Relationships among alcoholic liver disease,antioxidants,and antioxidant enzymes

Excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages is a serious cause of liver disease worldwide.The metabolism of ethanol generates reactive oxygen species,which play a significant role in the deterio-ration of alcoholic liver disease(ALD).Antioxidant phytochemicals,such as polyphenols,regulate the expression of ALD-associated proteins and peptides,namely,catalase,superoxide dismutase,glutathione,glutathione peroxidase,and glutathione reductase.These plant antioxidants have electrophilic activity and may induce antioxidant enzymes via the Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1--NF--E2--related factor--2 pathway and antioxidant responsive elements.Furthermore,these antioxidants are reported to alleviate cell injury caused by oxidants or inflammatory cytokines.These phenomena are likely induced via the regulation of mitogen--activating protein kinase(MAPK)pathways by plant antioxidants,similar to preconditioning in ischemia-reperfusion models.Although the relationship between plant antioxidants and ALD has not been adequately investigated,plant antioxidants may be preventive for ALD because of their electrophilic and regulatory activities in the MAPK pathway.

Regulation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 influences hippocampal neuronal survival in a rat model of diabetic cerebral ischemia

Activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 has been demonstrated in acute brain ischemia. We hypothesized that activated extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 can protect hippocampal neurons from injury in a diabetic model after cerebral ischemia/reperfusion. In this study, transient whole-brain ischemia was induced by four-vessel occlusion in normal and diabetic rats, and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 inhibitor （U0126） was administered into diabetic rats 30 minutes before ischemia as a pretreatment. Results showed that the number of surviving neurons in the hippocampal CA1 region was reduced, extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 phosphorylation and KuT0 activity were decreased, and pro-apoptotic Bax expression was upregulated after intervention using U0126. These findings demonstrate that inhibition of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 activity aggravated neuronal loss in the hippocampus in a diabetic rat after cerebral ischemia/reperfusion, further decreased DNA repairing ability and ac- celerated apoptosis in hippocampal neurons. Extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 activation plays a neuroprotective role in hippocampal neurons in a diabetic rat after cerebral ischemia/ reperfusion.

Metabolic derivatives of alcohol and the molecular culpritsof fibro-hepatocarcinogenesis:Allies or enemies?

Chronic intake of alcohol undoubtedly overwhelms the structural and functional capacity of the liver by initiating complex pathological events characterized by steatosis,steatohepatitis,hepatic fibrosis and cirrhosis.Subsequently,these initial pathological events are sustained and ushered into a more complex and progressive liver disease,increasing the risk of fibrohepatocarcinogenesis.These coordinated pathological events mainly result from buildup of toxic metabolic derivatives of alcohol including but not limited to acetaldehyde(AA),malondialdehyde(MDA),CYP2E1-generated reactive oxygen species,alcohol-induced gut-derived lipopolysaccharide,AA/MDA protein and DNA adducts.The metabolic derivatives of alcohol together with other comorbidity factors,including hepatitis B and C viral infections,dysregulated iron metabolism,abuse of antibiotics,schistosomiasis,toxic drug metabolites,autoimmune disease and other non-specific factors,have been shown to underlie liver diseases.In view of the multiple etiology of liver diseases,attempts to delineate the mechanism by which each etiological factor causes liver disease has always proved cumbersome if not impossible.In the case of alcoholic liver disease(ALD),it is even more cumbersome and complicated as a result of the many toxic metabolic derivatives of alcohol with their varying liver-specific toxicities.In spite of all these hurdles,researchers and experts in hepatology have strived to expand knowledge and scientific discourse,particularly on ALD and its associated complications through the medium of scientific research,reviews and commentaries.Nonetheless,the molecularmechanisms underpinning ALD,particularly those underlying toxic effects of metabolic derivatives of alcohol on parenchymal and non-parenchymal hepatic cells leading to increased risk of alcohol-induced fibrohepatocarcinogenesis,are still incompletely elucidated.In this review,we examined published scientific findings on how alcohol and its metabolic derivatives mount cellular attack on each hepatic cell and the underlying molecular mechanisms leading to disruption of core hepatic homeostatic functions which probably set the stage for the initiation and progression of ALD to fibro-hepatocarcinogenesis.We also brought to sharp focus,the complex and integrative role of transforming growth factor beta/small mothers against decapentaplegic/plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 and the mitogen activated protein kinase signaling nexus as well as their cross-signaling with toll-like receptormediated gut-dependent signaling pathways implicated in ALD and fibro-hepatocarcinogenesis.Looking into the future,it is hoped that these deliberations may stimulate new research directions on this topic and shape not only therapeutic approaches but also models for studying ALD and fibro-hepatocarcinogenesis.

