信号转导通路与心律失常

多年以来,信号转导通路及其特殊的转导机制都是学者们研究的热点.后基因组技术的进步使我们可以从组织细胞的水平上分析基因表达和蛋白质的修饰,使疾病的分子事件分析得到了新的进展,我们开始从细胞的信号转导方面研究疾病的发生和发展[1].     

Substrate-dependent transmembrane signaling in TonB-dependent transporters is not conserved

Site-directed spin labeling (SDSL) was used to examine and compare transmembrane signaling events in the bacterial outer-membrane transport proteins BtuB, FecA, and FhuA. These proteins extract energy for transport by coupling to the transperiplasmic protein TonB, an interaction that is thought to be mediated by the Ton box, a highly conserved energy-coupling motif in these transporters. In the ferric citrate transporter, FecA, SDSL indicates that the Ton box undergoes a substrate-induced disorder transition similar to that seen for BtuB, the vitamin B(12) transporter. This conformational change produces an aqueous exposed, highly disordered protein fragment, which likely regulates transporter-TonB interactions. However, in the ferrichrome transporter, FhuA, SDSL does not reveal a substrate-induced unfolding transition. In this protein, with or without substrate, the Ton box conformation is found to be highly dynamic and constitutively unfolded. In addition, SDSL indicates that structural features seen in high-resolution models are not found in membrane-associated FhuA. Taken together, these data indicate that the Ton box of FhuA may always be available for interactions with TonB, implying that transporter-TonB interactions in FhuA are either constitutive or not regulated by the Ton box configuration.     

Reconstitution of bacterial outer membrane TonB-dependent transporters in planar lipid bilayer membranes

Micronutrients such as siderophore-bound iron and vitamin B₁₂ cross the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria through a group of 22-stranded β-barrel proteins. They share the unusual feature that their N-terminal end inserts from the periplasmic side into the β-barrel and plugs the lumen. Transport results from energy-driven movement of TonB protein, which either pulls the plug out of the barrel or causes it to rearrange within the barrel. Attempts to reconstitute native plugged channels in an ion-conducting state in lipid bilayer membranes have so far been unsuccessful. We, however, have discovered that if the cis solution contained 4 M urea, then, with the periplasmic side of the channel facing that solution, macroscopic conductances and single channel events could be observed. These results were obtained with FhuA, Cir, and BtuB; for the former two, the channels were closed by removing the 4 M urea. Channels generated by 4 M urea exposure were not a consequence of general protein denaturation, as their ligand-binding properties were preserved. Thus, with FhuA, addition of ferrichrome (its siderophore) to the trans, extracellular-facing side reversibly inhibited 4 M urea-induced channel opening and blocked the channels. With Cir, addition of colicin Ia (the microbial toxin that targets Cir) to the trans, extracellular-facing side prevented 4 M urea-induced channel opening. We hypothesize that 4 M urea reversibly unfolds the FhuA and Cir plugs, thereby opening an ion-conducting pathway through these channels, and that this mimics to some extent the in vivo action of TonB on these plugs.     

Signal transduction in aging

The possible age-related involvement of two different signal transduction pathways in the rat CNS was investigated. In the phosphytidyl inostiol (PI) response, higher phospholipase-C (PL-C) activity and drastically higher (almost 2.5-fold) inositol (1,4,5)trisphosphate (Ins(1,4,5) P(3)) concentration in the corpus striatum (caudate-putamen) of extremely old (approximately 40 months) female Wistar rats in comparison to young adult (approximately 3.5 months) rats were observed. In the adenosine 3':5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) cascade, a significantly higher endogenus cAMP level and a significant decline of the adenylate cyclase (AC, ATP pyrophosphate-lyase (cyclizing), EC 4.6.1.1.) activity were observed in striatal tissue from young rats in comparison with aged rats. Binding saturation experiments with [(3)H]SCH 23390 at the dopamine (DA) D(1) receptor (D(1)) and [(3)H]spiperone at the DA D(2) receptor (D(2)) revealed no change in the affinity (K(d)) but a significant decrease in the density (B(max)) of D(1) (-31%, p<0.005) and of D(2) (-22%, p<0.05), respectively, in the aged versus young striata. DA seems to slightly inhibit total inositol phosphate formation and this effect was antagonized by (-)-sulpiride. A significant decrease (p<0.05) in the AC activity stimulated by 10 muM DA in the senescent compared to the young animals was monitored. Apparently, the age-related decline of the AC activity was independent of changes of G(S) and G(i) activity.     

心肌细胞肥大的信号转导

心肌肥大的启动和发展涉及到多种细胞外信号及相应的多条细胞内信号转导通路,其信号转导通路的研究是当前研究热点,本文从蛋白激酶途径、丝裂原活化蛋白激酶、小G蛋白途径等,综述了心肌细胞肥大的信号转导研究.     

Signal transduction of eNOS activation

Consistent with its classification as a Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent enzyme the constitutive endothelial nitric oxide (NO) synthase (eNOS) can be activated by receptor-dependent and -independent agonists as a consequence of an increase in the intracellular concentration of free Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) and the association of the Ca2+/calmodulin complex with eNOS. Additional post-translational mechanisms regulate the activity of eNOS, including the interaction of eNOS with caveolin-1, heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90), or membrane phospholipids, as well as enzyme translocation and phosphorylation. In response to fluid shear stress the maintained production of NO by native and cultured endothelial cells is associated with only a transient increase in [Ca2+]i. In the absence of extracellular Ca2+ and in the presence of calmodulin antagonists, shear stress stimulates a maintained production of NO which is insensitive to the removal of extracellular Ca2+, but sensitive to tyrosine kinase inhibitors, Hsp90-binding proteins and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase inhibitors. A pharmacologically identical activation of eNOS can be induced by protein tyrosine phosphatase inhibitors suggesting that the phosphorylation of eNOS, and possibly that of an associated regulatory protein(s), is crucial for its Ca(2+)-independent activation.     

