AIM: To examine the expression of SphK1, an oncogenic kinase that produces sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P), and its correlation with the expression of LPAR2, a major lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) receptor overexpressed in...AIM: To examine the expression of SphK1, an oncogenic kinase that produces sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P), and its correlation with the expression of LPAR2, a major lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) receptor overexpressed in various cancers, in human colorectal cancer.METHODS: Real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction was used to measure the mRNA expression of SphK1, LPAR2, and the three major S1P receptors in 27 colorectal cancer samples and corresponding normal tissue samples. We also examined the correlation between the expression of SphK1 and LPAR2.RESULTS: Colorectal cancer tissue in 22 of 27 patients had higher levels of SphK1 mRNA than in normal tissue. In two-thirds of the samples, SphK1 mRNA expression was more than two-fold higher than in normal tissue. Consistent with previous reports, LPAR2 mRNA expression in 20 of 27 colorectal cancer tissue samples was higher compared to normal tissue samples. Expression profiles of all three major S1P receptors, S1PR1, S1PR2, and S1PR3, varied without any trend, with no significant difference in expression between cancer and normal tissues. A highly significant positive correlation was found between SphK1 and LPAR2 expression [Pearson’s correlation coefficient (r) = 0.784 and P < 0.01]. The mRNA levels of SphK1 and LPAR2 did not correlate with TNM stage.CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that S1P and LPA may play important roles in the development of colorectal cancer via the upregulation of SphK1 and LPAR2, both of which could serve as new therapeutic targets in the treatment of colorectal cancer.展开更多
AIM: To elucidate the mechanisms of mesenteric vasodilation in portal hypertension (PHT), with a focus on endothelin signaling. METHODS: PHT was induced in rats by common bile duct ligation (CBDL). Portal pressure (PP...AIM: To elucidate the mechanisms of mesenteric vasodilation in portal hypertension (PHT), with a focus on endothelin signaling. METHODS: PHT was induced in rats by common bile duct ligation (CBDL). Portal pressure (PP) was measured directly via catheters placed in the portal vein tract. The level of endothelin-1 (ET-1) in the mesenteric circulation was determined by radioimmunoassay, and the expression of the endothelin A receptor (ETAR) and endothelin B receptor (ETBR) was assessed by immunofluorescence and Western blot. Additionally, expression of G protein coupled kinase-2 (GRK2) and β-arrestin 2, which influence endothelin receptor sensitivity, were also studied by Western blot. RESULTS: PP of CBDL rats increased significantly (11.89 ± 1.38 mmHg vs 16.34 ± 1.63 mmHg). ET-1 expression decreased in the mesenteric circulation 2 and 4 wk after CBDL. ET-1 levels in the systemic circulation of CBDL rats were increased at 2 wk and decreased at 4 wk. There was no change in ETAR expression in response to CBDL; however, increased expression of ETBR in the endothelial cells of mesenteric arterioles and capillaries was observed. In sham-operated rats, ETBR was mainly expressed in the CD31+ endothelial cells of the arterioles. With development of PHT, in addition to the endothelial cells, ETBR expression was noticeably detectable in the SMA+ smooth muscle cells of arterioles and in the CD31+ capillaries. Following CBDL, increased expression of GRK2 was also found in mesenteric tissue, though there was no change in the level of β-arrestin 2. CONCLUSION: Decreased levels of ET-1 and increased ETBR expression in the mesenteric circulation following CBDL in rats may underlie mesenteric vasodilation in individuals with PHT. Mechanistically, increased GRK2 expression may lead to desensitization of ETAR, as well as other vasoconstrictors, promoting this vasodilatory effect.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
基金Supported by Grant 2010 from Tokyo MetropolisJapan
文摘AIM: To examine the expression of SphK1, an oncogenic kinase that produces sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P), and its correlation with the expression of LPAR2, a major lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) receptor overexpressed in various cancers, in human colorectal cancer.METHODS: Real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction was used to measure the mRNA expression of SphK1, LPAR2, and the three major S1P receptors in 27 colorectal cancer samples and corresponding normal tissue samples. We also examined the correlation between the expression of SphK1 and LPAR2.RESULTS: Colorectal cancer tissue in 22 of 27 patients had higher levels of SphK1 mRNA than in normal tissue. In two-thirds of the samples, SphK1 mRNA expression was more than two-fold higher than in normal tissue. Consistent with previous reports, LPAR2 mRNA expression in 20 of 27 colorectal cancer tissue samples was higher compared to normal tissue samples. Expression profiles of all three major S1P receptors, S1PR1, S1PR2, and S1PR3, varied without any trend, with no significant difference in expression between cancer and normal tissues. A highly significant positive correlation was found between SphK1 and LPAR2 expression [Pearson’s correlation coefficient (r) = 0.784 and P < 0.01]. The mRNA levels of SphK1 and LPAR2 did not correlate with TNM stage.CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that S1P and LPA may play important roles in the development of colorectal cancer via the upregulation of SphK1 and LPAR2, both of which could serve as new therapeutic targets in the treatment of colorectal cancer.
基金Supported by Grant from National Key New Drug Creation Project of China, No. 2009ZX09102
文摘AIM: To elucidate the mechanisms of mesenteric vasodilation in portal hypertension (PHT), with a focus on endothelin signaling. METHODS: PHT was induced in rats by common bile duct ligation (CBDL). Portal pressure (PP) was measured directly via catheters placed in the portal vein tract. The level of endothelin-1 (ET-1) in the mesenteric circulation was determined by radioimmunoassay, and the expression of the endothelin A receptor (ETAR) and endothelin B receptor (ETBR) was assessed by immunofluorescence and Western blot. Additionally, expression of G protein coupled kinase-2 (GRK2) and β-arrestin 2, which influence endothelin receptor sensitivity, were also studied by Western blot. RESULTS: PP of CBDL rats increased significantly (11.89 ± 1.38 mmHg vs 16.34 ± 1.63 mmHg). ET-1 expression decreased in the mesenteric circulation 2 and 4 wk after CBDL. ET-1 levels in the systemic circulation of CBDL rats were increased at 2 wk and decreased at 4 wk. There was no change in ETAR expression in response to CBDL; however, increased expression of ETBR in the endothelial cells of mesenteric arterioles and capillaries was observed. In sham-operated rats, ETBR was mainly expressed in the CD31+ endothelial cells of the arterioles. With development of PHT, in addition to the endothelial cells, ETBR expression was noticeably detectable in the SMA+ smooth muscle cells of arterioles and in the CD31+ capillaries. Following CBDL, increased expression of GRK2 was also found in mesenteric tissue, though there was no change in the level of β-arrestin 2. CONCLUSION: Decreased levels of ET-1 and increased ETBR expression in the mesenteric circulation following CBDL in rats may underlie mesenteric vasodilation in individuals with PHT. Mechanistically, increased GRK2 expression may lead to desensitization of ETAR, as well as other vasoconstrictors, promoting this vasodilatory effect.
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.