Effects of serum containing natural cerebrolysin on glucose-regulated protein 78 and CCAAT enhancer-binding protein homologous protein expression in neuronal PC12 cells following tunicamycin-induced endoplasmic reticulum stress

BACKGROUND： Glucose-regulated protein 78 （GRP78）, a marker of endoplasmic reticulum stress, can prolong cell survival. Alternatively, CCAAT enhancer-binding protein homologous protein （CHOP）, a transcription factor specific for endoplasmic reticulum stress, can cause cell cycle arrest and cell apoptosis. OBJECTIVE： To study the protective effects of serum containing natural cerebrolysin on endoplasmic reticulum stress in tunicamycin-induced neuronal PC12 cells, and analyze the influence on GRP78 and CHOP expressions. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING： A parallel controlled study was performed at the Institute of Integrated Western and Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen Hospital, Southern Medical University, between March 2006 and August 2008. MATERIALS： Adult Sprague-Dawley rats were perfused with natural Cerebrolysin aqueous extract （0.185 g/kg/d） to produce serum containing natural Cerebrolysin. Physiological saline was used to produce blank serum. PC12 cell line was provided by Shanghai Institute of Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Science. Tunicamycin was provided by Sigma （St. Louis, USA）, and natural Cerebrolysin, containing ginseng, rhizoma gastrodiae, and gingko leaf （1：2：2）, by Shengzhen Institute of Integrated Western and Traditional Chinese Medicine. METHODS： PC12 cells were treated with DMEM culture media containing 10% blank serum （normal control group）, tunicamycin （1 μg/mL; model group）, and 5%, 10%, and 15% serum containing natural cerebrolysin and tunicamycin （1 μ g/mL; low-, moderate-, and high-dose serum containing natural cerebrotysin groups）, for 2 hours. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： PC12 cells were treated with tunicamycin for 48 hours after which apoptosis was measured using the TUNEL method to calculate apoptotic index. GRP78 expression was detected using immunocytochemistry. After 24 hours of treatment with tunicamycin, GRP78 and CHOP mRNA expressions were measured using RT-PCR. RESULTS： The apoptotic index and CHOP mRNA expression were in the model group and three cerebrolysin groups were significantly increased when compared to the normal control group （P 〈 0.05）. In contrast, GRP78 mRNA and protein expressions were significantly decreased （P 〈 0.05）. CONCLUSION： Serum containing natural cerebrolysin significantly reduced apoptosis in neuronal PC12 cells following tunicamycin-induced endoplasmic reticulum stress. These results may be related to an up-regulation of GRP78 expression and down-regulation of CHOP expression, both of which displayed dose-dependent effects.

Yinchenhao decoction attenuates obstructive jaundice-induced liver injury and hepatocyte apoptosis by suppressing protein kinase RNA-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase-induced pathway

BACKGROUND Chronic biliary obstruction results in ischemia and hypoxia of hepatocytes,and leads to apoptosis.Apoptosis is very important in regulating the homeostasis of the hepatobiliary system.Endoplasmic reticulum(ER)stress is one of the signaling pathways that induce apoptosis.Moreover,the protein kinase RNA-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase(PERK)-induced apoptotic pathway is the main way;but its role in liver injury remains unclear.Yinchenhao decoction(YCHD)is a traditional Chinese medicine formula that alleviates liver injury and apoptosis,yet its mechanism is unknown.We undertook this study to investigate the effects of YCHD on the expression of ER stress proteins and hepatocyte apoptosis in rats with obstructive jaundice(OJ).AIM To investigate whether YCHD can attenuate OJ-induced liver injury and hepatocyte apoptosis by inhibiting the PERK-CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein homologous protein(CHOP)-growth arrest and DNA damage-inducible protein 34(GADD34)pathway and B cell lymphoma/leukemia-2 related X protein(Bax)/B cell lymphoma/leukemia-2(Bcl-2)ratio.METHODS For in vivo experiments,30 rats were divided into three groups:control group,OJ model group,and YCHD-treated group.Blood was collected to detect the indicators of liver function,and liver tissues were used for histological analysis.For in vitro experiments,30 rats were divided into three groups:G1,G2,and G3.The rats in group G1 had their bile duct exposed without ligation,the rats in group G2 underwent total bile duct ligation,and the rats in group G3 were given a gavage of YCHD.According to the serum pharmacology,serum was extracted and centrifuged from the rat blood to cultivate the BRL-3A cells.Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated dUTP nick end-labelling(TUNEL)assay was used to detect BRL-3A hepatocyte apoptosis.Alanine aminotransferase(ALT)and aspartate transaminase(AST)levels in the medium were detected.Western blot and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction(qRT-PCR)analyses were used to detect protein and gene expression levels of PERK,CHOP,GADD34,Bax,and Bcl-2 in the liver tissues and BRL-3A cells.RESULTS Biochemical assays and haematoxylin and eosin staining suggested severe liver function injury and liver tissue structure damage in the OJ model group.The TUNEL assay showed that massive BRL-3A rat hepatocyte apoptosis was induced by OJ.Elevated ALT and AST levels in the medium also demonstrated that hepatocytes could be destroyed by OJ.Western blot or qRT-PCR analyses showed that the protein and mRNA expression levels of PERK,CHOP,and GADD34 were significantly increased both in the rat liver tissue and BRL-3A rat hepatocytes by OJ.The Bax and Bcl-2 levels were increased,and the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio was also increased.When YCHD was used,the PERK,CHOP,GADD34,and Bax levels quickly decreased,while the Bcl-2 levels increased,and the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio decreased.CONCLUSION OJ-induced liver injury and hepatocyte apoptosis are associated with the activation of the PERK-CHOP-GADD34 pathway and increased Bax/Bcl-2 ratio.YCHD can attenuate these changes.

