Aquaporin-3 Re-Expression Induces Differentiation in a Phospholipase D2-Dependent Manner in Aquaporin-3-Knockout Mouse Keratinocytes

Aquaporin-3 (AQP3) is a water and glycerol channel expressed in epidermal keratinocytes. Despite many studies, controversy remains about the role of AQP3 in keratinocyte differentiation. Previously, our laboratory has shown co-localization of AQP3 and phospholipase D2 (PLD2) in caveolin-rich membrane microdomains. We hypothesized that AQP3 transports glycerol and “funnels” this primary alcohol to PLD2 to form a pro-differentiative signal, such that the action of AQP3 to induce differentiation should require PLD2. To test this idea, we re-expressed AQP3 in mouse keratinocytes derived from AQP3-knockout mice. The re-expression of AQP3, which increased [3H]glycerol uptake, also induced mRNA and protein expression of epidermal differentiation markers such as keratin 1, keratin 10, and loricrin, with or without the induction of differentiation by an elevated extracellular calcium concentration. Re-expression of AQP3 had no effect on the expression of the proliferation markers keratin 5 and cyclin D1. Furthermore, a selective inhibitor of PLD2, CAY10594, and a lipase-dead (LD) PLD2 mutant, but not a LD PLD1 mutant, significantly inhibited AQP3 re-expression–induced differentiation marker expression with calcium elevation, suggesting a role for PLD2 in this process. Thus, our results indicate that AQP3 has a pro-differentiative role in epidermal keratinocytes and that PLD2 activity is necessary for this effect

Aqueous Cinnamon Extract (ACE-c) from the bark of Cinnamomum cassia causes apoptosis in human cervical cancer cell line (SiHa) through loss of mitochondrial membrane potential

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Chemoprevention, which includes the use of synthetic or natural agents (alone or in combination) to block the development of cancer in human beings, is an extremely promising strategy for cancer prevention. Cinnamon is one of the most widely used herbal medicines with diverse biological activities including anti-tumor activity. In the present study, we have reported the anti-neoplastic activity of cinnamon in cervical cancer cell line, SiHa.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The aqueous cinnamon extract (ACE-<it>c</it>) was analyzed for its cinnamaldehyde content by HPTLC analysis. The polyphenol content of ACE-<it>c </it>was measured by Folin-Ciocalteau method. Cytotoxicity analysis was performed by MTT assay. We studied the effect of cinnamon on growth kinetics by performing growth curve, colony formation and soft agar assays. The cells treated with ACE-<it>c </it>were analyzed for wound healing assay as well as for matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) expression at mRNA and protein level by RT-PCR and zymography, respectively. Her-2 protein expression was analyzed in the control and ACE-<it>c </it>treated samples by immunoblotting as well as confocal microscopy. Apoptosis studies and calcium signaling assays were analyzed by FACS. Loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψ_m) in cinnamon treated cells was studied by JC-1 staining and analyzed by confocal microscopy as well as FACS.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Cinnamon alters the growth kinetics of SiHa cells in a dose-dependent manner. Cells treated with ACE-<it>c </it>exhibited reduced number of colonies compared to the control cells. The treated cells exhibited reduced migration potential that could be explained due to downregulation of MMP-2 expression. Interestingly, the expression of Her-2 oncoprotein was significantly reduced in the presence of ACE-<it>c</it>. Cinnamon extract induced apoptosis in the cervical cancer cells through increase in intracellular calcium signaling as well as loss of mitochondrial membrane potential.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Cinnamon could be used as a potent chemopreventive drug in cervical cancer.</p

The Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Response in Neuroprogressive Diseases: Emerging Pathophysiological Role and Translational Implications

