Glycyrrhetinic acid decreases plasma potassium concentrations in patients with anuria.

ABSTRACT. Licorice-associated hypertension is thought to be due to increased renal sodium retention. The active compound of licorice, glycyrrhetinic acid (GA), inhibits renal 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 (11beta-HSD2) and by that mechanism increases access of cortisol to the mineralocorticoid receptor that causes renal sodium retention and potassium loss. In addition, a direct vascular effect of 11beta-HSD activity has recently been incriminated to promote hypertension, a contention based on in vitro observations. This investigation was designed to establish whether this extrarenal effect of 11beta-HSD is relevant for BP regulation and potassium concentrations in plasma. In a prospective, double-blind, cross-over study, seven patients with anuria on chronic hemodialysis were randomly assigned after a baseline period of 2 wk to placebo or GA (1 g/d) for 2 wk, separated by a washout phase of 3 wk. The ratio of plasma cortisol/cortisone, determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, increased in all patients after GA intake (F = 9.705; P < 0.004), which indicates inhibition of 11beta-HSD. Twenty-four-hour BP values did not change throughout the study. The increase of the plasma cortisol/cortisone ratio was paralleled by a decline in the plasma potassium concentration in every patient. The mean +/- SD plasma potassium concentration decreased from 5.5 +/- 0.6 mM/L at baseline to 4.9 +/- 0.7 and 4.5 +/- 0.8 mM/L after 1 and 2 wk on GA, respectively (F = 9.934, P < 0.003). Extrarenal 11beta-HSD activity influences serum potassium concentrations but does not regulate BP independently of renal sodium retention.     

Reduced 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity in experimental nephrotic syndrome.

BACKGROUND: The disease state of the nephrotic syndrome is characterized by abnormal renal sodium retention that cannot be completely explained by a secondary hyperaldosteronism for the following reasons. Firstly, in rats an enhanced sodium retention is observed before proteinuria with intravascular volume depletion occurs. Secondly, in patients with the nephrotic syndrome, volume expansion with hypertension has been reported despite suppression of the renin-aldosterone system. Therefore, another mechanism for sodium retention must be postulated for this disease state. We hypothesize that this mechanism is a reduced 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 2 (11beta-HSD2) activity, a phenomenon known to cause enhanced access of cortisol or corticosterone to the mineralocorticoid receptor. METHODS: We assessed the 11beta-HSD activity by measuring the urinary ratio of tetrahydrocorticosterone (THB) plus 5alpha-tetrahydrocorticosterone (5alpha-THB) to 11-dehydro-tetrahydrocorticosterone (THA) by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry in rats with puromycin aminonucleoside (PAN)-induced proteinuria and with adriamycin nephrosis. Furthermore, the plasma ratios of corticosterone to 11-dehydrocorticosterone were measured. RESULTS: The urinary ratio of (THB+5alpha-THB)/THA increased in all animals following injection of PAN or adriamycin, indicating a reduced activity of 11beta-HSD. The reduced activity of 11beta-HSD was confirmed by an increased plasma ratio of corticosterone to 11-dehydrocorticosterone. The changes in the glucocorticoid metabolite ratios were already present before significant proteinuria appeared. CONCLUSION: PAN- or adriamycin-treated rats develop proteinuria with a reduced activity of 11beta-HSD, a mechanism contributing to the abnormal sodium retention in nephrotic syndrome.     

Modification of gene products involved in resistance to apoptosis in metastatic colon cancer cells: roles of Fas, Apaf-1, NFkappaB, IAPs, Smac/DIABLO, and AIF

