Expression of human cationic trypsinogen (PRSS1) in murine acinar cells promotes pancreatitis and apoptotic cell death

Hereditary pancreatitis (HP) is an autosomal dominant disease that displays the features of both acute and chronic pancreatitis. Mutations in human cationic trypsinogen (PRSS1) are associated with HP and have provided some insight into the pathogenesis of pancreatitis, but mechanisms responsible for the initiation of pancreatitis have not been elucidated and the role of apoptosis and necrosis has been much debated. However, it has been generally accepted that trypsinogen, prematurely activated within the pancreatic acinar cell, has a major role in the initiation process. Functional studies of HP have been limited by the absence of an experimental system that authentically mimics disease development. We therefore developed a novel transgenic murine model system using wild-type (WT) human PRSS1 or two HP-associated mutants (R122H and N29I) to determine whether expression of human cationic trypsinogen in murine acinar cells promotes pancreatitis. The rat elastase promoter was used to target transgene expression to pancreatic acinar cells in three transgenic strains that were generated: Tg(Ela-PRSS1)NV, Tg(Ela-PRSS1*R122H)NV and Tg(Ela-PRSS1*N29I)NV. Mice were analysed histologically, immunohistochemically and biochemically. We found that transgene expression is restricted to pancreatic acinar cells and transgenic PRSS1 proteins are targeted to the pancreatic secretory pathway. Animals from all transgenic strains developed pancreatitis characterised by acinar cell vacuolisation, inflammatory infiltrates and fibrosis. Transgenic animals also developed more severe pancreatitis upon treatment with low-dose cerulein than controls, displaying significantly higher scores for oedema, inflammation and overall histopathology. Expression of PRSS1, WT or mutant, in acinar cells increased apoptosis in pancreatic tissues and isolated acinar cells. Moreover, studies of isolated acinar cells demonstrated that transgene expression promotes apoptosis rather than necrosis. We therefore conclude that expression of WT or mutant human PRSS1 in murine acinar cells induces apoptosis and is sufficient to promote spontaneous pancreatitis, which is enhanced in response to cellular insult.     

Dexamethasone effects on somatostatin receptors in pancreatic acinar AR4-2J cells

The effects of glucocorticoids on somatostatin binding and cAMP response in the rat pancreatic acinar carcinoma AR4-2J cell line were examined. Dexamethasone treatment reduced the number of somatostatin receptors 2.5 fold without any change in receptor affinity. In addition, dexamethasone increased the sensitivity of the cells to somatostatin-inhibited cAMP formation and restored the biphasic pattern of cAMP response to somatostatin previously observed in normal pancreatic acinar cells. Such effect may be associated with the glucocorticoid-promoted cellular pancreatic differentiation of AR4-2J cells.     

Inhibition of the AKT pathway in cholangiocarcinoma by MK2206 reduces cellular viability via induction of apoptosis

Introduction

Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is an aggressive disease with limited effective treatment options. The PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway represents an attractive therapeutic target due to its frequent dysregulation in CCA. MK2206, an allosteric Akt inhibitor, has been shown to reduce cellular proliferation in other cancers. We hypothesized that MK2206 mediated inhibition of Akt would impact CCA cellular viability.

Study methods

Post treatment with MK2206 (0-2 μM), cellular viability was assessed in two human CCA cell lines—CCLP-1 and SG231—using an MTT assay. Lysates from the MK2206 treated CCA cells were then examined for apoptotic marker expression levels using Western blot analysis. Additionally, the effect on cellular proliferation of MK2206 treatment on survivin depleted cells was determined.

Results

CCLP-1 and SG231 viability was significantly reduced at MK2206 concentrations of 0.5, 1, and 2 μM by approximately 44%, 53%, and 64% (CCLP-1; p = 0.01) and 32%, 32%, and 42% (SG231; p < 0.00005) respectively. Western analysis revealed a decrease in AKT^Ser473, while AKT^Thr308 expression was unchanged. In addition, cleaved PARP as well as survivin expression increased while pro-caspase 3 and 9 levels decreased with treatment. Depletion of survivin in CCLP-1 cells resulted in apoptosis as evidenced by increased cleaved PARP. In addition, survivin siRNA further enhanced the antitumor activity of MK2206.

