CXCR7 stimulates MAPK signaling to regulate hepatocellular carcinoma progression

The CXCL12/CXCR4 axis has been posited widely to have significant roles in many primary tumors and metastases. It is known that CXCR7 can also be engaged by CXCL12, but the exact function of CXCR7 is controversial. This prompted us to investigate the expression, specific function and signal transduction of CXCR7 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In this study, CXCR7 and CXCR4 were differentially expressed in nine cell lines of HCC, and that elevated expression of both CXCR7 and CXCL4 were correlated with highly metastatic ability of HCC cells. Moreover, CXCR7 expression was significantly upregulated in metastatic HCC samples compared with the non-metastatic ones by staining of high-density tissue microarrays constructed from a cohort of 48 human HCC specimens. CXCR7 overexpression enhanced cell growth and invasiveness in vitro, and tumorigenicity and lung metastasis in vivo. By contrast, CXCR7 stable knockdown markedly reduced these malignant behaviors. In addition, it was observed that alterations in CXCR7 expression were positively correlated with the phosphorylation levels of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway proteins. Targeting extracellular regulated kinase pathway by using U0126 inhibitor or using CCX771, a selective CXCR7 antagonist, drastically reduced CXCR7-mediated cell proliferation. Importantly, by using human biotin-based antibody arrays, several differentially expressed proteins were identified in CXCR7-overexpression and depletion groups. Comparative analysis indicated that upstream regulators including TP53 and IL-6 were involved in CXCR7 signal transduction. CXCR7 expression was further proved to regulate expression of vascular endothelial growth factor A and galectin-3, which may contribute to tumor angiogenesis and invasiveness. Consequently, elevated expression of CXCR7 contributes to HCC growth and invasiveness via activation of MAPK and angiogenesis signaling pathways. Targeting CXCR7 may prevent metastasis and provide a potential therapeutic strategy for HCC.Liver cancer is the third most common cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide.¹ Although surgical and medical interventions becomes available, over 70% patients with metastasis or recurrence have little chance of survival.² High rate of tumor metastasis to lung after hepatectomy represents a highly organized and organ-selective process. Emerging evidences indicate that several chemokines and their receptors appear to be directly implicated in mediating the biological cascade of sequential events, leading to tumor formation and metastasis.^3,4Chemokines are small secreted proteins (8–12 kDa) that share structural similarities, and members of this molecular superfamily can be subdivided into four classes, the C-C, C-X-C, C and C-X3-C chemokines, depending on the location of the first two conserved N-terminal cysteine residues that built disulfide bonds to two other cysteine residues within the protein sequence.⁵ To date, about 50 chemokines and ~25 chemokine receptors have been identified, thus some ligands exclusively bind to one receptor, others may interact with several receptors.⁶ Apart from their initially discovered and best-known function in trafficking of leukocytes,⁷ these soluble chemokines also influence organ development and physiological homeostasis via their respective G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs).⁸Mounting studies indicate the involvement of chemokines and their respective receptors in tumor biology during the last decade. Malignant cells can express chemokine receptors and respond to chemokine gradients and this may be related to the growth and spread of cancer.⁹ In particular, CXCL12, which is also called stromal-derived factor-1, and its receptor CXCR4 have attracted tremendous interest, owing to their critical role in determining the metastatic destination of breast cancer cells.¹⁰ Shortly thereafter, researches revealed that CXCR4 is one of the most common chemokine receptors that cells from at least 23 different types of cancer express this receptor and respond to its ligand CXCL12.^{11, 12, 13} Since CXCL12/CXCR4 axis has a vital role in embryonic development of the hematopoietic, cardiovascular and nervous systems, the deficiency of this axis leads to perinatal lethality.^{14, 15, 16} This raises questions concerning the feasibility of CXCR4 as the therapeutic target in a range of cancers.For a long time, CXCR4 was thought to be the only receptor for CXCL12, however, recent studies reported that CXCL12 also binds to CXCR7 with 10 times higher affinity than to CXCR4.^17,18 CXCR7 is expressed in zebrafish and frog and is highly conserved in mammals.¹⁹ In the immune system, intracellular expression of CXCR7 has been found in T cells and monocytes,²⁰ and its surface expression on B cells, plasmacytoid DCs, NK cells and basophils.²¹ In addition, very small but functional level of CXCR7 is observed on the surface of T cells, indicating that the intracellular pool of CXCR7 recycles back to the cell membrane and becomes activated.^17,22 CXCR7 plays its important exclusive role in the proper development of the heart, particularly cardiac valves and its expression pattern in brain cells is also documented.^23,24 It is known that CXCR7 is expressed on activated endothelial cells, fetal liver cells and on tumor-associated blood vessels as well as distinct tumor cells, but not on most nontransformed cells.^17,25 Growing evidence has suggested that membrane-associated CXCR7 expression is elevated on many malignant cells, including breast,^18,25 lung,²⁵ prostate,²⁶ pancreatic²⁷ and glial cancer cells.²⁸ Based on current literature, in glioma, CXCR7 is a functional receptor for CXCL12 and mediates anti-apoptotic/survival effects;²⁸ whereas in breast cancer, CXCL12 enhanced CXCR7-mediated tumorigenicity and invasiveness by activating proinflammatory STAT3 signaling.²⁹ Moreover, CXCR7 may also has CXCR4-independent functions as it provides growth and survival advantages even without ligand binding.^18,30,31 How CXCR7 mediates the multiple functions has remained a mystery. Unlike most other CXC chemokine receptors, CXCR7 lacks the specific DRYLAIV motif, hence CXCR7 fails to mobilize Ca²⁺ from intracellular stores or extracellular sources after ligand engagement, which is the hallmark of chemokine receptor activation.¹⁸ Thus our interest is to explore the role and the mechanism of CXCR7 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression.     

