JNK相互作用蛋白通过JNK途径影响鼻咽癌的增殖和凋亡

EB病毒编码的瘤蛋白潜伏膜蛋白（LMP1）所介导的活化蛋白（AP-1）信号转导途径在细胞增殖、分化、转化与凋亡方面发挥着重要作用.越来越多的证据表明,AP-1信号转导通路中上游激酶JNK在鼻咽癌的发生发展过程中起着重要作用.最近克隆出来的JNK相互作用蛋白(JIP-1)是一种能抑制JNK核移位的胞浆锚蛋白.为探讨JIP在LMP1调控AP-1信号通路中的作用机制,采用间接免疫荧光法和报告基因法,发现JIP通过有效地抑制磷酸化的JNK从胞浆移位入核,从而抑制LMP1上调的AP-1活性.同时,JIP导入鼻咽癌细胞中,MTT法发现JIP能够明显抑制鼻咽癌细胞的生长.进一步发现转染JIP后细胞的集落形成率与对照组相比大约降低了53.6%,也抑制了细胞. 提示JIP可明显抑制细胞的增殖作用.进一步采用流式细胞术分析,结果发现JIP引起细胞G1/S期细胞阻滞,说明JIP是抑制细胞增殖的重要调节子.进一步采用流式细胞术定量发现,转染JIP后细胞的24 h凋亡百分率由1.25%上升到8.25%,上升约6.6倍,48 h由1.04%上升到31.45%,上升约30倍. 采用激光共聚焦显微镜发现,转染JIP后细胞核发生显著变化,核质由均匀状态固缩成高凝集状态,形成了典型的胞膜体.提示JIP可有效地促进细胞凋亡.结果表明,JIP可通过抑制活化的JNK核移位,降低LMP1所介导的AP-1信号通路.并进一步发现JIP可有效地抑制细胞增殖和细胞凋亡,从而提示JIP可作为新的治疗肿瘤潜在靶分子.     

Collagen peptides modulate the metabolism of extracellular matrix by human dermal fibroblasts derived from sun‐protected and sun‐exposed body sites

Clinical data published in recent years have demonstrated positive effects of collagen hydrolysate (CH) on skin aging clinical signs. CH use as food supplement has a long history; however, few studies have addressed the underlying purpose of CH on the cellular and molecular biology of skin cells that could elucidate clinical improvement findings. Wide diversity of characteristics has been reported for dermal fibroblasts derived from different body sites and it is unknown whether collagen peptides could modulate differently cells from chronological aged and photoaged skin areas. This study investigated the influence of CH on the extracellular matrix metabolism and proliferation of human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs) derived from chronological aged (sun‐protected) and photoaged (sun‐exposed) body sites. CH treatment did not affect cellular proliferation of either cell cultures, but notably modulated cell metabolism in monolayer model, increasing the content of dermal matrix precursor and main protein, procollagen I and collagen I, respectively. These effects were confirmed in the human dermal equivalent model. The increase in collagen content in the cultures was attributed to stimulation of biosynthesis and decreased collagen I metabolism through inhibition of metalloproteinase activity (MMP) 1 and 2. Modulation of CH in dermal metabolism did not differ between cells derived from sun‐protected and sun‐exposed areas, although lower concentrations of CH seemed to be enough to stimulate sun‐exposed‐derived HDFs, suggesting more pronounced effect in these cells. This study contributes to understanding the biological effects of CH on skin cells and viability of its use as a functional ingredient in food supplements.     

Hydroxy methoxy benzaldehyde from Sesbania grandilfora inhibits the advanced glycation end products (AGEs)-mediated fibrillation in hemoglobin

The present study was aimed to identify the active anti-glycation constituent from the leaves of Sesbania grandiflora. Characterization of the active constituent resulted in the identification of hydroxy methoxy benzaldehyde (HMB). The potential of HMB as anti-glycation lead was analyzed by fluorescence spectroscopy, fluorescence microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and molecular interaction studies. Our results suggested that HMB inhibited formation of early (HbA₁c) and advanced glycation end products (AGEs). The amyloid-like fibrillation in hemoglobin was also inhibited by HMB. SEM images indicated the protective effect against the formation of acanthocytes. Molecular docking studies showed that HMB was interacting with hemoglobin through hydrogen bonds with Arg141, Tyr140, and Thr137. Our findings suggest that HMB could be a better anti-glycation lead molecule towards novel AGEs inhibitors.     

