Long Sen Chang

Calcium-stimulated mitogen-activated protein kinase activation elicits Bcl-xL downregulation and Bak upregulation in notexin-treated human neuroblastoma SK-N-SH cells

Notechis scutatus scutatus notexin induced apoptotic death of SK‐N‐SH cells accompanied with downregulation of Bcl‐xL, upregulation of Bak, mitochondrial depolarization, and ROS generation. Upon exposure to notexin, Ca2+‐mediated JNK and p38 MAPK activation were observed in SK‐N‐SH cells. Production of ROS was a downstream event followed by Ca2+‐mediated mitochondrial alteration. Notexin‐induced cell death, mitochondrial depolarization, and ROS generation were suppressed by SB202190 (p38 MAPK inhibitor) and SP600125 (JNK inhibitor). Moreover, phospho‐p38 MAPK and phospho‐JNK were proved to be involved in Bcl‐xL degradation, and overexpression of Bcl‐xL attenuated the cytotoxic effect of notexin. Bak upregulation was elicited by p38 MAPK‐mediated ATF‐2 activation and JNK‐mediated c‐Jun activation. Suppression of Bak upregulation by ATF‐2 siRNA or c‐Jun siRNA attenuated notexin‐evoked mitochondrial depolarization and rescued viability of notexin‐treated cells. Taken together, our data indicate that notexin‐induced apoptotic death of SK‐N‐SH cells is mediated through mitochondrial alteration triggering by Ca2+‐evoked p38 MAPK/ATF‐2 and JNK/c‐Jun signaling pathways. J. Cell. Physiol. 222:177–186, 2010.

Upregulation of Fas and FasL in Taiwan cobra phospholipase A2‐treated human neuroblastoma SK‐N‐SH cells through ROS‐ and Ca2+‐mediated p38 MAPK activation

The aim of the present study is to elucidate the signaling pathway involved in death of human neuroblastoma SK‐N‐SH cells induced by Naja naja atra phospholipase A2 (PLA2). Upon exposure to PLA2, p38 MAPK activation, ERK inactivation, ROS generation, increase in intracellular Ca2+ concentration, and upregulation of Fas and FasL were found in SK‐N‐SH cells. SB202190 (p38MAPK inhibitor) suppressed upregulation of Fas and FasL. N‐Acetylcysteine (ROS scavenger) and BAPTA‐AM (Ca2+ chelator) abrogated p38 MAPK activation and upregulation of Fas and FasL expression, but restored phosphorylation of ERK. Activated ERK was found to attenuate p38 MAPK‐mediated upregulation of Fas and FasL. Deprivation of catalytic activity could not diminish PLA2‐induced cell death and Fas/FasL upregulation. Moreover, the cytotoxicity of arachidonic acid and lysophosphatidylcholine was not related to the expression of Fas and FasL. Taken together, our results indicate that PLA2‐induced cell death is, in part, elicited by upregulation of Fas and FasL, which is regulated by Ca2+‐ and ROS‐evoked p38 MAPK activation, and suggest that non‐catalytic PLA2 plays a role for the signaling pathway. J. Cell. Biochem. 106: 93–102, 2009.

Regulatory elements and functional implication for the formation of dimeric visinin-like protein-1

Size exclusion chromatographic analyses showed that Ca2+‐free VILIP‐1 contained both monomeric and dimeric forms, while no appreciable dimerization was noted with Ca2+‐free VILIP‐3. Swapping of EF‐hands 3 and 4 of VILIP‐1 with those of VILIP‐3 caused the inability of the resulting chimeric protein to form dimeric protein. Nonreducing SDS‐PAGE analyses revealed that most of the dimeric VILIP‐1 was noncovalently bound together. Reduced glutathione (GSH)/oxidized glutathione (GSSG) treatment notably enhanced the formation of disulfide‐linked VILIP‐1 dimer, while Ca2+ and Mg2+ enhanced disulfide dimerization of VILIP‐1 marginally in the presence of thiol compounds. Cys‐187 at the C‐terminus of VILIP‐1 contributed greatly to form S‐S‐crosslinked dimer as revealed by mutagenesis studies. The ability of GSH/GSSG‐treated VILIP‐1 to activate guanylyl cyclase B was reduced by substituting Cys‐187 with Ala. Together with disulfide dimer of VILIP‐1 detected in rat brain extracts, our data may imply the functional contribution of disulfide dimer to the interaction of VILIP‐1 with its physiological target(s). Copyright

Involvement of mitochondrial alteration and reactive oxygen species generation in Taiwan cobra cardiotoxin-induced apoptotic death of human neuroblastoma SK-N-SH cells

Naja naja atra cardiotoxin 3 (CTX3) induced apoptotic death on human neuroblastoma SK-N-SH cells. The apoptosis signals of CTX3 included reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, disruption of mitochondrial membrane potential (DeltaPsim), cytochrome c release to the cytosol and activation of caspase-9 and -3. However, CTX3-induced increase in mitochondrial permeability transition was not initiated by proteins of the Bcl-2 family. The collapse of DeltaPsim, release of cytosolic cytochrome c, production of ROS and subsequent apoptotic cell death in CTX-treated cells could not be completely abolished by either N-acetylcysteine (ROS scavenger) or cyclosporin A (an inhibitor of mitochondrial permeability transition). Co-incubation with rotenone, an inhibitor of mitochondrial electron transport chain complexes I, resulted in partial inhibition of CTX3-induced ROS generation but not the loss of DeltaPsim. Obviously, the dissipation of DeltaPsim was not an upstream event for ROS generation or vice versa. Given that CTX3 was able to induce the leakage of isolated mitochondria, our data indicate that CTX3-induced apoptotic death of SK-N-SH cells is mediated through mitochondrial alteration and ROS generation.

