H3K9Ac在卵巢上皮性肿瘤中的表达及其临床意义

目的 研究组蛋白H3赖氨酸残基9位乙酰化（H3KgAc）在卵巢上皮性肿瘤中的表达及其与卵巢癌组织学分级、临床分期之间的关系。方法 采用免疫组织化学ABC法检测20例良性、16例交界性、40例恶性卵巢上皮性肿瘤中H3K9Ac的表达情况，并分析其与临床病理指标间的关系。结果 ①H3K9Ac在良性、交界性、恶性卵巢上皮性肿瘤中的表达逐渐降低，差异有显著统计学意义（P〈0．01）；②与粘液性囊腺癌相比，H3KgAc在浆液性囊腺癌中表达较低，差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）；③H3KgAc的表达与卵巢上皮性癌的组织分化程度及临床分期有关，在Ⅲ、Ⅳ期卵巢癌中H3KgAc的表达明显低于Ⅰ、Ⅱ期卵巢癌（P〈0．01）；随着组织分化程度降低，H3KgAc表达也逐渐降低，两两比较差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。结论 H3KgAc在良性、交界性、恶性卵巢上皮性肿瘤中的表达差异显著，且随着卵巢上皮性癌恶性程度的增高，表达逐渐降低，H3K9Ac可能为卵巢上皮性肿瘤的良恶性及其预后判断提供一个新的生物学指标。     

Protein phosphatase PP1 is required for normal DNA methylation in Neurospora

Covalent modifications of histones integrate intracellular and extracellular cues to regulate the genome. H3 Lys 9 methylation (H3K9me) can direct heterochromatin formation and DNA methylation, while phosphorylation of H3 Ser 10 (H3S10p) drives gene activation and chromosome condensation. To examine the relationship between H3S10p, H3K9me, and DNA methylation in Neurospora crassa, we built and tested mutants of the putative H3S10 phosphatase, PP1. A PP1-impaired mutant showed increased H3S10p and selective reduction of methylation of H3K9 and DNA. Similarly, amino acid substitutions of H3S10 abolished methylation of H3K9 and DNA. Thus, H3S10 dephosphorylation by PP1 is required for DNA methylation of some loci.     

AMPK调节骨骼肌细胞GLUT4基因表达的机制研究

腺苷酸活化蛋白激酶(AMPK)能调节运动/肌肉收缩所引起的骨骼肌细胞葡萄糖转运蛋白4(GLUT4)基因的表达,但至今它的调节机制不清.研究显示在非运动刺激引起的细胞信号事件中由组蛋白去乙酰化酶(HDACs)以及组蛋白乙酰化酶(HATs)控制的组蛋白乙酰化状态是调节基因表达的重要机制,所以我们假设AMPK信号途径是通过征用HDACs中的HDAC5(在骨骼肌细胞内高表达)来实现对运动/肌肉收缩引起的GLUT4基因表达控制.细胞分为正常浓度葡萄糖对照组(NGLU组)、正常浓度AICAR组(NGLU AICAR组)、高浓度对照组(HGLU组)、高浓度AICAR组(HGLU AICAR组).用5 mmol/L和20 mmol/L葡萄糖浓度培养骨骼肌细胞后,NGLU AICAR组和HGLU AICAR组与肌肉收缩模拟信号刺激5-氨基-4-甲酰胺咪唑核糖核苷酸(AICAR)孵育.AICAR能激活NGLU组骨骼肌细胞AMPKα2、减少骨骼肌细胞核HDAC5蛋白、促使HDAC5与骨骼肌细胞加强因子(MEF2)蛋白分离和上调GLUT4基因的表达;相反,高浓度葡萄糖延迟由AICAR引起的AMPKα2磷酸化、AMPKα2向细胞核转入、HDAC5向细胞核转出和GLUT4基因的表达.实验结果说明在不同葡萄糖浓度下的骨骼肌细胞GLUT4基因表达变化都对应着上游AMPK蛋白和下游HDAC5蛋白的变化,AMPK可能是征用转录抑制子HDAC5来调节MEF2的活性而达到控制肌肉收缩所引起的GLUT4基因表达.     

Histone deacetylase activity is necessary for chromosome condensation during meiotic maturation in Xenopus laevis

Chromosome condensation is thought to be an essential step for the faithful transmission of genetic information during cellular division or gamete formation. The folding of DNA into metaphase chromosomes and its partition during the cell cycle remains a fundamental cellular process that, at the molecular level, is poorly understood. Particularly, the role of histone deacetylase (HDAC) activities in establishing and maintaining meiotic metaphase chromosome condensation has been little documented. In order to better understand how metaphase chromosome condensation is achieved during meiosis, we explored, in vivo, the consequences of HDAC activities inhibition in a Xenopus oocyte model. Our results show that deacetylase activity plays a crucial role in chromosome condensation. This activity is necessary for correct chromosome condensation since the earlier stages of meiosis, but dispensable for meiosis progression, meiosis exit and mitosis entry. We show that HDAC activity correlates with chromosome condensation, being higher when chromosomes are fully condensed and lower during interphase, when chromosomes are decondensed. In addition, we show that, unlike histone H4, Xenopus maternal histone H3 is stored in the oocyte as a hypoacetylated form and is rapidly acetylated when the oocyte exits meiosis.     

