胰岛素对血管平滑肌细胞4E结合蛋白1和核糖体蛋白S6激酶磷酸化的刺激作用

目的研究胰岛素对血管平滑肌细胞(VSMC)蛋白质合成翻译过程的两个调节子,4E-结合蛋白1(4E-BP1)和核糖体蛋白S6激酶,磷酸化的调节作用及其生物学意义.方法培养大鼠胸主动脉VSMC.用3H-亮氨酸和3H-TdR掺入法分别测定蛋白质合成和DNA合成;免疫印迹法检测4E-BP1和核糖体蛋白S6激酶的磷酸化.结果与对照相比,100 nmol/L胰岛素显著增加了VSMC的3H-亮氨酸和3H-TdR掺入.同样浓度的胰岛素作用于VSMC,可以诱导4E-BP1和核糖体蛋白S6激酶发生磷酸化.二者的磷酸化分别于胰岛素刺激后,30 min和10 min达高峰.结论胰岛素可以刺激VSMC的4E-BP1和核糖体蛋白S6激酶发生磷酸化,这可能是胰岛素发挥促进VSMC生长作用的机制.     

PD098059及N-乙酰半胱氨酸在缓激肽引起血管平滑肌细胞增殖反应中的调节作用

目的 :研究丝裂原活化蛋白激酶 （MAPK ）信号途径在缓激肽 （BK）介导的大鼠血管平滑肌细胞 （VSMC）增殖中的作用。方法 :通过 3H -胸苷 （3H- Td R）掺入率与 SMC3H-亮氨酸掺入率分别反映 VSMC的 DNA代谢与蛋白质合成代谢速率 ;并通过给予 PD0 980 5 9及 N-乙酰半胱氨酸预处理 ,观察其对细胞增殖的影响。结果 :1BK（10 nm ol/L ）处理 30 min,VSMC3H-胸苷掺入率和 3H-亮氨酸掺入率均明显增高 ;2 BK增高 3H -胸苷掺入的作用可明显被PD0 980 5 9所抑制 ,对 3H -亮氨酸掺入的作用可部分被 PD0 980 5 9所抑制 ;3BK增高 3H -胸苷掺入和 3H -亮氨酸掺入的作用均可部分被 N-乙酰所抑制 ,完全被 N-乙酰 +PD0 980 5 9所抑制。结论 :细胞外信号调节激酶 （ERKs）激活在缓激肽介导的 VSMC增殖中具有重要作用 ,并可通过 ERKs信号途径的特异性抑制剂影响血管平滑肌细胞的增殖效应。     

CD40-CD40配体对大鼠主动脉平滑肌细胞增殖及迁移影响

目的:观察CD40-CD40配体(CD40-CD40L)相互作用对体外培养的大鼠主动脉平滑肌细胞(VSMC)增殖及迁移的影响。方法:应用组织贴块法进行SD大鼠主动脉VSMC原代培养,以3H-胸腺嘧啶脱氧核苷(3H-TdR)、3H-亮氨酸(3H-Leu)掺入法分别测定VSMC增殖,VSMC的迁移采用琼脂糖凝胶刮取法,用倒置显微镜观察。结果:CD40-CD40L相互作用能明显促进VSMC3H-TdR、3H-Leu向细胞的掺入率,两者具有时间、剂量依赖性,CD40-CD40L相互作用随CD40L浓度的增加及刺激时间延长(30h内),能明显增加VSMC迁移率,抗-CD40单克隆抗体能明显抑制上述效应。结论:CD40-CD40L相互作用能明显促进主动脉VSMC增殖和迁移。     

运动干预对大鼠骨骼肌mTOR与P70^S6K磷酸化的影响

运动干预增加大鼠骨骼肌核糖体蛋白S6激酶(P70S6K)及哺乳动物雷帕霉素靶蛋白(mTOR)的磷酸化水平,改善P70S6KmRNA表达,降低血液胰岛素浓度(P均<0.05).提示运动干预可能通过增加mTOR与P70S6K活性,提高骨骼肌对胰岛素的敏感性.     

