Upregulation of Sirt1 by tyrosol suppresses apoptosis and inflammation and modulates extracellular matrix remodeling in interleukin-1β-stimulated human nucleus pulposus cells through activation of PI3K/Akt pathway

Intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) is the major pathogenesis of lower back pain. Tyrosol is a polyphenolic compound that exhibits anti-oxidant, anti-apoptotic, and anti-inflammatory effects. Herein, we explored the effects and mechanisms of tyrosol on IDD progression in interleukin (IL)-1β-stimulated human nucleus pulposus cells (HNPCs). Cell viability and apoptosis were detected by CCK-8 and flow cytometry analysis, respectively. The production of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), IL-6, nitric oxide (NO), and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) was examined to evaluate inflammation. The mRNA expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) (MMP-3/9/13), collagen type II, SRY-related high mobility group box 9 (SOX-9), and aggrecan was measured by qRT-PCR. Protein levels of silent information regulator 2 homolog 1 (Sirt1), phosphorylated protein kinase B (p-Akt), Akt, collagen type II, SOX-9, and aggrecan were determined by western blot. Results showed that tyrosol attenuated IL-1β-induced viability reduction, apoptosis, and caspase-3/7 activity in HNPCs. The increase in the production of TNF-α, IL-6, NO, and PGE2 in IL-1β-treated HNPCs was abolished by tyrosol treatment. Tyrosol treatment reversed IL-1β-induced upregulation of MMP-3, MMP-9, and MMP-13, and downregulation of collagen II, SOX-9, and aggrecan in HNPCs. Additionally, tyrosol treatment activated the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt pathway in IL-1β-stimulated HNPCs. Sirt1 was upregulated by tyrosol, and Sirt1 silencing inhibited Akt phosphorylation in HNPCs. Sirt1 knockdown attenuated the effects of tyrosol on IL-1β-induced apoptosis, inflammation, and ECM remodeling in HNPCs. In summary, upregulation of Sirt1 by tyrosol suppressed apoptosis and inflammation and regulated ECM remodeling in IL-1β-stimulated HNPCs through activation of PI3K/Akt pathway.     

Emodin ameliorates ovalbumin-induced airway remodeling in mice by suppressing airway smooth muscle cells proliferation

Increased number of airway smooth muscle cells (ASMCs) is a characteristic of airway remodeling in asthma. In this study we investigated whether emodin alleviated airway remodeling in a murine asthma model and reduced the proliferation of ASMCs in vitro. We provided in vivo evidence suggesting that intraperitoneal injection of emodin (20 mg/kg) 1 h prior to OVA challenge apparently alleviated the thickness of airway smooth muscle, the mass of alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), collagen deposition, epithelial damage, goblet cell hyperplasia, airway inflammation and airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) in lung tissue. Meanwhile, we found that emodin suppressed the activation of the Akt pathway in lung tissue of allergic mouse models. Additionally, we found that emodin inhibited cellular proliferation and Akt activation in a dose-dependent manner in vitro. Furthermore, LY294002, an inhibitor for PI3K, abrogated serum-induced phosphorylation of Akt, and decreased the proliferation of ASMCs. These findings indicated that emodin alleviated ASMCs proliferation by inhibiting PI3K/Akt pathway in vivo and in vitro, which may provide a potential therapeutic option for airway smooth muscle remodeling in asthma.     

CKS1B promotes cell proliferation and invasion by activating STAT3/PD‐L1 and phosphorylation of Akt signaling in papillary thyroid carcinoma

ObjectiveTo investigate role of GKS1B and its relationship between STAT3/PD‐L1 and p‐Akt in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC).MethodsExpression of GKS1B and PD‐L1 was determined in PTC cell lines. GKS1B was overexpressed or knocked down by transfection with overexpression plasmids or si‐CKS1B. STAT3 inhibitor WP1066 was used to suppress STAT3, and PD‐L1 inhibitor Pembrolizumab was used to block PD‐L1. Cell viability and invasion were evaluated by MTT and transwell assay, respectively. The expression of STAT3, p‐STAT3, Akt, and p‐Akt was measured using Western blotting.ResultsBoth protein levels and mRNA levels of CKS1B and PD‐L1 were remarkably up‐regulated in PTC cell lines. Knockdown of CKS1B significantly inhibited cell viability and invasion of PTC cells and suppressed STAT3/PD‐L1 signaling and Akt phosphorylation, while overexpression of CKS1B led to opposite results. Inhibition of STAT3 or PD‐L1 reversed the effects of overexpressed CKS1B on PTC cells.ConclusionThe overexpression of CSK1B could promote cell viability and invasion of PTC cells through activation of STAT3/PD‐L1 signaling and Akt phosphorylation.     

Pentoxifylline modulates p47phox activation and downregulates neutrophil oxidative burst through PKA-dependent and -independent mechanisms

Background and Aim: Pentoxifylline (PTX) has been proven to be an inhibitor of fMLP-induced neutrophil (PMN) oxidative burst and is thought to function by increasing cAMP and Protein kinase A (PKA). We hypothesized that PTX diminishes production of the neutrophil respiratory burst by both PKA-dependent and independent mechanisms.

