Selective inhibition of murine palatal mesenchymal cell proliferation in vitro by secalonic acid D.

Secalonic acid D (SAD), a teratogenic mycotoxin, induces cleft palate (CP) in the offspring of exposed mice by inhibiting palatal shelf growth. Since reduced proliferation, increased apoptosis, and/or decreased extracellular matrix (ECM) synthesis of palatal mesenchymal cells (PMC) can all contribute to smaller shelf size, the hypothesis that teratogenically relevant concentrations (0 to 120 microg/ml) of SAD will have adverse effects on one or more of these cellular processes was tested, using primary murine PMC cultures. Exposure to SAD resulted in significant and dose-dependent decreases in mesenchymal cell number, uptake of (3)H-thymidine, and expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). Trypan blue dye exclusion assay, however, revealed significant cell death only at higher doses, suggesting that the decrease in cell number at lower (more realistic) doses is likely a consequence of reduced cell proliferation and not cell death. Further, negative results in the DNA fragmentation analysis following SAD exposure suggested that cell death caused by higher levels of SAD was unrelated to apoptosis. Similarly, results of (3)H-glucosamine uptake assay indicated inhibitory effect of SAD on accumulation of hyaluronic acid (HA) or sulfated glycosaminoglycans (sGAG) only at the highest dose tested. Also, SAD affected neither extracellular nor cell-associated fibronectin expression at any dose tested. Taken together, these data suggest that the pathogenesis of CP by SAD is likely a result of a reduction in the size of the palatal shelf caused by SAD-induced inhibition of mesenchymal cell proliferation.     

Rosmarinic acid induces melanogenesis through protein kinase A activation signaling

Melanogenesis is a physiological process that results in the synthesis of melanin pigments, which play a crucial protective role against skin photocarcinogenesis. In order to determine the effects of rosmarinic acid on melanogenesis and elucidate the molecular events of melanogenesis induced by rosmarinic acid, several experiments were performed in B16 melanoma cells. In this study, we showed that the melanin content and tyrosinase expression were increased by rosmarinic acid in a concentration-dependent manner. In addition, after the melanin content was increased by rosmarinic acid, it was reduced by H-89 and KT 5720, protein kinase A (PKA) inhibitors, but not by SB203580, a p38(mapk) inhibitor, or Ro-32-0432, a PKC inhibitor, which suggests the involvement of PKA in rosmarinic acid-induced melanogenesis. Consistent with this, rosmarinic acid induced the phosphorylation of CRE-binding protein (CREB), but had no effect on the phosphorylation of p38(mapk) or the inhibition of Akt phosphorylation. Additionally, rosmarinic acid induced the activation of cAMP response element (CRE) without having any effect on cAMP production, which suggests that rosmarinic acid-induced melanogenesis is mediated by PKA, which occurs downstream of cAMP production. This result was further confirmed by the fact that rosmarinic acid-induced phosphorylation of CREB was inhibited by H-89, but not by PD98059, a MEK1 inhibitor, or by LY294002, a phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitor. Rosmarinic acid-induced expression of tyrosinase protein was attenuated by H-89. Based on these results, we report for the first time that rosmarinic acid induces melanogenesis through PKA activation signaling.     

Protein O-N-acetylglucosaminylation modulates promoter activities of cyclic AMP response element and activator protein 1 and enhances E-selectin expression on HuH-7 human hepatoma cells

