Presence Of Wortmannin Research Articles

8‐Prenylkaempferol Suppresses Influenza A Virus‐Induced RANTES Production in A549 Cells via Blocking PI3K‐Mediated Transcriptional Activation of NF‐κB and IRF3

8-Prenylkaempferol (8-PK) is a prenylflavonoid isolated from Sophora flavescens, a Chinese herb with antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties. In this study, we investigated its effect on regulated activation, normal T cell expressed and secreted (RANTES) secretion by influenza A virus (H1N1)-infected A549 alveolar epithelial cells. Cell inoculation with H1N1 evoked a significant induction in RANTES accumulation accompanied with time-related increase in nuclear translocation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and interferon regulatory factor 3 (IRF-3), but showed no effect on c-Jun phosphorylation. 8-PK could significantly inhibit not only RANTES production but also NF-κB and IRF-3 nuclear translocation. We had proved that both NF-κB and IRF-3 participated in H1N1-induced RANTES production since NF-κB inhibitor pyrrolidinedithio carbamate (PDTC) and IRF-3 siRNA attenuated significantly RANTES accumulation. H1N1 inoculation also increased PI3K activity as well as Akt phosphorylation and such responsiveness were attenuated by 8-PK. In the presence of wortmannin, nuclear translocation of NF-κB and IRF3 as well as RANTES production by H1N1 infection were all reversed, demonstrating that PI3K-Akt pathway is essential for NF-κB- and IRF-3-mediated RANTES production in A549 cells. Furthermore, 8-PK but not wortmannin, prevented effectively H1N1-evoked IκB degradation. In conclusion, 8-PK might be an anti-inflammatory agent for suppressing influenza A virus-induced RANTES production acts by blocking PI3K-mediated transcriptional activation of NF-κB and IRF-3 and in part by interfering with IκB degradation which subsequently decreases NF-κB translocation.

FgTep1p is linked to the phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase signalling pathway and plays a role in the virulence of Fusarium graminearum on wheat.

Both mammalian tensin-like phosphatase 1 [TEP1; also known as phosphatase deleted on chromosome 10 (PTEN) or mutated in multiple advanced cancer 1 (MMAC1)] and Saccharomyces cerevisiae ScTep1p are involved in the phosphatidylinositol pathway. In this study, we identified the Fusarium graminearum locus FGSG_04982.3 (named FgTEP1) as the functional homologue of ScTEP1 in the sensitivity of S. cerevisiae cells to wortmannin, the phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase inhibitor. Deletion of FgTEP1 causes F. graminearum mycelial growth to become sensitive to lithium and reduces the production of conidia. Although conidia lacking FgTEP1 germinate normally, they show reduced germination efficiency in the presence of wortmannin. In addition, we showed that deletion of FgTEP1 reduces the virulence of F. graminearum on wheat. These results indicate that FgTep1p is linked to the phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase signalling pathway in this plant fungal pathogen.

Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors C and D Induces Proliferation of Lymphangioleiomyomatosis Cells through Autocrine Crosstalk with Endothelium

Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) is a potentially fatal lung disease characterized by nodules of proliferative smooth muscle-like cells. The exact nature of these LAM cells and their proliferative stimuli are poorly characterized. Herein we report the novel findings that the lymphangiogenic vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGF) C and D induce LAM cell proliferation through activation of their cognate receptor VEGF-R3 and activation of the signaling intermediates Akt/mTOR/S6. Furthermore, we identify expression of the proteoglycan NG2, a marker of immature smooth muscle cells, as a characteristic of LAM cells both in vitro and in human lung tissue. VEGF-C-induced LAM cell proliferation was in part a result of autocrine stimulation that resulted from cross talk with lymphatic endothelial cells. Ultimately, these findings identify the lymphangiogenic VEGF proteins as pathogenic growth factors in LAM disease and at the same time provide a novel pharmacotherapeutic target for a lung disease that to date has no known effective treatment.

