miR-223促进小鼠胚胎成纤维细胞复制性衰老北大核心CSCD

微小RNA(miRNAs)作为强大的基因表达调控子,广泛参与多种生命过程,在细胞衰老进程中的作用也日益受到关注。miR-223是一个典型的抑癌基因,可显著抑制细胞增殖能力。miR-223与阿尔茨海默症、心血管疾病以及类风湿性关节炎等衰老相关疾病的发生发展密切相关。尽管如此,miR-223在细胞衰老进程中的作用及其分子机制尚未见报道。本研究通过连续传代建立了小鼠胚胎成纤维细胞(MEF细胞)的复制性衰老模型,并利用荧光定量qRT-PCR检测发现,miR-223在衰老MEF细胞中的表达水平显著上调。随后,通过转染miR-223模拟物Agomir-223在MEF细胞中过表达miR-223。结果显示,过表达miR-223可显著促进MEF细胞的衰老表型并抑制其增殖能力,而抑制miR-223的表达可延缓MEF细胞的复制性衰老进程。进一步利用生物信息学方法预测,获得多个miR-223的候选衰老相关靶基因,包括Rasa1、Ddit4和Smad1等。然而,双萤光素酶报告系统结果显示,miR-223并不显著影响其萤光强度,表明它们很可能并不是miR-223的下游靶基因。综上所述,miR-223可显著促进MEF细胞复制性衰老,然而其调节细胞衰老进程的分子机制依然有待深入研究。     

miR-138转录可下调p33ING1在衰老细胞中的表达

p33ING1参与了多种生物学过程,包括细胞生长抑制、凋亡、DNA损伤修复、染色质重塑等．近来研究显示,p33在细胞衰老过程中表达降低,这可能与衰老细胞的抗凋亡有关．但p33在衰老细胞中表达下调的分子机理仍不清楚．我们发现,在衰老细胞中miR-138表达升高与p33基因的表达降低密切相关．以下实验结果支持如此结论：(1)与年轻细胞相比,带p33ING1 3′UTR 报告载体荧光素酶活性在衰老细胞中降低;突变3′UTR上的miR-138结合位点可升高报告载体荧光素酶在衰老细胞中的活性;(2)在衰老细胞中miR-138的表达升高;(3)在年轻细胞中,过表达miR-138不仅可抑制带p33ING1 3′UTR 报告载体荧光素酶活性,而且下调细胞内p33ING1基因mRNA和蛋白水平.与此相反,抑制miR-138活性可升高带p33ING1 3′UTR 报告载体荧光素酶活性,并且上调细胞内p33ING1基因mRNA和蛋白水平．这些结果表明,p33ING1基因是miR-138的靶基因;在衰老过程中,miR-138表达升高, 由此导致该基因的表达降低．     

microRNA-223在动脉粥样硬化发生过程中的网络调控机制

microRNA-223(miR-223)是参与动脉粥样硬化（atherosclerosis,AS）炎性调控、细胞生长等通路的微小非编码RNA。本研究系统地探究miR-223及其靶基因的网络调控机制,以便全面理解miR-223在AS中的作用。利用miRNA靶基因预测数据库miRDB、miRmap、TargetScan和miRTarBase获取miR-223的靶基因集。R语言分析基因表达综合数据库（gene expression omnibus,GEO）共享平台动脉粥样硬化斑块差异表达基因集（GSE100927）,筛选出斑块差异表达基因,并与miR-223靶基因集交叉匹配。利用基因本体（gene ontology,GO）及基因组数据库（kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes,KEGG）分析研究差异表达基因功能。结果显示,斑块中下调的1 584个差异表达基因与miR-223靶基因交叉匹配得到422个交集mRNA。GO及KEGG富集分析发现miR-223可能通过细胞生长、炎症反应以及血管平滑肌收缩等信号通路调节动脉粥样硬化斑块的发生发展过程。蛋白相互作...     

