p21-Activated kinase1 (Pak1) is a negative regulator of NADPH-oxidase 2 in ventricular myocytes

Physiological and cellular mechanisms of ischemic preconditioning microRNAs-mediated in underlying of ischemia/reperfusion injury in different organs

Ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury, as a pathological phenomenon, takes place when blood supply to an organ is disrupted and then aggravated during restoration of blood flow. Ischemic preconditioning (IPC) is a potent method for attenuating subsequent events of IR damage in numerous organs. IPC protocol is determined by a brief and sequential time periods of I/R before the main ischemia. MicroRNAs are endogenous non-coding RNAs that regulate post-transcriptionally target mRNA translation via degrading it and/or suppressing protein synthesis. This review introduces the physiological and cellular mechanisms of ischemic preconditioning microRNAs-mediated after I/R insult in different organs such as the liver, kidney, heart, brain, and intestine. Data of this review have been collected from the scientific articles published in databases such as Science Direct, Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, and Scientific Information Database from 2000 to 2023. Based on these literature studies, IPC/IR intervention can affect cellular mechanisms including oxidative stress, apoptosis, angiogenesis, and inflammation through up-regulation or down-regulation of multiple microRNAs and their target genes.

P21-activated kinase-1 signaling is required to preserve adipose tissue homeostasis and cardiac function

While P21-activated kinase-1 (PAK1) has been extensively studied in relation to cardiovascular health and glucose metabolism, its roles within adipose tissue and cardiometabolic diseases are less understood. In this study, we explored the effects of PAK1 deletion on energy balance, adipose tissue homeostasis, and cardiac function utilizing a whole-body PAK1 knockout (PAK1-/-) mouse model. Our findings revealed that body weight differences between PAK1-/- and WT mice emerged at 9 weeks of age, with further increases observed at 12 weeks. Furthermore, PAK1-/- mice displayed increased fat mass and decreased lean mass at 12 weeks, indicating a shift towards adiposity. In conjunction with the increased body weight, PAK1-/- mice had increased food intake and reduced energy expenditure. At a mechanistic level, PAK1 deletion boosted the expression of lipogenic markers while diminishing thermogenic markers expression in adipose tissues, contributing to reduced energy expenditure and the overall obesogenic phenotype. Moreover, our findings highlighted a significant impact on cardiac function following PAK1 deletion, including alterations in calcium kinetics and compromised systolic and lusitropy functions. In summary, our study emphasizes the significant role of PAK1 in weight regulation and cardiac function, enriching our comprehension of heart health and metabolism. These findings could potentially facilitate the identification of novel therapeutic targets in cardiometabolic diseases.

Role of CCRL2 in the Pathogenesis of Experimental Autoimmune Myocarditis via P21-Activated Kinase 1/NOD-Like Receptor Protein 3 Pathway

Myocarditis, a severe inflammatory disease, is becoming a worldwide public health concern. This study aims to elucidate the effect of Chemokine (C C motif) receptor-like 2 (CCRL2) in experimental autoimmune myocarditis (EAM) occurrence and its potential regulatory mechanisms.EAM was simulated in a mouse model injected with α-myosin-heavy chain. The changes on EAM were assessed through histological staining of heart tissues, including measuring cardiac troponin I (cTnI), proinflammatory cytokines, transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay, and cardiac function. Then, the heart tissues from the EAM mouse model and control groups were analyzed through transcriptome sequencing to identify the differential expressed genes (DEGs) and hub genes related to pyroptosis. Downregulation of CCRL2 further verified the function of CCRL2 on EAM and p21-activated kinase 1/NOD-like receptor protein 3 (PAK/NLRP3) signaling pathways in vivo.The EAM model was constructed successfully, with the heart weight/body weight ratio, serum level of cTnI, and concentrations of proinflammatory cytokines elevation. Moreover, cell apoptosis was also significantly increased. Transcriptome sequencing revealed 696 and 120 upregulated and downregulated DEGs, respectively. After functional enrichment, CCRL2 was selected as a potential target. Then, we verified that CCRL2 knockdown improved cardiac function, alleviated EAM occurrence, and reduced PAK/NLRP3 protein expression.CCRL2 may act as a novel potential treatment target in EAM by regulating the PAK1/NLRP3 pathway.

