肺癌中PI3K／AKT信号通路对Skp2调控机制的研究

目的探讨肺癌中磷脂酰肌醇-3-激酶（P13K）／AKT信号通路对S期激酶相关蛋白2（Skp2）的调控机制。方法体外培养4种类型肺癌细胞系H460、LK2、H446和A549,经LY294002处理细胞24h后实时RT—PCR法检测Skp2基因表达变化;Westernblot检测E2F1蛋白表达变化。结果实时RT—PCR显示LY294002作用后4种肺肿瘤细胞系中skp2基因表达均下降;Westernblot结果表明在小细胞肺癌、肺鳞癌、大细胞肺癌中E2F1蛋白表达降低,肺腺癌中E2F1蛋白未表达。结论肺癌中P13K／AKT通路可在转录水平调节Skp2表达,在小细胞肺癌、肺鳞癌、大细胞肺癌中此种调节可能通过转录因子E2F1发挥作用,而肺腺癌中E2F1不参与此种调节。     

PI3K/Akt/FoxO1信号通路对人源肺动脉平滑肌细胞及肺动脉高压大鼠细胞凋亡的影响

目的 探究磷脂酰肌醇3-激酶(PI3K)/蛋白激酶B(Akt)/叉头框蛋白O1(FoxO1)信号通路对人源肺动脉平滑肌细胞(hPASMC)及肺动脉高压大鼠细胞凋亡的影响。方法 细胞实验部分,将hPASMC分为4组：(1)空白对照组;(2)血小板源性生长因子-BB(PDGF-BB)组;(3)PDGF-BB+LY294002组;(4)PDGF-BB+紫杉醇(paclitaxel)组。采用TUNEL检测细胞凋亡,采用蛋白质印迹法检测Bcl-2、裂解的胱天蛋白酶-3(cleaved caspase-3)和PI3K/Akt/FoxO1信号通路相关蛋白表达水平。动物实验部分,将12只SD大鼠随机分为4组：(1)空白对照组;(2)野百合碱(MCT)组;(3)MCT+LY294002组;(4)MCT+paclitaxel组。采用Western blot检测Bcl-2、cleaved caspase-3和PI3K/Akt/FoxO1信号通路相关蛋白表达水平。结果 细胞实验部分：相比于PDGF-BB组,PDGF-BB+LY294002组与PDGF-BB+paclitaxel组的Bcl-2表达水平下降(P&...     

联合抑制Notch和PI3K/Akt通路对胃癌细胞增殖的影响

目的初步探讨Notch和PI3K/Akt信号通路在胃癌细胞SGC-7901中是否存在交叉作用。方法应用Notch信号通路的抑制剂GSI和PI3K/Akt信号通路的抑制剂LY294002分别单独和联合处理体外培养的胃癌SGC-7901细胞,以无药物处理的细胞作为对照组。MTT法检测癌细胞的增殖抑制率,Western blotting法检测磷酸化Akt(p-Akt)和Notch-1蛋白的表达水平。结果 GSI能抑制癌细胞的增殖(53.56±2.04)%,并降低蛋白Notch-1的表达水平,而p-Akt的表达水平则较对照组增加。LY294002能抑制癌细胞的增殖(42.93±1.64)%,并降低p-Akt的表达水平,Notch-1水平则无明显变化,两种信号通路的抑制剂联合应用后能明显降低癌细胞的增殖率[(86.01±2.02)%,P=0.00],p-Akt和Notch-1蛋白的表达水平均降低。结论在抑制Notch信号通路的基础上,抑制PI3K/Akt通路可进一步增强抑制Notch通路的抗肿瘤增殖效果,并提示PI3K/Akt和Notch两条信号通路在胃癌SGC-7901细胞中存在交叉作用。     

