Nerve terminal GABAA receptors activate Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent signaling to inhibit voltage-gated Ca2+ influx and glutamate release

-Aminobutyric acid type A (GABAA) receptors, a family of Cl-permeable ion channels, mediate fast synaptic inhibition as postsynaptically enriched receptors for -aminobutyric acid at GABAergic synapses. Here we describe an alternative type of inhibition mediated byGABAA receptors present on neocortical glutamatergic nerve terminals and examine the underlying signaling mechanism(s). By monitoring the activity of the presynaptic CaM kinase II/synapsin I signaling pathway in isolated nerve terminals, we demonstrate that GABAA receptor activation correlated with an increase in basal intraterminal [Ca2]i. Interestingly, this activation of GABAA receptors resulted in a reduction of subsequent depolarization-evoked Ca2 influx, which thereby led to an inhibition of glutamate release. To investigate how the observed GABAA receptor-mediated modulation operates, we determined the sensitivity of this process to the Na-K-2Cl cotransporter 1 antagonist bumetanide, as well as substitution of Ca2 with Ba2, or Ca2/calmodulin inhibition by W7. All of these treatments abolished the modulation by GABAA receptors. Application of selective antagonists of voltage-gated Ca2 channels (VGCCs) revealed that the GABAA receptor-mediated modulation of glutamate release required the specific activity of L- and R-type VGCCs. Crucially, the inhibition of release by these receptors was abolished in terminals isolated from R-type VGCC knock-out mice. Together, our results indicate that a functional coupling between nerve terminal GABAA receptors and L- or R-type VGCCs is mediated by Ca2/calmodulin-dependent signaling. This mechanism provides a GABA-mediated control of glutamatergic synaptic activity by a direct inhibition of glutamate release.

Short communication: Suppressor of cytokine signaling-2 mRNA increases after parturition in the liver of dairy cows

After parturition, the somatotropic axis of the dairy cow is uncoupled, partly because of reduced concentration of liver-specific GH receptor (GHR) 1A. Estradiol-17 beta (E-2) concentrations increase at parturition and E-2 upregulates suppressors of cytokine signaling-2 (SOCS-2) mRNA expression, potentially inhibiting GH signaling. Therefore, we hypothesized that SOCS-2 mRNA is upregulated after parturition. Multiparous Holstein cows (n = 18) were dried off 45 d before expected parturition and fed diets to meet nutrient requirements at ad libitum or limited dry matter intake during the dry period. All cows were fed the same diet ad libitum from calving until 4 wk after parturition. Blood samples were collected weekly and more frequently near parturition. Liver biopsies obtained at -21, -7, 2, and 28 d relative to parturition were assessed for SOCS-2 and GHR 1A mRNA by quantitative real-time reverse-transcription PCR. The relative amount of SOCS-2 mRNA increased after parturition with both treatments and was greater on d 2 for cows limit-fed during the dry period compared with cows fed at ad libitum dry matter intake. Plasma E2 concentrations increased on d -13, -5 and 1 relative to parturition and the increases were greater in limit-fed cows. Plasma GH concentration was greater for limit-fed cows and increased after parturition in all cows. The amount of GHR 1A mRNA did not differ between diets but decreased on d 2. In addition to reduced GHR 1A, increased SOCS-2 mRNA after parturition, perhaps because of increased E-2, may further uncouple GH signaling in the liver of the transition dairy cow.

PECAM-1 expression and activity negatively regulate multiple platelet signaling pathways

Platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 (PECAM-1) inhibits platelet response to collagen and may also inhibit two other major platelet agonists ADP and thrombin although this has been less well explored. We hypothesized that the combined effect of inhibiting these three platelet activating pathways may act to significantly inhibit thrombus formation. We demonstrate a negative relationship between PECAM-1 surface expression and platelet response to cross-linked collagen related peptide (CRP-XL) and ADP, and an inhibitory effect of PECAM-1 clustering on platelet response to CRP-XL, ADP and thrombin. This combined inhibition of multiple signaling pathways results in a marked reduction in thrombus formation. (C) 2009 Federation of European Biochemical Societies. Published by Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.

