富亮氨酸α2糖蛋白1(LRG1)在肿瘤中的研究进展

富亮氨酸α2糖蛋白1(Leucine-rich-alpha-2-glycoprotein1,LRG1)是富亮氨酸重复序列(leucine-rich repeat,LRR)家族蛋白成员之一。LRG1在人类多种肿瘤中表达异常,可以作为部分肿瘤早期诊断的潜在生物标记,而且这种异常表达可能提示患者预后不良。LRG1在肿瘤的发生、侵袭转移、上皮间质转化和血管生成中发挥重要作用。这些环节中,协同参与调控的辅助因子众多且有差异,因而经历的信号途径有所不同。本文综合目前的研究进展,旨在阐述LRG1与肿瘤的关系以及其调控肿瘤发生发展的分子机制。LRG1有望成为一种新的肿瘤分子标志物,将为恶性肿瘤的分子诊断及靶向治疗提供新的方向和手段。     

人LRG1基因的原核表达及生物信息学分析

为了探讨LRG1基因结构与功能,对该基因进行克隆并构建到原核表达载体上,并对其进行表达及生物信息学分析。用Trizol法提取人肝癌HepG2细胞总RNA后,PCR扩增得到LRG1片段,经鉴定后将目的基因与原核表达载体pET28a连接,经诱导表达获得His-LRG1蛋白。LRG1基因cDNA片段大小为1 044 bp,编码347个氨基酸;成功构建pET28a原核表达载体,经多次不同条件诱导后,得到大小约40 kD目的蛋白;利用软件对LRG1蛋白的一级、二级结构进行了预测,分析总结得LRG1基因编码的蛋白是一个不稳定且具有亲水性的蛋白,可与多种信号开关相互作用。LRG1属于高度保守的富亮氨酸重复家族成员,其原核表达载体不易诱导产生大量目的蛋白,克隆表达该基因有利于验证其结构与功能关系。     

LZTS2 抑癌基因在肿瘤中的作用机制

亮氨酸拉链肿瘤抑制因子2(leucine zipper tumor suppressor 2,Lzts2)是一种新发现的抑癌基因,位于人类染色体10q24.3,在多种肿瘤中异常表达,且对肿瘤的发生、增殖和迁移中均发挥重要作用。LZTS2拥有亮氨酸拉链结构域(LZ),可以通过该结构域结合DNA调节基因转录。LZTS2还可以参与Wnt/β-catenin信号通路调控β-catenin的表达及细胞内分布,与NF-κB亦拥有广泛的相互作用,从而调控细胞增殖和凋亡。在微管系统中,LZTS2也有重要的调节作用,可抑制细胞的有丝分裂和迁移,增加肿瘤细胞的药物敏感性。LZTS2作为新的抑癌基因,与肿瘤的大小和淋巴结转移等生物学特性密切相关,可能成为新的诊断标志物,判断肿瘤的预后,亦可能为肿瘤的基因治疗潜在方向。然而关于LZTS2及其作用机制的研究尚为不足,本文将对LZTS2在肿瘤中的作用机制作简要综述。     

膜联蛋白A1及其与肿瘤关系的研究进展

膜联蛋白A1 (Annexin A1,ANXA1)是一种来源于脊柱(哺乳)动物的钙依赖性磷脂结合蛋白,是介导细胞内糖皮质激素抗炎作用的效应分子,在组织中广泛表达,参与细胞生长周期的各个阶段.其既可以可溶性形式存在,也可稳定或可逆结合于细胞骨架蛋白,调控细胞与细胞外基质的相互作用.大量的研究发现,AnnexinA1的表达在不同肿瘤组织中有差异,并且同一肿瘤不同类型中表达也不一样,其异常表达及细胞内定位改变可能跟多种恶性肿瘤的分化及转移相关.Annexin A1与肿瘤的密切关系,或许可使其发展为一个新的肿瘤标志物,为肿瘤的早期诊断、治疗及预后提供新的判断标准.因此,探讨Annexin A1与肿瘤的关系极具临床应用前景.     

