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Current techniques for single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) detection require tedious experimental procedures and expensive and sophisticated instruments. In this study, a visual genotyping method has been successfully established via combining ARMS-PCR with gold magnetic nanoparticle (GoldMag)-based lateral flow assay (LFA) and applied to the genotyping of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T. C677T substitution of the gene MTHFR leads to an increased risk of diseases. The genotyping result is easily achievable by visual observation within 5 minutes after loading of the PCR products onto the LFA device. The system is able to accurately assess a broad detection range of initial starting genomic DNA amounts from 5 ng to 1200 ng per test sample. The limit of detection reaches 5 ng. Furthermore, our PCR-LFA system was applied to clinical trials for screening 1721 individuals for the C677T genotypes. The concordance rate of the genotyping results detected by PCR-LFA was up to 99.6% when compared with the sequencing results. Collectively, our PCR-LFA has been proven to be rapid, accurate, sensitive, and inexpensive. This new method is highly applicable for C677T SNP screening in laboratories and clinical practices. More promisingly, it could also be extended to the detection of SNPs of other genes.

Dextran-coated superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (DSPIONs) have gained considerable interest, because of their biocompatibility and biosafety in clinics. Doxorubicin (Dox), a widely used chemotherapeutic drug, always has limited applications in clinical therapy due to its serious side effects of dose-limiting irreversible cardiotoxicity and myelo suppression. Herein, DSPIONs were synthesized and developed as magnetic carriers for doxorubicin. The Dox-DSPION conjugates were evaluated in the in vitro test of Dox release, which showed pH-dependence with the highest release percentage of 50.3% at pH 5.0 and the lowest release percentage of 11.8% in a physiological environment. The cytotoxicity of DSPIONs and Dox-DSPIONs evaluated by the MTT assay indicated that DSPIONs had no cytotoxicity and the conjugates had significantly reduced the toxicity (IC50 = 1.36 μg mL(-1)) compared to free Dox (IC50 = 0.533 μg mL(-1)). Furthermore, confocal microscopic data of cell uptake suggest that less cytotoxicity of Dox-DSPIONs may be attributed to the cellular internalization of the conjugates and sustainable release of Dox from the formulation in the cytoplasm. More importantly, the results from the rabbit VX2 liver tumor model test under an external magnetic field showed that the conjugates had approximately twice the anti-tumor activity and two and a half times the animal survival rate, respectively, compared to free Dox. Collectively, our data have demonstrated that Dox-DSPIONs have less toxicity with better antitumor effectiveness in in vitro and in vivo applications, suggesting that the conjugates have potential to be developed into chemo-therapeutic formulations.

Ovarian cancer is one of the most aggressive types of cancer in women. While the molecular mechanisms of ovarian cancer have been extensively studied, treatments for ovarian cancer are still limite...

UV radiation and oxidative stress have been shown to be related to skin aging and skin cancer. Our previous studies have demonstrated that UV radiation induces generation of reactive oxygen species...

AQP3 (aquaporin-3), known as an integral membrane channel in epidermal keratinocytes, facilitates water and glycerol movement into and out of the skin. Here, we demonstrate that AQP3 is also expressed in cultured human skin fibroblasts, which under normal wound healing processes migrate from surrounding tissues to close the wound. EGF (epidermal growth factor), which induced fibroblast migration, also induced AQP3 expression in a time- and dose-dependent manner. CuSO4 and NiCl2, previously known as AQP3 water transport inhibitors, as well as two other bivalent heavy metals Mn2+ and Co2+, inhibited EGF-induced cell migration in human skin fibroblasts. AQP3 knockdown by small interfering RNA inhibited EGF-induced AQP3 expression and cell migration. Furthermore, an EGFR (EGF receptor) kinase inhibitor, PD153035, blocked EGF-induced AQP3 expression and cell migration. MEK [MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase)/ERK (extracellular-signal-regulated kinase) kinase]/ERK inhibitor U0126 and PI3K (phosphoinositide 3-kinase) inhibitor LY294002 also inhibited EGF-induced AQP3 expression and cell migration. Collectively, our findings show for the first time that AQP3 is expressed in human skin fibroblasts and that EGF induces AQP3 expression via EGFR, PI3K and ERK signal transduction pathways. We have provided evidence for a novel role of AQP3 in human skin fibroblast cell migration, which occurs during normal wound healing.

The effects of lead on the signal transduction pathways that may be involved in the release of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) from neurons in the hypothalamus have not been well defined. Using the GT1-7 cell line, an in vitro model for GnRH-secreting neurons, we examined signal transduction pathways directly affected by lead. We found that lead-induced phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1 and 2 (ERK1 and ERK2), as well as p90RSK and cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB), but did not induce IkappaB degradation. MEK1/2 inhibitor (PD98059) suppressed lead-induced ERK and p90RSK activation. Neither PKC inhibitors (Go6983, Go6976) nor CaMKII inhibitor (KN-62) had a pronounced effect on lead-induced ERK1 and ERK2 phosphorylation. However, MEK1/2 inhibitor, CaMKII inhibitor, and PKC inhibitor significantly suppressed lead-induced CREB phosphorylation. These results indicate that lead-activated PKC, CaMKII and MEK/ERK/p90RSK pathways simultaneously, all of which contributed to CREB phosphorylation. Our results also indicate that lead-induced p90RSK and CREB activation does not alter expression of early response genes like c-fos. We conclude that lead activates PKC, CaMKII or MEK-ERK-p90RSK pathways in GT1-7 cells, leading to CREB phosphorylation and modulation of gene expression.