PML2过表达促进Zmpste24~(-/-)早衰小鼠胚胎成纤维细胞衰老

该研究以Zmpste24基因缺陷早衰小鼠胚胎成纤维细胞(MEF)为模型,探索细胞核内亚结构PML NBs(promyelocytic leukemia nuclear bodies)与细胞衰老之间的关联。在Zmpste24野生型(+/+)和缺陷型(-/-) MEF细胞中过表达GFP-PML1和GFP-PML2及对照GFP,通过传代计数监测细胞增殖,β-gal染色检测细胞衰老,免疫荧光观察PML NBs结构形态、增殖标志物Ki-67和DNA损伤应答信号γH2AX。结果显示,过表达PML2而非PML1显著抑制Zmpste24~(+/+)和Zmpste24~(-/-) MEF细胞的增殖,降低Ki-67阳性细胞比例,削弱DNA损伤修复能力,加速细胞衰老。而且,过表达PML2促进Zmpste24~(-/-) MEF细胞衰老的效应比在Zmpste24~(+/+)细胞中更为显著。此外,对比Zmpste24~(+/+),在Zmpste24~(-/-) MEF细胞中过表达PML2可诱导更高比例的细胞产生线性PML NBs结构,且实验证明这种异常结构与细胞衰老紧密关联。     

miR-340通过靶向GRP78促进结直肠癌细胞凋亡并抑制其增殖、迁移和侵袭

miR-340能够促进癌细胞的增殖和侵袭,但是在结直肠癌中miR-340如何调控癌症的发生与发展鲜有报道。本研究探究miR-340在结直肠癌细胞中的生物学功能和靶基因调控机制。首先通过RT-qPCR检测不同的结直肠癌细胞株中miR-340的表达水平,再利用过表达和抑制miR-340,分别转染COLO-205细胞,以CCK-8检测细胞的增殖能力,Transwell法检测细胞的迁移和侵袭能力,流式细胞技术检测细胞的凋亡和细胞周期分布;最后通过生物信息学预测miR-340的靶基因,荧光素酶报告基因及Western印迹分析进行验证。结果显示,miR-340在COLO-205细胞中低表达,与对照组比较,细胞的增殖、迁移和侵袭在过表达miR-340转染组显著受到抑制,在抑制miR-340组中却被促进（P<0.01）。流式细胞检测结果显示,过表达miR-340 转染组细胞凋亡比例显著升高,而抑制miR-340 组中凋亡比例却降低（P<0.01）。过表达miR-340 转染组细胞生物信息学分析结果显示,葡萄糖调节蛋白78（glucose regulated protein 78 kD, GRP78）的3′UTR上有miR-340-5p的结合位点,并且荧光素酶活性在转染过表达miR-340 组中显著降低（P<0.01）;Western 印迹结果同样表明,过表达miR-340能够抑制GRP78的表达,而抑制miR-340,GRP78的表达抑制解除。综上所述,miR-340能够直接靶向GRP78来促进COLO-205细胞的凋亡,并抑制其增殖、迁移和侵袭。     

综述: 衰老及相关疾病细胞分子机制研究进展

人类及其他生物随时间推移逐渐发生细胞功能丧失,即细胞衰老.这个过程如突显在某个组织器官,则可引起这个组织和器官的衰老性疾病.然而,最近的研究表明,哺乳动物在出生之前胚胎发育的生理条件下,即已经出现细胞和组织的复制性衰老现象.机制研究显示多种分子从细胞(核)内外引起生理性和应激性细胞复制性衰老.而自然界中某些生物随时间推移生命力增强、并不发生衰老.这些现象的分子机制,还有如发生在脑及代谢性疾病中的非复制性细胞衰老等,都还是个谜.本文就近期衰老的机制、细胞衰老的类型以及某些衰老相关疾病的分子基础的最新研究进展做一个扼要综述.论文包含以下几个部分:a.细胞衰老的定义、分类和机制;b.生理性衰老:发育中程序化衰老;c.内环境稳态与组织器官衰老;d.一型细胞复制性衰老及相关疾病:端粒长度与预测衰老及肿瘤预后、特发性肺纤维化、高血压;e.二型非复制性细胞衰老及相关疾病:帕金森病、糖尿病;f.衰老与长寿的物种多样性.     

