Analysis of Site-Specific Phosphorylation of PTEN by Using Enzyme-Catalyzed Expressed Protein Ligation

The activity and localization of PTEN, a tumor suppressor lipid phosphatase that converts the phospholipid PIP3 to PIP2, is governed in part by phosphorylation on a cluster of four Ser and Thr residues near the C terminus. Prior enzymatic characterization of the four monophosphorylated (1p) PTENs by using classical expressed protein ligation (EPL) was complicated by the inclusion of a non-native Cys at the ligation junction (aa379), which may alter the properties of the semisynthetic protein. Here, we apply subtiligase-mediated EPL to create wt 1p-PTENs. These PTENs are more autoinhibited than previously appreciated, consistent with the role of Tyr379 in driving autoinhibition. Alkaline phosphatase sensitivity analysis revealed that these autoinhibited 1p conformations are kinetically labile. In contrast to the Cys mutant 1p-PTENs, which are poorly recognized by an anti-phospho-PTEN antibody, three of the four wt 1p-PTENs are recognized by a commonly used anti-phospho-PTEN antibody.     

Porous Silicon Nanoparticles Embedded in Poly(lactic‐co‐glycolic acid) Nanofiber Scaffolds Deliver Neurotrophic Payloads to Enhance Neuronal Growth

Scaffolds made from biocompatible polymers provide physical cues to direct the extension of neurites and to encourage repair of damaged nerves. The inclusion of neurotrophic payloads in these scaffolds can substantially enhance regrowth and repair processes. However, many promising neurotrophic candidates are excluded from this approach due to incompatibilities with the polymer or with the polymer processing conditions. This work provides one solution to this problem by incorporating porous silicon nanoparticles (pSiNPs) that are preloaded with the therapeutic into a polymer scaffold during fabrication. The nanoparticle‐drug‐polymer hybrids are prepared in the form of oriented poly(lactic‐co‐glycolic acid) nanofiber scaffolds. Three different therapeutic payloads are tested: bpV(HOpic), a small molecule inhibitor of phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN); an RNA aptamer specific to tropomyosin‐related kinase receptor type B (TrkB); and the protein nerve growth factor (NGF). Each therapeutic is loaded using a loading chemistry that is optimized to slow the rate of release of these water‐soluble payloads. The drug‐loaded pSiNP‐nanofiber hybrids release approximately half of their TrkB aptamer, bpV(HOpic), or NGF payload in 2, 10, and >40 days, respectively. The nanofiber hybrids increase neurite extension relative to drug‐free control nanofibers in a dorsal root ganglion explant assay.     

Candidate Biomarkers for Genetic and Clinicopathological Diagnosis of Endometrial Cancer

The recent increase in the frequency of endometrial cancer has emphasized the need for accurate diagnosis and improved treatment. The current diagnosis is still based on conventional pathological indicators, such as clinical stage, tumor differentiation, invasion depth and vascular invasion. However, the genetic mechanisms underlying endometrial cancer have gradually been determined, due to developments in molecular biology, leading to the possibility of new methods of diagnosis and treatment planning. New candidate biomarkers for endometrial cancer include those for molecular epigenetic mutations, such as microRNAs. These biomarkers may permit earlier detection of endometrial cancer and prediction of outcomes and are likely to contribute to future personalized therapy for endometrial cancer.     

缬沙坦对自发性高血压大鼠心肌抑癌基因PTEN 表达的影响

目的: 观察缬沙坦对自发性高血压大鼠(SHR) 心肌肥厚的影响, 以及对肿瘤抑制基因PTEN表达的影响。方法: 取20 只12 周龄自发性高血压大鼠, 随机分为2 组, 每组10 只:缬沙坦干预组, 给予缬沙坦30 mg·kg^-1·d^-1 溶于饮水灌胃治疗;SHR阳性对照组给予正常饮水。另有10 只同龄同源雄性正常血压Wistar-kyoto 大鼠(WKY 组) 作为正常对照组。实验周期8 周, 测量血压、左室重量 体重(LVW/BW), 应用免疫组化方法检测各组大鼠左心室心肌PTEN 的表达。结果: SHR 阳性对照组血压、LVW/BW 均高于正常对照组, 但低于缬沙坦组, SHR阳性对照组PTEN 的表达明显低于正常对照组, 而缬沙坦组PTEN 的表达显著高于SHR 阳性对照组。结论: 缬沙坦能抑制自发性高血压大鼠心肌肥厚, 并能提高PTEN 的表达, 提示PTEN 可能在心肌肥厚发展过程中起了一定的作用。     

Chronic and Intermittent Hyperglycemia Modulates Expression of Key Molecules of PI3K/AKT Pathway in Differentiating Human Visceral Adipocytes

Background: Due to its prominence in the regulation of metabolism and inflammation, adipose tissue is a major target to investigate alterations in insulin action. This hormone activates PI3K/AKT pathway which is essential for glucose homeostasis, cell differentiation, and proliferation in insulin-sensitive tissues, like adipose tissue. The aim of this work was to evaluate the impact of chronic and intermittent high glucose on the expression of biomolecules of insulin signaling pathway during the differentiation and maturation of human visceral preadipocytes. Methods: Human visceral preadipocytes (HPA-V) cells were treated with high glucose (30 mM)during the proliferation and/or differentiation and/or maturation stage. The level of mRNA (by Real-Time PCR) and protein (by Elisa tests) expression of IRS1, PI3K, PTEN, AKT2, and GLUT4 was examined after each culture stage. Furthermore, we investigated whether miR-29a-3p, miR-143-3p, miR-152-3p, miR-186-5p, miR-370-3p, and miR-374b-5p may affect the expression of biomolecules of the insulin signaling pathway. Results: Both chronic and intermittent hyperglycemia affects insulin signaling in visceral pre/adipocytes by upregulation of analyzed PI3K/AKT pathway molecules. Both mRNA and protein expression level is more dependent on stage-specific events than the length of the period of high glucose exposure. What is more, miRs expression changes seem to be involved in PI3K/AKT expression regulation in response to hyperglycemic stimulation.     