Structure-function studies on inhibitory activity of Bungarus multicinctus protease inhibitor-like protein on matrix metalloprotease-2, and invasion and migration of human neuroblastoma SK-N-SH cells.

In view of the findings that several Kunitz-type protein inhibitors suppress tumor invasion and metastasis, the aim of the present study is to explore whether Bungarus multicinctus protease inhibitor-like protein-2 (PILP-2) and PILP-3 exhibit anti-tumor activity. Although approximately 28% of amino acid substitutions occurred between PILP-2 and PILP-3, molecular modeling suggested that PILP-2 and PILP-3 shared similar folded structures. Unlike PILP-2, PILP-3 showed a notable activity in abolishing migration and invasion of human neuroblastoma SK-N-SH cells. The ability of PILP-3 to inhibit matrix metalloprotease-2 (MMP-2) activity was higher than that of PILP-2. Pull-down assay revealed protein-protein interaction between PILP-3 and MMP-2. In contrast to mutation on N-terminal region, replacement of amino acids at C-terminus attenuated notably the ability of PILP-3 to inhibit cell invasion, cell migration and MMP-2 activity as well as the binding capability of PILP-3 with MMP-2. Molecular docking showed that N-terminal region of PILP-2 and PILP-3 fitted into the cleft around the active site of MMP-2 catalytic domain. In contrast to that of PILP-2, C-terminal region of PILP-3 was suggested to be in close contact with catalytic domain of MMP-2. Collectively, our data indicate that PILP-3 is a MMP-2 inhibitor and shows an activity in inhibiting migration and invasion of neuroblastoma, and suggest that intact C-terminus is crucial to the activities of PILP-3.

Suppression of ERK signaling evokes autocrine fas-mediated death in arachidonic acid-treated human chronic myeloid leukemia K562 cells

Arachidonic acid (AA)‐induced apoptotic death of K562 cells (human chronic myeloid leukemic cells) was characteristic of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and mitochondrial depolarization. N‐Acetylcysteine pretreatment rescued viability of AA‐treated cells and abolished mitochondrial depolarization. In contrast to no significant changes in phospho‐JNK and phospho‐ERK levels, AA evoked notable activation of p38 MAPK. Unlike that of JNK and p38 MAPK, ERK suppression further reduced the viability of AA‐treated cells. Increases in Fas/FasL protein expression, caspase‐8 activation, the production of tBid and the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential were noted with K562 cells that were treated with a combination of U0126 and AA. Down‐regulation of FADD attenuated U0126‐evoked degradation of procaspase‐8 and Bid. Abolition of p38 MAPK activation abrogated U0126‐elicited Fas/FasL up‐regulation in AA‐treated cells. U0126 pretreatment suppressed c‐Fos phosphorylation but increased p38 MAPK‐mediated c‐Jun phosphorylation. Knock‐down of c‐Fos and c‐Jun protein expression by siRNA suggested that c‐Fos counteracted the effect of c‐Jun on Fas/FasL up‐regulation. Taken together, our data indicate that AA induces the ROS/mitochondria‐dependent death pathway and blocks the ERK pathway which enhances the cytotoxicity of AA through additionally evoking an autocrine Fas‐mediated apoptotic mechanism in K562 cells. J. Cell. Physiol. 222: 625–634, 2010.

Taiwan cobra phospholipase A2‐elicited JNK activation is responsible for autocrine fas‐mediated cell death and modulating Bcl‐2 and Bax protein expression in human leukemia K562 cells

Phospholipase A2 (PLA2) from Naja naja atra venom induced apoptotic death of human leukemia K562 cells. Degradation of procaspases, production of tBid, loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, Bcl‐2 degradation, mitochondrial translocation of Bax, and cytochrome c release were observed in PLA2‐treated cells. Moreover, PLA2 treatment increased Fas and FasL protein expression. Upon exposure to PLA2, activation of p38 MAPK (mitogen‐activated protein kinase) and JNK (c‐Jun NH2‐terminal kinase) was found in K562 cells. SB202190 (p38 MAPK inhibitor) pretreatment enhanced cytotoxic effect of PLA2 and led to prolonged JNK activation, but failed to affect PLA2‐induced upregulation of Fas and FasL protein expression. Sustained JNK activation aggravated caspase8/mitochondria‐dependent death pathway, downregulated Bcl‐2 expression and increased mitochondrial translocation of Bax. SP600125 (JNK inhibitor) abolished the cytotoxic effect of PLA2 and PLA2‐induced autocrine Fas death pathway. Transfection ASK1 siRNA and overexpression of dominant negative p38α MAPK proved that ASK1 pathway was responsible for PLA2‐induced p38 MAPK and JNK activation and p38α MAPK activation suppressed dynamically persistent JNK activation. Downregulation of FADD abolished PLA2‐induced procaspase‐8 degradation and rescued viability of PLA2‐treated cells. Taken together, our results indicate that JNK‐mediated autocrine Fas/FasL apoptotic mechanism and modulation of Bcl‐2 family proteins are involved in PLA2‐induced death of K562 cells. J. Cell. Biochem. 109: 245–254, 2010.