衰老及相关疾病细胞分子机制研究进展

人类及其他生物随时间推移逐渐发生细胞功能丧失,即细胞衰老.这个过程如突显在某个组织器官,则可引起这个组织和器官的衰老性疾病.然而,最近的研究表明,哺乳动物在出生之前胚胎发育的生理条件下,即已经出现细胞和组织的复制性衰老现象.机制研究显示多种分子从细胞(核)内外引起生理性和应激性细胞复制性衰老.而自然界中某些生物随时间推移生命力增强、并不发生衰老.这些现象的分子机制,还有如发生在脑及代谢性疾病中的非复制性细胞衰老等,都还是个谜.本文就近期衰老的机制、细胞衰老的类型以及某些衰老相关疾病的分子基础的最新研究进展做一个扼要综述.论文包含以下几个部分:a.细胞衰老的定义、分类和机制;b.生理性衰老:发育中程序化衰老;c.内环境稳态与组织器官衰老;d.一型细胞复制性衰老及相关疾病:端粒长度与预测衰老及肿瘤预后、特发性肺纤维化、高血压;e.二型非复制性细胞衰老及相关疾病:帕金森病、糖尿病;f.衰老与长寿的物种多样性.     

miR-598 对结直肠癌细胞转移潜能的影响

目的:探讨miR-598在结直肠癌转移中的作用和分子机制,为寻找新的结直肠癌治疗靶标提供理论依据。方法:收集30对人结直肠癌及癌旁正常组织标本,采用qRT-PCR检测miR-598的表达,采用Transwell和划痕实验确定miR-598对结直肠癌细胞侵袭和迁移能力的影响,利用在线靶基因预测软件,筛选出miR-598可能的下游靶基因Jagged 1(JAG1),利用Western blot及双荧光素酶报告基因实验检测miR-598对JAG1及上皮间质转化标志物(Vimentin及E-cadherin)表达的影响。结果:与正常肠黏膜组织对比,miR-598在结直肠癌组织中的表达水平明显降低;miR-598显著抑制结直肠癌细胞的侵袭及迁移能力;分子机制分析证实miR-598能够作用于JAG1的3'-UTR并抑制其表达;过表达miR-598显著下调Vimentin的表达水平,而提高E-cadherin的表达水平。结论:miR-598在人结直肠癌中表达明显下调;miR-598通过靶向调控靶基因JAG1的表达,抑制结直肠癌细胞EMT,从而有效的抑制了结直肠癌细胞的侵袭和迁移。     

miR-302通过下调靶基因RAB22A抑制膀胱癌进展

目的:探讨miR-302通过靶向调控RAB22A影响膀胱癌进展的分子机制。方法:采用RT-qPCR检测miR-302在HTB1和RT112膀胱癌细胞系和膀胱内皮细胞系HBdNEC中的表达;以miRNA-NC、miR-302 mimic、miR-302 inhibitor转染细胞,并分为以下几组:NC+control si RNA、miR-302 inhibitor+control si RNA、miR-302 inhibitor+RAB22A si RNA、NC+vector、miR-302 mimic+vector或miR-302 mimic+RAB22A,再通过MTT实验分析膀胱癌细胞的增殖情况,细胞侵袭实验检测细胞侵袭情况,双荧光素酶报告载体检测分析miR-302靶基因,Western blot检测RAB22A在膀胱癌细胞中的表达。结果:HTB1和RT112细胞中miR-302的表达明显低于HBdNEC细胞(P0.05)。miR-302高表达抑制膀胱癌细胞的增殖和侵袭;miR-302低表达时,膀胱癌细胞的增殖和侵袭能力上升。生物信息学和双荧光素酶报告结果显示RAB22A为miR-302的靶基因。miR-302过表达后,细胞荧光素酶活性显著下降(P0.05),RAB22A表达下调(P0.05);miR-302表达沉默后,细胞荧光素酶活性显著上升(P0.05),RAB22A表达上调(P0.01)。拯救实验显示RAB22A表达沉默可逆转miR-302表达沉默时对膀胱癌细胞增殖和侵袭能力上调的影响;而RAB22A过表达可逆转miR-302过表达对膀胱癌细胞增殖和侵袭的抑制。结论:miR-302可通过抑制靶基因RAB22A的表达,抑制膀胱癌细胞的增殖及侵袭。     

