苯胺嘧啶衍生物X-9通过下调整合素β1表达抑制肝细胞癌迁移侵袭

整合素在许多肿瘤细胞中高表达,并且参与肿瘤细胞的侵袭转移。在肝细胞癌中,整合素β1被报导高表达,并促进肿瘤细胞的侵袭。目前,对于整合素的表达调控癌细胞机制以及干预其表达进而抑制肿瘤细胞转移的研究较少。本研究探讨利用小分子化合物抑制整合素表达来抑制肿瘤细胞迁移和侵袭的可能。首先,对临床肝癌细胞患者癌组织和癌旁组织中的整合素β1的表达进行检测,发现其在癌组织中的表达显著高于癌旁组织（P<0.05）。对TCGA肿瘤数据库的生物信息学分析结果同样显示,整合素β1的高表达与肝癌的分期（P=0.019）和预后（P=0.013）相关。通过筛选发现,苯胺嘧啶衍生物X09可以抑制肝癌细胞中整合素β1的mRNA和蛋白质的表达（P<0.01）。细胞划痕愈合实验和细胞穿孔实验结果显示,苯胺嘧啶衍生物X-9能够抑制肝癌细胞的迁移和侵袭（P<0.01）。进一步的研究证实,在肝癌细胞中外源表达整合素β1可以逆转X-9对肝癌细胞迁移和侵袭的抑制;而在敲低整合素β1的细胞中,X-9对细胞的迁移和侵袭的抑制被消除。因此,鉴定出苯胺嘧啶衍生物X-9可以通过下调整合素β1表达,进而抑制肝癌细胞的迁移和侵袭。     

苯胺嘧啶衍生物X-9通过下调整合素β1表达抑制肝细胞癌迁移侵袭

整合素在许多肿瘤细胞中高表达,并且参与肿瘤细胞的侵袭转移。在肝细胞癌中,整合素β1被报导高表达,并促进肿瘤细胞的侵袭。目前,对于整合素的表达调控癌细胞机制以及干预其表达进而抑制肿瘤细胞转移的研究较少。本研究探讨利用小分子化合物抑制整合素表达来抑制肿瘤细胞迁移和侵袭的可能。首先,对临床肝癌细胞患者癌组织和癌旁组织中的整合素β1的表达进行检测,发现其在癌组织中的表达显著高于癌旁组织（P<0.05）。对TCGA肿瘤数据库的生物信息学分析结果同样显示,整合素β1的高表达与肝癌的分期（P=0.019）和预后（P=0.013）相关。通过筛选发现,苯胺嘧啶衍生物X09可以抑制肝癌细胞中整合素β1的mRNA和蛋白质的表达（P<0.01）。细胞划痕愈合实验和细胞穿孔实验结果显示,苯胺嘧啶衍生物X-9能够抑制肝癌细胞的迁移和侵袭（P<0.01）。进一步的研究证实,在肝癌细胞中外源表达整合素β1可以逆转X-9对肝癌细胞迁移和侵袭的抑制;而在敲低整合素β1的细胞中,X-9对细胞的迁移和侵袭的抑制被消除。因此,鉴定出苯胺嘧啶衍生物X-9可以通过下调整合素β1表达,进而抑制肝癌细胞的迁移和侵袭。     

c-abl 通过与雌激素受体β相互作用上调其转录活性

雌激素受体β(ERβ)在心血管疾病发生发展中起着重要的作用,但是其在心血管病中发挥作用的机制还不清楚.因此寻找与ERβ相互作用的共调节因子对阐明ERβ信号通路具有重要价值.应用GST沉淀、免疫共沉淀技术,发现ERβ可以与c-abl相互作用,并可被c-abl磷酸化.通过荧光素酶报告基因方法发现,c-abl可以上调ERβ转录激活的活性,并且上调作用可以被c-abl的抑制剂STI571抑制.上述结果提示c-abl是新的ERβ共刺激因子,为进一步研究ERβ通路在心血管疾病中发挥作用的机制打下基础.     

