miR-19通过Keap-Nrf2/HO-1信号通路对卵巢癌细胞增殖的影响

摘要 目的：研究卵巢癌组织和细胞中miR-19的表达,探讨其异常表达对卵巢癌细胞Kelch样环氧氯丙烷相关蛋白-1（Kelch-like epichlorohydrin-associated protein1,Keap1）--核因子E2相关因子2（nuclearfactor-E2-relatedfactor2,Nrf2） /血红素氧合酶-1（heme oxygenase1,HO-1）信号通路及卵巢癌细胞增殖的影响。方法：回顾性收集2019年1月至2020年12月于我院就诊的患者经病理切片诊断为卵巢癌上皮细胞的手术标本30例,卵巢良性肿瘤标本30例,正常卵巢组织标本30例。免疫组化检测不同标本中Keap1、Nrf2、HO-1的表达,检测卵巢组织及细胞中miR-19、Keap1、Nrf2、HO-1的mRNA表达水平,及卵巢癌细胞中Keap1、Nrf2、HO-1的蛋白表达水平。在OVCAR-3细胞中沉默miR-19后,Western Blot检测细胞内Keap1、Nrf2、HO-1蛋白表达水平,收集沉默miR-19,对照组,沉默Nrf2、对照组的OVCAR-3细胞,继续培养0 h、24 h、48 h后,检测细胞增殖和凋亡。结果：Keap1蛋白在卵巢癌组织中的阳性表达显著低于良性卵巢肿瘤组织及正常卵巢组织;Nrf2和HO-1蛋白在卵巢癌组织中的阳性表达显著低于良性卵巢肿瘤组织及正常卵巢组织（P＜0.05）;沉默miR-19抑制其表达后,细胞内Keap1 mRNA、蛋白表达水平明显升高,Nrf2、HO-1 mRNA表达水平无明显变化,蛋白表达水平明显降低（P＜0.05）;沉默miR-19 组、沉默Nrf2组与转染阴性对照组相比,增殖能力明显降低,凋亡能力明显升高（P＜0.05）。结论：卵巢癌细胞中,miR-19表达水平升高,可通过调控Keap1-Nrf2/HO-1信号通路影响卵巢癌细胞的增值、凋亡能力。     

Keap1 Cysteine 288 as a Potential Target for Diallyl Trisulfide-Induced Nrf2 Activation

Diallyl sulfide, diallyl disulfide, and daillyl trisulfide (DATS) are major volatile components of garlic oil. In this study, we assessed their relative potency in inducing antioxidant enzyme expression. Among the three organosulfur compounds, DATS was found to be most potent in inducing heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase-1 (NQO1) in human gastric epithelial (AGS) cells. Furthermore, DATS administration by gavage increased the expression of HO-1 and NQO1 in C57BL/6 mouse stomach. Treatment with DATS increased the accumulation of nuclear factor-erythroid-2-related factor-2 (Nrf2) in the nucleus of cultured AGS cells and in mouse stomach in vivo. The DATS-induced expression of HO-1 and NQO1 was abrogated in the cells transiently transfected with Nrf2-siRNA or in the embryonic fibroblasts from Nrf2-null mice, indicating that Nrf2 is a key mediator of the cytoprotective effects of DATS. Pretreatment of AGS cells with N-acetylcysteine or dithiothreitol attenuated DATS-induced nuclear localization of Nrf2 and the expression of HO-1 and NQO1. Cysteine-151, -273 and -288 of Kelch-like ECH-associated protein-1 (Keap1), a cytosolic repressor of Nrf2, have been considered to act as a redox sensor and play a role in Nrf2 activation. To determine whether DATS could inactivate Keap1 through thiol modification, we established cell lines constitutively expressing wild type-Keap1 or three different mutant constructs in which cysteine-151, -273, or -288 of Keap1 was replaced with serine by retroviral gene transfer. DATS failed to activate Nrf2, and to induce expression of HO-1 and NQO1 only in Keap1-C288S mutant cells. LC-ESI-MS/MS analysis of recombinant Keap1 treated with DATS revealed that the peptide fragment containing Cys288 gained a molecular mass of 72.1 Da equivalent to the molecular weight of mono-allyl mono-sulfide. Taken together, these findings suggest that DATS may directly interact with the Cys288 residue of Keap1, which partly accounts for its ability to induce Nrf2 activation and upregulate defensive gene expression.     

