Heat shock protein 90 acts as a molecular chaperone in late-phase activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 stimulated by oxidative stress in vascular smooth muscle cells

Aim： To investigate whether cytosolic heat shock protein 90 （HSP90） acts as a molecular chaperone on the activated extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 （ERK1/2） and cell proliferation stimulated by reactive oxygen species （ROS） in rat vascular smooth muscle cells （VSMC）. Methods： VSMC were exposed to 1 pmol/L LY83583 （6-anilinoquinoline-5,8-quinolinedione, producer of ROS） for 120 min in the presence or absence of 5 μmol/L geldanamycin, a specific inhibitor of HSP90. Then the total, soluble, and insoluble proteins of the cells were collected. HSP90, ERK1/2, and phosphor-ERK 1/2 in the cell lysate were measured by Western blotting. The interaction of HSP90 and phosphor-ERK1/2 was analyzed by immunoprecipi- tation assay, and the nuclear phosphor-ERK1/2 was measured by Western blot- ting and immunofluorescence. Cell proliferation was tested by cell counting and 3-（4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl）-3,5-di-phenyltetrazoliumbromide （MTT）. Results： The cytosolic HSP90 of VSMC was upregulated by LY83583 in a time-dependent man- ner with the peak at 120 min, which is consistent with the late peak of phosphor- ERK1/2. Immunoprecipitation and Western blotting analyses showed that LY83583 increased the interaction of HSP90 with phosphor-ERK1/2, the phosphor-ERK1/2 level, and the soluble phosphor-ERK1/2 level by 1.8-, 2.5-, and 2.9-fold, respectively. In contrast, the insoluble phosphor-ERK1/2 of VSMC was decreased. Interestingly, LY83583 treatment promoted the nuclear phosphor-ERK1/2 by 7.6-fold as con- firmed by Western blotting and immunofluorescence assays. Furthermore, cell counting and the MTT assay showed that LY83583 stimulated VSMC prolifera- tion with the increased expression of HSP90 and levels of soluble and nuclear phosphor-ERK1/2. Pretreatment of geldanamycin antagonized the effect of LY83583. Conclusion： HSP90 could mediate the oxidative stress-stimulated, late- phase activation of ERK1/2 and VSMC proliferation by promoting the ERK1/2 phosphorylation, the association of itself with phosphor-ERK1/2, and the solubil- ity and nuclear translocation of phosphor-ERK 1/2.     

Regulation of alpha2AR trafficking and signaling by interacting proteins

The continuing discovery of new G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) interacting proteins and clarification of the functional consequences of these interactions has revealed multiple roles for these events. Some of these interactions serve to scaffold GPCRs to particular cellular micro-compartments or to tether them to defined signaling molecules, while other GPCR-protein interactions control GPCR trafficking and the kinetics of GPCR-mediated signaling transduction. This review provides a general overview of the variety of GPCR-protein interactions reported to date, and then focuses on one prototypical GPCR, the alpha(2)AR, and the in vitro and in vivo significance of its reciprocal interactions with arrestin and spinophilin. It seems appropriate to recognize the life and career of Arthur Hancock with a summary of studies that both affirm and surprise our preconceived notions of how nature is designed, as his career-long efforts similarly affirmed the complexity of human biology and attempted to surprise pathological changes in that biology with novel, discovery-based therapeutic interventions. Dr. Hancock's love of life, of family, and of commitment to making the world a better place are a model of the life well lived, and truly missed by those who were privileged to know, and thus love, him.     

Role of IKK and ERK pathways in intrinsic inflammation of cystic fibrosis airways

In cystic fibrosis (CF) patients, pulmonary inflammation is a major cause of morbidity and mortality and may precede bacterial colonization. The aim of the present study was to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying intrinsic inflammation in cystic fibrosis airways. Using different cystic fibrosis cell models, we first demonstrated that, beside a high constitutive nuclear factor of kappaB (NF-kappaB) activity, CF cells showed a higher activator protein-1 (AP-1) activity as compared to their respective control cells. Gene expression profiles, confirmed by RT-PCR and ELISA, showed over-expression of numerous NF-kappaB and AP-1-dependent pro-inflammatory genes in CF cells in comparison with control cells. Activation of NF-kappaB was correlated with higher inhibitor of kappaB kinase (IKK) activity. In addition, Bio-plex phosphoprotein assays revealed higher extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) phosphorylation in CFT-2 cells. Inhibition of this kinase strongly decreased expression of pro-inflammatory genes coding for growth-regulated proteins (Gro-alpha, Gro-beta and Gro-gamma) and interleukins (IL-1beta, IL-6 and IL-8). Moreover, inhibition of secreted interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) with neutralizing antibodies reduced pro-inflammatory gene expression. Our data thus demonstrated for the first time that the absence of functional cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) at the plasma membrane leads to an intrinsic AP-1, in addition to NF-kappaB, activity and consequently to a pro-inflammatory state sustained through autocrine factors such as IL-1beta and bFGF.     

