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Chen J, Liu K, Liu W, Yeung WSB. The involvement of let-7 in hCG-induced progesterone synthesis via regulating p27 Kip1 and p21 Cip1 expression. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2023:111970. [PMID: 37230221 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2023.111970] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2023] [Revised: 05/20/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Progesterone is essential in females to maintain a regular menstrual cycle and pregnancy. The luteinizing hormone (LH) surge induces the luteinization of granulosa cells and thecal cells to form the corpus luteum, which is responsible for progesterone synthesis. However, the specific mechanism of how hCG, the analog of LH, regulates progesterone synthesis has yet to be fully discovered. In this study, we found that progesterone level was increased in adult wild-type pregnant mice 2 and 7 days post-coitum, along with a decrease in let-7 expression compared with the estrus stage. Besides, the let-7 expression was negatively correlated with progesterone level in post-delivery day 23 wild-type female mice after being injected with PMSG and hCG. Then, using let-7 transgenic mice and a human granulosa cell line, we found that overexpression of let-7 antagonized progesterone level via targeting p27Kip1 and p21Cip1 and steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR) expression, which is a rate-limiting enzyme in progesterone synthesis. Furthermore, hCG suppressed let-7 expression by stimulating the MAPK pathway. This study elucidated the role of microRNA let-7 in regulating hCG-induced progesterone production and provided new insights into its role in clinical application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Chen
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China; Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Li Kai Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, 999077, Hong Kong, China
| | - Kui Liu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Li Kai Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, 999077, Hong Kong, China
| | - Weimin Liu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Li Kai Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, 999077, Hong Kong, China; Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Fertility Regulation, The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, 518053, China.
| | - William Shu-Biu Yeung
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Li Kai Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, 999077, Hong Kong, China; Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Fertility Regulation, The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, 518053, China.
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Kaur N, Lum M, Lewis RE, Black AR, Black JD. A novel anti-proliferative PKCα-Ras-ERK signaling axis in intestinal epithelial cells. J Biol Chem 2022; 298:102121. [PMID: 35697074 PMCID: PMC9270260 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2022.102121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [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] [Received: 12/08/2021] [Revised: 05/05/2022] [Accepted: 05/31/2022] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
We have previously shown that the serine/threonine kinase PKCα triggers MAPK/ERK kinase (MEK)-dependent G1→S cell cycle arrest in intestinal epithelial cells, characterized by downregulation of cyclin D1 and inhibitor of DNA-binding protein 1 (Id1) and upregulation of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21Cip1. Here, we use pharmacological inhibitors, genetic approaches, siRNA-mediated knockdown, and immunoprecipitation to further characterize anti-proliferative ERK signaling in intestinal cells. We show that PKCα signaling intersects the Ras-Raf-MEK-ERK kinase cascade at the level of Ras small GTPases, and that anti-proliferative effects of PKCα require active Ras, Raf, MEK and ERK, core ERK pathway components that are also essential for pro-proliferative ERK signaling induced by epidermal growth factor (EGF). However, PKCα-induced anti-proliferative signaling differs from EGF signaling in that it is independent of the Ras guanine nucleotide exchange factors (Ras-GEFs), SOS1/2, and involves prolonged rather than transient ERK activation. PKCα forms complexes with A-Raf, B-Raf and C-Raf that dissociate upon pathway activation, and all three Raf isoforms can mediate PKCα-induced anti-proliferative effects. At least two PKCα-ERK pathways that collaborate to promote growth arrest were identified: one pathway requiring the Ras-GEF, RasGRP3, and H-Ras, leads to p21Cip1 upregulation, while additional pathway(s) mediate PKCα-induced cyclin D1 and Id1 downregulation. PKCα also induces ERK-dependent SOS1 phosphorylation, indicating possible negative crosstalk between anti-proliferative and growth-promoting ERK signaling. Importantly, the spatio-temporal activation of PKCα and ERK in the intestinal epithelium in vivo supports the physiological relevance of these pathways and highlights the importance of anti-proliferative ERK signaling to tissue homeostasis in the intestine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Navneet Kaur
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
| | - Michelle Lum
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
| | - Robert E Lewis
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
| | - Adrian R Black
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
| | - Jennifer D Black
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA.