Human DEC (differentially expressed in chondrocytes), mouse STRA (stimulated with retinoic acid), and rat SHARP (split and hairy related protein) proteins constitute a new and structurally distinct class of the basic helix-loop-helix proteins. In each species, two members are identified with a sequence identity of90% in the basic helix-loop-helix region and approximately 40% in the total proteins, respectively. Recently, we have reported that DEC1 is abundantly expressed in colon carcinomas but not in the adjacent normal tissues. The present study was undertaken to extend the expression study of DEC1 and to determine whether DEC1 and DEC2 had similar expression patterns among paired cancer-normal tissues from the colon, lung, and kidney. Without exceptions, DEC1 was markedly higher in the carcinomas, whereas the opposite was true with DEC2. In stable transfectants, tetracycline-induced expression of DEC1 caused proportional decreases in the expression of DEC2. Co-transfection with DEC1 repressed the activity of a DEC2 promoter reporter by as much as 90%. The repression was observed with wild type DEC1 but not its DNA binding-defective mutants. Studies with deletion and site-directed mutants located, in the proximal promoter, an E-box motif that supported the DEC1-mediated repression. Disruption of this E-box markedly abolished the ability of the reporter to respond to DEC1. Our findings assign for DEC1 the first target gene that is regulated through direct DNA binding. DEC/STRA/SHARP proteins are highly identical in the DNA binding domain but much more diverse in other areas. DEC1-mediated repression on the expression of DEC2 provides an important mechanism that these transcription factors regulate the cellular function not only by modulating the expression of their target genes but also the expression of members within the same class.

Cancer’s use of alternate cellular pathways is necessary in order to proliferate and expand so aggressively but may make it possible to target using certain cancer therapies. We studied the effects...

Ovarian cancer accounts for three percent of all cancers that affect women world-wide and it is regarded at the deadliest form of gynecological cancer. Alteration in cellular metabolism is a manifestation of cancer that typically results in a shift from oxidative phosphorylation to aerobic glycolysis. This change is defined as the Warburg Effect. In this study, we used cell culture techniques to investigate the metabolic behavior of an ovarian cancer cell line, CaOV3. We determined metabolic activity through XF Cell Mito Stress and XF Glycolysis stress tests using a Seahorse Bioscience XFe96 Analyzer. After titrations were completed for optimal cell number and concentration of Oligomycin, we pretreated CaOV3 cells with PI3K/AKT and mTOR inhibitors and repeated stress tests. We found that under the influence of Rapamycin (mTOR inhibitor) and LY294002 (PI3K/AKT inhibitor), the cells exhibited an increase in oxygen consumption by OCR (pMoles/min) and ECAR (mpH/min) analysis, suggesting an increase in capacit...

Arsenic has been considered as a carcinogen. Recently the issue of arsenic in drinking water raised an unprecedented social concern on human health, and yet the molecular mechanisms through which arsenic induces cancer remain unknown. Activation of cell survival pathway leading to the activation of eNOS has been associated with various types of cancer. The objective of this study was to investigate the pathway leading to the activation of eNOS in response to arsenite using human keratinocytes. Cultured keratinocytes (HaCat cells) were exposed to arsenite with or without pretreatment of various inhibitors. Western blot analysis was performed to determine the activation of p38, AKT, eNOS. EGFR tyrosine phosphorylation was detected by immuno-precipitation and Western blot analysis. pNPP assay was used to measure phosphatase activity in cell lysate. FACS analysis was performed for the determination of generation of reactive oxygen species. Arsenite induced the activation of AKT at both Ser473 and Thr308, and its downstream effector eNOS in cultured human keratinocytes. Arsenite also induced phosphorylation of p38. PI-3-kinase inhibitors, Wortmannin and LY294002 inhibited arsenite-induced phosphorylation of AKT and eNOS but had no effect on phosphorylation of p38. Interestingly, however, SB203580, a known p38 inhibitor, completely inhibited arsenite-induced phosphorylation of AKT and eNOS. Arsenite induced generation of reactive oxygen species and inactivated phosphatase activity, but did not activate EGF receptor tyrosine phosphorylation. Collectively, our data indicate that arsenite induces activation of AKT and eNOS, via PI-3-kinase and p38 pathway, likely bypassing the activation of EGF receptor in cultured human keratinocytes.

