X-linked mental retardation gene CUL4B targets ubiquitylation of H3K4 methyltransferase component WDR5 and regulates neuronal gene expression

CUL4B, encoding a scaffold protein for the assembly of Cullin4B-Ring ubiquitin ligase (CRL4B) complexes, is frequently mutated in X-linked mental retardation (XLMR) patients. Here, we show that CUL4B, but not its paralog, CUL4A, targets WDR5, a core subunit of histone H3 lysine 4 (H3K4) methyltransferase complexes, for ubiquitylation and degradation in the nucleus. Knocking down CUL4B increases WDR5 and trimethylated H3K4 (H3K4me3) on the neuronal gene promoters and induces their expression. Furthermore, CUL4B depletion suppresses neurite outgrowth of PC12 neuroendocrine cells, which can be rescued by codepletion of WDR5. XLMR-linked mutations destabilize CUL4B and impair its ability to support neurite outgrowth of PC12 cells. Our results identify WDR5 as a critical substrate of CUL4B in regulating neuronal gene expression and suggest epigenetic change as a common pathogenic mechanism for CUL4B-associated XLMR.     

人CUIAA重组腺病毒载体的构建及其在PC-12细胞中的表达特点

目的构建并鉴定带有绿色荧光蛋白（green fluorescence protein,GFP）报告基因的人源CUL4A（hCUIAA）基因腺病毒表达载体Ad—hCUIAA—GFP,探求bCUIAA在PC-12细胞中的表达特点。方法扩增hCUIAA基因,并通过In—FusionPCR克隆技术构建穿梭质粒pDC315-EGFP—hCUIAA,利用AdMaxTM腺病毒包装系统将该穿梭质粒与腺病毒表达载体骨架质粒pBHGloxAEl,E3Cre共转染HEK293细胞,经GFP荧光检测和Western印迹检测确认hCUIAA的表达后,进一步通过病毒扩增及纯化得到hCUL4A重组腺病毒载体Ad—hCUIAA—GFP。将该载体转染Pc—12细胞,观察hCUIAA—GFP融合蛋白在Pc-12细胞中的表达情况。结果成功获得了较高滴度的腺病毒载体Ad—hCUIAA—GFP（1．6×10^12pfu／m1）。荧光检测表明,Ad—hCUIAA—GFP转染Pc-12细胞后72h内,病毒转染率随着时间和病毒转染滴度的增加而增加。DAPI细胞核荧光染色结果表明,hCUIAA—GFP的表达主要集中在细胞质部分。GFP荧光检测及Western印迹检测结果显示,hCUIAA—GFP在Pc-12细胞中的表达量随时间和病毒转染滴度的增加而增加。结论带GFP的hCUIAA重组腺病毒载体Ad—hCUIAA—GFP构建成功,掌握了其转染Pc-12细胞的最佳滴度及其在Pc-12细胞中的时空表达特点,为今后对hCUIAA在PC-12细胞中的功能性研究奠定了基础。     

E3 ubiquitin ligase Cullin4B mediated polyubiquitination of p53 for its degradation

Controlled protein ubiquitination through E3 ubiquitin ligases and degradation via 26S proteasome machinery is required for orderly progression through cell cycle, chromatin remodeling, DNA repair, and development. Each cullin-dependent ubiquitin ligase (E3) complex can recruit various substrates for their degradation. Cullin 4A (CUL4A) and Cullin 4B (CUL4B) are members of cullin family proteins that mediate ubiquitin dependent proteolysis. Though, these two cul4 genes are functionally redundant, Cullin 4B is not a substitute for all the Cullin 4A functions. Published report has shown that CUL4A interacts with p53 and induces its decay. Although, CUL4A has been known to control several cellular processes, little is known about CUL4B functions. Therefore, in this study, we analyzed the role of CUL4B on p53 polyubiquitination. Our stable cell line and transient transfection studies show that CUL4B indeed interacts with p53 and induces its polyubiquitination. Importantly, both CUL4A and CUL4B overexpressing cells show almost equal levels of p53 polyubiquitination. Moreover, we observed an increased level of polyubiquitination on p53 in CUL4B overexpressing stable cell line upon treatment with siRNA specific for CUL4A indicating that CUL4B plays a vital role in p53 stability. In addition, we have observed the differential expression of CUL4B in various eukaryotic cell lines and mouse tissues suggesting the important role of CUL4B in various tissues. Together, these observations establish an important negative regulatory role of CUL4B on p53 stability.     