雷帕霉素阻断血管紧张素Ⅱ刺激血管内皮细胞增生的信号传导机制

目的：研究Rapamycin(Rapa)阻断血管紧张素Ⅱ(AngⅡ)刺激血管内皮细胞增生信号传导机制。方法：不同浓度AngⅡ刺激人脐静脉内皮细胞(E(2V304)，并用Rapa进行干预，采用^3H-胸腺嘧啶核苷掺入法和^3H-亮氨酸掺入法测定细胞DNA和蛋白质合成，流式细胞术检测细胞周期变化，免疫印迹(Westelm blot)检测细胞信号蛋白P70s6k，ERK2及细胞周期蛋白Cyclin D1、Cyclin A、和Cyclin B1表达的变化。结果：AngⅡ刺激细胞24h。细胞DNA和蛋白质合成均增加，并呈剂量依赖效应。AngⅡ 10^-6M组与对照组比较P70s6k，ERK2表达分别上调108．7％，54．7％，Rapa完全阻断P70s6k和Cyclin D1的活化，而不影响ERK2的表达。结论：Rapa通过阻断P13K-p70S6K信号通路抑制AngⅡ诱导的血管内皮细胞增生，抑制细胞周期蛋白Cyclin D1的表达，阻止细胞G0／G1→S期。     

TGFα与bFGF联结皂草毒素蛋白对增殖平滑肌细胞和内皮细胞的特异性细胞毒作用

目的:为比较生物导向药物转化生长因子-皂草毒素蛋白(TGFα-SAP)和碱性成纤维细胞生长因子(bFGF)-SAP对增殖平滑肌细胞特异性细胞毒性作用。方法:用SPDP化学联结的方法合成了导向药物TGFα-SAP和bFGF-SAP,以3H-亮氨酸渗入法观察了TGFα-SAP及bFGF-SAP对平滑肌细胞(SMCs)和内皮细胞(ECs)蛋白质合成的影响,并以MTS法和3H-胸腺嘧啶核苷(TdR)渗入法比较TGFα-SAP及bFGF-SAP对SMCs和ECs的增殖和DNA合成的抑制作用。结果:10-9mol/L的TGFα-SAP可明显抑制SMCs增殖,SMCs细胞增殖抑制率达到77.5%,而相同浓度bFGF-SAP的抑制率仅46.1%;并且TGFα-SAP也比bFGF-SAP更明显抑制了培养SMCs的蛋白质合成。与空白对照组比较,3H-亮氨酸掺入量降低了47.3%;该浓度的TGFα-SAP和bF-GF-SAP对ECs却未显示出明显的细胞毒性作用。10-9mol/L的TGFα-SAP明显抑制了SMCs的DNA合成,使3H-TdR掺入量较对照组降低了29.5%,但同样浓度的bFGF-SAP仅使3H-TdR掺入量较空白对照组降低了9.86%。在10-7mol/L浓度下的TGFα-SAP未显示出明显对ECs的细胞毒性作用,而bFGF-SAP具有明显降低ECs的3H-TdR掺入量。结论:TGFα-SAP通过表皮生长因子受体介导具有明显增强的细胞毒性作用,其对增殖SMCs的细胞毒性作用较bFGF-SAP更为敏感,而在10-7mol/L浓度下,bFGF-SAP比TGFα-SAP对ECs显示出更明显的细胞毒性作用。本实验为TGFα-SAP在经皮冠脉成形术后再狭窄临床防治中的应用前景提供进一步实验依据。     