Human skin is exposed daily to solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation. UV induces the matrix metalloproteinases collagenase, 92-kD gelatinase, and stromelysin, which degrade skin connective tissue and may contribute to premature skin aging (photoaging). Pretreatment of skin with all-trans retinoic acid (tRA) inhibits UV induction of matrix metalloproteinases. We investigated upstream signal transduction pathways and the mechanism of tRA inhibition of UV induction of matrix metalloproteinases in human skin in vivo. Exposure of human skin in vivo to low doses of UV activated EGF receptors, the GTP-binding regulatory protein p21Ras, and stimulated mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases, extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), c-Jun amino-terminal kinase (JNK), and p38. Both JNK and p38 phosphorylated, and thereby activated transcription factors c-Jun and activating transcription factor 2 (ATF-2), which bound to the c-Jun promoter and upregulated c-Jun gene expression. Elevated c-Jun, in association with constitutively expressed c-Fos, formed increased levels of transcription factor activator protein (AP) 1, which is required for transcription of matrix metalloproteinases. Pretreatment of human skin with tRA inhibited UV induction of c-Jun protein and, consequently, AP-1. c-Jun protein inhibition occurred via a posttranscriptional mechanism, since tRA did not inhibit UV induction of c-Jun mRNA. These data demonstrate, for the first time, activation of MAP kinase pathways in humans in vivo, and reveal a novel posttranscriptional mechanism by which tRA antagonizes UV activation of AP-1 by inhibiting c-Jun protein induction. Inhibition of c-Jun induction likely contributes to the previously reported prevention by tRA of UV induction of AP-1-regulated matrix-degrading metalloproteinases in human skin.

Maize root membranes were extracted and the solubilized proteins were affinity-purified using an ABA-BSA-Sepharose 4B matrix. The retained proteins were eluted with 4M urea or 10(-4)M ABA. ABA could elute the binding proteins but other phytohormones, such as IAA or GA3, could not. ABA binding activity was detected in ABA- and urea-elute fractions using competitive ELISA block tests and [3H]ABA binding assays. Scatchard analysis showed an apparent K(d) of 4.8 nM for the ABA binding activity of the protein. When ABA or urea eluate was loaded on a concanavalin-A-Sepharose column, the fraction eluted with 0.2 M methyl alpha-mannopyranoside still showed ABA binding activity, suggesting that ABA binding proteins are glycoproteins. Polyclonal antibodies against ABA binding proteins were raised using as immunogen ABA or urea eluate from the ABA-BSA-Sepharose column. The resulting antibodies not only recognized 56 kDa binding proteins but also blocked the binding of ABA to an ABA-specific antibody, indicating properties similar to anti-idiotypic antibodies. The purified antibodies will be suitable to purify and characterize putative ABA receptors.

Transformation from disciplined melanocytes to untamed melanoma cells remains an enigma. Our previous studies have demonstrated that melanoma cells are more resistant to oxidative stress and melanoma cells exhibit constitutive mTOR activity. Surprisingly, further studies have failed to present the expression and activity of EGFR using conventional anti-EGFR antibodies. We hypothesized that constitutive mTOR activity in melanoma cells may be due to mutated EGFR variants and membrane channel activities. Using patch clamping technique, we have shown that melanoma cells (WM 266-4) but not human skin melanocytes exhibit Na+ current which is blocked by TTX. Interestingly, mTOR inhibitor, rapamycin, blocks Na+ current. Western blot and confocal microscopy data further revealed that Na+/Ca2+ exchanger blocker KB-R7943 (KBR), and L-type Ca2+ channel blocker Nifedipine (NIF) inhibits mTOR activity in melanoma cells in a dose dependent manner. To further characterize Na+ channels, we used commercially available channel antibodies. Western blot analysis data showed that melanoma cells but not human melanocytes express Na+ v1.5 and Na+ v1.6 and NCX3. Functional studies also indicated that KBR and NIF inhibit melanoma cell proliferation and migration. Taken all together, our data suggest that aberrant Na+ current contributes to constitutive mTOR activity in melanoma cells and channel blockers may be potential for the treatment of melanoma. Citation Format: Benjamin Gallant, Nicole Lizza, Ryan Garrity, Audrey Madigan, Zachary Jost, Alfredo Gonzalez, Jeanine Justiniano, An Xie, Yinsheng Wan. Aberrant sodium current contributes to constitutive mTOR activity in malignant melanoma cells. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 234A.

