Control of p53 and NF-κB signaling by WIP1 and MIF: role in cellular senescence and organismal aging

The stress-activated signaling pathways, p53 and NF-κB, have a major role in the regulation of cellular senescence and organismal aging. These ancient signaling networks display functional antagonism via negative autoregulatory circuits. WIP1 (wildtype p53-induced phosphatase 1) and MIF (macrophage migration inhibitory factor) are signaling molecules which link together the p53 and NF-κB pathways via positive and negative feedback loops. It seems that the efficiency of the p53 signaling pathway declines during aging whereas that of NF-κB is clearly enhanced. Moreover, p53 is an important trigger of cellular senescence while NF-κB signaling seems to be involved in the induction of the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP). MIF is a pro-inflammatory cytokine which inhibits the function of p53 signaling whereas it is linked to NF-κB signaling via a positive feedback loop. MIF knockout mice are healthier and live longer than their wild-type counterparts. An increased level of MIF can support inflammatory responses via enhancing NF-κB signaling and repressing the function of p53. p53 is an inducer of the expression of WIP1 which can subsequently inhibit NF-κB signaling. Several observations indicate that the activity of WIP1 decreases during the aging process, this being probably attributable to the decline in p53 function. Decreased WIP1 activity potentiates the activity of p38MAPK and NF-κB signaling leading to premature cellular senescence as well as low-level chronic inflammation. We will review the findings linking WIP1 and MIF to specific signaling responses of p53 and NF-κB and discuss their role in the regulation of cellular senescence and organismal aging.     

低剂量顺铂通过p38MAPK介导的DNMT1下调降低p21与p16启动子甲基化上调p21与p16表达

低剂量顺铂可通过诱导p21与p16表达而诱导肿瘤细胞早衰,但其机制不明。本研究探讨了低剂量顺铂诱导的HeLa细胞衰老过程中p21与p16的上调机制。低剂量顺铂（4 μmol/L）处理HeLa细胞后,DNA甲基转移酶DNMT1蛋白水平降低;p21与p16启动子甲基化水平降低,二者mRNA及蛋白质水平升高;顺铂对DNMT1蛋白水平的降低作用与其激活p38MAPK有关,用SB203580抑制p38MAPK可部分逆转顺铂对DNMT1蛋白水平以及p21与p16启动子甲基化的降低作用,从而部分逆转顺铂对p21与p16表达的诱导;抑制p38MAPK 也可部分逆转低剂量顺铂诱导的HeLa细胞早衰。上述结果表明,低剂量顺铂可通过p38MAPK信号通路下调p21与p16启动子甲基化水平,进而上调二者的表达。这些结果为解析低剂量顺铂诱导肿瘤细胞早衰的信号转导机制提供了实验依据。     

HMG盒转录因子1(HBP1)参与H2O2诱导的细胞衰老过程

为探讨HMG盒转录因子1 (HBP1)在过氧化氢（H2O2）诱导的细胞衰老中所起的作用,通过慢病毒感染得到稳定表达HBP1的MDA-MB-231细胞,以H2O2处理细胞．采用Western免疫印迹杂交试验和实时PCR检测HBP1、p16和细胞周期蛋白D1（cyclinD1）表达水平的变化．用荧光免疫试验检测H2O2对HBP1表达的影响,以及HBP1在H2O2的诱导下对于p16和细胞周期蛋白D1启动子的影响．用细胞增殖试验检测H2O2对于细胞增殖的影响． 用基因敲减实验和衰老相关β半乳糖苷酶(SA-β-Gal)染色检测在H2O2诱导的细胞衰老中HBP1所起的作用．Western和免疫荧光实验结果显示,细胞经H2O2处理后,HBP1表达增高的同时促进了p16的表达,降低了细胞周期蛋白D1的表达．细胞增殖实验结果显示,H2O2显著抑制了细胞的增殖．基因敲减实验和SA-β-Gal染色实验说明,H2O2可诱导HBP1表达正常的MDA-MB-231细胞衰老,而HBP1的敲减则抑制了H2O2诱导的细胞衰老过程．本研究结果提示,在H2O2诱导的衰老中,HBP1的表达显著增加,并通过促进衰老相关基因p16的表达和抑制生长因子cyclinD1的表达来阻碍细胞增殖,促进细胞衰老．HBP1在H2O2诱导的细胞衰老过程中起着重要作用,H2O2诱导的细胞衰老必须在HBP1存在的情况下才能发生．     

Sequential activation of the MEK-extracellular signal-regulated kinase and MKK3/6-p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways mediates oncogenic ras-induced premature senescence

