细胞周期蛋白依赖激酶Roscovitine诱导非小细胞肺癌A549细胞凋亡及其机制的研究

目的：探讨细胞周期蛋白依赖激酶（CDK）抑制剂Roseovitine（Ros）诱导非小细胞肺癌（NSCLC）A549细胞凋亡及其作用机制。方法：以不同浓度Ros（101．1M、20yM、40μM）处理细胞24h,采用AnnexinV-PI染色以流式细胞仪检测细胞凋亡,Westernblot法检测胞浆中和线粒体促凋亡蛋白Bax和Bad的表达,流式细胞仪检测线粒体膜电位（脚）变化。结果：Ros以剂量依赖的方式诱导A549细胞凋亡,同时Bad和Bax在胞浆的含量随着Ros剂量的增加而减少,而在线粒体中却出现相反的结果,线粒体膜电位随Ros剂量的增大而降低。结论：Ros可通过促进Bax和Bad由胞浆向线粒体易位,诱导NSCLCA549细胞由线粒体途径发生凋亡。     

新型鬼臼毒素衍生物诱导人肺腺癌A549细胞凋亡及其机制研究

目的探讨新型鬼臼毒素衍生物10Ⅲg诱导人肺腺癌细胞A549细胞凋亡及其调控机制。方法采用四甲基偶氮唑蓝（MTr）比色法、流式细胞术测定细胞周期细胞凋亡率,DNA琼脂糖凝胶电泳和微管蛋白组化染色,Western印迹法检测凋亡蛋白Bax、Caspase-3的表达。结果新型鬼臼毒素衍生物10m。对A549细胞增殖具有明显的剂量和时间依赖性抑制作用,细胞周期分析显示S期细胞数明显增多,出现G2／M期阻滞;10Ⅲg作用48h后DNA电泳可见明显的梯状条带;10Ⅲg能破坏A549细胞的细胞骨架,与依托泊苷相比有明显促进微管解聚现象;10Ⅲg浓度为10^-6mol/L时能显著促进Bax、Caspase-3蛋白的表达。结论新型鬼臼毒素衍生物10Ⅲg通过诱导A549细胞发生G2／M期阻滞而抑制其增殖,其机制可能与抑制细胞微管解聚及诱导细胞凋亡有关。     

柯里拉京对人肺癌细胞A549的抑制作用及其机制研究

该研究旨在探讨柯里拉京对人肺癌A549细胞凋亡的影响及其潜在作用机制。采用CCK-8细胞活性检测试剂盒检测柯里拉京对A549细胞活性的影响;通过流式细胞术检测细胞凋亡;JC-1线粒体膜电位检测试剂盒检测线粒体膜电位;免疫印迹法检测凋亡相关蛋白(bax、bcl-2、cleaved-caspase-3、cleaved-PARP)的表达量;通过DCFH-DA探针标记检测细胞内ROS水平。研究结果显示,柯里拉京处理能够剂量依赖性地抑制A549细胞的活性,并通过上调bax的表达、下调bcl-2的表达,破坏线粒体膜电位,促进有活性的cleaved-caspase-3以及cleaved-PARP的形成,诱导A549细胞凋亡。活性氧清除剂NAC能够明显逆转柯里拉京诱导的细胞凋亡。因此,柯里拉京可能通过调节胞内ROS水平诱导人肺癌细胞A549发生凋亡。     

