线粒体促凋亡因子Omi/HtrA2在肝癌组织中表达的研究

目的探讨丝氨酸蛋白酶Omi/HtrA2在肝癌组织、癌旁组织与正常肝组织中的表达及意义。方法应用免疫组化SABC法检测43例肝癌、30例癌旁组织及10例正常肝组织中Omi/HtrA2的表达。结果29例(67·44%)肝癌中Omi/HtrA2蛋白表达阳性,30例癌旁组织和10正常肝组织没有或只有少量很弱的表达。肝癌高分化组中Omi/HtrA2蛋白的表达明显高于中、低分化组(P<0·01)。另外,Omi/HtrA2表达与肿瘤大小及临床分期相关,但Omi/HtrA2表达与肝硬化、有无癌栓、HBsAg和AFP无关。结论肝细胞癌可能需要Omi/HtrA2的表达来促进凋亡,Omi/HtrA2的表达对肝癌的发展有重要作用。     

Nur77 在缺氧/ 复氧诱导的心肌细胞凋亡中的作用及其机制的研究

目的:观察Nur77通过线粒体转位对缺氧/复氧(H/R)诱导的心肌细胞凋亡的影响。方法:原代培养l-2天SD大鼠心肌细胞,建立H/R模型。随机分为正常对照组、H/R组、Nur77组,采用免疫荧光检测横纹肌肌动蛋白(α-actin)鉴定心肌细胞;采用TUNEL染色法及Caspase-3酶活性检测心肌细胞凋亡情况;采用Western blot检测细胞核及线粒体Nur77蛋白表达、线粒体及胞浆Omi/HtrA2蛋白表达。结果:H/R组细胞核中Nur77蛋白表达明显低于正常对照组;而在线粒体中则相反。Nur77组线粒体中的Omi/HtrA2蛋白表达明显低于正常对照组;而在胞浆中则相反。结论:在心肌细胞H/R损伤时,Nur77线粒体转位促使Omi/HtrA2蛋白从线粒体释放入胞浆,从而导致心肌细胞凋亡。     

PTEN及COX-2在乳腺癌的表达、意义及相关性

目的:研究PTEN及COX-2在乳腺癌的表达、与临床病理特征的关系及二者表达的相关性.方法:采用免疫组化技术(S-P法)检测48例乳腺癌和12例乳腺纤维腺瘤中PTEN、COX-2的表达情况.结果:PTEN在乳腺癌中的高表达率52.08%(25/48)明显低于乳腺纤维腺瘤91.67%(11/12)(p<0.05);PTEN的表达水平与腋淋巴结转移呈负相关,与ER水平呈正相关.与乳腺纤维腺瘤组织16.67%(2/12)相比,COX-2在乳腺癌组织中的表达明显增强68.75%(33/48)(P<0.05),COX-2与肿瘤大小、临床分期、淋巴结转移及ER、PR水平有关.结论:PTEN和COX-2的异常表达与乳腺癌发生、发展密切相关;PTEN和COX-2在乳腺癌中的表达呈负相关,两者共同参与了乳腺癌发生和发展.     

Livin蛋白在乳腺癌中的表达及与Bcl-2关系

目的 探讨凋亡抑制基因Livin和Bcl-2蛋白在乳腺癌组织中表达及与临床病理参数的关系.方法 应用western blot和免疫组织化学SP法检测90例乳腺癌、30例乳腺良性病变和15例乳腺癌旁组织中Livin和Bel-2蛋白的表达情况,分析两种蛋白表达的相关性.结果 Livin蛋白在乳腺癌组织中的阳性表达率及蛋白表达量明显高于癌旁组织和乳腺良性病变,差异有显著性(P＜0.05).Livin蛋白在乳腺癌中的阳性表达与肿瘤大小,组织学类型,组织学分级及淋巴结转移无关(P＞0.05),但随临床分期的增加而升高(P＜0.05);Livin和BcI-2蛋白在乳腺癌组织中的表达显著相关(P＜0.05).结论 Livin蛋白在乳腺癌组织巾表达上调,且与病理分期有关,提示Livin蛋白可通过抑制细胞凋亡促进乳腺癌的发生、发展,Livin与Bel-2蛋白可能在乳腺癌的演进中起着协同作用.     