The role of P21-activated kinase (Pak1) in sinus node function

Sinoatrial node (SAN) dysfunction (SND) and atrial arrhythmia frequently occur simultaneously with a hazard ratio of 4.2 for new onset atrial fibrillation (AF) in SND patients. In the atrial muscle attenuated activity of p21-activated kinase 1 (Pak1) increases the risk for AF by enhancing NADPH oxidase 2 dependent production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). However, the role of Pak1 dependent ROS regulation in SAN function has not yet been determined. We hypothesize that Pak1 activity maintains SAN activity by regulating the expression of the hyperpolarization activated cyclic nucleotide gated cation channel (HCN). To determine Pak1 dependent changes in heart rate (HR) regulation we quantified the intrinsic sinus rhythm in wild type (WT) and Pak1 deficient (Pak1-/-) mice of both sexes in vivo and in isolated Langendorff perfused hearts. Pak1-/- hearts displayed an attenuated HR in vivo after autonomic blockage and in isolated hearts. The contribution of the Ca2+ clock to pacemaker activity remained unchanged, but Ivabradine (3 μM), a blocker of HCN channels that are a membrane clock component, eliminated the differences in SAN activity between WT and Pak1-/- hearts. Reduced HCN4 expression was confirmed in Pak1-/- right atria. The reduced HCN activity in Pak1-/- could be rescued by class II HDAC inhibition (LMK235), ROS scavenging (TEMPOL) or attenuation of Extracellular Signal-Regulated Kinase (ERK) 1/2 activity (SCH772984). No sex specific differences in Pak1 dependent SAN regulation were determined. Our results establish Pak1 as a class II HDAC regulator and a potential therapeutic target to attenuate SAN bradycardia and AF susceptibility.

Combination of PAKs inhibitors IPA-3 and PF-3758309 effectively suppresses colon carcinoma cell growth by perturbing DNA damage response

PURPOSE

PAKs proteins are speculated as new promising targets for cancer therapy due to their central role in many oncogenic pathways. Because PAKs proteins are very significant during carcinogenesis, we aimed to investigate the hypothesis that inhibition of PAKs with IPA-3 and PF-3758309 treatment could synergistically reduce colon carcinoma cell growth.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The cytotoxic effects of both drugs were determined by a cell viability assay. Cell cycle and apoptosis were analyzed by flow cytometry. The effects of inhibitor drugs on marker genes of apoptosis, autophagy, cell cycle, and DNA damage were tested via immunoblotting.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS

We found out the synergistic effect of these drugs in pair on five colon cancer cell lines. Combined treatment with IPA-3+PF-3758309 in SW620 and Colo 205 cells markedly suppressed colon formation and induced apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, and autophagy compared with treatment with each drug alone. Additionally, this combination sensitized colon cancer cells to ionizing radiation that resulted in inhibition of cell growth.

SIGNIFICANCE

Collectively, our findings show for the first time that cotreatment of IPA-3 with PF-3758309 exhibits superior inhibitory effects on colon carcinoma cell growth via inducing DNA damage-related cell death and also enforces a cell cycle arrest.

Inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor - reactive oxygen signaling domain regulates excitation-contraction coupling in atrial myocytes

The inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor (InsP₃R) is up-regulated in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and InsP₃-induced Ca²⁺ release (IICR) is linked to pro-arrhythmic spontaneous Ca²⁺ release events. Nevertheless, knowledge of the physiological relevance and regulation of InsP₃Rs in atrial muscle is still limited. We hypothesize that InsP₃R and NADPH oxidase 2 (NOX2) form a functional signaling domain where NOX2 derived reactive oxygen species (ROS) regulate InsP₃R agonist affinity and thereby Ca²⁺ release. To quantitate the contribution of IICR to atrial excitation-contraction coupling (ECC) atrial myocytes (AMs) were isolated from wild type and NOX2 deficient (Nox2^-/-) mice and changes in the cytoplasmic Ca²⁺ concentration ([Ca²⁺]_i; fluo-4/AM, indo-1) or ROS (2',7'-dichlorofluorescein, DCF) were monitored by fluorescence microscopy. Superfusion of AMs with Angiotensin II (AngII: 1 μmol/L) significantly increased diastolic [Ca²⁺]_i (F/F₀, Ctrl: 1.00 ± 0.01, AngII: 1.20 ± 0.03; n = 7; p < 0.05), the field stimulation induced Ca²⁺ transient (CaT) amplitude (ΔF/F₀, Ctrl: 2.00 ± 0.17, AngII: 2.39 ± 0.22, n = 7; p < 0.05), and let to the occurrence of spontaneous increases in [Ca²⁺]_i. These changes in [Ca²⁺]_i were suppressed by the InsP₃R blocker 2-aminoethoxydiphenyl-borate (2-APB; 1 μmol/L). Concomitantly, AngII induced an increase in ROS production that was sensitive to the NOX2 specific inhibitor gp91ds-tat (1 μmol/L). In NOX2^-/- AMs, AngII failed to increase diastolic [Ca²⁺]_i, CaT amplitude, and the frequency of spontaneous Ca²⁺ increases. Furthermore, the enhancement of CaTs by exposure to membrane permeant InsP₃ was abolished by NOX inhibition with apocynin (1 μM). AngII induced IICR in Nox2^-/- AMs could be restored by addition of exogenous ROS (tert-butyl hydroperoxide, tBHP: 5 μmol/L). In saponin permeabilized AMs InsP₃ (5 μmol/L) induced Ca²⁺ sparks that increased in frequency in the presence of ROS (InsP₃: 9.65 ± 1.44 sparks*s^-1*(100μm)^-1; InsP₃ + tBHP: 10.77 ± 1.5 sparks*s^-1*(100μm)^-1; n = 5; p < 0.05). The combined effect of InsP₃ + tBHP was entirely suppressed by 2-APB and Xestospongine C (XeC). Changes in IICR due to InsP₃R glutathionylation induced by diamide could be reversed by the reducing agent dithiothreitol (DTT: 1 mmol/L) and prevented by pretreatment with 2-APB, supporting that the ROS-dependent post-translational modification of the InsP₃R plays a role in the regulation of ECC. Our data demonstrate that in AMs the InsP₃R is under dual control of agonist induced InsP₃ and ROS formation and suggest that InsP₃ and NOX2-derived ROS co-regulate atrial IICR and ECC in a defined InsP₃R/NOX2 signaling domain.

