Xin Cai

Identification and characterization of FHL3 as a novel angiogenin-binding partner

Angiogenin (Ang) is known to induce cell proliferation and inhibit apoptosis by cellular signaling pathways and by direct nuclear functions of Ang, but the mechanism of action for Ang is not yet clear. The aim of present study was to identify novel binding partner of Ang and to explore the underlying mechanism. With the use of yeast two-hybrid screening system, Ang was used as the bait to screen human fetal hepatic cDNA library for interacting proteins. Four and a half LIM domains 3 (FHL3) was identified as a novel Ang binding partner. The interaction between Ang and the full length FHL3 was further confirmed by yeast two-hybrid assay, co-immunoprecipitation and GST pull-down assays. Furthermore, FHL3 was required for Ang-mediated HeLa cell proliferation and nuclear translocation of Ang. These findings suggest that the interaction between Ang and FHL3 may provide some clues to the mechanisms of Ang-regulated cell growth and apoptosis.

Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid 2 (TRPV2), a Potential Novel Biomarker in Childhood Asthma

Background. The presence of transient receptor potential vanilloid 2 (TRPV2) in human peripheral blood cells may suggest a role under pathological conditions. The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between the expression profile of TRPV2 gene and childhood asthma in the north of China. The effects of allergens exposure on the expression of TRPV2 gene were also investigated. Methods. Sixty asthmatics children confirmed by physician diagnosis and 60 healthy children as a control group were recruited. Serum total IgE and specific IgE were measured. Using quantitative Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR), TRPV2 was detected in total RNA extracted from peripheral blood lymphocytes. Student’s t-test and chi-square test were used to analyze the relationship between TRPV2 transcript and different parameter variables on susceptibility of childhood asthma. Multiple logistic regression was used to analyze the associations between TRPV2 gene and allergens. Results. The expression level of TRPV2 gene was increased 2.6 times in asthmatic children compared with controls (p < .01). The up-regulation of TRPV2 gene and sensitization to one of three the allergens—spring pollen, dust mite, and dog and cat hair—were correlated with childhood asthma. In addition, the hypersensitivity to spring pollen, cockroach, and dust mite and up-regulation of TRPV2 gene expression may be the risk factors for the childhood asthma in Beijing. Conclusions. The increased expression of TRPV2 gene in peripheral lymphocytes is closely correlated with childhood asthma in the north of China. This study provides a potential new biomarker of childhood asthma and lays the basis for further clarification of the pathogenesis underlying asthma.

Expression, Purification and Characterization of Recombinant Human Angiogenin in Pichia pastoris

The potential of angiogenin (Ang) for clinical use has been highlighted in view of its important roles in inducing angiogenesis, facilitating cell proliferation, and inhibiting cell apoptosis. To produce soluble, correctly folded recombinant protein with a high yield, a DNA fragment encoding human Ang was inserted into eukaryotic expression vector pPIC9 and transformed into Pichia pastoris. The expression of recombinant human Ang (rhAng) accounted for about 70% of total secreted proteins. Purifying the Ang from the culture supernatant yielded 30 mg/L at 90% purity by chromatography with a SP Sepharose FF column. Biological assays indicated that rhAng can induce new blood-vessel formation, promote HeLa cell proliferation, increase Erk1/2 phosphorylation, and upregulate c-myc expression. Preparation of bioactive rhAng might lay the basis for further functional study, and might provide an effective strategy for large-scale production of soluble human Ang.

Identification and characterization of MT-1X as a novel FHL3-binding partner.

Four and a half LIM domain protein 3 (FHL3) is a member of the FHL protein family that plays roles in the regulation of cell survival, cell adhesion and signal transduction. However, the mechanism of action for FHL3 is not yet clear. The aim of present study was to identify novel binding partner of FHL3 and to explore the underlying mechanism. With the use of yeast two-hybrid screening system, FHL3 was used as the bait to screen human fetal hepatic cDNA library for interacting proteins. Methionine-1X was identified as a novel FHL3 binding partner. The interaction between FHL3 and the full length MT-1X was further confirmed by yeast two-hybrid assay, co-immunoprecipitation and GST pull-down assays. Furthermore,the result demonstrated that MT-1X knockdown promoted the FHL3-induced inhibitory effect on HepG2 cells by regulating FHL3-mediated Smad signaling and involving in the modulation the expression of G2/M phase-related proteins through interaction with FHL3. These findings suggest that functional interactions between FHL3 and MT-1X may provide some clues to the mechanisms of FHL3-regulated cell proliferation.

Prokaryotic expression, purification and functional characterization of human FHL3

Four and a half LIM domain protein 3 (FHL3) is a member of the family of LIM proteins and is involved in myogenesis, cytoskeleton reconstruction, cell growth and differentiation. The full-length FHL3 cDNA was cloned from human spleen cDNA library and inserted in a prokaryotic expression vector pBV220 and then the recombinant plasmid was transformed into E. coli JM109. The expression of the recombinant protein was induced at 42°C. SDS-PAGE analysis showed that recombinant human FHL3 (rhFHL3) was mainly expressed as an inclusion body. After purification by HisTrap FF crude, the rhFHL3 was renatured by dialysis against renaturing buffer and identified by Western blot analysis using human FHL3 polyclonal antibody. The MTT assay showed that the purified rhFHL3 could inhibit HepG2 cell growth but promote the proliferation of ECV304 cells. In addition, the expression of angiogenin (Ang) gene was increased when ECV304 cells were pretreated with rhFHL3.