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Zhang X, Xu GB, Zhou D, Pan YX. High-fat diet modifies expression of hepatic cellular senescence gene p16(INK4a) through chromatin modifications in adult male rats. Genes Nutr 2018; 13:6. [PMID: 29564021 PMCID: PMC5853101 DOI: 10.1186/s12263-018-0595-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2017] [Accepted: 02/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Background Liver is the crucial organ as a hub for metabolic reactions. p16(INK4a) is a well-established cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) inhibitor that plays important role in the molecular pathways of senescence, which lead to irreversible cell cycle arrest with secretion of proinflammatory cytokines and mitochondrial dysfunction. This study tested the hypothesis that cellular senescence regulated by p16(INK4a) is associated with high-fat diet in adult male rats. Methods Sprague Dawley rats were fed a high-fat (HF) diet or a control (C) diet for 9 weeks after weaning. At 12 weeks of age, liver samples of male rats were collected to investigate the key genes and liver physiological status. Results Both mRNA and protein expression level of cellular senescence marker, p16(INK4a), was increased significantly in HF group when compared to C group. A decrease of tri-methylated histone H3 lysine 27 (H3K27Me3) in the coding region of p16(INK4a) was observed. On the other hand, mRNA and protein expression of another inhibitor of cyclin-dependent kinase, p21(Cip1), was decreased significantly in HF group; however, no significant chromatin modification was found in this gene. Histological analysis demonstrated hepatic steatosis in HF group as well as severe fat accumulation. Conclusions Our study demonstrated that HF diet regulated cellular senescence marker p16(INK4a) through chromatin modifications, which may promote hepatic fat accumulation and steatosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiyuan Zhang
- 1Pediatric Oncology Branch (POB), National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institute of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD 20892 USA
| | - Guanying Bianca Xu
- 2Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, 461 Bevier Hall, MC-182, 905 South Goodwin Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801 USA
| | - Dan Zhou
- 4Hongqiao International Institute of Medicine, Shanghai Tongren Hospital/Faculty of Public Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025 China
| | - Yuan-Xiang Pan
- 2Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, 461 Bevier Hall, MC-182, 905 South Goodwin Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801 USA.,3Division of Nutritional Sciences (DNS), University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, 461 Bevier Hall, MC-182, 905 South Goodwin Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801 USA.,5Illinois Informatics Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 461 Bevier Hall, MC-182, 905 South Goodwin Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801 USA
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Uchida M, Suzuki S, Suzuki T, Ishii I. p27(Kip1) and p21(Cip1)-independent proliferative inhibition of vascular smooth muscle cells cultured in type-I collagen matrix honeycombs. Microvasc Res 2015; 103:36-40. [PMID: 26522285 DOI: 10.1016/j.mvr.2015.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [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: 05/18/2015] [Revised: 10/21/2015] [Accepted: 10/27/2015] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
The proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs) contributes to atherosclerotic plaque formation and restenosis. Cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors, such as p27(Kip1) and p21(Cip1), are known to play significant roles in the control of the aberrant proliferation of SMCs. Primary cultured SMCs stop proliferating immediately when cultured in three-dimensional matrices of type-I collagen "honeycombs" structures. To clarify whether p27(Kip1) and p21(Cip1) are involved in the proliferative inhibition of SMCs cultured in honeycombs, the characteristics of SMCs derived from the aorta of both wild-type mice (p27[+/+] SMCs) and p27(Kip1) knockout mice (p27[-/-] SMCs) were investigated. Although the growth of p27(-/-) SMCs cultured on plates was faster than that of p27(+/+) SMCs, the number of both p27(+/+) and p27(-/-) SMCs did not change when they were cultured in honeycombs. p21(Cip1) expression was decreased but maintained in p27(-/-) SMCs cultured on plates and in honeycombs. Knockdown of p21(Cip1) in p27(-/-) SMCs promoted proliferation on plates. On the contrary, p21(Cip1) knockdown had no effect on the proliferation of p27(-/-) SMCs cultured in honeycombs. In conclusion, p27(Kip1) and p21(Cip1) are insufficient for the proliferative inhibition of SMCs cultured in honeycombs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masashi Uchida
- Division of Pharmacy, Chiba University Hospital, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba 260-8677, Japan
| | - Saki Suzuki
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba 260-8675, Japan
| | - Takaaki Suzuki
- Division of Pharmacy, Chiba University Hospital, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba 260-8677, Japan
| | - Itsuko Ishii
- Division of Pharmacy, Chiba University Hospital, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba 260-8677, Japan; Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba 260-8675, Japan.