Endoplasmic reticulum stress-regulated CXCR3 pathway mediates inflammation and neuronal injury in acute glaucoma

Acute glaucoma is a leading cause of irreversible blindness in East Asia. The mechanisms underlying retinal neuronal injury induced by a sudden rise in intraocular pressure (IOP) remain obscure. Here we demonstrate that the activation of CXCL10/CXCR3 axis, which mediates the recruitment and activation of inflammatory cells, has a critical role in a mouse model of acute glaucoma. The mRNA and protein expression levels of CXCL10 and CXCR3 were significantly increased after IOP-induced retinal ischemia. Blockade of the CXCR3 pathway by deleting CXCR3 gene significantly attenuated ischemic injury-induced upregulation of inflammatory molecules (interleukin-1β and E-selectin), inhibited the recruitment of microglia/monocyte to the superficial retina, reduced peroxynitrite formation, and prevented the loss of neurons within the ganglion cell layer. In contrast, intravitreal delivery of CXCL10 increased leukocyte recruitment and retinal cell apoptosis. Inhibition of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress with chemical chaperones partially blocked ischemic injury-induced CXCL10 upregulation, whereas induction of ER stress with tunicamycin enhanced CXCL10 expression in retina and primary retinal ganglion cells. Interestingly, deleting CXCR3 attenuated ER stress-induced retinal cell death. In conclusion, these results indicate that ER stress-medicated activation of CXCL10/CXCR3 pathway has an important role in retinal inflammation and neuronal injury after high IOP-induced ischemia.Acute glaucoma is the major form of glaucoma in East Asia where it is a leading cause of irreversible blindness.¹ In Western countries, it is less common, but it still has much higher rate to induce vision impairment and blindness than open-angle glaucoma.² Acute glaucoma is a medical emergent condition when intraocular pressure (IOP) is suddenly increased because of blocked drainage canals.^{1, 2} Prompt treatment is needed to avoid irreversible glaucomatous optic nerve damage.¹ Nevertheless, in a substantial portion of patients, acute glaucoma continues progressing to blindness in spite of intensive medical treatment.³ A rapid rise in IOP that exceeds retinal perfusion pressure is known to cause retinal ischemia and induce retinal neuronal cell death.^{2, 4} However, the mechanisms by which elevated IOP induces retinal neuronal injury in acute glaucoma are largely unknown.Inflammation is the body''s defense system against pathogens,⁵ whereas excessive or uncontrolled inflammation induces tissue injury and results in diseases. In the central nervous system (CNS), inflammation has been recognized as a key player in many neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer''s disease, Parkinson''s disease, and Huntington''s disease.⁶ Inflammation is involved in the development of glaucoma given that the levels of inflammatory cytokines (e.g., TNF-α, interleukin-6, CCL2) and adhesion molecules (e.g., p-selectin) are increased in retina during glaucoma.^{7, 8} Moreover, in an animal model of acute glaucoma, inflammatory pathways including toll-like receptors and inflammasome are activated and contribute to retinal neuronal injury.^{4, 9} Nonetheless, the key mediators that control inflammatory cell recruitment and activation in this process remain to be elucidated.Chemokines are a family of pro-inflammatory peptides (8-15 kD) that are produced locally in tissues and mediate leukocyte and microglia directional migration and activation during inflammatory reactions by binding to specific chemokine receptors in the membrane of their respective target cells. CXCR3 is the common receptor for three chemokines belonging to the CXC subclass, namely CXCL9, CXCL10, and CXCL11,¹⁰ whereas it binds to CXCL4 with low affinity.^{11, 12, 13} CXCR3 is critical to mediate the recruitment of activated T cells and microglia/macrophage.^{10, 14, 15, 16, 17} CXCL10 expression is increased in the central nervous system in neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer''s disease and multiple sclerosis.^{18, 19, 20, 21} The activation of CXCL10/CXCR3 axis has also been shown to promote microglia recruitment and induce neuronal cell death in several models of neurodegeneration.^{22, 23} The role of CXCL10/CXCR3 pathway in glaucomatous optic neuropathy is unknown.In this study, we demonstrate that the CXCL10/CXCR3 axis is activated in a mouse model of acute glaucoma and the activation of this pathway is essential for retinal inflammation and neuronal injury. Moreover, the upregulation of CXCL10 and CXCR3 expression in retina is at least partially mediated by endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress after ischemia.     

