Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease remarkably characterized by synovitis of joints, whose pathogenesis is complicated and not yet fully elucidated. A variety of cells, cytokines and intercellular signaling pathways are involved in the occurrence and development of RA. The mitogen activation protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway is closely related to the pathogenesis of RA, and plays an important role in the formation of pannus, synovitis, and bone destruction. This paper reviews the research progress of MAPK signaling pathway in RA from the aspects of the interaction of MAPK signaling pathway with a variety of key cells and cytokines in the pathogenesis of RA, in order to provide a direction and theoretical basis for anti-RA drug therapy research.
ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of maresin-1 (MaR1) on lung inflammation and MAPK signaling pathway in asthmatic mice.MethodsTwenty-four female BALB/c mice were randomly divided into normal group, asthma model group, MaR1 group and dexamethasone group. The asthma model was successfully established by using ovalbumin (OVA) combined with aluminum hydroxide, and then MaR1 and dexamethasone were respectively given to asthmatic mice. Serum, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and lung tissue were collected for further analysis. Pathological changes of lung tissue in mice were detected by hematoxylin-eosin and periodic acid-Schiff. Proportion of inflammatory cells in BALF classified by Swiss-Giemsa staining. Th2-related inflammatory cytokines, interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5, IL-13 and IgE in serum and BALF were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. The protein concentration of p-p38 and p-JNK in lung tissues were detected by Western blot.ResultsCompared with the normal group, the asthma model group had increased both airway inflammation and the number of goblet cells significantly (P<0.05). The number of various inflammatory cells in BALF had also increased significantly (P<0.05). The levels of IL-4, IL-5 and IL-13 in BALF and IgE and OVA-specific-IgE in serum were significantly increased (P<0.05). The protein contents of p-p38 and p-JNK in lung tissues were significantly increased (P<0.05). Compared with the asthma model group, both MaR1 and dexamethasone group had reduced inflammation and mucus secretion in lung tissue, number of inflammatory cells in BALF (P<0.05), levels of related inflammatory cytokines in BALF and IgE in serum (P<0.05), and expression of p-p38 and p-JNK proteins in lung tissue (P<0.05).ConclusionsMaR1 can inhibit the production and release of both Th2-related inflammatory cytokines and IgE, effectively reduce the inflammatory response and mucus production in lung tissues of asthmatic mice, with similar effect to dexamethasone. The mechanism may be related to the down-regulation of MAPKs signaling pathway.
ObjectiveTo investigate the expression of Yes-associated protein (YAP) screened by bioinformatics in rats with myocardial-ischemia reperfusion injury and establish the base for further research. MethodsThe difference of gene spectrum of rats with myocardial-ischemia reperfusion injury was analyzed by bioinformatics technique. The related signaling pathways and key genes were screened by KOBAS2.0 and KEGG. Eighteen Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups: normal group (n=6), sham operation group (n=6) and myocardial-ischemia reperfusion injury group (n=6). The expression of target gene was detected by immunochemistry, quantitive reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and western blotting. ResultsA total of 345 differentially expressed genes were found by bioinformatics, among which 181 were up-regulated and 164 were down-regulated. The differential genes were mainly enriched in Wnt, HIPPO, MAPK, Jak-STAT and other signaling pathways. We focused on HIPPO pathway and found that the expression of YAP increased significantly in myocardial-ischemia reperfusion injury group, compared with the normal group and sham operation group (P＜0.05). ConclusionsThe expression of YAP of HIPPO signal pathway is increased in rats with myocardial-ischemia reperfusion injury.
Continuous activation of Janus kinase (JAK)- signal transduction and activator of transcription (STAT) signaling pathway is prevalent in leukemia cells, and it has been found that this pathway plays an important role in acute leukemia (AL). JAK2/JAK1 gene mutations are found in both acute myelocytic leukemia and acute lymphoblastic leukemia and may have implications for the treatment and overall prognosis of the disease. Among the STAT family members, STAT3 and STAT5 proved to be key factors in AL. These gene mutations may provide new targets and new ideas for the treatment of AL. This article provides a review of the research progress of JAK-STAT signaling pathway, related gene mutations and AL.