过表达miR-150通过PI3K/AKT信号通路调控结直肠癌细胞凋亡的机制研究

目的探讨过表达miR-150通过磷脂酰肌醇-3-羟激酶/丝苏氨酸蛋白激酶(phosphatidylinositol 3-hydroxykinase/seronine kinase,PI3K/AKT)信号通路调控结直肠癌细胞凋亡的机制。方法将体外培养HT-29细胞分为空白对照组(转染空脂质体) NC组(转染mimic)和miR-150(转染miR-150 mimic);采用RT-PCR检测转染后细胞中miR-150 mRNA水平; CCK-8法检测细胞增殖;流式细胞仪检测细胞凋亡; WB法检测Cleaved caspase3、PI3K、p-PI3K、AKT、p-AKT蛋白表达。将对数生长期HT-29分为阴性对照组、miR-150组、LY294002组和LY294002+miR-150组,采用PI3K抑制剂验证LY294002在HT-29细胞凋亡中的作用。结果与空白对照组和NC组相比,miR-150组细胞中miR-150 mRNA水平明显升高(P 0. 05),24 h、48 h、72 h和96h的细胞抑制率明显升高(P 0. 05),细胞凋亡率明显升高(P 0. 05),Bcl-2/Bax、p-PI3K/PI3K和p-Akt/Akt蛋白的表达明显降低(P 0. 05),cleaved Caspase-3蛋白的表达明显升高(P 0. 05);与阴性对照组相比,miR-150组和LY294002组p-Akt/Akt和Bcl-2/Bax蛋白表达均明显降低(P 0. 05),cleaved Caspase-3蛋白表达明显升高(P 0. 05);与miR-150组相比,LY294002+miR-150组p-Akt/Akt和Bcl-2/Bax蛋白表达均明显升高(P 0. 05),cleaved Caspase-3蛋白表达明显降低(P 0. 05)。结论 miR-150过表达可能通过负调控PI3K/AKT信号通路抑制人结直肠癌细胞的增殖,促进其凋亡。     

抑制PI3K/Akt/mTOR信号通路对兔原代巨噬细胞自体吞噬的影响及机制

目的 探讨抑制PI3K/Akt/mTOR信号通路对兔原代巨噬细胞自体吞噬中的影响。方法 分离培养纯种新西兰兔腹腔原代巨噬细胞并分为4组,加入磷脂酰肌醇3激酶（PI3K）抑制剂LY294002（10 μmol/L）组、哺乳动物雷帕霉素靶蛋白（mTOR）抑制剂雷帕霉素（10 nmol/L）组、蛋白激酶B（Akt）抑制剂曲西立滨组（20 μmol/L）以及空白对照组。共培养4 h、12 h后分别收集细胞,运用透射电镜观察巨噬细胞自噬体的变化,细胞免疫荧光法检测微管相关蛋白轻链3Ⅱ（LC3Ⅱ）分子的表达,Western blot检测 Akt、mTOR、磷酸化Akt（p-Akt）、磷酸化mTOR（p-mTOR）及自噬相关蛋白Beclin-1和自噬蛋白Atg5-Atg12连接体的表达,单丹酰尸胺（MDC）染色法观察自噬溶酶体的变化。结果 与空白对照组相比,透射电镜下LY294002组自噬体、自噬空泡、髓磷脂图像等自噬标记物明显减少,雷帕霉素组、曲西立滨组明显增多;激光共聚焦显微镜下LY294002组LC3Ⅱ表达显著减少,雷帕霉素组、曲西立滨组表达显著增多;Western blot结果显示LY294002组Beclin-1及Atg5-Atg12蛋白表达水平显著下降,p-mTOR、p-Akt蛋白表达显著减少;雷帕霉素组、曲西立滨组Beclin-1及Atg5-Atg12蛋白表达水平明显上调,共培养4 h后p-Akt表达增多,雷帕霉素组p-mTOR表达增多,曲西立滨组减少;共培养12 h后雷帕霉素组、曲西立滨组p-mTOR表达显著减少,雷帕霉素组p-Akt表达显著增多,曲西立滨组显著减少;MDC染色显示LY294002组自噬溶酶体明显减少,雷帕霉素组、曲西立滨组明显增多。结论 抑制PI3K/Akt/mTOR信号通路能促进兔原代巨噬细胞自体吞噬,抑制PI3K能减少兔原代巨噬细胞自体吞噬,可能是不同类型的PI3K分子通过其他通路起作用。     

