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Noradrenergic dysfunction in Alzheimer's disease.

The brain noradrenergic system supplies the neurotransmitter norepinephrine throughout the brain via widespread efferent projections, and plays a pivotal role in modulating cognitive activities in the cortex. Profound noradrenergic degeneration in Alzheimers disease (AD) patients has been observed for decades, with recent research suggesting that the locus coeruleus (where noradrenergic neurons are mainly located) is a predominant site where AD-related pathology begins. Mounting evidence indicates that the loss of noradrenergic innervation greatly exacerbates AD pathogenesis and progression, although the precise roles of noradrenergic components in AD pathogenesis remain unclear. The aim of this review is to summarize current findings on noradrenergic dysfunction in AD, as well as to point out deficiencies in our knowledge where more research is needed.

Therapeutic Targeting of Src Kinase in Myofibroblast Differentiation and Pulmonary Fibrosis

Myofibroblasts are effector cells in fibrotic disorders that synthesize and remodel the extracellular matrix (ECM). This study investigated the role of the Src kinase pathway in myofibroblast activation in vitro and fibrogenesis in vivo. The profibrotic cytokine, transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1), induced rapid activation of Src kinase, which led to myofibroblast differentiation of human lung fibroblasts. The Src kinase inhibitor AZD0530 (saracatinib) blocked TGF-β1–induced Src kinase activation in a dose-dependent manner. Inhibition of Src kinase significantly reduced α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) expression, a marker of myofibroblast differentiation, in TGF-β1–treated lung fibroblasts. In addition, the induced expression of collagen and fibronectin and three-dimensional collagen gel contraction were also significantly inhibited in AZD0530-treated fibroblasts. The therapeutic efficiency of Src kinase inhibition in vivo was tested in the bleomycin murine lung fibrosis model. Src kinase activation and collagen accumulation were significantly reduced in the lungs of AZD0530-treated mice when compared with controls. Furthermore, the total fibrotic area and expression of α-SMA and ECM proteins were significantly decreased in lungs of AZD0530-treated mice. These results indicate that Src kinase promotes myofibroblast differentiation and activation of lung fibroblasts. Additionally, these studies provide proof-of-concept for targeting the noncanonical TGF-β signaling pathway involving Src kinase as an effective therapeutic strategy for lung fibrosis.

S100A4 promotes pancreatic cancer progression through a dual signaling pathway mediated by Src and focal adhesion kinase.

S100A4 expression is associated with poor clinical outcomes of patients with pancreatic cancer. The effects of loss or gain of S100A4 were examined in pancreatic cancer cell lines. S100A4 downregulation remarkably reduces cell migration and invasion, inhibits proliferation, and induces apoptosis in pancreatic tumor cells. S100A4 downregulation results in significant cell growth inhibition and apoptosis in response to TGF-β1, supporting a non-canonical role of S100A4 in pancreatic cancer. The role of S100A4 in tumor progression was studied by using an orthotopic human pancreatic cancer xenograft mouse model. Tumor mass is remarkably decreased in animals injected with S100A4-deficient pancreatic tumor cells. P27Kip1 expression and cleaved caspase-3 are increased, while cyclin E expression is decreased, in S100A4-deficient pancreatic tumors in vivo. S100A4-deficient tumors have lower expression of vascular endothelial growth factor, suggesting reduced angiogenesis. Biochemical assays revealed that S100A4 activates Src and focal adhesion kinase (FAK) signaling events, and inhibition of both kinases is required to maximally block the tumorigenic potential of pancreatic cancer cells. These findings support that S100A4 plays an important role in pancreatic cancer progression in vivo and S100A4 promotes tumorigenic phenotypes of pancreatic cancer cells through the Src-FAK mediated dual signaling pathway.