The role of Nrf2/HO-1 signal pathway in regulating aluminum-induced apoptosis of PC12 cells

BackgroundAluminum has definite neurotoxicity and can lead to apoptosis of nerve cells, but the specific mechanism remains to be further explored. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway in neural cell apoptosis induced by aluminum exposure.MethodsIn this study, PC12 cells were used as the research object, aluminum maltol [Al(mal)₃] was used as the exposure agent, and tert-butyl hydroquinone (TBHQ), an agonist of Nrf2, was used as the intervention agent to construct an in vitro cell model. Cell viability was detected by CCK-8 method, cell morphology was observed by light microscope, cell apoptosis was measured by flow cytometry, and expression of Bax and Bcl-2 proteins and Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway proteins were investigated by western blotting.ResultsWith the increase of Al(mal)₃ concentration, PC12 cell viability decreased, the early apoptosis rate and total apoptosis rate increased, the ratio of Bcl-2 and Bax protein expression decreased, and Nrf2/HO-1 pathway protein expression decreased. The use of TBHQ could activate the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway and reverse the apoptosis of PC12 cells induced by aluminum exposure.ConclusionNrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway plays a neuroprotective role in the apoptosis of PC12 cells caused by Al(mal)₃, which provides a possible target for the intervention of aluminum induced neurotoxicity.     

Time course of Keap1-Nrf2 pathway expression after experimental intracerebral haemorrhage: correlation with brain oedema and neurological deficit

Abstract

Oxidative stress (OS) is involved in the progression of intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH)-induced secondary brain injury. The pathway involving Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1) and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) is currently recognised as the major endogenous regulatory system against oxidative injury. Although its beneficial role has been described for ICH, the time course of Keap1-Nrf2 pathway expression, the activity of downstream antioxidative enzymes, and the association with brain oedema and neurological deficits have not been fully investigated. In this study, we investigated the temporal changes in expression of Keap1, Nrf2, and their downstream antioxidative proteins in the ICH rat brain. We additionally quantified the relationship between these gene and protein changes with brain water content and neurological behaviour scores. After blood infusion, Keap1 showed decreased expression starting at 8 h, whereas Nrf2 began to show a significant increase at 2 h with a peak at 24 h. Keap1 and Nrf2 are chiefly expressed in neuronal cells but not in glial cells. The downstream antioxidative enzymes such as haemeoxygenase-1 (HO-1), glutathione (GSH), thioredoxin (TRX), and glutathione-S-transferase (GST-α1) increased to different degrees during the early stages of ICH. Among these enzymes, HO-1 showed a significant time-dependent increase starting 8 h after ICH. In addition, there was a positive correlation between the HO-1 level and brain water content. In combination, these results suggest that activation of the Keap1-Nrf2 pathway may play an important endogenous neuroprotective role during OS after ICH. Because HO-1 expression is temporally associated with brain oedema – reflective of the severity of brain injury – it may be used as a biomarker of haeme-mediated oxidative damage after ICH.     

Curcumin prevents high glucose damage in retinal pigment epithelial cells through ERK1/2-mediated activation of the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway

To study the effects of curcumin on human retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells exposed to high glucose (HG) insult, we performed in vitro studies on RPE cells cultured both in normal and HG conditions to assess the effects of curcumin on the cell viability, nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) expression, HO-1 activity, and ERK1/2 expression. RPE cells exposed to HG insult were treated with curcumin. The cell viability, apoptosis, HO-1 activity, ERK, and Nrf2 expression were evaluated. The data indicated that treatment with curcumin caused a significant decrease in terms of apoptosis. Further, curcumin was able to induce HO-1 expression via Nrf2 activation and counteracts the damage elicited by HG. The present study demonstrated that curcumin provides protection against HG-induced damage in RPE cells through the activation of Nrf2/HO-1 signaling that involves the ERK pathway, suggesting that curcumin may have therapeutic value in the treatment of diabetic retinopathy.     

