OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of cofilin on the actin cytoskeleton reorganization in osteoblasts induced by fluid shear stress.

METHODSFluid shear stress (1.2 Pa) was applied to osteoblasts for 0 (control group), 15, 30, 45, 60, 120 min in vitro. Cells were stained with fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-phalloidin for fiber-actin, and confocal laser scanning microscope(CLSM) was used to observe the fluorescence of fiber-actin. Western blotting was used to detect the expression of the cofilin and the phospho-cofilin.

RESULTSActin filaments became organized into stress fibers that were thicker and more abundant than those in non-flowed cells. The fluorescence intensity (38.00 ± 6.88) of fiber-actin after 120 min (42.93 ± 6.41) loading it was 2.8 times as much as that in control group (15.41 ± 3.60, P < 0.05). Additionally, the level of phospho-cofilin protein was dramatically elevated after loading. Fluid shear stress induced an initial decrease of cofilin at 60 min. However, at 120 min cofilin (0.254 ± 0.026) increased to 1.5 times as much as that at 60 min (0.162 ± 0.004).

CONCLUSIONSThe results indicate that cofilin phosphorylation mediates fiber-actin reorganization in the osteoblasts induced by fluid shear stress.

Actin Cytoskeleton ; ultrastructure ; Actin Depolymerizing Factors ; biosynthesis ; Humans ; Osteoblasts ; ultrastructure ; Phosphorylation ; Stress, Mechanical

Mice ; Animals ; Actins/metabolism* ; Actin Depolymerizing Factors/metabolism* ; TRPM Cation Channels ; Actin Cytoskeleton/metabolism* ; Nervous System/metabolism*

OBJECTIVETo identify two differentiation-associated proteins induced by rhIL-6 in M1 mouse myeloid leukemia cells.

METHODSProtein spots were excised from 2-D gels and digested in-gel with trypsin. The trypsin lysis products were first analyzed by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight-mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) through peptide mass fingerprinting and then performed peptide sequencing by nano-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry (nano-ESI-MS/MS). The database search was finished with the Mascot search engine (http://www.matrixscience.co.uk) using the data processed through MaxEnt3 and MasSeq.

RESULTSThe two proteins were not revealed by peptide mass fingerprint using MALDI-TOF-MS, while they were respectively identified as Destrin and Putative protein after the sequence of their trypic peptides were obtained by the nano-ESI-MS/MS techniques.

CONCLUSIONNano-ESI-MS/MS technique can successfully identify the two differentiation-associated proteins induced by rhIL-6 and has great advantage in protein analysis.

Actin Depolymerizing Factors ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic ; drug effects ; Destrin ; Interleukin-6 ; analysis ; pharmacology ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; metabolism ; pathology ; Mice ; Microfilament Proteins ; analysis ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Nanotechnology ; Recombinant Proteins ; pharmacology ; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization ; methods ; Tumor Suppressor Proteins ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo detect serum content of cofilin protein in patients with lung cancer and investigate its clinical value.

METHODSThe serum content of cofilin protein was detected in 30 cases of lung cancer and 30 healthy control subjects using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

RESULTSThe mean serum content of cofilin protein was 0.485∓0.465 ng/ml in patients with lung cancer and 0.203∓0.102 ng/ml in the control subjects, showing a significant difference between them (P<0.05). The content of cofilin protein in patients with stage III and IV lung cancer 0.744∓0.584 ng/ml, significantly higher than that in stage II patients (0.257∓0.126 ng/ml).

CONCLUSIONSerum cofilin protein is elevated in patients with lung cancer, especially in cases in advanced stages, suggesting its relation with lung cancer staging.

Actin Depolymerizing Factors ; blood ; Adenocarcinoma ; blood ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; blood ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; blood ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of Slingshot-1L (SSH-1L) in peripheral blood eosinophils of asthmatic patients.

METHODSPeripheral vein blood sample of 30 ml was collected from 15 healthy volunteers, 15 asthmatic patients with glucocorticoid treatment and 15 asthmatic patients without the treatment. The eosinophils were isolated, purified and counted for each sample, and SSH-1L/beta-actin gene fragments were amplified simultaneously by RT-PCR for the total RNA. SSH-1L protein was detected by Western blotting from the total protein of the peripheral eosinophils. The expressions of SSH-1L at both mRNA and protein levels are compared between different groups.

RESULTSSSH-1L/beta-actin ratio significantly increased in untreated patients with asthma attacks in comparison with healthy volunteers (P<0.05), which did not occur in patients treated with glucocorticoids (P>0.05). The optical density of SSH-1L protein significantly increased in untreated asthmatic patients (P<0.05), but not in patients treated with glucocorticoids (P>0.05), as compared with the healthy volunteers.

CONCLUSIONSignificantly increased SSH-1L expression in peripheral eosinophils may play an important role in the activation and migration of eosinophils.

Actin Depolymerizing Factors ; metabolism ; Actins ; metabolism ; Adult ; Asthma ; blood ; Blotting, Western ; Eosinophils ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phosphoprotein Phosphatases ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of hypoxia on cofilin activation in intestinal epithelial cells and its relation with distribution of tight junction protein zonula occludens 1 (ZO-1).