受体相互作用蛋白3——细胞凋亡与坏死的调节阀

综述了受体相互作用蛋白(RIPs)蛋白结构和RIP3调控细胞凋亡与坏死机制的研究进展．受体相互作用蛋白3(receptor-interacting protein 3, RIP3)是丝/苏氨酸蛋白激酶家族成员之一,该蛋白质家族包含一类高度保守的丝/苏氨酸激酶结构域．RIP家族激酶作为细胞应激传感分子,在调控细胞凋亡、细胞坏死和存活通路中发挥重要作用．近年发现,RIP3参与肿瘤坏死因子TNFα诱导的细胞程序化坏死的生物学过程．认识RIP3调控TNFα诱导的细胞凋亡与坏死不同死亡途径转换的分子机制,有助于发现肿瘤治疗的新策略．     

支架蛋白GIT2通过与Smad3相互作用调节其转录活性

G蛋白偶联受体激酶相互作用蛋白2(G protein-coupled receptor kinase interacting proteins 2,GIT2)是一种信号支架蛋白,可募集多种信号通路的关键分子,参与肌动蛋白细胞骨架组装、整合素介导的细胞粘附、G蛋白偶联受体的内化及胞内信号传递等生物学过程. 采用酵母双杂交实验证明,TGF-β1信号通路的转录因子Smad3是GIT2的相互作用蛋白质,内、外源免疫共沉淀实验均证实,GIT2与Smad3存在蛋白质相互作用. 报告基因实验及免疫印迹结果表明,GIT2增加Smad3的转录活性并增强TGF-β1诱导的Smad3的磷酸化.研究还发现,Git2-/-小鼠骨髓间充质干细胞(MSC)的Smad3磷酸化受到抑制,其骨形成相关靶基因的表达水平也低于Git2+/+小鼠. 本研究表明,GIT2通过与Smad3的相互作用调节其转录活性并活化TGF-β1信号通路,可能参与调节骨髓间充质干细胞的分化.     

Errα通过抑制β-Catenin促进猪前体脂肪细胞成脂分化

雌激素相关受体α（Errα）和Wnt/β-Catenin 信号通路都能够调控成脂分化.研究表明Errα和wnt/β-Catenin信号通路之间存在互作,β-联蛋白（β-Catenin）是Wnt/β-Catenin 信号通路的关键因子. 为了研究Errα和β-Catenin在脂肪生成中的相互作用,在293A细胞中包装得到Errα腺病毒并侵染猪前体脂肪细胞. LiCl 和XCT790被用于不同处理的猪前体脂肪细胞. 蛋白质印迹实验发现,在成脂分化过程中,Errα表达升高,β-Catenin表达降低. 显微观察绿色荧光发现,Errα腺病毒能够侵染猪前体脂肪细胞. 蛋白质印迹实验显示,在猪前体脂肪细胞中,Errα腺病毒促进Errα表达,XCT790抑制Errα表达. 油红O染色结果表明,β-Catenin抑制成脂分化,而Errα通过抑制β-Catenin促进成脂分化. 进一步的蛋白质印迹实验表明,在猪前体脂肪细胞成脂分化过程中,LiCl能够稳定β-Catenin表达,Errα抑制β-Catenin表达. 这些发现提示,Errα通过抑制β-Catenin表达来促进成脂分化.     

Gli1与β-catenin相互作用促进二者在结肠癌细胞中的协同核输入

Wnt信号通路和Hedgehog（Hh）信号通路在胚胎和干细胞的发育中发挥重要作用.此外,这两条信号途径在结肠癌复发和浸润的过程也至关重要.然而,Wnt信号通路、Hedgehog信号通路二者之间具体的交互作用机制目前仍不清楚.本文发现,这两条途径的关键分子Gli1和β-联蛋白之间存在蛋白质相互作用.Gli1与β-联蛋白之间的分子相互作用有助于二者的核输入.同时发现,在肠癌细胞系中,Gli1与β-联蛋白协同上调表达. LiCl激活细胞Wnt信号通路使Gli1表达水平增加, RNA干扰抑制Wnt信号通路,Gli1的表达水平下降.同时,Gli1的过表达也提高了细胞内β-联蛋白的表达水平,并且用Hedgehog信号通路抑制剂GANT61处理细胞,降低Gli1的表达后细胞内β 联蛋白的表达相应下降.本研究揭示了Gli1 和 β-联蛋白的相互作用及二者协助核输入在Wnt、Hedgehog信号通路交互调节中发挥重要作用,Wnt、Hedgehog信号通路交互作用为大肠癌发生发展研究提供了细胞水平交互调控机制.     