组蛋白变异体HIST2H2BE通过上调p 21表达诱导细胞衰老

已知组蛋白变异体在基因转录调控、DNA修复以及凋亡等过程中起着重要作用。但组蛋白变异体在细胞衰老中的作用尚不清楚。本研究证明,组蛋白变异体HIST2H2BE可上调p 21的表达,影响细胞的衰老进程。基因芯片、半定量RT-PCR以及Real-time PCR揭示,HIST2H2BE在衰老细胞中表达升高,且其表达具有衰老特异性。在年轻成纤维细胞中过表达HIST2H2BE,可显著减少EdU掺入细胞的百分率,升高细胞衰老标志物SA-β-gal活性以及p 21的表达,提示HIST2H2BE具有细胞衰老调节作用。此外,利用siRNA抑制p 21表达,可明显衰减HIST2H2BE活化SA-β-gal。以上结果显示,组蛋白变异体HIST2H2BE是一个重要的衰老调节蛋白质,其对细胞衰老的调节依赖于p 21。该研究结果为深入探讨染色质结构改变在细胞衰老中的作用提供了新线索。     

Implication of p53-dependent cellular senescence related gene, TARSH in tumor suppression

A novel target of NESH-SH3 (TARSH) was identified as a cellular senescence related gene in mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) replicative senescence, the expression of which has been suppressed in primary clinical lung cancer specimens. However, the molecular mechanism underlying the regulation of TARSH involved in pulmonary tumorigenesis remains unclear. Here we demonstrate that the reduction of TARSH gene expression by short hairpin RNA (shRNA) system robustly inhibited the MEFs proliferation with increase in senescence-associated β-galactosidase (SA-β-gal) activity. Using p53^−/− MEFs, we further suggest that this growth arrest by loss of TARSH is evoked by p53-dependent p21^Cip1 accumulation. Moreover, we also reveal that TARSH reduction induces multicentrosome in MEFs, which is linked in chromosome instability and tumor development. These results suggest that TARSH plays an important role in proliferation of replicative senescence and may serve as a trigger of tumor development.     

MiR-223 suppresses cell proliferation by targeting IGF-1R

To study the roles of microRNA-223 (miR-223) in regulation of cell growth, we established a miR-223 over-expression model in HeLa cells infected with miR-223 by Lentivirus pLL3.7 system. We observed in this model that miR-223 significantly suppressed the proliferation, growth rate, colony formation of HeLa cells in vitro, and in vivo tumorigenicity or tumor formation in nude mice. To investigate the mechanisms involved, we scanned and examined the potential and putative target molecules of miR-223 by informatics, quantitative PCR and Western blot, and found that insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF-1R) was the functional target of miR-223 inhibition of cell proliferation. Targeting IGF-1R by miR-223 was not only seen in HeLa cells, but also in leukemia and hepatoma cells. The downstream pathway, Akt/mTOR/p70S6K, to which the signal was mediated by IGF-1R, was inhibited as well. The relative luciferase activity of the reporter containing wild-type 3'UTR(3'untranslated region) of IGF-1R was significantly suppressed, but the mutant not. Silence of IGF-1R expression by vector-based short hairpin RNA resulted in the similar inhibition with miR-223. Contrarily, rescued IGF-1R expression in the cells that over-expressed miR-223, reversed the inhibition caused by miR-223 via introducing IGF-1R cDNA that didn't contain the 3'UTR. Meanwhile, we also noted that miR-223 targeted Rasa1, but the downstream molecules mediated by Rasa1 was neither targeted nor regulated. Therefore we believed that IGF-1R was the functional target for miR-223 suppression of cell proliferation and its downstream PI3K/Akt/mTOR/p70S6K pathway suppressed by miR-223 was by targeting IGF-1R.     

Metformin lowers the threshold for stress-induced senescence: A role for the microRNA-200 family and miR-205

