ER stress activates the NLRP3 inflammasome via an UPR-independent pathway

Uncontrolled endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress responses are proposed to contribute to the pathology of chronic inflammatory diseases such as type 2 diabetes or atherosclerosis. However, the connection between ER stress and inflammation remains largely unexplored. Here, we show that ER stress causes activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome, with subsequent release of the pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-1β. This ER-triggered proinflammatory signal shares the same requirement for reactive oxygen species production and potassium efflux compared with other known NLRP3 inflammasome activators, but is independent of the classical unfolded protein response (UPR). We thus propose that the NLRP3 inflammasome senses and responds to ER stress downstream of a previously uncharacterized ER stress response signaling pathway distinct from the UPR, thus providing mechanistic insight to the link between ER stress and chronic inflammatory diseases.     

CGI-58 interacts with perilipin and is localized to lipid droplets. Possible involvement of CGI-58 mislocalization in Chanarin-Dorfman syndrome

Lipid droplets (LDs) are a class of ubiquitous cellular organelles that are involved in lipid storage and metabolism. Although the mechanisms of the biogenesis of LDs are still unclear, a set of proteins called the PAT domain family have been characterized as factors associating with LDs. Perilipin, a member of this family, is expressed exclusively in the adipose tissue and regulates the breakdown of triacylglycerol in LDs via its phosphorylation. In this study, we used a yeast two-hybrid system to examine the potential function of perilipin. We found direct interaction between perilipin and CGI-58, a deficiency of which correlated with the pathogenesis of Chanarin-Dorfman syndrome (CDS). Endogenous CGI-58 was distributed predominantly on the surface of LDs in differentiated 3T3-L1 cells, and its expression increased during adipocyte differentiation. Overexpressed CGI-58 tagged with GFP gathered at the surface of LDs and colocalized with perilipin. This interaction seems physiologically important because CGI-58 mutants carrying an amino acid substitution identical to that found in CDS lost the ability to be recruited to LDs. These mutations significantly weakened the binding of CGI-58 with perilipin, indicating that the loss of this interaction is involved in the etiology of CDS. Furthermore, we identified CGI-58 as a binding partner of ADRP, another PAT domain protein expressed ubiquitously, by yeast two-hybrid assay. GFP-CGI-58 expressed in non-differentiated 3T3-L1 or CHO-K1 cells was colocalized with ADRP, and the CGI-58 mutants were not recruited to LDs carrying ADRP, indicating that CGI-58 may also cooperate with ADRP.     

Hyperthermia induces the ER stress pathway

Background

The ER chaperone GRP78/BiP is a homolog of the Hsp70 family of heat shock proteins, yet GRP78/BiP is not induced by heat shock but instead by ER stress. However, previous studies had not considered more physiologically relevant temperature elevation associated with febrile hyperthermia. In this report we examine the response of GRP78/BiP and other components of the ER stress pathway in cells exposed to 40°C.

Methodology

AD293 cells were exposed to 43°C heat shock to confirm inhibition of the ER stress response genes. Five mammalian cell types, including AD293 cells, were then exposed to 40°C hyperthermia for various time periods and induction of the ER stress pathway was assessed.

Principal Findings

The inhibition of the ER stress pathway by heat shock (43°C) was confirmed. In contrast cells subjected to more mild temperature elevation (40°C) showed either a partial or full ER stress pathway induction as determined by downstream targets of the three arms of the ER stress pathway as well as a heat shock response. Cells deficient for Perk or Gcn2 exhibit great sensitivity to ER stress induction by hyperthermia.

Conclusions

The ER stress pathway is induced partially or fully as a consequence of hyperthermia in parallel with induction of Hsp70. These findings suggest that the ER and cytoplasm of cells contain parallel pathways to coordinately regulate adaptation to febrile hyperthermia associated with disease or infection.     