Conclusions

This study demonstrates that by blocking phosphorylation of Akt at serine473, CCA cellular growth is reduced. The growth suppression appears to be mediated via apoptosis. Importantly, combination of survivin siRNA transfection and MK2206 treatment significantly decreased cell viability.     

Hormone-stimulated calcium release is inhibited by cytoskeleton-disrupting toxins in AR4-2J cells

We have studied the role of the actin cytoskeleton in bombesin-induced inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP(3))-production and Ca(2+)release in the pancreatic acinar tumour cell line AR4-2J. Intracellular and extracellular free Ca(2+)concentrations were measured in cell suspensions, using Fura-2. Disruption of the actin cytoskeleton by pretreatment of the cells with latrunculin B (10 microM), cytochalasin D (10 microM) or toxin B from Clostridium difficile (20 ng/ml) for 5-29 h led to inhibition of both, bombesin-stimulated IP(3)-production and Ca(2+)release. The toxins had no effect on binding of bombesin to its receptor, on Ca(2+)uptake into intracellular stores and on resting Ca(2+)levels. Ca(2+)mobilization from intracellular stores, induced by thapsigargin (100 nM) or IP(3)(1 microM) was not impaired by latrunculin B. In latrunculin B-pretreated cells inhibition of both, bombesin-stimulated IP(3)- production and Ca(2+)release was partly suspended in the presence of aluminum fluoride, an activator of G-proteins. Aluminum fluoride had no effect on basal IP(3)and Ca(2+)levels of control and toxin-pretreated cells. We conclude that disruption of the actin cytoskeleton impairs coupling of the bombesin receptor to its G-protein, resulting in inhibition of phospholipase C-activity with subsequent decreases in IP(3)-production and Ca(2+)release.     

Effects of GP2 expression on secretion and endocytosis in pancreatic AR4-2J cells

GP2 is the major membrane protein present in secretory granules of the exocrine pancreas. GP2's function is unknown, but a role in digestive enzyme packaging or secretion from secretory granules has been proposed. In addition, GP2 has been proposed to influence endocytosis and membrane recycling following stimulated secretion. Adenovirus-mediated GP2 overexpression in the rat pancreatic cell line AR4-2J was used to study its impact on digestive enzyme secretion and membrane recycling. Immunoelectron microscopy showed that GP2 and amylase co-localized in secretory granules in infected AR4-2J cells. CCK-8 stimulation resulted in a fourfold increase in amylase secretion with or without GP2 expression. GP2 expression also did not influence endocytosis following CCK-8 stimulation. Thus, GP2 expression in AR4-2J cells does not affect amylase packaging in secretory granules or stimulated secretion. GP2 expression also does not influence membrane recycling in response to stimulated stimulation in AR4-2J cells.     

AR4-2J cells: A model to study polypeptide hormone receptors

The AR4-2J cell line is derived from a transplantable tumour of the exocrine rat pancreas. Acinar in origin, this cell line contains significant amounts of amylase and can be grown in continuous culture. Manyin vitro studies have been done using these cells; these studies were often complemented within vivo experiments on animals. Particularly, many polypeptide hormones interacting with specific receptors located on the cell membrane have been analysed. The accurate knowledge of the hormone-receptor interactions has allowed to design interesting analogs of these hormones. In several cases, these compounds are powerful antagonists and are able to control cell proliferation induced by the corresponding polypeptide hormones. Other cell lines are useful to understand human pancreatic cancer. These human cell lines (Capan-1, Panc-1 for example) are of ductal origin and differ from AR4-2J cells, especially regarding the distribution of several polypeptide hormone and growth factor receptors. Both models are important for basic studies of neuropeptides, gastrointestinal peptides and their receptors, as well as for a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms of human pancreatic cancer.     