YB-1对肿瘤发生的影响及其研究进展

YB-1(Y-box binding protein 1,YB-1)是Y-盒蛋白家族成员之一,是能够特异性结合目的基因启动子和增强子内部Y-box序列(CTGATTGGCCAA)的一类转录因子,也是一类高度保守的顺式作用元件,普遍存在于原核和真核生物细胞中.YB-1在转录调节、翻译调控、mRNA选择性剪接、DNA的修复、细胞增殖和再生等过程中发挥多种重要的生物学功能.研究表明,YB-1蛋白在肿瘤的发生、演进、转移、肿瘤细胞耐药性、肿瘤治疗及预后中都发挥着极为重要的作用,已证实YB-1异常表达的肿瘤类型有前列腺癌、乳腺癌、肺癌、卵巢癌等多种肿瘤,并且在多种人类肿瘤中,YB-1在细胞核表达常常提示预后不良,YB-1蛋白在细胞核中的定位被认为是肿瘤疾病诊断的一种新的标志物,YB-1有望成为肿瘤防治的新的分子靶点.     

长链非编码RNA HULC与消化系统肿瘤的相关性研究及作用机制*

随着全基因组测序技术的快速发展,越来越多的长链非编码RNA(long noncoding RNA, lncRNA)分子被发现,逐渐成为新的研究热点。LncRNA HULC(highly up-regulated in liver cancer)是一种在肝癌中呈异常上调表达的长链非编码RNA,并参与调控了肝癌细胞增殖、抗凋亡、侵袭及上皮间质化等诸多肿瘤恶性生物学行为。随着研究的不断深入,发现HULC于其他消化系统肿瘤(胃癌、胰腺癌、结肠癌等)中同样呈现上调表达,可通过不同作用机制调控肿瘤的发生发展,并有望成为新型肿瘤诊断标志物和精准分子治疗的靶点。本文就近年来LncRNA HULC与消化系统肿瘤的相关性研究及其作用机制进行综述。     

内皮联蛋白在血管生成中的调控机制及作用

机体新生血管的形成和稳态的维持是保证组织细胞正常生命活动的重要基础。参与血管生成这一生理过程的因子众多,血管生成机制复杂,该过程的异常与血管疾病、肿瘤和癌症的发生密切相关。内皮联蛋白(endoglin,ENG)是一种主要在内皮细胞上表达的I型跨膜糖蛋白,其作为转化生长因子β家族的辅助受体在调控血管生成与稳态中发挥着重要作用。随着基质金属蛋白酶14(matrix metalloproteinase 14,MMP14)、整合素、血管生成性糖蛋白LRG1(leucine-rich alpha-2-glycoprotein-1,LRG1)、G蛋白信号调节体-G alpha相互作用蛋白C端(GAIP interacting protein C-terminus,GIPC)等越来越多与ENG具有相互作用的蛋白质被鉴定出来,关于ENG调控血管生成的分子机制的研究已有了一定的进展,但各个蛋白质之间错综复杂的调控网络仍有待探究和梳理。阐明ENG及其互作的蛋白质的特征、对信号传导的影响和对血管生成的贡献,对于理解机体在生理、病理条件下如何精细、有序地调控血管生成至关重要,且对于相关疾病的临床治疗手段的研究具有重要意义。本文系统总结了ENG与TGF-β及非TGF-β家族相关蛋白质的互作及在调控血管生成中的作用,并对未来ENG相关研究方向做出展望,以期为研究ENG在相关血管疾病中的机制提供分子层面的指导。     

PELP1/MNAR:一种新的核受体辅助调节因子

脯氨酸-谷氨酸-亮氨酸富集蛋白1/雌激素受体非基因组活性辅助调节因子(proline-,glutamic acid-,leucine-rich protein 1/modulator of nongenomic activity of estrogen receptor,PELP1/MNAR)是一种新近发现的核受体辅助活化因子,具有较为复杂的分子结构,在多种组织中广泛表达。与先前发现的核受体辅助调节因子不同的是:作为一种支架蛋白,PELP1/MNAR既参与核受体调控靶基因转录的基因组作用,又参与了核受体激活激酶信号系统的非基因组作用,并且可能在核受体信号与生长因子信号串话(cross talk)中发挥重要作用。近年的研究表明,PELP1/MNAR在乳腺癌、卵巢癌、子宫内膜癌、前列腺癌等激素依赖性肿瘤中均有异常表达和分布,在激素依赖性肿瘤的发生、发展、转移、耐药形成过程中可能具有重要意义,可望成为内分泌依赖性肿瘤治疗的一个新的靶点。     

mTORC1信号通路亮氨酸感受器——Sestrin2

正亮氨酸是重要的蛋白质合成原料,同时也可作为信号分子参与调节包括饱感、胰岛素分泌、骨骼肌合成代谢等多种生理活动。mT OR复合物1(mT OR complex 1,mT ORC1)蛋白激酶是调节亮氨酸功能的关键调控分子,通过控制蛋白质、脂质合成、自噬等过程调控细胞发育。然而,mT ORC1上游的亮氨酸相关信号通路尚不清楚。近期来自麻省理工学院的David M.Sabatini实验室在《科学》杂志上报道了最新研究:Sestrin2在mT ORC1信号通路中发     

