Ischemic stroke can cause blood-brain barrier(BBB)injury,which worsens brain damage induced by stroke.Abnormal expression of tight junction proteins in endothelial cells(ECs)can increase intracellular space and BBB le...Ischemic stroke can cause blood-brain barrier(BBB)injury,which worsens brain damage induced by stroke.Abnormal expression of tight junction proteins in endothelial cells(ECs)can increase intracellular space and BBB leakage.Selective inhibition of mitogen-activated protein kinase,the negative regulatory substrate of mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphatase(MKP)-1,improves tight junction protein function in ECs,and genetic deletion of MKP-1 aggravates ischemic brain injury.However,whether the latter affects BBB integrity,and the cell type-specific mechanism underlying this process,remain unclear.In this study,we established an adult male mouse model of ischemic stroke by occluding the middle cerebral artery for 60 minutes and overexpressed MKP-1 in ECs on the injured side via lentiviral transfection before stroke.We found that overexpression of MKP-1 in ECs reduced infarct volume,reduced the level of inflammatory factors interleukin-1β,interleukin-6,and chemokine C-C motif ligand-2,inhibited vascular injury,and promoted the recovery of sensorimotor and memory/cognitive function.Overexpression of MKP-1 in ECs also inhibited the activation of cerebral ischemia-induced extracellular signal-regulated kinase(ERK)1/2 and the downregulation of occludin expression.Finally,to investigate the mechanism by which MKP-1 exerted these functions in ECs,we established an ischemic stroke model in vitro by depriving the primary endothelial cell of oxygen and glucose,and pharmacologically inhibited the activity of MKP-1 and ERK1/2.Our findings suggest that MKP-1 inhibition aggravates oxygen and glucose deprivation-induced cell death,cell monolayer leakage,and downregulation of occludin expression,and that inhibiting ERK1/2 can reverse these effects.In addition,co-inhibition of MKP-1 and ERK1/2 exhibited similar effects to inhibition of ERK1/2.These findings suggest that overexpression of MKP-1 in ECs can prevent ischemia-induced occludin downregulation and cell death via deactivating ERK1/2,thereby protecting the integrity of BBB,alleviating brain injury,and improving post-stroke prognosis.展开更多
BACKGROUND Enterotoxigenic Bacteroides fragilis(ETBF)causes colitis and diarrhea,and is considered a candidate pathogen in inflammatory bowel diseases as well as colorectal cancers.These diseases are dependent on ETBF...BACKGROUND Enterotoxigenic Bacteroides fragilis(ETBF)causes colitis and diarrhea,and is considered a candidate pathogen in inflammatory bowel diseases as well as colorectal cancers.These diseases are dependent on ETBF-secreted toxin(BFT).Dendritic cells(DCs)play an important role in directing the nature of adaptive immune responses to bacterial infection and heme oxygenase-1(HO-1)is involved in the regulation of DC function.AIM To investigate the role of BFT in HO-1 expression in DCs.METHODS Murine DCs were generated from specific pathogen-free C57BL/6 and Nrf2−/−knockout mice.DCs were exposed to BFT,after which HO-1 expression and the related signaling factor activation were measured by quantitative RT-PCR,EMSA,fluorescent microscopy,immunoblot,and ELISA.RESULTS HO-1 expression was upregulated in DCs stimulated with BFT.Although BFT activated transcription factors such as NF-κB,AP-1,and Nrf2,activation of NF-κB and AP-1 was not involved in the induction of HO-1 expression in BFT-exposed DCs.Instead,upregulation of HO-1 expression was dependent on Nrf2 activation in DCs.Moreover,HO-1 expression via Nrf2 in DCs was regulated by mitogenactivated protein kinases such as ERK and p38.Furthermore,BFT enhanced the production of reactive oxygen species(ROS)and inhibition of ROS production resulted in a significant decrease of phospho-ERK,phospho-p38,Nrf2,and HO-1 CONCLUSION These results suggest that signaling pathways involving ROS-mediated ERK and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases-Nrf2 activation in DCs are required for HO-1 induction during exposure to ETBF-produced BFT.展开更多
Mitogen-activated protein kinases(MAPKs)are a family of proteins that constitute signaling pathways involved in processes that control gene expression,cell division, cell survival,apoptosis,metabolism,differentiation ...Mitogen-activated protein kinases(MAPKs)are a family of proteins that constitute signaling pathways involved in processes that control gene expression,cell division, cell survival,apoptosis,metabolism,differentiation and motility.The MAPK pathways can be divided into conventional and atypical MAPK pathways.The first group converts a signal into a cellular response through a relay of three consecutive phosphorylation events exerted by MAPK kinase kinases,MAPK kinase,and MAPK.Atypical MAPK pathways are not organized into this three-tiered cascade.MAPK that belongs to both conventional and atypical MAPK pathways can phosphorylate both non-protein kinase substrates and other protein kinases.The latter are referred to as MAPK-activated protein kinases.This review focuses on one such MAPK-activated protein kinase,MAPK-activated protein kinase 5(MK5)or p38-regulated/activated protein kinase(PRAK).This protein is highly conserved throughout the animal kingdom and seems to be the target of both conventional and atypical MAPK pathways.Recent findings on the regulation of the activity and subcellular localization,bona fide interaction partners and physiological roles of MK5/PRAK are discussed.展开更多