乳腺癌中Rho A蛋白表达及其与Cyclin D1和P21WAF1/CIP1蛋白表达的相关性

目的探讨Rho A蛋白在人乳腺癌中的表达情况,Rho A蛋白与临床病理因素的关系,及其与细胞周期蛋白Cyclin D1,细胞周期抑制蛋白 P21 WAF1/CIP1表达的相关性.方法应用免疫组化S-P法,检测64例乳腺癌组织及20例正常乳腺组织中Rho A蛋白、Cyclin D1和P21 WAF1/CIP1蛋白的表达情况.结果 (1)Rho A、 Cyclin D1和P21 WAF1/CIP1蛋白在正常乳腺组织中的表达率分别为5.00%、25.00%、15.00%,在乳腺癌组织中的表达率分别为73.44%、59.38%、48.44%,三者在乳腺癌组织中的阳性表达分别与正常乳腺组织相比,均差异有显著性意义(P< 0.01).(2)Rho A蛋白表达与病理组织分级,淋巴结转移相关(P< 0.05),与患者年龄、肿瘤大小及临床分期无关.(3)RhoA蛋白与P21 WAF1/CIP1蛋白表达呈负相关(χ2=4.548,P<0.05),与Cyclin D1蛋白表达无关.结论乳腺癌患者RhoA蛋白过表达与预后不良有关.RhoA蛋白通过下调P21 WAF1/CIP1蛋白参与细胞周期调节,进而与乳腺癌发展及侵袭转移相关.     

丝氨酸蛋白酶HtrA2/Omi可参与调节线粒体中的适配蛋白p66Shc

目的:p66Shc在线粒体内积累和HtrA2/Omi的功能缺陷都能导致线粒体损伤,诱导细胞凋亡.探讨在线粒体中HtrA2对p66Shc的调控作用.方法:构建p66Shc和成熟型HtrA2的真核表达质粒,共转染HEK293T细胞,免疫印迹法(Western blot)检测p66Shc蛋白;构建原核表达质粒,大肠杆菌纯化蛋白,体外切割实验,SDS-PAGE分离后考马斯亮蓝染色检测;提取HtrA2功能缺陷小鼠( mnd2)大脑组织的线粒体,检测线粒体内p66Shc的蛋白水平.结果:细胞实验和体外实验证明HtrA2可以切割p66Shc,且在mnd2小鼠大脑中,线粒体内p66Shc的蛋白水平明显升高(P＜0.05).结论:p66Shc是HtrA2的直接底物,且HtrA2参与调节线粒体中p66Shc的蛋白水平,揭示了HtrA2发挥神经保护功能新的可能机制.     

验证性筛选PDZ结构域结合配体文库快速研究HtrA2/Omi PDZ结构域的结合特性

HtrA2/Omi是一种线粒体丝氨酸蛋白酶, 在哺乳动物细胞中具有双重功能, 即诱导细胞凋亡和参与维持线粒体活性的动态平衡. PDZ结构域是最重要的蛋白质相互作用结构域之一, 参与多种生物学过程, 如细胞信号转导、蛋白质降解、细胞骨架组织等. 最近研究发现, HtrA2/Omi蛋白的PDZ结构域与配体的相互作用, 可以调节HtrA2/Omi蛋白自身的水解酶活性.以HtrA2/Omi PDZ结构域为研究对象, 用酵母双杂交系统验证性筛选PDZ结构域结合配体文库, 快速研究该结构域的结合特性, 并在人类全蛋白质组范围内预测并发现该结构域新的相互作用蛋白, 最后分析这些新的相互作用所能够形成的最小相互作用网络来评估其可信度. 研究结果揭示了HtrA2/Omi PDZ结构域新的结合特性, 即: 不仅能够结合已报道的II类PDZ配体而且还可以结合I类和III类PDZ配体, 并且配体-3位氨基酸具有一定范围内的可变性. 而且, 发现了7个新的HtrA2/Omi PDZ结构域相互作用蛋白, 为进一步阐明HtrA2/Omi蛋白的生物学功能提供了重要线索. 同时证明了验证性筛选目的结构域结合配体文库, 这一结构域结合特性研究新策略的实用性和高效性.     