丝裂素活化蛋白激酶的激活和转核与大鼠 血管平滑肌细胞增殖关系的研究

目的 探讨丝裂素活化蛋白激酶（MAPK）激活、转核与血管紧张素Ⅱ（AngⅡ)刺激血管平滑肌细胞（VSMC）增殖间的关系。方法 本实验采用培养大鼠胸主动脉VSMC。用^3H-胸腺嘧啶核苷（^3H-TdR)掺入法测定DNA合成,用p43/p44磷酸化抗MAPK抗体的蛋白免疫印迹法测定MAPK蛋白量,用免疫细胞化学技术观察MAPK活化并转位入细胞核的过程。结果 （1）AngⅡt和PD98059的上述作用都呈剂量依赖性。（2）AngⅡ对MAPK蛋白表达有显著增强作用。此作用同样被PD98059以剂量依赖方式抑制。（3）AngⅡ刺激5min后,MAPK出现在VSMC的细胞浆中,30min时MAPK进入细胞核,3h后MAPK染色从核内消失,上述MAPK转核过程被PD98059抑制。结论 本实验证实人细胞核,3h后MAPK染色从核人消失,上述MAPK转核过程被PD98059抑制。结论 本实验证实AngⅡ能激活培养大鼠主动脉VSMC的MAPK,活化的MAPK从细胞浆转位进入细胞核导致VSMC增殖。     

mTOR抑制剂的多效应作用

蛋白激酶家族参与多种关键的细胞周期功能的调节，对细胞DNA损伤、修复及重组起调控作用。磷脂酰肌醇3激酶（phosphatidylinosilol-3-kinase，PI3k）和Akt（蛋白激酶B）参与的信号通路在信号传导上起重要作用，可活化一系列其他的激酶链。哺乳动物雷帕霉素靶蛋白（mammalian target of rapamycin，mTOR）是哺乳动物PI3k／Akt通路的下游效应物，是一种丝氨酸／苏氨酸蛋白激酶，分子量为289道尔顿。mTOR通过调节其他激酶，如40S核糖体6激酶（S6k），细胞周期依赖蛋白激酶（cyclin-dependent kinases，CDKP）和真核细胞翻译起始因子（4E结合蛋白，4EB）的磷酸化，在蛋白质翻译过程中起重要调节作用（图1）。虽然与mTOR有关的信号传导途径尚未完全阐明，一个很明显的事实是mTOR参与了蛋白质合成的调节，并与生长因子及其受体、细胞周期进程及膜运输相互作用。     

丹参酮ⅡA磺酸钠对血管紧张素Ⅱ诱导的大鼠心肌细胞外信号调节激酶1/2的作用

目的研究丹参酮ⅡA磺酸钠(STS)对血管紧张素Ⅱ(AngⅡ)诱导的心肌肥大反应中细胞外信号调节激酶1/2(ERK1/2)是否有抑制作用。方法培养新生大鼠心肌细胞,考马斯亮蓝法测定心肌细胞蛋白含量、[3H]-亮氨酸掺入法测定蛋白合成速率作为心肌肥大指标;用免疫荧光标记法和Western-blot测定磷酸化ERK1/2蛋白(p-ERK1/2)表达。结果1)AngⅡ(1μmol/L)处理24h,心肌细胞[3H]-亮氨酸掺入率、蛋白含量明显增加,STS能明显抑制AngⅡ介导心肌细胞[3H]-亮氨酸掺入率、蛋白含量的增加;2)AngⅡ刺激心肌细胞可见胞核内出现磷酸化ERK1/2荧光染色,丹参酮ⅡA可阻断AngⅡ引起的ERK1/2活化、入核过程。3)用AngⅡ(1μmol/L)处理心肌细胞5min,磷酸化ERK1/2蛋白(p-ERK1/2)表达即开始增加,10min左右时最明显。4)STS剂量依赖性抑制AngⅡ诱导的心肌细胞磷酸化ERK1/2蛋白表达。结论STS可以抑制AngⅡ诱导的心肌肥厚,其机制与抑制磷酸化ERK1/2表达有关。     

