高糖对肾小管上皮细胞内质网应激的影响及冬虫夏草的干预作用

目的：观察高糖对肾小管上皮细胞凋亡和内质网应激标志物表达的影响,研究冬虫夏草提取液对高糖诱导的肾小管上皮细胞内质网应激的可能保护机制。方法：体外培养大鼠肾小管上皮细胞,分为正常低糖组、低糖+冬虫夏草组、高渗组、高渗+冬虫夏草组、高糖组、高糖+冬虫夏草组和高糖+高渗+冬虫夏草组,用Realtime-PCR法检测各组细胞葡萄糖调解蛋白78（Grp78）、半胱氨酸蛋白酶蛋白12（caspase-12）及I型胶原mRNA的表达,采用酶联免疫吸附法测定细胞上清液中I型胶原的分泌,Western-blotting检测Grp78及caspase-12蛋白表达。结果：高糖组与低糖组相比,Grp78、Caspase-12及Ⅰ型胶原mRNA和蛋白水平明显上升,差异均有统计学意义（P<0.05）;低糖+冬虫夏草组、高渗组及高渗+冬虫夏草组与低糖组相比,Grp78、Caspase-12 mRNA及Ⅰ型胶原mRNA和蛋白水平无明显差别（P>0.05）;与高糖组相比,高糖+冬虫夏草干预组Grp78、Caspase-12及Ⅰ型胶原mRNA和蛋白表达下降,差异均有统计学意义（P<0.05）。结论：冬虫夏草对高糖诱导下肾小管上皮细胞凋亡及肾脏纤维化具有一定抑制作用,其机制可能与抑制内质网应激反应有关。     

Acute cadmium exposure induces GSDME-mediated pyroptosis in triple-negative breast cancer cells through ROS generation and NLRP3 inflammasome pathway activation

Cadmium (Cd) exposure can exert an impact on carcinogenicity of breast cancer, however, the mechanism is not fully understood in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). We performed a TNBC MDA-MB-231 cell model and assessed the toxic effect of Cd exposure (0, 10, 20, 50, 60, 80 μM). Cd reduced cell viability in a time- and dose-dependent manner, followed by cell cycle arrest in S phase with alterations of cyclin 1A1, cyclin 1D1 and CDK2. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release, apoptosis and pyroptosis were increased, which were relieved by z-VAD. Elevated ROS and NLRP3, caspase-1, IL-1β and IL-18 were detected, which was attenuated by N-acetylcysteine. Increased bax and decreased caspase-8, caspase-9 and caspase-3 were found. gasdermin E (GSDME) was activated with cleavage of GSDME-NT, which was retarded by z-VAD. Additionally, p38 MAPK signaling pathway was activated. Our data demonstrate GSDME-activated pyroptosis in Cd toxicity, implying a potential impact on TNBC.     

Apolipoprotein E negatively regulates murine allergic airway inflammation via suppressing the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome and oxidative stress

Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) has been reported as a steroid unresponsive gene and functions as a negative regulator of airway hyperreactivity (AHR) and goblet cell hyperplasia in house dust mite (HDM)-challenged mice. However, the role of ApoE in Ovalbumin (OVA)-induced allergic airway inflammation disease and the underlying mechanism are still unknown. In the present study, murine allergic airway inflammation was induced by inhaled OVA for consecutive 7 days in wild type (WT) and ApoE^−/− mice. In the OVA-induced model, the ApoE level in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and lung tissues was significantly higher than that of control mice. And ApoE deficiency aggravated airway inflammation including leukocytes infiltration, goblet cell hyperplasia and IgE production as compared to those of WT mice after OVA- challenged, suggesting ApoE servers as an endogenous negative regulator of airway inflammation. Furthermore, OVA challenge elevated the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome with higher protein expression of NLRP3, caspase1 and IL-1β, enhanced oxidative stress with higher expression of 8-OHdG, nitrotyrosine and SOD2, increased the expression of mitochondrial fusion/fission markers including Optic Atrophy 1 (OPA1), Mitofusion 2 (Mfn2), dynamin-related protein 1 (DRP1) and Fission 1 (Fis1). However, these OVA-induced changes were augmented in ApoE^−/− mice. Collectively, our results demonstrated that the OVA-induced airway inflammation was aggravated in ApoE^−/− mice, and suggested that the underlying mechanism may be associated with the augmented activation of NLRP3 inflammasome and oxidative stress in ApoE^−/− mice, therefore targeting ApoE pathway might be a novel therapy approach for allergic airway diseases such as asthma.     

