NMDA受体的活化调节原代皮层神经元的Wnt/β-catenin信号通路

经典的Wnt/β-catenin信号通路在中枢神经系统突触形成和功能中发挥重要的调节作用。作为兴奋性神经递质的谷氨酸,与其受体结合,参与许多信号调节活动。为了探讨NMDA受体活化对Wnt/β-catenin信号通路的作用,该文利用18 d的C57小鼠胚胎培养皮层神经元（离体10 d）,用10μmol/L谷氨酸钠（monosodium glutamate,MSG）和50μmol/L N-甲基-D-天冬氨酸（NMDA）处理细胞,通过蛋白免疫印迹技术或者细胞免疫荧光染色分析Wnt/β-catenin信号通路关键成员。结果发现,NMDA受体的活化能使GSK-3β的Ser9位磷酸化水平增加,活性被抑制,胞浆内β-catenin蛋白降解减少,入核增加,激活下游基因表达。这些结果提示,NMDA受体激活能够上调Wnt/β-catenin信号通路。     

芝麻素抑制NMDA诱导的小鼠皮层神经元损伤

目的:研究芝麻素对NMDA所致原代培养小鼠皮层神经元损伤的保护作用及其机制。方法:体外培养原代皮层神经元;免疫荧光染色鉴定细胞纯度;MTT法测定细胞存活率;Hoechst/PI双染色观察细胞凋亡的形态学变化;激光共聚焦显微镜技术观察钙成像,检测细胞内钙离子浓度变化;Western blot检测各组细胞中Bcl-2、Bax、NR2A、NR2B蛋白的表达。结果:NMDA(200μM)60分钟能使神经元细胞存活率显著下降,细胞凋亡百分比明显增加(P0.01),芝麻素(0.1μM)能提高细胞存活率,减少细胞凋亡(P0.01)。与NMDA组相比,芝麻素能抑制钙超载;降低Bax和NR2B蛋白表达;增加和Bcl-2蛋白表达(P0.01)。结论:芝麻素具有神经保护作用,这种作用可能与抑制钙超载、下调NMDA受体亚型NR2B的表达以及调节Bcl-2家族蛋白有关。     

兴奋性突触传入对皮层神经元形态发育的影响

目的:探讨离子型谷氨酸受体中的AMPA受体(α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionate receptor, AMPA受体)和NMDA受体(N-methyl-D-aspartic acid receptor)对抑制性中间神经元以及兴奋性神经元的形态发育的影响。方法:采用原代培养皮层神经元,通过药物干预AMPA受体和/或NMDA受体的方法阻断神经元的离子型谷氨酸受体,并采用GAD67-GFP鼠的绿色荧光来显示混合细胞群中抑制性神经元、CaMKII免疫荧光染色显示兴奋性神经元。结果:当阻断AMPA和/或NMDA受体时,光镜下显示神经元网络的密度降低,且随着药物浓度的增加,神经元网络的变化更明显。对于GFP阳性的抑制性神经元,当阻断AMPA受体时,神经元突起分支数降低至对照组的约65%(低浓度)和55%(高浓度),突起长度缩短至对照组的大约43%(低浓度)和36%(高浓度);当阻断NMDA受体时,分支数降低至约70%(低浓度)和45%(高浓度),长度缩短至约43%(低浓度)和31%(高浓度);联合用药时,分支数和长度分别为对照的约42%和38%。对于CaMKII阳性的兴奋性神经元,尽管变化程度稍弱,但其形态也出现类似变化。当阻断AMPA受体时,神经元的分支数降低至对照组的64%(高浓度),突起长度变化不大;当阻断NMDA受体时,分支数降低至约50%(高浓度),长度缩短至约77%(低浓度)和71%(高浓度);联合用药时,分支数和长度分别为对照的约69%和62%。结论:在神经元发育的过程中,离子型谷氨酸受体介导的兴奋性突触传入可影响抑制性神经元和兴奋性神经元的形态发育,最终对神经环路的形成发挥重要的调控作用。     