OBJECTIVE: Exploring the effect of Optimized New Shengmai powder(优化新生脉散方, ONSMP) on myocardial fibrosis in heart failure(HF) based on rat sarcoma(RAS)/rapidly accelerated fibrosarcoma(RAF)/mitogen-activated pro...OBJECTIVE: Exploring the effect of Optimized New Shengmai powder(优化新生脉散方, ONSMP) on myocardial fibrosis in heart failure(HF) based on rat sarcoma(RAS)/rapidly accelerated fibrosarcoma(RAF)/mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase(MEK)/extracellular regulated protein kinases(ERK) signaling pathway. METHODS: Randomized 70 Sprague-Dawley rats into sham(n = 10) and operation(n = 60) groups, then established the HF rat by ligating the left anterior descending branch of the coronary artery. We randomly divided the operation group rats into the model, ONSMP [including low(L), medium(M), and high(H) dose], and enalapril groups. After the 4-week drug intervention, echocardiography examines the cardiac function and calculates the ratios of the whole/left heart to the rat's body weight. Finally, we observed the degree of myocardial fibrosis by pathological sections, determined myocardium collagen(COL) Ⅰ and COL Ⅲ content by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, detected the m RNA levels of COL Ⅰ, COL Ⅲ, α-smooth muscle actin(α-SMA), and c-Fos proto-oncogene(c-Fos) by universal real-time, and detected the protein expression of p-RAS, p-RAF, p-MEK1/2, p-ERK1/2, p-ETS-like-1 transcription factor(p-ELK1), p-c-Fos, α-SMA, COL Ⅰ, and COL Ⅲ by Western blot. RESULTS: ONSMP can effectively improve HF rat's cardiac function, decrease cardiac organ coefficient, COL volume fraction, and COL Ⅰ/Ⅲ content, down-regulate the m RNA of COL Ⅰ/Ⅲ, α-SMA and c-Fos, and the protein of p-RAS, p-RAF, p-MEK1/2, p-ERK1/2, p-ELK1, c-Fos, COL Ⅰ/Ⅲ, and α-SMA. CONCLUSIONS: ONSMP can effectively reduce myocardial fibrosis in HF rats, and the mechanism may be related to the inhibition of the RAS/RAF/MEK/ERK signaling pathway.展开更多
Background:XIAP-associated factor 1(XAF1)negatively regulates the function of the X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein(XIAP),a member of the IAP family that exerts antiapoptotic effects.The extracellular signal-reg...Background:XIAP-associated factor 1(XAF1)negatively regulates the function of the X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein(XIAP),a member of the IAP family that exerts antiapoptotic effects.The extracellular signal-regulated kinase(ERK)pathway is thought to increase cell proliferation and to protect cells from apoptosis.The aim of the study was to investigate the correlation between the ERK1/2 signaling pathway and XAF1 in colon cancer.Methods:Four human colon cancer cell lines,HCT1116 and Lovo(wildtype p53),DLD1 and SW1116(mutant p53),were used.Lovo stable transfectants with XAF1 sense and antisense were established.The effects of dominant-negative MEK1(DN-MEK1)and MEK-specific inhibitor U0126 on the ERK signaling pathway and expression of XAF1 and XIAP proteins were determined.The transcription activity of core XAF1 promoter was assessed by dual luciferase reporter assay.Cell proliferation was measured by MTT assay.Apoptosis was determined by Hoechst 33258 staining.Results:U0126 increased the expression of XAF1 in a time-and dose-dependent manner.A similar result was obtained in cells transfected with DN-MEK1 treatment.Conversely,the expression of XIAP was down-regulated.Activity of the putative promoter of the XAF1 gene was significantly increased by U0126 treatment and DN-MEK1 transient transfection.rhEGF-stimulated phosphorylation of ERK appeared to have little or no effect on XAF1 expression.Overexpression of XAF1 was more sensitive to U0126-induced apoptosis,whereas down-regulation of XAF1 by antisense reversed U0126-induced inhibition of cell proliferation.Conclusions:XAF1 expression was up-regulated by inhibition of the ERK1/2 pathway through transcriptional regulation,which required de novo protein synthesis.The results suggest that XAF1 mediates apoptosis induced by the ERK1/2 pathway in colon cancer.展开更多
Objective:Cardiac remodeling is a common pathological change in various cardiovascular diseases and can ultimately result in heart failure.Thus,there is an urgent need for more effective strategies to aid in cardiac p...Objective:Cardiac remodeling is a common pathological change in various cardiovascular diseases and can ultimately result in heart failure.Thus,there is an urgent need for more effective strategies to aid in cardiac protection.Our previous work found that sphingosine-1-phosphate(S1P)could ameliorate cardiac hypertrophy.In this study,we aimed to investigate whether S1P could prevent cardiac fibrosis and the associated mechanisms in cardiac remodeling.Methods:Eight-week-old male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into a sham,transverse aortic constriction(TAC)or a TAC+S1P treatment group.Results:We found that S1P treatment improved cardiac function in TAC mice and that the cardiac fibrosis ratio in the TAC+S1P group was significantly lower and was accompanied by a decrease inα-smooth muscle actin(α-SMA)and collagen type I(COL I)expression compared with the TAC group.We also found that one of the key S1P enzymes,sphingosine kinase 2(SphK2),which was mainly distributed in cytoblasts,was downregulated in the cardiac remodeling case and recovered after S1P treatment in vivo and in vitro.In addition,our in vitro results showed that S1P treatment activated extracellular regulated protein kinases(ERK)phosphorylation mainly through the S1P receptor 2(S1PR2)and spurred p-ERK transposition from the cytoplasm to cytoblast in H9c2 cells exposed to phenylephrine.Conclusion:These findings suggest that SphK2 and the S1PR2/ERK pathway may participate in the anti-remodeling effect of S1P on the heart.This work therefore uncovers a novel potential therapy for the prevention of cardiac remodeling.展开更多
