胶质瘤中MKK7与c-Jun磷酸化的表达及其相关性

目的 探讨胶质瘤中MKK7和c-Jun磷酸化（p-c-Jun）的表达及意义，分析两者表达的相关性。方法 选取弥漫型星形细胞瘤（15例）、少突胶质细胞瘤（5例）、间变性星形细胞瘤（11例）、间变性少突胶质细胞瘤（8例）、胶质母细胞瘤（53例）及其瘤旁正常脑组织（25例）共117例，采用免疫组织化学法检测MKK7、c-Jun及p-c-Jun的表达。体外培养神经胶质瘤细胞株U87，用脂质体转染MKK4-siRNA、MKK7-siRNA和对照siRNA，48 h后Western blot检测MKK7、c-Jun及p-c-Jun的表达水平。结果 胶质母细胞瘤中p-c-Jun及MKK7的表达均明显高于其他组织学类型胶质瘤及胶质母细胞瘤瘤旁正常脑组织中的表达（P=0.000, P=0.000）。随着胶质瘤WHO分级的升高，p-c-Jun及MKK7的表达增高，且与WHO分级呈明显正相关（r=0.494, P=0.000; r=0.606, P=0.000）。胶质瘤及胶质母细胞瘤瘤旁正常脑组织中MKK7与p-c-Jun的表达存在正相关关系（r=0.387, P=0.000）。沉默神经胶质瘤细胞株U87 MKK7表达抑制了c-Jun磷酸化水平。结论 MKK7可以通过调控JNK/c-Jun活性进而促进胶质母细胞瘤的发生。     

MiR-92b-3p ameliorates inflammation and autophagy by targeting TRAF3 and suppressing MKK3-p38 pathway in caerulein-induced AR42J cells

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is an inflammatory disease with high morbidity and mortality. Dysregulation of microRNAs (miRNAs) was involved in human diseases, including AP. However, the effects of miR-92b-3p on AP process and its mechanism remain not been fully clarified. The expression levels of miR-92b-3p and tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor-3 (TRAF3) were measured by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The protein levels of TRAF3, tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) TNF-α, interleukin-6 (IL-6), phosphorylated mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 3 (p-MKK3), MKK3, p38 and phosphorylated p38 (p-p38) were detected by western blot. The concentration of TNF-α and IL-6 in the medium was measured using ELISA kits. The possible binding sites of miR-92b-3p and TRAF3 were predicted by TargetScan and verified by dual-luciferase reporter assay and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assay. The expression level of miR-92b-3p was decreased and TRAF3 expression was increased in AR42J cells stimulated with caerulein. Moreover, the protein levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and IL-6) were markedly elevated, and the expression levels of autophagy-related markers Beclin1 as well as the ratio of LC3-II/I were obviously increased in AR42J cells treated with caerulein. In addition, overexpression of miR-92b-3p or knockdown of TRAF3 significantly suppressed the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines and autophagy in caerulein-induced AR42J cells. Furthermore, TRAF3 was a direct target of miR-92b-3p and its upregulation reversed the effects of miR-92b-3p overexpression on inflammatory response and autophagy. Besides, overexpression of miR-92b-3p inhibited the activation of the MKK3-p38 pathway by affecting TRAF3 expression. In conclusion, miR-92b-3p attenuated inflammatory response and autophagy by downregulating TRAF3 and suppressing MKK3-p38 pathway in caerulein-induced AR42J cells, providing a novel avenue for treatment of AP.     

MK2 plays an important role for the increased vascular permeability that follows thermal injury

