Neuronal dystonin isoform 2 is a mediator of endoplasmic reticulum structure and function

Dystonin/Bpag1 is a cytoskeletal linker protein whose loss of function in dystonia musculorum (dt) mice results in hereditary sensory neuropathy. Although loss of expression of neuronal dystonin isoforms (dystonin-a1/dystonin-a2) is sufficient to cause dt pathogenesis, the diverging function of each isoform and what pathological mechanisms are activated upon their loss remains unclear. Here we show that dt(27) mice manifest ultrastructural defects at the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) in sensory neurons corresponding to in vivo induction of ER stress proteins. ER stress subsequently leads to sensory neurodegeneration through induction of a proapoptotic caspase cascade. dt sensory neurons display neurodegenerative pathologies, including Ca(2+) dyshomeostasis, unfolded protein response (UPR) induction, caspase activation, and apoptosis. Isoform-specific loss-of-function analysis attributes these neurodegenerative pathologies to specific loss of dystonin-a2. Inhibition of either UPR or caspase signaling promotes the viability of cells deficient in dystonin. This study provides insight into the mechanism of dt neuropathology and proposes a role for dystonin-a2 as a mediator of normal ER structure and function.     

BI-1 regulates an apoptosis pathway linked to endoplasmic reticulum stress

Bax inhibitor-1 (BI-1) is an evolutionarily conserved endoplasmic reticulum (ER) protein that suppresses cell death in both animal and plant cells. We characterized mice in which the bi-1 gene was ablated. Cells from BI-1-deficient mice, including fibroblasts, hepatocytes, and neurons, display selective hypersensitivity to apoptosis induced by ER stress agents (thapsigargin, tunicamycin, brefeldin A), but not to stimulators of mitochondrial or TNF/Fas-death receptor apoptosis pathways. Conversely, BI-1 overexpression protects against apoptosis induced by ER stress. BI-1-mediated protection from apoptosis induced by ER stress correlated with inhibition of Bax activation and translocation to mitochondria, preservation of mitochondrial membrane potential, and suppression of caspase activation. BI-1 overexpression also reduces releasable Ca(2+) from the ER. In vivo, bi-1(-/-) mice exhibit increased sensitivity to tissue damage induced by stimuli that trigger ER stress, including stroke and tunicamycin injection. Thus, BI-1 regulates a cell death pathway important for cytopreservation during ER stress.     

Bcl-x(L) blocks a mitochondrial inner membrane channel and prevents Ca2+ overload-mediated cell death

Apoptosis is an active process that plays a key role in many physiological and pathological conditions. One of the most important organelles involved in apoptosis regulation is the mitochondrion. An increase in intracellular Ca(2+) is a general mechanism of toxicity in neurons which occurs in response to different noxious stimuli like excitotoxicity and ischemia producing apoptotic and necrotic cell death through mitochondria-dependent mechanisms. The Bcl-2 family of proteins modulate the release of pro-apoptotic factors from the mitochondrial intermembrane space during cell death induction by different stimuli. In this work, we have studied, using single-cell imaging and patch-clamp single channel recording, the mitochondrial mechanisms involved in the neuroprotective effect of Bcl-x(L) on Ca(2+) overload-mediated cell death in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells. We have found that Bcl-x(L) neuroprotective actions take place at mitochondria where this antiapoptotic protein delays both mitochondrial potential collapse and opening of the permeability transition pore by preventing Ca(2+)-mediated mitochondrial multiple conductance channel opening. Bcl-x(L) neuroprotective actions were antagonized by the Bcl-x(L) inhibitor ABT-737 and potentiated by the Ca(2+) chelator BAPTA-AM. As a consequence, this would prevent free radical production, mitochondrial membrane permeabilization, release from mitochondria of pro-apoptotic molecules, caspase activation and cellular death.     

Overexpressing GRP78 influences Ca2+ handling and function of mitochondria in astrocytes after ischemia-like stress

Ca(2+) transfer from endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to mitochondria at contact sites between the organelles can induce mitochondrial dysfunction and programmed cell death after stress. The ER-localized chaperone glucose-regulated protein 78kDa (GRP78/BiP) protects neurons against excitotoxicity and apoptosis. Here we show that overexpressing GRP78 protects astrocytes against ischemic injury, reduces net flux of Ca(2+) from ER to mitochondria, increases Ca(2+) uptake capacity in isolated mitochondria, reduces free radical production, and preserves respiratory activity and mitochondrial membrane potential after stress. We conclude that GRP78 influences ER-mitochondrial Ca(2+) crosstalk to maintain mitochondrial function and protect astrocytes from ischemic injury.     