Sevoflurane‐ and Desflurane‐induced human myocardial post‐conditioning through Phosphatidylinositol‐3‐kinase/Akt signalling

The role of phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K) in sevoflurane- and desflurane-induced myocardial post-conditioning remains unknown. We recorded isometric contraction of isolated human right atrial trabeculae (oxygenated Tyrode's at 34 degrees C, stimulation frequency 1 Hz). In all groups, a 30-min hypoxic period was followed by a 60-min reoxygenation period. At the onset of reoxygenation, muscles were exposed to 5 min of sevoflurane 1%, 2%, and 3%, and desflurane 3%, 6%, and 9%. In separate groups, sevoflurane 2% and desflurane 6% were administered in the presence of 100 nM wortmannin, a PI3K inhibitor. Recovery of force after the 60-min reoxygenation period was compared between groups (mean +/- SD). As compared with the Control group (49 +/- 7% of baseline) PostC by sevoflurane 1%, 2%, and 3% (78 +/- 4%, 79 +/- 5%, and 85 +/- 4% of baseline, respectively) and desflurane 3%, 6%, and 9% (74 +/- 5%, 84 +/- 4%, and 86 +/- 11% of baseline, respectively) enhanced the recovery of force. This effect was abolished in the presence of wortmannin (56 +/- 5% of baseline for sevoflurane 2%+wortmannin; 56 +/- 3% of baseline for desflurane 6%+wortmannin). Wortmannin alone had no effect on the recovery of force (57 +/- 7% of baseline). In vitro, sevoflurane and desflurane post-conditioned human myocardium against hypoxia through activation of phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase.

Endothelin-1 Inhibits Thick Ascending Limb Transport via Akt-stimulated Nitric Oxide Production

Endothelin-1 inhibits sodium reabsorption in the thick ascending limb (THAL) via stimulation of nitric oxide (NO) production. The mechanism whereby endothelin-1 stimulates THAL NO is unknown. We hypothesized that endothelin-1 stimulates THAL NO production by activating phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), stimulating Akt activity, and phosphorylating NOS3 at Ser1177. This enhances NO production and inhibits sodium transport. We measured 1) NO production by fluorescence microscopy using DAF2-DA, 2) Akt activity using a fluorescence resonance energy transfer-based Akt reporter, 3) phosphorylated NOS3 and Akt by Western blotting, and 4) NKCC2 activity by fluorescence microscopy. In isolated THAL, endothelin-1 (1 nmol/liter) increased NO production from 0.23 +/- 0.24 to 2.81 +/- 0.32 fluorescence units/min (p < 0.001; n = 5) but failed to stimulate NO production in THALs isolated from NOS3-/- mice. Wortmannin (150 nmol/liter), a PI3K inhibitor, reduced endothelin-1-stimulated NO by 83% (0.49 +/- 0.13 versus 3.31 +/- 0.49 fluorescence units/min for endothelin-1 alone; p < 0.006; n = 5). Endothelin-1 stimulated Akt activity by 0.16 +/- 0.02 arbitrary units as measured by fluorescence resonance energy transfer (p < 0.001; n = 5) and increased phosphorylation of Akt at Ser473 by 56 +/- 11% (p < 0.002; n = 7). Dominant-negative Akt blocked endothelin-1-induced NO by 60 +/- 8% (p < 0.001 versus control; n = 6), and an Akt inhibitor had a similar effect. Endothelin-1 increased phosphorylation of NOS3 at Ser1177 by 89 +/- 24% (p < 0.01; n = 7) but had no effect on Ser633. Endothelin-1 inhibited NKCC2 activity, an effect that was blocked by dominant-negative Akt and NOS inhibition. We conclude that endothelin-1 stimulates THAL NO production by activating PI3K, stimulating Akt activity, and phosphorylating NOS3 at Ser1177. This enhances NO production and inhibits sodium transport.