Platelet-derived CXCL12 regulates monocyte function,survival, differentiation into macrophages and foam cells through differential involvement of CXCR4–CXCR7

Platelets store and release CXCL12 (SDF-1), which governs differentiation of hematopoietic progenitors into either endothelial or macrophage-foam cells. CXCL12 ligates CXCR4 and CXCR7 and regulates monocyte/macrophage functions. This study deciphers the relative contribution of CXCR4–CXCR7 in mediating the effects of platelet-derived CXCL12 on monocyte function, survival, and differentiation. CXCL12 and macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) that ligate CXCR4–CXCR7 induced a dynamic bidirectional trafficking of the receptors, causing CXCR4 internalization and CXCR7 externalization during chemotaxis, thereby influencing relative receptor availability, unlike MCP-1. In vivo we found enhanced accumulation of platelets and platelet-macrophage co-aggregates in peritoneal fluid following induction of peritonitis in mice. The relative surface expression of CXCL12, CXCR4, and CXCR7 among infiltrated monocytes was also enhanced as compared with peripheral blood. Platelet-derived CXCL12 from collagen-adherent platelets and recombinant CXCL12 induced monocyte chemotaxis specifically through CXCR4 engagement. Adhesion of monocytes to immobilized CXCL12 and CXCL12-enriched activated platelet surface under static and dynamic arterial flow conditions were mediated primarily through CXCR7 and were counter-regulated by neutralizing platelet-derived CXCL12. Monocytes and culture-derived-M1–M2 macrophages phagocytosed platelets, with the phagocytic potential of culture-derived-M1 macrophages higher than M2 involving CXCR4–CXCR7 participation. CXCR7 was the primary receptor in promoting monocyte survival as exerted by platelet-derived CXCL12 against BH3-mimetic induced apoptosis (phosphatidylserine exposure, caspase-3 activation, loss of mitochondrial transmembrane potential). In co-culture experiments with platelets, monocytes predominantly differentiated into CD163⁺ macrophages, which was attenuated upon CXCL12 neutralization and CXCR4/CXCR7 blocking antibodies. Moreover, OxLDL uptake by platelets induced platelet apoptosis, like other platelet agonists TRAP and collagen-related peptide (CRP). CXCL12 facilitated phagocytosis of apoptotic platelets by monocytes and M1–M2 macrophages, also promoted their differentiation into foam cells via CXCR4 and CXCR7. Thus, platelet-derived CXCL12 could regulate monocyte-macrophage functions through differential engagement of CXCR4 and CXCR7, indicating an important role in inflammation at site of platelet accumulation.Platelets are central players in regulation of inflammation at the site of thrombosis.^{1, 2, 3} When platelets are activated they release a variety of pro-inflammatory mediators including the chemokine CXCL12 (SDF-1).^{4, 5, 6, 7} CXCL12 binds to its chemokine receptors CXCR4 and CXCR7 and regulates cell migration, adhesion and survival.^{8, 9, 10, 11}Recently, platelets have been recognized to store substantial amounts of CXCL12 in their alpha-granules and release the chemokine upon activation.^{5, 6} Platelet-derived CXCL12 propagates migration and subsequent differentiation of CD34⁺ progenitor cells^{5, 12} into either an endothelial or a macrophage/foam cell phenotype depending on the culture conditions.^{12, 13} Release of CXCL12 from platelets is enhanced in acute coronary syndromes and correlates with the number of circulating CD34⁺ progenitor cells and platelet/CD34⁺ co-aggregates.^{14, 15} Enhanced levels of platelet–CXCL12 are associated with preservation of left ventricular function following myocardial infarction in humans.¹⁶ Administration of recombinant CXCL12 preserves myocardial function following transient ischemia in mice.¹⁷Monocytes/macrophages have a critical role in vascular inflammation and disease progression of atherosclerosis.¹⁸ Monocytes express both CXCR4 and CXCR7 although their role in monocyte function is still incompletely understood.^{9, 19}In the present study, we explored the effect of platelet-derived CXCL12 on monocyte function and the differential role of CXCR4 and CXCR7 for monocyte function and differentiation. We found that both chemokine receptors have a decisive but differential role for platelet-dependent monocyte function.     