艾拉莫德增强丝裂霉素C诱导的人食管癌Eca109细胞凋亡

目的探讨艾拉莫德增强丝裂霉素C（MMC）诱导的人食管癌Eca109细胞凋亡的作用及其机制。 方法将人食管癌Eca109细胞分为五组：对照组、MMC组、25,50,100 μg/ml浓度艾拉莫德+MMC组;通过CCK-8和DCFH-DA染色法分别检测25,50,100 μg/ml浓度艾拉莫德联合MMC对人食管癌Eca109细胞活力和细胞活性氧（ROS）生成的影响,流式细胞术检测艾拉莫德联合MMC对人食管癌Eca109细胞凋亡的影响,并通过Western Blot检测艾拉莫德联合MMC对TNF-α和cleaved caspase3蛋白表达的影响。采用单因素方差分析和t检验进行统计学分析。 结果CCK-8结果显示,与0 μg/ml T-614+MMC组A450值（0.85±0.03）比较,25、50、100 μg/ml T-614+MMC组A450值（0.73±0.02,0.52±0.02,0.33±0.02）均降低,差异具有统计学意义（F = 127.60, P < 0.01）;DCFH-DA染色检测结果显示,与0 μg/ml T-614+MMC组DCFH荧光值（130.00±10.00）比较,25、50、100 μg/ml T-614+MMC组DCFH值（219.67±9.50,280.33±10.50,338.33±16.07）均升高,差异具有统计学意义（F = 170.20,P < 0.01）;流式细胞术检测结果显示,与对照组的细胞凋亡率（5.33±0.35）﹪比较,T-614和MMC组的凋亡率（20.30±2.00）﹪,（25.60±3.00）﹪均升高。与MMC组细胞凋亡率（25.60±3.00）﹪比较,艾拉莫德与MMC联用组（T-614+MMC）食管癌Eca109细胞的细胞凋亡率（56.20±3.00）﹪升高,差异均具有统计学意义（F = 247.50,P < 0.01）;Western Blot结果显示,与MMC组细胞TNF-α和cleaved caspase3蛋白表达（0.87±0.06,0.25±0.03）比较,艾拉莫德与MMC联用组（T-614+MMC）食管癌Eca109细胞的TNF-α和cleaved caspase3蛋白表达（1.28±0.08,0.59±0.03）升高,差异均具有统计学意义（F = 96.90,P < 0.01）。 结论艾拉莫德能够增强MMC对食管癌Eca109细胞活力的抑制作用,其机制可能通过促进ROS的生成,激活线粒体凋亡通路,最终导致食管癌Eca109细胞凋亡。     

齐墩果酸诱导人非小细胞肺癌A549细胞凋亡的作用机制研究

齐墩果酸(oleanolic acid,OA)是一种广泛存在于自然界中的五环三萜类天然化合物,已有研究表明OA具有抗肺癌活性,但是具体机制尚未完全阐释清楚。本研究旨在证实OA是否能够诱导非小细胞肺癌A549细胞凋亡,并探索该效应是否与线粒体凋亡通路相关。我们将不同浓度的OA作用于细胞后,使用MTT法检测A549细胞的生长情况。采用AV/PI法进行染色后,经流式细胞仪检测其凋亡率,同时使用Hoechst 33342染色并使用荧光显微镜观察并拍照;Westen-blotting检测OA对A549细胞的线粒体凋亡通路相关蛋白相对表达水平的影响。MTT结果显示OA能够抑制A549细胞的生长,并呈时间剂量依赖性。AV/PI法染色结果显示OA能够诱导A549细胞凋亡,亦呈时间剂量依赖性。Hoechst 33342法染色结果相似。Westen-blotting结果表明OA能够上调A549细胞线粒体凋亡通路相关蛋白Bax,t Bid,Cleaved caspase 3的相对表达水平,同时下调该通路Bcl-xl,Bcl-2的相对表达水平。以上所有的结果表明OA能够显著抑制肺癌A549细胞的生长并通过调节线粒体凋亡通路相关蛋白的表达水平而诱导其凋亡。     