抑制PI3K/AKt信号通路对帕金森病炎症细胞模型反应的影响

目的探讨LY294002(LY)抑制磷脂酰肌醇-3-激酶(PI3K)/蛋白激酶B(AKt)信号通路后对帕金森病(PD)细胞模型中炎症反应的影响。方法体外培养小鼠小胶质瘤细胞(BV2),分为对照组、脂多糖(LPS)组、LY+LPS组及LY组。LPS刺激BV2细胞来诱导炎症反应,运用Western印迹检测PI3K/AKt信号通路标志物磷酸化(p)-AKt蛋白表达情况;LY抑制PI3K/AKt信号通路后,运用荧光定量PCR (Q-PCR)检测炎症因子白细胞介素(IL)-1β、肿瘤坏死因子(TNF)-α的mRNA的表达情况,Western印迹检测诱导型一氧化氮合酶(iNOS)蛋白表达情况。结果与对照组相比,LPS组p-AKt蛋白表达显著下降(P0.01);与LPS组相比,LY+LPS组p-AKt蛋白下降更明显(P0.01);与对照组相比,LPS组IL-1β、TNF-αmRNA及iNOS蛋白表达均显著升高(均P0.01);与LPS组相比,LY+LPS组中IL-1β和TNF-αmRNA及iNOS蛋白表达均显著下降(均P0.01)。结论 LY抑制PI3K/AKt信号通路对BV2细胞中的LPS诱导的炎症反应有一定的抑制作用。     

铜绿假单胞菌注射液对肺癌A549细胞自噬及PI3 K/Akt通路的影响

目的探究铜绿假单胞菌注射液(PA-MSHA)对肺癌A549细胞自噬及磷脂酰肌醇-3激酶(PI3K)/蛋白激酶B(Akt)通路的影响。方法体外培养人肺癌A549细胞,随机分为空白对照组、LY294002组(加入20μmol/L LY294002),PA-MSHA干预组(加入0.5×10^9/mL、1.0×10^9/mL、2.0×10^9/mL PA-MSHA)。干预培养48 h后,MTT法检测各组细胞活性,平板克隆形成实验检测各组细胞增殖能力,透射电子显微镜观察各组细胞自噬情况,Western blot检测各组细胞中自噬相关蛋白p62、LC3Ⅰ、LC3Ⅱ及PI3K/Akt通路相关蛋白PI3K、Akt、p-PI3K、p-Akt表达。结果与空白对照组相比,LY294002组、0.5×10^9/mL、1.0×10^9/mL、2.0×10^9/mL PA-MSHA组细胞增殖抑制率、LC3Ⅱ/LC3Ⅰ蛋白表达显著升高(P<0.05),自噬体个数增加,细胞克隆形成率、p62、p-PI3K/PI3K、p-Akt/Akt蛋白表达显著降低(P<0.05);与LY294002组相比,0.5×10^9/mL、1.0×10^9/mL PA-MSHA组细胞增殖抑制率、LC3Ⅱ/LC3Ⅰ蛋白表达显著降低(P<0.05),自噬体个数减少,细胞克隆形成率、p62、p-PI3K/PI3K、p-Akt/Akt蛋白表达显著升高(P<0.05);与0.5×10^9/mL、1.0×10^9/mL PA-MSHA组相比,2.0×10^9/mL PA-MSHA组细胞增殖抑制率、LC3Ⅱ/LC3Ⅰ蛋白表达显著升高(P<0.05),自噬体个数增加,细胞克隆形成率、p62、p-PI3K/PI3K、p-Akt/Akt蛋白表达显著降低(P<0.05)。结论PA-MSHA可能通过调控PI3K/Akt信号通路,促进肺癌A549细胞自噬,抑制细胞增殖。     

