Trans-acting factors controlling mRNA fate are critical for the post-transcriptional regulation of inflammation-related genes, as well as for oncogene and tumor suppressor expression in human cancers. Among them, a gr...Trans-acting factors controlling mRNA fate are critical for the post-transcriptional regulation of inflammation-related genes, as well as for oncogene and tumor suppressor expression in human cancers. Among them, a group of RNA-binding proteins called "Adenylate-Uridylate-rich elements binding proteins"(AUBPs)control mRNA stability or translation through their binding to AU-rich elements enriched in the 3'UTRs of inflammation-and cancer-associated mRNA transcripts. AUBPs play a central role in the recruitment of target mRNAs into small cytoplasmic foci called Processing-bodies and stress granules(also known as P-body/SG). Alterations in the expression and activities of AUBPs and Pbody/SG assembly have been observed to occur with colorectal cancer(CRC)progression, indicating the significant role AUBP-dependent post-transcriptional regulation plays in controlling gene expression during CRC tumorigenesis.Accordingly, these alterations contribute to the pathological expression of many early-response genes involved in prostaglandin biosynthesis and inflammation,along with key oncogenic pathways. In this review, we summarize the current role of these proteins in CRC development. CRC remains a major cause of cancer mortality worldwide and, therefore, targeting these AUBPs to restore efficient post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression may represent an appealing therapeutic strategy.展开更多
The present study established a rat model of vascular dementia induced by chronic cerebral hypoperfusion through permanent ligation of bilateral common carotid arteries.At 60 days after modeling,escape latency and swi...The present study established a rat model of vascular dementia induced by chronic cerebral hypoperfusion through permanent ligation of bilateral common carotid arteries.At 60 days after modeling,escape latency and swimming path length during hidden-platform acquisition training in Morris water maze significantly increased in the model group.In addition,the number of accurate crossings over the original platform significantly decreased,hippocampal CA1 synaptophysin and growth-associated protein 43 expression significantly decreased,cAMP response element-binding protein expression remained unchanged,and phosphorylated cAMP response element-binding protein expression significantly decreased.Results suggested that abnormal expression of hippocampal synaptic structural protein and cAMP response element-binding protein phosphorylation played a role in cognitive impairment following chronic cerebral hypoperfusion.展开更多
The extracellular signal-regulated kinase/cAMP response element-binding protein/brain-derived neurotrophic factor signal transduction pathway plays an important role in the mechanism of action of antidepressant drugs ...The extracellular signal-regulated kinase/cAMP response element-binding protein/brain-derived neurotrophic factor signal transduction pathway plays an important role in the mechanism of action of antidepressant drugs and has dominated recent studies on the pathogenesis of depression. In the present review we summarize the known roles of extracellular signal-regulated kinase, cAMP response element-binding protein and brain-derived neurotrophic factor in the pathogenesis of depression and in the mechanism of action of antidepressant medicines. The extracellular signal-regulated kinase/cAMP response element-binding protein/brain-derived neurotrophic factor pathway has potential to be used as a biological index to help diagnose depression, and as such it is considered as an important new target in the treatment of depression.展开更多
BACKGROUND Glucocorticoid modulatory element-binding protein 1(GMEB1),which has been identified as a transcription factor,is a protein widely expressed in various tissues.Reportedly,the dysregulation of GMEB1 is linke...BACKGROUND Glucocorticoid modulatory element-binding protein 1(GMEB1),which has been identified as a transcription factor,is a protein widely expressed in various tissues.Reportedly,the dysregulation of GMEB1 is linked to the genesis and development of multiple cancers.AIM To explore GMEB1’s biological functions in hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)and figuring out the molecular mechanism.METHODS GMEB1 expression in HCC tissues was analyzed employing the StarBase database.Immunohistochemical staining,Western blotting and quantitative realtime PCR were conducted to examine GMEB1 and Yes-associate protein 1(YAP1)expression in HCC cells and tissues.Cell counting kit-8 assay,Transwell assay and flow cytometry were utilized to examine HCC cell proliferation,migration,invasion and apoptosis,respectively.The JASPAR database was employed for predicting the binding site of GMEB1 with YAP1 promoter.Dual-luciferase reporter gene assay and chromatin immunoprecipitation-qPCR were conducted to verify the binding relationship of GMEB1 with YAP1 promoter region.RESULTS GMEB1 was up-regulated in HCC cells and tissues,and GMEB1 expression was correlated to the tumor size and TNM stage of HCC patients.GMEB1 overexpression facilitated HCC cell multiplication,migration,and invasion,and suppressed the apoptosis,whereas GMEB1 knockdown had the opposite effects.GMEB1 bound to YAP1 promoter region and positively regulated YAP1 expression in HCC cells.CONCLUSION GMEB1 facilitates HCC malignant proliferation and metastasis by promoting the transcription of the YAP1 promoter region.展开更多
Objective： To investigate the effect and molecular mechanism of Tiantai No.1 （天泰1号）, a compound Chinese herbal preparation, for the prevention and reduction of neurotoxicity induced by betaamyloid peptides （Ab...Objective： To investigate the effect and molecular mechanism of Tiantai No.1 （天泰1号）, a compound Chinese herbal preparation, for the prevention and reduction of neurotoxicity induced by betaamyloid peptides （Abeta） in vitro and its effects on nuclear factor-κB （NF-κB） and cAMP responsive element-binding protein （CREB） pathways using the gene transfection technique. Methods： B104 neuronal cells were used to examine the effects of Tiantai No.1 on lowering the neurotoxicity induced by Abeta. The cells were pre-treated with Tiantai No.1 at doses of 50, 100,150, or 200μg/mL respectively for 3 days and co-treated with Tiantai No.1 and beta-amyloid peptidel-40 （Aβ 1-40, 10 μmol/L） for 48 h or post-treated with Tiantai No.1 for 48 h after the cells were exposed to beta-amyloid peptides25-35 （Aβ 25-35） for 8 h. In gene transfection assays, cells were treated with Tiantai No.1 at 50 μg/mL and 150μg/mL for 5 days or co-treated with Tiantai No.1 and A 13 1-40 （5 μmo/L） for 3 days after electroporation for the evaluation of NF- κB and CREB expression. Results： Pre-treating and co-treating B104 neuronal cells with Tiantai No.1 lowered the neurotoxicity induced by Abeta, and post-treating with Tiantai No.1 reduced or blocked B104 neuronal apoptotic death induced by Abeta （P〈0.05, P〈0.01）. With a dose-dependent relationship, the same treatments increased the expression of NF-κB or CREB in B104 neuronal cells （P〈0.05, P〈0.01）. Meanwhile, Tiantai No.1 reduced Aβ-40 induced inhibition on NF-κB expression （P〈0.01）. Conclusions： Tiantai No.1 can protect neurons against the neurotoxicity induced by Abeta. The neuroprotective mechanisms may be associated with the activation of NF-κB and cAMP cellular signal pathways.展开更多
