Matrix metalloproteinase-1 expression induced by IL-1β requires acid sphingomyelinase

Matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) is increased in inflammatory conditions leading to destruction of extracellular matrix. Many inflammatory stimuli activate sphingomyelinases (SMases), which generate ceramide. We aimed to define the relevance and type of SMase responsible for the regulation of MMP-1. Acid sphingomyelinase (ASM)-deficient human fibroblasts failed to phosphorylate extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), or upregulate MMP-1 mRNA and protein expression upon stimulation with interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), whereas phosphorylation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase and IL-8 production remained unaffected. Transfection of ASM restored MMP-1 production. Addition of exogenous SMase was sufficient to restore activation of ERK and increase MMP-1 mRNA. Inhibition of ASM with imipramine completely abrogated MMP-1 induction. The results suggest that IL-1β-induced expression of MMP-1 is dependent on ASM.     

Structure–activity relationship of sphingomyelin analogs with sphingomyelinase from Bacillus cereus

The aim of this study was to examine how structural properties of different sphingomyelin (SM) analogs affected their substrate properties with sphingomyelinase (SMase) from Bacillus cereus. Using molecular docking and dynamics simulations (for SMase–SM complex), we then attempted to explain the relationship between SM structure and enzyme activity. With both micellar and monolayer substrates, 3O-methylated SM was found not to be degraded by the SMase. 2N-methylated SM was a substrate, but was degraded at about half the rate of its 2NH–SM control. PhytoPSM was readily hydrolyzed by the enzyme. PSM lacking one methyl in the phosphocholine head group was a good substrate, but PSM lacking two or three methyls failed to act as substrates for SMase. Based on literature data, and our docking and MD simulations, we conclude that the 3O-methylated PSM fails to interact with Mg^2 + and Glu53 in the active site, thus preventing hydrolysis. Methylation of 2NH was not crucial for binding to the active site, but appeared to interfere with an induced fit activation of the SMase via interaction with Asp156. An OH on carbon 4 in the long-chain base of phytoPSM appeared not to interfere with the 3OH interacting with Mg^2 + and Glu53 in the active site, and thus did not interfere with catalysis. Removing two or three methyls from the PSM head group apparently increased the positive charge on the terminal N significantly, which most likely led to ionic interactions with Glu250 and Glu155 adjacent to the active site. This likely interaction could have misaligned the SM substrate and hindered proper catalysis.     

Phospholipase C and sphingomyelinase activities of the Clostridium perfringens α-toxin

α-Toxin is a major pathogenic determinant of Clostridium perfringens, the causative agent of gas gangrene. α-Toxin has been known for long to be a phospholipase C, but up to now its hydrolytic properties have been studied only through indirect methods, e.g. release of cell contents, or under non-physiological conditions, e.g., in micelles, or with soluble substrates. In this report we characterize the phospholipase C and sphingomyelinase activities of α-toxin using a direct assay method (water-soluble phosphorous assay) with phospholipids in bilayer form (large unilamellar vesicles) in the absence of detergents. The simplest bilayer compositions allowing measurable activities under these conditions were DOPC:Chol (2:1 mol ratio) and SM:PE:Chol (2:1:1 mol ratio) for the PLC and SMase activities respectively. PLC activity was five times higher than SMase activity. Both activities gave rise to vesicle aggregation, after a lag time during which ca. 10% of the substrate was hydrolyzed. Vesicle aggregation, measured as an increase in light scattering, was a convenient semi-quantitative method for estimating the enzyme activities. The optimum pH for the combined PLC and SMase activities was in the 5-7 range, in agreement with the proposed role of α-toxin in aiding the bacterium to escape the fagosome and survive within the cytosol.     

Role of sphingomyelinase and ceramide in modulating rafts: do biophysical properties determine biologic outcome?

Recent biophysical data suggest that the properties of ceramide observed in model membranes may apply to biological systems. In particular, the ability of ceramide to form microdomains, which coalesce into larger platforms or macrodomains, appears to be important for some cellular signaling processes. Several laboratories have now demonstrated similar reorganization of plasma membrane sphingolipid rafts, via ceramide generation, into macrodomains. This event appeared necessary for signaling upon activation of a specific set of cell surface receptors. In this article, we review the properties and functions of rafts, and the role of sphingomyelinase and ceramide in the biogenesis and re-modeling of these rafts. As clustering of some cell surface receptors in these domains may be critical for signal transduction, we propose a new model for transmembrane signal transmission.     

