Inhibition of (Na/K)-ATPase by electrophilic substances: Functional implications

The effect of electrophilic substances: p-bromophenylisothiocyanate (PBITC); fluoresceinisothiocyanate (FITC); [4-isothiocyanatophenyl-(6-thioureidohexyl)-carbamoylmethyl]-ATP (ATPITC); 2,4,6-trinitrobezenesulfonic acid (TNBS); 1-(5-nitro-2-furyl)-2-phenylsulfonyl-2-furylcarbonyl ethylene (FE1); 1-(5-phenylsulfonyl-2-furyl)-2-phenylsulfonyl-2-furylcarbonyl ethylene (FE2) and 1-(5-phenylsulfonyl-2-furyl)-2-phenylsulfonyl-2-tienocarbonyl ethylene (FE3) on the sarcolemmal (Na/K)-ATPase isolated from guinea-pig hearts was studied. FITC and PBITC were found to inhibit competitively the activation of (Na/K)-ATPase by ATP. Being for the enzyme inhibitor and substrate at the same time ATPITC does not offered clear kinetic behavior. However, the activation of (Na/K)-ATPase by sodium and potassium ions was inhibited non-competitively by all three isothiocyanates. These data indicated that isothiocyanates may interact predominantly in the ATP-binding site of the enzyme molecule. In contrary to isothiocyanates TNBS and FE1 (FE2 and FE3 were ineffective) inhibited the activation of (Na/K)-ATPase by ATP non-competitively i.e., their interaction in the ATP-binding site seemed to be improbable. Nevertheless, TNBS and FE1 both manifested affinities to that moiety of (Na/K)-ATPase molecule which is binding potassium. More specific was the effect of FE1 that showed clearly competitive inhibition of potassium-stimulation of the enzyme activity. FE1 exerted also an ouabain-like effect on the mechanical activity of isolated perfused guinea-pig heart. This result indicates that FE1 seems to exert a selective inhibition of the (Na/K)-ATPase not only in vitro but also in integrated cardiac tissue.Abbreviations and symbols PBITC p-bromophenylisothiocyanate - FITC fluoresceinisothiocyanate - ATPITC [4-isothiocyanatophenyl-(6-thioureidohexyl)-carbamoylmethyl]-ATP - TNBS 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid - FE1 1-(5-nitro-2-furyl)-2-phenylsulfonyl-2-furylcarbonyl ethylene - FE2 1-(5-phenylsulfonyl-2-furyl)-2-phenylsulfonyl-2-furylcarbonyl ethylene - FE3 1-(5-phenylsulfonyl-2-furyl)-2-phenylsulfonyl-2-tienocarbonyl ethylene - DMSO dimethylsufoxide     

Accumulation of anthocyanins enhanced by a high osmotic potential in grape (Vitis vinifera L.) cell suspensions

A cell suspension of grape, Vitis vinifera L. cv Gamay Fréaux, was grown under different conditions of water stress (high external osmotic potential) induced by an increase of sucrose concentration or by the addition of mannitol to the culture medium. Best growth (cell density) was achieved in the low osmotic potential medium. Increasing the osmotic potential of the medium from –0.5 MPa to –0.9 MPa medium resulted in a significant increase in accumulation of anthocyanins in pigmented cells. Regulation of the osmotic potential of culture medium may be useful in controlling anthocyanin production.     

Bradykinin-stimulated arachidonic acid release from MDCK cells is not protein kinase C dependent

Bradykinin (BK)-induced release of arachidonic acid (AA) fromMadin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) D1 cells was investigated. Phorbol12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) caused a synergistic increase in BK- andA-23187-induced release of AA but alone had no effect on this release.Inhibition of protein kinase C (PKC) with bisindolmaleimide I (BIS)abolished the synergistic effects of PMA but did not affect AA releasecaused by BK or A-23187 alone. Downregulation of PKC with 100 nM PMAresulted in a reduction of AA release induced by BK or A-23187addition, which corresponded to a decrease in cytoplasmic phospholipaseA₂(cPLA₂) activity as measured incell extracts. Although Western blotting revealed no differences in cPLA₂ expression as a result ofPMA treatment, phosphorylation of the enzyme, as assessed byphosphoserine content, was significantly reduced in PKC-depleted cells.These results imply that, with PKC downregulation, subsequent BKstimulation results in aCa²⁺-dependent translocation of aless phosphorylated, less active form ofcPLA₂. Any stimulation of PKC byBK addition did not appear as a significant event in onset reponsesleading to AA release. On the other hand, inhibition of themitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade with the MAPK kinaseinhibitor, PD-98059, significantly decreased BK-induced release of AA,a finding that, with our other results, points to the existence of aPKC-independent route for stimulation of MAPK and the propagation ofonset responses.