BACKGROUND: Colon cancer becomes resistant to apoptosis as it acquires metastatic potential. SW480 and SW620 colon cancer cells were established from the same patient at different stages of tumor progression. The stage III colorectal cancer cell line (SW620) is more resistant to apoptosis. In the present report, we investigated the apoptotic gene products that might account for colon cancer evasion of immune attack and chemoradioresistance-induced apoptosis. METHODS: SW480 and SW620 cells were used for this experiment. Type 1 apoptosis was induced by CH-11. Type 2 apoptosis was induced by cisplatin and ionizing radiation. Apoptosis was determined by caspase-3 activity and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated dUTP nick end labeling. Gene products Fas, TRAIL, c-FLIP, Bid, BAX, Bcl-2, Bcl-xL, Apaf-1, nuclear factor-kappa B, Smac/DIABLO, apoptosis inducing factor, and the inhibitors of apoptosis were investigated by immunocytochemistry and Western blot analyses. RESULTS: SW620 cell lines were more resistant to both Type 1 and Type 2 apoptosis induced by CH-11, cisplatin, and ionizing radiation, respectively. Examination of the extrinsic pathway demonstrated Fas receptor to be down-regulated in SW620. Apaf-1 was decreased in SW620 cells; while other members of the mitochondrial pathway including Bax, Bid, Bcl-xL, and Bcl-2 demonstrated minimal alterations of protein levels in both cell lines. Survivin and XIAP protein levels were increased in SW620 cells, which correlated with nuclear expression of nuclear factor-kappa B in SW620 cells but not SW480. Mitochondrial-released factors including Smac/DIABLO and apoptosis inducing factor were increased in SW480 cells. CONCLUSIONS: SW620 cells have acquired genetic defects both in the intrinsic and extrinsic pathways of apoptosis, which may explain in part the ability of colon cancer cells to escape the immune system and to become chemoradioresistant. These genes may be potential targets for chemoradiosensitization in advanced colorectal cancer.     

多毛孢菌菌粉含药血清对肾小管上皮细胞增殖及纤维生长因子基因表达的影响

目的：研究多毛孢菌菌粉不同提取物对肾小管上皮细胞增殖及纤维生长因子(FGF)mRNA表达的影响。方法：培养猪肾小管上皮细胞株(LLCPK)，用庆大霉素刺激，同时加多毛孢菌的不同提取物干预。MTT法检测LLCPK细胞增殖；逆转录-多聚酶链反应(RT-PCR)测定纤维生长因子mRNA的表达。结果：研究发现多毛孢菌水提物及醇提物均可显著增高LLCPK细胞OD值；庆大霉素刺激的肾小管上皮细胞纤维生长因子mRNA的表达显著增高，而经多毛孢菌菌粉水提物和醇提物干预后，纤维生长因子mRNA的表达显著下降。结论：多毛孢菌菌粉可以促进LLCPK细胞增殖和拮抗庆大霉素对细胞的损伤，以及下调庆大霉素诱导的LLCPK细胞纤维生长因子mRNA的过度表达。     

原花青素对人结肠癌细胞SW620增殖和凋亡的影响

目的:观察葡萄籽提取物原花青素对人结肠癌细胞株SW620细胞增殖和凋亡的影响。方法:SW620细胞与20、40、60、80μg/mL的原花青素共同孵育24h～8d,采用噻唑蓝(MTT)比色法检测细胞增殖抑制率,流式细胞术分析细胞凋亡情况,分光光度法检测Caspase-3酶活性。结果:不同浓度(20～80μg/mL)的原花青素对SW620细胞的生长有明显的抑制作用,呈现出一定的剂量依赖性;含原花青素20、40、80μg/mL的观察组细胞凋亡发生率分别为6.9%、18.6%及22.9%,不含药的对照组细胞凋亡发生率为1.3%。SW620细胞与含药(40μg/mL)或不含药的培养基共同培养48h或72h,对照组细胞几乎无法检出Caspase-3酶活性,而给药组细胞活性显著增加。结论:原花青素在体外可呈浓度依赖性抑制人结肠癌细胞株SW620的增殖并通过Caspase-3通路促进其凋亡。     

Modulation of 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase isozymes by proinflammatory cytokines in osteoblasts: an autocrine switch from glucocorticoid inactivation to activation.

Tissue damage by proinflammatory cytokines is attenuated at both systemic and cellular levels by counter anti-inflammatory factors such as corticosteroids. Target cell responses to corticosteroids are dependent on several factors including prereceptor regulation via local steroidogenic enzymes. In particular, two isozymes of 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11beta-HSD), by interconverting hormonally active cortisol (F) to inactive cortisone (E), regulate the peripheral action of corticosteroids 11beta-HSD1 by converting E to F and 11beta-HSD2 by inactivating F to E. In different in vitro and in vivo systems both 11beta-HSD isozymes have been shown to be expressed in osteoblasts (OBs). Using the MG-63 human osteosarcoma cell-line and primary cultures of human OBs, we have studied the regulation of osteoblastic 11beta-HSD isozyme expression and activity by cytokines and hormones with established roles in bone physiology. In MG-63 cells, interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) potently inhibited 11beta-HSD2 activity (cortisol-cortisone conversion) and messenger RNA (mRNA) levels in a dose-dependent manner while stimulating reciprocal expression of 11beta-HSD1 mRNA and activity (cortisone-cortisol conversion). A similar rise in 11beta-HSD1 reductase activity also was observed in primary cultures of OBs treated with 10 ng/ml TNF-alpha. Pretreatment of MG-63 cells with 0.1 ng/ml IL-1beta resulted in increased cellular sensitivity to physiological glucocorticoids as shown by induction of serum and glucocorticoid-inducible kinase (SGK; relative increase with 50 nM F but no IL-1beta pretreatment 1.12 +/- 0.34; with pretreatment 2.63 +/- 0.50; p < 0.01). These results highlight a novel mechanism within bone cells whereby inflammatory cytokines cause an autocrine switch in intracellular corticosteroid metabolism by disabling glucocorticoid inactivation (11beta-HSD2) while inducing glucocorticoid activation (11beta-HSD1). Therefore, it can be postulated that some of the effects of proinflammatory cytokines within bone (e.g., periarticular erosions in inflammatory arthritis) are mediated by this mechanism.     

