Curcumin attenuates the kainic acid-induced hippocampal cell death in the mice

Kainic acid (KA) induced oxidative stress is associated with hippocampal cell death. Recent studies suggest that curcumin, a potent antioxidant, may provide protection for KA-induced oxidative stress. We investigated the effects of curcumin treatment on hippocampal reactive astrocytes in mice with KA-induced seizures. Eighteen hours after curcumin treatment, mice were treated with KA (30 mg/kg, i.p.), and then sacrificed after a further 48 h. Using cresyl violet staining and TUNEL analysis, histological evaluation revealed cell death in the KA-treated hippocampus. However, marked cell death was not observed in mice treated with curcumin. In addition, curcumin treatment reduced the KA-induced immunoreactivity of caspase-3. Similarly, immunoreactivity analyses indicated that KA causes upregulation of hippocampal GFAP, eNOS, and HO-1 levels, all of which were reduced in animals those received the curcumin treatment. Our findings indicate that curcumin is a potent inhibitor of reactive astrocyte expression and thus, prevents hippocampal cell death. These results also support its potential for use in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.     

The cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor flavopiridol sensitizes human hepatocellular carcinoma cells to TRAIL-induced apoptosis

Flavopiridol was one of the first cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors demonstrated to have an antitumor effect in several cancer types. Here, we investigated the effects of flavopiridol on TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) in the human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell lines HLE and HepG2, and evaluated the role of flavopiridol in apoptosis. To better understand the mechanism of increased TRAIL sensitivity in HCC cells, we determined the effect of flavopiridol on cell surface expression of TRAIL and TRAIL receptors using flow cytometry analysis. The levels of survivin, FLIP, Bcl-xL and X-chromosome-linked IAP (XIAP) in treated and untreated cells was also determined. Flavopiridol decreased cell viability in a dose-dependent manner in the two HCC cell lines tested. The pan-caspase inhibitor z-VAD-FMK did not inhibit the effect. However, subtoxic levels of flavopiridol dramatically enhanced TRAIL-induced apoptosis in both cells. Flavopiridol up-regulated TRAIL, TRAIL-R1 and TRAIL-R2 in both cell lines. In addition, flavopiridol down-regulated expression of survivin in both cell lines, and expression of FLIP and Bcl-xL were down-regulated in HLE cells. In summary, flavopiridol augmented TRAIL sensitivity by up-regulation of TRAIL receptors and down-regulation of survivin, FLIP and Bcl-xL. Thus, combining flavopiridol with a TRAIL agonist may prove to be an effective new strategy for treatment of HCC.     

Post-treatment, but not pre-treatment, with the selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor celecoxib markedly enhances functional recovery from kainic acid-induced neurodegeneration

We have investigated the role of inflammation in the excitotoxicity induced by overstimulation of glutamate receptors using kainic acid, an important tool for studying functions related to excitatory amino acid transmission and for producing neuronal death, especially in areas CA1 and CA3 of the hippocampus. We hypothesised that by inhibiting one of the major components of the neuroinflammation response, after kainic acid injection, that there would be less inflammation and therefore a reduction in cell loss, an enhancement of cognitive function (using spatial learning and object exploration tasks) or both. We examined brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels, expecting that there would be a correlation between its level and subsequent recovery. Our results confirmed our hypothesis: the kainic acid injected-rats treated with celecoxib (after kainic injection) performed better in the spatial and non-spatial tasks than the kainic acid-treated group. However, there was not any improvement if celecoxib was given before kainic acid treatment, underlining also the importance of the production of prostaglandin at the beginning of inflammation.     

