Advanced glycation end-product-inhibited cell proliferation and protein expression of beta-catenin and cyclin D1 are dependent on glycogen synthase kinase 3beta in LLC-PK1 cells

Glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β) is increased by high glucose in mesangial cells. Thus, we studied the role of GSK3β in advanced glycation end-product (AGE)-induced effects in the proximal tubule-like LLC-PK1 cells. We found that AGE (100 μg/ml) time-dependently (8-48 h) increased phospho-GSK3β-Tyr216 (active GSK3β) and time-dependently (4-24 h) decreased phospho-GSK3β-Ser21/9 (inactive GSK3β) protein expression. Meanwhile, AGE (100 μg/ml) activated GSK3β kinase at 8-48 h. AGE (100 μg/ml) dose-dependently (75-100 μg/ml) decreased β-catenin protein expression but AGE did not decrease β-catenin protein expression until 48 h. SB216763 (a GSK3β inhibitor) and GSK3β shRNA attenuated AGE (100 μg/ml)-inhibited cell proliferation and protein expression of β-catenin and cyclin D1 at 48 h. SB216763 also attenuated AGE-induced type IV collagen. We conclude that AGE activates GSK3β in LLC-PK1 cells. AGE-inhibited β-catenin and cyclin D1 protein expression are dependent on GSK3β. Moreover, AGE-inhibited cell proliferation and AGE-induced type IV collagen protein expression are dependent on GSK3β.     

Molecular imaging of glycogen synthase kinase-3β and casein kinase-1α kinases

Glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK3β) and casein kinase-1α (CK1α) are multifunctional kinases that play critical roles in the regulation of a number of cellular processes. In spite of their importance, molecular imaging tools for noninvasive and real-time monitoring of their kinase activities have not been devised. Here we report development of the bioluminescent GSK3β and CK1α reporter (BGCR) based on firefly luciferase complementation. Treatment of SW620 cells stably expressing the reporter with inhibitors of GSK3β (SB415286 and LiCl) or CK1α (CKI-7) resulted in dose- and time-dependent increases in BGCR activity that were validated using Western blotting. No increase in bioluminescence was observed in the case of S37A mutant (GSK3β inhibitors) or S45A mutant (CKI-7), demonstrating the specificity of the reporter. Imaging of mice tumor xenograft generated with BGCR-expressing SW620 cells following treatment with LiCl showed unique oscillations in GSK3β activity that were corroborated by phosphorylated GSK3β immunoblotting. Taken together, the BGCR is a novel molecular imaging tool that reveals unique insight into GSK3β and CK1α kinase activities and may provide a powerful tool in experimental therapeutics for rapid optimization of dose and schedule of targeted therapies and for monitoring therapeutic response.     

GRK5 influences the phosphorylation of tau via GSK3β and contributes to Alzheimer's disease

G protein-coupled receptor kinase 5 (GRK5) is a serine/threonine kinase whose dysfunction results in cognitive impairment and Alzheimer-like pathology, including tau hyperphosphorylation. However, the mechanisms whereby GRK5 influences tau phosphorylation remain incompletely understood. In the current study, we showed that GRK5 influenced the phosphorylation of tau via glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β). The activity of both tau and GSK3β in the hippocampus was increased in aged GRK5-knockout mice, which is consistent with what occurs in APP/PS1 transgenic mice. Furthermore, GRK5 regulated the activity of GSK3β and phosphorylated tau in vitro. Regardless of changes of GRK5 protein levels, tau hyperphosphorylation remained reduced after GSK3β activity was inhibited, suggesting that GRK5 may specifically influence tau hyperphosphorylation by modulating GSK3β activity. Taken together, our findings suggest that GRK5 deficiency contributes to the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease by influencing the hyperphosphorylation of tau through the activation of GSK3β.     

Mesenchymal stem cell transplantation inhibits abnormal activation of Akt/GSK3β signaling pathway in T cells from systemic lupus erythematosus mice

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by activation and proliferation of autoreactive T cells and B cells. We examined changes in cell cycle progression of T cells from MRL/lpr mice with or without allogenic bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSCs) treatment and analyzed the expression of cell cycle associated proteins. In addition, the Akt/GSK3β protein kinase cascade was studied. We demonstrated that high-dose MSCs transplantation effectively ameliorated disease activity in MRL/lpr mice. BMMSCs treatment inhibited G1/S transition of the abnormal lupus T lymphocytes. Moreover, it increased the expression of p21(WAF1/CIP1) and p27(Kip1) and decreased the expression of CDK2. Furthermore, high-dose MSCs inhibited abnormal activation of the Akt/GSK3β signaling pathway of T cells from MRL/lpr mice. Our results suggest that high-dose BMMSCs transplantation successfully treated MRL/lpr lupus mice by inhibiting abnormal activation of Akt/GSK3β signaling pathway of T cells.     

