缺氧诱导因子-1降解的调控

缺氧是引起细胞损伤的重要原因,而缺氧诱导因子-1(hypoxia-inducible factor,HIF-1)是细胞对氧浓度改变的一系列自适应反应中重要的调节因子,也在肿瘤的发生和组织缺血中起到重要的作用。林希病肿瘤因子(product of von Hippel-lindau disease,pVHL)和缺氧诱导因子抑制因子(factor inhibiting hypoxia-inducible factor-1,FIH-1)是被公认的缺氧诱导因子诱导转录的抑制因子,与HIF-1有着复杂的相互作用,并调控其降解。研究它们的相互作用将为肿瘤及缺血性疾病的治疗提供一条崭新的途径。     

低氧诱导因子-1的转录活性调控及其信号传导

低氧诱导因子-1(hypoxia-inducible factor-1,HIF-1)是氧平衡调控相关的转录因子.依赖HIF-1的基因表达调控系统广泛影响葡萄糖代谢、细胞增殖、凋亡和血管发生,与机体低氧适应、胚胎发育、各种缺血性疾病及肿瘤相关.HIF-1自身活性调节是低氧应答基因表达调控的中心环节.调控主要发生在源于Ras的两条信号途径：Ras/Raf/MEK介导的HIF-1反式激活功能调控,PI(3)K/Akt依赖的HIF-1alpha蛋白稳定性调控.这两个信号传导途径分别独立又协调地调控着HIF-1的转录活性.     

Tumor Necrosis Factor-Receptor–associated Factor-4 Is a Positive Regulator of Transforming Growth Factor-β Signaling That Affects Neural Crest Formation

The transforming growth factor (TGF)-β superfamily regulates cell proliferation, apoptosis, differentiation, migration, and development. Canonical TGFβ signals are transduced to the nucleus via Smads in both major signaling branches, bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) or Activin/Nodal/TGFβ. Smurf ubiquitin (Ub) ligases attenuate these pathways by targeting Smads and other signaling components for degradation by the 26S proteasome. Here, we identify tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-receptor–associated factor-4 (TRAF4) as a new target of Smurf1, which polyubiquitylates TRAF4 to trigger its proteasomal destruction. Unlike other TRAF family members, which mediate signal transduction by TNF, interleukin, or Toll-like receptors, we find that TRAF4 potentiates BMP and Nodal signaling. In the frog Xenopus laevis, TRAF4 mRNA is stored maternally in the egg animal pole, and in the embryo it is expressed in the gastrula marginal zone, neural plate, and cranial and trunk neural crest. Knockdown of embryonic TRAF4 impairs signaling, neural crest development and neural folding, whereas TRAF4 overexpression boosts signaling and expands the neural crest. In human embryonic kidney 293 cells, small interfering RNA knockdown of Smurf1 elevates TRAF4 levels, indicating endogenous regulation of TRAF4 by Smurf1. Our results uncover new functions for TRAF4 as a Smurf1-regulated mediator of BMP and Nodal signaling that are essential for neural crest development and neural plate morphogenesis.     

缺氧诱导因子1 α、血管内皮生长因子和成纤维细胞生长因子在胰腺癌中的表达及意义

目的:研究胰腺癌组织中缺氧诱导因子la|pha(Hypoxia-inducible factor-laipha,HIF-1α)、血管内皮生长因子(vascular endothelial growth factor,VEGF)和成纤维细胞生长因子(fibroblast growth factor,FGF)的表达并探讨其意义.方法:Western blot法检测22例胰腺癌及癌旁组织中HIF-1α、VEGF和FGF蛋白的表达,分析HIF-1α与VEGF、FGF之间的相关性以及与性别、年龄、肿瘤大小、淋巴结转移和TNM分期之间的关系.结果:HIF-1α、VEGF和FGF在胰腺癌组织中的蛋白表达水平明显高于胰腺癌周组织(P＜0.01),HIF-1α与VEGF、FGF之间的表达具有显著相关性(P＜0.01).HIF-1α的表达与胰腺癌的TNM分期、肿瘤大小和淋巴结转移有关(P＜0.01),VEGF和FGF的表达与胰腺癌的肿瘤大小和淋巴结转移有关(P＜0.05).结论:HIF-1α可以上调VEGF和FGF的表达,在胰腺癌的发生、发展中起着重要作用.     