L-4F Inhibits Oxidized Low-density Lipoprotein-induced Inflammatory Adipokine Secretion via Cyclic AMP/Protein Kinase A-CCAAT/Enhancer Binding Protein β Signaling Pathway in 3T3-L1 Adipocytes

Background： Adipocytes behave like a rich source of pro-inflammatory cytokines including monocyte chemoattractant protein- 1 （MCP- 1）. Oxidized low-density lipoprotein （oxLDL） participates in the local chronic inflammatory response, and high-density lipoprotein could counterbalance the proinftammatory function of αLDL, but the underlying mechanism is not completely understood. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of apolipoprotein A-I mimetic peptide L-4F on the secretion and expression of MCP-1 in fully differentiated 3T3-L 1 adipocytes induced by oxLDL and to elucidate the possible mechanisms. Methods： Fully differentiated 3T3-L 1 adipocytes were incubated in the medium containing various concentration of L-4F （0-50 gg/ml） with oxLDL （50 Lag/ml） stimulated, with/without protein kinase A （PKA） inhibitor H-89 （10 gmol/L） preincubated. The concentrations of MCP- 1 in the supematant, the mRNA expression of MCP- 1, the levels of CCAAT/enhancer binding protein α （C/EBPα）, and CCAAT/ enhancer binding protein 13 （C/EBPβ） were evaluated. The monocyte chemotaxis assay was performed by micropore filter method using a modified Boyden chamber. Results： OxLDL stimulation induced a significant increase ofMCP-1 expression and secretion in 3T3-L 1 adipocytes, which were inhibited by L-4F preincubation in a dose-dependent manner. PKA inhibitor H-89 markedly reduced the oxLDL-induced MCP-1 expression, but no further decrease was observed when H-89 was used in combination with L-4F （50 μg/ml） （P 〉 0.05）. OxLDL stimulation showed no significant effect on C/EBPa protein level but increased C/EBPβ protein level in a time-dependent manner. H-89 and L-4F both attenuated C/EBPI3 protein level in oxLDL-induced 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Conclusions： OxLDL induces C/EBPI3 protein synthesis in a time-dependent manner and enhances MCP-1 secretion and expression in 3T3-L 1 adipocytes. L-4F dose-dependently counterbalances the pro-inflammatory effect of oxLDL, and cyclic AMP/PKA-C/EBP-β signaling pathway may participate in it.

Calreticulin Translocation Aggravates Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress-associated Apoptosis during Cardiomyocyte Hypoxia/Reoxygenation

Background： Calreticulin （CRT） is major Ca^2＋-binding chaperone mainly resident in the endoplasmic reticulum （ER） lumen. Recently, it has been shown that non-ER CRT regulates a wide array of cellular responses. We previously found that CRT was up-regulated during hypoxia/ reoxygenation （H/R） and this study was aimed to investigate whether CRT nuclear translocation aggravates ER stress （ERS）-associated apoptosis during H/R injury in neonatal rat cardiomyocytes. Methods： Apoptosis rate and lactate dehydrogenase （LDH） leakage in culture medium were measured as indices of cell injury. lmmunofluorescence staining showed the morphological changes of ER and intracellular translocation of CRT. Western blotting or reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction was used to detect the expression of target molecules. Results： Compared with control, H/R increased apoptosis rate and LDH activity. The ER became condensed and bubbled, and CRT translocated to the nucleus. Western blotting showed up-regulation of CRT, Nrf2, activating transcription factor 4 （ATF4）, CHOP and caspase-12 expression after H/R. Exogenous CRT overexpression induced by plasmid transfection before H/R increased cell apoptosis, LDH leakage, ER disorder, CRT nuclear translocation and the expression of ERS-associated molecules. However, administration of the ERS inhibitor, taurine, or CRT siRNA alleviated cell injury, ER disorder, and inhibited ERS-associated apoptosis. Conclusions： Our results indicated that during H/R stress, CRT translocation increases cell apoptosis and LDH leakage, aggravates ER disorder, up-regulates expression of nuclear transcription factors, Nrf2 and ATF4, and activates ERS-associated apoptosis.