α2A adrenergic receptor promotes amyloidogenesis through disrupting APP-SorLA interaction

Significance Endocytic sorting of amyloid precursor protein (APP) governed by the vacuolar protein sorting (Vps10) family of receptors plays a decisive role in controlling the outcome of APP proteolytic processing and the generation of amyloid β (Aβ) peptides, the key pathogenic factor of Alzheimers disease (AD). This study provides the first evidence to our knowledge that a G protein-coupled receptor, namely, the α2A adrenergic receptor, modulates APP endocytic sorting and promotes Aβ generation through disrupting APP interaction with a Vps10 family protein, sorting-related receptor with A repeat. Significantly, blockade of α2AAR by a clinical antagonist reduces AD-related pathology and ameliorates cognitive deficits in an AD transgenic model, suggesting repurposing clinical α2AR antagonists as a new direction for AD treatment. Accumulation of amyloid β (Aβ) peptides in the brain is the key pathogenic factor driving Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Endocytic sorting of amyloid precursor protein (APP) mediated by the vacuolar protein sorting (Vps10) family of receptors plays a decisive role in controlling the outcome of APP proteolytic processing and Aβ generation. Here we report for the first time to our knowledge that this process is regulated by a G protein-coupled receptor, the α2A adrenergic receptor (α2AAR). Genetic deficiency of the α2AAR significantly reduces, whereas stimulation of this receptor enhances, Aβ generation and AD-related pathology. Activation of α2AAR signaling disrupts APP interaction with a Vps10 family receptor, sorting-related receptor with A repeat (SorLA), in cells and in the mouse brain. As a consequence, activation of α2AAR reduces Golgi localization of APP and concurrently promotes APP distribution in endosomes and cleavage by β secretase. The α2AAR is a key component of the brain noradrenergic system. Profound noradrenergic dysfunction occurs consistently in patients at the early stages of AD. α2AAR-promoted Aβ generation provides a novel mechanism underlying the connection between noradrenergic dysfunction and AD. Our study also suggests α2AAR as a previously unappreciated therapeutic target for AD. Significantly, pharmacological blockade of the α2AAR by a clinically used antagonist reduces AD-related pathology and ameliorates cognitive deficits in an AD transgenic model, suggesting that repurposing clinical α2AR antagonists would be an effective therapeutic strategy for AD.

Focal Adhesion Kinase Regulates Hepatic Stellate Cell Activation and Liver Fibrosis

Understanding the underlying molecular mechanisms of liver fibrosis is important to develop effective therapy. Herein, we show that focal-adhesion-kinse (FAK) plays a key role in promoting hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) activation in vitro and liver fibrosis progression in vivo. FAK activation is associated with increased expression of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and collagen in fibrotic live tissues. Transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGF-β1) induces FAK activation in a time and dose dependent manner. FAK activation precedes the α-SMA expression in HSCs. Inhibition of FAK activation blocks the α-SMA and collagen expression, and inhibits the formation of stress fibers in TGF-β1 treated HSCs. Furthermore, inhibition of FAK activation significantly reduces HSC migration and small GTPase activation, and induces apoptotic signaling in TGF-β1 treated HSCs. Importantly, FAK inhibitor attenuates liver fibrosis in vivo and significantly reduces collagen and α-SMA expression in an animal model of liver fibrosis. These data demonstrate that FAK plays an essential role in HSC activation and liver fibrosis progression, and FAK signaling pathway could be a potential target for liver fibrosis.

Age-dependent differential regulation of anxiety- and depression-related behaviors by neurabin and spinophilin.

Affective disorders impact nearly 10% of the adult population in the United States in a given year. Synaptic dysfunction has recently emerged as a key neurobiological mechanism underlying affective disorders such as anxiety and depression. In this study, we investigate the potential role of two synaptic scaffolding proteins, neurabin and spinophilin, in regulating anxiety- and depression-related behaviors at different ages using genetically deficient mice. Loss of the neurabin gene reduces anxiety-like behavior in the elevated zero maze in young adult mice (3–5 months old), but not in middle aged mice (11–13 months old), whereas loss of spinophilin decreases anxiety in middle-aged mice, but not in young adult mice. Neurabin knockout (KO) mice also show reduced immobility in the repeated force swim test (FST) at 3–5 months, but not 11–3 months, of age, compared to age- and strain-matched wild type (WT) controls. Conversely, spinophilin KO mice display a lower level of this behavioral despair than matched WT controls after repeated FST trials at the middle age (11–13 months) but not the young age (3–5 months). Together, these data indicate that, despite their structural similarities and overlapping function in regulating synaptic cytoskeleton, the two homologs neurabin and spinophilin play important yet distinct roles in the regulation of anxiety- and depression-like behaviors in an age-dependent manner. Our studies provide new insights into the complex neurobiology of affective disorders.

