scholarly journals RAF1 is increased in labouring myometrium and modulates inflammation-induced pro-labour mediators

Reproduction ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 151 (4) ◽  
pp. 411-420 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martha Lappas

Inflammation plays a central role in the terminal process of human labour and delivery, including myometrial contractions. RAF1 proto-oncogene serine/threonine-protein kinase (RAF1) can activate ERK (official gene symbolMAPK1) and/or nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) to regulate genes involved in inflammation. There are, however, no studies on the role of RAF1 in the processes of human labour and delivery. Thus, the aims of this study were to determine the effect of i) human labour and pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin 1 beta (IL1B) and tumour necrosis factor (TNF) alpha on RAF1 protein expression in myometrium and ii) siRNA knockdown ofRAF1on pro-inflammatory and pro-labour mediators in human myometrial primary cells. Term labour was associated with an increase in RAF1 protein expression. Furthermore, RAF1 protein expression was increased in myometrial cells treated with IL1B and TNF, two likely factors contributing to preterm birth. Knockdown ofRAF1by siRNA in primary myometrial cells significantly decreased IL1B- and TNF-inducedIL1A, IL1B, IL6,(C-X-C motif) ligand 8 (CXCL8)and chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 2 (CCL2) mRNA abundance and IL6, IL8 and CCL2; prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2 (PTGS2) mRNA levels and prostaglandin PGF2αrelease; and NF-κB activation. Furthermore,RAF1knockdown was associated with decreased activation of ERK in the presence of IL1B but not TNF. Concordantly, the ERK inhibitor U0126 significantly decreased IL1B-inducedIL6,CXCL8,CCL2andPTGS2mRNA abundance; IL6, CXCL8, CCL2 and PGF2αrelease; and NF-κB activation. In conclusion, IL1B induces the expression and secretion of pro-labour mediators through the RAF1–MAPK1–NF-κB signalling pathway. TNF, on the other hand, regulates pro-labour mediators through the RAF1–NF-κB signalling pathway via an MAPK1-independent mechanism.

Reproduction ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 153 (5) ◽  
pp. 545-553
Author(s):  
Martha Lappas

Nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB)-induced inflammation plays a central role in the terminal process of human labor and delivery. Our previous studies show that IL1B induces NF-κB signaling through extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK; official gene symbol MAPK1), whereas TNF induces NF-κB-driven transcription of pro-labor mediators via an MAPK1-independent mechanism. Raf kinase inhibitor protein (RKIP) negatively regulates inflammation by inhibiting NF-κB activation directly or indirectly by inhibiting MAPK1. The role of RKIP in the processes of human labor and delivery is not known. The present study was performed to investigate the expression of RKIP in laboring and non-laboring human myometrium and determine the effect of siRNA knockdown of RKIP (siRKIP) on pro-labor mediators in human myometrial primary cells. Term labor was associated with a decrease in RKIP expression. Furthermore, RKIP expression was decreased in myometrial cells treated with IL1B and TNF, two likely factors contributing to preterm birth. The effect of siRKIP in primary myometrial cells was a significant augmentation of IL1B- and TNF-induced CXCL1 and CXCL8 mRNA abundance and secretion; PTGS2 mRNA levels and prostaglandin PGF2α release and MMP9 mRNA abundance and pro-MMP9 secretion. There was no effect of siRKIP on MAPK1 activation. On the other hand, RKIP knockdown was associated with increased activation of NF-κB RELA in the presence of IL1B and TNF. In conclusion, in human primary myometrial cells, RKIP negatively regulates IL1B- and TNF-induced expression and or secretion of pro-inflammatory and pro-labor mediators by inhibiting NF-κB RELA activation.


Reproduction ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 149 (5) ◽  
pp. 413-424 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martha Lappas

The transcription factor Kruppel-like factor 5 (KLF5) has been shown to associate with nuclear factor kappa B (NFκB) to regulate genes involved in inflammation. However, there are no studies on the expression and regulation of KLF5 in the processes of human labour and delivery. Thus, the aims of this study were to determine the effect of i) human labour on KLF5 expression in both foetal membranes and myometrium; ii) the pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin 1 beta (IL1β), bacterial product flagellin and the viral dsRNA analogue poly(I:C) on KLF5 expression and iii) KLF5 knockdown by siRNA in human myometrial primary cells on pro-inflammatory and pro-labour mediators. In foetal membranes, there was no effect of term or preterm labour on KLF5 expression. In myometrium, the term labour was associated with an increase in nuclear KLF5 protein expression. Moreover, KLF5 expression was also increased in myometrial cells treated with IL1β, flagellin or poly(IC), likely factors contributing to preterm birth. KLF5 silencing in myometrial cells significantly decreased IL1β-induced cytokine expression (IL6 and IL8 mRNA expression and release), COX2 mRNA expression, and subsequent release of prostaglandins PGE2 and PGF2α. KLF5 silencing also significantly reduced flagellin- and poly(I:C)-induced IL6 and IL8 mRNA expression. Lastly, IL1β-, flagellin- and poly(I:C)-stimulated NFκB transcriptional activity was significantly suppressed in KLF5-knockout myometrial cells. In conclusion, this study describes novel data in which KLF5 is increased in labouring myometrium, and KLF5 silencing decreased inflammation- and infection-induced pro-labour mediators.