The stimulation of mitogenic signaling pathways by N-POMC peptides

The N-terminal fragment of pro-opiomelancortin (POMC) has been shown previously to act as an adrenal mitogen. However, little is known about the molecular mechanisms by which mitogenesis is stimulated, although it has been shown that N-POMC1-28 Stimulates the ERK pathway in human H295R cells. We have investigated signaling stimulated by N-POMC1-28 and N-POMC1-49 in the mouse Y1 cell line and found that both peptides stimulate ERK phosphorylation with maximal stimulation being achieved within 5 min. Similar results were observed for both MEK and c-Raf phosphorylation, although N-POMC1-49 stimulated the phosphorylation of Akt more robustly than N-POMC1-28. We also investigated the expression of tyrosine kinase receptors in adrenal cells. PCR utilizing degenerate primers was performed on cDNA from both Y1 cells and rat adrenal tissue. Sequencing of 114 clones from each cDNA population revealed the expression of a number of receptors, several of which have not been described previously in the adrenal. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Nongenomic signaling of the retinoid X receptor through binding and inhibiting Gq in human platelets

Retinoid X receptors (RXRs) are important transcriptional nuclear hormone receptors, acting as either homodimers or the binding partner for at least one fourth of all the known human nuclear receptors. Functional nongenomic effects of nuclear receptors are poorly understood; however, recently peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) gamma, PPAR beta, and the glucocorticoid receptor have all been found active in human platelets. Human platelets express RXR alpha, and RXR beta. RXR ligands inhibit platelet aggregation and TXA(2) release to ADP and the TXA(2) receptors, but only weakly to collagen. ADP and TXA(2) both signal via the G protein, Gq. RXR rapidly binds Gq but not Gi/z/o/t/gust in a ligand-dependent manner and inhibits Gq-induced Rac activation and intracellular calcium release. We propose that RXR ligands may have beneficial clinical actions through inhibition of platelet activation. Furthermore, our results demonstrate a novel nongenomic mode for nuclear receptor action and a functional cross-talk between G-protein and nuclear receptor signaling families. (C) 2007 by The American Society of Hematology.

Wnt6 controls amniote neural crest induction through the non-canonical signaling pathway

The neural crest is a multipotent embryonic cell population that arises from neural ectoderm and forms derivatives essential for vertebrate function. Neural crest induction requires an ectodermal signal, thought to be a Writ ligand, but the identity of the Wnt that performs this function in amniotes is unknown. Here, we demonstrate that Wnt6, derived from the ectoderm, is necessary for chick neural crest induction. Crucially, we also show that Wnt6 acts through the non-canonical pathway and not the beta-catenin-dependant pathway. Surprisingly, we found that canonical Wnt signaling inhibited neural crest production in the chick embryo. In light of studies in anamniotes demonstrating that canonical Wnt signaling induces neural crest, these results indicate a significant and novel change in the mechanism of neural crest induction during vertebrate evolution. These data also highlight a key role for noncanonical Wnt signaling in cell type specification from a stem population during development.

Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMP)-4,-6, and-7 potently suppress basal and luteinizing hormone-induced androgen production by bovine theca interna cells in primary culture: Could ovarian hyperandrogenic dysfunction be caused by a defect in thecal BMP signaling?

