Regulation of cardiac growth and coronary angiogenesis by the Akt/PKB signaling pathway

Postnatal growth of the heart is primarily achieved through hypertrophy of individual myocytes. Cardiac growth observed in athletes represents adaptive or physiological hypertrophy, whereas cardiac growth observed in patients with hypertension or valvular heart diseases is called maladaptive or pathological hypertrophy. These two types of hypertrophy are morphologically, functionally, and molecularly distinct from each other. The serine/threonine protein kinase Akt is activated by various extracellular stimuli in a phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase-dependent manner and regulates multiple aspects of cellular functions including survival, growth and metabolism. In this review we will discuss the role of the Akt signaling pathway in the heart, focusing on the regulation of cardiac growth, contractile function, and coronary angiogenesis. How this signaling pathway contributes to the development of physiological/pathological hypertrophy and heart failure will also be discussed.     

SHIP is a negative regulator of growth factor receptor-mediated PKB/Akt activation and myeloid cell survival

SHIP is an inositol 5' phosphatase that hydrolyzes the PI3'K product PI(3,4,5)P3. We show that SHIP-deficient mice exhibit dramatic chronic hyperplasia of myeloid cells resulting in splenomegaly, lymphadenopathy, and myeloid infiltration of vital organs. Neutrophils and bone marrow-derived mast cells from SHIP-/- mice are less susceptible to programmed cell death induced by various apoptotic stimuli or by growth factor withdrawal. Engagement of IL3-R and GM-CSF-R in these cells leads to increased and prolonged PI3'K-dependent PI(3,4,5)P3 accumulation and PKB activation. These data indicate that SHIP is a negative regulator of growth factor-mediated PKB activation and myeloid cell survival.     

IL-1beta-induced phosphorylation of PKB/Akt depends on the presence of IRAK-1

IL-1, IL-18 and LPS are recognized by specific receptor complexes of the Toll/IL-1R family, characterized by a common intracellular domain indispensable for downstream signaling. Upon ligand binding, these receptors activate the central MyD88-IRAK-TRAF6 signaling module, resulting in the activation of NF-kappaB. Ligated receptors also induce activation of other signaling cascades, suchas the PI3-kinase (PI3-K) and the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways. Unlike the p38MAPK pathway, which couples to the central signaling module, the PI3-K pathway seems to directly interact with the receptor molecules. Thus, activation of the PI3-K pathway is thought to be independent of the IRAK-containing signaling module. Employing two cell lines, we show that the PI3-K pathways can be activated by IL-1, IL-18 or LPS with comparable, but cell type specific kinetics, which can be correlated to biological consequences. This indicates that activation of the PI3-K pathways may be regulated by an element common for all three receptor types, the MyD88-IRAK-TRAF6 module being a candidate for this function. Using an IRAK-1-deficient cell line, we demonstrate that the IRAK-1-containing signaling module is essential for the IL-1-induced activation of the PI3-K pathway. Possible models of the interaction between IRAK-1 and the PI3-K pathway are discussed.     

Akt对哮喘小鼠肺组织VEGF表达的上调作用

目的探讨在哮喘发病机制中,PKB/Akt对哮喘小鼠肺组织VEGF表达的调节作用。方法BALB/c小鼠30只,按随机数字表法均分为正常对照组、哮喘组、PKB/Akt阻断组,免疫荧光、Western blot方法检测各组小鼠肺组织VEGF的表达。结果免疫荧光结果显示:哮喘组肺组织内VEGF阳性产物的平均光密度(MOD)显著高于正常对照组(P<0.01),而PKB/Akt阻断组与哮喘组相比,上述部位VEGF阳性反应产物的MOD值明显降低(P<0.05)。Western blot结果显示:与正常对照组比较,哮喘组小鼠肺组织内VEGF的IDV( integrated density value)与内参照IDV的比值均明显升高(P<0.01),而PKB/Akt阻断组上述部位IL-1β目标带的IDV与内参照IDV的比值均明显低于哮喘组(P<0.05)。结论在NGF介导的哮喘发病机制中,Akt能上调哮喘小鼠肺组织内VEGF的表达。     

