Protective role of Gipie, a Girdin family protein, in endoplasmic reticulum stress responses in endothelial cells

Continued exposure of endothelial cells to mechanical/shear stress elicits the unfolded protein response (UPR), which enhances intracellular homeostasis and protect cells against the accumulation of improperly folded proteins. Cells commit to apoptosis when subjected to continuous and high endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress unless homeostasis is maintained. It is unknown how endothelial cells differentially regulate the UPR. Here we show that a novel Girdin family protein, Gipie (78 kDa glucose-regulated protein [GRP78]-interacting protein induced by ER stress), is expressed in endothelial cells, where it interacts with GRP78, a master regulator of the UPR. Gipie stabilizes the interaction between GRP78 and the ER stress sensor inositol-requiring protein 1 (IRE1) at the ER, leading to the attenuation of IRE1-induced c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) activation. Gipie expression is induced upon ER stress and suppresses the IRE1-JNK pathway and ER stress-induced apoptosis. Furthermore we found that Gipie expression is up-regulated in the neointima of carotid arteries after balloon injury in a rat model that is known to result in the induction of the UPR. Thus our data indicate that Gipie/GRP78 interaction controls the IRE1-JNK signaling pathway. That interaction appears to protect endothelial cells against ER stress-induced apoptosis in pathological contexts such as atherosclerosis and vascular endothelial dysfunction.     

La3+ binds to BiP/GRP78 and induces unfolded protein response in HepG2 cells

The effects of La3+ on the unfolded protein response signaling pathways were investigated in human hepatoblastoma HepG2 cells. Our data showed that La3+ could induce unfolded protein response in HepG2 cells, including a significant increase of BiP/GRP78 level, which is an important ER residential chaperone and an ER stress hallmark, in a concentration and time-dependent manner, UPR transducer IRE1 phosphorylation and splicing activation IRE1 downstream substrate XBP1 mRNA. By using La3+-affinity chromatography, the possible cellular target of La3+ leading to UPR events was shown to be the ER residential chaperone BiP/GRP78. BiP/GRP78 was shown to be a La3+ binding protein and the interaction of La3+ with BiP/GRP78 resulted in dissociation of BiP-IRE1 complexes. La3+ induced dissociation of the BiP/GRP78-IRE1 complex was in a time and concentration manner. The apparent dissociation constant was estimated to be 4 nM. In addition, La3+ was observed to slightly stimulate the production of cellular ROS and cause alteration of intracellular Ca2+, indicating the possible involvement of ROS and Ca2+ alteration in La3+ induced UPR. The present work provides a new perspective for understanding the biological and toxicological effects of La3+.     

IRE1α dissociates with BiP and inhibits ER stress-mediated apoptosis in cartilage development

Bone morphogenetic protein 2 is known to activate unfolded protein response signaling molecules, including XBP1S, BiP and IRE1α. Endoplasmic reticulum stress is induced in chondrogenesis and activates IRE1α signal pathway, which is associated with ER stress-mediated apoptosis. However, the influence on IRE1α and BiP in BMP2-induced chondrocyte differentiation has not yet been elucidated; the molecular mechanism remains unexplored.In this study, we demonstrate that IRE1α interacts with BiP in unstressed cells and dissociates from BiP in the course of cartilage development. Induction of ER stress-responsive proteins (XBP1S, IRE1α, BiP) was also observed in differentiating cells. IRE1α inhibition ER stress-mediated apoptosis lies in the process of chondrocyte differentiation. Furthermore, knockdown of IRE1α expression by way of the RNAi approach accelerates ER stress-mediated apoptosis in chondrocyte differentiation induced by BMP2, as revealed by enhanced expressions of cleaved caspase3, CHOP and p-JNK1; and this IRE1α inhibition effect on ER stress-mediated apoptosis is required for BiP in chondrogenesis.Collectively, the ER stress sensors were activated during apoptosis in cartilage development, suggesting that selective activation of ER stress signaling was sufficient for induction of apoptosis. These findings reveal a novel critical role of IRE1α in ER stress-mediated apoptosis and the molecular mechanisms involved. These results suggest that activation of p-JNK1, caspase3 and CHOP was detected in developing chondrocytes and that specific ER stress signaling leads to naturally occurring apoptosis during cartilage development.     

