Transient receptor potential melastatin 6 (TRPM6) channel is involved in the reabsorption of magnesium in the kidney. We recently found that TRPM6 expression is up-regulated by EGF, but the regulatory mechanism has not been clear. TRPM6 mRNA was endogenously expressed in HEK293 cells. TRPM6 mRNA expression was increased by EGF, which was inhibited by U0126, an MEK inhibitor. Promoter activity of human TRPM6 was observed in the TRPM6 5'-flanking region from -1,214 to -718. This promoter activity was enhanced by EGF and inhibited by U0126. Three putative AP-1 binding sites were identified within the region of -1,214/-718. The mutation of the putative AP-1 binding site (-741/-736) completely inhibited the EGF-induced promoter activity. EGF increased p-ERK1/2, c-Fos, c-Jun, and p-c-Jun levels, which were inhibited by U0126. The introduction of c-Fos or c-Jun siRNA inhibited the EGF-induced promoter activity. A chromatin immunoprecipitation assay revealed that c-Fos and c-Jun bind to the AP-1 binding site within the region of -1,214/-718. These results suggest that EGF up-regulates TRPM6 mRNA expression mediate via the activation of ERK/AP-1-dependent pathway.

The dermis is a tissue rich in collagenous and elastic fibres and supports the epidermal tissue. The network structure of extracellular matrix in the dermis is maintained by molecules such as collagen and elastin produced by fibroblasts. When DNA in fibroblasts is damaged by ageing, UV ray, oxidative stress or other reasons, the production of such fibre molecules is decreased, resulting in dermal dysfunction. DNA damage is able to be sensed and repaired by ATM and ATR kinases and downstream DNA damage response signalling pathway. Fibroblasts that have irreparable damage, however, become senescent or are subject to apoptosis. [1-3] Cell senescence is well known to be associated with reduced function of the cell itself, and recently, it has also been found that the accumulation of senescent cells damages the surrounding tissue. Age-related accumulation of senescent cells has been observed in the dermis, [4,5] and impairment of the dermis by senescent cells needs to be recovered to maintain dermal homeostasis.

Background: Disease-associated claudin-16 mutants cause mislocalization and decrease reabsorption of Mg 2ϩ in the kidney. Results: Knockdown of syntaxin 8 in kidney cells decreased the tight junctional localization of claudin-16 in parallel with a decrease in Mg 2ϩ permeability. Conclusion: Syntaxin 8 controls the localization of claudin-16. Significance: Our findings provide a new insight into the trafficking mechanism of tight junctional proteins.

Rapamycin, an inhibitor of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), is used in treatments for transplantation and cancer. Rapamycin causes hypomagnesemia, although precisely how has not been examined. Here, we investigated the effect of rapamycin on the expression of transient receptor potential melastatin 6 (TRPM6), a Mg2+ channel. Rapamycin and LY-294002, an inhibitor of phosphatidilinositol-3 kinase (PI3K) located upstream of mTOR, inhibited epidermal growth factor (EGF)-induced expression of the TRPM6 protein without affecting TRPM7 expression in rat renal NRK-52E epithelial cells. Both rapamycin and LY-294002 decreased EGF-induced Mg2+ influx. U0126, a MEK inhibitor, inhibited EGF-induced increases in c-Fos, p-ERK, and TRPM6 levels. In contrast, neither rapamycin nor LY-294002 inhibited EGF-induced increases in p-ERK and c-Fos levels. EGF increased p-Akt level, an effect inhibited by LY-294002 and 1L-6-hydroxymethyl-chiro-inositol2-[(R)-2-O-methyl-3-O-octadecylcarbonate] (Akt inhibitor). Akt inhibitor decreased TRPM6 level similar to rapamycin and LY-294002. These results suggest that a PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway is involved in the regulation of TRPM6 expression. Rapamycin inhibited the EGF-induced increase in TRPM6 mRNA but did not inhibit human TRPM6 promoter activity. In the presence of actinomycin D, a transcriptional inhibitor, rapamycin accelerated the decrease in TRPM6 mRNA. Rapamycin decreased the expression and activity of a luciferase linked with the 3'-untranslated region of human TRPM6 mRNA. These results suggest that TRPM6 expression is up-regulated by a PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway and rapamycin reduces TRPM6 mRNA stability, resulting in a decrease in the reabsorption of Mg2+.

