多巴胺D2受体在肿瘤治疗中的研究进展

多巴胺(Dopamine)(C6H3(OH)2-CH2-CH2-NH2)是人类中枢神经系统的重要儿茶酚胺类神经递质,通过其相应的膜受体而发挥情绪、饮食、运动、认知及外周血等的调节作用。多巴胺受体属于膜G蛋白偶联受体家族。目前发现的多巴胺受体有五种,其中D2受体基因主要分布于脑部。近年来的研究表明,多巴胺D2受体对肿瘤细胞具有抑制作用,对肿瘤的药物治疗具有重要意义。目前,D2受体激动剂已经成为大多数泌乳素瘤的首选治疗药物。本文通过文献回顾,对多巴胺受体在肿瘤的预后和治疗中的作用进行综述。     

Ang2、Tie2基因的RNA干扰及其在体外抑制血管生成的作用

目的：探讨应用RNA干扰（RNA interference,RNAi）技术沉默Ang2、Tie2基因及其在体外抑制血管生成的研究,为将来进一步进行抑制肿瘤血管生成的动物实验研究奠定基础,为肿瘤的基因治疗提供实验依据。方法：用pSilencer 1.0-U6-Ang2/Tie2-siRNA重组质粒转染人脐静脉内皮细胞(HUVECs),采用RT PCR检测各组HUVECs Ang2、Tie2的mRNA表达状况。应用体外血管生成的三维培养模型研究转染后的HUVECs在体外形成血管样结构的情况。结果：pSilencer 1.0-U6-Ang2/Tie2-siRNA重组质粒转染HUVECs后,RT-PCR检测结果显示: Ang2、Tie2基因mRNA的表达水平均受到明显抑制（P<0.05）,并且siRNA的2条重组质粒之间均无明显差别（P>0.05）。转染后的HUVECs在体外三维培养模型中血管样结构形成的数量和长度均明显减少（P<0.05）,表明血管生成受到明显抑制。结论：Ang2-siRNA、Tie2-siRNA能够抑制HUVECs中Ang2和Tie2的mRNA表达,从而在体外抑制血管生成。     

血管生成系及其相关蛋白的研究进展

对血管生成素及其相关蛋白的研究进展和分子生物学特性进行了综述,迄今,已经发现了4种血管生成素及某些血管生成素的同工蛋白或变异体。这些蛋白质具有共同的结构,即氨基端与分泌相关的信号肽,介导同源寡聚体形成的螺旋样结构域,和羧基末端介导配体活性的纤维蛋白原样结构域。血管生成素均可与Tie-2受体结合,但只有血管生成素1和4可激活Tie-2受体。血管生成素1和4为效应剂而血管生成素2和3为拮抗剂。对于血管生成素是否可与Tie-1结合尚不清楚。血管生成素相关蛋白具有公认的血管生成素的特征性结构,对其功能及其作用途径还不十分了解,有待于进一步研究。Tie-1和Tie-2的其他配体以及血管生成素相关蛋白类似物的特异受体有可能在今后得到阐明。     

克隆的P2受体亚型的药理学研究进展

细胞外嘌呤（腺苷,ADP,ATP）及嘧啶（UDP,UTP）为重要的信使分子,通过细胞表面P2受体介导产生不同的生物效应,P2嘌吟受体的概念于1978年被提出,随后根据药理学特征又被分为P2X及P2X嘌呤受体,90年代,采用分子生物学手段,一系列配体门控的P2X受体及G蛋白耦联的P2Y受体被克隆及功能表达,迄今为止,已有七型P2X受体亚型（P2X1－7）及六型P2Y受体亚型被克隆（P2Y1,2,4,6,11,12）,各型具有不同的分子结构,药理学特征及组织分布,本文还讨论了目前可用于区分各亚型激动剂及拮抗剂。     

P2X7受体在病理性疼痛中的研究进展

病理性疼痛主要包括组织损伤或炎症引起的炎症痛、神经系统损伤或疾病引起的神经病理性疼痛和恶性肿瘤及治疗引起的癌症痛三大类。病理性疼痛对常规的镇痛药物反应不理想,迫切需要寻找新的对病理性疼痛更有效和更特异的治疗手段。P2X7受体作为离子通道型嘌呤能受体,在炎症痛、神经病理性疼痛和癌症痛中都具有重要作用。靶向P2X7受体的新药物将为病理性疼痛的治疗带来新的希望。该文综述了P2X7受体在三类病理性疼痛中的研究进展。     