缺氧诱导因子1α、血管内皮生长因子和成纤维细胞生长因子在胰腺癌中的表达及意义

目的：研究胰腺癌组织中缺氧诱导因子1alpha（Hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha,HIF-1α）、血管内皮生长因子（vascular endothelial growth factor,VEGF）和成纤维细胞生长因子（fibroblast growth factor,FGF）的表达并探讨其意义。方法：Western blot法检测22例胰腺癌及癌旁组织中HIF-1α、VEGF和FGF蛋白的表达,分析HIF-1α与VEGF、FGF之间的相关性以及与性别、年龄、肿瘤大小、淋巴结转移和TNM分期之间的关系。结果：HIF-1α、VEGF和FGF在胰腺癌组织中的蛋白表达水平明显高于胰腺癌周组织（P〈0.01）,HIF-1α与VEGF、FGF之间的表达具有显著相关性（P〈0.01）。HIF-1α的表达与胰腺癌的TNM分期、肿瘤大小和淋巴结转移有关（P〈0.01）,VEGF和FGF的表达与胰腺癌的肿瘤大小和淋巴结转移有关（P〈0.05）。结论：HIF-1α可以上调VEGF和FGF的表达,在胰腺癌的发生、发展中起着重要作用。     

多种翻译后修饰对低氧诱导因子-1α稳定性调控的机制

低氧诱导因子-1（hypoxia-inducible factor-1, HIF-1）是组织细胞对缺氧感应和调控的一类关键转录因子,在机体中广泛表达.作为细胞低氧应答反应中的重要调节因子,HIF-1能够调节100多种涉及低氧应激下细胞适应和存活的靶基因. HIF-1是由氧依赖的α亚基和细胞内稳定表达的β亚基构成的异源二聚体.其中α亚基对氧浓度变化敏感,是HIF-1的功能性亚基,它的表达活性决定了HIF-1的生物学活性.近期研究发现,HIF-1α的一系列翻译后修饰可改变其稳定性,进而调控其转录激活活性,从而参与肿瘤、低氧性肺动脉高压以及心血管疾病等的发生与发展.本文主要就HIF-1α的一列系翻译后修饰,如羟基化、泛素化、磷酸化、乙酰化、SUMO化修饰作一综述.     

Semaphorin4D的作用机制与功能

Semaphorins家族是一类以结构中具有sema区域为共同特征的蛋白,Semaphorin4D(Sema4D)是其成员之一.Sema4D与受体丛状蛋白B1(PlexinB1)和分化抗原簇72(cluster of differentiation antigen72,CD72)结合,通过多种信号转导途径,在神经系统的轴突导向,免疫系统中T、B细胞的活化和免疫调节中发挥关键作用.最近发现,Sema4D在许多人体肿瘤组织中高表达,且对血管发生及肿瘤侵袭转移起重要作用.本文旨在对Sema4D的结构、作用机制及生物学功能的研究最新进展作一综述.     

Semaphorin 4D/Plexin-B1-mediated R-Ras GAP activity inhibits cell migration by regulating beta(1) integrin activity

Plexins are cell surface receptors for semaphorins and regulate cell migration in many cell types. We recently reported that the semaphorin 4D (Sema4D) receptor Plexin-B1 functions as a GTPase-activating protein (GAP) for R-Ras, a member of Ras family GTPases implicated in regulation of integrin activity and cell migration. We characterized the role of R-Ras downstream of Sema4D/Plexin-B1 in cell migration. Activation of Plexin-B1 by Sema4D suppressed the ECM-dependent R-Ras activation, R-Ras-mediated phosphatydylinositol 3-kinase activation, and beta(1) integrin activation through its R-Ras GAP domain, leading to inhibition of cell migration. In addition, inactivation of R-Ras by overexpression of the R-Ras-specific GAP or knockdown of R-Ras by RNA interference was sufficient for suppressing beta(1) integrin activation and cell migration in response to the ECM stimulation. Thus, we conclude that R-Ras activity is critical for ECM-mediated beta(1) integrin activation and cell migration and that inactivation of R-Ras by Sema4D/Plexin-B1-mediated R-Ras GAP activity controls cell migration by modulating the activity of beta(1) integrins.     