Interference of Some Modulators of Protein Phosphorylation and Ion Transport with Lactoferrin Stimulatory Effect on Erythrocyte Glycolysis

ABSTRACTThe aim of the present study was to test the ability of Lf to participate in the cell signals involved in the glycolysis control. We tested the Lf's effect on the lactate generation in the presence of some modulators of the protein phosphorylation (protein kinase and protein phosphatase inhibitors) and some modulators of the ion transport (calmodulin, W-7, amiloride and ouabain). Statistically reliable decrease of the Lf's stimulatory effect was found in the presence of wortmannin (with 45%, p<0.001), caffeine (with 18%, p<0.05), calmodulin (CaM) (with 22%, p<0.005), amiloride and ouabain (with 42% and 35%, resp., p<0.001). W-7, a CaM antagonist, enhanced the stimulatory effect of Lf with 42% (p<0.001). The PKC inhibitors did not change the effect of Lf. Our present results showed that Lf probably utilizes PI3К - and MAPK- dependent signals and is involved in cross-talks with CaM signaling.

CD300f Triggering Modifies Myeloid Cell Function

CD300f, a member of the CD300 family of immunoregulatory molecules, is capable of signalling through association with both SHP-1 phosphatase and the p85α subunit of phosphoinositide 3-kinase. On normal cells, CD300f is expressed on monocytes and dendritic cells in the blood and bone marrow. CD300f is expressed on myeloid derived cell lines and Acute Myeloid Leukaemias (AMLs) and is an acknowledged candidate for antibody targeting of AML (Modra CJ et al. Blood 2006; 108:225B-225B and Zhao X et al Blood 2007; 110:531a–532a). We have generated a monoclonal antibody, MMRI- 23, specific for the extracellular domain of CD300f. MMRI-23 immunoprecipitates a 57kd protein from the myeloid derived cell lines HEL, THP-1 and U937 and this protein binds to a polyclonal antibody to CD300f (LMIR3) in Western blot analysis. Binding of MMRI-23 to myeloid cells was blocked by the CD300f recombinant proteins or the polyclonal CD300f antibody. The MMRI-23 mAb was used as a surrogate ligand to study the functional consequences of crosslinking CD300f on normal monocytes and myeloid derived cell lines. Purified peripheral blood monocytes were cultured for 18 hours in the presence of immobilised MMRI-23 or control mAb. MMRI-23 binding was not altered by activation of peripheral blood monocytes but crosslinking monocytes with MMRI- 23 induced downregulation of CD14 and CD33. There was significant inhibition of IL-6 but not IL-1β, IL-8 or TNFα secretion. Crosslinking monocytes or the U937 cell line with MMRI-23 increased specific chemotaxis towards CXCL12 (SDF-1). This increased migration index following MMRI-23 crosslinking was reversed in the presence of wortmannin indicating that MMRI-23 induces signalling through phosphoinositide 3-kinase. The effect of crosslinking did not enhance CXCR4 upregulation but did induce localization of CD300f and CXCR4 to the lipid rafts in myeloid cell line, U937. Thus CD300f plays a significant role in the regulation of monocyte migration to CXCR4. As CD300f is upregulated on around 70% of AMLs, this regulation of homing has major implications for the treatment of AML.

Phosphatidylinositol-bisphosphate regulates intercellular coupling in cardiac myocytes

Changes in the lipid composition of cardiac myocytes have been reported during cardiac hypertrophy, cardiomyopathy, and infarction. Because a recent study indicates a relation between low phosphatidylinositol-bisphosphate (PIP(2)) levels and reduced intercellular coupling, we tested the hypothesis that agonist-induced changes in PIP(2) can result in a reduction of the functional coupling of cardiomyocytes and, consequently, in changes in conduction velocity. Intercellular coupling was measured by Lucifer Yellow dye transfer in cultured neonatal rat cardiomyocytes. Conduction velocity was measured in cardiomyocytes grown on microelectrode arrays. Intercellular coupling was reduced by angiotensin II (43.7 +/- 9.3%, N = 11) and noradrenaline (58.0 +/- 10.7%, N = 11). To test if reduced intercellular coupling after agonist stimulation was caused by PIP(2)-depletion, myocytes were stimulated by angiotensin II (57.3 +/- 5.7%, N = 14) and then allowed to recover in medium with or without wortmannin (an inhibitor of PIP(2) synthesis). Intercellular coupling fully recovered in control medium (102.1 +/- 8.9%, N = 10), whereas no recovery occurred in the presence of wortmannin (69.3 +/- 7.8%, N = 12). Inhibition of PKC, calmodulin, or arachidonic acid production did not affect the response to either angiotensin II or noradrenaline. Furthermore, decreasing or increasing PIP(2) also decreased and increased intercellular coupling, respectively. This supports the role of PIP(2) in the regulation of intercellular coupling. In beating myocytes, conduction velocity was reduced by angiotensin II stimulation, and recovery after wash out was prevented by inhibition of PIP(2) production. Reductions in PIP(2) inhibit intercellular coupling in cardiomyocytes, and stimulation by physiologically relevant agonists reduces intercellular coupling by this mechanism. The reduction in intercellular coupling lowered conduction velocity.