The Role of p21-Activated Kinases in Cancer and Beyond: Where Are We Heading?

The p21-activated kinases (PAKs), downstream effectors of Ras-related Rho GTPase Cdc42 and Rac, are serine/threonine kinases. Biologically, PAKs participate in various cellular processes, including growth, apoptosis, mitosis, immune response, motility, inflammation, and gene expression, making PAKs the nexus of several pathogenic and oncogenic signaling pathways. PAKs were proved to play critical roles in human diseases, including cancer, infectious diseases, neurological disorders, diabetes, pancreatic acinar diseases, and cardiac disorders. In this review, we systematically discuss the structure, function, alteration, and molecular mechanisms of PAKs that are involved in the pathogenic and oncogenic effects, as well as PAK inhibitors, which may be developed and deployed in cancer therapy, anti-viral infection, and other diseases. Furthermore, we highlight the critical questions of PAKs in future research, which provide an opportunity to offer input and guidance on new directions for PAKs in pathogenic, oncogenic, and drug discovery research.

Deletion of P21-activated kinase-1 induces age-dependent increased visceral adiposity and cardiac dysfunction in female mice

It is known that there is an age-related progression in diastolic dysfunction, especially prevalent in postmenopausal women, who develop heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF, EF > 50%). Mechanisms and therapies are poorly understood, but there are strong correlations between obesity and HFpEF. We have tested the hypothesis that P21-activated kinase-1 (PAK1) preserves cardiac function and adipose tissue homeostasis during aging in female mice. Previous demonstrations in male mice by our lab that PAK1 activity confers cardio-protection against different stresses formed the rationale for this hypothesis. Our studies compared young (3-6 months) and middle-aged (12-15 months) female and male PAK1 knock-out mice (PAK1-/-) and wild-type (WT) equivalent. Female WT mice exhibited increased cardiac PAK1 abundance during aging. By echocardiography, compared to young WT female mice, middle-aged WT female mice showed enlargement of the left atrium as well as thickening of posterior wall and increased left ventricular mass; however, all contraction and relaxation parameters were preserved during aging. Compared to WT controls, middle-aged PAK1-/- female mice demonstrated worsening of cardiac function involving a greater enlargement of the left atrium, ventricular hypertrophy, and diastolic dysfunction. Moreover, with aging PAK1-/- female mice, unlike male PAK1-/- mice, exhibited increased adiposity with increased accumulation of visceral adipose tissue. Our data provide evidence for the significance of PAK1 signaling as an element in the preservation of cardiac function and adipose tissue homeostasis in females during aging.

Exosomes containing miR-451a is involved in the protective effect of cerebral ischemic preconditioning against cerebral ischemia and reperfusion injury

Aim

To study the role of exosomes in the protective effect of cerebral ischemic preconditioning (cerebral‐IPC) against cerebral I/R injury.

