Ceramide Induces Apoptosis in Cultured Mesencephalic Neurons

Abstract: The death of dopaminergic and other neurons in primary cultures of the mesencephalon could be induced by treatment with ceramide, as in lymphocytes where it mediates activation by the cytokines tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-1β of a novel sphingomyelin-dependent signaling pathway leading to apoptosis. The morphological hallmarks of this form of cell death—bleb formation, cell body shrinkage, nuclear chromatin condensation, and fragmentation—were observed in degenerating neurons. Internucleosomal DNA degradation could also be evidenced by gel electrophoresis. The C₂ and C₆ analogues as well as native ceramide, administered in a dodecane suspension, had a similar effect, whereas the closely related C₂-dihydroceramide, which lacks the 4–5 trans double bond in the sphingosine chain, failed to induce apoptosis. Neuronal death could be delayed by serum factors, dibutyryl cyclic AMP, and the protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide.     

Heart Failure Induces Significant Changes in Nuclear Pore Complex of Human Cardiomyocytes

Aims

The objectives of this study were to analyse the effect of heart failure (HF) on several proteins of nuclear pore complex (NPC) and their relationship with the human ventricular function.

Methods and Results

A total of 88 human heart samples from ischemic (ICM, n = 52) and dilated (DCM, n = 36) patients undergoing heart transplant and control donors (CNT, n = 9) were analyzed by Western blot. Subcellular distribution of nucleoporins was analysed by fluorescence and immunocytochemistry. When we compared protein levels according to etiology, ICM showed significant higher levels of NDC1 (65%, p<0.0001), Nup160 (88%, p<0.0001) and Nup153 (137%, p = 0.004) than those of the CNT levels. Furthermore, DCM group showed significant differences for NDC1 (41%, p<0.0001), Nup160 (65%, p<0.0001), Nup153 (155%, p = 0.006) and Nup93 (88%, p<0.0001) compared with CNT. However, Nup155 and translocated promoter region (TPR) did not show significant differences in their levels in any etiology. Regarding the distribution of these proteins in cell nucleus, only NDC1 showed differences in HF. In addition, in the pathological group we obtained good relationship between the ventricular function parameters (LVEDD and LVESD) and Nup160 (r = −0382, p = 0.004; r = −0.290, p = 0.033; respectively).

Conclusions

This study shows alterations in specific proteins (NDC1, Nup160, Nup153 and Nup93) that compose NPC in ischaemic and dilated human heart. These changes, related to ventricular function, could be accompanied by alterations in the nucleocytoplasmic transport. Therefore, our findings may be the basis for a new approach to HF management.     

阿司匹林诱导人恶性睾丸生殖细胞瘤NTera-2细胞凋亡

阿司匹林,又称乙酰水杨酸,已证实有抑制肿瘤细胞增殖、诱导肿瘤细胞凋亡和抑制血管生成等多种抗癌功能.除已知对环氧合酶COX-2的活性有抑制外,阿司匹林抗癌分子机制尚不十分清楚.已报道阿司匹林可以降低多种癌症发生风险,但应用于人类睾丸肿瘤治疗的研究报道很少.本文研究了阿司匹林对人恶性睾丸肿瘤NTera-2细胞凋亡的机制.通过MTT方法检测细胞活力,发现阿司匹林以时间和剂量依赖方式抑制NTera-2细胞增殖.不同浓度阿司匹林处理NTera-2细胞后,采用Hoechest 33258染色方法和Annexin V-FITC/PI流式法分别检测NTera-2细胞的形态学变化、凋亡小体形成、细胞凋亡水平;RT-PCR结果显示,NTera-2细胞中Fas和caspase-8的表达以阿司匹林剂量依赖性上升;蛋白印迹结果显示,FasL的蛋白表达水平下降并活化caspase-8、caspase-3蛋白表达,PARP出现剪切体. 进一步的实验证明,caspase广谱抑制剂Z-VAD-FMK能够减弱阿司匹林诱导NTera-2细胞凋亡. 结果显示,阿司匹林能明显抑制NTera-2细胞活力,并通过激活caspase 通路诱导NTera-2细胞的凋亡,为进一步利用阿司匹林治疗人类睾丸肿瘤的研究奠定基础.     

