Effects of different exercise durations on Keap1-Nrf2-ARE pathway activation in mouse skeletal muscle

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of acute exercise stress on the nuclear factor-erythroid2 p45-related factor 2 (Nrf2)/antioxidant response element (ARE) transactivation, Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1) cytosolic protein and Nrf2 nucleoprotein expressions, Nrf2 target genes mRNA expressions, and glutathione redox (GSH/GSSG) ratio level; with a particular focus on the changes in Keap1-Nrf2-ARE pathway activation following different durations of exercise. Wild-type mice (C57BL/6J, two months old) were separated into one-hour and six-hour treadmill running groups, as well as a non-exercise control group (n = 10 in each group). Measurements of Nrf2/ARE transactivation, Nrf2 nucleoprotein expressions, Keap1 cytosolic protein expression, Nrf2 target genes’ mRNA expressions (superoxide dismutase-1 [SOD1], superoxide dismutase-2 [SOD2], γ-glutamyl cysteine ligase-modulatory [GCLm], γ-glutamyl cysteine ligase-catalytic [GCLc], glutathione reductase [GR], glutathione peroxidase-1 [Gpx1], catalase [CAT], and hemoxygenase-1 [Ho-1]), and GSH/GSSG ratio were carried out immediately after exercise. The results showed significant increases in Keap1-Nrf2-ARE pathway activation and the mRNA expressions of six measured enzymes in skeletal muscle after six hours of exercise; while in the one-hour exercise group, there was no change in Keap1-Nrf2-ARE pathway activation and only two enzymes’ mRNA expressions were increased. It is suggested that the changes in Keap1-Nrf2-ARE pathway activation and its target genes’ mRNA expressions were dependent on the exercise duration, with longer duration associated with higher responses.     

基于PERK/Nrf2/HO-1信号通路研究瑞马唑仑对心肌缺血再灌注损伤大鼠铁死亡的影响

摘要 目的：基于蛋白激酶R样内质网激酶（PERK）/核因子E2相关因子2（Nrf2）/血红素氧合酶-1（HO-1）信号通路探究瑞马唑仑对心肌缺血再灌注损伤（MIRI）大鼠铁死亡的影响。方法：将90只SD大鼠随机分为假手术（Sham）组、MIRI组、低剂量-瑞马唑仑组（L-瑞马唑仑组,5 mg/kg）、高剂量-瑞马唑仑组（H-瑞马唑仑组,20 mg/kg）、H-瑞马唑仑+PERK抑制剂组（瑞马唑仑20 mg/kg+GSK2606414 1 mg/kg）,每组18只。采用结扎冠状动脉左前降支（LAD）0.5 h、再灌注2 h制备MIRI大鼠模型,于再灌注2 h后即刻尾静脉注射给药,再灌注24 h后进行组织取材。酶联免疫吸附（ELISA）法检测血清心肌损伤标志物[肌酸激酶同工酶（CK-MB）、心肌肌钙蛋白I（cTnI）]水平;HE染色观察心肌组织病理改变;Tunel染色检测心肌细胞凋亡;透射电镜观察心肌细胞超微结构变化;检测心肌组织中铁死亡相关标志物[铁、活性氧（ROS）、谷胱甘肽（GSH）、丙二醛（MDA）]水平;蛋白质印迹法（Western Blot）检测心肌组织中PERK/Nrf2/HO-1信号通路相关蛋白表达。结果：与Sham组相比,MIRI组心肌结构受损,纤维排列紊乱,线粒体呈现显著的铁死亡特征（膜固缩,膜密度增加,嵴减少）,血清中CK-MB、cTnI水平,心肌细胞凋亡率及心肌组织中铁、ROS、MDA水平升高（P<0.05）,心肌组织中GSH水平及p-PERK/PERK、核Nrf2/Nrf2、HO-1蛋白表达降低（P<0.05）;与MIRI组相比,L-瑞马唑仑组和H-瑞马唑仑组心肌组织上述病理改变明显减轻,血清CK-MB、cTnI水平,心肌细胞凋亡率及心肌组织中铁、ROS、MDA水平降低（P<0.05）,心肌组织中GSH水平及p-PERK/PERK、核Nrf2/Nrf2、HO-1蛋白表达升高（P<0.05）;与H-瑞马唑仑组相比,H-瑞马唑仑+PERK抑制剂组心肌组织上述病理改变加重,血清CK-MB、cTnI水平,心肌细胞凋亡率及心肌组织中铁、ROS、MDA水平升高（P<0.05）,心肌组织中GSH水平及p-PERK/PERK、核Nrf2/Nrf2、HO-1蛋白表达降低（P<0.05）。结论：瑞马唑仑可通过抑制铁死亡减轻大鼠MIRI,可能通过激活PERK/Nrf2/HO-1信号通路而实现。     