PI3K／Akt信号通路在骨髓间充质干细胞增殖及成骨分化调控中的作用

目的：研究PI3K/Akt信号通路抑制剂LY294002对骨髓间充质干细胞（mesenchymal stem cells,MSCs）增殖及分化的影响。方法采用贴壁法体外分离人骨髓间充质干细胞（hMSCs）,加入PI3K抑制剂LY294002（1、10μmol/L）,应用MTT法测定细胞增殖,常规成骨诱导分化培养3或7d,采用碱性磷酸酶（ALP）染色观察成骨分化水平,化学比色法测定ALP活性,茜素红染色后观察矿化钙结节数量并定量分析,Westernblot检测磷酸化Akt蛋白表达,应用Realtime-PCR检测各组细胞BMP2、Runx2、OPN及Osterix等成骨分化标记物的基因表达水平。结果从24至72h,LY294002对hMSCs增殖均产生显著抑制,随时间推延,可见抑制增殖效果增强（P＜0.05）。ALP染色和定量测定提示10μmol/L的ALP活性最强,在不同时间显著高于对照组和1μmol/L组（P＜0.05）。成骨诱导培养3和7d,1、10μmol/L组矿化量都显著高于对照组（P＜0.05）。10μmol/L组矿化量在成骨诱导7d也显著高于1μmol/L组（P＜0.05）。Westernblot检测结果证实成骨诱导可激活Akt磷酸化蛋白表达,但LY294002可抑制该蛋白磷酸化。成骨诱导分化7d,1、10μmol/L均明显促进BMP2、Runx2、OPN、Osterix4种基因mRNA表达（均P＜0.05）。结论PI3K/Akt信号通路参与hMSCs增殖和分化过程。成骨分化伴随下游Akt蛋白表达。PI3K抑制剂可抑制hMSCs增殖,但同时促进其向成骨分化和矿化。     

巨噬细胞游走抑制因子通过PI3K／Akt信号通路调控人结肠癌细胞株HT-29增殖和血管生成因子表达

背景：巨噬细胞游走抑制因子（MIF）是-种多功能细胞因子,其在结直肠癌发生、发展中的作用机制尚不明确。目的：探讨MIF是否通过P13K／Akt信号通路调控人结肠癌细胞增殖和血管生成因子表达。方法：人结肠癌细胞株HT-29分为对照组（RPMI-1640）、重组人MIF（rhMIF）组、PI3K抑制剂LY294002组和LY294002预处理联合rhMIF组,并予相应干预。以甲基噻唑基四唑（MTT）法检测HT-29细胞增殖状态,分别以逆转录聚合酶链反应（RT-PCR）和酶联免疫吸附测定（ELISA）检测血管内皮生长因子（VEGF）、白细胞介素-8（IL-8）mRNA表达和蛋白分泌,蛋白质印迹法检测Akt和磷酸化Akt（p—Akt）蛋白表达。结果：rhMIF对HT-29细胞具有促增殖作用,能增加细胞VEGF、IL-8 mRNA表达和蛋白分泌,并促进Akt蛋白磷酸化（P＜0．05）;而先予LY294002预处理可显著抑制rhMIF的上述作用．HT-29细胞增殖显著受抑（P＜0．05）,VEGF、IL-8mRNA表达、蛋白分泌以及p-Akt蛋白水平与对照组相比无明显差异。各组总Akt蛋白水平均无明显差异。结论：MIF诱导人结肠癌细胞增殖和血管生成因子表达可能是通过活化PI3K／Akt信号通路实现的。     

