Id-1 induces cell invasiveness in immortalized epithelial cells by regulating cadherin switching and Rho GTPases.

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), characterized by cadherin switching, contributes to cancer metastasis. Our recent study showed that Id-1 (inhibitor of differentiation-1) promotes metastasis in esophageal cancer cells, but whether the invasive and metastatic dynamics can be induced early in the carcinogenesis process is still unclear. Immortalization is regarded as the initial stage in the malignant transformation of normal cells. In this study, we investigated the role and mechanisms of Id-1 in inducing EMT and cell invasiveness in immortalized esophageal epithelial cells. We found that immortalized epithelial cells expressed higher endogenous levels of Id-1 compared with normal cells. Ectopic Id-1 expression inhibited the differentiation of immortalized esophageal epithelial cells and promoted cadherin switching, which was accompanied by increased adhesiveness to extracellular matrix, cell motility, migratory potential and matrix metalloproteinase-dependent invasiveness. GTPase activity assays showed that over-expression or short-hairpin RNA knockdown of Id-1 led to corresponding changes in Rac1 activity, whereas RhoA activity was significantly decreased with Id-1 depletion. Inhibitors targeting Rac1, RhoA, and Rho kinase suppressed the invasiveness of Id-1-expressing NE2-hTERT cells. Knockdown of N-cadherin in Id-1-over-expressing cells inhibited cell invasiveness and down-regulated RhoA activity. These data suggest that the Id-1-induced invasive potential may be regulated through the N-cadherin-RhoA axis and Rac1 activation.

Hepatocyte-specific activation of NF-kappaB does not aggravate chemical hepatocarcinogenesis in transgenic mice.

The NF-kappaB signalling pathway plays important roles in liver organogenesis and carcinogenesis. Mouse embryos deficient in IKKbeta die in mid-gestation, due to excessive apoptosis of hepatoblasts. Although activation of the NF-kappaB signalling pathway has been demonstrated in human hepatocellular carcinoma, the role of NF-kappaB is controversial. Here, we have generated transgenic mice in which a constitutively active form of IKKbeta was expressed in a hepatocyte-specific manner. Using electrophoretic mobility shift assay, we documented increased NF-kappaB activities and up-regulated levels of NF-kappaB downstream target genes, Bcl-xL and STAT5, in the transgenic mouse livers. These results confirmed that the NF-kappaB pathway was activated in the livers of the transgenic mice. However, there was no significant difference in tumour formation between transgenic and wild-type mice up to an age of 50 weeks. When we treated the transgenic mice with the chemical carcinogen diethylnitrosamine (DEN), we observed no significant differences in the incidence and size of liver tumours formed in these mice with and without DEN treatment at 35 weeks of age, suggesting that the activated NF-kappaB pathway in the livers of the transgenic mice did not enhance hepatocarcinogenesis. Interestingly, some of the transient transgenic embryos (E12.5) had abnormal excessive accumulation of nucleated red blood cells in their developing livers. In summary, NF-kappaB activation in hepatocytes did not significantly affect chemical hepatocarcinogenesis. In addition, the TTR/IKKCA transgenic mice may serve as a useful model for studying the role of NF-kappaB activation in hepatocarcinogenesis as well as inflammatory and metabolic diseases.

Activating transcription factor 3 up-regulated by c-Jun NH(2)-terminal kinase/c-Jun contributes to apoptosis induced by potassium deprivation in cerebellar granule neurons.

Cerebellar granule neurons (CGNs) depend on potassium depolarization for survival and undergo apoptosis when deprived of depolarizing concentration of potassium. Activating transcription factor 3 (ATF3), a stress-inducible protein, belongs to the ATF/CREB family of transcription factors family and is involved in cell growth and apoptosis. However, the role of ATF3 in neuronal apoptosis remains unknown. Here, we showed that ATF3 was up-regulated under potassium deprivation in CGNs, and this induction was preceded by a rapid and sustained activation of c-Jun NH(2)-terminal kinase/c-Jun signaling pathway, which plays a fundamental role in neuronal apoptosis. Furthermore, ATF3 up-regulation was abolished by inhibition of JNK or knockdown of c-Jun. Finally, knockdown of ATF3 by RNA interference protected CGNs from potassium deprivation-induced apoptosis. Taken together, our results indicate that ATF3 is a downstream target of JNK/c-Jun pathway and contributes to apoptosis induced by potassium deprivation in rat CGNs.

Cloning of three novel neuronal Cdk5 activator binding proteins.