Methylglyoxal induces endoplasmic reticulum stress and DNA demethylation in the Keap1 promoter of human lens epithelial cells and age-related cataracts

Age-related cataracts are a leading cause of blindness. Previously, we have demonstrated the association of the unfolded protein response with various cataractogenic stressors. However, DNA methylation alterations leading to suppression of lenticular antioxidant protection remains unclear. Here, we report the methylglyoxal-mediated sequential events responsible for Keap1 promoter DNA demethylation in human lens epithelial cells, because Keap1 is a negative regulatory protein that regulates the Nrf2 antioxidant protein. Methylglyoxal induces endoplasmic reticulum stress and activates the unfolded protein response leading to overproduction of reactive oxygen species before human lens epithelial cell death. Methylglyoxal also suppresses Nrf2 and DNA methyltransferases but activates the DNA demethylation pathway enzyme TET1. Bisulfite genomic DNA sequencing confirms the methylglyoxal-mediated Keap1 promoter DNA demethylation leading to overexpression of Keap1 mRNA and protein. Similarly, bisulfite genomic DNA sequencing shows that human clear lenses (n = 15) slowly lose 5-methylcytosine in the Keap1 promoter throughout life, at a rate of 1% per year. By contrast, diabetic cataractous lenses (n = 21) lose an average of 90% of the 5-methylcytosine regardless of age. Overexpressed Keap1 protein is responsible for decreasing Nrf2 by proteasomal degradation, thereby suppressing Nrf2-dependent stress protection. This study demonstrates for the first time the associations of unfolded protein response activation, Nrf2-dependent antioxidant system failure, and loss of Keap1 promoter methylation because of altered active and passive DNA demethylation pathway enzymes in human lens epithelial cells by methylglyoxal. As an outcome, the cellular redox balance is altered toward lens oxidation and cataract formation.     

KEAP1基因及其突变位点对非小细胞肺癌细胞株作用的实验初步研究

摘要 目的：研究KEAP1基因及KEAP1基因突变位点对肺癌细胞株的作用。方法：通过Western blot 方法,比较携带KEAP1 基因突变的肺癌细胞株（A549,NCI-H460,NCI-H838）与KEAP1 基因野生型的肺癌细胞株（NCI-H292, NCI-H1299, 95D, SPC-A1）之间,NRF2基因与NRF2下游基因HO-1的蛋白表达水平,检测并比较两组细胞的活性氧（ROS）含量;以新发现的非小细胞肺癌（NSCLC）病人的 KEAP1 体细胞突变作为模板构建 KEAP1 突变质粒,对自身存在 KEAP1 突变的肺癌细胞株A549,通过改造的 pMSCV 逆病毒转染体系,分别构建过表达空载,野生型及突变型 KEAP1 的 A549 稳定细胞株,比较过表达不同质粒的细胞间丙二醛（MDA）含量及 NRF2 下游抗氧化等相关基因的表达水平;通过克隆形成实验检测细胞增殖情况。结果：KEAP1基因突变组肺癌细胞株与KEAP1基因无突变的对照组细胞株相比,NRF2和HO-1蛋白表达显著增高,活性氧水平显著降低（P<0.01）;过表达野生型KEAP1 与过表达空载的 A549细胞相比,NRF2 及其下游基因转录水平表达显著下降（P<0.01）,蛋白水平表达下降,细胞内丙二醛水平显著增高（P<0.01）,克隆形成率显著降低（P<0.01）,而过表达突变型 KEAP1 与过表达空载的 A549细胞相比,NRF2 及其下游基因表达、细胞内丙二醛水平、克隆形成率均无显著差异（P>0.05）。结论：KEAP1基因具有抑癌作用,其突变为失活型突变,突变后KEAP1/NRF2通路激活,KEAP1基因突变可能通过改变细胞的氧化应激水平,促进肺癌的发生发展。     

Aldose reductase regulates miR-200a-3p/141-3p to coordinate Keap1–Nrf2, Tgfβ1/2, and Zeb1/2 signaling in renal mesangial cells and the renal cortex of diabetic mice