Method

Mouse models of cerebral‐IPC and MCAO/R were established as described previously, and their behavioral, pathological, and proteomic changes were analyzed. Neuro‐2a subjected to OGD/R were treated with exosomes isolated from the plasma of sham‐operated and cerebral‐IPC mice. The differentially expressed miRNAs between exosomes derived from sham‐operated (S‐exosomes) and preconditioned (IPC‐exosomes) mice were identified through miRNA array, and their targets were identified through database search. The control and OGD/R cells were treated with the IPC‐exosomes, miRNA mimic or target protein inhibitor, and their viability, oxidative, stress and apoptosis rates were measured. The activated pathways were identified by analyzing the levels of relevant proteins.

Results

Cerebral‐IPC mitigated the cerebral injury following ischemia and reperfusion, and increased the number of plasma exosomes. IPC‐exosomes increased the survival of Neuro‐2a cells after OGD/R. The miR‐451a targeting Rac1 was upregulated in the IPC‐exosomes relative to S‐exosomes. The miR‐451a mimic and the Rac1 inhibitor NSC23766 reversed OGD/R‐mediated activation of Rac1 and its downstream pathways.

Conclusion

Cerebral‐IPC ameliorated cerebral I/R injury by inducing the release of exosomes containing miR‐451a.

25I-NBOMe, a phenethylamine derivative, induces adverse cardiovascular effects in rodents: possible involvement of p21 (CDC42/RAC)-activated kinase 1

Abuse of new psychoactive substances is an emerging social problem. Several phenethylamines are internationally controlled substances as they are likely to be abused and have adverse effects. Phenethylamine analog 2-(4-iodo-2,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-N-(2-methoxybenzyl)ethanamine (25I-NBOMe) has been reported as one of the most commonly abused psychoactive substance. However, the cardiotoxicity of this compound has not been extensively evaluated. Thus, in this study, we investigated the adverse cardiovascular effects of 25I-NBOMe, related to p21 (CDC42/RAC)-activated kinase 1 (PAK1). The cardiotoxicity of 25I-NBOMe was evaluated using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, live/dead cytotoxicity assay, PAK1/CDC42 kinase assay, and in vivo electrocardiography (ECG). Also, we analyzed the expression level of PAK1, which is known to play key roles in the cardiovascular system. In the MTT assay, cell viability of 25I-NBOMe-treated H9c2 cells or primary cardiomyocytes of ICR mice decreased in a concentration-dependent manner. Results from the in vitro cytotoxicity assay in cardiomyocytes showed that 25I-NBOMe decreased the viability of H9c2 rat cardiomyocytes, and TC₅₀ of 25I-NBOMe was found to be 70.4 μM. We also observed that 25I-NBOMe reduced PAK1 activity in vitro. Surface ECG measurement revealed that intravenous injection of 25I-NBOMe (doses of 1.0 and 3.0 mg/kg, corresponding to serum concentrations of 18.1 and 28.6 ng/mL, respectively) prolonged the QTc interval in SD rats. Furthermore, treatment with 25I-NBOMe downregulated the expression of PAK1 in the hearts of SD rats and H9c2 cells. In summary, our findings indicate that PAK1-related adverse effects of 25I-NBOMe can cause toxicity to cardiomyocytes and induce an abnormal ECG pattern in animals.

A review on myricetin as a potential therapeutic candidate for cancer prevention

Myricetin, one of the most extensively studied polyphenols, is present abundantly in various fruits and vegetables and exhibits diverse pharmacological properties. The multifaceted biological action of myricetin against tumor heterogeneity makes it an impressive anticancer agent whose efficacy has been confirmed by an overwhelming number of studies. Myricetin shows its therapeutic potential by targeting and modulating the expression of various molecular target which are involved in inflammation, cell proliferation, apoptosis, angiogenesis, invasion, and metastasis. Myricetin deters tumor progression by inducing apoptosis via both intrinsic and extrinsic pathway, activating/inactivating several signaling pathways, and reactivating various tumor suppressor genes. This comprehensive review represents the effect of myricetin on various hallmarks of cancer with insight into the molecular mechanism employed by myricetin to mitigate cell proliferation, angiogenesis, metastasis, and induce apoptosis. In addition, enhanced bioavailability of myricetin through conjugation and its increased efficacy as an anticancer agent when used in combination are also highlighted.