Cell-mediated autoimmunity has been suggested to be involved in the melanocyte apoptosis that occurs in vitiligo. We investigated the cytotoxicity to autologous melanocytes of CD8+ T cells from the perilesional margins and peripheral blood samples of vitiligo patients. CD8+ T cells isolated from skin biopsied from the edges of depigmented skin patches of vitiligo patients or from peripheral blood samples of the same donors were proliferated in culture medium. The primary cultures of CD8+ T cells and autologous melanocytes were mixed at ratios of 1:1, 1:2 or 1:5 and incubated for 3 days. The apoptosis of the melanocytes was analyzed by flow cytometry. Secreted cytokines in selected samples were measured by cytokine arrays. The results show that the CD8+ T cells were successfully isolated from the vitiligo perilesional margins. This cell population showed a significantly higher percentage of CD69 expression (56.13±3.55 versus 29.93±2.35%, p

When rhegmatogenous retinal detachment occurs, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) among other cytokines leaks into the subretinal space, induces resident retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells to migrate, which is the initial step of proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR). In the current study, we aim to understand how this is regulated by focusing the cellular mechanisms involved. Here we identified an Akt/Tuberous sclerosis protein 2 (TSC2)/mTOR complex1 (mTORC1) signaling pathway after TNF-α treatment to mediate RPE cell migration. Suppression of mTORC1 activation, either by its inhibitor rapamycin, or by activation of its suppressor AMP activated protein kinase (AMPK), inhibited TNF-α-mediated RPE cell migration, while RNA interference (RNAi)-mediated knocking-down of SIN1 or Rictor, two key components of mTOR complex 2 (mTORC2), had no significant effect on TNF-α-induced RPE cell migration. Our data provide initial evidence that TNF-α-mediated in vitro RPE cell migration mainly requires Akt/mTORC1, but not mTORC2 signaling. The results of this study may lead to indentify novel signaling targets against PVR.

Patients with age related macular degeneration (AMD) have a loss of vision in the center of the visual field. Oxidative stress plays an important role in this progress. Nerve growth factor (NGF) is important for the survival and maintenance of sympathetic and sensory neurons and NGF eye drops improve visual acuity and electro-functional activity in patients with AMD. However, the molecular mechanisms and signaling events involved in this have not been fully investigated. Using cultured human retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells, we demonstrate here that NGF protects RPE cells against hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2))-induced cell apoptosis. NGF also induces RPE cell migration, the latter is important for retinal regeneration and the recovery from AMD. H(2)O(2) decreases S6 phosphorylation and cell viability, which is restored by NGF. Rapamycin, the pharmacologic inhibitor of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), diminished NGF-induced S6 phosphorylation, cell migration and protective effects against oxidative stress. Collectively, we conclude that activation of rapamycin sensitive mTOR signaling mediates NGF induced cell migration and pro-survival effects in H(2)O(2) treated RPE cells.

Acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase (ACC) is an attractive target for research into the treatment of a variety of human diseases, including diabetes, obesity and cancer. Mounting evidence suggests that the inhibition of ACC induced of cancer cell apoptosis. However, whether the inhibition of ACC regulates apoptosis in CaOV3 cancer cells has yet to be addressed. This study investigated the cytotoxic mechanism of action of ACC inhibition. Results showed that 5-(tetradecyloxy)-2-furoic acid (TOFA), an ACC inhibitor, enhanced Taxol-induced CaOV3 human ovarian cancer cell apoptosis. Notably, when TOFA was administered as a monotherapy, it induced CaOV3 cell apoptosis. Pre-treatment with the EGFR inhibitor PD153035 was found to markedly enhance ACC phosphorylation, whereas AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activator AICAR was found to marginally enhance ACC phosphorylation. Taken together, the data showed ACC is a potential novel molecular target of Taxol. Additionally, ACC inhibition partially contributed to the cytotoxic effect of Taxol in ovarian cancer cells.

Ultraviolet (UV) irradiation induces skin photoaging associated with up-regulated matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) expression. Inhibition of MMP expression is suggested to alleviate photoaging induced by UV irradiation. Astragaloside IV (As-IV), one of the main active ingredients of Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch) Bge, has been reported to have various biological activities. However, its anti-photoaging effect has not been examined to date. In the present study, we observed the effect of As-IV on matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) expression in UV-irradiated human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs). We found that treatment with As-IV significantly decreased UV-induced MMP-1 expression at the messenger RNA and protein levels. In addition, western blotting analysis revealed that As-IV concentration-dependently suppressed UV-induced phosphorylation of extracellular-regulated protein kinase, Jun-N-terminal kinase and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK). Furthermore, treatment with As-IV markedly inhibited UV-induced nuclear factor kappaB (NF-κB) activity. These results suggest that As-IV down-regulates UV-induced MMP-1 expression, perhaps through suppression of MAPK and NF-κB activation in HDFs. As-IV is thus a potential agent for the management of skin photoaging.