Aberrant regulation in oxidative stress, fibrogenesis, and the epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) in renal cells under hyperglycemic conditions contributes significantly to the onset and progression of diabetic nephropathy. The mechanisms underlying these hyperglycemia-induced dysregulations, however, have not been clearly elucidated. Herein, we report that aldose reductase is capable of regulating the expression of miR-200a-3p/141-3p negatively in renal mesangial cells. MiR-200a-3p/141-3p, in turn, act to target Keap1, Tgfβ2, fibronectin, and Zeb2 directly and regulate Tgfβ1 and Nrf2 indirectly under high-glucose conditions, resulting in profound dysregulations in Keap1–Nrf2, Tgfβ1/2, and Zeb1/2 signaling. In vivo in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice, we found that aldose reductase deficiency caused significant elevations in miR-200a-3p/141-3p in the renal cortex, which were accompanied by a significant downregulation of Keap1, Tgfβ1/2, and fibronectin but significant upregulation of Nrf2. Moreover, in vivo administration of inhibitors of miR-200a-3p in diabetic animals significantly exacerbated cortical and glomerular fibrogenesis and increased urinary albumin excretion, tightly linking dysregulated miR-200a-3p with the development of diabetic nephropathy. Collectively, our results reveal a novel mechanism whereby hyperglycemia induces aldose reductase to regulate renal expression of miR-200a-3p/141-3p to coordinately control hyperglycemia-induced renal oxidative stress, fibrogenesis, and the EMT. Our novel findings also suggest that inhibition of aldose reductase and in vivo renal cortical restoration of miR-200a-3p/141-3p or their combination are very promising avenues for the development of therapeutic strategies or drugs against diabetic nephropathy.     

Polysulfide exerts a protective effect against cytotoxicity caused by t-buthylhydroperoxide through Nrf2 signaling in neuroblastoma cells

Polysulfide is a bound sulfur species derived from endogenous H₂S. When mouse neuroblastoma, Neuro2A cells were exposed to tert-butyl hydroperoxide after treatment with polysulfide, a significant decline in cell toxicity was observed. Rapid uptake of polysulfides induced translocation of Nrf2 into the nucleus, resulting in acceleration of GSH synthesis and HO-1 expression. We demonstrated that polysulfide reversibly modified Keap1 to form oxidized dimers and induced the translocation of Nrf2. Moreover, polysulfide treatment accelerated Akt phosphorylation, which is a known pathway of Nrf2 phosphorylation. Thus, polysulfide may mediate the activation of Nrf2 signaling, thereby exerting protective effects against oxidative damage in Neuro2A cells.     

Neuroprotective effects of aucubin on hydrogen peroxide-induced toxicity in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells via the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway

BackgroundWhen redox balance is lost in the brain, oxidative stress can cause serious damage that leads to neuronal loss, in congruence with neurodegenerative diseases. Aucubin (AU) is an iridoid glycoside and that is one of the active constituents of Eucommia ulmoides, has many pharmacological effects such as anti-inflammation, anti-liver fibrosis, and anti-atherosclerosis.PurposeThe present study aimed to evaluate the inhibitory effects of AU on cell oxidative stress against hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂)-induced injury in SH-SY5Y cells in vitro.MethodsSH-SY5Y cells were simultaneously treated with AU and H₂O₂ for 24 h. Cell viability was measured by CCK-8. Additionally, mitochondrial membrane depolarization, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, and cell apoptosis were measured by flow cytometry.ResultsThe results showed that AU can significantly increase the H₂O₂-induced cell viability and the mitochondrial membrane potential, decrease the ROS generation, malondialdehyde (MDA), and increase glutathione (GSH) contents and the superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity. We also found that H₂O₂ stimulated the production of nitric oxide (NO), which could be reduced by treatment with AU through inhibiting the inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) protein expression. In H₂O₂-induced SH-SY5Y cells, the levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) content and cell apoptosis were significantly reduced by AU treatment through nuclear factor E2-related factor 2/hemo oxygenase-1 (Nrf2/HO-1) activation, inhibiting the expression of p-NF-κB/NF-κB and down-regulating MAPK and Bcl-2/Bax pathways.ConclusionThese results indicate that AU can reduce inflammation and oxidative stress through the NF-κB, Nrf2/HO-1, and MAPK pathways.     