右美托咪定对A549细胞缺氧/复氧损伤时细胞凋亡及CHOP的影响

目的：探讨右美托咪定（Dex）对缺氧/复氧所致的A549细胞（起源于肺泡Ⅱ型上皮细胞系）损伤及对CCAAT/增强子结合蛋白同源蛋白（CHOP）表达的影响。方法：将处于对数生长期的A549细胞随机分为4组（n=10）：常氧培养组（N组）,Dex常氧组（D组）,缺氧/复氧组（H组）,缺氧/复氧+Dex组（HD组）。D组和HD组在造模开始时加入1 nmol/L Dex,N组和D组细胞常氧培养30 h,H组和HD组细胞缺氧6 h,复氧24 h。之后用倒置显微镜观察细胞形态学变化。采用CCK-8法检测A549细胞活力。原位末端标记（TUNEL）法检测A549细胞的凋亡指数（AI）。蛋白免疫印迹法（Western blot）和逆转录-聚合酶链反应（RT-PCR）分别检测A549细胞CHOP、Grp78、caspase-3蛋白和CHOP、Grp78 mRNA表达水平。结果：与N组比较,H组细胞数量减少,细胞形态发生改变。A549细胞的吸光度值明显下降（P<0.01）,AI值升高（P<0.01）,凋亡细胞数明显增加。CHOP、Grp78、caspase-3蛋白和CHOP、Grp78 mRNA表达显著上升（P<0.01）。与H组相比,HD组细胞损伤减轻,吸光度值上调（P<0.01）,凋亡细胞数明显减少（P<0.01）。CHOP、caspase-3蛋白,CHOP mRNA表达降低（P<0.01）。结论：Dex可有效减少缺氧/复氧引起的A549细胞凋亡,其机制可能与Dex对抗CHOP信号通路所致的凋亡有关。     

GnRH-PEⅡ-luffinS重组嵌合毒素的制备与细胞毒性检测

目的：制备以Ⅰ型促性腺激素释放激素（GnRH Ⅰ）为导向部分,以绿脓杆菌外毒素的结构域Ⅱ（PEⅡ）为转膜区,以丝瓜毒素luffinS2为毒性部分的重组嵌合毒素GnRH-PEⅡ-luffinS,体外实验检测其对肿瘤细胞的杀伤作用。方法：重叠PCR法扩增GnRH-PEⅡ-luffinS的基因,克隆至表达载体pET32a中,转化大肠杆菌BL21(DE3),挑取阳性克隆诱导表达,产物用Ni-NTA亲和层析柱纯化。纯化蛋白经重组肠激酶（rEK）切割去除Trx融合蛋白,XTT法检测重组毒素对HeLa、A549、HepG-2、SP2/0和鸡胚成纤维细胞（CEF）的体外细胞毒作用。结果：成功构建了GnRH-PEⅡ-luffinS的表达质粒,并在大肠杆菌中获得表达,纯化后的纯度为94％。GnRH-PEⅡ-luffinS对HeLa、A549、HepG-2和SP2/0的IC50分别为13.50μg/ml、13.74μg/ml、16.79μg/ml和26.07μg/ml,而对CEF无作用。结论：重组嵌合毒素GnRH-PEⅡ-luffinS对肿瘤细胞有较强的杀伤作用。     

澳洲茄边碱通过Caspase3蛋白诱导人肺腺癌A549细胞的凋亡作用

运用中药龙葵提取物澳洲茄边碱处理人肺腺癌A549细胞,研究其对A549细胞的抑制及凋亡作用,探讨澳洲茄边碱对肺腺癌的作用机制。通过细胞增殖抑制实验检测不同浓度澳洲茄边碱对A549细胞增殖的影响,采用蛋白印迹法(Western blot)检测凋亡蛋白Caspase3的表达水平,采用流式细胞术测定处理后A549细胞的凋亡水平及细胞周期变化。结果显示,不同浓度澳洲茄边碱均能抑制A549的增殖,呈浓度效应;用不同浓度澳洲茄边碱处理A549细胞24h后,Western blot结果显示,随药物浓度增大,凋亡蛋白Caspase3水解程度增高,对A549凋亡作用明显增强;流式细胞术检测细胞凋亡的结果显示,20μmol·L-1澳洲茄边碱处理A549细胞后,细胞发生明显凋亡,其中早期凋亡细胞比例为25.35%,晚期凋亡细胞比例为11.47%;流式细胞术检测细胞周期的结果显示,20μmol·L-1澳洲茄边碱处理A549细胞后,细胞周期阻滞于G2/M期。本研究结果表明,澳洲茄边碱通过激活细胞凋亡通路中的Caspase3蛋白触发细胞凋亡,同时将A549细胞阻滞在细胞周期的G2/M期,抑制人肺腺癌细胞A549的生长。     