Transgenic CGI-58 expression in macrophages alleviates the atherosclerotic lesion development in ApoE knockout mice

Comparative Gene Identification-58 (CGI-58), as an adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL) activator, strongly increases ATGL-mediated triglyceride (TG) catabolism. Previous studies have shown that CGI-58 affects intestinal cholesterol homeostasis independently of ATGL activity. Therefore, we hypothesized that CGI-58 was involved in macrophage cholesterol metabolism and consequently atherosclerotic lesion formation. Here, we generated macrophage-specific CGI-58 transgenic mice (Mac-CGI-58 Tg) using an SRA promoter, which was further mated with ApoE^−/− mice to create litters of CGI-58 Tg/ApoE^−/− mice. These CGI-58 Tg/ApoE^−/− mice exhibited an anti-atherosclerosis phenotype compared with wild type (WT) controls (CGI-58 WT/ApoE^−/−), illustrated by less plaque area in aortic roots. Moreover, macrophage-specific CGI-58 overexpression in mice resulted in up-regulated levels of plasma total cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol. Consequently, higher expression levels of PPARa, PPARγ, LXRα, ABCA1, and ABCG1 were detected in macrophages from CGI-58 Tg/ApoE^−/− mice compared to CGI-58 WT/ApoE^−/− counterparts, which were accompanied by elevated macrophage cholesterol efflux toward HDL and Apo A1. Nevertheless, serum levels of TNF-α and IL-6 were reduced by macrophage-specific CGI-58 overexpression. Finally, bone marrow (BM) transplantation experiments further revealed that ApoE^−/− mice reconstituted with Mac-CGI-58 Tg BM cells (ApoE^−/−/Tg-BM chimera) displayed a significant reduction of atherosclerosis lesions compared with control mice reconstituted with Mac-CGI-58 WT BM cells (ApoE^−/−/WT-BM chimera). Collectively, these data strongly suggest that CGI-58 overexpression in macrophages may protect against atherosclerosis development in mice.     

人参皂甙Rb1对心力衰竭大鼠蛋白激酶R样内质网激酶途径的影响

目的探讨人参皂甙Rbl（Gs—Rbl）改善阿霉素所致心力衰竭（HF）效应是否与调整蛋白激酶R样内质网激酶（PERK）通路有关。方法阿霉素（Adr）诱导的HF大鼠随机分为HF组（n=15）和Gs．Rbl组（70rng／kg／d,n=17）,另随机选取同龄大鼠作为对照组（n=10）。干预结束并进行心脏超声检查后,TUNNEL检测心肌细胞凋亡率（AR）,Western blot和Rt-PCR检测葡萄糖调节蛋白78（GRP78）、PERK、p-PERK、真核细胞起始因子2-（elF2a）、p-elF2a、C／EBP同源蛋白（CHOP）和cleavedcaspase-12。结果1．Adr干预成功构建HF模型,Gs—Rbl显著提高左室射血分数（LVEF）和降低心肌细胞AR（P〈O．01）;2．HF组GRP78mRNA和蛋白均显著高于对照组,Gs—Rbl显著低于HF组和对照组二组的表达（P〈0．01）;3．Gs—Rbl显著降低HF大鼠PERK和p-PERK表达（P〈0．01）;4．HF导致elF2amRNA和蛋白、p-elF2a显著升高,Gs—Rbl显著下调三者的表达（P〈O．01）;5．HF组CHOPmRNA和蛋白显著高于对照组,Gs—Rbl组显著抑制其表达（P〈0．01）;6．Gs—Rbl显著抑制阿霉素所致的caspase-121TIRNA和cleaved caspase-12蛋白表达（P〈0．01）。结论Gs—Rbl通过调节PERK内质网通路介导其改善HF效应。     

CGI-58 knockdown in mice causes hepatic steatosis but prevents diet-induced obesity and glucose intolerance