Effects of scutellarin on apoptosis induced by cobalt chloride in PC12 cells

The present study investigated the protective effects of scutellarin on cobalt chloride (CoCl2)-induced apoptosis in PC12 cells. Incubation of PC12 cells with 500 microM CoCl2 for 24 h resulted in significant apoptosis as evaluated by the crystal violet, electron microscopy and flow cytometry assays. The increase of caspase-3 activity, decrease of Bcl-XL expression, phosphorylation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and accumulation of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) were also seen in CoCl2-treated PC12 cells. Scutellarin at 0.1, 1 and 10 microM significantly protected against the apoptotic cell death induced by CoCl2. Scutellarin decreased caspase-3 activity, increased Bcl-XL expression, inhibited p38 phosphorylation and attenuated ROS production. These results demonstrate that scutellarin can protect PC12 cells from cobalt chloride induced apoptosis by scavenging ROS, inhibiting p38 phosphorylation, up-regulating Bcl-XL expression and decreasing caspase-3 activity, and may reduce the cellular damage in pathological conditions associated with hypoxia-mediated neuronal injury.     

Remifentanil Protects Human Keratinocytes against Hypoxia–Reoxygenation Injury through Activation of Autophagy

The proliferation, differentiation, and migration of keratinocytes are essential in the early stages of wound healing. Hypoxia-Reoxygenation (H/R) injury to keratinocytes can occur in various stressful environments such as surgery, trauma, and various forms of ulcers. The effects of remifentanil on human keratinocytes under hypoxia-reoxygenation have not been fully studied. Therefore, we investigated the effects of remifentanil on the proliferation, apoptosis, and autophagic activation of human keratinocytes during hypoxic-reoxygenation. Human keratinocytes were cultured under 1% oxygen tension for 24 h. The cells were then treated with various concentrations of remifentanil (0.01, 0.1, 0.5, and 1 ng/mL) for 2 h. Thereafter, the cells were reoxygenated for 12 h at 37°C. We measured cell viability via MTT assay. Using quantitative real-time PCR and western blot analysis, we measured the expression levels of proteins associated with apoptosis and autophagy. Quantification of apoptotic cells was performed using flow cytometer analysis and autophagic vacuoles were observed under a fluorescence microscope. Remifentanil treatment brought about an increase in the proliferation of human keratinocytes damaged by hypoxia-reoxygenation and decreased the apoptotic cell death, enhancing autophagic activity. However, the autophagy pathway inhibitor 3-MA inhibited the protective effect of remifentanil in hypoxia-reoxygenation injury. In conclusion, the current study demonstrated that remifentanil treatment stimulated autophagy and reduced apoptotic cell death in a hypoxia-reoxygenation model of human keratinocytes. Our results provide additional insights into the relationship between apoptosis and autophagy.     

CUL4A-mediated ZEB1/microRNA-340-5p/HMGB1 axis promotes the development of osteoporosis

Understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying osteoclast differentiation provides insights into bone loss and even osteoporosis. The specific mechanistic actions of cullin 4A (CUL4A) in osteoclast differentiation and resultant osteoporosis is poorly explored. We developed a mouse model of osteoporosis using bilateral ovariectomy (OVX) and examined CUL4A expression. It was noted that CUL4A expression was increased in the bone marrow of OVX mice. Overexpression of CUL4A promoted osteoclast differentiation, and knockdown of CUL4A alleviated osteoporosis symptoms of OVX mice. Bioinformatic analyses were applied to identify the downstream target genes of microRNA-340-5p (miR-340-5p), followed by interaction analysis. The bone marrow macrophages (BMMs) were isolated from femur of OVX mice, which were transfected with different plasmids to alter the expression of CUL4A, Zinc finer E-box binding homeobox 1 (ZEB1), miR-340-5p, and Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4). ChIP assay was performed to detect enrichment of ZEB1 promoter by H3K4me3 antibody in BMMs. ZEB1 was overexpressed in the bone marrow of OVX mice. Overexpression of CUL4A mediated H3K4me3 methylation to increase ZEB1 expression, thus promoting osteoclast differentiation. Meanwhile, ZEB1 could inhibit miR-340-5p expression and upregulate HMGB1 to induce osteoclast differentiation. Overexpressed ZEB1 activated the TLR4 pathway by regulating the miR-340-5p/HMGB1 axis to induce osteoclast differentiation, thus promoting the development of osteoporosis. Overall, E3 ubiquitin ligase CUL4A can upregulate ZEB1 to repress miR-340-5p expression, leading to HMGB1 upregulation and the TLR4 pathway activation, which promotes osteoclast differentiation and the development of osteoporosis.     