Material and Methods: Human neutrophils were isolated and stimulated with fMLP (1μM) alone or in combination with PTX (2mM). PMN activation was determined by the cytochrome C reduction method in the presence and absence of p38 MAPK (SB203580), ERK (PD98059), and PKA inhibitors (H89). Western blot analysis of Ras, Raf, p38 MAPK, ERK, and Akt was performed in PMNs exposed to fMLP and PTX. Cell membranes were fractionated to measure membrane-associated p47 phox. Treated cells were imaged using confocal microscopy to examine changes in localization of Akt and p47phox.

Results: PTX produced a decrease in oxidative burst that was diminished but not abrogated by H89 exposure. The reduction in Ras, Raf, and Akt activation seen with PTX was not effected by the presence of H89. The ability of PTX to attenuate phosphorylation of p38 MAPK and ERK was significantly decreased in the presence of H89, suggesting a PKA-dependent mechanisms. Membrane fractions of neutrophils demonstrate that PTX decreased membrane-associated p47phox, thus diminishing the ability to generate oxidative burst. PTX also decreased membrane localization of Akt and p47phox by confocal microscopy.

Conclusions: PTX attenuates activation of signaling molecules involved in activation of p47phox and suppress the subsequent assembly of the NADPH machinery through both PKA-dependent and PKA-independent mechanisms.     

Different regulation of p27 and Akt during cardiomyocyte proliferation and hypertrophy

Postnatal cardiomyocytes normally grow by hypertrophy but show a limited proliferate response to certain stimuli. Although the proliferative capacity declines shortly after birth, neonatal cardiomyocytes can grow both by hypertrophy and by proliferation. Therefore, we have used neonatal cardiomyocytes to investigate the molecular differences between hypertrophic and proliferative growth of cardiomyocytes. Stimulation of neonatal cardiomyocytes with angiotensin II mainly induced hypertrophy, whereas PDGF only had a minor effect on the size of the myocytes. In contrast, PDGF induced significant proliferation in the cardiomyocyte cultures whereas angiotensin II treatment only resulted in a small increase in the number of cells. Measurement of cyclin D-dependent kinase specific phosphorylation of pRb by immunohistochemistry showed that, both stimuli activate the G1 phase of the cell cycle. By western blotting we found that PDGF-induced proliferation correlates with activation of Akt, inactivation of GSK-3β and downregulation of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p27, whereas angiotensin II only had a small effect on Akt, GSK-3β and p27. Our data support the hypothesis that, the hypertrophic and proliferative responses are both activated by G1 cell cycle molecules. The difference between the two responses appears to be that high amounts of p27 are present during hypertrophic growth, whereas proliferation involves downregulation of p27 and GSK-3β activity and upregulation of Akt.     

CNTN-1 promotes docetaxel resistance and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition via the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in prostate cancer

IntroductionTherapy options for prostate cancer (PCa) typically are centered on docetaxel-based chemotherapy but are limited by the effects of multi-drug resistance. Recent advances have illustrated a role of contactin-1 (CNTN-1) in tumor chemoresistance, while the function and mechanism of CNTN-1 in the resistance of docetaxel in prostate cancer have not yet been elucidated.Material and methodsDocetaxel (Dox)-resistant PCa cell lines of PC3 (PC3-DR) and DU145 (DU145-DR) were established, and short hairpin RNA (shRNA) constructs targeting CNTN-1 were generated to analyze the effect of knockdown of CNTN-1 on PCa progression. Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8), flow cytometry, wound-healing, transwell and western blotting analysis were used to analyze cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration, invasion and related protein expression levels, respectively.ResultsKnockdown of CNTN-1 in PC3-DR and DU145-DR cells attenuated cell proliferation, migration, invasion, EMT phenotype, and drug resistance, and increased cell apoptosis further reduced the tumorigenic phenotype. Knockdown of CNTN-1 resulted in an anti-tumor effect in the xenograft tumor model, and decreased activity of the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt signaling pathway both in vitro and in vivo.ConclusionsThe results of the present study suggest that downregulation of CNTN-1 may be an important mechanism to reverse chemoresistance in Dox-resistant PCa progression, thus shedding light on the development of novel anti-tumor therapeutics for the treatment of PCa.     