Task-dependent encoding of space and events by striatal neurons is dependent on neural subtype

The dorsal striatum plays a critical role in procedural learning and memory. Current models of basal ganglia assume that striatal neurons and circuitry are critical for the execution of overlearned, habitual sequences of action. However, less is known about how the striatum encodes task information that guides the performance of actions in procedural tasks. To explore the striatal encoding of task information, we compared the behavioral correlates of striatal neurons tested in two tasks: a multiple T-maze task in which reward delivery was entirely predictable based on spatial cues (the Multiple-T task), and a task in which rats ran on a rectangular track, but food delivery depended on the distance traveled on the track and was not dependent solely on spatial location (the Take-5 task). Striatal cells recorded on these tasks were divisible into three cell types: phasic-firing neurons (PFNs), tonically firing neurons (TFNs), and high-firing neurons (HFNs) and similar proportions of each cell type were found in each task. However, the behavioral correlates of each cell type were differentially sensitive to the type of task rats were performing. PFNs were responsive to specific task-parameters on each task. TFNs showed reliable burst-and-pause responses following food delivery and other events that were consistent with tonically active neurons (TANs) on the Take-5 (non-spatial) task but not on the Multiple-T (spatial) task. HFNs showed spatial oscillations on the Multiple-T (spatial) task but not the Take-5 (non-spatial) task. Reconstruction of the rats' position on the maze was highly accurate when using striatal ensembles recorded on the Multiple-T (spatial) task, but not when using ensembles recorded on the Take-5 (non-spatial) task. In contrast, reconstruction of time following food delivery was successful in both tasks. The results indicated a strong task dependency of the quality of the spatial, but not the reward-related, striatal representations on these tasks. These results suggest that striatal spatial representations depend on the degree to which spatial task-parameters can be unambiguously associated with goals.     

Inhibition of HIV replication by the plasminogen activator is dependent on vitronectin-mediated cell adhesion

Urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA), an inducer of macrophage adhesion, inhibits HIV-1 expression in PMA-stimulated, chronically infected U1 cells. We investigated whether uPA-dependent cell adhesion played a role in uPA-dependent inhibition of HIV-1 replication in these cells. Monocyte-derived macrophages (MDM) were generated from monocytes of HIV-infected individuals or from cells of seronegative donors infected acutely in vitro. U1 cells were stimulated in the presence or absence of uPA in standard tissue culture (TC) plates, allowing firm cell adhesion or ultra-low adhesion (ULA) plates. Moreover, U1 cells were also maintained in the presence or absence of vitronectin (VN)-containing sera or serum from VN(-/-) mice. Virus production was evaluated by RT activity in culture supernatants, whereas cell adhesion was by crystal violet staining and optical microscopy. uPA inhibited HIV replication in MDM and PMA-stimulated U1 cells in TC plates but not in ULA plates. uPA failed to inhibit HIV expression in U1 cells stimulated with IL-6, which induces virus expression but not cell adhesion in TC plates. VN, known to bind to the uPA/uPA receptor complex, was crucial for these adhesion-dependent, inhibitory effects of uPA on HIV expression, in that they were not observed in TC plates in the presence of VN(-/-) mouse serum. HIV production in control cell cultures was increased significantly in ULA versus TC plates, indicating that macrophage cell adhesion per se curtails HIV replication. In conclusion, uPA inhibits HIV-1 replication in macrophages via up-regulation of cell adhesion to the substrate mediated by VN.     

TrkA对小鼠过敏性气道反应肺组织Akt/PKB的调节作用

目的 探讨神经生长因子(NGF)受体酪氨酸激酶(TrkA)是否调控丝/苏氨酸激酶(Akt/PKB)磷酸化表达来参与小鼠肺组织过敏性免疫炎性变化。方法 制备卵清蛋白(OVA)致敏的BALB/c小鼠过敏性免疫炎症模型,应用HE肺组织病理染色确定模型成功,采用免疫组织化学、免疫荧光和定量RT-PCR等方法,观察给予TrkA抗体后小鼠肺组织磷酸化Akt(p-Akt)表达变化。结果 p-Akt在过敏性免疫炎症模型小鼠肺组织中表达水平高于正常对照组,TrkA阻断后p-Akt在小鼠肺组织中表达水平明显低于过敏性免疫炎症模型小鼠(p<0.05)。结论 TrkA受体参与NGF介导Akt/PKB传导的小鼠肺部过敏性免疫炎症反应。     

