Angiopoietin-Like 4 Confers Resistance to Hypoxia/Serum Deprivation-Induced Apoptosis through PI3K/Akt and ERK1/2 Signaling Pathways in Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Angiopoietin-like 4 (ANGPTL4) is a potential anti-apoptotic agent for various cells. We examined the protective effect of ANGPTL4 on hypoxia/serum deprivation (SD)-induced apoptosis of MSCs, as well as the possible mechanisms. MSCs were obtained from rat bone marrow and cultured in vitro. Apoptosis was induced by hypoxia/SD for up to 24 hr, and assessed by flow cytometry and TUNEL assay. Expression levels of Akt, ERK1/2, focal adhesion kinase (FAK), Src, Bcl-2, Bax, cytochrome C and cleaved caspase-3 were detected by Western blotting. Integrin β1 mRNA was detected by qRT-PCR. Mitochondrial membrane potential was assayed using a membrane-permeable dye. Hypoxia/SD-induced apoptosis was significantly attenuated by recombinant rat ANGPTL4 in a concentration dependent manner. Moreover, ANGPTL4 decreased the hypoxia/SD-induced caspase-3 cleavage and the cytochrome C release, but increased the Bcl-2/Bax ratio and the mitochondrial membrane potential. Decreased expression of integrin β1, the ANGPTL4 receptor was observed during hypoxia/SD conditions, however, such decrease was reversed by ANGPTL4. In addition, ANGPTL4 induced integrin β1-associated FAK and Src phosphorylation, which was blocked by anti-integrin β1 antibody. ANGPTL4 also reversed the hypoxia/SD-induced decrease of Akt and ERK 1/2 phosphorylation, and the effect of ANGPTL4 was abolished by inhibitors of either integrins, ERK1/2, or phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K). Blocking integrinβ1, Akt or ERK largely attenuated anti-apoptotic effect of ANGPTL4. ANGPTL4 protects MSCs from hypoxia/SD-induced apoptosis by interacting with integrins to stimulate FAK complex, leading to downstream ERK1/2 and PI3K/Akt signaling pathways and mimicking the pathway in which MSCs contact with the extracellular matrix.     

The Ganglioside GM3 Is Associated with Cisplatin-Induced Apoptosis in Human Colon Cancer Cells

Cisplatin (cis-diamminedichloroplatinum, CDDP) is a well-known chemotherapeutic agent for the treatment of several cancers. However, the precise mechanism underlying apoptosis of cancer cells induced by CDDP remains unclear. In this study, we show mechanistically that CDDP induces GM3-mediated apoptosis of HCT116 cells by inhibiting cell proliferation, and increasing DNA fragmentation and mitochondria-dependent apoptosis signals. CDDP induced apoptosis within cells through the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), regulated the ROS-mediated expression of Bax, Bcl-2, and p53, and induced the degradation of the poly (ADP-ribosyl) polymerase (PARP). We also checked expression levels of different gangliosides in HCT116 cells in the presence or absence of CDDP. Interestingly, among the gangliosides, CDDP augmented the expression of only GM3 synthase and its product GM3. Reduction of the GM3 synthase level through ectopic expression of GM3 small interfering RNA (siRNA) rescued HCT116 cells from CDDP-induced apoptosis. This was evidenced by inhibition of apoptotic signals by reducing ROS production through the regulation of 12-lipoxigenase activity. Furthermore, the apoptotic sensitivity to CDDP was remarkably increased in GM3 synthase-transfected HCT116 cells compared to that in controls. In addition, GM3 synthase-transfected cells treated with CDDP exhibited an increased accumulation of intracellular ROS. These results suggest the CDDP-induced oxidative apoptosis of HCT116 cells is mediated by GM3.     