WIF-1研究进展

WIF-1是Wnt信号通路上的拮抗物之一,可以阻断Wnt的经典通路和非经典通路。目前在人类多种肿瘤的研究发现WIF-1表达异常。WIF-1（Wnt inhibitory factor-1）,sFRP（Frizzled related protein）和CER（Cerberus）属于Wnt拮抗物家族,通过直接与Wnt蛋白相连从而阻止Wnt与受体蛋白复合物相连,使细胞质中的β-catenin由于磷酸化而不能积累,进而阻断了经典通路和非经典通路。WIF-1可能与中胚层的发生以及肿瘤细胞的生长分化有关。Wnt家族其他成员已经被证实与早期冠心病、Ⅱ型糖尿病、肥胖症、骨质疏松症等相关。因此了解WIF-1在通路上的更多信息,解释WIF-1调节Wnt信号通路的机理和过程,为疾病治疗和预防以及药物开发提供新的方法。     

Wnt信号通路在造血干细胞自我更新和扩增中的作用

Wnt信号分子是一类在无脊椎与脊椎动物的多种组织中广泛表达且进化上高度保守的信号刺激因子,由于它们在生长、发育、代谢和干细胞调节等多种生物学过程中的重要生物学功能而被广泛重视。根据其激活的信号通路不同,Wnt分子可分为经典和非经典两类。经典类和非经典类Wnt分子分别通过激活β-catenin、Ca2+及JNK信号通路而发挥作用。近年来的研究显示,经典和非经典Wnt信号通路均在造血干细胞的自我更新和功能维持的调控中发挥关键作用。该文通过对经典和非经典Wnt信号通路的分子调控机理的探讨,对近年来有关Wnt信号通路在HSC自我更新调控中的研究进展进行了综述,对Wnt信号通路与造血微环境中其他信号通路在造血发生、维持和重建中的关系进行了讨论。     

非NMDA受体的细胞内调控及其机制

非NMDA受体是AMPA受体和KA受体的统称,其亚基上的胞内C末端上有很多磷酸化脱磷酸化及胞内蛋白的结合位点,这些作用位点与非NMDA受体的调控密切相关。如PKA,PKC,PKG,CaMKⅡ和PTK等蛋白激酶均可调节受体的活性,另外,胞内的一些骨架蛋白和信号蛋白也可与非NMDA受体结合而影响其功能,本文着重综述非NMDA受全的细胞内调控及其机制。     

Apelin 通过调节ROS 水平抑制TNF-α 诱导的HepG2 细胞凋亡

目的:探讨apelin在肿瘤坏死因子(tumor necrosis factor-α,TNF-α)诱导的肝细胞凋亡中的作用及可能机制。方法:PCR检测HepG2细胞和原代小鼠肝细胞中APJ受体的表达;采用Hoechst 33342染色检测TNF-α诱导的HepG2细胞凋亡;用活性氧(ROS)检测试剂盒结合流式细胞术测定细胞内ROS水平;通过Western blot检测信号分子JNK的磷酸化水平;比较给予apelin处理对上述指标的影响。结果:HepG2细胞和原代小鼠肝细胞均表达APJ受体;apelin可抑制TNF-α导致的细胞内ROS生成增多和JNK磷酸化水平升高并减少TNF-α诱导的HepG2细胞凋亡。结论:Apelin可能通过拮抗TNF-α诱导的细胞内ROS水平升高,使JNK信号失活,从而抑制HepG2细胞凋亡。     

谷氨酸、NMDA 和吗啡对培养大鼠星形胶质细胞内钙振荡的影响

目的:研究谷氨酸、NMDA、吗啡对原代培养的大鼠星形胶质细胞的胞内钙信号的影响及受体作用机制.方法:利用Leica AF6000活细胞工作站,检测谷氨酸、NMDA、吗啡分别灌流前后Fura-2/AM加载的星形胶质细胞内钙信号的动态变化,进一步观 察分别阻断代谢性谷氨酸受体5 (mGluR5)、NMDA受体(NMDA receptor,NMDAR)和阿片μ受体对诱导的胞内钙振荡的影响.结果:谷氨酸、NMDA、吗啡均可明显升高胞内游离钙的浓度([Ca2+]i),而将其相应受体拮抗后,星形胶质细胞[Ca2+]i升高的现象可以被显著抑制.结论:离体培养的星形胶质细胞膜上存在mGluR5、NMDAR和阿片μ受体,这些受体的激活可以升高星影胶质细胞的[Ca2+]i,且这些受体依赖的[Ca2+]i的调控机制可能是星形胶质细胞与神经元交互作用的重要途径之一.     

