Project description:We report that cellular ROS enzymatically generated in response to contact with lactobacilli in both mice and Drosophila has salutary effects against exogenous insults to the intestinal epithelium via the activation of Nrf2 responsive cytoprotective genes. RNA was isolated from the colons of untreated, PBS, E. coli, and LGG innoculated germ free mice and RNA-seq performed to identify the gene expression in response to each condition
Project description:The intestinal ecosystem is balanced by dynamic interactions between resident and incoming microbes, the gastrointestinal barrier, and the mucosal immune system. However, in the context of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) where the integrity of the gastrointestinal barrier is compromised, resident microbes contribute to the development and perpetuation of inflammation and disease. In this context, probiotic bacteria exert beneficial effects enhancing epithelial barrier integrity. However, the mechanisms underlying these beneficial effects are only poorly understood. Here, we comparatively investigated the effects of four probiotic lactobacilli, namely L. acidophilus, L. fermentum, L. gasseri, and L. rhamnosus in a T84 cell epithelial barrier model. Results of DNA-microarray experiments indicating that lactobacilli modulate the regulation of genes encoding in particular adherence junction proteins such as E-cadherin and b-catenin were confirmed by qRT-PCR. Furthermore, we show that epithelial barrier function is modulated by Gram-positive probiotic lactobacilli via their effect on adherence junction protein expression and complex formation. In addition, incubation with lactobacilli differentially influences the phosphorylation of adherence junction proteins and of PKC isoforms such as PKCd which thereby positively modulates epithelial barrier function. Further insight into the underlying molecular mechanisms triggered by these probiotics might also foster the development of novel strategies for the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases (e.g. IBD).
Project description:In inflammatory diseases of the airway, a high level (estimated to be as high as 8 mM) of HOCl can be generated through a reaction catalyzed by the leukocyte granule enzyme myeloperoxidase (MPO). HOCl, a potent oxidative agent, causes extensive tissue injury through its reaction with various cellular substances, including thiols, nucleotides, and amines. In addition to its physiological source, HOCl can also be generated by chlorine gas inhalation from an accident or a potential terrorist attack. Despite the important role of HOCl-induced airway epithelial injury, the underlying molecular mechanism is largely unknown. In the present study, we found that HOCl induced dose-dependent toxicity in airway epithelial cells. By transcription profiling using GeneChip, we identified a battery of HOCl-inducible antioxidant genes, all of which have been reported previously to be regulated by nuclear factor erythroid-related factor 2 (Nrf2), a transcription factor that is critical to the lung antioxidant response. Consistent with this finding, Nrf2 was found to be activated time and dose dependently by HOCl. Although the epidermal growth factor receptor-MAPK pathway was also highly activated by HOCl, it was not involved in Nrf2 activation and Nrf2-dependent gene expression. Instead, HOCl-induced cellular oxidative stress appeared to lead directly to Nrf2 activation. To further understand the functional significance of Nrf2 activation, small interference RNA was used to knock down Nrf2 level by targeting Nrf2 or enhance nuclear accumulation of Nrf2 by targeting its endogenous inhibitor Keap1. By both methods, we conclude that Nrf2 directly protects airway epithelial cells from HOCl-induced toxicity. Experiment Overall Design: This is genechip study. Detailed study design is described in: Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol. 2008 Mar;294(3):L469-77. Epub 2007 Dec 21.
Project description:We report that cellular ROS enzymatically generated in response to contact with lactobacilli in both mice and Drosophila has salutary effects against exogenous insults to the intestinal epithelium via the activation of Nrf2 responsive cytoprotective genes.
Project description:We report that cellular ROS enzymatically generated in response to contact with lactobacilli in both mice and Drosophila has salutary effects against exogenous insults to the intestinal epithelium via the activation of Nrf2 responsive cytoprotective genes.
Project description:We identified RNA binding motif protein 47 (RBM47) as a target gene of transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta in mammary gland epithelial cells (NMuMG cells) that have undergone the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). TGF-beta repressed RBM47 expression in NMuMG cells and lung cancer cell lines. Expression of RBM47 correlated with good prognosis in patients with lung, breast, and gastric cancer. RBM47 suppressed the expression of cell metabolism-related genes, which were the direct targets of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2; also known as NFE2L2). RBM47 bound to KEAP1 and Cullin3 mRNAs, and knockdown of RBM47 inhibited their protein expression, which led to enhanced binding of Nrf2 to target genomic regions. Knockdown of RBM47 also enhanced the expression of some Nrf2 activators, p21/CDKN1A and MafK induced by TGF-beta. Both mitochondrial respiration rates and the side population cells in lung cancer cells increased in the absence of RBM47. Our findings, together with the enhanced tumor formation and metastasis of xenografted mice by knockdown of the RBM47 expression, suggested tumor suppressive roles for RBM47 through the inhibition of Nrf2 activity. Effect of shRNA for RBM47 and TGF-beta on gene expression was evaluated by RNA-seq and RBM47-bound RNAs were identified by RIP-seq in A549 cells.
Project description:Integrated-systems model of oxidative stress connecting NRF2 and p53 signaling pathways. Additional crosstalk linking oxidative stress to p53 inhibition, p53 to NRF2 through p21, and NRF2 to MDM2 was incorporated in this model. The NRF2 pathway was encoded as first- and second-order rate equations for KEAP1 oxidation and NRF2 stabilization; NRF2-mediated transcription of antioxidant enzymes was modeled as a Hill function. The p53 pathway was reconstructed from a delay differential equation model of p53 signaling in response to DNA damage. To adapt the p53 DNA-damage model to respond to oxidative stress, we used a first-order oxidation reaction of ATM/CHEK2 by intracellular H2O2.
The integrated base model of NRF2–p53 oxidative-stress signaling contains 42 reactions and 22 ordinary differential equations (ODEs).