Smac/DIABLO在过氧化氢所致C2C12肌原细胞凋亡中的作用

为探讨Smac/DIABLO在过氧化氢 (H2 O2 )所致C2 C12 肌原细胞凋亡中的作用 ,采用Hoechst 3 3 2 58染色 ,观察H2 O2 (0 5mmol/L)处理C2 C12 肌原细胞不同时间后 ,细胞核形态学改变并计算凋亡核百分率 ,DNA抽提及琼脂糖电泳观察凋亡特征性梯状带 ,利用细胞成分分离后蛋白质印迹分析H2 O2 是否导致Smac/DIABLO从线粒体释放 ,采用Caspase检测试剂盒及蛋白质印迹分析Caspase 3和Caspase 9的活化 ,转染Smac/DIABLO基因 ,观察Smac/DIABLO过表达对H2 O2 所致的C2 C12 肌原细胞凋亡的影响 .结果表明 :H2 O2 处理 1h后 ,Smac/DIABLO从C2 C12 肌原细胞线粒体释放入胞浆 ,2h更明显 ;H2 O2 处理 4h后 ,Caspase 3和Caspase 9活化 ,12h达高峰 ;H2 O2 处理 2 4h后 ,C2 C12 肌原细胞显示特征性的凋亡形态改变 ,凋亡核百分率明显升高 ,DNA电泳出现明显“梯状”条带 .与单纯过氧化氢损伤组相比 ,Smac/DIABLO高表达的C2 C12 肌原细胞经过氧化氢损伤组的Caspase 3和Caspase 9的活化、凋亡核百分率的升高、“梯状”条带的出现均更明显 .结果表明 ,H2 O2 可导致Smac/DIABLO从C2 C12 肌原细胞线粒体释放 ,促进Caspase 9和Caspase 3的活化而促进细胞凋亡的发生     

Amino Acid Deprivation Induces Both Apoptosis and Autophagy in Murine C2C12 Muscle Cells

Apoptosis and autophagy are closely interconnected types of programmed cell death. In the present study, mouse C2C12 muscle cells were starved in Earle’s Balanced Salt Solution or treated with TNF-α and cycloheximide to induce autophagy and apoptosis, respectively. The majority of starved C2C12 cells underwent autophagy, as shown by LC3 processing, formation of autophagic vesicles and bulk degradation of long-lived proteins. However, some cells showed features of apoptosis including caspase-3 cleavage, chromatin condensation, DNA fragmentation and annexin V labeling. Caspase-3 cleavage was also induced in culture medium without serum, suggesting that serum withdrawal rather than amino acid deprivation triggered apoptosis. Starvation eliminated multiple pro-apoptotic proteins, but upregulated caspase-8, and rendered starved C2C12 cells much more susceptible to TNF-α/cycloheximide-induced apoptosis than non-starved cells. Our data suggest that amino acid deprivation of C2C12 cells induces a complex form of cell death with hallmarks of both apoptosis and autophagy.     

肌卫星细胞在失重肌萎缩中的可塑性变化及机制

肌卫星细胞在骨骼肌生长发育和出生后骨骼肌损伤修复中起着重要的作用,但是有关肌萎缩中肌卫星细胞的可塑性变化、作用及其机制尚不清楚.本研究采用小鼠尾悬吊模拟失重效应诱导失重肌萎缩,动态分析了失重肌萎缩发生过程中不同类型肌纤维的肌卫星细胞数量和增殖、分化潜能可塑性的改变,发现在失重肌萎缩过程中,处于安静状态的肌卫星细胞显著增多、激活增殖的肌卫星细胞显著减少,而具有成肌分化潜能的肌卫星细胞有持续减少趋势.此外,在失重肌萎缩比目鱼肌单根肌纤维移出的体外培养中,证明了失重肌萎缩肌纤维肌卫星细胞可塑性降低的特征性变化.进一步,通过对比分析Smad3基因敲除及其同窝野生型小鼠,在失重肌萎缩中肌卫星细胞可塑性的差异性变化,揭示了Smad3在调控失重肌萎缩肌卫星细胞可塑性变化中的关键作用.     

蛋肉鸡骨骼肌卫星细胞的特性比较及分析

目的:比较蛋、肉鸡骨骼肌卫星细胞在增殖、分化速度及在细胞因子作用下细胞周期等方面所存在的特性差异,为人类肌肉疾病的研究和千细胞治疗提供一定的理论依据。方法:采用两步酶消化法体外原代培养获得7日龄蛋肉鸡骨骼肌卫星细胞,利用血球计数板进行细胞计数绘制出二者的细胞生长曲线;通过流式细胞仪检测经细胞因子bFGF和Myostatin处理后,蛋肉鸡骨骼肌卫星细胞的细胞周期变化情况。结果:体外相同的培养条件下,肉鸡肌卫星细胞的增殖、分化速度大于蛋鸡肌卫星细胞;且经相同剂量的同种细胞因子处理后,蛋鸡卫星细胞对于Myostatin的抑制作用十分敏感,而肉鸡则对bFGF的促进增殖的作用反应强烈。结论:肉鸡肌卫星细胞的增殖、分化速度大于蛋鸡肌卫星细胞,且二者对于同种细胞因子的敏感程度不同。     