Dietary restriction in Drosophila is dependent on mitochondrial efficiency and constrained by pre-existing extended longevity

We tested the effects of dietary restriction (DR) on the standard w(1118) strain as well as on our previously described Ra and La strains and their reciprocal isogenic 'cybrid' lines containing heterologous nuclear-mitochondrial combinations. The w(1118) and Ra strains, but neither the La strains nor their 'cybrid' derivatives, are DR-inducible. The Ra and La animals are more robust than the w(1118) animals, and the Ra strain shows an upward shift in its DR threshold. The non-inducibility of the La strain suggests that it expresses a constituitive version of the inducible DR phenotype of its predecessor Ra strain. The difference in mitochondrial efficiency observed between the Ra and La mitochondria (Ross, 2000) has real effects on longevity in the adults: the presence of the more efficient La mitochondria enhances the longevity of an otherwise Ra animal; while the maximum longevity inherent in the La nuclear information cannot be fully expressed in the presence of the Ra mitochondria. Despite the absence of any demographic mathematical parameters robustly and uniquely associated with extended longevity, there are some common trends in that longer lived cohorts have a longer period of low and often constant early life mortality rates (comprising the "health span"), leading to a delayed onset of senescence as noted by the late life increase in age-specific mortality rates (comprising the "senescence span"). There is a genetic basis to this phenotype, but the context-dependence of the demographic data suggests that there is not likely to be only one mechanism or pathway involved in the DR response. In addition, the presence of live yeast had systemic strain specific effects such that it increased longevity in the w(1118) animals but decreased it in the Ra and derived lines. Higher density (4-10x) foods yielded a decreased longevity in all strains at the highest level, showing that malnutrition occurs at both low and high caloric levels.     

High-level expression of fatty acid synthase in human prostate cancer tissues is linked to activation and nuclear localization of Akt/PKB

Many human epithelial cancers, particularly those with a poor prognosis, express high levels of fatty acid synthase (FAS), a key metabolic enzyme linked to the synthesis of membrane phospholipids in cancer cells. In view of the recent finding that in the human prostate cancer cell line LNCaP, overexpression of FAS can be largely attributed to constitutive activation of the phosphatidylinositol-3 (PI3) kinase/Akt kinase pathway, the activation status of the Akt pathway, and whether this activation coincides with increased FAS expression, was examined in clinical prostate cancer tissues. Using well-preserved frozen prostatic needle biopsies and a sensitive Envision detection technique, S473-phosphorylated Akt (pAkt) was found in 11/23 low-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN) lesions, in all (36/36) high-grade PINs, and in all (86/86) invasive carcinomas. Non-neoplastic tissues were negative. Interestingly, in low-grade PINs and low-grade carcinomas, pAkt was mainly cytoplasmic or membrane-bound and was associated with moderate elevation of FAS expression. In 24/36 high-grade PINs and 82/88 invasive carcinomas, pAkt was found at least partly in the nucleus. Greater nuclear pAkt staining, and higher FAS expression, correlated with a higher Gleason score. In the light of previous findings that pAkt plays a causative role in the overexpression of FAS in cancer cells in culture, these data strongly suggest that high-level expression of FAS in prostate cancer tissues is linked to phosphorylation and nuclear accumulation of Akt.     

Translocase of outer mitochondrial membrane 70 expression is induced by hepatitis C virus and is related to the apoptotic response

The localization of hepatitis C virus (HCV) proteins in cells leads to several problems. The translocase of outer mitochondrial membrane 70 (TOM70) is a mitochondrial import receptor. In this study, TOM70 expression was induced by HCV infection. TOM70 overexpression induced resistance to tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α)-mediated apoptosis but not to Fas-induced apoptosis in HepG2 cells. TOM70 was found to be induced by the HCV non-structural protein (NS)3/4A protein, and silencing of TOM70 decreased the levels of the NS3 and Mcl-1 proteins. These results indicate that TOM70 can directly interact with the NS3 protein. In hepatoma cells, silencing of TOM70 induced apoptosis and increased caspase-3/7 activity but did not modify caspase-8 and caspase-9 activity. TOM70 silencing-induced apoptosis was impaired in HCV NS3/4A protein-expressing cells. Thus, this study revealed a novel finding, that is, TOM70 is linked with the NS3 protein and the apoptotic response.     