High Glucose Enhances Transient Receptor Potential Channel Canonical Type 6–Dependent Calcium Influx in Human Platelets via Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase–Dependent Pathway

Transient receptor potential canonical type 6 (TRPC6) channels mediating 1-oleoyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycerol (OAG)-induced calcium entry have been identified on human platelets. In the present study we tested the hypothesis that hyperglycemia increases the expression of TRPC6 channels. Platelets from healthy control subjects and patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus were incubated with glucose and calcium influx was measured using the fluorescent dye technique. TRPC channel protein expression was investigated using immunofluorescence and fluorescence microscopy of single platelets. Administration of 25 mmol/L glucose significantly enhanced the OAG-induced calcium influx, which was attenuated by inhibitors of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, wortmannin or LY294002. The glucose-enhanced and OAG-induced calcium influx was concentration- and time-dependent. Glucose significantly increased the TRPC6 protein expression in platelets to 131+/-12% (n=33; P<0.05), whereas the expression of TRPC1, TRPC3, TRPC4, or TRPC5 were unchanged. The glucose-induced TRPC6 expression was significantly attenuated in the presence of wortmannin or LY294002. Platelets from patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus showed increased TRPC6 expression compared to nondiabetic individuals (P<0.05). The study indicates that high glucose increases TRPC6 channel protein expression on the platelet surface which is mediated by a phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-dependent pathway.

Acquisition of cell polarity during cell cycle and oral replacement in Tetrahymena

The aim of this study was to search for a mechanism responsible for the acquisition of cell polarity in a ciliate Tetrahymena. Homologs of the mammalian genes coding for CDC42-GSK3beta- MARK/PAR1-MAPs proteins were found in the Tetrahymena genome (Eisen et al., 2006, and this study). These proteins belong to a pathway which controls assembly and disassembly of microtubule bundles and cell polarity in neural cells. In Tetrahymena, there are two types of morphogenesis: divisional and oral replacement (OR). In divisional morphogenesis, an elongation of longitudinal microtubule bundles (LMs) takes place during cell division. In contrast, in OR type morphogenesis, which occurs in starved non-dividing cells, a polar retraction of LMs occurs. In T. pyriformis, the frequency of developmental switch to OR morphogenesis increases in the presence of wortmannin, an inhibitor of the CDC42-GSK3beta-MARK pathway. In contrast, wortmannin when applied to dividing cells does not affect divisional morphogenesis. Using immunostaining with the antibody against mammalian mitotic phosphoproteins (MPM-2) we show that these proteins co-localize with the LMs and are distributed along the anterior-posterior gradient. In addition, we show that during OR type morphogenesis, the fate of LMs correlates with the anterior-posterior gradient of instability of the cortical structures. We used the conditional mouth-less mutant of T. thermophila (Tiedtke et al., 1988) to test if the presence of the oral apparatus is required for the maintenance of cell polarity. We discuss our results in relation to the hypothesis of GSK3-beta-MARK pathway involvement in the acquisition of cell polarity in Tetrahymena.