Virus-encoding RNA-dependent RNA polymerase(RdRp)is essential for genome replication and gene transcription of human coronaviruses(HCoVs),including severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2(SARS-CoV-2).We previo...Virus-encoding RNA-dependent RNA polymerase(RdRp)is essential for genome replication and gene transcription of human coronaviruses(HCoVs),including severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2(SARS-CoV-2).We previously identified the interaction between the catalytic subunit NSP12 of SARS-CoV-2 RdRp and the host protein CREB-regulated transcription coactivator 3(CRTC3),a member of the CRTC family that regulates cyclic AMP response element-binding protein(CREB)-mediated transcriptional activation.Currently,the implication of CRTC3 in the pathogenesis of HCoVs is poorly understood.Herein,we demonstrated that CRTC3 attenuates RdRp activity and SARS-CoV-2 genome replication,therefore reducing the production of progeny viruses.The interaction of CRTC3 with NSP12 contributes to its inhibitory effect on RdRp activity.Furthermore,we expanded the suppressive effects of two other CRTC family members(CRTC1 and CRTC2)on the RdRp activities of lethal HCoVs,including SARS-CoV-2 and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus(MERS-CoV),along with the CREB antagonization.Overall,our research suggests that CRTCs restrict the replication of HCoVs and are antagonized by CREB,which not only provides new insights into the replication regulation of HCoVs,but also offers important information for the development of anti-HCoV interventions.展开更多
The cyclic adenosine monophosphate(cAMP)response element-binding protein(CREB)is associated with multiple signaling pathways.The signaling pathways leading to epilepsy have been extensively studied and include the Ca^...The cyclic adenosine monophosphate(cAMP)response element-binding protein(CREB)is associated with multiple signaling pathways.The signaling pathways leading to epilepsy have been extensively studied and include the Ca^(2+)/CaMKiV/CREB pathway,the MAPK/CREB pathway,and the PI3K/Akt/CREB pathway.The regulation of transcription in cells requires CREB phosphorylation and dephosphorylation.Based on a review of the relevant literature,we found that increasing evidence demonstrates that drug-resistant epilepsy might be closely related to the upregulation and phosphorylation of CREB.Previous studies have shown that the mechanisms of epileptogenesis are associated with the over-excitability and sudden synchronous discharge of neurons.In turn,we have learned that inflammation produces proinflammatory factors that damage the bloodebrain barrier and activate microglia(MG)and astrocytes(AS).Activated MG and AS not only play neuroprotective roles,but also cause neuroinflammation,which in turn damages nerve cells through CREB-related signaling pathways,leading to reduced effectiveness of antiepileptic drugs and,ultimately,to drug resistance in patients with epilepsy.Therefore,we hypothesized that the formation of drug-resistant epilepsy is related to the regulation of CREB activation or phosphorylation in glial cells activated by chronic inflammation.展开更多
Neuronal nitric oxide synthase （nNOS） is mainly expressed in neurons,to some extent in astrocytes and neuronal stem cells.The alternative splicing of nNOS mRNA generates 5 isoforms of nNOS,including nNOS-,nNOS-,nNOS...Neuronal nitric oxide synthase （nNOS） is mainly expressed in neurons,to some extent in astrocytes and neuronal stem cells.The alternative splicing of nNOS mRNA generates 5 isoforms of nNOS,including nNOS-,nNOS-,nNOS-,nNOS-and nNOS-2.Monomer of nNOS is inactive,and dimer is the active form.Dimerization requires tetrahydrobiopterin （BH 4）,heme and L-arginine binding.Regulation of nNOS expression relies largely on cAMP response element-binding protein （CREB） activity,and nNOS activity is regulated by heat shock protein 90 （HSP90）/HSP70,calmodulin （CaM）,phosphorylation and dephosphorylation at Ser847 and Ser1412,and the protein inhibitor of nNOS （PIN）.There are primarily 9 nNOS-interacting proteins,including post-synaptic density protein 95 （PSD95）,clathrin assembly lymphoid leukemia （CALM）,calcium/calmodulindependent protein kinase II alpha （CAMKIIA）,Disks large homolog 4 （DLG4）,DLG2,6-phosphofructokinase,muscle type （PFK-M）,carboxy-terminal PDZ ligand of nNOS （CAPON） protein,syntrophin and dynein light chain （LC）.Among them,PSD95,CAPON and PFK-M are important nNOS adapter proteins in neurons.The interaction of PSD95 with nNOS controls synapse formation and is implicated in N-methyl-D-aspartic acid-induced neuronal death.nNOS-derived NO is implicated in synapse loss-mediated early cognitive/motor deficits in several neuropathological states,and negatively regulates neurogenesis under physiological and pathological conditions.展开更多
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD) and type 2 Diabetes Mellitus(T2 DM) are highly prevalent diseases and are closely associated, with NAFLD being present in the majority of T2 DM patients. In Asian traditional me...Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD) and type 2 Diabetes Mellitus(T2 DM) are highly prevalent diseases and are closely associated, with NAFLD being present in the majority of T2 DM patients. In Asian traditional medicine, Mori Cortex is widely used for the treatment of diabetes and hyperlipidemia. However, whether it has a therapeutic effect on T2 DM associated with NAFLD is still unknown. The present study showed that the oral treatment with Mori Cortex extract(MCE; 10 g·kg-1·d-1) lowered the blood lipid levels and reversed insulin resistance(IR) in high fat-diet/streptozotocin-induced type 2 diabetes in rats. The expression levels of sterol receptor element-binding protein-1 c(SREBP-1 c) and carbohydrate-responsive element binding protein(Ch REBP), which are involved in steatosis in NAFLD rats, were measured in the liver samples. MCE decreased the protein and m RNA expression levels of SREBP-1 c and Ch REBP. In conclusion, down-regulation of SREBP-1 c and Ch REBP might contribute to the protective effect of MCE on hepatic injury and IR in the rats with T2 DM associated with NAFLD.展开更多
Objective The rostral anterior cingulate cortex （rACC） is implicated in processing the emotional component of pain. N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors （NMDARs） are highly expressed in the rACC and mediate painrelated ...Objective The rostral anterior cingulate cortex （rACC） is implicated in processing the emotional component of pain. N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors （NMDARs） are highly expressed in the rACC and mediate painrelated affect by activating a signaling pathway that involves cyclic adenosine monophosphate （cAMP）/protein ki- nase A （PKA） and/or extracellular regulated kinase （ERK）/cAMP-response element-binding protein （CREB）. The present study investigated the contributions of the NMDAR glycine site and GluN2B subunit to the activation of ERK and CREB both in vitro and in vivo in rat rACC. Methods Immunohistochemistry and Western blot analy- sis were used to separately assess the expression of phospho-ERK （pERK） and phospho-CREB （pCREB） in vitro and in vivo. Double immunostaining was also used to determine the colocalization of pERK and pCREB. Results Both bath application of NMDA in brain slices in vitro and intraplantar injection of formalin into the rat hindpaw in vivo induced significant up-regulation of pERK and pCREB in the rACC, which was inhibited by the NMDAR antago- nist DL-2-amino-5-phospho-novaleric acid. Selective blockade of the NMDAR GluN2B subunit and the glycine- binding site, or degradation of endogenous D-serine, a co-agonist for the glycine site, significantly decreased the up- regulation of pERK and pCREB expression in the rACC. Further, the activated ERK predominantly colocalized with CREB. Conclusion Either the glycine site or the GluN2B subunit of NMDARs participates in the phosphorylation of ERK and CREB induced by bath application of NMDA in brain slices or hindpaw injection of 5% formalin in rats, and these might be fundamental molecular mechanisms underlying pain affect.展开更多