Transcriptome signature of ventricular arrhythmia in dilated cardiomyopathy reveals increased fibrosis and activated TP53

AIMS

One-third of DCM patients experience ventricular tachycardia (VT), but a clear biological basis for this has not been established. The purpose of this study was to identify transcriptome signatures and enriched pathways in the hearts of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) patients with VT.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We used RNA-sequencing in explanted heart tissue from 49 samples: 19 DCM patients with VT, 16 DCM patients without VT, and 14 non-failing controls. We compared each DCM cohort to the controls and identified the genes that were differentially expressed in DCM patients with VT but not without VT. Differentially expressed genes were evaluated using pathway analysis, and pathways of interest were investigated by qRT-PCR validation, Western blot, and microscopy. There were 590 genes differentially expressed in DCM patients with VT that are not differentially expressed in patients without VT. These genes were enriched for genes in the TGFß1 and TP53 signaling pathways. Increased fibrosis and activated TP53 signaling was demonstrated in heart tissue of DCM patients with VT.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study supports that distinct biological mechanisms distinguish ventricular arrhythmia in DCM patients.

p-21 Activated Kinase as a Molecular Target for Chemoprevention in Diabetes

Hypothesis: Anti-diabetic drugs modulate p-21 activated kinase (PAK) signaling. Introduction: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a chronic inflammatory disease associated with increased cancer risk. PAK signaling is implicated in cellular homeostasis when regulated, and cancer when unrestrained. Recent reports provided a role for PAK signaling in glucose homeostasis, but the role of PAKs in the pathogenesis of T2DM is unknown. Here, we performed a mini-meta-analysis to explore if anti-diabetic drugs modify PAK signaling pathways, and provide insight regarding modulation of these pathways, to potentially reduce diabetes-associated cancer risk. Methods: PAK interacting partners in T2DM were identified using the online STRING database. Correlation studies were performed via systematic literature review to understand the effect of anti-diabetic drugs on PAK signaling. A mini-meta-analysis correlated multiple clinical studies and revealed the overall clinical response rate and percentage of adverse events in piogliazone (n = 53) and metformin (n = 91) treated patients with PAK-associated diseases. Results: A total of 30 PAK interacting partners were identified (10: reduced beta-cell mass; 10: beta-cell dysfunction; 10: obesity-insulin resistance), which were highly associated with Wnt, and G-protein signaling. The anti-diabetic drug metformin activated signaling pathways upstream; whereas pioglitazone inhibited pathways downstream of PAK. Overall, clinical response upon pioglitazone treatment was 53%. Seventy-nine percent of pioglitazone and 75% of metformin treated patients had adverse events. Pioglitazone reduced molecular-PAK biomarkers of proliferation (Ki67 and CyclinD1), and metformin had the opposite effect. Conclusions: PAK signaling in T2DM likely involves Wnt and G-protein signaling, which may be altered by the anti-diabetic drugs metformin and pioglitazone. Apart from the therapeutic limitations of adverse events, pioglitazone may be promising in chemoprevention. However long-term multi-centered studies, which initiate pioglitazone treatment early will be required to fully assess the full potential of these drugs.

Na+, K+-ATPase inhibition induces neuronal cell death in rat hippocampal slice cultures: Association with GLAST and glial cell abnormalities

Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase is a highly expressed membrane protein. Dysfunction of Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase has been implicated in the pathophysiology of several neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorders, however, the underlying mechanism of neuronal cell death resulting from Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase dysfunction is poorly understood. Here, we investigated the mechanism of neurotoxicity due to Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase inhibition using rat organotypic hippocampal slice cultures. Treatment with ouabain, a Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase inhibitor, increased the ratio of propidium iodide-positive cells among NeuN-positive cells in the hippocampal CA1 region, which was prevented by MK-801 and d-AP5, specific blockers of the N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor. EGTA, a Ca²⁺-chelating agent, also protected neurons from ouabain-induced injury. We observed that astrocytes expressed the glutamate aspartate transporter (GLAST), and ouabain changed the immunoreactive area of GFAP-positive astrocytes as well as GLAST. We also observed that ouabain increased the number of Iba1-positive microglial cells in a time-dependent manner. Furthermore, lithium carbonate, a mood-stabilizing drug, protected hippocampal neurons and reduced disturbances of astrocytes and microglia after ouabain treatment. Notably, lithium carbonate improved ouabain-induced decreases in GLAST intensity in astrocytes. These results suggest that glial cell abnormalities resulting in excessive extracellular concentrations of glutamate contribute to neurotoxicity due to Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase dysfunction in the hippocampal CA1 region.

Loss of p21-activated kinase 1 (Pak1) promotes atrial arrhythmic activity

BACKGROUND

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is initiated through arrhythmic atrial excitation from outside the sinus node or remodeling of atrial tissue that allows reentry of excitation. Angiotensin II (AngII) has been implicated in the initiation and maintenance of AF through changes in Ca²⁺ handling and production of reactive oxygen species (ROS).

