Activation of Focal Adhesion Kinase Restores Simulated Microgravity-Induced Inhibition of Osteoblast Differentiation via Wnt/Β-Catenin Pathway.

Simulated microgravity (SMG) inhibits osteoblast differentiation (OBD) and induces bone loss via the inhibition of the Wnt/ß-catenin pathway. However, the mechanism by which SMG alters the Wnt/ß-catenin pathway is unknown. We previously demonstrated that SMG altered the focal adhesion kinase (FAK)-regulated mTORC1, AMPK and ERK1/2 pathways, leading to the inhibition of tumor cell proliferation/metastasis and promoting cell apoptosis. To examine whether FAK similarly mediates SMG-dependent changes to Wnt/ß-catenin in osteoblasts, we characterized mouse MC3T3-E1 cells cultured under clinostat-modeled SMG (µg) conditions. Compared to cells cultured under ground (1 g) conditions, SMG reduces focal adhesions, alters cytoskeleton structures, and down-regulates FAK, Wnt/ß-catenin and Wnt/ß-catenin-regulated molecules. Consequently, protein-2 (BMP2), type-1 collagen (COL1), alkaline-phosphatase activity and matrix mineralization are all inhibited. In the mouse hindlimb unloading (HU) model, SMG-affected tibial trabecular bone loss is significantly reduced, according to histological and micro-computed tomography analyses. Interestingly, the FAK activator, cytotoxic necrotizing factor-1 (CNF1), significantly suppresses all of the SMG-induced alterations in MC3T3-E1 cells and the HU model. Therefore, our data demonstrate the critical role of FAK in the SMG-induced inhibition of OBD and bone loss via the Wnt/ß-catenin pathway, offering FAK signaling as a new therapeutic target not only for astronauts at risk of OBD inhibition and bone loss, but also osteoporotic patients.

Simulated Microgravity Reduces Focal Adhesions and Alters Cytoskeleton and Nuclear Positioning Leading to Enhanced Apoptosis via Suppressing FAK/RhoA-Mediated mTORC1/NF-κB and ERK1/2 Pathways.

Simulated-microgravity (SMG) promotes cell-apoptosis. We demonstrated that SMG inhibited cell proliferation/metastasis via FAK/RhoA-regulated mTORC1 pathway. Since mTORC1, NF-κB, and ERK1/2 signaling are important in cell apoptosis, we examined whether SMG-enhanced apoptosis is regulated via these signals controlled by FAK/RhoA in BL6-10 melanoma cells under clinostat-modelled SMG-condition. We show that SMG promotes cell-apoptosis, alters cytoskeleton, reduces focal adhesions (FAs), and suppresses FAK/RhoA signaling. SMG down-regulates expression of mTORC1-related Raptor, pS6K, pEIF4E, pNF-κB, and pNF-κB-regulated Bcl2, and induces relocalization of pNF-κB from the nucleus to the cytoplasm. In addition, SMG also inhibits expression of nuclear envelope proteins (NEPs) lamin-A, emerin, sun1, and nesprin-3, which control nuclear positioning, and suppresses nuclear positioning-regulated pERK1/2 signaling. Moreover, rapamycin, the mTORC1 inhibitor, also enhances apoptosis in cells under 1 g condition via suppressing the mTORC1/NF-κB pathway. Furthermore, the FAK/RhoA activator, toxin cytotoxic necrotizing factor-1 (CNF1), reduces cell apoptosis, restores the cytoskeleton, FAs, NEPs, and nuclear positioning, and converts all of the above SMG-induced changes in molecular signaling in cells under SMG. Therefore, our data demonstrate that SMG reduces FAs and alters the cytoskeleton and nuclear positioning, leading to enhanced cell apoptosis via suppressing the FAK/RhoA-regulated mTORC1/NF-κB and ERK1/2 pathways. The FAK/RhoA regulatory network may, thus, become a new target for the development of novel therapeutics for humans under spaceflight conditions with stressed physiological challenges, and for other human diseases.

Inhibin A inhibits follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) action by suppressing its receptor expression in cultured rat granulosa cells.

Inhibin has long been considered as a suppresser of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) secretion from anterior pituitary through pituitary-gonad negative feedback to regulate follicle development. We demonstrated that addition of inhibin A could significantly suppress FSH-induced FSHR mRNA level in cultured rat granulosa cells (GCs) measured by real-time PCR. The inhibin A exerted its action mainly by inhibiting FSHR promoter activity. Furthermore, exogenous inhibin A could dramatically decrease FSH-induced P450arom and P450scc level and suppress progesterone and estradiol production in the cultured GCs, but it did not decrease forskolin-induced steroidogenesis, indicating that the inhibitory effect of inhibin A on FSH action may be upstream of cAMP signaling. Inhibin A was also capable of suppressing FSH-induced expression of steroidogenic factor 1 (SF-1) and androgen receptor, but stimulating DAX-1 expression in the culture. Our study has provided new evidence to show that inhibin A is capable of feedback antagonizing FSH action on GCs by reducing FSHR expression at ovarian level via a short feedback loop. Transcriptional factor receptors, such as SF-1, AR and DAX-1 were involved in this regulation.