胰岛素增强子结合蛋白-1(ISL1)与肿瘤的发生与发展北大核心CSCD

在人类发育过程中,胰岛素增强子结合蛋白-1(ISL1)被认为是一个胚胎性基因。成年后,ISL1只在特定的组织或器官中表达,例如胰腺和大脑。近年来,在多种肿瘤中检测到ISL1的异常表达,不仅在胰腺内分泌肿瘤、神经肿瘤中高表达(与之相应的正常组织也表达ISL1),而且在淋巴瘤、胃癌和膀胱癌等肿瘤组织中呈现表达(其正常组织不表达ISL1)。ISL1的异常表达可能与肿瘤的发生发展及预后相关。本文针对ISL1与肿瘤的相关性以及在肿瘤发生发展中的功能进行综述,为进一步的分子机制研究提供理论依据。     

Validation of LRG1 as a Potential Biomarker for Detection of Epithelial Ovarian Cancer by a Blinded Study

Background

Leucine-rich alpha-2-glycoprotein (LRG1) was found to be differentially expressed in sera from patients with Epithelial Ovarian Cancer (EOC). The aim of this study is to investigate the performance of LRG1 for detection of EOC, including early stage EOC, and to evaluate if LRG1 can complement CA125 in order to improve EOC detection using two independent blinded sample sets.

Methods and Results

Serum LRG1 and CA125 were measured by immunoassays. All assays were performed blinded to clinical data. Using the two independent sample sets (156 participants for sample set 1, and 233 for sample set 2), LRG1 was differentially expressed in EOC cases as compared to healthy, surgical, and benign controls, and its performance was not affected by the conditions of blood collection. The areas under the ROC curve (AUC) for LRG1 in differentiating EOC cases from non-cases were 0.797 and 0.786 for sample set 1 and 2. For differentiating EOC cases from healthy controls, the AUC values for LRG1 were 0.792 and 0.794. At a fixed specificity of 95%, LRG1 detects 52%, and 53.5% of EOC cases from healthy controls for sample set 1 and 2. When combining LRG1 and CA125, the AUC value increased to 0.927, which was improved compared to CA125 (AUC=0.916) (p=0.008) alone in distinguishing EOC cases from non-cases. More importantly, LRG1 also showed potential performance in differentiating early stage EOC from non-cases with an AUC of 0.715 for sample set 1, and 0.690 for sample set 2. The combination of LRG1 and CA125 resulted in an AUC of 0.838, which outperforms CA125 (AUC=0.785) (p=0.018) in detecting early stage EOC cases from non-cases using the larger sample set.

Conclusions

LRG1 could be a useful biomarker alone or in combination with CA125 for the diagnosis of ovarian cancer.     

The RHO1-specific GTPase-activating protein LRG1 regulates polar tip growth in parallel to Ndr kinase signaling in Neurospora

Regulation of Rho GTPase signaling is critical for cell shape determination and polarity. Here, we investigated the role of LRG1, a novel member of the GTPase-activating proteins (GAPs) of Neurospora crassa. LRG1 is essential for apical tip extension and to restrict excessive branch formation in subapical regions of the hypha and is involved in determining the size of the hyphal compartments. LRG1 localizes to hyphal tips and sites of septation via its three LIM domains. The accumulation of LRG1 as an apical cap is dependent on a functional actin cytoskeleton and active growth, and is influenced by the opposing microtubule-dependent motor proteins dynein and kinesin-1. Genetic evidence and in vitro GTPase assays identify LRG1 as a RHO1-specific GAP affecting several output pathways of RHO1, based on hyposensitivity to the glucan inhibitor caspofungin, synthetic lethality with a hyperactive β1,3-glucan synthase mutant, altered PKC/MAK1 pathway activities, and hypersensitivity to latrunculin A. The morphological defects of lrg-1 are highly reminiscent to the Ndr kinase/RAM pathway mutants cot-1 and pod-6, and genetic evidence suggests that RHO1/LRG1 function in parallel with COT1 in coordinating apical tip growth.     

