Construction of network for protein kinases that play a role in acute pancreatitis

Protective Effects of Necrostatin-1 in Acute Pancreatitis: Partial Involvement of Receptor Interacting Protein Kinase 1

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a severe and potentially fatal disease caused predominantly by alcohol excess and gallstones, which lacks a specific therapy. The role of Receptor-Interacting Protein Kinase 1 (RIPK1), a key component of programmed necrosis (Necroptosis), is unclear in AP. We assessed the effects of RIPK1 inhibitor Necrostatin-1 (Nec-1) and RIPK1 modification (RIPK1K45A: kinase dead) in bile acid (TLCS-AP), alcoholic (FAEE-AP) and caerulein hyperstimulation (CER-AP) mouse models. Involvement of collateral Nec-1 target indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) was probed with the inhibitor Epacadostat (EPA). Effects of Nec-1 and RIPK1K45A were also compared on pancreatic acinar cell (PAC) fate in vitro and underlying mechanisms explored. Nec-1 markedly ameliorated histological and biochemical changes in all models. However, these were only partially reduced or unchanged in RIPK1K45A mice. Inhibition of IDO with EPA was protective in TLCS-AP. Both Nec-1 and RIPK1K45A modification inhibited TLCS- and FAEE-induced PAC necrosis in vitro. Nec-1 did not affect TLCS-induced Ca2+ entry in PACs, however, it inhibited an associated ROS elevation. The results demonstrate protective actions of Nec-1 in multiple models. However, RIPK1-dependent necroptosis only partially contributed to beneficial effects, and actions on targets such as IDO are likely to be important.

Identification of Acute Pancreatitis-Related Genes and Pathways by Integrated Bioinformatics Analysis

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

The present study aimed to identify the differential expressed genes that are related to acute pancreatitis.

METHODS

Microarray datasets GSE109227 and GSE3644 were downloaded from the public database and analyzed to screen the genes. Afterward, integrated analysis of these genes were performed, including gene ontology and pathway enrichment analysis, protein-protein interaction network construction, expression level evaluation in human organs, relevant miRNAs and TFs prediction, and prognosis values of hub genes in pancreatic carcinoma.

RESULTS

A total number of 93 differential expressed genes were screened from the datasets, and EGFR, CDH1, ACTB, CD44, and VCL were identified as hub DEGs. Functional enrichment analysis demonstrated that these genes were mostly enriched in biological processes such as cell adhesion, platelet aggregation, glycoprotein binding, and also involved in multiple pathways included adherent junction, proteoglycans in cancer, bacterial invasion of epithelial cells, focal adhesion, Rap1 signaling pathway, regulation of actin cytoskeleton, and pathways in cancers. The five hub genes were all expressed in human pancreas organs with various levels. Hub gene-related network investigation predicted core miRNAs including hsa-mir-16-5p and main TFs like SOX9 with close interactions with these hub genes. Survival analysis also indicated that the high expression of EGFR, CDH1, ACTB, CD44, and VCL were significantly associated with poor prognosis in pancreatic carcinoma.

CONCLUSIONS

The study suggested that hub genes EGFR, CDH1, ACTB, CD44, and VCL may play vital role in the pathogenesis of acute pancreatitis and may serve as potential biomarkers to facilitate future acute pancreatitis diagnosis and treatment.

Screening of differentially expressed protein kinases in bone marrow endothelial cells and the protective effects of the p38a inhibitor SB203580 on bone marrow in liver fibrosis