黄芪甲苷后处理对乳鼠心肌细胞缺氧复氧损伤的作用研究

目的:观察黄芪甲苷(AstragalosideⅣ,AsⅣ)后处理对缺氧复氧损伤(simulated ischemia reperfusion injury,SI/RI)的SD乳鼠心肌细胞是否具有保护作用。方法:将乳鼠原代心肌细胞平均分为五组,即空白对照组(Control)、缺氧复氧处理组(SI/RI)、黄芪甲苷预处理(5,10、20μM)+SI/RI组(AsIV+SI/RI)。各组细胞经处理后,四氮唑溴盐比色法(MTT)检测各组细胞存活率;TUNEL染色法测定各组细胞凋亡率;SOD测试盒检测培养液中超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)含量,总嘌呤氧化酶(XOD)测试盒检测丙二醛(MDA)含量。Western blot法检测各组细胞抗凋亡蛋白Bcl-2和促凋亡蛋白Caspase-3的表达。结果:与空白组相比,缺氧复氧损伤组细胞活力显著下降(P0.05),凋亡率显著上升(P0.05),其培养液中SOD水平显著降低(P0.05),MDA水平显著升高。而不同浓度AsⅣ后处理组的心肌细胞存活率显著上升,凋亡率显著下降,培养液中SOD水平显著上升,MDA水平显著下降(P0.05),且呈浓度呈依赖性。Western blot结果显示AsⅣ后处理组细胞中的Bcl-2表达明显上升,Caspase-3明显下降。结论:黄芪甲苷后处理对缺氧复氧诱导的乳鼠心肌细胞损伤具有显著的保护作用,能够显著上调抗凋亡蛋白Bcl-2的表达,下调促凋亡蛋白Caspase-3的表达。     

miR-486-3p对乳腺癌细胞MCF-7凋亡的调控作用研究

为探讨miR-486-3p对乳腺癌细胞MCF-7凋亡的调控作用,采用qRT-PCR法和Western blot法测定24例乳腺癌组织和癌旁正常组织miR-486-3p和凋亡相关蛋白的表达水平;采用qRT-PCR法测定乳腺癌细胞MCF-7、HBL101和正常乳腺细胞MCF10A中miR-486-3p的表达水平。将MCF-7、HBL101和MCF10A细胞分为正常对照组、模拟物对照组、miR-486-3p模拟物组、抑制物对照组和miR-486-3p抑制物组,各组细胞转染后进行培养,采用CCK-8法测定各组细胞增殖情况,采用细胞划痕法测定MCF-7和MCF10A细胞的迁移情况,采用Transwell法和流式细胞术测定各组细胞侵袭和凋亡情况,采用qRT-PCR和Western blot法测定凋亡相关蛋白mRNA和蛋白的表达水平。该研究得出乳腺癌组织中miR-486-3p表达水平较癌旁正常组织显著降低(P0.05),乳腺癌组织中Bcl-2蛋白表达水平较癌旁正常组织显著增加(P0.05),而Bax和Caspase-3蛋白表达水平较癌旁正常组织显著降低(P0.05)。乳腺癌细胞MCF-7和HBL101中miR-486-3p表达水平较正常乳腺细胞MCF10A显著降低(P0.05),其中以乳腺癌细胞MCF-7中miR-486-3p表达水平最低。miR-486-3p模拟物组乳腺癌细胞MCF-7和HBL101中miR-486-3p的表达水平较模拟物对照组显著升高(P0.05),miR-486-3p抑制物组miR-486-3p的表达水平较抑制物对照组显著降低(P0.05)。miR-486-3p模拟剂组乳腺癌MCF-7和HBL101细胞在24 h、48 h和72 h时的吸光度值较模拟物对照组显著降低(P0.05),而miR-486-3p抑制物组在24 h、48 h和72 h时吸光度值较抑制物对照组显著升高(P0.05)。miR-486-3p模拟剂组乳腺癌MCF-7细胞划痕宽度显著宽于模拟物对照组(P0.05),而miR-486-3p抑制物组乳腺癌MCF-7细胞划痕宽度显著窄于抑制物对照组(P0.05)。miR-486-3p模拟剂组乳腺癌MCF-7细胞穿膜细胞数量较模拟剂对照组显著降低(P0.05),而miR-486-3p抑制物组穿膜细胞数量较抑制物对照组显著升高(P0.05)。miR-486-3p模拟剂组乳腺癌MCF-7细胞凋亡数量较模拟物对照组显著升高(P0.05),而miR-486-3p抑制物组细胞凋亡数量较抑制物对照组显著降低(P0.05)。miR-486-3p模拟剂组乳腺癌MCF-7细胞中Bcl-2 mRNA和蛋白表达水平较模拟物对照组显著降低(P0.05),Bax和Caspase-3表达水平显著升高(P0.05),miR-486-3p抑制物组Bcl-2表达水平较抑制物对照组显著升高(P0.05),Bax和Caspase-3表达水平显著降低(P0.05)。总之,miR-486-3p是乳腺癌的抑癌基因,可能通过调节凋亡相关蛋白Bcl-2、Bax和Caspase-3 mRNA及蛋白的表达,而对乳腺癌细胞的凋亡起促进作用。     

