Expression of casein kinase genes in glioma cell line U87: Effect of hypoxia and glucose or glutamine deprivation

The endoplasmic reticulum-nuclei-1 (ERN1) sensing and signaling enzyme mediates a set of complex intracellular signaling events known as the unfolded protein response. We have studied the effect of hypoxia and ischemic conditions (glucose or glutamine deprivation) on the expression of several casein kinase-1 and -2 genes in glioma U87 cells and its subline with suppressed function of ERN1. It was shown that blockade of ERN1, the key endoplasmic reticulum stress sensor, leads to an increase in the expression levels of casein kinase-1G2, -1E, -2B and NUCKS1 mRNA, but suppresses casein kinase-1A1, -1D and -2A1. Moreover, the expression levels of casein kinase-1A1, -1D and 1G3 as well as casein kinase-2A1 and -2A2 mRNAs are significantly increased under glutamine dep- rivation conditions both in control and ERN1- deficient glioma cells. At the same time, casein kinase-1E, -2B and NUCKS1 mRNA expression levels are also increased under this condition, but only in cells with suppressed function of ERN1. The expression level of NUCKS1 mRNA, however, is decreased both in control glioma cells and in genetically modified cells, but casein kinase-1G2—only in control U87 cells. Cell exposure to glucose deprivation conditions enhances the expression levels of casein kinase- 1D, 1G3, -1E and -2A1 in both types of glioma cells used, but casein kinase-2B expression levels increase only in cells with suppressed function of ERN1. Hypoxia induces or suppresses the expression of most of the studied genes mainly in ERN1-knockdown cells only. Results of this study show that hypoxia as well as glutamine and glucose deprivation conditions change the expression level most of casein kinase genes and that these effects are dependent on ERN1 signaling enzyme function.

Endoplasmic reticulum stress and liver diseases

Endoplasmic reticulum(ER)stress occurs when ER homeostasis is perturbed with accumulation of unfolded/misfolded protein or calcium depletion.The unfolded protein response(UPR),comprising of inositol-requiring enzyme 1 a(IRE1 a),double-stranded RNA-dependent protein kinase(PKR)-like ER kinase(PERK)and activating transcription factor 6(ATF6)signaling pathways,is a protective cellular response activated by ER stress.However,UPR activation can also induce cell death upon persistent ER stress.The liver is susceptible to ER stress given its synthetic and other biological functions.Numerous studies from human liver samples and animal disease models have indicated a crucial role of ER stress and the UPR signaling pathways in the pathogenesis of liver diseases,including non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD),alcoholic liver disease(ALD),alpha-1 antitrypsin(AAT)deficiency(AATD),cholestatic liver disease,drug-induced liver injury,ischemia/reperfusion(I/R)injury,viral hepatitis and hepatocel-lular carcinoma(HCC).Extensive investigations have demonstrated the potential underlying mechanisms of the induction of ER stress and the contribution of the UPR pathways during the development of the diseases.Moreover,ER stress and the UPR proteins and genes have become emerging therapeutic targets to treat liver diseases.

Non-ionizing radiofrequency field induces unfolded protein response (UPR) in endoplasmic reticulum of mouse neuronal cells

Objective:To examine whether exposure of mouse neuronal cells to radiofrequency fields used in mobile communication devices can induce stress in endoplasmic reticulum(ER)and activate unfolded protein response(UPR).Methods:HT22 mouse hippocampus neuronal cells were exposed to continuous wave 900 MHz radiofrequency fields(RF)at 120μW/cm2 power intensity for 4 h/d for 5 consecutive days.The positive control cells were irradiated with 4 Gy of 60Coγ-rays at a dose rate of 0.5 Gy/min(GR).Twenty-four hours after the last exposure,cells were collected,and the expressions of sensor transmembrane proteins were detected using Western blot analysis.Results:The expression levels of Ire1,PERK,p-IRE1 and p-PERK,GRP78 and CHOP proteins were detected.There were no statistically significant differences in the expression levels of IRE1 and PERK proteins in control(CT),sham(SH)-,RF-and GR-exposed cells(P<0.05).The phosphorylated protein levels of p-IRE1 and p-PERK were significantly increased in cells exposed to RF and GR(P<0.05).The expression levels of GRP78 and CHOP were significantly increased in RF-and GR-exposed cells compared to CT and SH-exposed cells(P<0.05).Cells treated with 1μg/ml TM for 24 h showed significantly increased expression levels of GRP78 and CHOP proteins compared to controls(P<0.05).In the presence of 2 mmol/L PBA,TM-induced increased levels of GRP78 and CHOP proteins were reduced(P<0.05).Conclusions:The exposure of non-ionizing 900 MHz RF was able to cause stress in HT22 mouse neuronal cells and activated UPR in ER.Since UPR plays an important role in both cell survival(when UPR is mitigated)and apoptosis/death(under unresolvable stress conditions),further studies are required to determine the fate of the cells exposed to RF.