Tert-Butylhydroquinone Alleviates Early Brain Injury and Cognitive Dysfunction after Experimental Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: Role of Keap1/Nrf2/ARE Pathway

Tert-butylhydroquinone (tBHQ), an Nrf2 activator, has demonstrated neuroprotection against brain trauma and ischemic stroke in vivo. However, little work has been done with respect to its effect on early brain injury (EBI) after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). At the same time, as an oral medication, it may have extensive clinical applications for the treatment of SAH-induced cognitive dysfunction. This study was undertaken to evaluate the influence of tBHQ on EBI, secondary deficits of learning and memory, and the Keap1/Nrf2/ARE pathway in a rat SAH model. SD rats were divided into four groups: (1) Control group (n = 40); (2) SAH group (n = 40); (3) SAH+vehicle group (n = 40); and (4) SAH+tBHQ group (n = 40). All SAH animals were subjected to injection of autologous blood into the prechiasmatic cistern once in 20 s. In SAH+tBHQ group, tBHQ was administered via oral gavage at a dose of 12.5 mg/kg at 2 h, 12 h, 24 h, and 36 h after SAH. In the first set of experiments, brain samples were extracted and evaluated 48 h after SAH. In the second set of experiments, changes in cognition and memory were investigated in a Morris water maze. Results shows that administration of tBHQ after SAH significantly ameliorated EBI-related problems, such as brain edema, blood-brain barrier (BBB) impairment, clinical behavior deficits, cortical apoptosis, and neurodegeneration. Learning deficits induced by SAH was markedly alleviated after tBHQ therapy. Treatment with tBHQ markedly up-regulated the expression of Keap1, Nrf2, HO-1, NQO1, and GSTα1 after SAH. In conclusion, the administration of tBHQ abated the development of EBI and cognitive dysfunction in this SAH model. Its action was probably mediated by activation of the Keap1/Nrf2/ARE pathway.     

p62/SQSTM1 protects against cisplatin-induced oxidative stress in kidneys by mediating the cross talk between autophagy and the Keap1-Nrf2 signalling pathway

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a major kidney disease associated with poor clinical outcomes. Oxidative stress is predominantly involved in the pathogenesis of AKI. Autophagy and the Keap1-Nrf2 signalling pathway are both involved in the oxidative-stress response. However, the cross talk between these two pathways in AKI remains unknown. Here, we found that autophagy is upregulated during cisplatin-induced AKI. In contrast with previous studies, we observed a marked increase in p62. We also found that p62 knockdown reduces autophagosome formation and the expression of LC3II. To explore the cross talk between p62 and the Keap1-Nrf2 signalling pathway, HK-2 cells were transfected with siRNA targeting Nrf2, and we found that Nrf2 knockdown significantly reduced cisplatin-induced p62 expression. Moreover, p62 knockdown significantly decreased the protein expression of Nrf2, as well as Heme Oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase l (NQO1), whereas the expression of kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1) was upregulated. These results indicate that p62 creates a positive feedback loop in the Keap1-Nrf2 signalling pathway. Finally, we examined the role of p62 in cell protection during cisplatin-induced oxidative stress, and we found that p62 silencing in HK-2 cells increases apoptosis and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, which further indicates the protective role of p62 under oxidative stress and suggests that the cytoprotection 62 mediated is in part by regulating autophagic activity or the Keap1-Nrf2 signalling pathway. Taken together, our results have demonstrated a reciprocal regulation of p62, autophagy and the Keap1-Nrf2 signalling pathway under oxidative stress, which may be a potential therapeutic target against AKI.     