PDZ1-腺病毒重组体的构建及其对KA诱导的海马神经元凋亡的拮抗作用

目的构建PSD-95结构域PDZ1与腺病毒重组体并观察其对海人藻酸(KA)诱导的海马神经元凋亡的作用。方法采用RT-PCR法获得PDZ1的cDNA;与腺病毒穿梭载体pAdTrack-CMV用T4 DNA连接酶连接;连接产物与骨架载体pAdEasy-1共转染至原核包装细胞BJ5183;将原核重组体用脂质体转入真核包装细胞293H;纯化包装后的病毒颗粒并测定其滴度;腺病毒感染培养的海马神经元,加入KA,用DAPI染色后荧光显微镜观察细胞凋亡;用流式细胞仪定量分析细胞凋亡率。结果①经RT-PCR得到了PDZ1的cDNA;②电泳鉴定得到原核重组体;③得到包装完整的具感染能力的病毒颗粒;④纯化的病毒颗粒滴度为1.08×109ifu/mL⑤病毒表达的PDZ1使KA诱导的海马神经元凋亡数量减少(P<0.05)。结论获得了能表达PDZ1-GFP的病毒颗粒,并且PDZ1过表达能拮抗KA诱导的海马神经元凋亡。     

C-fos-deficient mouse hippocampal CA3 pyramidal neurons exhibit both enhanced basal and kainic acid-induced excitability

While widely distributed in the brain, one area with concentrated levels of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) is the hippocampus. In this study, rat hippocampal stem cells were used to examine VIP's effects on apoptotic cell death induced by withdrawal of trophic support. In the apoptotic cascade, the translocation of cytochrome c from the mitochondria to the cytoplasm activates caspases, resulting in cell death. VIP decreased this translocation of cytochrome c in a dose-dependent manner, and reduced apoptosis. This demonstrates that VIP regulates neuronal apoptosis and may contribute to stem cell homeostasis.     

Transplantation of cultured astrocytes attenuates degenerative changes in rats with kainic acid-induced brain damage

Viability of astrocyte grafts introduced into CA1 pyramidal layer of the left dorsal hippocampus after injection of kainic acid into this brain region and the effects of these grafts on the hippocampus and amygdala were studied on Wistar rats. In rats with astrocyte grafts the degree of destruction in fields CA1-CA2 of the dorsal and ventral hippocampus, fields CA3-CA4 of the ventral hippocampus, and central and basolateral amygdala was lower compared to animals with kainic acid-induced hippocampal damage and control rats; destructions in the dentate fascia were absent. Our results suggest that astrocyte grafts stimulate neurogenesis in the mature brain of recipient rats with kainic acid-induced brain damage. __________ Translated from Byulleten’ Eksperimental’noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 140, No. 12, pp. 627–632, December, 2005     

(R)-roscovitine, a cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor, enhances tonic GABA inhibition in rat hippocampus

Pharmacological agents that mediate a persistent GABAergic conductance are of considerable interest for treatment of epilepsy. (R)-roscovitine is a membrane permeable cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor, designed to block cell division. It is currently undergoing a phase II clinical trial as an anticancer drug. We show that (R)-roscovitine increases a tonic GABA-mediated current in rat hippocampal neurons. This enhanced tonic current appears independent of synaptic GABA release and requires functional transmembrane GABA transport. The effect of (R)-roscovitine is associated with neither modification of GABAA receptors nor protein kinase activity, but is associated with a significant increase in intracellular GABA concentration in hippocampal GABAergic neurons. (R)-roscovitine-induced tonic inhibition significantly suppresses spontaneous spiking activity of hippocampal pyramidal cells. Therefore, (R)-roscovitine is a potent modulator of neuronal activity in rat hippocampus and may provide a tool for preventing paroxysmal activity.     

Pretreatment with tyrosine kinase inhibitor attenuates the reduction of apoptosis 24 h after ischemic preconditioning

