT3, ERK1/2, and AKT, the downstream proteins for these enzymes of JAK, MAPK, and PI3K, respectively, were elevated by IL-6 pretreatment. The enhanced activation of STAT3, ERK1/2, and AKT by IL-6 was abolished by AG490, PD98059, and LY294002, respectively. Anti-gp130 mAb attenuated the activation of all the three detected signaling molecules. The present findings suggest that IL-6 neuroprotection is jointly mediated by the cellular signal transduction pathways, gp130-JAK-STAT3, gp130-MAPK-ERK, and gp130-PI3K-AKT.     

PI3K/AKt/mTOR信号通路介导黄芩苷抑制增生性瘢痕组织成纤维细胞的增殖

黄芩苷作为一种黄酮类成分可通过抑制细胞增殖、促进凋亡发挥抗肿瘤作用,但它是否对异常增生的瘢痕具有抑制增生的作用尚不清楚.本研究探讨黄芩苷抑制人增生性瘢痕组织成纤维细胞增殖的分子机制. 采用MTT比色法检测不同浓度的黄芩苷（2.24×10-2 ～ 2.24×102 mmol/L）对体外培养的增生性瘢痕组织成纤维细胞增殖的抑制作用.发现浓度为2.24×100～2.24×102 mmol/L黄芩苷处理组明显抑制增生性瘢痕组织成纤维细胞的增殖（P<0.05）.转染后的荧光素酶报告基因活性检测、RT-PCR及Western印迹分析技术检测其mRNA水平及细胞的帽状依赖翻译的表达.2.24×102 mmol/L黄芩苷处理后,黄芩苷作用组的mRNA水平并无明显差异（P>0.05）;增生性瘢痕成纤维细胞的帽状依赖结构的翻译明显被黄芩苷所抑制.采用Western印迹分析检测被黄芩苷干预的增生性瘢痕组织成纤维细胞的增殖相关的蛋白的表达;m7GTP琼脂糖珠沉淀结合蛋白4E-BP1与eIF4E的变化.发现增殖相关的蛋白mTOR、p70S6K、S6、4EBP1、eIF4E及其上游的AKT表达明显下调（P<0.05）,而PTEN表达明显上调.p-AKT(Ser473)、p-mTOR(Ser2448)、p-S6(Ser235/236)、p-4EBP1(Thr37/ 46)、p-PTEN（T380/S382/383）磷酸化水平下降（P<0.05）.在黄芩苷作用下的增生性成纤维细胞中的游离的4E-BP1明显减少（P<0.05）,而与eIF4E结合的4E-BP1明显增加（P<0.05）黄芩苷诱导游离的4E-BP1与eIF4E结合,从而抑制帽状依赖蛋白翻译.以上结果说明,黄芩苷可通过抑制PI3K/AKT/mTOR信号通路抑制人增生性瘢痕组织成纤维细胞的增殖.     

Computational Modeling of PI3K/AKT and MAPK Signaling Pathways in Melanoma Cancer

Background

Malignant melanoma is an aggressive tumor of the skin and seems to be resistant to current therapeutic approaches. Melanocytic transformation is thought to occur by sequential accumulation of genetic and molecular alterations able to activate the Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK (MAPK) and/or the PI3K/AKT (AKT) signalling pathways. Specifically, mutations of B-RAF activate MAPK pathway resulting in cell cycle progression and apoptosis prevention. According to these findings, MAPK and AKT pathways may represent promising therapeutic targets for an otherwise devastating disease.

Result

Here we show a computational model able to simulate the main biochemical and metabolic interactions in the PI3K/AKT and MAPK pathways potentially involved in melanoma development. Overall, this computational approach may accelerate the drug discovery process and encourages the identification of novel pathway activators with consequent development of novel antioncogenic compounds to overcome tumor cell resistance to conventional therapeutic agents. The source code of the various versions of the model are available as S1 Archive.     

