Helicobacter exploits integrin for type IV secretion and kinase activation

Integrins are important mammalian receptors involved in normal cellular functions as well as pathogenesis of chronic inflammation and cancer. We propose that integrins are exploited by the gastric pathogen and type-1 carcinogen Helicobacter pylori for injection of the bacterial oncoprotein cytotoxin-associated gene A (CagA) into gastric epithelial cells. Virulent H. pylori express a type-IV secretion pilus that injects CagA into the host cell; CagA then becomes tyrosine-phosphorylated by Src family kinases. However, the identity of the host cell receptor involved in this process has remained unknown. Here we show that the H. pylori CagL protein is a specialized adhesin that is targeted to the pilus surface, where it binds to and activates integrin alpha5beta1 receptor on gastric epithelial cells through an arginine-glycine-aspartate motif. This interaction triggers CagA delivery into target cells as well as activation of focal adhesion kinase and Src. Our findings provide insights into the role of integrins in H.-pylori-induced pathogenesis. CagL may be exploited as a new molecular tool for our further understanding of integrin signalling.     

A role for Drosophila LKB1 in anterior-posterior axis formation and epithelial polarity

The PAR-4 and PAR-1 kinases are necessary for the formation of the anterior-posterior (A-P) axis in Caenorhabditis elegans. PAR-1 is also required for A-P axis determination in Drosophila. Here we show that the Drosophila par-4 homologue, lkb1, is required for the early A-P polarity of the oocyte, and for the repolarization of the oocyte cytoskeleton that defines the embryonic A-P axis. LKB1 is phosphorylated by PAR-1 in vitro, and overexpression of LKB1 partially rescues the par-1 phenotype. These two kinases therefore function in a conserved pathway for axis formation in flies and worms. lkb1 mutant clones also disrupt apical-basal epithelial polarity, suggesting a general role in cell polarization. The human homologue, LKB1, is mutated in Peutz-Jeghers syndrome and is regulated by prenylation and by phosphorylation by protein kinase A. We show that protein kinase A phosphorylates Drosophila LKB1 on a conserved site that is important for its activity. Thus, Drosophila and human LKB1 may be functional homologues, suggesting that loss of cell polarity may contribute to tumour formation in individuals with Peutz-Jeghers syndrome.     

Purification and relationship with gastric disease of a 130 kDa（CagA） protein of Helicobacter pylorl

Objective:The aims of this research were to purify and identify the 130 kDa(CagA) protein of H.pylori clinical isolate HP97002 and evaluate the relationships between the purified 130 kDa(CagA) pro-tein and gastric diseases.Methods:The procedure for isolating the protein included 6 mol/L guanidine ex-tract,size exclusion chromatography and elusion from gel.Sera of 68 patients with gastric diseases(44 with chronic gastritis,15 with atrophic gastritis,7 with peptic ulcer disease,2 with gastric cancer) were obtained,and the serological response to CagA was studied by Westem-blot using the purified protein,Results;The pu-rified protein was 130 kDa and preserved good antigenicity and revealed basic isoelectric point about of 8.1. Among 68 sera,43 sera could recognize the purified protein associated with chronic agastritis 47.7%(21/44),atrophic gastritis 86.7%(13/15),peptic ulcer disease 100%(7/7),gastric cancer 100%(2/2).Compared with each other,the difference was significant(x^2=13.327,P=0.004),and 130 kDa(CagA) protein was associated with severe gastric diseases(rs=0.442,P=0.001).Conclusion:The 130 kDa(CagA) protein was associated wih severe gastric diseases.     

Cdc42 regulates GSK-3beta and adenomatous polyposis coli to control cell polarity

Cell polarity is a fundamental property of all cells. In higher eukaryotes, the small GTPase Cdc42, acting through a Par6-atypical protein kinase C (aPKC) complex, is required to establish cellular asymmetry during epithelial morphogenesis, asymmetric cell division and directed cell migration. However, little is known about what lies downstream of this complex. Here we show, through the use of primary rat astrocytes in a cell migration assay, that Par6-PKCzeta interacts directly with and regulates glycogen synthase kinase-3beta (GSK-3beta) to promote polarization of the centrosome and to control the direction of cell protrusion. Cdc42-dependent phosphorylation of GSK-3beta occurs specifically at the leading edge of migrating cells, and induces the interaction of adenomatous polyposis coli (Apc) protein with the plus ends of microtubules. The association of Apc with microtubules is essential for cell polarization. We conclude that Cdc42 regulates cell polarity through the spatial regulation of GSK-3beta and Apc. This role for Apc may contribute to its tumour-suppressor activity.     