吴茱萸碱对黑色素瘤细胞的耐药逆转作用

黑色素瘤是目前恶性程度最高的肿瘤之一。临床上,常采用维罗非尼（PLX4032）作为晚期患者的治疗药物,但患者很快就出现了耐药。因此,如何克服耐药、提高患者生存率成为急需解决的问题。本文选用中药吴茱萸碱（EVO）与黑色素瘤A375细胞、对PLX4032耐药的A375细胞（A375/R）进行相关研究。采用CCK-8法检测发现,用EVO的细胞非毒性浓度0.5 μmol/L处理A375/R,PLX4032对A375/R细胞的半数抑制浓度（IC50）降低,逆转倍数为3.85。显示EVO能够增强黑色素瘤A375/R细胞对PLX4032的敏感性。后续实验分为对照组、EVO组、PLX组、PLX + EVO组。流式细胞仪检测结果显示,EVO组细胞凋亡率为5.88%,PLX组细胞凋亡率为17.88%,PLX + EVO组细胞凋亡率为30.28%。细胞集落结果证明,PLX4032联合EVO能够抑制A375/R细胞的克隆形成。免疫印迹法结果证明,联合用药能够上调促凋亡蛋白质Bax、胱天蛋白酶3的表达量,下调p-Akt、p-NF-κB-p65及抗凋亡蛋白Bcl-2的蛋白质水平。以上结果均表明,EVO能够有效逆转黑色素瘤A375/R细胞耐药,并且诱导细胞凋亡,抑制细胞增殖。     

吴茱萸碱对黑色素瘤细胞的耐药逆转作用

黑色素瘤是目前恶性程度最高的肿瘤之一。临床上,常采用维罗非尼（PLX4032）作为晚期患者的治疗药物,但患者很快就出现了耐药。因此,如何克服耐药、提高患者生存率成为急需解决的问题。本文选用中药吴茱萸碱（EVO）与黑色素瘤A375细胞、对PLX4032耐药的A375细胞（A375/R）进行相关研究。采用CCK-8法检测发现,用EVO的细胞非毒性浓度0.5 μmol/L处理A375/R,PLX4032对A375/R细胞的半数抑制浓度（IC50）降低,逆转倍数为3.85。显示EVO能够增强黑色素瘤A375/R细胞对PLX4032的敏感性。后续实验分为对照组、EVO组、PLX组、PLX + EVO组。流式细胞仪检测结果显示,EVO组细胞凋亡率为5.88%,PLX组细胞凋亡率为17.88%,PLX + EVO组细胞凋亡率为30.28%。细胞集落结果证明,PLX4032联合EVO能够抑制A375/R细胞的克隆形成。免疫印迹法结果证明,联合用药能够上调促凋亡蛋白质Bax、胱天蛋白酶3的表达量,下调p-Akt、p-NF-κB-p65及抗凋亡蛋白Bcl-2的蛋白质水平。以上结果均表明,EVO能够有效逆转黑色素瘤A375/R细胞耐药,并且诱导细胞凋亡,抑制细胞增殖。     