We have tested the hypothesis that the antidiabetic biguanide metformin can be used to manipulate the threshold for stress-induced senescence (SIS), thus accelerating the onset of cancer-protective cellular senescence in response to oncogenic stimuli. Using senescence-prone murine embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs), we assessed whether metformin treatment modified the senescence phenotype that is activated in response to DNA damaging inducers. Metformin significantly enhanced the number of MEFs entering a senescent stage in response to doxorubicin, an anthracycline that induces cell senescence by activating DNA damage signaling pathways (e.g., ATM/ATR) in a reactive oxygen species (ROS)-dependent manner. Using WI-38 and BJ-1 human diploid fibroblasts (HDFs), we explored whether metformin supplementation throughout their entire replicative lifespan may promote the early appearance of the biomarkers of replicative senescence. Chronic metformin significantly reduced HDFs’ lifespan by accelerating both the loss of replicative potential and the acquisition of replicative senescence-related biomarkers (e.g., enlarged and flattened cell shapes, loss of arrayed arrangement, accumulation of intracellular and extracellular debris and SA-β-gal-positive staining). Metformin functioned as a bona fide stressful agent, inducing monotonic, dose-dependent, SIS-like responses in BJ-1 HDFs, which are highly resistant to ROS-induced premature senescence. Metformin-induced SIS in BJ-1 fibroblasts was accompanied by the striking activation of several microRNAs belonging to the miR-200s family (miR-200a, miR-141 and miR429) and miR-205, thus mimicking a recently described ability of ROS to chemosensitize cancer cells by specifically upregulating anti-EMT (epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition) miR-200s. Because the unlimited proliferative potential of stem cells results from their metabolic refractoriness to SIS, we finally tested if metformin treatment could circumvent the stress (e.g., ROS)-resistant phenotype of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). Metformin treatment drastically reduced both the number and the size of iPSC colonies and notably diminished the staining of the pluripotency marker alkaline phosphatase. Our current findings, altogether, reveal for the first time that metformin can efficiently lower the threshold for SIS to generate an “stressed” cell phenotype that becomes pre-sensitized to oncogenic-like stimuli, including DNA damaging, proliferative and/or stemness inducers.     

Oxygen sensitivity severely limits the replicative lifespan of murine fibroblasts

Most mammalian cells do not divide indefinitely, owing to a process termed replicative senescence. In human cells, replicative senescence is caused by telomere shortening, but murine cells senesce despite having long stable telomeres. Here, we show that the phenotypes of senescent human fibroblasts and mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) differ under standard culture conditions, which include 20% oxygen. MEFs did not senesce in physiological (3%) oxygen levels, but underwent a spontaneous event that allowed indefinite proliferation in 20% oxygen. The proliferation and cytogenetic profiles of DNA repair-deficient MEFs suggested that DNA damage limits MEF proliferation in 20% oxygen. Indeed, MEFs accumulated more DNA damage in 20% oxygen than 3% oxygen, and more damage than human fibroblasts in 20% oxygen. Our results identify oxygen sensitivity as a critical difference between mouse and human cells, explaining their proliferative differences in culture, and possibly their different rates of cancer and ageing.     

DNA damage response activation in mouse embryonic fibroblasts undergoing replicative senescence and following spontaneous immortalization

Primary mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) are a popular tool for molecular and cell biology studies. However, when MEFs are grown in vitro under standard tissue culture conditions, they proliferate only for a limited number of population doublings (PD) and eventually undergo cellular senescence. Presently, the molecular mechanisms halting cell cycle progression and establishing cellular senescence under these conditions are unclear. Here, we show that a robust DNA damage response (DDR) is activated when MEFs undergo replicative cellular senescence. Senescent cells accumulate senescence-associated DDR foci (SDFs) containing the activated form of ATM, its phosphorylated substrates and γH2AX. In senescent MEFs, DDR markers do not preferentially accumulate at telomeres, the end of linear chromosomes. It has been observed that proliferation of MEFs is extended if they are cultured at low oxygen tension (3% O2). We observed that under these conditions, DDR is not observed and senescence is not established. Importantly, inactivation of ATM in senescent MEFs allows escape from senescence and progression through the S-phase. Therefore, MEFs undergoing cellular senescence arrest their proliferation due to the activation of a DNA damage checkpoint mediated by ATM kinase. Finally, we observed that spontaneously immortalized proliferating MEFs display markers of an activated DDR, indicating the presence of chromosomal DNA damage in these established cell lines.     

