Convergent signal transduction pathways controlling cardiomyocyte survival and function: the role of PI 3-kinase and Akt

Effective cardioprotection in clinical settings requires not only cardiomyocyte survival but also preservation of function. Multiple growth factors protect the heart from ischemic and other injury. While the downstream signaling pathways of these cardioprotective factors are complex, activation of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI 3-kinase) and its downstream effector, the serine-threonine kinase Akt (or Protein Kinase B), is a common feature in many cases. Genetic manipulations in cardiomyocytes both in vitro and in vivo suggest that acute activation of this pathway can promote both cardiomyocyte survival and function. Here, we review PI 3-kinase and Akt signaling, with a focus on their role in cardiomyocyte growth, survival, and function. Finally, the clinical implications of these studies will be considered.     

IL-6对人胰腺癌细胞生长及STAT3信号转导通路的影响

目的 探讨IL-6对人胰腺癌细胞株Capan-2生长及STAT3信号转导途径的影响.方法 采用MTT法检测不同浓度IL-6刺激后Capan-2细胞的增殖率;免疫细胞化学染色确定磷酸化STAT3(P-STAT3)在Capan-2细胞内的定位及IL-6刺激前后表达量的变化;流式细胞仪检测细胞的凋亡;Western blot检测IL-6刺激前后Capan-2细胞中P-STAT3、bcl-xl、Cyclin D1蛋白表达量的变化.结果 100 ng/ml的IL-6作用Capan-2细胞后,细胞的增殖从1增加到4.965±0.18(P<0.05);细胞凋亡率从(3.21±0.23)%下降到(1.98±0.67)%(P<0.05);P-STAT3、bel-xl、Cyclin D1蛋白表达明显升高(P<0.05),且bcl-xl的表达与P-STAT3的表达呈正相关(r=0.985,P=0.015);Cyclin D1的表达与P-STAT3表达也呈正相关(r=0.914,P=0.036).结论 JAK/STAT信号转导途径的活化介导了IL-6对Capan-2细胞的增殖促进功能.     

Melatonin reduces induction of Bax, caspase and cell death in methamphetamine-treated human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cultured cells

Abstract:  Several studies demonstrated that methamphetamine (MA)-treated human neuroblastoma cells exhibit increased oxidative stress, which regulates intracellular signaling cascades leading to cell death. Melatonin has a potential as a direct free radical scavenger and protects against cell death caused by MA. The objective of this study was to investigate the neuroprotective properties of melatonin on MA-induced induction of death signaling cascade and neuronal cell degeneration in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cultured cells. The results of the present study demonstrate that MA significantly reduced cell viability in SH-SY5Y cultured cells. Desipramine, a monoamine uptake blocker, and melatonin reversed the toxic effect of MA in reducing cell viability. Induction of Bax, Bcl-2 and cleaved caspase-3 protein levels were observed in SH-SY5Y cultured cells treated with MA, whereas the induction of Bax and cleaved caspase-3 was diminished by melatonin. Visualization of the induction of Bax using immunofluorescence but a reduction in mitochondrial sites using red-fluorescent mitochondria-staining dye was more obviously apparent in MA-treated cells than in untreated control cells and, again, this effect was abolished by melatonin. These findings demonstrate important roles of Bax and caspase in death signaling cascade, and the protective effects of melatonin in MA-treated SH-SY5Y cells.     

Insulin-like growth factor-I regulates proliferation and osteoblastic differentiation of calcifying vascular cells via extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase pathways

Vascular calcification develops within atherosclerotic lesions and results from a process similar to osteogenesis. One of the paracrine regulators of bone-derived osteoblasts, insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), is also present in atherosclerotic lesions. To evaluate its possible role in vascular calcification, we assessed its in vitro effects on proliferation and differentiation in calcifying vascular cells (CVCs), a subpopulation of bovine aortic medial cells. Results showed that IGF-I inhibited spontaneous CVC differentiation and mineralization as evidenced by decreased alkaline phosphatase (AP) activity and decreased matrix calcium incorporation, respectively. Furthermore, IGF-I inhibited the AP activity induced by bacterial lipopolysaccharide, TNF-alpha, or H2O2. It also induced CVC proliferation based on 3H-thymidine incorporation. Results from Northern analysis and tests using IGF-I analogs suggest that IGF-I effects are mediated through the IGF-I receptor. IGF-I also activated both the extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK) and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) pathways. Inhibition of either the ERK or PI3K pathway reversed IGF-I effects on CVC proliferation and AP activity, suggesting a common downstream target. Overexpression of ERK activator also mimicked IGF-I inhibition of lipopolysaccharide-induced AP activity. These results suggest that IGF-I promotes proliferation and inhibits osteoblastic differentiation and mineralization of vascular cells via both ERK and PI3K pathways.     