Farnesoid X receptor(FXR) is a member of the nuclear receptor superfamily of ligand-activated transcription factors.As a metabolic regulator,FXR plays key roles in bile acid and cholesterol metabolism and lipid and gl...Farnesoid X receptor(FXR) is a member of the nuclear receptor superfamily of ligand-activated transcription factors.As a metabolic regulator,FXR plays key roles in bile acid and cholesterol metabolism and lipid and glucose homeostasis.Therefore,FXR is a potential drug target for several metabolic syndromes,especially those related to lipidemia disorders.In the present study,we identified small molecule SIPI-7623,a derivative of an extract from Oriental wormwood(Artemisia capillaris),and found that it specifically upregulated the expression of cholesterol-7-alpha-hydroxylase(CYP7 A1),downregulated the expression of sterol-regulatory element-binding protein 1 c(SREBP-1 c) in the liver,and inhibited the expression of ileal bile acid binding-protein(IBABP) in the ileum of rats.We found that inhibition of FXR by SIPI-7623 decreased the level of cholesterol and triglyceride.SIPI-7623 reduced the levels of cholesterol and triglyceride in in vitro Hep G2 cell models,ameliorated diet-induced atherosclerosis,and decreased the serum lipid content on rats and rabbits model of atherosclerosis in vivo.Furthermore,SIPI-7623 decreased the extent of atherosclerotic lesions.Our resutls demonstrated that antagonism of the FXR pathway can be employed as a therapeutic strategy to treat metabolic diseases such as hyperlipidemia and atherosclerosis.In conclusion,SIPI-7623 could be a promising lead compound for development of drugs to treat hyperlipidemia and atherosclerosis.展开更多
Stress granules(SGs)represent important non-membrane cytoplasmic compartments,involved in cellular adaptation to various stressful conditions(e.g.,hypoxia,nutrient deprivation,oxidative stress).These granules contain ...Stress granules(SGs)represent important non-membrane cytoplasmic compartments,involved in cellular adaptation to various stressful conditions(e.g.,hypoxia,nutrient deprivation,oxidative stress).These granules contain several scaffold proteins and RNA-binding proteins,which bind to mRNAs and keep them translationally silent while protecting them from harmful conditions.Although the role of SGs in cancer development is still poorly known and vary between cancer types,increasing evidence indicate that the expression and/or the activity of several key SGs components are deregulated in colorectal tumors but also in pre-neoplastic conditions(e.g.,inflammatory bowel disease),thus suggesting a potential role in the onset of colorectal cancer(CRC).It is therefore believed that SGs formation importantly contributes to various steps of colorectal tumorigenesis but also in chemoresistance.As CRC is the third most frequent cancer and one of the leading causes of cancer mortality worldwide,development of new therapeutic targets is needed to offset the development of chemoresistance and formation of metastasis.Abolishing SGs assembly may therefore represent an appealing therapeutic strategy to re-sensitize colon cancer cells to anti-cancer chemotherapies.In this review,we summarize the current knowledge on SGs in colorectal cancer and the potential therapeutic strategies that could be employed to target them.展开更多
Fuzhuan brick-tea(FZT)has long been consumed for its supposed weight loss and lipid-lowering benefi ts.In this study,we show that the regulation of fat storage in Caenorhabditis elegans from a water extract of FZT was...Fuzhuan brick-tea(FZT)has long been consumed for its supposed weight loss and lipid-lowering benefi ts.In this study,we show that the regulation of fat storage in Caenorhabditis elegans from a water extract of FZT was affected by cholesterol levels.We found that FZT signifi cantly decreased fat storage under normal cholesterol levels or in a cholesterol-free diet,while lipid accumulation was increased for a high cholesterol diet.Moreover,this mechanism may involve the conserved sterol regulatory element-binding protein(SREBP)/mediator-15(MDT-15)signaling pathway and the nuclear hormone receptor NHR-80.In addition,lipid synthesis-related genes inhibited by FZT were partially affected by a cholesterol-free diet.Thus,our fi ndings suggested that the potential lipid-lowering effects of FZT may depend on the cholesterol level,which may help to improve the consumption of FZT.展开更多
Intravenous anesthetics are known to cause amnesia, but the underlying molecular mechanisms remain elusive. To identify a possible molecular mechanism, we recently turned our attention to a key intracellular signaling...Intravenous anesthetics are known to cause amnesia, but the underlying molecular mechanisms remain elusive. To identify a possible molecular mechanism, we recently turned our attention to a key intracellular signaling pathway organized by a family of mitogen-activated protein kinases （MAPKs）. As a prominent synapse-to-nucleus superhighway, MAPKs couple surface glutamate receptors to nuclear transcriptional events essential for the development and/or maintenance of different forms of synaptic plasticity （long-term potentiation and long-term depression） and memory formation. To define the role of MAPK-dependent transcription in the amnesic property of anesthetics, we conducted a series of studies to examine the effect of a prototype intravenous anesthetic propofol on the MAPK response to N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor （NMDAR） stimulation in hippocampal neurons. Our results suggest that propofol possesses the ability to inhibit NMDAR-mediated activation of a classic subclass of MAPKs, extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase 1/2 （ERK1/2）. Concurrent inhibition of transcriptional activity also occurs as a result of inhibited responses of ERK1/2 to NMDA. These findings provide first evidence for an inhibitory modulation of the NMDAR-MAPK pathway by an intravenous anesthetic and introduce a new avenue to elucidate a transcription-dependent mechanism processing the amnesic effect of anesthetics.展开更多
AIM： To study the effect of Daxx on cholesterol accumulation in hepatic cells. METHODS： Sprague Dawley （SD） rats were fed a normal or high fat diet for 6 wk, and serum lipids and Daxx expression of hepatic tissues...AIM： To study the effect of Daxx on cholesterol accumulation in hepatic cells. METHODS： Sprague Dawley （SD） rats were fed a normal or high fat diet for 6 wk, and serum lipids and Daxx expression of hepatic tissues were measured by immunoblot assays. HepG2 cells were transfected with the pEGFP-C1/Daxx or pEGFP-C1 plasmid. Cells stably transfected with Daxx were identified by RTPCR analysis. Total cholesterol levels were determined by high performance liquid chromatography. Activated- SREBP and caveolin-1 were assayed by western blotting. RESULTS： Hepatic Daxx protein was higher in normal rats than in high fat diet-fed rats. Noticeable negative correlations were seen between Daxx and LDL-C （γ=-7.56, ρ=0.018）, and between Daxx and TC （γ=-9.07, ρ= 0.01）, respectively. The total cholesterol of HepG2/GFP-Daxx cells was lower than that of control cells or HepG2/GFP cells （9.28±0.19 vs 14.36± 4.45 or 13.94±2.62, both P 〈 0.05）. Furthermore, in HepG2/GFP cells, the expression of activated SREBP was lower than that of control cells, whereas caveolin-1 expression was higher. CONCLUSION： Overexpression of Daxx in HepG2 cells decreased intracellular cholesterol accumulation, which might be associated with inhibition of SREBP activity and an increase in caveolin-1 expression.展开更多
AIM: To investigate a novel therapeutic strategy to target and suppress c-myc in human cancers using far up stream element (FUSE)-binding protein-interacting repressor (FIR).
