钙离子信号与细胞凋亡

细胞凋亡的分子机制是什么?这个问题当前引起人们广泛的研究兴趣。作为重要的第二信使,钙信号在许多生理和细胞活动中都起到了十分重要的作用。钙信号是否也在凋亡的调控中起作用呢?虽然在过去十多年中,许多研究证据都表明钙信号参与凋亡的调控,但是,钙信号如何作用于凋亡过程的具体机理仍然是众说纷纭。事实上,许多研究结果仍存有争议。文章总结了近几年来大量关于钙信号与凋亡研究的成果,集中讨论了两个问题：1)在凋亡前期“决定阶段”有没有钙离子信号的参与?2)钙离子信号与哪些凋亡调控因子(包括Bcl-2族蛋白)相互作用及如何作用?这问题还牵涉到亚细胞结构中钙库的作用(包括细胞质、内质网和线粒体)。根据作者自己的实验结果,文章对这些文献中不同的说法作了一些具体的评估。最后,文章还提出了一个钙离子信号参与调控细胞凋亡的可能模型。     

线粒体相关内质网膜在细胞凋亡中的作用

作为内质网和线粒体之间起到沟通作用的直接桥梁,线粒体相关内质网膜(mitochondrial associated endoplasmic reticulum membrane, MAMs)承担着Ca²⁺稳态维持、细胞凋亡等多种生理功能,还参与癌症、神经退行性疾病等的病理过程。随着MAMs结构、功能和调节在细胞凋亡中作用研究的深入和广泛开展,细胞凋亡过程和调节机制也变得更为复杂。本文总结了近年来细胞凋亡过程中MAMs变化和作用的研究进展,重点从MAMs的栓系蛋白、调节蛋白以及MAMs对线粒体结构变化的调节等方面评述了细胞凋亡过程中MAMs的作用。     

线粒体与细胞凋亡调控

细胞凋亡是一个受到一系列相关基因严格调控的细胞死亡过程。线粒体是细胞凋亡调控的活动中心。在凋亡因子的刺激下,线粒体释放出不同促凋亡因子如细胞色素C、Smac／Diablo等,激活细胞内凋亡蛋白酶Caspase。我们发现,活化后的Caspase可以反过来作用于线粒体,引发更大量线粒体细胞色素c的释放,构成细胞色素c释放的正反馈调节机制,从而导致电子传递链的中断、膜电势的丧失、胞内ROS的升高以及线粒体产生ATP功能的完全丧失。Bcl-2家族蛋白在细胞色素C释放和细胞凋亡调控中起关键作用。     

细胞凋亡信号转导中的蛋白水解酶

细胞凋亡在体内稳态平衡,机体防御,老化及许多疾病的发生过程中发挥重要作用,尽管对细胞凋亡的研究进展很快,但是凋亡发生的确切机制仍是个谜。参与细胞凋亡的信号转导及调控因素很多。近年来,人们认识到一系列的蛋白水解酶在细胞凋亡过程中起重要作用。其中,ＩＣＥ样半胱氨酸蛋白酶在凋亡信号转导中的作用愈来愈受到重视,许多调控细胞凋亡的因素可通过ＩＣＥ样蛋白水解酶起作用,本文就细胞凋亡信号转导途径中的ＩＣＥ样蛋白     

细胞凋亡的线粒体调控蛋白的研究进展

凋亡早期近科固定不变的标志之一就是线粒体膜通透性（MMP）的变化,这提示线粒体在凋亡过程中执行双重作用。一方面,将多种促细胞凋亡级联转导信号合于一条由MMP激活的通路;另一方面,通过释放存在于膜间隙的可溶性蛋白参与凋亡后期的分解代谢反应,最近研究发现,核转录因子能易位到线粒体膜引起MMP改变;线粒体膜间隙存在一种蛋白质Smac/DIABLO,释放后可特异性阻抑细胞凋亡蛋白抑制剂（IAPs）,进而促进胱冬肽酶活化,引发细胞凋亡,这些发现进一步阐明了MMP与细胞死亡机制的关系。     

PI3K/Akt与细胞线粒体途径凋亡因子相关性研究进展

线粒体途径细胞凋亡与多种疾病(如肿瘤、心血管疾病、神经退行性疾病等)密切相关,B淋巴细胞瘤-2(B-cell leukemia-2,Bcl-2)家族蛋白的调控在这些疾病的治疗中起着重要作用。磷脂酰肌醇-3-激酶(phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase,PI3K)/丝/苏氨酸蛋白激酶(serine/threonine protein kinase Akt)信号通路作为机体细胞信号转导的重要通路,可通过影响下游效应分子(Bcl-x L、Bcl-w、Mcl-1、A1、Bax、Bak、Bim、Bad、Bid等)的活性调节细胞的凋亡。就PI3K/Akt与线粒体途径凋亡相关因子的关联性进行综述,以期发现此通路中某些关键的分子靶点,为凋亡相关性疾病的治疗及药物研发提供参考。     

细胞凋亡过程中的信号转导

细胞凋亡过程中的信号转导李雨民陈洪（中国医学科学院中国协和医科大学放射医学研究所,天津３００１９２）（ＤｅｐａｒｔｍｅｎｔｏｆＣｌｅｍｉｓｔｒｙ,ＤｕｋｅＵｎｉｖｅｒｓｉｔｙ,ＵＳＡ）关键词细胞凋亡ＩＣＥＦａｓ／ＴＮＦＲ１信号转导细胞凋亡的发现虽已有...     