Effect of lysophosphatidylglycerol on several signaling molecules in OVCAR-3 human ovarian cancer cells: involvement of pertussis toxin-sensitive G-protein coupled receptor

In this study, we observed that lysophosphatidylglycerol (LPG) stimulated intracellular calcium ([Ca(2+)](i)) increase in OVCAR-3 human ovarian cancer cells. LPG-stimulated [Ca(2+)](i) increase was inhibited by U-73122 but not by U-73343, suggesting that LPG stimulates calcium signaling via phospholipase C activation. Moreover, pertussis toxin (PTX) almost completely inhibited [Ca(2+)](i) increase by LPG, indicating the activation of PTX-sensitive G-proteins. LPG-induced [Ca(2+)](i) increase was only observed in OVCAR-3 ovarian cancer cells and SK-OV3 ovarian cancer cells among tested several cell types. LPG also induced extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and Akt phosphorylation in OVCAR-3 ovarian cancer cells. Pertussis toxin did not affect the LPG-induced activation of ERK and Akt phosphorylation. We also found that LPG failed to stimulate NF-kappaB-driven luciferase activity in exogenously LPA(1), LPA(2), or LPA(3)-transfected HepG2 cells. Taken together we suggest that LPG stimulates a membrane bound receptor which is different from well-known LPA receptors (LPA(1), LPA(2), and LPA(3)), resulting in at least two different signaling cascades; one involves a pertussis toxin-sensitive and phospholipase C-dependent [Ca(2+)](i) increase, and the other involves a pertussis toxin-insensitive activation of ERK and Akt in ovarian cancer cells.     

Focal adhesion kinase: a potential target in cancer therapy

Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) is a non-receptor tyrosine kinase that plays an important role in signal transduction pathways that are initiated at sites of integrin-mediated cell adhesions and by growth factor receptors. FAK is a key regulator of survival, proliferation, migration and invasion: processes that are all involved in the development and progression of cancer. FAK is also linked to oncogenes at both a biochemical and functional level. Moreover, overexpression and/or increased activity of FAK is common in a wide variety of human cancers, implicating a role for FAK in carcinogenesis. Given the important role of FAK in a large number of processes involved in tumorigenesis, metastasis and survival signalling FAK should be regarded as a potential target in the development of anti-cancer drugs. Therefore, selective inhibitors of FAK need to be developed. Combination of these selective FAK inhibitors with cytotoxic agents could be a very promising anti-cancer therapy.     

Differences in secretome in culture media when comparing blastocysts and arrested embryos using multiplex proximity assay

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess different patterns of the human embryo secretome analysed as protein levels in culture media. Furthermore, analyses to correlate protein levels with quality and timing to development of human embryos were performed.

Material and methods: Human day-2 cryopreserved embryos were cultured for four days in an EmbryoScope^® with a time-lapse camera, and embryo quality was evaluated retrospectively. After culture, the media were collected and relative levels of secreted proteins were analysed using Proseek Multiplex Assays. Protein levels were evaluated in relation to timing to development and the ability to form a blastocyst.

Results: Specific patterns of timing of development of blastocysts were found, where a difference in time to start of cavitation was found between high- and low-quality blastocysts. There appeared to be a correlation between specific protein patterns and successful formation of morulae and blastocysts. Embryos developing into blastocysts had higher levels of EMMPRIN than arrested embryos, and levels of caspase-3 were lower in high- versus low-quality blastocysts. Also, higher levels of VEGF-A, IL-6, and EMMPRIN correlated with shorter times to morula formation.

Conclusions: The secretome and timing to development differ in embryos forming blastocysts and those that become arrested, and in high- versus low-quality blastocysts. The levels of certain proteins also correlate to specific times to development.     

Hepatic extracellular matrix alterations in dogs naturally infected with Leishmania (Leishmania) chagasi

The aim of this work was to study alterations in the extracellular matrix of liver in dogs naturally infected with Leishmania ( Leishmania ) chagasi that are correlated with clinical aspects and with histological, parasitological and immunological findings. The study was carried out on 30 dogs, 10 uninfected (control group) and 20 infected. The infected animals were further divided into two groups: an asymptomatic group of 10 dogs without clinical signs of the disease; and a symptomatic group of 10 dogs with classical clinical signs. All thirty animals were mongrel dogs of undefined age, obtained from the municipality of Belo Horizonte, MG, metropolitan area. During necropsy, liver fragments were collected and fixed in 10% buffered formaldehyde for histological examination. Paraffined sections of the tissues were stained with haematoxylin–eosin, Gomori's ammoniacal silver stain for reticular fibres and strepto-avidin peroxidase for immunohistochemical detection of Leishmania amastigotes. Frozen tissue sections were stained by immunofluorescence for fibronectin (FN) and laminin (LN). Liver collagen deposition was significantly greater in the infected than the control animals and differed significantly between the symptomatic and asymptomatic dogs. There was a positive correlation between the parasite load and liver collagen deposition. The increased collagen deposition in infected animal livers may be associated with the parasite burden. Adhesive FN and LN fibres were significantly more highly expressed in the livers of symptomatic than of asymptomatic dogs. Our results demonstrate that canine visceral leishmaniasis causes fibrogenesis in liver, associated with the parasite load and degenerative processes.