Andrographolide-induced apoptosis in human renal tubular epithelial cells: Roles of endoplasmic reticulum stress and inflammatory response

Andrographolide sodium bisulfate as a kind of soluble derivative of andrographolide (AD), is obviously known to be nephrotoxicity, but AD has not been reported clearly. Our study aimed to investigate the induction of apoptosis in human renal tubular epithelial (HK-2) cells by AD and its possible mechanism. Our results demonstrated that AD (0–250 μmol/L) inhibited Hk-2 cells proliferation in a dose- and time-dependent manner and induced apoptosis, accompanied by decreased of superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and increased of malondialdehvde (MDA) content. Simultaneously, AD regulated the expression of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) molecular chaperone glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78/Bip) protein, elevated the expressions of C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP) and Caspase-4, indicating activation of ER stress signaling, and induced the alterative expression of kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and Interleukin-6 (IL-6) proteins. It provided evidence that ER stress and inflammation would be significant mechanisms responsible for AD-induced apoptosis in addition to oxidative stress.     

NLRP3 inflammasome activation involved in LPS and coal tar pitch extract‐induced malignant transformation of human bronchial epithelial cells

Inflammatory microenvironment has been found as a new characteristic of cancer; however, the mechanisms of inflammation‐related lung cancer remain unclear. To explore the role of NLRP3 inflammsome activation in inflammation‐related lung carcinogenesis, a cell model was set up. Human bronchial epithelial cells (BEAS‐2B) were stimulated with 1 μg/mL lipopolysaccharide (LPS) for 24 hours, and then treated with 2.4 μg/mL coal tar pitch extract (CTPE) for 24 hours, after removal of LPS and CTPE, the cells were numbered passage 1 and were passaged and treated in this way until passage 30, which was called LPS + CTPE group. DMSO and Saline were used as vehicle controls. Malignant transformation of cells in passage 30 was evaluated by morphological change, platelet clone formation assay, and tumor formation in nude mice. The mRNA levels of NLRP3 and IL‐1β were detected by real time‐PCR. The combination of NLRP3 and caspase‐1 were determined using immunofluorescence and confocal. The protein expression of NLRP3, cleaved caspase‐1(p10), and cleaved IL‐1β was detected using Western blot. It was shown that CTPE, LPS + CTPE‐stimulated BEAS‐2B cells of passage 30 changed a lot morphologically. The clone formation rates, the rates of positive cells of NLRP3 and caspase‐1 combination, the mRNA levels of NLRP3 and IL‐1β, the protein expression of NLRP3, cleaved caspase‐1(p10) and cleaved IL‐1β of cells exposed with CTPE and LPS + CTPE at passage 30 were significantly increased compared to vehicle controls. Furthermore, the ability of tumor formation in nude mice, the rates of clone formation and positive cells, mRNA and protein levels of NLRP3 inflammasome activation‐related factors in LPS + CTPE‐induced cells were all higher than those in cells stimulated with CTPE alone. In conclusion, the cell model of inflammation‐related lung cancer is set up successfully, and NLRP3 inflammasome activation may be involved in the malignant transformation of BEAS‐2B cells which induced by CTPE alone or LPS combined with CTPE.     