PI3K/AKT信号通路与心力衰竭

丝氨酸/苏氨酸激酶(serine/threonine kinase,AKT)是真核细胞中参与细胞信号转导的关键分子。目前已经证实PI3K(phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase,PI3K)/AKT信号通路在人类肿瘤、代谢紊乱、肾脏疾病以及精神障碍等疾病中发挥着重要的作用。近年来的研究还发现PI3K/AKT信号通路的激活会对心肌细胞的生长、代谢以及凋亡等活动产生影响,且该通路及其中的很多受体、激酶被证实与心力衰竭关系密切,这使该信号通路在心力衰竭的发病机制、诊断及治疗等方面的研究日益受到重视。总结PI3K/AKT的结构特点、相关信号转导机制及其与心力衰竭的关系将有利于更好地理解心力衰竭的发病机制。     

Calcium Signaling Involvement in Cadmium-Induced Astrocyte Cytotoxicity and Cell Death Through Activation of MAPK and PI3K/Akt Signaling Pathways

Neurochemical Research - Cadmium (Cd), a highly ubiquitous toxic heavy metal, can contaminate the environment, including agricultural soil, water and air, via industrial runoff and other sources of...     

Activation of the PI3K/AKT pathway in Merkel cell carcinoma

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a highly aggressive skin cancer with an increasing incidence. The understanding of the molecular carcinogenesis of MCC is limited. Here, we scrutinized the PI3K/AKT pathway, one of the major pathways activated in human cancer, in MCC. Immunohistochemical analysis of 41 tumor tissues and 9 MCC cell lines revealed high levels of AKT phosphorylation at threonine 308 in 88% of samples. Notably, the AKT phosphorylation was not correlated with the presence or absence of the Merkel cell polyoma virus (MCV). Accordingly, knock-down of the large and small T antigen by shRNA in MCV positive MCC cells did not affect phosphorylation of AKT. We also analyzed 46 MCC samples for activating PIK3CA and AKT1 mutations. Oncogenic PIK3CA mutations were found in 2/46 (4%) MCCs whereas mutations in exon 4 of AKT1 were absent. MCC cell lines demonstrated a high sensitivity towards the PI3K inhibitor LY-294002. This finding together with our observation that the PI3K/AKT pathway is activated in the majority of human MCCs identifies PI3K/AKT as a potential new therapeutic target for MCC patients.     

The PI3K/AKT/mTOR Signaling Pathway Is Overactivated in Primary Aldosteronism

Background

To date, the available non-invasive remedies for primary aldosteronism are not satisfactory in clinical practice. The phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3Ks)/protein kinase B (PKB or AKT)/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway is essential for tumorigenesis and metastasis in many types of human tumors, including renal cancer, adrenal carcinoma and pheochromocytoma. The possibility that this pathway is also necessary for the pathogenesis of primary aldosteronism has not yet been explored. To answer this question, we investigated the activity of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway in normal adrenal glands (NAGs), primary aldosteronism (PA) patients and NCI-H295R cells.

Methodology/Principal Findings

Between January 2005 and December 2011, we retrospectively reviewed the records of 45 patients with PA. We compared clinical characteristics (age, gender and biochemical data) and the expression of phospho-AKT (p-AKT), phospho-mTOR (p-mTOR), phospho-S6 (p-S6) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) by immunohistochemical staining and western blotting, analyzing 30 aldosterone-producing adenomas (APAs), 15 idiopathic hyperaldosteronism (IHA) tissues and 12 NAGs following nephrectomy for renal tumors (control group). Compared with the control group, most of the PA patients presented with polydipsia, polyuria, resistant hypertension, profound hypokalemia, hyperaldosteronemia and decreased plasma renin activity. Compared with normal zona glomerulosa, the levels of p-AKT, p-mTOR, p-S6 and VEGF were significantly upregulated in APA and IHA. No significant differences were found between APA and IHA in the expression of these proteins. Additionally, positive correlations existed between the plasma aldosterone levels and the expression of p-AKT and p-mTOR. In vitro studies showed that mTOR inhibitor rapamycin could inhibit cell proliferation in NCI-H295R cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Furthermore, this inhibitor also decreased aldosterone secretion.