核糖体蛋白S6激酶1基因沉默对高糖刺激下肝细胞固醇调节元件结合蛋白1 c表达的影响

目的 探讨核糖体蛋白S6激酶1(S6K1)基因沉默后对高糖刺激下小鼠肝细胞固醇调节元件结合蛋白1c(SREBP1c)表达的影响.方法 将构建的S6K1shRNA重组基因腺病毒(S6K1Ax)注射进db/db小鼠尾静脉,以注射含pU6启动子的腺病毒(pU6Ax)空载体的db/db小鼠作对照组,HE染色观察肝脏病理改变并检测肝脏甘油三酯含量变化.S6K1Ax转染小鼠肝细胞AML12细胞,转染pU6Ax的作为对照组,分别用高糖、高胰岛素,高糖高胰岛素刺激,逆转录聚合酶链式反应分析肝细胞在各种条件刺激后mSREBP1c等的表达,Western blot检测db/db小鼠肝脏及AML12细胞S6K1的蛋白表达.结果 db/db糖尿病小鼠注射S6K1Ax后1周,肝脏S6K1蛋白表达被抑制,对照组与实验组肝脏甘油三酯含量分别为(0.65±0.02)mmol/L和(0.56±0.01)mmol/L,t=4.312,P<0.01,差异有统计学意义.HE染色显示实验组肝细胞胞质含脂肪滴减少,空泡细胞数量减少,脂肪肝得到改善.AML12肝细胞mSREBP1c表达实验组为0.03±0.01,对照组为0.06±0.01,t=5.624,P<0.01,差异有统计学意义.与基础状态相比,给以胰岛素刺激后实验组和对照组mSREBP1c表达均增加,实验组上升至0.06±0.02,t=8.452,P<0.01,对照组上升至0.08±0.02,t=3.591,P<0.05.高糖刺激对实验组和对照组mSREBP1c表达均无明显影响.与高胰岛素刺激组相比,高糖高胰岛素刺激后实验组和对照组mSREBP1c表达均无明显差异.结论 S6K1通过影响脂代谢的关键调控基因mSREBP1c表达参与了脂肪的合成,推测S6K1在脂肪肝的形成中发挥了重要作用.     

Glucocorticoids differentially modulate insulin-mediated protein and glycogen synthetic signaling downstream of protein kinase B in rat myocardium

Insulin and protein kinase B (or Akt) play critical roles in cardiomyocytic growth and survival. High concentrations of glucocorticoids antagonize insulin's action. To examine whether endogenous glucocorticoids modulate insulin's effect on Akt signaling in the protein and glycogen synthetic pathways in myocardium, we studied three groups of rats (n = 12 each) 4 d after either a bilateral adrenalectomy (ADX), ADX with physiological stress dose dexamethasone treatment (ADX + DEX), or a sham operation. Rats received either a saline infusion or a 3 mU/kg.min euglycemic insulin clamp for 3 h. ADX had no effect on myocardial Akt or GSK-3 [glycogen synthase (GS) kinase 3] phosphorylation, but it decreased the phosphorylation of eukaryotic initiation factor 4E binding protein 1 (4E-BP1) and ribosomal protein S6 kinase (p70(S6K)) (P < 0.003 for both). Insulin enhanced the phosphorylation of Akt (P < 0.04), 4E-BP1 (P < 0.002), and p70(S6K) (P < 0.0001) in ADX, but not in sham rats. Dexamethasone restored the levels of 4E-BP1 and p70(S6K) phosphorylation and abrogated the insulin-stimulated Akt, 4E-BP1, and p70(S6K) phosphorylation. ADX rats had higher GS activity (P = 0.058) and lower glycogen content (P < 0.0001) than sham rats. GSK-3 phosphorylation after insulin infusion was greater in ADX rats. Insulin did not alter GS activity. Although insulin did not change the glycogen content in sham or ADX rats, it increased glycogen content by approximately 50% in ADX + DEX rats (P < 0.02). We conclude that endogenous glucocorticoids differentially modulate the regulation of Akt-4E-BP1/p70(S6K) and Akt-GSK-3-GS signaling pathways in heart by physiologic hyperinsulinemia over a range from deficiency to physiological stress concentrations.     