Human vitiligo is an acquired depigmenting skin disorder characterized by milk-white skin macules resulting from a chronic and progressive loss of melanocytes. It has been suggested that autoimmune mechanisms are involved in this disorder. We undertook this project to obtain an MCHR1-C linear peptide containing four main MCHR1 B-cell epitopes in an attempt to detect the IgG antibody against MCHR1 in vitiligo. The target gene encoding the MCHR1-C peptide was cloned into a pGEX-4T-2 expression vector, expressed in Escherichia coli BL21, and purified using a GST column. The molecular weight was analyzed by SDS-PAGE and western blotting. The IgG antibody response to MCHR1 was detected by ELISA with MCHR1-C as a coated antigen, and the absorption experiment was used to assess the binding ability of the Ab detected by MCHR1-C with a membrane protein in human epidermal melanocytes. The purified peptide MCHR1-C with a molecular weight of 33 kDa was obtained, and could bind to the MCHR1 antibody in human sera. Of the vitiligo patient sera examined, 24 of 145 (16.55%) tested positive for the MCHR1 antibody, and the frequency in the vitiligo patient group was significantly greater compared to the normal control. However, no significant difference between gender, disease duration, clinical subtype or family history between the two groups was observed. In addition, the Ab detected by MCHR1-C in sera was specifically absorbed by the membrane protein obtained from human epidermal melanocytes. Collectively, our data suggest that the MCHR1-C peptide can be used to detect the MCHR1 antibody in vitiligo patients as a coated antigen instead of MCHR1 protein. We conclude that the level of MCHR1 antibody in active vitiligo patients is significantly higher than that in healthy individuals, while gender, disease duration, clinical subtype and family history have no association with the level of MCHR1 antibody in vitiligo patients.

Solar ultraviolet (UV) irradiation is one of the most significant extrinsic factors contributing to skin photoaging. One major characteristic of photoaging induced by UV is water loss of the skin. Water movement across the plasma membrane can occur via two pathways: by diffusion through the lipid bilayer and by membrane-inserted water channels (aquaporins). In this study we demonstrate that UV induces aquaporin-3 (AQP3) downregulation in cultured keratinocytes (HaCaT cells). PD98059 and U0126, MEK/ERK inhibitors, inhibit UV-induced AQP3 loss. Trans-Zeatin (tZ), which alone induces AQP3 expression, attenuates UV-induced loss of AQP3. We found that tZ inhibits UV-induced MEK/ERK activation; the latter serves as the key signal pathway mediating UV-induced AQP3 loss. Using specific AQP3 siRNA knockdown, we found AQP3 is involved in wound healing in human skin keratinocytes. Loss-of-AQP3-mediated delayed wound healing in UV-radiated skin keratinocytes is attenuated by tZ pretreatment. tZ pretreatment also attenuates UV-induced decreased water permeability in HaCaT cells. We concluded that UV radiation downregulates AQP3 in HaCaT cells. MEK/ERK activation is involved in this process. tZ treatment attenuates UV-induced AQP3 loss, in vitro wound healing delay and water permeability decrease. This work provides a new explanation for the anti-photoaging potential of tZ.

Our previous study has shown that VIT1 gene in Chinese vitiligo patients is de facto the FBXO11 gene, and the silencing of that gene has an impact on the ultrastructure of melanocytes. In this study, we further identified the role of the FBXO11 gene in melanocytes and the relationship between dilated endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and tyrosinase by inhibition and overexpression of FBXO11 gene. Cell proliferation, apoptosis, cycle and migration of melanocytes were examined when the FBXO11 gene was silenced or overexpressed. The results showed that FBXO11 gene promoted cell proliferation and suppressed cell apoptosis, and yet had little effect on cell migration. Obvious swelling of ER was found in the cells transfected with siRNA of FBXO11 gene. Interestingly, protein level of tyrosinase was extraordinarily high following inhibition of FBXO11 gene. Further examination revealed that tyrosinase and calreticulin were co-localized in ER of transfected cells following siRNA of FBXO11 gene, suggesting that tyrosinase could not be exported from ER effectively. Collectively, our results support the notion that FBXO 11 plays an important role in regulating proliferation and apoptosis of melanocytes, and functional export of tyrosinase from ER in vitiligo melanocytes.

The CD3 molecule is a critical component of both humoral and cellular immune responses, and yet while the structure and molecular assembly of other key mediators such as CD4 and CD8 have been reported, individual CD3 subunits have not been well characterized. Our understanding of the manner in which they interact remains limited, and the question of how many subunits are required for a functional CD3 molecular complex is yet to be addressed. It has been suggested that CD3 epsilon pairs with CD3 gamma or with CD3 delta, forming CD3 epsilon gamma and CD3 epsilon delta heterodimers that associate with alpha/beta T cell receptors (TCRs) and CD3 zeta 2 dimers. In this study we investigated whether interactions between each CD3 epsilon subunit play a role in the formation of the CD3 molecular complex. Our results revealed that the human CD3 epsilon subunit forms a homodimer structure, which is a crucial piece of information for the elucidation of cellular signaling following TCR receptor ligation, and provide insight into our understanding of the molecular assembly of the CD3 molecular complex.

The CD3 molecule is a critical component of both humoral and cellular immune responses, and yet while the structure and molecular assembly of other key mediators such as CD4 and CD8 have been reported, individual CD3 subunits have not been well characterized. Our understanding of the manner in which they interact remains limited, and the question of how many subunits are required for a functional CD3 molecular complex is yet to be addressed. It has been suggested that CD3 epsilon pairs with CD3 gamma or with CD3 delta, forming CD3 epsilon gamma and CD3 epsilon delta heterodimers that associate with alpha/beta T cell receptors (TCRs) and CD3 zeta 2 dimers. In this study we investigated whether interactions between each CD3 epsilon subunit play a role in the formation of the CD3 molecular complex. Our results revealed that the human CD3 epsilon subunit forms a homodimer structure, which is a crucial piece of information for the elucidation of cellular signaling following TCR receptor ligation, and provide insight into our understanding of the molecular assembly of the CD3 molecular complex.

