The effect of pharmacological PI3Kγ inhibitor on eotaxin-induced human eosinophil functions

BackgroundAsthma is characterized by chronic inflammation caused by activation of immune cells including Th2 lymphocytes and eosinophils. Phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) γ deficient asthmatic mice did not develop lung eosinophilia, although the detailed mechanisms are not well known. A CC chemokine eotaxin (CCL11) plays a prominent role in developing eosinophilic inflammation through CCR3. In this study, we tested the roles of PI3Kγ in eotaxin-induced eosinophil functions using a pharmacological inhibitor.MethodHuman peripheral blood eosinophils were isolated by CD16-negative selection method. The effect of AS605240, synthetic PI3Kγ inhibitor on eotaxin-induced adhesion, chemotaxis, and degranulation were studied using intracellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1)-coated plates, Boyden chamber system, ELISA for eosinophil-derived neurotoxin (EDN) levels in the culture supernatant, respectively. CCR3 expression levels and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) phosphorylation were assessed by flowcytometry. Involvement of PI3Kγ in spontaneous apoptosis was studied using flowcytometry.ResultsAlthough AS605240 did not affect the eosinophil spontaneous apoptosis, eotaxin-induced chemotaxis, adhesion to ICAM-1 coated plate, and EDN release were inhibited by AS605240. AS605240 also inhibited the eotaxin-induced ERK1/2 phosphorylation without down-regulation of surface CCR3 expression.ConclusionThese results indicate that PI3Kγ inhibitor attenuates eotaxin-induced eosinophil functions by suppressing the downstream signaling of CCR3 without significant cytotoxicity. PI3Kγ plays an important role in the development of eosinophilic inflammation and blockade of PI3Kγ might be a therapeutic strategy for treatment of eosinophil-related diseases including asthma.     

The effects of water immersion and restraint stress on the expressions of apelin,apelin receptor (APJR) and apoptosis rate in the rat heart

Apelin has been identified as an endogenous ligand of the orphan G-protein-coupled apelin receptor (APJR). These receptors are widely expressed in the central nervous system and periphery and play a role in the regulation of fluid and glucose homeostasis, feeding behavior, vessel formation, cell proliferation and immunity. We aimed to investigate whether water immersion and restraint stress have effects on apelin and APJR expression and apoptosis in heart tissue of male Wistar rats. The cardiac tissues were obtained from control, water immersion and restraint stress (WIRS) and apelin antagonist (F13A) + WIRS groups of rats and embedded in paraffin wax. Immunohistochemical staining methods were used to localize apelin, APJR and TUNEL immunopositive cells. H-SCORE was used for semi-quantitative determinations. Apelin protein levels were determined by Western blot in the cardiac tissues and plasma corticosteroid levels were measured by enzyme immunoassay (EIA). Apelin immunolocalization was found especially in endothelial cells and mast cells and faintly in cardiomyocytes, APJR immunostaining was shown in endothelial cells and cardiomyocytes, and TUNEL reaction was observed in endothelial cells and in some fibroblasts. Apelin expression was significantly increased in the WIRS and F13A + WIRS groups compared to the control group. The APJR reaction was similar in all groups. The number of TUNEL-positive cells was significantly higher in the F13A + WIRS group than that of the control group. Our study showed that WIRS for 6 h increased plasma corticosterone levels and cardiac apelin expression in rats. The increased levels of apelin inhibited stress-induced apoptosis in heart. These results may be important for the therapeutic approach to a variety of stress-related heart disease.     

白藜芦醇抑制胃癌细胞株MKN45增殖的机制研究*

目的 通过研究白藜芦醇抑制胃癌MKN45细胞增殖及对丝裂原活化蛋白激酶(MEK)/细胞外信号调节激酶（ERK）信号通路的影响,探讨白藜芦醇抗胃癌的作用机制。方法 体外常规培养胃癌MKN45细胞,将细胞分为对照组、MEK/ERK信号通路抑制剂PD98059组（PD98059组）、白藜芦醇低剂量组（100?μmol/L）、 白藜芦醇高剂量组（400?μmol/L）。各组细胞处理1、2和4?h后,MTT法检测细胞增殖抑制率,Western blotting法检测Ras、Raf、MEK、ERK1/2蛋白的表达,细胞免疫化学法检测Ras、Raf、MEK、ERK1/2蛋白荧光强度的变化。结果 与对照组比较,PD98059组、白藜芦醇低剂量组和白藜芦醇高剂量组细胞在处理1、2和4?h后,细胞增殖受到抑制（P?<0.05）,且呈时间剂量依赖性;PD98059组、白藜芦醇低剂量组和白藜芦醇高剂量组细胞Ras、Raf、MEK和ERK1/2表达下降,差异有统计学意义（P?<0.05）,且白藜芦醇的作用呈剂量依赖性（P?< 0.05）;MEK和ERK1/2蛋白主要定位于细胞质中,且PD98059组、白藜芦醇低剂量组和白藜芦醇高剂量组细胞ERK1/2的荧光强度均减弱。结论 白藜芦醇呈剂量依赖性抑制胃癌细胞株MKN45的增殖,可能与抑制MEK/ERK信号通路,减弱Ras、Raf、MEK和ERK1/2的表达有关。     