Conclusions

Our data suggest that the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway, which was overactivated in APA and IHA compared with normal zona glomerulosa, may mediate aldosterone hypersecretion and participate in the development of PA.     

P2X7 Integrates PI3K/AKT and AMPK-PRAS40-mTOR Signaling Pathways to Mediate Tumor Cell Death

Background

Extracellular adenosine triphosphate (ATP) functions as a novel danger signal that boosts antitumor immunity and can also directly kill tumor cells. We have previously reported that chronic exposure of tumor cells to ATP provokes P2X7-mediated tumor cell death, by as yet incompletely defined molecular mechanisms.

Methodology/Principal Findings

Here, we show that acute exposure of tumor cells to ATP results in rapid cytotoxic effects impacting several aspects of cell growth/survival, leading to inhibition of tumor growth in vitro and in vivo. Using agonist and antagonist studies together with generation of P2X7 deficient tumor cell lines by lentiviral shRNA delivery system, we confirm P2X7 to be the central control node transmitting extracellular ATP signals. We identify that downstream intracellular signaling regulatory networks implicate two signaling pathways: the known P2X7-PI3K/AKT axis and remarkably a novel P2X7-AMPK-PRAS40-mTOR axis. When exposed to high levels of extracellular ATP, these two signaling axes perturb the balance between growth and autophagy, thereby promoting tumor cell death.

Conclusions

Our study defines novel molecular mechanisms underpinning the antitumor actions of P2X7 and provides a further rationale for purine-based drugs in targeted cancer therapy.     

PI3K/AKT/FOXO信号通路介导的自噬在糖尿病认知功能障碍中的作用

糖尿病作为一种高血糖为主要特征的代谢性疾病,会引起中枢神经系统损伤,造成脑组织结构和功能改变,进而导致认知功能障碍.目前,糖尿病对认知功能障碍的影响及相关调控机制已成为国内外研究的热点和难点.磷酸肌醇3激酶/蛋白激酶B/叉头样转录因子(PI3 K/AKT/FOXO)通路是自噬的重要上游调控机制.本文概述了PI3 K/A...     

PI3K/AKT/mTOR信号通路及其在卵巢癌治疗中的应用

卵巢癌是女性生殖系统常见的恶性肿瘤,发病率居于妇科恶性肿瘤第三位,死亡率居于妇科恶性肿瘤之首。目前对卵巢癌的标准治疗包括肿瘤细胞减灭术及卡铂和紫杉醇的联合化疗。PI3K/AKT/mTOR信号通路在卵巢癌的细胞增殖、侵袭、细胞周期进展、血管生成及耐药中发挥重要作用,是卵巢癌中最常发生改变的细胞内途径。本文对PI3K/AKT/mTOR信号通路及其在卵巢癌增殖和进展中的影响、PI3K/AKT/mTOR信号通路抑制剂在卵巢癌中的治疗应用做简要综述。     

Crosstalk Between MAPK/ERK and PI3K/AKT Signal Pathways During Brain Ischemia/Reperfusion