Submicroscopic Analysis of the Genetic Distrophy of Visual Cells in C3H Mice

The morphogenesis of the visual cells in the retina of DBA normal mice and in C3H mice having a genetic distrophy has been studied with the electron microscope. The stages of development previously described (3) have been confirmed. Two basal centrioles have been observed and an asymmetrical process of invagination of the surface membrane is recognized as the main source of the rod sacs in the outer segment. In the C3H mice the differentiation of the photoreceptors starts and reaches a certain stage but very early some alterations in the morphogenesis are observed. In the outer segment there appears a disorganized growth of membranous material that may invade the inner segment with disappearance of the normal connecting cilium. In the inner segment there is an increase of vesicular material and in the number of dense particles. In later stages the entire inner segment is filled with dense particles and the mitochondria degenerate. The synaptic junction with the bipolar cell, which reaches a certain degree of development, also shows early signs of degeneration. The observations reported have confirmed and extended the concept that the hereditary visual alterations of C3H mice are not the result of a primary arrested development but of a secondary alteration of the differentiating photoreceptor. In C3H mice the entire process of morphogenesis is disordered and leads to final involution and death. These findings are correlated with recent biochemical findings and are discussed with relation to the genetic mechanisms that may control normal morphogenesis.     

E2F1 介导8-氯-腺苷引起的人肺癌细胞H1299的凋亡

8-氯-腺苷（8-Cl-adenosine,8-Cl-Ado）可诱导人非小细胞性肺癌细胞H1299发生凋亡,但其分子机制还没有阐明．首先用四唑盐（MTT）比色法检测了8-Cl-Ado 对H1299 细胞的生长抑制作用．进一步采用蛋白质免疫印迹法(Western blotting) 检测了8-Cl-Ado 处理H1299细胞后,procaspase-3 的激活情况以及E2F1的蛋白水平．通过用pcDNA-HA-E2F1表达载体和pSUPER-E2F1 RNA 干扰载体分别转染H1299 细胞,研究在E2F1 过表达和RNA 干扰（RNA interference, RNAi）两种情况下对凋亡的影响．实验结果表明,8-Cl-Ado可抑制H1299 细胞的生长,激活凋亡关键执行蛋白procaspase-3,升高E2F1 蛋白水平．当E2F1 过表达后,同时伴有procaspase-3 的激活,而E2F1 表达受到抑制后,与对照相比,8-Cl-Ado 引起的procaspase-3 的激活被明显抑制,说明E2F1 介导8-Cl-Ado 引起的人肺癌细胞H1299 的凋亡．     

WDNM1 is Associated with Differentiation and Apoptosis of Mammary Epithelial Cells

In this study, we show that expression of the Westmead DMBA8 nonmetastatic cDNA 1 (WDNM1) gene was increased upon SFM and/or TNFα treatment, with a corresponding increase in apoptotic cells, and gradually decreased following re-stimulation with serum in HC11 mammary epithelial cells. TNFα induced WDNM1 expression showed the NFκB-dependent mechanism since it's expression was abrogated in IκBαM (super-repressor of NFκB)-transfected cells, but not those transfected with control vector. Furthermore, overexpression of WDNM1 suppressed growth and differentiation, and accelerated apoptosis of HC11 cells. Thus, our results demonstrate that WDNM1 gene expression, regulated by the TNFα-NFκB signal pathway, is associated with HC11 cell apoptosis.     

Thimerosal-Induced Apoptosis in Mouse C2C12 Myoblast Cells Occurs through Suppression of the PI3K/Akt/Survivin Pathway

Background

Thimerosal, a mercury-containing preservative, is one of the most widely used preservatives and found in a variety of biological products. Concerns over its possible toxicity have reemerged recently due to its use in vaccines. Thimerosal has also been reported to be markedly cytotoxic to neural tissue. However, little is known regarding thimerosal-induced toxicity in muscle tissue. Therefore, we investigated the cytotoxic effect of thimerosal and its possible mechanisms on mouse C2C12 myoblast cells.