New-Onset Diabetes Mellitus After Transplantation in a Cynomolgus Macaque (Macaca fasicularis)

A 5.5-y-old intact male cynomolgus macaque (Macaca fasicularis) presented with inappetence and weight loss 57 d after heterotopic heart and thymus transplantation while receiving an immunosuppressant regimen consisting of tacrolimus, mycophenolate mofetil, and methylprednisolone to prevent graft rejection. A serum chemistry panel, a glycated hemoglobin test, and urinalysis performed at presentation revealed elevated blood glucose and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels (727 mg/dL and 10.1%, respectively), glucosuria, and ketonuria. Diabetes mellitus was diagnosed, and insulin therapy was initiated immediately. The macaque was weaned off the immunosuppressive therapy as his clinical condition improved and stabilized. Approximately 74 d after discontinuation of the immunosuppressants, the blood glucose normalized, and the insulin therapy was stopped. The animal''s blood glucose and HbA1c values have remained within normal limits since this time. We suspect that our macaque experienced new-onset diabetes mellitus after transplantation, a condition that is commonly observed in human transplant patients but not well described in NHP. To our knowledge, this report represents the first documented case of new-onset diabetes mellitus after transplantation in a cynomolgus macaque.Abbreviations: NODAT, new-onset diabetes mellitus after transplantationNew-onset diabetes mellitus after transplantation (NODAT, formerly known as posttransplantation diabetes mellitus) is an important consequence of solid-organ transplantation in humans.^{7-10,15,17,19,21,25-28,31,33,34,37,38,42} A variety of risk factors have been identified including increased age, sex (male prevalence), elevated pretransplant fasting plasma glucose levels, and immunosuppressive therapy.^{7-10,15,17,19,21,25-28,31,33,34,37,38,42} The relationship between calcineurin inhibitors, such as tacrolimus and cyclosporin, and the development of NODAT is widely recognized in human medicine.^{7-10,15,17,19,21,25-28,31,33,34,37,38,42} Cynomolgus macaques (Macaca fasicularis) are a commonly used NHP model in organ transplantation research. Cases of natural and induced diabetes of cynomolgus monkeys have been described in the literature;^14,43,45 however, NODAT in a macaque model of solid-organ transplantation has not been reported previously to our knowledge.     

The Fcp1-Wee1-Cdk1 axis affects spindle assembly checkpoint robustness and sensitivity to antimicrotubule cancer drugs

To grant faithful chromosome segregation, the spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC) delays mitosis exit until mitotic spindle assembly. An exceedingly prolonged mitosis, however, promotes cell death and by this means antimicrotubule cancer drugs (AMCDs), that impair spindle assembly, are believed to kill cancer cells. Despite malformed spindles, cancer cells can, however, slip through SAC, exit mitosis prematurely and resist killing. We show here that the Fcp1 phosphatase and Wee1, the cyclin B-dependent kinase (cdk) 1 inhibitory kinase, play a role for this slippage/resistance mechanism. During AMCD-induced prolonged mitosis, Fcp1-dependent Wee1 reactivation lowered cdk1 activity, weakening SAC-dependent mitotic arrest and leading to mitosis exit and survival. Conversely, genetic or chemical Wee1 inhibition strengthened the SAC, further extended mitosis, reduced antiapoptotic protein Mcl-1 to a minimum and potentiated killing in several, AMCD-treated cancer cell lines and primary human adult lymphoblastic leukemia cells. Thus, the Fcp1-Wee1-Cdk1 (FWC) axis affects SAC robustness and AMCDs sensitivity.The spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC) delays mitosis exit to coordinate anaphase onset with spindle assembly. To this end, SAC inhibits the ubiquitin ligase Anaphase-Promoting Complex/Cyclosome (APC/C) to prevent degradation of the anaphase inhibitor securin and cyclin B, the major mitotic cyclin B-dependent kinase 1 (cdk1) activator, until spindle assembly.¹ However, by yet poorly understood mechanisms, exceedingly prolonging mitosis translates into cell death induction.^{2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7} Although mechanistic details are still missing on how activation of cell death pathways is linked to mitosis duration, prolongation of mitosis appears crucial for the ability of antimicrotubule cancer drugs (AMCDs) to kill cancer cells.^{2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7} These drugs, targeting microtubules, impede mitotic spindle assembly and delay mitosis exit by chronically activating the SAC. Use of these drugs is limited, however, by toxicity and resistance. A major mechanism for resistance is believed to reside in the ability of cancer cells to slip through the SAC and exit mitosis prematurely despite malformed spindles, thus resisting killing by limiting mitosis duration.^{2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7} Under the AMCD treatment, cells either die in mitosis or exit mitosis, slipping through the SAC, without or abnormally dividing.^{2, 3, 4} Cells that exit mitosis either die at later stages or survive and stop dividing or proliferate, giving rise to resistance.^{2, 3, 4} Apart from a role for p53, what dictates cell fate is still unknown; however, it appears that the longer mitosis is protracted, the higher the chances for cell death pathway activation are.^{2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7}Although SAC is not required per se for killing,⁶ preventing SAC adaptation should improve the efficacy of AMCD by increasing mitosis duration.^{2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7} Therefore, further understanding of the mechanisms by which cells override SAC may help to improve the current AMCD therapy. Several kinases are known to activate and sustain SAC, and cdk1 itself appears to be of primary relevance.^{1, 8, 9} By studying mitosis exit and SAC resolution, we recently reported a role for the Fcp1 phosphatase to bring about cdk1 inactivation.^{10, 11} Among Fcp1 targets, we identified cyclin degradation pathway components, such as Cdc20, an APC/C co-activator, USP44, a deubiquitinating enzyme, and Wee1.^{10, 11} Wee1 is a crucial kinase that controls the G2 phase by performing inhibitory phosphorylation of cdk1 at tyr-15 (Y15-cdk1). Wee1 is also in a feedback relationship with cdk1 itself that, in turn, can phosphorylate and inhibit Wee1 in an autoamplification loop to promote the G2-to-M phase transition.¹² At mitosis exit, Fcp1 dephosphorylated Wee1 at threonine 239, a cdk1-dependent inhibitory phosphorylation, to dampen down the cdk1 autoamplification loop, and Cdc20 and USP44, to promote APC/C-dependent cyclin B degradation.^{10, 11, 12} In this study we analysed the Fcp1 relevance in SAC adaptation and AMCD sensitivity.     