METHODSThe human intestinal epithelial cell line Caco-2 was used to reproduce monolayer cells. The monolayer-cell specimens were divided into control group (no treatment), hypoxic group ( exposed to hypoxia), and normoxic group (exposed to normoxia) according to the random number table. Western blotting was used to detect the protein expressions of cofilin and phosphorylatedl cofilin (p-cofilin) of cells in normoxic group and hypoxic group exposed to normoxia or hypoxia for 1, 2, 6, 12, and 24 h and control group, with 9 samples in control group and 9 samples at each time point in the other two groups. The other monolayer-cell specimens were divided into hypoxic group (exposed to hypoxia) and control group (no treatment) according to the random number table. Cells in hypoxic group exposed to hypoxia for 1, 2, 6, 12, and 24 h and control group were obtained. Morphology and distribution of F-actin was observd with laser scanning confocal microscopy, the ratio of F-actin to G-actin was determined by fluorescence method, and distribution of ZO-l and cellular morphology were observed with laser scanning confocal microscopy. The sample number of last 3 experiments was respectively 3, 6, and 3 in both hypoxic group (at each time point) and control group. Data were processed with paired ttest, analysis of variance of repeated measurement, and LSD-t test.

RESULTSThe protein expressions of cofilin and p-cofilin of cells between normoxic group exposed to normoxia for 1 to 24 h and control group showed no significant changes (with values from -0.385 to 1.701, t(p-cofilin)values from 0. 040 to 1.538, P values above 0.05). There were no obvious differences in protein expressions of en filmn of cells between hypoxic group exposed to hypoxia for 1 to 24 h and control group ( with values from 1.032 to 2.390, P values above 0.05). Compared with that in control group, the protein expressions of p-cofilin of cells were greatly reduced in hypoxic group exposed to hypoxia for 1 to 24 h (with values from 4.563 to 22.678, P values below 0.01), especially exposed to hypoxia for 24 h. The protein expressions of cofilin of cells between normoxic group and hypoxic group at each time point were close ( with t values from -0.904 to 1.433, P values above 0.05). In hypoxic group, the protein expressions of p-cofilin of cells exposed to hypoxia for 1, 2, 6, 12, and 24 h were 0.87 +/- 08, 0.780 .05, 0.89 +/- 0.07, 0.68+0. 07, and 0.57 +/- 0.06, respectively, significantly lower than those in normoxic group (0.90 +/- 0.07, 0.97 +/- 0.06, 1.00 +/- 0.06, 1.00 +/- 0.05, and 0.99 +/- 0.05, with t values from 3.193 to 16.434, P values below 0.01). In control group, F-actin in the cytoplasm was abundant, most of it was in bunches. The trend of F-actin was disorderly in hypoxic group from being exposed to hypoxia for 1 h, shortened in length or even dissipated. The ratios of F-actin to G-actin of cells in hypoxic group exposed to hypoxia for 12 and 24 h (0.89 +/- 0.12 and 0.84 +/- 0.19) were obviously decreased as compared with that in control group (1. 00, with t values respectively 3. 622 and 3. 577, P values below 0.01). There were no obvious differences in the ratios of F-actin to G-actin of cells between hypoxic group exposed to hypoxia for 1, 2, and 6 h and control group ( with values from 0.447 to 1.526, P values above 0.05). In control group, cells were compact in arrangement, and ZO-1 was distributed continuously along the cytomnembrane. From being exposed to hypoxia for 2 h, cells became irregular in shape in hypoxic group. ZO-1 was distributed in discontinuous fashion along the cytomembrane with breakage in hypoxic group exposed to hypoxia for 24 h.

CONCLUSIONSHypoxia may cause the disorder of dynamic balance between F-actin and G-actin by inducing cofilin activation, which in turn leads to the changes in distribution of tight junction protein ZO-1 in intestinal epithelial cells.

Actin Depolymerizing Factors ; Actins ; Blotting, Western ; Caco-2 Cells ; drug effects ; physiology ; Epithelial Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; Humans ; Hypoxia ; metabolism ; Intestinal Mucosa ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Intestines ; Oxygen ; pharmacology ; Tight Junctions ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Zonula Occludens-1 Protein ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of Siwu decoction on protein expression of blood deficiency mice induced by cyclophosphamide (CIX) and discuss the possible molecular mechanism on blood enriching function of Siwu decoction.

METHODBlood deficiency mice were established by injecting ip with 250 mg x kg(-1) CTX. Proteomic technologies were applied to identify the different protein.

RESULTSiwu decoction could restore the changes of 12 up-regulated and 3 down-regulated proteins in bone marrow of blood deficiency mice induced by cyclosphosphamide.

CONCLUSIONSiwu decoction could effect expression of proteins which functions including apoptosis, proliferation and differentiation of the haematopoietic stem/progenitor cell. The regulation in the molecular level might be the mechanism of stimulating hematopoiesis in bone marrow fo siwu decocetion.