NGF对哮喘小鼠气道阻力和肺组织Akt/PKB表达的影响

目的探讨NGF介导的Akt/PKB信号转导通路在哮喘小鼠发病中的作用。方法BALB/c小鼠30只,按随机数字表法随机分为正常对照组、哮喘组、NGF阻断组。利用An iRes2005肺功能仪测小鼠气道阻力,运用免疫组织化学方法测定Akt/PKB的组织表达,M etamoph图像分析系统对结果进行分析。结果哮喘小鼠吸气阻力和呼气阻力明显高于正常组小鼠(P<0.01),NGF阻断组小鼠吸气阻力和呼气阻力明显低于哮喘组。免疫组织化学染色结果显示哮喘组Akt/PKB在肺组织炎性细胞的表达及AK t/PKB阳性炎症细胞数明显多于正常对照组(P<0.05),而NGF阻断组则明显低于哮喘组(P<0.05)。结论NGF介导哮喘气道高反应和炎症反应,Akt/PKB参与了哮喘发病中NGF介导的信号传导。     

4E-BP1, a repressor of mRNA translation, is phosphorylated and inactivated by the Akt(PKB) signaling pathway

Growth factors and hormones activate protein translation by phosphorylation and inactivation of the translational repressors, the eIF4E-binding proteins (4E-BPs), through a wortmannin- and rapamycin-sensitive signaling pathway. The mechanism by which signals emanating from extracellular signals lead to phosphorylation of 4E-BPs is not well understood. Here we demonstrate that the activity of the serine/threonine kinase Akt/PKB is required in a signaling cascade that leads to phosphorylation and inactivation of 4E-BP1. PI 3-kinase elicits the phosphorylation of 4E-BP1 in a wortmannin- and rapamycin-sensitive manner, whereas activated Akt-mediated phosphorylation of 4E-BP1 is wortmannin resistant but rapamycin sensitive. A dominant negative mutant of Akt blocks insulin-mediated phosphorylation of 4E-BP1, indicating that Akt is required for the in vivo phosphorylation of 4E-BP1. Importantly, an activated Akt induces phosphorylation of 4E-BP1 on the same sites that are phosphorylated upon serum stimulation. Similar to what has been observed with serum and growth factors, phosphorylation of 4E-BP1 by Akt inhibits the interaction between 4E-BP1 and eIF-4E. Furthermore, phosphorylation of 4E-BP1 by Akt requires the activity of FRAP/mTOR. FRAP/mTOR may lie downstream of Akt in this signaling cascade. These results demonstrate that the PI 3-kinase-Akt signaling pathway, in concert with FRAP/mTOR, induces the phosphorylation of 4E-BP1.     

Lung transplant acceptance is facilitated by early events in the graft and is associated with lymphoid neogenesis

Early immune responses are important in shaping long-term outcomes of human lung transplants. To examine the role of early immune responses in lung rejection and acceptance, we developed a method to retransplant mouse lungs. Retransplantation into T-cell-deficient hosts showed that for lungs and hearts alloimmune responses occurring within 72 h of transplantation are reversible. In contrast to hearts, a 72-h period of immunosuppression with costimulation blockade in primary allogeneic recipients suffices to prevent rejection of lungs upon retransplantation into untreated allogeneic hosts. Long-term lung acceptance is associated with induction of bronchus-associated lymphoid tissue, where Foxp3⁺ cells accumulate and recipient T cells interact with CD11c⁺ dendritic cells. Acceptance of retransplanted lung allografts is abrogated by treatment of immunosuppressed primary recipients with anti-CD25 antibodies. Thus, events contributing to lung transplant acceptance are established early in the graft and induction of bronchus-associated lymphoid tissue can be associated with an immune quiescent state.     

