IRF-1 is an essential mediator in IFN-gamma-induced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis of primary cultured hepatocytes

IFN-gamma induces cell cycle arrest and p53-independent apoptosis in primary cultured hepatocytes. However, it is not yet understood what molecules regulate the mechanism. We report here that interferon regulatory factor 1 (IRF-1) is an essential molecule in these phenomena. Hepatocytes from IRF-1-deficient mice were completely resistant to IFN-gamma in apoptosis indicated by three different hallmarks such as LDH release, DNA fragmentation and the activation of caspase-3 family. Caspase-1 expression was little detected in hepatocytes, and constitutive and IFN-gamma-induced mRNA expression of Fas or caspase-3 did not change in between wild type and IRF-1-deficient hepatocytes. Expression of IFN-gamma-inducible caspase, caspase-11, did not change either. Thus, it is unlikely that these molecules directly regulate the mechanisms. Interestingly, IRF-1-deficient hepatocytes were also resistant to IFN-gamma-induced cell cycle arrest despite IFN-gamma-induced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis are regulated by independent pathways. Results by Northern blot analysis showed that IFN-gamma-induced but not constitutive p53 mRNA expression was regulated by IRF-1. In fact, IFN-gamma did not induce cell cycle arrest in p53-deficient hepatocytes. Taken together, IRF-1 mediates IFN-gamma signaling into primary hepatocytes for cell cycle arrest via p53 expression and for apoptosis.     

Control of ER stress by a chemical chaperone counteracts apoptotic signals in IFN-γ-treated murine hepatocytes

Apoptosis of hepatocytes plays a key role in the pathogenesis of immune-mediated hepatitis. However, the detailed mechanisms of apoptotic signaling remain unclear. In this study, we investigated the involvement of ER stress in a model of IFN-γ-induced apoptosis of hepatocytes in vitro, using a chemical chaperone reagent, glycerol. IFN-γ-induced apoptotic events (mitochondrial release of cytochrome c, enzymatic activation of caspase-3 and -9) were markedly inhibited by glycerol. Glycerol induced partial inhibition of cytotoxicity indicated by lactate dehydrogenase release from the cytosol but had no inhibitory effect on the induction of IRF-1 gene expression and reactive oxygen species, required for hepatocyte apoptosis by IFN-γ. Induction of caspase-4 and -12 gene expression, positively correlated with ER stress, was attenuated by glycerol. Gene analysis revealed that induction of ER stress-related genes, C/EBP homologue protein (CHOP/GADD153) and TRB3, was suppressed completely by glycerol treatment. These results suggest that ER stress plays a crucial role in mediating apoptosis of hepatocytes induced by IFN-γ, and a chemical chaperone is an effective inhibitor of the ER stress.     

Lycopene Protects against Hypoxia/Reoxygenation Injury by Alleviating ER Stress Induced Apoptosis in Neonatal Mouse Cardiomyocytes

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress induced apoptosis plays a pivotal role in myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R)-injury. Inhibiting ER stress is a major therapeutic target/strategy in treating cardiovascular diseases. Our previous studies revealed that lycopene exhibits great pharmacological potential in protecting against the I/R-injury in vitro and vivo, but whether attenuation of ER stress (and) or ER stress-induced apoptosis contributes to the effects remains unclear. In the present study, using neonatal mouse cardiomyocytes to establish an in vitro model of hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) to mimic myocardium I/R in vivo, we aimed to explore the hypothesis that lycopene could alleviate the ER stress and ER stress-induced apoptosis in H/R-injury. We observed that lycopene alleviated the H/R injury as revealed by improving cell viability and reducing apoptosis, suppressed reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and improved the phosphorylated AMPK expression, attenuated ER stress as evidenced by decreasing the expression of GRP78, ATF6 mRNA, sXbp-1 mRNA, eIF2α mRNA and eIF2α phosphorylation, alleviated ER stress-induced apoptosis as manifested by reducing CHOP/GADD153 expression, the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2, caspase-12 and caspase-3 activity in H/R-treated cardiomyocytes. Thapsigargin (TG) is a potent ER stress inducer and used to elicit ER stress of cardiomyocytes. Our results showed that lycopene was able to prevent TG-induced ER stress as reflected by attenuating the protein expression of GRP78 and CHOP/GADD153 compared to TG group, significantly improve TG-caused a loss of cell viability and decrease apoptosis in TG-treated cardiomyocytes. These results suggest that the protective effects of lycopene on H/R-injury are, at least in part, through alleviating ER stress and ER stress-induced apoptosis in neonatal mouse cardiomyocytes.     