Apelin 通过调节ROS 水平抑制TNF-α 诱导的HepG2 细胞凋亡

目的:探讨apelin在肿瘤坏死因子(tumor necrosis factor-α,TNF-α)诱导的肝细胞凋亡中的作用及可能机制。方法:PCR检测HepG2细胞和原代小鼠肝细胞中APJ受体的表达;采用Hoechst 33342染色检测TNF-α诱导的HepG2细胞凋亡;用活性氧(ROS)检测试剂盒结合流式细胞术测定细胞内ROS水平;通过Western blot检测信号分子JNK的磷酸化水平;比较给予apelin处理对上述指标的影响。结果:HepG2细胞和原代小鼠肝细胞均表达APJ受体;apelin可抑制TNF-α导致的细胞内ROS生成增多和JNK磷酸化水平升高并减少TNF-α诱导的HepG2细胞凋亡。结论:Apelin可能通过拮抗TNF-α诱导的细胞内ROS水平升高,使JNK信号失活,从而抑制HepG2细胞凋亡。     

颗粒溶素和穿孔素真核共表达及其对A549细胞的影响

目的：克隆人颗粒溶素和穿孔素基因并构建真核表达载体pGNLY-2A-PFP,观察其在人肺癌A549细胞中的表达情况。方法：体外分离培养外周血单个核细胞并抽提总RNA,RT-PCR扩增人颗粒溶素和穿孔素的基因片段,并将其分别插入pMD18-T进行测序,鉴定正确后构建pIRES-GNLY、pIRES-PFP及pGNLY-2A-PFP并转染人肺癌A549细胞,RT-PCR和间接免疫荧光检测目的蛋白表达,流式细胞Annexin V/PI检测转染后细胞凋亡情况。结果：成功获取了人颗粒溶素和穿孔素cDNA,构建了真核表达载体pIRES-GNLY、pIRES-PFP、pGNLY-2A-PFP,转染A549细胞后检测出了目的蛋白的表达,pGNLY-2A-PFP转染组细胞死亡率高于其他对照组（P<0.05）,死亡细胞以凋亡为主。结论：人颗粒溶素和穿孔素基因可以在人肺癌A549细胞中表达,二者共表达能够促进细胞凋亡,这将有助于颗粒溶素和穿孔素在肿瘤治疗中应用的后续研究。     

LATS1过表达对肺癌A549细胞增殖及周期的影响

通过过表达手段上调大肿瘤抑制因子1（1arge tumor suppressor gene 1,LATS1）基因在A549细胞中的表达,研究LATS1对A549细胞生长和细胞周期调控的作用。构建过表达LATS1基因的慢病毒载体,转染A549N胞株,采用RT-PCR和蛋白质印迹法检测转染后A549细胞中LATS1、YAPmRNA和蛋白的表达效率;流式细胞术检测细胞凋亡、周期情况：CCK-8检测细胞的增殖水平变化。结果发现,过表达LATS1慢病毒载体转染A549细胞株后,LATS1mRNA及蛋白表达水平高于未处理组及转染空载体组,YAPmRNA及蛋白表达水平低于未处理组及转染空载体组;过表达LATS1慢病毒转染后,A549细胞增殖率从第五天开始低于对照组（P〈0．05）,过表达组细胞G1期比例明显增高（P〈0．05）,凋亡率明显增加（P〈0．05）,差异均有统计学意义。以上结果提示,LATS1可通过下调YAP的表达水平促进A549细胞的凋亡,诱导G1期阻滞,降低细胞的增殖能力。     

Apelin suppresses apoptosis of human vascular smooth muscle cells via APJ/PI3-K/Akt signaling pathways