Objective To investigate the effect of resveratrol (RES) on inflammation-induced cartilage endplate (CEP) degeneration, and its regulatory mechanism on high mobility group box-1 protein (HMGB1) signaling pathway. Methods The intervertebral CEP cells of Sprague Dawley (SD) rats aged 3 weeks were extracted and identified by toluidine blue staining and immunofluorescence staining of rabbit anti-rat collagen type Ⅱ. The cell counting kit 8 (CCK-8) method was used to screen the optimal concentration of RES on intervertebral CEP cells. Gene chip analysis was used to determine the target of RES on intervertebral CEP cells. Interleukin 1β (IL-1β) was used to construct the intervertebral CEP cell degeneration model caused by inflammation and the 7-8-week-old SD rat intervertebral disc degeneration model, and pcDNA3.1-HMGB1 (pcDNA3.1) was used as the control of RES effect. Flow cytometry and TUNEL staining were used to detect the apoptotic rate of intervertebral CEP cells and rat intervertebral disc tissue cells, respectively. ELISA kit was used to detect the content of interleukin 10 (IL-10) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) in the cell supernatant and rat serum. Western blot was used to detect the expressions of HMGB1, extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK), phosphorylated ERK (p-ERK), B cell lymphoma/leukemia 2 gene (Bcl-2), and Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax). ResultsThe extracted cells were identified as rat intervertebral CEP cells. CCK-8 method screened out the highest activity of intervertebral CEP cells treated with 30 μmol/L RES. The gene chip analysis confirmed that the HMGB1-ERK signal was the target of RES. Both cell experiments and animal experiments showed that RES treatment can significantly down-regulate the apoptosis rate of intervertebral CEP cells, inhibit the release of TNF-α, and increase the content of IL-10; and down-regulate the expressions of HMGB1, p-ERK, and Bax, and increase Bcl-2; and pcDNA3.1 could partially reverse these effects of RES, and the differences were all significant (P<0.05). ConclusionRES can significantly inhibit the apoptosis of intervertebral CEP cells induced by inflammation, which is related to inhibiting the expression of HMGB1.
Hypoxic microenvironment always exists in solid tumors, and it closely relates to the development and metastasis of solid tumor. As a main transcription factor responding to hypoxic environment, hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) can promote tumor cell proliferation, survival, angiogenesis, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), etc. EMT is a biological process that epithelial phenotype was transformed into mesenchymal phenotype, which is mainly associated with its signaling pathways, transcription factors, inflammatory factors and miRNAs, and plays a vital role in tumor invasion and metastasis. This paper summarizes the effects of hypoxia signaling pathway, Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, Notch signaling pathway, NF-κB signaling pathway, Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway and PI3K/Akt signaling pathway on the EMT of tumor cells.
Objective To investigate the role and regulatory mechanism of ring finger protein 11 (RNF11) on Akt signaling pathway in the process of osteogenesis of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) to provide ideas for further clarifying its osteogenesis mechanism and its use in clinical treatment in the future. Methods BMSCs were isolated and cultured from fresh bone marrow of healthy donors and subcultured. The 4th generation cells were used in experiments after identification by flow cytometry, and osteogenic, chondrogenic, and adipogenic induction. BMSCs were cultured in osteogenic differentiation medium for 0-14 days. The degree of osteogenic differentiation was detected by Alizarin red staining and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) staining, and the protein expression of RNF11 was detected by Western blot. The 4th generation BMSCs were divided into blank control group (group A), empty lentivirus (Lv-NC) group (group B), and knockdown RNF11 (Lv-ShRNF11) group (group C). Osteogenesis was induced and cultured for 0-14 days. The expression of RNF11 protein was detected by Western blot, the degree of osteogenic differentiation was detected by Alizarin red staining and ALP staining, and the relative mRNA expressions of Runx2, osteocalcin (OCN), and osteopontin (OPN) were detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR). The protein relative expressions of Akt, Smad1/5/8, and β-catenin signaling pathway were detected by Western blot, expressed as the ratio before and after phosphorylation. In order to study the effect mechanism of RNF11 on Akt signaling pathway, the 4th generation BMSCs were divided into Lv-NC transfection group (group A1), Lv-ShRNF11 transfection group (group B1), and Lv-ShRNF11 transfection supplemented with Akt signaling pathway activator SC79 group (group C1). The protein relative expressions of RNF11 and Akt signaling pathway were detected by Western blot, the related osteogenesis indexes were detected by Alizarin red staining, ALP staining, and qRT-PCR. ResultsThe flow cytometry, and osteogenic, chondrogenic, adipogenic induction culture identification showed that the isolated and cultured cells were BMSCs. The protein relative expression of RNF11 increased gradually with the extension of osteogenic differentiation time (P<0.05); after knockdown RNF11, Alizarin red and ALP stainings showed that the degree of osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs in group C were significantly lower than those in groups A and B, and qRT-PCR detection showed that the relative expression of Runx2, OCN, and OPN mRNA significantly decreased (P<0.05). The protein relative expressions of RNF11 and Akt signaling pathway significantly increased with the extensions of osteogenic differentiation time (P<0.05). After knockdown RNF11, the protein relative expression of Akt signaling pathway in group C was significantly lower than that in groups A and B (P<0.05), while Smad1/5/8 and β-catenin signaling pathway had no significant effect (P>0.05). Compared with group A1, the protein relative expression of RNF11 in groups B1 and C1 significantly decreased (P<0.05). Compared with groups A1 and C1, the protein relative expression of Akt signaling pathway in group B1 was significantly lower (P<0.05); Alizarin red and ALP stainings showed that the degree of osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs in group C1 were slightly lower than that of group A1 (P>0.05), but significantly higher than that of group B1 (P<0.05); qRT-PCR detection showed that the relative expressions of Runx2, OCN, and OPN mRNA in group C1 were slightly lower than those of group A1 (P>0.05), but were significantly higher than those of group B1 (P<0.05). ConclusionRNF11 promotes the differentiation of BMSCs into osteoblasts by positively regulating the activation level of Akt signaling pathway. RNF11 can be used as a potential target to improve the bone repair efficacy of BMSCs and treat bone metabolic diseases.
ObjectiveTo investigate the in vitro effect of pseudolaric acid B (PAB) on apoptosis of protoscolece cells and its regulatory effects on angiogenesis and cell apoptosis in the the lesion-host microenvironment tissue in vivo, as well as its possible mechanisms, in order to provide a basis for the clinical development of new alternative drugs for Echinococcus multilocularis. MethodsIn vitro experiments: the protoscoleces, vesicles, germinal cells, human foreskin fibroblasts (HFFs) and normal human liver cells were treated with different concentrations of PAB (0, 2.5, 5, 10, 20, 40, 80, 160 and 320 μmol/L) for 7, 5, 5, 5 and 5 days, then evaluated the survival rate of the protoscoleces, the release level of phosphoglucose isomerase (PGI) from the vesicles, the viability of the germinal cells, as well as the viability of HFFs and normal human liver cells. The protoscoleces and vesicles were fixed with 2.5% glutaraldehyde and used for scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy observation. Animal experiments: the protoscoleces were isolated from the abdominal lesions of the protected gerbils, and then infected 18 C57BL/6J mice by intraperitoneal injection to establish models, dividing into 3 groups with 6 mice in each group. The model group was given 0.3 mL of PBS by gavage daily, the albendazole (ABZ) group was given 0.3 mL ABZ (100 mg/kg) daily by gavage, the PAB group was given 0.3 mL of PAB (40 mg/kg) by gavage daily. After continuous gavage for 6 weeks, the lesion host microenvironment tissue was taken and ELISA was used to detect the expression levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and cysteinyl aspartate specific proteinase3 (caspase3), the expression levels of nitric oxide (NO) was detected using a biochemical detection kit, Western blot was used to detect the expression levels of BCL2-associated X protein (Bax), B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl2), caspase3, cleaved-caspase3, VEGF, vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2), phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (PI3K), phosphorylated PI3K (p-PI3K), protein kinase B (AKT) and phosphorylated AKI (p-AKT) protein. ResultsIn vitro experiments: the protoscoleces of Echinococcus multilocularis were cultured with different concentrations of PAB for 7 days in vitro, the protoscoleces of 40, 80, 160 and 320 μmol/L group all died after 6, 4, 2 and 1 day, respectively; PAB exhibited a certain time and concentration dependence on the protoscoleces of Echinococcus multilocularis. After PAB treatment, the release of PGI in culture supernatant of Echinococcus multilocularis gradually increased with the increase of PAB concentration [concentration for 50% of maximal effect value was (24.40±1.42) μmol/L], the vitality of germinal cells was significantly inhibited [half maximal inhibitory concentration value was (15.94±2.55) μmol/L]. PAB had no significant toxicity to mammalian cells. When 20 μmol/L PAB intervention in the protoscoleces for 3 days, the expression levels of Bax and caspase3 proteins were upregulated, while the expression level of Bcl2 protein was downregulated. Animal experiments: compared with the model group, the wet weight of lesions in the PAB and ABZ groups decreased (P<0.01), and the inhibition rates of lesion growth in the PAB and ABZ groups were 91.03% and 74.44%, respectively. The expression of proliferation and angiogenesis indicators (Ki67, CD34, VEGF, VEGFR2, eNOS, NO) were downregulated in the lesion host microenvironment tissues of mice in the ABZ and PAB groups (P<0.05), while the expression of apoptosis related proteins (caspase3, cleaved-caspase3 and Bax) were upregulated and the expression of PI3K/AKT signaling pathway related proteins (p-PI3K and p-AKT) were downregulated (P<0.05). ConclusionPAB has a strong in vitro and in vivo effect against Echinococcus multilocularis, and its mechanism may be related to the inhibition of PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, leading to increased apoptosis and decreased angiogenesis.
ObjectiveTo study the effect of Tangeretin on non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and the tumor stemness, and to find the molecular mechanism of its effect. MethodsWe used cell counting and cell cloning experiments to study the effect of Tangeretin on the proliferation of NSCLC cells in vitro. The effect of Tangeretin on the invasion of NSCLC cells was detected by transwell assay. We detected the effect of Tangeretin on the proliferation of NSCLC cells in vivo by nude mouse tumor-bearing experiment. The effect of Tangeretin on tumor stemness of NSCLC cells was detected by self-renew assay, and CD133 and Nanog protein expressions. The expressions of PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway-related proteins were detected by Western blotting (WB). ResultsTangeretin had a good inhibitory effect on the proliferation of NSCLC cells in vivo and in vitro. Cell counting experiment, clonal formation experiment and nude mouse tumor-bearing experiment showed that Tangeretin could inhibit the proliferation activity, clonal formation ability, and tumor size of NSCLC cells in vivo. Self-renew experiments showed that Tangeretin could inhibit the self-renew ability of NSCLC cells. WB experiments showed that Tangeretin inhibited the expressions of tumor stemness markers CD133 and Nanog in NSCLC cells. Tangeretin could inhibit the activation of PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway-related proteins in NSCLC cells, and the activation of PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway could partially remit the inhibitory effect of Tangeretin on tumor stemness of NSCLC cells. ConclusionTangeretin can inhibit the tumor stemness of NSCLC cells, which may be related to the regulation of PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway.
ObjectiveTo explore the suppression of Wnt-1 pathway on non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) by establishing a NSCLC nude mice model of transplanting tumor in Xuanwei county. MethodsThere were 21 mice with tumor weight from 16-18 g and we divided them into a blank group (n=7), a control group (n=7), and an experiment group (n=7). The blank group were injected with saline, the control group were injected with docetaxel, and the experimental group were injected with Wnt-1 antibody. The mice were executed and the tumor specimens were obtained after six injections. We compared the volumes of the specimens and the inhibition rates of tumor among the three groups. ResultsThere was a statistical difference in volume between the blank group and the experiment group as well as the control group on the 21th and 27th day (P=0.002,P=0.000). The experiment within mice's body showed that both docetaxel and Wnt-1 antibody could inhibit NSCLC from growing, and the inhibition effect of docetaxel was stronger. ConclusionThe interdiction of Wnt-1 pathway is functional to restrain the growth of tumor. The docetaxel and Wnt-1 antibody have a positive effect on the treatment of NSCLC.