Methodology/Principal Findings

The study showed that C2C12 myoblast cells underwent inhibition of proliferation and apoptosis after exposure to thimerosal (125–500 nM) for 24, 48 and 72 h. Thimerosal caused S phase arrest and induced apoptosis as assessed by flow cytometric analysis, Hoechst staining and immunoblotting. The data revealed that thimerosal could trigger the leakage of cytochrome c from mitochondria, followed by cleavage of caspase-9 and caspase-3, and that an inhibitor of caspase could suppress thimerosal-induced apoptosis. Thimerosal inhibited the phosphorylation of Akt^ser473 and survivin expression. Wortmannin, a PI3K inhibitor, inhibited Akt activity and decreased survivin expression, resulting in increased thimerosal-induced apoptosis in C2C12 cells, while the activation of PI3K/Akt pathway by mIGF-I (50 ng/ml) increased the expression of survivin and attenuated apoptosis. Furthermore, the inhibition of survivin expression by siRNA enhanced thimerosal-induced cell apoptosis, while overexpression of survivin prevented thimerosal-induced apoptosis. Taken together, the data show that the PI3K/Akt/survivin pathway plays an important role in the thimerosal-induced apoptosis in C2C12 cells.

Conclusions/Significance

Our results suggest that in C2C12 myoblast cells, thimerosal induces S phase arrest and finally causes apoptosis via inhibition of PI3K/Akt/survivin signaling followed by activation of the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway.     

羊栖菜多糖通过激活Caspase途径诱导Lovo细胞凋亡

研究了羊栖菜多糖（Sargassum Fusiforme Polysaccharides,SFPS）诱导人大肠癌lovo细胞凋亡及凋亡过程中caspase-3、caspase-8、caspase-9的活性变化。MTT法检测SFPS对lovo细胞增殖的抑制率;通过电镜、琼脂糖凝胶电泳、流式细胞术鉴定细胞凋亡;应用Western印迹法测定caspase-3酶原和caspase-9的变化;RToPCR检测caspase-3 mRNA表达;caspase-3,caspase-8、caspase-9活性检测试剂盒观察caspase-3、caspase-8、caspase-9的活性改变。结果显示,SFPS对lovo细胞增殖有显著抑制作用,经形态变化、DNA条带和流式细胞分析,可见明显的细胞凋亡特征。SFPS处理lovo细胞后,发现caspase-3酶原蛋白表达降低,caspase-3 mRNA高表达,并具有剂量和时间的依赖性。而在检测蛋白中,也发现caspase-9被激活进而形成具有活性的片段。另外,caspase的活性检测也进一步发现caspase-3、caspase-9的活性逐步增高。实验结果提示SFPS在体外诱导lovo胞凋亡,这可能是SFPS抑制肿瘤增殖的机制之一,并且是通过激活启动caspase-9,进而激活下游效应caspase-3的级联反应来实现的。     

Development of Autoimmune Hair Loss Disease Alopecia Areata Is Associated with Cardiac Dysfunction in C3H/HeJ Mice

Alopecia areata (AA) is a chronic autoimmune hair loss disease that affects several million men, women and children worldwide. Previous studies have suggested a link between autoimmunity, stress hormones, and increased cardiovascular disease risk. In the current study, histology, immunohistology, quantitative PCR (qPCR) and ELISAs were used to assess heart health in the C3H/HeJ mouse model for AA and heart tissue response to adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) exposure. Mice with AA exhibited both atrial and ventricular hypertrophy, and increased collagen deposition compared to normal-haired littermates. QPCR revealed significant increases in Il18 (4.6-fold), IL18 receptor-1 (Il18r1; 2.8-fold) and IL18 binding protein (Il18bp; 5.2-fold) in AA hearts. Time course studies revealed a trend towards decreased Il18 in acute AA compared to controls while Il18r1, Il18bp and Casp1 showed similar trends to those of chronic AA affected mice. Immunohistochemistry showed localization of IL18 in chronic AA mouse atria. ELISA indicated cardiac troponin-I (cTnI) was elevated in the serum and significantly increased in AA heart tissue. Cultures of heart atria revealed differential gene expression between AA and control mice in response to ACTH. ACTH treatment induced significant increase in cTnI release into the culture medium in a dose-dependent manner for both AA and control mice. In conclusion, murine AA is associated with structural, biochemical, and gene expression changes consistent with cardiac hypertrophy in response to ACTH exposure.     

LncRNA H19 Regulates Proliferation,Apoptosis and ECM Degradation of Aortic Smooth Muscle Cells Via miR-1-3p/ADAM10 Axis in Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm

Biochemical Genetics - Thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA) is a prevalent health problem worldwide. Long non-coding RNA H19was highly expressed in TAA patients, but the function and mechanism of H19 in...     