2013 ◽  
Vol 16 (5) ◽  
pp. 945-955 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xinguo Ren ◽  
Hooriyah S. Rizavi ◽  
Mansoor A. Khan ◽  
Yogesh Dwivedi ◽  
Ghanshyam N. Pandey

Abstract Glycogen synthase kinase (GSK)-3β and β-catenin are important components of the Wnt signalling pathway, which is involved in numerous physiological functions such as cognition, brain development and cell survival. Their abnormalities have been implicated in mood disorders and schizophrenia. Teenage suicide is a major public health concern; however, very little is known about its neurobiology. In order to examine if abnormalities of GSK-3β and β-catenin are associated with teenage suicide, we determined the gene and protein expression of GSK-3β and β-catenin in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and hippocampus obtained from 24 teenage suicide victims and 24 normal control subjects. Protein expression was determined using Western blot with specific antibodies and gene expression (mRNA levels) was determined using the real-time polymerase chain reaction method. No significant change was observed in the GSK-3β protein levels either in the PFC or hippocampus of suicide victims compared to controls. However, protein levels of pGSK-3β-ser9 were significantly decreased in the PFC and hippocampus of suicide victims compared to normal controls. We also found that GSK-3β mRNA levels were significantly decreased in the PFC but not in the hippocampus of teenage suicide victims compared to controls. Mean protein and mRNA levels of β-catenin were significantly decreased in both the PFC and hippocampus of teenage suicide group compared to controls. The observation that there is a decrease in β-catenin and pGSK-3β-ser9 in the PFC and hippocampus of teenage suicide victims does indicate a disturbance in the Wnt signalling pathway in teenage suicide.


2008 ◽  
Vol 20 (9) ◽  
pp. 113
Author(s):  
Y. J. Heng ◽  
M. K. W. Di Quinzio ◽  
M. Permezel ◽  
G. E. Rice ◽  
H. M. Georgiou

Human labour is characterised by structural remodelling of the cervix and overlying fetal membranes, myometrial activation and parturition. We hypothesise that temporal biochemical alterations of the cervix and supracervical fetal membranes associated with impending labour may be reflected in the cervico-vaginal fluid (CVF). 2D PAGE proteomic analysis performed on serial CVF samples collected from women (n = 9) during late pregnancy and in spontaneous labour demonstrated 9 significantly altered protein spots (P < 0.05) in association with term labour. Seven different proteins were identified using electrospray ion-trap mass spectrometry (interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra), cystatin-A, glutathione S-transferase P, peroxiredoxin-2, thioredoxin, Cu,Zn superoxide dismutase, and epidermal fatty-acid binding protein). These proteins are involved in anti-inflammatory activity, protease inhibition, and oxidative stress defence. Validation of these potential biomarkers using ELISA is currently underway. Findings for the anti-inflammatory cytokine, IL-1ra are discussed. CVF was collected weekly from 106 women at 36 weeks' gestation up to and including spontaneous labour. The concentration of IL-1ra was 4-fold lower during labour compared with 15–21 and 22–28 days from labour (P < 0.05) and was also significantly lower (P < 0.05) at 0–7 days compared with 15–21 days before labour. After subdividing the women, the concentration of IL-1ra at 8–14 and 15–21 days before labour was 6-fold lower in women who had prelabour rupture of membranes at term followed by regular contractions compared with women who had spontaneous labour with intact membranes. Receiver-operator characteristic curve analysis indicated that IL-1ra best predicted term labour within 3 days of sampling with a cut-off value of 0.4 m g/mL (sensitivity 50.7%, specificity 72.2%, positive predictive value 36.1%, negative predictive value 82.6%). This IL-1ra validation study suggests that the decrease in IL-1ra in CVF during spontaneous term labour may be associated with proinflammatory-mediated remodelling of the fetal membranes leading to their rupture. (1) Di Quinzio et al. 2008, J. Proteome Res, 7:1916–1921. (2) Heng YJ et al. 2008, Am J Obstet Gynecol, In Press.