Objective Intravenous administration of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) is effective to reduce the volume of cerebral infract due to ischemia. This study was designed to investigate the molecular mechanism, es...Objective Intravenous administration of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) is effective to reduce the volume of cerebral infract due to ischemia. This study was designed to investigate the molecular mechanism, especially the signal transduction pathways, involved in this protective role of bFGF. Methods Anoxia-reoxygenation treated atrocytes were used to study the role of mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase kinase (MAPK/ERK kinase, MEK)-ERK signaling pathway after exogenous bFGF administration by Western blot. Electrophoretic mobile shift assay was used to detect the binding activity of early growth response factor-1 (Egr-1), an important transcription factor for endogenous bFGF. Results bFGF could protect some signal transduction proteins from the oxygen-derived free radicals induced degradation. ERK1/2 was activated and involved in Egr-1 binding activity enhancement induced by exogenous bFGF. Conclusion MEK-ERK MAPK cascade may be an important signal transduction pathway contributed to bFGF induced enhancement of Egr-1 binding activity in anoxia-reoxygenation injured astrocytes.展开更多
Objective To investigate the protective effects of hydrogen peroxide preconditioning (HPP) on the pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells treated with 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP^+) and to explore the potential mech...Objective To investigate the protective effects of hydrogen peroxide preconditioning (HPP) on the pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells treated with 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP^+) and to explore the potential mechanisms. Methods The viability and apoptosis of PC 12 cells were determinded by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and 4′,6′-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) staining, respectively. The expressions of 14-3-3 protein and phospholylated p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) were determined by Western blot. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to measure the activity of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2). Results The cell viability decreased and the number of apoptotic cells increased dramatically in MPP^+ group compared with that in Control group. HPP induced a significant increase in cell viability and a marked decrease in population of apoptotic cells of the MPP^+- treated PC 12 cells, accompanied with up-regulation of 14-3-3 protein and increase of ERK 1/2 and p38 MAPK activities. The 14-3-3 protein expression was positively correlated with the phosphorylation of ERK1/2. Furthermore, inhibition of the ERK1/2 with PD98059 abolished the 14-3-3 protein up-regulation in PC 12 cells induced by HPP. Conclusion HPP protects PC 12 cells against MPP+ toxicity by up-regulating 14-3-3 protein expression through the ERK1/2 and p38 MAPK signaling pathways.展开更多
Objective: Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) are correlated with a more malignant phenotype in many cancers. This study was designed to evaluate the predictive value of the expression of MAPK phosphatase-1 ...Objective: Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) are correlated with a more malignant phenotype in many cancers. This study was designed to evaluate the predictive value of the expression of MAPK phosphatase-1 (MKP-1) and phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (p-ERKl/2), as the key regulatory mechanism of the MAPKs, in lung squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Methods: We assessed the expressions of MKP-1 and p-ERK1/2 in twenty subjects at different differentiation degree of SCC and five normal lungs by immunohistochemistry and real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis. Results: Immunohistochemistry and real-time RT-PCR assay showed that the expression of MKP-1 was gradually decreased as tissue type went from normal lung tissues to increasingly undifferentiated carcinoma, and it was negatively correlated with tumor differentiation (P〈0.01). However, the expression of p-ERK1/2 or ERKl/2 was gradually increased as tissue type went from normal lung tissues to increasingly undifferentiated carcinoma, and it was positively correlated with tumor differentiation (P〈0.01). Conclusions: Our data indicates the relevance of MKP-1 and p-ERK1/2 in SCC as a potential positive and negative prognostic factor. The imbalanced expression of MKP-1 and p-ERKl/2 may play a role in the development of SCC and these two molecules may be new targets for the therapy and prognosis of SCC.展开更多