Deguelin Induces Both Apoptosis and Autophagy in Cultured Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cells

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) represents more than 5% of all cancers diagnosed annually in United States and around the world. Despite advances in the management of patients with this disease, the survival has not been significantly improved, and the search for potential alternative therapies is encouraging. Here we demonstrate that deguelin administration causes a significant HNSCC cell death. Deguelin induces both cell apoptosis and autophagy by modulating multiple signaling pathways in cultured HNSCC cells. Deguelin inhibits Akt signaling, and down-regulates survivin and cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (Cdk4) expressions, by disrupting their association with heat shock protein-90 (Hsp-90). Deguelin induces ceramide production through de novo synthase pathway to promote HNSCC cell death. Importantly, increased ceramide level activates AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), which then directly phosphorylates Ulk1 and eventually leads to cell autophagy. We found that a low dose of deguelin sensitized HNSCC cells to 5-FU. Finally, using a nude mice Hep-2 xenograft model, we also showed a significant anti-tumor ability of deguelin in vivo. Together, we suggest that deguelin may represent a novel and effective chemo-agent against HNSCC.     

Azelnidipine Inhibits Cultured Rat Aortic Smooth Muscle Cell Death Induced by Cyclic Mechanical Stretch

Acute aortic dissection is the most common life-threatening vascular disease, with sudden onset of severe pain and a high fatality rate. Clarifying the detailed mechanism for aortic dissection is of great significance for establishing effective pharmacotherapy for this high mortality disease. In the present study, we evaluated the influence of biomechanical stretch, which mimics an acute rise in blood pressure using an experimental apparatus of stretching loads in vitro, on rat aortic smooth muscle cell (RASMC) death. Then, we examined the effects of azelnidipine and mitogen-activated protein kinase inhibitors on mechanical stretch-induced RASMC death. The major findings of the present study are as follows: (1) cyclic mechanical stretch on RASMC caused cell death in a time-dependent manner up to 4 h; (2) cyclic mechanical stretch on RASMC induced c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and p38 activation with peaks at 10 min; (3) azelnidipine inhibited RASMC death in a concentration-dependent manner as well as inhibited JNK and p38 activation by mechanical stretch; and (4) SP600125 (a JNK inhibitor) and SB203580 (a p38 inhibitor) protected against stretch-induced RASMC death; (5) Antioxidants, diphenylene iodonium and tempol failed to inhibit stretch-induced RASMC death. On the basis of the above findings, we propose a possible mechanism where an acute rise in blood pressure increases biomechanical stress on the arterial walls, which induces RASMC death, and thus, may lead to aortic dissection. Azelnidipine may be used as a pharmacotherapeutic agent for prevention of aortic dissection independent of its blood pressure lowering effect.     

Damage of Guinea Pig Heart and Arteries by a Trioleate-Enriched Diet and of Cultured Cardiomyocytes by Oleic Acid

Background

Mono-unsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) like oleic acid have been shown to cause apoptosis of cultured endothelial cells by activating protein phosphatase type 2C α and β (PP2C). The question arises whether damage of endothelial or other cells could be observed in intact animals fed with a trioleate-enriched diet.

Methodology/Principal Findings

Dunkin-Hartley guinea pigs were fed with a trioleate-enriched diet for 5 months. Advanced atherosclerotic changes of the aorta and the coronary arteries could not be seen but the arteries appeared in a pre-atherosclerotic stage of vascular remodelling. However, the weight and size of the hearts were lower than in controls and the number of apoptotic myocytes increased in the hearts of trioleate-fed animals. To confirm the idea that oleic acid may have caused this apoptosis by activation of PP2C, cultured cardiomyocytes from guinea pigs and mice were treated with various lipids. It was demonstrable that oleic acid dose-dependently caused apoptosis of cardiomyocytes from both species, yet, similar to previous experiments with cultured neurons and endothelial cells, stearic acid, elaidic acid and oleic acid methylester did not. The apoptotic effect caused by oleic acid was diminished when PP2C α and β were downregulated by siRNA showing that PP2C was causally involved in apoptosis caused by oleic acid.