Entacapone,a catechol-O-methyltransferase inhibitor,can strengthen the therapeutic effects of levodopa on the treatment of Parkinson’s disease.However,few studies are reported on whether entacapone can affect hippoca...Entacapone,a catechol-O-methyltransferase inhibitor,can strengthen the therapeutic effects of levodopa on the treatment of Parkinson’s disease.However,few studies are reported on whether entacapone can affect hippocampal neurogenesis in mice.To investigate the effects of entacapone,a modulator of dopamine,on proliferating cells and immature neurons in the mouse hippocampal dentate gyrus,60 mice(7 weeks old)were randomly divided into a vehicle-treated group and the groups treated with 10,50,or 200 mg/kg entacapone.The results showed that 50 and 200 mg/kg entacapone increased the exploration time for novel object recognition.Immunohistochemical staining results revealed that after entacapone treatment,the numbers of Ki67-positive proliferating cells,doublecortin-positive immature neurons,and phosphorylated cAMP response element-binding protein(pCREB)-positive cells were significantly increased.Western blot analysis results revealed that treatment with tyrosine kinase receptor B(TrkB)receptor antagonist significantly decreased the exploration time for novel object recognition and inhibited the expression of phosphorylated TrkB and brain-derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF).Entacapone treatment antagonized the effects of TrkB receptor antagonist.These results suggest that entacapone treatment promoted hippocampal neurogenesis and improved memory function through activating the BDNF-TrkB-pCREB pathway.This study was approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee of Seoul National University(approval No.SNU-130730-1)on February 24,2014.展开更多
Endometrial carcinoma(EMC)is associated with obesity;however,the underlying mechanisms have not yet been elucidated.Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha(PPARα)is a nuclear receptor that is involved in lip...Endometrial carcinoma(EMC)is associated with obesity;however,the underlying mechanisms have not yet been elucidated.Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha(PPARα)is a nuclear receptor that is involved in lipid,glucose,and energy metabolism.PPARαreportedly functions as a tumor suppressor through its effects on lipid metabolism;however,the involvement of PPARαin the development of EMC remains unclear.The present study demonstrated that the immunohistochemical expression of nuclear PPARαwas lower in EMC than in normal endometrial tissues,suggesting the tumor suppressive nature of PPARα.A treatment with the PPARαactivator,irbesartan,inhibited the EMC cell lines,Ishikawa and HEC1A,by down-regulating sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1(SREBP1)and fatty acid synthase(FAS)and up-regulating the tumor suppressor genes p21 and p27,antioxidant enzymes,and AT-rich interaction domain 1A(ARID1A).These results indicate the potential of the activation of PPARαas a novel therapeutic approach against EMC.展开更多
Extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase 5 （ERK5）, also known as big mitogen-activated protein kinase 1 （MAPK1）, is an important member of ERK family, which is a subfamily of the large MAPK family. ERK5 is ex...Extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase 5 （ERK5）, also known as big mitogen-activated protein kinase 1 （MAPK1）, is an important member of ERK family, which is a subfamily of the large MAPK family. ERK5 is expressed in many tissues, including the dorsal root ganglion （DRG） neurons and the spinal cord. In this review, we focus on elaborating ERK5-associated pathway in pathological pain, in which the ERK5/CREB （cyclic adenosine monophos- phate （cAMP）-response element-binding protein） pathway plays a crucial role in the transduction of pain signal and contributes to pain hypersensitivity. ERK5 activation in the spinal dorsal horn occurs mainly in microglia. The activation of ERK5 can be mediated by N-methyI-D-aspartate （NMDA） receptors. We also elaborate the relationship between ERK5 activation and nerve growth factor-tyrosine kinase A （NGF-TrkA）, and the connection between ERK5 activation and brain-derived neurotrophic factor （BDNF） in pathological pain in detail.展开更多
Sterol regulatory element-binding proteins(SREBPs)are a class of cholesterol-sensitive transcription factors that play important roles in lipid metabolism.Natural product inhibitors of SREBPs have been shown to inhibi...Sterol regulatory element-binding proteins(SREBPs)are a class of cholesterol-sensitive transcription factors that play important roles in lipid metabolism.Natural product inhibitors of SREBPs have been shown to inhibit the synthesis of free fatty acids and cholesterol,promote the burning of brown fat,and relieve insulin resistance by inhibiting different links during the synthesis,cleavage,and transport of SREBPs,thereby improving obesity,diabetes,atherosclerosis,and other metabolic diseases and disorders.There are numerous Chinese herbal medicines with verified efficacy in the treatment of metabolic diseases,including Coptis chinensis Franch.and Pueraria peduncularis Grah.for diabetes,Pueraria peduncularis Grah.,Epimedium brevicornum Maxim.,and Panax ginseng C.A.Meyer for osteoporosis,and Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn.and Poria cocos(Schw.)Wolf.for obesity.Present-day research on the mechanisms underlying the activity of traditional Chinese medicine has indicated that certain chemical components of these traditional preparations can be used to treat metabolic diseases by inhibiting SREBPs.Progress in the research on natural product SREBP inhibitors is continuing apace,and the mechanisms of action of certain small molecules have become well established.In this study,we review recent progress in the research on natural small-molecule inhibitors of SREBPs,including flavonoids,saponins,triterpenoids,and alkaloids,which we hope will provide a useful reference for future research and development of drugs for the treatment of metabolic diseases.展开更多
基金Supported by the National Institutes of Health/National Cancer Institute Cancer Center Support grant P30 CA168524(DD)supported by a grant of the Geneva Cancer League(Grant no.1711)