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is one of the important cataract risk factors. The migration of human lens epithelial cells (HLECs) plays a crucial role in the remodeling of lens capsule and cataract formation. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the molecular mechanisms of UV-induced lens cell migration. We found that UVB radiation induces cell migration in cultured human lens epithelial cells. Further, we observed that UVB radiation induces NADPH oxidase activity and ROS generation which are inhibited by NADPH oxidase inhibitor diphenylene iodonium or DPI and antioxidant epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). In addition, DPI and EGCG also block UVB irradiation-induced MMP-2, and -9 activity and expression and nuclear translocation of NF-kappaB. Collectively, our data suggest that NADPH oxidase may be a major source for the UVB-induced ROS generation, and it plays an essential role in the activation of NF-kappaB, which is involved in the activities of MMP-2 and MMP-9 and cell migration induced by UVB in HELCs. Understanding the cell signaling pathways may constitute potential therapeutic targets in for UVB-induced cataract.

Aquaporins (AQPs) are a family of 13 small ( approximately 30 kDa/monomer), hydrophobic, integral membrane proteins. AQPs are expressed in various epithelial and endothelial cells involved in fluid transport. Here, we demonstrated for the first time that AQP1 is expressed in cultured human retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells (ARPE-19 cell line). Ultraviolet radiation (UVB) and H2O2, two major factors causing RPE cell damage, induced AQP1 downregulation which was mediated by MEK/ERK activation. UV and H2O2 as well as AQP1-specific siRNA knockdown impaired water permeability of ARPE-19 cells. Notably, pretreatment with all-trans retinoic acid attenuated UV- and H2O2-induced AQP1 downregulation and water permeability impairment. Considering that water permeability is involved in multiple functions of RPE cells such as cellular junction formation, fluid or protein exchange and barrier formation, our data elucidated a novel mechanism through which UV radiation and oxidative stress induce eye cell damage. Our results further support the notion that all-trans retinoic acid might be useful for protection against UV or oxidative stress-induced eye cell damage.

The precise mechanism whereby epidermal growth factor (EGF) activates the serine-threonine kinase Akt and the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) complex 1 (mTORC1) remains elusive. Here, we report that the alpha subunits of the heterotrimeric guanine nucleotide-binding proteins (G proteins) Galpha(i1) and Galpha(i3) are critical for this activation process. Both Galpha(i1) and Galpha(i3) formed complexes with growth factor receptor binding 2 (Grb2)-associated binding protein 1 (Gab1) and the EGF receptor (EGFR) and were required for the phosphorylation of Gab1 and its subsequent interaction with the p85 subunit of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase in response to EGF. Loss of Galpha(i1) and Galpha(i3) severely impaired the activation of Akt and of p70 S6 kinase and 4E-BP1, downstream targets of mTORC1, in response to EGF, heparin-binding EGF-like growth factor, and transforming growth factor alpha, but not insulin, insulin-like growth factor, or platelet-derived growth factor. In addition, ablation of Galpha(i1) and Galpha(i3) largely inhibited EGF-induced cell growth, migration, and survival and the accumulation of cyclin D1. Overall, this study suggests that Galpha(i1) and Galpha(i3) lie downstream of EGFR, but upstream of Gab1-mediated activation of Akt and mTORC1, thus revealing a role for Galpha(i) proteins in mediating EGFR signaling.

It has been shown that the VIT1 gene is down-regulated in vitiligo melanocytes, but the expression of the VIT1 gene in melanocytes of Chinese patients with vitiligo and the potential function of VIT1 in pathogenesis of vitiligo are not as well known. In this study, we first compared VIT1 gene expression in melanocytes cultured from non-lesional skin of generalized vitiligo patients, normal melanocytes and melanomas in China. The cloned VIT1 ORF cDNA fragments were sequenced and then compared. VIT1 siRNAs were transfected into mouse B10BR melanocytes. The results from semi-quantitative RT-PCR demonstrated that the expression levels of VIT1 in non-lesional melanocytes from vitiligo patients are significantly lower than those in normal melanocytes. In contrast, the expression levels of VIT1 in melanoma are higher. The results also demonstrated that VIT1 is not a novel gene including a fragment of 81 bp flanking by consensus GT and AG sequences on the 5' and 3' ends, which is regarded as an intron. VIT1 without the extra intron is a known gene called FBXO11. Our findings revealed abnormal morphology by light and electron microscopes in FBXO11 siRNA transfected melancytes, which display large epithelioid perikaryon and stubby dendrites with occasional multidendricity as opposed to slender perikaryon and bipolar dendrites of controls. The electron microscopic observation indicated swelling mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum (ER), and increased lysosomes and bubbles. Further, transfection of FBXO11 siRNA significantly promoted cell apoptosis. Collectively, this study provides comprehensive morphological proof of the relationship between dilation of ER and decreased levels of the FBXO11 gene in vitiligo melanocytes.

