Macrophage colony-stimulating factor-, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor-, or IL-3-dependent survival of macrophages, but not proliferation, requires the expression of p21(Waf1) through the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt pathway

Mouse bone marrow-derived macrophages proliferate in the presence of macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF), granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, or IL-3, but undergo apoptosis in their absence. Inhibition of extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK)-1/2 blocks growth factor-dependent proliferation but not survival, indicating that the two processes require independent signaling pathways. Although M-CSF induces the activation of other kinase pathways, such as c-Jun N-terminal kinase, p38, and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI-3K), these pathways are not required for proliferation. However, PI-3K is the only one necessary for the induction of survival, as demonstrated using the inhibitors LY294002 and Wortmannin. Growth factors also activate Akt kinase and a transient expression of the cdk inhibitor p21(Waf1), which inhibits apoptosis but is not required for proliferation. PI-3K inhibitors also block growth factor-dependent expression of p21(Waf1) and the activation of Akt. Moreover, the survival induced by cyclosporin A or decorin is also dependent on the PI-3K/Akt kinases and p21(Waf1). These findings demonstrate that the induction of p21(Waf1) through the PI-3K/Akt pathway is a general survival response of macrophages. Our results show that growth factors in macrophages use two pathways: one for proliferation, mediated by ERK, and the other for survival, which requires the PI-3K/Akt kinases and p21(Waf1).     

Extracellular HIV-1 Tat protein activates phosphatidylinositol 3- and Akt/PKB kinases in CD4+ T lymphoblastoid Jurkat cells

The biological basis for the pleiotropic activity of extracellular human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 Tat protein on lymphoid T cell survival is not well understood. We have here demonstrated that the addition in culture of 0.1–10 nM Tat protein to 36-h serum-starved lymphoblastoid Jurkat T cells rapidly stimulates the catalytic activity of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI 3-K). The peak of activation was observed 30 min after Tat addition. Extracellular Tat also stimulated the catalytic activity of the Akt/PKB kinase, a major target of PI 3-K lipid products. Pretreatment of serum-starved Jurkat cells with 100 nM wortmannin (WT) or 10 μM LY294002, two unrelated pharmacological inhibitors of PI 3-K, markedly suppressed the catalytic activity of both PI 3-K and Akt/PKB in Jurkat cells. Moreover, at low concentrations (0.1–1 nM), extracellular Tat showed a small but reproducible protection of Jurkat cells from apoptosis induced by serum deprivation (p < 0.05), while the combination of Tat plus 100 nM WT significantly (p < 0.05) increased the percentage of apoptosis with respect to cells left untreated or treated with Tat alone. Taken together, these data suggest that the anti-apoptotic activity of low concentrations of Tat protein on Jurkat cells is mediated by a PI 3-kinase/Akt pathway.     

Cytokine-mediated inhibition of apoptosis in non-transformed T cells and neutrophils can be dissociated from protein kinase B activation

In the absence of survival-inducing cytokines activated T cells and neutrophils enter apoptosis spontaneously. Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3 K) activation and signaling through PKB/AKT have been widely linked to the inhibition of apoptosis by cytokines. Here we have investigated the role of PKB in the inhibition of spontaneous apoptosis of activated human CD4+ T cells and neutrophils. We used a range of cytokines known to induce survival and/or activation of PKB. We found activation of PKB in T cells treated with IL-2 and insulin, and neutrophils cultured with N-formyl-Met-Leu-Phe (fMLP), insulin or granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor. Insulin did not inhibit apoptosis in neutrophils or T cells and fMLP did not delay neutrophil apoptosis. Intriguingly, IFN-beta induced PI3 K-dependent survival in both cell types, but did not activate PKB. IL-2 mediated rescue of T cells from apoptosis but no induction of proliferation occurred in thepresence of LY294002, an inhibitor of PI3 K, which also blocked subsequent PKB activation. The main role of PI3 K in IL-2-mediated signaling may therefore be in the regulation of proliferation. These findings suggest that activation of PKB and inhibition of apoptosis can be dissociated in cytokine-mediated rescue of non-transformed CD4+ T cells and neutrophils.     

