线粒体呼吸链抑制剂对青蒿素代谢速率的影响

线粒体呼吸链在青蒿素抑制酵母的过程中起重要作用。为了研究线粒体呼吸链对青蒿素代谢的影响,利用不同的抑制剂抑制线粒体呼吸链,用薄层层析法检测青蒿素代谢速率。结果表明:还原型烟酰胺腺嘌呤二核苷酸(NADH)脱氢酶抑制剂(DPI)可以减缓酵母细胞和疟原虫细胞对青蒿素的代谢,而呼吸链复合物Ⅱ、Ⅲ、Ⅳ的抑制剂对青蒿素消耗没有明显影响。NADH脱氢酶在青蒿素代谢中起重要作用,NADH脱氢酶结构上存在巨大差异。这也为解释青蒿素的物种选择性毒性提供了线索。     

钾离子及钾通道在细胞凋亡时线粒体变化中的作用

细胞凋亡在多种生命活动及疾病中均具有重要作用,线粒体是决定细胞凋亡的关键因素.近年研究发现,细胞内高钾可以保护细胞免于凋亡.但也有研究表明,钾离子及钾离子通道可参与线粒体的结构和功能改变,影响细胞凋亡.明确细胞内钾离子对线粒体的影响,可以更好的理解细胞凋亡及其相关的多种生理、病理机制.综述了钾离子及钾离子通道在细胞凋亡时对线粒体的作用.     

电磁脉冲对肿瘤细胞的影响

用电磁脉冲处理S180肉瘤细胞,然后研究细胞膜、线粒体、细胞核、内质网、细胞周期、细胞凋亡率、细胞中的超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、丙二醛(MDA)的变化.结果发现,细胞膜受到一定强度的电磁脉冲处理时,其通透性障碍受到抑制,细胞膜上出现微孔,细胞膜微绒毛受到损伤.细胞周期发生改变,其中G2期发生显著改变.线粒体发生肿胀,嵴消失,内膜断裂.细胞核出现染色质凝集,内质网肿胀.电磁脉冲处理后细胞的凋亡率提高7.8%,与对照组相比显著提高(P<0.05).通过检测SOD活性和MDA浓度,发现电磁脉冲对细胞内的SOD活性和MDA的浓度没有显著性影响(P>0.05).     

脑特异性高表达蛋白TMEM59L诱导细胞凋亡的机制

TMEM59L为近年来新发现的脑特异性高表达蛋白,具有促凋亡效果,但其具体的凋亡机制还不清楚.构建了TMEM59L重组质粒,并在HEK293T细胞中过表达TMEM59L,用Annexin V-FITC/PI双染法确定了TMEM59L可以诱导细胞凋亡,之后用免疫印迹方法检测细胞内凋亡相关分子激活情况.结果显示,外源TMEM59L可以降低Bcl-2的蛋白表达水平,诱导细胞色素c从线粒体释放进入细胞质,并且激活caspase-9、caspase-7和caspase-3,但不激活caspase-8;活化的caspase-7和caspase-3进一步酶解死亡底物PARP,导致细胞凋亡;此外,用广谱caspase抑制剂Z-Val-Ala-Asp-FMK(Z-VAD-FMK)抑制caspase-7和caspase-3活性后,死亡底物PARP的酶解也基本被抑制.由此可见,TMEM59L是通过caspase依赖的线粒体途径诱导HEK293T细胞凋亡.     

茧蜂病毒上调ROS促进昆虫细胞凋亡的研究

茧蜂病毒(Microplitis bicoloratus bracovirus, MbBV)存在于鳞翅目茧蜂科寄生蜂雌蜂输卵管萼上皮细胞中,对寄生蜂成功寄生寄主起着至关重要的作用.活性氧(reactive oxygen species,ROS)主要是由细胞内线粒体等细胞器产生的活性分子,广泛参与和调节机体的各种生理和病理过程;为了探究ROS在茧蜂病毒诱导昆虫细胞凋亡过程中的作用,研究通过体内和体外细胞实验探讨了茧蜂病毒在感染细胞过程中ROS变化与细胞凋亡变化的关系.结果显示,茧蜂的寄生导致斜纹夜蛾幼虫血细胞ROS上调,凋亡增加.提取茧蜂病毒MbBV感染Spli221细胞24 h后,细胞内的ROS水平显著上调的同时也伴随着细胞凋亡增加,而当用ROS抑制剂NAC抑制ROS产生时,则可以挽救MbBV诱导的细胞凋亡.以上结果提示,MbBV可能通过促进ROS的产生来诱导细胞凋亡的发生.     

