内质网应激与脂类代谢

内质网应激激活的未折叠蛋白反应(unfolded protein response,UPR)是维持机体代谢平衡的重要信号通路。同时,内质网与脂类合成、转运和分解密切相关。近来研究发现UPR对脂类代谢具有调节作用。主要讨论内质网应激激活的UPR对脂类合成、转运和分解的影响及其机制。     

铁死亡与内质网应激反应

铁死亡是2012年被发现的一种新的受调控的细胞死亡方式,其特征是铁依赖的脂质过氧化物的过度积累(可引起细胞死亡的水平).铁代谢、脂代谢、氨基酸代谢等多种调节机制参与了铁死亡的调控.内质网是蛋白质合成、加工、修饰、转运的重要细胞器.应激状态下,未折叠、错误折叠蛋白在内质网内过度积累,即可诱发内质网应激反应.内质网应激是细胞应对外界压力的保护性机制,但持续的、恶劣的应激也能引起细胞死亡.近年来的研究表明,铁死亡与内质网应激密切相关.在癌细胞中,铁死亡诱导剂能同步激活内质网应激反应,内质网应激通路的启动则抑制铁死亡,导致癌细胞产生抗药性.在某些病理情况下,内质网应激通路的激活却加剧了铁死亡的发生.铁死亡和内质网应激之间究竟存在怎样的密切联系,成为目前认识细胞死亡命运的重要科学问题.本文综述了铁死亡的调控通路以及铁死亡与内质网应激相互联系的最新进展,以期为铁死亡相关疾病的发生机制和治疗提供重要的新参考.     

转录激活因子6：潜在的抗2 型糖尿病药物新靶点

真核细胞中的内质网是蛋白质合成、翻译和转运的场所,当内质网稳态被打破,出现蛋白质折叠障碍或错误折叠,并导致蛋白质过度积累时,便会引发内质网应激反应,即未折叠蛋白反应。大量的研究表明,内质网应激与2 型糖尿病的病理特征有一定的关系,而转录激活因子6 通路作为未折叠蛋白反应中3 条信号通路之一,调控着蛋白质的重折叠过程,对缓解内质网应激以及在糖脂代谢和胰岛素敏感性方面起着重要作用。简介内质网应激反应及相关信号通路和转录激活因子6,着重综述转录激活因子6 在肝脏糖脂代谢和胰岛素抵抗中的作用及相应机制,探讨其成为抗2 型糖尿病药物新靶点的可能性,为抗2 型糖尿病药物的研发提供新思路。     

内质网应激与疾病

内质网是蛋白质合成与折叠、维持Ca²⁺动态平衡及合成脂类和固醇的场所。遗传或环境损伤引起内质网功能紊乱导致内质网应激,激活未折叠蛋白反应。未折叠蛋白反应是一种细胞自我保护性措施,但是内质网应激过强或持续时间过久可引起细胞凋亡。因此,内质网应激与众多人类疾病的发生发展密切相关。最近研究证明,癌症、炎症性疾病、代谢性疾病、骨质疏松症及神经退行性疾病等有内质网应激信号传递参与。然而内质网应激作为一个有效靶点参与各种疾病发挥作用的功能和机制仍然有待进一步研究。在近年来发表的文献基础上对内质网应激与疾病的关系,以及其可能的作用机制进行综述。     

PERK介导细胞应激反应的分子机制研究进展

内质网应激是未折叠蛋白质在内质网腔内的过量堆积和钙浓度失衡的一种应激反应,不仅参与细胞稳态的维持,而且在调节多种细胞应激反应方面具有重要意义。蛋白激酶R样内质网激酶(PERK)是介导内质网应激的三大关键信号分子之一,在细胞应激反应中具有明确和重要的调控作用。本文就PERK对基因毒应激、代谢应激和炎性应激的调节和分子机制做简要综述。     