雌激素快速影响大鼠发育期海马NMDA受体活性的机制

为了探讨雌激素对发育期大鼠海马NMDA受体活性的快速影响,对出生后18d的雄性大鼠进行苯甲酸雌二醇皮下注射,1h后用WesternBlot检测海马NMDA受体NR1和NR2B亚基、雌激素β受体、ERK1/2蛋白的表达,以及NR2B和ERK1/2的磷酸化水平;并通过海马内给予雌激素受体拮抗剂ICI182,780和MEK1/2抑制剂U0126预处理,进一步分析苯甲酸雌二醇影响NR2B和ERK1/2磷酸化的作用机制。结果显示,苯甲酸雌二醇不影响NR1、NR2B、ERβ和ERK1/2的表达,但能快速增强NR2B和ERK1/2的磷酸化水平。雌激素受体拮抗剂ICI182,780和MEK1/2抑制剂U0126均能明显抑制苯甲酸雌二醇诱导的NR2B和ERK1/2磷酸化水平的增加。以上结果提示,雌激素可能通过雌激素受体的非基因组机制激活ERK/MAPK信号转导通路,快速诱导NMDA受体NR2B亚基磷酸化,激活NMDA受体。     

小鼠小脑颗粒神经元的原代培养与鉴定

本研究通过体外分离培养及鉴定原代小鼠小脑颗粒神经元(cerebellar granule neurons,CGNs),为神经科学研究提供原代神经元细胞模型。取生后第7天的ICR乳鼠小脑,在解剖体视镜下剥离脑膜及血管,经刀片切碎、0.25%胰酶消化、移液器吹打、70μm尼龙滤网制备单细胞悬液,差速贴壁后接种于新鲜配置的培养基。倒置相差显微镜观察不同时间CGNs的形态变化。采用神经元的标记蛋白微管相关蛋白-2(microtubule associated protein 2,MAP2),星形胶质细胞的标记蛋白胶质纤维酸性蛋白(glial fibrillary acidic protein,GFAP),小胶质细胞的标记蛋白(type 3 complement receptor,CR3/CD11b)进行免疫荧光检测培养的原代CGNs纯度。原代培养CGNs接种20 min后即贴壁良好,培养24 h后细胞伸出突起,培养第7天神经元成熟,形成丰富的轴突,树突和胞间突触连接。经免疫荧光鉴定,CGNs纯度可达95%以上。成功体外分离培养出高纯度的原代CGNs,可应用于CGNs的体外研究。     

Dapper-1 is essential for Wnt5a induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy by regulating the Wnt/PCP pathway

The Wnt signaling pathway was identified as crucial mediator of cardiomyocyte hypertrophy. In this study we found that activation of non-canonical Wnt signaling by Wnt5a stimulates protein synthesis and enlargement of cardiomyocyte surface area. These hypertrophic features were inhibited in Dapper-1 (Dpr1) depleted cells. On the molecular level, we observed inhibition of the non-canonical Wnt/planar-cell-polarity (PCP) pathway denoted by reduction of c-jun-n-terminal-kinase (JNK) phosphorylation. Upstream of JNK, increased protein levels of the Wnt/PCP trans-membrane receptor van-Gogh-like-2 (Vangl2) were observed along with an enrichment of Vangl2 in perinuclear located vesicles. The findings suggest that Dpr1 is essential for execution of the Wnt/PCP pathway and regulation of the Vangl2/JNK axis. Depletion of Dpr1 inhibits non-canonical Wnt signaling induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy by blocking Wnt/PCP signaling.     

Wnt4 enhances murine hematopoietic progenitor cell expansion through a planar cell polarity-like pathway

Background

While the role of canonical (β-catenin-mediated) Wnt signaling in hematolymphopoiesis has been studied extensively, little is known of the potential importance of non-canonical Wnt signals in hematopoietic cells. Wnt4 is one of the Wnt proteins that can elicit non-canonical pathways. We have previously shown that retroviral overexpression of Wnt4 by hematopoietic cells increased thymic cellularity as well as the frequency of early thymic progenitors and bone marrow hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs). However, the molecular pathways responsible for its effect in HPCs are not known.