PI3K-Akt和JNK信号通路抑制剂对杆状病毒诱导昆虫细胞凋亡影响的初步研究

为了探讨杆状病毒诱导昆虫细胞凋亡通路与细胞内PI3K-Akt和JNK信号通路的关系,应用PI3K的特异性抑制剂Wortmannin和JNK的特异性抑制剂SP600125处理芹菜夜蛾核型多角体病毒(AfMNPV)感染的斜纹夜蛾SL-1细胞,研究了这些抑制剂对杆状病毒诱导昆虫细胞凋亡的影响.分别使用浓度梯度2.5,25,50μmol的SP600125和0.3,3,30μmol的Wortmannin处理感染了SfaMNPV的SL-1细胞,24h后进光镜观察、DAPI荧光染色,流式细胞术分析显示,抑制PI3K-Akt和JNK信号通路后杆状病毒诱导的细胞凋亡受到明显影响,细胞凋亡水平明显降低.研究结果提示AfMNPV诱导斜纹夜蛾SL-1细胞凋亡过程可能涉及细胞PI3K-Akt和JNK信号通路.     

神经鞘磷脂合成酶2与阿霉素致乳腺癌细胞线粒体损伤的相关性

目的:探讨神经鞘磷脂合成酶2(SMS2)的表达与阿霉素(ADR)致乳腺癌细胞线粒体损伤的相关性.方法:采用过表达慢病毒感染法构建并筛选SMS2过表达的乳腺癌MCF-7细胞.CCK-8实验检测细胞对ADR的IC50值,选择适当浓度的ADR药物作用条件处理细胞后,使用MitoSOX试剂染色检测线粒体ROS水平,检测细胞内ATP水平以评估线粒体功能;电镜观察线粒体超微结构的异同;Western blot检测线粒体细胞色素C的释放水平和细胞凋亡相关蛋白Cleaved-PARP、Cleaved-Caspase 3、Bcl-2、Bax表达水平.结果:SMS2过表达的MCF-7细胞对ADR的IC50值为(2.42±0.073)μmol/L,而对照组细胞IC50值为(0.62±0.036)μmol/L(P<0.01).2μmol/L ADR处理细胞24 h后,SMS2过表达的MCF-7细胞内线粒体ROS水平降低(P<0.05);细胞内ATP水平增加(P<0.05);电镜观察示线粒体结构性损伤减轻;线粒体细胞色素C的释放水平降低(P<0.05);抗凋亡蛋白Bcl-2表达增加,促凋亡蛋白Cleaved-PARP、Cleaved-Caspase 3、Bax的表达减少(P<0.05).结论:SMS2过表达可能通过减轻ADR对乳腺癌MCF-7细胞线粒体的损伤作用,进而抑制细胞凋亡.     

敏感和抗性的白血病HL60细胞对staurosporine诱导凋亡的不同反应(英)

用对蛋白激酶具有强烈抑制、作用广泛的抑制剂staurosporine（Sta）,研究敏感和抗三尖杉酯碱的人白血病HL60细胞中凋亡和多药抗药性的关系．Sta均能诱导2种细胞发生典型的凋亡,但抗性细胞发生凋亡需更长的时间,凋亡的细胞数减少．Sta增加柔红霉素在抗性细胞内的积聚,说明其能逆转多药抗药性．在抗性细胞凋亡过程中,mdrl基因表达没有变化,c-myc基因表达稍有增加．结果显示：Sta能诱导敏感和抗三尖杉酯碱的HL60细胞发生凋亡,mdrl基因表达与凋亡过程无关．     

铜胁迫对蚕豆根尖细胞凋亡及线粒体功能的影响

为了揭示重金属铜对植物的伤害机制,对铜胁迫下蚕豆根尖细胞凋亡与线粒体功能关系进行了分析.用1.0mmol·L-1硫酸铜处理新萌发的蚕豆(Vicia faba)根尖4h,根系生长抑制率达60%,根尖细胞活力明显受到抑制.经荧光染料丫啶橙(AO)和溴化乙锭(EB)双染后,可见细胞凋亡特征,凋亡率达61.7%.同时,线粒体膜通透性明显增大,线粒体膜电位和线粒体内Cyt c/a吸光度比值下降,说明在铜胁迫下线粒体膜受到损伤.二氨基联苯胺(3,3′-diaminobenzidine,DAB)染色实验证明硫酸铜可以诱导蚕豆根尖活性氧的积累,根尖中H2O2的含量比对照组提高2.5倍.利用过氧化氢酶(catalase,CAT)预处理分解铜胁迫诱导的活性氧,可以降低细胞凋亡率和线粒体膜损伤.实验结果证明,活性氧可能介导铜胁迫造成的根尖生长抑制,是植物在遭受重金属铜胁迫时细胞凋亡和线粒体膜损伤的重要生理信号.     

