Biomedical subjects

Mingming Zhao

Publications and source records attributed to Mingming Zhao.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Differential cardiotoxic/cardioprotective effects of beta-adrenergic receptor subtypes in myocytes and fibroblasts in doxorubicin cardiomyopathy.

beta-Adrenoceptor (beta-AR) subtypes act through different signaling pathways to regulate cardiac function and remodeling. Previous in vivo data show a markedly enhanced cardiotoxic response to doxorubicin in beta2-/- mice, which is rescued by the additional deletion of the beta1-AR. We determined whether this differential response was myocyte specific by examining the effects of doxorubicin in myocytes and fibroblasts from WT and beta1, beta2 and beta1/beta2-/- mice. Cells were exposed to doxorubicin at 1-50 microM and viability and apoptosis assessed at 6, 24 and 48 h. WT myocytes showed a time and dose-dependent decrease in viability (42% decrease at 1 microM after 24 h). beta2-/- Myocytes showed a greater decrease in viability vs. WT (20.8% less at 6 h; 14% less at 24 h, P<0.05); beta1-/- and beta1/beta2-/- myocytes showed enhanced survival (beta1-/- 11%; beta1/beta2-/- 18% greater than WT, P<0.05). TUNEL staining demonstrated a similar differential susceptibility (WT 26% apoptotic nuclei, beta2-/- 45.9%, beta1/beta2-/- 16.8%, P<0.05). beta2-/- Fibroblasts also showed enhanced toxicity. Pertussis toxin pretreatment of WT cells decreased survival similar to the beta2-/-, suggesting a role for Gi signaling. JNK was differentially activated in beta2-/- myocytes after doxorubicin and its inhibition increased cardiotoxicity. In conclusion, the differential cardioprotective/cardiotoxic effects mediated by beta1 vs. beta2-AR subtypes in knockout mice are recapitulated in myocytes isolated from these mice. beta2-ARs appear to play a cardioprotective role, whereas beta1-ARs a cardiotoxic role.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

Dok-1 independently attenuates Ras/mitogen-activated protein kinase and Src/c-myc pathways to inhibit platelet-derived growth factor-induced mitogenesis.

The Dok adaptor proteins play key regulatory roles in receptor and non-receptor kinase-initiated signaling pathways. Dok-1, the prototype member of this family, negatively regulates cell proliferation elicited by numerous growth factors, including platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF). However, how Dok-1 exerts its negative effect on mitogenesis has remained elusive. Using Dok-1 knockout cells and Dok-1 mutants deficient in binding to specific Dok-1-interacting proteins, we show that Dok-1 interferes with PDGF-stimulated c-myc induction and Ras/mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activation by tethering different signaling components to the cell membrane. Specifically, Dok-1 attenuates PDGF-elicited c-myc induction by recruiting Csk to active Src kinases, whereupon their activities and consequent c-myc induction are diminished. On the other hand, Dok-1 negatively regulates PDGF-induced MAPK activation by acting on Ras-GAP and at least one other Dok-1-interacting protein. Importantly, we demonstrate that Dok-1's actions on both of these signaling pathways contribute to its inhibitory effect on mitogenesis. Our data suggest a mechanistic basis for the inhibitory effect of Dok-1 on growth factor-induced mitogenesis and its role as a tumor suppressor.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Differential cardioprotective/cardiotoxic effects mediated by beta-adrenergic receptor subtypes.

Recent data suggest that beta-adrenergic receptor subtypes couple differentially to signaling pathways regulating cardiac function vs. cardiac remodeling. To dissect the roles of beta1- vs. beta2-receptors in the pathogenesis of cardiomyopathy, doxorubicin was administered to beta1, beta2, and beta1/beta2 knockout (-/-) and wild-type mice. Expression and activation of MAPKs were measured. Wild-type and beta1-/- mice showed no acute cardiovascular effects, whereas beta2-/- mice all died within 30 min. The additional deletion of the beta1-receptor (beta1/beta2-/-) totally rescued this toxicity. beta2-/- mice developed decreased contractile function, hypotension, QTc prolongation, and ST segment changes and a 20-fold increase in p38 MAPK activity not seen in the other genotypes. The MAPK inhibitor SB-203580 rescued beta2-/- mice from this acute toxicity. The enhanced toxicity in beta2-/- mice was also recapitulated in wild-type mice with the beta2-selective antagonist ICI-118,551, although the rescue effect of the beta1-deletion was not recapitulated using the beta1-selective antagonist metoprolol or the nonselective beta-antagonist propranolol. These data suggest that beta2-adrenergic receptors play a cardioprotective role in the pathogenesis of cardiomyopathy, whereas beta1-adrenergic receptors mediate at least some of the acute cardiotoxicity of anthracyclines. Differential activation of MAPK isoforms, previously shown in vitro to regulate beta-agonist as well as doxorubicin cardiotoxicity, appears to play a role in mediating the differential effects of these beta-adrenergic receptor subtypes in vivo.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

Role of Dok-1 and Dok-2 in leukemia suppression.

Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) is characterized by the presence of the chimeric p210bcr/abl oncoprotein that shows elevated and constitutive protein tyrosine kinase activity relative to the normal c-abl tyrosine kinase. Although several p210bcr/abl substrates have been identified, their relevance in the pathogenesis of the disease is unclear. We have identified a family of proteins, Dok (downstream of tyrosine kinase), coexpressed in hematopoietic progenitor cells. Members of this family such as p62dok (Dok-1) and p56dok-2 (Dok-2) associate with the p120 rasGTPase-activating protein (rasGAP) upon phosphorylation by p210bcr/abl as well as receptor and nonreceptor tyrosine kinases. Here, we report the generation and characterization of single and double Dok-1 or Dok-2 knockout (KO) mutants. Single KO mice displayed normal steady-state hematopoiesis. By contrast, concomitant Dok-1 and Dok-2 inactivation resulted in aberrant hemopoiesis and Ras/MAP kinase activation. Strikingly, all Dok-1/Dok-2 double KO mutants spontaneously developed transplantable CML-like myeloproliferative disease due to increased cellular proliferation and reduced apoptosis. Furthermore, Dok-1 or Dok-2 inactivation markedly accelerated leukemia and blastic crisis onset in Tec-p210bcr/abl transgenic mice known to develop, after long latency, a myeloproliferative disorder resembling human CML. These findings unravel the critical and unexpected role of Dok-1 and Dok-2 in tumor suppression and control of the hematopoietic compartment homeostasis.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗

PubMed2004

Microarray analysis of gene expression after transverse aortic constriction in mice.

Cardiac hypertrophy is a compensatory response initially beneficial to heart function but can ultimately lead to cardiac decompensation. It is an integrated process involving multiple cellular signaling pathways and their cross talk. Microarray GeneChip technology is a powerful new tool to identify gene expression profiles of cardiac hypertrophy. To identify well-characterized as well as novel adaptive mechanisms, we utilized a murine model of compensated pressure overload hypertrophy (transverse aortic constriction, TAC). At 48 h, 10 days, and 3 wk, hearts were harvested and total RNA hybridized to Affymetrix U74Av2 GeneChips, which contain a 12,488-gene/EST probe set. Verification of gene expression was performed by SYBR quantitative real-time RT-PCR (QRT-PCR) for selected genes. A rigorous evaluation of the adequacy of the control condition was also performed. For statistical analysis we generated a four-step filtering criteria. Our results show an upregulation of 38 genes (48 h), 269 genes (10 days), and 203 genes (3 wk) and downregulation of 15 genes (48 h), 160 genes (10 days), and 124 genes (3 wk). Transcripts differentially expressed after TAC were categorized into 12 functional groups and revealed the presence of several intriguing transcripts, e.g., cell proliferation-related Ki-67 and several apoptosis-related genes. Overall changes in QRT-PCR were in accordance with GeneChip data, with the highest correlation for genes with the largest up- or downregulation with TAC. Thus TAC results in altered expression of genes in several pathways regulating both cardiac structure and function. However, for in vivo gene microarray experiments, it is critical to define adequate controls, perform rigorous statistical analysis, and provide validation by alternative methods.

Acute Disease↗

PubMed2002

Ras and Rap control AMPA receptor trafficking during synaptic plasticity.

Recent studies show that AMPA receptor (-R) trafficking is important in synaptic plasticity. However, the signaling controlling this trafficking is poorly understood. Small GTPases have diverse neuronal functions and their perturbation is responsible for several mental disorders. Here, we examine the small GTPases Ras and Rap in the postsynaptic signaling underlying synaptic plasticity. We show that Ras relays the NMDA-R and CaMKII signaling that drives synaptic delivery of AMPA-Rs during long-term potentiation. In contrast, Rap mediates NMDA-R-dependent removal of synaptic AMPA-Rs that occurs during long-term depression. Ras and Rap exert their effects on AMPA-Rs that contain different subunit composition. Thus, Ras and Rap, whose activity can be controlled by postsynaptic enzymes, serve as independent regulators for potentiating and depressing central synapses.

Animals↗

PubMed2002

Cloning and characterization of the human factor XI gene promoter: transcription factor hepatocyte nuclear factor 4alpha (HNF-4alpha ) is required for hepatocyte-specific expression of factor XI.

Factor XI is the zymogen of a plasma protease produced primarily in liver that is required for normal blood coagulation. We cloned approximately 2600 base pairs of the human factor XI gene upstream of exon one, identified transcription start sites, and conducted a functional analysis. Luciferase reporter assays demonstrate that the 381 base pairs upstream of exon one are sufficient for maximum promoter activity in HepG2 hepatocellular carcinoma cells. The removal of 19 base pairs between -381 and -363 results in a nearly complete loss of promoter activity. This region contains the sequence ACTTTG, a motif required for binding of the transcription factor hepatocyte nuclear factor 4alpha (HNF-4alpha) to the promoters of several genes. Gel mobility shift assays using HepG2 or rat hepatocyte nuclear extract confirm HNF-4alpha binds between bp -375 and -360. Scrambling the ACTTTG motif completely abolishes promoter activity in luciferase assays. The factor XI promoter functions poorly when transfected into HeLa carcinoma cells, and gel mobility shift experiments with HeLa nuclear extracts demonstrate no HNF-4alpha binding to the ACTTTG sequence. When a rat HNF-4alpha expression construct is co-transfected into HeLa cells, factor XI promoter activity is enhanced approximately 10-fold. We conclude that HNF-4alpha is required for hepatocyte-specific expression of factor XI.

Animals↗