Mutations of Comparative Gene Identification-58 (CGI-58) in humans cause triglyceride (TG) accumulation in multiple tissues. Mice genetically lacking CGI-58 die shortly after birth due to a skin barrier defect. To study the role of CGI-58 in integrated lipid and energy metabolism, we utilized antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) to inhibit CGI-58 expression in adult mice. Treatment with two distinct CGI-58-targeting ASOs resulted in ∼80–95% knockdown of CGI-58 protein expression in both liver and white adipose tissue. In chow-fed mice, ASO-mediated depletion of CGI-58 did not alter weight gain, plasma TG, or plasma glucose, yet raised hepatic TG levels ∼4-fold. When challenged with a high-fat diet (HFD), CGI-58 ASO-treated mice were protected against diet-induced obesity, but their hepatic contents of TG, diacylglycerols, and ceramides were all elevated, and intriguingly, their hepatic phosphatidylglycerol content was increased by 10-fold. These hepatic lipid alterations were associated with significant decreases in hepatic TG hydrolase activity, hepatic lipoprotein-TG secretion, and plasma concentrations of ketones, nonesterified fatty acids, and insulin. Additionally, HFD-fed CGI-58 ASO-treated mice were more glucose tolerant and insulin sensitive. Collectively, this work demonstrates that CGI-58 plays a critical role in limiting hepatic steatosis and maintaining hepatic glycerophospholipid homeostasis and has unmasked an unexpected role for CGI-58 in promoting HFD-induced obesity and insulin resistance.     

Notoginsenoside R1 activates the Ang2/Tie2 pathway to promote angiogenesis

BackgroundTherapeutic angiogenesis is a novel strategy for the treatment of ischemic diseases that involves promotion of angiogenesis in ischemic tissues via the use of proangiogenic agents. However, effective proangiogenic drugs that activate the Ang2/Tie2 signaling pathway remain scarce.PurposeWe aimed to investigate the proangiogenic activity of notoginsenoside R1 (NR1) isolated from total saponins of Panax notoginseng with regard to activation of the Ang2/Tie2 signaling pathway.MethodsWe examined the proangiogenic effects of NR1 by assessing the effects of NR1 on the proliferation, migration, invasion and tube formation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). The aortic ring assay and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor inhibitor (VRI)-induced vascular regression in the zebrafish model were used to confirm the proangiogenic effects of NR1 ex vivo and in vivo. Furthermore, the molecular mechanism was investigated by Western blot analysis.ResultsWe found that NR1 promoted the proliferation, mobility and tube formation of HUVECs in vitro. NR1 also increased the number of sprouting vessels in rat aortic rings and rescued VRI-induced vascular regression in zebrafish. NR1-induced angiogenesis was dependent on Tie2 receptor activation mediated by increased autocrine Ang2 in HUVECs, and inhibition of the Ang2/Tie2 pathway abrogated the proangiogenic effects of NR1.ConclusionsOur results suggest that NR1 promotes angiogenesis by activating the Ang2/Tie2 signaling pathway. Thus, NR1-induced activation of the Ang2/Tie2 pathway is an effective proangiogenic approach. NR1 may be useful agent for the treatment of ischemic diseases.     

Peroxisome deficiency-induced ER stress and SREBP-2 pathway activation in the liver of newborn PEX2 knock-out mice

Disruption of the Pex2 gene leads to peroxisome deficiency and widespread metabolic dysfunction. We previously demonstrated that peroxisomes are critical for maintaining cholesterol homeostasis, using peroxisome-deficient Pex2(-/-) mice on a hybrid Swiss Webster×129S6/SvEv (SW/129) genetic background. Peroxisome deficiency activates hepatic endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress pathways, leading to dysregulation of the endogenous sterol response mechanism. Herein, we demonstrate a more profound dysregulation of cholesterol homeostasis in newborn Pex2(-/-) mice congenic on a 129S6/SvEv (129) genetic background, and substantial differences between newborn versus postnatal Pex2(-/-) mice in factors that activate ER stress. These differences extend to relationships between activation of genes regulated by SREBP-2 versus PPARα. The SREBP-2 pathway is induced in neonatal Pex2(-/-) livers from 129 and SW/129 strains, despite normal hepatic cholesterol levels. ER stress markers are increased in newborn 129 Pex2(-/-) livers, which occurs in the absence of hepatic steatosis or accumulation of peroxins in the ER. Moreover, the induction of SREBP-2 and ER stress pathways is independent of PPARα activation in livers of newborn 129 and SW/129 Pex2(-/-) mice. Two-week-old wild-type mice treated with the peroxisome proliferator WY-14,643 show strong induction of PPARα-regulated genes and decreased expression of SREBP-2 and its target genes, further demonstrating that SREBP-2 pathway induction is not dependent on PPARα activation. Lastly, there is no activation of either SREBP-2 or ER stress pathways in kidney and lung of newborn Pex2(-/-) mice, suggesting a parallel induction of these pathways in peroxisome-deficient mice. These findings establish novel associations between SREBP-2, ER stress and PPARα pathway inductions.     