蛋白激酶B信号通路的干预在慢性脑低灌注大鼠中的作用及对海马细胞凋亡的影响

目的探讨蛋白激酶B/糖原合成酶激酶3β(Akt/GSK3β)信号通路是否参与慢性脑低灌注(CCH)大鼠海马细胞凋亡过程。方法选择SD大鼠60只,随机分为假手术组、CCH组、LY294002组、胰岛素样生长因子1(IGF-1)组,每组15只,后3组制作大鼠CCH模型,LY294002组和IGF-1组分别以抑制剂LY294002及激动剂IGF-1进行干预。采用TUNEL检测海马细胞凋亡;Western blot法检测Akt、GSK3β、磷酸化Akt(P-Akt)和磷酸化GSK3β(P-GSK3β)表达。结果与假手术组比较,CCH组、LY294002组及IGF-1组细胞凋亡水平均升高(P<0.05);与CCH组比较,LY294002组细胞凋亡数明显增高(20.33±1.52 vs 15.00±1.00,P<0.05),而IGF-1组细胞凋亡数降低(12.00±1.73 vs 15.00±1.00,P<0.05)。与假手术比较,CCH组和IGF-1组P-Akt,P-GSK3β均明显增高(P<0.05),而LY294002组无明显变化(P>0.05);与CCH组比较,IGF-1组P-Akt,P-GSK3β表达量均升高(P<0.05);LY294002组均降低(P<0.05)。结论 Akt/GSK3β信号通路参与CCH大鼠海马细胞凋亡过程,上调该通路Akt与GSK3β这2种蛋白的磷酸化表达水平,可能是拮抗这种细胞凋亡方式之一。     

ErbB-3 mediates phosphoinositide 3-kinase activity in gefitinib-sensitive non-small cell lung cancer cell lines

Therapies that target the EGF receptor (EGFR), such as gefitinib (IRESSA), are effective in a subset of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The differences in intracellular signaling networks between gefitinib-sensitive and -resistant NSCLCs remain poorly understood. In this study, we observe that gefitinib reduces phospho-Akt levels only in NSCLC cell lines in which it inhibits growth. To elucidate the mechanism underlying this observation, we compared immunoprecipitates of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) between gefitinib-sensitive and -resistant NSCLC cell lines. We observe that PI3K associates with ErbB-3 exclusively in gefitinib-sensitive NSCLC cell lines. Gefitinib dissociates this complex, thereby linking EGFR inhibition to decreased Akt activity. In contrast, gefitinib-resistant cells do not use ErbB-3 to activate the PI3K/Akt pathway. In fact, abundant ErbB-3 expression is detected only in gefitinib-sensitive NSCLC cell lines. Two gefitinib-sensitive NSCLC cell lines with endogenous distinct activating EGFR mutations (L858R and Del747-749), frequently observed in NSCLC patients who respond to gefitinib, also use ErbB-3 to couple to PI3K. Down-regulation of ErbB-3 by means of short hairpin RNA leads to decreased phospho-Akt levels in the gefitinib-sensitive NSCLC cell lines, Calu-3 (WT EGFR) and H3255 (L858R EGFR), but has no effect on Akt activation in the gefitinib-resistant cell lines, A549 and H522. We conclude that ErbB-3 is used to couple EGFR to the PI3K/Akt pathway in gefitinib-sensitive NSCLC cell lines harboring WT and mutant EGFRs.     