文摘Trans-acting factors controlling mRNA fate are critical for the post-transcriptional regulation of inflammation-related genes, as well as for oncogene and tumor suppressor expression in human cancers. Among them, a group of RNA-binding proteins called "Adenylate-Uridylate-rich elements binding proteins"(AUBPs)control mRNA stability or translation through their binding to AU-rich elements enriched in the 3'UTRs of inflammation-and cancer-associated mRNA transcripts. AUBPs play a central role in the recruitment of target mRNAs into small cytoplasmic foci called Processing-bodies and stress granules(also known as P-body/SG). Alterations in the expression and activities of AUBPs and Pbody/SG assembly have been observed to occur with colorectal cancer(CRC)progression, indicating the significant role AUBP-dependent post-transcriptional regulation plays in controlling gene expression during CRC tumorigenesis.Accordingly, these alterations contribute to the pathological expression of many early-response genes involved in prostaglandin biosynthesis and inflammation,along with key oncogenic pathways. In this review, we summarize the current role of these proteins in CRC development. CRC remains a major cause of cancer mortality worldwide and, therefore, targeting these AUBPs to restore efficient post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression may represent an appealing therapeutic strategy.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.30973782the National Natural Science Foundation for the Youth,No.81001693+1 种基金the Natural Science Foundation of Beijing,No.7102014,7122018the Science and Technology Foundation for Chinese Medicine in Beijing,No.JJ2008-042
文摘The present study established a rat model of vascular dementia induced by chronic cerebral hypoperfusion through permanent ligation of bilateral common carotid arteries.At 60 days after modeling,escape latency and swimming path length during hidden-platform acquisition training in Morris water maze significantly increased in the model group.In addition,the number of accurate crossings over the original platform significantly decreased,hippocampal CA1 synaptophysin and growth-associated protein 43 expression significantly decreased,cAMP response element-binding protein expression remained unchanged,and phosphorylated cAMP response element-binding protein expression significantly decreased.Results suggested that abnormal expression of hippocampal synaptic structural protein and cAMP response element-binding protein phosphorylation played a role in cognitive impairment following chronic cerebral hypoperfusion.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.81202620the Domestic Visiting Scholar Program for Young Talent Teachers in University of Shandong Province
文摘The extracellular signal-regulated kinase/cAMP response element-binding protein/brain-derived neurotrophic factor signal transduction pathway plays an important role in the mechanism of action of antidepressant drugs and has dominated recent studies on the pathogenesis of depression. In the present review we summarize the known roles of extracellular signal-regulated kinase, cAMP response element-binding protein and brain-derived neurotrophic factor in the pathogenesis of depression and in the mechanism of action of antidepressant medicines. The extracellular signal-regulated kinase/cAMP response element-binding protein/brain-derived neurotrophic factor pathway has potential to be used as a biological index to help diagnose depression, and as such it is considered as an important new target in the treatment of depression.
文摘BACKGROUND Glucocorticoid modulatory element-binding protein 1(GMEB1),which has been identified as a transcription factor,is a protein widely expressed in various tissues.Reportedly,the dysregulation of GMEB1 is linked to the genesis and development of multiple cancers.AIM To explore GMEB1’s biological functions in hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)and figuring out the molecular mechanism.METHODS GMEB1 expression in HCC tissues was analyzed employing the StarBase database.Immunohistochemical staining,Western blotting and quantitative realtime PCR were conducted to examine GMEB1 and Yes-associate protein 1(YAP1)expression in HCC cells and tissues.Cell counting kit-8 assay,Transwell assay and flow cytometry were utilized to examine HCC cell proliferation,migration,invasion and apoptosis,respectively.The JASPAR database was employed for predicting the binding site of GMEB1 with YAP1 promoter.Dual-luciferase reporter gene assay and chromatin immunoprecipitation-qPCR were conducted to verify the binding relationship of GMEB1 with YAP1 promoter region.RESULTS GMEB1 was up-regulated in HCC cells and tissues,and GMEB1 expression was correlated to the tumor size and TNM stage of HCC patients.GMEB1 overexpression facilitated HCC cell multiplication,migration,and invasion,and suppressed the apoptosis,whereas GMEB1 knockdown had the opposite effects.GMEB1 bound to YAP1 promoter region and positively regulated YAP1 expression in HCC cells.CONCLUSION GMEB1 facilitates HCC malignant proliferation and metastasis by promoting the transcription of the YAP1 promoter region.
文摘Objective： To investigate the effect and molecular mechanism of Tiantai No.1 （天泰1号）, a compound Chinese herbal preparation, for the prevention and reduction of neurotoxicity induced by betaamyloid peptides （Abeta） in vitro and its effects on nuclear factor-κB （NF-κB） and cAMP responsive element-binding protein （CREB） pathways using the gene transfection technique. Methods： B104 neuronal cells were used to examine the effects of Tiantai No.1 on lowering the neurotoxicity induced by Abeta. The cells were pre-treated with Tiantai No.1 at doses of 50, 100,150, or 200μg/mL respectively for 3 days and co-treated with Tiantai No.1 and beta-amyloid peptidel-40 （Aβ 1-40, 10 μmol/L） for 48 h or post-treated with Tiantai No.1 for 48 h after the cells were exposed to beta-amyloid peptides25-35 （Aβ 25-35） for 8 h. In gene transfection assays, cells were treated with Tiantai No.1 at 50 μg/mL and 150μg/mL for 5 days or co-treated with Tiantai No.1 and A 13 1-40 （5 μmo/L） for 3 days after electroporation for the evaluation of NF- κB and CREB expression. Results： Pre-treating and co-treating B104 neuronal cells with Tiantai No.1 lowered the neurotoxicity induced by Abeta, and post-treating with Tiantai No.1 reduced or blocked B104 neuronal apoptotic death induced by Abeta （P〈0.05, P〈0.01）. With a dose-dependent relationship, the same treatments increased the expression of NF-κB or CREB in B104 neuronal cells （P〈0.05, P〈0.01）. Meanwhile, Tiantai No.1 reduced Aβ-40 induced inhibition on NF-κB expression （P〈0.01）. Conclusions： Tiantai No.1 can protect neurons against the neurotoxicity induced by Abeta. The neuroprotective mechanisms may be associated with the activation of NF-κB and cAMP cellular signal pathways.