We investigated whether ischemic preconditioning (PC) attenuates ischemia/reperfusion-induced injury in part by decreasing apoptosis and whether tyrosine kinase (TK) can regulate the signaling pathway leading to apoptosis in delayed cardioprotection. Six groups of rabbits were studied in the early phase (EP) and in the delayed phase (DP): (1) sham-operated control animals were received vehicle only (Veh-sham); (2) rabbits that received I.V. genistein (a nonspecific TK inhibitor) 10 min before ischemia (Gen-sham); (3) rabbits that received I.V. daidzein (an inactive structural analog of genistein) 10 min before ischemia (Dzn-sham); (4) rabbits preconditioned with 4 cycles of 5-min occlusion of left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) and 10-min reperfusion (PC); (5) rabbits that received I.V. genistein, 10 min before PC (Gen-PC); (6) rabbits that received I.V. daidzein 10 min before PC (Dzn-PC). All rabbits underwent 30-min ischemia followed by 180-min reperfusion. Infarct size in the PC, Gen-PC, and Dzn-PC groups in the EP was significantly (p < 0.0001) reduced relative to controls Gen and Dzn. Delayed cardioprotection was blocked significantly (p < 0.0001) by genistein. In the EP, apoptosis was significantly (p < 0.0001) decreased in PC, Gen-PC, and Dzn-PC groups relative to controls Gen and Dzn. In the DP, a reduction of apoptosis was not seen in the Gen-PC group. This study suggests that PC reduces ischemic injury in part by decreasing apoptosis after ischemia/reperfusion and also that TK phosphorylation is involved in the signal transduction cascade leading to the decline of apoptosis in the DP.     

Fasudil, a Rho-associated protein kinase inhibitor, attenuates retinal ischemia and reperfusion injury in rats

Abnormal activation of Rho kinase (ROCK) plays a vital role in the pathogenesis of ischemia/reperfusion (I/R)-induced retinal injury. The aim of this study was to investigate whether fasudil, a potent inhibitor of ROCK, has a protective effect on retinal I/R injury in rats and to explore the possible underlying mechanisms. Forty adult Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned into sham, I/R injury model (I/R), model plus normal saline (control), and model plus fasudil (fasudil) groups. Rats in the control and fasudil groups were intravitreously injected with normal saline and fasudil, respectively, 5 min prior to the induction of ischemia. Retinal ischemia was induced by increasing the intraocular pressure to 100 mmHg for 60 min. Overall retinal thickness and retinal cell apoptosis was evaluated by histological analysis and the TUNEL assay, respectively. The protein expression of caspase-3 and the Bax/Bcl-2 mRNA ratio were also examined. Moreover, the retinal expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) was determined by immunohistochemical staining, quantitative real-time RT-PCR and Western blot analysis. Fasudil attenuated the I/R-induced apoptosis of retinal cells in the inner nuclear and ganglion cells of the rat retina. Fasudil significantly decreased the Bax/Bcl-2 mRNA ratio and the expression of caspase-3 and iNOS compared to the control group (P<0.05). Seven days after I/R, the overall retinal thickness in the fasudil group was significantly greater compared to that in the control group (P<0.05). In conclusion, fasudil can protect the rat retina from I/R injury by inhibiting apoptosis and iNOS expression, suggesting that fasudil may have a therapeutic potential for the prevention of retinal diseases associated with I/R.     

Studies of variations of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1C and the cyclin-dependent kinase 4 genes in relation to type 2 diabetes mellitus and related quantitative traits

CDK4 is involved in the regulation of body weight, pancreatic -cell proliferation, insulin responsiveness, and diabetes pathogenesis. CDK4 activity is inhibited by CDKN1C, which is regulated by insulin. In addition, CDKN1C plays an important role in -cell proliferation and is involved in the pathogenesis of the Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome, a disorder characterized by neonatal hyperinsulinaemic hypoglycaemia and pre- and post-natal overgrowth. The aim of this study was to investigate if variations in the proximal promoter and the coding region of the CDKN1C and CDK4 genes are associated with type 2 diabetes or changes in related quantitative phenotypes among glucose-tolerant subjects. Mutation analyses of the two genes in 62 type 2 diabetic patients resulted in the discovery of seven variants of CDKN1C and two variants of CDK4. In a case-control study comprising 717 type 2 diabetic patients and 518 glucose-tolerant subjects the most frequent variants did not show any difference in allele frequencies between the type 2 diabetic patients and the control subjects. However, in two genotype-quantitative trait correlation studies involving 206 glucose-tolerant offspring of type 2 diabetic patients and 359 young, healthy subjects the CDKN1C del171APVA variant associated with increased birth weight (P=0.05 and P=0.05). Furthermore, the same variant tended to be associated with decreased basal glucose oxidation among 16 genotypically discordant dizygotic twins (P=0.03). In a genotype-quantitative trait study involving 500 middle-aged glucose-tolerant subjects the CDK4 IVS2-31GA variant was associated with an increased waist circumference (P=0.03) and waist-to-hip ratio (P=0.02) and altered fasting plasma glucose (P=0.03). However, these later findings could not be replicated in additional studies. In conclusion, variants in CDKN1C may contribute to the inter-individual variation in birth weight.Electronic Supplementary Material Supplementary material is available for this article at .     