Signaling Pathways in NSCLC as a Predictor of Outcome and Response to Therapy

The 5-year survival rate for patients with stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is 10%. A number of genetic alterations are associated with this disease including mutations and amplifications of EGFR (70%) and Ras (20–30%), both of which are upstream of PI3K. Our previous data show that these regulate tumor radiation sensitivity. Here we ask whether the activation of this pathway has prognostic relevance in NSCLC. Two series of patients were retrospectively analyzed. The first series consisted of 23 Stage III NSCLC patients treated preoperatively with a chemo/radiation protocol. The second consisted of 12 Stage III NSCLC patients treated with chemo/radiation without surgery who had survived more than 2 years. Expression levels of EGFR and Her-2 were assessed by immunohistochemical staining. PI3K signaling was evaluated by staining for phosphorylated Akt (P-Akt), a downstream target of PI3K. The staining for EGFR, Her-2, and P-Akt were related to outcome in the two groups. Additionally, the importance of PI3K signaling was evaluated in 3 NSCLC cell lines using a pharmacological blockade of PI3K by LY294002. In the first series of patients, 43% were positive for EGFR, 5% for Her-2, and 82.6% for P-Akt. Of the survivors, 25% were positive for EGFR, 0% for Her-2, and 42% for P-Akt. For P-Akt, this difference had a probability calculation of 0.003. The three NSCLC cell lines that we tested were found to have high levels of P-Akt. Pharmacologically inhibiting PI3K led to decreased Akt phosphorylation and radio sensitization of all three cell lines. The finding that NSCLC survivors treated by radiation have lower levels of PI3K and Akt signaling is consistent with the idea that inhibition of Akt leads to radio sensitization. This further suggests that Akt might be a useful target for sensitization of NSCLC to radiation.     

Aging is associated with decreased pancreatic acinar cell regeneration and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt activation

BACKGROUND & AIMS: The effects of aging on pancreatic acinar cell proliferation have not been clearly defined. Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)-mediated phosphorylation of Akt is a critical step for proliferation of various cell types and insulin secretion from pancreatic endocrine cells; however, its role in acinar cell proliferation is not known. The purpose of this study was to (1) delineate the effects of aging on pancreatic regeneration after partial pancreatectomy (Px) and (2) define the involvement of the PI3K/Akt pathway in pancreatic regeneration. METHODS: Following partial Px, pancreatic regeneration and activation of the PI3K pathway were compared in young and aged mice. Activation of the PI3K/Akt pathway was evaluated by Akt phosphorylation (pAkt). The role of the PI3K pathway in pancreatic regeneration after partial Px was assessed by effects of a pharmacologic PI3K inhibitor wortmannin or small interfering RNA (siRNA) to the p85alpha regulatory subunit. To confirm further the critical role of the PI3K/Akt pathway in pancreatic acinar cell proliferation, IGF-1-mediated cell proliferation was determined in cultured acinar cells pretreated with wortmannin or p85alpha siRNA. RESULTS: Pancreatic regeneration and pAkt expression after partial Px were significantly decreased with aging. Treatment with wortmannin or p85alpha siRNA reduced pancreatic regeneration after partial Px. The IGF-1-mediated cell proliferation in vitro was completely blocked by wortmannin or p85alpha siRNA but not by the MEK/ERK inhibitor PD98059. CONCLUSIONS: PI3K/Akt activation plays a critical role in the regeneration of pancreatic acini after resection. Furthermore, pancreatic regeneration is markedly attenuated in the aged pancreas most likely because of decreased PI3K/Akt activation.     

Cell adhesion induces p27Kip1-associated cell-cycle arrest through down-regulation of the SCFSkp2 ubiquitin ligase pathway in mantle-cell and other non-Hodgkin B-cell lymphomas