High glucose accelerates O-N-acetylglucosaminylation (O-GlcNAcylation) of proteins and causes diabetic complications. In the present study, we found that treatment of HuH-7 human hepatoma cells with high glucose or the protein O-N-acetylglucosaminidase (O-GlcNAcase) inhibitor O-(2-acetoamide-2-deoxy-D-glucopyranosylidene)amino-N-phenylcarbamate (PUGNAc) increased the cell surface expression of E-selectin. A dual luciferase reporter assay indicated that high glucose and PUGNAc suppressed promoter activities of the cyclic AMP response element (CRE) and enhanced those of activator protein 1 (AP-1). Enhanced CRE promoter activities in HuH-7 cells treated with dibutyryl cAMP or co-transfected with a protein kinase A expression vector pFC-PKA that enhances the phosphorylation of CRE binding protein (CREB) were suppressed by PUGNAc. In contrast, PUGNAc further increased the enhanced AP-1 promoter activity in cells transfected with a mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase expression vector pFC-MEKK that enhances c-Jun phosphorylation. Immuno-blotting using an anti-O-GlcNAc antibody revealed that high glucose and PUGNAc accelerated protein O-GlcNAcylation and that there were substantial differences in the O-GlcNAcylated proteins in the cytoplasmic and nuclear fractions. In addition, PUGNAc increased the nuclear import of O-GlcNAcylated CREB. These results suggest that protein O-GlcNAcylation modulates the promoter activities of E-selectin gene, suppression of CRE and enhancement of AP-1, and enhances E-selectin protein expression on hepatocytes.     

5-HT(2C) receptor activation is a common mechanism on proerectile effects of apomorphine, oxytocin and melanotan-II in rats

This study was conducted to determine the phosphorylation state of N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) NR1 subunit on serine residues 896 (Ser896) and 897 (Ser897), the extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2), and the cyclic AMP response element-binding protein (CREB) after repeated exposure to cocaine (20 mg/kg, once daily for 9 days) in the dorsal striatum of rats. The real-time changes of glutamate concentration evoked by repeated cocaine injections were examined using a glutamate biosensor in order to evaluate the correlation between glutamate concentration and the change in these phosphoproteins. The results of this study showed that the immunoreactivity of phosphorylated (p)NMDA NR1 subunit at Ser896 and Ser897 as well as pERK1/2, but not pCREB, in the dorsal striatum was increased at 30 min and then returned to basal levels 4 h after repeated cocaine injections. Similarly, glutamate responses evoked by repeated cocaine injections were also increased 30 min after repeated cocaine injections for 3 days and were prolonged by the 9th day of treatment. However, the glutamate responses were not detected at 4 h after repeated cocaine injections for 5 days. In addition, the elevated immunoreactivity of the phosphoproteins 2 h after repeated cocaine injections was attenuated by the blockade of dopamine D1 receptors and NMDA receptors with the SCH23390 or MK801 antagonists, respectively. These findings suggest that glutamate release and dopamine D1 and NMDA receptor stimulation after repeated exposure to cocaine are associated with NMDA NR1 subunit, ERK1/2 and CREB phosphorylation in the dorsal striatum.     

Reduced CREB phosphorylation after chronic lithium treatment is associated with down-regulation of CaM kinase IV in rat hippocampus

Lithium is widely used in the treatment of bipolar disorder, although its mechanism of action is not fully clear. This study was undertaken to assess the effects of prolonged lithium administration on cAMP responsive element-binding protein (CREB) phosphorylation and CaM kinase IV (CaMKIV), one of the main kinases phosphorylating CREB in neurons following synaptic activation. CREB total protein expression and phosphorylation (Ser133), as well as CaMKIV enzymatic activity, phosphorylation of Thr196 (the activator residue) and kinase expression level were assessed in total homogenates and nuclei from the hippocampus and prefrontal/frontal cortex following 5 wk lithium treatment. Whereas no significant effects were found in prefrontal/frontal cortex, lithium administration reduced CREB phosphorylation and at the same time down-regulated CaMKIV (enzymatic activity, phospho-Thr196 and protein expression level) in cell nuclei from the hippocampus. These data suggest for the first time the involvement of CaMKIV in the mechanism of action of lithium.     