Thapsigargin down-regulates protein levels of GRP78/BiP in INS-1E cells

Pancreatic β-cells have a well-developed endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and express large amounts of chaperones and protein disulfide isomerases (PDI) to meet the high demand for synthesis of proteins. We have observed an unexpected decrease in chaperone protein level in the β-cell model INS-1E after exposure to the ER stress inducing agent thapsigargin. As these cells are a commonly used model for primary β-cells and has been shown to be vulnerable to ER stress, we hypothesize these cells are incapable of mounting a chaperone defense upon activation of ER stress. To investigate the chaperone expression during an ER stress response, induced by thapsigargin in INS-1E cells, we used quantitative mass spectrometry based proteomics. The results displayed a decrease of GRP78/BiP, PDIA3 and PDIA6. Decrease of GRP78/BiP was verified by Western blot and occurred in parallel with enhanced levels of p-eIF2α and CHOP. In contrast to INS-1E cells, GRP78/BiP was not decreased in MIN6 cell or rat and mouse islets after thapsigargin exposure. Investigation of the decreased protein levels of GRP78/BiP indicates that this is not a consequence of reduced mRNA expression. Rather the reduction results from the combined effect of reduced protein synthesis and enhanced proteosomal degradation and possibly also degradation via autophagy. Induction of ER stress with thapsigargin leads to lower protein levels of GRP78/BiP, PDIA3 and PDIA6 in INS-1E cells which may contribute to the susceptibility of ER stress in this β-cell model.     

Insulin-like growth factor-I protects cells from ER stress-induced apoptosis via enhancement of the adaptive capacity of endoplasmic reticulum

Disruption of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) homeostasis causes accumulation of unfolded and misfolded proteins in the ER, triggering the ER stress response, which can eventually lead to apoptosis when ER dysfunction is severe or prolonged. Here we demonstrate that human MCF-7 breast cancer cells, as well as murine NIH/3T3 fibroblasts, are rescued from ER stress-initiated apoptosis by insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I). IGF-I significantly augments the adaptive capacity of the ER by enhancing compensatory mechanisms such as the IRE1 alpha-, PERK- and ATF6-mediated arms of ER stress signalling. During ER stress, IGF-I stimulates translational recovery and induces expression of the key molecular chaperone protein Grp78/BiP, thereby enhancing the folding capacity of the ER and promoting recovery from ER stress. We also demonstrate that the antiapoptotic activity of IGF-I during ER stress may be mediated by a novel, as yet unidentified, signalling pathway(s). Application of signal transduction inhibitors of MEK (U1026), PI3K (LY294002 and wortmannin), JNK (SP600125), p38 (SB203580), protein kinases A and C (H-89 and staurosporine) and STAT3 (Stattic) does not prevent IGF-I-mediated protection from ER stress-induced apoptosis. Taken together, these data demonstrate that IGF-I protects against ER stress-induced apoptosis by increasing adaptive mechanisms through enhancement of ER stress-signalling pathways, thereby restoring ER homeostasis and preventing apoptosis.     

Free cholesterol-induced macrophage apoptosis is mediated by inositol-requiring enzyme 1 alpha-regulated activation of Jun N-terminal kinase

