bone-marrow-transplantation-platform-to-investigate-role-dendritic

Bone Marrow Transplantation Platform to Investigate the Role of Dendritic Cells in Graft-versus-Host Disease

Allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) is an effective therapy for hematological malignancies due to the graft-versus-leukemia (GVL) effect to ...

Houston Methodist Research Institute

Regulation of Kir2.1 Function Under Shear Stress and Cholesterol Loading.

Adverse cardiovascular events are a leading nonmalignant cause of morbidity and mortality among cancer survivors who have been exposed to ionizing radiation (IR), but the exact mechanism of the cardiovascular complications induced by IR remains unclear. In this study we investigated the potential role of the p90RSK-ERK5 module in regulating IR-induced endothelial cell inflammation and apoptosis. Whole body radiation of mice with 2 Gy γ-ray significantly increased endothelial VCAM-1 expression; especially in the disturbed flow area .  studies showed that IR increased p90RSK activation as well as subsequent ERK5 S496 phosphorylation in cultured human endothelial cells (ECs). A specific p90RSK inhibitor, FMK-MEA, significantly inhibited both p90RSK activation and ERK5 S496 phosphorylation, but it had no effect on IR-induced ERK5 TEY motif phosphorylation, suggesting that p90RSK regulates ERK5 transcriptional activity, but not its kinase activity. In fact, we found that IR-induced NF-kB activation and VCAM-1 expression in ECs were significantly inhibited by the over-expression of S496 phosphorylation site mutant of ERK5 (ERK5 S496A) compared to overexpression of wild type ERK5. Furthermore, when ECs were exposed to IR, the number of annexin V positive cells increased, and overexpression of ERK5 S496A, but not wild type ERK5, significantly inhibited this increase. Our results demonstrate that IR augmented disturbed flow-induced VCAM-1 expression . Endothelial p90RSK was robustly activated by IR and subsequently up-regulated ERK5 S496 phosphorylation, inflammation, and apoptosis in ECs. The EC p90RSK-ERK5 signaling axis can be a good target to prevent cardiovascular events after radiation therapy in cancer patients.

Ionizing Radiation Induces Endothelial Inflammation and Apoptosis via p90RSK-Mediated ERK5 S496 Phosphorylation.

MicroRNA 199a and the eNOS (Endothelial NO Synthase)/NO Pathway.

The incidence of cardiovascular disease is higher in HIV-positive (HIV) patients than it is in the average population, and combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) is a recognized risk factor for cardiovascular disease. However, the molecular mechanisms that link cART and cardiovascular disease are currently unknown. Our study explores the role of the activation of p90RSK, a reactive oxygen species-sensitive kinase, in engendering senescent phenotype in macrophages and accelerating atherogenesis in patients undergoing cART.

Senescent Phenotype Induced by p90RSK-NRF2 Signaling Sensitizes Monocytes and Macrophages to Oxidative Stress in HIV-Positive Individuals.

The possible association between the membrane-associated guanylate kinase with inverted domain structure-1 (MAGI1) and inflammation has been suggested, but the molecular mechanisms underlying this link, especially during atherogenesis, remain unclear. In endothelial cells (ECs) exposed to disturbed flow (d-flow), p90 ribosomal S6 kinase (p90RSK) bound to MAGI1, causing MAGI1-S741 phosphorylation and sentrin/SUMO-specific protease 2 T368 phosphorylation-mediated MAGI1-K931 deSUMOylation. MAGI1-S741 phosphorylation upregulated EC activation via activating Rap1. MAGI1-K931 deSUMOylation induced both nuclear translocation of p90RSK-MAGI1 and ATF-6-MAGI1 complexes, which accelerated EC activation and apoptosis, respectively. Microarray screening revealed key roles for MAGI1 in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress response. In this context, MAGI1 associated with activating transcription factor 6 (ATF-6). MAGI1 expression was upregulated in ECs and macrophages found in atherosclerotic-prone regions of mouse aortas as well as in the colonic epithelia and ECs of patients with inflammatory bowel disease. Further, reduced MAGI1 expression in Magi1-/+ mice inhibited d-flow-induced atherogenesis. In sum, EC activation and ER stress-mediated apoptosis are regulated in concert by two different types of MAGI1 posttranslational modifications, elucidating attractive drug targets for chronic inflammatory disease, particularly atherosclerosis.

MAGI1 as a link between endothelial activation and ER stress drives atherosclerosis.

The interplay among signaling events for endothelial cell (EC) senescence, apoptosis, and activation and how these pathological conditions promote atherosclerosis in the area exposed to disturbed flow (d-flow) in concert remain unclear. The aim of this study was to determine whether telomeric repeat-binding factor 2-interacting protein (TERF2IP), a member of the shelterin complex at the telomere, can regulate EC senescence, apoptosis, and activation simultaneously, and if so, by what molecular mechanisms. We found that d-flow induced p90RSK and TERF2IP interaction in a p90RSK kinase activity-dependent manner. An in vitro kinase assay revealed that p90RSK directly phosphorylated TERF2IP at the serine 205 (S205) residue, and d-flow increased TERF2IP S205 phosphorylation as well as EC senescence, apoptosis, and activation by activating p90RSK. TERF2IP phosphorylation was crucial for nuclear export of the TERF2IP-TRF2 complex, which led to EC activation by cytosolic TERF2IP-mediated NF-κB activation and also to senescence and apoptosis of ECs by depleting TRF2 from the nucleus. Lastly, using EC-specific TERF2IP-knockout (TERF2IP-KO) mice, we found that the depletion of TERF2IP inhibited d-flow-induced EC senescence, apoptosis, and activation, as well as atherosclerotic plaque formation. These findings demonstrate that TERF2IP is an important molecular switch that simultaneously accelerates EC senescence, apoptosis, and activation by S205 phosphorylation.

Endothelial senescence is induced by phosphorylation and nuclear export of telomeric repeat binding factor 2-interacting protein.

Disturbed flow (d-flow)-induced senescence and activation of endothelial cells (ECs) have been suggested to have critical roles in promoting atherosclerosis. Telomeric repeat-binding factor 2 (TERF2)-interacting protein (TERF2IP), a member of the shelterin complex at the telomere, regulates the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP), in which EC activation and senescence are engendered simultaneously by p90RSK-induced phosphorylation of TERF2IP S205 and subsequent nuclear export of the TERF2IP-TERF2 complex. In this study, we investigated TERF2IP-dependent gene expression and its role in regulating d-flow-induced SASP.

Nhat-Tu Le

Center for Cardiovascular Regeneration,
Department of Cardiovascular Sciences,
Center for Cardiovascular Regeneration, Department of Cardiovascular Sciences

Houston Methodist Research Institute

Bone Marrow Transplantation Platform to Investigate the Role of Dendritic Cells in Graft-versus-Host Disease

Nhat-Tu Le

.css-o250i3{font-size:18px;font-family:Open Sans,sans-serif;line-height:21.6px;}Center for Cardiovascular Regeneration,Department of Cardiovascular Sciences,Center for Cardiovascular Regeneration, Department of Cardiovascular Sciences

Houston Methodist Research Institute

Bone Marrow Transplantation Platform to Investigate the Role of Dendritic Cells in Graft-versus-Host Disease

Center for Cardiovascular Regeneration,
Department of Cardiovascular Sciences,
Center for Cardiovascular Regeneration, Department of Cardiovascular Sciences