Nitric oxide prevents phosphorylation of neuronal nitric oxide synthase at serine1412 by inhibiting the Akt/PKB and CaM-K II signaling pathways

Neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) is an important regulatory enzyme in the central nervous system catalyzing the production of NO, which regulates multiple biological processes in the central nervous system. However, the mechanisms by which nNOS activity is regulated are not completely understood. In the present study, the effects of protein kinases on the phosphorylation of nNOS in GH3 rat pituitary tumor cells were evaluated. We show that phosphorylation of nNOS at Ser1412 could be induced by the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B (Akt/PKB) agonist insulin, the calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaM-K II) agonist A23187 or the cAMP-dependent protein kinase A (PKA) agonist IBMX, respectively. The phosphorylation levels of nNOS at Ser1412, induced by activation of Akt/PKB or CaM-K II, but not by PKA signaling, were reduced by pre-treatment with the NO donor diethylamine-NONOate. This inhibitory effect could be reversed by addition of a reducing reagent, dithiothreitol. Furthermore, the levels of phosphorylation of nNOS at Ser1412, induced by Akt/PKB or CaM-K II but not by PKA signaling, were enhanced by inhibition of nNOS activity with 7-nitroindazole. These findings suggest that the activation of nNOS can be catalyzed by at least three protein kinases, Akt/PKB, CaM-K II or PKA. NO generated from nNOS feedback prevents the activation of nNOS by inhibiting either Akt/PKB or CaM-K II but not PKA signaling.     

Macrophage recognition and phagocytosis of apoptotic fibroblasts is critically dependent on fibroblast-derived thrombospondin 1 and CD36

The induction of fibroblast apoptosis and their clearance by phagocytes is essential for normal wound healing and prevention of scarring. However, little is known about the clearance of apoptotic fibroblasts and whether apoptotic cells are active participants in the recruitment and activation of phagocytes. In this study, we provide the first evidence that apoptotic fibroblasts actively release increased amounts of thrombospondin (TSP1) to actively recruit macrophages. Expression of TSP1 and its receptor CD36 was increased on the surface of apoptotic fibroblasts. By chemical cross-linking and immunoprecipitation we show that TSP1 and CD36 were directly associated. This was confirmed by confocal microscopy. Blockade of either CD36 or TSP1 on apoptotic fibroblasts inhibited phagocytosis. Blockade of alpha v beta 3 integrins as well as CD36 and TSP1 on macrophages inhibited phagocytosis. In contrast, phosphatidylserine or lectins were not involved. These findings suggest that apoptotic fibroblasts release TSP1 as a signal to recruit macrophages while the up-regulated expression of the CD36/TSP1 complex on their cell surface may form a ligand bridging the fibroblast to a complex consisting of alpha v beta 3/CD36/TSP1 on macrophages. These results establish fundamental mechanisms for the clearance of apoptotic fibroblasts and may provide insights into the processes involved in normal wound repair.     

Inhibition of pulmonary neutrophil trafficking during endotoxemia is dependent on the stimulus for migration

