Down-Regulated CUEDC2 Increases GDNF Expression by Stabilizing CREB Through Reducing Its Ubiquitination in Glioma.

Abnormally high expression of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) derived from glioma cells has essential impacts on gliomagenesis and development, but the molecular basis underlying increased GDNF expression in glioma cells remain unclear. This work aimed to study the molecular mechanisms that may explain the accumulation of GDNF in glioma. Firstly, we observed that cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB), known as an important transcription factor for binding of GDNF promoter region, was highly expressed with an apparent accumulation into the nucleus of glioma cells, which may contribute to the transcription of GDNF. Secondly, CUE domain-containing protein 2 (CUEDC2), a ubiquitin-regulated protein, could increase the amount of binding between the E3 ligase tripartite motif-containing 21 (TRIM21) and CREB and affect the CREB level. Like our previous study, it showed that there was a significantly down-regulation of CUEDC2 in glioma. Finally, our data suggest that GDNF expression is indirectly regulated by transcription factor ubiquitination. Indeed, down-regulation of CUEDC2, decreased the ubiquitination and degradation of CREB, which was associated to high levels of GDNF. Furthermore, abundant CREB involved in the binding to the GDNF promoter region contributes to GDNF high expression in glioma cells. Collectively, it was verified the GDNF expression was affected by CREB ubiquitination regulated by CUEDC2 level.

Identification of COL1A1 as an invasion­related gene in malignant astrocytoma.

Malignant astrocytoma (MA) is the most common and severe type of brain tumor. A greater understanding of the underlying mechanisms responsible for the development of MA would be beneficial for the development of targeted molecular therapies. In the present study, the upregulated differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in MA were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus database using R/Bioconductor software. DEGs in different World Health Organization classifications were compared using the Venny tool and 15 genes, including collagen type I α1 chain (COL1A1) and laminin subunit γ1 (LAMC1), were revealed to be involved in the malignant progression of MA. In addition, the upregulated DEGs in MA were evaluated using functional annotations of Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes with the Database for Annotation, Visualization, and Integrated Discovery tool. The results indicated that invasion­associated enrichment was observed in 'extracellular matrix' (ECM), 'cell adhesion' and 'phosphoinositide 3­kinase­protein kinase B signaling pathway'. Subsequently, the analysis of the protein­protein interactions was performed using STRING and Cytoscape software, which revealed that the ECM component was the invasion­associated module and its corresponding genes included COL1A1, LAMC1 and fibronectin 1. Finally, survival Kaplan­Meier estimate was conducted using cBioportal online, which demonstrated that COL1A1 expression affected the survival of and recurrence in patients with MA. Moreover, the results of in vitro Transwell assay and western blot analysis revealed that the depleted levels of COL1A1 also decreased the expression of several proteins associated with cell invasion, including phosphorylated­signal transducer and activator of transcription 3, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)­2, MMP­9 and nuclear factor­κB. On the whole, the present study identified the invasion­related target genes and the associated potential pathways in MA. The results indicated that COL1A1 may be a candidate biomarker for the prognosis and treatment of MA.

Cross-link regulation of precursor N-cadherin and FGFR1 by GDNF increases U251MG cell viability.

Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) is considered to be involved in the development of glioma. However, uncovering the underlying mechanism of the proliferation of glioma cells is a challenging work in progress. We have identified the binding of the precursor of N-cadherin (proN-cadherin) and GDNF on the cell membrane in previous studies. In the present study, we observed increased U251 Malignant glioma (U251MG) cell viability by exogenous GDNF (50 ng/ml). We also confirmed that the high expression of the proN-cadherin was stimulated by exogenous GDNF. Concurrently, we affirmed that lower expression of proN-cadherin correlated with reduced glioma cell viability. Additionally, we observed glioma cell U251MG viability as the phosphorylation level of FGFR1 at Y653 and Y654 was increased after exogenous GDNF treatment, which led to increased interaction between proN-cadherin and FGFR1 (pY653+Y654). Our experiments presented a new mechanism adopted by GDNF supporting glioma development and indicated a possible therapeutic potential via the inhibition of proN-cadherin/FGFR1 interaction.

Neuropilin-1 is a glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor receptor in glioblastoma.

The aim of this study was to identify the receptor for glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) in glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). After GST pull-down assays, membrane proteins purified from C6 rat glioma cells were subjected to liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The differentially expressed proteins were annotated using Gene Ontology, and neuropilin-1 (NRP1) was identified as the putative GDNF receptor in glioma. NRP1 was more highly expressed in human GBM brains and C6 rat glioma cells than in normal human brains or primary rat astrocytes. Immunofluorescence staining showed that NRP1 was recruited to the membrane by GDNF, and NRP1 co-immunoprecipitated with GDNF. Using the NRP1 and GDNF protein structures to assess molecular docking in the ZDOCK server and visualization with the PyMOL Molecular Graphics System revealed 8 H-bonds and stable positive and negative electrostatic interactions between NRP1 and GDNF. RNAi knockdown of NRP1 reduced proliferation of C6 glioma cells when stimulated with GDNF. NRP1 was an independent risk factor for both survival and recurrence in GBM patients. High NRP1 mRNA expression correlated with shorter OS and DFS (OS: χ2=4.6720, P=0.0307; DFS: χ2=11.013, P=0.0009). NRP1 is thus a GDNF receptor in glioma cells and a potential therapeutic target.