Signal transduction in T lymphocytes

T lymphocytes utilize a variety of surface receptors to transmit environmental signals across the plasma membrane and initiate biochemical events leading to responses such as proliferation, anergy, cytokine secretion, and death. The T cell receptor complex, CD28, IL-2 receptor, and CD95 each couple to distinct sets of cytoplasmic signaling events to modulate the biological responses of T cells. Deficiency or defective function of proteins involved in signaling through these receptors are associated with murine and human disease.     

Signal transduction in alcohol-related diseases

This article summarizes the proceedings of a symposium presented at the 12th World Congress on Biomedical Alcohol Research, organized by the International Society for Biomedical Research on Alcoholism, held at the University of Heidelberg in Mannheim, Germany, in September and October 2004. The organizers and chairpersons were Manfred V. Singer and Stephen J. Pandol. The presentations were (1) Ethanol-induced acinar cell injury, by Minoti V. Apte; (2) Oxidants and antioxidants: signal transduction and alcohol, by Thomá Zima; (3) Anti–TGF-β strategies for the treatment of chronic liver disease, by Steven Dooley; (4) Immune mechanisms in alcohol-induced liver disease, by Sören V. Siegmund; and (5) Alcoholic pancreatitis: insights from animal models, by Steven J. Pandol.     

Signal transduction by cGMP in heart

Summary Early studies in whole heart indicated that cGMP antagonized the positive inotropic effects of catecholamines and cAMP. However, the regulation of cGMP levels by a variety of agents was not always consistent with their effects on contractility. It is now clear that at least two major cell types in whole heart, cardiac myocytes and vascular smooth muscle cells, differ markedly in their mechanisms of cGMP regulation and response to cGMP. Furthermore, experiments on isolated cardiac myocytes indicate that the mechanism of cGMP action even in this single cell type can be multifaceted. Cyclic GMP inhibits the L-type calcium channel current (I_Ca), which is the major source of Ca⁺⁺ entry into heart cells, and which plays a predominant role in the initiation and regulation of cardiac electrical and contractile activities. Patch-clamp measurements of I_Ca indicate that in isolated frog myocytes cGMP inhibits I_Ca by stimulation of cAMP phosphodiesterase (cGS-PDE), whereas in purified rat ventricular myocytes, cGMP predominantly inhibits I_Ca via a mechanism involving cGMP-dependent protein kinase (cGMP-PK). Under certain conditions, cGMP can also inhibit a cGMP-inhibited cAMP phosphodiesterase (cGI-PDE) and thereby produce a stimulatory effect on I_Ca. Biochemical characterization of the endogenous PDEs and cGMP-PK in purified cardiac myocytes provided further evidence in support of these mechanisms of cGMP action on I_Ca.     

Signal transduction in pancreatic stellate cells

Pancreatic fibrosis is a characteristic feature of chronic pancreatitis and of desmoplastic reaction associated with pancreatic cancer. For over a decade, there has been accumulating evidence that activated pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs) play a pivotal role in the development of pancreatic fibrosis in these pathological settings. In response to pancreatic injury or inflammation, quiescent PSCs undergo morphological and functional changes to become myofibroblast-like cells, which express α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA). Activated PSCs actively proliferate, migrate, produce extracellular matrix (ECM) components, such as type I collagen, and express cytokines and chemokines. In addition, PSCs might play roles in local immune functions and angiogenesis in the pancreas. Following the initiation of activation, if the inflammation and injury are sustained or repeated, PSCs activation is perpetuated, leading to the development of pancreatic fibrosis. From this point of view, pancreatic fibrosis can be defined as pathological changes of ECM composition in the pancreas both in quantity and quality, resulting from perpetuated activation of PSCs. Because the activation and cell functions in PSCs are regulated by the dynamic but coordinated activation of intracellular signaling pathways, identification of signaling molecules that play a crucial role in PSCs activation is important for the development of anti-fibrosis therapy. Recent studies have identified key mediators of stimulatory and inhibitory signals. Signaling molecules, such as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPAR-γ), Rho/Rho kinase, nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases, phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (PI3K), Sma- and Mad-related proteins, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) might be candidates for the development of anti-fibrosis therapy targeting PSCs.     

Signal transduction in hepatic stellate cells

ABSTRACT— Hepatic stellate cells (HSC) are presently regarded as one of the key cell types involved in the progression of liver fibrosis and in the related pathophysiological and clinical complications. Following acute or chronic liver tissue damage, HSC undergo a process of activation towards a phenotype characterised by increased proliferation, motility, contractility and synthesis of extracellular matrix (ECM) components. Several factors have been shown to play a key role in the promotion of the full-blown picture of activated HSC. These include extensive changes in the composition and organisation of the ECM, the secretion of several growth factors, cytokines, chemokines, products of oxidative stress and other soluble factors. It is evident that each cellular response to extracellular stimuli must be framed in a scenario where different forces modulate one another and result in a prevalent biological effect. Along these lines, the identification and characterisation of intracellular signalling pathways activated by different stimuli in HSC represent a mandatory step. In this review article we have made an attempt to summarise recent acquisitions to our knowledge of the involvement of different intracellular signalling pathways in key aspects of HSC biology.