Allopurinol reduces oxidative stress and activates Nrf2/p62 to attenuate diabetic cardiomyopathy in rats

Allopurinol (ALP) attenuates oxidative stress and diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM), but the mechanism is unclear. Activation of nuclear factor erythroid 2‐related factor 2 (Nrf2) following the disassociation with its repressor Keap1 under oxidative stress can maintain inner redox homeostasis and attenuate DCM with concomitant attenuation of autophagy. We postulated that ALP treatment may activate Nrf2 to mitigate autophagy over‐activation and consequently attenuate DCM. Streptozotocin‐induced type 1 diabetic rats were untreated or treated with ALP (100 mg/kg/d) for 4 weeks and terminated after heart function measurements by echocardiography and pressure‐volume conductance system. Cardiomyocyte H9C2 cells infected with Nrf2 siRNA or not were incubated with high glucose (HG, 25 mmol/L) concomitantly with ALP treatment. Cell viability, lactate dehydrogenase, 15‐F2t‐Isoprostane and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were measured with colorimetric enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assays. ROS, apoptosis, was assessed by dihydroethidium staining and TUNEL, respectively. The Western blot and qRT‐PCR were used to assess protein and mRNA variations. Diabetic rats showed significant reductions in heart rate (HR), left ventricular eject fraction (LVEF), stroke work (SW) and cardiac output (CO), left ventricular end‐systolic volume (LVVs) as compared to non‐diabetic control and ALP improved or normalized HR, LVEF, SW, CO and LVVs in diabetic rats (all P < .05). Hearts of diabetic rats displayed excessive oxidative stress manifested as increased levels of 15‐F2t‐Isoprostane and superoxide anion production, increased apoptotic cell death and cardiomyocytes autophagy that were concomitant with reduced expressions of Nrf2, heme oxygenase‐1 (HO‐1) and Keap1. ALP reverted all the above‐mentioned diabetes‐induced biochemical changes except that it did not affect the levels of Keap1. In vitro, ALP increased Nrf2 and reduced the hyperglycaemia‐induced increases of H9C2 cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, oxidative stress, apoptosis and autophagy, and enhanced cellular viability. Nrf2 gene silence cancelled these protective effects of ALP in H9C2 cells. Activation of Nrf2 subsequent to the suppression of Keap1 and the mitigation of autophagy over‐activation may represent major mechanisms whereby ALP attenuates DCM.     

Drug screening assay based on the interaction of intact Keap1 and Nrf2 proteins in cancer cells

Background

The Nrf2–Keap1 interaction is the major regulatory pathway for cytoprotective responses against oxidative and electrophilic stresses. Keap1, a substrate protein of a Cul3-dependent E3 ubiquitin ligase complex, is a negative regulator of Nrf2. The use of chemicals to regulate the interaction between Keap1 and Nrf2 has been proposed as a strategy for the chemoprevention of degenerative diseases and cancers.

Discovery of benzo[g]indoles as a novel class of non-covalent Keap1-Nrf2 protein-protein interaction inhibitor

The Keap1-Nrf2 system is an attractive target for drug discovery regarding various unmet medical needs. Only covalent inhibitors for protein-protein interaction (PPI) between Keap1 and Nrf2 to activate Nrf2 have been approved or are under clinical trials, but such electrophilic compounds lack selectivity. Therefore, specific non-covalent Keap1-Nrf2 PPI inhibitors are expected to be safer Nrf2 activators. We found a novel class of non-covalent Keap1-Nrf2 PPI inhibitor that has a benzo[g]indole skeleton and an indole-3-hydroxamic acid moiety and that exhibits significant PPI inhibitory activity. Additionally, the benzo[g]indole-3-carbohydrazide derivatives were newly prepared. The benzo[g]indole derivatives showed a stronger Keap1-Nrf2 PPI inhibitory activity than Cpd16, a previously reported non-covalent PPI inhibitor. Moreover, most of the PPI inhibitors showed a high metabolic stability in a human microsome system with a low cytotoxicity against HepG2 cell lines, which suggests that novel benzo[g]indole-type Keap1-Nrf2 PPI inhibitors are expected to be biological tools or lead compounds for Nrf2 activators.