Methodology/Principal Findings

Here we report that Wnt4 stimulation resulted in the activation of the small GTPase Rac1 as well as Jnk kinases in an HPC cell line. Jnk activity was necessary, while β-catenin was dispensable, for the Wnt4-mediated expansion of primary fetal liver HPCs in culture. Furthermore, Jnk2-deficient and Wnt4 hemizygous mice presented lower numbers of HPCs in their bone marrow, and Jnk2-deficient HPCs showed increased rates of apoptosis. Wnt4 also improved HPC activity in a competitive reconstitution model in a cell-autonomous, Jnk2-dependent manner. Lastly, we identified Fz6 as a receptor for Wnt4 in immature HPCs and showed that the absence of Wnt4 led to a decreased expression of four polarity complex genes.

Conclusions/Significance

Our results establish a functional role for non-canonical Wnt signaling in hematopoiesis through a pathway involving Wnt4, Fz6, Rac1 and Jnk kinases.     

Essential role of non-canonical Wnt signalling in neural crest migration

Migration of neural crest cells is an elaborate process that requires the delamination of cells from an epithelium and cell movement into an extracellular matrix. In this work, it is shown for the first time that the non-canonical Wnt signalling [planar cell polarity (PCP) or Wnt-Ca2+] pathway controls migration of neural crest cells. By using specific Dsh mutants, we show that the canonical Wnt signalling pathway is needed for neural crest induction, while the non-canonical Wnt pathway is required for neural crest migration. Grafts of neural crest tissue expressing non-canonical Dsh mutants, as well as neural crest cultured in vitro, indicate that the PCP pathway works in a cell-autonomous manner to control neural crest migration. Expression analysis of non-canonical Wnt ligands and their putative receptors show that Wnt11 is expressed in tissue adjacent to neural crest cells expressing the Wnt receptor Frizzled7 (Fz7). Furthermore, loss- and gain-of-function experiments reveal that Wnt11 plays an essential role in neural crest migration. Inhibition of neural crest migration by blocking Wnt11 activity can be rescued by intracellular activation of the non-canonical Wnt pathway. When Wnt11 is expressed opposite its normal site of expression, neural crest migration is blocked. Finally, time-lapse analysis of cell movement and cell protrusion in neural crest cultured in vitro shows that the PCP or Wnt-Ca2+ pathway directs the formation of lamellipodia and filopodia in the neural crest cells that are required for their delamination and/or migration.     

Activation of 5-lipoxygenase after oxygen-glucose deprivation is partly mediated via NMDA receptor in rat cortical neurons

5-Lipoxygenase (5-LOX) is the enzyme metabolizing arachidonic acid to produce pro-inflammatory leukotrienes. We have reported that 5-LOX is translocated to the nuclear envelope after ischemic-like injury in PC12 cells. In the present study, we determined whether 5-LOX is activated (translocation and production of leukotrienes) after oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) in primary rat cortical neurons; if so, whether this activation is mediated by NMDA receptor. After OGD, 5-LOX was translocated to the nuclear envelope as detected by immunoblotting, immunostaining and green fluorescent protein-5-LOX transfection. 5-LOX metabolites, cysteinyl-leukotrienes (CysLTs) but not leukotriene B4, in the culture media were increased 0.5-1.5 h after recovery. Similarly, NMDA (100 microm) also induced 5-LOX translocation, and increased the production of CysLTs during 0.5-1 h NMDA exposure. Both OGD and NMDA reduced neuron viability. NMDA receptor antagonist MK-801 inhibited almost all the responses to OGD and NMDA; whereas 5-LOX activating protein inhibitor MK-886 and 5-LOX inhibitor caffeic acid inhibited the reduction of neuron viability and the production of CysLTs, but did not affect 5-LOX translocation. From these results, we conclude that OGD can activate 5-LOX in primary rat cortical neurons, and that this activation may be partly mediated via activating NMDA receptor.     

