Icariin promotes expression of PGC-1α, PPARα, and NRF-1 during cardiomyocyte differentiation of murine embryonic stem cells in vitro

AIM: To investigate the effect of icariin on the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator-1 alpha (PGC-1alpha), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARalpha), and nuclear respiratory factor 1 (NRF-1) on cardiomyocyte differentiation of murine embryonic stem (ES) cells in vitro. METHODS: The cardiomyocytes derived from murine ES cells were verified by immunocytochemistry using confocal laser scanning microscopy. Cardiac-specific sarcomeric proteins (ie alpha-actinin, troponin T) were evaluated when embryoid bodies (EB) were treated with icariin or retinoid acid. The expression of PGC-1alpha, PPARalpha, and NRF-1 were analyzed using both semiquantitative RT-PCR and Western blotting in cardiomyocyte differentiation. The phosphorylation of the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) was studied in the differentiation process, and its specific inhibitor SB203580 was employed to confirm the function of the p38 MAPK on icariin-induced cardiac differentiation. RESULTS: The application of icariin significantly induced the cardiomyocyte differentiation of EB as indicated by the promoted expression of alpha-actinin and troponin T. The expression of PGC-1alpha, PPARalpha, and NRF-1 increased coincidently in early differentiation and the increase was dose-dependently upregulated by icariin treatment. The phosphorylation of the p38 MAPK peaked on d 6 and decreased after d 8, and the activation was further enhanced and prolonged when the EB were subjected to icariin, which was concurrent with the elevation of PGC-1alpha, PPARalpha, and NRF-1. Moreover, the inhibition of the p38 MAPK pathway by SB203580 efficiently abolished icariin-stimulated cardiomyocyte differentiation and resulted in the capture of the upregulation of PGC-1alpha, PPARalpha, and NRF-1. CONCLUSION: Taken together, icariin promoted the expression of PGC-1alpha, PPARalpha, and NRF-1 during cardiomyocyte differentiation of murine ES cells in vitro and the effect was partly responsible for the activation of the p38 MAPK.     

DADS诱导人胃癌细胞分化作用中ERK/AP-1通路的改变

目的　探讨ERK/AP 1通路在二烯丙基二硫 (DADS)诱导人胃癌细胞分化中的作用 ,阐明DADS诱导人胃癌细胞分化的分子机制。方法　采用免疫细胞化学、图像分析及WesternBlot等方法 ,观察DADS作用于体外培养的人胃癌MGC80 3细胞前后AP 1成员c fos与c jun表达的改变以及ERKMAPK激酶的变化。结果　免疫细胞化学及图像分析结果显示 ,对照组c fos、c jun表达呈强阳性 ,而处理组呈阴性或弱阳性 ,阳性率明显降低 ,处理组光密度值较对照组明显低 (P <0 0 5 )。WesternBlot结果显示 :从 2 0、2 5、30到 35mg·L-1DADS处理癌细胞 ,DADS呈浓度依赖性抑制人胃癌细胞中ERK的活化 (P <0 0 5 ) ;并且DADS +MEK抑制剂PD980 5 9能完全阻断ERK活化 (P <0 0 5 ) ;时间效应上 ,在DADS刺激后 15～ 30min抑制作用最强 ,2h左右恢复至接近正常 (P <0 0 5 )。结论　ERK/AP 1通路抑制是DADS诱导人胃癌细胞分化的重要分子机制     

ERK and p38 MAP kinase are involved in downregulation of cell surface TNF receptor 1 induced by acetoxycycloheximide

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha activates the nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB) signaling pathway. The protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide (CHX) and its structural derivative acetoxycycloheximide (Ac-CHX) have been recently shown to block the TNF-alpha-induced activation of NF-kappaB via ectodomain shedding of TNF receptor 1 (TNF-R1) in human lung carcinoma A549 cells. In this study, we show that ERK and p38 MAP kinase are involved in the downregulation of cell surface TNF-R1 upon exposure to Ac-CHX and the subsequent inhibition of TNF-alpha-induced NF-kappaB activation. Ac-CHX was capable of promoting the sustained activation of ERK, JNK, and p38 MAP kinase. Treatment with the MEK inhibitor U0126 and the p38 MAP kinase inhibitor SB203580, but not the JNK inhibitor SP600125, reversed the diminished expression of cell surface TNF-R1 as well as the blockade of TNF-alpha-induced IkappaBalpha degradation in Ac-CHX-treated cells. Our results indicate that Ac-CHX triggers the downregulation of cell surface TNF-R1 via the activation of ERK and p38 MAP kinase, thereby preventing activation of the NF-kappaB signaling pathway by TNF-alpha.     

Functional role of beta-adrenergic receptors in the mitogenic action of nicotine on gastric cancer cells.