We reported recently that bovine theca interna cells in primary culture express several type-I and type-II receptors for bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs). The same cells express at least two potential ligands for these receptors (BMP-4 and - 7), whereas bovine granulosa cells and oocytes express BMP-6. Therefore, BMPs of intrafollicular origin may exert autocrine/paracrine actions to modulate theca cell function. Here we report that BMP-4, - 6, and - 7 potently suppress both basal ( P < 0.0001; respective IC50 values, 0.78, 0.30, and 1.50 ng/ml) and LH-induced ( P < 0.0001; respective IC50 values, 5.00, 0.55, and 4.55 ng/ml) androgen production by bovine theca cells while having only a moderate effect on progesterone production and cell number. Semiquantitative RT-PCR showed that all three BMPs markedly reduced steady-state levels of mRNA for P450c17. Levels of mRNA encoding steroidogenic acute regulatory protein, P450scc, and 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase were also reduced but to a much lesser extent. Immunocytochemistry confirmed a marked reduction in cellular content of P450c17 protein after BMP treatment ( P < 0.001). Exposure to BMPs led to cellular accumulation of phosphorylated Smad1, but not Smad2, confirming that the receptors signal via a Smad1 pathway. The specificity of the BMP response was further explored by coincubating cells with BMPs and several potential BMP antagonists, chordin, gremlin, and follistatin. Gremlin and chordin were found to be effective antagonists of BMP-4 and - 7, respectively, and the observation that both antagonists enhanced ( P < 0.01) androgen production in the absence of exogenous BMP suggests an autocrine/paracrine role for theca-derived BMP- 4 and - 7 in modulating androgen production. Collectively, these data indicate that an intrafollicular BMP signaling pathway contributes to the negative regulation of thecal androgen production and that ovarian hyperandrogenic dysfunction could be a result of a defective autoregulatory pathway involving thecal BMP signaling.

Class II phosphoinositide 3-kinase defines a novel signaling pathway in cell migration

The lipid products of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) are involved in many cellular responses such as proliferation, migration, and survival. Disregulation of PI3K-activated pathways is implicated in different diseases including cancer and diabetes. Among the three classes of PI3Ks, class I is the best characterized, whereas class II has received increasing attention only recently and the precise role of these isoforms is unclear. Similarly, the role of phosphatidylinositol-3-phosphate (PtdIns-3-P) as an intracellular second messenger is only just beginning to be appreciated. Here, we show that lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) stimulates the production of PtdIns-3-P through activation of a class II PI3K (PI3K-C2β). Both PtdIns-3-P and PI3K-C2β are involved in LPA-mediated cell migration. This study is the first identification of PtdIns-3-P and PI3K-C2β as downstream effectors in LPA signaling and demonstration of an intracellular role for a class II PI3K. Defining this novel PI3K-C2β- PtdIns-3-P signaling pathway may help clarify the process of cell migration and may shed new light on PI3K-mediated intracellular events.

Platelet 12-lipoxygenase activation via glycoprotein VI: involvement of multiple signaling pathways in agonist control of H(P)ETE synthesis

Lipoxygenases (LOX) contribute to vascular disease and inflammation through generation of bioactive lipids, including 12-hydro(pero xyeicosatetraenoic acid (12-H(P)ETE). The physiological mechanisms that acutely control LOX product generation in mammalian cells are uncharacterized. Human platelets that contain a 12-LOX isoform (p12-LOX) were used to define pathways that activate H(P)ETE synthesis in the vasculature. Collagen and collagen-related peptide (CRP) (1 to 10 g/mL) acutely induced platelet 12-H(P)ETE synthesis. This implicated the collagen receptor glycoprotein VI (GPVI), which signals via the immunoreceptor-based activatory motif (ITAM)- containing FcR chain. Conversely, thrombin only activated at high concentrations ( 0.2 U/mL), whereas U46619 and ADP alone were ineffective. Collagen or CRP-stimulated 12-H(P)ETE generation was inhibited by staurosporine, PP2, wortmannin, BAPTA/AM, EGTA, and L-655238, implicating src-tyrosine kinases, PI3-kinase, Ca2 mobilization, and p12-LOX translocation. In contrast, protein kinase C (PKC) inhibition potentiated 12-H(P)ETE generation. Finally, activation of the immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibitory motif (ITIM)– containing platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule (PECAM-1) inhibited p12-LOX product generation. This study characterizes a receptor-dependent pathway for 12-H(P)ETE synthesis via the collagen receptor GPVI, which is negatively regulated by PECAM-1 and PKC, and demonstrates a novel link between immune receptor signaling and lipid mediator generation in the vasculature. (Circ Res. 2004;94:1598-1605.)