Objective To investigate the signaling pathway through testing the effects of dexamethasone (Dex) on the activation of the extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) and p38 kinase (p38) in HO-8910...Objective To investigate the signaling pathway through testing the effects of dexamethasone (Dex) on the activation of the extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) and p38 kinase (p38) in HO-8910 cells.Methods Activation of the ERK1/2 and p38 was detected by Western blotting using the antibodies against the total ERK1/2 and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) protein and the phosphorylated forms of them. Results Dex could suppress the activation of ERK1/2, while enhance the activation of p38 rapidly and strongly in a dose- and time- dependent manner. Neither effect could be blocked by RU486, the antagonist of glucocorticoid receptor (GR).Conclusion Dex has rapid effects on the activation of ERK1/2 and p38, and these effects are not mediated by GR.展开更多
目的探索莓茶提取物对2型糖尿病(type 2 diabetes mellitus,T2DM)大鼠糖脂代谢及肝脏沉默信息调节因子1(silence information regulator 1,SIRT1)、AMP活化蛋白激酶(AMP activated protein kinase,AMPK)、过氧化物酶体增殖物激活受体γ...目的探索莓茶提取物对2型糖尿病(type 2 diabetes mellitus,T2DM)大鼠糖脂代谢及肝脏沉默信息调节因子1(silence information regulator 1,SIRT1)、AMP活化蛋白激酶(AMP activated protein kinase,AMPK)、过氧化物酶体增殖物激活受体γ辅助活化因子1α(peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γcoactivator-1α,PGC-1α)蛋白表达的影响。方法高脂高糖喂养联合链脲佐菌素(35 mg/kg)腹腔注射建立T2DM大鼠模型,建模成功后随机分为模型组、莓茶低剂量组(0.4 g/kg)、莓茶高剂量组(0.8 g/kg),另设普通饲料喂养大鼠为正常组,每组8只。各组灌胃给药6周后,行口服葡萄糖耐量试验计算血糖-时间曲线下面积(area under the curve,AUC),ELISA法检测空腹血胰岛素(fasting insulin,FINS)水平,计算稳态模型以评估胰岛素抵抗指数(homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance,HOMA-IR),全自动生化分析仪测定血清总胆固醇(total cholesterol,TC)、甘油三酯(triglycerides,TG)、高密度脂蛋白胆固醇(high density lipoprotein cholesterol,HDL-C)、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇(low density lipoprotein cholesterol,LDL-C)、超氧化物歧化酶(superoxide dismutase,SOD)、丙二醇(malondialdehyde,MDA)水平,HE染色观察肝脏组织形态学变化,Western blot检测肝脏SIRT1、AMPK、PGC-1α蛋白表达。结果与正常组比较,模型组FBG、AUC、FINS、HOMA-IR、TC、TG、LDL-C、MDA均明显升高(P<0.01),HDL-C、SOD和SIRT1、AMPK、PGC-1α蛋白表达均明显降低(P<0.01),肝脏组织肝索排列紊乱,肝细胞间隙不清晰,呈脂肪变性改变。与模型组比较,莓茶低剂量组、莓茶高剂量组FBG、FINS、HOMA-IR、TG、MDA均明显降低(P<0.05,P<0.01),SOD和SIRT1、AMPK、PGC-1α蛋白表达均明显升高(P<0.05,P<0.01),肝脏组织肝索排列相对整齐,脂肪变性得到改善;莓茶高剂量组AUC、TC均明显降低(P<0.05),HDL-C明显升高(P<0.05)。与莓茶低剂量组比较,莓茶高剂量组FBG、AUC、FINS、TC、MDA均明显降低(P<0.05),SIRT1、AMPK、PGC-1α蛋白表达均明显升高(P<0.05)。结论莓茶提取物能在一定程度上改善T2DM大鼠糖脂代谢,减轻胰岛素抵抗,其机制可能与改善氧化应激,调节肝脏SIRT1、AMPK、PGC-1α蛋白表达有关。展开更多
Background: The mitogen-activated extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2(MEK1/2) inhibitor trametinib has shown promising therapeutic effects on melanoma, but its efficacy on colorectal cancer(CRC) is limited. Synt...Background: The mitogen-activated extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2(MEK1/2) inhibitor trametinib has shown promising therapeutic effects on melanoma, but its efficacy on colorectal cancer(CRC) is limited. Synthetic lethality arises with a combination of two or more separate gene mutations that causes cell death, whereas individual mutations keep cells alive. This study aimed to identify the genes responsible for resistance to trametinib in CRC cells,using a synthetic lethal short hairpin RNA(shRNA) screening approach.Methods: We infected HT29 cells with a pooled lentiviral shRNA library and applied next-generation sequencing to identify shRNAs with reduced abundance after 8-day treatment of 20 nmol/L trametinib. HCT116 and HT29 cells were used in validation studies. Stable ring finger protein 183(RNF183)-overexpressing cell lines were generated by pcDNA4-myc/his-RNF183 transfection. Stable RNF 183-knockdown cell lines were generated by infection of lentiviruses that express RNF183 shRNA, and small interference RNA(siRNA) was used to knock down RNF183 transiently.Quantitative real-time PCR was used to determine the mRNA expression. Western blotting, immunohistochemical analysis, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) were used to evaluate the protein abundance. MTT assay,colony formation assay, and subcutaneous xenograft tumor growth model were used to evaluate cell proliferation.Results: In the primary screening, we found that the abundance of RNF183 shRNA was markedly reduced after treatment with trametinib. Trametinib induced the expression of RNF183, which conferred resistance to drug-induced cell growth repression and apoptotic and non-apoptotic cell deaths. Moreover, interleukin-8(IL-8) was a downstream gene of RNF183 and was required for the function of RNF183 in facilitating cell growth. Additionally, elevated RNF183 expression partly reduced the inhibitory effect of trametinib on IL-8 expression. Finally, xenograft tumor model showed the synergism of RNF183 knockdown and trametinib in repressing the growth of CRC cells in vivo.Conclusion: The RNF183-IL-8 axis is responsible for the resistance of CRC cells to the MEK1/2 inhibitor trametinib and may serve as a candidate target for combined therapy for CRC.展开更多
目的探索CX3CR1对创伤性骨髓炎大鼠骨骼肌微纤维、ERK/MAPK信号通路及炎症反应的影响。方法选取30只SPF级SD雄性大鼠,依据随机数字表法分为健康组、模型组、CX3CR1抑制组,每组10只。除健康组外,其余各组均建立创伤性骨髓炎模型。其中健...目的探索CX3CR1对创伤性骨髓炎大鼠骨骼肌微纤维、ERK/MAPK信号通路及炎症反应的影响。方法选取30只SPF级SD雄性大鼠,依据随机数字表法分为健康组、模型组、CX3CR1抑制组,每组10只。除健康组外,其余各组均建立创伤性骨髓炎模型。其中健康组、模型组大鼠均每日常规腹腔注射生理盐水,CX3CR1干预组向残腔内注射CX3CR1中和抗体进行处理。采用ELISA法检测血清中IL-6、IL-10、IL-1β、TGF-β水平,应用改良X线Norden评分检测骨骼肌微纤维,HE染色观察病理变化,免疫印迹及PCR检测股骨组织中细胞外信号调节蛋白激酶(Extracellular regulated protein kinase,ERK1/2)、丝裂原活化蛋白激酶(Mitogen activated protein kinase,MAPK)蛋白及mRNA表达。结果与健康组比较,模型组TGF-β、IL-1β、IL-10、IL-6等炎症因子含量均升高(P<0.05);与模型组比较,CX3CR1抑制组炎症因子含量降低(P<0.05)。与健康组比较,模型组随时间推移X线Norden评分升高(P<0.05);与模型组比较,CX3CR1抑制组X线Norden评分降低(P<0.05)。HE染色显示,健康组骨质完好;模型组可见大量炎性细胞浸润、灶性脓肿及坏死灶;CX3CR1抑制组大鼠的骨质明显改善,炎症反应降低。与健康组比较,模型组ERK1/2、MAPK蛋白及mRNA表达升高(P<0.05);与模型组比较,CX3CR1抑制组ERK1/2、MAPK蛋白及mRNA表达降低(P<0.05)。结论抑制CX3CR1可改善创伤性骨髓炎大鼠的疾病反应,可能与降低炎症反应、ERK/MAPK信号通路以及改善骨骼肌微纤维相关。展开更多