Signaling of ATP receptors in glia-neuron interaction and pain

ATP causes the activation of p38 or ERK1/2, mitogen activated protein kinases (MAPKs) resulting in the release of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF) and Interleukin-6 (IL-6) from microglia. We examined the effect of TNF and IL-6 on the protection from PC12 cell death by serum deprivation. When PC12 cells were incubated with serum-free medium for 32 hr, their viability decreased to 30 %. IL-6 alone slightly protected the death of PC12 cells, whereas TNF alone did not show any protective effect. In the meanwhile, when PC12 cells were pretreated with TNF for 6 hr and then incubated with IL-6 under the condition of serum-free, the viability of PC12 cells dramatically increased. TNF induced an increase of IL-6 receptor (IL-6R) expression in PC12 cells at 4-6 hr. These data suggested that 6 hr pretreatment with TNF increased IL-6R expression in PC12 cells, leading to an enhancement of IL-6-induced neuroprotective action.To elucidate the role of p38 in pathological pain, we investigated whether p38 is activated in the spinal cord of the neuropathic pain model. In the rats displaying a marked allodynia, the level of phospho-p38 was increased in the microglia of injury side in the dorsal horn. Intraspinal administration of p38 inhibitor suppressed the allodynia. These results demonstrate that neuropathic pain hypersensitivity depends upon the activation of p38 signaling pathway in microglia in the dorsal horn following peripheral nerve injury.     

内质网应激预处理对人正常肝细胞缺氧再复氧损伤的保护作用

目的:研究内质网应激预处理对人肝细胞缺氧复氧损伤的保护作用。方法:将培养的人肝细胞分为4组:正常对照(C)组、细胞缺氧复氧损伤(H/R)组、内质网应激(ER)组、内质网应激预处理(ERP+H/R)组。收集各组细胞,以流式细胞仪检测细胞凋亡,Western-bloting及RT-PCR检测内质网应激特异蛋白GRP78表达水平,并通过透射电镜观察各组细胞超微结构改变。结果:ERP+H/R组细胞凋亡率明显低于H/R组(P<0.05),ER及ERP+H/R组GRP78蛋白表达明显高于H/R组(P<0.05)。结论:内质网应激预处理对肝细胞缺氧复氧损伤具有明显的保护作用,内质网应激特异性蛋白GRP78可能在肝细胞缺氧复氧损伤中作为一种关键性的保护蛋白出现。     

p75 neurotrophin receptor is required for constitutive and NGF-induced survival signalling in PC12 cells and rat hippocampal neurones

We have previously shown that nerve growth factor (NGF)-induced activation of nuclear factor-kappaB increased neuronal expression of Bcl-xL, an anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 family protein. In the present study we determined the role of the p75 neurotrophin receptor in constitutive and NGF-induced survival signalling. Treatment of rat pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells with a blocking anti-rat p75 antibody or inhibition of p75 expression by antisense oligonucleotides reduced constitutive and NGF-induced bcl-xL expression. Treatment with the blocking anti-p75 antibody also inhibited NGF-induced activation of the survival kinase Akt. Inhibition of phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3 kinase) activity or overexpression of a dominant-negative mutant of Akt kinase inhibited NGF-induced nuclear factor-kappaB activation. Activation of Akt kinase by NGF was also observed in PC12nnr5 cells and cultured rat hippocampal neurones which both lack significant TrkA expression. Treatment of hippocampal neurones with the blocking anti-p75 antibody inhibited constitutive and NGF-induced Bcl-xL expression, activation of Akt, and blocked the protective effect of NGF against excitotoxic and apoptotic injury. Our data suggest that the p75 neurotrophin receptor mediates constitutive and NGF-induced survival signalling in PC12 cells and hippocampal neurones, and that these effects are mediated via the PI3-kinase pathway.     