Neuronal Cdc2-like kinase (Nclk) is involved in the regulation of neuronal differentiation and neuro-cytoskeleton dynamics. The active kinase consists of a catalytic subunit, Cdk5, and a 25 kDa activator protein (p25nck5a) derived from a 35 kDa neuronal-specific protein (p35nck5a). As an extension of our previous study (Qi, Z., Tang, D., Zhu, X., Fujita, D.J., Wang, J.H., 1998. Association of neurofilament proteins with neuronal Cdk5 activator. J. Biol. Chem. 270, 2329-2335), which showed that neurofilament is one of the p35nck5a-associated proteins, we now report the isolation of three other novel p35nck5a-associated proteins using the yeast two-hybrid screen. The full-length forms of these three novel proteins, designated C42, C48 and C53, have a molecular mass of 66, 24, and 57 kDa, respectively. Northern analysis indicates that these novel proteins are widely expressed in human tissues, including the heart, brain, skeletal muscle, placenta, lung, liver, kidney and pancreas. The bacterially expressed glutathione S-transferase (GST)-fusion forms of these three proteins were able to co-precipitate p35nck5a complexed with Cdk5 from insect cell lysate. Among these three proteins, only C48 and C53 can be phosphorylated by Nclk, suggesting that they may be the substrates of Nclk. Sequence homology searches have suggested that the C48 protein is marginally related to restin protein, whereas the C42 protein has homologues of unknown function in Caenorhabditis elegans and Arabidopsis thaliana.

Specificity of different isoforms of protein phosphatase-2A and protein phosphatase-2C studied using site-directed mutagenesis of HMG-CoA reductase.

We have expressed the catalytic domain of Chinese hamster HMG-CoA reductase, and 13 point mutations involving the region around the single phosphorylation site for AMP-activated protein kinase. After phosphorylation, these were used to test the specificity of isoforms of protein phosphatase-2A [bovine PP2A(C) (catalytic subunit) and PP2A1 (ABC heterotrimer)] and protein phosphatase-2C (human alpha; mouse alpha, beta1, beta2, beta3, beta4, beta5). PP2A1 had > 50-fold higher activity for HMG-CoA reductase variants than PP2A(C), but their relative selectivity for different variants was similar. Although the specificities of PP2A and PP2C were distinct, no dramatic differences in selectivity were observed between different PP2C isoforms.

Distinct type-2A protein phosphatases activate HMGCoA reductase and acetyl-CoA carboxylase in liver.

Acetyl-CoA carboxylase and HMGCoA reductase are inactivated by the same AMP-activated protein kinase and are activated by type-2A protein phosphatase. To determine whether the same species of protein phosphatase-2A were involved, we studied the interconversion of acetyl-CoA carboxylase and HMGCoA reductase in isolated rat hepatocytes. We show that (i) these enzymes are differently regulated in hepatocytes and (ii) the species of type-2A protein phosphatase involved in their activation are different and can be separated by anion-exchange chromatography.

Serotonergic terminals express a growth associated protein (GAP-43) in the adult rat spinal cord.

Dual colour immunofluorescence has been used to compare the distribution of serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) and GAP-43 in the adult rat. GAP-43 immunostaining was observed in all spinal cord regions containing 5-HT immunoreactivity. 5-HT and GAP-43 double labelled fibres and varicosities were present and were most evident around motoneurones, in lamina X, and in the intermediolateral cell column. Single labelled GAP-43 fibres and varicosities were also observed and were the dominant population in the dorsal horn and in certain fibre tracts. We conclude that the 5-HT system is one of a small number of spinal cord systems that express high levels of GAP-43 in the adult.

The tumor suppressor, TAX1BP2, is a novel substrate of ATM kinase.

DNA damage repair response is a crucial process for cancer prevention. One of the key regulators of this process is ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM) kinase, which modulates the p53 level by direct and indirect phosphorylation. Recent data showed that ATM also localizes at the centrosome, but the function remains elusive. TAX1BP2 was initially identified as a novel centrosomal protein that interacts directly with the human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1)-encoded oncoprotein, Tax, and inhibits centrosome overduplication. Subsequently, TAX1BP2 was found to be a tumor suppressor in hepatocellular carcinoma, and accumulation of TAX1BP2 was observed upon chemotherapeutic drug treatment. Here, we provide evidence that TAX1BP2 is a direct phosphorylation substrate of ATM. The protein level of TAX1BP2 is significantly upregulated in response to DNA damaging agents. Serine-922 of TAX1BP2 is the phosphorylation site of ATM, and such phosphorylation modulates the protein stability, ubiquitination and tumor suppressor activity of TAX1BP2. Taken together, we demonstrate for the first time that TAX1BP2 is a novel effector of ATM in DNA damage response and delineated a new mechanism by which ATM stabilizes the tumor suppressor TAX1BP2.

Lycium barbarum polysaccharides protect rat liver from non-alcoholic steatohepatitis-induced injury.