曲古抑菌素A对前列腺癌LNCaP细胞雄激素受体的清除作用

目的:研究组蛋白去乙酰化酶抑制剂曲古抑菌素A(trichostatinA,TSA)对前列腺癌细胞的抑制作用机理。方法:四甲基偶唑氮蓝(MTT)检测药物对肿瘤细胞增殖的影响;Hochest33342染色观察细胞凋亡的形态学变化;Western印迹分析雄激素受体(AR)蛋白的表达;反转录PCR检测AR转录水平的变化。结果:TSA在较低浓度即能有效抑制LNCaP细胞的增殖,EC50为125.9nmol·L-1,并诱导肿瘤细胞凋亡;药物处理后细胞周期依赖性蛋白激酶抑制剂p21表达增高,AR呈时间及剂量依赖性被清除。TSA对AR的清除是发生在蛋白水平的降解,而不影响其转录。结论:TSA能够清除对细胞生长具有重要作用的AR细胞信号通路,从而对前列腺癌LNCaP细胞发挥抑制作用。     

冷冻保存时长对卵裂期胚胎组蛋白表观遗传修饰的影响

【目的】研究不同的冷冻保存时长对人类卵裂期胚胎的组蛋白表观遗传修饰的影响。【方法】采用经患者知情同意捐献用于科研的慢速冷冻的卵裂期胚胎,根据冷冻时长分为6、9和12年组,以新鲜胚胎为对照组,每组6枚捐献胚胎。采用细胞免疫荧光技术观察去乙酰化酶HDAC1、组蛋白（H3K9ac、H3K4me3、H3K9me3）的表达量在各组胚胎中的差异,并以单细胞RT-qPCR技术检测去乙酰化酶HDAC1、甲基化酶（SUV39H1、SET?DB1）、去甲基化酶KDM5A对应mRNA的表达量。【结果】4组胚胎的去乙酰化酶HDAC1、组蛋白（H3K9ac、H3K4me3和H3K9me3）的蛋白表达量无统计学意义的差异（P>0.05）。同时去乙酰化酶HDAC1、甲基化酶SUV39H1对应mRNA的表达量也无统计学意义的差异（P>0.05）。随着胚胎冷冻时长的增加,甲基化酶SETDB1对应mRNA的表达量有递增趋势,然而差异无统计学意义（P>0.05）。去甲基化酶KDM5A对应的mRNA的表达量也随冷冻时长的增加而增强,差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）。【结论】慢速冷冻保存时长对卵裂期胚胎的组蛋白（H3K9ac、H3K4me3和H3K9me3）的蛋白表达量无显著影响,甲基化酶（SUV39H1、SETDB1）对应的mRNA表达量没有明显影响;但随着冷冻保存时长增加,胚胎去甲基化酶KDM5A对应的mRNA表达量增加,有可能导致胚胎转录抑制程度增强。     

Endocrine Active Compounds: From Biology to Dose Response Assessment

Histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors target key steps of tumor development: They inhibit proliferation, induce differentiation and/or apoptosis, and exhibit potent antimetastatic and antiangiogenic properties in transformed cells in vitro and in vivo. Preliminary studies in animal models have revealed a relatively high tumor selectivity of HDAC inhibitors, strenghtening their promising potential in cancer chemotherapy. Until now, preclinical in vitro research has almost exclusively been performed in cancer cell lines and oncogene-transformed cells. However, as cell proliferation and apoptosis are essential for normal tissue and organ homeostasis, it is important to investigate how HDAC inhibitors influence the regulation of and interplay between proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis in primary cells as well. This review highlights the discrepancies in molecular events triggered by trichostatin A, the reference compound of hydroxamic acid-containing HDAC inhibitors, in hepatoma cells and primary hepatocytes (which are key targets for drug-induced toxicity). The implications of these differential outcomes in both cell types are discussed with respect to both toxicology and drug development. In view of the future use of HDAC inhibitors as cytostatic drugs, it is highly recommended to include both tumor cells and their healthy counterparts in preclinical developmental studies. Screening the toxicological properties of compounds early in their development process, using a battery of different cell types, will enable researchers to discard those compounds bearing undesirable adverse activity before entering into expensive clinical trials. This will not only reduce the risk for harmful exposure of patients but also save time and money.     

The safety profile of vorinostat (suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid) in hematologic malignancies: A review of clinical studies

Histone acetyltransferases and histone deacetylases (HDACs) are multifunctional enzymes that posttranslationally modify both histone and nonhistone acetylation sites, affecting a broad range of cellular processes (e.g., cell cycle, apoptosis, and protein folding) often dysregulated in cancer. HDAC inhibitors are small molecules that directly interact with HDAC catalytic sites preventing the removal of acetyl groups, thereby counteracting the effects of HDACs. Since the first HDAC inhibitor, valproic acid, was investigated as a potential antitumor agent, there have been a number of other HDAC inhibitors developed to improve efficacy and safety. Despite significant progress in the management of patients with hematologic malignancies, overall survival is still poor. The discovery that HDACs may play a role in hematologic malignancies and preclinical studies showing promising activity with HDAC inhibitors in various tumor types, led to clinical evaluation of HDAC inhibitors as potential treatment options for patients with advanced hematologic malignancies. The Food and Drug Administration has approved two HDAC inhibitors, vorinostat (2006) and romidepsin (2009), for the treatment of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. This review highlights the safety of HDAC inhibitors currently approved or being investigated for the treatment of hematologic malignancies, with a specific focus on the safety experience with vorinostat in cutaneous T-cell lymphoma.