S100B increases proliferation in PC12 neuronal cells and reduces their responsiveness to nerve growth factor via Akt activation

S100B is a Ca2+-modulated protein of the EF-hand type expressed in high abundance in a restricted set of cell types including certain neuronal populations. S100B has been suggested to participate in cell cycle progression, and S100B levels are high in tumor cells, compared with normal parental cells. We expressed S100B in the neuronal cell line PC12, which normally does not express the protein, by the Tet-Off technique, and found the following: (i) proliferation was higher in S100B+ PC12 cells than in S100B- PC12 cells; (ii) nerve growth factor (NGF), which decreased the proliferation of S100B- PC12 cells, was less effective in the case of S100B+ PC12 cells; (iii) expression of S100B made PC12 cells resistant to the differentiating effect of NGF; and (iv) interruption of S100B expression did not result in an immediate restoration of PC12 cell sensitivity to the differentiating effect of NGF. Expression of S100B in PC12 cells resulted in activation of Akt; increased levels of p21WAF1, an inhibitor of cyclin-dependent kinase (cdk) 2 and a positive regulator of cdk4; increased p21WAF1-cyclin D1 complex formation; and increased phosphorylation of the retinoblastoma suppressor protein, Rb. These S100B-induced effects, as well as the reduced ability of S100B+ PC12 cells to respond to NGF, were dependent on Akt activation because they were remarkably reduced or abrogated in the presence of LY294002, an inhibitor of the Akt upstream kinase phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase. Thus, S100B might promote cell proliferation and interfere with NGF-induced PC12 cell differentiation by stimulating a p21WAF1/cyclin D1/cdk4/Rb/E2F pathway in an Akt-mediated manner.     

mTOR／STAT3信号通路在谷氨酸诱导的PC12细胞损伤中的作用

目的：研究谷氨酸（glutamate,GIu）诱导PCI2细胞损伤后mTOR／STAT3信号通路的表达情况及对细胞损伤的保护作用。方法：用不同浓度谷氨酸作用不同时间诱导PCI2细胞损伤,筛选出合适的浓度和作用时间后,将细胞分为3组进行下一步实验,分别为A组：正常对照组;B组：20mmol／L谷氨酸处理组;C组：20mmol／L谷氨酸＋800nmol／L雷帕霉素（rapamycin,RAPA）处理组。应用流式细胞术检测各组处理12h后细胞凋亡率,Westernblot观察各组处理1h、4h、8h、12h后,P-mTOR,P-STAT3蛋白表达情况。结果：（1）谷氨酸对PCI2细胞的生长抑制作用随作用时间和作用浓度的增加而增强。（2）C组凋亡率明显高于A组和B组。（3）Westernblot检测结果表明B组各时间点p-mTOR,P．STAT3表达均高于A、c组,并在4h时达到高峰。结论：细胞损伤激活了mTOR／STAT3信号通路,该通路的激活减少了细胞凋亡,对谷氨酸导致的神经细胞损伤具有保护作用,有助于神经损伤的修复。     

神经节苷脂对脂多糖损伤大鼠嗜铬细胞瘤细胞的保护作用

目的：研究内源性神经节苷脂对大鼠嗜铬细胞瘤细胞株（PC12）脂多糖（LPS）损伤后的作用及机制。方法：培养PC12细胞,建立LPS损伤模型,采用MTT法检测不同浓度LPS对PC12细胞存活率的改变、葡萄糖神经酰胺合成酶抑制剂D（D-PDMP）耗竭内源性神经节苷脂时LPS对PC12细胞存活率的改变以及添加外源性神经节苷脂GM1后对PC12细胞存活率的保护作用;倒置显微镜和荧光显微镜观察细胞状态;RT-PCR检测NF-κB的相对表达含量。结果：LPS能导致PC12细胞形态学的改变及存活率下降,且随着LPS浓度的增加细胞存活率逐渐降低;神经节苷脂GM1能明显改善LPS所致的细胞形态学以及存活率的改变;工具药D-PDMP耗竭内源性神经节苷脂后,LPS对PC12细胞的损伤更严重,添加外源性神经节苷脂GM1,细胞形态学及存活率得到明显改善,细胞存活率上升;LPS损伤时细胞内NF-κB含量增加;D-PDMP预先耗竭内源性神经节苷脂时NF-κB含量增加更多;添加外源性神经节苷脂GM1后NF-κB含量降低。结论：内源性神经节苷脂对PC12细胞LPS损伤具有保护作用,可能是通过NF-κB信号通路来发挥作用的。     

Minocycline Promotes Neurite Outgrowth of PC12 Cells Exposed to Oxygen-Glucose Deprivation and Reoxygenation Through Regulation of MLCP/MLC Signaling Pathways