幽门螺杆菌感染与胃癌的关系

目的 :探讨幽门螺杆菌 (简称 Hp)感染与胃癌的关系。方法 :43例胃癌患者的新鲜癌手术标本及血清标本、36例十二提肠溃疡患者 (对照组 )的胃窦粘膜组织及血清标本入本组研究。分别采用 PCR及血清学试验检测其 Hp感染状况 ,两项检测均为阳性者即确立为 Hp感染。结果 :(1) 4 3例胃癌中 ,Hp阳性 30例 ,阳性率 6 9.77% ;36例十二指肠溃疡中 ,Hp阳性 30例 ,阳性率 83.33% ,两组阳性率相比差异无显著性。Hp阳性患者中 ,胃癌及对照组 cag A基因阳性分别为 2 4例、2 5例 ,阳性率分别为 80 .0 0 %、83.33% ,两组阳性率相比差异无显著性。(2 ) 4 3例胃癌中 ,高中分化腺癌组 Hp及 cag A检出率分别为 6 2 .5 0 %及 70 .0 0 % ,低未分化癌组 Hp及 cag A检出率分别为 74.0 7%及 85 .0 0 % ,但两组 Hp及 cag A检出率统计学上均无显著性差异。结论 :(1) Hp感染及 cag A+ 菌株感染不是胃癌发生的唯一或必须因素。 (2 )胃癌的分化程度与 Hp及cag A+菌株感染无明显相关性。     

Energy-dependent regulation of cell structure by AMP-activated protein kinase

AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK, also known as SNF1A) has been primarily studied as a metabolic regulator that is activated in response to energy deprivation. Although there is relatively ample information on the biochemical characteristics of AMPK, not enough data exist on the in vivo function of the kinase. Here, using the Drosophila model system, we generated the first animal model with no AMPK activity and discovered physiological functions of the kinase. Surprisingly, AMPK-null mutants were lethal with severe abnormalities in cell polarity and mitosis, similar to those of lkb1-null mutants. Constitutive activation of AMPK restored many of the phenotypes of lkb1-null mutants, suggesting that AMPK mediates the polarity- and mitosis-controlling functions of the LKB1 serine/threonine kinase. Interestingly, the regulatory site of non-muscle myosin regulatory light chain (MRLC; also known as MLC2) was directly phosphorylated by AMPK. Moreover, the phosphomimetic mutant of MRLC rescued the AMPK-null defects in cell polarity and mitosis, suggesting MRLC is a critical downstream target of AMPK. Furthermore, the activation of AMPK by energy deprivation was sufficient to cause dramatic changes in cell shape, inducing complete polarization and brush border formation in the human LS174T cell line, through the phosphorylation of MRLC. Taken together, our results demonstrate that AMPK has highly conserved roles across metazoan species not only in the control of metabolism, but also in the regulation of cellular structures.     

Tissue factor and PAR1 promote microbiota-induced intestinal vascular remodelling

The gut microbiota is a complex ecosystem that has coevolved with host physiology. Colonization of germ-free (GF) mice with a microbiota promotes increased vessel density in the small intestine, but little is known about the mechanisms involved. Tissue factor (TF) is the membrane receptor that initiates the extrinsic coagulation pathway, and it promotes developmental and tumour angiogenesis. Here we show that the gut microbiota promotes TF glycosylation associated with localization of TF on the cell surface, the activation of coagulation proteases, and phosphorylation of the TF cytoplasmic domain in the small intestine. Anti-TF treatment of colonized GF mice decreased microbiota-induced vascular remodelling and expression of the proangiogenic factor angiopoietin-1 (Ang-1) in the small intestine. Mice with a genetic deletion of the TF cytoplasmic domain or with hypomorphic TF (F3) alleles had a decreased intestinal vessel density. Coagulation proteases downstream of TF activate protease-activated receptor (PAR) signalling implicated in angiogenesis. Vessel density and phosphorylation of the cytoplasmic domain of TF were decreased in small intestine from PAR1-deficient (F2r(-/-)) but not PAR2-deficient (F2rl1(-/-)) mice, and inhibition of thrombin showed that thrombin-PAR1 signalling was upstream of TF phosphorylation. Thus, the microbiota-induced extravascular TF-PAR1 signalling loop is a novel pathway that may be modulated to influence vascular remodelling in the small intestine.     

