Biomedical subjects

Baochun Zhang

Publications and source records attributed to Baochun Zhang.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2005

Cdc25A and ERK interaction: EGFR-independent ERK activation by a protein phosphatase Cdc25A inhibitor, compound 5.

Extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) plays a central role in regulating cell growth, differentiation, and apoptosis. We previously found that 2-(2-mercaptoethanol)-3-methyl-1,4-napthoquinone or Compound 5 (Cpd 5), is a Cdc25A protein phosphatase inhibitor and causes prolonged, strong ERK phosphorylation which is triggered by epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) activation. We now report that Cpd 5 can directly cause ERK phosphorylation by inhibiting Cdc25A activity independently of the EGFR pathway. We found that Cdc25A physically interacted with and de-phosphorylated phospho-ERK both in vitro and in cell culture. Inhibition of Cdc25A activity by Cpd 5 resulted in ERK hyper-phosphorylation. Transfection of Hep3B human hepatoma cells with inactive Cdc25A mutant enhanced Cpd 5 action on ERK phosphorylation, whereas over-expression of Cdc25A attenuated this Cpd 5 action. Furthermore, endogenous Cdc25A knock-down by Cdc25A siRNA resulted in a constitutive-like ERK phosphorylation and Cpd 5 treatment further enhanced it. In EGFR-devoid NR6 fibroblasts and MEK (ERK kinase) mutated MCF7 cells, Cpd 5 treatment also resulted in ERK phosphorylation, providing support for the idea that Cpd 5 can directly act on ERK phosphorylation by inhibiting Cdc25A activity. These data suggest that phospho-ERK is likely another Cdc25A substrate, and Cpd 5-caused ERK phosphorylation is probably regulated by both EGFR-dependent and EGFR-independent pathways.

Cell Line, Tumor↗

PubMed2004

Cytokines increase CRE binding but decrease CRE-mediated reporter activity in rat hepatocytes by increasing c-Jun.

The cyclic AMP response element (CRE) has been implicated in the regulation of the expression of many genes and cellular processes important in hepatocyte function. CRE sites exist in the promoter regions of several genes expressed during inflammation. Numerous studies on the role of CRE in hepatocyte gene expression have been performed in resting hepatocytes, but the role of CRE during inflammation is unknown. To evaluate the regulation of CRE-mediated transcription during sepsis, cultured hepatocytes were exposed to proinflammatory cytokines and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was injected into rats. Nuclear proteins were collected and CRE binding activity measured by electromobility shift assay (EMSA) using a consensus CRE oligonucleotide. CRE binding activity was increased in vitro by cytokines and in vivo by LPS administration but CRE-dependent reporter activity was decreased by cytokine stimulation. A c-jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) inhibitor reversed the cytokine-induced increase in CRE binding and increased CRE-dependent reporter activity. Supershift assays indicated that cyclic AMP response element binding protein (CREB) and c-Jun proteins were included in the CRE binding complex. CREB induced and c-Jun suppressed reporter activity using a CRE-dependent construct transfected into cultured primary hepatocytes. In conclusion, these data demonstrate that proinflammatory cytokines regulate CRE binding and activity in cultured hepatocytes and suggest that sepsis-induced changes in CRE binding may participate in the cellular response to inflammation.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

JNK signaling involved in the effects of cyclic AMP on IL-1beta plus IFNgamma-induced inducible nitric oxide synthase expression in hepatocytes.

cAMP significantly inhibits IL-1beta+IFNgamma-induced iNOS gene expression in hepatocytes, but the signaling pathways responsible for the effect are not known. PKA inhibitors, H89, PKI, and KT5720, had no effect on the recovery of the inhibitory effects of cAMP on cytokine-induced hepatocyte iNOS expression and activity. The JNK inhibitor, SP 600125, effectively reversed the inhibitory effects of cAMP on iNOS expression and significantly increased iNOS promoter activity. A cAMP analogue, dbcAMP, significantly induced JNK signaling and increased AP-1 binding activity in hepatocytes. The JNK activator, anisomycin, inhibited iNOS expression and transcription in hepatocytes as well as AP-1 binding activity; and SP600125 reversed this effect of anisomycin. Overexpression of c-Jun in hepatocytes inhibited IL-1beta+IFNgamma-induced nitrite accumulation and iNOS promoter activity while dominant negative c-Jun partially reversed the inhibitory effects of cAMP on nitrite accumulation. We conclude that JNK signaling plays an important role in the inhibitory effects of cAMP on IL-1beta+IFNgamma-induced iNOS gene expression in cultured hepatocytes.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

Glucagon regulates hepatic inducible nitric oxide synthesis in vivo.

The inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) is stimulated to produce large quantities of nitric oxide (NO) by proinflammatory stimuli, hemorrhagic shock, and a variety of cytokines. We have previously shown that cAMP profoundly inhibits hepatocyte iNOS expression in vitro. In this study, we tested whether glucagon, a hormone that increases cAMP in hepatocytes, could regulate hepatic iNOS expression and activity in vivo. Rats were injected intraperitoneally with lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 10 mg/kg) and treated with either saline or glucagon (500 microg/kg i.p.). Plasma and liver tissue were obtained 6 and 24 h after LPS. LPS induced increased iNOS mRNA, iNOS protein, and plasma levels of nitrite/nitrate that were all significantly decreased by glucagon treatment. The reduction in iNOS expression produced by glucagon was associated with a reduction in plasma AST and LDH levels, suggesting decreased LPS-induced hepatic injury. These data suggest that glucagon may participate in the in vivo regulation of hepatic iNOS expression after proinflammatory stimuli.

Animals↗

PubMed2003

Persistent ERK phosphorylation negatively regulates cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) activity via recruitment of CREB-binding protein to pp90RSK.

Compound 5 (Cpd 5) or 2-(2-mercaptoethanol)-3-methyl-1,4-naphthoquinone, is an inhibitor of protein phosphatase Cdc25A and causes persistent activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and cell growth inhibition. To study the mechanism(s) by which persistent ERK phosphorylation might induce cell growth inhibition, we used Cpd 5 as a tool to examine its effects on the activity of CREB (cAMP response element-binding protein) transcription factor in Hep3B human hepatoma cells. We found that CREB activity, including its DNA binding ability and phosphorylation on residue Ser-133, was strongly inhibited by Cpd 5, followed by suppression of CRE-mediated transcription of cyclin D1 and Bcl-2 genes. Cpd 5-mediated suppression of CREB phosphorylation and transcriptional activity was antagonized by mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase inhibitors PD 98059 and U-0126, implying that this inhibition of CREB activity was regulated at least in part by the ERK pathway. The phosphorylation of ribosomal S6 kinase (pp90(RSK)), a CREB kinase in response to mitogen stimulation, was also found to be inhibited by Cpd 5 action. This inhibition of pp90(RSK) phosphorylation is likely the result of its increased association with CREB-binding protein (CBP), which subsequently caused inhibition of CREB phosphorylation and activity. To support the hypothesis that Cpd 5 effects on Cdc25A inhibition with subsequent ERK activation could cause CREB inhibition, we examined the effects of Cdc25A inhibition without the use of Cpd 5. Hep3B cells were transfected with C430S Cdc25A mutant, and ERK was found to be phosphorylated in a constitutively activated manner, which was accompanied by decreased CREB phosphorylation and increased recruitment of CBP to pp90(RSK). These data provide evidence that CBP.RSK complex formation in response to persistent ERK phosphorylation by Cpd 5 down-regulates CREB activity, leading to inhibition of both cAMP response element-mediated gene expression and cell growth.

CREB-Binding Protein↗

PubMed2003

Cyclic AMP regulate adenovirus mediated inducible nitric oxide synthase expression and CMV promoter activity in cultured hepatocytes.

We examined effects of cyclic AMP on adenovirus mediated inducible nitric oxide synthase expression in primary rat hepatocytes. In AdCMV-hiNOS infected hepatocytes, dbcAMP at a concentration of 1-100 microM inhibited nitrite and nitrate accumulation, iNOS protein and iNOS mRNA expression. At a concentration of 1-5mM, dbcAMP increased iNOS activity and expression. Both the inhibitory and stimulatory effects of cAMP on adenovirus mediated iNOS expression were dose dependent. This dual effect of cAMP on iNOS activity and expression can be accounted by its effect on CMV promoter activity since dbcAMP significantly inhibited CMV promoter activity in hepatocytes at low concentration and induced it at high concentration. We concluded that dbcAMP can regulate adenovirus-mediated human iNOS expression in primary hepatocytes by the mechanisms regulating the CMV promoter used in the adenovirus vector.

Adenoviridae↗