We previously reported Rho kinase is involved in vessel hyper-permeability caused by burns. Here we further explore the Rho kinase downstream signaling, it is found that its specific inhibitor Y27632 significantly diminishes the activation of JNK and p38 MAPKs but not ERK that induced by serum from burned rats (burn-serum). JNK activation was found involved in the expression of HUVEC adhesion molecules following thermal injury, although not in the process of stress fiber formation. Inhibition of various MAPKs by specific inhibitors showed that SB203580 (inhibitor of p38), but neither SP600125 (inhibitor of JNK) nor PD98059 (inhibitor of ERK), abolish activation of the p38 downstream kinase MK2. Demonstration of stress fibers by fluorescent-labeled phalloidin showed that inhibition of MK2, either by its specific inhibitor or by dominant negative adeno-viral-carried constructs, significantly reduced burn-serum-induced HUVEC stress-fiber formation, while inhibition of another downstream p38 MAPK kinase, PRAK, had no such effects. Transfection of dominant negative adeno-viral MK2 (Ad-MK2(A)) significantly inhibited thermal injury-induced blood vessel hyper-permeability in rats and, moreover, prolonged the survival of burned rats beyond 72 h following thermal injury. One of the mechanisms behind these phenomena is that Ad-MK2(A) causes a significant depression of burn-serum-induced HSP27-phosphorylation, while the adeno-viral transported dominant negative PRAK (Ad-PRAK(A)) does not block. Although the effect of blockade of MK2 through its adeno-viral approach requires further study and investigation of alternatives to know for sure, we may have found a new pathway behind thermal-injury-induced blood vessel hyper-permeability, namely: Rho kinase > p38 > MK2 > HSP27.     

The hinge region in androgen receptor control

The region between the DNA-binding domain and the ligand-binding domain of nuclear receptors is termed the hinge region. Although this flexible linker is poorly conserved, diverse functions have been ascribed to it. For the androgen receptor (AR), the hinge region and in particular the (629)RKLKKL(634) motif, plays a central role in controlling AR activity, not only because it acts as the main part of the nuclear translocation signal, but also because it regulates the transactivation potential and intranuclear mobility of the receptor. It is also a target site for acetylation, ubiquitylation and methylation. The interplay between these different modifications as well as the phosphorylation at serine 650 will be discussed here. The hinge also has an important function in AR binding to classical versus selective androgen response elements. In addition, the number of coactivators/corepressors that might act via interaction with the hinge region is still growing. The importance of the hinge region is further illustrated by the different somatic mutations described in patients with androgen insensitivity syndrome and prostate cancer. In conclusion, the hinge region serves as an integrator for signals coming from different pathways that provide feedback to the control of AR activity.     

The stress kinase mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MKK)7 is a negative regulator of antigen receptor and growth factor receptor-induced proliferation in hematopoietic cells

The dual specificity kinases mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) kinase (MKK)7 and MKK4 are the only molecules known to directly activate the stress kinases stress-activated protein kinases (SAPKs)/c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNKs) in response to environmental or mitogenic stimuli. To examine the physiological role of MKK7 in hematopoietic cells, we used a gene targeting strategy to mutate MKK7 in murine T and B cells and non-lymphoid mast cells. Loss of MKK7 in thymocytes and mature B cells results in hyperproliferation in response to growth factor and antigen receptor stimulation and increased thymic cellularity. Mutation of mkk7 in mast cells resulted in hyperproliferation in response to the cytokines interleukin (IL)-3 and stem cell factor (SCF). SAPK/JNK activation was completely abolished in the absence of MKK7, even though expression of MKK4 was strongly upregulated in mkk7(-/-) mast cell lines, and phosphorylation of MKK4 occurred normally in response to multiple stress stimuli. Loss of MKK7 did not affect activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)1/2 or p38 MAPK. mkk7(-/-) mast cells display reduced expression of JunB and the cell cycle inhibitor p16INK4a and upregulation of cyclinD1. Reexpression of p16INK4a in mkk7(-/-) mast cells abrogates the hyperproliferative response. Apoptotic responses to a variety of stimuli were not affected. Thus, MKK7 is an essential and specific regulator of stress-induced SAPK/JNK activation in mast cells and MKK7 negatively regulates growth factor and antigen receptor-driven proliferation in hematopoietic cells. These results indicate that the MKK7-regulated stress signaling pathway can function as negative regulator of cell growth in multiple hematopoietic lineages.     