HP1-beta mobilization promotes chromatin changes that initiate the DNA damage response

Minutes after DNA damage, the variant histone H2AX is phosphorylated by protein kinases of the phosphoinositide kinase family, including ATM, ATR or DNA-PK. Phosphorylated (gamma)-H2AX-which recruits molecules that sense or signal the presence of DNA breaks, activating the response that leads to repair-is the earliest known marker of chromosomal DNA breakage. Here we identify a dynamic change in chromatin that promotes H2AX phosphorylation in mammalian cells. DNA breaks swiftly mobilize heterochromatin protein 1 (HP1)-beta (also called CBX1), a chromatin factor bound to histone H3 methylated on lysine 9 (H3K9me). Local changes in histone-tail modifications are not apparent. Instead, phosphorylation of HP1-beta on amino acid Thr 51 accompanies mobilization, releasing HP1-beta from chromatin by disrupting hydrogen bonds that fold its chromodomain around H3K9me. Inhibition of casein kinase 2 (CK2), an enzyme implicated in DNA damage sensing and repair, suppresses Thr 51 phosphorylation and HP1-beta mobilization in living cells. CK2 inhibition, or a constitutively chromatin-bound HP1-beta mutant, diminishes H2AX phosphorylation. Our findings reveal an unrecognized signalling cascade that helps to initiate the DNA damage response, altering chromatin by modifying a histone-code mediator protein, HP1, but not the code itself.     

CagA阳性幽门螺杆菌感染与消化性溃疡、胃炎相关性512例临床分析

目的探讨CagA阳性Hp感染与消化性溃疡、胃炎等胃及十二指肠疾病的关系.方法采用ELISA法对Hp阳性(~(13)C-呼气试验为阳性)、胃黏膜快速尿素酶联免疫法阳性的512例胃十二指肠疾病患者及80例对照者(健康体检:~(13)C-呼气试验为阴性、胃黏膜快速尿素酶联免疫法阴性)行血清CagA抗体检测.512例胃十二指肠疾病患者中慢性浅表性胃炎(CSG)184例,慢性萎缩性胃炎(CAG)120例,十二指肠球溃疡(DU)100例,胃溃疡(GU)108例.结果 CagA抗体阳性检出率对照组为30%,慢性浅表性胃炎组阳性率为61.96%,慢性萎缩性胃炎组阳性率为63.33,十二指肠溃疡组阳性率为68.00%,胃溃疡组阳性率为74.07%.胃十二指肠疾病患者CagA阳性总检出率为66.02%,与对照组比较,差异具有统计学意义(P0.05).结论胃十二指肠疾病Hp阳性感染者中CagA抗体阳性总检出率明显高于对照组,提示CagA抗体阳性感染与胃十二指肠疾病密切相关;两组胃炎患者CagA抗体阳性检出率明显高于对照组,提示CagA抗体阳性感染与胃炎密切相关;胃十二指肠溃疡患者CagA抗体阳性检出率明显高于对照组,提示CagA抗体阳性感染与消化性溃疡密切相关.     

Distribution of H.pylori antigens in gastric mucosa and its significance

Objective: To investigate the distribution of H.p),lori antigens in the gastric mucosa in patients with H.pylori infection, and the relationship between the distribution and gastric cancer. Methods: Of 112 patients confirmed by pathological study to have chronic superficial gastritis, precancerous changes (chronic atrophic gastritis, intestinal metaplasia or atypical hyperplasia) and gastric cancer, 28 were H.pylori negative and 84 were H.pylori positive. H.pylori antigens in the gastric mucosa were detected by immunohistochemistry. Results: The H.pylori positive group, comprised 12 of 22 (50.0%) in the chronic superficial gastritis group, 22 of 25 (88.0%) in the precancerous changes group and 13 of 35 (37.1%) in the gastric cancer group. The positive rates of H.pylori antigens in the cytoplasm progressively increased, respectively at 0.0% (0/12), 63.6% (14/22) and 84.6% (11/13) for the same groups (χ^2= 19.76, P=0.000); H.pylori antigens were located in the mucus layer and above the neck of the mucosal gland in 9 of 12 (75.0%) cases with chronic superficial gastritis, at the neck of the mucosal gland and the isthmus in 12 of 22 (54.5%) cases with precancerous changes, below the isthmus in 9 of 13 (69.2%) cases with gastric cancer (χ^2=25.30, P=0.000). In the H.pvlori negative group, no H.pylori antigen was observed. Conclusion: With the progression of chronic superficial gastritis→precancerous changes→gastric cancer, H.pylori antigens progressively migrated from the outer part to the inner part of the cell, and from the superficial to the deep gastric mucosa.     