Physiological hyperinsulinemia stimulates p70(S6k) phosphorylation in human skeletal muscle

Using tracer methods, insulin stimulates muscle protein synthesis in vitro, an effect not seen in vivo with physiological insulin concentrations in adult animals or humans. To examine the action of physiological hyperinsulinemia on protein synthesis using a tracer-independent method in vivo and identify possible explanations for this discrepancy, we measured the phosphorylation of ribosomal protein S6 kinase (P70(S6k)) and eIF4E-binding protein (eIF4E-BP1), two key proteins that regulate messenger ribonucleic acid translation and protein synthesis. Postabsorptive healthy adults received either a 2-h insulin infusion (1 mU/min.kg; euglycemic insulin clamp; n = 6) or a 2-h saline infusion (n = 5). Vastus lateralis muscle was biopsied at baseline and at the end of the infusion period. Phosphorylation of P70(S6k) and eIF4E-BP1 was quantified on Western blots after SDS-PAGE. Physiological increments in plasma insulin (42 +/- 13 to 366 +/- 36 pmol/L; P: = 0.0002) significantly increased p70(S6k) (P: < 0.01), but did not affect eIF4E-BP1 phosphorylation in muscle. Plasma insulin declined slightly during saline infusion (P: = 0.04), and there was no change in the phosphorylation of either p70(S6k) or eIF4E-BP1. These findings indicate an important role of physiological hyperinsulinemia in the regulation of p70(S6k) in human muscle. This finding is consistent with a potential role for insulin in regulating the synthesis of that subset of proteins involved in ribosomal function. The failure to enhance the phosphorylation of eIF4E-BP1 may in part explain the lack of a stimulatory effect of physiological hyperinsulinemia on bulk protein synthesis in skeletal muscle in vivo.     

Differential p70S6k and 4E-BP1 regulation by insulin and amino acids in vascular endothelial and smooth muscle cells

Abstract Differential stimulation of vascular endothelial and smooth muscle cells proliferation is responsible for atherosclerotic lesions. Amino acids and insulin modulate p70S6k and 4E-BP1 activity, regulating cell growth and proliferation. We hypothesised that nutritional (amino acids) and hormonal (insulin) signals differently modulate protein anabolism in human vascular endothelial (HUVEC) and smooth muscle (HVSMC) cells. We evaluated p70S6kinase and 4E-BP1 phosphorylation in the two cell types, grown in amino acid-free medium with or without insulin (INS, 100 nM) or/and amino acids mixture (AA, 3 mM) and with the selective addition or deprivation of branched chain amino acids (BCAA, 0.5 mM). INS stimulated p70S6k and 4E-BP1 phosphorylation transiently in HUVEC and persistently in HVSMC. AA and INS+AA stimulated p70S6k and 4E-BP1 phosphorylation persistently in HUVEC and HVSMC. AA, but not BCAA alone or BCAA-deprived AA, induced p70S6k phosphorylation in HUVEC. BCAA deprivation decreased the p70S6k phosphorylation induced by AA with or without insulin in HVSMC. These results show that anabolic stimuli modulate p70S6k and 4E-BP1 activity differently in the two vascular cell types, suggesting that insulin stimulates protein synthesis for a longer time in HUSMC than in HUVEC. We speculate that hyperinsulinaemia frequently associated with atherosclerosis could induce a selective HVSMC proliferation.     