基金supported by Research Start-up Funding of Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital,No.2021-07(to FB)Sanming Project of Medicine in Shenzhen,No.SZZYSM 202111011(to XDQ and FB)+1 种基金Key Discipline Established by Zhejiang Province,Jiaxing City Jointly-Pain Medicine,No.2019-ss-ttyx(to LSX)Jiaxing Key Laboratory of Neurology and Pain Medicine,No.[2014]81(to LSX)。
文摘Ischemic stroke can cause blood-brain barrier(BBB)injury,which worsens brain damage induced by stroke.Abnormal expression of tight junction proteins in endothelial cells(ECs)can increase intracellular space and BBB leakage.Selective inhibition of mitogen-activated protein kinase,the negative regulatory substrate of mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphatase(MKP)-1,improves tight junction protein function in ECs,and genetic deletion of MKP-1 aggravates ischemic brain injury.However,whether the latter affects BBB integrity,and the cell type-specific mechanism underlying this process,remain unclear.In this study,we established an adult male mouse model of ischemic stroke by occluding the middle cerebral artery for 60 minutes and overexpressed MKP-1 in ECs on the injured side via lentiviral transfection before stroke.We found that overexpression of MKP-1 in ECs reduced infarct volume,reduced the level of inflammatory factors interleukin-1β,interleukin-6,and chemokine C-C motif ligand-2,inhibited vascular injury,and promoted the recovery of sensorimotor and memory/cognitive function.Overexpression of MKP-1 in ECs also inhibited the activation of cerebral ischemia-induced extracellular signal-regulated kinase(ERK)1/2 and the downregulation of occludin expression.Finally,to investigate the mechanism by which MKP-1 exerted these functions in ECs,we established an ischemic stroke model in vitro by depriving the primary endothelial cell of oxygen and glucose,and pharmacologically inhibited the activity of MKP-1 and ERK1/2.Our findings suggest that MKP-1 inhibition aggravates oxygen and glucose deprivation-induced cell death,cell monolayer leakage,and downregulation of occludin expression,and that inhibiting ERK1/2 can reverse these effects.In addition,co-inhibition of MKP-1 and ERK1/2 exhibited similar effects to inhibition of ERK1/2.These findings suggest that overexpression of MKP-1 in ECs can prevent ischemia-induced occludin downregulation and cell death via deactivating ERK1/2,thereby protecting the integrity of BBB,alleviating brain injury,and improving post-stroke prognosis.
基金Supported by the Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea funded by the Ministry of Education,Science and Technology,South Korea,No.NRF-2018R1D1A1B07043350
文摘BACKGROUND Enterotoxigenic Bacteroides fragilis(ETBF)causes colitis and diarrhea,and is considered a candidate pathogen in inflammatory bowel diseases as well as colorectal cancers.These diseases are dependent on ETBF-secreted toxin(BFT).Dendritic cells(DCs)play an important role in directing the nature of adaptive immune responses to bacterial infection and heme oxygenase-1(HO-1)is involved in the regulation of DC function.AIM To investigate the role of BFT in HO-1 expression in DCs.METHODS Murine DCs were generated from specific pathogen-free C57BL/6 and Nrf2−/−knockout mice.DCs were exposed to BFT,after which HO-1 expression and the related signaling factor activation were measured by quantitative RT-PCR,EMSA,fluorescent microscopy,immunoblot,and ELISA.RESULTS HO-1 expression was upregulated in DCs stimulated with BFT.Although BFT activated transcription factors such as NF-κB,AP-1,and Nrf2,activation of NF-κB and AP-1 was not involved in the induction of HO-1 expression in BFT-exposed DCs.Instead,upregulation of HO-1 expression was dependent on Nrf2 activation in DCs.Moreover,HO-1 expression via Nrf2 in DCs was regulated by mitogenactivated protein kinases such as ERK and p38.Furthermore,BFT enhanced the production of reactive oxygen species(ROS)and inhibition of ROS production resulted in a significant decrease of phospho-ERK,phospho-p38,Nrf2,and HO-1 CONCLUSION These results suggest that signaling pathways involving ROS-mediated ERK and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases-Nrf2 activation in DCs are required for HO-1 induction during exposure to ETBF-produced BFT.
文摘Mitogen-activated protein kinases(MAPKs)are a family of proteins that constitute signaling pathways involved in processes that control gene expression,cell division, cell survival,apoptosis,metabolism,differentiation and motility.The MAPK pathways can be divided into conventional and atypical MAPK pathways.The first group converts a signal into a cellular response through a relay of three consecutive phosphorylation events exerted by MAPK kinase kinases,MAPK kinase,and MAPK.Atypical MAPK pathways are not organized into this three-tiered cascade.MAPK that belongs to both conventional and atypical MAPK pathways can phosphorylate both non-protein kinase substrates and other protein kinases.The latter are referred to as MAPK-activated protein kinases.This review focuses on one such MAPK-activated protein kinase,MAPK-activated protein kinase 5(MK5)or p38-regulated/activated protein kinase(PRAK).This protein is highly conserved throughout the animal kingdom and seems to be the target of both conventional and atypical MAPK pathways.Recent findings on the regulation of the activity and subcellular localization,bona fide interaction partners and physiological roles of MK5/PRAK are discussed.
