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Lavogina D, Stepanjuk A, Peters M, Samuel K, Kasvandik S, Khatun M, Arffman RK, Enkvist E, Viht K, Kopanchuk S, Lättekivi F, Velthut-Meikas A, Uri A, Piltonen TT, Rinken A, Salumets A. Progesterone triggers Rho kinase-cofilin axis during in vitro and in vivo endometrial decidualization. Hum Reprod 2021; 36:2230-2248. [PMID: 34270712 DOI: 10.1093/humrep/deab161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2020] [Revised: 05/28/2021] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
STUDY QUESTION Can a combination of the focussed protein kinase assays and a wide-scale proteomic screen pinpoint novel, clinically relevant players in decidualization in vitro and in vivo? SUMMARY ANSWER Rho-dependent protein kinase (ROCK) activity is elevated in response to the combined treatment with progesterone and 8-Br-cAMP during in vitro decidualization, mirrored by increase of ROCK2 mRNA and protein levels and the phosphorylation levels of its downstream target Cofilin-1 (CFL1) in secretory versus proliferative endometrium. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY Decidualization is associated with extensive changes in gene expression profile, proliferation, metabolism and morphology of endometrium, yet only a few underlying molecular pathways have been systematically explored. In vitro decidualization of endometrial stromal cells (ESCs) can be reportedly induced using multiple protocols with variable physiological relevance. In our previous studies, cyclic AMP (cAMP)/cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA)/prolactin axis that is classically upregulated during decidualization showed dampened activation in ESCs isolated from polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients as compared to controls. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION In vitro decidualization studies were carried out in passage 2 ESCs isolated from controls (N = 15) and PCOS patients (N = 9). In parallel, lysates of non-cultured ESCs isolated from proliferative (N = 4) or secretory (N = 4) endometrial tissue were explored. The observed trends were confirmed using cryo-cut samples of proliferative (N = 3) or secretory endometrium (N = 3), and in proliferative or secretory full tissue samples from controls (N = 8 and N = 9, respectively) or PCOS patients (N = 10 for both phases). PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS The activities of four target kinases were explored using kinase-responsive probes and selective inhibitors in lysates of in vitro decidualized ESCs and non-cultured ESCs isolated from tissue at different phases of the menstrual cycle. In the latter lysates, wide-scale proteomic and phosphoproteomic studies were further carried out. ROCK2 mRNA expression was explored in full tissue samples from controls or PCOS patients. The immunofluorescent staining of phosphorylated CFL1 was performed in full endometrial tissue samples, and in the in vitro decidualized fixed ESCs from controls or PCOS patients. Finally, the cellular migration properties were explored in live in vitro decidualized ESCs. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE During in vitro decidualization, the activities of PKA, protein kinase B (Akt/PKB), and ROCK are increased while the activity of casein kinase 2 (CK2) is decreased; these initial trends are observable after 4-day treatment (P < 0.05) and are further augmented following the 9-day treatment (P < 0.001) with mixtures containing progesterone and 8-Br-cAMP or forskolin. The presence of progesterone is necessary for activation of ROCK, yet it is dispensable in the case of PKA and Akt/PKB; in comparison to controls, PCOS patient-derived ESCs feature dampened response to progesterone. In non-cultured ESCs isolated from secretory vs proliferative phase tissue, only activity of ROCK is increased (P < 0.01). ROCK2 protein levels are slightly elevated in secretory versus proliferative ESCs (relative mean standard deviation < 50%), and ROCK2 mRNA is elevated in mid-secretory versus proliferative full tissue samples (P < 0.05) obtained from controls but not PCOS patients. Activation of ROCK2 downstream signalling results in increase of phospho-S3 CFL1 in secretory endometrium (P < 0.001) as well as in vitro decidualized ESCs (P < 0.01) from controls but not PCOS patients. ROCK2-triggered alterations in the cytoskeleton are reflected by the significantly decreased motility of in vitro decidualized ESCs (P < 0.05). LARGE SCALE DATA Proteomic and phosphoproteomic data are available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD026243. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION The number of biological samples was limited. The duration of protocol for isolation of non-cultured ESCs from tissue can potentially affect phosphorylation pathways in cells, yet the possible artefacts were minimized by the identical treatment of proliferative and secretory samples. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS The study demonstrated the benefits of combining the focussed kinase activity assay with wide-scale phosphoproteomics and showed the need for detailed elaboration of the in vitro decidualization protocols. ROCK was identified as the novel target of interest in decidualization, which requires closer attention in further studies-including the context of decidualization-related subfertility and infertility. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S) This study was funded by the Estonian Ministry of Education and Research, and the Estonian Research Council (PRG1076, PRG454, PSG230 and PSG608), Enterprise Estonia (EU48695), Horizon 2020 innovation grant (ERIN, Grant no. EU952516) of the European Commission, the COMBIVET ERA Chair, H2020-WIDESPREAD-2018-04 (Grant agreement no. 857418), the Academy of Finland (Project grants 315921 and 321763), the Finnish Medical Foundation and The Sigrid Juselius Foundation. The authors confirm that they have no conflict of interest with respect to the content of this article.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darja Lavogina
- Competence Centre on Health Technologies, Tartu, Estonia.,Department of Bioorganic Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Artjom Stepanjuk
- Competence Centre on Health Technologies, Tartu, Estonia.,Department of Cell Biology, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Maire Peters
- Competence Centre on Health Technologies, Tartu, Estonia.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Külli Samuel
- Competence Centre on Health Technologies, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Sergo Kasvandik
- Proteomics Core Facility, Institute of Technology, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Masuma Khatun
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, PEDEGO Research Unit, Medical Research Center, Oulu University Hospital, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Riikka K Arffman
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, PEDEGO Research Unit, Medical Research Center, Oulu University Hospital, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Erki Enkvist
- Department of Bioorganic Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Kaido Viht
- Department of Bioorganic Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Sergei Kopanchuk
- Department of Bioorganic Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Freddy Lättekivi
- Department of Pathophysiology, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, Estonia.,COMBIVET ERA Chair, Institute of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Estonia
| | - Agne Velthut-Meikas
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Tallinn University of Technology, Tallinn, Estonia
| | - Asko Uri
- Department of Bioorganic Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Terhi T Piltonen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, PEDEGO Research Unit, Medical Research Center, Oulu University Hospital, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Ago Rinken
- Department of Bioorganic Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Andres Salumets
- Competence Centre on Health Technologies, Tartu, Estonia.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia.,Estonian Genome Centre, Institute of Genomics, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia.,Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology (CLINTEC), Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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Meng J, Sai-Zhen Wang, He JZ, Zhu S, Huang BY, Wang SY, Li M, Zhou H, Lin SQ, Yang BX. Ganoderic acid A is the effective ingredient of Ganoderma triterpenes in retarding renal cyst development in polycystic kidney disease. Acta Pharmacol Sin 2020; 41:782-90. [PMID: 31911637 DOI: 10.1038/s41401-019-0329-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2019] [Accepted: 10/31/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is one of the most common life-threatening monogenetic diseases characterized by progressive enlargement of fluid-filled renal cysts. Our previous study has shown that Ganoderma triterpenes (GT) retards PKD renal cyst development. In the present study we identified the effective ingredient of GT in suppression of kidney cyst development. Using an in vitro MDCK cystogenesis model, we identified ganoderic acid A (GA-A) as the most promising candidate among the 12 ganoderic acid (GA) monomers. We further showed that GA-A (6.25−100 μM) significantly inhibited cyst growth in MDCK cyst model and embryonic kidney cyst model in vitro, and the inhibitory effect was reversible. In kidney-specific Pkd1 knockout (kPKD) mice displaying severe cystic kidney disease, administration of GA-A (50 mg· kg−1 ·d−1, sc) significantly attenuated renal cyst development. In both MDCK cells and kidney of kPKD mice, we revealed that GA-A dose-dependently downregulated the Ras/MAPK signaling pathway. The expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) was also suppressed, suggesting a possible effect of GA-A on cell proliferation. These experimental data suggest that GA-A may be the main ingredient of GT as a potential therapeutic reagent for treating ADPKD.