Focal adhesion kinase signaling determines the fate of lung epithelial cells in response to TGF-β

Alveolar epithelial cell (AEC) injury and apoptosis are prominent pathological features of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). There is evidence of AEC plasticity in lung injury repair response and in IPF. In this report, we explore the role of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) signaling in determining the fate of lung epithelial cells in response to transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1). Rat type II alveolar epithelial cells (RLE-6TN) were treated with or without TGF-β1, and the expressions of mesenchymal markers, phenotype, and function were analyzed. Pharmacological protein kinase inhibitors were utilized to screen for SMAD-dependent and -independent pathways. SMAD and FAK signaling was analyzed using siRNA knockdown, inhibitors, and expression of a mutant construct of FAK. Apoptosis was measured using cleaved caspase-3 and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) staining. TGF-β1 induced the acquisition of mesenchymal markers, including α-smooth muscle actin, in RLE-6TN cells and enhanced the contraction of three-dimensional collagen gels. This phenotypical transition or plasticity, epithelial-myofibroblast plasticity (EMP), is dependent on SMAD3 and FAK signaling. FAK activation was found to be dependent on ALK5/SMAD3 signaling. We observed that TGF-β1 induces both EMP and apoptosis in the same cell culture system but not in the same cell. While blockade of SMAD signaling inhibited EMP, it had a minimal effect on apoptosis; in contrast, inhibition of FAK signaling markedly shifted to an apoptotic fate. The data support that FAK activation determines whether AECs undergo EMP vs. apoptosis in response to TGF-β1 stimulation. TGF-β1-induced EMP is FAK- dependent, whereas TGF-β1-induced apoptosis is favored when FAK signaling is inhibited.

Neuronal Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein regulates TGF-β1-mediated lung vascular permeability.

TGF‐β1 induces an increase in paracellular permeability and actin stress fiber formation in lung microvascular endothelial and alveolar epithelial cells via small Rho GTPase. The molecular mechanism involved is not fully understood. Neuronal Wiskott‐Aldrich syndrome protein (N‐WASP) has an essential role in actin structure dynamics. We hypothesized that N‐WASP plays a critical role in these TGF‐β1‐induced responses. In these cell monolayers, we demonstrated that N‐WASP down‐regulation by short hairpin RNA prevented TGF‐β1‐mediated disruption of the cortical actin structure, actin stress filament formation, and increased permeability. Furthermore, N‐WASP down‐regulation blocked TGF‐β1 activation mediated by IL‐1β in alveolar epithelial cells, which requires actin stress fiber formation. Control short hairpin RNA had no effect on these TGF‐β1‐induced responses. TGF‐β1‐induced phosphorylation of Y256 of N‐WASP via activation of small Rho GTPase and focal adhesion kinase mediates TGF‐β1‐induced paracellular permeability and actin cytoskeleton dynamics. In vivo, compared with controls, N‐WASP down‐regulation increases survival and prevents lung edema in mice induced by bleomycin exposure—a lung injury model in which TGF‐β1 plays a critical role. Our data indicate that N‐WASP plays a crucial role in the development of TGF‐β1‐mediated acute lung injury by promoting pulmonary edema via regulation of actin cytoskeleton dynamics.—Wagener, B. M., Hu, M., Zheng, A., Zhao, X., Che, P., Brandon, A., Anjum, N., Snapper, S., Creighton, J., Guan, J.‐L., Han, Q., Cai, G.‐Q., Han, X., Pittet, J.‐F., Ding, Q. Neuronal Wiskott‐Aldrich syndrome protein regulates TGF‐β1‐mediated lung vascular permeability. FASEB J. 30, 2557‐2569 (2016). www.fasebj.org