Mounting evidence suggests that dynamic interactions between a tumor and its microenvironment play a critical role in tumor development, cell-cycle progression, and response to therapy. In this study, we used mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) as a model to characterize the mechanisms by which stroma regulate cell-cycle progression. We demonstrated that adhesion of MCL and other non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) cells to bone marrow stromal cells resulted in a reversible G(1) arrest associated with elevated p27(Kip1) and p21 (WAF1) proteins. The adhesion-mediated p27(Kip1) and p21 increases were posttranslationally regulated via the down-regulation of Skp2, a subunit of SCF(Skp2) ubiquitin ligase. Overexpression of Skp2 in MCL decreased p27(Kip1), whereas inhibition of Skp2 by siRNA increased p27(Kip1) and p21 levels. Furthermore, we found cell adhesion up-regulated Cdh1 (an activating subunit of anaphase-promoting complex [APC] ubiquitin ligase), and reduction of Cdh1 by siRNA induced Skp2 accumulation and hence p27(Kip1) degradation, thus implicating Cdh1 as an upstream effector of the Skp2/p27(Kip1) signaling pathway. Overall, this report, for the first time, demonstrates that cell-cell contact controls the tumor cell cycle via ubiquitin-proteasome proteolytic pathways in MCL and other NHLs. The understanding of this novel molecular pathway may prove valuable in designing new therapeutic approaches for modifying tumor cell growth and response to therapy.     

Regulation of the RAP1/RAF-1/extracellularly regulated kinase-1/2 cascade and prolactin release by the phosphoinositide 3-kinase/AKT pathway in pituitary cells

In pituitary cells, prolactin (PRL) synthesis and release are controlled by multiple transduction pathways. In the GH4C1 somatolactotroph cell line, we previously reported that MAPK ERK-1/2 are a point of convergence between the pathways involved in the PRL gene regulation. In the present study, we focused on the involvement of the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt pathway in the MAPK ERK-1/2 regulation and PRL secretion in pituitary cells. Either specific pharmacological PI3K and Akt inhibitors (LY294002, Akt I, and phosphoinositide analog-6) or Akt dominant-negative mutant (K179M) enhanced ERK-1/2 phosphorylation in unstimulated GH4C1 cells. Under the same conditions, PI3K and Akt inhibition also both increased Raf-1 kinase activity and the levels of GTP-bound (active form) monomeric G protein Rap1, which suggests that a down-regulation of the ERK-1/2 cascade is induced by the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in unstimulated cells. On the contrary, ERK-1/2 phosphorylation, Raf-1 activity, and Rap1 activation were almost completely blocked in IGF-I-stimulated cells previously subjected to PI3K or Akt inhibition. Although the PRL promoter was not affected by either PI3K/Akt inhibition or activation, PRL release increased in response to the pharmacological PI3K/Akt inhibitors in unstimulated GH4C1 and rat pituitary primary cells. The IGF-I-stimulated PRL secretion was diminished, on the contrary, by the pharmacological PI3K/Akt inhibitors. Taken together, these findings indicate that the PI3K/Akt pathway exerts dual regulatory effects on both the Rap1/Raf-1/ERK-1/2 cascade and PRL release in pituitary cells, i.e. negative effects in unstimulated cells and positive ones in IGF-I-stimulated cells.     

Ubiquitin-recognition protein Ufd1 couples the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress response to cell cycle control

The ubiquitin-recognition protein Ufd1 facilitates clearance of misfolded proteins through the endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-associated degradation (ERAD) pathway. Here we report that prolonged ER stress represses Ufd1 expression to trigger cell cycle delay, which contributes to ERAD. Remarkably, down-regulation of Ufd1 enhances ubiquitination and destabilization of Skp2 mediated by the anaphase-promoting complex or cyclosome bound to Cdh1 (APC/C(Cdh1)), resulting in accumulation of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p27 and a concomitant cell cycle delay during the G1 phase that enables more efficient clearance of misfolded proteins. Mechanistically, nuclear Ufd1 recruits the deubiquitinating enzyme USP13 to counteract APC/C(Cdh1)-mediated ubiquitination of Skp2. Our data identify a coordinated cell cycle response to prolonged ER stress through regulation of the Cdh1-Skp2-p27 axis by Ufd1 and USP13.     