Constraint-induced movement therapy promotes motor function recovery and downregulates phosphorylated extracellular regulated protein kinase expression in ischemic brain tissue of rats

Motor function impairment is a common outcome of stroke.Constraint-induced movement therapy（CIMT）involving intensive use of the impaired limb while restraining the unaffected limb is widely used to overcome the effects of＇learned non-use＇and improve limb function after stroke.However,the underlying mechanism of CIMT remains unclear.In the present study,rats were randomly divided into a middle cerebral artery occlusion（model）group,a CIMT＋model（CIMT）group,or a sham group.Restriction of the affected limb by plaster cast was performed in the CIMT and sham groups.Compared with the model group,CIMT significantly improved the forelimb functional performance in rats.By western blot assay,the expression of phosphorylated extracellular regulated protein kinase in the bilateral cortex and hippocampi of cerebral ischemic rats in the CIMT group was significantly lower than that in the model group,and was similar to sham group levels.These data suggest that functional recovery after CIMT may be related to decreased expression of phosphorylated extracellular regulated protein kinase in the bilateral cortex and hippocampi.

通便汤对STC大鼠模型结肠组织中PKA/MPKA信号通路的影响

目的:探讨通便汤对慢传输型便秘(slow transit constipation,STC)大鼠模型结肠组织中蛋白激酶A(protein kinase A,PKA)/丝裂原活化激酶(mitogen-activated protein kinase,MAPK)信号通路的影响及相关机制。方法:80只SD大鼠随机分为正常组和造模组,正常组20只,造模组60只,雌雄各半;正常组给予普通饲料喂养,模型组给予混有复方苯乙哌啶的饲料,造模时间120 d后,随机选取雌雄对半大鼠正常组10只,造模组20只,测定大鼠24 h排便量、含水量及小肠炭末推进率,观察结肠留存粪便粒数,评价STC大鼠造模是否成功;停药1周后,将造模组40只大鼠随机分为模型组,通便汤组(33 g·kg-1),通便汤+H89组(PKA信号通路阻滞剂,5 mg·kg-1),通便汤+U0126组(MAPK信号通路阻滞剂,0. 1 mg·kg-1)各10只,雌雄各半,药物通便汤干预4周后,测定大鼠24 h排便量、含水量及小肠炭末推进率,观察结肠留存粪便粒数;采用免疫组化(IHC),蛋白免疫印迹法(Western blot),实时荧光定量聚合酶链式反应(Real-time PCR)测定结肠内水通道蛋白3(AQP3),AQP4,PKA及MAPKs信号通路的蛋白及mRNA表达情况。结果:与正常组比较,造模组大鼠24 h排便量、粪便含水量、小肠炭末推进率及结肠存留粪便粒数均显著降低(P <0. 01);与模型组比较,通便汤组排便量、含水量及小肠炭末推进率均增加,结肠留存粪便粒数减少(P <0. 01),AQP3,AQP4显著降低(P <0. 01);与通便汤组比较,通便汤+H89组和通便汤+U0126组AQP3,AQP4,PKA蛋白与mRNA表达降低(P <0. 01);与通便汤+H89组比较,通便汤+U0126组排便量、含水量、小肠炭末推进率及结肠留存粪便粒数,AQP3,AQP4,PKA,MAPK蛋白表达量与mRNA含量无明显差异。结论:采用复方苯乙哌啶成功复制出慢性传输型便秘模型,通便汤可以抑制PKA和MAPK信号通路,从而下调AQP3,AQP4表达,增加肠道蠕动和肠道水分,有效治疗STC。