科罗索酸诱导细胞内ROS及Ca2+超载抗人结肠癌的研究

为了研究科罗索酸对人结肠癌SW480细胞的抗增殖、促凋亡作用及其机制,分别采用不同浓度的科罗索酸干预SW480细胞24和48 h后,用四甲基偶氮唑蓝(MTT)法检测细胞活力并计算半数抑制浓度(IC_(50));使用4,6-联脒-2-苯基吲哚(DAPI)染色以及Annexin V-FITC/PI双染检测科罗索酸诱导细胞凋亡的作用;通过单克隆实验考察科罗索酸对SW480细胞增殖能力的影响;采用2′,7′-二氯荧光素二乙酸酯(DCFH-DA)法和二氢乙啶(DHE)超氧化合物阴离子荧光探针法检测科罗索酸对SW480细胞内的活性氧(ROS)浓度的影响;荧光探针(JC-1)检测细胞线粒体膜电位;Ca~(2+)荧光探针Fluo-4AM检测细胞内Ca~(2+)浓度;蛋白质免疫印迹法检测科罗索酸对线粒体凋亡通路相关蛋白Cleaved Caspase-3、Bax、Bcl-2和Cleaved PARP表达的影响。结果表明:科罗索酸干预细胞24和48 h的半数抑制浓度分别为12.13和7.79μmol/L;低于半数抑制浓度的科罗索酸可以显著抑制SW480细胞的增殖;与空白对照组相比,科罗索酸(3.75、7.5和15μmol/L)干预SW480细胞后,其细胞凋亡率分别为20.05%、20.95%和31.60%,线粒体膜电位显著下降;同时,Cleaved Caspase-3、Bax和Cleaved PARP蛋白表达水平显著上升,Bcl-2表达水平显著降低,科罗索酸激活线粒体凋亡通路诱导SW480细胞凋亡。科罗索酸可以明显抑制SW480细胞的增殖并激活线粒体凋亡通路发挥抗肿瘤作用,其机制与上调细胞内活性氧浓度和Ca~(2+)超载有关。     

Mechanism of mitochondrial respiratory control in caspase-3 induced positive feedback loop in apoptosis

Caspase-3 plays a central role in the execution of apoptosis. Besides many substrates of caspase-3, mitochondria seem to be one of the candidate targets in the apoptotic process. We evaluated the effects of caspase-3 on the isolated mitochondria in detail, and especially focused on the mechanism involved in mitochondrial functions, which were not fully assessed till now. Our results showed that recombinant caspase-3 induced the increase of superoxide production, the dissipation of mitochondrial membrane potential and rate increasing of mitochondrial state 4 respiration. Caspases inhibitor, z-VAD-fmk can inhibit these effects of caspase-3 on mitochondria. Bcl-xL and cyclosporin A were also shown to be able to inhibit these changes. These results suggested a possible mechanism in caspase-3 induced disruption of mitochondrial membrane barrier which formed a positive feedback loop in apoptosis.     

Caspase-12 mediates endoplasmic-reticulum-specific apoptosis and cytotoxicity by amyloid-beta

Apoptosis, or cellular suicide, is important for normal development and tissue homeostasis, but too much or too little apoptosis can also cause disease. The family of cysteine proteases, the so- called caspases, are critical mediators of programmed cell death, and thus far 14 family members have been identified. Some of these, such as caspase-8, mediate signal transduction downstream of death receptors located on the plasma membrane. Others, such as caspase-9, mediate apoptotic signals after mitochondrial damage. Stress in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) can also result in apoptosis. Here we show that caspase-12 is localized to the ER and activated by ER stress, including disruption of ER calcium homeostasis and accumulation of excess proteins in ER, but not by membrane- or mitochondrial-targeted apoptotic signals. Mice that are deficient in caspase-12 are resistant to ER stress-induced apoptosis, but their cells undergo apoptosis in response to other death stimuli. Furthermore, we show that caspase-12-deficient cortical neurons are defective in apoptosis induced by amyloid-beta protein but not by staurosporine or trophic factor deprivation. Thus, caspase-12 mediates an ER-specific apoptosis pathway and may contribute to amyloid-beta neurotoxicity.     