Ligation of the T cell co-stimulatory receptor CD28 activates the serine-threonine protein kinase protein kinase B

The intracellular signaling pathways activated upon ligation of the co-stimulatory receptor CD28 remain relatively ill-defined, although CD28 ligation does result in the strong association with, and activation of, phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3-kinase. The downstream effector targets of the CD28-activated PI 3-kinase-dependent signaling pathway remain poorly defined, but recent evidence from other systems has shown that Akt/protein kinase B (PKB) is a major target of PI 3-kinase and have indicated that a major function of PKB is the regulation of cell survival events. Given the strong coupling of CD28 to PI 3-kinase and the known protective effects of both CD28 and PI 3-kinase against apoptosis in different cell models, we investigated the effects of CD28 on PKB activation. We demonstrate that ligation of CD28 by either anti-CD28 monoclonal antibodies or the natural ligand B7.1, results in the marked activation of PKB in both the leukemic T cell line Jurkat and freshly isolated human peripheral blood-derived normal T lymphocytes. Our data suggest therefore, that PKB may be an important intracellular signal involved in CD28 signal transduction and demonstrate CD28 coupling to downstream elements of a signaling cascade known to promote cell survival.     

Protection of CD95-mediated apoptosis by activation of phosphatidylinositide 3-kinase and protein kinase B

Apoptosis may be triggered, in a variety of tissues, by interaction of the cell surface molecule CD95 with its specific ligand, CD95L. CD95 plays a physiological role in the regulation of the immune response; furthermore, alterations in CD95/CD95L function may contribute to the pathogenesis of a number of human diseases, including cancer, autoimmune diseases and viral infections. Many cells that express CD95, however, are not susceptible to CD95-mediated apoptosis. It is therefore important to identify the mechanisms that counteract the CD95 apoptotic process that are still poorly understood. Growth factors and lymphokines such as interleukin (IL)-4 that counteract CD95-mediated apoptosis may activate phosphatidylinositide 3-kinase (PI 3-kinase). We therefore used two different approaches to investigate the role of PI 3-kinase on CD95-mediated apoptosis. First we tested the effect of two pharmacological PI 3-kinase inhibitors, wortmannin and LY294002, on CD95 agonistic antibody-induced apoptosis in three different cell lines. Second, we co-expressed in COS7 cells CD95 with constitutively active PI 3-kinase. Results of both approaches indicate that active PI 3-kinase effectively protects against CD95-mediated apoptosis. Furthermore we extended our studies on the CD95 downstream mediator, FADD, and on the PI 3-kinase downstream mediator, the serine/threonine protein kinase PKB, using the co-expression approach in COS7 cells. We provide evidence that apoptosis induced by triggering the CD95 cell death receptor is counteracted by PI 3-kinase activation; moreover, PKB but not p70S6K represents the relevant downstream target of PI 3-kinase signaling.     

The role of the NADPH oxidase complex, p38 MAPK, and Akt in regulating human monocyte/macrophage survival

M-CSF induces PI 3-kinase activation, resulting in reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Previously, we reported that ROS mediate macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF)-induced extracellular regulated kinase (Erk) activation and monocyte survival. In this work, we hypothesized that M-CSF-stimulated ROS products modulated Akt1 and p38 activation. Furthermore, we sought to clarify the source of these ROS and the role of ROS and Akt in monocyte/macrophage survival. Macrophages from p47(phox-/-) mice, lacking a key component of the NADPH oxidase complex required for ROS generation, had reduced cell survival and Akt1 and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) phosphorylation compared with wild-type macrophages in response to M-CSF stimulation, but had no difference in M-CSF-stimulated Erk. To understand how ROS affected monocyte survival and signaling, we observed that NAC and DPI decreased cell survival and Akt1 and p38 MAPK phosphorylation. Using bone marrow-derived macrophages from mice expressing constitutively activated Akt1 (Myr-Akt1) or transfecting Myr-Akt1 constructs into human peripheral monocytes, we concluded that Akt is a positive regulator of monocyte survival. Moreover, the p38 MAPK inhibitor, SB203580, inhibited p38 activity and M-CSF-induced monocyte survival. These findings demonstrate that ROS generated from the NADPH oxidase complex contribute to monocyte/macrophage survival induced by M-CSF via regulation of Akt and p38 MAPK.     