GSK3β isoform‐selective regulation of depression,memory and hippocampal cell proliferation

Abnormally active glycogen synthase kinase‐3 (GSK3) contributes to pathological processes in multiple psychiatric and neurological disorders. Modeled in mice, this includes increasing susceptibility to dysregulation of mood‐relevant behaviors, impairing performance in several cognitive tasks and impairing adult hippocampal neural precursor cell (NPC) proliferation. These deficits are all evident in GSK3α/β knockin mice, in which serine‐to‐alanine mutations block the inhibitory serine phosphorylation regulation of both GSK3 isoforms, leaving GSK3 hyperactive. It was unknown if both GSK3 isoforms perform redundant actions in these processes, or if hyperactivity of one GSK3 isoform has a predominant effect. To test this, we examined GSK3α or GSK3β knockin mice in which only one isoform was mutated to a hyperactive form. Only GSK3β, not GSK3α, knockin mice displayed heightened vulnerability to the learned helplessness model of depression‐like behavior. Three cognitive measures impaired in GSK3α/β knockin mice showed differential regulation by GSK3 isoforms. Novel object recognition was impaired in GSK3β, not in GSK3α, knockin mice, whereas temporal order memory was not impaired in GSK3α or GSK3β knockin mice, and co‐ordinate spatial processing was impaired in both GSK3α and GSK3β knockin mice. Adult hippocampal NPC proliferation was severely impaired in GSK3β knockin mice, but not impaired in GSK3α knockin mice. Increased activity of GSK3β, in the absence of overexpression or disease pathology, is sufficient to impair mood regulation, novel object recognition and hippocampal NPC proliferation, whereas hyperactive GSK3α individually does not impair these processes. These results show that hyperactivity of the two GSK3 isoforms execute non‐redundant effects on these processes.     

Selective deletion of forebrain glycogen synthase kinase 3β reveals a central role in serotonin-sensitive anxiety and social behaviour

Serotonin (5-HT) neurotransmission is thought to underlie mental illnesses, such as bipolar disorder, depression, autism and schizophrenia. Independent studies have indicated that 5-HT or drugs acting on 5-HT neurotransmission regulate the serine/threonine kinase glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β). Furthermore, GSK3β inhibition rescues behavioural abnormalities in 5-HT-deficient mice with a loss-of-function mutation equivalent to the human variant (R441H) of tryptophan hydroxylase 2. In an effort to define neuroanatomical correlates of GSK3β activity in the regulation of behaviour, we generated CamKIIcre-floxGSK3β mice in which the gsk3b gene is postnatally inactivated in forebrain pyramidal neurons. Behavioural characterization showed that suppression of GSK3β in these brain areas has anxiolytic and pro-social effects. However, while a global reduction of GSK2β expression reduced responsiveness to amphetamine and increased resilience to social defeat, these behavioural effects were not found in CamKIIcre-floxGSK3β mice. These findings demonstrate a dissociation of behavioural effects related to GSK3 inhibition, with forebrain GSK3β being involved in the regulation of anxiety and sociability while social preference, resilience and responsiveness to psychostimulants would involve a function of this kinase in subcortical areas such as the hippocampus and striatum.     

糖原合酶激酶3β以细胞周期蛋白D1依赖性方式引发人肺腺癌细胞A549细胞周期阻滞

对糖原合酶激酶3β（glycogen synthase kinase 3β,6SK3β）在细胞增殖中的作用研究,在不同细胞系和不同刺激因素作用下得出了不同结论,本文旨在探讨GSK3β在人肺腺癌细胞系A549细胞生长中的直接作用。A549细胞瞬时转染持续激活型S9A-GSK3β以及显性负突变型KM-GSK3β两种GSK3β突变型质粒,改变GSK3β活性。24 h后,分别进行细胞计数,流式细胞术及Western blot检测。结果显示,增强GSK3β活性可导致细胞数量下降,G．期细胞百分比升高。细胞周期蛋白D1表达水平被GSK3β下调。结果提示,GSK3β可能以细胞周期蛋白D1依赖性方式引发A549细胞的G,期阻滞,从而发挥生长抑制效应。     

Blockade of the PI‐3K signalling pathway by the Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans cytolethal distending toxin induces macrophages to synthesize and secrete pro‐inflammatory cytokines