基金Innovation Team Development Program of the Ministry of Education:Research on the Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular Diseases with Traditional Chinese Medicine (IRT-16R54)。
文摘OBJECTIVE: Exploring the effect of Optimized New Shengmai powder(优化新生脉散方, ONSMP) on myocardial fibrosis in heart failure(HF) based on rat sarcoma(RAS)/rapidly accelerated fibrosarcoma(RAF)/mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase(MEK)/extracellular regulated protein kinases(ERK) signaling pathway. METHODS: Randomized 70 Sprague-Dawley rats into sham(n = 10) and operation(n = 60) groups, then established the HF rat by ligating the left anterior descending branch of the coronary artery. We randomly divided the operation group rats into the model, ONSMP [including low(L), medium(M), and high(H) dose], and enalapril groups. After the 4-week drug intervention, echocardiography examines the cardiac function and calculates the ratios of the whole/left heart to the rat's body weight. Finally, we observed the degree of myocardial fibrosis by pathological sections, determined myocardium collagen(COL) Ⅰ and COL Ⅲ content by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, detected the m RNA levels of COL Ⅰ, COL Ⅲ, α-smooth muscle actin(α-SMA), and c-Fos proto-oncogene(c-Fos) by universal real-time, and detected the protein expression of p-RAS, p-RAF, p-MEK1/2, p-ERK1/2, p-ETS-like-1 transcription factor(p-ELK1), p-c-Fos, α-SMA, COL Ⅰ, and COL Ⅲ by Western blot. RESULTS: ONSMP can effectively improve HF rat's cardiac function, decrease cardiac organ coefficient, COL volume fraction, and COL Ⅰ/Ⅲ content, down-regulate the m RNA of COL Ⅰ/Ⅲ, α-SMA and c-Fos, and the protein of p-RAS, p-RAF, p-MEK1/2, p-ERK1/2, p-ELK1, c-Fos, COL Ⅰ/Ⅲ, and α-SMA. CONCLUSIONS: ONSMP can effectively reduce myocardial fibrosis in HF rats, and the mechanism may be related to the inhibition of the RAS/RAF/MEK/ERK signaling pathway.
基金Shanghai Medical Key Discipline Construction Foundation(05-Ⅲ-005-017).
文摘Background:XIAP-associated factor 1(XAF1)negatively regulates the function of the X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein(XIAP),a member of the IAP family that exerts antiapoptotic effects.The extracellular signal-regulated kinase(ERK)pathway is thought to increase cell proliferation and to protect cells from apoptosis.The aim of the study was to investigate the correlation between the ERK1/2 signaling pathway and XAF1 in colon cancer.Methods:Four human colon cancer cell lines,HCT1116 and Lovo(wildtype p53),DLD1 and SW1116(mutant p53),were used.Lovo stable transfectants with XAF1 sense and antisense were established.The effects of dominant-negative MEK1(DN-MEK1)and MEK-specific inhibitor U0126 on the ERK signaling pathway and expression of XAF1 and XIAP proteins were determined.The transcription activity of core XAF1 promoter was assessed by dual luciferase reporter assay.Cell proliferation was measured by MTT assay.Apoptosis was determined by Hoechst 33258 staining.Results:U0126 increased the expression of XAF1 in a time-and dose-dependent manner.A similar result was obtained in cells transfected with DN-MEK1 treatment.Conversely,the expression of XIAP was down-regulated.Activity of the putative promoter of the XAF1 gene was significantly increased by U0126 treatment and DN-MEK1 transient transfection.rhEGF-stimulated phosphorylation of ERK appeared to have little or no effect on XAF1 expression.Overexpression of XAF1 was more sensitive to U0126-induced apoptosis,whereas down-regulation of XAF1 by antisense reversed U0126-induced inhibition of cell proliferation.Conclusions:XAF1 expression was up-regulated by inhibition of the ERK1/2 pathway through transcriptional regulation,which required de novo protein synthesis.The results suggest that XAF1 mediates apoptosis induced by the ERK1/2 pathway in colon cancer.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.81873505).
文摘Objective:Cardiac remodeling is a common pathological change in various cardiovascular diseases and can ultimately result in heart failure.Thus,there is an urgent need for more effective strategies to aid in cardiac protection.Our previous work found that sphingosine-1-phosphate(S1P)could ameliorate cardiac hypertrophy.In this study,we aimed to investigate whether S1P could prevent cardiac fibrosis and the associated mechanisms in cardiac remodeling.Methods:Eight-week-old male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into a sham,transverse aortic constriction(TAC)or a TAC+S1P treatment group.Results:We found that S1P treatment improved cardiac function in TAC mice and that the cardiac fibrosis ratio in the TAC+S1P group was significantly lower and was accompanied by a decrease inα-smooth muscle actin(α-SMA)and collagen type I(COL I)expression compared with the TAC group.We also found that one of the key S1P enzymes,sphingosine kinase 2(SphK2),which was mainly distributed in cytoblasts,was downregulated in the cardiac remodeling case and recovered after S1P treatment in vivo and in vitro.In addition,our in vitro results showed that S1P treatment activated extracellular regulated protein kinases(ERK)phosphorylation mainly through the S1P receptor 2(S1PR2)and spurred p-ERK transposition from the cytoplasm to cytoblast in H9c2 cells exposed to phenylephrine.Conclusion:These findings suggest that SphK2 and the S1PR2/ERK pathway may participate in the anti-remodeling effect of S1P on the heart.This work therefore uncovers a novel potential therapy for the prevention of cardiac remodeling.