Macrophage death in advanced atherosclerotic lesions leads to lesional necrosis, possible plaque rupture, and acute vascular occlusion. A likely cause of macrophage death is the accumulation of free cholesterol (FC) leading to activation of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-induced apoptosis. Inositol-requiring enzyme 1 alpha (IRE1α) is an integral membrane protein of the ERthat is a key signaling step in cholesterol-induced apoptosis in macrophages, activated by stress in the ER. However, the role of IRE1α in the regulation of ER stress-induced macrophage death and the mechanism for this process are largely unclear. In this study, a cell culture model was used to explore the mechanisms involved in the ER stress pathway of FC-induced macrophage death. The results herein showed that FC loading of macrophages leads to an apoptotic response that is partially dependent on initiation by activation of IRE1α. Taken together, these results showed that the IRE1-apoptosis-signaling kinase 1-c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase cascade pathway was required in this process. Moreover, the data suggested a novel cellular mechanism for cholesterol-induced macrophage death in advanced atherosclerotic lesions. The critical function of this signaling cascade is indicated by prevention of ER stress-induced apoptosis after inhibition of IRE1α, or c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase.     

GRP78 and Raf-1 cooperatively confer resistance to endoplasmic reticulum stress-induced apoptosis

The chaperone glucose-regulated protein, 78/immunoglobulin binding protein (GRP78/Bip), protects cells from cytotoxicity induced by DNA damage or endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. In this study, we showed that GRP78 is a major inducible protein in human non-small cell lung cancer H460 cells treated with ER stress inducers, including A23187 and thapsigargin. AEBSF, an inhibitor of serine protease, diminished GRP78 induction, enhanced mitochondrial permeability, and augmented apoptosis in H460 cells during ER stress. Simultaneously, AEBSF promoted Raf-1 degradation and suppressed phosphorylation of Raf-1 at Ser338 and/or Tyr340 during ER stress. Coimmunoprecipitation assays and subcellular fractionations showed that GRP78 associated and colocalized with Raf-1 on the outer membrane of mitochondria, respectively. While treatment of cells with ER stress inducers inactivated BAD by phosphorylation at Ser75, a Raf-1 phosphorylation site; AEBSF attenuated phosphorylation of BAD, leading to cytochrome c release from mitochondria. Additionally, overexpression of GRP78 and/or Raf-1 protected cells from ER stress-induced apoptosis. Taken together, our results indicate that GRP78 may stabilize Raf-1 to maintain mitochondrial permeability and thus protect cells from ER stress-induced apoptosis.     

The interaction of S100A16 and GRP78 actives endoplasmic reticulum stress-mediated through the IRE1α/XBP1 pathway in renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis

Recent studies have indicated that the development of acute and chronic kidney disease including renal fibrosis is associated with endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. S100 calcium-binding protein 16 (S100A16) as a novel member of the S100 family is involved in kidney disease; however, few studies have examined fibrotic kidneys for a relationship between S100A16 and ER stress. In our previous study, we identified GRP78 as a protein partner of S100A16 in HK-2 cells. Here, we confirmed a physical interaction between GRP78 and S100A16 in HK-2 cells and a markedly increased expression of GRP78 in the kidneys of unilateral ureteral occlusion mice. S100A16 overexpression in HK-2 cells by infection with Lenti-S100A16 also induced upregulation of ER stress markers, including GRP78, p-IRE1α, and XBP1s. Immunofluorescence staining demonstrated that the interaction between S100A16 and GRP78 predominantly occurred in the ER of control HK-2 cells. By contrast, HK-2 cells overexpressing S100A16 showed colocalization of S100A16 and GRP78 mainly in the cytoplasm. Pretreatment with BAPTA-AM, a calcium chelator, blunted the upregulation of renal fibrosis genes and ER stress markers induced by S100A16 overexpression in HK-2 cells and suppressed the cytoplasmic colocalization of GRP78 and S100A16. Co-immunoprecipitation studies suggested a competitive binding between S100A16 and IRE1α with GRP78 in HK-2 cells. Taken together, our findings demonstrate a significant increase in S100A16 expression in the cytoplasm following renal injury. GRP78 then moves into the cytoplasm and binds with S100A16 to promote the release of IRE1α. The subsequent phosphorylation of IRE1α then leads to XBP1 splicing that activates ER stress.Subject terms: Stress signalling, Experimental models of disease     