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Juszczak M, Krzyminska A, Bojanowska E, Roszczyk M. The role of the cAMP/PKA signalling pathway in the inhibitory influence of melatonin on oxytocin and vasopressin secretion from the rat hypothalamo-neurohypophysial system. Endokrynol Pol 2018; 69:560-566. [PMID: 30074234 DOI: 10.5603/ep.a2018.0051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2018] [Accepted: 04/30/2018] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Melatonin was found to inhibit forskolin-stimulated oxytocin (OT) and vasopressin (VP) release in vitro. The purpose of the present investigation was to evaluate the contribution of the cyclic 3',5'-adenosine monophosphate/protein kinase A (cAMP/PKA) signalling pathway in melatonin-dependent inhibition of OT and VP secretion from the rat hypothalamo-neurohypophysial (H-NH) system in vitro. MATERIAL AND METHODS The H-NH explants were placed in 1 ml of normal Krebs-Ringer (nK-R) buffer and first preincubated for 30 min in control buffer or in the presence of PKA inhibitor, i.e. cAMPS-Rp or H-89. Next, they were incubated in nK-R buffer {fluid F1} and then in buffer as F1 enriched with melatonin (10-9 M or 10-7 M) and/or PKA activator, i.e. cAMP analogue (8-Br-cAMP), or their vehicles {fluid F2}. After 20 min of incubation in fluid F1 and then F2, the media were collected and frozen, to be assayed for OT and VP by the RIA. RESULTS 8-Br-cAMP increased OT and VP secretion when the H-NH explants were preincubated in control medium, while PKA inhibitors eliminated its stimulatory effect on OT and VP release. Melatonin (10-7 M) diminished basal OT and VP output from the H-NH system, and inhibited (at both concentrations studied) the cAMP analogue-stimulated release of both neurohormones under control conditions. The effect of melatonin on OT and VP release was completely blocked when cAMPS-Rp, but not H-89, was used to disrupt the cAMP/ /PKA pathway. CONCLUSIONS Melatonin employs the cAMP/PKA signalling pathway to inhibit OT and VP secretion from the rat H-NH system; nonethe-less, other cAMP-mediated mechanisms are not excluded.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marlena Juszczak
- Department of Pathophysiology and Experimental Neuroendocrinology, Medical University of Lodz, ul. Narutowicza 60, 90-136 Lodz, Poland.
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Wang S, Zhang Z, Qian W, Ji D, Wang Q, Ji B, Zhang Y, Zhang C, Sun Y, Zhu C, Sun Y. Angiogenesis and vasculogenic mimicry are inhibited by 8-Br-cAMP through activation of the cAMP/PKA pathway in colorectal cancer. Onco Targets Ther 2018; 11:3765-3774. [PMID: 29997437 PMCID: PMC6033084 DOI: 10.2147/ott.s164982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Vasculogenic mimicry (VM) describes the formation of an epithelial-independent tumor microcirculation system that differs from traditional angiogenesis. Angiogenesis and the formation of VM are closely related through the cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)/protein kinase A (PKA) pathway and the epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) process. Materials and methods In this study, 8-Br-cAMP, a cAMP analog and PKA activator, was used to activate the cAMP/PKA pathway to evaluate the effects of cAMP/PKA on angiogenesis and VM in colorectal cancer (CRC) cells. We used a syngeneic model of CRC in BALB/c mice. Results We discovered that treatment with 8-Br-cAMP significantly reduced tumor number compared to control mice after the 7th, 14th, and 28th days of treatment. VM was evaluated by periodic acid–schiff (PAS)–CD31 staining, and we found that VM was inhibited by 8-Br-cAMP treatment in vivo. Immunohistochemistry confirmed the inhibition of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and cAMP and the activation of PKA by 8-Br-cAMP; quantitative real-time-PCR (qRT-PCR) demonstrated that 8-Br-cAMP regulated the expression of vascular endothelial (VE)-cadherin, matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP2), ephrin type-A receptor 2 (EphA2), and VEGF in vivo. Experiments in vitro revealed that treatment with 8-Br-cAMP and U0126 decreased VEGF expression through PKA–ERK in CT26 cells by qRT-PCR. We further confirmed that tube formation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells was inhibited by 8-Br-cAMP in vitro. Discussion This study demonstrates that angiogenesis and VM are inhibited by 8-Br-cAMP treatment. Our data indicate that 8-Br-cAMP acts through the cAMP/PKA–ERK pathway and through EMT processes in CRC. These findings provide an insight into mechanisms of CRC and suggest that the cAMP/PKA–ERK pathway is a novel potential therapeutic target for the treatment of CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sen Wang
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210029, China,
| | - Zhiyuan Zhang
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210029, China,
| | - Wenwei Qian
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210029, China,
| | - Dongjian Ji
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210029, China,
| | - Qingyuan Wang