Social touch-like tactile stimulation activates a tachykinin 1-oxytocin pathway to promote social interactions

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Emotional stress activates MAP kinase in the rat heart.

Emotional stress evoked by immobilization of the rat induces c-fos mRNA or other immediate early genes. This response is mediated by activation of alpha- and beta-adrenoceptors, through mechanisms that have not yet been elucidated. Here we show that immobilization stress activates p44/p42 Mitogen-Activated Protein kinase (p44/p42 MAP kinase, Erk1/Erk2). Pretreatment with the beta1-blocker, metoprolol, did not inhibit the activation of stress-induced MAP kinase, while blockage of the alpha1-adrenoceptor by pretreatment with alpha1-blocker, prazosin or the alpha/beta-blocker, amosulalol, attenuated the activation. Application of the alpha1-agonist, phenylephrine, but not the beta-agonist, isoproterenol, to the perfused rat heart elicited MAP activation. Thus, emotional stress activates the alpha1-adrenoceptor-mediated MAP kinase pathway, whereas the pathway of the response mediated by the beta-adrenoceptor remains unknown.     

Metformin activates an atypical PKC-CBP pathway to promote neurogenesis and enhance spatial memory formation

Although endogenous recruitment of adult neural stem cells has been proposed as a therapeutic strategy, clinical approaches for achieving this are lacking. Here, we show that metformin, a widely used drug, promotes neurogenesis and enhances spatial memory formation. Specifically, we show that an atypical PKC-CBP pathway is essential for the normal genesis of neurons from neural precursors and that metformin activates this pathway to promote rodent and human neurogenesis in culture. Metformin also enhances neurogenesis in the adult mouse brain in a CBP-dependent fashion, and in so doing enhances spatial reversal learning in the water maze. Thus, metformin, by activating an aPKC-CBP pathway, recruits neural stem cells and enhances neural function, thereby providing a candidate pharmacological approach for nervous system therapy. VIDEO ABSTRACT:     

Polo-like kinase 2 activates an antioxidant pathway to promote the survival of cells with mitochondrial dysfunction

We previously reported that Polo-like kinase 2 (PLK2) is highly expressed in cells with defective mitochondrial respiration and is essential for their survival. Although PLK2 has been widely studied as a cell cycle regulator, we have uncovered an antioxidant function for this kinase that activates the GSK3–NRF2 signaling pathway. Here, we report that the expression of PLK2 is responsive to oxidative stress and that PLK2 mediates antioxidant signaling by phosphorylating GSK3, thereby promoting the nuclear translocation of NRF2. We further show that the antioxidant activity of PLK2 is essential for preventing p53-dependent necrotic cell death. Thus, the regulation of redox homeostasis by PLK2 promotes the survival of cells with dysfunctional mitochondria, which may have therapeutic implications for cancer and neurodegenerative diseases.     

RESETing ER proteostasis: selective stress pathway hidden in the secretory route

The efficient folding of membrane and secreted proteins relies on the unfolded protein response (UPR) to buffer fluctuations in the load of misfolded proteins. Although the UPR is thought to operate on a generic manner to maintain ER proteostasis, a recent study revealed the existence of a novel mechanism to eliminate misfolded GPI‐anchored proteins via the secretory pathway, termed ‘rapid ER stress‐induced export’ (RESET) (Satpute‐Krishnan et al, 2014 ). RESET involves the export of misfolded GPI proteins to the plasma membrane for subsequent degradation by the lysosome.