MAP Kinase driven actomyosin rearrangement is a crucial regulator of monocyte to macrophage differentiation

Rearrangement of actin cytoskeleton correlates significantly with the immune responses as the perturbation of cytoskeletal dynamics leads to many immune deficiencies. Mechanistic insights into this correlation remain unknown. Cellular spreading, the most characteristic phenotype associated with monocyte to macrophage differentiation, led us to investigate the contribution of actomyosin dynamics in monocyte differentiation. Our observation revealed that actomyosin reorganization intrinsically governs the process of monocyte to macrophage differentiation. Further, we established that the MAPK-driven signaling pathways regulate the cellular actomyosin dynamics that direct monocyte to macrophage differentiation. We also identified P42/44 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase (P42/44 MAPK), P38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase (P38 MAPK), MAP Kinase Activated Protein Kinase 2 (MK-2), Heat Shock Protein 27 (Hsp-27), Lim Kinase (Lim K), non-muscle cofilin (n-cofilin), Myosin Light Chain Kinase (MLCK) and Myosin Light Chain (MLC) as critical components of the signaling network. Moreover, we have shown the involvement of the same signaling cascade in 3D gel-like microenvironment induced spontaneous monocyte to macrophage differentiation and in human blood-derived PBMC differentiation. Our study reveals new mechanistic insights into the process of monocyte to macrophage differentiation.     

Insulin receptor substrate protein 53kDa (IRSp53) is a negative regulator of myogenic differentiation

Fusion of mononucleated myoblasts to generate multinucleated myotubes is a critical step in skeletal muscle development. Filopodia, the actin cytoskeleton based membrane protrusions, have been observed early during myoblast fusion, indicating that they could play a direct role in myogenic differentiation. The control of filopodia formation in myoblasts remains poorly understood. Here we show that the expression of IRSp53 (Insulin Receptor Substrate protein 53kDa), a known regulator of filopodia formation, is down-regulated during differentiation of both mouse primary myoblasts and a mouse myoblast cell line C2C12. Over-expression of IRSp53 in C2C12 cells led to induction of filopodia and decrease in cell adhesion, concomitantly with inhibition of myogenic differentiation. In contrast, knocking down the IRSp53 expression in C2C12 cells led to a small but significant increase in myotube development. The decreased cell adhesion of C2C12 cells over-expressing IRSp53 is correlated with a reduction in the number of vinculin patches in these cells. Mutations in the conserved IMD domain (IRSp53 and MIM (missing in metastasis) homology domain) or SH3 domain of IRSp53 abolished the ability of this protein to inhibit myogenic differentiation and reduce cell adhesion. Over-expression of the IMD domain alone was sufficient to decrease the cell-extracellular matrix adhesion and to inhibit myogenesis in a manner dependent on its function in membrane shaping. Based on our data, we propose that IRSp53 is a negative regulator of myogenic differentiation which correlates with the observed down regulation of IRSp53 expression during myoblast differentiation to myotubes.     

ASPP--Apoptotic specific regulator of p53

The p53 protein is one of the best-known tumor suppressors. The recently identified ASPP family (apoptosis-stimulating protein of p53) can interfere with the working of p53. Three members of ASPP family are proved to be apoptotic specific regulators of p53. The discovery of ASPP family may answer such questions as "how cells choose to die". Understanding the ASPP status in human cancer will allow us to develop better strategies to treat cancer.     

The p53 tumor suppressor protein is a critical regulator of hematopoietic stem cell behavior

In response to diverse stresses, the tumor suppressor p53 differentially regulates its target genes, variably inducing cell-cycle arrest, apoptosis or senescence. Emerging evidence indicates that p53 plays an important role in regulating hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) quiescence, self-renewal, apoptosis and aging. The p53 pathway is activated by DNA damage, defects in ribosome biogenesis, oxidative stress and oncogene induced p19ARF upregulation. We present an overview of the current state of knowledge about p53 (and its target genes) in regulating HSC behavior, with the hope that understanding the molecular mechanisms that control p53 activity in HSCs and how p53 mutations affect its role in these events may facilitate the development of therapeutic strategies for eliminating leukemia (and cancer) propagating cells.     

MDM2 is a negative regulator of p21WAF1/CIP1, independent of p53

The MDM2 oncogene has both p53-dependent and p53-independent activities. We have previously reported that antisense MDM2 inhibitors have significant anti-tumor activity in multiple human cancer models with various p53 statuses (Zhang, Z., Li, M., Wang, H., Agrawal, S., and Zhang, R. (2003) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 100, 11636-11641). We have also provided evidence that MDM2 has a direct role in the regulation of p21, a cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor. Here we provide evidence supporting functional interaction between MDM2 and p21 in vitro and in vivo. The inhibition of MDM2 with anti-MDM2 antisense oligonucleotide or Short Interference RNA targeting MDM2 significantly elevated p21 protein levels in PC3 cells (p53 null). In contrast, overexpression of MDM2 diminished the p21 level in the same cells by shortening the p21 half-life, an effect reversed by MDM2 antisense inhibition. MDM2 facilitates p21 degradation independent of ubiquitination and the E3 ligase function of MDM2. Instead, MDM2 promotes p21 degradation by facilitating binding of p21 with the proteasomal C8 subunit. The physical interaction between p21 and MDM2 was demonstrated both in vitro and in vivo with the binding region in amino acids 180-298 of the MDM2 protein. In summary, we provide evidence supporting a physical interaction between MDM2 and p21. We also demonstrate that, by reducing p21 protein stability via proteasome-mediated degradation, MDM2 functions as a negative regulator of p21, an effect independent of both p53 and ubiquitination.     