颗粒蛋白前体(PGRN)通过活化内质网应激诱导肝细胞胰岛素抵抗的机制

颗粒蛋白前体(PGRN)最近被发现作为一种重要的调控子参与胰岛素抵抗的发生发展过程,然而其具体机制尚未阐明。在本研究中,给予PGRN和/或内质网应激抑制剂4-苯基丁酸(4-PBA)处理AML12肝细胞,运用免疫印迹分析,检测内质网应激标志物及胰岛素信号通路分子的表达。结果显示,PGRN可提高肝细胞eIF2α和PERK磷酸化的表达,降低IRS-1及Akt磷酸化的表达,表明PGRN可活化肝细胞内质网应激,损伤其胰岛素信号通路。同时,在PGRN干预的肝细胞中表现出上调的IL-6和TNF-α浓度,以及降低的葡萄糖摄取。此外,在PGRN处理的肝细胞中,内质网应激抑制剂4-PBA的加入可逆转PGRN的负效应。总之,我们的研究表明,PGRN作为一个重要的调控子,通过诱导内质网应激,损害胰岛素信号通路,导致肝细胞的胰岛素抵抗。     

内质网应激与自噬及其交互作用影响内皮细胞凋亡

内质网应激是普遍存在于真核细胞中的应激-防御机制。在内环境稳态遭到破坏的情况下,未折叠蛋白质反应的3条信号通路,分别通过增强蛋白质折叠能力、减少蛋白质生成和促进内质网相关蛋白质降解等途径缓解细胞内压力。同时,也通过多种分子信号机制调控细胞凋亡。自噬是一种生理性的降解机制。通过形成自噬泡并与溶酶体结合摄取并水解胞内受损细胞器和蛋白质等,清除代谢废物,维持细胞正常功能。自噬缺陷或过度激活均可导致细胞凋亡或非程序性死亡。自噬的程度和细胞内压力水平有关。内质网应激通过未折叠蛋白质反应和Ca²⁺浓度变化及其相关分子信号调控自噬。自噬又可反馈性调节内质网应激反应,二者相互作用,在内皮细胞凋亡过程中发挥重要作用。未来内质网应激和自噬可作为药物靶点为内皮相关性疾病提供诊疗策略。     

细胞内质网应激与糖脂代谢紊乱的机制关联

在真核细胞中,内质网是蛋白质合成、折叠、加工及其质量监控的重要场所。当内质网难以承担蛋白折叠的高负荷时则引发内质网应激(ER stress),激活细胞的未折叠蛋白响应(unfoldedprotein response,UPR)。细胞通过内质网跨膜蛋白ATF6、PERK和IRE1介导的三条极为关键的UPR信号通路,调控下游相关基因的表达,以增强内质网对蛋白折叠的处理能力。因此,UPR通路在细胞的稳态平衡中具有举足轻重的作用,而这一动态过程的调控对于维持机体的正常生理功能至关重要。近来大量研究表明,在哺乳动物中内质网应激与机体的营养感应和糖脂代谢的调控过程密切相关。在肝脏、脂肪、胰岛以及下丘脑等不同的组织器官中,内质网应激均影响代谢通路的调节机制,因此在糖脂代谢紊乱的发生发展中扮演重要的角色。综上所述,进一步深入了解内质网应激引发代谢异常的生理学机制,可以为肥胖、脂肪肝及2型糖尿病等相关代谢性疾病的防治提供新的潜在药物靶点和重要的理论线索。     

IRE1通路与肿瘤

内质网应激是细胞内广泛存在的一种应激反应。研究表明,内质网应激与肿瘤的发生发展密切相关。针对内质网应激及其相应信号通路进行肿瘤的预防或治疗受到了广泛关注。IRE1(inositol-requiring enzyme 1)通路是内质网应激诱发的最保守的信号通路。研究证实,IRE1及其主要的下游效应分子剪切型X 盒结合蛋白1与肿瘤进展密切相关。本文对IRE1通路与肿瘤发生发展、血管新生、肿瘤转移、肿瘤耐药性和恶性程度的相关性进行了阐述,同时分析了IRE1在不同肿瘤样本中的突变率、突变类型与病人存活状态的关系。作为肿瘤治疗的有效靶点,针对IRE1通路的调控能够有效延缓肿瘤的发生发展。     

内质网应激与肝脏疾病

内质网在细胞内分布广泛,是细胞内蛋白质、脂类和糖类合成的重要场所,是细胞内钙离子的储存场所,与物质运输、交换等作用密切相关。内质网稳态失衡会诱导内质网应激(Endoplasmic reticulum stress,ERS),持久应激会导致细胞凋亡。多项研究显示内质网应激与多种肝脏疾病密切相关。本文就内质网应激与肝脏疾病发病机制作一综述。     