PGC-1β和SREBP-1c在猪脂肪细胞分化过程中的相互作用

为研究过氧化物酶体增殖物激活受体γ辅激活因子1β(PGC-1β)与SREBP-1c在猪前体脂肪细胞分化过程中的表达规律及其相互作用,分析二者功能上的联系,采用Western 印迹及细胞免疫荧光技术检测PGC-1β与SREBP-1c在猪脂肪细胞分化过程中的表达,shRNA干扰和免疫共沉淀技术分别探讨了PGC-1β对SREBP-1c的调节作用及2种蛋白质在体内的结合活性.结果显示,PGC-1β与SREBP-1c 蛋白的表达均随猪脂肪细胞分化逐渐增加,且在分化细胞的核和胞浆中均有分布. 干扰PGC-1β显著下调了SREBP-1c和脂肪细胞分化标记基因C/EBPα的表达(P<0.05),同时降低了细胞内甘油三酯的积累.免疫共沉淀证明,PGC-1β与SREBP-1c蛋白在猪脂肪细胞分化过程中存在结合作用. 以上结果表明,PGC-1β能够促进猪脂肪细胞分化并对SREBP-1c有调节和结合作用,推测二者的结合可能与其对脂肪细胞的分化调节机制相关,将对PGC-1β调控脂肪细胞分化的功能和机理研究提供新途径.     

哈尔滨和湛江雄性褐家鼠Gsk3β差异甲基化区域DNA序列多态性分析与调控功能鉴定

糖原合成酶激酶-3β（glycogen synthase kinase 3β, Gsk3β）基因能够参与多条细胞周期信号传导通路,从而通过调控细胞分裂过程,影响组织与器官的发育。本实验室前期研究发现,与湛江褐家鼠种群相比,哈尔滨褐家鼠种群在秋冬季存在睾丸发育受抑制的现象,并通过基因组与甲基化组联合分析,在Gsk3β基因内含子区域筛选到1个差异甲基化区域（differentially methylated region, DMR）。为分析该DMR 的DNA序列多态性及其在Gsk3β基因表达调控中的可能作用,本研究选取了哈尔滨（n=52）和湛江（n=39）共91个性成熟褐家鼠睾丸样品。采用PCR测序方法在群体水平上分析了该DMR的DNA序列多态性,在2个褐家鼠亚种的分化特征,并选取2个群体中具有代表性的单倍型,通过荧光素酶基因报告系统在293T细胞中检测该DMR不同单倍型的调控活性。结果表明,该DMR存在2个SNP位点,共组成3个单倍型、6个基因型。卡方检验表明,其频率在2个群体间发生显著分化（单倍型,P=1.13E-29;基因型,P=1.15E-14）。Gsk3β基因的-2 218/+238 bp区具有明显启动子活性（P<0.05）;哈尔滨和湛江2个单倍型都显示显著的沉默子活性（P<0.05）,同时表现显著的调控活性差异（P<0.05）,表明这2个单倍型可以在293T细胞中作为沉默子抑制Gsk3β基因的启动子活性。2个单倍型调控活性差异,可能与SNP导致的转录因子结合位点的获得/丢失,以及2个单倍型在不同种群中甲基化状态差异有关。本研究结果表明,该DMR可能通过调控褐家鼠Gsk3β基因表达,在睾丸发育过程中发挥作用。2个种群主要单倍型的调控活性差异,及其甲基化状态差异可能是2个种群睾丸发育表型差异的重要调控因素之一。     