Egr-1 and RNA POL II facilitate glioma cell GDNF transcription induced by histone hyperacetylation in promoter II.

The specific mechanisms for epigenetic regulation of gene transcription remain to be elucidated. We previously demonstrated that hyperacetylation of histone H3K9 in promoter II of glioma cells promotes high transcription of the glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) gene. This hyperacetylation significantly enhanced Egr-1 binding and increased the recruitment of RNA polymerase II (RNA POL II) to that region (P < 0.05). Egr-1 expression was abnormally increased in C6 glioma cells. Further overexpression of Egr-1 significantly increased Egr-1 binding to GDNF promoter II, while increasing RNA POL II recruitment, thus increasing GDNF transcription (P < 0.01). When the acetylation of H3K9 in the Egr-1 binding site was significantly reduced by the histone acetyltransferase (HAT) inhibitor curcumin, binding of Egr-1 to GDNF promoter II, RNA POL II recruitment, and GDNF mRNA expression were significantly downregulated (P < 0.01). Moreover, curcumin attenuated the effects of Egr-1 overexpression on Egr-1 binding, RNA POL II recruitment, and GDNF transcription (P < 0.01). Egr-1 and RNA POL II co-existed in the nucleus of C6 glioma cells, with overlapping regions, but they were not bound to each other. In conclusion, highly expressed Egr-1 may be involved in the recruitment of RNA POL II in GDNF promoter II in a non-binding manner, and thereby involved in regulating GDNF transcription in high-grade glioma cells. This regulation is dependent on histone hyperacetylation in GDNF promoter II.

Anti-inflammatory activity of atractylenolide III through inhibition of nuclear factor-κB and mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways in mouse macrophages.

To elucidate the anti-inflammatory mechanisms involved, we investigated the effects of atractylenolide III (ATL-III) on cytokine expression, extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/2), p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38), C-Jun-N-terminal protein kinase1/2 (JNK1/2) and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) pathways in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW264.7 mouse macrophages. Macrophages were incubated with various concentrations (0, 25, 50, 100 µM) of ATL-III and/or LPS (1 µg/mL) for 24 h. The production of nitric oxide (NO) was determined by the Greiss reagent. The production of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and interleukin 6 (IL-6) was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Furthermore, macrophages were treated with ATL-III (0, 25, 100 µM) for 1 h and then stimulated by LPS. NF-κB, p38, JNK1/2 and ERK1/2 were determined by western blotting. We found ATL-III showed no inhibitory effect on cell proliferation at concentrations ranging from 1 µM to 100 µM. In addition, ATL-III decreased the release of NO, TNF-α, PGE2 and IL-6 in a dose-dependent manner and showed statistically significant at concentrations of 50 µM and 100 µM as well as cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression. Furthermore, ATL-III suppressed the transcriptional activity of NF-κB. ATL-III also inhibited the activation of ERK1/2, p38 and JNK1/2 in LPS-treated macrophages and showed statistically significant at concentrations of 25 µM and 100 µM. These data suggest that ATL-III shows an anti-inflammatory effect by suppressing the release of NO, PGE2, TNF-α and IL-6 related to the NF-κB- and MAPK-signaling pathways.

Macrophage activation by polysaccharides from Atractylodes macrocephala Koidz through the nuclear factor-κB pathway.

CONTEXT: Atractylodes macrocephala Koidz is a traditional herb. Atractylodes macrocephalaon polysaccharides (AMP) have been found to enhance immunity and improve heart function. However, the mechanisms of the immunomodulatory effect have not been investigated. OBJECTIVE: We examined whether AMP activated macrophages and explored the mechanisms of activation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: AMP was prepared and evaluated its immunomodulatory activity (25, 50, 100, and 200 µg/mL) by detecting the phagocytosis and the production of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), IFN-γ, and nitric oxide (NO) in RAW264.7 macrophages. Furthermore, the role of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) pathway was examined in regulating TNF-α and NO production. RESULTS: The phagocytosis of macrophages was enhanced by AMP in a dose-dependent manner and the maximal phagocytosis of macrophages occurred at concentrations of 100 and 200 µg/mL. NO, TNF-α, and IFN-γ release was also found to be dose dependent by increasing concentrations of AMP and reached the peak at a concentration of 200 µg/mL. In addition, AMP induced inhibitor kappaB (IκB) degradation and the activation of NF-κB by p65 nuclear translocation, and then the activation of NF-κB in nucleus peaked at a concentration of 200 µg/mL. Besides, NF-κB-specific inhibitor pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC) decreased AMP-induced NO and TNF-α production. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: These data suggest that AMP may modulate macrophage activities by stimulating NF-κB or activating NF-κB-dependent mechanisms.