Involvement of JAK2, but not PI 3-kinase/Akt and MAP kinase pathways, in anti-apoptotic signals of GM-CSF in human eosinophils.

Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) transmits anti-apoptotic signals in eosinophils and is involved in tissue eosinophilia at the site of allergic inflammation. We determined whether phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI 3-kinase) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAP kinase) are involved in anti-apoptotic signals of GM-CSF in eosinophils. GM-CSF phosphorylated Akt, a downstream component of PI 3-kinase, and MAP kinases (ERK1 and ERK2) at 10 min after stimulation in eosinophils. GM-CSF prevented eosinophil apoptosis and sustained its survival during the 5-day culture. However, neither two PI-3 kinase inhibitors, wortmannin and LY294002, nor MEK inhibitor PD98059 inhibited GM-CSF-induced survival of eosinophils, although wortmannin and PD98059 inhibited GM-CSF-induced Akt phosphorylation and MAP kinase activation in eosinophils, respectively. In contrast, JAK2 inhibitor AG-490 inhibited both GM-CSF-induced JAK2 phosphorylation and cell survival in eosinophils. These results indicate that activation of JAK2, but not activation of PI 3-kinase/Akt and MAP kinase pathways, is critical for anti-apoptotic signals of GM-CSF in human eosinophils. Our findings suggest that manipulation of JAK2 activation would be useful for the treatment of allergic disorders.     

miRNA-7通过EGFR/PI3K/Akt通路抑制鼻咽癌5-8F细胞增殖

 目的:探讨过表达微小RNA（microRNA-7,miRNA-7）对鼻咽癌（nasopharyngeal carcinoma,NPC）5-8F细胞增殖能力的抑制作用及其与表皮生长因子受体（epidermal growth factor receptor,EGFR）/磷脂酰肌醇3-激酶（phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase,PI3K）/蛋白激酶B（protein kinase B,PKB,也称Akt）通路的关联情况。方法:利用脂质体试剂Lipofectamine 2000将miRNA-7模拟物转染入人鼻咽癌5-8F细胞中;采用real-time PCR法检测转染后各组细胞中miRNA-7的表达情况;CCK-8法检测细胞增殖能力变化;细胞平板克隆形成实验观察转染后细胞克隆能力变化情况;real-time PCR法检测EGFR/PI3K/Akt通路各mRNA表达水平的变化;Western blotting法检测EGFR/PI3K/AKT通路各蛋白表达水平的变化。结果:real-time PCR结果显示,转染miRNA-7模拟物组细胞中的miRNA-7表达水平显著高于无关序列组和空白对照组（P<0.01）;5-8F细胞转染miRNA-7模拟物后,细胞增殖和平板克隆能力均呈明显下降（P<0.01）;real-time PCR及Western blotting结果显示,转染组的5-8F细胞中EGFR/PI3K/Akt通路中各主要成员的mRNA及相应蛋白表达水平均有明显降低(P<0.01)。结论: 过表达miRNA-7可以显著降低鼻咽癌5-8F细胞中EGFR/PI3K/Akt通路各主要成员mRNA和蛋白的表达水平,进而显著抑制其增殖和平板克隆形成能力。     