Diverse arrestin-recruiting and endocytic profiles of tricyclic antipsychotics acting as direct α2A adrenergic receptor ligands

&NA; The therapeutic mechanism of action underlying many psychopharmacological agents remains poorly understood, due largely to the extreme molecular promiscuity exhibited by these agents with respect to potential central nervous system targets. Agents of the tricyclic chemical class, including both antidepressants and antipsychotics, exhibit a particularly high degree of molecular promiscuity; therefore, any clarification of how these agents interact with specific central nervous system targets is of great potential significance to the field. Here, we present evidence demonstrating that tricyclic antipsychotics appear to segregate into three distinct groups based upon their molecular interactions with the centrally‐important &agr;2A adrenergic receptor (AR). Specifically, while the &agr;2AAR binds all antipsychotics tested with similar affinities, and none of the agents are able to induce classical heterotrimeric G protein‐mediated &agr;2AAR signaling, significant differences are observed with respect to arrestin3 recruitment and receptor endocytosis. All antipsychotics tested induce arrestin3 recruitment to the &agr;2AAR, but with differing strengths. Both chlorpromazine and clozapine drive significant &agr;2AAR endocytosis, but via differing clathrin‐dependent and lipid raft‐dependent pathways, while fluphenazine does not drive a robust response. Intriguingly, in silico molecular modeling suggests that each of the three exhibits unique characteristics in interacting with the &agr;2AAR ligand‐binding pocket. In addition to establishing these three antipsychotics as novel arrestin‐biased ligands at the &agr;2AAR, our findings provide key insights into the molecular actions of these clinically‐important agents. HighlightsA conformational two‐state mechanism for proton pumping complex I is proposed.The mechanism relies on stabilization changes of anionic ubiquinone intermediates.Electron‐transfer and protonation should be strictly controlled during turnover.

Tristetraprolin Down-Regulation Contributes to Persistent TNF-Alpha Expression Induced by Cigarette Smoke Extract through a Post-Transcriptional Mechanism

Rationale Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) is a potent pro-inflammatory mediator and its expression is up-regulated in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Tristetraprolin (TTP) is implicated in regulation of TNF-α expression; however, whether TTP is involved in cigarette smoke-induced TNF-α expression has not been determined. Methods TTP expression was examined by western blot analysis in murine alveolar macrophages and alveolar epithelial cells challenged without or with cigarette smoke extract (CSE). TNF-α mRNA stability, and the decay of TNF-α mRNA, were determined by real-time quantitative RT-PCR. TNF-α protein levels were examined at the same time in these cells. To identify the molecular mechanism involved, a construct expressing the human beta-globin reporter mRNA containing the TNF-α 3’-untranslated region was generated to characterize the TTP targeted site within TNF-α mRNA. Results CSE induced TTP down-regulation in alveolar macrophages and alveolar epithelial cells. Reduced TTP expression resulted in significantly increased TNF-α mRNA stability. Importantly, increased TNF-α mRNA stability due to impaired TTP function resulted in significantly increased TNF-α levels in these cells. Forced TTP expression abrogated the increased TNF-α mRNA stability and expression induced by CSE. By using the globin reporter construct containing TNF-α mRNA 3’-untranslated region, the data indicate that TTP directly targets the adenine- and uridine-rich region (ARE) of TNF-α mRNA and negatively regulates TNF-α expression at the post-transcriptional level. Conclusion The data demonstrate that cigarette smoke exposure reduces TTP expression and impairs TTP function, resulting in significantly increased TNF-α mRNA stability and excessive TNF-α expression in alveolar macrophages and epithelial cells. The data suggest that TTP is a novel post-transcriptional regulator and limits excessive TNF-α expression and inflammatory response induced by cigarette smoke.