Salvianolate Reduces Murine Myocardial Ischemia and Reperfusion Injury via ERK1/2 Signaling Pathways in vivo

Objective： To analyze the effects of salvianolate on myocardial infarction in a murine in vivo model of ischemia and reperfusion （I/R） injury. Metheds： Myocardial I/R injury model was constructed in mice by 30 min of coronary occlusion followed by 24 h of reperfusion and pretreated with salvianolate 30 min before I/R （SAL group）. The SAL group was compared with SHAM （no I/R and no salvianolate）, I/R （no salvianolate）, and ischemia preconditioning （IPC） groups. Furthermore, an ERK1/2 inhibitor PD98059 （1 mg/kg）, and a phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase （PI3-K） inhibitor, LY294002 （7.5 mg/kg）, were administered intraperitoneal injection （i.p） for 30 min prior to salvianolate, followed by I/R surgery in LY and PD groups. By using a double staining method, the ratio of the infarct size （IS） to left ventricle （LV） and of risk region （RR） to LV were compared among the groups. Correlations between IS and RR were analyzed. Western-blot was used to detect the extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 （ERK1/2） and protein kinase B （AKT） phosphorylation changes. Results： There were no significant differences between RR to LV ratio among the SHAM, I/R, IPC and SAL groups （P〉0.05）. The SAL and IPC groups had IS of 26.1% ± 1.4% and 22.3% ±2.9% of RR, respectively, both of which were significantly smaller than the I/R group （38.5% ± 2.9% of RR, P〈0.05, P〈0.01, respectively）. Moreover, the phosphorylation of ERK1/2 was increased in SAL group （P〈0.05）, while AKT had no significant change. LY294002 further reduced IS, whereas the protective role of salvianolate could be attenuated by PD98059, which increased the IS. Additionally, the IS was not linearly related to the RR （r=0.23, 0.45, 0.62, 0.17, and 0.52 in the SHAM, I/R, SAL, LY and PD groups, respectively）. Conclusion： Salvianolate could reduce myocardial I/R injury in mice in vivo, which involves an ERK1/2 pathway, but not a PI3-K signaling pathway.

Mitogen-activated protein kinase-dependent apoptosis in norcan-tharidin-treated A375-S2 cells is proceeded by the activation of protein kinase C

We have reported that norcantharidin (NCTD) induces human melanoma A375-S2cell apoptosis and that the activation of caspase and the mitochondrial pathway are involved in theapoptotic process. This study aimed at investigating the roles of mitogen-activated protein kinase(MAPK) and protein kinase C (PKC) in A375-S2 cell apoptosis induced by NCTD. We assessed theeffects of NCTD on cell growth inhibition using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2 ,5-dipheyltetrazolium bromide ( MTT) assay, DNA fragmentation ( DNA agarose gel electrophoresis ) ,and MAPK protein levels (Western blot analysis) in A375-S2 cells. Photomicroscopic data were alsocollected. The NCTD inhibitory effect on A375-S2 cells was partially reversed by MAPK and PKCinhibitors. The expression of phosphorylated JNK and p38 also increased after the treatment withNCTD, and inhibitors of c-Jun NH2 - terminal kinase (JNK) and p38 ( SP600125 and SB203580,respectively) had significant inhibitory effects on the upregulation of phosphorylated JNK and p38expression. Simultaneously, the PKC inhibitor staurosporine blocked the upregulation ofphosphorylated JNK and phosphorylated p_(38), but had little effect on extracellularsignal-regulated kinase (ERK) expression. These results suggest that the activation of JNK andp_(38) MAPK promotes the process of NCTD-induced A375-S2 cell apoptosis and that PKC plays animportant regulation role in the activation of MAPKs.