Minocycline, a semi-synthetic second-generation derivative of tetracycline, has been reported to exert neuroprotective effects both in animal models and in clinic trials of neurological diseases. In the present study, we first investigated the protective effects of minocycline on oxygen-glucose deprivation and reoxygenation-induced impairment of neurite outgrowth and its potential mechanism in the neuronal cell line, PC12 cells. We found that minocycline significantly increased cell viability, promoted neurite outgrowth and enhanced the expression of growth-associated protein-43 (GAP-43) in PC12 cells exposed to oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation injury. In addition, immunoblots revealed that minocycline reversed the overexpression of phosphorylated myosin light chain (MLC) and the suppression of activated extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) caused by oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation injury. Moreover, the minocycline-induced neurite outgrowth was significantly blocked by Calyculin A (1 nM), an inhibitor of myosin light chain phosphatase (MLCP), but not by an ERK1/2 inhibitor (U0126; 10 μM). These findings suggested that minocycline activated the MLCP/MLC signaling pathway in PC12 cells after oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation injury, which resulted in the promotion of neurite outgrowth.     

Regulation of SCFSKP2 Ubiquitin E3 Ligase Assembly and p27KIP1 Proteolysis by the PTEN Pathway and Cyclin D1

The PTEN tumor suppressor functions as a phosphatase of phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate (PIP3) and negatively regulates the PI 3-kinase signaling pathway. Our previous studies showed that PTEN expression causes accumulation of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p27Kip1 and G1 cell cycle arrest. Here, we show that PTEN negatively regulates expression of cyclin D1 and that cyclin D1 plays a unique role in p27 proteolysis. Co-expression of cyclin D1, but not cyclin E, is sufficient to restore p27 levels in PTEN-expressing cells. Conversely, loss of cyclin D1 by siRNA causes p27 accumulation. Silencing of the cyclin D1 gene or inhibition of the PI 3-kinase pathway prevents formation of the SCFSKP2 complex, with a simultaneous increase in CUL1 binding to CAND1. CAND1-CUL1 binding is known to block the accessibility of CUL1 to SKP1 and SKP2. We have found that CUL1 is less neddylated in cells that have lost cyclin D1 expression. Using an in vitro extract system, we found that the extracts prepared from cells lacking cyclin D1 have reduced activity to neddylate CUL1, in a manner similar to extracts from cells treated with a PI 3-kinase inhibitor or in G0 resting cells. Consistenly, the steady state levels of CUL1 neddylation were found lower under these conditions. Our studies reveal that PTEN/PI 3-kinase signaling and cyclin D1 control a novel pathway that regulates assembly of the SCFSKP2 complex by modulating cullin neddylation and CAND1 binding at the G1/S cell cycle transition.     

CUL4B impedes stress-induced cellular senescence by dampening a p53-reactive oxygen species positive feedback loop

Tumor suppressor p53 is known to regulate the level of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS). It can either alleviate oxidative stress under physiological and mildly stressed conditions or exacerbate oxidative stress under highly stressed conditions. We here report that a p53–ROS positive feedback loop drives a senescence program in normal human fibroblasts (NHFs) and this senescence-driving loop is negatively regulated by CUL4B. CUL4B, which can assemble various ubiquitin E3 ligases, was found to be downregulated in stress-induced senescent cells, but not in replicative senescent cells. We observed that p53-dependent ROS production was significantly augmented and stress-induced senescence was greatly enhanced when CUL4B was absent or depleted. Ectopic expression of CUL4B, on the other hand, blunted p53 activation, reduced ROS production, and attenuated cellular senescence in cells treated with H₂O₂. CUL4B was shown to promote p53 ubiquitination and proteosomal degradation in NHFs exposed to oxidative stress, thus dampening the p53-dependent cellular senescence. Together, our results established a critical role of CUL4B in negatively regulating the p53–ROS positive feedback loop that drives cellular senescence.     

Induction method of tyrosine kinase A-mediated cell death in rat pheochromocytoma

Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) is a neurotrophic factor that prevents apoptosis in neuronal progenitor cells. In rat pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells, tyrosine kinase A receptor (TrkA) mediates neurotrophic or protective effects, while p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75NTR) functions as a death receptor. We have determined whether TrkA mediates any cytotoxic effect. Following serum deprivation, TrkA expression increased 2.2-fold and apoptosis began with expression of Bax proapoptotic protein. Application of NGF halved cell viability but this was reversed by K252a, the TrkA inhibitor. These results confirmed the paradoxical cytotoxic effect of neurotrophic NGF via TrkA in PC12 cells following serum deprivation.