关键词： HYDROGEN sulfide   POISONOUS gases   LUNGS   WOUNDS & injuries   REFRIGERANTS  

摘要： Rational Our group has recently shown that inhalation of hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S) during mechanical ventilation protects against VILI [1] . Here we explored the gene expression profile of this model in order to identify underlying molecular mechanisms. Methods C57/BL6 mice were randomized into four groups ( n = 5/group). Two groups of control animals were breathing spontaneously air with or without H 2 S (80 ppm). Two groups were ventilated with synthetic air with or without H 2 S as described previously [1] . Lung injury was assessed by an acute lung injury scoring system in hematoxylin and eosin (H& E) stained tissue sections. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was analysed for inflammatory infiltration. Micro array analysis was performed with RNA from lung tissue samples. Genes with different expression (ANOVA p ⩽ 0.05; fold induction or suppression ⩾2.2) were considered for further analysis. Gene expression of Atf3 was validated by sqPCR and Western Blot. The functional relevance of Atf3 up-regulation was validated in Atf3-Morpfolino knockout mice ventilated in presence of H 2 S. Results Mechanical ventilation led to lung injury, i . e ., H& E-stained samples revealed clear thickening of alveolar walls and increased amounts of inflammatory cell infiltrates in lung sections and BALF from animals ventilated with synthetic air. In contrast, the presence of H 2 S prevented lung injury as well as neutrophil and macrophage infiltration. Spontaneous breathing control animals regardless of the presence or absence of H 2 S showed no significant effects on lung injury or inflammation. H 2 S application led to differential expression of 137 genes. Among these, Atf3 was chosen for further analysis. In contrast to the protective effects of H 2 S in ventilated mice, Atf3-Morpholino mice developed despite the presence of H 2 S sings of lung injury, i . e ., enlarged alveolar walls, increased inflammatory cell infiltrates, and occurrence of sporadic blood vessel leakages. Furt

关键词： Retigeric acid B   Topoisomerase II alpha   DNA damage response   ATF3  

摘要： Retigeric acid B (RB) has been reported to exhibit its anti-tumor activity in vitro and in vivo. Here, we found that RB significantly inhibited activity of topoisomerase II alpha (Topo II alpha), leading to remarkable DNA damage in prostate cancer (PCa) cells as evidenced by a strong induction of gamma H2AX and DNA fragmentation. Activation of ATM and ATR sequentially led to induction of phospho-Chk1/2 and phospho-Cdc25 in response to RB. Blockade of ATM/ATR signaling resulted in the attenuation of RB-induced gamma H2AX, and partially rescued RB-mediated cell death. RB treatment also resulted in inactivation of DNA repair proteins such as phospho-BRCA1, impairment of HR, and NHEJ repair as indicated by DNA end-joining assays. Meanwhile, a stress-responsive gene activating transcription factor 3 (ATF3) was noted for its predominant expression in response to RB-induced DNA damage. Knockdown of ATF3 inhibited the RB-induced expression changes of cell cycle- and apoptosis-related genes such as DR5, DDIT4, CDC25A, GADD45A, and partially blocked RB-mediated inhibition on cell proliferation and induction of apoptosis, suggesting the crucial involvement of ATF3 in this event. Microarray data displayed that RB caused changes of genes required for damaged-DNA binding and repair, as well as ATF3 and its target genes. Our data firstly demonstrated that RB was a novel DNA Topo II inhibitor and triggered cell death by inducing DNA damage and stress-response, suggesting a promising anticancer agent. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

关键词： Gene Regulation   Mammal   RNA Polymerase II   Stress Response   Transcription Elongation Factors   ATF3   Elongin A  

摘要： Elongin A was shown previously to be capable of potently activating the rate of RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) transcription elongation in vitro by suppressing transient pausing by the enzyme at many sites along DNA templates. The role of Elongin A in RNAPII transcription in mammalian cells, however, has not been clearly established. In this report, we investigate the function of Elongin A in RNAPII transcription. We present evidence that Elongin A associates with the IIO form of RNAPII at sites of newly transcribed RNA and is relocated to dotlike domains distinct from those containing RNAPII when cells are treated with the kinase inhibitor 5,6-dichloro-1-beta-D-ribofuranosylbenzimidazole. Significantly, Elongin A is required for maximal induction of transcription of the stress response genes ATF3 and p21 in response to several stimuli. Evidence from structure-function studies argues that Elongin A transcription elongation activity, but not its ubiquitination activity, is most important for its function in induction of transcription of ATF3 and p21. Taken together, our data provide new insights into the function of Elongin A in RNAPII transcription and bring to light a previously unrecognized role for Elongin A in the regulation of stress response genes.