重组猪胰蛋白酶及其R122位点突变体在毕赤酵母中的高效表达及其性质研究

目的:研究R122位点突变重组猪胰蛋白酶,与野生型酶相比较,该位点对重组猪胰蛋白酶(RPT)性质的影响。方法:以毕赤酵母GS115作为表达宿主,对RPT、突变体mRPT(R122H)和 mRPT(R122H/R73G/R130T)进行表达及纯化。并对其性质和稳定进行对比研究。结果:重组胰蛋白酶及其突变体在毕赤酵母中均获得了高效表达。相对于RPT,突变体mRPT(R122H)和 mRPT(R122H/R73G/R130T)在以N-苯甲酰-L-精氨酸乙酯 (BAEE)为底物时,具有更强底物结合力,三者的米氏常数分别为18.8μmol/L、9.0μmol/L和11.0μmol/L;两突变体耐高温耐碱能力增强;在Ca ²⁺存在及去除的条件下,突变体具有更强的抗自降解能力。 结论:可以利用毕赤酵母高效表达重组胰蛋白酶及其突变体。mRPT(R122H)和mRPT(R122H/R73G/R130T) 相对于野生型RPT,对高pH条件和高温的耐受性增强,该稳定性的提高主要归因于R122位点的突变。     

饥饿及雨蛙素诱导的AR42J 细胞中自噬基因LC3及beclin-1 表达的变化

目的:观察饥饿及雨蛙素诱导的大鼠胰腺腺泡细胞AR42J中自噬基因LC3及beclin-1表达的变化,初步探讨吞噬(autophagy)在急性胰腺炎中的作用。方法:选择体外培养的生长状态良好的大鼠胰腺腺泡AR42J细胞,随机分为3组,饥饿组(N=10),雨蛙素处理组(N=10),空白对照组(N=10)。饥饿组加入充足的平衡盐溶液,雨蛙素处理组加入含10-7mol/L雨蛙素的全营养培养液,空白对照组加入含20%灭活胎牛血清的F12-K培养液(p H7.2-7.4),各组分别于处理后2、4、6 h收集细胞并提取蛋白质。采用免疫印迹法检测三组不同时点胰腺腺泡细胞AR42J中自噬基因Beclin-1和LC3的蛋白表达。结果:空白对照组不同时点beclin-1和LC3-II均呈低表达,且各时点比较差异无统计学意义(P<0.05)。饥饿组和雨蛙素处理组beclin-1和LC3-II的表达随处理时间的延长逐渐增加,且不同时点beclin-1和LC3-II的表达均较空白对照组显著增高,差异均具统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论:雨蛙素和饥饿刺激可导致大鼠胰腺腺泡细胞AR42J中LC3-II及beclin-1蛋白表达随作用时间的延长而增加,自噬可能参与了胰腺炎的发生发展过程。     

静态压力对人牙周膜干细胞凋亡相关蛋白表达的影响

目的:探讨体外模拟正畸牙移动过程中机械压力对人牙周膜干细胞(HPDLSC)凋亡相关蛋白表达的影响。方法:将体外培养的HPDLSC分别在自行研发的加压力装置中进行100、200 Kpa加压1、6和12 h后,检测和比较其凋亡相关蛋白caspase-3和caspase-8的表达;流式细胞仪检测其凋亡状态。结果:100 Kpa加压1 h的HPDLSCs中caspase-3和caspase-8的蛋白表达及其凋亡水平均显著高于对照组(P0.05),而加力12 h的HPDLSCs中caspase-3和caspase-8的蛋白表达和凋亡水平与对照组比较无统计学差异(P0.05)。200 Kpa加力1 h的HPDLSCs中caspase-3和caspase-8的蛋白表达和凋亡水平均显著低于对照组(P0.05),而加力12 h的HPDLSCs中caspase-3和caspase-8的蛋白表达和凋亡水平与对照组比较无统计学差异(P0.05)。结论:在体外模拟正畸牙移动过程中,不同强度静态压力作用不同时间对人牙周膜干细胞的凋亡作用不同,100 Kpa静态加力加压1 h可更有效地促进人牙周膜干细胞的凋亡,而200 Kpa静态加力加压1 h可抑制人牙周膜干细胞的凋亡。     