线粒体外膜通道蛋白VDAC与靶向肿瘤细胞凋亡

VDAC(Voltage-dependent anion channel)是位于线粒体外膜上的一种主要通道蛋白,参与线粒体内外物质和能量的运输,在线粒体与细胞其它部位的通讯中起重要调节作用.近年来研究发现,VDAC也是线粒体与其它蛋白质相互作用的功能结合位点,可与多种凋亡调节蛋白(如HK-Ⅰ/Ⅱ、Bcl-2家族蛋白、tubulin、MAP2/4等)以及非蛋白调节因子相互作用,参与调控细胞凋亡.因此,VDAC成为线粒体凋亡通路中一种关键的靶蛋白.本文对近年来VDAC在肿瘤细胞凋亡中的作用机制进行简要综述.     

Endonuclease G is an apoptotic DNase when released from mitochondria.

Nucleosomal fragmentation of DNA is a hallmark of apoptosis (programmed cell death), and results from the activation of nucleases in cells undergoing apoptosis. One such nuclease, DNA fragmentation factor (DFF, a caspase-activated deoxyribonuclease (CAD) and its inhibitor (ICAD)), is capable of inducing DNA fragmentation and chromatin condensation after cleavage by caspase-3 (refs 2,3,4). However, although transgenic mice lacking DFF45 or its caspase cleavage site have significantly reduced DNA fragmentation, these mice still show residual DNA fragmentation and are phenotypically normal. Here we report the identification and characterization of another nuclease that is specifically activated by apoptotic stimuli and is able to induce nucleosomal fragmentation of DNA in fibroblast cells from embryonic mice lacking DFF. This nuclease is endonuclease G (endoG), a mitochondrion-specific nuclease that translocates to the nucleus during apoptosis. Once released from mitochondria, endoG cleaves chromatin DNA into nucleosomal fragments independently of caspases. Therefore, endoG represents a caspase-independent apoptotic pathway initiated from the mitochondria.     

Protective paracrine effect of mesenchymal stem cells on cardiomyocytes

Objective: The aim of this study was to test the protective effect of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) on cardiomyocytes in vitro and to investigate the anti-apoptotic signaling pathway. Methods: MSCs from Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were separated and cultured. MSC medium was collected from MSCs cultured in serum-free Dulbecco’s modified eagle medium (DMEM) under hypoxia. Cultured cardiomyocytes from neonatal SD rats were exposed to hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) and treated with MSC medium. The apoptotic cardiomyocytes were stained with Annexin-V-fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC), Hoechst 33342 and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL). The mitochondrial transmembrane potential of cardiomyocytes was assessed using a fluorescence microscope. The expression of Bcl-2, Bax, cytochrome C, apoptosis-induced factor (AIF), and caspase-3 was tested by Western blot analysis. Results: Our data demonstrated that MSC medium reduced H/R-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis, increased the Bcl-2/Bax ratio, and reduced the release of cytochrome C and AIF from mitochondria into the cytosol. Conclusion: MSCs protected the cardiomyocytes from H/R-induced apoptosis through a mitochondrial pathway in a paracrine manner.     

Essential role of the mitochondrial apoptosis-inducing factor in programmed cell death

Programmed cell death is a fundamental requirement for embryogenesis, organ metamorphosis and tissue homeostasis. In mammals, release of mitochondrial cytochrome c leads to the cytosolic assembly of the apoptosome-a caspase activation complex involving Apaf1 and caspase-9 that induces hallmarks of apoptosis. There are, however, mitochondrially regulated cell death pathways that are independent of Apaf1/caspase-9. We have previously cloned a molecule associated with programmed cell death called apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF). Like cytochrome c, AIF is localized to mitochondria and released in response to death stimuli. Here we show that genetic inactivation of AIF renders embryonic stem cells resistant to cell death after serum deprivation. Moreover, AIF is essential for programmed cell death during cavitation of embryoid bodies-the very first wave of cell death indispensable for mouse morphogenesis. AIF-dependent cell death displays structural features of apoptosis, and can be genetically uncoupled from Apaf1 and caspase-9 expression. Our data provide genetic evidence for a caspase-independent pathway of programmed cell death that controls early morphogenesis.     