     

Valproic acid promotes differentiation of hepatocyte-like cells from whole human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are mesoderm-derived cells that are considered a good source of somatic cells for treatment of many degenerative diseases. Previous studies have reported the differentiation of mesodermal MSCs into endodermal and ectodermal cell types beyond their embryonic lineages, including hepatocytes and neurons. However, the molecular pathways responsible for the direct or indirect cell type conversion and the functional ability of the differentiated cells remain unclear and need further research. In the present study, we demonstrated that valproic acid (VPA), which is a histone deacetylase inhibitor, induced an increase in the expression of endodermal genes including CXCR4, SOX17, FOXA1, FOXA2, GSC, c-MET, EOMES, and HNF-1β in human umbilical cord derived MSCs (hUCMSCs). In addition, we found that VPA is able to increase these endodermal genes in hUCMSCs by activating signal transduction of AKT and ERK. VPA pretreatment increased hepatic differentiation at the expense of adipogenic differentiation. The effects of VPA on modulating hUCMSCs fate were diminished by blocking AKT and ERK activation using specific signaling inhibitors. Together, our results suggest that VPA contributes to the lineage conversion of hUCMSCs to hepatic cell fate by upregulating the expression of endodermal genes through AKT and ERK activation.     

Variable allelic expression of imprinted genes in human pluripotent stem cells during differentiation into specialized cell types in vitro

Genomic imprinting is an epigenetic phenomenon by which a subset of genes is asymmetrically expressed in a parent-of-origin manner. However, little is known regarding the epigenetic behaviors of imprinted genes during human development. Here, we show dynamic epigenetic changes in imprinted genes in hESCs during in vitro differentiation into specialized cell types. Out of 9 imprinted genes with single nucleotide polymorphisms, mono-allelic expression for three imprinted genes (H19, KCNQ1OT1, and IPW), and bi- or partial-allelic expression for three imprinted genes (OSBPL5, PPP1R9A, and RTL1) were stably retained in H9-hESCs throughout differentiation, representing imprinting stability. Three imprinted genes (KCNK9, ATP10A, and SLC22A3) showed a loss and a gain of imprinting in a lineage-specific manner during differentiation. Changes in allelic expression of imprinted genes were observed in another hESC line during in vitro differentiation. These findings indicate that the allelic expression of imprinted genes may be vulnerable in a lineage-specific manner in human pluripotent stem cells during differentiation.     

Requirement of the expression of 3-phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase for traversing S phase in murine T lymphocytes following immobilized anti-CD3 activation

Murine resting (G₀) T lymphocytes contained no detectable mRNA of 3-phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase (PHGDH) catalyzing the first step in the phosphorylated pathway of l-serine biosynthesis. Immobilized anti-CD3 activation of G₀ T cells expressed the PHGDH mRNA in G₁ with a maximum level in S phase. G₀ T cells activated with either immobilized anti-CD3 plus CsA or PBu₂, which failed to drive the activated T cells to enter S phase, did not express the PHGDH mRNA unless exogenous rIL-2 was added. Blocking of IL-2R signaling by adding anti-IL-2 and anti-IL-2Rα resulted in no expression of the PHGDH mRNA during immobilized anti-CD3 activation of G₀ T cells. Deprivation of l-serine from culture medium or addition of antisense PHGDH oligonucleotide significantly reduced [³H]TdR incorporation of activated T cells. These results indicate that the PHGDH gene expression, dictated by IL-2R signaling, is a crucial event for DNA synthesis during S phase of activated T cells.     

Antibacterial,anti-inflammatory and probiotic potential of Enterococcus hirae isolated from the rumen of Bos primigenius

In the present study bacterial strains were isolated from the rumen fluids of Bos primigenius and investigated their in vitro probiotic properties with potent antibacterial activity and anti-inflammatory effects. 9 g positive bacterial isolates were obtained and three isolates could able to tolerate gastric conditions, high bile salt concentrations and exhibited significant bactericidal effect against the enteric pathogens Vibrio cholera, Enterococcus faecalis, Enterobacter aerogens, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhi. Moreover it showed above 70 % cell surface hydrophobicity, significant low-invasion ability and potential adherence capacity in Caco-2 cells when compared with the control. The proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-α) was greatly reduced in rumen bacteria treatment and ARBS-1 modulate the immune response by activating the IL-4 secretion in parallel to TNF-α suppression. The 16s rRNA gene sequence of the active isolates were identified as Enterococcus hirae (ARBS-1), Pediococcus acidilactici (ARBS-4) and Bacillus licheniformis (ARBS-7). This study revealed the probiotic bactericidal properties of E. hirae obtained from the rumen of B. primigenius with potential antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects. Future studies with the strains may yield some novel probiotic product for livestock’s.