Endoplasmic reticulum stress-induced apoptosis in Leishmania through Ca2+-dependent and caspase-independent mechanism

Numerous reports have shown that mitochondrial dysfunctions play a major role in apoptosis of Leishmania parasites, but the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-induced apoptosis in Leishmania remains largely unknown. In this study, we investigate ER stress-induced apoptotic pathways in Leishmania major using tunicamycin as an ER stress inducer. ER stress activates the expression of ER-localized chaperone protein BIP/GRP78 (binding protein/identical to the 78-kDa glucose-regulated protein) with concomitant generation of intracellular reactive oxygen species. Upon exposure to ER stress, the elevation of cytosolic Ca(2+) level is observed due to release of Ca(2+) from internal stores. Increase in cytosolic Ca(2+) causes mitochondrial membrane potential depolarization and ATP loss as ablation of Ca(2+) by blocking voltage-gated cation channels with verapamil preserves mitochondrial membrane potential and cellular ATP content. Furthermore, ER stress-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS)-dependent release of cytochrome c and endonuclease G from mitochondria to cytosol and subsequent translocation of endonuclease G to nucleus are observed. Inhibition of caspase-like proteases with the caspase inhibitor benzyloxycarbonyl-VAD-fluoromethyl ketone or metacaspase inhibitor antipain does not prevent nuclear DNA fragmentation and phosphatidylserine exposure. Conversely, significant protection in tunicamycin-induced DNA degradation and phosphatidylserine exposure was achieved by either pretreatment of antioxidants (N-acetyl-L-cysteine, GSH, and L-cysteine), chemical chaperone (4-phenylbutyric acid), or addition of Ca(2+) chelator (1,2-bis(2-aminophenoxy)ethane-N,N,N,N-tetraacetic acid-acetoxymethyl ester). Taken together, these data strongly demonstrate that ER stress-induced apoptosis in L. major is dependent on ROS and Ca(2+)-induced mitochondrial toxicity but independent of caspase-like proteases.     

Herp, a new ubiquitin-like membrane protein induced by endoplasmic reticulum stress

Hyperhomocysteinemia, a risk factor for vascular disease, injures endothelial cells through undefined mechanisms. We previously identified several homocysteine-responsive genes in cultured human vascular endothelial cells, including the endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-resident molecular chaperone GRP78/BiP. Here, we demonstrate that homocysteine induces the ER stress response and leads to the expression of a novel protein, Herp, containing a ubiquitin-like domain at the N terminus. mRNA expression of Herp was strongly up-regulated by inducers of ER stress, including mercaptoethanol, tunicamycin, A23187, and thapsigargin. The ER stress-dependent induction of Herp was also observed at the protein level. Immunochemical analyses using Herp-specific antibodies indicated that Herp is a 54-kDa, membrane-associated ER protein. Herp is the first integral membrane protein regulated by the ER stress response pathway. Both the N and C termini face the cytoplasmic side of the ER; this membrane topology makes it unlikely that Herp acts as a molecular chaperone for proteins in the ER, in contrast to GRP78 and other ER stress-responsive proteins. Herp may, therefore, play an unknown role in the cellular survival response to stress.     

Protective effect of paraoxonase-2 against endoplasmic reticulum stress-induced apoptosis is lost upon disturbance of calcium homoeostasis

PON2 (paraoxonase-2) is a ubiquitously expressed antioxidative protein which is largely found in the ER (endoplasmic reticulum). Addressing the cytoprotective functions of PON2, we observed that PON2 overexpression provided significant resistance to ER-stress-induced caspase 3 activation when the ER stress was induced by interference with protein modification (by tunicamycin or dithiothreitol), but not when ER stress was induced by disturbance of Ca(2+) homoeostasis (by thapsigargin or A23187). When analysing the underlying molecular events, we found an activation of the PON2 promoter in response to all tested ER-stress-inducing stimuli. However, only tunicamycin and dithiothreitol resulted in increased PON2 mRNA and protein levels. In contrast, when ER stress was caused by thapsigargin or A23187, we observed a Ca(2+)-dependent active degradation of PON2 mRNA, elicited by its 5'-untranslated region. In addition, thapsigargin and A23187 also induced PON2 protein degradation by a Ca(2+)-dependent calpain-mediated mechanism. Thus we provide evidence that independent mechanisms mediate the degradation of PON2 mRNA and protein after disturbance of Ca(2+) homoeostasis. Furthermore, because Ca(2+)-disturbance induces ER stress, but abrogates the otherwise protective function of PON2 against ER-stress-induced apoptosis, we propose that the underlying cause of ER stress determines the efficacy of putative cellular defence mechanisms.     