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to determine the role of p21-activated kinase 1 (Pak1), a downstream target in the AngII signaling cascade, in atrial electrophysiology and arrhythmia.

METHODS

Wild-type and Pak1^-/- mice were used to determine atrial function in vivo on the organ and cellular level by quantification of electrophysiological and Ca²⁺ handling properties.

RESULTS

We demonstrate that reduced Pak1 activity increases the inducibility of atrial arrhythmia in vivo and in vitro. On the cellular level, Pak1^-/- atrial myocytes (AMs) exhibit increased basal and AngII (1 μM)-induced ROS production, sensitivity to the NADPH oxidase-2 (NOX2) inhibitors gp91ds-tat and apocynin (1 μM), and enhanced membrane translocation of Ras-related C3 substrate 1 (Rac1) that is part of the multimolecular NOX2 complex. Upon stimulation with AngII, Pak1^-/- AMs exhibit an exaggerated increase in the intracellular Calcium concentration ([Ca²⁺]_i) and arrhythmic events that were sensitive to sodium-calcium exchanger (NCX) inhibitors (KB-R7943 and SEA0400; 1 μM) and suppressed in AMs from NOX2-deficient (gp91^phox-/-) mice. Pak1 stimulation (FTY720; 200 nM) in wild-type AMs and AMs from a canine model of ventricular tachypacing-induced AF prevented AngII-induced arrhythmic Ca²⁺ overload by attenuating NCX activity in a NOX2-dependent manner.

CONCLUSION

The experimental results support that Pak1 stimulation can attenuate NCX-dependent Ca²⁺ overload and prevent triggered arrhythmic activity by suppressing NOX2-dependent ROS production.

Murine Electrophysiological Models of Cardiac Arrhythmogenesis

Cardiac arrhythmias can follow disruption of the normal cellular electrophysiological processes underlying excitable activity and their tissue propagation as coherent wavefronts from the primary sinoatrial node pacemaker, through the atria, conducting structures and ventricular myocardium. These physiological events are driven by interacting, voltage-dependent, processes of activation, inactivation, and recovery in the ion channels present in cardiomyocyte membranes. Generation and conduction of these events are further modulated by intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis, and metabolic and structural change. This review describes experimental studies on murine models for known clinical arrhythmic conditions in which these mechanisms were modified by genetic, physiological, or pharmacological manipulation. These exemplars yielded molecular, physiological, and structural phenotypes often directly translatable to their corresponding clinical conditions, which could be investigated at the molecular, cellular, tissue, organ, and whole animal levels. Arrhythmogenesis could be explored during normal pacing activity, regular stimulation, following imposed extra-stimuli, or during progressively incremented steady pacing frequencies. Arrhythmic substrate was identified with temporal and spatial functional heterogeneities predisposing to reentrant excitation phenomena. These could arise from abnormalities in cardiac pacing function, tissue electrical connectivity, and cellular excitation and recovery. Triggering events during or following recovery from action potential excitation could thereby lead to sustained arrhythmia. These surface membrane processes were modified by alterations in cellular Ca2+ homeostasis and energetics, as well as cellular and tissue structural change. Study of murine systems thus offers major insights into both our understanding of normal cardiac activity and its propagation, and their relationship to mechanisms generating clinical arrhythmias.

Regulation of NADPH oxidases in skeletal muscle

The only known function of NAD(P)H oxidases is to produce reactive oxygen species (ROS). Skeletal muscles express three isoforms of NAD(P)H oxidases (Nox1, Nox2, and Nox4) that have been identified as critical modulators of redox homeostasis. Nox2 acts as the main source of skeletal muscle ROS during contractions, participates in insulin signaling and glucose transport, and mediates the myocyte response to osmotic stress. Nox2 and Nox4 contribute to skeletal muscle abnormalities elicited by angiotensin II, muscular dystrophy, heart failure, and high fat diet. Our review addresses the expression and regulation of NAD(P)H oxidases with emphasis on aspects that are relevant to skeletal muscle. We also summarize: i) the most widely used NAD(P)H oxidases activity assays and inhibitors, and ii) studies that have defined Nox enzymes as protagonists of skeletal muscle redox homeostasis in a variety of health and disease conditions.

