Serine 1179 phosphorylation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase caused by 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene through PI3K/Akt signaling in endothelial cells

Although 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) has been found to uncouple nitric oxide synthase (NOS), thereby leading to reactive oxygen species (ROS), cellular response against TNT still remains unclear. Exposure of bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAECs) to TNT (100 microM) resulted in serine 1179 phosphorylation of endothelial NOS (eNOS). With specific inhibitors (wortmannin and LY294002), we found that PI3K/Akt signaling participated in the eNOS phosphorylation caused by TNT, whereas the ERK pathway did not. ROS were generated following exposure of BAECs to TNT. However, TNT-mediated phosphorylation of either eNOS or Akt was drastically blocked by NAC and PEG-CAT. Interestingly, pretreatment with apocynin, a specific inhibitor for NADPH oxidase, diminished the phosphorylation of eNOS and Akt. These results suggest that TNT affects NADPH oxidase, thereby generating hydrogen peroxide, which is capable of activating PI3K/Akt signaling associated with eNOS Ser 1179 phosphorylation.     

Dexmedetomidine protects mice against myocardium ischaemic/reperfusion injury by activating an AMPK/PI3K/Akt/eNOS pathway

Acute myocardial ischaemia/reperfusion (MIR) injury leads to severe arrhythmias and has a high rate of lethality. In the present study, we aim to determine the effect of dexmedetomidine (Dex) on heart injury parameters following MIR surgery. We examined the effects of Dex on heart function parameters and infarct size following MIR surgery. Proinflammatory cytokines, oxidative products and anti‐oxidative enzymes in the myocardium were measured to evaluate the anti‐inflammatory and anti‐oxidative effects of Dex. The role of the adenosine 5′‐monophosphate (AMP)‐activated protein kinase (AMPK)/phosphatidylino‐sitol 3‐kinase (PI3k)/Akt/endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) pathway was investigated using their inhibitors. The alteration of haemodynamic parameters, histopathological results, and infarct size caused by MIR was attenuated by Dex. The interleukine‐1 beta (IL‐1β), IL‐6, tumour necrosis factor‐a (TNF‐α) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) were all significantly decreased. Anti‐oxidative enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were restored by Dex. Oxidative products8‐OHdG, MDA and protein carbonyl were all decreased by Dex (P<.05). Dex activated AMPK expression, eNOS and Akt phosphorylation. The influence of Dex on cardiac function was reversed by the inhibitors of the eNOS, AMPK and PI3K/Akt pathways. These results indicate that Dex protected the cardiac functional, histological changes, inflammation and oxidative stress induced by MIR. Our results present a novel signalling mechanism that Dex protects MIR injury by activating an AMPK/PI3K/Akt/eNOS pathway.     

Protective role of PI3-kinase/Akt/eNOS signaling in mechanical stress through inhibition of p38 mitogenactivated protein kinase in mouse lung

Aim:

To test the hypothesis that PI3K/Akt/eNOS signaling has a protective role in a murine model of ventilation associated lung injury (VALI) through down-regulation of p38 MAPK signaling.

Methods:

Male C57BL/J6 (wild-type, WT) or eNOS knockout mice (eNOS^−/−) were exposed to mechanical ventilation (MV) with low (LV_T, 7 mL/kg) and high tidal volume (HV_T, 20 mL/kg) for 0−4 h. A subset of WT mice was administered the specific inhibitors of PI3K (100 nmol/L Wortmannin [Wort], ip) or of p38 MAPK (SB203580, 2 mg/kg, ip) 1 h before MV. Cultured type II alveolar epithelial cells C10 were exposed to 18% cyclic stretch for 2 h with or without 20 nmol/L Wort pretreatment. At the end of the experiment, the capillary leakage in vivo was assessed by extravasation of Evans blue dye (EBD), wet/dry weight ratio and lung lavage protein concentration. The lung tissue and cell lysate were also collected for protein and histological review.