Bisphenol A-induced aromatase activation is mediated by cyclooxygenase-2 up-regulation in rat testicular Leydig cells

Bisphenol A (4,4′-dihydroxy-2,2-diphenylpropane; BPA) is an endocrine disruptor that affects the reproductive health of wildlife and possibly of humans. Evidence suggests that BPA interrupts ovarian steroidogenesis by altering steroidogenic enzymes. We evaluated the effect of BPA on aromatase expression in rat testicular Leydig cells. In addition, we investigated whether cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) was involved in BPA-induced aromatase expression. BPA induced a time- and concentration-dependent increase in aromatase protein expression in rat testicular Leydig R2C cells. It also increased aromatase gene expression and its enzyme and promoter activity, but reduced testosterone synthesis; increased COX-2 mRNA expression and promoter activity, the production of prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂), and the gene expression of PGE₂ (EP2 and EP4) receptors; induced the activation of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) response element (CRE) and CREB binding; and increased the phosphorylation of protein kinase A (PKA), Akt, and mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase signaling pathways. BPA activation of aromatase was reversed by various inhibitors (COX-2, PKA, Akt, ERK, JNK, and p38). Taken together, these results suggest that BPA increases aromatase activity, which is correlated with COX-2 up-regulation mediated by the CRE, PKA, Akt, and MAP kinase signaling pathways in rat testicular Leydig cells.     

Differential regulation of phosphorylation of the cAMP response element-binding protein after activation of EP2 and EP4 prostanoid receptors by prostaglandin E2

The EP2 and EP4 prostanoid receptors are G-protein-coupled receptors whose activation by their endogenous ligand, prostaglandin (PG) E2, stimulates the formation of intracellular cAMP. We have previously reported that the stimulation of cAMP formation in EP4-expressing cells is significantly less than in EP2-expressing cells, despite nearly identical levels of receptor expression (J Biol Chem 277:2614-2619, 2002). In addition, a component of EP4 receptor signaling, but not of EP2 receptor signaling, was found to involve the activation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K). In this study, we report that PGE2 stimulation of cells expressing either the EP2 or EP4 receptor results in the phosphorylation of the cAMP response element binding protein (CREB) at serine-133. Pretreatment of cells with N-[2-(4-bromocinnamylamino)ethyl]-5-isoquinoline (H-89), an inhibitor of protein kinase A (PKA), attenuated the PGE2-mediated phosphorylation of CREB in EP2-expressing cells, but not in EP4-expressing cells. Pretreatment of cells with wortmannin, an inhibitor of PI3K, had no effects on the PGE2-mediated phosphorylation of CREB in either EP2- or EP4-expressing cells, although it significantly increased the PGE2-mediated activation of PKA in EP4-expressing cells. However, combined pretreatment with H-89 and wortmannin blocked PGE2-mediated phosphorylation in EP2-expressing cells as well as in EP2-expressing cells. PGE2-mediated intracellular cAMP formation was not affected by pretreatment with wortmannin, or combined treatment with wortmannin and H-89, in either the EP2- or EP4-expressing cells. These findings suggest that PGE2 stimulation of EP4 receptors, but not EP2 receptors, results in the activation of a PI3K signaling pathway that inhibits the activity of PKA and that the PGE2-mediated phosphorylation of CREB by these receptors occurs through different signaling pathways     

Sex differences in basal and cocaine-induced alterations in PKA and CREB proteins in the nucleus accumbens