Fas/FasL途径在氟致人神经母细胞瘤SH-SY5Y细胞凋亡中的作用

目的 探讨Fas/FasL途径在氟致人神经母细胞瘤SH-SY5Y细胞凋亡中的作用.方法 用不同剂量氟化钠[NaF,0(对照)、20、40、80 mg/L].SH-SY5Y细胞进行染毒,24 h后检测细胞存活率、凋亡率和Fas、FasL mRNA表达;选择40 mg/L NaF组,观察在Fas受体激动剂(CH11)或拮抗剂(ZB4)作用下细胞凋亡率及Fas、FasL mRNA表达水平的改变.结果 40、80 mg/L组细胞存活率[(84.63±2.57)%、(69.04±5.63)%]明显低于对照组(100.00%),组间比较差异有统计学意义(P<0.01);细胞凋亡率随染毒剂量的升高呈上升趋势.40、80 mg/L组细胞凋亡率[(8.54±1.95)%、(17.94±2.71)%]明显高于对照组[(3.32±1.33)%],组间比较差异有统计学意义(Jp<0.05);NaF能不同程度地上调Fas、FasL mRNA表达,使Fas/β-actin[40mg/L组(0.94±0.51)、80 mg/L组(0.99±0.12)]和FasL/β-actin[40 mg/L组(0.96±0.42)、80 mg/L组(0.99±0.24)]比值增加.与对照组[Fas/β-actin(0.50±0.33)、FasL/β-actin(0.58±0.23)]比较,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05).在对细胞凋亡率和Fas、FasL mRNA表达水平的影响中,NaF与CH11之间存在协同作用(,值分别为32.89、18.46、14.69,P<0.01),NaF与ZB4之间存在拈抗作用(F值分别为5.73、24.26、10.17,P<0.05或<0.01).结论 NaF可诱导SH-SY5Y细胞凋亡,Fas/FasL途径在NaF诱导SH-SY5Y细胞凋亡中起重要作用.     

Insulin-like growth factor I induces preferential degradation of insulin receptor substrate-2 through the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase pathway in human neuroblastoma cells

Insulin receptor substrate (IRS) signaling is regulated through serine/threonine phosphorylation, with subsequent IRS degradation. This study examines the differences in IRS-1 and IRS-2 degradation in human neuroblastoma cells. SH-EP cells are glial-like, express low levels of the type I IGF-I receptor (IGF-IR) and IRS-2 and high levels of IRS-1. SH-SY5Y cells are neuroblast-like, with high levels of IGF-IR and IRS-2 but virtually no IRS-1. When stimulated with IGF-I, IRS-1 expression remains constant in SH-EP cells; however, IRS-2 in SH-SY5Y cells shows time- and concentration-dependent degradation, which requires IGF-IR activation. SH-EP cells transfected with IRS-2 and SH-SY5Y cells transfected with IRS-1 show that only IRS-2 is degraded by IGF-I treatment. When SH-EP cells are transfected with IGF-IR or suppressor of cytokine signaling, IRS-1 is degraded by IGF-I treatment. IRS-1 and -2 degradation are almost completely blocked by phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase inhibitors and partially by proteasome inhibitors. In summary, 1) IRS-2 is more sensitive to IGF-I-mediated degradation; 2) IRS degradation is mediated by phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and proteasome sensitive pathways; and 3) high levels of IGF-IR, and possibly the subsequent increase in Akt phosphorylation, are required for efficient IRS degradation.     

Retinoids and myelomonocytic growth factors cooperatively activate RARA and induce human myeloid leukemia cell differentiation via MAP kinase pathways

Use of all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA) in combinatorial differentiation therapy of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) results in exceptional cure rates. However, potent cell differentiation effects of ATRA are so far largely restricted to this disease and long-term survival rates in non-APL acute myelogeneous leukemia (AML) remain unacceptably poor, requiring development of novel therapeutic strategies. We demonstrate here that myelomonocytic growth factors (granulocyte colony-stimulating factor [G-CSF] and/or granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor [GM-CSF]) potentiate differentiation effects of ATRA in different AML cell lines and primary cells from patients with myeloid leukemia. The ligand-dependent activities of endogenous and transiently expressed retinoic acid receptor alpha (RARalpha) isoforms can be potentiated by G/GM-CSF in U-937 cells and correlate with increased expression of ATRA-inducible RARalpha2 isoform. Specific inhibitors of mitogen mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) (MEK)-1/-2 or p38 extracellular signal-related kinase (ERK) kinase diminish the ATRA as well as ATRA and G/GM-CSF-induced activation of the RARalpha proteins and decreased the differentiation-induced decline in cell numbers. Our data demonstrate that acting, at least in part, via the MAP kinase pathways, myelomonocytic growth factors enhance ATRA-dependent activation of the RARalpha isoforms and maturation of myeloid leukemia cells. These results suggest that combinatorial use of these agents may be effective in differentiation therapy of AML.     