内皮抑素及其在抗肿瘤中的应用

内皮抑素是一种抗血管生成的抑制因子,它特异性地作用于新生微血管的内皮细胞,其水平与肿瘤血管生成有着明显的相关性。体内外的研究均表明,内皮抑素具有无毒副作用、不容易产生耐药性和易达到有效药物浓度等优点。我们简要综述了内皮抑素的特性、作用机制,及其在抗肿瘤应用等方面的研究进展。     

白介素-2受体及其介导的信号转导

白介素２（ＩＬ－２）是一种重要的调控免疫系统细胞增殖和分化的细胞因子。其生物活性的发挥是通过与细胞表面白介素－２受体（ＩＬ－２Ｒ）结合,继而激活胞质内多种非受体型蛋白质酪氨酸激酶（ＰＴＫ）,进一步启动３种主要信号转导途径：控制基因转录的Ｊａｋ－ＳＴＡ...     

肾脏血管紧张素Ⅱ受体及其在肾脏病中的改变

血管紧张素II(AII)对肾脏有多种生理调节功能,在许多肾脏疾病中也起着重要作用。本文对AII受体在肾内的分布、生理作用和生化特性,以及在肾脏疾病中的变化作一介绍。     

EphA2的研究进展

在细胞增生、分化以及胚胎发育过程中 ,受体酪氨酸激酶 (ＰＴＫｓ)起着重要的作用 .Ｅｐｈ (ｅｒｙｔｈｒｏｐｏｉｅｔｉｎｐｒｏｄｕｃｉｎｇｈｅｐａｔｏｍａｃｅｌｌｌｉｎｅ)受体家族是ＰＴＫｓ家族成员之一 .ＥｐｈＡ2是ＥｐｈＡ亚家族受体 8个成员中的第 2个 .ＥｐｈＡ2广泛表达于人的多种组织或细胞系中 .人类ｅｐｈＡ2基因定位于染色体 1ｐ36 1,含有 17个外显子 ,此区在人体的多种肿瘤中常有缺失 .ＥｐｈＡ2有对细胞增生的调节作用 .ＥｐｈＡ2对细胞增生的调节主要体现在 :ＥｐｈＡ2的过表达具有转化正常细胞的能力 ;ＥｐｈＡ2与配…     

血管紧张素Ⅱ受体拮抗剂在心血管疾病中的应用

体内调节血压及水电解质平衡的主要系统是肾素—血 管紧张素—醛固酮系统（ＲＡＳ）,而ＲＡＳ最终通过血管紧张 素Ⅱ（ＡＴⅡ）与各组织细胞膜上的特异受体结合而发挥作 用,而血管紧张素Ⅱ受体拮抗剂能在受体水平上选择性地 抑制ＡＴⅡ作用,病人耐受性好,在心血管疾病的防治中有 其广阔的应用价值。 １　ＡＴ受体及其拮抗剂 　　已证明ＡＴⅡ是有若干生物学作用,包括血管收缩,升 高血压,刺激肾小管钠重吸收,刺激肾上腺生成醛固酮,促 进血管加压素及儿茶酚胺释放（肾上腺和神经原性）。而 ＡＴⅡ通过与细胞膜…     

Increasing Ang1/Tie2 expression by simvastatin treatment induces vascular stabilization and neuroblast migration after stroke

In this study, we tested the hypothesis that the Angiopoietin 1 (Ang1)/Tie2 pathway mediates simvastatin-induced vascular integrity and migration of neuroblasts after stroke. Rats were subjected to 2 hrs of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAo) and treated, starting 1 day after stroke with or without simvastatin (1 mg/kg, daily) for 7 days. Simvastatin treatment significantly decreased blood–brain barrier (BBB) leakage and concomitantly, increased Ang1, Tie2 and Occludin expression in the ischaemic border (IBZ) compared to the MCAo control group. Simvastatin also significantly increased doublecortin (DCX, a marker of migrating neuroblasts) expression in the IBZ compared to control MCAo rats. DCX was highly expressed around vessels. To further investigate the signalling pathway of simvastatin-induced vascular stabilization and angiogenesis, rat brain microvascular endothelial cell (RBMEC) culture was employed. The data show that simvastatin treatment of RBMEC increased Ang1 and Tie2 gene and protein expression and promoted phosphorylated-Tie2 activity. Simvastatin significantly increased endothelial capillary tube formation, an index of angiogenesis, compared to non-treated control. Inhibition of Ang1 or knockdown of Tie2 gene expression in endothelial cells significantly attenuated simvastatin-induced capillary tube formation. In addition, simvastatin significantly increased subventricular zone (SVZ) explant cell migration compared to non-treatment control. Inhibition of Ang1 significantly attenuated simvastatin-induced SVZ cell migration. Simvastatin treatment of stroke increases Ang1/Tie2 expression and thereby reduces BBB leakage and promotes vascular stabilization. Ang1/Tie2 expression induced by simvastatin treatment promotes neuroblast micro-vascular coupling after stroke.     