Adenomatous Polyposis Coli and Hypoxia-inducible Factor-1α Have an Antagonistic Connection

The tumor suppressor adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) is mutated in the majority of colorectal cancers and is best known for its role as a scaffold in a Wnt-regulated protein complex that determines the availability of β-catenin. Another common feature of solid tumors is the presence of hypoxia as indicated by the up-regulation of hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs) such as HIF-1α. Here, we demonstrate a novel link between APC and hypoxia and show that APC and HIF-1α antagonize each other. Hypoxia results in reduced levels of APC mRNA and protein via a HIF-1α–dependent mechanism. HIF-1α represses the APC gene via a functional hypoxia-responsive element on the APC promoter. In contrast, APC-mediated repression of HIF-1α requires wild-type APC, low levels of β-catenin, and nuclear factor-κB activity. These results reveal down-regulation of APC as a new mechanism that contributes to the survival advantage induced by hypoxia and also show that loss of APC mutations produces a survival advantage by mimicking hypoxic conditions.     

Estrogen-Dependent Proteolytic Cleavage of Semaphorin 4D and Plexin-B1 Enhances Semaphorin 4D-Induced Apoptosis during Postnatal Vaginal Remodeling in Pubescent Mice

Around the fifth week after birth, the vaginal cavity in female mouse pups opens to the overlaying skin. This postnatal tissue remodeling of the genital tract occurs during puberty, and it largely depends upon hormonally induced apoptosis that mainly occurs in the epithelium at the lower part of the mouse vaginal cavity. Previously, we showed that most BALB/c mice lacking the class IV Semaphorin (Sema4D) develop imperforate vagina and hydrometrocolpos; therefore, we reasoned that the absence of Sema4D-induced apoptosis in vaginal epithelial cells may cause the imperforate vagina. Sema4D signals via the Plexin-B1 receptor; nevertheless detailed mechanisms mediating this hormonally triggered apoptosis are not fully documented. To investigate the estrogen-dependent control of Sema4D signaling during the apoptosis responsible for mouse vaginal opening, we examined structural and functional modulation of Sema4D, Plexin-B1, and signaling molecules by analyzing both wild-type and Sema4D−/− mice with or without ovariectomy. Both the release of soluble Sema4D and the conversion of Plexin-B1 by proteolytic processing in vaginal tissue peaked 5 weeks after birth of wild-type BALB/c mice at the time of vaginal opening. Estrogen supplementation of ovariectomized wild-type mice revealed that both the release of soluble Sema4D and the conversion of Plexin-B1 into an active form were estrogen-dependent and concordant with apoptosis. Estrogen supplementation of ovariectomized Sema4D−/− mice did not induce massive vaginal apoptosis in 5-week-old mice; therefore, Sema4D may be an essential apoptosis-inducing ligand that acts downstream of estrogen action in vaginal epithelium during this postnatal tissue remodeling. Analysis of ovariectomized mice also indicated that Sema4D contributed to estrogen-dependent dephosphorylation of Akt and ERK at the time of vaginal opening. Based on our results, we propose that apoptosis in vaginal epithelium during postnatal vaginal opening is induced by enhanced Sema4D signaling that is caused by estrogen-dependent structural changes of Sema4D and Plexin-B1.     