Results:

MV decreased PI3K/Akt phosphorylation and eNOS expression but increased phospho-p38 MAPK expression along with a lung leakage of EBD. Inhibitions of phospho-Akt by Wort worsen the lung edema, whereas inhibition of p38 MAPK kinase restored activation of Akt together with alleviated capillary leakage. eNOS^−/− mice showed an exacerbated lung edema and injury. The stretched C10 cells demonstrated that Wort diminished the activation of Akt, but potentiated phosphorylation of MAPK p38.

Conclusion:

Our results indicate that PI-3K/Akt/eNOS pathway has significant protective effects in VALI by preventing capillary leakage, and that there is a cross-talk between PI3K/Akt and p38 MAPK pathways in vascular barrier dysfunction resulting from VALI.     

Intermedin alleviates the inflammatory response and stabilizes the endothelial barrier in LPS-induced ARDS through the PI3K/Akt/eNOS signaling pathway

Inflammatory storms and endothelial barrier dysfunction are the central pathophysiological features of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Intermedin (IMD), a member of the calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) family, has been reported to alleviate inflammation and protect endothelial cell (EC) integrity. However, the effects of IMD on ARDS have not been clearly elucidated. In the present study, clinical ARDS data were used to explore the relationship between serum IMD levels and disease severity and prognosis, and we then established a model to predict the possibility of hospital survival. Mouse models of ARDS and LPS-challenged endothelial cells were used to analyze the protective effect and underlying mechanism of IMD. We found that in patients with ARDS, increased serum IMD levels were associated with reduced disease severity and increased rates of hospital survival. IMD alleviated the LPS-induced inflammatory response by decreasing proinflammatory cytokines, NF-κB p65 expression and NF-κB p65 nuclear translocation. In addition, IMD stabilized the endothelial barrier by repairing adherens junctions (AJs), cytoskeleton and capillary leakage. IMD exerted protective effects against ARDS on pulmonary endothelial cells, at least partly, through PI3K/Akt/eNOS signaling, while IMD’s anti-inflammation effect was mediated through an eNOS-independent mechanism. Our study may provide new therapeutic insight for ARDS treatment.     

七氟烷激活PI_3-K/Akt/P~(70S6K)信号转导通路抑制缺血/再灌注损伤神经元的凋亡

目的研究七氟烷对神经元缺血/再灌注损伤后PI3-K/Akt/P70S6K信号转导通路的影响,探讨七氟烷脑保护机制。方法将96孔和6孔培养板上培养7d的海马神经元随机分为6组:正常培养组(C组)、缺血/再灌注组(I/R组)、缺血/再灌注+2%Sevoflurane组(Sevo组)、缺血/再灌注+2%Sevoflurane+10μmol.L-1LY294002(PI3-K拮抗剂)组(LY组)、缺血/再灌注+2%Sevoflurane+10μmol.L-1Tric irib in(Akt拮抗剂)组(Tri组)、缺血/再灌注+2%Sevoflurane+10 nmol.L-1Rapamyc in(P70S6K拮抗剂)组(Rap组)。C组神经元按正常培养方法培养。Sevo组在神经元缺糖缺氧的同时接受2%Sevoflurane麻醉。LY组、Tri组和Rap组在神经元进行缺糖同时分别加入LY294002、Tric irib in或Rapamyc in使其终浓度分别为10μmol.L-1、10μmol.L-1或10 nmol.L-1后同Sevo组处理。96孔培养板的神经元进行细胞存活力的检测。6孔培养板的神经元进行神经元纯度鉴定、神经元凋亡和PI3-K、Akt和P70S6K蛋白表达的检测。结果Sevo组PI3K、Akt、P70S6K蛋白表达增加,神经元存活率增加、神经元凋亡率降低(vsI/R组,P<0.01)。LY组PI3K、Akt和P70S6K表达降低,神经元存活率降低、神经元凋亡率增加(vsSevo组,P<0.05或P<0.01);Tri组Akt和P70S6K表达降低,神经元存活率降低、神经元凋亡率增加(vsSevo组,P<0.05或P<0.01);Rap组P70S6K表达降低,神经元存活率降低、神经元凋亡率增加(vsSevo组,P<0.01)。结论Sevoflurane激活了PI3-K/Akt/P70S6K信号通路,在海马神经元缺血/再灌注损伤过程中抑制了神经元凋亡,保护了神经元。     