Hydrolysis of atrial and brain natriuretic peptides by the human astrocytoma clone D384 and the neuroblastoma line SH-SY5Y.

The content of membrane peptidases has been compared in the human astrocytoma clone D384 and the human neuroblastoma line SH-SY5Y. Endopeptidase-24.11 (neutral endopeptidase, EC 3.4.24.11) was detectable only on the astrocytoma cells whereas angiotensin-converting enzyme (EC 3.4.15.1) was selectively expressed on the neuroblastoma line. Dipeptidyl peptidase IV (EC 3.4.14.5) was also abundant on the astrocytoma line. The presence of both endopeptidase-24.11 and dipeptidyl peptidase IV on D384 cells was confirmed by immunohistochemistry. A membrane preparation from D384 cells hydrolyzed both atrial natriuretic peptide and brain natriuretic peptide and, in both cases, the pattern of metabolism was similar to that seen with purified endopeptidase-24.11. The endopeptidase-24.11 inhibitor, phosphoramidon, at 1 microM abolished natriuretic peptide metabolism. The neuroblastoma line, which lacked endopeptidase-24.11, failed to metabolise atrial natriuretic peptide and brain natriuretic peptide, emphasizing the key role of the endopeptidase in hydrolyzing these regulatory peptides at the cell surface.     

PI3K/Akt信号转导通路与甲状腺结节

近年来研究发现,磷脂酰肌醇3激酶(PDK)/蛋白激酶B(Akt)信号转导通路在细胞的增殖、分化、生存和凋亡过程中起重要调节作用.结节性甲状腺肿、甲状腺腺瘤、甲状腺癌及桥本甲状腺炎病变中存在着PI3K/Akt信号转导通路的过度激活.PI3K/Akt信号转导通路的活化使甲状腺细胞增殖指数和生长指数明显升高,刺激甲状腺滤泡持续生长,促进甲状腺结节的发生、发展.研究此通路中相关分子的表达,对探索甲状腺结节的病因、发病机制和防治策略具有重要意义.     

Opposing effects of PI3 kinase pathway activation on human myeloid and erythroid progenitor cell proliferation and differentiation in vitro

OBJECTIVE: To investigate 1) the effects of lineage-specific cytokines (G-CSF and EPO) combined with ligands for different classes of cytokine receptors (common beta chain, gp130, and tyrosine kinase) on proliferation by human myeloid and erythroid progenitor cells; and 2) the signal transduction pathways associated with combinatorial cytokine actions. PATIENTS AND METHODS: CFU-GM and BFU-E were cloned in vitro. Secondary colony formation by replated CFU-GM and subcolony formation by BFU-E provided measures of progenitor cell proliferation. Studies were performed in the presence of cytokine combinations with and without signal transduction inhibitors. RESULTS: Proliferation by CFU-GM and BFU-E was enhanced synergistically when common beta chain receptor cytokines (IL-3 or GM-CSF) were combined with G-CSF or EPO, but not with gp130 receptor cytokines (LIF or IL-6) or tyrosine kinase receptor cytokines (SCF, HGF, Flt-3 ligand, or PDGF). Delayed addition studies with G-CSF+IL-3 and EPO+IL-3 demonstrated that synergy required the presence of both cytokines from the initiation of the culture. The Jak2-specific inhibitor, AG490, abrogated the effect of combining IL-3 with EPO but had no effect on the enhanced CFU-GM proliferation stimulated by IL-3+G-CSF. The PI3 kinase inhibitors LY294002 and wortmannin substituted for G-CSF in combination with IL-3 since proliferation in the presence of LY294002/wortmannin+IL-3 was enhanced to the same extent as in the presence of G-CSF+IL-3. In contrast, LY294002 and wortmannin inhibited proliferation in the presence of EPO and in the presence of EPO+IL-3. CONCLUSION: 1) IL-3 may activate different signal transduction pathways when combined with G-CSF and when combined with EPO; 2) different signal transducing intermediates regulate erythroid and myeloid progenitor cell proliferation; and 3) inhibition of the PI3 kinase pathway suppresses myeloid progenitor cell differentiation and thereby increases proliferation.     