基金supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32071236)the National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars(32225001)+6 种基金the 1.3.5 Project for Disciplines Excellence of West China Hospital,Sichuan University(ZYGD23018)Key Science and Technology Research Projects in Key Areas of the Corps(2023AB053)the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2022YFC2303700)the Joint Project of Pengzhou People's Hospital with Southwest Medical University(2024PZXNYD02)Project funded by China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(2020M683304)Sichuan Science and Technology Support Project(2021YJ0502)Post-Doctor Research Project,West China Hospital,Sichuan University(2020HXBH082).
文摘Virus-encoding RNA-dependent RNA polymerase(RdRp)is essential for genome replication and gene transcription of human coronaviruses(HCoVs),including severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2(SARS-CoV-2).We previously identified the interaction between the catalytic subunit NSP12 of SARS-CoV-2 RdRp and the host protein CREB-regulated transcription coactivator 3(CRTC3),a member of the CRTC family that regulates cyclic AMP response element-binding protein(CREB)-mediated transcriptional activation.Currently,the implication of CRTC3 in the pathogenesis of HCoVs is poorly understood.Herein,we demonstrated that CRTC3 attenuates RdRp activity and SARS-CoV-2 genome replication,therefore reducing the production of progeny viruses.The interaction of CRTC3 with NSP12 contributes to its inhibitory effect on RdRp activity.Furthermore,we expanded the suppressive effects of two other CRTC family members(CRTC1 and CRTC2)on the RdRp activities of lethal HCoVs,including SARS-CoV-2 and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus(MERS-CoV),along with the CREB antagonization.Overall,our research suggests that CRTCs restrict the replication of HCoVs and are antagonized by CREB,which not only provides new insights into the replication regulation of HCoVs,but also offers important information for the development of anti-HCoV interventions.
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.H0913/82001380,H0913/81760245).
文摘The cyclic adenosine monophosphate(cAMP)response element-binding protein(CREB)is associated with multiple signaling pathways.The signaling pathways leading to epilepsy have been extensively studied and include the Ca^(2+)/CaMKiV/CREB pathway,the MAPK/CREB pathway,and the PI3K/Akt/CREB pathway.The regulation of transcription in cells requires CREB phosphorylation and dephosphorylation.Based on a review of the relevant literature,we found that increasing evidence demonstrates that drug-resistant epilepsy might be closely related to the upregulation and phosphorylation of CREB.Previous studies have shown that the mechanisms of epileptogenesis are associated with the over-excitability and sudden synchronous discharge of neurons.In turn,we have learned that inflammation produces proinflammatory factors that damage the bloodebrain barrier and activate microglia(MG)and astrocytes(AS).Activated MG and AS not only play neuroprotective roles,but also cause neuroinflammation,which in turn damages nerve cells through CREB-related signaling pathways,leading to reduced effectiveness of antiepileptic drugs and,ultimately,to drug resistance in patients with epilepsy.Therefore,we hypothesized that the formation of drug-resistant epilepsy is related to the regulation of CREB activation or phosphorylation in glial cells activated by chronic inflammation.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No. 30971021,81030023 and 30901550)
文摘Neuronal nitric oxide synthase （nNOS） is mainly expressed in neurons,to some extent in astrocytes and neuronal stem cells.The alternative splicing of nNOS mRNA generates 5 isoforms of nNOS,including nNOS-,nNOS-,nNOS-,nNOS-and nNOS-2.Monomer of nNOS is inactive,and dimer is the active form.Dimerization requires tetrahydrobiopterin （BH 4）,heme and L-arginine binding.Regulation of nNOS expression relies largely on cAMP response element-binding protein （CREB） activity,and nNOS activity is regulated by heat shock protein 90 （HSP90）/HSP70,calmodulin （CaM）,phosphorylation and dephosphorylation at Ser847 and Ser1412,and the protein inhibitor of nNOS （PIN）.There are primarily 9 nNOS-interacting proteins,including post-synaptic density protein 95 （PSD95）,clathrin assembly lymphoid leukemia （CALM）,calcium/calmodulindependent protein kinase II alpha （CAMKIIA）,Disks large homolog 4 （DLG4）,DLG2,6-phosphofructokinase,muscle type （PFK-M）,carboxy-terminal PDZ ligand of nNOS （CAPON） protein,syntrophin and dynein light chain （LC）.Among them,PSD95,CAPON and PFK-M are important nNOS adapter proteins in neurons.The interaction of PSD95 with nNOS controls synapse formation and is implicated in N-methyl-D-aspartic acid-induced neuronal death.nNOS-derived NO is implicated in synapse loss-mediated early cognitive/motor deficits in several neuropathological states,and negatively regulates neurogenesis under physiological and pathological conditions.
基金supported by Ningbo Science and Technology Innovation Team Program(No.2014B82002)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.81370165,81501421,and 31301068)+1 种基金the Natural Science Foundation of Ningbo(Nos.2013A610209 and 2015A610217)Fang Runhua Fund of Hong Kong and K.C.Wong Magna Fund of Ningbo University
文摘Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD) and type 2 Diabetes Mellitus(T2 DM) are highly prevalent diseases and are closely associated, with NAFLD being present in the majority of T2 DM patients. In Asian traditional medicine, Mori Cortex is widely used for the treatment of diabetes and hyperlipidemia. However, whether it has a therapeutic effect on T2 DM associated with NAFLD is still unknown. The present study showed that the oral treatment with Mori Cortex extract(MCE; 10 g·kg-1·d-1) lowered the blood lipid levels and reversed insulin resistance(IR) in high fat-diet/streptozotocin-induced type 2 diabetes in rats. The expression levels of sterol receptor element-binding protein-1 c(SREBP-1 c) and carbohydrate-responsive element binding protein(Ch REBP), which are involved in steatosis in NAFLD rats, were measured in the liver samples. MCE decreased the protein and m RNA expression levels of SREBP-1 c and Ch REBP. In conclusion, down-regulation of SREBP-1 c and Ch REBP might contribute to the protective effect of MCE on hepatic injury and IR in the rats with T2 DM associated with NAFLD.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (30900444,31070973,30870835,31121061 and 30830044)
文摘Objective The rostral anterior cingulate cortex （rACC） is implicated in processing the emotional component of pain. N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors （NMDARs） are highly expressed in the rACC and mediate painrelated affect by activating a signaling pathway that involves cyclic adenosine monophosphate （cAMP）/protein ki- nase A （PKA） and/or extracellular regulated kinase （ERK）/cAMP-response element-binding protein （CREB）. The present study investigated the contributions of the NMDAR glycine site and GluN2B subunit to the activation of ERK and CREB both in vitro and in vivo in rat rACC. Methods Immunohistochemistry and Western blot analy- sis were used to separately assess the expression of phospho-ERK （pERK） and phospho-CREB （pCREB） in vitro and in vivo. Double immunostaining was also used to determine the colocalization of pERK and pCREB. Results Both bath application of NMDA in brain slices in vitro and intraplantar injection of formalin into the rat hindpaw in vivo induced significant up-regulation of pERK and pCREB in the rACC, which was inhibited by the NMDAR antago- nist DL-2-amino-5-phospho-novaleric acid. Selective blockade of the NMDAR GluN2B subunit and the glycine- binding site, or degradation of endogenous D-serine, a co-agonist for the glycine site, significantly decreased the up- regulation of pERK and pCREB expression in the rACC. Further, the activated ERK predominantly colocalized with CREB. Conclusion Either the glycine site or the GluN2B subunit of NMDARs participates in the phosphorylation of ERK and CREB induced by bath application of NMDA in brain slices or hindpaw injection of 5% formalin in rats, and these might be fundamental molecular mechanisms underlying pain affect.