Inhibition of insulin signaling and adipogenesis by rapamycin: effect on phosphorylation of p70 S6 kinase vs eIF4E-BP1

OBJECTIVE: Insulin-responsive adipogenic signaling molecules include insulin receptor substrates (IRS)-1 and -2, phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K), and protein kinase B (PKB; also known as Akt). Mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is a PKB substrate, and regulates p70 S6 kinase (p70 S6K). Since p70 S6K is an insulin-responsive kinase downstream of PI3K and PKB, its potential role in adipogenic insulin signaling was investigated. DESIGN: We measured the effect of rapamycin, a specific inhibitor of mTOR, on insulin-induced 3T3-L1 adipogenesis and on insulin-stimulated p70 S6K activation. RESULTS: Rapamycin partially reduced differentiation, measured by Oil Red O staining, triacylglycerol accumulation (by up to 46%), and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma protein expression (by 50%). In contrast, rapamycin completely inhibited insulin-stimulated p70 S6K activation, assessed by phosphorylation of p70 S6K and its substrate, S6. Expression of a constitutively activated form of p70 S6K did not promote 3T3-L1 adipogenesis. The considerable residual differentiation in the presence of rapamycin, despite the complete blockade of p70 S6K activation, prompted us to measure the phosphorylation of another rapamycin-sensitive protein, eukaryotic initiation factor 4E (eIF4E) binding protein 1 (4E-BP1). Insulin-stimulated 4E-BP1 phosphorylation in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes was only partially affected by rapamycin, consistent with the differentiation data. Phosphorylation of eIF4E itself, an expected consequence of 4E-BP1 phosphorylation, was also only partially inhibited. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that adipogenic mTOR signaling occurs via the 4E-BP1/eIF4E pathway, rather than through p70 S6K.     

4E-BP1 phosphorylation is mediated by the FRAP-p70s6k pathway and is independent of mitogen-activated protein kinase.

It has previously been argued that the repressor of protein synthesis initiation factor 4E, 4E-BP1, is a direct in vivo target of p42mapk. However, the immunosuppressant rapamycin blocks serum-induced 4E-BP1 phosphorylation and, in parallel, p70s6k activation, with no apparent effect on p42mapk activation. Consistent with this finding, the kinetics of serum-induced 4E-BP1 phosphorylation closely follow those of p70s6k activation rather than those of p42mapk. More striking, insulin, which does not induce p42mapk activation in human 293 cells or Swiss mouse 3T3 cells, induces 4E-BP1 phosphorylation and p70s6k activation in both cell types. Anisomycin, which, like insulin, does not activate p42mapk, promotes a small parallel increase in 4E-BP1 phosphorylation and p70s6k activation. The insulin effect on 4E-BP1 phosphorylation and p70s6k activation in both cell types is blocked by SQ20006, wortmannin, and rapamycin. These three inhibitors have no effect on p42mapk activation induced by phorbol 12-tetradecanoate 13-acetate, though wortmannin partially suppresses both the p70s6k response and the 4E-BP1 response. Finally, in porcine aortic endothelial cells stably transfected with either the wild-type platelet-derived growth factor receptor or a mutant receptor bearing the double point mutation 740F/751F, p42mapk activation in response to platelet-derived growth factor is unimpaired, but increased 4E-BP1 phosphorylation is ablated, as previously reported for p70s6k. The data presented here demonstrate that 4E-BP1 phosphorylation is mediated by the FRAP-p70s6k pathway and is independent of mitogen-activated protein kinase.     

RAFT1 phosphorylation of the translational regulators p70 S6 kinase and 4E-BP1

The complex of rapamycin with its intracellular receptor, FKBP12, interacts with RAFT1/FRAP/mTOR, the in vivo rapamycin-sensitive target and a member of the ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM)-related family of kinases that share homology with the catalytic domain of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase. The function of RAFT1 in the rapamycin-sensitive pathway and its connection to downstream components of the pathway, such as p70 S6 kinase and 4E-BP1, are poorly understood. Here, we show that RAFT1 directly phosphorylates p70^S6k, 4E-BP1, and 4E-BP2 and that serum stimulates RAFT1 kinase activity with kinetics similar to those of p70^S6k and 4E-BP1 phosphorylation. RAFT1 phosphorylates p70^S6k on Thr-389, a residue whose phosphorylation is rapamycin-sensitive in vivo and necessary for S6 kinase activity. RAFT1 phosphorylation of 4E-BP1 on Thr-36 and Thr-45 blocks its association with the cap-binding protein, eIF-4E, in vitro, and phosphorylation of Thr-45 seems to be the major regulator of the 4E-BP1–eIF-4E interaction in vivo. RAFT1 phosphorylates p70^S6k much more effectively than 4E-BP1, and the phosphorylation sites on the two proteins show little homology. This raises the possibility that, in vivo, an unidentified kinase analogous to p70^S6k is activated by RAFT1 phosphorylation and acts at the rapamycin-sensitive phosphorylation sites of 4E-BP1.     