The Aggregatibactor actinomycetemcomitans cytolethal distending toxin (Cdt) induces G2 arrest and apoptosis in lymphocytes; these toxic effects are due to the active subunit, CdtB, which functions as a phosphatidylinositol‐3,4,5‐triphosphate (PIP3) phosphatase. We now extend our investigation and demonstrate that Cdt is able to perturb human macrophage function. THP‐1‐ and monocyte‐derived macrophages were found not to be susceptible to Cdt‐induced apoptosis. Nonetheless, the toxin was capable of binding to macrophages and perturbing PI‐3K signalling resulting in decreased PIP3 levels and reduced phosphorylation of Akt and GSK3β; these changes were accompanied by concomitant alterations in kinase activity. Exposure of monocytes and macrophages to Cdt resulted in pro‐inflammatory cytokine production including increased expression and release of IL‐1β, TNFα and IL‐6. Furthermore, treatment of cells with either TLR‐2, ‐3 or ‐4 agonists in the presence of Cdt resulted in an augmented pro‐inflammatory response relative to agonist alone. GSK3β inhibitors blocked the Cdt‐induced pro‐inflammatory cytokine response suggesting a pivotal role for PI‐3K blockade, concomitant decrease in GSK3β phosphorylation and increased kinase activity. Collectively, these studies provide new insight into the virulence potential of Cdt in mediating the pathogenesis of disease caused by Cdt‐producing organisms.     

RACK1 is an insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) receptor-interacting protein that can regulate IGF-1-mediated Akt activation and protection from cell death

The insulin receptor and insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF-1R), activated by their ligands, control metabolism, cell survival, and proliferation. Although the signaling pathways activated by these receptors are well characterized, regulation of their activity is poorly understood. To identify regulatory proteins we undertook a two-hybrid screen using the IGF-1R beta-chain as bait. This screen identified Receptor for Activated C Kinases (RACK1) as an IGF-1R-interacting protein. RACK1 also interacted with the IGF-1R in fibroblasts and MCF-7 cells and with endogenous insulin receptor in COS cells. Interaction with the IGF-1R did not require tyrosine kinase activity or receptor autophosphorylation but did require serine 1248 in the C terminus. Overexpression of RACK1 in either R+ fibroblasts or MCF-7 cells inhibited IGF-1-induced phosphorylation of Akt, whereas it enhanced phosphorylation of Erks and Jnks. Src, the p85 subunit of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, and SHP-2 were all associated with RACK1 in these cells. Interestingly, the proliferation of MCF-7 cells was enhanced by overexpression of RACK1, whereas IGF-1-mediated protection from etoposide killing was greatly reduced. Altogether the data indicate that RACK1 is an IGF-1R-interacting protein that can modulate receptor signaling and suggest that RACK1 has a particular role in regulating Akt activation and cell survival.     

Mechanical regulation of glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β) in mesenchymal stem cells is dependent on Akt protein serine 473 phosphorylation via mTORC2 protein

Mechanical signals can inactivate glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β), resulting in stabilization of β-catenin. This signaling cascade is necessary for the inhibition of adipogenesis in mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) that is produced by a daily strain regimen. We investigated whether Akt is the mechanically activated kinase responsible for phosphorylation and inactivation of GSK3β in MSC. Mechanical strain (2% magnitude, 0.17 Hz) induced phosphorylation of Akt at Ser-473 and Thr-308 in parallel with phosphorylation of GSK3β at Ser-9. Inhibiting Akt (Akt1/2 kinase inhibitor treatment or Akt knockdown) prevented strain-induced phosphorylation of GSK3β at Ser-9. Inhibition of PI3K prevented Thr-308 phosphorylation, but strain-induced Ser-473 phosphorylation was measurable and induced phosphorylation of GSK3β, suggesting that Ser-473 phosphorylation is sufficient for the downstream mechanoresponse. As Rictor/mTORC2 (mammalian target of rapamycin complex 2) is known to transduce phosphorylation of Akt at Ser-473 by insulin, we investigated whether it contributes to strain-induced Ser-473 phosphorylation. Phosphorylation of Ser-473 by both mechanical and insulin treatment in MSC was prevented by the mTOR inhibitor KU0063794. When mTORC2 was blocked, mechanical GSK3β inactivation was prevented, whereas insulin inhibition of GSK3β was still measured in the absence of Ser-473 phosphorylation, presumably through phosphorylation of Akt at Thr-308. In sum, mechanical input initiates a signaling cascade that is uniquely dependent on mTORC2 activation and phosphorylation of Akt at Ser-473, an effect sufficient to cause inactivation of GSK3β. Thus, mechanical regulation of GSK3β downstream of Akt is dependent on phosphorylation of Akt at Ser-473 in a manner distinct from that of growth factors. As such, Akt reveals itself to be a pleiotropic signaling molecule whose downstream targets are differentially regulated depending upon the nature of the activating input.     