染料木素通过TIPE 2负性调控Akt活性促进脂多糖活化的巨噬细胞凋亡

目的探究染料木素(genistein,GEN)对脂多糖(lipopolysaccharide,LPS)活化的RAW264.7细胞凋亡的影响及其可能的药理学作用机制。方法GEN预孵育RAW264.7细胞或慢病毒介导的肿瘤坏死因子α诱导蛋白8样分子2(tumor necrosis factor-α-induced protein 8-like 2,TIPE 2)过表达细胞2 h,再与LPS共孵育24 h,采用CCK 8试剂盒检测细胞活力,Annexin V-FITC/PI试剂盒检测细胞凋亡水平,qRT-PCR检测TNF-α、IL-6、caspase-8、caspase-3和TIPE 2 mRNA,Western blot检测iNOS、COX-2、caspase-8、caspase-3、TIPE 2、Akt和p-Akt蛋白表达。结果LPS促进RAW264.7细胞TNF-α、IL-6、iNOS、COX-2合成;GEN抑制LPS活化的RAW264.7细胞活力,凋亡细胞增多,并上调caspase-8、caspase-3、TIPE 2 mRNA及蛋白表达;TIPE 2过表达上调活化RAW264.7细胞caspase-8、caspase-3 mRNA及蛋白表达,减少Akt磷酸化,且与GEN具有协同作用。结论GEN可能通过上调TIPE 2抑制Akt活性,激活外源性凋亡途径,促进LPS活化的RAW264.7细胞凋亡。     

鸢尾苷元对血管紧张素Ⅱ作用下心肌成纤维细胞增殖和凋亡的影响

目的探讨鸢尾苷元对血管紧张素Ⅱ(AngⅡ)作用下心肌成纤维细胞增殖和凋亡的影响及其机制。方法采用差速贴壁法获得纯化的大鼠心肌成纤维细胞,采用MTT法和原位末端标记法检测鸢尾苷元或磷脂肌醇-3-激酶(PI3K)/蛋白激酶B(Akt)信号通路对AngⅡ作用下心肌成纤维细胞增殖和凋亡的影响,采用RT-PCR检测鸢尾苷元对AngⅡ作用下心肌成纤维细胞中凋亡相关基因Bcl-2、Bax mRNA表达的影响,Western blot法检测鸢尾苷元对AngⅡ作用下心肌成纤维细胞中凋亡相关蛋白Bcl-2、Bax和PI3K/Akt信号通路相关蛋白p-Akt、T-Akt表达的影响。结果AngⅡ能明显促进心肌成纤维细胞增殖,抑制细胞凋亡;给予50,100和200μmol·L^-1鸢尾苷元后,AngⅡ使心肌成纤维细胞促增殖和抑凋亡作用明显受到抑制,且200μmol·L^-1鸢尾苷元作用最显著。200μmol·L^-1鸢尾苷元能够明显抑制AngⅡ诱导的Bcl-2 mRNA和p-Akt、Bcl-2蛋白的表达;减弱AngⅡ对Bcl-2 mRNA和蛋白表达的抑制作用,不影响T-Akt蛋白表达。PI3K/Akt信号通路抑制剂LY294002作用后,AngⅡ使心肌成纤维细胞的促增殖和抑凋亡作用明显受到抑制;而给予PI3K/Akt信号通路激活剂HY-N1412作用后,AngⅡ对心肌成纤维细胞的促增殖和抑凋亡作用明显得到促进,HY-N1412能明显逆转鸢尾苷元对AngⅡ刺激下的心肌成纤维细胞抑增殖和促凋亡作用。结论鸢尾苷元可通过PI3K/Akt信号通路减弱AngⅡ对心肌成纤维细胞促增殖和抑凋亡作用。     

Estrogen Activation of G-Protein–Coupled Estrogen Receptor 1 Regulates Phosphoinositide 3-Kinase and mTOR Signaling to Promote Liver Growth in Zebrafish and Proliferation of Human Hepatocytes

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Pretreatment with intestinal trefoil factor alleviates stress-induced gastric mucosal damage via Akt signaling

BACKGROUNDStress-related gastric mucosal damage or ulcer remains an unsolved issue for critically ill patients. Stress ulcer prophylaxis has been part of routine intensive care, but uncertainty and controversy still exist. Co-secreted with mucins, intestinal trefoil factor (ITF) is reported to promote restitution and regeneration of intestinal mucosal epithelium, although the mechanism remains unknown.AIMTo elucidate the protective effects of ITF on gastric mucosa and explore the possible mechanisms.METHODSWe used a rat model of gastric mucosal damage induced by water immersion restraint stress and lipopolysaccharide-treated human gastric epithelial cell line to investigate the potential effects of ITF on damaged gastric mucosa both in vivo and in vitro.RESULTSITF promoted the proliferation and migration and inhibited necrosis of gastric mucosal epithelia in vitro. It also preserved the integrity of gastric mucosa by upregulating expressions of occludin and zonula occludens-1. In the rat model, pretreatment with ITF ameliorated the gastric mucosal epithelial damage and facilitated mucosal repair. The protective effects of ITF were confirmed to be exerted via activation of Akt signaling, and the specific inhibitor of Akt signaling {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"LY249002","term_id":"1257710161","term_text":"LY249002"}}LY249002 reversed the protective effects.CONCLUSIONITF might be a promising candidate for prevention and treatment of stress-induced gastric mucosal damage, and further studies should be undertaken to verify its clinical feasibility.