Biochemical and Temporal Analysis of Events Associated with Apoptosis Induced by Lowering the Extracellular Potassium Concentration in Mouse Cerebellar Granule Neurons

Abstract: We analyzed biochemically and temporally the molecular events that occur in the programmed cell death of mouse cerebellar granule neurons deprived of high potassium levels. An hour after switching the neurons to a low extracellular K⁺ concentration ([K⁺]_o), a significant part of the genomic DNA was already cleaved to high-molecular-weight fragments. This phenomenon was intensified with the progression of the death process. Addition of cycloheximide to the neurons 4 h after high [K⁺]_o deprivation resulted in no cell loss and complete recovery of the damaged DNA. DNA margination and nuclear fragmentation as assessed by 4,6-diaminodiphenyl-2-phenylindole staining were observable in a few cells beginning ～4 h after the removal of high [K⁺]_o and developed to nuclear condensation 4 h later. Six hours after high [K⁺]_o deprivation, the DNA was fragmented into oligonucleosome-sized fragments. Within 6 h after removal of the extracellular K⁺, 50% of the neurons were committed to die and lost their ability to be rescued by readministration of 25 mM [K⁺]_o. Similar to high [K⁺]_o deprivation, inhibition of RNA or protein synthesis failed to halt neuronal degeneration of a similar percentage of cells 6 h after the onset of the death process. Mitochondrial function steadily decreased after [K⁺]_o removal. An ～40% decrease in RNA and protein synthesis was detected by 6 h of [K⁺]_o removal during the period of cell death commitment; rates continued to decline gradually thereafter. The temporal characteristics of the DNA damage and recovery, DNA cleavage to oligonucleosome-sized fragments, and the reduction in mitochondrial activity—events that occurred within the critical time—may indicate that these processes have an important part in the mechanism that committed the neurons to die.     

A Low-Testosterone State Associated with Endometrioma Leads to the Apoptosis of Granulosa Cells

Although endometriosis is suspected to be a cause of premature ovarian insufficiency (POI), the mechanism(s) underlying this process have not been elucidated. Recently, androgens were shown to promote oocyte maturation and to play a role in folliculogenesis. In addition, several reports have documented low testosterone levels in the follicular fluid obtained from endometriosis patients. We therefore examined whether the low levels of serum testosterone are associated with the apoptosis of granulosa cells in follicles obtained from endometriosis patients. Serum samples were collected from 46 patients with endometriosis and from 62 patients without endometriosis who received assisted reproductive therapy. Specimens of the ovaries obtained from 10 patients with endometrioma were collected using laparoscopy. The mean serum testosterone concentration in the patients with endometriosis was significantly lower than that observed in the patients without endometriosis. Furthermore, high expression of a pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 member, BimEL, in the follicles was found to be associated with a low serum testosterone level. We clarified the underlying mechanisms using a basic approach employing human immortalized granulosa cells derived from a primary human granulosa cell tumor, the COV434 cell line. The in vitro examination demonstrated that testosterone inhibited apoptosis induced by sex steroids depletion via the PI3K/Akt-FoxO3a pathway in the COV434 cells. In conclusion, we elucidated the mechanism underlying the anti-apoptotic effects of testosterone on granulosa cells, and found that a low-testosterone status is a potentially important step in the development of premature ovarian insufficiency in patients with endometriosis.     

BMP2具有诱导C3H10T1/2细胞成脂肪分化的能力

探讨骨形态发生蛋白2（BMP2）诱导鼠胚胎间充质干细胞C3H10T1/2成脂肪分化能力,为临床脂肪代谢疾病的治疗提供理论基础．培养多潜能的间充质干细胞C3H10T1/2,用20 μg/ml BMP2对其诱导一定时间后,RT-PCR检测是否存在BMP信号通路中关键分子BMP受体BMPR I, BMPR Ⅱ及Smad 1/5/8的表达.Western印迹检测Smad 蛋白及MAPK 信号通路中p38磷酸化水平变化,QRT PCR检测成脂肪标志基因aP2以及成脂肪相关转录因子PPARγ,C/EBPα,C/EBPβ表达水平,同时用油红O染色,观测C3H10T1/2细胞成脂肪分化情况．经BMP2诱导后,C3H10T1/2细胞成脂肪分化标志(油红O染色)显著增加,Smad 蛋白及p38磷酸化水平有所上升,同时成脂肪标志基因aP2以及成脂肪相关转录因子PPARγ,C/EBPα,C/EBPβ表达水平各有一定程度提高．BMP2具有诱导C3H10T1/2细胞成脂肪分化能力,其成脂肪分化呈现对BMP2作用的时间依赖性．