Platelet-activating factor induces cell cycle arrest and disrupts the DNA damage response in mast cells

Platelet-activating factor (PAF) is a potent phospholipid modulator of inflammation that has diverse physiological and pathological functions. Previously, we demonstrated that PAF has an essential role in ultraviolet (UV)-induced immunosuppression and reduces the repair of damaged DNA, suggesting that UV-induced PAF is contributing to skin cancer initiation by inducing immune suppression and also affecting a proper DNA damage response. The exact role of PAF in modulating cell proliferation, differentiation or transformation is unclear. Here, we investigated the mechanism(s) by which PAF affects the cell cycle and impairs early DNA damage response. PAF arrests proliferation in transformed and nontransformed human mast cells by reducing the expression of cyclin-B1 and promoting the expression of p21. PAF-treated cells show a dose-dependent cell cycle arrest mainly at G2–M, and a decrease in the DNA damage response elements MCPH1/BRIT-1 and ataxia telangiectasia and rad related (ATR). In addition, PAF disrupts the localization of p-ataxia telangiectasia mutated (p-ATM), and phosphorylated-ataxia telangiectasia and rad related (p-ATR) at the site of DNA damage. Whereas the potent effect on cell cycle arrest may imply a tumor suppressor activity for PAF, the impairment of proper DNA damage response might implicate PAF as a tumor promoter. The outcome of these diverse effects may be dependent on specific cues in the microenvironment.Ultraviolet (UV)-mediated immunosuppression poses a major risk for skin cancer induction,^{1, 2} and many have reported that an essential mediator in this process is UV-induced platelet-activating factor (PAF; 1-alkyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine).^{3, 4, 5} PAF is a phospholipid, first discovered as a secreted component by activated innate immune cells,^{6, 7} that mediates its activity by binding to a G-protein-coupled receptor.⁸ It is involved in a variety of mechanisms including the release of histamine in activated leukocytes,^{9, 10, 11} anaphylaxis, and phagocytosis.¹²Exposure to low doses of UV radiation activates PAF release by keratinocytes,^{13, 14} so it is likely that most of the population is regularly exposed to keratinocyte-derived PAF. In previous studies we showed that PAF upregulates both CXCR4 on mast cells and its ligand (CXCL12) on draining lymph node cells, promoting the migration of dermal mast cells from inflamed skin to the lymph nodes.¹⁵ Mast cells that reach the draining lymph nodes activate immune suppression by releasing interleukin 10.¹⁶ Blocking mast cell migration by using a CXCR4 antagonist, AMD3100, blocks UV-induced immune suppression and the induction of skin cancer.^{15, 17} No immune suppression is noted when PAF receptor-deficient mice (PAFR^-/-) are exposed to UV radiation,^{4, 5} nor can one reconstitute immune suppression when PAFR^-/- mast cells are used to reconstitute mast cell-deficient mice.¹⁸ PAF also has a critical role in skin cancer induction and progression,^{19, 20} and this may reflect its capacity to both induce immune suppression and hamper DNA repair.²¹Hanahan and Weinberg recognized the important roles inflammation and immune evasion play in the initiation of cancer.²² UV-induced PAF by activating immune suppression, retarding DNA repair and activating inflammation clearly constitutes an important hallmark for cancer induction. Supporting this idea is the observation that PAF is involved in a variety of other cancers besides skin cancer.^{23, 24, 25, 26, 27} Although we previously demonstrated that PAF suppresses the rate of DNA repair in vivo,²¹ little is known regarding the mechanisms involved. In this study we performed a series of experiments to determine how PAF affects DNA repair by examining important checkpoints that regulate DNA repair and cell cycle progression. We primarily used mast cells because of the critical role these cells have in UV-induced immune suppression and skin cancer induction,^{15, 28} and also because the dermis where they reside is targeted by UV-induced PAF.¹⁸     