PFKFB3 modulates glycolytic metabolism and alleviates endoplasmic reticulum stress in human osteoarthritis cartilage

Glycolytic disorder has been demonstrated to be a major cause of osteoarthritis (OA) and chondrocyte dysfunction. The present work aimed to investigate the expression and role of the glycolytic regulator 6‐phosphofructo‐2‐kinase/fructose‐2,6‐bisphosphatase 3 (PFKFB3) in OA cartilage. It was found that PFKFB3 expression was down‐regulated in human OA cartilage tissues and in tumour necrosis factor (TNF)‐α‐ or interleukin (IL)‐1β‐stimulated human chondrocytes. The glycolytic metabolism appeared as glucose utilization and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) generation, and lactate production was stunted in OA cartilage. However, the impaired glycolytic process in OA cartilage was improved by PFKFB3 overexpression, which was confirmed in TNF‐α‐ or IL‐1β‐treated chondrocytes. Furthermore, the expressions of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress‐associated genes including PERK, ATF3, IRE1, phosphorylated eIF2α (p‐eIF2α) and MMP13 were enhanced in OA cartilage explants, while they were decreased by AdPFKFB3 transfection. PFKFB3 also modulated the expressions of PERK, ATF3, IRE1, p‐eIF2α and MMP13 in tunicamycin‐exposed chondrocytes. Additionally, PFKFB3 improved the cell viability of OA cartilage explants and chondrocytes through the PI3K/Akt/C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP) signalling pathway. The transfection of AdPFKFB3 also significantly reduced caspase 3 activation and promoted aggrecan and type II collagen expressions in OA cartilage explants and chondrocytes. In all, this study characterizes a novel role of PFKFB3 in glycolytic metabolism and ER stress of OA cartilage explants and chondrocytes. The study might provide a potential target for OA prevention or therapy.     

Activation of NLRP3 inflammasome in RAW 264.7 cells by polysaccharides extracted from Grateloupia livida (Harv.) Yamada

Polysaccharides have been proven to be involved in the immune response in both anti-inflammation and pro-inflammation due to their distinct pharmacological properties. Recent studies showed that polysaccharides from Grateloupia livida (Harv.) Yamada possessed several biological activities, including anti-oxidant, anti-angiogenic, anti-cancer and antiviral. Our previous work has elucidated the structural features of the polysaccharides (named WGW) by combining ESI-MS with NMR and infrared (IR) spectroscopic analyses. The polysaccharides were mainly composed of galactose linked with sulfate ester, concluding to be μ-carrageenan and κ-carrageenan. The purpose of this study was to investigate the immunoregulation effects of WGW on macrophage RAW 264.7 cell. The cells were treated with WGW for different times, then Griess reagent was applied to detect the production of NO. The results presented that WGW induced the release of NO in large quantities (ranging from 2 µg/mL to 256 µg/mL) and improved the phagocytosis of macrophage RAW264.7 cells. Furthermore, WGW have a predominant role in the improvement of proinflammatory mediators, such TNF-α, IL-1β, iNOS, MMP-9 and COX2. Moreover, WGW activated NLRP3 inflammasome, in which MAPK/NF-κB signaling pathway played an important role. These results indicated WGW might be a potential immuno-stimulation drug to promote inflammation.     

Pramipexole inhibits astrocytic NLRP3 inflammasome activation via Drd3-dependent autophagy in a mouse model of Parkinson’s disease

Inflammation is one of the pathogenic processes in Parkinson’s disease (PD). Dopamine receptor agonist pramipexole (PPX) is extensively used for PD treatment in clinics. A number of studies show that PPX exerts neuroprotection on dopaminergic (DA) neurons, but the molecular mechanisms underlying the protective effects of PPX on DA neurons are not fully elucidated. In the present study, we investigated whether PPX modulated PD-related neuroinflammation and underlying mechanisms. PD model was established in mice by bilateral striatum injection of lipopolyssaccharide (LPS). The mice were administered PPX (0.5 mg·kg⁻¹·d⁻¹, i.p.) 3 days before LPS injection, and for 3 or 21 days after surgery, respectively, for biochemical and histological analyses. We showed that PPX administration significantly alleviated the loss of DA neurons, and suppressed the astrocyte activation and levels of proinflammatory cytokine IL-1β in the substantia nigra of LPS-injected mice. Furthermore, PPX administration significantly decreased the expression of NLRP3 inflammasome-associated proteins, i.e., cleaved forms of caspase-1, IL-1β, and apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a caspase recruit domain (ASC) in the striatum. These results were validated in LPS+ATP-stimulated primary mouse astrocytes in vitro. Remarkably, we showed that PPX (100–400 μM) dose-dependently enhanced the autophagy activity in the astrocytes evidenced by the elevations in LC3-II and BECN1 protein expression, as well as the increase of GFP-LC3 puncta formation. The opposite effects of PPX on astrocytic NLRP3 inflammasome and autophagy were eliminated by Drd3 depletion. Moreover, we demonstrated that both pretreatment of astrocytes with autophagy inhibitor chloroquine (40 μM) in vitro and astrocyte-specific Atg5 knockdown in vivo blocked PPX-caused inhibition on NLRP3 inflammasome and protection against DA neuron damage. Altogether, this study demonstrates an anti-neuroinflammatory activity of PPX via a Drd3-dependent enhancement of autophagy activity in astrocytes, and reveals a new mechanism for the beneficial effect of PPX in PD therapy.     