促胃液素对人结肠癌细胞株的生长调控及受体后信息传导

目的研究促胃液素对人结肠癌细胞株的生长调控及受体后的信息传导途径.方法以不同浓度的促胃液素处理人低分化结肠癌细胞株CloneA细胞,观察细胞的生长情况;先分别提取细胞内三磷酸肌醇(IP3)及环磷酸腺苷(cAMP),分别应用液体闪烁测量法、γ-闪烁记数仪测定其含量;用Fura-2负载及荧光测定细胞内游离Ca2+浓度([Ca2+]i).结果不同浓度的促胃液素10-9mol/L～10-5mol/L能明显地促进CloneA细胞的生长,光密度值分别为0.588±0.038,0.706±0.036,0.767±0.006,0.892±0.010,1.136±0.021;对照组为0.498±0.049(P＜0.01),且呈剂量依赖关系,这种促生长作用可以被促胃液素受体拮抗剂丙谷胺所阻断.促胃液素能显著促进CloneA细胞内IP3,Ca2+及cAMP含量增加,这些作用也可以被丙谷胺所抑制.结论促胃液素促进CloneA细胞生长,是由细胞膜上的促胃液素受体所介导,可能是通过磷酸肌醇和腺苷环化酶途径.     

Insulin-like growth factor-1 delays Fas-mediated apoptosis in human neutrophils through the phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase pathway

Apoptosis of human neutrophils is a crucial mechanism for the resolution of inflammation. We previously showed that insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF1) delays spontaneous neutrophil apoptosis without influencing the secretion of cytokines by these cells. In the present study, we further addressed the role of IGF1 in regulating neutrophil survival in the presence of other factors present during inflammation, and the mechanism involved in delaying apoptosis. We show that IGF1 delays neutrophil apoptosis triggered by the agonistic anti-Fas antibody CH11 and that the effect of IGF1 is comparable in magnitude to that of the acknowledged anti-apoptotic cytokines interferon-gamma (IFNG) and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF; now known as CSF2). Furthermore, IGF1 exerted additional effects on cell survival in the presence of these cytokines. IGF1 did not affect Fas expression or activation by anti-Fas of caspase-8, but inhibited the depolarization of the mitochondrial membrane. Inhibitor studies indicate that the phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase (PI3K) pathway, but not the MEK-ERK pathway, mediates the effects of IGF1. However, in contrast to CSF2, IGF1 did not induce phosphorylation and translocation to the membrane of AKT, the canonical downstream target of PI3K. We therefore speculate that other downstream targets of PI3K are involved in the delay of neutrophil apoptosis by IGF1, possibly through stabilization of the mitochondrial membrane.     

Ultrasensitive and absolute quantification of the phosphoinositide 3-kinase/Akt signal transduction pathway by mass spectrometry

The phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt pathway controls a vast array of normal physiological processes and is frequently aberrantly activated in cancer, thus identifying PI3K/Akt-signaling components as promising drug targets in oncology. However, implementation of rational cancer therapies for this pathway needs robust and simple tools to stratify patients according to PI3K pathway activation and to validate and measure the impact of targeted inhibition on primary cancer tissues. Herein we present a technique for the quantification of the PI3K/Akt-signaling pathway based on the mass spectrometric measurement of PI3K-dependent protein kinase activity in cell lysates. The concept of this application of MS is to exploit enzymatic activity to amplify the signal of the enzyme under study analogous to the PCR used to amplify nucleic acid sequences. We show that this approach allows quantitative analysis of a cell-signaling pathway with high sensitivity, precision of quantification, and specificity. Due to its special analytical capabilities and potential for multiplexing, this approach could contribute significantly to cell-signaling studies and to the development and implementation of personalized cancer therapies.     

Assessment of the roles of mitogen-activated protein kinase and phosphatidyl inositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B pathways in the basic fibroblast growth factor regulation of Sertoli cell function

Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) belongs to the large set of intratesticular regulators that provide the fine tuning of cellular processes implicated in the maintenance of spermatogenesis. The aim of the present study was to determine the participation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and phosphatidyl inositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/PKB) pathways in bFGF regulation of Sertoli cell function. Twenty-day-old rat Sertoli cell cultures were used. Stimulation of the cultures with bFGF showed a time-dependent increment in phosphorylated MAPK and PKB levels that reached maximal values in 5-min incubations. MAPK kinase inhibitors U0126 (U) and PD98059 (PD) and a PI3K inhibitor wortmannin (W) were able to block the stimulatory effects of bFGF on phosphorylated MAPK and PKB levels respectively. The participation of MAPK- and PI3K/PKB-signaling pathways in the regulation by bFGF of two well-known Sertoli cell-differentiated functions, lactate and transferrin production, was next explored. As for lactate production, PD and W did not modify the ability of bFGF to stimulate lactate production. However, a combination of PD and W partially impaired the increase in lactate production elicited by bFGF. The participation of MAPK- and PI3K/PKB-signaling pathways in the regulation by bFGF of glucose uptake and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity was also analysed. In this respect, it was observed that W markedly decreased basal and bFGF-stimulated glucose uptake and that U and PD did not modify it. On the other hand, U and PD decreased the stimulation of LDH activity by bFGF whereas W did not modify it. As for transferrin production, while both MAPK kinase inhibitors partially decreased the ability of bFGF to stimulate transferrin secretion, the PI3K inhibitor did not modify it. In summary, the results demonstrated that bFGF stimulates MAPK- and PI3K/PKB-dependent pathways in rat Sertoli cells. Moreover, these results showed that while bFGF utilizes the MAPK pathway to regulate transferrin production and LDH activity, it uses the PI3K/PKB pathway to regulate glucose transport into the cell.     

Glimepiride induces proliferation and differentiation of rat osteoblasts via the PI3-kinase/Akt pathway

Glimepiride is a third-generation sulfonylurea agent and is widely used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus. In addition to the stimulatory effects on pancreatic insulin secretion, glimepiride has also been reported to have extrapancreatic functions including activation of PI3 kinase (PI3K) and Akt in rat adipocytes and skeletal muscle. PI3-kinase and Akt are important signaling molecules in the regulation of proliferation and differentiation in various cells. This study investigated the actions of glimepiride in rat osteoblasts and the role of PI3K/Akt pathway. Cell proliferation was determined by measuring absorbance at 550 nm. Supernatant assay was used for measuring alkaline phosphatase activity. Western blot analysis was used for determining collagen I, insulin receptor substrate-1/2, PI3K/Akt, and endothelial nitric oxide synthase expression. We found that glimepiride significantly enhanced proliferation and differentiation of osteoblasts and led to activation of several key signaling molecules including insulin receptor substrate-1/2, PI3K/Akt, and endothelial nitric oxide synthase. Furthermore, a specific inhibitor of PI3K abolished the stimulatory effects of glimepiride on proliferation and differentiation. Taken together, these observations provide concrete evidence that glimepiride activates the PI3K/Akt pathway; and this activation is likely required for glimepiride to stimulate proliferation and differentiation of rat osteoblasts.     

Dibutyryl cAMP stimulates the proliferation of SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells by up-regulating Skp2 protein

Purpose We previously found that the proliferation of SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells is stimulated when cAMP is up-regulated by stable expression of stimulatory G protein. Therefore, this study was performed to investigate the mechanism whereby cAMP stimulates the proliferation of SH-SY5Y cells.Methods To investigate the effect of cAMP on cellular proliferation, SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells were treated with dibutyryl cAMP (dbcAMP), and then cell growth, thymidine incorporation and cell cycle phase distribution were analyzed. The expression and the activity of the molecules that regulate cell cycle progression were monitored by Western blot, RT-PCR, and kinase activity assay.Results Treatment with dbcAMP produced a biphasic effect on cellular proliferation; especially treatment with low concentration of dbcAMP (0.5 mM) showed a higher cellular proliferation rate and promoted G1/S transition in cell cycle. The dbcAMP (0.5 mM) treatment increased CDK2 activity, and it significantly decreased p27Kip1 expression with a decreased half-life of p27Kip1 protein. Moreover, dbcAMP (0.5 mM) increased the protein level and the stability of Skp2 with a concomitant decrease in its ubiquitination.Conclusions cAMP up-regulates Skp2 protein by reducing its degradation probably through decreasing the ubiquitination of Skp2, which might result in accelerated degradation of p27Kip1, increase in CDK2 activity, and stimulation of SH-SY5Y cell proliferation in sequence.     

蚌皮素对结肠癌细胞株调控及其受体后信息传导

研究蛙皮素对人结肠癌细胞株的生长调控及受体后的信息传导途径。方法观察蛙皮素对人结肠癌细胞株ｃｌｏｎｅ Ａ细胞生长调控;应用液体闪烁测量法【闪烁记数仪分别测定细胞内三磷酸肌醇及环磷酸腺苷含量;用荧光测定细胞内游离Ｃａ＾２＋浓度;参考Ｔａｋａｉ法测定蛋白激酶Ｃ活性。