VEGFR-1 Overexpression Identifies a Small Subgroup of Aggressive Prostate Cancers in Patients Treated by Prostatectomy

The VEGFR-1 is suggested to promote tumor progression. In the current study we analyzed prevalence and prognostic impact of the VEGFR-1 by immunohistochemistry on a tissue microarray containing more than 3000 prostate cancer specimens. Results were compared to tumor phenotype, ETS-related gene (ERG) status, and biochemical recurrence. Membranous VEGFR-1 expression was detectable in 32.6% of 2669 interpretable cancers and considered strong in 1.7%, moderate in 6.7% and weak in 24.2% of cases. Strong VEGFR-1 expression was associated with TMPRSS2:ERG fusion status as determined by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and immunohistochemistry (p < 0.0001 each). Elevated VEGFR-1 expression was linked to high Gleason grade and advanced pT stage in TMPRSS2:ERG negative cancers (p = 0.0008 and p = 0.001), while these associations were absent in TMPRSS2:ERG positive cancers. VEGFR-1 expression was also linked to phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) deletions. A comparison with prostate specific antigen (PSA) recurrence revealed that the 1.7% of prostate cancers with the highest VEGFR-1 levels had a strikingly unfavorable prognosis. This could be seen in all cancers, in the subsets of TMPRSS2:ERG positive or negative, PTEN deleted or undeleted carcinomas (p < 0.0001 each). High level VEGFR-1 expression is infrequent in prostate cancer, but identifies a subgroup of aggressive cancers, which may be candidates for anti-VEGFR-1 targeted therapy.     

PTEN and Other PtdIns(3,4,5)P3 Lipid Phosphatases in Breast Cancer

The phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT signalling pathway is hyperactivated in ~70% of breast cancers. Class I PI3K generates PtdIns(3,4,5)P₃ at the plasma membrane in response to growth factor stimulation, leading to AKT activation to drive cell proliferation, survival and migration. PTEN negatively regulates PI3K/AKT signalling by dephosphorylating PtdIns(3,4,5)P₃ to form PtdIns(4,5)P₂. PtdIns(3,4,5)P₃ can also be hydrolysed by the inositol polyphosphate 5-phosphatases (5-phosphatases) to produce PtdIns(3,4)P₂. Interestingly, while PTEN is a bona fide tumour suppressor and is frequently mutated/lost in breast cancer, 5-phosphatases such as PIPP, SHIP2 and SYNJ2, have demonstrated more diverse roles in regulating mammary tumourigenesis. Reduced PIPP expression is associated with triple negative breast cancers and reduced relapse-free and overall survival. Although PIPP depletion enhances AKT phosphorylation and supports tumour growth, this also inhibits cell migration and metastasis in vivo, in a breast cancer oncogene-driven murine model. Paradoxically, SHIP2 and SYNJ2 are increased in primary breast tumours, which correlates with invasive disease and reduced survival. SHIP2 or SYNJ2 overexpression promotes breast tumourigenesis via AKT-dependent and independent mechanisms. This review will discuss how PTEN, PIPP, SHIP2 and SYNJ2 distinctly regulate multiple functional targets, and the mechanisms by which dysregulation of these distinct phosphoinositide phosphatases differentially affect breast cancer progression.     

肿瘤抑制基因 PTEN对人气道平滑肌细胞迁移和增殖的影响

目的：观察肿瘤抑制基因 PTEN 对人气道平滑肌细胞（HASMCs）迁移和增殖的影响机制。方法用重组PTEN 腺病毒转染体外培养的 HASMCs（Ad-PTEN 组）,并与携带绿色荧光蛋白（GFP）的腺病毒空载体（Ad-GFP组）和空白对照（MOCK）组对比,采用 MTS 测定细胞增殖、Transwell 法观察细胞迁移、共聚焦显微镜观测细胞骨架的变化、免疫印迹法检测 PTEN、p-Akt、Akt、p-FAK、FAK 蛋白的表达。结果Ad-PTEN 组的吸光度（A）值和每单位面积迁移的细胞数显著低于 Ad-GFP 及 MOCK 组（均 P ＜0．05）,Ad-GFP 和 MOCK 两对照组间差异无统计学意义（P ＞0．05）,提示过表达 PTEN 基因能抑制 HASMCs 的增殖和迁移的作用。Ad-PTEN 组细胞轮廓变细,伪足及应力纤维明显变少,而 Ad-GFP、MOCK 组细胞有少量短而细的应力纤维,很少丝状伪足形成。与 Ad-GFP 及 MOCK 组比较,Ad-PTEN 组 p-Akt 表达水平和 FAK 蛋白的磷酸化水平显著下调（均 P ＜0．05）,Ad-GFP及 MOCK 两对照组间差异无统计学意义（P ＞0．05）,说明过表达 PTEN 能下调 Akt 蛋白和 FAK 蛋白的磷酸化水平。结论过表达 PTEN 可能通过下调 p-Akt 及 p-FAK 的表达,抑制 HASMCs 的增殖和迁移,参与哮喘气道重塑的调控。