Actin Depolymerizing Factors ; metabolism ; Anemia ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; pathology ; Animals ; Annexin A1 ; metabolism ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Carbonic Anhydrases ; metabolism ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cyclophosphamide ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Fatigue ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells ; metabolism ; pathology ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Peroxidases ; metabolism ; Peroxiredoxins ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Proteome ; metabolism ; Proteomics ; methods

Resistance to cisplatin (DDP)-based chemotherapy is a major cause of treatment failure in human gastric cancer (GC). It is necessary to identify the drugs to re-sensitize GC cells to DDP. In our previous research, Zuo Jin Wan Formula (ZJW) has been proved could increase the mitochondrial apoptosis via cofilin-1 in a immortalized cell line, SGC-7901/DDP. Due to the immortalized cells may still difficult highly recapitulate the important molecular events in vivo, primary GC cells model derived from clinical patient was constructed in the present study to further evaluate the effect of ZJW and the underlying molecular mechanism. Immunofluorescent staining was used to indentify primary cultured human GC cells. Western blotting was carried out to detect the protein expression. Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) was used to evaluate cell proliferation. Flow cytometry analysis was performed to assess cell apoptosis. ZJW inhibited proliferation and induced apoptosis in primary DDP-resistant GC cells. Notably, the apoptosis in GC cells was mediated by inducing cofilin-1 mitochondrial translocation, down-regulating Bcl-2 and up-regulating Bax expression. Surprisingly, the level of p-AKT protein was higher in DDP-resistant GC cells than that of the DDP-sensitive GC cells, and the activation of AKT could attenuate ZJW-induced sensitivity to DDP. These data revealed that ZJW can increase the chemosensitivity in DDP-resistant primary GC cells by inducing mitochondrial apoptosis and AKT inactivation. The combining chemotherapy with ZJW may be an effective therapeutic strategy for GC chemoresistance patients.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cisplatin ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Cofilin 1 ; metabolism ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mitochondria ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; Stomach Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; Tumor Cells, Cultured

Cofilin is a actin-binding protein in eukaryotic cells. It plays a role in maintaining the steady state of the internal environment through regulating actin dynamics, which contributes to the development of various kinds of diseases. In recent 20 years, cofilin has been widely attracted due to its regulatory effect on cell phenotype, gene transcription, apoptosis and inflammation in renal tissue. Cofilin plays a regulatory role in pathological changes in proteinuria diseases such as minimal change nephropathy, focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, membranous nephropathy, and IgA nephropathy. It could be one of the diagnosis index for glomerular podocyte injury. At the same time, cofilin plays a key role in maintaining the polarity and function of proximal tubular epithelial cells and it is involved in the regulation of kidney inflammation in a variety of kidney diseases, such as renal ischemia/reperfusion injury, diabetic nephropathy, and hypertensive nephropathy reaction. In addition, cofilin plays an important role in epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of tumor cells and epithelial cells in various tissues, suggesting that cofilin may be involved in the regulation of peritoneal dialysis-related EMT and fibrosis. Cofilin might turn into the new diagnosis and treatment target of kidney diseases.
Cofilin 1 ; metabolism ; Glomerulosclerosis, Focal Segmental ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Kidney ; physiopathology ; Kidney Diseases ; physiopathology ; Proteinuria ; genetics ; physiopathology

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate and compare protein expression profiles of synovial fibroblasts using proteome analysis in swine knee injuries with joint instability, during early post-traumatic arthritis (PTA) development. METHOD: Experimental PTA was induced by transection of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in swine left knee joints. After sacrifice at 8 weeks, cartilage and synovium obtained from both knee joints were prepared for histopathologic examination. Cultured synovial fibroblasts were processed for 2-dimensional electrophoresis and mass spectrometric analysis. Histopathologic examination showed overt arthritic changes that supported the development of early PTA. RESULTS: Proteome analyses led to the identification of more than 1,500 protein spots and of 11 differently expressed protein spots. Of those, six proteins were down-regulated (cytoskeletal beta actin, cofilin-1, destrin, Rho GDP dissociation inhibitor alpha, and unnamed protein product), and five proteins were up-regulated (alpha-B crystallin, smooth muscle protein 22-alpha, and cytoskeletal beta actin) in ACL-transected synovial fibroblasts. That is, proteins related to cellular organization and signal transduction are down-regulated, and those related to cell rescue, defence, and stress are up-regulated. CONCLUSION: These results may suggest that joint instability contributes to the development of PTA and is one of the major etiologic factors of PTA. In addition, this suggests that the proteome analysis of synovial fibroblasts is a useful approach in examining a joint after an injury and can be used to understand the pathogenesis of PTA.
Actins ; Anterior Cruciate Ligament ; Arthritis* ; Cartilage ; Crystallins ; Destrin ; Electrophoresis ; Fibroblasts* ; Guanine Nucleotide Dissociation Inhibitors ; Joint Instability ; Joints ; Knee Injuries ; Knee Joint ; Muscle, Smooth ; Proteome ; Signal Transduction ; Swine ; Synovial Membrane