Objective To evaluate the effect of integrin-linked kinase (ILK) in the process of retinal neovascularization induced by vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Methods The ILK activities of retinal choriodal endothelial cell line RF/6A were inhibited by LY294002 or siRNA knockdown. VEGF-induced changes of cell adhesion, proliferation, migration and endothelial cell tube-formation were measured then. The in-vivo effects of ILK were also assessed by intraperitoneal injection of LY294002 into an animal model of RNV. Results The cell adhesion measurements of control group, VEGF group, VEGF＋LY294002 group and VEGF＋siRNA group were 0.0726plusmn;0.01961, 0.1137plusmn;0.02631, 0.0837plusmn;0.01503 and 0.0853plusmn;0.02454 , respectively. The difference was statistically significant between VEGF group and control group（t =4.211，Plt;0.01）, and between (VEGF＋LY294002) group or (VEGF＋siRNA) group and control group (t =3.074, 2.91，Plt;0.01). The cell proliferation results of control group, VEGF group and VEGF＋LY294002 group were 0.4162plusmn;0.1392, 0.6412plusmn;0.2420, 0.4476plusmn;0.1834 , respectively. The difference was statistically significant between VEGF group and control group（t=2.608，Plt;0.05）, and between (VEGF＋LY294002) group and VEGF group（t=2.244，Plt;0.05）.The cell migration results of control group, VEGF group and VEGF＋LY294002 group were 83.66plusmn;30.283, 248plusmn;74.748, 138.5plusmn;38.167, respectively. The difference was statistically significant between VEGF group and control group（t=5.436，Plt;0.01）, and between (VEGF＋LY294002) group and VEGF group（t=3.682，Plt;0.01）. There was no obvious tube-formation after ILK activity was inhibited or knocked down. The non-perfusion areas were increased from （62798plusmn;16995.62）mu;m2 to （84722.65plusmn;10435.01）mu;m2 after intraperitoneal injection of LY294002 into animal model of RNV, the difference was statistically significant（t=3.476，Plt;0.01）. Conclusions ILK may play an important role in the process of VEGF-induced retinal neovascularization by regulating the cellular adhesion, proliferation, migration and tube-formation, as all those cellular functions were supressed obviously after the ILK activity was inhibited by LY294002 or the ILK expression was knocked down by siRNA.
The pathogenesis of Vogt-Koyanagi Harada disease (VKH) has not yet been fully defined. Current studies mainly suggest that VKH is actually an autoimmune disease, especially related to the immune response mediated by various signal transduction pathways involved in the function of T cells. In recent years, the influence of the balance imbalance of various T cell subsets in cellular immunity on the pathogenesis of VKH has been a hot research direction. Currently, T helper cell 17/T regulatory cells, balance is the focus of clinical research, meanwhile, new discoveries and potential clinical treatment schemes have been made for related cellular pathways, particularly the Janus kinase/signal transducers and activators of transcription pathway and NF-kappa B pathway. The exploration of B cells in the pathogenesis of VKH has also achieved initial results through the successful application of various targeted drugs. In the future, further screening and localization of genes or proteins that are abnormally regulated or expressed in VKH, for which early comprehensive and in-depth exploration will be helpful, thus improve the efficacy of clinical treatment programs and develop new therapeutic targets.
Objective To investigate the expression of ectodysplasin (EDA) genesignaling and its relationship with the development and regeneration of sweat glands. Methods The articles concerned in the latest years wereextensively reviewed. Results EDA gene is an important signaling pathway associated with the developmental procedure of sweat glands in early fetal stage. Abnormality or depletion of function in sweat glands partially owed to the defect of EDA gene. Conclusion EDA signaling has its biological significance in inducing development and morphogenesis of sweat glands and in maintaining physiological function of skin. It could be a new approach to repair or regenerate the sweat glands for clinical therapy by regulating the expression of EDA gene.
Continuous activation of Janus kinase (JAK)- signal transduction and activator of transcription (STAT) signaling pathway is prevalent in leukemia cells, and it has been found that this pathway plays an important role in acute leukemia (AL). JAK2/JAK1 gene mutations are found in both acute myelocytic leukemia and acute lymphoblastic leukemia and may have implications for the treatment and overall prognosis of the disease. Among the STAT family members, STAT3 and STAT5 proved to be key factors in AL. These gene mutations may provide new targets and new ideas for the treatment of AL. This article provides a review of the research progress of JAK-STAT signaling pathway, related gene mutations and AL.