PHLDA1 (pleckstrin homology-like domain,family A,member 1) knockdown promotes migration and invasion of MCF10A breast epithelial cells

PHLDA1 (pleckstrin homology-like domain, family A, member 1) is a multifunctional protein that plays distinct roles in several biological processes including cell death and therefore its altered expression has been identified in different types of cancer. Progressively loss of PHLDA1 was found in primary and metastatic melanoma while its overexpression was reported in intestinal and pancreatic tumors. Previous work from our group showed that negative expression of PHLDA1 protein was a strong predictor of poor prognosis for breast cancer disease. However, the function of PHLDA1 in mammary epithelial cells and the tumorigenic process of the breast is unclear. To dissect PHLDA1 role in human breast epithelial cells, we generated a clone of MCF10A cells with stable knockdown of PHLDA1 and performed functional studies. To achieve reduced PHLDA1 expression we used shRNA plasmid transfection and then changes in cell morphology and biological behavior were assessed. We found that PHLDA1 downregulation induced marked morphological alterations in MCF10A cells, such as changes in cell-to-cell adhesion pattern and cytoskeleton reorganization. Regarding cell behavior, MCF10A cells with reduced expression of PHLDA1 showed higher proliferative rate and migration ability in comparison with control cells. We also found that MCF10A cells with PHLDA1 knockdown acquired invasive properties, as evaluated by transwell Matrigel invasion assay and showed enhanced colony-forming ability and irregular growth in low attachment condition. Altogether, our results indicate that PHLDA1 downregulation in MCF10A cells leads to morphological changes and a more aggressive behavior.     

Methylparaben induces malformations and alterations on apoptosis,oxidant–antioxidant status,ccnd1 and myca expressions in zebrafish embryos

Methylparabens (MP) are widely used as preservatives in cosmetics, pharmacy, and food industry. Although acute toxicity studies in animals indicated that parabens are not significantly toxic, the effects of chronic exposure under sublethal doses are still unknown and the number of related studies is limited. Our aim was to evaluate the effects of MP on the development of zebrafish embryos focusing on development, locomotor activity, oxidant–antioxidant status, apoptosis, and ccnd1 and myca expressions. The expressions of ccnd1 and myca were determined by RT‐PCR. Lipid peroxidation (LPO), nitric oxide (NO), and glutathione‐S‐transferase (GST) activities were determined spectrophotometrically. Apoptosis was determined using acridine orange staining. Locomotor activity was measured using touch‐evoked movement test. MP exposure increased malformations, LPO, apoptosis, ccnd1 and myca expressions, and decreased GST activities and NO levels compared with the control group. Our findings will lead to further understanding of the mechanism of MP toxicity, and merit further research.     

Fasting up‐regulates ferroportin 1 expression via a Ghrelin/GHSR/MAPK signaling pathway

The significant positive correlation between ghrelin and iron and hepcidin levels in the plasma of children with iron deficiency anemia prompted us to hypothesize that ghrelin may affect iron metabolism. Here, we investigated the effects of fasting or ghrelin on the expression of hepcidin, ferroportin 1 (Fpn1), transferrin receptor 1 (TfR1), ferritin light chain (Ft‐L) proteins, and ghrelin, and also hormone secretagogue receptor 1 alpha (GHSR1α) and ghrelin O‐acyltransferase (GOAT) mRNAs in the spleen and/or macrophage. We demonstrated that fasting induces a significant increase in the expression of ghrelin, GHSR1α, GOAT, and hepcidin mRNAs, as well as Ft‐L and Fpn1 but not TfR1 proteins in the spleens of mice in vivo. Similar to the effects of fasting on the spleen, ghrelin induced a significant increase in the expression of Ft‐L and Fpn1 but not TfR1 proteins in macrophages in vitro. In addition, ghrelin was found to induce a significant enhancement in phosphorylation of ERK as well as translocation of pERK from the cytosol to nuclei. Furthermore, the increased pERK and Fpn1 induced by ghrelin was demonstrated to be preventable by pre‐treatment with either GHSR1α antagonist or pERK inhibitor. Our findings support the hypothesis that fasting upregulates Fpn1 expression, probably via a ghrelin/GHSR/MAPK signaling pathway.     

Atp1a3‐deficient heterozygous mice show lower rank in the hierarchy and altered social behavior

Atp1a3 is the Na‐pump alpha3 subunit gene expressed mainly in neurons of the brain. Atp1a3‐deficient heterozygous mice (Atp1a3^+/?) show altered neurotransmission and deficits of motor function after stress loading. To understand the function of Atp1a3 in a social hierarchy, we evaluated social behaviors (social interaction, aggression, social approach and social dominance) of Atp1a3^+/? and compared the rank and hierarchy structure between Atp1a3^+/? and wild‐type mice within a housing cage using the round‐robin tube test and barbering observations. Formation of a hierarchy decreases social conflict and promote social stability within the group. The hierarchical rank is a reflection of social dominance within a cage, which is heritable and can be regulated by specific genes in mice. Here we report: (1) The degree of social interaction but not aggression was lower in Atp1a3^+/? than wild‐type mice, and Atp1a3^+/? approached Atp1a3^+/? mice more frequently than wild type. (2) The frequency of barbering was lower in the Atp1a3^+/? group than in the wild‐type group, while no difference was observed in the mixed‐genotype housing condition. (3) Hierarchy formation was not different between Atp1a3^+/? and wild type. (4) Atp1a3^+/? showed a lower rank in the mixed‐genotype housing condition than that in the wild type, indicating that Atp1a3 regulates social dominance. In sum, Atp1a3^+/? showed unique social behavior characteristics of lower social interaction and preference to approach the same genotype mice and a lower ranking in the hierarchy.