Interplay of PI3K and cAMP/PKA signaling, and rapamycin-hypersensitivity in TGFβ1 enhancement of FSH-stimulated steroidogenesis in rat ovarian granulosa cells

Transforming growth factor (TGF) beta1 facilitates FSH-induced differentiation of rat ovarian granulosa cells. The signaling crosstalk between follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and TGFbeta receptors remains unclear. This study was to investigate the interplay of cAMP/protein kinase A (PKA) and phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K) signaling including mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR)C1 dependence in FSH- and TGFbeta1-stimulated steroidogenesis in rat granulosa cells. To achieve this aim, inhibitors of PKA (PKAI), PI3K (wortmannin), and mTORC1 (rapamycin) were employed. PKAI and wortmannin suppressions of the FSH-increased progesterone production were partly attributed to decreased level of 3beta-HSD, and their suppression of the FSH plus TGFbeta1 effect was attributed to the reduction of all the three key players, steroidogenic acute regulatory (StAR) protein, P450scc, and 3beta-HSD. Further, FSH activated the PI3K pathway including increased integrin-linked kinase (ILK) activity and phosphorylation of Akt(S473), mTOR(S2481), S6K(T389), and transcription factors particularly FoxO1(S256) and FoxO3a(S253), which were reduced by wortmannin treatment but not by PKAI. Interestingly, PKAI suppression of FSH-induced phosphorylation of cAMP regulatory element-binding protein (CREB(S133)) disappeared in the presence of wortmannin, suggesting that wortmannin may affect intracellular compartmentalization of signaling molecule(s). In addition, TGFbeta1 had no effect on FSH-activated CREB and PI3K signaling mediators. We further found that rapamycin reduced the TGFbeta1-enhancing effect of FSH-stimulated steroidogenesis, yet it exhibited no effect on FSH action. Surprisingly, rapamycin displayed a suppressive effect at concentrations that had no effect on mTORC1 activity. Together, this study demonstrates a delicate interplay between cAMP/PKA and PI3K signaling in FSH and TGFbeta1 regulation of steroidogenesis in rat granulosa cells. Furthermore, we demonstrate for the first time that TGFbeta1 acts in a rapamycin-hypersensitive and mTORC1-independent manner in augmenting FSH-stimulated steroidogenesis in rat granulosa cells.

Myosin Light Chain Kinase Is Not a Regulator of Synaptic Vesicle Trafficking during Repetitive Exocytosis in Cultured Hippocampal Neurons

The mechanism by which synaptic vesicles (SVs) are recruited to the release site is poorly understood. One candidate mechanism for trafficking of SVs is the myosin-actin motor system. Myosin activity is modulated by myosin light chain kinase (MLCK), which in turn is activated by calmodulin. Ca(2+) signaling in presynaptic terminals, therefore, may serve to regulate SV mobility along actin filaments via MLCK. Previous studies in different types of synapses have supported such a hypothesis. Here, we further investigated the role of MLCK in neurotransmitter release at glutamatergic synapses in cultured hippocampal neurons by examining the effects of two MLCK inhibitors, 1-(5-iodonaphthalene-1-sulfonyl)-1H-hexahydro-1,4-diazepine.HCl (ML-7) and wortmannin. Bath application of ML-7 enhanced short-term depression of EPSCs to repetitive stimulation, whereas it reduced presynaptic release probability. However, ML-7 also inhibited action potential amplitude and voltage-gated Ca(2+) channel currents. These effects were not mimicked by wortmannin, suggesting that ML-7 was not specific to MLCK in hippocampal neurons. When SV exocytosis was directly triggered by a Ca(2+) ionophore, calcimycin, to bypass voltage-gated Ca(2+) channels, ML-7 had no effect on neurotransmitter release. Furthermore, when SV exocytosis elicited by electrical field stimulation was monitored by styryl dye, FM1-43 [N-(3-triethylammoniumpropyl)-4-(4-(dibutylamino)styryl)pyridinium dibromide], the unloading kinetics of the dye was not altered in the presence of wortmannin. These data indicate that MLCK is not a major regulator of presynaptic SV trafficking during repetitive exocytosis at hippocampal synapses.