Mammalian SIRT1 limits replicative life span in response to chronic genotoxic stress

The Saccharomyces cerevisiae chromatin silencing factor Sir2 suppresses genomic instability and extends replicative life span. In contrast, we find that mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) deficient for SIRT1, a mammalian Sir2 homolog, have dramatically increased resistance to replicative senescence. Extended replicative life span of SIRT1-deficient MEFs correlates with enhanced proliferative capacity under conditions of chronic, sublethal oxidative stress. In this context, SIRT1-deficient cells fail to normally upregulate either the p19(ARF) senescence regulator or its downstream target p53. However, upon acute DNA damage or oncogene expression, SIRT1-deficient cells show normal p19(ARF) induction and cell cycle arrest. Together, our findings demonstrate an unexpected SIRT1 function in promoting replicative senescence in response to chronic cellular stress and implicate p19(ARF) as a downstream effector in this pathway.     

Bmal1-deficient mouse fibroblast cells do not provide premature cellular senescence in vitro

Bmal1 is a core circadian clock gene. Bmal1^?/? mice show disruption of the clock and premature aging phenotypes with a short lifespan. However, little is known whether disruption of Bmal1 leads to premature aging at cellular level. Here, we established primary mouse embryonic fibroblast (MEF) cells derived from Bmal1^?/? mice and investigated its effects on cellular senescence. Unexpectedly, Bmal1^?/? primary MEFs that showed disrupted circadian oscillation underwent neither premature replicative nor stress-induced cellular senescence. Our results therefore uncover that Bmal1 is not required for in vitro cellular senescence, suggesting that circadian clock does not control in vitro cellular senescence.     

The molecular scaffold kinase suppressor of Ras 1 is a modifier of RasV12-induced and replicative senescence

In primary mouse embryo fibroblasts (MEFs), oncogenic Ras induces growth arrest via Raf/MEK/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)-mediated activation of the p19ARF/p53 and INK4/Rb tumor suppressor pathways. Ablation of these same pathways causes spontaneous immortalization in MEFs, and oncogenic transformation by Ras requires ablation of one or both of these pathways. We show that Kinase Suppressor of Ras 1 (KSR1), a molecular scaffold for the Raf/MEK/ERK cascade, is necessary for RasV12-induced senescence, and its disruption enhances primary MEF immortalization. RasV12 failed to induce p53, p19ARF, p16INK4a, and p15INK4b expression in KSR1-/- MEFs and increased proliferation instead of causing growth arrest. Reintroduction of wild-type KSR1, but not a mutated KSR1 construct unable to bind activated ERK, rescued RasV12-induced senescence. On continuous culture, deletion of KSR1 accelerated the establishment of spontaneously immortalized cultures and increased the proportion of cultures escaping replicative crisis. Despite enhancing escape from both RasV12-induced and replicative senescence, however, both primary and immortalized KSR1-/- MEFs are completely resistant to RasV12-induced transformation. These data show that escape from senescence is not necessarily a precursor for oncogenic transformation. Furthermore, these data indicate that KSR1 is a member of a unique class of proteins whose deletion blocks both senescence and transformation.     

CSIG inhibits PTEN translation in replicative senescence

Using a suppressive subtractive hybridization system, we identified CSIG (cellular senescence-inhibited gene protein; RSL1D1) that was abundant in young human diploid fibroblast cells but declined upon replicative senescence. Overexpression or knockdown of CSIG did not influence p21^Cip1 and p16^INK4a expressions. Instead, CSIG negatively regulated PTEN and p27^Kip1 expressions, in turn promoting cell proliferation. In PTEN-silenced HEK 293 cells and PTEN-deficient human glioblastoma U87MG cells, the effect of CSIG on p27^Kip1 expression and cell division was abolished, suggesting that PTEN was required for the role of CSIG on p27^Kip1 regulation and cell cycle progression. Investigation into the underlying mechanism revealed that the regulation of PTEN by CSIG was achieved through a translational suppression mechanism. Further study showed that CSIG interacted with PTEN mRNA in the 5′ untranslated region (UTR) and that knockdown of CSIG led to increased luciferase activity of a PTEN 5′ UTR-luciferase reporter. Moreover, overexpression of CSIG significantly delayed the progression of replicative senescence, while knockdown of CSIG expression accelerated replicative senescence. Knockdown of PTEN diminished the effect of CSIG on cellular senescence. Our findings indicate that CSIG acts as a novel regulatory component of replicative senescence, which requires PTEN as a mediator and involves in a translational regulatory mechanism.