In primary mammalian cells, oncogenic ras induces premature senescence, depending on an active MEK-extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway. It has been unclear how activation of the mitogenic MEK-ERK pathway by ras can confer growth inhibition. In this study, we have found that the stress-activated MAPK, p38, is also activated during the onset of ras-induced senescence in primary human fibroblasts. Constitutive activation of p38 by active MKK3 or MKK6 induces senescence. Oncogenic ras fails to provoke senescence when p38 activity is inhibited, suggesting that p38 activation is essential for ras-induced senescence. Furthermore, we have demonstrated that p38 activity is stimulated by ras as a result of an activated MEK-ERK pathway. Following activation of MEK and ERK, expression of oncogenic ras leads to the accumulation of active MKK3/6 and p38 activation in a MEK-dependent fashion and subsequently induces senescence. Active MEK1 induces the same set of changes and provokes senescence relying on active p38. Therefore, oncogenic ras provokes premature senescence by sequentially activating the MEK-ERK and MKK3/6-p38 pathways in normal, primary cells. These studies have defined the molecular events within the ras signaling cascade that lead to premature senescence and, thus, have provided new insights into how ras confers oncogenic transformation in primary cells.     

The relationship between p53/p21/Rb and MAPK signaling pathways in human endometrium-derived stem cells under oxidative stress

Human endometrium-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hMESC) under the sublethal oxidative stress induced by H₂O₂ activate both the p53/p21/Rb and p38/MAPKAPK-2 pathways that are responsible for the induction of hMESC premature senescence (Borodkina et al., 2014). However, the interrelations between the p53/p21/Rb and MAPK signaling pathways, including ERK1/2, p38, and JNK, remain yet unexplored. Here, we used the specific inhibitors—pifithrin-α (PFT), U0126, SB203580, and SP600125 to “switch off” one of the proteins in these cascades and to evaluate the functional status alterations of the rest of the proteins. Each MAPK suppression significantly increased the p53 phosphorylation level, as well as p21 protein expression followed by Rb hypophosphorylation. On the other hand, PFT-induced p53 inhibition enhanced mostly the ERK1/2 activation rather than p38 and JNK. These results suggest the existence of a reciprocal negative regulation between p53- and MAPK-dependent signaling pathways. By analyzing the possible interactions among the members of the MAPK family, we showed that p38 and JNK can function as ERK antagonists: JNK is able to activate ERK, while p38 may block ERK activation. Together, these results demonstrate the existence of complex links between different signaling cascades in stressed hMESC, implicating ERK, p38, and JNK in regulation of premature senescence via the p53/p21/Rb pathway.     

HMG盒蛋白1抑制巨噬细胞移动抑制因子启动子的转录激活

HMG盒蛋白1（HMG box-containing protein 1, HBP1）是一种转录抑制因子. HBP1表达上调可抑制肿瘤细胞的增殖和转移,并且在肿瘤细胞中HBP1常常发生丢失或转位,这表明HBP1是一种抑癌基因. HBP1所调节的靶基因无疑将为HBP1的肿瘤抑制机制提供新的线索.本研究通过生物信息学分析发现,在促细胞增殖基因 巨噬细胞移动抑制因子（macrophage migration inhibitory factor, MIF）启动子区域-811 bp至-792 bp发现高亲和力的HBP1反应元件.缺失和突变分析表明,HBP1通过该元件抑制MIF启动子活性.此外,免疫共沉淀研究显示,HBP1在细胞内与该元件结合,并且抑制MIF的转录.功能分析进一步证实,在细胞培养液中加入重组MIF可部分消除HBP1对大肠癌细胞LOVO的抑制作用.这些结果提示,MIF是HBP1的一个靶基因.HBP1通过抑制促细胞增殖基因MIF的表达抑制肿瘤细胞生长.     

转录因子HBP1调控H2O2诱导的骨肉瘤细胞生长阻滞过程

为探讨氧化应激对人骨肉瘤细胞增殖的影响及其作用机理,首先用H2O2处理U2OS细 胞,采用Western印迹和real-time PCR检测HMG盒转录因子1 (HBP1)及其下游靶基因 DNMT1和p16表达水平的变化. 用荧光素酶报告基因实验检测在H2O2诱导下, HBP1对于DNMT1 和p16启动子的影响. 用细胞增殖试验（BrdU掺入,细胞生长曲线）检测 H2O2对细胞增殖的影响以及HBP1的作用. 用衰老相关β半乳糖苷酶(SA-β-Gal)染色 检测在H2O2诱导的细胞衰老中HBP1所起的作用. Western 印迹, real-time PCR及荧光素酶报告基因实验结果显示,细胞经H2O2处理后,明显增高HBP1表达水平,转录抑制DNMT1的表达, 促进p16蛋白的表达. 细胞增殖实验结果显示, H2O2显著抑制了细胞的增殖,HBP1 knockdown可部分逆转这种抑制作用. SA-β-Gal染色实验说明, H2O2可诱导HBP1表达正常的U2OS细胞衰老,而HBP1 knockdown使这种促衰老作用减弱. 研究结果说明, H2O2可抑制人骨肉瘤细胞增殖,诱导细胞衰老. 其作用机制是通过上调转录因子HBP1的表达,转录抑制或促进其下游靶基因DNMT1或p16的表达来抑制细胞增殖,促进细胞衰老.