利用酵母双杂交系统筛选水稻类受体激酶OsWAK50胞内域相互作用蛋白

细胞壁连接的类受体激酶(wall-associated kinase,WAK)是植物细胞中一类特有的类受体激酶基因亚家族,因其胞外域与细胞壁紧密相连而得名．水稻中共有125个OsWAK基因,OsWAK50编码的蛋白质具有胞外域、跨膜域和激酶域,呈现典型的WAK样受体激酶特征．首先通过对OsWAK50-GFP融合蛋白的观察发现OsWAK50定位于细胞膜并且与细胞壁偶联．进而通过酵母双杂交系统筛选到了20个可能与OsWAK50胞内域相互作用的候选蛋白,并通过一对一酵母转化验证了OsSK4、OsSWIB和OsSWI3C全长均可与OsWAK50胞内域相互作用．进一步分析显示,OsSWIB能够直接与OsWAK50激酶域互作,而OsSK4和OsSWI3C与OsWAK50胞内域的互作是依赖于OsWAK50 C端的．研究还表明,OsSK4和OsSWIB亦能与OsWAK50同源基因OsWAK53a结合,而OsSWI3C则不能与OsWAK53a结合．双分子荧光互补实验证明,OsSK4与OsWAK50和OsWAK53a能够在植物体内发生互作．以上结果为阐明OsWAK50发挥功能的分子机制提供了重要线索．     

RIP3蛋白的研究进展

受体相互作用蛋白-3是丝/苏氨酸蛋白激酶家族成员（RIPs）之一,该蛋白家族作为细胞重要应激传感分子,在调控细胞存活、细胞凋亡和细胞坏死通路中发挥重要作用.近年研究发现,RIP3参与肿瘤坏死因子TNF-α诱导的细胞程序性坏死生物学过程,是TNF-α诱导的细胞凋亡与坏死不同死亡途径转换的关键开关分子.本文就RIP3分子的发现、结构特点、细胞亚定位、生理功能及其分子机制进行综述,并对RIP3分子的研究进行了展望.     

A Novel GLP1 Receptor Interacting Protein ATP6ap2 Regulates Insulin Secretion in Pancreatic Beta Cells

GLP1 activates its receptor, GLP1R, to enhance insulin secretion. The activation and transduction of GLP1R requires complex interactions with a host of accessory proteins, most of which remain largely unknown. In this study, we used membrane-based split ubiquitin yeast two-hybrid assays to identify novel GLP1R interactors in both mouse and human islets. Among these, ATP6ap2 (ATPase H⁺-transporting lysosomal accessory protein 2) was identified in both mouse and human islet screens. ATP6ap2 was shown to be abundant in islets including both alpha and beta cells. When GLP1R and ATP6ap2 were co-expressed in beta cells, GLP1R was shown to directly interact with ATP6ap2, as assessed by co-immunoprecipitation. In INS-1 cells, overexpression of ATP6ap2 did not affect insulin secretion; however, siRNA knockdown decreased both glucose-stimulated and GLP1-induced insulin secretion. Decreases in GLP1-induced insulin secretion were accompanied by attenuated GLP1 stimulated cAMP accumulation. Because ATP6ap2 is a subunit required for V-ATPase assembly of insulin granules, it has been reported to be involved in granule acidification. In accordance with this, we observed impaired insulin granule acidification upon ATP6ap2 knockdown but paradoxically increased proinsulin secretion. Importantly, as a GLP1R interactor, ATP6ap2 was required for GLP1-induced Ca²⁺ influx, in part explaining decreased insulin secretion in ATP6ap2 knockdown cells. Taken together, our findings identify a group of proteins that interact with the GLP1R. We further show that one interactor, ATP6ap2, plays a novel dual role in beta cells, modulating both GLP1R signaling and insulin processing to affect insulin secretion.     