文摘Objective Intravenous administration of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) is effective to reduce the volume of cerebral infract due to ischemia. This study was designed to investigate the molecular mechanism, especially the signal transduction pathways, involved in this protective role of bFGF. Methods Anoxia-reoxygenation treated atrocytes were used to study the role of mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase kinase (MAPK/ERK kinase, MEK)-ERK signaling pathway after exogenous bFGF administration by Western blot. Electrophoretic mobile shift assay was used to detect the binding activity of early growth response factor-1 (Egr-1), an important transcription factor for endogenous bFGF. Results bFGF could protect some signal transduction proteins from the oxygen-derived free radicals induced degradation. ERK1/2 was activated and involved in Egr-1 binding activity enhancement induced by exogenous bFGF. Conclusion MEK-ERK MAPK cascade may be an important signal transduction pathway contributed to bFGF induced enhancement of Egr-1 binding activity in anoxia-reoxygenation injured astrocytes.
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 30570627)
文摘Objective To investigate the protective effects of hydrogen peroxide preconditioning (HPP) on the pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells treated with 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP^+) and to explore the potential mechanisms. Methods The viability and apoptosis of PC 12 cells were determinded by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and 4′,6′-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) staining, respectively. The expressions of 14-3-3 protein and phospholylated p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) were determined by Western blot. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to measure the activity of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2). Results The cell viability decreased and the number of apoptotic cells increased dramatically in MPP^+ group compared with that in Control group. HPP induced a significant increase in cell viability and a marked decrease in population of apoptotic cells of the MPP^+- treated PC 12 cells, accompanied with up-regulation of 14-3-3 protein and increase of ERK 1/2 and p38 MAPK activities. The 14-3-3 protein expression was positively correlated with the phosphorylation of ERK1/2. Furthermore, inhibition of the ERK1/2 with PD98059 abolished the 14-3-3 protein up-regulation in PC 12 cells induced by HPP. Conclusion HPP protects PC 12 cells against MPP+ toxicity by up-regulating 14-3-3 protein expression through the ERK1/2 and p38 MAPK signaling pathways.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 30900654)the Science and Technology Department of Zhejiang Province (No. 2009R10031)the Health Bureau of Zhejiang Province (No. 2009QN010), China
文摘Objective: Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) are correlated with a more malignant phenotype in many cancers. This study was designed to evaluate the predictive value of the expression of MAPK phosphatase-1 (MKP-1) and phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (p-ERKl/2), as the key regulatory mechanism of the MAPKs, in lung squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Methods: We assessed the expressions of MKP-1 and p-ERK1/2 in twenty subjects at different differentiation degree of SCC and five normal lungs by immunohistochemistry and real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis. Results: Immunohistochemistry and real-time RT-PCR assay showed that the expression of MKP-1 was gradually decreased as tissue type went from normal lung tissues to increasingly undifferentiated carcinoma, and it was negatively correlated with tumor differentiation (P〈0.01). However, the expression of p-ERK1/2 or ERKl/2 was gradually increased as tissue type went from normal lung tissues to increasingly undifferentiated carcinoma, and it was positively correlated with tumor differentiation (P〈0.01). Conclusions: Our data indicates the relevance of MKP-1 and p-ERK1/2 in SCC as a potential positive and negative prognostic factor. The imbalanced expression of MKP-1 and p-ERKl/2 may play a role in the development of SCC and these two molecules may be new targets for the therapy and prognosis of SCC.
文摘Objective To investigate the signaling pathway through testing the effects of dexamethasone (Dex) on the activation of the extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) and p38 kinase (p38) in HO-8910 cells.Methods Activation of the ERK1/2 and p38 was detected by Western blotting using the antibodies against the total ERK1/2 and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) protein and the phosphorylated forms of them. Results Dex could suppress the activation of ERK1/2, while enhance the activation of p38 rapidly and strongly in a dose- and time- dependent manner. Neither effect could be blocked by RU486, the antagonist of glucocorticoid receptor (GR).Conclusion Dex has rapid effects on the activation of ERK1/2 and p38, and these effects are not mediated by GR.