Neutral sphingomyelinase inhibition alleviates apoptosis,but not ER stress,in liver ischemia–reperfusion injury

Previous studies have revealed the activation of neutral sphingomyelinase (N-SMase)/ceramide pathway in hepatic tissue following warm liver ischemia reperfusion (IR) injury. Excessive ceramide accumulation is known to potentiate apoptotic stimuli and a link between apoptosis and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress has been established in hepatic IR injury. Thus, this study determined the role of selective N-SMase inhibition on ER stress and apoptotic markers in a rat model of liver IR injury. Selective N-SMase inhibitor was administered via intraperitoneal injections. Liver IR injury was created by clamping blood vessels supplying the median and left lateral hepatic lobes for 60?min, followed by 60?min reperfusion. Levels of sphingmyelin and ceramide in liver tissue were determined by an optimized multiple reactions monitoring (MRM) method using ultrafast-liquid chromatography (UFLC) coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). Spingomyelin levels were significantly increased in all IR groups compared with controls. Treatment with a specific N-SMase inhibitor significantly decreased all measured ceramides in IR injury. A significant increase was observed in ER stress markers C/EBP-homologous protein (CHOP) and 78?kDa glucose-regulated protein (GRP78) in IR injury, which was not significantly altered by N-SMase inhibition. Inhibition of N-SMase caused a significant reduction in phospho-NF-kB levels, hepatic TUNEL staining, cytosolic cytochrome c, and caspase-3, -8, and -9 activities which were significantly increased in IR injury. Data herein confirm the role of ceramide in increased apoptotic cell death and highlight the protective effect of N-SMase inhibition in down-regulation of apoptotic stimuli responses occurring in hepatic IR injury.     

α-TEA-induced death receptor dependent apoptosis involves activation of acid sphingomyelinase and elevated ceramide-enriched cell surface membranes

Background  

Alpha-tocopherol ether-linked acetic acid (α-TEA), an analog of vitamin E (RRR-alpha-tocopherol), is a potent and selective apoptosis-inducing agent for human cancer cells in vivo and in vitro. α-TEA induces apoptosis via activation of extrinsic death receptors Fas (CD95) and DR5, JNK/p73/Noxa pathways, and suppression of anti-apoptotic mediators Akt, ERK, c-FLIP and survivin in breast, ovarian and prostate cancer cells.     

Relationship of tumor necrosis factor α expression with activation of sphingomyelinase and lipid peroxidation after removal of cholestatic factor

The goal of this work was to study the expression of tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα), sphingomyelin cycle activation, and lipid peroxidation (LPO) processes after the removal of a cholestatic factor in the liver subjected to different durations of cholestasis. Restored bile flow after a 9-day hepatic cholestasis normalized sphingomyelinase (SMase) activity and levels of TNFα and LPO products. The removal of a cholestatic factor after a 12-day cholestasis did not normalize the studied parameters: SMase activity and the levels of TNFα and LPO products remained much higher compared to control. A significant positive correlation between TNFα expression, SMase activity, and LPO rate has been revealed. The obtained data indicate that hepatocyte apoptosis after bile outflow restoration in late cholestasis can be due to the activation of the sphingomyelin cycle, LPO, and TNFα expression. The synergistic interaction can sharply increase the proapoptotic capacity of each of these factors since TNFα activates SMase and LPO, SMase activity depends on the LPO rate, while ceramide, an SMase-produced secondary messenger of apoptosis, can induce oxidative stress.     

Inhibition of neutral sphingomyelinase decreases elevated levels of nitrative and oxidative stress markers in liver ischemia–reperfusion injury

Oxidative stress and excessive nitric oxide production via induction of inducible nitric oxide synthase (NOS)-2 have been shown in the pathogenesis of liver ischemia–reperfusion (IR) injury. Neutral sphingomyelinase (N-SMase)/ceramide pathway can regulate NOS2 expression therefore this study determined the role of selective N-SMase inhibition on nitrative and oxidative stress markers following liver IR injury. Selective N-SMase inhibitor was administered via intraperitoneal injections. Liver IR injury was created by clamping blood vessels supplying the median and left lateral hepatic lobes for 60 min, followed by 60 min reperfusion. Nitrative and oxidative stress markers were determined by evaluating NOS2 expression, protein nitration, nitrite/nitrate levels, 4-hydroxynonenal (HNE) formation, protein carbonyl levels and xanthine oxidase/xanthine dehydrogenase (XO/XDH) activity. Levels of sphingmyelin and ceramide in liver tissue were determined by an optimized multiple reaction monitoring method using ultra-fast liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). Spingomyelin levels were significantly increased in all IR groups compared to controls. Treatment with a specific N-SMase inhibitor significantly decreased all measured ceramides in IR injury. NOS2 expression, nitrite/nitrate levels and protein nitration were significantly greater in IR injury and decreased with N-SMase inhibition. Treatment with a selective N-SMase inhibitor significantly decreased HNE formation, protein carbonyl levels and the hepatic conversion of XO. Data confirm the role of nitrative and oxidative injury in IR and highlight the protective effect of selective N-SMase inhibition. Future studies evaluating agents blocking N-SMase activity can facilitate the development of treatment strategies to alleviate oxidative injury in liver I/R injury.     