依达拉奉保护H9c2心肌细胞对抗异丙肾上腺素诱导的氧化应激及内质网应激反应

目的探讨依达拉奉(EDA)能否保护H9c2心肌细胞对抗异丙肾上腺素(ISO)诱导的氧化应激和内质网应激(ERS)。方法用ISO处理H9c2心肌细胞,建立β1肾上腺素受体持续兴奋诱导心肌细胞毒性的体外模型。EDA在ISO处理心肌细胞前1 h加入培养基中作为预处理。CCK-8比色法检测细胞存活率;双氯荧光素(DCFH-DA)染色/荧光显微镜照相检测细胞内活性氧(ROS)的含量;罗丹明123(Rh123)染色/荧光显微镜照相检测线粒体膜电位(MMP);Western blot法检测葡萄糖调节蛋白78(GRP78)的表达。结果 ISO在20～100μmol.L-1浓度范围内处理H9c2心肌细胞48 h,呈剂量依赖性地降低细胞存活率;80μmol.L-1ISO处理H9c2心肌细胞可使细胞内ROS含量明显增多及MMP明显降低;80μmol.L-1 ISO处理H9c2心肌细胞0～24 h,可时间依赖性地上调内质网应激蛋白GRP78的表达,其中12 h达到高峰。分别用10、20和40μmol.L-1 EDA预处理1 h可以减弱80μmol.L-1 ISO处理H9c2心肌细胞48h引起的细胞存活率降低,500、1 000和2 000μmol.L-1氧自由基清除剂NAC分别预处理1 h也可减轻ISO诱导的心肌细胞毒性反应;40μmol.L-1的EDA预处理1 h可明显减轻ISO诱导的胞内ROS堆积及MMP降低,并明显抑制ISO引起的GRP78的表达上调。结论 EDA可保护H9c2心肌细胞对抗ISO诱导的损伤作用,其机制可能与抗氧化及抑制内质网应激反应有关。     

The effects of endoplasmic reticulum stress inducer thapsigargin on the toxicity of ZnO or TiO2 nanoparticles to human endothelial cells

It was recently shown that ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) could induce endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). If ER stress is associated the toxicity of ZnO NPs, the presence of ER stress inducer thapsigargin (TG) should alter the response of HUVECs to ZnO NP exposure. In this study, we addressed this issue by assessing cytotoxicity, oxidative stress and inflammatory responses in ZnO NP exposed HUVECs with or without the presence of TG. Moreover, TiO₂ NPs were used to compare the effects. Exposure to 32?μg/mL ZnO NPs (p?2 NPs (p?>?0.05), significantly induced cytotoxicity as assessed by WST-1 and neutral red uptake assay, as well as intracellular ROS. ZnO NPs dose-dependently increased the accumulation of intracellular Zn ions, and ZnSO₄ induced similar cytotoxic effects as ZnO NPs, which indicated a role of Zn ions. The release of inflammatory proteins tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) or the adhesion of THP-1 monocytes to HUVECs was not significantly affected by ZnO or TiO₂ NP exposure (p?>?0.05). The presence of 250?nM TG significantly induced cytotoxicity, release of IL-6 and THP-1 monocyte adhesion (p?p?>?0.05). ANOVA analysis indicated no interaction between exposure to ZnO NPs and the presence of TG on almost all the endpoints (p?>?0.05) except neutral red uptake assay (p?相似文献   

Salvianolic acid A inhibits angiotensin II-induced proliferation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells by attenuating the production of ROS

Aim:

To investigate the action of salvianolic acid A (SalA) on angiotensin II (Ang II)-induced proliferation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and the possible signaling pathways mediating this action.