BACKGROUND: Lycium barbarum polysaccharides (LBPs) are antioxidant and neuroprotective derivative from Wolfberry. However, whether LBP has a protective effect in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)-induced hepatic injury is still unknown. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to study the possible hepatoprotective effects and mechanisms of LBP on a diet-induced NASH rat model. METHODS AND DESIGN: In this study, female rats were fed a high-fat diet to induce NASH with or without an oral 1 mg kg(-1) LBP feeding daily for 8 weeks. After 8 weeks, blood serum and liver samples from each rat were subjected to histological analysis, biochemical and molecular measurements. RESULTS: Compared with control rats, NASH rats showed typical NASH features including an increase in liver injury, lipid content, fibrosis, oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis. In contrast, NASH+LBP-co-treated rats showed (1) improved histology and free fatty acid levels; (2) re-balance of lipid metabolism; (3) reduction in profibrogenic factors through the TGF-ß/SMAD pathway; (4) improved oxidative stress through cytochrome P450 2E1-dependent pathway; (5) reduction in hepatic pro-inflammatory mediators and chemokines production; and (6) amelioration of hepatic apoptosis through the p53-dependent intrinsic and extrinsic pathways. The preventive effects of LBP were partly modulated through the PI3K/Akt/FoxO1, LKB1/AMPK, JNK/c-Jun and MEK/ERK pathways and the downregulation of transcription factors in the liver, such as nuclear factor-κB and activator protein-1. CONCLUSION: LBP is a novel hepatoprotective agent against NASH caused by abnormal liver metabolic functions.

Effects of voluntary running on plasma levels of neurotrophins, hippocampal cell proliferation and learning and memory in stressed rats.

Previous studies have shown that a 2-week treatment with 40 mg/kg corticosterone (CORT) in rats suppresses hippocampal neurogenesis and decreases hippocampal brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels and impairs spatial learning, all of which could be counteracted by voluntary wheel running. BDNF and insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1) have been suggested to mediate physical exercise-enhanced hippocampal neurogenesis and cognition. Here we examined whether such running-elicited benefits were accompanied by corresponding changes of peripheral BDNF and IGF-1 levels in a rat model of stress. We examined the effects of acute (5 days) and chronic (4 weeks) treatment with CORT and/or wheel running on (1) hippocampal cell proliferation, (2) spatial learning and memory and (3) plasma levels of BDNF and IGF-1. Acute CORT treatment improved spatial learning without altered cell proliferation compared to vehicle treatment. Acute CORT-treated non-runners showed an increased trend in plasma BDNF levels together with a significant increase in hippocampal BDNF levels. Acute running showed no effect on cognition, cell proliferation and peripheral BDNF and IGF-1 levels. Conversely, chronic CORT treatment in non-runners significantly impaired spatial learning and suppressed cell proliferation in association with a decreased trend in plasma BDNF level and a significant increase in hippocampal BDNF levels. Running counteracted cognitive deficit and restored hippocampal cell proliferation following chronic CORT treatment; but without corresponding changes in plasma BDNF and IGF-1 levels. The results suggest that the beneficial effects of acute stress on cognitive improvement may be mediated by BDNF-enhanced synaptic plasticity that is hippocampal cell proliferation-independent, whereas chronic stress may impair cognition by decreasing hippocampal cell proliferation and BDNF levels. Furthermore, the results indicate a trend in changes of plasma BDNF levels associated with a significant alteration in hippocampal levels, suggesting that treatment with running/CORT for 4 weeks may induce a change in central levels of hippocampal BDNF level, which may not lead to a significant change in peripheral levels.

Impact of G2 checkpoint defect on centromeric instability.

Centromeric instability is characterized by dynamic formation of centromeric breaks, deletions, isochromosomes and translocations, which are commonly observed in cancer. So far, however, the mechanisms of centromeric instability in cancer cells are still poorly understood. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that G(2) checkpoint defect promotes centromeric instability. Our observations from multiple approaches consistently support this hypothesis. We found that overexpression of cyclin B1, one of the pivotal genes driving G(2) to M phase transition, impaired G(2) checkpoint and promoted the formation of centromeric aberrations in telomerase-immortalized cell lines. Conversely, centromeric instability in cancer cells was ameliorated through reinforcement of G(2) checkpoint by cyclin B1 knockdown. Remarkably, treatment with KU55933 for only 2.5 h, which abrogated G(2) checkpoint, was sufficient to produce centromeric aberrations. Moreover, centromeric aberrations constituted the major form of structural abnormalities in G(2) checkpoint-defective ataxia telangiectasia cells. Statistical analysis showed that the frequencies of centromeric aberrations in G(2) checkpoint-defective cells were always significantly overrepresented compared with random assumption. As there are multiple pathways leading to G(2) checkpoint defect, our finding offers a broad explanation for the common occurrence of centromeric aberrations in cancer cells.

