OBJECTIVETo study the effect of selenium (Se) and iodine (I) and the compound of both on the proto-oncogenes c-fos and c-jun mRNA and their protein expression in the cultured rat hippocampus neurons.

METHODSUsing the technique of serum free hippocampus neuron culture, different doses of Se and I and Se + I compound were added into the medium. The expression of the mRNA of c-fos, c-jun in hippocampus neurons cultured for 1, 3, 5, 7 and 10 d were studied using both in situ hybridization and SABC immunohistochemical technique.

RESULTSBoth Se and I could enhance the expression of c-fos, c-jun mRNA and their proteins, especially the combination of I and Se able to give a remarkable effect on c-jun mRNA expression.

CONCLUSIONSSe and I may effect the expression of both c-fos and c-jun mRNA, especially the c-jun mRNA and its protein of hippocampus neurons, and thus may effect the differentiation and development of neurons.

Animals ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; metabolism ; Hippocampus ; metabolism ; Iodine ; Neurons ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-jun ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Rats ; Selenium

c-Jun, the most extensively studied protein of the activator protein-1 (AP-1) complex, is involved in numerous cell activities, such as proliferation, apoptosis, survival, tumorigenesis and tissue morphogenesis. Earlier studies focused on the structure and function have led to the identification of c-Jun as a basic leucine zipper (bZIP) transcription factor that acts as homo- or heterodimer, binding to DNA and regulating gene transcription. Later on, it was shown that extracellular signals can induce post-translational modifications of c-Jun, resulting in altered transcriptional activity and target gene expression. More recent work has uncovered multiple layers of a complex regulatory scheme in which c-Jun is able to crosstalk, amplify and integrate different signals for tissue development and disease. One example of such scheme is the autocrine amplification loop, in which signal-induced AP-1 activates the c-Jun gene promoter, while increased c-Jun expression feedbacks to potentiate AP-1 activity. Another example of such scheme, based on recent characterization of gene knockout mice, is that c-Jun integrates signals of several developmental pathways, including EGFR-ERK, EGFR-RhoA-ROCK, and activin B-MAP3K1-JNK for embryonic eyelid closure. After more than two decades of extensive research, c-Jun remains at the center stage of a molecular network with mysterious functional properties, some of which are yet to be discovered. In this article, we will provide a brief historical overview of studies on c-Jun regulation and function, and use eyelid development as an example to illustrate the complexity of c-Jun crosstalking with signaling pathways.
Animals ; Humans ; Mice ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-jun ; genetics ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction

BACKGROUNDA new brain region, the marginal division (MrD), was discovered at the caudal margin of the neostriatum. The MrD was shown to be involved in learning and memory in the rat. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of the immediate-early genes c-fos and c-jun in the MrD of the striatum during learning and memory processes in the rat, immunocytochemical and Western blot methods were used to examine Y-maze trained rats.

METHODSThe rats were divided into three groups, namely the training, pseudotraining, and control groups. After Y-maze training, the expression of the immediate-early genes c-fos and c-jun in the MrD of the rats was investigated using immunocytochemical and Western blot methods.

RESULTSAfter one hour of Y-maze training, the expression of c-jun and c-fos proteins was significantly enhanced in the MrD; the c-jun protein, in particular, was more intensely expressed in this region than in other parts of the striatum. The expression of these two proteins in the training group was significantly higher than in the pseudotraining and control groups. In addition, positive expression was also found in the hippocampus, cingulum cortex, thalamus, and in other areas. Western blot disclosed two immunoreactive bands for the anti-c-fos antibody (47 kD and 54 kD) and two immunoreactive bands for the anti-c-jun antibody (39 kD and 54 kD).

CONCLUSIONSThese results indicate that the immediate-early genes c-fos and c-jun participate in signal transduction during the learning and memory processes associated with Y-maze training in rats.