Methods:

Cell proliferation was examined with MTT assay. The expression levels of Src phosphorylation (phospho-Src), Akt phosphorylation (phospho-Akt), and NADPH oxidase 4 (Nox4) in HUVECs were determined by Western blot. The production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was estimated using fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS).

Results:

SalA (6.25–50 μmol/L) did not affect the viability of HUVECs. Treatment of HUVECs with Ang II (1 μmol/L) markedly increased the cell viability; pretreatment of HUVECs with SalA (12.5, 25 and 50 μmol/L) prevented Ang II-induced increase of the cell viability in a concentration-dependent manner. Treatment of HUVECs with Ang II (1 μmol/L) markedly up-regulated the protein expression levels of phospho-Src, phospho-Akt (473) and Nox4; pretreatment of HUVECs with SalA (12.5, 25 and 50 μmol/L) blocked all the effects in a concentration-dependent manner. Treatment of HUVECs with Ang II (1 μmol/L) dramatically increased ROS production in HUVECs; pretreatment of HUVECs with SalA (12.5, 25 and 50 μmol/L) blocked the ROS production in a concentration-dependent manner.

Conclusion:

SalA inhibits Ang II-induced proliferation of HUVECs via reducing the expression levels of phospho-Src and phospho-Akt (473), thereby attenuating the production of ROS.     

Metabolism and toxicity of trichloroethylene and S-(1,2-dichlorovinyl)-L-cysteine in freshly isolated human proximal tubular cells.

Trichloroethylene (Tri) caused modest cytotoxicity in freshly isolated human proximal tubular (hPT) cells, as assessed by significant decreases in lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity after 1 h of exposure to 500 microM Tri. Oxidative metabolism of Tri by cytochrome P-450 to form chloral hydrate (CH) was only detectable in kidney microsomes from one patient out of four tested and was not detected in hPT cells. In contrast, GSH conjugation of Tri was detected in cells from every patient tested. The kinetics of Tri metabolism to its GSH conjugate S-(1,2-dichlorovinyl)glutathione (DCVG) followed biphasic kinetics, with apparent Km and Vmax values of 0.51 and 24.9 mM and 0.10 and 1.0 nmol/min per mg protein, respectively. S-(1,2-dichlorovinyl)-L-cysteine (DCVC), the cysteine conjugate metabolite of Tri that is considered the penultimate nephrotoxic species, caused both time- and concentration-dependent increases in LDH release in freshly isolated hPT cells. Preincubation of hPT cells with 0.1 mM aminooxyacetic acid did not protect hPT cells from DCVC-induced cellular injury, suggesting that another enzyme besides the cysteine conjugate beta-lyase may be important in DCVC bioactivation. This study is the first to measure the cytotoxicity and metabolism of Tri and DCVC in freshly isolated cells from the human kidney. These data indicate that the pathway involved in the cytotoxicity and metabolism of Tri in hPT cells is the GSH conjugation pathway and that the cytochrome P-450-dependent pathway has little direct role in renal Tri metabolism in humans.     

砷及MPST过表达对SH-SY5Y细胞GRP78/CHOP通路的影响

目的探讨内质网应激是否参与亚砷酸钠(NaAsO2)神经毒性损伤,明确3-巯基丙酮酸硫转移酶(3-mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase,MPST)过表达是否调节砷诱导的内质网应激。方法通过构建MPST基因慢病毒表达载体来获得稳定表达外源MPST基因的SH-SY5Y细胞株作为SH-MPST过表达组,另设空载体转染细胞为SH-PEB组,染砷组(NaAsO2组),内质网应激阻断剂TUDCA组,TUDCA预处理染砷组。Western blot法分别检测过表达MPST、染砷及TUDCA预处理后细胞内GRP78和CHOP蛋白表达的变化。结果单纯MPST过表达不影响SH-SY5Y细胞内GRP78、CHOP蛋白的表达水平;经NaAsO2处理后,SH-PEB细胞内GRP78、CHOP蛋白明显上调(P<0.01),而被内质网应激阻断剂TUDCA所拮抗;MPST过表达则抑制砷对GRP78、CHOP蛋白的上调(P<0.01);然而,TUDCA预处理则明显逆转MPST过表达对GRP78、CHOP蛋白的影响(P<0.01)。结论GRP78/CHOP内质网应激通路参与了砷诱导的神经毒性损伤;MPST过表达可降低砷诱导的内质网应激水平。     