文摘目的探索莓茶提取物对2型糖尿病(type 2 diabetes mellitus,T2DM)大鼠糖脂代谢及肝脏沉默信息调节因子1(silence information regulator 1,SIRT1)、AMP活化蛋白激酶(AMP activated protein kinase,AMPK)、过氧化物酶体增殖物激活受体γ辅助活化因子1α(peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γcoactivator-1α,PGC-1α)蛋白表达的影响。方法高脂高糖喂养联合链脲佐菌素(35 mg/kg)腹腔注射建立T2DM大鼠模型,建模成功后随机分为模型组、莓茶低剂量组(0.4 g/kg)、莓茶高剂量组(0.8 g/kg),另设普通饲料喂养大鼠为正常组,每组8只。各组灌胃给药6周后,行口服葡萄糖耐量试验计算血糖-时间曲线下面积(area under the curve,AUC),ELISA法检测空腹血胰岛素(fasting insulin,FINS)水平,计算稳态模型以评估胰岛素抵抗指数(homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance,HOMA-IR),全自动生化分析仪测定血清总胆固醇(total cholesterol,TC)、甘油三酯(triglycerides,TG)、高密度脂蛋白胆固醇(high density lipoprotein cholesterol,HDL-C)、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇(low density lipoprotein cholesterol,LDL-C)、超氧化物歧化酶(superoxide dismutase,SOD)、丙二醇(malondialdehyde,MDA)水平,HE染色观察肝脏组织形态学变化,Western blot检测肝脏SIRT1、AMPK、PGC-1α蛋白表达。结果与正常组比较,模型组FBG、AUC、FINS、HOMA-IR、TC、TG、LDL-C、MDA均明显升高(P<0.01),HDL-C、SOD和SIRT1、AMPK、PGC-1α蛋白表达均明显降低(P<0.01),肝脏组织肝索排列紊乱,肝细胞间隙不清晰,呈脂肪变性改变。与模型组比较,莓茶低剂量组、莓茶高剂量组FBG、FINS、HOMA-IR、TG、MDA均明显降低(P<0.05,P<0.01),SOD和SIRT1、AMPK、PGC-1α蛋白表达均明显升高(P<0.05,P<0.01),肝脏组织肝索排列相对整齐,脂肪变性得到改善;莓茶高剂量组AUC、TC均明显降低(P<0.05),HDL-C明显升高(P<0.05)。与莓茶低剂量组比较,莓茶高剂量组FBG、AUC、FINS、TC、MDA均明显降低(P<0.05),SIRT1、AMPK、PGC-1α蛋白表达均明显升高(P<0.05)。结论莓茶提取物能在一定程度上改善T2DM大鼠糖脂代谢,减轻胰岛素抵抗,其机制可能与改善氧化应激,调节肝脏SIRT1、AMPK、PGC-1α蛋白表达有关。
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.81672744,81472252)Science and Technology Project of Guangdong Province(No.2016A020217007)Guangdong Esophageal Cancer Institute(No.M201606)
文摘Background: The mitogen-activated extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2(MEK1/2) inhibitor trametinib has shown promising therapeutic effects on melanoma, but its efficacy on colorectal cancer(CRC) is limited. Synthetic lethality arises with a combination of two or more separate gene mutations that causes cell death, whereas individual mutations keep cells alive. This study aimed to identify the genes responsible for resistance to trametinib in CRC cells,using a synthetic lethal short hairpin RNA(shRNA) screening approach.Methods: We infected HT29 cells with a pooled lentiviral shRNA library and applied next-generation sequencing to identify shRNAs with reduced abundance after 8-day treatment of 20 nmol/L trametinib. HCT116 and HT29 cells were used in validation studies. Stable ring finger protein 183(RNF183)-overexpressing cell lines were generated by pcDNA4-myc/his-RNF183 transfection. Stable RNF 183-knockdown cell lines were generated by infection of lentiviruses that express RNF183 shRNA, and small interference RNA(siRNA) was used to knock down RNF183 transiently.Quantitative real-time PCR was used to determine the mRNA expression. Western blotting, immunohistochemical analysis, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) were used to evaluate the protein abundance. MTT assay,colony formation assay, and subcutaneous xenograft tumor growth model were used to evaluate cell proliferation.Results: In the primary screening, we found that the abundance of RNF183 shRNA was markedly reduced after treatment with trametinib. Trametinib induced the expression of RNF183, which conferred resistance to drug-induced cell growth repression and apoptotic and non-apoptotic cell deaths. Moreover, interleukin-8(IL-8) was a downstream gene of RNF183 and was required for the function of RNF183 in facilitating cell growth. Additionally, elevated RNF183 expression partly reduced the inhibitory effect of trametinib on IL-8 expression. Finally, xenograft tumor model showed the synergism of RNF183 knockdown and trametinib in repressing the growth of CRC cells in vivo.Conclusion: The RNF183-IL-8 axis is responsible for the resistance of CRC cells to the MEK1/2 inhibitor trametinib and may serve as a candidate target for combined therapy for CRC.
文摘目的探索CX3CR1对创伤性骨髓炎大鼠骨骼肌微纤维、ERK/MAPK信号通路及炎症反应的影响。方法选取30只SPF级SD雄性大鼠,依据随机数字表法分为健康组、模型组、CX3CR1抑制组,每组10只。除健康组外,其余各组均建立创伤性骨髓炎模型。其中健康组、模型组大鼠均每日常规腹腔注射生理盐水,CX3CR1干预组向残腔内注射CX3CR1中和抗体进行处理。采用ELISA法检测血清中IL-6、IL-10、IL-1β、TGF-β水平,应用改良X线Norden评分检测骨骼肌微纤维,HE染色观察病理变化,免疫印迹及PCR检测股骨组织中细胞外信号调节蛋白激酶(Extracellular regulated protein kinase,ERK1/2)、丝裂原活化蛋白激酶(Mitogen activated protein kinase,MAPK)蛋白及mRNA表达。结果与健康组比较,模型组TGF-β、IL-1β、IL-10、IL-6等炎症因子含量均升高(P<0.05);与模型组比较,CX3CR1抑制组炎症因子含量降低(P<0.05)。与健康组比较,模型组随时间推移X线Norden评分升高(P<0.05);与模型组比较,CX3CR1抑制组X线Norden评分降低(P<0.05)。HE染色显示,健康组骨质完好;模型组可见大量炎性细胞浸润、灶性脓肿及坏死灶;CX3CR1抑制组大鼠的骨质明显改善,炎症反应降低。与健康组比较,模型组ERK1/2、MAPK蛋白及mRNA表达升高(P<0.05);与模型组比较,CX3CR1抑制组ERK1/2、MAPK蛋白及mRNA表达降低(P<0.05)。结论抑制CX3CR1可改善创伤性骨髓炎大鼠的疾病反应,可能与降低炎症反应、ERK/MAPK信号通路以及改善骨骼肌微纤维相关。