关键词： Brachial plexus avulsion   Pain   ATF3   Immunohistochemistry   Rat model  

摘要： Clinically, neuropathic pain is frequent and intense following brachial plexus injury. It is thought that brachial plexus pain is not generated by avulsed roots, but rather by non-avulsed roots, since the avulsed root could not possibly transmit action potentials to central nerves. The aim of this study was to evaluate pain behavior and activation of sensory neurons in a brachial plexus avulsion (BPA) model in rats. Fifteen male Wistar rats were used. In the BPA group, the C8-T1 roots were avulsed from the spinal cord with forceps at the lower trunk level (n = 5). In the na < ve group, rats did not receive any procedures (n = 5). In the sham-operated group, the lower trunk was simply exposed (n = 5). Mechanical hyperalgesia of forelimbs corresponding to C6 and C7 dermatomes was measured using von Frey filaments every third day for 3 weeks. Activation of DRG neurons was immunohistochemically examined using anti-ATF3 (a marker for neuron activation) antibodies 21 days after surgery. Von Frey and immunohistochemical data between groups were analyzed using a Kruskal-Wallis test, followed by Mann-Whitney U tests. Bonferroni corrections were performed. Animals in the BPA group displayed significant mechanical hyperalgesia at the dermatome innervated by uninjured nerves continuing through day 21 compared with animals in the sham-operated group. ATF3-immunoreactive small and large DRG neurons were significantly activated in the BPA group (10.6 +/- A 9.5 and 5.2 +/- A 4.1 %, 39.7 +/- A 6.7 and 25.2 +/- A 10.3 %, 78.0 +/- A 9.1 and 53.7 +/- A 29.3 %) compared with the sham-operated group (0.7 +/- A 0.9 and 0 +/- A 0 %, 2.8 +/- A 2.0 and 1.0 +/- A 2.0 %, 3.9 +/- A 2.7 and 8.6 +/- A 10.1 %) at every level of C5, 6, and 7. In the na < ve group, no DRG neurons were activated. ATF3-immunoreactive small and large DRG neurons were significantly activated at the level of C7 compared with C6 and C5, and significantly activated at the level of C6 compared with C5 in the BPA group. Expr

关键词： Research Article  

摘要： Cardiac hypertrophy is an adaptive response to various mechanophysical and pathophysiological stresses. However, when chronic stress is sustained, the beneficial response turns into a maladaptive process that eventually leads to heart failure. Although major advances in the treatment of patients have reduced mortality, there is a dire need for novel treatments for cardiac hypertrophy. Accordingly, considerable efforts are being directed towards developing mice models and understanding the processes that lead to cardiac hypertrophy. A case in point is ATF3, an immediate early transcription factor whose expression is induced in various cardiac stress models but has been reported to have conflicting functional significance in hypertrophy. To address this issue, we generated a transgenic mouse line with tetracycline-regulated ATF3 cardiac expression. These mice allowed us to study the consequence of ATF3 expression in the embryo or during the adult period, thus distinguishing the effect of ATF3 on development versus pathogenesis of cardiac dysfunction. Importantly, ATF3 expression in adult mice resulted in rapid ventricles hypertrophy, heart dysfunction, and fibrosis. When combined with a phenylephrine-infusion pressure overload model, the ATF3 expressing mice displayed a severe outcome and heart dysfunction. In a complementary approach, ATF3 KO mice displayed a lower level of heart hypertrophy in the same pressure overload model. In summary, ectopic expression of ATF3 is sufficient to promote cardiac hypertrophy and exacerbates the deleterious effect of chronic pressure overload;conversely, ATF3 deletion protects the heart. Therefore, ATF3 may serve as an important drug target to reduce the detrimental consequences of heart hypertrophy.

摘要： Host response to cancer signals has emerged as a key factor in cancer development;however, the underlying molecular mechanism is not well understood. In this report, we demonstrate that activating transcription factor 3 (ATF3), a hub of the cellular adaptive response network, plays an important role in host cells to enhance breast cancer metastasis. Immunohistochemical analysis of patient tumor samples revealed that expression of ATF3 in stromal mononuclear cells, but not cancer epithelial cells, is correlated with worse clinical outcomes and is an independent predictor for breast cancer death. This finding was corroborated by data from mouse models showing less efficient breast cancer metastasis in Atf3-deficient mice than in WT mice. Further, mice with myeloid cell-selective KO of Atf3 showed fewer lung metastases, indicating that host ATF3 facilitates metastasis, at least in part, by its function in macrophage/myeloid cells. Gene profiling analyses of macrophages from mouse tumors identified an ATF3-regulated gene signature that could distinguish human tumor stroma from distant stroma and could predict clinical outcomes, lending credence to our mouse models. In conclusion, we identified ATF3 as a regulator in myeloid cells that enhances breast cancer metastasis and has predictive value for clinical outcomes.