Mechanisms of the inhibition of epithelial Na(+) channels by CFTR and purinergic stimulation

The epithelial Na+ channel ENaC is inhibited when the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) coexpressed in the same cell is activated by the cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)-dependent pathway. Regulation of ENaC by CFTR has been studied in detail in epithelial tissues from intestine and trachea and is also detected in renal cells. In the kidney, regulation of other membrane conductances might be the predominant function of CFTR. A similar inhibition of ENaC takes place when luminal purinergic receptors are activated by 5'-adenosine triphosphate (ATP) or uridine triphosphate (UTP). Because both stimulation of purinergic receptors and activation of CFTR induce a Cl(-) conductance, it is likely that Cl(-) ions control ENaC activity.     

树突状细胞融合瘤诱导抗结肠转移癌免疫应答

目的 检测结肠转移癌细胞SW620和树突状细胞（DC）融合构建的肿瘤疫苗对结肠转移癌细胞SW620及其同源结肠癌细胞SW480的杀伤作用。方法 应用促融合剂50％聚乙二醇（PEG）对SW620细胞和从外周血单个核细胞（PBMC）诱生的DC进行融合,用流式细胞仪（FCM）分析其表型并检测融合效率,电镜及免疫细胞化学观察DC、SW620和融合细胞（DC／SW620）形态;^51Cr释放法检测DC／SW620致敏CTL对SW620及SW480细胞的杀伤作用。结果 从PBMC成功诱生出高表达HLA-ABC、HLA-DR、CD80、CD86、CD83的成熟DC,DC／SW620的融合效率达到27．12％。融合细胞兼具DC与肿瘤细胞的结构特点及免疫表型。^51Cr释放法检测DC／SW620激活的CTL对SW620及SW480的杀伤作用强于各对照组（P〈0．01）。结论 DC与SW620细胞融合体外致敏自体T淋巴细胞能生成抗原特异CTL,对结肠转移癌细胞SW620及同源结肠癌细胞SW480有一定的杀伤作用。     

菊米提取液对人结肠癌SW620细胞增殖和凋亡的影响

目的:观察菊米提取液对人结肠癌细胞增殖和凋亡的影响。方法:用不同浓度的菊米提取液处理SW620细胞,MTT法检测菊米提取液对SW620细胞增殖的抑制作用;流式细胞术检测细胞凋亡率;比色法测定Caspase-3/7酶和Caspase-6酶活性。结果:菊米提取液对SW620细胞增殖有抑制作用,IC50为0.012mg/mL,且呈一定的量效关系;随着药物浓度的增加(0.001、0.002、0.005、0.01mg/mL),细胞凋亡率分别为(6.46±0.02)%、(9.77±0.01)%、(13.11±0.04)%、(18.47±0.05)%,对照组细胞凋亡发生率为(4.83±0.01)%,显示菊米提取液诱导的细胞凋亡作用随浓度的增大而增加。同时Caspase-3/7酶和Caspase-6酶活性显著增强。结论:菊米提取液在能抑制体外培养的SW620细胞增殖并诱导其凋亡,Caspase-3、6、7活性增强可能是菊米提取液诱导SW620细胞凋亡的机制之一。     