Bile acids induce energy expenditure by promoting intracellular thyroid hormone activation

While bile acids (BAs) have long been known to be essential in dietary lipid absorption and cholesterol catabolism, in recent years an important role for BAs as signalling molecules has emerged. BAs activate mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways, are ligands for the G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) TGR5 and activate nuclear hormone receptors such as farnesoid X receptor alpha (FXR-alpha; NR1H4). FXR-alpha regulates the enterohepatic recycling and biosynthesis of BAs by controlling the expression of genes such as the short heterodimer partner (SHP; NR0B2) that inhibits the activity of other nuclear receptors. The FXR-alpha-mediated SHP induction also underlies the downregulation of the hepatic fatty acid and triglyceride biosynthesis and very-low-density lipoprotein production mediated by sterol-regulatory-element-binding protein 1c. This indicates that BAs might be able to function beyond the control of BA homeostasis as general metabolic integrators. Here we show that the administration of BAs to mice increases energy expenditure in brown adipose tissue, preventing obesity and resistance to insulin. This novel metabolic effect of BAs is critically dependent on induction of the cyclic-AMP-dependent thyroid hormone activating enzyme type 2 iodothyronine deiodinase (D2) because it is lost in D2-/- mice. Treatment of brown adipocytes and human skeletal myocytes with BA increases D2 activity and oxygen consumption. These effects are independent of FXR-alpha, and instead are mediated by increased cAMP production that stems from the binding of BAs with the G-protein-coupled receptor TGR5. In both rodents and humans, the most thermogenically important tissues are specifically targeted by this mechanism because they coexpress D2 and TGR5. The BA-TGR5-cAMP-D2 signalling pathway is therefore a crucial mechanism for fine-tuning energy homeostasis that can be targeted to improve metabolic control.     

Dephosphorylation and activation of Xenopus p34cdc2 protein kinase during the cell cycle

Genetic studies in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe have established that a critical element required for the G2----M-phase transition in the cell cycle is encoded by the cdc2+ gene. The product of this gene is a serine/threonine protein kinase, designated p34cdc, that is highly conserved functionally from yeast to man2 and has a relative molecular mass of 34,000 (34 K). Purified maturation-promoting factor (MPF) is a complex of p34cdc2 and a 45K substrate that appears in late G2 phase and is sufficient to drive cells into mitosis. This factor has been identified in all eukaryotic cells, and in vitro histone H1 is the preferred substrate for phosphorylation. The increase in the activity of H1 kinase in M-phase is associated with a large increase in total cell protein phosphorylation which is believed to be a consequence of MPF activation. We show here that the H1 kinase activity of p34cdc2 oscillates during the cell cycle in Xenopus, and maximal activity correlates with the dephosphorylated state of p34cdc2. Direct inactivation of MPF in vitro is accompanied by phosphorylation of p34cdc2 and reduction of its protein kinase activity.     

The Par complex directs asymmetric cell division by phosphorylating the cytoskeletal protein Lgl

To generate different cell types, some cells can segregate protein determinants into one of their two daughter cells during mitosis. In Drosophila neuroblasts, the Par protein complex localizes apically and directs localization of the cell fate determinants Prospero and Numb and the adaptor proteins Miranda and Pon to the basal cell cortex, to ensure their segregation into the basal daughter cell. The Par protein complex has a conserved function in establishing cell polarity but how it directs proteins to the opposite side is unknown. We show here that a principal function of this complex is to phosphorylate the cytoskeletal protein Lethal (2) giant larvae (Lgl; also known as L(2)gl). Phosphorylation by Drosophila atypical protein kinase C (aPKC), a member of the Par protein complex, releases Lgl from its association with membranes and the actin cytoskeleton. Genetic and biochemical experiments show that Lgl phosphorylation prevents the localization of cell fate determinants to the apical cell cortex. Lgl promotes cortical localization of Miranda, and we propose that phosphorylation of Lgl by aPKC at the apical neuroblast cortex restricts Lgl activity and Miranda localization to the opposite, basal side of the cell.     