Enhanced expression of angiopoietin-2 and the Tie2 receptor but not angiopoietin-1 or the Tie1 receptor in a rat model of myocardial infarction

Modulation of Tie2 receptor activity by angiopoietin ligands is crucial for angiogenesis, blood vessel maturation, and vascular endothelium integrity. The role of the angiopoietin (Ang) and Tie system in myocardial infarction is not well understood. To investigate the participation of the Ang/Tie in myocardial infarction, adult Sprague-Dawley rats with ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery to induce myocardial infarction were studied. Ang1, Ang2, Tie1, and Tie2 were measured immediately after ligation of the coronary artery, and at 6 h, 1 and 3 days, and 1, 2, 3 and 4 weeks after ligation by Northern blotting, Western blotting, and immunohistochemical staining. Ang2 mRNA significantly increased from 2 weeks (2.1-fold) to 4 weeks (2.9-fold) after the infarction in the left ventricular free wall. Tie2 mRNA increased significantly from 1 week (2.1-fold) to 4 weeks (3.8-fold) after the infarction. Ang2 protein also significantly increased from 3 days (1.9-fold) to 4 weeks (3-fold) after the infarction in the left ventricular free wall. Tie2 protein increased 2.4-fold at 3 weeks and 2.8-fold at 4 weeks after the infarction. Neither Ang1 nor Tie1 mRNA or protein showed any significant change at any time point after the infarction. The ratio of Ang2/Ang1 mRNA and protein in the study group was higher than that in the control group. Ang2 and Tie2 expression in nonischemic myocardium showed no significant change. Immunohistochemical study also showed increased immunoreactivity of Ang2 and Tie2 at the infarct border. In conclusion, Ang2 and Tie2 expressions significantly increased both spatial and temporal patterns after myocardial infarction in the rat ventricular myocardium, while Ang1 and Tie1 receptor expression did not.     

Intrinsic differences in the mechanisms of Tie2 binding to angiopoietins exploited by directed evolution to create an Ang2-selective ligand trap

Angiopoietins Ang1 and Ang2 are secreted ligands for the endothelial receptor tyrosine kinase Tie2 essential for vascular development and maintenance. Ang1 acts as an agonist to maintain normal vessel function, whereas Ang2 acts as a Tie2 antagonist. Ang2 is increased in macular edema, sepsis, and other conditions, in which it blocks Ang1-mediated signaling, causing vascular dysfunction and contributing to disease pathology. Therefore, Ang2 is an attractive therapeutic target. Previously, we reported a Tie2 ectodomain variant that selectively binds Ang2 and acts as soluble ligand trap to sequester Ang2; however, the mechanism of Ang2-binding selectivity is unknown. In the present study, we used directed protein evolution to enhance Ang2-binding affinity of this Tie2 ectodomain trap. We examined contributions of individual residues in the ligand-binding interface of Tie2 to Ang1 and Ang2 binding. Surprisingly, different combinations of Tie2 residues were found to bind each ligand, with hydrophobic residues binding both ligands and polar residues contributing selectively to either Ang1 or Ang2 binding. Our analysis also identified a single Tie2 residue, His168, with a pivotal role in both Ang1 and Ang2 binding, enabling competition between binding ligands. In summary, this study reports an enhanced-affinity Ang2-selective ligand trap with potential for therapeutic development and reveals the mechanism behind its selectivity. It also provides the first analysis of contributions of individual Tie2 residues to Ang1 and Ang2 binding and identifies selectivity-determining residues that could be targeted in the future design of small molecule and other inhibitors of Ang2 for the treatment of vascular dysfunction.     

Localization of Angiopoietin-1 and Tie2 Immunoreactivity in Rodent Ependyma and Adjacent Blood Vessels Suggests Functional Relationships

Angiopoietin-1 (Angpt1; previously Ang-1) participates in vascular maintenance and remodeling. In the current study, we investigated the distribution of Angpt1 protein in rat brain. We detected Angpt1 immunoreactivity (IR) in cerebral blood vessels, cuboidal ependyma, and tanycytes, which are specialized hypothalamic bipolar ependymal cells. We also evaluated patterns of IR of endothelium-specific receptor tyrosine kinase 2 (Tie2, the receptor for Angpt1). Tie2 IR was present in Angpt1-immunoreactive cuboidal ependyma in a membranous pattern, suggesting an autocrine or paracrine role for Angpt1–Tie2. Tie2 IR was also associated with peri-ependymal blood vessels, some of which were contacted by tips of Angpt1-immunoreactive tanycyte processes, implying a potential functional ligand−receptor interaction mediating communication between the cerebrospinal fluid and vascular compartments. Because we previously found that cerebral Angpt1 expression was modulated by 17β-estradiol (E2), and because some tanycyte functions are modulated by E2, we tested the hypothesis that E2 affects ependymal and tanycyte Angpt1 expression in vivo. No gross E2 effect on the ependymal pattern of Angpt1 IR or cerebral Angpt1 protein content was observed. (J Histochem Cytochem 58:53–60, 2010)     