Medicina ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 57 (6) ◽  
pp. 515
Author(s):  
Febilla Fernando ◽  
Geertruda J.M. Veenboer ◽  
Martijn A. Oudijk ◽  
Marlies A.M. Kampman ◽  
Karst Y. Heida ◽  
...  

Background and Objectives: Therapeutic interventions targeting molecular factors involved in the transition from uterine quiescence to overt labour are not substantially reducing the rate of spontaneous preterm labour. The identification of novel rational therapeutic targets are essential to prevent the most common cause of neonatal mortality. Based on our previous work showing that Tbx2 (T-Box transcription factor 2) is a putative upstream regulator preceding progesterone withdrawal in mouse myometrium, we now investigate the role of TBX2 in human myometrium. Materials and Methods: RNA microarray analysis of (A) preterm human myometrium samples and (B) myometrial cells overexpressing TBX2 in vitro, combined with subsequent analysis of the two publicly available datasets of (C) Chan et al. and (D) Sharp et al. The effect of TBX2 overexpression on cytokines/chemokines secreted to the myometrium cell culture medium were determined by Luminex assay. Results: Analysis shows that overexpression of TBX2 in myometrial cells results in downregulation of TNFα- and interferon signalling. This downregulation is consistent with the decreased expression of cytokines and chemokines of which a subset has been previously associated with the inflammatory pathways relevant for human labour. In contrast, CXCL5 (C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 5), CCL21 and IL-6 (Interleukin 6), previously reported in relation to parturition, do not seem to be under TBX2 control. The combined bioinformatical analysis of the four mRNA datasets identifies a subset of upstream regulators common to both preterm and term labour under control of TBX2. Surprisingly, TBX2 mRNA levels are increased in preterm contractile myometrium. Conclusions: We identified a subset of upstream regulators common to both preterm and term labour that are activated in labour and repressed by TBX2. The increased TBX2 mRNA expression in myometrium collected during a preterm caesarean section while in spontaneous preterm labour compared to tissue harvested during iatrogenic preterm delivery does not fit the bioinformatical model. We can only explain this by speculating that the in vivo activity of TBX2 in human myometrium depends not only on the TBX2 expression levels but also on levels of the accessory proteins necessary for TBX2 activity.


2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Meenakshisundaram Balasubramaniam ◽  
Paul A. Parcon ◽  
Chhanda Bose ◽  
Ling Liu ◽  
Richard A. Jones ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Neuroinflammation, typified by elevated levels of interleukin-1 (IL-1) α and β, and deficits in proteostasis, characterized by accumulation of polyubiquitinated proteins and other aggregates, are associated with neurodegenerative disease independently and through interactions of the two phenomena. We investigated the influence of IL-1β on ubiquitination via its impact on activation of the E3 ligase parkin by either phosphorylated ubiquitin (P-Ub) or NEDD8. Methods Immunohistochemistry and Proximity Ligation Assay were used to assess colocalization of parkin with P-tau or NEDD8 in hippocampus from Alzheimer patients (AD) and controls. IL-1β effects on PINK1, P-Ub, parkin, P-parkin, and GSK3β—as well as phosphorylation of parkin by GSK3β—were assessed in cell cultures by western immunoblot, using two inhibitors and siRNA knockdown to suppress GSK3β. Computer modeling characterized the binding and the effects of P-Ub and NEDD8 on parkin. IL-1α, IL-1β, and parkin gene expression was assessed by RT-PCR in brains of 2- and 17-month-old PD-APP mice and wild-type littermates. Results IL-1α, IL-1β, and parkin mRNA levels were higher in PD-APP mice compared with wild-type littermates, and IL-1α-laden glia surrounded parkin- and P-tau-laden neurons in human AD. Such neurons showed a nuclear-to-cytoplasmic translocation of NEDD8 that was mimicked in IL-1β-treated primary neuronal cultures. These cultures also showed higher parkin levels and GSK3β-induced parkin phosphorylation; PINK1 levels were suppressed. In silico simulation predicted that binding of either P-Ub or NEDD8 at a singular position on parkin opens the UBL domain, exposing Ser65 for parkin activation. Conclusions The promotion of parkin- and NEDD8-mediated ubiquitination by IL-1β is consistent with an acute neuroprotective role. However, accumulations of P-tau and P-Ub and other elements of proteostasis, such as translocated NEDD8, in AD and in response to IL-1β suggest either over-stimulation or a proteostatic failure that may result from chronic IL-1β elevation, easily envisioned considering its early induction in Down’s syndrome and mild cognitive impairment. The findings further link autophagy and neuroinflammation, two important aspects of AD pathogenesis, which have previously been only loosely related.