Analysis of the specificity of the AMP-activated protein kinase by site-directed mutagenesis of bacterially expressed 3-hydroxy 3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase, using a single primer variant of the unique-site-elimination method.

The specificity of protein kinases is usually examined using synthetic peptide substrates, either designed variants, or, more recently random peptide libraries. However not all protein kinases utilize synthetic peptides efficiently as substrates. Even among those that do, these approaches neglect effects caused by three-dimensional protein conformation, or the existence of determinants remote from the phosphorylation site. To follow up our previous peptide studies on the specificity of the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) [Dale, S., Wilson, W. A., Edelman, A.M., & Hardie, D. G. (1995) FEBS Lett. 361, 191-195], we have expressed the C-terminal, catalytic domain of Chinese hamster hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA reductase in Escherichia coli. The domain was expressed with an N-terminal His6 tag which allowed rapid purification on Nj(2+)-agarose. The purified protein retained full enzymic activity, and as with the native enzyme, was totally inactivated by phosphorylation by AMPK at a single site corresponding to Ser871. Using a novel modification of the unique-site elimination method (which allowed direct mutagenesis of the double-stranded expression vector using a single oligonucleotide primer) we expressed 18 mutations involving residues around Ser871. The results broadly confirmed the recognition motif previously proposed on the basis of peptide studies. Three of the mutants were better substrates for AMPK than the wild type, and one of these (K872A) had hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA reductase kinetic parameters virtually indistinguishable from the wild type. This suggests that hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA reductase may have been selected to be a sub-optimal substrate for AMPK.

Immunocytochemical localization of a growth-associated protein (GAP-43) in rat adrenal gland.

We have localized at light and electron-microscopic level the growth-associated protein GAP-43 in adrenal gland using single and double labelling immunocytochemistry. Clusters of GAP-43-immunofluorescent chromaffin cells and many immunofluorescent fibres were observed in the medulla. GAP-43-immunoreactive fibres also formed a plexus under the capsule, crossed the cortex and ramified in the zona reticulata. Double labelled sections showed the coexpression of GAP-43 with a subpopulation of tyrosine hydroxylase- and of dopamine-beta-hydroxylase-immunoreactive chromaffin cells. Dual colour immunofluorescence for GAP-43 and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) revealed that some of the GAP-43-immunoreactive fibres also express CGRP. Pre-embedding electron microscopy showed GAP-43 immunoreactivity associated with the plasma membranes and cytoplasm of noradrenaline-producing chromaffin cells, and with processes of nonmyelin-forming Schwann cells. Immunoreactive unmyelinated axons and terminals were also observed. The immunostained terminals made symmetrical synaptic contacts with chromaffin cells. Immunoreactive unmyelinated fibres and small terminals were present in the cortex. Our results show that GAP-43 is expressed in noradrenergic chromaffin cells and in various types of nerve fibres that innervate the adrenal. Likely origins for these fibres include preganglionic sympathetic fibres which innervate chromaffin cells, postganglionic sympathetic fibres in the cortex, and CGRP containing sensory fibres.

Identification of a common protein association region in the neuronal Cdk5 activator.

Cyclin-dependent protein kinase 5 (Cdk5) depends on the association with neuronal Cdk5 activator (Nck5a) for kinase activity. A variety of cellular proteins have been shown to undergo high affinity association with Nck5a, including three novel proteins, C42, C48, and C53 found by a yeast two-hybrid screen (Ching, Y. P., Qi, Z., and Wang, J. H. (2000) Gene 242, 285-294). The three proteins show competitive binding to Nck5a suggesting that they bind at a common site. The binding site has been mapped to a region of 26 amino acid residues (residues 145 to 170) at the N-terminal boundary of the kinase activation domain of Nck5a. This region of Nck5a contains an amphipathic alpha-helix whose hydrophobic face is involved in Cdk5 activation (Chin, K. T., Ohki, S, Tang, D., Cheng, H. C., Wang, J. H. , and Zhang, M. (1999) J. Biol. Chem. 274, 7120-7127). Several lines of evidence suggest that Nck5a interacts with the binding proteins at the hydrophilic face of the amphipathic alpha-helix. First, the Nck5a-(145-170) peptide can bind Cdk5 and Nck5a-binding proteins simultaneously. Second, the association of Nck5a-(145-170) to C48 can be markedly reduced by high ionic strength whereas the interaction between Nck5a and Cdk5 is not affected. Third, substitution of Glu(157) by glutamine in Nck5a-(145-170) abolishes the peptide's ability to bind to the three Nck5a-binding proteins without diminishing its Cdk5 binding activity.