Roles of CHOP/GADD153 in endoplasmic reticulum stress

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is the site of synthesis and folding of secretory proteins. Perturbations of ER homeostasis affect protein folding and cause ER stress. ER can sense the stress and respond to it through translational attenuation, upregulation of the genes for ER chaperones and related proteins, and degradation of unfolded proteins by a quality-control system. However, when the ER function is severely impaired, the organelle elicits apoptotic signals. ER stress has been implicated in a variety of common diseases such as diabetes, ischemia and neurodegenerative disorders. One of the components of the ER stress-mediated apoptosis pathway is C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP), also known as growth arrest- and DNA damage-inducible gene 153 (GADD153). Here, we summarize the current understanding of the roles of CHOP/GADD153 in ER stress-mediated apoptosis and in diseases including diabetes, brain ischemia and neurodegenerative disease.     

Induction of the endoplasmic reticulum stress protein GADD153/CHOP by capsaicin in prostate PC-3 cells: a microarray study

The effect of capsaicin, main pungent ingredient of hot chilli peppers, in the gene expression profile of human prostate PC-3 cancer cells has been analyzed using a microarray approach. We identified 10 genes that were down-regulated and five genes that were induced upon capsaicin treatment. The data obtained from microarray analysis were then validated using quantitative real-time PCR assays and Western blot analysis. The most remarkable change was the up-regulation of GADD153/CHOP, an endoplasmic reticulum stress-regulated gene. Activation of GADD153/CHOP protein was corroborated by immunofluorescence and Western blot. We then tested the contribution of GADD153/CHOP to protection against capsaicin-induced cell death using RNA interference. Blockage of GADD153/CHOP expression by small interfering RNA, significantly reduced capsaicin-induced cell death in PC-3 cells. Taken together, these results suggested that capsaicin induces the antiproliferative effect through a mechanism facilitated by ER stress in prostate PC-3 cells.     

A role of GADD153 in ER stress-induced apoptosis in recombinant Chinese hamster ovary cells

The imbalance between the folding capacity and the folding demand imposed on the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) of therapeutic protein-producing host cells results in a stressed ER. This initiates a series of cellular signaling events termed the unfolded protein response (UPR) aimed at restoring homeostasis. In order to alleviate ER stress and ER stress-induced apoptosis in recombinant Chinese hamster ovary (rCHO) cells, silencing of the growth arrest and DNA damage 153 gene (GADD153), the main pro-apoptotic factor of UPR, was attempted. The rCHO cells were cultured under four ER stress inducing conditions, including thapsigargin, brefeldin A, glucose deprivation, glucose and glutamine deprivation. In these conditions, the functions of stably GADD153-silenced clones were investigated. It was found that under exclusive ER stress-inducing conditions of thapsigargin and brefeldin A treatments, the GADD153-silenced clones showed a less incidence of apoptosis (about 38%) and less cell viability (about 58% non-viable cells) than the control cells. However, under nutrient deprivation, the beneficial effect of GADD153 silencing was not pronounced because nutrient deprivation led to a cascade of various events including GADD153-induced cell death. GADD153-overexpressing pool cells also substantiated the findings of GADD153 downregulation. Investigation of the underlying mechanism revealed that increased GADD153 expression results in an exaggerated production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and that GADD153 silencing promotes translational attenuation facilitating cell recovery from stress. Taken together, this study suggests that GADD153 sensitizes cells to ER stress through mechanisms that involve enhanced oxidative injury and by manipulating the ER client protein load in rCHO cells.     