GSK-3β regulation in skeletal muscles by adrenaline and insulin: Evidence that PKA and PKB regulate different pools of GSK-3

We have recently shown that while adrenaline alone has no effect on the activation of Protein Kinase B (PKB) in rat soleus muscle, it greatly potentiates the effects of insulin (Brennesvik et al., Cellular Signalling 17: 1551–1559, 2005). In the current study we went on to investigate whether this was paralleled by a similar effect on GSK-3, which is a major PKB target. Surprisingly adrenaline alone increased phosphorylation of GSK-3β Ser 9 and GSK-3α Ser 21 and adrenaline's effects were additive with those of insulin but did not synergistically potentiate insulin action. Dibutyryl-cAMP (5 mM) and the PKA specific cAMP analogue N 6-Benzoyl-cAMP (2 mM) increased GSK-3β Ser 9 phosphorylation, whereas the Epac specific cAMP analogue 8-(4-chlorophenylthio)-2′- O-methyl-cAMP (1 mM) did not. Wortmannin (PI 3-kinase inhibitor; 1 μM) blocked insulin-stimulated GSK-3 phosphorylation completely, but adrenaline increased GSK-3β Ser 9 phosphorylation in the presence of wortmannin. The PKA inhibitor H89 (50 μM) reduced adrenaline-stimulated GSK-3β Ser 9 phosphorylation but did not influence the effects of insulin. Insulin-stimulated GSK-3 Ser 9 phosphorylation was paralleled by decreased glycogen synthase phosphorylation at the sites phosphorylated by GSK-3 as expected. However, adrenaline-stimulated GSK-3 Ser 9 phosphorylation was paralleled by increased glycogen synthase phosphorylation indicating this pool of GSK-3 may not be directly involved in phosphorylation of glycogen synthase. Our results indicate the existence of at least two distinct pools of GSK-3β in soleus muscle, one phosphorylated by PKA and another by PKB. Further, we hypothesise that each of these pools is involved in the control of different cellular processes.

The PPAR-γ agonist pioglitazone increases neoangiogenesis and prevents apoptosis of endothelial progenitor cells

PPAR-γ agonists (thiazolidinediones, TZDs) may improve endothelial function independently of insulin sensitizing. Bone marrow-derived endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) contribute to neoangiogenesis. Mice were treated with pioglitazone, 20 mg/kg/day for 10 days. Treatment with TZD upregulated circulating Sca-1/VEGFR-2 positive EPC in the blood (235 ± 60%) and the bone marrow (166 ± 30%), cultured spleen-derived DiLDL/lectin positive EPC increased to 231 ± 21% ( n = 24 per group). Upregulation of EPC was persistent after 20 days. TZD increased SDF-1-induced migratory capacity per number of EPC by 246 ± 73% and increased expression of telomere repeat-binding factor 2 by 320 ± 50%. In vivo neoangiogenesis was increased two-fold (214 ± 42%, 20 days). The NOS inhibitor l-NAME did not inhibit the TZD-induced upregulation of EPC. EPC from TZD-treated animals showed reduced in vivo apoptosis (65 ± 2.8% of vehicle). In cultured human EPC, pre-treatment with pioglitazone prevented H 2O 2-induced apoptosis. Inhibition of EPC apoptosis by TZD was abolished in the presence of wortmannin but not by LNMA. In summary, TZD upregulates both number and functional capacity of endothelial progenitor cells. Pioglitazone prevents apoptosis of EPC in mice as well as in human EPC in a PI3K-dependent but NO-independent manner. Reduction of EPC apoptosis by TZD may be a potentially beneficial mechanism for patients with vascular diseases.