Periodontitis is an inflammatory disease associated with severe alveolar bone loss and is dominantly induced by lipopolysaccharide from Gram-negative bacteria; however, the role of Gram-positive bacteria in periodontal bone resorption remains unclear. In this study, we examined the effects of lipoteichoic acid (LTA), a major cell-wall factor of Gram-positive bacteria, on the progression of inflammatory alveolar bone loss in a model of periodontitis. In coculture of mouse primary osteoblasts and bone marrow cells, LTA induced osteoclast differentiation in a dose-dependent manner. LTA enhanced the production of PGE2 accompanying the upregulation of the mRNA expression of mPGES-1, COX-2 and RANKL in osteoblasts. The addition of indomethacin effectively blocked the LTA-induced osteoclast differentiation by suppressing the production of PGE2. Using ex vivo organ cultures of mouse alveolar bone, we found that LTA induced alveolar bone resorption and that this was suppressed by indomethacin. In an experimental model of periodontitis, LTA was locally injected into the mouse lower gingiva, and we clearly detected alveolar bone destruction using 3D-μCT. We herein demonstrate a new concept indicating that Gram-positive bacteria in addition to Gram-negative bacteria are associated with the progression of periodontal bone loss.

Lack of magnesium suppresses cell growth, but the molecular mechanism is not examined in detail. We examined the effect of extracellular magnesium deficiency on cell cycle progression and the expression of cell cycle regulators in renal epithelial NRK-52E cells. In synchronized cells caused by serum-starved method, over 80% cells were distributed in G1 phase. Cell proliferation and percentage of the cells in S phase in the presence of MgCl(2) were higher than those in the absence of MgCl(2) , suggesting that magnesium is involved in the cell cycle progression from G1 to S phase. After serum addition, the expression levels of p21(Cip1) and p27(Kip1) in the absence of MgCl(2) were higher than those in the presence of MgCl(2) . The exogenous expression of p21(Cip1) or p27(Kip1) increased the percentage in G1 phase, whereas it decreased that in S phase. The mRNA levels and promoter activities of p21(Cip1) and p27(Kip1) in the absence of MgCl(2) were higher than those in the presence of MgCl(2) . The phosphorylated p53 (p-p53) level was decreased by MgCl(2) addition. Pifithrin-α, a p53 inhibitor, decreased the p-p53, p21(Cip1) and p27(Kip1) levels, and the percentage in G1 phase in the absence of MgCl(2) . Rotenone, a mitochondrial respiratory inhibitor, decreased ATP content and increased the p-p53 level in the presence of MgCl(2) . Together, lack of magnesium may increase p21(Cip1) and p27(Kip1) levels mediated by the decrease in ATP content and the activation of p53, resulting in the suppression of cell cycle progression from G1 to S phase in NRK-52E cells.

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Previous studies have demonstrated that the numbers of interfollicular epidermal stem cells (IFE‐SCs) and dermal stem cells (DSCs) decrease with age and that this decrease is attributed to the age‐related deterioration of skin homeostatic functions and the delay in wound healing. Meanwhile, functional decline in the stem cells is also considered to be responsible for the deteriorated skin homeostatic functions and the delayed wound healing associated with ageing. In the present study, we focused on epidermal growth factor/epidermal growth factor receptor (EGF/EGFR) signalling and fibroblast growth factor‐2/fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGF2/FGFR) signalling to analyse the age‐related changes. Immunohistological analysis revealed that the expressions of EGFR and FGFR1 declined in IFE‐SCs and DSCs with age, respectively. Additionally, IFE‐SCs and DSCs isolated from the skin samples of elderly subjects exhibited lowered responsiveness to EGF and FGF2, respectively. These results suggest that the lowered responsiveness of the skin stem cells to growth factors may be a factor involved in the age‐related deterioration of skin regenerative functions during wound healing and skin homeostatic functions. We hope that homeostatic and wound healing functions in the skin could be maintained if the decreased expressions of EGFR and FGFR1 in IFE‐SCs and DSCs, respectively, can be suppressed.