Plasma membrane poration by opioid neuropeptides: a possible mechanism of pathological signal transduction

Neuropeptides induce signal transduction across the plasma membrane by acting through cell-surface receptors. The dynorphins, endogenous ligands for opioid receptors, are an exception; they also produce non-receptor-mediated effects causing pain and neurodegeneration. To understand non-receptor mechanism(s), we examined interactions of dynorphins with plasma membrane. Using fluorescence correlation spectroscopy and patch-clamp electrophysiology, we demonstrate that dynorphins accumulate in the membrane and induce a continuum of transient increases in ionic conductance. This phenomenon is consistent with stochastic formation of giant (~2.7 nm estimated diameter) unstructured non-ion-selective membrane pores. The potency of dynorphins to porate the plasma membrane correlates with their pathogenic effects in cellular and animal models. Membrane poration by dynorphins may represent a mechanism of pathological signal transduction. Persistent neuronal excitation by this mechanism may lead to profound neuropathological alterations, including neurodegeneration and cell death.Neuropeptides are the largest and most diverse family of neurotransmitters. They are released from axon terminals and dendrites, diffuse to pre- or postsynaptic neuronal structures and activate membrane G-protein-coupled receptors. Prodynorphin (PDYN)-derived opioid peptides including dynorphin A (Dyn A), dynorphin B (Dyn B) and big dynorphin (Big Dyn) consisting of Dyn A and Dyn B are endogenous ligands for the κ-opioid receptor. Acting through this receptor, dynorphins regulate processing of pain and emotions, memory acquisition and modulate reward induced by addictive substances.^{1, 2, 3, 4} Furthermore, dynorphins may produce robust cellular and behavioral effects that are not mediated through opioid receptors.^{5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29} As evident from pharmacological, morphological, genetic and human neuropathological studies, these effects are generally pathological, including cell death, neurodegeneration, neurological dysfunctions and chronic pain. Big Dyn is the most active pathogenic peptide, which is about 10- to 100-fold more potent than Dyn A, whereas Dyn B does not produce non-opioid effects.^{16, 17, 22, 25} Big Dyn enhances activity of acid-sensing ion channel-1a (ASIC1a) and potentiates ASIC1a-mediated cell death in nanomolar concentrations^{30, 31} and, when administered intrathecally, induces characteristic nociceptive behavior at femtomolar doses.^{17, 22} Inhibition of endogenous Big Dyn degradation results in pathological pain, whereas prodynorphin (Pdyn) knockout mice do not maintain neuropathic pain.^{22, 32} Big Dyn differs from its constituents Dyn A and Dyn B in its unique pattern of non-opioid memory-enhancing, locomotor- and anxiolytic-like effects.²⁵Pathological role of dynorphins is emphasized by the identification of PDYN missense mutations that cause profound neurodegeneration in the human brain underlying the SCA23 (spinocerebellar ataxia type 23), a very rare dominantly inherited neurodegenerative disorder.^{27, 33} Most PDYN mutations are located in the Big Dyn domain, demonstrating its critical role in neurodegeneration. PDYN mutations result in marked elevation in dynorphin levels and increase in its pathogenic non-opioid activity.^{27, 34} Dominant-negative pathogenic effects of dynorphins are not produced through opioid receptors.ASIC1a, glutamate NMDA (N-methyl-d-aspartate) and AMPA (α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid)/kainate ion channels, and melanocortin and bradykinin B2 receptors have all been implicated as non-opioid dynorphin targets.^{5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 30, 31, 35, 36} Multiplicity of these targets and their association with the cellular membrane suggest that their activation is a secondary event triggered by a primary interaction of dynorphins with the membrane. Dynorphins are among the most basic neuropeptides.^{37, 38} The basic nature is also a general property of anti-microbial peptides (AMPs) and amyloid peptides that act by inducing membrane perturbations, altering membrane curvature and causing pore formation that disrupts membrane-associated processes including ion fluxes across the membrane.³⁹ The similarity between dynorphins and these two peptide groups in overall charge and size suggests a similar mode of their interactions with membranes.In this study, we dissect the interactions of dynorphins with the cell membrane, the primary event in their non-receptor actions. Using fluorescence imaging, correlation spectroscopy and patch-clamp techniques, we demonstrate that dynorphin peptides accumulate in the plasma membrane in live cells and cause a profound transient increase in cell membrane conductance. Membrane poration by endogenous neuropeptides may represent a novel mechanism of signal transduction in the brain. This mechanism may underlie effects of dynorphins under pathological conditions including chronic pain and tissue injury.     