Conserved cysteine-rich domain of paramyxovirus simian virus 5 V protein plays an important role in blocking apoptosis

The paramyxovirus family includes many well-known human and animal pathogens as well as emerging viruses such as Hendra virus and Nipah virus. The V protein of simian virus 5 (SV5), a prototype of the paramyxoviruses, contains a cysteine-rich C-terminal domain which is conserved among all paramyxovirus V proteins. The V protein can block both interferon (IFN) signaling by causing degradation of STAT1 and IFN production by blocking IRF-3 nuclear import. Previously, it was reported that recombinant SV5 lacking the C terminus of the V protein (rSV5VDeltaC) induces a severe cytopathic effect (CPE) in tissue culture whereas wild-type (wt) SV5 infection does not induce CPE. In this study, the nature of the CPE and the mechanism of the induction of CPE were investigated. Through the use of DNA fragmentation, terminal deoxynucleotidyltransferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling, and propidium iodide staining assays, it was shown that rSV5VDeltaC induced apoptosis. Expression of wt V protein prevented apoptosis induced by rSV5VDeltaC, suggesting that the V protein has an antiapoptotic function. Interestingly, rSV5VDeltaC induced apoptosis in U3A cells (a STAT1-deficient cell line) and in the presence of neutralizing antibody against IFN, suggesting that the induction of apoptosis by rSV5VDeltaC was independent of IFN and IFN-signaling pathways. Apoptosis induced by rSV5VDeltaC was blocked by a general caspase inhibitor, Z-VAD-FMK, but not by specific inhibitors against caspases 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 13, suggesting that rSV5VDeltaC-induced apoptosis can occur in a caspase 12-dependent manner. Endoplasmic reticulum stress can lead to activation of caspase 12; compared to the results seen with mock and wt SV5 infection, rSV5VDeltaC infection induced ER stress, as demonstrated by increased expression levels of known ER stress indicators GRP 78, GRP 94, and GADD153. These data suggest that rSV5VDeltaC can trigger cell death by inducing ER stress.     

Endoplasmic reticulum stress induces apoptosis by an apoptosome-dependent but caspase 12-independent mechanism

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is the cellular site of polypeptide folding and modification. When these processes are hampered, an unfolded protein response (UPR) is activated. If the damage is too broad, the mammalian UPR launches the apoptotic program. As a consequence, mobilization of ER calcium stores sensitizes mitochondria to direct proapoptotic stimuli. We make use of a mouse Apaf1-deficient cell system of proneural origin to understand the roles played in this context by the apoptosome, the most studied apoptotic machinery along the mitochondrial pathway of death. We show here that in the absence of the apoptosome ER stress induces cytochrome c release from the mitochondria but that apoptosis cannot occur. Under these circumstances, Grp78/BiP and GADD153/CHOP, both hallmarks of UPR, are canonically up-regulated, and calcium is properly released from ER stores. We also demonstrate that caspase 12, a protease until now believed to play a central role in the initiation of ER stress-induced cell death in the mouse system, is dispensable for the mitochondrial pathway of death to take place.     

CHOP/GADD153 在内质网应激介导细胞凋亡中的研究进展

内质网(endoplasmic reticulum,ER)广泛存在于真核细胞中,是负责细胞中分泌性蛋白合成和折叠的细胞器。20世纪70年代开始发现了许多干扰内质网功能的因素可直接或间接使内质网中未折叠的蛋白质堆积,使细胞处于应激状态(ER stress),细胞通过未折叠蛋白质反应(unfolded protein response,UPR)来适应内质网应激。未折叠蛋白质反应途径(UPR pathway)是一种信号转导途径,最早在酵母中阐明。近年来对哺乳动物细胞未折叠蛋白质反应途径的研究也获得了重要成果。毒性、缺氧、病毒感染等不良刺激可使细胞内环境的稳态受到破坏,诱发一系列内质网应激反应(ER stress)来维持细胞的正常功能。当细胞受到持续而强烈的刺激时,不能缓解内质网应激状态,细胞会走向凋亡。近年来的研究发现,CHOP/GADD153作为一种前凋亡分子,在内质网应激介导的细胞凋亡中发挥着重要作用,参与肿瘤、阿尔茨海默、糖尿病等诸多疾病的发生和发展过程。     