PI3K/Akt信号通路及其抑制剂的研究进展

磷脂酰肌醇3激酶（PI3K）/丝氨酸-苏氨酸激酶（Akt）信号通路在信号转导的调控中扮演着重要角色,能调节细胞增殖、凋亡、代谢、运动、血管生成等生物过程。与其他信号通路相比,PI3K/Akt信号通路的组成部分更庞大,在肿瘤中更多见。目前已证实多种肿瘤中存在PI3K/Akt信号通路的超活化,对肿瘤细胞的存活、生长、运动、血管生成和代谢意义重大。因此,抑制PI3K和与通路相关的成分可能会使肿瘤生长受抑,使患者预后改善。PI3K/Akt信号通路抑制剂包括针对单一成分的抑制剂和双重抑制剂。目前大量的PI3K抑制剂已在临床前期研究中取得良好结果,有些已经在血液恶性肿瘤和实体肿瘤中进行了临床试验。在此综述中,我们简单的总结了PI3K-AKt通路的研究成果,讨论了PI3K抑制剂从临床前研究到临床研究的发展前景。     

LY294002 inhibits LPS-induced NO production through a inhibition of NF-kappaB activation: independent mechanism of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase

Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) is critical player in cell proliferation and survival. The effects of LY294002 and wortmannin, inhibitors of PI3K, on nitric oxide (NO) production and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression in lipoploysaccharide (LPS)-induced Raw 264.7 cells were investigated. Significant inhibition of LPS-induced protein kinase B (PKB, Akt) phosphorylation occurred at 25 microM LY294002 or 0.5 microM wortmannin. At the same concentrations, LY294002, but not wortmannin, significantly inhibited NO production and iNOS expression. LY303511, an inactive analogue of LY294002, also inhibited NO production and iNOS expression. In addition, LY294002 and LY303511 significantly inhibited the DNA binding activity of NF-kappaB and NF-kappaB dependent reporter gene expression. These results suggest that LY294002 inhibits iNOS expression at least in part via inhibition of NF-kappaB activation, independent of PI3K.     

Roles of the PI3K/Akt pathway in Epstein-Barr virus-induced cancers and therapeutic implications

Viruses have been shown to be responsible for 10%-15% of cancer cases. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is the first virus to be associated with human malignancies. EBV can cause many cancers, including Burkett’s lymphoma, Hodgkin’s lymphoma, post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorders, nasopharyngeal carcinoma and gastric cancer. Evidence shows that phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/Akt) plays a key role in EBV-induced malignancies. The main EBV oncoproteins latent membrane proteins (LMP) 1 and LMP2A can activate the PI3K/Akt pathway, which, in turn, affects cell survival, apoptosis, proliferation and genomic instability via its downstream target proteins to cause cancer. It has also been demonstrated that the activation of the PI3K/Akt pathway can result in drug resistance to chemotherapy. Thus, the inhibition of this pathway can increase the therapeutic efficacy of EBV-associated cancers. For example, PI3K inhibitor Ly294002 has been shown to increase the effect of 5-fluorouracil in an EBV-associated gastric cancer cell line. At present, dual inhibitors of PI3K and its downstream target mammalian target of rapamycin have been used in clinical trials and may be included in treatment regimens for EBV-associated cancers.     

Monocyte survival factors induce Akt activation and suppress caspase-3.

A number of inflammatory cytokines and growth factors promote monocyte survival; however, the biochemical events stimulated by these factors are poorly defined. We previously showed that the monocyte survival factor macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) activated monocyte survival through a PI 3-kinase-dependent pathway resulting in the phosphorylation of Akt and the suppression of the activation of caspase-3. Because other cytokines and bacterial cell wall products also induce monocyte survival, we hypothesized that these factors may also suppress caspase-3 and caspase-9 activation and activate Akt in human monocytes. To test this hypothesis, we found that interleukin (IL)-1beta, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, lipopolysaccharide (LPS), granulocyte macrophage-colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), and IL-18 appeared to suppress DNA fragmentation, caspase-9, and caspase-3 activation in human monocytes. Moreover, these stimuli appeared to induce the serine and threonine phosphorylation of Akt, which was reduced by the PI 3-kinase inhibitor LY294002. Using in vitro kinase assays, M-CSF appeared to induce more Akt activity than did the other survival factors. Treatment of monocytes with either LY294002 or wortmannin resulted in caspase-3 activation in the presence of these survival factors. These results suggest that monocyte survival factors may suppress DNA fragmentation, caspase-9, and caspase-3 activation in a PI 3-kinase-dependent manner, perhaps through the activation of Akt.     