Oral,anti-inflammatory activity of a potent,selective, protein kinase C inhibitor

The protein kinase C family of enzymes is thought to be important in mediating signal transduction. Ro 31-8830 is a novel, potent inhibitor of protein kinase C, derived from the non-selective protein kinase inhibitor staurosporine. In this paper we demonstrate the selectivity of Ro 31-8830 for protein kinase C over other protein kinases and its ability to inhibit protein kinase-C-mediated events in platelets and lymphocytes. In addition, we describe a novel system for thein vivo evaluation of inhibitors of protein kinase C, and we demonstrate the oral anti-inflammatory activity of Ro 31-8830. This finding has implications for the treatment of inflammatory disorders in the clinic.     

Pim-1激酶抑制剂SMI-4a抑制U937细胞增殖并诱导凋亡

目的:研究丝/苏氨酸蛋白激酶Pim-1抑制剂SMI-4a对人类急性髓系白血病细胞株U937的生长抑制、促凋亡作用及其可能机制。方法:CCK-8法检测不同浓度SMI-4a作用不同时间对U937细胞的生长抑制率;Annexin V-PI及Hoechst 33342染色法检测SMI-4a作用前后细胞凋亡情况,集落形成实验检测SMI-4a对U937细胞集落形成能力的影响;Western blot法检测SMI-4a对U937细胞核及细胞浆内β-catenin表达变化及细胞内凋亡相关蛋白的表达变化;免疫荧光法检测β-catenin在细胞内的表达变化。结果:CCK-8结果显示SMI-4a可以抑制U937细胞的活力,并呈时间和剂量依赖性;Annexin V-PI及Hoechst 33342染色结果显示SMI-4a可以促进U937细胞凋亡;集落形成实验证实SMI-4a可以抑制U937细胞的集落形成能力;Western blot实验结果显示SMI-4a作用于U937细胞48 h后细胞浆内的β-catenin表达增加,细胞核内的β-catenin表达减少,细胞内促凋亡蛋白Bax和PARP表达增强,抑凋亡蛋白Bcl-2表达明显减弱;免疫荧光进一步验证了SMI-4a作用后的U937细胞核内的β-catenin表达量明显减少。结论:SMI-4a诱导U937细胞凋亡是通过上调促凋亡基因的表达、下调凋亡抑制基因的表达来实现的。     

Methylation analysis of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor genes in primary gastrointestinal lymphomas.

The CIP/KIP family of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors may act as tumor suppressors. To assess promoter hypermethylation as a potential underlying mechanism for loss of expression, methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction for p21 and p27 genes was performed in 13 gastric low-grade mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphomas, 13 gastric high-grade B-cell lymphomas, and 14 intestinal diffuse large B-cell lymphomas. p21 and p27 genes were unmethylated in normal Peyer's patch and tonsillar tissues. Promoter hypermethylation of p21 gene was detected only in some gastric low-grade MALT lymphomas (4/13, 31%). All gastric and intestinal high-grade lymphomas revealed unmethylated status of p21 gene. p27 gene was unmethylated in all cases of low- and high-grade gastrointestinal lymphomas. These results suggest that p21 promoter methylation is involved in some low-grade MALT lymphomagenesis in stomach and seems to be an early event in the gastric lymphomagenesis. And promoter methylation is not the underlying mechanism for loss of p27 protein expression in the malignant lymphomas of the stomach and intestine.     