Hyaluronan mediates adhesion of metastatic colon carcinoma cells

BACKGROUND: Hyaluronan (HA) is a cell-surface glycosaminoglycan that has been implicated in cancer progression. Cells isolated from metastatic colon carcinoma (SW620) produce greater amounts of pericellular HA than cells isolated from a primary tumor (SW480). Inhibition of hyaluronan synthases (HAS) by transfection with antisense cDNA decreases HA production. Because adhesion to the extracellular matrix (ECM) is required for invasion and metastasis, we hypothesized that pericellular HA mediates adhesion to ECM proteins such as laminin, collagen, and fibronectin and that inhibition of HA production or removal of HA by digestion with hyaluronidase would impair adhesion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: SW480, SW620, and antisense transfectants (SW620 cells transfected with vector alone, antisense HAS2, antisense HAS3, and both antisense HAS2 and HAS3) were assessed for adhesion to laminin, Type 1 collagen, or fibronectin-coated plates. To confirm that adhesion was mediated by HA, cells were treated with or without hyaluronidase prior to the assays. RESULTS: Metastatic SW620 cells adhered well to laminin; SW480 cells demonstrated 46% less adhesion (P < 0.05; Student's t test). SW620 cell adhesion to Type 1 collagen and fibronectin was >50% less than adhesion to laminin. Inhibition of HAS2 and/or HAS3 or pretreatment with hyaluronidase significantly decreased adhesion of SW620 cells to laminin (P < 0.05), suggesting that adhesion was dependent upon pericellular HA. CONCLUSIONS: Metastatic SW620 cells that produce large amounts of pericellular HA adhered well to laminin. Inhibition of HAS2 and/or HAS3 expression, or hyaluronidase digestion of pericellular HA significantly inhibited adhesion. These data suggest that HA promotes adhesion to laminin and may thereby facilitate invasion of the basement membrane and metastasis in colon carcinoma.     

TrkB影响结肠癌细胞SW620侵袭能力及与ERK信号通路活化关系的研究

目的:探讨干扰结肠癌细胞TrkB蛋白表达及抑制ERK活化对细胞增殖、凋亡和侵袭以及细胞内ERK磷酸化水平的影响。方法:应用特异性TrkB-siRNA瞬时转染及ERK特异性抑制剂处理SW620结肠癌细胞,观察SW620细胞增殖、凋亡和侵袭情况以及细胞内ERK磷酸化水平的变化。结果:特异性siRNA转染高表达TrkB的SW620细胞,TrkB蛋白表达减少,ERK的磷酸化水平降低,且转染组细胞数显著低于对照组(P=0.001),转染组的细胞凋亡率显著高于对照组(P=0.000 1),24 h后侵袭至下层小室的细胞数转染组显著低于对照组(P=0.001);ERK抑制剂明显降低SW620细胞ERK磷酸化水平(P=0.001),而对ERK蛋白表达没有影响,且应用ERK抑制剂作用SW620细胞,对照组和处理组中细胞数没有显著差异(P=0.544),对照组和处理组中SW620细胞的凋亡率差异无统计学意义(P=0.103),但对照组24 h后侵袭至下层小室的细胞数显著高于处理组(P=0.0001)。结论:干扰TrkB蛋白表达能够降低高转移结肠腺癌SW620细胞内ERK磷酸化水平,促进细胞凋亡并抑制细胞增殖和侵袭。同时应用ERK特异性抑制剂也显著抑制细胞侵袭。因此ERK信号转导通路可能与TrkB介导的结肠腺癌细胞抗凋亡和侵袭能力的增加相关,沉默TrkB表达可能成为阻断结肠癌转移的新靶点。     

Effects of spironolactone on systolic blood pressure in experimental diabetic rats

BACKGROUND: Mineralocorticoid hormones, which maintain electrolyte balance and blood pressure, are thought to be associated not only with the expression of renal 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 (11beta-HSD2), but also with that of intracellular mineralocorticoid receptors (MRs). The present study was designed to test whether the mineralocorticoid action of glucocorticoid corticosterone on renal MR is involved in the development of diabetes-associated hypertension by measuring the alterations of renal 11beta-HSD2. METHOD: We measured the mean systolic blood pressure, renal 11beta-HSD1, and mRNA levels in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats that received spironolactone, insulin, or no treatment, and in nondiabetic controls that received spironolactone. RESULTS: Four weeks after an injection of STZ, the renal 11beta-HSD2 and mRNA levels were significantly lower in diabetic rats than in control rats, and the mean systolic blood pressure was 14.8% higher in diabetic rats than in controls. Subcutaneous injections of spironolactone into diabetic rats for three weeks partially reversed the decrease in renal 11beta-HSD2 activity and gene expression, and prevented the mean systolic blood pressure elevation. Spironolactone treatment for one week also resulted in a significant reduction in mean systolic blood pressure during the development of diabetic hypertension. However, treatment with STZ did not significantly decrease the renal 11beta-HSD1 activity and mRNA expression, and spironolactone treatment did not exert a significant effect on this enzyme in STZ-induced diabetic rats. CONCLUSION: In the development of diabetes-induced hypertension, the effect of spironolactone on mean systolic blood pressure may be associated with the mineralocorticoid effects of corticosterone on renal MR, as well as an alteration of renal 11beta-HSD2 activity and its mRNA expression in insulin-dependent diabetic rats.     