cAMP-dependent protein kinase enhances inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate-induced Ca2+ release in AR4-2J cells

In non-excitable cells, the inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor (IP(3)R), a ligand-gated Ca(2+) channel, plays an important role in the control of intracellular Ca(2+). There are three subtypes of IP(3)R that are differentially distributed among cell types. AR4-2J cells express almost exclusively the IP(3)R-2 subtype. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) on the activity of IP(3)R-2 in AR4-2J cells. We showed that immunoprecipitated IP(3)R-2 is a good substrate for PKA. Using a back-phosphorylation approach, we showed that endogenous PKA phosphorylates IP(3)R-2 in intact AR4-2J cells. Pretreatment with PKA enhanced IP(3)-induced Ca(2+) release in permeabilized AR4-2J cells. Pretreatment with the cAMP generating agent's forskolin and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) enhanced carbachol (Cch)-induced and epidermal growth factor (EGF)-induced Ca(2+) responses in intact AR4-2J cells. Our results are consistent with an enhancing effect of PKA on IP(3)R-2 activity. This conclusion supports the emerging concept of crosstalk between Ca(2+) signaling and cAMP pathways and thus provides another way by which Ca(2+) signals are finely encoded within non-excitable cells.     

The interconversion of inositol 1,3,4,5,6-pentakisphosphate and inositol tetrakisphosphates in AR4-2J cells.

Data from several cell types have indicated that activation of hormone receptors promotes the metabolism of inositol 1,3,4,5,6-pentakisphosphate (IP5) to inositol 3,4,5,6-tetrakisphosphate ((3,4,5,6)IP4). However, to date, metabolism of IP5 by cell-free preparations has resulted in the formation of only inositol 1,4,5,6-tetrakisphosphate ((1,4,5,6)IP4). Thus, the metabolic relationships of IP5 with various inositol tetrakisphosphate (IP4) isomers have been investigated in both intact cells and cell homogenates of the rat pancreatoma cell line, AR4-2J. The steady-state concentration of IP5 was estimated to be 65 microM, while the combined concentration of (3,4,5,6)IP4 and (1,4,5,6)IP4 was approximately 1.0 microM. AR4-2J cell homogenates converted (1,3,4,6)IP4, (3,4,5,6)IP4, and (1,4,5,6)IP4 to IP5. (1,4,5,6)IP4 previously has not been demonstrated to be a precursor of IP5. To alter steady-state levels of inositol phosphates that were maintained by phosphorylation-dephosphorylation cycles, intact cells were treated with 10 microM antimycin A which reduced ATP levels by > 90% within 10 min. Following 2 h of treatment with antimycin A, there was a 6-fold increase in both (3,4,5,6)IP4 and (1,4,5,6)IP4, presumably derived from IP5. Experiments with cell-free systems determined that IP5 was dephosphorylated to (1,4,5,6)IP4 by a predominantly particulate Mg(2+)-independent, Li(+)-insensitive IP5 3-phosphatase. However, in the presence of 5 mM MgATP, IP5 also was metabolized to (3,4,5,6)IP4. Therefore, our data demonstrate novel and complex relationships between IP5, (3,4,5,6)IP4, and (1,4,5,6)IP4.     