Expression of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p27kip1 in malignant lymphomas

p27kip1 is a cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor that regulates progression from G1 into S phase. Aberrations in cell cycle control are often observed in tumors and might even be necessary in tumor development. Recent reports showed that low p27kip1 expression is associated with poor prognosis in several tumors and leukemia. To investigate the expression of p27kip1 in malignant lymphomas and elucidate the role of p27kip1 as a possible prognostic indicator, the authors performed an immunohistochemical staining of p27kip1 correlated with Ki-67 labelling index and clinical parameters. p27kip1 expression was reduced variably in most malignant lymphomas and inversely correlated with Ki-67 labelling index (p=0.0151). Regarding chemotherapeutic response, p271kip1 expression in the complete remission group showed statistically significant difference in expression compared to the progressive disease group (p=0.0021). There were significant differences in survival between cases with low and high p27kip1 expression (p=0.0071). In a multivariate Cox analysis, p27kip1 expression was independent prognostic factors as well as other known prognostic factors including age, grade, stage and chemotherapeutic response. In conclusion, the study suggests that reduced expression of p27kip1 protein may play a role in the pathogenesis and biologically aggressive behavior of malignant lymphomas.     

细胞周期蛋白依赖性蛋白激酶4抑制因子a与肿瘤

INK4a/ARF基因位点细胞特殊,它至少编码P16^INK4a和P19^ARF两种在调控细胞周期和细胞凋亡中起重要作用的蛋白质,人类的许多肿瘤与该位点的基因突变有关,现就这一基因位点的结构、功能和抑癌机理进行综述。     

EphA4在海人酸诱导大鼠大脑皮层神经元凋亡中的表达及天麻素的影响

目的： 探讨EphA4在海人酸诱导大鼠大脑皮层神经元凋亡过程中的表达变化,及天麻素对EphA4表达的影响。方法：提取新生大鼠大脑皮层神经元体外培养,7 d后随机分为对照组、海人酸模型组、海人酸+天麻素干预组;采用倒置相差显微镜观察神经元形态学变化,Hoechst 33258荧光染色、AO/EB荧光染色、LDH活性测定检测神经元凋亡和坏死情况,CY3荧光染色检测EphA4表达变化。结果：海人酸模型组较对照组神经元凋亡率显著升高（P<0.01）,EphA4表达显著增高（P<0.01）;海人酸+天麻素干预组较海人酸模型组神经元凋亡率显著下降,EphA4表达上调显著受抑。结论：海人酸诱导大鼠大脑皮层神经元凋亡过程中EphA4表达增高,天麻素在这一过程中抑制EphA4表达,对神经元具有一定保护作用。     

p27kip1: a multifunctional cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor with prognostic significance in human cancers

p27kip1 (p27) is a member of the universal cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor (CDKI) family. p27 expression is regulated by cell contact inhibition and by specific growth factors, such as transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta. Since the cloning of the p27 gene in 1994, a host of other functions have been associated with this cell cycle protein. In addition to its role as a CDKI, p27 is a putative tumor suppressor gene, regulator of drug resistance in solid tumors, and promoter of apoptosis; acts as a safeguard against inflammatory injury; and has a role in cell differentiation. The level of p27 protein expression decreases during tumor development and progression in some epithelial, lymphoid, and endocrine tissues. This decrease occurs mainly at the post-translational level with protein degradation by the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. A large number of studies have characterized p27 as an independent prognostic factor in various human cancers, including breast, colon, and prostate adenocarcinomas. Here we review the role of p27 in the regulation of the cell cycle and other cell functions and as a diagnostic and prognostic marker in human neoplasms. We also review studies indicating the increasingly important roles of p27, other CDKIs, and cyclins in endocrine cell hyperplasia and tumor development.