p62/SQSTM1 upregulation constitutes a survival mechanism that occurs during granulocytic differentiation of acute myeloid leukemia cells

The p62/SQSTM1 adapter protein has an important role in the regulation of several key signaling pathways and helps transport ubiquitinated proteins to the autophagosomes and proteasome for degradation. Here, we investigate the regulation and roles of p62/SQSTM1 during acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cell maturation into granulocytes. Levels of p62/SQSTM1 mRNA and protein were both significantly increased during all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA)-induced differentiation of AML cells through a mechanism that depends on NF-κB activation. We show that this response constitutes a survival mechanism that prolongs the life span of mature AML cells and mitigates the effects of accumulation of aggregated proteins that occurs during granulocytic differentiation. Interestingly, ATRA-induced p62/SQSTM1 upregulation was impaired in maturation-resistant AML cells but was reactivated when differentiation was restored in these cells. Primary blast cells of AML patients and CD34⁺ progenitors exhibited significantly lower p62/SQSTM1 mRNA levels than did mature granulocytes from healthy donors. Our results demonstrate that p62/SQSTM1 expression is upregulated in mature compared with immature myeloid cells and reveal a pro-survival function of the NF-κB/SQSTM1 signaling axis during granulocytic differentiation of AML cells. These findings may help our understanding of neutrophil/granulocyte development and will guide the development of novel therapeutic strategies for refractory and relapsed AML patients with previous exposure to ATRA.p62 or sequestosome 1 (p62/SQSTM1) is a scaffold protein, implicated in a variety of biological processes including those that control cell death, inflammation, and metabolism.^{1, 2} Through its multi-domain structure, p62/SQSTM1 interacts specifically with key signaling proteins, including atypical PKC family members, NF-κB, and mTOR to control cellular responses.^{3, 4, 5, 6, 7} p62/SQSTM1 functions also as a key mediator of autophagy. Through its interaction with LC3, an essential protein involved in autophagy, p62/SQSTM1 selectively directs ubiquitinated substrates to autophagosomes leading to their subsequent degradation in lysosomes.^{8, 9} At the molecular level, p62/SQSTM1 acts as a pro-tumoral molecule by ensuring efficient and selective activation of cell signaling axes involved in cell survival, proliferation, and metabolism (i.e., NF-κB, mTOR, and Nrf-2 pathways).^{3, 5, 6, 7, 10, 11, 12, 13} p62/SQSTM1 can also signal anti-tumoral responses either by inactivating the pro-oncogenic signaling through BCR-ABL¹⁴ and Wnt pathways^{15, 16} or by inducing the activation of caspase 8, a pro-death protein.^{17, 18} Interestingly, in response to stress, autophagy promotes the degradation of p62, thus limits the activation of p62-regulatory pathways that control tumorigenesis.¹⁰ In addition, p62/SQSTM1 controls pathways that modulate differentiation of normal and cancerous cells. For example, p62/SQSTM1 has been shown to antagonize basal ERK activity and adipocyte differentiation.¹⁹ In contrast, p62/SQSTM1 favors differentiation of osteoclasts,²⁰ osteoblasts,²¹ neurons,²² megakaryocytes²³ and macrophages.²⁴ The role and regulation of p62/SQSTM1 during leukemia cell differentiation has been poorly documented.Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a hematological disease characterized by multiple deregulated pathways resulting in a blockade of myeloid precursors at different stages of maturation.^{25, 26} Acute promyelocyte leukemia (APL) is the M3 type of AML characterized by an arrest of the terminal differentiation of promyelocytes into granulocytes and frequently associated with the expression of the oncogenic PML-RAR alpha fusion gene.^{27, 28} All-trans retinoic acid (ATRA), a potent activator of cellular growth arrest, differentiation, and death of APL cells, has been shown to effectively promote complete clinical remission of APL when combined with chemotherapy.^{29, 30, 31} Despite the success of this treatment, some APL patients are refractory to ATRA treatment or relapse owing to the development of resistance to ATRA in leukemia cells.^{32, 33, 34}Our previous results revealed that autophagy flux is activated during granulocyte differentiation of myeloid leukemia cell lines induced by ATRA.³⁵ In the present study, we observed that p62/SQSTM1, an autophagic substrate, is markedly upregulated at both mRNA and protein levels during the granulocytic differentiation process. Here, we investigated the regulation and the function of p62/SQSTM1 during AML cells differentiation into neutrophils/granulocytes.     