Myricetin suppresses p21-activated kinase 1 in human breast cancer MCF-7 cells through downstream signaling of the β-catenin pathway

As a main active compound in the bark of waxberry (Myrica rubra), myricetin is a macrocyclic diarylheptanoid, and can trigger the apoptosis of HeLa and PC3 cells. The aim of the present study was to elucidate the anticancer effect of myricetin on human breast cancer MCF-7 cells and to explore the possible mechanisms of action. MCF-7 cells were treated with different concentrations of myricetin (0-80 µM) for 12, 24 and 48 h. In the present study, we found that myricetin suppressed the cell viability of the MCF-7 cells at least partly through the induction of apoptosis as determined by MTT assay and flow cytometry. Western blot analysis revealed that myricetin effectively suppressed the protein expression of p21-activated kinase 1 (PAK1), MEK and phosphorylated extracellular mitogen-activated protein kinase (ERK1/2). In addition, treatment of myricetin activated glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK3β) and Bax protein expression, and inhibited β-catenin/cyclin D1/proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA)/survivin and promoted caspase-3 activity in the MCF-7 cells. These results demonstrated that myricetin suppressed the cell viability of human breast cancer MCF-7 cells through PAK1/MEK/ERK/GSK3β/β-catenin/cyclin D1/PCNA/survivin/Bax-caspase-3 signaling.

The p21-activated kinase, PAK2, is important in the activation of numerous pancreatic acinar cell signaling cascades and in the onset of early pancreatitis events

In a recent study we explored Group-1-p21-activated kinases (GP.1-PAKs) in rat pancreatic acini. Only PAK2 was present; it was activated by gastrointestinal-hormones/neurotransmitters and growth factors in a PKC-, Src- and small-GTPase-mediated manner. PAK2 was required for enzyme-secretion and ERK/1-2-activation. In the present study we examined PAK2's role in CCK and TPA-activation of important distal signaling cascades mediating their physiological/pathophysiological effects and analyzed its role in pathophysiological processes important in early pancreatitis. In rat pancreatic acini, PAK2-inhibition by the specific, GP.1.PAK-inhibitor, IPA-3-suppressed cholecystokinin (CCK)/TPA-stimulated activation of focal-adhesion kinases and mitogen-activated protein-kinases. PAK2-inhibition reversed the dual stimulatory/inhibitory effect of CCK/TPA on the PI3K/Akt/GSK-3β pathway. However, its inhibition did not affect PKC activation. PAK2-inhibition protected acini from CCK-induced ROS-generation; caspase/trypsin-activation, important in early pancreatitis; as well as from cell-necrosis. Furthermore, PAK2-inhibition reduced proteolytic-activation of PAK-2p34, which is involved in programmed-cell-death. To ensure that the study did not only rely in the specificity of IPA-3 as a PAK inhibitor, we used two other approaches for PAK inhibition, FRAX597 a ATP-competitive-GP.1-PAKs-inhibitor and infection with a PAK2-dominant negative(DN)-Advirus. Those two approaches confirmed the results obtained with IPA-3. This study demonstrates that PAK2 is important in mediating CCK's effect on the activation of signaling-pathways known to mediate its physiological/pathophysiological responses including several cellular processes linked to the onset of pancreatitis. Our results suggest that PAK2 could be a new, important therapeutic target to consider for the treatment of diseases involving deregulation of pancreatic acinar cells.

Knockout of p21-activated kinase-1 attenuates exercise-induced cardiac remodelling through altered calcineurin signalling

AIMS

Despite its known cardiovascular benefits, the intracellular signalling mechanisms underlying physiological cardiac growth remain poorly understood. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate a novel role of p21-activated kinase-1 (Pak1) in the regulation of exercise-induced cardiac hypertrophy.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Wild-type (WT) and Pak1 KO mice were subjected to 6 weeks of treadmill endurance exercise training (ex-training). Cardiac function was assessed via echocardiography, in situ haemodynamics, and the pCa-force relations in skinned fibre preparations at baseline and at the end of the training regimen. Post-translational modifications to the sarcomeric proteins and expression levels of calcium-regulating proteins were also assessed following ex-training. Heart weight/tibia length and echocardiography data revealed that there was marked hypertrophy following ex-training in the WT mice, which was not evident in the KO mice. Additionally, following ex-training, WT mice demonstrated an increase in cardiac contractility, myofilament calcium sensitivity, and phosphorylation of cardiac myosin-binding protein C, cardiac TnT, and tropomyosin compared with KO mice. With ex-training in WT mice, there were also increased protein levels of calcineurin and increased phosphorylation of phospholamban.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data suggest that Pak1 is essential for adaptive physiological cardiac remodelling and support previous evidence that demonstrates Pak1 signalling is important for cardiac growth and survival.