Effect of heat stress on expression of junction-associated molecules and upstream factors androgen receptor and Wilms' tumor 1 in monkey sertoli cells.

Sertoli cells are important in determining the fate of spermatogenic cells by providing nutrition and structural support via cell junctions. In this study, we sought to examine the effect of 43 C warming on cell junctions in seminiferous epithelium and the expression of junction-associated molecules in Sertoli cells. Electron microscopy showed the appearance of large vacuoles between Sertoli and germ cells and adjacent Sertoli cells, leading to disruption of corresponding cell junctions 24 h after terminating the heat treatment. Using primary Sertoli cells isolated from pubertal monkey testes, we demonstrated that expression of adherens junction-associated molecules, such as N-cadherin and beta-catenin, and tight junction-associated molecule zonula occludens protein 1 was significantly reduced in 24-48 h after heat treatment. In contrast, intermediate filament vimentin expression was up-regulated in 6-48 h. Androgen receptor (AR) and Wilms' tumor gene 1 expression dramatically decreased after heat treatment. Both proteins completely disappeared immediately after terminating heat treatment and began to recover after 6 h. Treatment of the monkey Sertoli cells with an AR antagonist, flutamide, could mimic the heat-induced changes in the expression of junction-associated molecules in Sertoli cells. Furthermore, overexpression of AR in the Sertoli cells up-regulated the expression of N-cadherin, beta-catenin, and zonula occludens protein 1 and down-regulated vimentin expression. Their expression after heat treatment could be rescued by the AR overexpression. These results indicate that the decreased AR expression after heat treatment is involved in heat-induced cell junction disruption.

Simulated microgravity inhibits cell focal adhesions leading to reduced melanoma cell proliferation and metastasis via FAK/RhoA-regulated mTORC1 and AMPK pathways.

Simulated microgravity (SMG) was reported to affect tumor cell proliferation and metastasis. However, the underlying mechanism is elusive. In this study, we demonstrate that clinostat-modelled SMG reduces BL6-10 melanoma cell proliferation, adhesion and invasiveness in vitro and decreases tumor lung metastasis in vivo. It down-regulates metastasis-related integrin α6ß4, MMP9 and Met72 molecules. SMG significantly reduces formation of focal adhesions and activation of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and Rho family proteins (RhoA, Rac1 and Cdc42) and of mTORC1 kinase, but activates AMPK and ULK1 kinases. We demonstrate that SMG inhibits NADH induction and glycolysis, but induces mitochondrial biogenesis. Interestingly, administration of a RhoA activator, the cytotoxic necrotizing factor-1 (CNF1) effectively converts SMG-triggered alterations and effects on mitochondria biogenesis or glycolysis. CNF1 also converts the SMG-altered cell proliferation and tumor metastasis. In contrast, mTORC inhibitor, rapamycin, produces opposite responses and mimics SMG-induced effects in cells at normal gravity. Taken together, our observations indicate that SMG inhibits focal adhesions, leading to inhibition of signaling FAK and RhoA, and the mTORC1 pathway, which results in activation of the AMPK pathway and reduced melanoma cell proliferation and metastasis. Overall, our findings shed a new light on effects of microgravity on cell biology and human health.

Signal pathway of GnRH-III inhibiting FSH-induced steroidogenesis in granulosa cells.

Gonadotrophin-releasing hormone type 1 and type 2 have been demonstrated to inhibit follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)-induced granulosa cell (GC) steroidogenesis. A third type of GnRH (GnRH-III) was also purified from salmon, its action on the FSH-regulated GC function, however is not clear. In the present study we demonstrated that the FSH-induced estrogen and progesterone production in cultured DES-treated GCs was significantly inhibited by GnRH-III. Furthermore, the FSH-stimulated steroidogenic acute regulatory protein and the enzymes for steroidigenesis, such as HSD3B2,aromatase and cytochrome P450 side-chain cleavage were also significantly suppressed by this peptide. The inhibitory action of GnRH-III on the FSH-induced steroidogenenisis was demonstrated via Akt and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathways through suppressing its own receptor expression. Further studies indicated that FSH could stimulate NR5A2 and upstream stimulatory factor (USF) activation, and their induction was significantly suppressed by the GnRH-III. Therefore, it is suggested that GnRH-III inhibiting FSH-induced steroidogenenisis in GCs might be by suppressing FSH-induced its own receptor expression via NR5A2 and USF transcriptional factors.

