Kinase Signaling in Apoptosis Induced by Saturated Fatty Acids in Pancreatic β-Cells

Pancreatic β-cell failure and death is considered to be one of the main factors responsible for type 2 diabetes. It is caused by, in addition to hyperglycemia, chronic exposure to increased concentrations of fatty acids, mainly saturated fatty acids. Molecular mechanisms of apoptosis induction by saturated fatty acids in β-cells are not completely clear. It has been proposed that kinase signaling could be involved, particularly, c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), protein kinase C (PKC), p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK), extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), and Akt kinases and their pathways. In this review, we discuss these kinases and their signaling pathways with respect to their possible role in apoptosis induction by saturated fatty acids in pancreatic β-cells.     

JNK-Bcl-2/Bcl-xL-Bax/Bak Pathway Mediates the Crosstalk between Matrine-Induced Autophagy and Apoptosis via Interplay with Beclin 1

Autophagy is associated with drug resistance which has been a threat in chemotherapy of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The interconnected molecular regulators between autophagy and apoptosis serve as switching points critical to the ultimate outcome of the cell. Our study was performed to investigate the crosstalk between autophagy and apoptosis in HCC after the treatment of matrine. Flow cytometry and TUNEL (terminal dexynucleotidyl transferase (TdT)-mediated dUTP nick end labeling) assay were used to detect apoptosis in vitro and in vivo, respectively. Bax oligomerization and Cytochrome c release assay were performed. Immunoprecipitation and siRNA transfection were used to detect the interplay between Bcl-2/Bcl-xL,Bax, and Beclin 1. Our results showed that: (1) matrine not only activated caspase and PARP (poly ADP-ribose polymerase) cleavage, but also triggered autophagy as shown by the increased levels of LC3II, Beclin 1, and PI3KC3, and the decreased level of p62; (2) matrine treatment promoted the JNK-Bcl-2/Bcl-xL-Bax/Bak pathway; (3) Bax was oligomerized, the mitochondrial membrane potential altered, and Cytochrome c was released subsequently; (4) Bax interacts with Beclin 1 and inhibits autophagy, which may be a new crosstalk point; and (5) finally, we showed that matrine suppressed the growth of a MHCC97L xenograft in vivo for the first time. In conclusion, the JNK-Bcl-2/Bcl-xL-Bax/Bak pathway mediates the crosstalk between matrine-induced autophagy and apoptosis via interplay with Beclin 1.     

Synergistic Antiproliferative Effects of γ-Tocotrienol and Statin Treatment on Mammary Tumor Cells

Statins are potent inhibitors of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMGCoA) reductase and display anticancer activity, but their clinical use is limited by their high-dose toxicity. Similarly, γ-tocotrienol, an isoform of vitamin E, also reduces HMGCoA reductase activity and displays potent anticancer activity. Studies were conducted to determine if combined low dose treatment of γ-tocotrienol with individual statins resulted in a synergistic antiproliferative effect on neoplastic mouse +SA mammary epithelial cells. Treatment with 3–4 μM γ-tocotrienol or 2–8 μM simvastatin, lovastatin or mevastatin alone resulted in a significant decrease, whereas treatment with 10–100 μM pravastatin had no effect on +SA cell growth. However, combined treatment of subeffective doses (0.25 or 10 μM) of individual statins with 0.25–2.0 μM γ-tocotrienol resulted in a dose-responsive synergistic inhibition in +SA cell proliferation. Additional studies showed that treatment with subeffective doses of individual statins or γ-tocotrienol alone had no effect, whereas combined treatment of these compounds resulted in a relatively large decrease in intracellular levels of phosphorylated (activated) MAPK, JNK, p38, and Akt. These findings strongly suggest that combined low dose treatment of γ-tocotrienol with individual statins may have potential value in the treatment of breast cancer without causing myotoxicity that is associated with high dose statin treatment.     

Cytoskeleton and Associated Proteins: Pleiotropic JNK Substrates and Regulators

This review extensively reports data from the literature concerning the complex relationships between the stress-induced c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNKs) and the four main cytoskeleton elements, which are actin filaments, microtubules, intermediate filaments, and septins. To a lesser extent, we also focused on the two membrane-associated cytoskeletons spectrin and ESCRT-III. We gather the mechanisms controlling cytoskeleton-associated JNK activation and the known cytoskeleton-related substrates directly phosphorylated by JNK. We also point out specific locations of the JNK upstream regulators at cytoskeletal components. We finally compile available techniques and tools that could allow a better characterization of the interplay between the different types of cytoskeleton filaments upon JNK-mediated stress and during development. This overview may bring new important information for applied medical research.     

JNK在缺血后处理减轻再灌注损伤肺细胞凋亡中的作用

目的: 探讨C-Jun氨基末端激酶(JNK)在缺血后处理(IPO)减轻缺血/再灌注损伤大鼠肺细胞凋亡中的作用。方法: 雄性SD大鼠随机分成5组(n＝8),即对照组(C组)、肺缺血/再灌注组(I/R组)、肺缺血/再灌注+缺血后处理组(IPO组)、缺血后处理+溶剂对照组(PPCES溶液)(P组)、缺血后处理+SP600125组(SP组)。分别于再灌注 2 h 颈动脉取血、留取左肺组织,检测血清超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、丙二醛(MDA)、髓过氧化物酶(MPO),检测肺组织湿/干重比(W/D)和总肺含水量(TLW);光电镜观察肺组织形态学结构改变,并进行肺组织损伤定量评估(IQA);原位末端标记法(TUNEL)检测肺细胞凋亡情况并计算凋亡指数(AI)。结果: 与C组相比,I/R组血清SOD活性显著降低,MDA含量、MPO活力显著升高(P均<0.01),肺组织W/D、TLW、IQA和AI均显著升高(P<0.05 或P<0.01),光镜电镜下肺组织结构发生明显损伤;IPO组、P组、SP组与I/R组相比,MDA含量、MPO活力显著降低,SOD活性升高(P<0.05 或P<0.01),肺组织W/D、TLW、IQA和AI均显著降低(P<0.05 或P<0.01),光镜电镜下肺组织结构损伤情况有所改善;P组与IPO组比较各项指标均无明显差异(P均>0.05);SP组与IPO组相比,MDA含量、MPO活力显著降低,SOD活性升高(P<0.05 或P<0.01),肺组织W/D、TLW、IQA和AI均显著降低(P<0.05或P<0.01),光镜电镜下肺组织结构未见明显损伤。结论: I/R导致大鼠肺组织过度氧化应激,激活JNK,肺内中性粒细胞聚集,导致肺组织结构严重破坏,细胞大量凋亡;IPO可以减轻氧化应激,抑制JNK通路的激活,从而改善其结构破坏和细胞凋亡。     