The roles of canonical and non-canonical Wnt signaling in human de-differentiated articular chondrocytes

Osteoarthritis is the most prevalent form of arthritis in the world and it is becoming a major public health problem. Osteoarthritic chondrocytes undergo morphological and biochemical changes that lead to de-differentiation. The involvement of signaling pathways, such as the Wnt pathway, during cartilage pathology has been reported. Wnt signaling regulates critical biological processes. Wnt signals are transduced through at least three intracellular signaling pathways including the canonical Wnt/β-catenin pathway, the Wnt/Ca2 + pathway and the Wnt/planar cell polarity pathway. We investigated the involvement of the Wnt canonical and non-canonical pathways in human articular chondrocyte de-differentiation in vitro. Human articular chondrocytes were cultured through four passages with no treatment, or with sFRP3 treatment, an inhibitor of Wnt pathways, or with DKK1 treatment, an inhibitor of the canonical pathway. Chondrocyte-secreted markers and Wnt pathway components were analyzed using western blotting and qPCR. Inhibition of the Wnt pathway showed that the canonical Wnt signaling probably is responsible for inhibition of collagen II expression, activation of metalloproteinase 13 expression and regulation of Wnt7a and c-jun expression during chondrocyte de-differentiation in vitro. Our results also suggest that expressions of eNOS, Wnt5a and cyclinE1 are regulated by non-canonical Wnt signaling.     

Wnt7a-Fzd7 signalling directly activates the Akt/mTOR anabolic growth pathway in skeletal muscle

Wnt7a signals through its receptor Fzd7 to activate the planar-cell-polarity pathway and drive the symmetric expansion of satellite stem cells resulting in enhanced repair of skeletal muscle. In differentiated myofibres, we observed that Wnt7a binding to Fzd7 directly activates the Akt/mTOR growth pathway, thereby inducing myofibre hypertrophy. Notably, the Fzd7 receptor complex was associated with Gα(s) and PI(3)K and these components were required for Wnt7a to activate the Akt/mTOR growth pathway in myotubes. Wnt7a-Fzd7 activation of this pathway was completely independent of IGF-receptor activation. Together, these experiments demonstrate that Wnt7a-Fzd7 activates distinct pathways at different developmental stages during myogenic lineage progression, and identify a non-canonical anabolic signalling pathway for Wnt7a and its receptor Fzd7 in skeletal muscle.     

Wnt5a induces homodimerization and activation of Ror2 receptor tyrosine kinase

Wnts are secreted glycoproteins that control vital biological processes, including embryogenesis, organogenesis and tumorigenesis. Wnts are classified into several subfamilies depending on the signaling pathways they activate, with the canonical subfamily activating the Wnt/beta-catenin pathway and the non-canonical subfamily activating a variety of other pathways, including the Wnt/calcium signaling and the small GTPase/c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase pathway. Wnts bind to a membrane receptor Frizzled and a co-receptor, the low-density lipoprotein receptor related protein. More recently, both canonical and non-canonical Wnts were shown to bind the Ror2 receptor tyrosine kinase. Ror2 is an orphan receptor that plays crucial roles in skeletal morphogenesis and promotes osteoblast differentiation and bone formation. Here we examine the effects of a canonical Wnt3a and a non-canonical Wnt5a on the signaling of the Ror2 receptor. We demonstrate that even though both Wnt5a and Wnt3a bound Ror2, only Wnt5a induced Ror2 homo-dimerization and tyrosine phosphorylation in U2OS human osteoblastic cells. Furthermore, Wnt5a treatment also resulted in increased phosphorylation of the Ror2 substrate, 14-3-3beta scaffold protein, indicating that Wnt5a binding causes activation of the Ror2 signaling cascade. Functionally, Wnt5a recapitulated the Ror2 activation phenotype, enhancing bone formation in the mouse calvarial bone explant cultures and potentiating osteoblastic differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells. The effect of Wnt5a on osteoblastic differentiation was largely abolished upon Ror2 down-regulation. Thus we show that Wnt5a activates the classical receptor tyrosine kinase signaling cascade through the Ror2 receptor in cells of osteoblastic origin.     

Cell signaling: moving to a Wnt-Rap

Non-canonical, beta-catenin-independent Wnt signaling regulates cell polarization and movements. A recent study reveals that casein kinase Iepsilon mediates an additional novel non-canonical Wnt pathway via the activation of the Rap1 GTPase during vertebrate gastrulation.