藏红花对肝纤维化大鼠肝脏组织中Caspase-3，Bcl-2 表达的影响

目的:研究藏红花(Saffron)对肝纤维化大鼠肝组织中半胱氨酸天冬氨酸蛋白酶-3(Caspase-3),B细胞淋巴瘤/白血病-2(Bcl-2)表达的影响。方法:45只雄性SD大鼠随机均分为3组:正常组、模型组、藏红花组,除正常组外,另外两组给予40%四氯化碳橄榄油溶液腹腔注射制备肝纤维化大鼠模型,在造模的同时,藏红花组给予藏红花溶液5 m L·kg~(-1)·d~(-1)灌胃。8周后处死大鼠,留取肝脏组织,通过Masson染色观察大鼠肝纤维化的形成,免疫组化方法检测肝组织中Caspase-3及Bcl-2蛋白表达。结果:模型组大鼠肝纤维化程度最重,藏红花组较模型组纤维化程度轻,正常组大鼠肝脏无纤维化。与模型组比,藏红花组Caspase-3在肝实质内呈弱阳性表达,而纤维间隔内表达增加;Bcl-2的表达明显减少(P0.05),正常组Caspase-3及Bcl-2几乎无表达。结论:藏红花具有抗肝纤维化作用,其机制可能与调节Caspase-3,Bcl-2的表达有关。     

Internalization-sequestration and degradation of cholecystokinin (CCK) in tumoral rat pancreatic AR 4-2 J cells

Cholecystokinin (CCK) receptors were investigated in the tumoral acinar cell line AR 4-2 J derived from rat pancreas, after preincubation with 20 nM dexamethasone. At steady state binding at 37 degrees C (i.e., after a 5 min incubation), less than 10% of the radioactivity of [125I]BH-CCK-9 (3-(4-hydroxy-[125I]iodophenyl)propionyl (Thr34, Nle37) CCK(31-39)) could be washed away from intact cells with an ice-cold acidic medium, suggesting high and rapid internalization-sequestration of tracer. By contrast, more than 85% of the tracer dissociated rapidly after a similar acid wash from cell membranes prelabelled at steady state. In intact AR 4-2 J cells, internalization required neither energy nor the cytoskeleton framework. Tracer internalization was reversed partly but rapidly at 37 degrees C but slowly at 4 degrees C. In addition, two degradation pathways of the tracer were demonstrated, one intracellular and one extracellular. Intracellular degradation occurred at 37 degrees C but not at 20 degrees C and resulted in progressive intracellular accumulation of [125I]BH-Arg that corresponded, after 1 h at 37 degrees C, to 35% of the radioactivity specifically bound. This phenomenon was not inhibited by serine proteinase inhibitors and modestly only by monensin and chloroquine. Besides, tracer degradation at the external cell surface was still observable at 20 degrees C and yielded a peptide (probably [125I]BH-Arg-Asp-Tyr(SO3H)-Thr-Gly). This degradation pathway was partly inhibited by bacitracin and phosphoramidon while thiorphan, an inhibitor of endopeptidase EC 3.4.24.11, was without effect.     

Tetraamine‐modified octreotide and octreotate: labeling with 99mTc and preclinical comparison in AR4‐2J cells and AR4‐2J tumor‐bearing mice