ASPP—Apoptotic specific regulator of p53

The p53 protein is one of the best-known tumor suppressors. The recently identified ASPP family (apoptosis-stimulating protein of p53) can interfere with the working of p53. Three members of ASPP family are proved to be apoptotic specific regulators of p53. The discovery of ASPP family may answer such questions as “how cells choose to die”. Understanding the ASPP status in human cancer will allow us to develop better strategies to treat cancer.     

TIGAR, a p53-inducible regulator of glycolysis and apoptosis

The p53 tumor-suppressor protein prevents cancer development through various mechanisms, including the induction of cell-cycle arrest, apoptosis, and the maintenance of genome stability. We have identified a p53-inducible gene named TIGAR (TP53-induced glycolysis and apoptosis regulator). TIGAR expression lowered fructose-2,6-bisphosphate levels in cells, resulting in an inhibition of glycolysis and an overall decrease in intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels. These functions of TIGAR correlated with an ability to protect cells from ROS-associated apoptosis, and consequently, knockdown of endogenous TIGAR expression sensitized cells to p53-induced death. Expression of TIGAR may therefore modulate the apoptotic response to p53, allowing survival in the face of mild or transient stress signals that may be reversed or repaired. The decrease of intracellular ROS levels in response to TIGAR may also play a role in the ability of p53 to protect from the accumulation of genomic damage.     

Sphingosine kinase 2 is a negative regulator of inflammatory macrophage activation

Sphingosine kinases (SPHK) generate the sphingolipid sphingosine-1-phosphate, which, among other functions, is a potent regulator of inflammation. While SPHK1 produces S1P to promote inflammatory signaling, the role of SPHK2 is unclear due to divergent findings in studies utilizing gene depletion versus inhibition of catalytic activity. We sought to clarify how SPHK2 affects inflammatory signaling in human macrophages, which are main regulators of inflammation. SPHK2 expression and activity were rapidly decreased within 6 h upon stimulating primary human macrophages with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), but was upregulated after 24 h. At 24 h following LPS stimulation, targeting SPHK2 with the inhibitor ABC294640, a specific siRNA or by using Sphk2^−/− mouse peritoneal macrophages increased inflammatory cytokine production. Downregulation of SPHK2 in primary human macrophages within 6 h of LPS treatment was blocked by inhibiting autophagy. SPHK2 overexpression or inhibiting autophagy 6 h after human macrophage activation with LPS suppressed inflammatory cytokine release. Mechanistically, SPHK2 suppressed LPS-triggered NF-κB activation independent of its catalytic activity and prevented increased mitochondrial ROS formation downstream of LPS. In conclusion, SPHK2 is an anti-inflammatory protein in human macrophages that is inversely coupled to inflammatory cytokine production. This needs consideration when targeting SPHK2 with specific inhibitors.     

WTX: an unexpected regulator for p53

The WTX gene is frequently lost or mutated in Wilms tumor. In this issue of Molecular Cell, Kim et al. (2012) identify WTX modulation of p53 tumor-suppressor activity through regulation of p53 acetylation. Therefore, WTX differentially regulates the oncogenic β-catenin pathway and the tumor-suppressing p53 pathway.     

T-cell protein tyrosine phosphatase (Tcptp) is a negative regulator of colony-stimulating factor 1 signaling and macrophage differentiation

Mice null for the T-cell protein tyrosine phosphatase (Tcptp-/-) die shortly after birth due to complications arising from the development of a systemic inflammatory disease. It was originally reported that Tcptp-/- mice have increased numbers of macrophages in the spleen; however, the mechanism underlying the aberrant growth and differentiation of macrophages in Tcptp-/- mice is not known. We have identified Tcptp as an important regulator of colony-stimulating factor 1 (CSF-1) signaling and mononuclear phagocyte development. The number of CSF-1-dependent CFU is increased in Tcptp-/- bone marrow. Tcptp-/- mice also have increased numbers of granulocyte-macrophage precursors (GMP), and these Tcptp-/- GMP yield more macrophage colonies in response to CSF-1 relative to wild-type cells. Furthermore, we have identified the CSF-1 receptor (CSF-1R) as a physiological target of Tcptp through substrate-trapping experiments and its hyperphosphorylation in Tcptp-/- macrophages. Tcptp-/- macrophages also have increased tyrosine phosphorylation and recruitment of a Grb2/Gab2/Shp2 complex to the CSF-1R and enhanced activation of Erk after CSF-1 stimulation, which are important molecular events in CSF-1-induced differentiation. These data implicate Tcptp as a critical regulator of CSF-1 signaling and mononuclear phagocyte development in hematopoiesis.     

Mdmx as an essential regulator of p53 activity

The murine double minute 2 (Mdm2) is a critical negative regulator of the p53 tumor suppressor. Almost 10 years ago, a search for new p53-interactors revealed the existence of an Mdm2-structurally related protein, Mdmx (or Mdm4). Since then a large body of biochemical data has accumulated on the functions of Mdmx, often leading to conflicting molecular models. Nevertheless, virtually all these data pointed toward a critical role for Mdmx in the regulation of the p53-Mdm2 network. A view that was recently confirmed by genetic studies. This review is a summary of our current understanding of this molecule, its structure and biological functions, as well as its relationship to its known binding partners.