Construction of a dual affinity tagged allele of the Rb1 tumor suppressor gene in the mouse

Loss of Rb1 tumor suppressor gene function is involved in the genesis of most human cancers. Novel therapies targeting Rb1 have been slow to develop because of our incomplete understanding of its molecular mechanisms of action. Rb1 protein (pRb) binds a host of cellular genes and proteins, and these molecular interactions mediate its various functions. Given the potential complexity of these molecular interactions and the lack of established methods for pRb purification, it has been difficult to systematically identify gene and protein interactions relevant to tumor suppression in different tissues in vivo. To address this limitation, we have generated a dual affinity tagged Rb1 allele in the mouse. The tagged allele functions as wild type and the encoded protein can be purified by tandem affinity chromatography. This allele will facilitate identification and characterization of native pRb molecular interactions in any tissue accessible in the mouse. genesis 48:121–126, 2010. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Up-regulation of the expression of leucine-rich α2-glycoprotein in hepatocytes by the mediators of acute-phase response

Leucine-rich α₂-glycoprotein (LRG) is a plasma protein in which leucine-rich repeats (LRRs) were first discovered. Although the physiological function of LRG is not known, increases in the serum level of LRG have been reported in various diseases. In this study, we found that LRG was induced by recombinant human IL-6 in human hepatoma HepG2 cells. The induction of LRG by IL-6 was up-regulated synergistically with either IL-1β or TNFα in a pattern similar to those for type 1 acute-phase proteins. We also found that lipopolysaccharide (LPS) administered intraperitoneally to mice enhanced dose-dependently the expression of LRG mRNA in the liver as well as those for mouse major acute-phase proteins. These results strongly suggest that LRG was a secretory type 1 acute-phase protein whose expression was up-regulated by the mediator of acute-phase response.     

Analysis of cytostatic/cytotoxic lymphokines: relationship of natural killer cytotoxic factor to recombinant lymphotoxin, recombinant tumor necrosis factor, and leukoregulin

Previous results that were obtained by using supernatants from the co-culture of human peripheral blood lymphocytes and the natural killer susceptible cell line K562 strongly inhibited the growth of various tumor cell lines. No correlation was observed between the susceptibility of the target cell lines to growth inhibition and to lysis by natural killer cells. Rather the spectrum of cytostatic activity and the characteristics of the soluble factor were similar to those of leukoregulin (LRG), a recently described lymphokine. Because of the recent availability of recombinant tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and lymphotoxin (LT), we compare the target selectivity and mechanism of action of these (TNF, LT, LRG) factors with natural killer cytotoxic factor (NKCF). The pattern of target cell susceptibility to growth inhibition or cytolysis by the factors were quite distinct from the pattern observed when cells were exposed to NKCF. Furthermore, antibodies to rLT or rTNF had no effect on LRG cytostasis or NKCF lysis, arguing against a requirement for or synergistic interaction with low levels of LT or TNF. Some of the targets susceptible to LRG were growth inhibited but were not lysed, thereby distinguishing it from NKCF. Furthermore, LRG cytostasis was not inhibited by mannose-6-PO4 or rabbit antibodies to granule cytolysin, both of which block natural killer cytotoxic factor. Therefore, LRG appears to be a cytostatic factor produced by large granular lymphocytes in response to K562 that is distinct from NKCF, TNF, and LT. In addition, NKCF, rLT, rTNF, and LRG, although having cytotoxic/cytostatic activity, are distinct functional factors and may represent a family of lytic factors.     

Roles of P67/MetAP2 as a tumor suppressor

A precise balance between growth promoting signals and growth inhibitory signals plays important roles in the maintenance of healthy mammalian cells. Any deregulation of this critical balance converts normal cells into abnormal or cancerous cells. Several macromolecules are being identified and characterized that are involved in the regulation of cell signaling pathways that connect to the cell cycle and thus they play roles as tumor promoters or tumor suppressors. In situ tumor formation needs active angiogenesis, a process that generates new blood vessels from existing ones either by splitting or sprouting. Several small molecule inhibitors and proteins have been identified as inhibitors of angiogenesis. One such protein, p67/MetAP2 also known as methionine aminopeptidase 2 (MetAP2), has been shown to bind covalently to fumagillin and its derivatives that have anti-angiogenic activity. In addition to fumagillin or its derivatives, several other small molecule inhibitors of p67/MetAP2 have been recently identified and some of these drugs are in phase III trials for cancer therapy. Although molecular details of actions toward tumor suppression by these drugs are largely unknown, a significant progress has been made to understand the structure–function relationship of p67/MetAP2 and its roles in the maintenance of the levels of phosphorylation of the ∝-subunit of eukaryotic initiation factor 2 (eIF2∝) and extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/2). In this article, roles of p67/MetAP2 in the suppression of cancer development are also discussed.     