乳腺癌组织中FOXO1蛋白表达与细胞增殖和细胞凋亡的相关性

目的研究乳腺癌组织中FOXO1蛋白表达与细胞增殖和细胞凋亡的相关性。方法利用免疫组织化学技术检测60例乳腺浸润性导管癌、21例导管内癌、30例导管内乳头状瘤及15例正常乳腺组织中FOXO1、Ki-67及活化Caspase-3蛋白的表达。结果FOXO1及活化Caspase-3蛋白在乳腺浸润性导管癌和导管内癌中的阳性表达率和阳性表达强度均显著低于导管内乳头状瘤和正常乳腺组织。Ki-67蛋白在乳腺浸润性导管癌和导管内癌中的阳性表达率和阳性表达强度均显著高于导管内乳头状瘤和正常乳腺组织;浸润性导管癌中FOXO1、Ki-67及活化Caspase-3的表达强度与癌组织的病理学分级无关;在浸润性导管癌、导管内癌、导管内乳头状瘤及正常乳腺组织中,FOXO1蛋白的表达强度与Ki-67呈显著负相关,而与活化Caspase-3的表达强度呈显著正相关。结果 FOXO1蛋白的表达下调可能与乳腺导管癌的发生密切相关;该蛋白可能是一种细胞增殖的负性调节因子,同时亦是一种细胞凋亡促进因子,FOXO1基因有可能成为乳腺浸润性导管癌基因治疗的有效靶点。     

Translocation of the Serine Protease Omi/HtrA2 from Mitochondria into the Cytosol Upon Seizure-Induced Hippocampal Injury in the Neonatal Rat Brain

Omi/HtrA2 is a pro-apoptotic mitochondrial serine protease involved in caspase-dependent as well as caspase-independent cell death upon various brain injuries. However, the role of Omi/HtrA2 in neuronal death induced by status epilepticus (SE) in the immature brain has not been reported. In this study, we analyzed the contribution of serine protease Omi/HtrA2, its substrate X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP) and the caspase-3 activation to damage of hippocamplal CA1 cells following lithium-pilocarpine SE in P14 rat pups. Status epilepticus in the immature brain significantly induced translocation of Omi/HtrA2 from mitochondria into the cytosol, increased cytosolic accumulation of Omi/HtrA2, induced appearance of XIAP-breakdown products and enhanced caspase-3 activity in the selectively vulnerable hippocampal CA1-subfield. Taken together, these results demonstrate for the first time that SE in the immature brain results in Omi/HtrA2 accumulation in the cytosol, where it probably promotes neuronal death by neutralizing and cleaving XIAP, one of the most potent endogenous inhibitors of apoptosis.     