The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is linked to the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT) and Raf/mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK_1/2) signaling pathways. During brain ischemia/reperfusion, EGFR could be transactivated, which stimulates these intracellular signaling cascades that either protect cells or potentiate cell injury. In the present study, we investigated the activation of EGFR, PI3K/AKT, and Raf/MAPK/ERK_1/2 during ischemia or reperfusion of the brain using the middle cerebral artery occlusion model. We found that EGFR was phosphorylated and transactivated during both ischemia and reperfusion periods. During ischemia, the activity of PI3K/AKT pathway was significantly increased, as judged from the strong phosphorylation of AKT; this activation was suppressed by the inhibitors of EGFR and Zn-dependent metalloproteinase. Ischemia, however, did not induce ERK_1/2 phosphorylation, which was dependent on reperfusion. Coimmunoprecipitation of Son of sevenless 1 (SOS1) with EGFR showed increased association between the receptor and SOS1 in ischemia, indicating the inhibitory node downstream of SOS1. The inhibitory phosphorylation site of Raf-1 at Ser259, but not its stimulatory phosphorylation site at Ser338, was phosphorylated during ischemia. Furthermore, ischemia prompted the interaction between Raf-1 and AKT, while both the inhibitors of PI3K and AKT not only abolished AKT phosphorylation but also restored ERK_1/2 phosphorylation. All these findings suggest that Raf/MAPK/ERK_1/2 signal pathway is inhibited by AKT via direct phosphorylation and inhibition at Raf-1 node during ischemia. During reperfusion, we observed a significant increase of ERK_1/2 phosphorylation but no change in AKT phosphorylation. Inhibitors of reactive oxygen species and phosphatase and tensin homolog restored AKT phosphorylation but abolished ERK_1/2 phosphorylation, suggesting that the reactive oxygen species-dependent increase in phosphatase and tensin homolog activity in reperfusion period relieves ERK_1/2 from inhibition of AKT.     

mTOR Activation by PI3K/Akt and ERK Signaling in Short ELF-EMF Exposed Human Keratinocytes

Several reports suggest that ELF-EMF exposures interact with biological processes including promotion of cell proliferation. However, the molecular mechanisms by which ELF-EMF controls cell growth are not completely understood. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of ELF-EMF on keratinocytes proliferation and molecular mechanisms involved. Effect of ELF-EMF (50 Hz, 1 mT) on HaCaT cell cycle and cells growth and viability was monitored by FACS analysis and BrdU assay. Gene expression profile by microarray and qRT-PCR validation was performed in HaCaT cells exposed or not to ELF-EMF. mTOR, Akt and MAPKs expressions were evaluated by Western blot analysis. In HaCaT cells, short ELF-EMF exposure modulates distinct patterns of gene expression involved in cell proliferation and in the cell cycle. mTOR activation resulted the main molecular target of ELF-EMF on HaCaT cells. Our data showed the increase of the canonical pathway of mTOR regulation (PI3K/Akt) and activation of ERK signaling pathways. Our results indicate that ELF-EMF selectively modulated the expression of multiple genes related to pivotal biological processes and functions that play a key role in physio-pathological mechanisms such as wound healing.     

NEAT1通过PI3K/AKT/Bcl-2信号通路抑制骨质疏松

为探讨NEAT1在骨质疏松症中的作用以及可能的病理机制,本研究通过建立卵巢去势和鼠尾悬挂2种骨质疏松的小鼠模型,将C57BL/6分为假手术组(Sham组)、OVX组和TS组;经过PCR测定小鼠NEAT1的表达;Elisa法检测小鼠E2、ALP和TRACP水平;Western blotting检测细胞凋亡因子PI3K/AKT/Bcl-2的蛋白水平。结果显示,建模4周后,3组小鼠体重没有显著变化;与Sham组相比,OVX组和TS组小鼠的骨密度值显著降低,骨生化指标ALP和TRACR水平明显升高;OVX组小鼠的E2水平与Sham组相比明显降低;与Sham组相比,OVX组和TS组小鼠的NEAT1表达显著下调;与Sham组相比,OVX组和TS组小鼠p-AKT和Bcl-2蛋白水平明显降低。本研究结果表明,NEAT1可能通过抑制PI3K/AKT/Bcl-2细胞凋亡途径诱导骨质疏松。     

Ginsenoside Compound K Promotes Proliferation,Migration and Differentiation of Schwann Cells via the Activation of MEK/ERK1/2 and PI3K/AKT Pathways