Neurohormonal Regulation of Tumor Growth

Neurohormones vasopressin and oxytocin are synthesized in the hypothalamus and are transported along the axons to the neurohypophysis as a part of equimolar complexes with hormone-specific neurophysins. The tumors of epithelial origin synthesize ectopic vasopressin and have an ability to express all types of receptors of neurohypophysis hormones. Vasopressin and oxytocin receptors provide the transduction of signals to protein kinases A, B, and C and activate intracellular cascades of the CREB, MDM2, and TORC1/2 proteins and mitogen-activated protein kinases. Central endocrine and autocrine neurohormonal contours are involved in the regulation of proliferative, migration, and angiogenic processes accompanied by tumor progression. Tumor growth and development occur in close cooperation with the supporting stroma. The interstitial tissue is involved in signal communication of tumor cells by integrins and integral CD44 glycoproteins formulating hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid metabolites modulate the effect of neurohormones and peptide growth factors; intermediate hyaluronan fragments with molecular weight of approximately 20 kDa elicit the most significant angiogenic effect. Platelets expressing AVPR1 vasopressin receptors are an important source of hyaluronidase 2 hydrolyzing macromolecular hyaluronan to fragments of intermediate length. The AVPR2 receptors localized in endothelium and AVPR1-AVPR2 vasopressin receptors expressing themselves in the tumor cells are involved in the mechanisms controlling local hemostasis. Neurohormonal regulatory contours are involved in optimization of the balance of inducing and inhibiting signals generated by the tumor and stroma in the process of progressive growth.     

Doxorubicin Impairs the Insulin-Like Growth Factor-1 System and Causes Insulin-Like Growth Factor-1 Resistance in Cardiomyocytes

BackgroundInsulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) promotes the survival of cardiomyocytes by activating type 1 IGF receptor (IGF-1R). Within the myocardium, IGF-1 action is modulated by IGF binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3), which sequesters IGF-1 away from IGF-1R. Since cardiomyocyte apoptosis is implicated in anthracycline cardiotoxicity, we investigated the effects of the anthracycline, doxorubicin, on the IGF-1 system in H9c2 cardiomyocytes.ConclusionsDoxorubicin down-regulates IGF-1R and up-regulates IGFBP-3 via p53 and oxidative stress in H9c2 cells. This leads to resistance to IGF-1 that may contribute to doxorubicin-initiated apoptosis. Further studies are needed to confirm these findings in human cardiomyocytes and explore the possibility of manipulating the IGF-1 axis to protect against anthracycline cardiotoxicity.     

Semaphorin 4D regulates gonadotropin hormone-releasing hormone-1 neuronal migration through PlexinB1-Met complex

In mammals, reproduction is dependent on specific neurons secreting the neuropeptide gonadotropin hormone–releasing hormone-1 (GnRH-1). These cells originate during embryonic development in the olfactory placode and migrate into the forebrain, where they become integral members of the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis. This migratory process is regulated by a wide range of guidance cues, which allow GnRH-1 cells to travel over long distances to reach their appropriate destinations. The Semaphorin4D (Sema4D) receptor, PlexinB1, is highly expressed in the developing olfactory placode, but its function in this context is still unknown. Here, we demonstrate that PlexinB1-deficient mice exhibit a migratory defect of GnRH-1 neurons, resulting in reduction of this cell population in the adult brain. Moreover, Sema4D promotes directional migration in GnRH-1 cells by coupling PlexinB1 with activation of the Met tyrosine kinase (hepatocyte growth factor receptor). This work identifies a function for PlexinB1 during brain development and provides evidence that Sema4D controls migration of GnRH-1 neurons.     

Hypoxia-inducible Factor-1 (HIF-1) but Not HIF-2 Is Essential for Hypoxic Induction of Collagen Prolyl 4-Hydroxylases in Primary Newborn Mouse Epiphyseal Growth Plate Chondrocytes

Hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs) are the master regulators of hypoxia-responsive genes. They play a critical role in the survival, development, and differentiation of chondrocytes in the avascular hypoxic fetal growth plate, which is rich in extracellular matrix (ECM) and in its main component, collagens. Several genes involved in the synthesis, maintenance, and degradation of ECM are regulated by HIFs. Collagen prolyl 4-hydroxylases (C-P4Hs) are key enzymes in collagen synthesis because the resulting 4-hydroxyprolines are necessary for the stability of all collagen molecules. The vertebrate C-P4Hs are α₂β₂ tetramers with three isoforms of the catalytic α subunit, yielding C-P4Hs of types I–III. C-P4H-I is the main form in most cells, but C-P4H-II is the major form in chondrocytes. We postulated here that post-translational modification of collagens, particularly 4-hydroxylation of proline residues, could be one of the modalities by which HIF regulates the adaptive responses of chondrocytes in fetal growth plates. To address this hypothesis, we used primary epiphyseal growth plate chondrocytes isolated from newborn mice with conditionally inactivated genes for HIF-1α, HIF-2α, or the von Hippel-Lindau protein. The data obtained showed that C-P4H α(I) and α(II) mRNA levels were increased in hypoxic chondrocytes in a manner dependent on HIF-1 but not on HIF-2. Furthermore, the increases in the C-P4H mRNA levels were associated with both increased amounts of the C-P4H tetramers and augmented C-P4H activity in hypoxia. The hypoxia inducibility of the C-P4H isoenzymes is thus likely to ensure sufficient C-P4H activity for collagen synthesis occurring in chondrocytes in a hypoxic environment.     