Mitochondrial protease Omi/HtrA2 enhances caspase activation through multiple pathways

Omi/HtrA2 is a mitochondrial serine protease that is released into the cytosol during apoptosis and promotes cytochrome c (Cyt c)dependent caspase activation by neutralizing inhibitor of apoptosis proteins (IAPs) via its IAP-binding motif. The protease activity of Omi/HtrA2 also contributes to the progression of both apoptosis and caspase-independent cell death. In this study, we found that wild-type Omi/HtrA2 is more effective at caspase activation than a catalytically inactive mutant of Omi/HtrA2 in response to apoptotic stimuli, such as UV irradiation or tumor necrosis factor. Although similar levels of Omi/HtrA2 expression, XIAP-binding activity, and Omi/HtrA2 mitochondrial release were observed among cells transfected with catalytically inactive and wild-type Omi/HtrA2 protein, XIAP protein expression after UV irradiation was significantly reduced in cells transfected with wild-type Omi/HtrA2. Recombinant Omi/HtrA2 was observed to catalytically cleave IAPs and to inactivate XIAP in vitro, suggesting that the protease activity of Omi/HtrA2 might be responsible for its IAP-inhibiting activity. Extramitochondrial expression of Omi/HtrA2 indirectly induced permeabilization of the outer mitochondrial membrane and subsequent Cyt c-dependent caspase activation in HeLa cells. These results indicate that protease activity of Omi/HtrA2 promotes caspase activation through multiple pathways.     

Characterization of a novel and specific inhibitor for the pro-apoptotic protease Omi/HtrA2

Omi/HtrA2 is a mammalian serine protease with high homology to bacterial HtrA chaperones. Omi/HtrA2 is localized in mitochondria and is released to the cytoplasm in response to apoptotic stimuli. Omi/HtrA2 induces cell death in a caspase-dependent manner by interacting with the inhibitor of apoptosis protein as well as in a caspase-independent manner that relies on its protease activity. We describe the identification and characterization of a novel compound as a specific inhibitor of the proteolytic activity of Omi/HtrA2. This compound (ucf-101) was isolated in a high throughput screening of a combinatorial library using bacterially made Omi-(134-458) protease and fluorescein-casein as a generic substrate. ucf-101 showed specific activity against Omi/HtrA2 and very little activity against various other serine proteases. This compound has a natural fluorescence that was used to monitor its ability to enter mammalian cells. ucf-101, when tested in caspase-9 (-/-) null fibroblasts, was found to inhibit Omi/HtrA2-induced cell death.     

N-terminal truncation circumvents proteolytic degradation of the human HtrA2/Omi serine protease in Escherichia coli: rapid purification of a proteolytically active HtrA2/Omi

HtrA2/Omi, a mitochondrial trypsin-like serine protease, is pivotal in regulating apoptotic cell death; however, the underlying mechanism of HtrA2/Omi-mediated apoptosis remains to be elucidated. Using the pGEX bacterial expression system, we investigated the expression patterns of various forms of HtrA2/Omi. Full-length mouse HtrA2/Omi (mHtrA2/Omi) was successfully expressed in E. coli and purified as a proteolytically active protein. In contrast, the expression of full-length human HtrA2/Omi (hHtrA2/Omi) in E. coli was barely detected. On the basis of this result, we characterized further the expression patterns of N- or C-terminally truncated hHtrA2/Omi proteins. We found that three copies of the PRAXXTXXTP motif, which exist only in hHtrA2/Omi, might serve as a primary site that is highly susceptible to proteolytic degradation by host proteases. Removal of the N-terminal region containing the PRAXXTXXTP motifs produced a form resistant to proteolytic degradation during expression in E. coli and purification, consequently improving the production of a catalytically active, mature hHtrA2/Omi. Our study provides a method for generating useful reagents to investigate molecular mechanism by which HtrA2/Omi contributes to regulating apoptotic cell death and to identify natural substrates of HtrA2/Omi.     

Inactivation of Omi/HtrA2 protease leads to the deregulation of mitochondrial Mulan E3 ubiquitin ligase and increased mitophagy