Testosterone induces redistribution of forkhead box-3a and down-regulation of growth and differentiation factor 9 messenger ribonucleic acid expression at early stage of mouse folliculogenesis.

Increasing evidence has shown that excess androgen may be a main cause of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). However, the molecular mechanism of androgen action on the ovary is unclear. To investigate the possible impacts of androgen on early follicular development, neonatal mouse ovaries mainly containing primordial follicles were cultured with testosterone. We demonstrated that the number of primary follicles was increased after 10 d culture with testosterone treatment via phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt pathway. Androgen induced Forkhead box (Foxo)-3a activation, and translocation of Foxo3a protein from oocyte nuclei to cytoplasm, which might be a key step for primordial follicle activation. Interestingly, testosterone was also capable of down-regulating growth and differentiation factor-9 expression via its receptor. In summary, we infer that intraovarian excess androgen in PCOS might result in excess early follicles by inducing oocyte Foxo3a translocation and follicular arrest by down-regulating growth and differentiation factor-9 expression.

Acrosome formation-associated factor is involved in fertilization.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of a novel acrosome formation-associated factor (Afaf) on fertilization by its regulation of acrosomal exocytosis and endosomal trafficking. DESIGN: Controlled laboratory study. SETTING: Institution-affiliated state key laboratory. SUBJECTS: ICR mice. INTERVENTION(S): Sperm penetration assay and in vitro fertilization experiment were performed to study the effects of the Afaf antibody on acrosome reaction and fertilization. Acrosome exocytosis (AE) with streptolysin O (SLO) permeabilization was conducted to test the Afaf's action in calcium events. Colocalization and coimmunoprecipitation was done to determine the interaction between Afaf and SNAP25 (synaptosome-associated protein of 25,000 daltons). Transferrin (Tf) uptake assay was performed to demonstrate the impact of Afaf on endosomal pathway. RNAi was used to rescue the inhibition of Afaf on Tf uptake. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Number of penetrated sperms, in vitro fertilization rate. Acrosomal exocytosis index, relative Tf fluorescence. RESULT(S): The Afaf antibodies were capable of significantly inhibiting sperm penetration of the eggs, therefore reducing the rate of in vitro fertilization. Acrosome formation-associated factor was involved in calcium-triggered AE by acting upstream of the calcium efflux from the acrosome inside. Acrosome formation-associated factor might exert an interaction with SNAP25, which is a crucial component in both exocytosis and endosomal trafficking. Acrosome formation-associated factor was also involved in the endocytic pathway by down-regulating Tf endocytosis in the HeLa cells, and the miRNA-mediated RNAi could rescue this alternation induced by Afaf. CONCLUSION(S): Acrosome formation-associated factor might play an important role in membrane trafficking during acrosome formation and participate in fertilization.

Photo-induced damages of cytoplasmic and mitochondrial membranes by a [C60]fullerene malonic acid derivative.

The biological activities of fullerene derivatives have attracted much attention in the last decade. In this paper, effects of dimalonic acid C(60) (DMA C(60)) on cytoplasmic membrane, intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca(2+)](i)), and mitochondrial membrane in HeLa cells were studied by using laser scanning confocal microscopy together with fluorescent probes propidium iodide (PI), fluo-3 acetoxymethyl ester (fluo-3 AM), and tetramethyl rhodamine methyl ester (TMRM). The data showed that under laser irradiation produced by a Kr/Ar laser source with a low power less than 1 mW, DMA C(60) might induce damages against both cytoplasmic and mitochondrial membranes in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Prior to leakage of cytoplasmic membrane, a transient increase in [Ca(2 +)](i) occurred due to influx of calcium from the culture medium. These data provided some novel clues to explain the mechanisms involved in the photo-induced cytotoxicity of fullerene derivatives.

RNF151, a testis-specific RING finger protein, interacts with dysbindin.

RING finger proteins play important roles in spermatogenesis. Here, we report that a novel RING finger protein RNF151, with a C3HC4-type RING finger domain, a putative nuclear localization signal (NLS), and a TRAF-type zinc finger domain, was exclusively expressed in the mouse testis and developmentally regulated during spermatogenesis. While RNF151 mRNA was present in round spermatids, its protein was expressed in elongating spermatids of the stage VIII-IX seminiferous tubules. The NLS together with the RING domain were necessary and sufficient for the nuclear localization of RNF151-EGFP in transfected cells. Yeast two-hybrid screening identified the physical interaction of mouse RNF151 and dysbindin, which was confirmed by the co-immunoprecipitation of the proteins and by their co-localization in intact cells. As dysbindin has lately been shown to be involved in membrane biogenesis and fusion, a key process for acrosome formation, we propose that RNF151 may play a role in acrosome formation.