Intersection of mitochondrial fission and fusion machinery with apoptotic pathways: Role of Mcl‐1

Mitochondria actively contribute to apoptotic cell death through mechanisms including the loss of integrity of the outer mitochondrial membrane, the release of intermembrane space proteins, such as cytochrome c, in the cytosol and the caspase cascade activation. This process is the result of careful cooperation not only among members of the Bcl‐2 family but also dynamin‐related proteins. These events are often accompanied by fission of the organelle, thus linking mitochondrial dynamics to apoptosis. Emerging evidences are suggesting a fine regulation of mitochondrial morphology by Bcl‐2 family members and active participation of fission–fusion proteins in apoptosis. The debate whether in mitochondrial morphogenesis the role of Bcl‐2 family members is functionally distinct from their role in apoptosis is still open and, above all, which morphological changes are associated with cell death sensitisation. This review will cover the findings on how the mitochondrial fission and fusion machinery may intersect apoptotic pathways focusing on recent advances on the key role played by Mcl‐1.     

Synthesis and evaluation of naphthalene-based thiosemicarbazone derivatives as new anticancer agents against LNCaP prostate cancer cells

Fourteen new naphthalene-based thiosemicarbazone derivatives were designed as anticancer agents against LNCaP human prostate cancer cells and synthesized. MTT assay indicated that compounds 6, 8 and 11 exhibited inhibitory effect on LNCaP cells. Among these compounds, 4-(naphthalen-1-yl)-1-[1-(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethylidene)thiosemicarbazide (6), which caused more than 50% death on LNCaP cells, was chosen for flow cytometric analysis of apoptosis. Flow cytometric analysis pointed out that compound 6 also showed apoptotic effect on LNCaP cells. Compound 6 can be considered as a promising anticancer agent against LNCaP cells owing to its potent cytotoxic activity and apoptotic effect.     

Two different specific JNK activators are required to trigger apoptosis or compensatory proliferation in response to Rbf1 in Drosophila

The Jun Kinase (JNK) signaling pathway responds to diverse stimuli by appropriate and specific cellular responses such as apoptosis, differentiation or proliferation. The mechanisms that mediate this specificity remain largely unknown. The core of this signaling pathway, composed of a JNK protein and a JNK kinase (JNKK), can be activated by various putative JNKK kinases (JNKKK) which are themselves downstream of different adaptor proteins. A proposed hypothesis is that the JNK pathway specific response lies in the combination of a JNKKK and an adaptor protein upstream of the JNKK. We previously showed that the Drosophila homolog of pRb (Rbf1) and a mutant form of Rbf1 (Rbf1^D253A) have JNK-dependent pro-apoptotic properties. Rbf1^D253A is also able to induce a JNK-dependent abnormal proliferation. Here, we show that Rbf1-induced apoptosis triggers proliferation which depends on the JNK pathway activation. Taking advantage of these phenotypes, we investigated the JNK signaling involved in either Rbf1-induced apoptosis or in proliferation in response to Rbf1-induced apoptosis. We demonstrated that 2 different JNK pathways involving different adaptor proteins and kinases are involved in Rbf1-apoptosis (i.e. Rac1-dTak1-dMekk1-JNK pathway) and in proliferation in response to Rbf1-induced apoptosis (i.e., dTRAF1-Slipper-JNK pathway). Using a transient induction of rbf1, we show that Rbf1-induced apoptosis activates a compensatory proliferation mechanism which also depends on Slipper and dTRAF1. Thus, these 2 proteins seem to be key players of compensatory proliferation in Drosophila.     

miR-155对人椎间盘退变髓核细胞凋亡的作用及机制研究

目的:探讨mi R-155对人椎间盘退变髓核细胞凋亡的影响及其作用机制。方法:首先构建慢病毒表达载体,在293T细胞中获得重组慢病毒,然后感染椎间盘退变髓核细胞得到稳定过表达细胞系,同时设置空载体和空白细胞组对照。用荧光显微镜观察慢病毒载体的标签蛋白GFP的表达,分别提取三组细胞总RNA,采用RT-q PCR方法检测mi R-155的表达;通过流式细胞术检测细胞凋亡,Western-Blot检测细胞中凋亡相关蛋白FADD、Caspase-3、Bcl-2及Bax的表达,JC-1试剂盒检测细胞线粒体膜电位的变化情况。结果:在荧光显微镜下,经慢病毒感染的过表达细胞系和空载体细胞系均出现绿色荧光,而空白细胞组未见绿色荧光;RT-qPCR结果显示构建的稳定过表达细胞系(GV369-miR-155-NP)中mi R-155的表达水平较高,且与空载体细胞系及空白细胞对照组均呈显著性差异(P0.05);与空载体组(GV369-NP)及空白细胞对照组相比,过表达组(GV369-miR-155-NP)细胞凋亡率显著降低(P0.05),FADD、Caspase-3、Bax的表达水平均明显下降,而Bcl-2表达水平显著增加(P0.05)。结论:mi R-155可能通过靶向结合Caspase-3和FADD阻止FasL-Fas途径或通过线粒体途径抑制人椎间盘退变髓核细胞凋亡。     