Apoptosis of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) plays an important role in regulating vascular remodeling during cardiovascular diseases. Apelin is the endogenous ligand for the G-protein-coupled receptor APJ and plays an important role in the cardiovascular system. However, the mechanisms of apelin on apoptosis of VSMCs have not been elucidated. Using a culture of human VSMCs as a model for the study of apoptosis, the relationship between apelin and apoptosis of human VSMCs and the signal pathway involved were investigated. Using western blotting, we confirmed that VSMCs could express APJ. To evaluate the possible role of apelin in VSMC apoptosis, we assessed its effect on apoptosis of human VSMCs. The results showed that apelin inhibited human VSMCs apoptosis induced by serum deprivation. Suppression of APJ with small-interfering RNA (siRNA) abolished the anti-apoptotic activity of apelin. Apelin increased Bcl-2 protein expression, but decreased Bax protein expression. An increase in activation of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK) and Akt (a downstream effector of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase) was shown after apelin stimulation. Suppression of APJ with siRNA abolished the apelin-induced activation of ERK and Akt. LY294002 (a PI3-K inhibitor) blocked apelin-induced activation of Akt and abolished the apelin-induced antiapoptotic activity. Our study suggests that apelin suppresses serum deprivation-induced apoptosis of human VSMCs, and that the anti-apoptotic action is mediated through the APJ/PI3-K/Akt signaling pathways.     

Apelin suppresses apoptosis of human osteoblasts

Objectives: Apelin is a recently discovered peptide that is the endogenous ligand for the orphan G-protein-coupled receptor APJ. Adipocytes can express and secrete apelin. Osteoblast can express apelin and APJ. The aim of this study was to investigate the action of apelin on apoptosis of human osteoblasts. Results: Apelin inhibited human osteoblasts apoptosis induced by serum deprivation. Suppression of APJ with small-interfering RNA (siRNA) abolished the anti-apoptotic activity of apelin. Our study also showed an increased Bcl-2 protein expression and decreased Bax protein expression under the treatment of apelin. Apelin decreased cytochrome c release and caspase-3 activation in human osteoblasts. Apelin activated phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase (PI-3 kinase) and Akt. The apelin-induced activation of Akt was blocked by suppression of APJ with siRNA. LY294002 (a PI-3 kinase inhibitor) or 1L-6-hydroxymethyl-chiro-inositol 2-(R)-2-O-methyl-3-O-octadecylcarbonate (HIMO; an Akt inhibitor) abolished apelin induced activation of Akt, and, LY294002 or HIMO abolished the anti-apoptotic activity of apelin. Furthermore, apelin protects against apoptosis induced by the glucocorticoid dexamethasone. Conclusions: Apelin suppresses serum deprivation-induced apoptosis of human osteoblasts and the anti-apoptotic action is mediated via the APJ/PI-3 kinase/Akt signaling pathway. Hui Xie and Ling-Qing Yuan both authors contributed equally to this work.     

早孕因子单克隆抗体对黑色素瘤细胞A-375增殖、凋亡的影响

目的:研究早孕因子单克隆抗体(EPF-McAb)对黑色素瘤细胞A-375增殖、凋亡的影响。方法:体外培养黑色素瘤细胞A-375,通过CCK-8实验检测EPF-McAb对A-375细胞增殖的影响;通过流式细胞术检测EPF-McAb对A-375细胞凋亡的影响;Western Blot检测EPF-McAb对A-375细胞EPF蛋白表达的影响。结果:CCK-8结果显示EPF-McAb可以抑制黑色素瘤细胞A-375的增殖,且随着作用时间延长和药物浓度的增加,对A-375细胞增殖的抑制作用也增强;流式细胞术实验结果显示EPF-McAb可以促进黑色素瘤细胞A-375的凋亡,且调亡率随着药物浓度的增加而升高,0.2、0.4、0.8 mg/m L的EPF单抗作用于A-375细胞24 h后,细胞调亡率分别为:14.68%(P0.01)、19.81%(P0.01)、23.97%(P0.01);Western Blot实验结果显示EPF-McAb可以降低黑色素瘤细胞A-375 EPF蛋白的表达。结论:早孕因子单克隆抗体可以抑制黑色素瘤细胞A-375的增殖,并促进其凋亡。     

Apelin stimulates proliferation and suppresses apoptosis of mouse osteoblastic cell line MC3T3-E1 via JNK and PI3-K/Akt signaling pathways