Two somatostatin analogues, [^99mTc]Demotide and [^99mTc]Demotate 4, were compared with [^99mTc]Demotate 1, a previously reported somatostatin receptor subtype 2 (sst₂) targeting tracer. Conjugates were prepared by coupling an open‐chain tetraamine chelator to D ‐Phe¹ of [Tyr³]‐octreotide or [Tyr³]‐octreotate, respectively, via a p‐benzylaminodiglycolic acid spacer adopting solid‐phase peptide synthesis techniques. Peptide conjugates were collected in a highly pure form after chromatographic purification. Eventually, [^99mTc]Demotide and [^99mTc]Demotate 4 were obtained in ～1 Ci/µmol specific activity and >96% purity after labeling under alkaline conditions. Demotide and Demotate 4 exhibited similar high binding affinities for the sst₂ expressed in AR4‐2J cells with IC₅₀ values 0.16 and 0.10 nM, respectively. The (radio)metallated analogues [^99mTc]Demotide and [^99mTc]Demotate 4 showed equally high affinities to the sst₂ during saturation binding assays in AR4‐2J cell membranes (K_ds 0.08 and 0.07 nM, respectively). During incubation at 37 °C with AR4‐2J cells, the radiopeptides internalized effectively via a receptor‐mediated process, with [^99mTc]Demotate 4 exhibiting a faster internalization rate than [^99mTc]Demotide. After injection in athymic mice bearing sst₂‐expressing AR4‐2J tumors, the radiotracers showed high and specific uptake in the tumor (>25%ID/g at 1 h) and in the sst₂–positive organs. However, both [^99mTc]Demotide and [^99mTc]Demotate 4 showed unfavorably higher background activity, especially in the abdomen, in comparison to [^99mTc]Demotate 1 and are, therefore, less suited than [^99mTc]Demotate 1 for sst₂‐targeted tumor imaging in man. Copyright © 2005 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Role of caspases-3 and -7 in Apaf-1 proteolytic cleavage and degradation events during cisplatin-induced apoptosis in melanoma cells

Apoptosis protease-activating factor-1 (Apaf-1), the central element in the mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis, is frequently absent or poorly expressed in metastatic melanomas, a tumor type showing a low degree of spontaneous apoptosis and a poor response to conventional therapies. In the present study, we used the Apaf-1-positive Me665/2/21 melanoma cell line to investigate the fate of Apaf-1 during cisplatin-induced apoptosis. As novel findings described for the first time in melanoma cells, we observed that Apaf-1 was markedly decreased during apoptosis, already at early stages of cell damage; concurrently, an immunoreactive N-terminal fragment of congruent with 26 kDa was evident. In spite of the remarkable decrease of Apaf-1 in apoptotic cells, caspase-9 was found to be processed and enzymatically active. Both Apaf-1 depletion and its proteolytic cleavage were markedly prevented in presence of the caspase-3/-7 inhibitor ac-DEVD-CHO. In presence of ac-DEVD-CHO, caspase-9 activity was also inhibited, along with a partially different pattern of caspase-9 processing forms. Unexpectedly, the inhibition afforded by ac-DEVD-CHO on several components, that is, caspase-3/-7 and caspase-9 activities, and Apaf-1 proteolytic degradation, did not abrogate the apoptotic morphology and cell detachment, nor the proteolytic degradation of crucial targets, such as poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) and lamin B. Together, our results suggest that caspase-3 and -7, proved to be dispensable for the above apoptosis-associated events, play a role on Apaf-1 handling and possibly on apoptosome function.     

Cellular localization of the activated EGFR determines its effect on cell growth in MDA-MB-468 cells

The epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor (EGFR) is a ubiquitously expressed receptor tyrosine kinase that regulates diverse cell functions that are dependent upon cell type, the presence of downstream effectors, and receptor density. In addition to activating biochemical pathways, ligand stimulation causes the EGFR to enter the cell via clathrin-coated pits. Endocytic trafficking influences receptor signaling by controlling the duration of EGFR phosphorylation and coordinating the receptor's association with downstream effectors. To better understand the individual contributions of cell surface and cytosolic EGFRs on cell physiology, we used EGF that was conjugated to 900 nm polystyrene beads (EGF-beads). EGF-beads can stimulate the EGFR and retain the activated receptor at the plasma membrane. In MDA-MB-468 cells, a breast cancer cell line that over-expresses the EGFR, only internalized, activated EGFRs stimulate caspase-3 and induce cell death. Conversely, signaling cascades triggered from activated EGFR retained at the cell surface inhibit caspase-3 and promote cell proliferation. Thus, through endocytosis, the activated EGFR can differentially regulate cell growth in MDA-MB-468 cells.     

