The anti-apoptosis protein, survivin, mediates gastric epithelial cell cytoprotection against ethanol-induced injury via activation of the p34(cdc2) cyclin-dependent kinase.
The anti-apoptosis protein, survivin, promotes cell survival and mitosis. Recent studies have demonstrated that survivin is expressed in normal gastric mucosa. Using an in vitro model, we examined whether survivin plays a role in the cytoprotection produced in gastric mucosa by mild irritant ethanol (ETOH) against subsequent exposure to concentrated ETOH. Pre-treatment of rat gastric epithelial cells with 1% ETOH reduced cell death, in response to subsequent incubation with 5% ETOH, by 94% (P < 0.005). This pre-treatment also resulted in increased total and phosphorylated survivin protein levels by 180% (P < 0.0001) and 540% (P < 0.0002), respectively, which required the p34(cdc2) cell cycle-dependent kinase. The cytoprotective effect was abrogated upon siRNA knockdown of survivin protein levels. Further, overexpression of exogenous survivin resulted in significant cytoprotection by 62% (P < 0.02) in the absence of any pre-treatment. We further examined the in vivo relevance of these findings. In fasted rats, administration of 20% ETOH, which we found to be 93% (P < 0.0001) cytoprotective against 50% ETOH challenge, resulted in increased total and phosphorylated survivin protein levels by 234% (P < 0.001) and 214% (P < 0.02), respectively. Administration of 20% ETOH resulted in increased gastric p34(cdc2) activity by 146% (P < 0.01). Inhibition of p34(cdc2) by the potent inhibitor, roscovitine, abolished the increased survivin levels in response to pre-administration of 20% ETOH and reduced the cytoprotection against 50% ETOH challenge by 59% (P < 0.01). These results indicate that survivin is a key mediator of cytoprotection against ETOH-induced gastric injury, acting at the epithelial cell level, by a mechanism that is dependent, in part, on p34(cdc2).
Jones
Michael K
MK
Research, Veterans Affairs Long Beach Healthcare System, Long Beach, California 90822, USA. michael.jones4@med.va.gov
Padilla
Oscar R
OR
Webb
Nicole A
NA
Norng
Manith
M
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D016203:CDC2 Protein Kinase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D019610:Cytoprotection / Q000502:physiology*; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D000431:Ethanol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D010750:Phosphoproteins / Q000378:metabolism; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis / Q000187:drug effects; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013270:Stomach / Q000166:cytology* / Q000473:pathology; D000077022:Survivin; D013912:Threonine
C516989:Birc5 protein, rat; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins; D010750:Phosphoproteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D000077022:Survivin; D013912:Threonine; D000431:Ethanol; D016203:CDC2 Protein Kinase