In rat models of Gram-negative pneumonia, pulmonary emigration of neutrophils (polymorphonuclear leukocytes [PMNs]) is blocked when rats are made endotoxemic by an intravenous administration of endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide [LPS]). To test whether dysfunctional PMN migratory responses in the endotoxemic rat are specific for airway endotoxin, we gave rats intrapulmonary stimuli known to elicit different adhesion pathways for pulmonary PMN migration. Sprague-Dawley rats were treated intravenously with either saline or LPS and then instilled intratracheally with either sterile saline, LPS from Escherichia coli, interleukin (IL)-1, hydrochloric acid (HCl), zymosan-activated serum (ZAS), or lipoteichoic acid (LTA). Three hours later, accumulation of PMNs and protein in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were assessed. BALF PMN accumulation in response to intratracheal treatment with LPS (100%), IL-1 (100%), ZAS (40%), and LTA (58%) was inhibited by endotoxemia. In rats given intratracheal HCl, BALF PMN numbers were unaffected by intravenous LPS. The pattern of inhibition of migration suggests that intravenous LPS only inhibits migration in response to stimuli for which migration is CD18-dependent. In contrast to PMN migration, BALF protein accumulation was inhibited by intravenous LPS only when IL-1 or LPS was used as the intratracheal stimulus. To characterize further the differential responses to the various airway stimuli, the appearance in BALF of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and the PMN chemokine macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-2 was measured. Accumulation of PMNs in BALF correlated with the BALF concentrations of MIP-2 (r = 0.846, P < 0.05) and TNF (r = 0.911; P < 0.05). The ability of intravenous LPS to inhibit pulmonary PMN migration correlated weakly with MIP-2 (r = 0.659; P < 0.05) and with TNF (r = 0.413; P > 0.05) concentrations in BALF. However, this correlation was strengthened for TNF (r = 0.752; P < 0.05) when data from IL-1-treated animals were excluded. Thus, the presence in BALF of inflammatory mediators that are known to promote CD18-mediated migration correlates with endotoxemia-related inhibition of PMN migration. Furthermore, the pattern of inhibition of pulmonary PMN migration during endotoxemia is consistent with the CD18 requirement of each migratory stimulus.     

Inhibition of herpes simplex virus infection by lactoferrin is dependent on interference with the virus binding to glycosaminoglycans

Previous reports have indicated that lactoferrin inhibits herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection during the very early phases of the viral replicative cycle. In the present work we investigated the mechanism of the antiviral activity of lactoferrin in mutant glycosaminoglycan (GAG)-deficient cells. Bovine lactoferrin (BLf) was a strong inhibitor of HSV-1 infection in cells expressing either heparan sulfate (HS) or chondroitin sulfate (CS) or both, but was ineffective or less efficient in GAG-deficient cells or in cells treated with GAG-degrading enzymes. In contrast to wild-type HSV-1, virus mutants devoid of glycoprotein C (gC) were significantly less inhibited by lactoferrin in GAG-expressing cells, indicating that lactoferrin interfered with the binding of viral gC to cell surface HS and/or CS. Finally, we demonstrated that lactoferrin bound directly to both HS and CS isolated from surfaces of the studied cells, as well as to commercial preparations of GAG chains. The results support the hypothesis that the inhibition of HSV-1 infectivity by lactoferrin is dependent on its interaction with cell surface GAG chains of HS and CS.     

Inhibition of HIV-1-mediated syncytium formation and virus replication by the lipophosphoglycan from Leishmania donovani is due to an effect on early events in the virus life cycle

Previous findings have indicated that the major surface molecule of Leishmania, lipophosphoglycan (LPG), could abrogate HIV-1-induced syncytium formation and virus replication. In the present work, we were interested in characterizing this inhibitory process. Data from a new luciferase-based semiquantitative assay for syncytium formation, relying on the coincubation of a T-cell line containing an HIV-1 LTR-driven luciferase construct with a cell line chronically infected with HIV-1, confirmed that LPG was indeed a strong inhibitor of HIV-1-dependent syncytium formation and that this inhibition was dose-dependent. As determined by flow cytometric analyses, this inhibition was not apparently due to downregulation of CD4, CXCR4 or LFA-1, three distinct surface glycoproteins known to be important in HIV-1 mediated syncytium formation. Furthermore, LPG did not seem to affect signal transduction pathways in T cells as judged by measurement of HIV-1 LTR-driven reporter gene activity upon treatment with different stimuli. However, pretreatment of either of the cell lines used in the assay with LPG led to a significant decrease of virus-mediated syncytium formation, which was further accentuated when both cell lines were pretreated. LPG inhibition of HIV-1 replication was next assessed. When measuring either infection with luciferase-encoding recombinant HIV-1 particles or multinucleated giant cell formation following an acute virus infection, we again observed that LPG was efficient at blocking HIV-1 replication. Specific assays probing different steps of viral entry demonstrated that attachment was not hindered by LPG but that viral entry was modulated, suggesting that LPG targets a postbinding step. Hence, incorporation of LPG into a target cell membrane could influence its fluidity and diminish both the virus-cell and cell-to-cell fusion processes initiated by HIV-1.