Hematological abnormalities are frequently observed in patients with liver cirrhosis (LC). A previous study demonstrated that the apoptosis and damage of endothelial cells could cause the hematological abnormalities in LC. Protein kinases are one of the most important factors that regulate cell behavior, and are potential therapeutic targets for the treatment of a number of diseases. In a previous study, whole genome profiling was used to identify differentially expressed genes in human bone marrow endothelial cells treated with serum from 26 patients with LC. From this data set, the present study identified 14 differentially expressed kinase genes in human bone marrow endothelial cells in LC from the microarray data, including p38a, AKT1 and PDK1. Pathway analysis revealed that these kinase genes were enriched in certain important LC‑associated pathways (e.g. MAPK and WNT signaling pathway). Literature mining revealed that p38a was associated with bone marrow apoptosis; therefore, p38a and its inhibitor, SB203580, were selected as potential therapeutic targets in the present study. The results of hematoxylin‑eosin and Masson's trichrome staining of livers from a rat model of liver fibrosis (LF) that underwent ligation of the bile duct demonstrated that SB203580 reduced the degree of LF. In addition, SB203580‑treated rats with LF demonstrated a significantly higher number of platelets when compared with the untreated group. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) analysis indicated that apoptosis of bone marrow tissue in rats with LF was inhibited by SB203580. In addition, the results from the immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated that SB203580 reduced the expression of von Willebrand factor and caspase 3 in the bone marrow of rats with LF. In conclusion, the results from the present study indicate that the p38a kinase inhibitor, SB203580, may exhibit a protective effect on bone marrow tissues in rats with LF. This suggests that protein kinases and their inhibitors may present novel therapeutic strategies for the treatment of hematological abnormalities in patients with LC.

Agkihpin, a novel SVAE may inhibit the migration and invasion of liver cancer cells associated with the inversion of EMT induced by Wnt/β-catenin signaling inhibition

In our previous work, agkihpin, a snake venom arginine esterase (SVAE), was isolated from the Gloydius halys Pallas, which could attenuate the migration of liver cancer cells. However, the mechanism of the effect of agkihpin on attenuating migration of liver cancer cell is unknown yet. Here, to learn more about agkihpin and explore the possibility of agkihpin as an anti-metastatic drug in the future, a series of experiments about the migration and invasion of liver cancer cells with agkihpin, HepG 2 and SMMC-7721, was conducted. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is an initial step and a major phenotype of cancer metastasis and invasion, while a number of EMT opposite phenomenons were observed, for example, epithelial marker E-cadherin was up-regulated, mesenchymal markers N-cadherin and Vimentin, and transcription regulators Snail and twist were down-regulated after treating with agkihpin in liver cancer cells; canonical Wnt/β-catenin pathway, one of the signals initiated EMT, was inhibited by decreased expressions of FZD7 and β-catenin, phosphorylation of GSK3β (Ser9), and nuclear β-catenin accumulation in agkihpin treated cancer cells. By using bioinformatics analysis and protease activity analysis in vitro we also found that agkihpin might bind and degrade FZD7. As a result, we hypothesized that agkihpin could inhibit the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway by cleaving FZD7, leading to the inactivation of the TCF/LEF transcription factor, which contributed to the inversion of EMT, and finally attenuated the migration and invasion of liver cancer cells. Therefore, our findings provided novel mechanistic insights into the role of SVAEs in liver cancer controlling, and raised the possibility that agkihpin may be used therapeutically in liver cancer.

Role of phosphoinositide-3 kinase signaling pathways in pathogenesis of acute pancreatitis

Acute pancreatitis (AP) as a common acute disease poses a great threat to people's health. According to statistics, about one-fifth of cases develop acute respiratory distress syndrome and multiple organ dysfunction, which result in high mortality. The early understanding of the pathogenesis of this disease is limited to an inflammatory response resulting in autodigestion, edema, hemorrhage and necrosis of pancreatic tissue after the abnormal activation of trypsin. In recent years, researchers have focused their research on the role of immune inflammatory response in the pathogenesis of AP. Here we discuss the relationship between the immune inflammation and PI3K signaling pathways in AP.

Src kinases play a novel dual role in acute pancreatitis affecting severity but no role in stimulated enzyme secretion