Introduction  Alterations in protein kinase (PKA) protein levels have been implicated in the regulation of responses to and development of cocaine addiction. However, the contribution of differences in PKA intracellular cascade to the known sex differences in responses to cocaine is not well understood. This study examined whether there are intrinsic or cocaine-induced alterations in PKA-mediated responses, such as phosphorylation of cyclic AMP response element binding protein, in male and female rats. Materials and methods  To this end, protein levels of PKA and phosphorylated CREB (pCREB) in the caudate putamen (CPu) and nucleus accumbens (NAc) of male and female rats were measured basally or after acute (one 30-mg/kg intraperitoneal injection) or chronic (twice-daily 15-mg/kg injections for 14 days) cocaine administration. Behavioral responses to both cocaine administration paradigms were also studied. Results  Similar to previous findings, ambulatory, rearing, and stereotypic activities were higher in female rats after acute cocaine administration. Sex differences in cocaine-induced responses were also observed after chronic cocaine administration: While males developed a robust sensitization in ambulatory activities to cocaine, females developed tolerance in cocaine-induced rearing and stereotypic activities. In the basal group, females had significantly higher PKA protein levels in the NAc. Regardless of the cocaine administration paradigm, PKA protein levels in the NAc were higher overall in females than in males. Furthermore, after cocaine administration, while pCREB protein levels in male rats were induced for a longer amount of time than in female rats, the magnitude of change on pCREB levels were higher in female than male rats. However, in the CPu, no sex differences in PKA or pCREB protein levels were observed either in the basal group or after acute or chronic cocaine administration. Discussion  Taken together, these findings suggest that sex differences in basal and cocaine-induced alterations in the PKA signaling regulation in the NAc may contribute to sex differences in the psychomotor responses to cocaine.     

Steroidogenic factor-1 interacts with cAMP response element-binding protein to mediate cAMP stimulation of CYP1B1 via a far upstream enhancer

CYP1B1 activates polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon carcinogens in cAMP-regulated tissues such as the adrenal, ovary, and testis. A 27-fold cAMP stimulation of the CYP1B1-luciferase reporter in Y-1 adrenal cells depends entirely on a far upstream enhancer region (FUER; -5298 to -5110). Cooperative participation of multiple steroidogenic factor 1 (SF-1) elements with the downstream cAMP response element (CRE) in FUER is essential for both basal and cAMP-stimulated activities of FUER. Basal and induced activities were similarly lowered by DAX-1, an SF-1 suppressor, and raised by steroid receptor coactivator 1, an SF-1 coactivator. cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB)-binding protein (CBP) that interacts preferentially with the phosphorylated-CREB increased the cAMP-induced FUER. 10T1/2 cells and human embryonic kidney (HEK)293 cells do not express SF-1. Introduction of exogenous SF-1 generated cAMP stimulation of the FUER in 10T1/2 fibroblasts. The same transfection only increased basal activity of FUER in HEK293 cells, despite presence of active CREB in cells. HEK293 cells therefore remain deficient in additional factor(s) critical to the cAMP stimulation of CYP1B1. Mutations of the protein kinase A (PKA) and the mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphorylation sites (Ser-430 and Ser-203) on SF-1 had no effect on the SF-1-dependent FUER stimulation in Y-1 and 10T1/2 cells. This contrasts with loss of activity with mutation of CREB at PKA phosphorylation site (Ser-133). SF-1 phosphorylation at these sites is therefore not essential for the cAMP stimulation and the cooperation with CREB. cAMP-enhanced activation protein 1 (AP-1) and stimulatory protein 1 (Sp1) complexes in the proximal promoter region contributed substantially to both basal and cAMP-stimulated FUER activity. Chromatin immunoprecipitation from primary rat adrenal cells demonstrated cAMP stimulation of histone acetylation proximal to, respectively, the FUER and AP-1 sites of CYP1B1.     