Continuous in vitro exposure of intestinal epithelial cells to E171 food additive causes oxidative stress,inducing oxidation of DNA bases but no endoplasmic reticulum stress

The whitening and opacifying properties of titanium dioxide (TiO₂) are commonly exploited when it is used as a food additive (E171). However, the safety of this additive can be questioned as TiO₂ nanoparticles (TiO₂-NPs) have been classed at potentially toxic. This study aimed to shed some light on the mechanisms behind the potential toxicity of E171 on epithelial intestinal cells, using two in vitro models: (i) a monoculture of differentiated Caco-2 cells and (ii) a coculture of Caco-2 with HT29-MTX mucus-secreting cells. Cells were exposed to E171 and two different types of TiO₂-NPs, either acutely (6–48?h) or repeatedly (three times a week for 3 weeks). Our results confirm that E171 damaged these cells, and that the main mechanism of toxicity was oxidation effects. Responses of the two models to E171 were similar, with a moderate, but significant, accumulation of reactive oxygen species, and concomitant downregulation of the expression of the antioxidant enzymes catalase, superoxide dismutase and glutathione reductase. Oxidative damage to DNA was detected in exposed cells, proving that E171 effectively induces oxidative stress; however, no endoplasmic reticulum stress was detected. E171 effects were less intense after acute exposure compared to repeated exposure, which correlated with higher Ti accumulation. The effects were also more intense in cells exposed to E171 than in cells exposed to TiO₂-NPs. Taken together, these data show that E171 induces only moderate toxicity in epithelial intestinal cells, via oxidation.     

Hederagenin inhibits high glucose-induced fibrosis in human renal cells by suppression of NLRP3 inflammasome activation through reducing cathepsin B expression

Diabetic nephropathy is a major complication of diabetes mellitus and is related to dysfunction of renal cells. Hederagenin is a triterpenoid saponin from some Chinese herbs with anti-inflammatory and anti-diabetic activities. However, its role in diabetic nephropathy progression is still obscure. This study aimed to explore the effects of hederagenin on renal cell dysfunction in vitro. Human renal mesangial cells (HRMCs) and human renal proximal tubular epithelial cells (HRPTEpiCs) were cultured under high glucose (HG) conditions to mimic diabetic nephropathy-like injury. Cell proliferation was evaluated by CCK-8. mRNA and protein levels were determined by qRT-PCR and western blotting, respectively. The secretion levels of fibrosis-related biomarkers were analyzed by ELISA. Results showed that hederagenin reduced HG-induced proliferation increase in HRMCs and HRPTEpiCs. Hederagenin attenuated HG-induced increase in mRNA and protein expression of NLRP3, ASC, and IL-1β. Hederagenin also suppressed HG-induced increase in mRNA and secretion levels of FN, Col. IV, PAI-1, and TGF-β1. NLRP3 inhibitor MCC950 attenuated HG-induced fibrosis of renal cells, and its activator nigericin reversed the suppressive effect of hederagenin on HG-induced fibrosis. Bioinformatics analysis predicted cathepsin B (CTSB) as a target of hederagenin to modulate NOD-like receptor (NLR) pathway. Hederagenin decreased CTSB level, and CTSB overexpression reversed the suppressive effect of hederagenin on HG-induced NLRP3 inflammasome activation and fibrosis in HRMCs and HRPTEpiCs. In conclusion, hederagenin attenuates HG-induced fibrosis of renal cells by inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome activation via reducing CTSB expression, indicating a therapeutic potential of hederagenin in diabetic nephropathy.