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210029, China,
| | - Bing Ji
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210029, China,
| | - Yue Zhang
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210029, China,
| | - Chuan Zhang
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210029, China,
| | - Ye Sun
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210029, China,
| | - Chunyan Zhu
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210029, China,
| | - Yueming Sun
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210029, China,
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Ul Haq R, Anderson M, Liotta A, Shafiq M, Sherkheli MA, Heinemann U. Pretreatment with β-adrenergic receptor agonists facilitates induction of LTP and sharp wave ripple complexes in rodent hippocampus. Hippocampus 2016; 26:1486-1492. [PMID: 27699900 DOI: 10.1002/hipo.22665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2016] [Revised: 09/14/2016] [Accepted: 09/30/2016] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Norepinephrine, is involved in the enhancement of learning and memory formation by regulating synaptic mechanisms through its ability to activate pre- and post-synaptic adrenergic receptors. Here we show that β-agonists of norepinephrine facilitate the induction of both associational LTP and sharp wave ripples (SPW-Rs) in acute slices of rat hippocampus in area CA3. Surprisingly, this facilitating effect persists when slices are only pretreated with β-receptor agonists followed by wash out and application of the unspecific β-adrenoreceptor (βAR) antagonist propranolol. During application of βAR agonists repeated stimulation resulted in facilitated induction of SPW-Rs. Since SPW-Rs are thought to be involved in memory replay we studied the effects of βAR-agonists on spontaneous SPW-Rs in murine hippocampus and found that amplitude and incidence of SPW-Rs increased. These effects involve cyclic-AMP and the activation of protein kinase A and suggest a supportive role in memory consolidation. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rizwan Ul Haq
- Neuroscience Research Center, Charite Universitatsmedizin Berlin, Germany.,Department of Pharmacy, Abbottabad University of Science & Technology, Abbottabad, Pakistan
| | - Marlene Anderson
- Neuroscience Research Center, Charite Universitatsmedizin Berlin, Germany
| | - Agustin Liotta
- Neuroscience Research Center, Charite Universitatsmedizin Berlin, Germany
| | - Maria Shafiq
- Department of Pharmacy, Abbottabad University of Science & Technology, Abbottabad, Pakistan
| | | | - Uwe Heinemann
- Neuroscience Research Center, Charite Universitatsmedizin Berlin, Germany
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Abstract
AIM: To investigate the effects of 8-Br-cAMP on differentiation and apoptosis of human esophageal cancer cell line Eca-109, and the related gene expression.
METHODS: The cultured Eca-109 cells were divided into four groups: E1 group (co-cultured with 8-Br-cAMP for 24 h); E2 group (co-cultured with 8-Br-cAMP for 48 h); C1 group (treated without 8-Br-cAMP for 24 h); and C2 group (treated without 8-Br-cAMP for 48 h). The same concentration of cell suspension of each group was dropped separately onto the slides and nitrocellulose membranes (NCM). The biotin-labeled cDNA probes for c-myc, wild-type (wt) p53, bcl-2 and iNOS were prepared for in situ hybridization. The expressions of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), p38 kinase, FAS, FasL and caspase-3 were detected using immunocytochemistry, and the NOS activity and the ratio of differentiated cells/proliferating cells were examined by cytochemistry. Immunocytochemistry, cytochemistry, and in situ hybridization were separately carried out on both slides and NCM specimens for each group. In addition, TUNEL was used to detect the cell apoptosis rate in each group.
RESULTS: The apoptotic rate of E2 group was significantly higher compared to E1 group, while there was no difference in the ratio of differentiated cells/proliferating cells between E1 and E2 groups. The signals of wt p53 and iNOS were markedly stronger, while the signals of c-myc and EGFR were obviously weaker in E1 group than those in C1 group (P<0.05). Moreover, the signals of wt p53, iNOS, p38 kinase, caspase-3 and NOS activity were significantly stronger, whereas, the signals of bcl-2, c-myc and Fas/FasL were markedly weaker in E2 group than those in C2 group (P<0.05).
CONCLUSION: The differentiation and apoptosis of human esophageal cancer cell Eca-109 can be induced after 24- and 48-h treatment with 8-Br-cAMP, respectively. Upregulation of wt p53, iNOS and downregulation of c-myc may be associated with differentiation and apoptosis of Eca-109 cells. Furthermore, upregulation of FasL, p38 kinase and caspase-3 as well as downregulation of bcl-2, and Fas may be involved in the apoptosis of Eca-109 cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong-Mei Wang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, first Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, Henan Province, China
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