受体相互作用蛋白3（RIP3）调控细胞自噬的研究进展

受体相互作用蛋白3(receptor-interacting protein 3,RIP3)是一种丝氨酸-苏氨酸蛋白激酶，因其参与细胞自噬的调控而受到广泛关注。本文就RIP3在细胞自噬的发展和调控机制中的作用进行了总结。RIP3可参与mTOR信号通路的调节，同时与多种自噬所必须的蛋白发生相互作用，包括GNAI3/RGSI9、P62和TFEB等，从而其在自噬启动、自噬体形成和自噬溶酶体成熟等多个阶段发挥正向或负向调控作用，为进一步探究RIP3对细胞程序性死亡的调控机制及相关疾病治疗的潜在分子靶标筛选提供参考。     

Involvement of Protein Kinase D1 in Signal Transduction from the Protein Kinase C Pathway to the Tyrosine Kinase Pathway in Response to Gonadotropin-releasing Hormone

The receptor for gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) belongs to the G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), and its stimulation activates extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK). We found that the transactivation of ErbB4 was involved in GnRH-induced ERK activation in immortalized GnRH neurons (GT1–7 cells). We found also that GnRH induced the cleavage of ErbB4. In the present study, we examined signal transduction for the activation of ERK and the cleavage of ErbB4 after GnRH treatment. Both ERK activation and ErbB4 cleavage were completely inhibited by YM-254890, an inhibitor of G_q/11 proteins. Down-regulation of protein kinase C (PKC) markedly decreased both ERK activation and ErbB4 cleavage. Experiments with two types of PKC inhibitors, Gö 6976 and bisindolylmaleimide I, indicated that novel PKC isoforms but not conventional PKC isoforms were involved in ERK activation and ErbB4 cleavage. Our experiments indicated that the novel PKC isoforms activated protein kinase D (PKD) after GnRH treatment. Knockdown and inhibitor experiments suggested that PKD1 stimulated the phosphorylation of Pyk2 by constitutively activated Src and Fyn for ERK activation. Taken together, it is highly possible that PKD1 plays a critical role in signal transduction from the PKC pathway to the tyrosine kinase pathway. Activation of the tyrosine kinase pathway may be involved in the progression of cancer.     

Integrin signaling revisited

Adhesion to the extracellular matrix (ECM) is a crucial regulator of cell function, and it is now well established that signaling by integrins mediates many of these effects. Ten years of research has seen integrin signaling advance on many fronts towards a molecular understanding of the control mechanisms. Most striking is the merger with studies of other receptors, the cytoskeleton and mechanical forces within the general field of signaling networks.     

The Tyrosine Kinase c-Abl Promotes Homeodomain-interacting Protein Kinase 2 (HIPK2) Accumulation and Activation in Response to DNA Damage

The non-receptor tyrosine kinase c-Abl is activated in response to DNA damage and induces p73-dependent apoptosis. Here, we investigated c-Abl regulation of the homeodomain-interacting protein kinase 2 (HIPK2), an important regulator of p53-dependent apoptosis. c-Abl phosphorylated HIPK2 at several sites, and phosphorylation by c-Abl protected HIPK2 from degradation mediated by the ubiquitin E3 ligase Siah-1. c-Abl and HIPK2 synergized in activating p53 on apoptotic promoters in a reporter assay, and c-Abl was required for endogenous HIPK2 accumulation and phosphorylation of p53 at Ser⁴⁶ in response to DNA damage by γ- and UV radiation. Accumulation of HIPK2 in nuclear speckles and association with promyelocytic leukemia protein (PML) in response to DNA damage were also dependent on c-Abl activity. At high cell density, the Hippo pathway inhibits DNA damage-induced c-Abl activation. Under this condition, DNA damage-induced HIPK2 accumulation, phosphorylation of p53 at Ser⁴⁶, and apoptosis were attenuated. These data demonstrate a new mechanism for the induction of DNA damage-induced apoptosis by c-Abl and illustrate network interactions between serine/threonine and tyrosine kinases that dictate cell fate.     