Calcium homoeostasis modulator 1 (CALHM1) reduces the calcium content of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and triggers ER stress

CALHM1 (calcium homoeostasis modulator 1), a membrane protein with similarity to NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate) receptor channels that localizes in the plasma membrane and the ER (endoplasmic reticulum) of neurons, has been shown to generate a plasma-membrane Ca(2+) conductance and has been proposed to influence Alzheimer's disease risk. In the present study we have investigated the effects of CALHM1 on intracellular Ca(2+) handling in HEK-293T [HEK (human embryonic kidney)-293 cells expressing the large T-antigen of SV40 (simian virus 40)] cells by using targeted aequorins for selective monitorization of Ca(2+) transport by organelles. We find that CALHM1 increases Ca(2+) leak from the ER and, more importantly, reduces ER Ca(2+) uptake by decreasing both the transport capacity and the Ca(2+) affinity of SERCA (sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-ATPase). As a result, the Ca(2+) content of the ER is drastically decreased. This reduction in the Ca(2+) content of the ER triggered the UPR (unfolded protein response) with induction of several ER stress markers, such as CHOP [C/EBP (CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein)-homologous protein], ERdj4, GRP78 (glucose-regulated protein of 78 kDa) and XBP1 (X-box-binding protein 1). Thus CALHM1 might provide a relevant link between Ca(2+) homoeostasis disruption, ER stress and cell damage in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases.     

Sustained ER Ca2+ depletion suppresses protein synthesis and induces activation-enhanced cell death in mast cells

Depletion of Ca(2+) from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) induces large increases in cytoplasmic Ca(2+), mitochondrial Ca(2+) loading, protein synthesis inhibition, and cell death. To clarify the connections among these events, we have evaluated the effect of Ca(2+) mobilizing agents thapsigargin (Tg), econazole (Ec), and the growth factor Steel Factor (SLF) on bone marrow-derived mast cells (BMMCs). BMMC Ca(2+) stores were found to consist of a Tg-sensitive ER compartment, the Tg-insensitive SIC store, and mitochondrial stores. Low levels of Ec interfered with Tg-stimulated mitochondrial loading while promoting progressive leakage of Ca(2+) from the ER. Low levels of Ec completely reversed Tg toxicity while higher levels blocked store-operated influx and induced cell death in a SLF-enhanced manner. Both Ec and Tg inhibited protein synthesis, however, only SLF plus Tg or very high levels of Ec were able to significantly stimulate EIF-2alpha phosphorylation. Cycloheximide only partially protected BMMCs from Tg toxicity yet strongly synergized with Ec to induce cell death. These results therefore indicate that although both Tg and Ec deplete ER Ca(2+) levels, Ec-induced cell death results from sustained protein synthesis inhibition while Tg toxicity results primarily from mitochondrial Ca(2+) overload and secondarily from ER stress associated with Ca(2+) depletion.     

Coupling endoplasmic reticulum stress to the cell death program

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) regulates protein synthesis, protein folding and trafficking, cellular responses to stress and intracellular calcium (Ca(2+)) levels. Alterations in Ca(2+) homeostasis and accumulation of misfolded proteins in the ER cause ER stress that ultimately leads to apoptosis. Prolonged ER stress is linked to the pathogenesis of several different neurodegenerative disorders. Apoptosis is a form of cell death that involves the concerted action of a number of intracellular signaling pathways including members of the caspase family of cysteine proteases. The two main apoptotic pathways, the death receptor ('extrinsic') and mitochondrial ('intrinsic') pathways, are activated by caspase-8 and -9, respectively, both of which are found in the cytoplasm. Recent studies point to the ER as a third subcellular compartment implicated in apoptotic execution. Here, we review evidence for the contribution of various cellular molecules that contribute to ER stress and subsequent cellular death. It is hoped that dissection of the molecular components and pathways that alter ER structure and function and ultimately promote cellular death will provide a framework for understanding degenerative disorders that feature misfolded proteins.     

Endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ dysregulation and endoplasmic reticulum stress following in vitro neuronal ischemia: role of Na+-K+-Cl- cotransporter

We investigated the role of Na(+)-K(+)-Cl(-) cotransporter (NKCC1) in conjunction with Na(+)/Ca(2+) exchanger (NCX) in disruption of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) Ca(2+) homeostasis and ER stress development in primary cortical neurons following in vitro ischemia. Oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) and reoxygenation (REOX) caused a rise in [Na(+)](cyt) which was accompanied by an elevation in [Ca(2+)](cyt). Inhibition of NKCC1 with its potent inhibitor bumetanide abolished the OGD/REOX-induced rise in [Na(+)](cyt) and [Ca(2+)](cyt). Moreover, OGD significantly increased Ca(2+)(ER) accumulation. Following REOX, a biphasic change in Ca(2+)(ER) occurred with an initial release of Ca(2+)(ER) which was sensitive to inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor (IP(3)R) inhibition and a subsequent refilling of Ca(2+)(ER) stores. Inhibition of NKCC1 activity with its inhibitor or genetic ablation prevented the release of Ca(2+)(ER). A similar result was obtained with inhibition of reversed mode operation of NCX (NCX(rev)). OGD/REOX also triggered a transient increase of glucose regulated protein 78 (GRP78), phospho-form of the alpha subunit of eukaryotic initiation factor 2 (p-eIF2alpha), and cleaved caspase 12 proteins. Pre-treatment of neurons with NKCC1 inhibitor bumetanide inhibited upregulation of GRP78 and attenuated the level of cleaved caspase 12 and p-eIF2alpha. Inhibition of NKCC1 reduced cytochrome C release and neuronal death. Taken together, these results suggest that NKCC1 and NCX(rev) may be involved in ischemic cell damage in part via disrupting ER Ca(2+) homeostasis and ER function.     

Unfolded proteins and endoplasmic reticulum stress in neurodegenerative disorders

The stimuli for neuronal cell death in neurodegenerative disorders are multi-factorial and may include genetic predisposition, environmental factors, cellular stressors such as oxidative stress and free radical production, bioenergy failure, glutamate-induced excitotoxicity, neuroinflammation, disruption of Ca(2+) -regulating systems, mitochondrial dysfunction and misfolded protein accumulation. Cellular stress disrupts functioning of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), a critical organelle for protein quality control, leading to induction of the unfolded protein response (UPR). ER stress may contribute to neurodegeneration in a range of neurodegenerative disorders. This review summarizes the molecular events occurring during ER stress and the unfolded protein response and it specifically evaluates the evidence suggesting the ER stress response plays a role in neurodegenerative disorders.     

Deficiency in the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway reveals the toxic potential of autophagy under ER stress conditions

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-induced cell death is normally associated with activation of the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway, which is characterized by CYCS (cytochrome c, somatic) release, apoptosome formation, and caspase activation, resulting in cell death. In this study, we demonstrate that under conditions of ER stress cells devoid of CASP9/caspase-9 or BAX and BAK1, and therefore defective in the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway, still undergo a delayed form of cell death associated with the activation of caspases, therefore revealing the existence of an alternative stress-induced caspase activation pathway. We identified CASP8/caspase-8 as the apical protease in this caspase cascade, and found that knockdown of either of the key autophagic genes, ATG5 or ATG7, impacted on CASP8 activation and cell death induction, highlighting the crucial role of autophagy in the activation of this novel ER stress-induced death pathway. In line with this, we identified a protein complex composed of ATG5, FADD, and pro-CASP8 whose assembly coincides with caspase activation and cell death induction. Together, our results reveal the toxic potential of autophagy in cells undergoing ER stress that are defective in the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway, and suggest a model in which the autophagosome functions as a platform facilitating pro-CASP8 activation. Chemoresistance, a common problem in the treatment of cancer, is frequently caused by the downregulation of key mitochondrial death effector proteins. Alternate stress-induced apoptotic pathways, such as the one described here, may become of particular relevance for tackling the problem of chemoresistance in cancer cells.     