Apoptosis initiated by Bcl-2-regulated caspase activation independently of the cytochrome c/Apaf-1/caspase-9 apoptosome

Apoptosis is an evolutionarily conserved cell suicide process executed by cysteine proteases (caspases) and regulated by the opposing factions of the Bcl-2 protein family. Mammalian caspase-9 and its activator Apaf-1 were thought to be essential, because mice lacking either of them display neuronal hyperplasia and their lymphocytes and fibroblasts seem resistant to certain apoptotic stimuli. Because Apaf-1 requires cytochrome c to activate caspase-9, and Bcl-2 prevents mitochondrial cytochrome c release, Bcl-2 is widely believed to inhibit apoptosis by safeguarding mitochondrial membrane integrity. Our results suggest a different, broader role, because Bcl-2 overexpression increased lymphocyte numbers in mice and inhibited many apoptotic stimuli, but the absence of Apaf-1 or caspase-9 did not. Caspase activity was still discernible in cells lacking Apaf-1 or caspase-9, and a potent caspase antagonist both inhibited apoptosis and retarded cytochrome c release. We conclude that Bcl-2 regulates a caspase activation programme independently of the cytochrome c/Apaf-1/caspase-9 'apoptosome', which seems to amplify rather than initiate the caspase cascade.     

Apoptosis Induced by High Concentrations of Nicotinamide in Tobacco Suspension Cells

As an inhibitor of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), nicotinamide has a restraining effect on apoptosis at certain low concentrations. In our present study, apoptosis induced by high concentrations of nicotinamide was observed in tobacco suspension cells. When cells were preincubated with 250 mmol/L nicotinamide for 24 h, the hallmarks of apoptosis were detected, including DNA fragments increasing in size by multiples of 180-200 bp，the condensation and peripheral distribution of nuclear chromatin, and a positive reaction to the TUNEL assay. At the same time, the degradation of PARP and the reduction in the potential of the inner membrane of mitochondria appeared in apoptotic cells induced by high concentrations of nicotinamide. This result indicates that apoptosis induced by high concentrations of nicotinamide is associated with caspase-3-1ike activity and with the opening of mitochondrial permeability pores. These results partially support the hypothesis that high concentrations of PARP inhibitor could force cells to enter an apoptotic pathway by delay of DNA repair in replicating cells.     

Nitric oxide damages neuronal mitochondria and induces apoptosis in neurons

The cytotoxic effect of nitric oxide on primarily cultured rat cerebellar granule cells was studied, and the mechanisms were discussed. The results showed that nitric oxide donor S-nitroso-N-acetyl-penicillamine (SNAP; 500 μmol/L) could induce apoptosis in immature cultures of cerebellar granule cells. Flow cytometry and HPLC analyses revealed that after treatment with SNAP, the mitochondrial transmembrane potential and the cellular ATP content decreased significantly. Nitric oxide scavenger hemoglobin could effectively prevent the neuronal mitochondria from dysfunction and attenuate apoptosis. The results suggested that nitric oxide activated the apoptotic program by inhibiting the activity of mitochondrial respiratory chain and thus decreasing the cellular ATP content.     

Mitochondrial response and calcium ion change in apoptotic insect cells induced by SfaMNPV

Mitochondrial responses and changes of calcium ions in apoptotic insect SL-1 cells induced by Syngrapha falcifera multiple nuclear polyhedrosis virus (SfaMNPV) are reported in this paper. By using Rhodamine 123 as a fluorescent labeling probe, flow cytometry analysis and confocal laser scanning microscope observation we observed that the mitochondrial transmembrane potential (△ψm) began to decrease in SL-1 cells at 4 h post infection and △ψm reduced continuously with the extension of virus infection. Western blotting indicated that the Bcl-2 level in the mitochondria gradually declined and was down- regulated. Cells undergoing apoptosis were found to have an elevation of cytochrome c in the cytosol and a corresponding decrease in the mitochondria, which indicated that cytochrome c was released from mitochondria into cytosol. These results suggest that mitochondrion-mediated apoptotic signal transduction pathway exists in apoptotic insect cell induced by SfaMNPV. Cytosolic free calcium ([Ca^2 ]i) concentration rapidly increased after SfaMNPV infection and the elevated calcium was tested to come partly from extracelllular calcium ion influx. Flow cytometry analysis indicated that the apoptosis in SL-1 cells was not influenced by established cytosolic calcium clamped conditions and the EGTA inhibiting calcium influx. Therefore, neither the elevation of cytosolic calcium ion nor extracellular calcium entry was the inducing factor of apoptosis, which hinted that the depletion of ER Ca^2 store contributed to SL-1 cell apoptosis induced by SfaMNPV.