PI3K/Akt/eNOS通路介导山药蛋白对肾阳虚大鼠阴茎勃起功能障碍的改善作用

目的:探讨山药蛋白(DP1)对肾阳虚大鼠阴茎勃起功能障碍(erectile dysfunction, ED)的改善作用及机制。方法:建立氢化可的松诱导的肾阳虚大鼠模型,分成对照组、模型组、DP1低剂量组(0.6 mg·kg^-1)、DP1高剂量组(0.9 mg·kg^-1)。检测大鼠体质量变化;采用ELISA法检测促性腺激素释放激素(GnRH)、促黄体生成素(LH)和睾酮(T)含量;通过皮下注射阿扑吗啡测定大鼠阴茎勃起次数和勃起率;以苏木素-伊红染色观察阴茎海绵体组织形态;采用Western blot检测勃起关键信号通路蛋白表达水平、ELISA测定一氧化氮(NO)和环磷酸鸟苷(cGMP)含量,探索DP1改善肾阳虚大鼠ED的机制。结果:与模型组相比,DP1组大鼠体质量显著增加;GnRH、LH和T含量升高;阴茎勃起次数及勃起率显著提高;海绵体组织形态完整性恢复。DP1的干预能够增加磷脂酰肌醇3激酶(PI3K)、蛋白激酶B(Akt)以及内皮型一氧化氮合酶(eNOS)蛋白磷酸化水平,显著提高NO和cGMP含量。结论:DP1能够改善肾阳虚大鼠ED,且与激活...     

AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activating agents cause dephosphorylation of Akt and glycogen synthase kinase-3

AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is a key cellular sensor of reduced energy supply that is activated by increases in the cellular ratio of AMP/ATP. Phenformin and 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide riboside (AICAR) are two drugs widely used to activate AMPK experimentally. In both differentiated hippocampal neurons and neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells we found that these two agents not only activated AMPK, but conversely greatly reduced the activating Ser/Thr phosphorylation of Akt. This blockade of Akt activity consequently lowered the inhibitory serine-phosphorylation of its substrates, glycogen synthase kinase-3alpha/beta (GSK3alpha/beta). An inhibitor of AMPK (Compound C) did not block dephosphorylation of Akt and GSK3. Thus, both drugs widely used to activate AMPK also caused dephosphorylation of Akt and of GSK3. The mechanism for Akt dephosphorylation caused by phenformin, but not AICAR, was due to inhibition of growth factor-induced signaling that leads to Akt phosphorylation. Stimulation of muscarinic receptors with carbachol in SH-SY5Y cells also activated AMPK and transiently caused dephosphorylation of Akt. These findings show that Akt dephosphorylation often occurs concomitantly with AMPK activation when cells are treated with phenformin or AICAR, indicating that these drugs do not only affect AMPK but also cause a coordinated inverse regulation of AMPK and Akt.     

Puerarin pretreatment attenuates cardiomyocyte apoptosis induced by coronary microembolization in rats by activating the PI3K/Akt/GSK-3β signaling pathway