基金supported by Shanghai Committee of Science and Technology(No.16431903500)
文摘Farnesoid X receptor(FXR) is a member of the nuclear receptor superfamily of ligand-activated transcription factors.As a metabolic regulator,FXR plays key roles in bile acid and cholesterol metabolism and lipid and glucose homeostasis.Therefore,FXR is a potential drug target for several metabolic syndromes,especially those related to lipidemia disorders.In the present study,we identified small molecule SIPI-7623,a derivative of an extract from Oriental wormwood(Artemisia capillaris),and found that it specifically upregulated the expression of cholesterol-7-alpha-hydroxylase(CYP7 A1),downregulated the expression of sterol-regulatory element-binding protein 1 c(SREBP-1 c) in the liver,and inhibited the expression of ileal bile acid binding-protein(IBABP) in the ileum of rats.We found that inhibition of FXR by SIPI-7623 decreased the level of cholesterol and triglyceride.SIPI-7623 reduced the levels of cholesterol and triglyceride in in vitro Hep G2 cell models,ameliorated diet-induced atherosclerosis,and decreased the serum lipid content on rats and rabbits model of atherosclerosis in vivo.Furthermore,SIPI-7623 decreased the extent of atherosclerotic lesions.Our resutls demonstrated that antagonism of the FXR pathway can be employed as a therapeutic strategy to treat metabolic diseases such as hyperlipidemia and atherosclerosis.In conclusion,SIPI-7623 could be a promising lead compound for development of drugs to treat hyperlipidemia and atherosclerosis.
基金Supported by Geneva Cancer League,No.1711National Institutes of Health,No.R01 CA243445and National Cancer Institute Cancer Center Support Grant,No.P30 CA168524.
文摘Stress granules(SGs)represent important non-membrane cytoplasmic compartments,involved in cellular adaptation to various stressful conditions(e.g.,hypoxia,nutrient deprivation,oxidative stress).These granules contain several scaffold proteins and RNA-binding proteins,which bind to mRNAs and keep them translationally silent while protecting them from harmful conditions.Although the role of SGs in cancer development is still poorly known and vary between cancer types,increasing evidence indicate that the expression and/or the activity of several key SGs components are deregulated in colorectal tumors but also in pre-neoplastic conditions(e.g.,inflammatory bowel disease),thus suggesting a potential role in the onset of colorectal cancer(CRC).It is therefore believed that SGs formation importantly contributes to various steps of colorectal tumorigenesis but also in chemoresistance.As CRC is the third most frequent cancer and one of the leading causes of cancer mortality worldwide,development of new therapeutic targets is needed to offset the development of chemoresistance and formation of metastasis.Abolishing SGs assembly may therefore represent an appealing therapeutic strategy to re-sensitize colon cancer cells to anti-cancer chemotherapies.In this review,we summarize the current knowledge on SGs in colorectal cancer and the potential therapeutic strategies that could be employed to target them.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(31801547)Some C.elegans strains were provided by CGC,which is funded by the NIH Office of Research Infrastructure Programs.
文摘Fuzhuan brick-tea(FZT)has long been consumed for its supposed weight loss and lipid-lowering benefi ts.In this study,we show that the regulation of fat storage in Caenorhabditis elegans from a water extract of FZT was affected by cholesterol levels.We found that FZT signifi cantly decreased fat storage under normal cholesterol levels or in a cholesterol-free diet,while lipid accumulation was increased for a high cholesterol diet.Moreover,this mechanism may involve the conserved sterol regulatory element-binding protein(SREBP)/mediator-15(MDT-15)signaling pathway and the nuclear hormone receptor NHR-80.In addition,lipid synthesis-related genes inhibited by FZT were partially affected by a cholesterol-free diet.Thus,our fi ndings suggested that the potential lipid-lowering effects of FZT may depend on the cholesterol level,which may help to improve the consumption of FZT.
文摘Intravenous anesthetics are known to cause amnesia, but the underlying molecular mechanisms remain elusive. To identify a possible molecular mechanism, we recently turned our attention to a key intracellular signaling pathway organized by a family of mitogen-activated protein kinases （MAPKs）. As a prominent synapse-to-nucleus superhighway, MAPKs couple surface glutamate receptors to nuclear transcriptional events essential for the development and/or maintenance of different forms of synaptic plasticity （long-term potentiation and long-term depression） and memory formation. To define the role of MAPK-dependent transcription in the amnesic property of anesthetics, we conducted a series of studies to examine the effect of a prototype intravenous anesthetic propofol on the MAPK response to N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor （NMDAR） stimulation in hippocampal neurons. Our results suggest that propofol possesses the ability to inhibit NMDAR-mediated activation of a classic subclass of MAPKs, extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase 1/2 （ERK1/2）. Concurrent inhibition of transcriptional activity also occurs as a result of inhibited responses of ERK1/2 to NMDA. These findings provide first evidence for an inhibitory modulation of the NMDAR-MAPK pathway by an intravenous anesthetic and introduce a new avenue to elucidate a transcription-dependent mechanism processing the amnesic effect of anesthetics.