S6K1 regulates GSK3 under conditions of mTOR-dependent feedback inhibition of Akt

Feedback inhibition of the PI3K-Akt pathway by the mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) has emerged as an important signaling event in tumor syndromes, cancer, and insulin resistance. Cells lacking the tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) gene products are a model for this feedback regulation. We find that, despite Akt attenuation, the Akt substrate GSK3 is constitutively phosphorylated in cells and tumors lacking TSC1 or TSC2. In these settings, GSK3 phosphorylation is sensitive to mTORC1 inhibition by rapamycin or amino acid withdrawal, and GSK3 becomes a direct target of S6K1. This aberrant phosphorylation leads to decreased GSK3 activity and phosphorylation of downstream substrates and contributes to the growth-factor-independent proliferation of TSC-deficient cells. We find that GSK3 can also be regulated downstream of mTORC1 in a HepG2 model of cellular insulin resistance. Therefore, we define conditions in which S6K1, rather than Akt, is the predominant GSK3 regulatory kinase.     

Brain derived neurotrophic factor is involved in the regulation of glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β) signalling

Glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β) is involved in several biochemical processes in neurons regulating cellular survival, gene expression, cell fate determination, metabolism and proliferation. GSK3β activity is inhibited through the phosphorylation of its Ser-9 residue. In this study we sought to investigate the role of BDNF/TrkB signalling in the modulation of GSK3β activity. BDNF/TrkB signalling regulates the GSK3β activity both in vivo in the retinal tissue as well as in the neuronal cells under culture conditions. We report here for the first time that BDNF can also regulate GSK3β activity independent of its effects through the TrkB receptor signalling. Knockdown of BDNF lead to a decline in GSK3β phosphorylation without having a detectable effect on the TrkB activity or its downstream effectors Akt and Erk1/2. Treatment with TrkB receptor agonist had a stimulating effect on the GSK3β phosphorylation, but the effect was significantly less pronounced in the cells in which BDNF was knocked down. The use of TrkB receptor antagonist similarly, manifested itself in the form of downregulation of GSK3β phosphorylation, but a combined TrkB inhibition and BDNF knockdown exhibited a much stronger negative effect. In vivo, we observed reduced levels of GSK3β phosphorylation in the retinal tissues of the BDNF^+/− animals implicating critical role of BDNF in the regulation of the GSK3β activity. Concluding, BDNF/TrkB axis strongly regulates the GSK3β activity and BDNF also exhibits GSK3β regulatory effect independent of its actions through the TrkB receptor signalling.     

Hypothalamic glycogen synthase kinase 3β has a central role in the regulation of food intake and glucose metabolism

GSK3β (glycogen synthase kinase 3β) is a ubiquitous kinase that plays a key role in multiple intracellular signalling pathways, and increased GSK3β activity is implicated in disorders ranging from cancer to Alzheimer's disease. In the present study, we provide the first evidence of increased hypothalamic signalling via GSK3β in leptin-deficient Lepob/ob mice and show that intracerebroventricular injection of a GSK3β inhibitor acutely improves glucose tolerance in these mice. The beneficial effect of the GSK3β inhibitor was dependent on hypothalamic signalling via PI3K (phosphoinositide 3-kinase), a key intracellular mediator of both leptin and insulin action. Conversely, neuron-specific overexpression of GSK3β in the mediobasal hypothalamus exacerbated the hyperphagia, obesity and impairment of glucose tolerance induced by a high-fat diet, while having little effect in controls fed standard chow. These results demonstrate that increased hypothalamic GSK3β signalling contributes to deleterious effects of leptin deficiency and exacerbates high-fat diet-induced weight gain and glucose intolerance.     