Coronary microembolization (CME) is associated with cardiomyocyte apoptosis and cardiac dysfunction. Puerarin confers protection against multiple cardiovascular diseases, but its effects and specific mechanisms on CME are not fully known. Hence, our study investigated whether puerarin pretreatment could alleviate cardiomyocyte apoptosis and improve cardiac function following CME. The molecular mechanism associated was also explored. A total of 48 Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into CME, CME + Puerarin (CME + Pue), sham, and sham + Puerarin (sham + Pue) groups (with 12 rats per group). A CME model was established in CME and CME + Pue groups by injecting 42 μm microspheres into the left ventricle of rats. Rats in the CME + Pue and sham + Pue groups were intraperitoneally injected with puerarin at 120 mg/kg daily for 7 days before operation. Cardiac function, myocardial histopathology, and cardiomyocyte apoptosis index were determined via cardiac ultrasound, hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) and hematoxylin-basic fuchsin-picric acid (HBFP) stainings, and TdT-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) staining, respectively. Western blotting was used to measure protein expression related to the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt)/glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β) pathway. We found that, puerarin significantly ameliorated cardiac dysfunction after CME, attenuated myocardial infarct size, and reduced myocardial apoptotic index. Besides, puerarin inhibited cardiomyocyte apoptosis, as revealed by decreased Bax and cleaved caspase-3, and up-regulated Bcl-2 and PI3K/Akt/GSK-3β pathway related proteins. Collectively, puerarin can inhibit cardiomyocyte apoptosis and thus attenuate myocardial injury caused by CME. Mechanistically, these effects may be achieved through activation of the PI3K/Akt/GSK-3β pathway.     

BAFF/BAFF-R通过PI3K/Akt/mTOR信号转导通路调节B淋巴细胞功能在类风湿关节炎发病机制中的意义

B淋巴细胞活化和生存在类风湿关节炎(RA)病程中起关键作用。肿瘤坏死因子家族B细胞活化因子(BAFF)是维持B细胞功能的重要细胞因子。BAFF与其受体BAFF-R结合(BAFF/BAFF-R),能够激活PI3K/Akt/mTOR信号通路,调节B淋巴细胞的增殖、存活和活化。该文就B淋巴细胞、BAFF/BAFF-R以及PI3K/Akt/mTOR信号通路参与RA的发病机制加以综述。     

SET protein overexpression contributes to paclitaxel resistance in MCF-7/S cells through PI3K/Akt pathway

Patient SE translation (SET) is a carcinogen in facilitating cellular growth and proliferation, and promoting tumorigenesis and metastasis. The present study was to investigate the resistance mechanisms associated with SET in paclitaxel-induced human breast cancer cells. The different expressions of SET, ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters and PI3K/Akt pathway between paclitaxel sensitive MCF-7/S and paclitaxel resistant MCF-7/PTX cells were identified using western blotting. We adopted plasmid transfection to upregulate SET in MCF-7/S cells and a novel SET antagonist COG112 to decrease SET in MCF-7/PTX cells. Subsequently, cell viability to paclitaxel was assessed by MTT assay and cell apoptosis was analyzed by flow cytometry. We found that levels of SET, ABC transporters and PI3K/Akt pathway were elevated in MCF-7/PTX. Upregulation of SET in MCF-7/S cells expressed resistant to paclitaxel and decreased cell apoptosis. Moreover, overexpression of SET promoted the mRNA and protein level of ABC transporters and PI3K/Akt signal pathway in MCF-7/S cells. Conversely, decreased level of SET by COG112 not only significantly sensitized MCF-7/PTX cells to paclitaxel, but also enhanced paclitaxel-induced cell apoptosis. Additionally, the levels of the ABC transporters and PI3K/Akt signal pathway were also reduced in the COG112-treated MCF-7/PTX cells. The above results demonstrated that SET was associated with paclitaxel resistance in MCF-7/PTX cells.     