Lrg1p Is a Rho1 GTPase-activating protein required for efficient cell fusion in yeast

To identify additional cell fusion genes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, we performed a high-copy suppressor screen of fus2Delta. Higher dosage of three genes, BEM1, LRG1, and FUS1, partially suppressed the fus2Delta cell fusion defect. BEM1 and FUS1 were high-copy suppressors of many cell-fusion-defective mutations, whereas LRG1 suppressed only fus2Delta and rvs161Delta. Lrg1p contains a Rho-GAP homologous region. Complete deletion of LRG1, as well as deletion of the Rho-GAP coding region, caused decreased rates of cell fusion and diploid formation comparable to that of fus2Delta. Furthermore, lrg1Delta caused a more severe mating defect in combination with other cell fusion mutations. Consistent with an involvement in cell fusion, Lrg1p localized to the tip of the mating projection. Lrg1p-GAP domain strongly and specifically stimulated the GTPase activity of Rho1p, a regulator of beta(1-3)-glucan synthase in vitro. beta(1-3)-glucan deposition was increased in lrg1Delta strains and mislocalized to the tip of the mating projection in fus2Delta strains. High-copy LRG1 suppressed the mislocalization of beta(1-3) glucan in fus2Delta strains. We conclude that Lrg1p is a Rho1p-GAP involved in cell fusion and speculate that it acts to locally inhibit cell wall synthesis to aid in the close apposition of the plasma membranes of mating cells.     

Histone Deacetylases: A Saga of Perturbed Acetylation Homeostasis in Cancer

In the current era of genomic medicine, diseases are identified as manifestations of anomalous patterns of gene expression. Cancer is the principal example among such maladies. Although remarkable progress has been achieved in the understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in the genesis and progression of cancer, its epigenetic regulation, particularly histone deacetylation, demands further studies. Histone deacetylases (HDACs) are one of the key players in the gene expression regulation network in cancer because of their repressive role on tumor suppressor genes. Higher expression and function of deacetylases disrupt the finely tuned acetylation homeostasis in both histone and non-histone target proteins. This brings about alterations in the genes implicated in the regulation of cell proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis and other cellular processes. Moreover, the reversible nature of epigenetic modulation by HDACs makes them attractive targets for cancer remedy. This review summarizes the current knowledge of HDACs in tumorigenesis and tumor progression as well as their contribution to the hallmarks of cancer. The present report also describes briefly various assays to detect histone deacetylase activity and discusses the potential role of histone deacetylase inhibitors as emerging epigenetic drugs to cure cancer.     

类缺血等多种预处理上调脂多糖应答基因在神经元中的表达

目的:研究体外和体内多种预处理对小鼠神经元细胞内脂多糖应答基因(LRG)表达的影响。方法:利用qRT-PCR和western blot方法检测体外多种预处理(类缺血、高压氧、异氟和脂多糖)对小鼠神经元细胞中LRG的转录水平和蛋白表达水平的影响;运用小RNA干扰方法(siRNA)沉默神经元细胞中LRG的表达,噻唑蓝(MTT)方法检测神经元细胞的生长情况;运用大脑中动脉阻闭法(MCAO)建立多种预处理诱导脑缺血耐受的小鼠试验模型,qRT-PCR和western blot方法检测小鼠脑组织中LRG转录水平和蛋白水平的变化。结果:体外多种预处理明显上调LRG在小鼠脑海马神经元细胞中的表达;沉默LRG在神经元中的表达明显加快类缺血处理细胞的死亡;多种预处理建立的脑缺血耐受小鼠的脑组织中LRG转录水平和蛋白表达水平明显升高。结论:类缺血等多种预处理可上调神经元细胞内LRG的表达,但其在脑缺血再灌注损伤中的作用机制尚不清楚,需进一步的研究。     

微小RNA(microRNA)在肝细胞肝癌发生发展中的作用研究进展

MicroRNA是近几年发现的一种非编码小分子RNA,其主要功能体现在参与调节生物个体发育、细胞增殖与分化、肿瘤细胞的发生等多种病理过程中。MicroRNA在调控癌基因和抑癌基因的表达过程中,以及在肝细胞肝癌发生和发展中发挥着关键性的作用。本综述对microRNA在肝细胞肝癌发生发展中的作用进行汇总,以期为肝细胞肝癌的临床诊断以及治疗提供理论参考。