Role of Angiopoietins and Tie receptor tyrosine kinases in angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis

This review focuses on the signaling system involving the Angiopoietin1/Tie2 receptor, which appears to be involved in the secondary stages of blood vessel formation. Although this system is crucial for blood and lymphatic vessel formation, identifying its precise role in embryonic and adult vascular biology has been a major challenge. The evidence for the key role of the Angiopoietin/Tie system is discussed, and some of the other members of the system (Ang2, Tie1) are mentioned. A comparison is made with the VEGF signaling system, which seems to provide a complementary, and somewhat more tractable, signaling system. Some of the basic unanswered questions concerning Tie/Angiopoietin biology and the secondary stages of blood vessel formation are also highlighted.     

A novel small peptide as a targeting ligand for receptor tyrosine kinase Tie2

Tie2 is an endothelium-specific receptor tyrosine kinase known to play an important role in tumor angiogenesis. We sought to identify a small peptide ligand against Tie2 for developing a delivery targeting agent. We used hydrophobic analysis and comparative sequence/structure analysis to select a minimal peptide based on angiopoietin-2 amino acid sequence. The resulting peptide named GA3(WTIIQRREDGSVDFQRTWKEYK) was synthesized and labeled with iodine-125 at the C-terminal tyrosine residue to characterize its binding capability. In in vitro binding assays, GA3 can not only specifically bind to SMMC7721-Tie2 but also compete with angiopoietin-2 in binding. Via mouse tail vein injection, 125I-labeled GA3 was found to favorably accumulate in SPC-A1 xenograft tumor tissues which positively express Tie2. These results demonstrated that GA3 may be useful as a drug or gene delivery ligand for targeted chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and gene therapy.     

2-Methoxycinnamaldehyde inhibits tumor angiogenesis by suppressing Tie2 activation

Blood vessels are mainly composed of intraluminal endothelial cells (ECs) and mural cells adhering to the ECs on their basal side. Immature blood vessels lacking mural cells are leaky; thus, the process of mural cell adhesion to ECs is indispensable for stability of the vessels during physiological angiogenesis. However, in the tumor microenvironment, although some blood vessels are well-matured, the majority is immature. Because mural cell adhesion to ECs also has a marked anti-apoptotic effect, angiogenesis inhibitors that destroy immature blood vessels may not affect mature vessels showing more resistance to apoptosis. Activation of Tie2 receptor tyrosine kinase expressed in ECs mediates pro-angiogenic effects via the induction of EC migration but also facilitates vessel maturation via the promotion of cell adhesion between mural cells and ECs. Therefore, inhibition of Tie2 has the advantage of completely inhibiting angiogenesis. Here, we isolated a novel small molecule Tie2 kinase inhibitor, identified as 2-methoxycinnamaldehyde (2-MCA). We found that 2-MCA inhibits both sprouting angiogenesis and maturation of blood vessels, resulting in inhibition of tumor growth. Our results suggest a potent clinical benefit of disrupting these two using Tie2 inhibitors.     

Lipid rafts serve as signaling platforms for Tie2 receptor tyrosine kinase in vascular endothelial cells

The Tie2 receptor tyrosine kinase plays a pivotal role in vascular and hematopoietic development. The major intracellular signaling systems activated by Tie2 in response to Angiopoietin-1 (Ang1) include the Akt and Erk1/2 pathways. Here, we investigated the role of cholesterol-rich plasma membrane microdomains (lipid rafts) in Tie2 regulation. Tie2 could not be detected in the lipid raft fraction of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) unless they were first stimulated with Ang1. After stimulation, a minor fraction of Tie2 associated tightly with the lipid rafts. Treatment of HUVECs with the lipid raft disrupting agent methyl-β-cyclodextrin selectively inhibited Ang1-induced Akt phosphorylation, but not Erk1/2 phosphorylation. It has been reported that inhibition of FoxO activity is an important mechanism for Ang1-stimulated Tie2-mediated endothelial function. Consistent with this, we found that phosphorylation of FoxO mediated by Tie2 activation was attenuated by lipid raft disruption. Therefore, we propose that lipid rafts serve as signaling platforms for Tie2 receptor tyrosine kinase in vascular endothelial cells, especially for the Akt pathway.