胍丁胺抑制福尔马林诱导的脊髓PKCγ,pCREB,c-Fos和c-Jun表达上调

目的研究福尔马林致炎性疼痛脊髓蛋白激酶Cγ(PKCγ),磷酸化的环磷酸腺苷反应元件结合蛋白(pCREB),即刻早期基因c-fos和c-jun表达的变化及胍丁胺对其的影响。方法♂SD大鼠,180～220g,随机分为:①生理盐水组;②福尔马林组;③胍丁胺(160mg·kg-1,ip)组。足底注射5%福尔马林50μl后10、20、120min取L4,5脊髓,通过免疫组化和免疫印迹研究,检测胍丁胺对炎性疼痛脊髓PKCγ、pCREB、c-Fos和c-Jun蛋白表达变化的影响。结果大鼠单侧足底注射5%福尔马林10min后,引起双侧脊髓膜结合PKCγ表达量升高;足底注射20min后,双侧脊髓pCREB表达量升高;足底注射2h后,注射侧脊髓背角c-Fos和c-Jun蛋白表达量升高,注射对侧脊髓c-Fos和c-Jun蛋白表达量没有改变。胍丁胺明显抑制福尔马林所引起的膜结合PKCγ、pCREB、c-Fos和c-Jun蛋白表达量的升高(P<0.01)。结论炎性疼痛引起脊髓膜结合PKCγ、pCREB、c-Fos和c-Jun蛋白表达上调可能参与疼痛及痛觉过敏的产生。胍丁胺的镇痛机制可能与抑制PKCγ、pCREB、c-Fos和c-Jun等痛觉相关的信号转导分子的表达有关。     

Characterization of agonist stimulation of cAMP-dependent protein kinase and G protein-coupled receptor kinase phosphorylation of the beta2-adrenergic receptor using phosphoserine-specific antibodies

Agonist-stimulated desensitization of the beta2-adrenergic receptor (beta2AR) is caused by both a potent cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA)-mediated phosphorylation and a less potent, occupancy-dependent, G protein-coupled receptor kinase (GRK)-mediated phosphorylation that leads to beta-arrestin binding and internalization. In this study the kinetics of phosphorylation of the third intracellular loop PKA site Ser262 and the putative C-tail GRK sites Ser355, Ser356 of the human beta2AR overexpressed in human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293 cells were characterized using phosphoserine-specific antibodies. Specificity of the antibodies was shown by their lack of reactivity with mutant beta2ARs lacking the respective sites. In addition, overexpression of GRK2 and GRK5 increased basal levels of phosphorylation of the GRK sites Ser355, Ser356 in both COS-7 and HEK 293 cells. Epinephrine, prostaglandin E1, and forskolin at maximum concentrations stimulated phosphorylation of the beta2AR PKA site (Ser262) by 4-fold, whereas PMA stimulated it by 2-fold. Epinephrine stimulated PKA site phosphorylation with an EC50 of 20 to 40 pM. In contrast, epinephrine stimulated GRK site phosphorylation (Ser355,Ser356) with an EC50 of 200 nM (1-min treatments), which is more than 4000-fold higher relative to PKA site phosphorylation, consistent with an occupancy-driven process. After 10 to 30 min, the EC50 for epinephrine stimulation of GRK site phosphorylation was reduced to 10 to 20 nM but was still approximately 200-fold greater than for the PKA site. The EC50 for internalization correlated with GRK site phosphorylation and showed a similar shift with time of epinephrine stimulation. The kinetics of epinephrine-stimulated GRK site phosphorylation were not altered in a mutant of the beta2AR lacking the PKA consensus sites. The initial levels (2 min) of a range of agonist-stimulated GRK site phosphorylations were correlated with their efficacy for activation of adenylyl cyclase, namely epinephrine > or = formoterol = fenoterol > terbutaline = zinterol = albuterol > salmeterol > dobutamine > or = ephedrine. However, after 20 to 30 min of treatment, agonists with intermediate strengths, such as albuterol and salmeterol, stimulate GRK site phosphorylations that are approximately equal to that produced by epinephrine, and the correlation breaks down. The GRK and PKA site antibodies were also effective in detecting phosphorylation of the endogenous beta2AR expressed in A431 human epidermoid carcinoma cells. To summarize, our results show a remarkable amplification of PKA site phosphorylation relative to the putative GRK site phosphorylation, heterologous stimulation of the PKA site phosphorylation, no dependence of GRK site phosphorylation on PKA sites, and a reasonable correlation of initial levels of GRK site phosphorylation with the strength of a range of agonists.     