Animals ; Male ; Maze Learning ; Memory ; Neostriatum ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos ; biosynthesis ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-jun ; biosynthesis ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of forsythiaside on the expression of c-jun induced by cisplatin in the cochlea of guinea pig. METHOD: Thirty guinea pigs were randomly divided into control group (10), cisplatin group (10) and forsythiaside group (10). The ototoxicity model was done with intraperitoneal injection of cisplatin solution (8 mg/kg per day) for 7 days. Forsythiaside (25 mg/kg per day) was injected 30 min before cisplatin solution treated in guinea pigs of forsythiaside group for 7 consecutive days. The saline instead of cisplatin was injected in normal control group. The distortion product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE) was detected before animals were killed. The expression of c-jun in cochlea of guinea pigs was detected by western blotting. The expression of c-jun mRNA in cochlea of guinea pigs was detected by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). RESULT: DPOAE amplitudes in cisplatin group was significantly lower than in control group (P < 0.01). Compared with cisplatin group, DPOAE amplitudes in forsythiaside group was increased significantly (P < 0.05). The expression of c-jun protein and mRNA were significantly increased in cisplatin group than in control group (P < 0.01). Compared with cisplatin group, the expression of c-jun protein and mRNA were significantly decreased in forsythiaside group. CONCLUSION Forsythiaside can significantly reduce the side effects induced by cisplatin through down-regulating the expression of c-jun.
Animals ; Cisplatin ; toxicity ; Cochlea ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Female ; Glycosides ; pharmacology ; Guinea Pigs ; Male ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-jun ; metabolism

Apoptosis ; Cell Cycle ; Cell Differentiation ; Cell Proliferation ; Humans ; Neoplastic Processes ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-jun ; genetics ; metabolism ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo explore the expression of epidermal growth factor (EGF), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), c-fos and c-jun in oral lichen planus (OLP).

METHODSThe levels of gene expression of EGF, EGFR, c-fos and c-jun were detected with reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in 10 cases of erosive OLP, 12 cases of reticular OLP and 9 cases of normal oral mucosa. Protein contents and distribution of EGF, EGFR, C-fos and C-jun were examined with immunohistochemical technique in different tissues.

RESULTSThe endogenous levels of EGFR mRNA and protein in erosive OLP were (55.9 +/- 23.1)% and (71.1 +/- 10.1)%, respectively, and significantly higher than those in reticular OLP and normal oral mucosa. The mRNA contents of c-fos and c-jun were significantly higher in erosive OLP than in normal oral mucosa. The positive cell rates of c-fos and c-jun protein in erosive OLP were 1.3 and 1.5 times of those in normal oral mucosa, respectively (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe probability of carcinomatous change of erosive OLP might be higher than that of reticular OLP, in which EGF and EGFR might play an important role.

Adult ; Case-Control Studies ; Epidermal Growth Factor ; metabolism ; Humans ; Lichen Planus, Oral ; metabolism ; pathology ; Middle Aged ; Mouth Mucosa ; metabolism ; pathology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-jun ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor ; metabolism

AIMTo explore the relationship between the effects of curcumin on cerebral ischemic/reperfusion injury and immediately genic expressions of Fos, Jun and NF-kappaB in hippocampal CA1 area.

METHODSGerbils were randomly divided into sham group (SH), ischemia/reperfusion group (I/R), curcumin group (CU) and solvent control group (SC). Forebrain ischemia was induced by occlusion of bilateral common carotid arteries. Observations were carried out in each group 15 min, 1 h, 2 h, 6 h, 1 d, 3 d, 5 d and 7 d after ischemia: open field test was used to examine the behavioral change, the apoptosis neurons in hippocampal CA1 region was counted, the expression of Fos, Jun and NF-kappaB in hippocampal CA1 was detected by SABC immunocytochemical technique.