The intracellular genistein metabolite 5,7,3 ',4 '-tetrahydroxyisoflavone mediates G2-M cell cycle arrest in cancer cells via modulation of the p38 signaling pathway

The cellular actions of genistein are believed to mediate the decreased risk of breast cancer associated with high soy consumption. We have investigated the intracellular metabolism of genistein in T47D tumorigenic and MCF-10A nontumorigenic cells and assessed the cellular actions of resultant metabolites. Genistein selectively induced growth arrest and G2-M phase cell cycle block in T47D but not MCF10A breast epithelial cells. These antiproliferative effects were paralleled by significant differences in the association of genistein to cells and in particular its intracellular metabolism. Genistein was selectively taken up into T47D cells and was subject to metabolism by CYP450 enzymes leading to the formation of both 5,7,3',4'-tetrahydroxyisoflavone (THIF) and two glutathionyl conjugates of THIF THIF inhibited cdc2 activation via the phosphorylation of p38 MAP kinase, suggesting that this species may mediate genistein's cellular actions. THIF exposure activated p38 and caused subsequent inhibition of cyclin B1 (Ser 147) and cdc2 (Thr 161) phosphorylation, two events critical for the correct functioning of the cdc2-cyclin B1 complex. We suggest that the formation of THIF may mediate the cellular actions of genistein in tumorigenic breast epithelial cells via the activation of signaling through p38. (c) 2006 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Quercetin inhibits collagen-stimulated platelet activation through inhibition of multiple components of the glycoprotein VI signaling pathway

Background: The regulation of platelet function by pharmacological agents that modulate platelet signaling haspharmacolo proven a successful approach to the prevention of thrombosis. A variety of molecules present in the diet have been shown to inhibit platelet activation, including the antioxidant quercetin. Objectives: In this report we investigate the molecular mechanisms through which quercetin inhibits collagen-stimulated platelet aggregation. Methods: The effect of quercetin on platelet aggregation, intracellular calcium release, whole cell tyrosine phosphorylation and intracellular signaling events including tyrosine phosphorylation and kinase activity of proteins involved in the collagen-stimulated glycoprotein (GP) signaling pathway were investigated. Results: We report that quercetin inhibits collagen-stimulated whole cell protein tyrosine phosphorylation and intracellular mobilization of calcium, in a concentration-dependent manner. Quercetin was also found to inhibit various events in signaling generated by the collagen receptor GPVI. This includes collagen-stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation of the Fc receptor gamma-chain, Syk, LAT and phospholipase Cgamma2. Inhibition of phosphorylation of the Fc receptor gamma-chain suggests that quercetin inhibits early signaling events following stimulation of platelets with collagen. The activity of the kinases that phosphorylate the Fc receptor gamma-chain, Fyn and Lyn, as well as the tyrosine kinase Syk and phosphoinositide 3-kinase was also inhibited by quercetin in a concentration-dependent manner, both in whole cells and in isolation. Conclusions: The present results provide a molecular basis for the inhibition by quercetin of collagen-stimulated platelet activation, through inhibition of multiple components of the GPVI signaling pathway, and may begin to explain the proposed health benefits of high quercetin intake.

Signaling mechanisms of GPCR ligands

G protein-coupled receptors constitute one of the major classes of drug targets, so understanding the mechanisms of signaling through these receptors is of great importance. This review covers some of the recent advances in G protein-coupled receptor signaling. A high resolution structure of the beta(2)-adrenergic receptor has been reported, as well as several molecular switches involved in receptor activation. It has also been realised that receptors and G proteins and their subunits may not always separate upon receptor activation. The definition of the ability of these receptors to signal has been expanded considerably with the realisation that some signaling may occur independently of G proteins, that some signaling events may differ in their pharmacological profiles and that formation of heterodimers of these receptors may provide new avenues for both signaling and drug design.