Infectious bursal disease virus activates the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt signaling pathway by interaction of VP5 protein with the p85α subunit of PI3K

Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt signaling is commonly activated upon virus infection and has been implicated in the regulation of diverse cellular functions such as proliferation and apoptosis. The present study demonstrated for the first time that infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV), the causative agent of a highly contagious disease in chickens, can induce Akt phosphorylation in cultured cells, by a mechanism that is dependent on PI3K. Inhibition of PI3K activation greatly enhanced virus-induced cytopathic effect and apoptotic cell death as evidenced by cleavage of poly-ADP ribose polymerase and activation of caspase-3. Investigations into the mechanism of PI3K/Akt activation revealed that IBDV activates PI3K/Akt signaling through binding of the non-structural protein VP5 to regulatory subunit p85α of PI3K resulting in the suppression of premature apoptosis and improved virus growth after infection. The results presented here provide a basis for understanding molecular mechanism of IBDV infection.     

蛋白激酶B的研究进展

Protein kinase B (Akt) is a Ser/Thr kinase, which in mammals comprise three highly ho-mologous members known as PKBα/Aktl, PKBβ/Akt2 and PKBγ/Akt3. PKB is activated by hormones,growth factor and extra cellular matrix. The activation occurs downstream of PI3K. PKB phosphorylates and regulates the function of many cellular protein involved in processes that include survival, apoptosis, proliferation,glycogen metabolism and cancer progression. Although many mechanisms remains to be fully characterized, the research of PKB is thought to have a useful profect.     

蝙蝠葛碱抑制人胰腺癌SW1900细胞系增殖及诱导其凋亡

目的 探讨蝙蝠葛碱对人胰腺癌SW1900细胞增殖与凋亡的影响及其机制。方法 用不同浓度蝙蝠葛碱处理细胞系SW1900,采用MTT法检测细胞增殖,采用流式细胞术Annexin V-FITC/PI双染法测定细胞凋亡率。Real-time PCR和免疫印迹法分析蝙蝠葛碱处理SW1900细胞中凋亡蛋白及磷脂酰肌醇-3激酶/蛋白激酶B（PI3K/Akt）的表达水平。结果 MTT实验显示,蝙蝠葛碱呈剂量依赖性地抑制SW1900细胞活力,F=783.7,P<0.001。流式细胞术结果显示,经0、6、12 mg/L蝙蝠葛碱处理的各组细胞凋亡率分别为（4.34±1.30）%、（14.94±1.94）%和（22.68±3.61）%,3组间均值差异有统计学意义,F=58.52,P<0.001,蝙蝠葛碱呈剂量依赖性促进细胞凋亡。Real-time PCR实验结果显示,蝙蝠葛碱可剂量依赖性下调PI3K、Akt、Bcl-2的基因表达（PI3K mRNA,F=101,P=0.01;Akt mRNA,F=1666,P<0.01;Bcl-2 mRNA,F=753,P<0.001）。免疫印迹法结果显示,蝙蝠葛碱呈剂量依赖性地下调PI3K、Akt和Bcl-2的蛋白表达。结论 蝙蝠葛碱对人胰腺癌SW1900细胞具有抑制其增殖和诱导其凋亡等作用,可能通过PI3K/Akt通路下调Bcl-2的表达诱导SW1900细胞凋亡。     