Purinergic signaling underlies CFTR control of human airway epithelial cell volume.

BACKGROUND: Loss of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) function in cystic fibrosis (CF) causes dysregulation of multiple ion channels, water channels, and acid-base transporters in epithelia. As such, we hypothesized that dysregulation of many critical ion channels and transporters may cause defects in human airway epithelial cell volume regulation. METHODS: Cell volume, regulatory volume decrease, and its regulation was assessed in real-time via Coulter Counter Multisizer III-driven electronic cell sizing in non-CF, CF, and CFTR-complemented CF human airway epithelial cells. SPQ halide fluorescence assay of hypotonicity-induced chloride efflux provided indirect validation of the cell volume assays. RESULTS: CFTR, via autocrine ATP signaling, governs human airway epithelial cell volume regulation. Non-CF cells and wild-type (WT)-CFTR-transfected CF cells had normal regulatory volume decrease (RVD) responses that were attenuated by blockade of autocrine and paracrine purinergic signaling. In contrast, parental IB3-1 CF cells or IB3-1 cells expressing CFTR mutants (DeltaF508, G551D, and S1455X) failed to RVD. CF cell RVD was rescued by agonists to P2Y G protein-coupled receptors and, more robustly, by agonists to P2X purinergic receptor channels. CONCLUSIONS: Loss of CFTR and CFTR-driven autocrine ATP signaling may underlie defective cell volume regulation and dysregulated ion, water, and acid-base transport in CF airway epithelia.     

Paracrine stimulation of vascular smooth muscle proliferation by diadenosine polyphosphates released from proximal tubule epithelial cells

The purinergic receptor system plays an important role in the regulation of both vascular and tubular functions within the kidney; however, the release of purinergic agonists other than ATP by renal tissue is not known. In this investigation, we determine if kidney tissue is a source of diadenosine polyphosphates, which have high affinity for the P(2X) and P(2Y) receptors. Both diadenosine pentaphosphate and hexaphosphate were identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-mass spectrometry in extracts purified from both whole porcine kidney and from cloned cells of the LLC-PK1 cell line. Both polyphosphates in nanomolar concentrations were found to significantly stimulate the proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells derived from rat thoracic aortas. The purinergic-receptor antagonist, suramin, did not significantly affect the growth-stimulatory properties of the polyphosphates. The growth stimulation of vascular smooth muscle cells by platelet-derived growth factor was potentiated by both diadenosine polyphosphates. We conclude that diadenosine polyphosphates are endogenous purinergic agonists of the kidney that have physiologic and pathophysiologic relevance. These epithelial cell metabolic products have vasoregulatory properties while linking the energy supply and tubular function.     

Inhibition of IMCD 11 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 by low pH and acute acid loading.

Mineralocorticoid receptors in the inner medullary collecting duct (IMCD) are protected from glucocorticoid binding by an enzyme, 11 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 (11 beta-HSD2). To study the role of 11 beta-HSD2 in acid-base homeostasis, 11 beta-HSD2 activity was measured in rat IMCD-enriched cell suspensions. Homogenates of cell suspensions were incubated in buffers ranging in pH from 6.00 to 8.15 in the presence of 1 microCi of 3H-corticosterone (CS) and 400 microM NAD+. Enzyme activity was expressed as the amount of 3H-CS converted to 3H-11-dehydrocorticosterone (DHCS). IMCD 11 beta-HSD2 activity at pH 6.5 was 49% of activity at pH 7.5; 22.5 versus 11.0 fmol/microgram of protein per h. Experiments also were performed on intact cell suspensions at pH 7.5 and 6.5. There was a 42% inhibition in the IMCD cell suspension conversion rate of 3H-CS to 3H-11-DHCS at pH 6.5; 13.1 versus 7.6 fmol/microgram per h (P < 0.005). In cell suspensions at pH 7.5, 1-day acid loading caused a 26% inhibition in conversion rate, 13.2 versus 9.9 fmol/microgram per h (P < 0.05), when compared with controls. These results suggest that during acute metabolic acidosis, IMCD 11 beta-HSD2 is inhibited and may allow access to the mineralocorticoid receptors by glucocorticoids.