Green tea polyphenol EGCG induces lipid-raft clustering and apoptotic cell death by activating protein kinase Cδ and acid sphingomyelinase through a 67 kDa laminin receptor in multiple myeloma cells

EGCG [(-)-epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate], the major polyphenol of green tea, has cancer chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic activities. EGCG selectively inhibits cell growth and induces apoptosis in cancer cells without adversely affecting normal cells; however, the underlying molecular mechanism in vivo is unclear. In the present study, we show that EGCG-induced apoptotic activity is attributed to a lipid-raft clustering mediated through 67LR (67 kDa laminin receptor) that is significantly elevated in MM (multiple myeloma) cells relative to normal peripheral blood mononuclear cells, and that aSMase (acid sphingomyelinase) is critical for the lipid-raft clustering and the apoptotic cell death induced by EGCG. We also found that EGCG induces aSMase translocation to the plasma membrane and PKCδ (protein kinase Cδ) phosphorylation at Ser664, which was necessary for aSMase/ceramide signalling via 67LR. Additionally, orally administered EGCG activated PKCδ and aSMase in a murine MM xenograft model. These results elucidate a novel cell-death pathway triggered by EGCG for the specific killing of MM cells.     

Fe^2＋-H2O2体系降解壳聚糖

Fe2 -H2O2体系能够有效地降解壳聚糖,反应介质的pH值、反应时间、反应温度、Fe2 浓度及H2O2浓度等实验因素对壳聚糖的降解效果都有程度不同的影响,其中以反应介质的pH值和H2O2浓度对降解反应的影响为最大.在pH值为3～5时Fe2 -H2O2体系降解壳聚糖的活性最高.适当增大H2O2的用量可以增大壳聚糖的降解程度,但当其用量增大至一定程度后,壳聚糖降解产物分子量的下降趋势明显变缓.合理的Fe2 -H2O2体系降解壳聚糖的实验条件为:介质pH值3～5;温度,室温;时间60～90 min;壳聚糖:H2O2:Fe2 =240:12～24:1～2(摩尔比).     

Convenient Synthesis of 2′-Deoxy-2-fluoroadenosine from 2-Fluoroadenine

Abstract

A convenient synthesis of 2′-deoxy-2-fluoroadenosine from commercially available 2-fluoroadenine is described. The coupling reaction of silylated 2-fluoroadenine with phenyl 3,5-bis[O-(t-butyldimethylsilyl)]-2-deoxy-1-thio-D-erythro-pentofuranoside gave the corresponding 2-fluoro-2′-deoxyadenosine derivative (α/β =1:1) in good yield. The α- and β-anomers were separated by chromatography, and then desilylated to give compounds 1a and 1b.     

再论2πω2的最优性

证明了用角2πω~2/(1 ω~2)、2π(3 ω~2)和2π/(2 ω~2)在圆周上作插分得到任意n个分点并将圆周分为11个角时,其最小角与最大角之比也至少是ω~2．根据叶序的基本功能,用模糊数学的综合评判理论证明了角2πω~2优于角2πω~2/(1 ω~2)、2π/(3 ω~2)和2π/(2 ω~2),从而从理论上说明了2πω~2作为互生植物的叶序分数所对应的极限角是合理的．     

固氮酶催化还原C_2H_2和N_2的探讨

自从Dilworth等发现固氮酶对C_2H_2的还原活性以来,用乙炔还原法研究生物固氮作用的文献大大超过~(15)N示踪的方法,这可能是前一方法更灵敏简便.近年来化学模拟生物固氮研究也把催化乙炔还原为乙烯的反应作为固氮酶活性中心模拟物络合活化底物的一种判据,依其还原活性的大小推测模型物与固氮酶活性中心的相似程度,用以指导模型物的合成.然而,固氮酶对乙炔的还原活性是否完全     

TXA2/PGI2与心血管疾病

血栓素(Thromboxane,TXA2)和前列环素(Prostacyclin,PGI2)均为花生四烯酸的代谢物,是前列腺素(Prostaglandins,PGs)中生物活性最强的一对。在正常情况下,二者在体内保持一定的平衡,相互拮抗、相互协调,共同维持血液循环畅通,与心血管疾病关系密切。本文即就其生物特性及与心血管病的关系等进行综述,对人们全面认识TXA2/PGI2具有一定的参考价值。     

H_2O_2诱导Neuro-2a细胞死亡机理的研究

细胞内线粒体呼吸链过程中的电子漏和神经细胞代谢的酶类如单胺氧化酶(MAO)等可产生活性氧物质(ROS)如H_2O_2等。ROS对细胞有毒性作用,导致细胞死亡,在许多疾病特别是神经退行性疾病中具有重要作用。我们用H_2o_2诱导N-2a神经母细胞瘤细胞,利用光镜、荧光显微镜、透射电镜观察了诱导的N-2a细胞的死亡,结果表明其死亡形式不同于典型的细胞凋亡,而类似于Ⅱ型神经细胞编程性死亡,死亡细胞染色质呈团块状凝集,细胞核膜仍保持完整。DNA不降解形成ladder,且不需要caspase-3,1的活性,但是H_2O_2诱导的Neuro-2a细胞死亡可以被Bcl-X_L,抑制。我们的结果可以说明,ROS介导的细胞毒性作用是导致Ⅱ型神经细胞编程性死亡的一个原因。