氧化和化学应激的防御性转导通路——Nrf2/ARE

Nrf2/ARE是近年新发现的机体抵抗内外界氧化和化学等刺激的防御性转导通路．生理条件下,NF-E2相关因子2(Nrf2,NF-E2-related factor 2)在细胞质中与Keap1结合处于非活性、易降解的状态.在内外界自由基和化学物质刺激时,Keap1的构象改变或者Nrf2直接被磷酸化,导致Nrf2与Keap1解离而活化．活化的Nrf2进入细胞核,与抗氧化反应元件(ARE)结合,启动ARE下游的Ⅱ相解毒酶、抗氧化蛋白、蛋白酶体/分子伴侣等基因转录和表达以抵抗内外界的有害刺激．MAPK、PI3K/AKT、PKC等信号通路分子广泛参与了Nrf2的活化和核转位过程,但是具体何种通路被激动、何种通路发挥主导作用,取决于刺激物种类、刺激方式和细胞类型．本文就Nrf2分子结构、Nrf2活化机制、Nrf2/ARE调控的下游基因、与Nrf2相关的信号通路分子以及其在肿瘤、炎症、衰老等应用领域的最新进展进行综述．     

Extract of Ginkgo biloba induces phase 2 genes through Keap1-Nrf2-ARE signaling pathway

The standard extract of Ginkgo biloba (EGb) has been demonstrated to possess remarkable antioxidant activity in both cell lines and animals. However, the molecular mechanism underlying this effect is not fully understood. Phase 2 enzymes play important roles in the antioxidant system by reducing electrophiles and reactive oxygen species (ROS). We demonstrated that EGb induced typical phase 2 genes: glutamate cysteine ligase catalytic subunit (GCLC) and glutathione-S-transferase subunit-P1 (GST-P1), by real-time PCR. To investigate the molecular mechanism of this induction, we used quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1) -- Antioxidant response element (ARE) reporter assay and found that EGb activated the activity of the wild type but not the one with ARE mutated. It indicated that EGb induced these genes through ARE, a cis-acting motif located in the promoter region of nearly all phase 2 genes. Since nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) binds ARE to enhance the expression of phase 2 genes, we detected the Nrf2 content in nucleus and found an accumulation of Nrf2 stimulated by EGb. In a further test of Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1), the repression protein of Nrf2 in the cytosol under resting condition, we found that Keap1 content was inhibited by EGb and then more Nrf2 would be released to translocate into nucleus. Thus, EGb was testified for the first time to induce the phase 2 genes through the Keap1-Nrf2-ARE signaling pathway, which is (or part of) the antioxidant mechanism of EGb.     