Stem cells are crucial for embryonic development and in the maintenance of adult cellular homeostasis. Understanding the regulatory network of stem cells, including embryonic and adult stem cells, will allow us to learn the pathogenesis and possibly design novel approaches to treat many diseases (such as cancer and degeneration). The retinoblastoma (Rb) pathway controls cellular proliferation, differentiation and death. More and more evidences support an important role of Rb activity in the biology of stem and progenitor cells. Transiently inactivating Rb pathway might favor the expanding of functional stem cell populations, thus have values in the future stem cell applications.
Objective To study the effect of signal-selective parathyroid hormone (PTH) analogue peptide on Wnt signal ing factors in osteoblasts isolated from neonatal mouse, and provide theoretical basis for the mechanism of PTH’s function in bone metabolism. Methods Osteoblasts were isolated from calvaria of 2-3-day-old C57BL neonatal mouse and identified by alkal ine phosphatase (ALP) staining, and Alizarin red staining. The cells at passage 1 were divided into 4 groups: control group, PTH (1-34) group, G1R19 (1-34) group, and G1R19 (1-28) group. Then the medium was changed to α-MEM supplemented with 1%FBS. After 12 hours, trifluoroacetic acid or three peptides [(10 nmol/L PTH (1-34), 10 nmol/L G1R19 (1-34), and 100 nmol/L G1R19 (1-28)] were added into the culture medium. After 4 hours, the cells were washed gently ithcold PBS 3 times before total RNA was isolated. The expressions of Wnt related genes were measured by quantitative eal-time PCR. Results Most of the cells were polygonal and triangular; the cells were positive for ALP staining with blue cytoplasm at 14 days and the Al izarin red staining showed the formation of red mineral ized nodules in the special mineral ization induction medium at 28 days. The expressions of osteocalcin mRNA and Wnt5b mRNA in PTH (1-34) group, G1R19 (1-34) group, and G1R19 (1-28) group were significantly higher than those in control group (P lt; 0.05); the expression of Wnt2 mRNA was significantly lower than that in control group (P lt; 0.05); the expression of β-catenin mRNA in PTH (1-34) group was significantly higher than that in control group (P lt; 0.05); the expression of Wnt7b mRNA in PTH (1-34) group and G1R19 (1- 34) group was higher than that in control group, and the G1R19 (1-34) group was higher than PTH (1-34) group and G1R19 (1-28) group (P lt; 0.05). Conclusion In the Wnt-related factors, PTH (1-34) and G1R19 (1-34) affect mainly canonical Wnt signal factors, but the G1R19 (1-28) chiefly acts on non-canonical Wnt signal factors.
ObjectiveTo observe the regulation of PTB-associated splicing factor (PSF) exerts on phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (PI3K)/Akt signaling pathway in cultured retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells. MethodsARPE-19 RPE cells were divided into five groups including PSF overexpression (0.25, 0.50, 1.00 μg of pEGFP-C2-PSF plasmid DNA), PSF overexpression control (pEGFP-C2 empty vector DNA), PSF inhibition (0.25, 0.50, 1.00 μg of pGenesil-PSF-RNAi plasmid DNA), PSF inhibition control (pGenesil-scramble-siRNA empty vector) and sham transfected group (treated with lipofactamine 2000 reagent, but without adding plasmid DNA) groups. After transfecting with plasmid DNA, the cells were stimulated with insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1). IGF-1-stimulated ARPE-19 cells were also treated with Wortmannin and /or PSF over-expression. WST-1 assay was used to detect the proliferation rates, the VEGF mRNA levels were analyzed using real time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), the levels of phosphorylation Akt and total Akt expression were measured by western blotting. ResultsAfter IGF-1 stimulation, the difference of the cell proliferation rates between PSF overexpression group, PSF overexpression control group and sham transfected group was statistically significant (F=29.728, P<0.05). The difference of the cell proliferation rates between PSF inhibition group, PSF inhibition control group and sham transfected was also statistically significant (F=14.121, P<0.05). Compared with control group, the VEGF mRNA levels was decreased in PSF overexpression group (P=0.000 3), but increased in PSF low expression group (P=0.030 9). Furthermore, overexpression of PSF could down-regulate the activation of pAkt after IGF-1 stimulation. When combined with Wortmannin treatment, the VEGF mRNA levels in PSF overexpression group was significantly lower than the control group (P<0.05). ConclusionsAfter IGF-1 treatment, PSF plays a role in suppressing the proliferation and VEGF expression in RPE cells by inactivating PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.