Modulation of actin dynamics by Rac1 to target cognitive function

The small GTPase Rac1 is well known for regulating actin cytoskeleton reorganization in cells. Formation of extensions at the surface of the cell is required for migration and even for cell invasion and metastases. Because an elevated level and hyperactivation of this protein has been associated with metastasis in cancer, direct regulators of Rac1 are currently envisioned as a potential strategy to treat certain cancers. Less research, however, has been done regarding the role of this small GTP-binding protein in brain development, where it has an important role in dendritic spine morphogenesis through the regulation of actin. Alteration of dendritic development and spinogenesis has been often associated with mental disorders. Rac1 is associated with and required for learning and the formation of memories in the brain. Rac1 appears to be dysregulated in certain neurodevelopmental disorders that present all these three alterations: mental retardation, atypical synaptic plasticity and aberrant spine morphology. Thus, to develop novel therapies for rescuing cognitive impairment, a reasonable approach might be to target this protein, Rac1, which plays a pivotal role in directing signals that regulate actin dynamics, which in turn might have an effect in spine cytoarchitecture and synaptic function. It is possible that novel drugs that regulate Rac1 activation and function could modulate actin cytoskeleton and spine dynamics, representing potential candidates to repair intellectual disability in disorders associated with spine abnormalities. Herein, we present a list of the current Rac1 inhibitors that might fulfill this role together with a summary of the latest findings concerning their function as they relate to neuronal studies. While the small GTPase Rac1 is well known for regulating actin cytoskeleton reorganization in different type of cells, it appears to be also required for learning and the formation of memories in the brain. Abnormal regulation of this protein has been associated with cognitive disabilities, atypical synaptic plasticity and abnormal morphology of dendritic spines in certain neurodevelopmental disorders. Thus, modulation of Rac1 activity using novel inhibitors might be a strategy to reestablish cognitive function.

PAK1 is a novel cardiac protective signaling molecule

We review here the novel cardiac protective effects of the multifunctional enzyme, p21-activated kinase 1 (PAK1), a member of a serine/threonine protein kinase family. Despite the large body of evidence from studies in noncardiac tissue indicating that PAK1 activity is key in the regulation of a number of cellular functions, the role of PAK1 in the heart has only been revealed over the past few years. In this review, we assemble an overview of the recent findings on PAK1 signaling in the heart, particularly its cardiac protective effects. We present a model for PAK1 signaling that provides a mechanism for specifically affecting cardiac cellular processes in which regulation of protein phosphorylation states by protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) predominates.We discuss the anti-adrenergic and antihypertrophic cardiac protective effects of PAK1, as well as its role in maintaining ventricular Ca(2+) homeostasis and electrophysiological stability under physiological, β-adrenergic and hypertrophic stress conditions.

Nox family NADPH oxidases: Molecular mechanisms of activation

NADPH oxidases of the Nox family are important enzymatic sources of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Numerous homologue-specific mechanisms control the activity of this enzyme family involving calcium, free fatty acids, protein-protein interactions, intracellular trafficking, and posttranslational modifications such as phosphorylation, acetylation, or sumoylation. After a brief review on the classic pathways of Nox activation, this article will focus on novel mechanisms of homologue-specific activity control and on cell-specific aspects which govern Nox activity. From these findings of the recent years it must be concluded that the activity control of Nox enzymes is much more complex than anticipated. Moreover, depending on the cellular activity state, Nox enzymes are selectively activated or inactivated. The complex upstream signaling aspects of these events make the development of "intelligent" Nox inhibitors plausible, which selectively attenuate disease-related Nox-mediated ROS formation without altering physiological signaling ROS. This approach might be of relevance for Nox-mediated tissue injury in ischemia-reperfusion and inflammation and also for chronic Nox overactivation as present in cancer initiation and cardiovascular disease.

P21-activated kinase in inflammatory and cardiovascular disease

P-21 activated kinases, or PAKs, are serine-threonine kinases that serve a role in diverse biological functions and organ system diseases. Although PAK signaling has been the focus of many investigations, still our understanding of the role of PAK in inflammation is incomplete. This review consolidates what is known about PAK1 across several cell types, highlighting the role of PAK1 and PAK2 in inflammation in relation to NADPH oxidase activation. This review explores the physiological functions of PAK during inflammation, the role of PAK in several organ diseases with an emphasis on cardiovascular disease, and the PAK signaling pathway, including activators and targets of PAK. Also, we discuss PAK1 as a pharmacological anti-inflammatory target, explore the potentials and the limitations of the current pharmacological tools to regulate PAK1 activity during inflammation, and provide indications for future research. We conclude that a vast amount of evidence supports the idea that PAK is a central molecule in inflammatory signaling, thus making PAK1 itself a promising prospective pharmacological target.