幽门螺杆菌培养滤波对IL-8及胃粘膜增殖细胞核抗原表达的影响

目的:研究幽门螺杆菌(Helicobacter pylori,Hp)代谢产物对炎性细胞因子白细胞介素8(interleukin-8,IL-8)表达的影响以及在胃粘膜上皮细胞增殖中的作用。方法:用CagA阳性Hp培养滤液给大鼠灌胃,2周后,采用ELISA法检测鼠血清中的IL-8水平,免疫组织化学SP(streptavidin/perosidase)法检测胃粘膜增殖细胞核抗原(proliferation cell nuclear antigen,PCNA)的表达。结果:灌服Hp滤液组与对照组比较,血清IL-8升高,胃粘膜PCNA标记指数阳性率升高,均有显著性意义。结论:CagA阳性Hp培养滤液可促进炎性因子IL-8的表达,促进胃粘膜上皮细胞的增殖,可能促进胃癌的发生。     

Interleukin-1 polymorphisms associated with increased risk of gastric cancer

Helicobacter pylori infection is associated with a variety of clinical outcomes including gastric cancer and duodenal ulcer disease. The reasons for this variation are not clear, but the gastric physiological response is influenced by the severity and anatomical distribution of gastritis induced by H. pylori. Thus, individuals with gastritis predominantly localized to the antrum retain normal (or even high) acid secretion, whereas individuals with extensive corpus gastritis develop hypochlorhydria and gastric atrophy, which are presumptive precursors of gastric cancer. Here we report that interleukin-1 gene cluster polymorphisms suspected of enhancing production of interleukin-1-beta are associated with an increased risk of both hypochlorhydria induced by H. pylori and gastric cancer. Two of these polymorphism are in near-complete linkage disequilibrium and one is a TATA-box polymorphism that markedly affects DNA-protein interactions in vitro. The association with disease may be explained by the biological properties of interleukin-1-beta, which is an important pro-inflammatory cytokine and a powerful inhibitor of gastric acid secretion. Host genetic factors that affect interleukin-1-beta may determine why some individuals infected with H. pylori develop gastric cancer while others do not.     

Histone H3 serine 10 phosphorylation by Aurora B causes HP1 dissociation from heterochromatin

Histones are subject to numerous post-translational modifications. Some of these 'epigenetic' marks recruit proteins that modulate chromatin structure. For example, heterochromatin protein 1 (HP1) binds to histone H3 when its lysine 9 residue has been tri-methylated by the methyltransferase Suv39h (refs 2-6). During mitosis, H3 is also phosphorylated by the kinase Aurora B. Although H3 phosphorylation is a hallmark of mitosis, its function remains mysterious. It has been proposed that histone phosphorylation controls the binding of proteins to chromatin, but any such mechanisms are unknown. Here we show that antibodies against mitotic chromosomal antigens that are associated with human autoimmune diseases specifically recognize H3 molecules that are modified by both tri-methylation of lysine 9 and phosphorylation of serine 10 (H3K9me3S10ph). The generation of H3K9me3S10ph depends on Suv39h and Aurora B, and occurs at pericentric heterochromatin during mitosis in different eukaryotes. Most HP1 typically dissociates from chromosomes during mitosis, but if phosphorylation of H3 serine 10 is inhibited, HP1 remains chromosome-bound throughout mitosis. H3 phosphorylation by Aurora B is therefore part of a 'methyl/phos switch' mechanism that displaces HP1 and perhaps other proteins from mitotic heterochromatin.     

The M2 splice isoform of pyruvate kinase is important for cancer metabolism and tumour growth

Many tumour cells have elevated rates of glucose uptake but reduced rates of oxidative phosphorylation. This persistence of high lactate production by tumours in the presence of oxygen, known as aerobic glycolysis, was first noted by Otto Warburg more than 75 yr ago. How tumour cells establish this altered metabolic phenotype and whether it is essential for tumorigenesis is as yet unknown. Here we show that a single switch in a splice isoform of the glycolytic enzyme pyruvate kinase is necessary for the shift in cellular metabolism to aerobic glycolysis and that this promotes tumorigenesis. Tumour cells have been shown to express exclusively the embryonic M2 isoform of pyruvate kinase. Here we use short hairpin RNA to knockdown pyruvate kinase M2 expression in human cancer cell lines and replace it with pyruvate kinase M1. Switching pyruvate kinase expression to the M1 (adult) isoform leads to reversal of the Warburg effect, as judged by reduced lactate production and increased oxygen consumption, and this correlates with a reduced ability to form tumours in nude mouse xenografts. These results demonstrate that M2 expression is necessary for aerobic glycolysis and that this metabolic phenotype provides a selective growth advantage for tumour cells in vivo.