阿魏酸通过磷酸肌醇 3激酶 /丝氨酸 /苏氨酸蛋白激酶途径保护大鼠免受心肌缺血 /再灌注损伤

目的研究阿魏酸对大鼠心肌缺血 /再灌注(I/R)损伤的保护作用及其可能的机制。方法将雄性 SD大鼠采用随机数字表法分为四组( n=12):假手术组( Sham组), I/R模型组( I/R组);阿魏酸 +I/R组( Fer+I/R组);阿魏酸 +蛋白激酶抑制剂(LY294002)+I/R组( Fer+LY+I/R)。通过结扎左冠状动脉前降支 30 min,然后再灌注 2h,建立 I/R损伤大鼠模型。通过苏木精 -伊红( HE)染色分析大鼠的左心室病理学变化,结合透射电子显微镜观察其超微结构;通过 TUNEL/DAPI双重染色检测大鼠心肌细胞凋亡率。通过蛋白质印迹法( Western blotting)检测 PI3K/Akt信号通路关键调控因子的蛋白表达水平［包括 PI3K、p-Akt(Ser 473)、 Akt、eNOS、p-eNOS(Ser1177)和 p-mTOR(Ser2448)］以及血清超氧化物歧化酶( SOD)、丙二醛( MDA)、肿瘤坏死因子-α(TNF-α)、白细胞介素 6(IL-6)和 IL-1β水平。结果 HE染色,结果显示,相较于假手术组, I/R组大鼠心肌中表现出明显的炎性细胞浸润、细胞膜损伤、细胞坏死和水肿;而 Fer+I/R组大鼠表现心肌细胞坏死、炎性细胞浸润,细胞水肿均明显低于 I/R组,并且心肌纤维结构清晰完整。 TUNEL/DAPI双重染色结果显示, Fer+I/R组大鼠［(18.73±1.01)%］心肌细胞凋亡率明显低于 I/R组［(55.45±1.14)%］(P<0.001)。 Western blotting检测结果表明,与 I/R组相比, Fer+I/R组大鼠 Cleaved caspase-3蛋白表达水平显著降低( P<0.05)PI3K、p-Akt、Akt、p-eNOS(Ser1177)和 p-mTOR(Ser2448)蛋白表达明显上调( P<0.05)。相较于 I/R组,阿魏酸显著抑制 MDA5、T,NF-α、IL-6和 IL-1β的表达( P<0.05)并上调 SOD1蛋白表达水平( P<0.05);而 LY294002处理逆转了阿魏酸在 I/R模型大鼠中对上述细胞因子的调控作用。结论阿,魏酸通过激活 PI3K/Akt信号通路抑制心肌细胞凋亡,减轻炎症反应和氧化应激水平,保护大鼠免受缺血 /再灌注诱导的心肌损伤。     

萝卜硫素通过Src/PI3K/Akt通路调控人脐静脉内皮细胞NO的生成机制

目的:研究萝卜硫素(SFN)促进人脐静脉内皮细胞(human umbilical vein endothelial cells,HUVEC)生成一氧化氮(NO),参与内皮细胞修复的作用机制.方法:采用MTT法检测SFN对HUVEC细胞存活率的影响;检测SFN对HUVEC NO释放量的影响;采用Western blot法...     

Hyperinsulinaemia increases the gene expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase and the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt pathway in rat aorta

1. Hyperinsulinaemia has been reported to be an independent risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. Insulin stimulates both the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-K)/Akt and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways. To investigate the direct effects of insulin on vascular tissues, we examined the gene and protein expression of insulin signalling molecules, endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and MAPK in aortas obtained from established hyperinsulinaemic rats under deep urethane anaesthesia (1.2 g/kg, i.p.). 2. High plasma insulin levels significantly enhanced the gene and protein expression of eNOS in aortas. This was accompanied not only by increased mRNA levels of insulin receptor substrate (IRS)-1, IRS-2, PI3-K and Akt, but also by a high protein content of Akt and phospho-Akt (Ser473). 3. In contrast, MAPK mRNA levels were decreased in hyperinsulinaemic rats compared with normoinsulinaemic rats. 4. Insulin receptor mRNA levels were also lower in insulin-treated rats rather than controls. The overexpression of mRNA for vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I receptor was also observed in aortas from hyperinsulinaemic rats. 5. To our knowledge, these data provide the first direct measurements of the mRNA of insulin signalling molecules and the downstream eNOS and MAPK. We conclude that hyperinsulinaemia itself can lead to the upregulation of eNOS and the PI3-K/Akt pathway in the vasculature and may also induce the overexpression of VEGF and IGF-I receptor genes.     

The PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway: A potential pharmacological target in COVID-19

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has emerged as a serious threat to global health. The disregulation of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B/mammalian target of rapamycin (PI3K/Akt/mTOR) cell signaling pathway observed in patients with COVID-19 has attracted attention for the possible use of specific inhibitors of this pathway for the treatment of the disease. Here, we review emerging data on the involvement of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and the clinical studies investigating its tailored inhibition in COVID-19. Current in silico, in vitro, and in vivo data convergently support a role for the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway in COVID-19 and suggest the use of specific inhibitors of this pathway that, by a combined mechanism entailing downregulation of excessive inflammatory reactions, cell protection, and antiviral effects, could ameliorate the course of COVID-19.     

PI3K/Akt/mTOR信号通路与肿瘤

在近年来的肿瘤治疗中,靶向生物治疗逐渐成为研究的热点。该文就磷脂酰肌醇3-激酶/蛋白激酶B/哺乳动物雷帕霉素靶蛋白[phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase(PI3K)/protein kinase B(Akt)/the mammalian target of Rapamycin(mTOR),PI3K/Akt/mTOR]信号通路予以综述,重点包括PI3K/Akt/mTOR信号转导在肿瘤机制中作用以及肿瘤治疗过程中耐药性方面的关系等。     

Inhibition of microRNA-92a ameliorates lipopolysaccharide-induced endothelial barrier dysfunction by targeting ITGA5 through the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in human pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells

Overwhelming inflammation and extensive alveolar-endothelial injury are characteristic pathological features of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)). MicroRNAs are involved in the regulation of a variety of cellular processes including endothelial damage and inflammatory responses. However, little is known about their function and the molecules regulating lung microvascular endothelial injury. Here, we determined the levels of microRNA-92a (miR-92a) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced human pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells (HPMECs). We found that miR-92a expression was greater in HPMECs treated with LPS than in control cells. Inhibition of miR-92a through transfection with a miR-92a inhibitor significantly increased HPMECs migration, enhanced tube formation, and improved endothelial cell barrier dysfunction. Inhibition of miR-92a ameliorated the inflammatory response by decreasing the release of the proinflammatory factors IL-6 and TNF-α. In addition, integrin α5 (ITGA5) was found to be a target gene of miR-92a in LPS-induced endothelial barrier dysfunction. Western blot analysis showed that inhibition of miR-92a may ameliorate endothelial barrier dysfunction by activating the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. Together, these results reveal an important role of miR-92a in LPS-induced endothelial barrier dysfunction, and suggest that miR-92a may have potential as a prognostic indicator and a future target for the treatment of acute lung injury (ALI)/ARDS.     

Resveratrol attenuates intestinal injury in irradiated rats via PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway

Radiation‐induced enteritis is one of the greatest challenges in radiotherapy. The current study was designed to evaluate the ameliorative effect of resveratrol, which exhibits anti‐inflammatory property, against radiation‐induced intestinal injury in rats and to explore the underlying mechanism. Rats were exposed to a single dose of 5 Gy. Resveratrol (20 mg/kg/day) was orally administered to irradiated rats over 3 weeks. Results showed that resveratrol ameliorated the intestinal oxidative stress parameters; malondialdehyde (MDA) content, glutathione (GSH) level, and catalase (CAT) activity compared to irradiated group. Furthermore, resveratrol reduced the contents of inflammatory cytokines; tumor necrosis factor α (TNF‐α), nuclear factor‐kappa (NF‐κB), and interleukin 1β (IL‐1β) in intestine. Western blotting analysis revealed that resveratrol down‐regulated the proteins expression of phosphoinositide 3‐kinases (PI3K), protein kinase B (Akt) as well as the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) in intestinal tissues of irradiated rats and thus reduced the inflammatory mediator production. These results were confirmed by histopathological investigation. In conclusion, resveratrol attenuated intestinal inflammation following irradiation via modulating PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway and thereby could be a promising adjuvant in radiotherapy.