RACK1 regulates VEGF/Flt1-mediated cell migration via activation of a PI3K/Akt pathway

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is vital to physiological as well as pathological angiogenesis, and regulates a variety of cellular functions, largely by activating its 2 receptors, fms-like tyrosine kinase (Flt1) and kinase domain receptor (KDR). KDR plays a critical role in the proliferation of endothelial cells by controlling VEGF-induced phospholipase Cγ-protein kinase C (PLCγ-PKC) signaling. The function of Flt1, however, remains to be clarified. Recent evidence has indicated that Flt1 regulates the VEGF-triggered migration of endothelial cells and macrophages. Here, we show that RACK1, a ubiquitously expressed scaffolding protein, functions as an important regulator of this process. We found that RACK1 (receptor for activated protein kinase C 1) binds to Flt1 in vitro. When the endogenous expression of RACK1 was attenuated by RNA interference, the VEGF-driven migration was remarkably suppressed whereas the proliferation was unaffected in a stable Flt1-expressing cell line, AG1-G1-Flt1. Further, we demonstrated that the VEGF/Flt-mediated migration of AG1-G1-Flt1 cells occurred mainly via the activation of the PI3 kinase (PI3K)/Akt and Rac1 pathways, and that RACK1 plays a crucial regulatory role in promoting PI3K/Akt-Rac1 activation.     

SIRT1 and AROS suppress doxorubicin-induced apoptosis via inhibition of GSK3β activity in neuroblastoma cells

ABSTRACT

SIRT1, the best-characterized member of the sirtuin family of deacetylases, is involved in cancer, apoptosis, inflammation, and metabolism. Active regulator of SIRT1 (AROS) was the first identified direct regulator of SIRT1. An increasing number of reports have indicated that SIRT1 plays an important role in controlling brain tumors. Here, we demonstrated that depletion of SIRT1 and AROS increases doxorubicin-mediated apoptosis in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells. Glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β) promoted doxorubicin-mediated apoptosis, but this effect was abolished by overexpression of SIRT1 and AROS. Interestingly, SIRT1 and AROS interacted with GSK3β and increased inhibitory phosphorylation of GSK3β on Ser9. Finally, we determined that AROS cooperates with SIRT1 to suppress GSK3β acetylation. Taken together, our results suggest that SIRT1 and AROS inhibit GSK3β activity and provide additional insight into drug resistance in the treatment of neuroblastoma.     

Identification of glycogen synthase kinase 3α as a therapeutic target in melanoma

Deregulated expression or activity of kinases can lead to melanomas, but often the particular kinase isoform causing the effect is not well established, making identification and validation of different isoforms regulating disease development especially important. To accomplish this objective, an siRNA screen was undertaken that which identified glycogen synthase kinase 3α (GSK3α) as an important melanoma growth regulator. Melanocytes and melanoma cell lines representing various stages of melanoma tumor progression expressed both GSK3α and GSK3β, but analysis of tumors in patients with melanoma showed elevated expression of GSK3α in 72% of samples, which was not observed for GSK3β. Furthermore, 80% of tumors in patients with melanoma expressed elevated levels of catalytically active phosphorylated GSK3α (pGSK3αY279), but not phosphorylated GSK3β (pGSK3βY216). siRNA‐mediated reduction in GSK3α protein levels reduced melanoma cell survival and proliferation, sensitized cells to apoptosis‐inducing agents and decreased xenografted tumor development by up to 56%. Mechanistically, inhibiting GSK3α expression using siRNA or the pharmacological agent AR‐A014418 arrested melanoma cells in the G0/G1 phase of the cell cycle and induced apoptotic death to retard tumorigenesis. Therefore, GSK3α is a key therapeutic target in melanoma.     

Over-expression of FoxM1 is associated with adverse prognosis and FLT3-ITD in acute myeloid leukemia

Forkhead box M1 (FoxM1) drives cell cycle progression and the prevention of growth arrest and is over-expressed in many human malignancies. However, the characteristics of FoxM1 in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) are not clearly understood. We investigated the expression level of FoxM1 and analyzed the correlation of FoxM1 expression with AML patient characteristics and prognoses. Changes in FoxM1 expression were detected after MV4–11 cells, which have an internal tandem duplication (ITD) of the fms-like tyrosine kinase 3 gene (FLT3-ITD), and control THP1 cells (encoding wild-type FLT3) were treated with the FLT3 receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor AC220 (quizartinib) or FLT3 ligand (FL). Finally, we determined the apoptosis rates after the addition of the FoxM1 inhibitor thiostrepton (TST) to AML cells with or without FLT3-ITD. The expression of FoxM1 in AML patients was correlated with the presence of FLT3-ITD, genetic groups, and possibly overall survival. Inhibition of FLT3-ITD by AC220 down-regulated FoxM1 expression in MV4–11 cells, and stimulation of FLT3 by FL up-regulated FoxM1 expression in MV4–11 and THP1 cells. TST induced the apoptosis of MV4–11 and THP1 cells in a dose-dependent manner. Thus, FoxM1 is a potential prognostic marker and a promising therapeutic target in AML.