JNK1/c-Jun and p38α MAPK/ATF-2 pathways are responsible for upregulation of Fas/FasL in human chronic myeloid leukemia K562 cells upon exposure to Taiwan cobra phospholipase A2

Fas and FasL expression upregulation was found in human leukemia K562 cells upon exposure to Naja naja atra phospholipase A2 (PLA2). PLA2 treatment induced an increase in intracellular Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) and ROS generation levels, leading to activation of p38 MAPK and JNK. Suppression of both p38 MAPK and JNK abrogated Fas and FasL upregulation. Unlike PLA2, catalytically inactive PLA2 treatment did not markedly increase Fas and FasL protein expression, and p38 MAPK activation was exclusively responsible for catalytically inactive PLA2‐induced increase in Fas and FasL protein expression. Knockdown of p38α MAPK and JNK1 by siRNA proved that p38α MAPK and JNK1 were involved in ATF‐2 and c‐Jun phosphorylation, respectively. Compared with the p38α MAPK/ATF‐2 pathway, the JNK1/c‐Jun pathway played a crucial role in Fas/FasL upregulation. Unlike arachidonic acid, lysophosphatidylcholine mimicked the PLA2 action in inducing Fas/FasL upregulation. Together with the previous finding that c‐Jun and ATF‐2 are involved in transcriptional regulation of Fas and FasL, our data suggest that PLA2 induces Fas and FasL upregulation through p38α MAPK/ATF‐2 and JNK1/c‐Jun pathways in K562 cells, and PLA2 catalytic activity is involved in this action. J. Cell. Biochem. 108: 612–620, 2009.

p38 MAPK activation and mitochondrial depolarization mediate the cytotoxicity of Taiwan cobra phospholipase A2 on human neuroblastoma SK-N-SH cells.

Modification of catalytic residue His-47 with p-bromophenacyl bromide (BPB) abolished the enzymatic activity of Naja naja atra phospholipase A2 (PLA2). Additionally, alterations in the global structure and the spatial positions of Trp residues were noted in His-modified PLA2. The cell viability of human neuroblastoma SK-N-SH cells was decreased by approximately 40% and 20% after treatment with 10 microM PLA2 and BPB-PLA2, respectively. Native and His-modified PLA2 induced a necrotic cell death accompanied with an activation of p38 MAPK, the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (DeltaPsim) and cytochrome c release. Pretreatment with SB202190 (p38 MAPK inhibitor) and cyclosporine A (inhibitor of mitochondria permeability transition pore) rescued cell viability, DeltaPsim and cytochrome c release of PLA2-treated cells. Taken together, our data indicate that PLA2 activity does not play an indispensable role on the cytotoxicity of N. naja atra PLA2, and suggest a novel function of secretory PLA2 in inducing cell death of neuroblastoma. Moreover, the reduced cytotoxicity noted with BPB-PLA2 may be partly attributed to conformational distortion after modification of His-47.

Discovery of Specific Inhibitors for Intestinal E. coli β-Glucuronidase through In Silico Virtual Screening

Glucuronidation is a major metabolism process of detoxification for carcinogens, 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridy)-1-butanone (NNK) and 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH), of reactive oxygen species (ROS). However, intestinal E. coli u2009u2009 β-glucuronidase (eβG) has been considered pivotal to colorectal carcinogenesis. Specific inhibition of eβG may prevent reactivating the glucuronide-carcinogen and protect the intestine from ROS-mediated carcinogenesis. In order to develop specific eβG inhibitors, we found that 59 candidate compounds obtained from the initial virtual screening had high inhibition specificity against eβG but not human βG. In particular, we found that compounds 7145 and 4041 with naphthalenylidene-benzenesulfonamide (NYBS) are highly effective and selective to inhibit eβG activity. Compound 4041u2009u2009(IC50 = 2.8u2009μM) shows a higher inhibiting ability than compound 7145u2009u2009(IC50 = 31.6u2009μM) against eβG. Furthermore, the molecular docking analysis indicates that compound 4041 has two hydrophobic contacts to residues L361 and I363 in the bacterial loop, but 7145 has one contact to L361. Only compound 4041 can bind to key residue (E413) at active site of eβG via hydrogen-bonding interactions. These novel NYBS-based eβG specific inhibitors may provide as novel candidate compounds, which specifically inhibit eβG to reduce eβG-based carcinogenesis and intestinal injury.