2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (14) ◽  
pp. 1451-1456 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jun Deng ◽  
Ming Ma ◽  
Wei Jiang ◽  
Liangliang Zheng ◽  
Suping Cui

Background: MiR-493 promotes the proliferation of prostate cancer (PC) cells by targeting PHLPP2. We aimed to explore the relationship between miR-493 and autophagy in PC. Methods: qRT-PCR and western blotting were used to determine the mRNA levels and protein expression of miR-493, PHLPP2, autophagy gene BECN1 and ATG7 in PC cells. The autophagy gene expression was determined after PC cells transfected with miR-493 precursor or PHLPP2 precursor. Corresponding changes of autophagy phenotype and PC cell function were also studied. Results: The mRNA levels and protein expression of miR-493, PHLPP2, BECN1 and ATG7 in PC cells were significantly decreased in PC cells. Overexpression of miR-493 or PHLPP2 markedly upregulated the expression levels of BECN1 and ATG7 in PC cells. Overexpression of miR-493 and PHLPP2 markedly promoted autophagy, and inhibited the invasion and cloning formation of PC cells. Conclusion: MiR-493 is a potent inducer of cytotoxic autophagy that leads to prostate cancer inhibition by regulating on PHLPP2.


2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 267
Author(s):  
Geng-Ruei Chang ◽  
Po-Hsun Hou ◽  
Wei-Cheng Yang ◽  
Chao-Min Wang ◽  
Pei-Shan Fan ◽  
...  

Doxepin is commonly prescribed for depression and anxiety treatment. Doxepin-related disruptions to metabolism and renal/hepatic adverse effects remain unclear; thus, the underlying mechanism of action warrants further research. Here, we investigated how doxepin affects lipid change, glucose homeostasis, chromium (Cr) distribution, renal impairment, liver damage, and fatty liver scores in C57BL6/J mice subjected to a high-fat diet and 5 mg/kg/day doxepin treatment for eight weeks. We noted that the treated mice had higher body, kidney, liver, retroperitoneal, and epididymal white adipose tissue weights; serum and liver triglyceride, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, blood urea nitrogen, and creatinine levels; daily food efficiency; and liver lipid regulation marker expression. They also demonstrated exacerbated insulin resistance and glucose intolerance with lower Akt phosphorylation, GLUT4 expression, and renal damage as well as higher reactive oxygen species and interleukin 1 and lower catalase, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase levels. The treated mice had a net-negative Cr balance due to increased urinary excretion, leading to Cr mobilization, delaying hyperglycemia recovery. Furthermore, they had considerably increased fatty liver scores, paralleling increases in adiponectin, FASN, PNPLA3, FABP4 mRNA, and SREBP1 mRNA levels. In conclusion, doxepin administration potentially worsens renal injury, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and diabetes.


2021 ◽  
pp. 154596832110063
Author(s):  
Keigo Tamakoshi ◽  
Madoka Maeda ◽  
Shinnosuke Nakamura ◽  
Nae Murohashi

Background Very early exercise has been reported to exacerbate motor dysfunction; however, its mechanism is largely unknown. Objective This study examined the effect of very early exercise on motor recovery and associated brain damage following intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) in rats. Methods Collagenase solution was injected into the left striatum to induce ICH. Rats were randomly assigned to receive placebo surgery without exercise (SHAM) or ICH without (ICH) or with very early exercise within 24 hours of surgery (ICH+VET). We observed sensorimotor behaviors before surgery, and after surgery preexercise and postexercise. Postexercise brain tissue was collected 27 hours after surgery to investigate the hematoma area, brain edema, and Il1b, Tgfb1, and Igf1 mRNA levels in the striatum and sensorimotor cortex using real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. NeuN, PSD95, and GFAP protein expression was analyzed by Western blotting. Results We observed significantly increased skillful sensorimotor impairment in the horizontal ladder test and significantly higher Il1b mRNA levels in the striatum of the ICH+VET group compared with the ICH group. NeuN protein expression was significantly reduced in both brain regions of the ICH+VET group compared with the SHAM group. Conclusion Our results suggest that very early exercise may be associated with an exacerbation of motor dysfunction because of increased neuronal death and region-specific changes in inflammatory factors. These results indicate that implementing exercise within 24 hours after ICH should be performed with caution.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document