EB病毒-MKK4基因遗传变异的交互作用与鼻咽癌危险性研究

目的:研究EB病毒感染与MKK4基因遗传变异的交互作用在鼻咽癌发病中的作用。方法:收集鼻咽癌病例和正常对照各500名,采用TAQMAN技术分析MKK4基因遗传变异-1304T>G与鼻咽癌发病的关联;并分析基因位点与EB病毒感染状态在鼻咽癌发生中的交互作用。结果:相对TT基因型携带者,G变异基因型鼻咽癌的发病风险下降(TG基因型adjustedOR=0.78,95%CI=0.61～0.94,P=0.02;GG基因型adjustedOR=0.64;95%CI=0.39～0.99;P=0.04),且存在显著的等位基因剂量—效应关联(Ptrend=0.02)。进一步交互作用分析发现EB病毒感染状态可改变G变异基因型降低鼻咽癌发病风险的作用(adjustedP交互作用=0.04)。结论:MKK4基因遗传变异可降低鼻咽癌的发病风险,但其对鼻咽癌的保护作用受EB病毒感染状态影响,提示EB病毒-MKK4基因交互作用可能是我国南方人群易患鼻咽癌的一个危险因素。     

Loss of MKK4 expression in ovarian cancer: A potential role for the epithelial to mesenchymal transition

In the current study, we investigated the mechanism relating downregulation of mitogen‐activated protein kinase kinase 4 (MKK4) expression to development of ovarian cancer. Over‐expression of the MKK4 gene in TOV‐21 G cells, a line with homozygous deletion of MKK4, resulted in morphologic changes in which cells growing in a scattered, fibroblast‐like pattern formed tightly packed colonies. Based on a wound healing assay and a Matrigel invasion assay, we determined that both motility and invasiveness of MKK4‐transfected TOV‐21G cells were significantly reduced compared to control vector‐transfected cells. To confirm that MKK4 expression related to tumor invasion resulted from an epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT)‐like morphological change, we used 2 independent but complementary approaches. MKK4 gene knockdown in MDAH 2774 cells over‐expressing MKK4 increased invasion activity. Additionally, engineered expression of MKK4 in SKOV3 cells, a line with low endogenous MKK4 expression, produced a phenotype similar to that of TOVG‐21G. Interestingly, we found that MKK4 upregulation caused downregulation of phosphorylated NF‐κB and Twist, as well as upregulation of E‐cadherin, in TOVG‐21G and SKOV3 cells. Reciprocal results were obtained in MDAH 2774 cells with MKK4 knockdown. Our results suggest that MKK4 downregulation causes increased phosphorylation NF‐κB. This promotes Twist over‐expression, resulting in E‐cadherin downregulation that induces EMT in ovarian cancer.     

乙型肝炎病毒X蛋白对肝癌细胞MKK3,p38MAPK表达的影响

目的：观察乙型肝炎病毒X蛋白对肝癌细胞中丝裂原活化蛋白激酶（MKK3）及其下游分子p38丝裂酶原活化的蛋白激酶（p38MAPK）的表达的影响,探讨相关的信号转导机制,及其对肝癌细胞生物学行为的影响。方法：分别将质粒pCDNA3.1及pCDNA3.1-HBx重组质粒经脂质体介导转染人肝癌细胞株HepG2,G418筛选培养,并用反转录PCR和Western blot鉴定,获得表达X蛋白的稳定细胞株HepG2-HBx和阴性对照细胞株HepG2-pCDNA3.1,以HepG2细胞株作空白对照。通过RT-PCR和Western blot检测上述三种细胞株中MKK3,p38MAPK在mRNA水平和蛋白水平的表达变化,并用细胞免疫荧光法检查磷酸化p38MAPK蛋白在细胞浆及细胞核中的变化;通过MTT实验检测三种细胞株的增殖情况。采用SPSS 12软件进行统计学分析。结果：MKK3在mRNA和总蛋白水平的表达在HepG2-HBx中均高于其他两组,其他两组无明显差异;p38MAPK在mRNA和总蛋白水平三组无明显差异,而其蛋白磷酸化水平和在核蛋白中的表达在HepG2-HBx中较其他两组升高;HepG2-HBx较其他两组细胞有更强的增殖能力。结论：HBx可以通过上调肝癌细胞中MKK3的表达,促进p38MAPK磷酸化和入核,从而进一步激活下游分子发挥生物活性。p38MAPK通路在HBx促进肝癌细胞的增殖中发挥重要作用。可能是导致HBV相关性肝癌与非HBV相关性肝癌临床特点及肿瘤生物学差异的机制之一。