miR-132-3p Modulates DUSP9-Dependent p38/JNK Signaling Pathways to Enhance Inflammation in the Amnion Leading to Labor

Labor is a process of inflammation and hormonal changes involving both fetal and maternal compartments. MicroRNA-132-3p (miR-132-3p) has been reported to be involved in the development of inflammation-related diseases. However, little is known about its potential role in labor onset. This study aimed to explore the mechanism of miR-132-3p in amnion for labor initiation. In the mouse amnion membranes, the expression of miR-132-3p was found to increase gradually during late gestation. In human amniotic epithelial cell line (WISH), upregulation of miR-132-3p was found to increase proinflammatory cytokines and cyclooxygenase 2 (COX2) as well as prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), which was suppressed by miR-132-3p inhibitor. Dual-specificity phosphatase 9 (DUSP9) was identified as a novel target gene of miR-132-3p, which could be negatively regulated by miR-132-3p. DUSP9 was present in the mouse amnion epithelial cells, with a decrease in its abundance at 18.5 days post coitum (dpc) relative to 15.5 dpc. Silencing DUSP9 was found to facilitate the expression of proinflammatory cytokines and COX2 as well as PGE2 secretion in WISH cells, which could be attenuated by p38 inhibitor SB203580 or JNK inhibitor SP600125. Additionally, intraperitoneal injection of pregnant mice with miR-132-3p agomir not only caused preterm birth, but also promoted the abundance of COX2 as well as phosphorylated JNK and p38 levels, and decreased DUSP9 level in mouse amnion membranes. Collectively, miR-132-3p might participate in inflammation and PGE2 release via targeting DUSP9-dependent p38 and JNK signaling pathways to cause preterm birth.     

Deficiency in Inactive Rhomboid Protein2 (iRhom2) Alleviates Alcoholic Liver Fibrosis by Suppressing Inflammation and Oxidative Stress

Chronic alcohol exposure can lead to liver pathology relating to inflammation and oxidative stress, which are two of the major factors in the incidence of liver fibrosis and even liver cancer. The underlying molecular mechanisms regarding hepatic lesions associated with alcohol are not fully understood. Considering that the recently identified iRhom2 is a key pathogenic mediator of inflammation, we performed in vitro and in vivo experiments to explore its regulatory role in alcohol-induced liver fibrosis. We found that iRhom2 knockout significantly inhibited alcohol-induced inflammatory responses in vitro, including elevated expressions of inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-18, and TNF-α) and genes associated with inflammatory signaling pathways, such as TACE (tumor necrosis factor-alpha converting enzyme), TNFR1 (tumor necrosis factor receptor 1), and TNFR2, as well as the activation of NF-κB. The in vivo results confirmed that long-term alcohol exposure leads to hepatocyte damage and fibrous accumulation. In this pathological process, the expression of iRhom2 is promoted to activate the TACE/NF-κB signaling pathway, leading to inflammatory responses. Furthermore, the deletion of iRhom2 blocks the TACE/NF-κB signaling pathway and reduces liver damage and fibrosis caused by alcohol. Additionally, the activation of the JNK/Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway caused by alcohol exposure was also noted in vitro and in vivo. In the same way, knockout or deleting iRhom2 blocked the JNK/Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway to regulate the oxidative stress. Therefore, we contend that iRhom2 is a key regulator that promotes inflammatory responses and regulates oxidative stress in alcoholic liver fibrosis lesions. We posit that iRhom2 is potentially a new therapeutic target for alcoholic liver fibrosis.     

Intermittent Hypoxia on the Attenuation of Induced Nasal Allergy and Allergic Asthma by MAPK Signaling Pathway Downregulation in a Mice Animal Model

Intermittent hypoxia (IH) has been an issue of considerable research in recent years and triggers a bewildering array of both detrimental and beneficial effects in several physiological systems. However, the mechanisms leading to the effect are not yet clear. Consequently, we investigated the effects of IH on allergen-induced allergic asthma via the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway. Forty BALB/c mice were dived into four groups. We evaluated the influence of IH on the cell signaling system of the airway during the allergen-induced challenge in an animal model, especially through the MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase) pathway. The protein concentrations of p-ERK/ERK, p-JNK/JNK, p-p38/p38, and pMEK/MEK were significantly reduced in the allergen-induced+IH group, compared to the allergen-induced group (p-value < 0.05 as considered statistically significant). The number of eosinophils, neutrophils, macrophages, and lymphocytes in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and Dp (Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus)-specific IgG2a and interleukins 4, 5, 13, and 17 were significantly reduced in the Dp+IH group, compared to the Dp group. These findings suggest that the MAPK pathway might be associated with the beneficial effect of IH on the attenuation of allergic response in an allergen-induced mouse model.