Ultraviolet (UV) irradiation induces the expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), disturbing the metabolism of extracellular matrix (ECM), and causes the characteristic changes of photoaging in skin. Inhibition of induction of MMPs is suggested to alleviate photoaging induced by UV irradiation. Zeatin, purified from Zea mays, is a member of the cytokinin group of plant growth factors, the activity of which is attributed to its more stable trans form. In this study, we investigated the effect of trans-Zeatin on UVB-induced matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) expression in cultured human skin fibroblasts (HSFs) and studied the mechanisms of its actions. We found that pretreatment with trans-Zeatin significantly inhibits UVB-induced MMP-1 expression and c-Jun activation in a dose-dependent manner. We also observed that trans-Zeatin inhibits UVB-induced phosphorylation of ERK, JNK and p38 MAP kinases (MAPKs) dose-dependently. As expected, PD98059, an ERK inhibitor, SP600125, a JNK inhibitor and SB203580, a p38 MAPK inhibitor effectively inhibit UVB-induced phosphorylation of ERK, JNK and p38 MAPKs, respectively. Moreover, the inhibitory mechanism of trans-Zeatin was further demonstrated in MMP-1 secretion using MAPK-specific inhibitors. PD98059, SP600125 and SB203580 suppressed UVB-induced MMP-1 secretion, which is consistent with the above results. Collectively, our results suggest that trans-Zeatin inhibits UVB-induced MMP-1 expression, which may be mediated by inhibition of ERK, JNK and p38 MAPKs signaling pathways in HSFs. Trans-Zeatin is a potential agent for the management of skin photoaging.

AMP-activated protein kinase or AMPK is an evolutionarily conserved sensor of cellular energy status, activated by a variety of cellular stresses that deplete ATP. However, the possible involvement of AMPK in UV- and H(2)O(2)-induced oxidative stresses that lead to skin aging or skin cancer has not been fully studied. We demonstrated for the first time that UV and H(2)O(2) induce AMPK activation (Thr(172) phosphorylation) in cultured human skin keratinocytes. UV and H(2)O(2) also phosphorylate LKB1, an upstream signal of AMPK, in an epidermal growth factor receptor-dependent manner. Using compound C, a specific inhibitor of AMPK and AMPK-specific small interfering RNA knockdown as well as AMPK activator, we found that AMPK serves as a positive regulator for p38 and p53 (Ser(15)) phosphorylation induced by UV radiation and H(2)O(2) treatment. We also observed that AMPK serves as a negative feedback signal against UV-induced mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin) activation in a TSC2-dependent manner. Inhibiting mTOR and positively regulating p53 and p38 might contribute to the pro-apoptotic effect of AMPK on UV- or H(2)O(2)-treated cells. Furthermore, activation of AMPK also phosphorylates acetyl-CoA carboxylase or ACC, the pivotal enzyme of fatty acid synthesis, and PFK2, the key protein of glycolysis in UV-radiated cells. Collectively, we conclude that AMPK contributes to UV- and H(2)O(2)-induced apoptosis via multiple mechanisms in human skin keratinocytes and AMPK plays important roles in UV-induced signal transduction ultimately leading to skin photoaging and even skin cancer.

Hypoxia inducible factor 1alpha (HIF-1alpha) regulates the transcription of a number of genes under hypoxia and other extracellular or intracellular stimulations. It also promotes angiogenesis, tumor metastasis and invasion. To investigate the effect of hypoxia and reoxygenation on cell proliferation, invasion and adhesion, which are all related to ovarian cancer, we applied chemically-induced hypoxia in the cultured human ovarian carcinoma cell line, HO-8910PM. Semi-quantitative RT-PCR results show that CoCl2 induces the expression of HIF-1alpha in a time- and dose-dependent manner. MTT assay results show that CoCl2-induced hypoxia inhibits cell proliferation which is recovered by reoxygenation. The Boyden and cell adhesion test results indicate that CoCl2-induced hypoxia inhibits cell invasion and adhesion which are markedly enhanced by reoxygenation in the human ovarian carcinoma cell line, HO-8910PM. Collectively, our data provide insight into understanding molecular mechanisms of the invasiveness of ovarian cancer under the conditions of hypoxia and reoxygenation.