Nrf2/ARE通路介导右美托咪定减轻肢体缺血/再灌注损伤中的作用

目的：观察Nrf2/ARE通路在右美托咪定（DEX）预处理减轻大鼠肢体缺血/再灌注损伤中的作用。方法：28只成年雄性SD大鼠随机分为4组（n=7）：假手术组（Sham组）、缺血再灌注组（I/R组）、I/R+右美托咪定预处理组（DEX组）、I/R+DEX+阿替美唑组（Atip组）。Atip组在麻醉后腹腔一次性给予Atip （250 μg/kg）和DEX （25 μg/kg）,Sham组和I/R组在麻醉后腹腔给予相应体积生理盐水,DEX组给予相应体积DEX和生理盐水,30 min后单侧股部切口,无创动脉夹夹闭股动脉,侧支循环用橡皮筋以恒定张力结扎,缺血3 h后去除动脉夹及橡皮筋,开放2 h后,取大鼠血清测乳酸脱氢酶（LDH）、肌酸激酶（CK）;取部分腓肠肌,测量丙二醛（MDA）、超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）以及Western blot检测胞核核因子E2相关因子2（Nrf2）、胞浆HO-1蛋白;免疫组化检测胞核Nrf2、胞浆HO-1蛋白和光镜观察骨骼肌形态;同时切取少量腓肠肌进行湿干比检测。结果：与Sham组相比,I/R组湿干比、MDA、LDH、CK、Nrf2、HO-1蛋白表达明显升高（P<0.05）,SOD活性显著降低（P<0.05）;与I/R组相比,DEX组湿干比、MDA、LDH、CK明显降低（P<0.05）,SOD、Nrf2、HO-1蛋白表达显著增多（P<0.05）;与DEX组相比,Atip恰能扭转DEX的这种作用,Atip组各指标与DEX组有显著差异（P<0.05）。结论：Nrf2蛋白存在于大鼠的骨骼肌中并且DEX可以通过α2受体上调核内Nrf2水平,使Nrf2下游的HO-1保护蛋白增多,起到抗氧化的作用。     

Exploring the correlation between deltamethrin stress and Keap1-Nrf2-ARE pathway from Drosophila melanogaster RNASeq data

Deltamethrin (DM) is widely used in a variety of pest control, resulting in serious drug resistance. Keap1-Nrf2-ARE is the antioxidant stress pathway. We identified 268 genes differentially expressed (DEGs) in Drosophila Kc cells treated with DM, including up-regulated 180 genes and down-regulated 88 genes compared with the control group (fold-change≥2, qValue≤0.001) by RNA-seq, they are mainly linked to metabolic process, stimulation response, immune system process. When the cells are treated with DM in the case of overexpression of the Keap1 gene, the cytochrome P450 family genes were significantly down-regulated, and some diseases-related genes and non-coding genes also changed. Our data shown that Keap1-Nrf2-ARE pathway may play an important role in DM stress, which will provide a new direction for studying the mechanism of insect resistance.     

脂联素后处理对大鼠心肌缺血/再灌注损伤的影响及ADP/PI3K/Akt信号通路的作用

目的：探讨脂联素（ADP）后处理对大鼠心肌缺血/再灌注损伤（MIRI）的影响以及脂联素/磷脂酰肌醇-3激酶/蛋白激酶B （ADP/PI3K/Akt）通路的作用。方法：SD大鼠麻醉后气管插管连接呼吸机,开胸暴露心肌,在左心耳和肺动脉圆锥之间用带线圆针对冠脉左前降支（LAD）穿线,LAD结扎断流30 min后松线再灌注120 min,建立大鼠MIRI模型。大鼠随机分为以下5组（n=12）：①假手术组（Sham组）：LAD仅穿线不结扎;② MIRI组;③ADP后处理组（ADP组）：LAD断流10 min时静注ADP继续断流20 min,然后再灌注120 min;④ADP+LY294002组：LAD断流10 min时静注ADP和LY294002,其余同ADP组;⑤LY294002组：LAD断流10 min时静注LY294002,其余同ADP组。各组取血检测LDH和cTnI含量,取左心室心肌测定PI3k、Akt、p-Akt、ADPmRNA、ADPR1mRNA和PI3KmRNA表达。结果：与Sham组比较,MIRI组血浆LDH和cTnI均明显升高（P<0.05）;和MIRI组相比,ADP组心肌损伤指标明显下降（P<0.05）,而应用LY294002的两组心肌损伤比ADP组加重（P<0.05）。ADP组心肌PI3K、p-Akt、ADPmRNA、ADPR1mRNA和PI3kmRNA表达比MIRI组升高（P<0.05）,应用LY294002两组上述5个指标比MIRI组降低（P<0.05）。结论：ADP后处理对大鼠MIRI有保护作用,ADP/PI3K/Akt通路参与了以上作用。     