Conclusions/Significance

The glycerol trioleate diet given to guinea pigs for 5 months did not cause marked atherosclerosis but clearly damaged the hearts by activating PP2C α and β. The diet used with 24% (wt/wt) glycerol trioleate is not comparable to human diets. The detrimental role of MUFAs for guinea pig heart tissue in vivo is shown for the first time. Whether it is true for humans remains to be shown.     

大鼠严重烧伤后心肌细胞GRP94表达变化及其意义

目的观察严重烧伤大鼠心肌细胞内质网应激蛋白表达的改变及其意义,以探讨严重烧伤后心肌损伤与内质网应激的关系。方法建立大鼠30％Ⅲ度烫伤模型,酶联免疫法检测血浆中心肌肌钙蛋白T（cTnT）含量,放射免疫法检测血浆中TNFα的含量,RT-PCR和免疫组化分析GRP94的表达。结果烧伤组大鼠伤后3h血浆中cTnT含量即呈显著升高（P〈0．01）,心肌中GRP94 mRNA和蛋白表达于烧伤后3h显著性升高,12h达峰值,24h还呈显著升高;大鼠烧伤后3h心肌中Caspase-3活性开始升高,12h达高峰,48h后仍显著高于对照组。牛磺酸治疗组GRP94的表达和Caspase-3活性较烧伤组均有显著性降低（P〈0．05）。结论严重烧伤可引起心肌细胞内质网应激,牛磺酸对烧伤后早期心肌损害有保护作用。     

Salinomycin Activates AMP-Activated Protein Kinase-Dependent Autophagy in Cultured Osteoblastoma Cells: A Negative Regulator against Cell Apoptosis

Background

The malignant osteoblastoma has poor prognosis, thus the search for novel and more efficient chemo-agents against this disease is urgent. Salinomycin induces broad anti-cancer effects both in vivo and in vitro, however, its role in osteoblastoma is still not clear.

Key Findings

Salinomycin induced both apoptosis and autophagy in cultured U2OS and MG-63 osteoblastoma cells. Inhibition of autophagy by 3-methyladenine (3-MA), or by RNA interference (RNAi) of light chain 3B (LC3B), enhanced salinomycin-induced cytotoxicity and apoptosis. Salinomycin induced a profound AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activation, which was required for autophagy induction. AMPK inhibition by compound C, or by AMPKα RNAi prevented salinomycin-induced autophagy activation, while facilitating cancer cell death and apoptosis. On the other hand, the AMPK agonist AICAR promoted autophagy activation in U2OS cells. Salinomycin-induced AMPK activation was dependent on reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in osteoblastoma cells. Antioxidant n-acetyl cysteine (NAC) significantly inhibited salinomycin-induced AMPK activation and autophagy induction.

Conclusions

Salinomycin activates AMPK-dependent autophagy in osteoblastoma cells, which serves as a negative regulator against cell apoptosis. AMPK-autophagy inhibition might be a novel strategy to sensitize salinomycin’s effect in cancer cells.     