The proliferation and differentiation of Schwann cells are critical for the remyelination of injured peripheral nerve. Ginsenoside compound K (CK) is a metabolite produced from ginsenoside Rb1 which has strong anti-inflammatory effects. However, the potential effects of CK on Schwann cells have not been studied systematically before. Therefore, this study was aimed to explore the functions of CK in Schwann cell proliferation, migration and differentiation and its potential regulatory mechanism. Primary Schwann cells and RSC96 cells were treated with or without CK at different doses. The proliferation and migration of primary Schwann cells and RSC96 cells were examined by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) and Transwell assays, respectively. The mRNA expression of myelin-associated glycoprotein (MAG) and myelin basic protein (MBP) was tested by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The levels of all proteins were examined by Western blot. CK could promote cell proliferation, migration and induce MAG and MBP expression in primary Schwann cells and RSC96 cells. Furthermore, CK activated MEK/ERK1/2 and PI3K/AKT pathways, and the beneficial effects of CK on primary Schwann cells and RSC96 cells were distinctly suppressed by inhibitor PD98059 or LY294002. Ginsenoside compound K induced cell proliferation, migration and differentiation via the activation of MEK/ERK1/2 and PI3K/AKT pathways in cultured primary Schwann cells and RSC96 cells.

     

MiR-330-Mediated Regulation of SH3GL2 Expression Enhances Malignant Behaviors of Glioblastoma Stem Cells by Activating ERK and PI3K/AKT Signaling Pathways

MicroRNAs are currently considered as an active and rapidly evolving area for the treatment of tumors. In this study, we elucidated the biological significance of miR-330 in glioblastoma stem cells (GSCs) as well as the possible molecular mechanisms. SH3GL2 is mainly distributed in the central nervous system and considered to be a tumor suppressor in many tumors. In the present study, we identified miR-330 as a potential regulator of SH3GL2 and we found that it was to be inversely correlated with SH3GL2 expression in GSCs which were isolated from U87 cell lines. The expression of miR-330 enhanced cellular proliferation, promoted cell migration and invasion, and dampened cell apoptosis. When the GSCs were co-transfected with the plasmid containing short hairpin RNA directed against human SH3GL2 gene and miR-330 mimic, we found that miR-330 promoted the malignant behavior of GSCs by down-regulating the expression of SH3GL2. Meanwhile, the ERK and PI3K/AKT signaling pathways were significantly activated, leading to the decreased expression of apoptotic protein and increased expression of anti-apoptotic protein. Furthermore, in orthotopic mouse xenografts, the mice given stable over-expressed SH3GL2 cells co-transfected with miR-330 knockdown plasmid had the smallest tumor sizes and longest survival. In conclusion, these results suggested that miR-330 negatively regulated the expression of SH3GL2 in GSCs, which promoted the oncogenic progression of GSCs through activating ERK and PI3K/AKT signaling pathways. The elucidation of these mechanisms will provide potential therapeutic approaches for human glioblastoma.     

Isorhamnetin Attenuates Atherosclerosis by Inhibiting Macrophage Apoptosis via PI3K/AKT Activation and HO-1 Induction

Background and Purpose

Isorhamnetin (Iso) is a flavonoid compound extracted from the Chinese herb Hippophae rhamnoides L. Previous studies have revealed its anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, and anti-oxidant activities. This study investigated the ability of Iso to inhibit oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL)-induced cell apoptosis in THP-1-derived macrophages. The effects of Iso on atherosclerosis in vivo were also evaluated in apolipoprotein E knockout (ApoE-/-) mice fed a high fat diet.

Methods and Results

Iso showed significant inhibitory effects on ox-LDL-induced THP-1-derived macrophage injuries via decreasing reactive oxygen species levels, lipid deposition, and caspase-3 activation, restoring mitochondrial membrane potential, reducing the number of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end-labeling (TUNEL)-positive cells, and regulating apoptosis-related proteins. We also determined the protective effects of Iso by PI3K/AKT activation and HO-1 induction. Iso reduced the atherosclerotic plaque size in vivo in ApoE-/- mice as assessed by oil red O, Sudan IV staining, and CD68-positive cells, and reduced macrophage apoptosis as assessed by caspase-3 and TUNEL assays in lesions.

Conclusion

In conclusion, our results show that Iso inhibited atherosclerotic plaque development in ApoE-/- mice by PI3K/AKT activation and HO-1 induction.