Salubrinal对铜负荷诱导的PERK/eIF2α内质网应激信号通路介导肝细胞凋亡的干预作用

Wilson病是一种以肝损害为常见临床表现的常染色体隐性遗传铜代谢障碍性疾病,但铜蓄积导致的肝细胞损害的具体分子机制尚不明确。本研究拟采用硫酸铜模拟肝细胞铜负荷进行体外实验,选用Western印迹法测试铜负荷肝细胞内蛋白激酶R样内质网激酶(protein kinase R-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase, PERK)及p-eIF2α蛋白质的表达;并探究特异性eIF2α磷酸化抑制剂Salubrinal对铜负荷诱导的肝细胞凋亡、胱天蛋白酶-3活性、C/EBP同源蛋白（C/EBP homologous protein, CHOP）mRNA转录的影响。选用流式细胞仪测试肝细胞凋亡率;比色法测试肝细胞内的胱天蛋白酶-3活性;Real-time PCR法检测肝细胞内CHOP mRNA转录水平。本研究结果显示: (1) 铜负荷显示出时间依赖性地增加肝细胞内PERK及p-eIF2α蛋白质表达(P<0.05, P<0.01)。(2)相比较对照组,铜负荷培养肝细胞24 h明显增加了肝细胞的凋亡率(P<0.01),增强了肝细胞内的胱天蛋白酶-3活性,促进肝细胞内CHOP mRNA的转录,加入特异性eIF2α磷酸化抑制剂Salubrinal后可抑制上述过程。(3)相比较对照组,铜负荷促进肝细胞PERK及p-eIF2α蛋白质表达,加入特异性eIF2α磷酸化抑制剂Salubrinal后,对铜负荷诱导的肝细胞PERK蛋白质表达无影响(P>0.05),但可显著抑制铜负荷诱导的肝细胞p-eIF2α蛋白质表达(P<0.01)。本研究结果提示,铜负荷可以诱发肝细胞内质网应激,铜负荷引起的肝细胞凋亡机制与激活内质网应激PERK/eIF2α信号通路密切相关, Salubrinal具有干预该信号通路作用,能够抑制铜负荷后肝细胞的凋亡。     

Calcium signaling at the endoplasmic reticulum: fine-tuning stress responses

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) calcium signaling is implicated in a myriad of coordinated cellular processes. The ER calcium content is tightly regulated as it allows a favorable environment for protein folding, in addition to operate as a major reservoir for fast and specific release of calcium. Altered ER homeostasis impacts protein folding, activating the unfolded protein response (UPR) as a rescue mechanism to restore proteostasis. ER calcium release impacts mitochondrial metabolism and also fine-tunes the threshold to undergo apoptosis under chronic stress. The global coordination between UPR signaling and energetic demands takes place at mitochondrial associated membranes (MAMs), specialized subdomains mediating interorganelle communication. Here we discuss current models explaining the functional relationship between ER homeostasis and various cellular responses to coordinate proteostasis and metabolic maintenance.     

Divergent Effects of PERK and IRE1 Signaling on Cell Viability

Protein misfolding in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) activates a set of intracellular signaling pathways, collectively termed the Unfolded Protein Response (UPR). UPR signaling promotes cell survival by reducing misfolded protein levels. If homeostasis cannot be restored, UPR signaling promotes cell death. The molecular basis for the switch between prosurvival and proapoptotic UPR function is poorly understood. The ER-resident proteins, PERK and IRE1, control two key UPR signaling pathways. Protein misfolding concomitantly activates PERK and IRE1 and has clouded insight into their contributions toward life or death cell fates. Here, we employed chemical-genetic strategies to activate individually PERK or IRE1 uncoupled from protein misfolding. We found that sustained PERK signaling impaired cell proliferation and promoted apoptosis. By contrast, equivalent durations of IRE1 signaling enhanced cell proliferation without promoting cell death. These results demonstrate that extended PERK and IRE1 signaling have opposite effects on cell viability. Differential activation of PERK and IRE1 may determine life or death decisions after ER protein misfolding.     

内质网应激响应在脂肪组织中的代谢调节作用

在真核细胞中,内质网是蛋白合成、加工及质量监控的关键细胞器,也是Ca2+储存及脂质合成的重要场所.细胞通过未折叠蛋白响应(unfolded protein response,UPR)感应外界不同刺激引发的内质网应激,在维持细胞功能稳态中发挥至关重要的作用.在哺乳动物中,三个位于内质网的跨膜蛋白——肌醇依赖酶la(ino...