A possible mechanism for improvement by a cognition-enhancer nefiracetam of spatial memory function and cAMP-mediated signal transduction system in sustained cerebral ischaemia in rats

1. Accumulated evidence indicates that the adenylyl cyclase (AC)/cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)/protein kinase A (PKA)/cAMP-responsive element binding protein (CREB) signal transduction system may be linked to learning and memory function. 2. The effects of nefiracetam, which has been developed as a cognition enhancer, on spatial memory function and the AC/cAMP/PKA/CREB signal transduction system in rats with sustained cerebral ischaemia were examined. 3. Microsphere embolism (ME)-induced sustained cerebral ischaemia was produced by injection of 700 microspheres (48 micro m in diameter) into the right hemisphere of rats. Daily oral administration of nefiracetam (10 mg kg(-1) day(-1)) was started from 15 h after the operation. 4. The delayed treatment with nefiracetam attenuated the ME-induced prolongation of the escape latency in the water maze task that was examined on day 7 to 9 after ME, but it did not reduce the infarct size. 5. ME decreased Ca(2+)/calmodulin (CaM)-stimulated AC (AC-I) activity, cAMP content, cytosolic PKA Cbeta level, nuclear PKA Calpha and Cbeta levels, and reduced the phosphorylation and DNA-binding activity of CREB in the nucleus in the right parietal cortex and hippocampus on day 3 after ME. The ME-induced changes in these variables did not occur by the delayed treatment with nefiracetam. 6. These results suggest that nefiracetam preserved cognitive function, or prevented cognitive dysfunction, after sustained cerebral ischaemia and that the effect is, in part, attributable to the prevention of the ischaemia-induced impairment of the AC/cAMP/PKA/CREB signal transduction pathway.     

The novel squamosamide derivative FLZ enhances BDNF/TrkB/CREB signaling and inhibits neuronal apoptosis in APP/PS1 mice

Aim:

The aim of this study was to study the effects of compound FLZ, a novel cyclic derivative of squamosamide from Annona glabra, on brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)/tropomyosin receptor kinase B (TrkB)/cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) signaling and neuronal apoptosis in the hippocampus of the amyloid precursor protein (APP)/presenilin-1 (PS1) double transgenic mice.

Methods:

APP/PS1 mice at the age of 5 months and age-matched wild-type mice (WT) were intragastrically administered FLZ (150 mg/kg) or vehicle [0.05% carboxymethyl cellulose sodium (CMC-Na)] daily for 20 weeks. The levels of BDNF in the hippocampus of WT and APP/PS1 mice were then measured by immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis. Neuronal apoptosis in mouse hippocampus was detected by Nissl staining. Expression of NGF, NT3, pTrkB (Tyr515)/TrkB, pAkt (Ser473)/Akt, pERK/ERK, pCREB (Ser133)/CREB, Bcl-2/Bax, and active caspase-3 fragment/caspase-3 in the hippocampus of WT and APP/PS1 mice was detected by Western blot analysis.

Results:

Compared with vehicle-treated APP/PS1 mice, FLZ (150 mg/kg) significantly increased BDNF and NT3 expression in the hippocampus of APP/PS1 mice. In addition, FLZ promoted BDNF high-affinity receptor TrkB phosphorylation and activated its downstream ERK, thus increasing phosphorylation of CREB at Ser133 in the hippocampus of APP/PS1 mice. Moreover, FLZ showed neuroprotective effects on neuronal apoptosis by increasing the Bcl-2/Bax ratio and decreasing the active caspase-3 fragment/caspase-3 ratio in the hippocampus of APP/PS1 mice.

Conclusion:

FLZ exerted neuroprotection at least partly through enhancing the BDNF/TrkB/CREB pathway and inhibiting neuronal apoptosis in APP/PS1 mice, which suggests that FLZ can be explored as a potential therapeutic agent in long-term Alzheimer''s disease therapy.