人Semaphorin 4D慢病毒载体的构建及鉴定

目的:构建并制备能够有效表达Semaphorin 4D的重组慢病毒。方法:从人急性T细胞白血病Jurkat细胞DNA 扩增人Semaphorin 4D基因,克隆至pWPI GW慢病毒载体上,与pVSVG及pSPAX质粒共转染人胚肾293T细胞,包装出重组慢病毒,将纯化后的重组病毒直接感染293T和HUVEC细胞,通过免疫印迹、免疫荧光染色和血管内皮细胞迁移分析等方法检测Semaphorin 4D的表达和诱导血管内皮细胞迁移的作用。结果: 重组慢病毒介导Semaphorin 4D在293T和HUVEC内获得表达,能介导血管内皮细胞迁移。结论:成功构建了表达Semaphorin 4D的重组慢病毒载体。     

Neurotrophic effect of Semaphorin 4D in PC12 cells

Semaphorins provide crucial attractive and repulsive cues involved in axon guidance during neural development. Out of them, Semaphorin 4D (Sema4D) is enriched in the nervous and immune tissues, and acts as proliferative and survival factors of peripheral lymphocytes in the immune system, but is poorly understood in the nervous system. By using PC12 cells which are well known to differentiate into neural cells in response to nerve growth factor (NGF), we found that soluble forms of Sema4D had neurotrophic effects which were inhibited by neutralizing antibodies to Sema4D. Sema4D strikingly potentiated neurite outgrowth in the presence of 50 ng/ml NGF and increased sensitivity to NGF. Cells responded to very low concentrations of NGF in the presence of 1 nM Sema4D. Activation of following signal proteins, protein kinase C (PKC), L-type of voltage-dependent Ca(2+) channel, and phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3-kinase mediated neurotrophic neurite-outgrowth action of Sema4D. These findings suggest a new function of Sema4D as a neurotrophic signal in PC12 cells.     

Semaphorin 4D/Plexin-B1 Stimulates PTEN Activity through R-Ras GTPase-activating Protein Activity,Inducing Growth Cone Collapse in Hippocampal Neurons

Plexins are receptors for axonal guidance molecules semaphorins. We recently reported that the semaphorin 4D (Sema4D) receptor, Plexin-B1, suppresses PI3K signaling through the R-Ras GTPase-activating protein (GAP) activity, inducing growth cone collapse. Phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate level is critically regulated by PI3K and PTEN (phosphatase and tensin homologue deleted chromosome ten). Here we examined the involvement of PTEN in the Plexin-B1-induced repulsive response. Phosphorylation of PTEN at Ser-380 is known to suppress its phosphatase activity. Sema4D induced the dephosphorylation of PTEN at Ser-380 and stimulated PTEN phosphatase activity in hippocampal neurons. Knockdown of endogenous PTEN suppressed the Sema4D-induced growth cone collapse. Phosphorylation mimic PTEN mutant suppressed the Sema4D-induced growth cone collapse, whereas phosphorylation-resistant PTEN mutant by itself induced growth cone collapse. Plexin-B1-induced PTEN dephosphorylation through R-Ras GAP activity and R-Ras GAP activity was by itself sufficient for PTEN dephosphorylation and activation. We also suggested that the Sema4D-induced PTEN dephosphorylation and growth cone collapse were mediated by the inhibition of casein kinase 2 α activity. Thus, we propose that Sema4D/Plexin-B1 promotes the dephosphorylation and activation of PTEN through the R-Ras GAP activity, inducing growth cone collapse.