An activated mutant of SHP-2 tyrosine phosphatase causes murine myeloid abnormal proliferation

AIM: To investigate whether an activated mutant of SHP-2 tyrosine phosphatase is involved in abnormal proliferation of murine myeloid.METHODS: Wild-type (WT) and SHP-2^D61G/+mutant mice aged 8 weeks and 16 weeks were used. The number of peripheral blood leukocytes and the spleen sizes were measured by cell counting and weighing methods,respectively. The surface markers (Mac-1 and Gr-1 for myeloid, Ter119 for erythroid, CD3 for T-lymphocyte and B220 for B-lymphocyte) of hematopoitic cells in peripheral blood and bone marrow were detected by flow cytometry. The rate of Mac-1 or Gr-1 positive cells in the peripheral blood and the rate of Mac-1, Gr-1, Ter119, CD3 or B220 positive cells in bone marrow were analyzed. The ability of colony formation unit (CFU) of the bone marrow was also observed by CFU assay. Finally, the expression of p-Akt and p-ERK in the peripheral blood leukocytes induced by interleukin-3 (IL-3, 5 μg/L) was detected by Western blotting.RESULTS: The number of leukocytes in peripheral blood of 16-week-old mice was more (P<0.01) and the spleens were bigger in mutant SHP-2^D61G/+ mice than those in WT mice. The rate of Mac-1 and Gr-1 positive cells in peripheral blood leukocytes of 16-week-old SHP-2^D61G/+ mice were dramatically increased (P<0.05). Mac-1 and Gr-1 positive cell rates in bone marrow of SHP-2^{D61G / +} mice were much higher (P<0.05) than those in WT mice and no statistic significance was found in the erythroid or lymphocyte cells. The number of CFU-GM (represents myeloid) was increased in mutant mice. The expression of p-Akt and p-ERK in peripheral blood leukocytes of mutant mice was significantly enhanced after stimulated with IL-3.CONCLUSION: These results suggest that activated mutant SHP-2 results in the disorder of mouse myeloid proliferation via MAPK and PI3K activation.     

Protein tyrosine phosphatase SHP-2 inhibits apoptosis induced by serum withdrawal in 293T cells

AIM: To investigate the potential role of Scy homology 2 domain-containing protein tyrosine phosphatase 2(SHP-2) in apoptosis of 293T cells induced by serum deprivation.METHODS: Transfection of plasmids into 293T cells was performed by liposome protocol. The viability of 293T cells was detected by MTT assay. On day 3 after removing serum the morphological changes of 293T cells were observed by using a transmission electron microscope, apoptosis rate was detected by flow cytometry and the expression of caspase-3 was measured by immunohistochemisty.RESULTS: The apoptosis rate in wild type SHP-2 (WT) group was obviously lower than that in the SHP-2C459S catalytically inactivated group. At the same time, expression of caspase-3 showed the similar results. CONCLUSION: SHP-2 may actively participate in the signal transduction pathway of apoptosis and play a positive role in cell survival. The underlying mechanism of apoptotic inhibition may be caspase-3 dependent.     

Role of TRIM8 in mouse cardiomyocyte apoptosis induced by high glucose and high free fatty acid

AIM: To investigate the effects of tripartite motif-containing protein 8 (TRIM8) on the apoptosis of mouse cardiomyocytes (MCMs) induced by high glucose and high free fatty acid (HGHF) and the underlying mechanism. METHODS: The MCMs were divided into normal glucose (NG) group (glucose at 5.5 mmol/L), high glucose (HG) group (glucose at 33 mmol/L), high free fatty acid (HF) group (sodium palmitate at 300 μmol/L) and HGHF group (glucose at 33 mmol/L and sodium palmitate at 300 μmol/L). The expression of TRIM8 in the MCMs was knocked down by siRNA, and the MCMs was further divided into control group, scrambled siRNA (Scra-siRNA)/PBS group, TRIM8-siRNA/PBS group, Scra-siRNA/HGHF group and TRIM8-siRNA/HGHF group. To further confirm the specific mechanism of TRIM8 in the MCM injury induced by HGHF, the MCMs were subgrouped into HGHF/DMSO group, HGHF+TRIM8-siRNA+DMSO (HGHF+Ts/DMSO) group, HGHF/ML385 group and HGHF+Ts/ML385 group. Accordingly, apoptosis was analyzed by flow cytometry, and the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) were measured by flow cytometry and DHE staining. The expression of TRIM8, nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), glutamate-cysteine ligase catalytic subunit (GCLC), heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO-1) at mRNA and protein levels was determined by qPCR and Western blot. RESULTS: HGHF increased the expression of TRIM8, and suppressed the expression of Nrf2, GCLC, HO-1 and NQO-1 in the MCMs (P < 0.05). Compared with Scra-siRNA/HGHF group, the intracellular ROS content and apoptotic rate were decreased in TRIM8-siRNA/HGHF group (P < 0.05). Correspondingly, the expression of the antioxidant molecule Nrf2 and its downstream genes GCLC, HO-1 and NQO-1 was increased (P < 0.05). In contrast, the addition of Nrf2 inhibitor ML385 partially reversed the inhibitory effect of TRIM8 expression knock-down on HGHF-induced apoptosis of MCMs. CONCLUSION: TRIM8 exacerbates the HGHF-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis by modulating Nrf2 antioxidative pathway.     

Role of P2Y1 receptor in activation of astrocytes induced by Aβ25-35

AIM: To study the role of P2Y₁ receptor in the activation of astrocytes induced by Aβ_25-35.METHODS: Astrocytes were isolated and cultured from newborn Wistar rats and divided into control group, Aβ_25-35 group, MRS2179(P2Y₁receptor inhibitor)+Aβ_25-35 group and MRS2179 group by treating the cells with the corresponding reagents. The expression levels of GFAP and P2Y₁ were determined by the methods of immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence and Western blotting.RESULTS: No significant change of the astrocyte numbers in all groups was observed. Compared with the control cells, the fluorescence intensity of GFAP significantly increased in Aβ_25-35 group and decreased in both MRS2179+Aβ_25-35 group and MRS2179 group. The expression level of GFAP determined by Western blotting and immunofluorescence showed the similar trend of change in each group. Compared with control group, the expression of P2Y₁ in Aβ_25-35 group was significantly increased (P<0.05), and no significant change between MRS2179+Aβ_25-35 group and MRS2179 group was found (P>0.05).CONCLUSION: Aβ_25-35 activates astrocytes by activation of P2Y₁ receptor.