OBJECTIVE: To clarify the mechanisms of the signal transduction of bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) inducing bone formation and to provide theoretical basis for basic and applying research of BMPs. METHOD: We looked up the literature of the role of Smads and related transcription factors in the signal transduction of BMPs inducing bone formation. RESULTS: The signal transduction processes of BMPs included: 1. BMPs combined with type II and type I receptors; 2. the type I receptor phosphorylated Smads; and 3. Smads entered the cell nucleus, interacted with transcription factors and influenced the transcription of related proteins. Smads could be divided into receptor-regulated Smads (R-Smads: Smad1, Smad2, Smad3, Smad5, Smad8 and Smad9), common-mediator Smad (co-Smad: Smad4), and inhibitory Smads (I-Smads: Smad6 and Smad7). Smad1, Smad5, Smad8, and probable Smad9 were involved in the signal transduction of BMPs. Multiple kinases, such as focal adhesion kinase (FAK), Ras-extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), and Akt serine/threonine kinase were related to Smads signal transduction. Smad1 and Smad5 related with transcription factors included core binding factor A1 (CBFA1), smad-interacting protein 1 (SIP1), ornithine decarboxylase antizyme (OAZ), activating protein-1 (AP-1), xenopus ventralizing homeobox protein-2 (Xvent-2), sandostatin (Ski), antiproliferative proteins (Tob), and homeodomain-containing transcriptian factor-8 (Hoxc-8), et al. CBFA1 could interact with Smad1, Smad2, Smad3, and Smad5, so it was involved in TGF-beta and BMP-2 signal transduction, and played an important role in the bone formation. Cleidocranial dysplasia (CCD) was thought to be caused by heterozygous mutations in CBFA1. The CBFA1 knockout mice showed no osteogenesis and had maturational disturbance of chondrocytes. CONCLUSION: Smads and related transcription factors, especially Smad1, Smad5, Smad8 and CBFA1, play an important role in the signal transduction of BMPs inducing bone formation.
Objective To investigate changes of TLR2 mRNA expression in lung of a mouse model of Chlamydia Pneumoniae pneumonitis, and to explore the possible mechanism of signal transduction. Methods Ninety-six male C3H/HeJ mice were randomly divided into four groups as follows: a control group, a model group, a SB203580 intervened group, and a pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate( PDTC) intervened group. Chlamydia Pneumoniae pneumonitis was induced by intranasally inoculated with 4. 0 ×106 IFU/mL of C. Pneumoniae per mouse in the model group and two intervened groups. Then the intervened groups were intraperitoneally injected with the p38MAPK inhibitor SB203580 and nuclear factor kappa B ( NF-κB)inhibitor PDTC, respectively. Six mice in each group were randomly killed in 1st, 4th, 7th and 14th day. The expressional changes of TLR2 mRNA in the mice lung tissue were measured by semi-quantitative RT-PCR. The concentrations of TNF-α in the lung homogenate were measured by ELISA. Results TLR2 mRNA expression in the lung tissue significantly increased after C. Pneumoniae infection, peaking at 4th and 7th days, then decreased after 14th day. Tumor necrosis factor-α( TNF-α) was also elevated in the lung tissue after C. Pneumoniae challenging. Both SB203580 and PDTC treatment effectively inhibited TNF-αand TLR2 mRNA expressions in lung. The inhibitory effect was more obvious by SB203580 treatment. Conclusion C. Pneumoniae can upregulate the expressions of TLR2 and TNF-α in lung, and TLR2/MAPK and TLR2 /NF-κB signal pathways may be involved in Chlamydia Pneumoniae pneumonitis.