Myostatin regulates cardiomyocyte growth through modulation of Akt signaling

Myostatin is a highly conserved, potent negative regulator of skeletal muscle hypertrophy in many species, from rodents to humans, although its mechanisms of action are incompletely understood. Transcript profiling of hearts from a genetic model of cardiac hypertrophy revealed dramatic upregulation of myostatin, not previously recognized to play a role in the heart. Here we show that myostatin abrogates the cardiomyocyte growth response to phenylephrine in vitro through inhibition of p38 and the serine - threonine kinase Akt, a critical determinant of cell size in many species from drosophila to mammals. Evaluation of male myostatin-null mice revealed that their cardiomyocytes and hearts overall were slightly smaller at baseline than littermate controls but exhibited more exuberant growth in response to chronic phenylephrine infusion. The increased cardiac growth in myostatin-null mice corresponded with increased p38 phosphorylation and Akt activation in vivo after phenylephrine treatment. Together, these data demonstrate that myostatin is dynamically regulated in the heart and acts more broadly than previously appreciated to regulate growth of multiple types of striated muscle.

A role for Notch signaling in human corneal epithelial cell differentiation and proliferation

PURPOSE. To identify the role of Notch signaling in the human corneal epithelium. METHODS. Localization of Notch1, Notch2, Delta1, and Jagged1 in the human corneal epithelium was observed with the use of indirect immunofluorescence microscopy. Gene and protein expression of Notch receptors and ligands in human corneal epithelial cells was determined by RT-PCR and Western blot analysis, respectively. The effects of Notch inhibition (by {gamma}-secretase inhibition) and activation (by recombinant Jagged1) on epithelial cell proliferation (Ki67) and differentiation (CK3) were analyzed after Western blotting and immunocytochemistry. RESULTS. Immunofluorescent labeling localized Notch1 and Notch2 to suprabasal epithelial cell layers, whereas Delta1 and Jagged1 were observed throughout the corneal epithelium. Notch1, Notch2, Delta1, and Jagged1 genes and proteins were expressed in human corneal epithelial cells. {gamma}-Secretase inhibition resulted in decreased Notch1 and Notch2 expression, with an accompanying decrease in Ki67 and increased CK3 expression. The activation of Notch by Jagged1 resulted in the upregulation of active forms of Notch1 and 2 proteins (P < 0.05), with a concurrent increase in Ki67 (P < 0.05) and a decrease in CK3 (P < 0.05) expression. Interestingly, {gamma}-secretase inhibition in a three-dimensional, stratified corneal epithelium equivalent had no effect on Ki67 or CK3 expression. In contrast, Jagged1 activation resulted in decreased CK3 expression (P < 0.05), though neither Notch activation nor inhibition affected cell proliferation in the 3D tissue equivalent. CONCLUSIONS. Notch family members and ligands are expressed in the human corneal epithelium and appear to play pivotal roles in corneal epithelial cell differentiation.

Processing of wh-questions in a case of posterior cortical atrophy

Posterior cortical atrophy (PCA) is a type of dementia that is characterized by visuo-spatial and memory deficits, dyslexia and dysgraphia, relatively early onset and preserved insight. Language deficits have been reported in some cases of PCA. Using an off-line grammaticality judgement task, processing of wh-questions is investigated in a case of PCA. Other aspects of auditory language are also reported. It is shown that processing of wh-questions is influenced by syntactic structure, a novel finding in this condition. The results are discussed with reference to accounts of wh-questions in aphasia. An uneven profile of other language abilities is reported with deficits in digit span (forward, backward), story retelling ability, comparative questions but intact abilities in following commands, repetition, concept definition, generative naming and discourse comprehension.