Characterization of Extracellular Signal-Regulated Kinase 5 Levels in Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells Exposed to Disturbed and Uniform Flow

Extracellular signal-regulated kinase 5 (ERK5) has been reported to regulate endothelial cell integrity and protect from vascular dysfunction under continuous laminar flow. However, the effect of flow on ERK5 levels has not been determined. Confluent human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were seeded on fibronectin coated glass slides and serum starved for 2 hours with 1% fetal bovine serum (FBS). HUVECs were then exposed to to and fro flow (TFF), pulsatile forward flow (PFF), or continuous laminar flow (CLF) in a parallel plate flow chamber for up to 2 hours. At the end of experiment, cell lysates were prepared and immunoblotted with antibodies to total ERK5. Both CLF and TFF exhibited a decrease in ERK5 after levels after 2-hour exposure. However, the level of ERK5 for PFF remained the same. Disturbed, but not uniform pulsatile, flow decreases ERK5 levels in HUVECs.     

Early pregnancy induced expression of prostaglandin E2 receptors EP2 and EP4 in the ovine endometrium and regulated by interferon tau through multiple cell signaling pathways

Prostaglandin E2 (PGE₂) plays pleiotropic roles at fetal-maternal interface during establishment of pregnancy. The objectives of the study were to: (i) determine regulation of PGE2 receptors EP1, EP2, EP3, and EP4 in the endometrium during the estrous cycle and early pregnancy; and (ii) understand endometrial epithelial and stromal cell-specific hormonal regulation of EP2 and EP4 in sheep. Results indicate that: (i) early pregnancy induces expression of EP2 and EP4 but not EP1 and EP3 proteins in the endometrium on days 12-16 compared to that of estrous cycle; (ii) intrauterine infusion of interferon tau (IFNT) increases expression of EP2 and EP4 proteins in endometrium; and (iii) IFNT activates distinct epithelial and stromal cell-specific JAK, EGFR, ERK1/2, AKT, or JNK signaling module to regulate expression of EP2 and EP4 proteins in the ovine endometrium. Our results indicate a role for EP2 and EP4-mediated PGE₂ signaling in endometrial functions and establishment of pregnancy in ruminants.     

Caveolin-1在NSCLC组织中的表达及其与ERK1/2的相关性研究

目的研究caveolin-1与ERK1/2的表达与非小细胞型肺癌的(NSCLC)临床病理学特征的关系及其相关性。方法分别采用免疫组织化学及免疫印迹检测50例人NSCLC和正常肺组织中caveolin-1、ERK1/2和p-ERK1/2的表达情况。结果 NSCLC中caveolin-1、p-ERK1/2阳性率均明显高于正常肺组织(P<0.01)。NSCLC的组织学分类、TNM分期间caveolin-1、p-ERK1/2阳性率差异均无统计学意义(P>0.05),而分化程度、淋巴结转移间caveolin-1、ERK1/2阳性率差异均无统计学意义(P<0.01)。NSCLC组织中caveolin-1与ERK1/2的阳性率呈正相关关系(P<0.01)。结论 caveolin-1的表达上调激发ERK1/2蛋白的磷酸化在NSCLC的发生、分化进展中起重要作用,caveolin-1基因有望成为治疗肺癌的新靶点。     

MK2 plays an important role for the increased vascular permeability that follows thermal injury

We previously reported Rho kinase is involved in vessel hyper-permeability caused by burns. Here we further explore the Rho kinase downstream signaling, it is found that its specific inhibitor Y27632 significantly diminishes the activation of JNK and p38 MAPKs but not ERK that induced by serum from burned rats (burn-serum). JNK activation was found involved in the expression of HUVEC adhesion molecules following thermal injury, although not in the process of stress fiber formation. Inhibition of various MAPKs by specific inhibitors showed that SB203580 (inhibitor of p38), but neither SP600125 (inhibitor of JNK) nor PD98059 (inhibitor of ERK), abolish activation of the p38 downstream kinase MK2. Demonstration of stress fibers by fluorescent-labeled phalloidin showed that inhibition of MK2, either by its specific inhibitor or by dominant negative adeno-viral-carried constructs, significantly reduced burn-serum-induced HUVEC stress-fiber formation, while inhibition of another downstream p38 MAPK kinase, PRAK, had no such effects. Transfection of dominant negative adeno-viral MK2 (Ad-MK2(A)) significantly inhibited thermal injury-induced blood vessel hyper-permeability in rats and, moreover, prolonged the survival of burned rats beyond 72 h following thermal injury. One of the mechanisms behind these phenomena is that Ad-MK2(A) causes a significant depression of burn-serum-induced HSP27-phosphorylation, while the adeno-viral transported dominant negative PRAK (Ad-PRAK(A)) does not block. Although the effect of blockade of MK2 through its adeno-viral approach requires further study and investigation of alternatives to know for sure, we may have found a new pathway behind thermal-injury-induced blood vessel hyper-permeability, namely: Rho kinase > p38 > MK2 > HSP27.