Activation of spinal cord neural stem cells(NSCs)and subsequent neurogenesis holds a promising alternative for spinal cord injury(SCI)repair.Our previous study demonstrated that complement C3a,derived from reactive as...Activation of spinal cord neural stem cells(NSCs)and subsequent neurogenesis holds a promising alternative for spinal cord injury(SCI)repair.Our previous study demonstrated that complement C3a,derived from reactive astrocytes,inhibits NSC proliferation by suppressing protein aggregate clearance through the deubiquitinating enzyme ubiquitin carboxy-terminal hydrolase L1(UCHL1)-proteasome system post-SCI.However,the potential molecular mechanism by which C3a modulates NSC activation via this pathway remains unclear.Here,we revealed that C3a/C3a receptor(C3aR)signaling activated NF-κB p65,which in turn inhibited Nrf2 activity and UCHL1 expression,resulting in diminished proteasome activity and the accumulation of protein aggregates,and ultimately impaired NSC activation.Both knockdown of NF-κB p65 and Nrf2 upregulation restored UCHL1 expression and proteasome activity in vitro,promoting NSC activation by enhancing protein aggregate clearance.Mechanistically,we found that NF-κB p65 regulated Nrf2 activity through a dual mechanism:(1)promoting Keap1-dependent ubiquitination and proteasome degradation of Nrf2;(2)inhibiting protein kinase C-mediated Nrf2 phosphorylation and nuclear translocation.Using the dual-luciferase reporter assay and chromatin immunoprecipitation(ChIP)analysis,we further identified UCHL1 as a direct transcriptional target of Nrf2.Importantly,in vivo experiments using SCI mice confirmed that either C3aR blockade,NF-κB p65 knockdown,or Nrf2 overexpression could rescue SCI-induced UCHL1 downregulation.Together,this study uncovers the C3a-NF-κB p65-Nrf2-UCHL1-proteasome axis as a critical regulator of NSC activation after SCI.This may provide novel molecular targets and intervention strategies for SCI repair.展开更多
AIM: To investigate whether the complement system is involved in a murine model of oxygen-induced retinopathy(OIR).METHODS: Forty C57BL/6J newborn mice were divided randomly into OIR group and control group. OIR was i...AIM: To investigate whether the complement system is involved in a murine model of oxygen-induced retinopathy(OIR).METHODS: Forty C57BL/6J newborn mice were divided randomly into OIR group and control group. OIR was induced by exposing mice to 75% ±2% oxygen from postnatal 7d(P7) to P12 and then recovered in room air.For the control group, the litters were raised in room air.At the postnatal 17d(P17), gene expressions of the complement components of the classical pathway(CP),the mannose-binding lectin(MBL) pathway and the alternative pathway(AP) in the retina were determined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR). Retinal protein expressions of the key components in the CP were examined by Western blotting.· RESULTS: Whole mounted retina in the OIR mice showed area of central hypoperfusion in both superficial and deep layers and neovascular tufts in the periphery.The expressions of C1 qb and C4 b genes in the OIR retina were significantly higher than those of the controls. The expression of retinal complement factor B(CFB) gene in OIR mice was significantly lower than those of the controls. However, the expressions of C3 and complement factor H(CFH) genes were higher. The protein synthesis of the key components involved in the CP(C1q, C4 and C3) were also significantly higher in OIR mouse retina. Although MBL-associated serine protease 1(MASP1) and MASP2 were detected in both the OIR and the control groups, the expressions were weak and the difference between the two groups was not significant.CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that the complement system CP is activated during the pathogenesis of murine model of OIR.展开更多
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(82071362 and 82270669)Key Project of the Regional Joint Fund of Guangdong Province(2023B1515120077)+3 种基金Basic Research Program of Shenzhen Science and Technology Innovation Commission(JCYJ20210324123001003 and JCYJ20220530144801003)Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Bone Tissue Repair and Translational Research(ZDSYS20230626091402006)the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Training Program for College Students,Sun Yat-sen University(20242150)the Leading Innovation and Entrepreneurship Team Program of Zhejiang Province,China(2023R01005).
文摘Activation of spinal cord neural stem cells(NSCs)and subsequent neurogenesis holds a promising alternative for spinal cord injury(SCI)repair.Our previous study demonstrated that complement C3a,derived from reactive astrocytes,inhibits NSC proliferation by suppressing protein aggregate clearance through the deubiquitinating enzyme ubiquitin carboxy-terminal hydrolase L1(UCHL1)-proteasome system post-SCI.However,the potential molecular mechanism by which C3a modulates NSC activation via this pathway remains unclear.Here,we revealed that C3a/C3a receptor(C3aR)signaling activated NF-κB p65,which in turn inhibited Nrf2 activity and UCHL1 expression,resulting in diminished proteasome activity and the accumulation of protein aggregates,and ultimately impaired NSC activation.Both knockdown of NF-κB p65 and Nrf2 upregulation restored UCHL1 expression and proteasome activity in vitro,promoting NSC activation by enhancing protein aggregate clearance.Mechanistically,we found that NF-κB p65 regulated Nrf2 activity through a dual mechanism:(1)promoting Keap1-dependent ubiquitination and proteasome degradation of Nrf2;(2)inhibiting protein kinase C-mediated Nrf2 phosphorylation and nuclear translocation.Using the dual-luciferase reporter assay and chromatin immunoprecipitation(ChIP)analysis,we further identified UCHL1 as a direct transcriptional target of Nrf2.Importantly,in vivo experiments using SCI mice confirmed that either C3aR blockade,NF-κB p65 knockdown,or Nrf2 overexpression could rescue SCI-induced UCHL1 downregulation.Together,this study uncovers the C3a-NF-κB p65-Nrf2-UCHL1-proteasome axis as a critical regulator of NSC activation after SCI.This may provide novel molecular targets and intervention strategies for SCI repair.
基金Supported partially by National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.81271033,81470621)
文摘AIM: To investigate whether the complement system is involved in a murine model of oxygen-induced retinopathy(OIR).METHODS: Forty C57BL/6J newborn mice were divided randomly into OIR group and control group. OIR was induced by exposing mice to 75% ±2% oxygen from postnatal 7d(P7) to P12 and then recovered in room air.For the control group, the litters were raised in room air.At the postnatal 17d(P17), gene expressions of the complement components of the classical pathway(CP),the mannose-binding lectin(MBL) pathway and the alternative pathway(AP) in the retina were determined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR). Retinal protein expressions of the key components in the CP were examined by Western blotting.· RESULTS: Whole mounted retina in the OIR mice showed area of central hypoperfusion in both superficial and deep layers and neovascular tufts in the periphery.The expressions of C1 qb and C4 b genes in the OIR retina were significantly higher than those of the controls. The expression of retinal complement factor B(CFB) gene in OIR mice was significantly lower than those of the controls. However, the expressions of C3 and complement factor H(CFH) genes were higher. The protein synthesis of the key components involved in the CP(C1q, C4 and C3) were also significantly higher in OIR mouse retina. Although MBL-associated serine protease 1(MASP1) and MASP2 were detected in both the OIR and the control groups, the expressions were weak and the difference between the two groups was not significant.CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that the complement system CP is activated during the pathogenesis of murine model of OIR.