We previously reported that nicotine promoted gastric cancer cell growth via upregulation of cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2). In the present study, we further investigated whether beta-adrenoceptors, protein kinase C (PKC), and extracellular signal-regulated kinase-1/2 (ERK1/2) were involved in the modulation of COX-2 expression and cell proliferation by nicotine in AGS, a human gastric adenocarcinoma cell line. Results showed that nicotine dose dependently increased the phosphorylation of EKR1/2 and the expression of AP-1 subunits c-fos and c-jun. In this connection, the ERK1/2 inhibitor U0126 abrogated the upregulation of AP-1 and COX-2 as well as cell proliferation induced by nicotine. Moreover, nicotine induced the translocation of PKC-betaI from cytosol to membrane and increased the total levels of PKC expression. Inhibition of PKC by staurosporine attenuated nicotine-induced ERK1/2 phosphorylation and COX-2 expression. Furthermore, atenolol and ICI 118,551, a beta1- and beta2-adrenoceptor antagonist, respectively, reversed the stimulatory action of nicotine on the expression of PKC, ERK1/2 phosphorylation, and COX-2 together with cell proliferation. Collectively, these results suggest that nicotine stimulates gastric cancer cell growth through the activation of beta-adrenoceptors and the downstream PKC-betaI/ERK1/2/COX-2 pathway.     

Differential activation of ERK, p38, and JNK MAPK by nociceptin/orphanin FQ in the potentiation of prostaglandin cerebrovasoconstriction after brain injury

Fluid percussion brain injury elevates the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) concentration of the opioid nociceptin/orphanin FQ (N/OFQ), which potentiates vasoconstriction to the prostaglandins U 46619, a thromboxane A(2) mimic, and prostaglandin (PG)F(2a). This study investigated the role of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), p38, and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) isoforms of mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) in potentiated prostaglandin vasoconstriction after brain injury and the relationship of brain injury induced release of N/OFQ to MAPK. Pial artery diameter was measured with a video microscaler by observation through a glass coverslip cranial window placed in the parietal cortex of newborn pigs. Brain injury potentiated U 46619 induced pial artery vasoconstriction but U 0126 and SB 203580 (10(-6) and 10(-5) M, respectively) (ERK and p38 MAPK inhibitors) blocked the potentiation. In contrast, administration of SP 600125 (10(-6) and 10(-5) M) (JNK MAPK inhibitor) only attenuated brain injury induced U 46619 potentiation and such responses were significantly different than that in the presence of either U 0126 or SB 203580 after FPI. Co-administration of N/OFQ (10(-10) M), the CSF concentration observed after brain injury, with U 46619 or PGF(2a) under non brain injury conditions potentiated prostaglandin vasoconstriction but U 0126 and SB 203580 blocked such potentiation. Administration of SP 600125 modestly attenuated prostaglandin potentiation by N/OFQ. These data show that activation of ERK and p38 primarily contribute to potentiation of prostaglandin constriction after brain injury. These data suggest that N/OFQ differentially activates ERK, p38, and JNK MAPK to contribute to potentiated prostaglandin vasoconstriction after fluid percussion brain injury.     

Icariin attenuates high glucose‐induced type IV collagen and fibronectin accumulation in glomerular mesangial cells by inhibiting transforming growth factor‐β production and signalling through G protein‐coupled oestrogen receptor 1

相似文献   

Induction of HL-60 cell differentiation by the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase inhibitor SB203580 is mediated through the extracellular signal-regulated kinase signaling pathway

The pyridinyl imidazole p38 kinase inhibitor, SB203580, was initially used to block inflammatory cytokine synthesis. Here we report that SB203580 by itself could induce human promyeloid leukemic HL-60 cells to differentiate mainly along the granulocytic lineage, as evidenced by cellular morphological changes, and the concurrent expression of cell surface markers CD11b and CD14. This differentiation induction was time and dose dependent. After 12 h exposure to 10 microM SB203580, 12.5% of the cells became CD11b as compared to only 2.6% in untreated control cells. By 96 h, CD11b cells increased to 72.3%, and among them, 26% were CD14. Morphologically, the cells were smaller in size with lower nuclear/cytoplasmic ratio. The nucleus was indented and nucleoli markedly reduced. However, 10 microM SB203580 had little effect on HL-60 cell growth and survival during the first 72 h, but by 96 h the percentage of cells in G1 phase was markedly increased. These effects of SB203580 were not attributable to its inhibition of p38 kinase activity. Instead, the essential kinases in the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway such as phospho-Raf-1, phospho-MEK1/2, phospho-ERK1/2 and phospho-p90RSK were all elevated dramatically shortly after cells were exposed to SB203580 and lasted for 24 h before declining. Pre-incubation of cells with 20 microM of PD98059 1 h before addition of SB203580 could completely block the expression of differentiation markers. Our results suggest that SB203580-induced differentiation in HL-60 cells was mediated by activation of MEK/ERK signaling. In conclusion, our data have shown that SB203580 possessed biological activities other than inhibition of p38 and these activities could make it a potential candidate as an inducing agent for cell differentiation in the therapeutic treatment of leukemia.