拉西地平对高温高湿应激大鼠血管平滑肌细胞GRP78 和CHOP 表达的影响

目的:探讨钙离子拮抗剂拉西地平对高温高湿应激大鼠血管平滑肌细胞内内质网应激相关因子葡萄糖调节蛋白78(glucose-regulated protein of 78kD,GRP78)和C/EBP环磷酸腺苷反应元件结合转录因子同源蛋白(CAAT/enhancer binding protein homologous protein,CHOP)表达的影响。方法:将60只雄性SD大鼠随机分为对照组、高温高湿组、拉西地平组,每组20只。按实验时间(2w、4w、6w、8w)的不同,各组又分为4个亚组,每个亚组5只大鼠。用颈动脉插管法测定各组大鼠的平均动脉压(MAP);用免疫组织化学法检测GRP78和CHOP的表达水平。结果:①高温高湿各组的MAP随着实验时间的延长呈逐渐递增的趋势,高温高湿4w、6w、8w亚组的MAP均显著高于相应的对照组和拉西地平组(P<0.05)。②随着实验时间的延长,高温高湿组GRP78表达量不断增加,6w达到最大值,8w表达减弱。高温高湿4w、6w、8w亚组GRP78表达量均高于相应对照组和拉西地平组,有显著性差异(P<0.05)。③高温高湿组2w、4w、6w、8w亚组CHOP表达量组间比较有显著性差异(P<0.05),8w亚组表达达到最高值;高温高湿组6w、8w亚组与相应对照组和拉西地平组比较有显著性差异(P<0.05)。结论:高温高湿应激可引起血管平滑肌细胞内质网应激反应,导致GRP78表达及CHOP表达的不对称增加,提示高温高湿应激可引起血管平滑肌细胞的损害;拉西地平可以减轻内质网应激,逆转高温高湿应激所致的血管平滑肌细胞的损伤作用,对血管平滑肌细胞有保护作用。     

Amino acids as regulators of gene expression: molecular mechanisms

Regulation of gene expression by nutrients in mammals is an important mechanism allowing them to adapt their physiological functions according to the supply of nutrient in the diet. It has been shown recently that amino acids are able to regulate by themselves the expression of numerous genes. CHOP, asparagine synthetase, and IGFBP-1 regulation following AA starvation will be described in this review with special interest in the molecular mechanisms involved.     

ERK/ribosomal S6 kinase (RSK) signaling positively regulates death receptor 5 expression through co-activation of CHOP and Elk1

Death receptor 5 (DR5) is a death domain-containing transmembrane receptor that triggers apoptosis upon binding to its ligand or when overexpressed. Its expression is induced by certain small molecule drugs, including celecoxib, through mechanisms that have not been fully elucidated. The current study has revealed a novel ERK/ribosomal S6 kinase (RSK)-dependent mechanism that regulates DR5 expression primarily using celecoxib as a DR5 inducer. Both C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP) and Elk1 are required for celecoxib-induced DR5 expression based on promoter deletion and mutation analysis and siRNA-mediated gene silencing results. Co-expression of both CHOP and Elk1 exhibited enhanced effects on increasing DR5 promoter activity and DR5 expression, indicating that CHOP and Elk1 co-operatively regulate DR5 expression. Because Elk1 is an ERK-regulated protein, we accordingly found that celecoxib increased the levels of phosphorylated ERK1/2, RSK2, and Elk1. Inhibition of either ERK signaling with a MEK inhibitor or ERK1/2 siRNA, or RSK2 signaling with an RSK2 inhibitor or RSK2 siRNA abrogated DR5 up-regulation by celecoxib as well as other agents. Moreover, these inhibitions suppressed celecoxib-induced CHOP up-regulation. Thus, ERK/RSK-dependent, CHOP and Elk1-mediated mechanisms are critical for DR5 induction. Additionally, celecoxib increased CHOP promoter activity in an ATF4-dependent manner, and siRNA-mediated blockade of ATF4 abrogated both CHOP induction and DR5 up-regulation, indicating that ATF4 is involved in celecoxib-induced CHOP and DR5 expression. Collectively, we conclude that small molecules such as celecoxib induce DR5 expression through activating ERK/RSK signaling and subsequent Elk1 activation and ATF4-dependent CHOP induction.     

Sterculic acid antagonizes 7-ketocholesterol-mediated inflammation and inhibits choroidal neovascularization

Sterculic acid is a cyclopropene fatty acid with numerous biological activities. In this study we demonstrate that sterculic acid is a potent inhibitor of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and related inflammation caused by 7-ketocholesterol (7KCh). 7KCh is a highly toxic oxysterol suspected in the pathogenesis of various age-related diseases such as atherosclerosis, Alzheimer's disease and age-related macular degeneration. Sterculic acid demonstrated to be 5-10 times more effective than other anti-inflammatory fatty acids at inhibiting 7KCh-mediated inflammatory responses in cultured cells. In vivo, sterculic acid was effective at inhibiting the formation of choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in the laser-injury rat model. Our data suggests that sterculic acid may be useful in treating CNV in certain forms of age-related macular degeneration.     

Endoplasmic reticulum stress mediating downregulated StAR and 3-beta-HSD and low plasma testosterone caused by hypoxia is attenuated by CPU86017-RS and nifedipine

Background  

Hypoxia exposure initiates low serum testosterone levels that could be attributed to downregulated androgen biosynthesizing genes such as StAR (steroidogenic acute regulatory protein) and 3-beta-HSD (3-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase) in the testis. It was hypothesized that these abnormalities in the testis by hypoxia are associated with oxidative stress and an increase in chaperones of endoplasmic reticulum stress (ER stress) and ER stress could be modulated by a reduction in calcium influx. Therefore, we verify that if an application of CPU86017-RS (simplified as RS, a derivative to berberine) could alleviate the ER stress and depressed gene expressions of StAR and 3-beta-HSD, and low plasma testosterone in hypoxic rats, these were compared with those of nifedipine.     

Endoplasmic reticulum stress induces inverse regulations of major functions in portal myofibroblasts during liver fibrosis progression

Portal myofibroblasts (PMF) form a sub-population of highly proliferative and proangiogenic liver myofibroblasts that derive from portal mesenchymal progenitors. Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress was previously shown to modulate fibrogenesis, notably in the liver. Our aim was to determine if ER stress occurred in PMF and affected their functions. PMF were obtained after their expansion in vivo from bile duct-ligated (BDL) rats and referred to as BDL PMF. Compared to standard PMF obtained from normal rats, BDL PMF were more myofibroblastic, as assessed by higher alpha-smooth muscle actin expression and collagen 1 production. Their proangiogenic properties were also higher, whereas their proliferative and migratory capacities were lower. CHOP expression was detected in the liver of BDL rats, at the leading edge of portal fibrosis where PMF accumulate. BDL PMF displayed ER dilatation and an overexpression of the PERK pathway downstream targets, Chop, Gadd34 and Trb3, in comparison with standard PMF. In vitro, the induction of ER stress by tunicamycin in standard PMF, caused a decrease in their proliferative and migratory activity, and an increase in their proangiogenic activity, without affecting their myofibroblastic differentiation. Conversely, the treatment of BDL PMF with the PERK inhibitor GSK2656157 reduced ER stress, which caused a decrease in their angiogenic properties, and restored their proliferative and migratory capacity. In conclusion, PMF develop ER stress as they expand with the progression of fibrosis, which further increases their proangiogenic activity, but also inhibits their proliferation and migration. This phenotypic switch may restrict PMF expansion while they support angiogenesis.