In pancreatic acinar cells, the Src family of kinases (SFK) is involved in the activation of several signaling cascades that are implicated in mediating cellular processes (growth, cytoskeletal changes, apoptosis). However, the role of SFKs in various physiological responses such as enzyme secretion or in pathophysiological processes such as acute pancreatitis is either controversial, unknown, or incompletely understood. To address this, in this study, we investigated the role/mechanisms of SFKs in acute pancreatitis and enzyme release. Enzyme secretion was studied in rat dispersed pancreatic acini, in vitro acute-pancreatitis-like changes induced by supramaximal COOH-terminal octapeptide of cholecystokinin (CCK). SFK involvement assessed using the chemical SFK inhibitor (PP2) with its inactive control, 4-amino-7-phenylpyrazol[3,4-d]pyrimidine (PP3), under experimental conditions, markedly inhibiting SFK activation. In CCK-stimulated pancreatic acinar cells, activation occurred of trypsinogen, various MAP kinases (p42/44, JNK), transcription factors (signal transducer and activator of transcription-3, nuclear factor-κB, activator protein-1), caspases (3, 8, and 9) inducing apoptosis, LDH release reflective of necrosis, and various chemokines secreted (monocyte chemotactic protein-1, macrophage inflammatory protein-1α, regulated on activation, normal T cell expressed and secreted). All were inhibited by PP2, not by PP3, except caspase activation leading to apoptosis, which was increased, and trypsin activation, which was unaffected, as was CCK-induced amylase release. These results demonstrate SFK activation is playing a dual role in acute pancreatitis, inhibiting apoptosis and promoting necrosis as well as chemokine/cytokine release inducing inflammation, leading to more severe disease, as well as not affecting secretion. Thus, our studies indicate that SFK is a key mediator of inflammation and pancreatic acinar cell death in acute pancreatitis, suggesting it could be a potential therapeutic target in acute pancreatitis.

OY-TES-1 may regulate the malignant behavior of liver cancer via NANOG, CD9, CCND2 and CDCA3: a bioinformatic analysis combine with RNAi and oligonucleotide microarray

Given its tumor-specific expression, including liver cancer, OY-TES-1 is a potential molecular marker for the diagnosis and immunotherapy of liver cancers. However, investigations of the mechanisms and the role of OY-TES-1 in liver cancer are rare. In the present study, based on a comprehensive bioinformatic analysis combined with RNA interference (RNAi) and oligonucleotide microarray, we report for the first time that downregulation of OY-TES-1 resulted in significant changes in expression of NANOG, CD9, CCND2 and CDCA3 in the liver cancer cell line BEL-7404. NANOG, CD9, CCND2 and CDCA3 may be involved in cell proliferation, migration, invasion and apoptosis, yet also may be functionally related to each other and OY-TES-1. Among these molecules, we identified that NANOG, containing a Kazal-2 binding motif and homeobox, may be the most likely candidate protein interacting with OY-TES-1 in liver cancer. Thus, the present study may provide important information for further investigation of the roles of OY-TES-1 in liver cancer.

Role of Kinase Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor and SRC in the Caerulein-Induced Acute Pancreatitis in Mice

OBJECTIVES

In this study, we identified the protein kinases that play the most distinct roles in the occurrence of acute pancreatitis (AP).

METHODS

Gene expression profile data were downloaded from Gene Expression Omnibus database (GSE3644). The sample was from caerulein-induced AP mice. The intersection of the differentially expressed genes in AP mice taken from a protein kinase database was obtained for screening of the protein kinase encoded genes that were differentially expressed. Database for annotation, visualization, and integrated discovery was used for the functional enrichment analysis. Kinase inhibitors that regulated these kinases were retrieved from PubMed through text mining.

RESULTS

Twenty-nine differentially expressed kinase encoded genes were identified through screening. The functional enrichment analysis demonstrated that the functions of these genes were primarily enriched in "mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway," followed by "extracellular regulated protein kinases pathway," "neurotrophin signaling pathway," "adherens junction," and "gap junction." SRC and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) were related to extracellular regulated protein kinases pathway and also related to adherens junction as well as gap junction. On the basis of the regulated kinases, the kinase inhibitors reported in the literature were classified into multiple groups.

CONCLUSIONS

EGFR and SRC may be coexpressed in AP. The kinase inhibitors working together in SRC and EGFR may play better efficacy in the treatment of AP.

Autophagy in pancreatic acinar cells and pathogenesis of acute pancreatitis

Acute pancreatitis is an inflammatory disorder of the pancreas, and its pathogenesis remains poorly understood. Autodigestion of the pancreas by its own prematurely activated digestive proteases is a critical event in the onset of acute pancreatitis. Mitochondrial permeability transition results in mitochondrial depolarization and loss of ATP production, which has been found to induce autophagy in several cell types, e.g. cardiomyocytes and hepatocytes and is of vital importance for the fate of cells. Elucidating the relationship between mitochondrial permeability transition and autophagy within pancreatic acinar cells may enlighten the pathogenesis of acute pancreatitis and help provide potential therapeutic targets for this disease.