关键词： TRANSCRIPTION factors   RESEARCH   BLADDER cancer   METASTASIS   GENE expression   CANCER cells   ACTIN -- Research   GELSOLIN  

摘要： Bladder cancer is associated with high recurrence and mortality rates due to metastasis. The elucidation of metastasis suppressors may offer therapeutic opportunities if their mechanisms of action can be elucidated and tractably exploited. In this study, we investigated the clinical and functional significance of the transcription factor activating transcription factor 3 (ATF3) in bladder cancer metastasis. Gene expression analysis revealed that decreased ATF3 was associated with bladder cancer progression and reduced survival of patients with bladder cancer. Correspondingly, ATF3 overexpression in highly metastatic bladder cancer cells decreased migration in vitro and experimental metastasis in vivo. Conversely, ATF3 silencing increased the migration of bladder cancer cells with limited metastatic capability in the absence of any effect on proliferation. In keeping with their increased motility, metastatic bladder cancer cells had increased numbers of actin filaments. Moreover, ATF3 expression correlated with expression of the actin filament severing protein gelsolin (GSN). Mechanistic studies revealed that ATF3 upregulated GSN, whereas ATF3 silencing reduced GSN levels, concomitant with alterations in the actin cytoskeleton. We identified six ATF3 regulatory elements in the first intron of the GSN gene confirmed by chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis. Critically, GSN expression reversed the metastatic capacity of bladder cancer cells with diminished levels of ATF3. Taken together, our results indicate that ATF3 suppresses metastasis of bladder cancer cells, at least in part through the upregulation of GSN-mediated actin remodeling. These findings suggest ATF3 coupled with GSN as prognostic markers for bladder cancer metastasis. (c) 2013 AACR.

关键词： 癌侵袭转移   课题组   膀胱   Metastasis   上海交通大学   医院检验科   科研团队   ATF3  

摘要： 上海交通大学医学院附属新华医院检验科沈立松教授领衔的科研团队在膀胱癌侵袭转移的机制研究中取得新发现。近日，肿瘤领域国际权威期刊Cancer Research正式发表了该课题组最新研究成果“ATF3 Suppresses Metastasis of Bladder Cancer by Regulating Gelsolin-Mediated Remodeling of the Actin Cytoskeleton”[CancerRes，2013，73（12）：3625—3637]。

关键词： 转录激活因子3   胃癌组织   临床意义   癌旁正常组织   ATF3   CREB   转录因子   临床特征  

摘要： 转录激活因子3（activatingtranscriptionfactor3，ATF3）是转录因子ATF／CREB家族中成员，本研究ATF3在胃癌组织和癌旁正常组织中的表达，分析其表达与胃癌临床特征的关系，探讨其在胃癌发生中的作用。

关键词： Agrp   ATF3   Energy expenditure   Food intake   FoxO1   Hypothalamus  

摘要： The pancreas and hypothalamus are critical for maintaining nutrient and energy homeostasis, and combined disorders in these organs account for the onset of the metabolic syndrome. Activating transcription factor 3 (ATF3) is an adaptive response transcription factor. The physiological role of ATF3 in the pancreas has been controversial, and its role in the hypothalamus remains unknown. To elucidate the roles of ATF3 in these organs, we generated pancreas- and hypothalamus-specific Atf3 knockout (PHT-Atf3-KO) mice in this study. We crossed mice bearing floxed Atf3 alleles with Pdx1-cre mice, in which cre is specifically expressed in the pancreas and hypothalamus, and analysed metabolic variables, pancreatic morphology, food intake, energy expenditure and sympathetic activity in adipose tissue. We also used a hypothalamic cell line to investigate the molecular mechanism by which ATF3 regulates transcription of the gene encoding agouti-related protein (Agrp). Although PHT-Atf3-KO mice displayed better glucose tolerance, neither plasma glucagon nor insulin level was altered in these mice. However, these mice exhibited higher insulin sensitivity, which was accompanied by a leaner phenotype due to decreased food intake and increased energy expenditure. We also observed decreased hypothalamic Agrp expression in PHT-Atf3-KO mice. Importantly, an increase in ATF3 levels is induced by fasting or low glucose in the hypothalamus. We also showed that ATF3 interacts with forkhead box-containing protein, O subfamily 1 (FoxO1) on the Agrp promoter and activates Agrp transcription. Our results suggest that ATF3 plays an important role in the control of glucose and energy metabolism by regulating Agrp.