PARP-1抑制剂3-AB对肝癌细胞增殖及凋亡的影响*

目的:探讨PARP-1抑制剂3-AB对肝癌细胞系MHCC97-H和SMMC7721及正常肝细胞系L02的增殖与凋亡的影响。方法:细胞增殖试验观察不同浓度3-AB对三种不同细胞系细胞的增殖作用。Annexin V荧光探针标记,流式细胞学检查观察不同浓度3-AB对不同细胞系细胞凋亡的影响。结果:当3-AB浓度分别为5 mM、10 mM与20 mM时,与对照组(0 mM)相比,在培养第6天时开始出现增殖明显减慢,出现统计学差异(p0.05),第九天差异明显(p0.05)。随着浓度增加,其对肿瘤细胞系MHCC97-H和SMMC7721细胞增殖的抑制程度增加,细胞数均逐渐减少;而同样浓度梯度3-AB对人类肝细胞系L02生长则无明显的抑制作用。进一步实验发现,当3-AB浓度为5mM、10 mM与20 mM时,均可诱导肝癌细胞株MHCC97-H和SMMC7721凋亡,与对照组(0 mM)比较均有统计学差异(p0.05),且细胞凋亡率与3-AB的药物浓度相关:浓度越高,凋亡越明显。而同等浓度3-AB对肝脏细胞系L02无明显的促进凋亡作用。结论:3-AB可以抑制肝癌肿瘤细胞的增殖,促进肿瘤细胞的凋亡,对正常肝脏细胞无明显毒害作用,具有治疗肝癌的的潜在应用价值。     

RACK1对硼替佐米诱导的多发性骨髓瘤细胞凋亡及MAPK/ERK通路的影响

目的:探讨蛋白激酶C受体(Receptor for activated C kinase1,RACK1)对硼替佐米(Bortezomi,Bor)诱导的多发性骨髓瘤(Multiple myeloma,MM)细胞凋亡及MAPK/ERK通路的影响。方法:选取6例岳阳市第一人民医院收治的MM患者及6名正常体检者,用实时荧光定量PCR检测血浆及人MM细胞系中RACK1 m RNA的表达。将MM细胞分为3组:对照组(不干预)、Bor组(75n M的Bor干预12 h)和Bor+siRACK1组(RACK1 si RNA转染24 h后再行Bor干预)。CCK-8法检测各组细胞中的细胞存活率,Hoechest 33342染色检测细胞凋亡,Western Blot检测MAPK/ERK通路相关蛋白表达。结果:与正常体检者相比,MM患者血浆及MM细胞系中RACK1 m RNA表达显著增加(P0.05)。Bor作用12 h、24 h和48 h可显著降低MM细胞的存活率(P0.05)。与对照组相比,Bor组和Bor+siRACK1组细胞存活率显著降低,Bor+siRACK1组细胞存活率明显高于Bor组(P0.05)。Hoechest 33342染色显示对照组细胞核染色均一,未见凋亡小体,Bor组见少量凋亡小体,而Bor+siRACK1组细胞见大量凋亡小体,表现为核固缩或碎块状;与对照组相比,Bor组和Bor+siRACK1组细胞中多发性骨髓瘤细胞凋亡率显著增加(P0.05),Bor+siRACK1组多发性骨髓瘤细胞凋亡率明显高于Bor组(P0.05)。三组间多发性骨髓瘤细胞凋亡率对比差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。与对照组相比,Bor组和Bor+siRACK1组细胞中p-P38和p-ERK的表达显著降低,而Bor+siRACK1组p-P38和p-ERK的表达低于Bor组(P0.05),3组间P38和ERK的表达对比差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:RACK1沉默可增强Bor诱导的MM细胞凋亡及生长抑制,其机制可能与MAPK/ERK途径抑制有关。     