氧化修饰在调控细胞凋亡信号转导中的作用

氧化修饰是细胞内的活性氧诱导生物大分子发生氧化反应引起的结构及构象改变,发挥调控信号转导和对应激作出反应的功能。氧化修饰发生在凋亡信号转导中的多个生物大分子,包括凋亡相关蛋白质的氧化,如caspase-9、线粒体通透性转变孔及电压依赖的阴离子通道(voltagedependent anion channel,VDAC),同时也包括膜磷脂的氧化修饰,如磷脂酰丝氨酸及线粒体特异的心磷脂。氧化修饰作用也涉及凋亡诱导因子、促凋亡的凋亡信号调控激酶1(apoptosis signalregulatin gkinasel,ASK1)信号转导途径及抗凋亡的转录因子NF—kB的激活和活性。所以氧化修饰可能是调控凋亡信号转导机制中除磷酸化、泛素化外的另一个新的分子机制。     

Bcl—2蛋白家族与细胞凋亡

Bcl-2蛋白家族是调节PCD的关键元件,它们受自身基因表达量的高低及蛋白质磷酸化的调控,可分为Bcl-2,Bax与BH3三个亚放。Bcl-2类蛋白阻遏PCD,Bax及BH3类蛋白则促进PCD,它们通过形成同源或异源二聚体,以及与胞内蛋白因子的相互作用来调节PCD,对其分子机制的阐明,有助于众多遗传病研究的突破。     

Calcium signaling and the secretory activity of bile duct epithelia

Cytosolic calcium (Ca_i²⁺) is a second messenger that is important for the regulation of secretion in many types of tissues. Bile duct epithelial cells, or cholangiocytes, are polarized epithelia that line the biliary tree in liver and are responsible for secretion of bicarbonate and other solutes into bile. Ca_i²⁺ signaling plays an important role in the regulation of secretion by cholangiocytes, and this review discusses the machinery involved in the formation of Ca²⁺ signals in cholangiocytes, along with the evidence that these signals regulate ductular secretion. Finally, this review discusses the evidence that impairments in cholangiocyte Ca²⁺ signaling play a primary role in the pathogenesis of cholestatic disorders, in which hepatic bile secretion is impaired.     

Mitochondrial Regulation of Store-operated Calcium Signaling in T Lymphocytes

Mitochondria act as potent buffers of intracellular Ca²⁺ in many cells, but a more active role in modulating the generation of Ca²⁺ signals is not well established. We have investigated the ability of mitochondria to modulate store-operated or “capacitative” Ca²⁺ entry in Jurkat leukemic T cells and human T lymphocytes using fluorescence imaging techniques. Depletion of the ER Ca²⁺ store with thapsigargin (TG) activates Ca²⁺ release-activated Ca²⁺ (CRAC) channels in T cells, and the ensuing influx of Ca²⁺ loads a TG- insensitive intracellular store that by several criteria appears to be mitochondria. Loading of this store is prevented by carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone or by antimycin A1 + oligomycin, agents that are known to inhibit mitochondrial Ca²⁺ import by dissipating the mitochondrial membrane potential. Conversely, intracellular Na⁺ depletion, which inhibits Na⁺-dependent Ca²⁺ export from mitochondria, enhances store loading. In addition, we find that rhod-2 labels mitochondria in T cells, and it reports changes in Ca²⁺ levels that are consistent with its localization in the TG-insensitive store. Ca²⁺ uptake by the mitochondrial store is sensitive (threshold is <400 nM cytosolic Ca²⁺), rapid (detectable within 8 s), and does not readily saturate. The rate of mitochondrial Ca²⁺ uptake is sensitive to extracellular [Ca²⁺], indicating that mitochondria sense Ca²⁺ gradients near CRAC channels. Remarkably, mitochondrial uncouplers or Na⁺ depletion prevent the ability of T cells to maintain a high rate of capacitative Ca²⁺ entry over prolonged periods of >10 min. Under these conditions, the rate of Ca²⁺ influx in single cells undergoes abrupt transitions from a high influx to a low influx state. These results demonstrate that mitochondria not only buffer the Ca²⁺ that enters T cells via store-operated Ca²⁺ channels, but also play an active role in modulating the rate of capacitative Ca²⁺ entry.     

PKC-ERK通路在热损伤诱导单核细胞凋亡中的作用

应用流式细胞检测术、Western印迹、激酶活性测定等技术,检测PKC与ERK在热损伤诱导单核细胞株Raw264.7细胞凋亡中的作用。结果显示热损伤导致PKC短暂激活,PKC激活剂佛波脂(PMA)与热损伤联合作用导致PKC持续活化;并且PKC的持续激活抑制热损伤诱导的Raw264.7细胞凋亡,而PKC的抑制可促进细胞凋亡;ERK活性检测显示热损伤抑制ERK磷酸化,而PMA激活ERK磷酸化活化,并且这种激活作用通过PKC;进一步细胞凋亡检测显示ERK抑制剂PD098059可解除PMA对热损伤诱导Raw264.7细胞凋亡的抑制作用,从而提示PKC通过ERK负调控热损伤诱导的Raw264.7细胞凋亡。     

Simvastatin Potently Induces Calcium-dependent Apoptosis of Human Leiomyoma Cells

Statins are drugs commonly used for the treatment of high plasma cholesterol levels. Beyond these well known lipid-lowering properties, they possess broad-reaching effects in vivo, including antitumor effects. Statins inhibit the growth of multiple tumors. However, the mechanisms remain incompletely understood. Here we show that simvastatin inhibits the proliferation of human leiomyoma cells. This was associated with decreased mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling and multiple changes in cell cycle progression. Simvastatin potently stimulated leiomyoma cell apoptosis in a manner mechanistically dependent upon apoptotic calcium release from voltage-gated calcium channels. Therefore, simvastatin possesses antitumor effects that are dependent upon the apoptotic calcium release machinery.     

Regulation of Sodium and Calcium Channels by Signaling Complexes

Membrane depolarization and intracellular calcium transients generated by activation of voltage-gated sodium and calcium channels are local signals, which initiate physiological processes such as action potential conduction, synaptic transmission, and excitation-contraction coupling. Targeting of effector proteins and regulatory proteins to ion channels is an important mechanism to ensure speed, specificity, and precise regulation of signaling events in response to local stimuli. In this article, we review recent experimental results showing that sodium and calcium channels form local signaling complexes, in which effector proteins, anchoring proteins, and regulatory proteins interact directly with ion channels. The intracellular domains of these channels serve as signaling platforms, mediating their participation in intracellular signaling processes. These protein-protein interactions are important for efficient synaptic transmission and for regulation of ion channels by neurotransmitters and intracellular second messengers. These localized signaling complexes are essential for normal function and regulation of electrical excitability, synaptic transmission, and excitation-contraction coupling.     

Calcium Regulation of Cyclic Nucleotide Signaling in Lobster Olfactory Receptor Neurons

An elevated free Ca2+ concentration reduces odor-stimulated production of cyclic AMP (cAMP) in the outer dendritic membranes of lobster olfactory receptor neurons in vitro. This effect can occur within 50 ms of odor stimulation. The effect is concentration-dependent at submicromolar concentrations of free Ca2+. An elevated free Ca2+ concentration also reduces basal and forskolin-stimulated cAMP levels in a concentration-dependent manner, suggesting that Ca2+ is not targeting the activation of the odor receptor/G protein complex. The degradation of synthetic cAMP by phosphodiesterases is not enhanced by an increased free Ca2+ concentration, suggesting that Ca2+ acts by down-regulating the olfactory adenylyl cyclase. Western blot analysis of the lobster olfactory sensilla that contain the outer dendrites reveals a protein in the transduction zone with a molecular mass of approximately 138 kDa that is immunoreactive to an antiserum against adenylyl cyclase type III. Given earlier evidence that Ca2+ potentially enters the receptor cell through odor-activated inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate-gated channels, our results suggest a possible route for cross talk between the cyclic nucleotide and the inositol phospholipid signaling pathways in lobster olfactory receptor neurons.     

几种热激蛋白在细胞凋亡信号通路中的调控作用

热激蛋白(heat shock proteins, HSPs)作为进化保守的蛋白家族 之一,普遍存在于各种生物体中,并在生物体内发挥着重要的生理功能.大 量的实验证据表明,热激蛋白与细胞凋亡密切相关,参与细胞凋亡信号通 路的多个环节. 近年来有关该领域的研究已获得了重要的突破与进展.一方 面,热激蛋白主要起着抑制细胞凋亡、促进细胞存活的作用;另一方面, 某些热激蛋白又能够作为凋亡蛋白的分子伴侣,促进细胞凋亡,比如HSP70 能够激活DNase来促使细胞凋亡,线粒体内HSP60能够促进caspase依赖的细 胞凋亡途径.本文在阐明细胞凋亡信号通路的基础上,综述了近年来几种不 同热激蛋白家族（HSP90、 HSP70 、HSP60和小分子HSPs）在细胞凋亡调控 中作用的研究进展,重点阐述了几种主要热激蛋白与细胞凋亡信号通路上 相关因子的相互作用,并绘制了热激蛋白在细胞凋亡信号通路中的调控图 ,为进一步完善细胞凋亡调控网络研究提供一定的参考.