Fluoride induces endoplasmic reticulum stress in ameloblasts responsible for dental enamel formation

The mechanism of how fluoride causes fluorosis remains unknown. Exposure to fluoride can inhibit protein synthesis, and this may also occur by agents that cause endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. When translated proteins fail to fold properly or become misfolded, ER stress response genes are induced that together comprise the unfolded protein response. Because ameloblasts are responsible for dental enamel formation, we used an ameloblast-derived cell line (LS8) to characterize specific responses to fluoride treatment. LS8 cells were growth-inhibited by as little as 1.9-3.8 ppm fluoride, whereas higher doses induced ER stress and caspase-mediated DNA fragmentation. Growth arrest and DNA damage-inducible proteins (GADD153/CHOP, GADD45alpha), binding protein (BiP/glucose-responsive protein 78 (GRP78), the non-secreted form of carbonic anhydrase VI (CA-VI), and active X-box-binding protein-1 (Xbp-1) were all induced significantly after exposure to 38 ppm fluoride. Unexpectedly, DNA fragmentation increased when GADD153 expression was inhibited by short interfering RNA treatment but remained unaffected by transient GADD153 overexpression. Analysis of control and GADD153(-/-) embryonic fibroblasts demonstrated that caspase-3 mediated the increased DNA fragmentation observed in the GADD153 null cells. We also demonstrate that mouse incisor ameloblasts are sensitive to the toxic effects of high dose fluoride in drinking water. Activated Ire1 initiates an ER stress response pathway, and mouse ameloblasts were shown to express activated Ire1. Ire1 levels appeared induced by fluoride treatment, indicating that ER stress may play a role in dental fluorosis. Low dose fluoride, such as that present in fluoridated drinking water, did not induce ER stress.     

Reactive oxygen species-mediated endoplasmic reticulum stress contributes to aldosterone-induced apoptosis in tubular epithelial cells

Apoptosis contributes to tubular epithelial cell death and atrophy in aldosterone (Aldo)-induced renal injury. This study aimed to determine mechanisms underlying Aldo-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in tubular epithelial cells. Intracellular ROS generation was evaluated by 2',7'-dichlorofluorescin diacetate fluorescence. Apoptosis was detected by annexin V/propidium iodide staining and flow cytometry. ER stress induced protein and mRNA were evaluated by Western blot and real-time PCR, respectively. Aldo promoted tubular epithelial cell apoptosis, increased intracellular ROS production and induced ER stress, as evidenced by increased expression of glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78) and CAAT/enhancer-binding protein homologous protein (CHOP) in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Additionally, siRNA knockdown of CHOP and antioxidant N-acetyl-l-cysteine (NAC) attenuated ER stress-mediated apoptosis. NAC also could inhibit Aldo-induced expression of GRP78 and CHOP. Altogether, these observations suggest that Aldo induces apoptosis via ROS-mediated, CHOP-dependent activation in renal tubular epithelial cells.     

Interferon regulatory factor-1 mediates interferon-gamma-induced apoptosis in ovarian carcinoma cells

Interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), as one of interferon family that regulates antiviral, antiproliferative, and immunomodulatory responses, has been implicated for the growth regulation of ovarian cancer cells. However, the molecular mechanisms are not yet fully defined. To analyze detailed mechanisms, the ovarian cancer cell lines (2774, PA-1, OVCAR-3, and SKOV-3) were treated with IFN-gamma. The growth of 2774 was most effectively suppressed than that of other cells in both time-course and dose-dependent experiments. The order of sensitivity in other cells was PA-1 > OVCAR-3 > SKOV-3 (not responded at all). The DNA fragmentation and DAPI staining assays suggested that the IFN-gamma-mediated cytotoxicity could be triggered by apoptosis. The treatment induced IFN regulatory factor-1 (IRF-1) in two IFN-gamma-sensitive cells (2774, PA-1), whereas IRF-1 was not induced in two IFN-gamma-resistant cells (OVCAR-3, SKOV-3). The levels of p53 and p21WAF1 were not strikingly changed in all four cells. Interestingly, the expression of interleukin-converting enzyme (ICE, or caspase-1) was increased by the treatment in a kinetically consistent manner to the induction of IRF-1. However, CD95 (Fas/APO-1) was not changed. Apoptosis was greatly induced, when IRF-1 was transiently expressed in PA-1 without the treatment of IFN-gamma. However, it was repressed when IRF-1 together with IRF-2, an antagonist of IRF-1, were coexpressed. In addition, the effect of IFN-gamma was reduced in the 2774 and PA-1 cells stably expressing either IRF-1 antisense or IRF-2 sense, as shown by the cytotoxicity and FACS analysis. Furthermore, the IFN-gamma-induced apoptosis was greatly reduced, when inhibitors of ICE were treated into PA-1 cells. Taken together, these results suggest that IRF-1 directly mediates the IFN-gamma-induced apoptosis via the activation of caspase-1 gene expression in IFN-gamma-sensitive ovarian cancer cells.     

CD437 induces apoptosis in ovarian adenocarcinoma cells via ER stress signaling

A synthetic retinoid, CD437, has been shown to exert potent anti-tumor activity against various types of cancer cell lines, regardless of their sensitivities to natural retinoids. We herein demonstrate that CD437 induces endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, including the up-regulation of CHOP, BIP and GADD34 mRNA through ER stress transducer (PERK and IRE1α) activation in an ovarian adenocarcinoma cell line, SKOV3. It was also shown that CD437 induced the CHOP and GADD34 expressions in another four ovarian adenocarcinoma cell lines, indicating that CD437 functions as an ER stress inducer in these cell lines. Moreover, the siRNA-mediated knockdown of inducible CHOP expression prevented the cytotoxic effect of CD437. These results suggest that ER stress plays an important role in the mechanism by which CD437 induces apoptosis in ovarian adenocarcinoma cells.     

Induction of apoptosis coupled to endoplasmic reticulum stress in human prostate cancer cells by n-butylidenephthalide

Background

N-butylidenephthalide (BP) exhibits antitumor effect in a variety of cancer cell lines. The objective of this study was to obtain additional insights into the mechanisms involved in BP induced cell death in human prostate cancer cells.

Methods/Principal Findings

Two human prostate cancer cell lines, PC-3 and LNCaP, were treated with BP, and subsequently evaluated for their viability and cell cycle profiles. BP caused cell cycle arrest and cell death in both cell lines. The G0/G1 phase arrest was correlated with increase levels of CDK inhibitors (p16, p21 and p27) and decrease of the checkpoint proteins. To determine the mechanisms of BP-induced growth arrest and cell death in prostate cancer cell lines, we performed a microarray study to identify alterations in gene expression induced by BP in the LNCaP cells. Several BP-induced genes, including the GADD153/CHOP, an endoplasmic reticulum stress (ER stress)-regulated gene, were identified. BP-induced ER stress was evidenced by increased expression of the downstream molecules GRP78/BiP, IRE1-α and GADD153/CHOP in both cell lines. Blockage of IRE1-α or GADD153/CHOP expression by siRNA significantly reduced BP-induced cell death in LNCaP cells. Furthermore, blockage of JNK1/2 signaling by JNK siRNA resulted in decreased expression of IRE1-α and GADD153/CHOP genes, implicating that BP-induced ER stress may be elicited via JNK1/2 signaling in prostate cancer cells. BP also suppressed LNCaP xenograft tumor growth in NOD-SCID mice. It caused 68% reduction in tumor volume after 18 days of treatment.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that BP can cause G0/G1 phase arrest in prostate cancer cells and its cytotoxicity is mediated by ER stress induction. Thus, BP may serve as an anticancer agent by inducing ER stress in prostate cancer.