丙泊酚对人胶质瘤U251细胞株增殖、凋亡、侵袭和转移能力的调节作用

目的　探究丙泊酚对人胶质瘤U251细胞增殖、凋亡、侵袭和转移能力的作用和机制。 方法 将细胞随机分为U251组、Propofol（1 mM）组、Propofol（2 mM）组和Propofol（5 mM）组。除U251组外,其余组用相应浓度的丙泊酚处理,CCK8检测细胞增殖,流式检测细胞凋亡,Transwell检测细胞侵袭能力,划痕实验检测细胞迁移能力,Western blot检测Ki67、Caspase-3、血管内皮生长因子（Vascular endothelial growth factor, VEGF）、磷脂酰肌醇-3-羟激酶（Phosphoinositide 3-kinase, PI3K）、Akt、p-PI3K和p-Akt的表达。 结果 与U251组比较,Propofol （1, 2, 5 mM）组细胞增殖速度明显降低,细胞凋亡率显著升高;同时,Propofol （1, 2, 5 mM） 组侵袭细胞数与U251组比较明显减少,Propofol（2, 5 mM） 组划痕闭合率明显低于U251组;此外,丙泊酚还能显著抑制细胞增殖和迁移相关蛋白Ki67和VEGF表达,诱导细胞凋亡相关蛋白Caspase-3表达;丙泊酚能明显降低p-PI3K/PI3K和p-Akt/Akt的比值。 结论 丙泊酚能降低胶质瘤U251细胞的增殖、侵袭和转移能力,抑制U251细胞凋亡,作用机制可能与抑制PI3K/Akt信号通路激活有关。     

Frontline: The p85alpha isoform of phosphoinositide 3-kinase is essential for a subset of B cell receptor-initiated signaling responses

Phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) is a ubiquitously expressed signaling enzyme that plays an integral role in development and activation of B cells. B cell receptor (BCR)-driven proliferation is completely blocked either in cells lacking the p85alpha regulatory isoform of PI3K or in wild-type cells treated with pharmacological PI3K inhibitors. However, the contribution of p85alpha to early signaling events has not been fully investigated. Here we show that B cells lacking p85alpha have signaling impairments that are both quantitatively and qualitatively different from those in cells treated with PI3K inhibitors. Loss of p85alpha results in partial reductions in Ca2+ mobilization and IkappaB phosphorylation, whereas ERK phosphorylation is not diminished. Moreover, although Akt phosphorylation is partially reduced, phosphorylation of several proteins downstream of Akt is preserved. These partial impairments suggest that there are other routes to PI3K activation in B cells apart from p85alpha-associated catalytic subunits. Notably, addition of phorbol ester restores BCR-mediated proliferation in p85alpha-deficient cells but not wild-type cells treated with PI3K inhibitors. These findings suggest that the primary BCR signaling defect in B cells lacking p85alpha is a failure to activate diacylglycerol-regulated signaling enzymes, most likely protein kinase C.     

Bacterial lipopolysaccharide induced B cell activation is mediated via a phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase dependent signaling pathway.

Bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is a potent stimulant of B cells and macrophages. LPS induces B cell proliferation and differentiation into antibody secreting cells. In addition, LPS also stimulates IL-6 secretion in mature B cells and in immature B cell lines such as WEHI-231. Although sufficient literature is available on LPS induced signaling events in monocytes and macrophages, the mechanisms involved in LPS induced B cell activation are not well understood. In this report, it is shown that both LPS mediated B cell proliferation and IL-6 secretion are dependent on phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI 3-kinase) signaling pathways. The B cell specific co-receptor, CD19 is not tyrosine phosphorylated in LPS stimulated B cells. Thus, in contrast to B cell antigen receptor (BCR) signaling, the activation of PI 3-kinase appears not to be related to the recruitment of PI 3-kinase to tyrosine phosphorylated CD19. This is the first demonstration of the importance of PI 3-kinase signaling pathway in LPS mediated B lymphocyte activation.