Prolactin activates mammalian target-of-rapamycin through phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and stimulates phosphorylation of p70S6K and 4E-binding protein-1 in lymphoma cells

Mitogens activate the mammalian target-of-rapamycin (mTOR) pathway through phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K). The activated mTOR kinase phosphorylates/ activates ribosomal protein S6 kinase (p70S6K) and phosphorylates/inactivates eukaryotic initiation factor 4E-binding protein-1 (4E-BP1), resulting in the initiation of translation and cell-cycle progression. The prolactin receptor signaling cascade has been implicated in crosstalk with the mTOR pathway, but whether prolactin (PRL) directly activates mTOR is not known. This study showed that PRL stimulated the phosphorylation of mTOR, p70S6K, Akt, and Jak2 kinases in a dose- and time-dependent manner in PRL-dependent rat Nb2 lymphoma cells. PRL-stimulated phosphorylation of mTOR was detected as early as 10 min, closely following the phosphorylation of Akt (upstream of mTOR), but preceding that of the downstream p70S6K. PRL activation of mTOR was inhibited by rapamycin (mTOR inhibitor), LY249002, and wortmannin (P13K inhibitors), but not by AG490 (Jak2 inhibitor), indicating that it was mediated by the P13K/Akt, but not Jak2, pathway. PRL also stimulated phosphorylation of 4E-BP1 in Nb2 cells. PRL-induced phosphorylation of p70S6K and 4E-BP1 was inhibited by rapamycin, but not by okadaic acid (inhibitor of protein phosphatase, PP2A). PRL induced a transient interaction between p70S6K and the catalytic subunit of PP2A (PP2Ac) in 1 and 2 h, whereas a PP2Ac-4E-BP1 complex was constitutively present in quiescent and PRL-treated Nb2 cells. These results suggested that p70S6K and 4E-BP1 were substrates of PP2A and the inhibition of mTOR promoted their dephosphorylation by PP2A. In summary, PRL-stimulated phosphorylation of mTOR is mediated by PI3K. PRL-activated mTOR may phosphorylate p70S6K and 4E-BP1 by restraining PP2A.     

A role of the kinase mTOR in cellular transformation induced by the oncoproteins P3k and Akt

The oncoproteins P3k (homolog of the catalytic subunit of class IA phosphoinositide 3-kinase) and Akt (protein kinase B) induce oncogenic transformation of chicken embryo fibroblasts. The transformed cells show constitutive phosphorylation of the positive regulator of translation p70S6 kinase (S6K) and of the eukaryotic initiation factor 4E-BP1 binding protein (4E-BP1), a negative regulator of translation. Phosphorylation activates S6K and inactivates 4E-BP1. A mutant of Akt that retains kinase activity but does not induce phosphorylation of S6K or of 4E-BP1 fails to transform chicken embryo fibroblasts, suggesting a correlation between the oncogenicity of Akt and phosphorylation of S6K and 4E-BP1. The macrolide antibiotic rapamycin effectively blocks oncogenic transformation induced by either P3k or Akt but does not reduce the transforming activity of 11 other oncoproteins. Rapamycin inhibits the kinase mTOR, an important regulator of translation, and this inhibition requires binding of the antibiotic to the immunophilin FKBP12. Displacement of rapamycin from FKBP12 relieves the inhibition of mTOR and also restores P3k-induced transformation. These data are in accord with the hypothesis that transformation by P3k or Akt involves intervention in translational controls.     