Myocardial protection during reperfusion by administration of caspase-3 inhibitor is mediated via PI3 kinase survival pathway

Apoptosis contributes significantly to cardiomyocyte death during ischaemia reperfusion injury. Caspase family proteases play an essential role in the execution of apoptosis. Caspase inhibitors have been found to be cardioprotective, although there is a question as to the specificity of these class of compounds. Adult cardiac myocytes were subjected to 6 h simulated ischaemia and 18 h reoxygenation (SIR). The broad spectrum caspase inhibitor (z-VAD.fmk, 0.1 μM) was administered at reoxygenation in the absence or presence of Wortmannin (Wort, 5 nM, PI3-kinase inhibitor). Cell viability (using flow cytometry) was determined by annexin-V and sytox green as a measure of apoptosis and necrosis, respectively, caspase 3 activity was also assessed. Results are summarised in the table below. z-VAD.fmk significantly reduced apoptosis and necrosis after 18 h reoxygenation compared to the SIR control. To examine whether the anti-apoptotic effects of the caspase-3 inhibitor involved activation of PI3-kinase, z-VAD.fmk was simultaneously administered with the PI3-kinase inhibitor Wort to the adult rat myocytes during reoxygenation. Wort completely abolished the anti-apoptotic effects of z-VAD.fmk and also reversed the reduction in caspase-3 activity induced by z-VAD.fmk back to control SIR levels. These studies are the first to show that the caspase inhibitor z-VAD.fmk reduces apoptosis through a PI3-kinase-dependent cell survival pathway.

Amino acids require glucose to enhance, through phosphoinositide-dependent protein kinase 1, the insulin-activated protein kinase B cascade in insulin-resistant rat adipocytes

Amino acids are well known to activate the mammalian target of the rapamycin (mTOR) pathway in synergy with insulin to regulate cell functions. Despite recent important advances, the mTOR signalling pathway is poorly understood. Our previous results revealed a new pathway in which amino acids permit insulin-induced activation of the protein kinase B (PKB)/mTOR pathway in freshly isolated adipocytes when phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) is inhibited. The aim of this study was to further investigate this pathway at the molecular level. We studied the effect of amino acids on PKB phosphorylation in different cellular models or in freshly isolated adipocytes incubated in different buffers, after a time course of insulin and amino acids and in the presence of pharmacological inhibitors. To investigate the potential role of amino acids in insulin action, the effect on glucose transport in obese rat adipocytes following a high-fat diet was assessed. Insulin-induced PKB phosphorylation is restored by amino acids in the presence of wortmannin in adipose tissue explants and freshly isolated adipocytes, but not in cultured adipocytes or hepatocytes. Moreover, amino acids require the presence of glucose to phosphorylate PKB and to partially rescue glucose transport in a PI3K-independent manner. The results also suggest that the amino acids act through the phosphoinositide-dependent protein kinase 1. In addition, amino acids were seen to improve insulin-stimulated glucose transport in adipocytes from high-fat-fed rats. This study suggests that amino acids could enhance adipocyte insulin signalling in pathophysiological situations such as insulin resistance associated with obesity.

Estrogen Prevents Cardiomyocyte Apoptosis through Inhibition of Reactive Oxygen Species and Differential Regulation of p38 Kinase Isoforms

From human and animal studies, estrogen is known to protect the myocardium from an ischemic insult. However, there is limited knowledge regarding mechanisms by which estrogen directly protects cardiomyocytes. In this report, we employed an in vitro model, in which cultured rat cardiomyocytes underwent prolonged hypoxia followed by reoxygenation (H/R), to study the cardioprotective mechanism of estrogen. 17-beta-estradiol (E2) acting via estrogen receptors inhibited H/R-induced apoptosis of cardiomyocytes. Mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated from H/R activated p38alpha MAPK, and inhibition of p38alpha with SB203580 significantly prevented H/R-induced cell death. E2 suppressed ROS formation and p38alpha activation by H/R and concomitantly augmented the activity of p38beta. Unlike p38alpha, p38beta was little affected by H/R. Dominant negative p38beta protein expression decreased E2-mediated cardiomyocyte survival and ROS suppression during H/R stress. The prosurvival signaling molecule, phosphoinositol-3 kinase (PI3K), has previously been linked to cell survival following ischemia-reperfusion injury. Here, E2-activated PI3K was found to inhibit ROS generated from H/R injury, leading to inhibition of downstream p38alpha. We further linked these signaling pathways in that p38beta was activated by E2 stimulation of PI3K. Thus, E2 differentially modulated two major isoforms of p38, leading to cardiomyocyte survival. This was achieved by signaling through PI3K, integrating cell survival mediators.