RESULTSThe behavioral mark and the number of apoptosis neurons in hippocampal (CA1 region was much less in CU group than in I/R group (P < 0.01) The expression of Fos was more and the expression of Jun and NF-kappaB was less in CA1 area in CU group than in I/R group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONCurcumin can significantly protect neurons against cerebral ischemia, increasing the expression Fos and decreasing the expression of Jun and NF-kappaB may be the protective mechanisms.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Brain Ischemia ; metabolism ; pathology ; Curcumin ; pharmacology ; Gerbillinae ; Hippocampus ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Male ; NF-kappa B ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-jun ; metabolism ; Reperfusion Injury ; metabolism ; pathology

OBJECTIVE: To explore the dynamic impacts of simulated microgravity (SM) on different vital brain regions of rats. METHODS: Microgravity was simulated for 7 and 21 days, respectively, using the tail-suspension rat model. Histomorphology, oxidative stress, inflammatory cytokines and the expression of some key proteins were determined in hippocampus, cerebral cortex and striatum. RESULTS: 21-day SM decreased brain derived neurotrophic factor and induced neuron atrophy in the cerebral cortex. Strong oxidative stress was triggered at day 7 and the oxidative status returned to physiological level at day 21. Inflammatory cytokines were gradually suppressed and in striatum, the suppression was regulated partially through c-Jun/c-Fos. CONCLUSION The results revealed that the significant impacts of SM on rat brain tissue depended on durations and regions, which might help to understand the health risk and to prevent brain damage for astronauts in space travel.
Animals ; Brain ; metabolism ; pathology ; Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor ; metabolism ; Cytokines ; metabolism ; Male ; Oxidative Stress ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-jun ; metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Weightlessness Simulation

This study was purposed to investigate the effect of blocking Ras/Erk signaling pathway on expression of important transcription factor c-fos, c-jun and TAK1 gene in primary acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) cells. The best effective concentration and effect time of PD98059 were screened; the expression levels of c-fos, c-jun and TAK1 in primary cultured cells of normal persons, primary cultured ALL cells and primary cultured ALL cells treated by PD98059 were detected by SYBR GreenI real-time quantitative-PCR. The results showed that before treatment by PD98059 the expression levels of c-fos and TAK1 mRNA were significantly up-regulated in primary cultured ALL cells as compared with primary cultured cells of normal persons (P = 0.014 and P = 0.017 respectively). After treatment by PD98059, the expression levels of c-fos, c-jun mRNA decreased in all 7 serum samples, while expression of TAK1 was down-regulated in 5 samples, and up-regulated in 2 samples. After treatment with PD98059, there was no statistical difference of c-fos, c-jun and TAK1 expression levels in primary cultured ALL cells and primary cultured normal cells. It is concluded that the c-fos and TAK1 activity of primary cultured ALL cells increases, and blocking the Ras/Erk signaling pathway of ALL cells can lead to obvious decrease of important transcription factors c-fos, c-jun, TAK1 genes expression.
Flavonoids ; pharmacology ; Humans ; MAP Kinase Kinase Kinases ; metabolism ; MAP Kinase Signaling System ; drug effects ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-jun ; metabolism ; Tumor Cells, Cultured

OBJECTIVETo explore the possible mechanism of electroacupuncture preconditioning (EAPC) and combined with ATP-sensitive potassium channel (KATP) blocker preconditioning for hypoxia/ischemic brain injury protection by observing the changes of the immediate genes (c-fos and c-jun protein content) in brain at the early stage after cerebral hypoxia/ischemic injury, and the effect of EAPC on these changes.

METHODSIntegrated density (ID) of c-fos and c-jun expression was measured by Western blot and computerized image processing.

RESULTSHypoxia/ischemia could induce c-fos and c-jun protein in both cerebral cortex and hippocampus simultaneously, with the peak appearing 2-4 hrs later, and the expression in hyppocampus was higher than that in cortex. EAPC could lower KATP blocker induced permanent high expression in hyppocampus.

CONCLUSIONThe effect of EAPC preconditioning in antagonizing cerebral hypoxia/ischemic injury may be related with its action in activating KATP, inhibiting the neuron apoptosis induced by the immediate genes at early stage of injury.

Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Apoptosis ; Brain ; metabolism ; pathology ; Electroacupuncture ; Female ; Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain ; metabolism ; prevention & control ; Ischemic Preconditioning ; methods ; Male ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-jun ; metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley