RESUMO
Nodal, a member of the TGF-ß superfamily, plays an important role in vertebrate and invertebrate early development. The biochemical study of Nodal and its signaling pathway has been a challenge, mainly because of difficulties in producing the protein in sufficient quantities. We have developed a library of stable, chemically refoldable Nodal/BMP2 chimeric ligands (NB2 library). Three chimeras, named NB250, NB260, and NB264, show Nodal-like signaling properties including dependence on the co-receptor Cripto and activation of the Smad2 pathway. NB250, like Nodal, alters heart looping during the establishment of embryonic left-right asymmetry, and both NB250 and NB260, as well as Nodal, induce chondrogenic differentiation of human adipose-derived stem cells. This Nodal-induced differentiation is shown to be more efficient than BPM2-induced differentiation. Interestingly, the crystal structure of NB250 shows a backbone scaffold similar to that of BMP2. Our results show that these chimeric ligands may have therapeutic implications in cartilage injuries.
Assuntos
Tecido Adiposo/metabolismo , Proteína Morfogenética Óssea 2 , Condrogênese/efeitos dos fármacos , Proteína Nodal , Proteínas Recombinantes de Fusão , Transdução de Sinais/efeitos dos fármacos , Células-Tronco/metabolismo , Tecido Adiposo/patologia , Adulto , Proteína Morfogenética Óssea 2/química , Proteína Morfogenética Óssea 2/genética , Proteína Morfogenética Óssea 2/farmacologia , Cartilagem/lesões , Cartilagem/metabolismo , Cartilagem/patologia , Linhagem Celular , Feminino , Proteínas Ligadas por GPI/genética , Proteínas Ligadas por GPI/metabolismo , Humanos , Peptídeos e Proteínas de Sinalização Intercelular/genética , Peptídeos e Proteínas de Sinalização Intercelular/metabolismo , Proteínas de Neoplasias/genética , Proteínas de Neoplasias/metabolismo , Proteína Nodal/química , Proteína Nodal/genética , Proteína Nodal/farmacologia , Proteínas Recombinantes de Fusão/química , Proteínas Recombinantes de Fusão/genética , Proteínas Recombinantes de Fusão/farmacologia , Transdução de Sinais/genética , Proteína Smad2/genética , Proteína Smad2/metabolismo , Células-Tronco/patologiaRESUMO
Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) mediate and modulate synaptic transmission throughout the brain, and contribute to learning, memory, and behavior. Dysregulation of α7-type nAChRs in neuropsychiatric as well as immunological and oncological diseases makes them attractive targets for pharmaceutical development. Recently, we identified NACHO as an essential chaperone for α7 nAChRs. Leveraging the robust recombinant expression of α7 nAChRs with NACHO, we utilized genome-wide cDNA library screening and discovered that several anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 family proteins further upregulate receptor assembly and cell surface expression. These effects are mediated by an intracellular motif on α7 that resembles the BH3 binding domain of pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 proteins, and can be blocked by BH3 mimetic Bcl-2 inhibitors. Overexpression of Bcl-2 member Mcl-1 in neurons enhanced surface expression of endogenous α7 nAChRs, while a combination of chemotherapeutic Bcl2-inhibitors suppressed neuronal α7 receptor assembly. These results demonstrate that Bcl-2 proteins link α7 nAChR assembly to cell survival pathways.
Assuntos
Proteína de Sequência 1 de Leucemia de Células Mieloides/metabolismo , Neurônios/metabolismo , Receptor Nicotínico de Acetilcolina alfa7/metabolismo , Motivos de Aminoácidos/genética , Animais , Benzotiazóis/farmacologia , Compostos Bicíclicos Heterocíclicos com Pontes/farmacologia , Células HEK293 , Humanos , Isoquinolinas/farmacologia , Chaperonas Moleculares/metabolismo , Mutação , Proteína de Sequência 1 de Leucemia de Células Mieloides/antagonistas & inibidores , Neurônios/efeitos dos fármacos , Agonistas Nicotínicos/farmacologia , Cultura Primária de Células , Ligação Proteica/efeitos dos fármacos , Piridinas/farmacologia , Pirimidinas/farmacologia , Ratos , Transmissão Sináptica/efeitos dos fármacos , Tiofenos/farmacologia , Regulação para Cima , Receptor Nicotínico de Acetilcolina alfa7/genéticaRESUMO
Activins are multifunctional proteins and members of the TGF-ß superfamily. Activins are expressed locally in most tissues and, analogous to the actions of other members of this large family of pleiotropic factors, play prominent roles in the regulation of diverse biological processes in both differentiated and embryonic stem cells. They have an essential role in maintaining tissue homeostasis in the adult and are known to contribute to the developmental programs in the embryo. Activins are further implicated in the growth and metastasis of tumor cells. Through distinct modes of action, inhibins and follistatins function as antagonists of activin and several other TGF-ß family members, including a subset of BMPs/GDFs, and modulate cellular responses and the signaling cascades downstream of these ligands. In the pituitary, the activin pathway is known to regulate key aspects of gonadotrope functions and also exert effects on other pituitary cell types. As in other tissues, activin is produced locally by pituitary cells and acts locally by exerting cell-type specific actions on gonadotropes. These local actions of activin on gonadotropes are modulated by the autocrine/paracrine actions of locally secreted follistatin and by the feedback actions of gonadal inhibin. Knowledge about the mechanism of activin, inhibin and follistatin actions is providing information about their importance for pituitary function as well as their contribution to the pathophysiology of pituitary adenomas. The aim of this review is to highlight recent findings and summarize the evidence that supports the important functions of activin, inhibin and follistatin in the pituitary.