The principal eosinophil peroxidase product, HOSCN, is a uniquely potent phagocyte oxidant inducer of endothelial cell tissue factor activity: a potential mechanism for thrombosis in eosinophilic inflammatory states

AbstractIn vivo, bromide (Br–), nitrite (NO2–), and thiocyanate (SCN–) compete for oxidation by eosinophil peroxidase (EPO) and H2O2, yielding, respectively, HOBr, NO2·, and HOSCN. We have recently shown that SCN– is the strongly preferred substrate for EPO in vivo and that HOSCN, in contrast with other EPO-generated oxidants and HOCl, is a relatively weak, cell-permeant, sulfhydryl (SH)–reactive oxidant. We here show that HOSCN is a uniquely potent (up to 100-fold) phagocyte oxidant inducer of tissue factor (TF) activity in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). This induction is attributable to transcriptional up-regulation of TF gene expression dependent upon both activation of the p65/c-Rel TF-κB transcription factor and activity of the ERK1/2 kinase pathway upstream of Egr-1 and was markedly further enhanced in the presence of wortmannin, an inhibitor of the PI3 kinase/Akt pathway. HOSCN also markedly activates the proinflammatory p65/p50 NF-κB pathway. Based on these findings we hypothesize that HOSCN generated by adherent and infiltrating eosinophils may provoke the development of a prothrombotic and proinflammatory endothelial/endocardial phenotype that promotes the pronounced thrombotic diathesis characteristic of the hypereosinophilic syndrome.

Identification and Preliminary SAR Studies of (+)-Geodin as a Glucose Uptake Stimulator for Rat Adipocytes

(+)-Geodin (1) was isolated from Penicillium glabrum AJ117540 with activity that stimulates glucose uptake by rat adipocytes. Unlike insulin it is active in the presence of wortmannin. Dihydrogeodin (2) and sulochrin (3) which are the precursors of (+)-geodin biosynthesis were also isolated from the same fungus. Preliminary SAR studies of 1 showed some analogues had enhanced activity. Especially, the activities of racemic geodin and dibromo analogue (7a) were comparable to that of the natural product. Geodin (1), a known fungal metabolite, was isolated from Penicillium glabrum AJ117540 as an active substance (Fig. 1). Dihydrogeodin (2) and sulochrin (3), the precursors of 1, were also isolated from the same fungal extract. In this study, preliminary mechanistic insight and SAR are reported.

Brain‐derived neurotrophic factor induces a rapid dephosphorylation of tau protein through a PI‐3Kinase signalling mechanism

The microtubule-associated protein tau is essential for microtubule stabilization in neuronal axons. Hyperphosphorylation and intracellular fibrillar formation of tau protein is a pathology found in Alzheimer's disease (AD) brains, and in a variety of neurodegenerative disorders referred to as 'taupathies'. In the present study, we investigated how brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), an extracellular factor that is down-regulated in AD brains, affects tau phosphorylation. BDNF stimulation of neuronally differentiated P19 mouse embryonic carcinoma cells resulted in a rapid decrease in tau phosphorylation, at phosphorylation sites recognized by Tau 1, AT 8, AT 180 and p 262-Tau antibodies. K 252 a, a tyrosine receptor kinase (Trk) inhibitor, attenuated this dephosphorylation event, suggesting that BNDF activation of TrkB is responsible for the tau dephosphorylation. In addition, BDNF had no affect on tau phosphorylation in the presence of wortmannin, a PI-3 Kinase inhibitor, or lithium, a GSK 3 beta inhibitor, suggesting that these two kinases are part of the signaling transduction cascade leading from TrkB receptor activation to tau dephosphorylation. These results suggest a link between a correlate of AD, decrease in BDNF levels and an AD pathology, tau hyperphosphorylation.