17-AAG对大鼠颈总动脉球囊损伤后内膜增生的影响及其作用机制

目的:研究17-丙烯胺-17去甲氧格尔德霉素(17-Allylamino-17-emethoxy-geldanamycin, 17-AAG)对球囊损伤后大鼠颈总动脉内膜增生的影响及可能作用机制。方法:将清洁级雄性SD大鼠36只按照随机数字法分为假手术组(Sham组)12只、球囊损伤组(Balloon injury, BI组)12只及17-AAG治疗组(17-AAG组)12只。采用2F Fogarty球囊建立大鼠颈总动脉球囊损伤组模型,17-AAG治疗组大鼠在建模后腹腔注射17-AGG(20 mg/kg 2d)。各组大鼠于球囊损伤3周后取损伤段颈总动脉,通过HE染色观察血管内膜形态学改变并评估内膜增生情况,免疫组化染色(Immunohistochemical staining,IHS)法检测血管壁增殖细胞核抗原(Proliferating cell nuclear antigen,PCNA)的表达,评估血管平滑肌细胞的增殖情况。流式细胞术检测血管平滑肌细胞的凋亡情况。结果:BI组、17-AAG组大鼠球囊损伤后颈总动脉内膜出现不同程度增生,内膜/中膜面积比(Intima area/Membrane area,I/M)均较Sham组显著升高(P0.05);17-AAG组的I/M较BI组明显下降(P0.05)。BI组、17-AAG组颈总动脉PCNA表达水平较Sham组明显升高(P0.05),较BI组显著降低(P0.05)。BI组、17-AAG组大鼠血管平滑肌细胞凋亡率较Sham组显著升高(P0.05);17-AAG组大鼠血管平滑肌细胞凋亡程度较BI组明显升高(P0.05)。结论:17-AAG对球囊损伤后颈总动脉内膜增生存在抑制作用,其机制可能是通过提高血管平滑肌细胞凋亡率影响其增殖程度。     

乙醛脱氢酶2可减少氧化损伤诱导的心肌细胞凋亡

乙醛脱氢酶2 (aldehyde dehydrogenase 2, ALDH2)是线粒体特异性酶,已被证明参与氧化应激诱导的细胞凋亡,而在心肌细胞中的作用知之甚少。本研究旨在通过用特异性ALDH2抑制剂大豆苷抑制ALDH2活性来研究ALDH2在抗霉素A诱导的心肌细胞凋亡中的作用。应用抗霉素A和大豆苷诱导小鼠心肌细胞,然后测定ALDH2酶活性、细胞内活性氧(reactive oxy gen species, ROS)含量和细胞凋亡,应用RT-PCR和蛋白质印迹法(Western blotting)检测ALDH2 m RNA和蛋白表达。结果表明,抗霉素A (40μg/mL)可诱导新生心肌细胞凋亡,而大豆苷(50μmol/L)能有效地抑制ALDH2活性而对细胞凋亡没有影响,并且可显著增强抗霉素A诱导的心肌细胞凋亡(53.72%～71.33%, p<0.05)。与单独用抗霉素A处理的细胞相比,抗霉素A和大豆苷共处理的心肌细胞中活化的丝裂原活化蛋白激酶(mitogen-activated protein kinase, MAPK)信号传导途径(p38-MAPK)的磷酸化也显著增加。本研究初步表明,改变线粒体ALDH2活性可能是减少氧化损伤诱导的心肌细胞凋亡的潜在选择。     

FBXL10 regulates cardiac dysfunction in diabetic cardiomyopathy via the PKC β2 pathway

Diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a condition associated with significant structural changes including cardiac tissue necrosis, localized fibrosis, and cardiomyocyte hypertrophy. This study sought to assess whether and how FBXL10 can attenuate DCM using a rat streptozotocin (STZ)‐induced DCM model system. In the current study, we found that FBXL10 expression was significantly decreased in diabetic rat hearts. FBXL10 protected cells from high glucose (HG)‐induced inflammation, oxidative stress, and apoptosis in vitro. In addition, FBXL10 significantly activated PKC β2 signaling pathway in H9c2 cells and rat model. The cardiomyocyte‐specific overexpression of FBXL10 at 12 weeks after the initial STZ administration attenuated oxidative stress and inflammation, thereby reducing cardiomyocyte death and preserving cardiac function in these animals. Moreover, FBXL10 protected against DCM via activation of the PKC β2 pathway. In conclusion, FBXL has the therapeutic potential for the treatment of DCM.