TRAIL-Mediated Apoptosis in Breast Cancer Cells Cultured as 3D Spheroids

TNF-alpha-related-apoptosis-inducing-ligand (TRAIL) has been explored as a therapeutic drug to kill cancer cells. Cancer cells in the circulation are subjected to apoptosis-inducing factors. Despite the presence of these factors, cells are able to extravasate and metastasize. The homotypic and heterotypic cell-cell interactions in a tumor are known to play a crucial role in bestowing important characteristics to cancer cells that leave the primary site. Spheroid cell culture has been extensively used to mimic these physiologically relevant interactions. In this work, we show that the breast cancer cell lines BT20 and MCF7, cultured as 3D tumor spheroids, are more resistant to TRAIL-mediated apoptosis by downregulating the expression of death receptors (DR4 and DR5) that initiate TRAIL-mediated apoptosis. For comparison, we also investigated the effect of TRAIL on cells cultured as a 2D monolayer. Our results indicate that tumor spheroids are enriched for CD44^hiCD24^loALDH1^hi cells, a phenotype that is predominantly known to be a marker for breast cancer stem cells. Furthermore, we attribute the TRAIL-resistance and cancer stem cell phenotype observed in tumor spheroids to the upregulation of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2)/prostaglandin E2 (PGE₂) pathway. We show that inhibition of the COX-2/PGE₂ pathway by treating tumor spheroids with NS-398, a selective COX-2 inhibitor, reverses the TRAIL-resistance and decreases the incidence of a CD44^hiCD24^lo population. Additionally, we show that siRNA mediated knockdown of COX-2 expression in MCF7 cells render them sensitive to TRAIL by increasing the expression of DR4 and DR5. Collectively, our results show the effect of the third-dimension on the response of breast cancer cells to TRAIL and suggest a therapeutic target to overcome TRAIL-resistance.     

miR-24 Regulates Intrinsic Apoptosis Pathway in Mouse Cardiomyocytes

Numerous cardiac diseases, including myocardial infarction (MI) and chronic heart failure, have been associated with cardiomyocyte apoptosis. Promoting cell survival by inhibiting apoptosis is one of the effective strategies to attenuate cardiac dysfunction caused by cardiomyocyte loss. miR-24 has been shown as an anti-apoptotic microRNA in various animal models. In vivo delivery of miR-24 into a mouse MI model suppressed cardiac cell death, attenuated infarct size, and rescued cardiac dysfunction. However, the molecular pathway by which miR-24 inhibits cardiomyocyte apoptosis is not known. Here we found that miR-24 negatively regulates mouse primary cadiomyocyte cell death through functioning in the intrinsic apoptotic pathways. In ER-mediated intrinsic pathway, miR-24 genetically interacts with the CEBP homologous gene CHOP as knocking down of CHOP partially attenuated the induced apoptosis by miR-24 inhibition. In mitochondria–involved intrinsic pathway, miR-24 inhibits the initiation of apoptosis through suppression of Cytochrome C release and Bax translocation from cytosol to mitochondria. These results provide mechanistic insights into the miR-24 mediated anti-apoptotic effects in murine cardiomyocytes.     

Static Mechanical Stress Induces Apoptosis in Rat Endplate Chondrocytes through MAPK and Mitochondria-Dependent Caspase Activation Signaling Pathways

Mechanical stress has detrimental effects on cartilaginous endplate chondrocytes due to apoptosis in vivo and in vitro. In this study, we investigated the possible apoptosis signaling pathways induced by mechanical stress in cultured rat cervical endplate chondrocytes. Static mechanical load significantly reduced cell viability in a time- and load-dependent manner, as demonstrated by the Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay. Chondrocyte apoptosis induced by mechanical stress was confirmed by annexin V/propidium iodide (PI) staining and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL). Western blot analysis revealed that static load-induced chondrocyte apoptosis was accompanied by increased phosphorylation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2), and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK). The loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm), increased Cytochrome c release, and activated Caspase-9 and Caspase-3, indicating that the mitochondrial pathway is involved in mechanical stress-induced chondrocyte apoptosis. Treatment with inhibitors of JNK (SP600125), p38 MAPK (SB203580), and ERK (PD98059) prior to mechanical stimulation reversed both the static load-induced chondrocyte apoptosis and the activation of JNK, p38 MAPK, and ERK. Taken together, the data presented in this study demonstrate that mechanical stress induces apoptosis in rat cervical endplate chondrocytes through the MAPK-mediated mitochondrial apoptotic pathway.     