G37R SOD1 mutant alters mitochondrial complex I activity, Ca(2+) uptake and ATP production

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by selective death of motor neurons. Mutations in Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase-1 (SOD1) cause familial ALS but the molecular mechanisms whereby these mutations induce motor neuron death remain controversial. Here, we show that stable overexpression of mutant human SOD1 (G37R) - but not wild-type SOD1 (wt-SOD1) - in mouse neuroblastoma cells (N2a) results in morphological abnormalities of mitochondria accompanied by several dysfunctions. Activity of the oxidative phosphorylation complex I was significantly reduced in G37R cells and correlated with lower mitochondrial membrane potential and reduced levels of cytosolic ATP. Using targeted chimeric aequorin we further analyzed the consequences of mitochondrial dysfunction on cellular Ca(2+) handling. Mitochondrial Ca(2+) uptake, elicited by IP(3)-induced Ca(2+) release from endoplasmic reticulum (ER) was significantly reduced in G37R cells, while uptake induced by a brief Ca(2+) pulse was not affected in permeabilized cells. The decreased mitochondrial Ca(2+) uptake resulted in increased cytosolic Ca(2+) transients, whereas ER Ca(2+) load and resting cytosolic Ca(2+) levels were not affected. Together, these findings suggest that the mechanism linking mutant G37R SOD1 and ALS involves mitochondrial respiratory chain deficiency resulting in ATP loss and impairment of mitochondrial and cytosolic Ca(2+) homeostasis.     

Cardiomyocyte-specific disruption of Serca2 in adult mice causes sarco(endo)plasmic reticulum stress and apoptosis

Reduced sarco(endo)plasmic reticulum (SR) Ca(2+) ATPase (SERCA2) contributes to the impaired cardiomyocyte Ca(2+) homeostasis observed in heart failure. We hypothesized that a reduction in SERCA2 also elicits myocardial ER/SR stress responses, including unfolded protein responses (UPR) and cardiomyocyte apoptosis, which may additionally contribute to the pathophysiology of this condition. Left ventricular myocardium from mice with cardiomyocyte-specific tamoxifen-inducible disruption of Serca2 (SERCA2 KO) was compared with aged-matched controls. In SERCA2 KO hearts, SERCA2 protein levels were markedly reduced to 2% of control values at 7 weeks following tamoxifen treatment. Serca2 disruption caused increased abundance of the ER stress-associated proteins CRT, GRP78, PERK, and eIF2α and increased phosphorylation of PERK and eIF2α, indicating UPR induction. Pro-apoptotic signaling was also activated in SERCA2 KO, as the abundance of CHOP, caspase 12, and Bax was increased. Indeed, TUNEL staining revealed an increased fraction of cardiomyocytes undergoing apoptosis in SERCA2 KO. ER-Tracker staining additionally revealed altered ER structure. These findings indicate that reduction in SERCA2 protein abundance is associated with marked ER/SR stress in cardiomyocytes, which induces UPR, apoptosis, and ER/SR structural alterations. This suggests that reduced SERCA2 abundance or function may contribute to the phenotype of heart failure also through induction of ER/SR stress responses.     

An increase in intracellular Ca2+ is required for the activation of mitochondrial calpain to release AIF during cell death

Apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF), a flavoprotein with NADH oxidase activity anchored to the mitochondrial inner membrane, is known to be involved in complex I maintenance. During apoptosis, AIF can be released from mitochondria and translocate to the nucleus, where it participates in chromatin condensation and large-scale DNA fragmentation. The mechanism of AIF release is not fully understood. Here, we show that a prolonged ( approximately 10 min) increase in intracellular Ca(2+) level is a prerequisite step for AIF processing and release during cell death. In contrast, a transient ATP-induced Ca(2+) increase, followed by rapid normalization of the Ca(2+) level, was not sufficient to trigger the proteolysis of AIF. Hence, import of extracellular Ca(2+) into staurosporine-treated cells caused the activation of a calpain, located in the intermembrane space of mitochondria. The activated calpain, in turn, cleaved membrane-bound AIF, and the soluble fragment was released from the mitochondria upon outer membrane permeabilization through Bax/Bak-mediated pores or by the induction of Ca(2+)-dependent mitochondrial permeability transition. Inhibition of calpain, or chelation of Ca(2+), but not the suppression of caspase activity, prevented processing and release of AIF. Combined, these results provide novel insights into the mechanism of AIF release during cell death.