Gene-Environment Interactions Target Mitogen-activated Protein 3 Kinase 1 (MAP3K1) Signaling in Eyelid Morphogenesis

Gene-environment interactions determine the biological outcomes through mechanisms that are poorly understood. Mouse embryonic eyelid closure is a well defined model to study the genetic control of developmental programs. Using this model, we investigated how exposure to dioxin-like environmental pollutants modifies the genetic risk of developmental abnormalities. Our studies reveal that mitogen-activated protein 3 kinase 1 (MAP3K1) signaling is a focal point of gene-environment cross-talk. Dioxin exposure, acting through the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR), blocked eyelid closure in genetic mutants in which MAP3K1 signaling was attenuated but did not disturb this developmental program in either wild type or mutant mice with attenuated epidermal growth factor receptor or WNT signaling. Exposure also markedly inhibited c-Jun phosphorylation in Map3k1^+/− embryonic eyelid epithelium, suggesting that dioxin-induced AHR pathways can synergize with gene mutations to inhibit MAP3K1 signaling. Our studies uncover a novel mechanism through which the dioxin-AHR axis interacts with the MAP3K1 signaling pathways during fetal development and provide strong empirical evidence that specific gene alterations can increase the risk of developmental abnormalities driven by environmental pollutant exposure.     

Mechanical stress protects against osteoarthritis via regulation of the AMPK/NF-κB signaling pathway

Mechanical stress plays a key role in regulating cartilage degradation in osteoarthritis (OA). The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects and mechanisms of mechanical stress on articular cartilage. A total of 80 male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into eight groups (n = 10 for each group): control group (CG), OA group (OAG), and CG or OAG subjected to low-, moderate-, or high-intensity treadmill exercise (CL, CM, CH, OAL, OAM, and OAH, respectively). Chondrocytes were obtained from the knee joints of rats; they were cultured on Bioflex 6-well culture plates and subjected to different durations of cyclic tensile strain (CTS) with or without exposure to interleukin-1β (IL-1β). The results of the histological score, immunohistochemistry, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and western-blot analyses indicated that there were no differences between CM and CG, but OAM showed therapeutic effects compared with OAG. However, CH and OAH experienced more cartilage damage than CG and OAG, respectively. CTS had no therapeutic effects on collagen II of normal chondrocytes, which is consistent with findings after treadmill exercise. However, CTS for 4 hr could alleviate the chondrocyte damage induced by IL-1β by activating AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) phosphorylation and suppressing nuclear translocation of nuclear factor (NF)-κB p65. Our findings indicate that mechanical stress had no therapeutic effects on normal articular cartilage and chondrocytes; mechanical stress only caused damage with excessive stimulation. Still, moderate biomechanical stress could reduce sensitization to the inflammatory response of articular cartilage and chondrocytes through the AMPK/NF-κB signaling pathway.     

Epidermal Growth Factor-dependent Activation of the Extracellular Signal-regulated Kinase Pathway by DJ-1 Protein through Its Direct Binding to c-Raf Protein

DJ-1 is an oncogene and also a causative gene for familial Parkinson disease. DJ-1 has various functions, and the oxidative status of cysteine at position 106 (Cys-106) is crucial for determination of the activation level of DJ-1. Although DJ-1 requires activated Ras for its oncogenic activity and although it activates the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway, a cell growth pathway downstream of Ras, the precise mechanism underlying activation of the ERK pathway by DJ-1 is still not known. In this study, we found that DJ-1 directly bound to the kinase domain of c-Raf but not to Ras and that Cys-106 mutant DJ-1 bound to c-Raf more weakly than did wild-type DJ-1. Co-localization of DJ-1 with c-Raf in the cytoplasm was enhanced in epidermal growth factor (EGF)-treated cells. Knockdown of DJ-1 expression attenuated the phosphorylation level of c-Raf in EGF-treated cells, resulting in reduced activation of MEK and ERK1/2. Although EGF-treated DJ-1 knock-out cells also showed attenuated c-Raf activation, reintroduction of wild-type DJ-1, but not C106S DJ-1, into DJ-1 knock-out cells restored c-Raf activation in a DJ-1 binding activity in a c-Raf-dependent manner. DJ-1 was not responsible for activation of c-Raf in phorbol myristate acetate-treated cells. Furthermore, DJ-1 stimulated self-phosphorylation activity of c-Raf in vitro, but DJ-1 was not a target for Raf kinase. Oxidation of Cys-106 in DJ-1 was not affected by EGF treatment. These findings showed that DJ-1 is a positive regulator of the EGF/Ras/ERK pathway through targeting c-Raf.