Histone Deacetylase Inhibition Induces Apoptosis in Neuroblastoma

Histone deacetylase inhibitors constitute a promising new treatment for cancer due to their novel site of action and low toxicity. Almost all histone deacetylase inhibitors currently in clinical development have anti-proliferate activities against cells in cultures, and specially cause cell cycle arrest, differentiation and apoptosis. Interestingly, despite their rapid advance into clinical use, the cellular responses leading to these effects remain unclear. We recently reported that histone deacetylase inhibitor treatment induces apoptosis of neuroblastoma cells by increasing the acetylation of Ku70 in the cytoplasm, resulting in the release of Bax from Ku70. Subsequently, Bax releases cytochrome c from mitochondria causing apoptosis. Here we will discuss these findings and the implications of our model for the further clinical development of histone deacetylase inhibitors in the treatment of cancer.     

过表达Gpr3诱导猪颗粒细胞G1阻滞及凋亡

G蛋白偶联受体3（Gpr3）属于G蛋白偶联受体视紫质家族成员. Gpr3通过激活Gs蛋白介导的下游信号通路,维持卵泡卵母细胞减数分裂的前期阻滞,但在卵泡颗粒细胞中的作用不清. 为了明确Gpr3在猪卵泡颗粒细胞中的功能,构建了Gpr3基因的真核表达载体,利用过表达的方式激活其介导的信号通路,并利用MTT、流式细胞术和real-time PCR等方法检测了过表达Gpr3对猪卵泡颗粒细胞增殖及凋亡的影响. 结果显示,过表达Gpr3后,猪颗粒细胞的增殖水平显著下调,G0/G1期细胞的百分比增加,S期细胞减少,Cyclin B1和CDK1 mRNA的表达量也显著降低;同时,显著增加了颗粒细胞的凋亡率,在抑制Bcl-2表达的同时,促进了Bax的表达. 结果表明：过表达Gpr3在猪颗粒细胞中具有抑增殖促凋亡的作用,丰富了其在调节卵泡发育过程中的生物学功能.     

High Uric Acid Induces Insulin Resistance in Cardiomyocytes In Vitro and In Vivo

Clinical studies have shown hyperuricemia strongly associated with insulin resistance as well as cardiovascular disease. Direct evidence of how high uric acid (HUA) affects insulin resistance in cardiomyocytes, but the pathological mechanism of HUA associated with cardiovascular disease remains to be clarified. We aimed to examine the effect of HUA on insulin sensitivity in cardiomyocytes and on insulin resistance in hyperuricemic mouse model. We exposed primary cardiomyocytes and a rat cardiomyocyte cell line, H9c2 cardiomyocytes, to HUA, then quantified glucose uptake with a fluorescent glucose analog, 2-NBDG, after insulin challenge and detected reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Western blot analysis was used to examine the levels of insulin receptor (IR), phosphorylated insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS1, Ser307) and phospho-Akt (Ser473). We monitored the impact of HUA on insulin resistance, insulin signaling and IR, phospho-IRS1 (Ser307) and phospho-Akt levels in myocardial tissue of an acute hyperuricemia mouse model established by potassium oxonate treatment. HUA inhibited insulin-induced glucose uptake in H9c2 and primary cardiomyocytes. It increased ROS production; pretreatment with N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC), a ROS scavenger, reversed HUA-inhibited glucose uptake induced by insulin. HUA exposure directly increased the phospho-IRS1 (Ser307) response to insulin and inhibited that of phospho-Akt in H9C2 cardiomyocytes, which was blocked by NAC. Furthermore, the acute hyperuricemic mice model showed impaired glucose tolerance and insulin tolerance accompanied by increased phospho-IRS1 (Ser307) and inhibited phospho-Akt response to insulin in myocardial tissues. HUA inhibited insulin signaling and induced insulin resistance in cardiomyocytes in vitro and in vivo, which is a novel potential mechanism of hyperuricemic-related cardiovascular disease.