FAD-linked presenilin-1 mutants impede translation regulation under ER stress

FAD mutations in presenilin-1 (PS1) cause attenuation of the induction of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-resident chaperone GRP78/BiP under ER stress, due to disturbed function of IRE1, the sensor for accumulation of unfolded protein in the ER lumen. PERK, an ER-resident transmembrane protein kinase, is also a sensor for the unfolded protein response (UPR), causing phosphorylation of eukaryotic initiation factor 2alpha (eIF2alpha) to inhibit translation initiation. Here, we report that the FAD mutant PS1 disturbs the UPR by attenuating both the activation of PERK and the phosphorylation of eIF2alpha. Consistent with the results of a disturbed UPR, inhibition of protein synthesis under ER stress was impaired in cells expressing PS1 mutants. These results suggest that mutant PS1 impedes general translational attenuation regulated by PERK and eIF2alpha, resulting in an increased load of newly synthesized proteins into the ER and subsequently increasing vulnerability to ER stress.     

Endoplasmic reticulum stress-induced cysteine protease activation in cortical neurons: effect of an Alzheimer's disease-linked presenilin-1 knock-in mutation

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress elicits protective responses of chaperone induction and translational suppression and, when unimpeded, leads to caspase-mediated apoptosis. Alzheimer's disease-linked mutations in presenilin-1 (PS-1) reportedly impair ER stress-mediated protective responses and enhance vulnerability to degeneration. We used cleavage site-specific antibodies to characterize the cysteine protease activation responses of primary mouse cortical neurons to ER stress and evaluate the influence of a PS-1 knock-in mutation on these and other stress responses. Two different ER stressors lead to processing of the ER-resident protease procaspase-12, activation of calpain, caspase-3, and caspase-6, and degradation of ER and non-ER protein substrates. Immunocytochemical localization of activated caspase-3 and a cleaved substrate of caspase-6 confirms that caspase activation extends into the cytosol and nucleus. ER stress-induced proteolysis is unchanged in cortical neurons derived from the PS-1 P264L knock-in mouse. Furthermore, the PS-1 genotype does not influence stress-induced increases in chaperones Grp78/BiP and Grp94 or apoptotic neurodegeneration. A similar lack of effect of the PS-1 P264L mutation on the activation of caspases and induction of chaperones is observed in fibroblasts. Finally, the PS-1 knock-in mutation does not alter activation of the protein kinase PKR-like ER kinase (PERK), a trigger for stress-induced translational suppression. These data demonstrate that ER stress in cortical neurons leads to activation of several cysteine proteases within diverse neuronal compartments and indicate that Alzheimer's disease-linked PS-1 mutations do not invariably alter the proteolytic, chaperone induction, translational suppression, and apoptotic responses to ER stress.     

Coupling endoplasmic reticulum stress to the cell death program: role of the ER chaperone GRP78

Alterations in Ca(2+) homeostasis and accumulation of unfolded proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) lead to an ER stress response. Prolonged ER stress may lead to cell death. Glucose-regulated protein (GRP) 78 (Bip) is an ER lumen protein whose expression is induced during ER stress. GRP78 is involved in polypeptide translocation across the ER membrane, and also acts as an apoptotic regulator by protecting the host cell against ER stress-induced cell death, although the mechanism by which GRP78 exerts its cytoprotective effect is not understood. The present study was carried out to determine whether one of the mechanisms of cell death inhibition by GRP78 involves inhibition of caspase activation. Our studies indicate that treatment of cells with ER stress inducers causes GRP78 to redistribute from the ER lumen with subpopulations existing in the cytosol and as an ER transmembrane protein. GRP78 inhibits cytochrome c-mediated caspase activation in a cell-free system, and expression of GRP78 blocks both caspase activation and caspase-mediated cell death. GRP78 forms a complex with caspase-7 and -12 and prevents release of caspase-12 from the ER. Addition of (d)ATP dissociates this complex and may facilitate movement of caspase-12 into the cytoplasm to set in motion the cytosolic component of the ER stress-induced apoptotic cascade. These results define a novel protective role for GRP78 in preventing ER stress-induced cell death.