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Yafune A, Taniai E, Morita R, Akane H, Kimura M, Mitsumori K, Shibutani M. Immunohistochemical cellular distribution of proteins related to M phase regulation in early proliferative lesions induced by tumor promotion in rat two-stage carcinogenesis models. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2013; 66:1-11. [PMID: 23890812 DOI: 10.1016/j.etp.2013.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [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: 03/01/2013] [Revised: 06/02/2013] [Accepted: 07/01/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
We have previously reported that 28-day treatment with hepatocarcinogens increases liver cells expressing p21(Cip1), a G1/S checkpoint protein, and M phase proteins, i.e., nuclear Cdc2, Aurora B, phosphorylated-Histone H3 (p-Histone H3) and heterochromatin protein 1α (HP1α), in rats. To examine the roles of these markers in the early stages of carcinogenesis, we investigated their cellular distribution in several carcinogenic target organs using rat two-stage carcinogenesis models. Promoting agents targeting the liver (piperonyl butoxide and methapyrilene hydrochloride), thyroid (sulfadimethoxine), urinary bladder (phenylethyl isothiocyanate), and forestomach and glandular stomach (catechol) were administered to rats after initiation treatment for the liver with N-diethylnitrosamine, thyroid with N-bis(2-hydroxypropyl)nitrosamine, urinary bladder with N-butyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl)nitrosamine, and forestomach and glandular stomach with N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine. Numbers of cells positive for nuclear Cdc2, Aurora B, p-Histone H3 and HP1α increased within preneoplastic lesions as determined by glutathione S-transferase placental form in the liver or phosphorylated p44/42 mitogen-activated protein kinase in the thyroid, and hyperplastic lesions having no known preneoplastic markers in the urinary bladder, forestomach and glandular stomach. Immunoreactive cells for p21(Cip1) were decreased within thyroid preneoplastic lesions; however, they were increased within liver preneoplastic lesions and hyperplastic lesions in other organs. These results suggest that M phase disruption commonly occur during the formation of preneoplastic lesions and hyperplastic lesions. Differences in the expression patterns of p21(Cip1) between thyroid preneoplastic and proliferative lesions in other organs may reflect differences in cell cycle regulation involving G1/S checkpoint function between proliferative lesions in each organ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atsunori Yafune
- Laboratory of Veterinary Pathology, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 3-5-8 Saiwai-cho, Fuchu-shi, Tokyo 183-8509, Japan; Pathogenetic Veterinary Science, United Graduate School of Veterinary Sciences, Gifu University, 1-1 Yanagido, Gifu-shi, Gifu 501-1193, Japan
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Forte G, Fortuna CG, Salerno L, Modica MN, Siracusa MA, Cardile V, Romeo G, Bulbarelli A, Lonati E, Pittalà V. Antitumor properties of substituted (αE)-α-(1H-indol-3-ylmethylene)benzeneacetic acids or amides. Bioorg Med Chem 2013; 21:5233-45. [PMID: 23871443 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2013.06.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [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: 01/11/2013] [Revised: 05/17/2013] [Accepted: 06/12/2013] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
A novel class of indole derivatives characterized by a (αE)-α-(1H-indol-3-ylmethylene)benzeneacetic acid or amide scaffold was synthesized. These derivatives, assayed for cell-growth inhibition activity against a panel of six different tumor cell lines, showed strong antiproliferative activity and selectivity mainly towards DU145 cell line. In particular, compounds 2d-m and 5 stand out for their cell growth inhibitory activity and, among them, compound 2d emerged for its selectivity towards DU145 with respect to other tested tumor cell lines. DU145 treated with 1μM of 2d for 72h showed p21(Cip1) induction and suppression of Akt signaling together with induction of Rb. From a computational point of view, two different approaches were used in order to study topology and electronic properties of the novel compounds and to shed light on their drug-likeness properties. Firstly, topological and electronic features of the compounds endowed with the most relevant biological activity were deepened; in parallel, some ADME properties like solubility and permeability were predicted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Forte
- Dipartimento di Scienze del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Catania, viale A. Doria 6, 95125 Catania, Italy
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