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is the main cellular organelle involved in protein synthesis, assembly and secretion. Accumulating evidence shows that across several neurodegenerative and neuroprogressive diseases, ER stress ensues, which is accompanied by over-activation of the unfolded protein response (UPR). Although the UPR could initially serve adaptive purposes in conditions associated with higher cellular demands and after exposure to a range of pathophysiological insults, over time the UPR may become detrimental, thus contributing to neuroprogression. Herein, we propose that immune-inflammatory, neuro-oxidative, neuro-nitrosative, as well as mitochondrial pathways may reciprocally interact with aberrations in UPR pathways. Furthermore, ER stress may contribute to a deregulation in calcium homoeostasis. The common denominator of these pathways is a decrease in neuronal resilience, synaptic dysfunction and even cell death. This review also discusses how mechanisms related to ER stress could be explored as a source for novel therapeutic targets for neurodegenerative and neuroprogressive diseases. The design of randomised controlled trials testing compounds that target aberrant UPR-related pathways within the emerging framework of precision psychiatry is warranted

Warburg Effect as a Novel Mechanism for Homocysteine-Induced Features of Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a major cause of blindness. Recent studies have reported impaired glycolysis in AMD patients with a high lactate/pyruvate ratio. Elevated homocysteine (Hcy) (Hyperhomocysteinemia, HHcy) was observed in several clinical studies, reporting an association between HHcy and AMD. We established the effect of HHcy on barrier function, retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) structure, and induced choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in mice. We hypothesize that HHcy contributes to AMD by inducing a metabolic switch in the mitochondria, in which cells predominantly produce energy by the high rate of glycolysis, or “Warburg”, effect. Increased glycolysis results in an increased production of lactate, cellular acidity, activation of angiogenesis, RPE barrier dysfunction, and CNV. Evaluation of cellular energy production under HHcy was assessed by seahorse analysis, immunofluorescence, and western blot experiments. The seahorse analysis evaluated the extracellular acidification rate (ECAR) as indicative of glycolysis. HHcy showed a significant increase in ECAR both in vivo using (Cystathionine β-synthase) cbs+/− and cbs−/− mice retinas and in vitro (Hcy-treated ARPE-19) compared to wild-type mice and RPE cells. Moreover, HHcy up-regulated glycolytic enzyme (Glucose transporter-1 (GlUT-1), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and hexokinase 1 (HK1)) in Hcy-treated ARPE-19 and primary RPE cells isolated from cbs+/+, cbs+/−, and cbs−/− mice retinas. Inhibition of GLUT-1 or blocking of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDAR) reduced glycolysis in Hcy-treated RPE and improved albumin leakage and CNV induction in Hcy-injected mice eyes. The current study suggests that HHcy causes a metabolic switch in the RPE cells from mitochondrial respiration to glycolysis during AMD and confirms the involvement of NMDAR in this process. Therefore, targeting Glycolysis or NMDAR could be a novel therapeutic target for AMD

Combination of Proteasomal Inhibitors Lactacystin and MG132 Induced Synergistic Apoptosis in Prostate Cancer Cells

The proteasome inhibitor Velcade (bortezomib/PS-341) has been shown to block the targeted proteolytic degradation of short-lived proteins that are involved in cell maintenance, growth, division, and death, advocating the use of proteasomal inhibitors as therapeutic agents. Although many studies focused on the use of one proteasomal inhibitor for therapy, we hypothesized that the combination of proteasome inhibitors Lactacystin (AG Scientific, Inc., San Diego, CA) and MG132 (Biomol International, Plymouth Meeting, PA) may be more effective in inducing apoptosis. Additionally, this regimen would enable the use of sublethal doses of individual drugs, thus reducing adverse effects. Results indicate a significant increase in apoptosis when LNCaP prostate cancer cells were treated with increasing levels of Lactacystin, MG132, or a combination of sublethal doses of these two inhibitors. Furthermore, induction in apoptosis coincided with a significant loss of IKKα, IKKβ, and IKKγ proteins and NFκB activity. In addition to describing effective therapeutic agents, we provide a model system to facilitate the investigation of the mechanism of action of these drugs and their effects on the IKK-NFκB axis