Keap1/Nrf2/ARE通路相关基因在热诱导的氧化应激小鼠肝脏中的表达

为了研究热应激对小鼠肝脏抗氧化功能及Keap1 (kelch-like ECH-associated protein- 1)/Nrf2（NF-E2-related factor 2）/ARE (antioxidant response element)通路相关基因表达的影响,选用30只8周龄雄性小鼠随机分成6组,每 d连续42 ℃热处理2 h,分别在热处理0 d(对照组)、1 d、2 d、4 d、8 d和12 d时观察肝脏组织形态学和免疫组织化学分析,另取一部分肝脏组织保存于-80 ℃用于后续荧光定量PCR实验,检测肝脏抗氧化指标及Keap1/Nrf2/ARE通路相关基因的表达．结果显示：小鼠的体表温度和直肠温度在热处理后都极显著高于热处理前．组织形态学观察发现,热处理导致小鼠肝脏组织充血和肝细胞水肿．小鼠肝脏氧化应激指标 MDA (malondialdehyde)含量在热处理第2 d较对照组显著升高,GSH (glutathione)含量、GSH-PX (glutathione peroxidase)活力和总SOD (superoxide dismutase)活力在第4 d和12 d都有升高．免疫组织化学发现,与对照组和第12 d组相比,Nrf2蛋白在第1 d,2 d,4 d,8 d表达明显,其中Nrf2蛋白在第4 d表达最为显著. 荧光定量RT PCR结果表明,与对照组比较Keap1基因的表达量从热处理第1 d开始显著降低,Nrf2基因的表达量在第4 d和12 d显著升高,HO-1 (Heme oxygenase-1)基因的表达量在第1 d显著升高,NQO1 (Quinone oxidoreductase)和GCLC (Glutamate cysteine ligase catalytic)基因的表达量在第1 d和4 d显著升高．上述结果表明,热应激引起了小鼠肝脏氧化损伤, Keap1/Nrf2/ARE通路可能参与了肝脏自身缓解热应激的过程.     

内皮细胞和平滑肌细胞氧化应激时Nrf2/ARE信号通路对抗氧化基因表达的调控:与动脉粥样硬化和先兆子痫的关系

动脉粥样硬化、糖尿病、慢性肾功能衰竭和先兆子痫等血管疾病时活性氧(reactive oxygen species,ROS)生成增加,容易导致内皮依赖性血管舒张功能的损害和血管损伤,而细胞可以诱导多种编码Ⅱ相解毒酶和抗氧化蛋白的基因表达,从而减轻ROS和亲电子物质介导的细胞损伤。一个被称为抗氧化反应元件(antioxidant response element,ARE)或亲电子反应元件(electrophile response element,EpRE)的顺式转录调控元件,可以介导诸如亚铁血红素加氧酶1、γ-谷氨酰半胱氨酸合成酶、硫氧还蛋白还原酶、谷胱甘肽-S转移酶和NAD(P)H:苯醌氧化还原酶等基因的转录。其他抗氧化酶,如超氧化物歧化酶、过氧化氢酶和非酶清除剂(如谷胱甘肽)等也参与ROS的清除。转录因子NF-E2相关因子2(nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2, Nrf2)是属于Cap‘n’Collar家族的转录因子,具有碱性亮氨酸拉链(basic region-leucine zipper,bZIP),它在ARE介导的抗氧化基因表达中起重要的作用。在正常情况下,Kelch样环氧氯丙烷相关蛋白-1(Kelch-like ECH-associated protein-1,Keapl)与Nrf2耦联,并与肌动蛋白细胞骨架结合被锚定于胞浆,但是在半胱氨酸残基发生氧化的情况下,Nrf2和Keapl解耦联,进入细胞核并与ARE结合,从而激活多种抗氧化基因和Ⅱ相解毒酶基因的转录。蛋白激酶C、丝裂原活化蛋白激酶和磷脂酰肌醇-3激酶参与Nrf2／ARE信号转导的调控。本文综述了有关Nrf2／ARE信号转导通路在血管稳态和动脉硬化、先兆子痫等疾病情况下内皮及平滑肌细胞对抗持续性氧化应激中起的作用。