High-level expression of human interleukin-17 in the yeast Pichia pastoris.

Human interleukin‐17 (hIL‐17) gene without the signal sequence was isolated from activated peripheral blood lymphocytes by RT‐PCR, then highly expressed in the yeast Pichia pastoris in the form of the glycosylated monomer. The monomer of rhIL‐17 stimulated mouse fibroblast 3T3 cells to secrete IL‐6 and was specifically bound to its receptors on 3T3 cells.

Identification and characterization of receptor-interacting protein 2 as a TNFR-associated factor 3 binding partner.

Tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 3 (TRAF3) is a highly versatile immune regulator that positively controls type I interferon production, but negatively regulates the activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase and alternative nuclear factor-κB signaling. The precise function of TRAF3 in different signaling pathways remains unclear. Thus, in a yeast two-hybrid assay, TRAF3 was used as the bait to screen a human spleen cDNA library for TRAF3 interactors that may potentially mediate TRAF3-regulated functions. Receptor-interacting protein 2 (RIP2) was identified as a TRAF3 binding partner. The interaction between TRAF3 and RIP2 was further confirmed by mammalian two-hybrid, co-immunoprecipitation and GST pull-down assays, and this interaction was also verified by immunoprecipitation of endogenous proteins in Ramos cells, a human B lymphoma cell line. RIP2 is an activator of NF-κB. We therefore examined the effect of TRAF3 in RIP2-induced NF-κB activation. The result showed that TRAF3 could inhibit RIP2-induced NF-κB activation. Given the high expression of RIP2 in the B lymphoma cell line and endogenous interaction between TRAF3 and RIP2 in Ramos cells, the role of RIP2 was further studied. The result demonstrated that RIP2 knockdown was capable of increasing the expression of TRAF3 and suppressing the activation of alternative NF-кB pathway in Ramos cells. These findings suggest that functional interactions between RIP2 and TRAF3 may provide some clues to the mechanisms of TRAF3-involvement in both positive and negative regulatory functions.

Construction and characterization of a novel staphylokinase variant with thrombin-inhibitory activity

Staphylokinase (SAK) is an effective thrombolysis agent for therapy of myocardial infarction. We have constructed a fusion SAK variant (SAK-HV) with a thrombin-binding domain composed of 12 amino acids from hirudin and expressed it in Escherichia coli and purified the resultant protein. SAK-HV maintained fibrinolytic activity similar to SAK and had anticoagulant activity attributable to its hirudin segment. Measurement of thrombin-binding activity in vitro demonstrated that SAK-HV possessed binding activity with thrombin while SAK did not. SAK-HV might thus be a more potent thrombolytic agent with anticoagulation property than SAK.

Inhibition of SUMO-specific protease 1 induces apoptosis of astroglioma cells by regulating NF-κB/Akt pathways.

SUMO-specific protease 1 (SENP1) is an important regulation protease in the protein desumoylation, which was shown to have a prooncogenicrole in many types of cancer. However, the mechanism of action for SENP1 in astrocytoma is not yet clear. Astrocytoma is the most frequent one among various neurogliomas, of which a subtype known as glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most malignant brain glioma and seriously influences the life quality of the patients. In this study, the expression of SENP1 was detected in 28 cases of various grades of astrocytoma and 6 cases of normal human tissues. The results showed that the expression of SENP1 was positively correlated with the malignant grades. Besides, the NF-κB and Akt signaling pathways in GBM tissues were activated. Cytological experiments indicated that knock-down of endogenous SENP1 promoted cell apoptosis. Further research confirmed that downexpression of SENP1 could inhibit the phosphorylation of IκBα and Akt, and also the expression of its downstream regulation factors Bcl-xL and cyclinD1. These results delineate a key role for SENP1 in astrocytoma development, suggesting it may be a potential new therapeutic target inastrocytoma.

Angiogenin Promotes U87MG Cell Proliferation by Activating NF-κB Signaling Pathway and Downregulating Its Binding Partner FHL3

Angiogenin (Ang) is known to induce cell proliferation and inhibit apoptosis by cellular signaling pathways and its direct nuclear functions, but the mechanism of action for Ang in astrocytoma is not yet clear. Astrocytoma is the most frequent one among various neurogliomas, of which a subtype known as glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most malignant brain glioma and seriously influences the life quality of the patients. The expression of Ang and Bcl-xL were detected in 28 cases of various grades of astrocytoma and 6 cases of normal human tissues by quantitative real-time PCR. The results showed that the expression of Ang and Bcl-xL positively correlated with the malignant grades. Cytological experiments indicated that Ang facilitated human glioblastoma U87MG cell proliferation and knock-down of endogenous Ang promoted cell apoptosis. Furthermore, Ang activated NF-κB pathway and entered the U87MG cell nuclei, and blocking NF-κB pathway or inhibiting Ang nuclear translocation partially suppressed Ang-induced cell proliferation. The results suggested that Ang participated in the regulation of evolution process of astrocytoma by interfering NF-κB pathway and its nucleus function. In addition, four and a half LIM domains 3 (FHL3), a novel Ang binding partner, was required for Ang-mediated HeLa cell proliferation in our previous study. We also found that knockdown of FHL3 enhanced IκBα phosphorylation and overexpression of Ang inhibited FHL3 expression in U87MG cells. Together our findings suggested that Ang could activate NF-κB pathway by regulating the expression of FHL3. In conclusion, the present study established a link between Ang and FHL3 proteins and identifies a new pathway for regulating astrocytoma progression.