Omi/HtrA2 is a nuclear encoded mitochondrial serine protease with dual and opposite functions that depend entirely on its subcellular localization. During apoptosis, Omi/HtrA2 is released into the cytoplasm where it participates in cell death. While confined in the inter-membrane space of the mitochondria, Omi/HtrA2 has a pro-survival function that may involve the regulation of protein quality control (PQC) and mitochondrial homeostasis. Loss of Omi/HtrA2's protease activity causes the neuromuscular disorder of the mnd2 (motor neuron degeneration 2) mutant mice. These mice develop multiple defects including neurodegeneration with parkinsonian features. Loss of Omi/HtrA2 in non-neuronal tissues has also been shown to cause premature aging. The normal function of Omi/HtrA2 in the mitochondria and how its deregulation causes neurodegeneration or premature aging are unknown. Here we report that the mitochondrial Mulan E3 ubiquitin ligase is a specific substrate of Omi/HtrA2. During exposure to H₂O₂, Omi/HtrA2 degrades Mulan, and this regulation is lost in cells that carry the inactive protease. Furthermore, we show accumulation of Mulan protein in various tissues of mnd2 mice as well as in Omi/HtrA2(−/−) mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs). This causes a significant decrease of mitofusin 2 (Mfn2) protein, and increased mitophagy. Our work describes a new stress-signaling pathway that is initiated in the mitochondria and involves the regulation of Mulan by Omi/HtrA2 protease. Deregulation of this pathway, as it occurs in mnd2 mutant mice, causes mitochondrial dysfunction and mitophagy, and could be responsible for the motor neuron disease and the premature aging phenotype observed in these animals.     

The serine protease Omi/HtrA2 is involved in XIAP cleavage and in neuronal cell death following focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion

Omi/HtrA2 is a pro-apoptotic mitochondrial serine protease involved in both forms of apoptosis, caspase-dependent as well as caspase-independent cell death. However, the impact of Omi/HtrA2 in the apoptotic cell machinery that takes place in vivo under pathological conditions such as cerebral ischemia remains unknown. The present study was monitored in order to examine whether Omi/HtrA2 plays a decisive role in apoptosis observed after focal cerebral ischemia in rats. Male adult rats were subjected to 90min of focal cerebral ischemia followed by reperfusion and treated with vehicle or ucf-101, a novel and specific Omi/HtrA2 inhibitor, prior reperfusion. Focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion induced a mitochondrial up-regulation of Omi/HtrA2 and significantly increased cytosolic accumulation of Omi/HtrA2. Furthermore, ischemia led to activation of caspase-3 and degradation X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP). Treatment of animals prior ischemia with ucf-101, the specific inhibitor of Omi/HtrA2, was able to (1) reduce the number of TUNEL-positive cells, to (2) attenuate the XIAP-breakdown and to (3) reduce the infarct size. This study shows for the first time that focal cerebral ischemia in rats results in Omi/HtrA2 translocation from the mitochondria to the cytosol, where it participates in neuronal cell death. Blocking the proteolytic activity of Omi/HtrA2 with specific inhibitors, such as the ucf-101, could be a novel way to afford neuroprotection and minimize cellular damage in cerebral ischemia/reperfusion.     

Omi/HtrA2 promotes cell death by binding and degrading the anti-apoptotic protein ped/pea-15

ped/pea-15 is a ubiquitously expressed 15-kDa protein featuring a broad anti-apoptotic function. In a yeast two-hybrid screen, the pro-apoptotic Omi/HtrA2 mitochondrial serine protease was identified as a specific interactor of the ped/pea-15 death effector domain. Omi/HtrA2 also bound recombinant ped/pea-15 in vitro and co-precipitated with ped/pea-15 in 293 and HeLa cell extracts. In these cells, the binding of Omi/HtrA2 to ped/pea-15 was induced by UVC exposure and followed the mitochondrial release of Omi/HtrA2 into the cytoplasm. Upon UVC exposure, cellular ped/pea-15 protein expression levels decreased. This effect was prevented by the ucf-101 specific inhibitor of the Omi/HtrA2 proteolytic activity, in a dose-dependent fashion. In vitro incubation of ped/pea-15 with Omi/HtrA2 resulted in ped/pea-15 degradation. In intact cells, the inhibitory action of ped/pea-15 on UVC-induced apoptosis progressively declined at increasing Omi/HtrA2 expression. This further effect of Omi/HtrA2 was also inhibited by ucf-101. In addition, ped/pea-15 expression blocked Omi/HtrA2 co-precipitation with the caspase inhibitor protein XIAP and caspase 3 activation. Thus, in part, apoptosis following Omi/HtrA2 mitochondrial release is mediated by reduction in ped/pea-15 cellular levels. The ability of Omi/HtrA2 to relieve XIAP inhibition on caspases is modulated by the relative levels of Omi/HtrA2 and ped/pea-15.