ERK/MAPK通路参与肝癌产生多药耐药的胞内信号传导

目的探讨微环境诱导肝癌产生多药耐药的胞内信号传导途径。方法分别使HepG2细胞在缺氧、低糖环境下生长或稳定整合HBX基因,运用Western蛋白印迹法检测这些细胞内ERK／MAPK的活性。用ERK／MAPK特异性阻断剂U0126处理这些细胞后,用Western蛋白印迹法检测缺氧诱导因子-1α（HIF—1α）和多药耐药相关蛋白的表达变化,逆转录聚合酶链反应和免疫细胞化学技术分别检测HIF-1α在mRNA水平表达量和部位的改变。结果不同环境下生长的HepG2细胞中,磷酸肜非磷酸化ERK／MAPK比例均有不同程度的增高。用U0126处理12h后,这些细胞中HIF-1α和多药耐药相关蛋白的表达下降,且HIF-1α表达由胞核向胞质转位,其mRNA水平无显著变化。结论ERK／MAPK信号通路是微环境诱导肝癌产生多药耐药的重要胞内信号传导途径。

The role of extracellular signal-regulated kinase/mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway in multidrug resistance of hepatocellular carcinoma

OBJECTIVE: To elucidate intracellular signal pathway in formation of multidrug resistance (MDR) of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) induced by its microenvironment, and to explore the potential role of extracellular signal-regulated kinase/mitogen-activated protein kinase (ERK/MAPK) pathway in this process. METHODS: Activity of ERK/MAPK was examined by Western blot technique through comparing the ratio of phosphorylation of ERK/MAPK to total ERK/MAPK protein in HepG2 cells exposed to hypoxia, low glucose or transfected by plasmid pcDNA3/HBX. After being treated by the specific ERK/MAPK pathway inhibitor U0126, Western blot technique was used to analyze the alterations of the expression of P-gp, MRP1, LRP and HIF-1alpha at protein level. RT-PCR was used to analyze the alterations of the expression of HIF-1alpha mRNA. Cellular location of HIF-1alpha protein was determined by immunocytochemistry after being treated by U0126. RESULTS: The activations of ERK/MAPK determined by the ratio of phosphorylated ERK/MAPK to the total ERK/MAPK were increased in varying degrees in HepG2 cells respectively exposed to different microenvironment. After being treated by U0126 for 12 h, the expressions of mdr1, MRP1, LRP genes and protein in those cells were decreased to some extent. However, the gene expression of HIF-1alpha was not influenced and only its protein was decreased. HIF-1alpha protein was reversely translocated into cytoplasm from nucleus after being treated by U0126. CONCLUSIONS: ERK/MAPK pathway is involved in the course of the formation of MDR of HCC induced by microenvironment.