基金The National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 30470719 and 30600249The National Major Basic Research Program of China (973), No. 2006CB503808The Sanitarian Research Foundation of Hunan province, No. B2004-078
文摘AIM： To study the effect of Daxx on cholesterol accumulation in hepatic cells. METHODS： Sprague Dawley （SD） rats were fed a normal or high fat diet for 6 wk, and serum lipids and Daxx expression of hepatic tissues were measured by immunoblot assays. HepG2 cells were transfected with the pEGFP-C1/Daxx or pEGFP-C1 plasmid. Cells stably transfected with Daxx were identified by RTPCR analysis. Total cholesterol levels were determined by high performance liquid chromatography. Activated- SREBP and caveolin-1 were assayed by western blotting. RESULTS： Hepatic Daxx protein was higher in normal rats than in high fat diet-fed rats. Noticeable negative correlations were seen between Daxx and LDL-C （γ=-7.56, ρ=0.018）, and between Daxx and TC （γ=-9.07, ρ= 0.01）, respectively. The total cholesterol of HepG2/GFP-Daxx cells was lower than that of control cells or HepG2/GFP cells （9.28±0.19 vs 14.36± 4.45 or 13.94±2.62, both P 〈 0.05）. Furthermore, in HepG2/GFP cells, the expression of activated SREBP was lower than that of control cells, whereas caveolin-1 expression was higher. CONCLUSION： Overexpression of Daxx in HepG2 cells decreased intracellular cholesterol accumulation, which might be associated with inhibition of SREBP activity and an increase in caveolin-1 expression.
基金Supported by In part by the 21st Century COE(Center Of Ex-cellence)Programs to Dr.Takenori Ochiaiby a Grant-in-Aid 18591453 to K.M from the Ministry of Education,Science,Sports and Culture of Japan
文摘AIM: To investigate a novel therapeutic strategy to target and suppress c-myc in human cancers using far up stream element (FUSE)-binding protein-interacting repressor (FIR).
基金supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea(NRF)grant funded by the Korea Government(MSIP)(NRF-2016R1A2B4009156)the Promising-Pioneering Researcher Program through Seoul National University(SNU)in 2015 and by the Research Institute for Veterinary Science,Seoul National University.
文摘Entacapone,a catechol-O-methyltransferase inhibitor,can strengthen the therapeutic effects of levodopa on the treatment of Parkinson’s disease.However,few studies are reported on whether entacapone can affect hippocampal neurogenesis in mice.To investigate the effects of entacapone,a modulator of dopamine,on proliferating cells and immature neurons in the mouse hippocampal dentate gyrus,60 mice(7 weeks old)were randomly divided into a vehicle-treated group and the groups treated with 10,50,or 200 mg/kg entacapone.The results showed that 50 and 200 mg/kg entacapone increased the exploration time for novel object recognition.Immunohistochemical staining results revealed that after entacapone treatment,the numbers of Ki67-positive proliferating cells,doublecortin-positive immature neurons,and phosphorylated cAMP response element-binding protein(pCREB)-positive cells were significantly increased.Western blot analysis results revealed that treatment with tyrosine kinase receptor B(TrkB)receptor antagonist significantly decreased the exploration time for novel object recognition and inhibited the expression of phosphorylated TrkB and brain-derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF).Entacapone treatment antagonized the effects of TrkB receptor antagonist.These results suggest that entacapone treatment promoted hippocampal neurogenesis and improved memory function through activating the BDNF-TrkB-pCREB pathway.This study was approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee of Seoul National University(approval No.SNU-130730-1)on February 24,2014.
基金supported by JSPS KAKENHI Grant Number 18K09285.
文摘Endometrial carcinoma(EMC)is associated with obesity;however,the underlying mechanisms have not yet been elucidated.Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha(PPARα)is a nuclear receptor that is involved in lipid,glucose,and energy metabolism.PPARαreportedly functions as a tumor suppressor through its effects on lipid metabolism;however,the involvement of PPARαin the development of EMC remains unclear.The present study demonstrated that the immunohistochemical expression of nuclear PPARαwas lower in EMC than in normal endometrial tissues,suggesting the tumor suppressive nature of PPARα.A treatment with the PPARαactivator,irbesartan,inhibited the EMC cell lines,Ishikawa and HEC1A,by down-regulating sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1(SREBP1)and fatty acid synthase(FAS)and up-regulating the tumor suppressor genes p21 and p27,antioxidant enzymes,and AT-rich interaction domain 1A(ARID1A).These results indicate the potential of the activation of PPARαas a novel therapeutic approach against EMC.
基金supported by the Medical and Healthcare Project of Zhejiang Province(No.2015119381),China
文摘Extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase 5 （ERK5）, also known as big mitogen-activated protein kinase 1 （MAPK1）, is an important member of ERK family, which is a subfamily of the large MAPK family. ERK5 is expressed in many tissues, including the dorsal root ganglion （DRG） neurons and the spinal cord. In this review, we focus on elaborating ERK5-associated pathway in pathological pain, in which the ERK5/CREB （cyclic adenosine monophos- phate （cAMP）-response element-binding protein） pathway plays a crucial role in the transduction of pain signal and contributes to pain hypersensitivity. ERK5 activation in the spinal dorsal horn occurs mainly in microglia. The activation of ERK5 can be mediated by N-methyI-D-aspartate （NMDA） receptors. We also elaborate the relationship between ERK5 activation and nerve growth factor-tyrosine kinase A （NGF-TrkA）, and the connection between ERK5 activation and brain-derived neurotrophic factor （BDNF） in pathological pain in detail.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(81903871)Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province(BK20190565)Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(2632021ZD16).
文摘Sterol regulatory element-binding proteins(SREBPs)are a class of cholesterol-sensitive transcription factors that play important roles in lipid metabolism.Natural product inhibitors of SREBPs have been shown to inhibit the synthesis of free fatty acids and cholesterol,promote the burning of brown fat,and relieve insulin resistance by inhibiting different links during the synthesis,cleavage,and transport of SREBPs,thereby improving obesity,diabetes,atherosclerosis,and other metabolic diseases and disorders.There are numerous Chinese herbal medicines with verified efficacy in the treatment of metabolic diseases,including Coptis chinensis Franch.and Pueraria peduncularis Grah.for diabetes,Pueraria peduncularis Grah.,Epimedium brevicornum Maxim.,and Panax ginseng C.A.Meyer for osteoporosis,and Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn.and Poria cocos(Schw.)Wolf.for obesity.Present-day research on the mechanisms underlying the activity of traditional Chinese medicine has indicated that certain chemical components of these traditional preparations can be used to treat metabolic diseases by inhibiting SREBPs.Progress in the research on natural product SREBP inhibitors is continuing apace,and the mechanisms of action of certain small molecules have become well established.In this study,we review recent progress in the research on natural small-molecule inhibitors of SREBPs,including flavonoids,saponins,triterpenoids,and alkaloids,which we hope will provide a useful reference for future research and development of drugs for the treatment of metabolic diseases.