Sphingosine 1-phosphate attenuates H2O2-induced apoptosis in endothelial cells

Reactive oxygen species including H₂O₂ lead vascular endothelial cells (EC) to undergo apoptosis. Sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) is a platelet-derived sphingolipid mediator that elicits various EC responses. We aimed to explore whether and how S1P modulates EC apoptosis induced by H₂O₂. Treatment of cultured bovine aortic EC (BAEC) with H₂O₂ (750 μM for 6 h) led to DNA fragmentation (ELISA), DNA nick formation (TUNEL staining), and cleavage of caspase-3, key features of EC apoptosis. These responses elicited by H₂O₂ were alike markedly attenuated by pretreatment with S1P (1 μM, 30 min). H₂O₂ induced robust phosphorylation of both p38 and JNK MAP kinases. However, pretreatment with S1P decreased phosphorylation of only p38 MAP kinase, but not that of JNK; conversely, an inhibitor of p38 MAP kinase, but not that of JNK, attenuated H₂O₂-induced caspase-3 activation. Thus S1P attenuates H₂O₂-induced apoptosis of cultured BAEC, involving p38 MAP kinase.     

大鼠脑创伤后caspase-3的过度表达与细胞凋亡的关系

目的:探讨大鼠脑创伤后海马神经组织中casepase-3表达及其在细胞凋亡中的机制。方法:雄性Wistar大鼠72只随机分成对照组和创伤组,用Marmarou方法造成大鼠重型弥漫性颅脑创伤,采用免疫组织化学检测海马CA1区神经细胞casepase-3蛋白表达情况,原位细胞DNA断裂检测末端标记(TUNEL)法观察大鼠海马CA1区神经细胞凋亡动态变化。同时行TUNEL与caspase-3双标染色。结果:对照组海马区神经细胞casepase-3未见明显表达,创伤组海马CA1区神经细胞casepase-3表达在伤后3小时开始升高,伤后3天达高峰(P0.01),伤后7天下降明显。对照组海马区未见TUNEL阳性细胞,创伤组海马区TUNEL阳性细胞伤后3小时开始增多,伤后3天达高峰(P0.01),伤后7天下降。可见创伤组TUNEL染色与caspase-3免疫染色双标阳性的细胞伤后6小时细胞数量逐渐增多,于伤后3天达高峰(P0.01),伤后7天双标阳性细胞数量下降。Casepase-3表达与TUNEL阳性细胞明显相关(P0.01)。结论:大鼠脑创伤后casepase-3的过度表达是影响大鼠脑创伤后神经细胞凋亡原因之一,抑制casepase-3活性表达对神经组织起保护作用。     

Phospholipase D2 activity suppresses hydrogen peroxide-induced apoptosis in PC12 cells

Phospholipase D (PLD) plays an important role as an effector in the membrane lipid-mediated signal transduction. However, the precise physiological functions of PLD are not yet well understood. In this study, we examined the role of PLD activity in hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2))-induced apoptosis in rat pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells. Treatment of PC12 cells with H(2)O(2) resulted in induction of apoptosis in these cells, which is accompanied by the activation of PLD. This H(2)O(2)-induced apoptosis was enhanced remarkably when phosphatidic acid production by PLD was selectively inhibited by pretreating the PC12 cells with 1-butanol. Expression of PLD2, but not of PLD1, correlated with increased H(2)O(2)-induced PLD activity in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. Concomitant with PLD activation, the PLD2 activity suppressed H(2)O(2)-induced apoptosis in PC12 cells. Expression of PLD2 lipase-inactive mutant (K758R) had no effect on either PLD activity or apoptosis. PLD2 activity also suppressed H(2)O(2)-induced cleavage and activation of caspase-3. Taken together, the results suggest that PLD2 activity is specifically up-regulated by H(2)O(2) in PC12 cells and that it plays a suppressive role in H(2)O(2)-induced apoptosis.