Manganese activates autophagy to alleviate endoplasmic reticulum stress–induced apoptosis via PERK pathway

Overexposure to manganese (Mn) is neurotoxic. Our previous research has demonstrated that the interaction of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and autophagy participates in the early stage of Mn‐mediated neurotoxicity in mouse. However, the mechanisms of ER stress signalling pathways in the initiation of autophagy remain confused. In the current study, we first validated that ER stress–mediated cell apoptosis is accompanied by autophagy in SH‐SY5Y cells. Then, we found that inhibiting ER stress with 4‐phenylbutyrate (4‐PBA) decreased ER stress–related protein expression and reduced cell apoptosis, whereas blocking autophagy with 3‐methyladenine (3‐MA) increased cell apoptosis. These data indicate that protective autophagy was activated to alleviate ER stress–mediated apoptosis. Knockdown of the protein kinase RNA‐like ER kinase (PERK) gene inhibited Mn‐induced autophagy and weakened the interaction between ATF4 and the LC3 promoter. Our results reveal a novel molecular mechanism in which ER stress may regulate autophagy via the PERK/eIF2α/ATF4 signalling pathway. Additionally, Mn may activate protective autophagy to alleviate ER stress–mediated apoptosis via the PERK/eIF2α/ATF4 signalling pathway in SH‐SY5Y cells.     

Endoplasmic reticulum stress and Oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the hepatic manifestation of metabolic syndrome. The underlying causes of the disease progression in NAFLD are unclear. Recent evidences suggest endoplasmic reticulum stress in the development of lipid droplets (steatosis) and subsequent generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the progression to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). The signalling pathway activated by disruption of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) homoeostasis, called as unfolded protein response, is linked with membrane biosynthesis, insulin action, inflammation and apoptosis. ROS are important mediators of inflammation. Protein folding in ER is linked to ROS. Therefore understanding the basic mechanisms that lead to ER stress and ROS in NAFLD have become the topics of immense interest. The present review focuses on the role of ER stress and ROS in the pathogenesis of NAFLD. We also highlight the cross talk between ER stress and oxidative stress which suggest and encourage the development of therapeutics for NAFLD. Further we have reviewed various strategies used for the management of NAFLD/NASH and limitations of such strategies. Our review therefore highlights the need for newer strategies with regards to ER stress and oxidative stress.     

Endoplasmic reticulum stress, obesity and diabetes

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress response, also commonly known as the unfolded protein response (UPR), is an adaptive response used to align ER functional capacity with demand. It is activated in various tissues under conditions related to obesity and type 2 diabetes. Hypothalamic ER stress contributes to inflammation and leptin/insulin resistance. Hepatic ER stress contributes to the development of steatosis and insulin resistance, and components of the UPR regulate liver lipid metabolism. ER stress in enlarged fat tissues induces inflammation and modifies adipokine secretion, and saturated fats cause ER stress in muscle. Finally, prolonged ER stress impairs insulin synthesis and causes pancreatic β cell apoptosis. In this review, we discuss ways in which ER stress operates as a common molecular pathway in the pathogenesis of obesity and diabetes.     

CDK5 and MEKK1 mediate pro-apoptotic signalling following endoplasmic reticulum stress in an autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa model

Chronic stress in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) underlies many degenerative and metabolic diseases involving apoptosis of vital cells. A well-established example is autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa (ADRP), an age-related retinal degenerative disease caused by mutant rhodopsins. Similar mutant alleles of Drosophila Rhodopsin-1 also impose stress on the ER and cause age-related retinal degeneration in that organism. Well-characterized signalling responses to ER stress, referred to as the unfolded protein response (UPR), induce various ER quality control genes that can suppress such retinal degeneration. However, how cells activate cell death programs after chronic ER stress remains poorly understood. Here, we report the identification of a signalling pathway mediated by cdk5 and mekk1 required for ER-stress-induced apoptosis. Inactivation of these genes specifically suppressed apoptosis, without affecting other protective branches of the UPR. CDK5 phosphorylates MEKK1, and together, they activate the JNK pathway for apoptosis. Moreover, disruption of this pathway can delay the course of age-related retinal degeneration in a Drosophila model of ADRP. These findings establish a previously unrecognized branch of ER-stress response signalling involved in degenerative diseases.