PI3K/Akt信号通路对肝癌细胞系HepG2中SP细胞的影响

[目的]探讨PI3K/Akt信号通路对肝癌细胞系HepG2中肿瘤干细胞比例及干细胞特性的影响.[方法]使用PI3K/Akt通路抑制剂处理HepG2细胞后,使用流式技术分析HepG2细胞系中的侧群（SP）细胞的变化.软琼脂克隆形成实验检测PI3K/Akt抑制剂对HepG2细胞中SP细胞和非SP细胞成克隆能力的影响.[结果]HepG2细胞中存在SP细胞,经过LY294002处理后,SP细胞比例下降.LY294002可以显著降低SP细胞的软琼脂成克隆能力,对非SP细胞的软琼脂成克隆能力影响不明显.[结论]HepG2细胞中的SP细胞具有干细胞特性,PI3K/Akt信号通路对HepG2细胞中SP细胞的维持起重要作用,抑制PI3K/Akt信号通路后HepG2细胞中的SP细胞比例明显减低,并能显著抑制SP细胞的增殖速度、软琼脂成克隆能力,增加SP细胞对化疗药物的敏感性,为更加深入地了解肝癌干细胞的特性以及探索针对肿瘤干细胞的治疗提供理论依据.     

Growth factor-induced phosphoinositide 3-OH kinase/Akt phosphorylation in smooth muscle cells: induction of cell proliferation and inhibition of cell death

OBJECTIVE: The signaling pathways mediating proliferation and apoptosis in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) are not well established. It has previously been shown that activation of the phosphoinositide 3-OH kinase (PI3K)/Akt pathway or the ERK 1/2 pathway can mediate anti-apoptotic function in different cell types. This study determined the specific contribution of the PI3K/Akt and ERK pathway in the regulation of apoptosis and proliferation of VSMC. METHODS AND RESULTS: Incubation of rat VSMC with FCS, insulin or IGF-1 time-dependently stimulated the phosphorylation of Akt, however FCS but not insulin or IGF-1 activated the MAP-kinase ERK 1/2. Moreover, insulin inhibited H(2)O(2)-induced apoptosis via the Akt pathway as demonstrated by pharmacological inhibition of the PI3K or overexpression of a dominant negative Akt mutant. In contrast, FCS inhibited H(2)O(2)-induced apoptosis via the Akt and also the ERK pathway. FCS, but not insulin or IGF-1 induced VSMC proliferation, suggesting that Akt activation is necessary but not sufficient for VSMC proliferation. FCS-induced proliferation of VSMC was only mediated via the Akt pathway and not the ERK pathway. CONCLUSIONS: These results define a link between cell proliferation and programmed cell death in VSMC via the same signal transduction pathway, namely activation of the serine/threonine kinase Akt, which may have significant implication for the development of vascular diseases or remodeling.     

Glimepiride induces proliferation and differentiation of rat osteoblasts via the PI3-kinase/Akt pathway

Glimepiride is a third-generation sulfonylurea agent and is widely used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus. In addition to the stimulatory effects on pancreatic insulin secretion, glimepiride has also been reported to have extrapancreatic functions including activation of PI3 kinase (PI3K) and Akt in rat adipocytes and skeletal muscle. PI3-kinase and Akt are important signaling molecules in the regulation of proliferation and differentiation in various cells. This study investigated the actions of glimepiride in rat osteoblasts and the role of PI3K/Akt pathway. Cell proliferation was determined by measuring absorbance at 550 nm. Supernatant assay was used for measuring alkaline phosphatase activity. Western blot analysis was used for determining collagen I, insulin receptor substrate-1/2, PI3K/Akt, and endothelial nitric oxide synthase expression. We found that glimepiride significantly enhanced proliferation and differentiation of osteoblasts and led to activation of several key signaling molecules including insulin receptor substrate-1/2, PI3K/Akt, and endothelial nitric oxide synthase. Furthermore, a specific inhibitor of PI3K abolished the stimulatory effects of glimepiride on proliferation and differentiation. Taken together, these observations provide concrete evidence that glimepiride activates the PI3K/Akt pathway; and this activation is likely required for glimepiride to stimulate proliferation and differentiation of rat osteoblasts.