Impact of Src homology 2-containing inositol 5'-phosphatase 2 on the regulation of insulin signaling leading to protein synthesis in 3T3-L1 adipocytes cultured with excess amino acids

Src homology 2-containing inositol 5'-phosphatase 2 (SHIP2) possesses 5'-phosphatase activity to specifically hydrolyze the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase product PI(3,4,5)P3 in the regulation of insulin signaling. In the present study, we examined the impact of SHIP2 on the regulation of insulin signaling leading to protein synthesis in 3T3-L1 adipocytes cultured with standard and excess concentrations of amino acids. Insulin-induced translocation of PDK1 to the plasma membrane, phosphorylation of Akt and p70S6-kinase and ribosomal protein S6, increase in the amount of 4E-BP1 gamma-form, association of eIF4E with eIF4G, and protein synthesis were decreased by overexpression of wild-type SHIP2 by adenovirus-mediated gene transfer. The effect of SHIP2 overexpression on the regulation of insulin-induced phosphorylation of Akt and p70S6-kinase was somewhat augmented by the incubation with 5-fold excess concentrations of amino acids for 30 min. In contrast, the impact of SHIP2 expression was diminished in insulin-induced phosphorylation of p70S6-kinase and S6, but not of Akt, after the incubation for 16 h. Interestingly, incubation with the excess concentrations of amino acids for 30 min induced activation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and phosphorylation of Akt, whereas phosphorylation of p70S6-kinase and S6 was decreased. Furthermore, although the exposure for longer time periods up to 24 h did not elicit phosphorylation of Akt, it markedly induced phosphorylation of p70S6-kinase and S6. These results indicate that SHIP2 plays an important role in the negative regulation of insulin signaling for the protein synthesis and that the impact of SHIP2 is altered, dependent on the acute or chronic exposure of excess concentrations of amino acids in culture.     

Endogenous angiotensin II suppresses insulin signaling in vascular smooth muscle cells from spontaneously hypertensive rats

BACKGROUND : Angiotensin II (Ang II) has been reported to inhibit insulin signaling at multiple levels in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) in vitro. We have demonstrated that VSMC from spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) produce Ang II in a homogeneous culture. OBJECTIVE : In the current study, we investigated influences of endogenous Ang II on insulin signaling in VSMC from SHR. DESIGN AND METHODS : Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-kinase) activity, insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1) associated tyrosine phosphorylation, and p85 subunit of PI3-kinase were measured in VSMC from SHR and normotensive Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats in the absence and presence of Ang II type 1 receptor antagonist RNH6270 and mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (MEK) inhibitor U0126. RESULTS : Insulin treatment increased PI3-kinase activity in VSMC from WKY rats in a dose-dependent manner. In contrast, insulin treatment of VSMC from SHR did not affect PI3-kinase activity. However, co-treatment of VSMC from SHR with RNH6270 and insulin, increased PI3-kinase activity. PI3-kinase activity, IRS-1-associated tyrosine phosphorylation and p85 subunit of PI3-kinase in VSMC from WKY rats decreased in response to treatment with Ang II and returned to control levels upon co-treatment with U0126. Basal levels of PI3-kinase activity, IRS-1-associated tyrosine phosphorylation, and p85 subunit of PI3-kinase were significantly lower in VSMC from SHR than in cells from WKY rats. U0126 treatment of VSMC from SHR significantly increased levels of PI3-kinase activity, IRS-1-associated tyrosine phosphorylation, and p85 subunit of PI3-kinase. CONCLUSION : These results indicate that endogenous Ang II suppresses insulin signaling in VSMC from SHR by activating extracellular signal-regulated kinase. These findings suggest that tissue Ang II may play a role in insulin resistance in hypertension.