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of apelin on proliferation and apoptosis of mouse osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells. APJ was expressed in MC3T3-E1 cells. Apelin did not affect Runx2 expression, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, osteocalcin and type I collagen secretion, suggesting that it has no effect on osteoblastic differentiation of MC3T3-E1 cells. However, apelin stimulated MC3T3-E1 cell proliferation and inhibited cell apoptosis induced by serum deprivation. Our study also shows that apelin decreased cytochrome c release and caspase-3, capase-8 and caspase-9 activation in serum-deprived MC3T3-E1 cells. Apelin activated c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and Akt (phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase downstream effector), and the JNK inhibitor SP600125, the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-K) inhibitor LY294002 or the Akt inhibitor 1L-6-hydroxymethyl-chiro-inositol 2-(R)-2-O-methyl-3-O-octadecylcarbonate (HIMO) inhibited its effects on proliferation and serum deprivation-induced apoptosis. Furthermore, apelin protected against apoptosis induced by the glucocorticoid dexamethasone or TNF-alpha. Apelin stimulates proliferation and suppresses serum deprivation-induced apoptosis of MC3T3-E1 cells and these actions are mediated via JNK and PI3-K/Akt signaling pathways.     

Apelin and its receptor are expressed in human osteoblasts

OBJECTIVES: Apelin is a recently discovered peptide that is the endogenous ligand for the orphan G-protein-coupled receptor APJ. Adipocytes can express and secrete apelin. The aim of this study was to characterize apelin and APJ expression in human osteoblasts and to investigate the effects of apelin on osteoblasts. RESULTS: Apelin and APJ were expressed in human osteoblasts. Apelin stimulated proliferation of human osteoblasts, but had no effect on alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, osteocalcin and type I collagen production in human osteoblasts. Suppression of APJ with small-interfering RNA (siRNA) abolished the apelin-induced cell proliferation. Apelin induced activation of Akt (Phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase downstream effector), but not MAPKs, such as c-jun N-terminal Kinase (JNK), p38 and ERK1/2 in human osteoblasts. This effect was blocked by suppression of APJ with siRNA. Furthermore, LY294002 (PI3 kinase inhibitor) blocked the activation of Akt by apelin and abolished the apelin-induced cell proliferation. CONCLUSIONS: Human osteoblasts express apelin and APJ and apelin enhances human osteoblast proliferation, but has no effect on osteoblast differentiation, and APJ/PI3 kinase/Akt pathway is involved in the proliferation response. These findings suggest that apelin may function as a mitogenic agent for osteoblasts.     

Apelin and APJ receptor expression in granulosa and theca cells during different stages of follicular development in the bovine ovary: Involvement of apoptosis and hormonal regulation

In the mammalian ovary, the microvasculature in the thecal layer of follicles is associated with follicular development. Apelin and its receptor, APJ, are expressed in the tissues and organs which include the vasculature. The aims of the present study were to examine the mRNA expression of apelin and the APJ receptor in granulosa cells and theca tissue of bovine follicles and the effects of steroid hormone and gonadotrophins on the expression of these genes in cultured granulosa cells and theca cells. The expression of apelin mRNA was not found in the granulosa cells of bovine follicles. The expression of the APJ gene was increased in granulosa cells of estrogen-inactive dominant follicles. The expression of apelin mRNA increased in theca tissues of estrogen-inactive dominant follicles. APJ expression in theca tissues increased with follicle growth. Progesterone stimulated the expression of APJ mRNA in the cultured granulosa cells. FSH stimulated the expression of APJ mRNA in the cultured granulosa cells. LH induced the expression of apelin and APJ receptor mRNAs in cultured theca cells. Taken together, our data indicate that the APJ receptor in granulosa cells and both apelin and the APJ receptor in theca tissues are expressed in bovine ovary, that APJ in granulosa cells may be involved in the appearance of the cell apoptosis, and that LH stimulates the expression of apelin and APJ genes in theca cells.