SIRT1 is a member of a highly conserved gene family (sirtuins) encoding nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD)(+)-dependent deacetylases, originally found to deacetylate histones leading to increased DNA stability and prolonged survival in yeast and higher organisms, including mammals. SIRT1 has been found to function as a deacetylase for numerous protein targets involved in various cellular pathways, including stress responses, apoptosis and axonal degeneration. However, the role of SIRT1 in ultraviolet (UV) signalling pathways remains unknown. Using cell culture and Western blot analysis in this study we found that SIRT1 is expressed in cultured human skin keratinocytes. Both UV radiation and H(2)O(2), two major inducers of skin cell damage, down-regulate SIRT1 in a time- and dose-dependent manner. We observed that reactive oxygen species-mediated JNK activation is involved in this SIRT1 down-regulation. SIRT1 activator, resveratrol, which has been considered as an important antioxidant, protects against UV- and H(2)O(2)-induced cell death, whereas SIRT inhibitors such as sirtinol and nicotinamide enhance cell death. Activation of SIRT1 negatively regulates UV- and H(2)O(2)-induced p53 acetylation, because nicotinamide and sirtinol as well as SIRT1 siRNA enhance UV- and H(2)O(2)-induced p53 acetylation, whereas SIRT1 activator resveratrol inhibits it. We also found that SIRT1 is involved in UV-induced AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and downstream acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC), phosphofructose kinase-2 (PFK-2) phosphorylation. Collectively, our data provide new insights into understanding of the molecular mechanisms of UV-induced skin aging, suggesting that SIRT1 activators such as resveratrol could serve as new anti-skin aging agents.

Melagenine, extracted from human placenta, has been shown to be effective in treating patients with vitiligo, yet the mechanisms of melagenine in inducing the repigmentation of vitiligo patients have not been fully investigated. Recent studies have suggested that melagenine stimulates melanocyte proliferation and melanogenesis. In this study, we utilized the NCCmelb4M5 melanoblast cell line to investigate the effects of melagenine on proliferation and differentiation of immature melanocytes or melanoblasts. NCCmelb4M5 cells were treated with different concentrations of melagenine (50-400 microg/ml), and MTT assay was performed to evaluate the effects of melagenine on proliferation of melanoblasts. RT-PCR and Western blotting were used to determine the expression of c-KIT and tyrosinase (TYR). Our results show that melagenine stimulates proliferation of NCCmelb4M5 cells in a dose-dependent manner with an optimal concentration of 100 microg/ml. Multipolar and highly branched dendritic network, as well as cluster-like growing cell assembly were visible in melagenine-treated NCCmelb4M5 cells. Melagenine induced expression of c-KIT, TYR and MITF. Our results provide insights into the molecular mechanism of the beneficial effect of melagenine in the treatment of vitiligo.

The most common adverse effects that are related to all-trans retinoic acid (atRA) treatment are irritation and dryness of the skin. atRA therapy is reported to impair barrier function as achieved by trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL). Treatment with nicotinamide prior to initiation of atRA therapy provides additional barrier protection and thus reduces susceptibility of retinoic acid. Our previous studies showed that atRA upregulates aquaporin 3 (AQP3) in cultured human skin keratinocytes and fibroblasts. Others have demonstrated that in atopic dermatitis, overexpression of AQP3 is linked to elevated TEWL and that nicotinamide treatment reduces skin TEWL. In this study, we observed that while atRA upregulates AQP3 expression in cultured human skin keratinocytes (HaCaT cells), nicotinamide attenuates the effect of atRA in a concentration-dependent manner. atRA treatment induces EGFR and ERK activation. PD153035, an EGFR inhibitor, and U0126, an ERK inhibitor, inhibit atRA-induced upregulation of AQP3. Nicotinamide also inhibits atRA-induced activation of EGFR/ERK signal transduction and decreases water permeability by downregulating AQP3 expression. Collectively, our results indicate that the effect of atRA on AQP3 expression is at least partly mediated by EGFR/ERK signaling in cultured human skin keratinocytes. Nicotinamide attenuates atRA-induced AQP3 expression through inhibition of EGFR/ERK signal transduction and eventually decreases water permeability and water loss. Our study provides insights into the molecular mechanism through which nicotinamide reverses the side effects of dryness in human skin after treatment with atRA.

Vitiligo is an acquired and progressive disorder manifested by the selective destruction of melanocytes in the skin. An extremely high level of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in plasma as well as in lesional skin has been reported in vitiligo patients. High H2O2 level has been suggested to be responsible for the disappearance of melanocytes in vitiligo. JNK and p38 MAPK are strongly induced by oxidative stress and related to neuron loss in neurodegenerative disorders. Minocycline, an antibiotic possessing antioxidant activity, is capable of attenuating oxidative stress-induced neurotoxicity. To investigate whether minocycline rescues melanocytes from H2O2-induced apoptosis, cultured mouse melanocytes (B10BR) were treated with H2O2 in the presence or absence of minocycline. Our data showed that H2O2 decreases cell viability in a concentration-dependent manner which is attenuated by minocycline. Also, H2O2 treatment activates JNK and p38 MAPK, and executive caspase 3 in B10BR cells. Minocycline significantly inhibits H2O2-induced activation of JNK, p38 MAPK and caspase 3. Collectively, we concluded that minocycline protects melanocytes against H2O2-induced apoptosis in vitro. Its protective effect is associated with the inhibition of JNK and p38 MAPK. Our findings suggest that minocycline, a clinically well-tolerated, safe antibiotic, may be used to prevent melanocyte loss in the early stage of vitiligo.