Adiponectin receptor-mediated signaling ameliorates cerebral cell damage and regulates the neurogenesis of neural stem cells at high glucose concentrations: an in vivo and in vitro study

In the central nervous system (CNS), hyperglycemia leads to neuronal damage and cognitive decline. Recent research has focused on revealing alterations in the brain in hyperglycemia and finding therapeutic solutions for alleviating the hyperglycemia-induced cognitive dysfunction. Adiponectin is a protein hormone with a major regulatory role in diabetes and obesity; however, its role in the CNS has not been studied yet. Although the presence of adiponectin receptors has been reported in the CNS, adiponectin receptor-mediated signaling in the CNS has not been investigated. In the present study, we investigated adiponectin receptor (AdipoR)-mediated signaling in vivo using a high-fat diet and in vitro using neural stem cells (NSCs). We showed that AdipoR1 protects cell damage and synaptic dysfunction in the mouse brain in hyperglycemia. At high glucose concentrations in vitro, AdipoR1 regulated the survival of NSCs through the p53/p21 pathway and the proliferation- and differentiation-related factors of NSCs via tailless (TLX). Hence, we suggest that further investigations are necessary to understand the cerebral AdipoR1-mediated signaling in hyperglycemic conditions, because the modulation of AdipoR1 might alleviate hyperglycemia-induced neuropathogenesis.Adiponectin secreted by the adipose tissue^{1, 2} exists in either a full-length or globular form.^{3, 4, 5, 6} Adiponectin can cross the blood–brain barrier, and various forms of adiponectin are found in the cerebrospinal fluid.^{7, 8, 9, 10, 11} Adiponectin exerts its effect by binding to the adiponectin receptor 1 (AdipoR1) and adiponectin receptor 2 (AdipoR2)^{12, 13} that have different affinities for the various circulating adiponectins.^{12, 14, 15, 16, 17} Several studies reported that both receptor subtypes are expressed in the central nervous system (CNS).^{7, 12, 18} As adiponectin modulates insulin sensitivity and inflammation,¹⁹ its deficiency induces insulin resistance and glucose intolerance in animals fed a high-fat diet (HFD).^{19, 20, 21} In addition, adiponectin can ameliorate the glucose homeostasis and increase insulin sensitivity.^{22, 23, 24} Adiponectin, which is the most well-known adipokine, acts mainly as an anti-inflammatory regulator,^{25, 26} and is associated with the onset of neurological disorders.²⁷ In addition, a recent study reported that adiponectin promotes the proliferation of hippocampal neural stem cells (NSCs).²⁸ Considering that adiponectin acts by binding to the adiponectin receptors, investigation of the adiponectin receptor-mediated signaling in the brain is crucial to understand the cerebral effects of adiponectin and the underlying cellular mechanisms.The prevalence of type II diabetes mellitus (DM2) and Alzheimer''s disease increases with aging.²⁹ According to a cross-sectional study, in people with DM2, the risk of dementia is 2.5 times higher than that in the normal population.^{30, 31} A study performed between 1980 and 2002 suggested that an elevated blood glucose level is associated with a greater risk for dementia in elderly patients with DM2.³² In addition, according to a 9-year-long longitudinal cohort study, the risk of developing Alzheimer''s disease was 65% higher in people with diabetes than in control subjects.³³ A community-based cohort study also reported that higher plasma glucose concentrations are associated with an increased risk for dementia, because the higher glucose level has detrimental effects on the brain.³¹ High blood glucose level causes mitochondria-dependent apoptosis,^{34, 35, 36} and aggravates diverse neurological functions.^{37, 38} Inflammation and oxidative stress, which are commonly observed in people with diabetes, inhibit neurogenesis.^{39, 40, 41} Similarly, neurogenesis is decreased in mice and rats with genetically induced type I diabetes.^{42, 43} In addition, diabetic rodents have a decreased proliferation rate of neural progenitors.^{43, 44} Furthermore, several studies suggested that an HFD leads to neuroinflammation, the impairment of synaptic plasticity, and cognitive decline.^{45, 46}Here, we investigated whether AdipoR1-mediated signaling is associated with cell death in the brain of mice on a HFD, and whether high glucose level modifies the proliferation and differentiation capacity of NSCs in vitro. Our study provides novel findings about the role of AdipoR1-mediated signaling in hyperglycemia-induced neuropathogenesis.     

Induction of COX-2-PGE2 synthesis by activation of the MAPK/ERK pathway contributes to neuronal death triggered by TDP-43-depleted microglia

Neuroinflammation is a striking hallmark of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and other neurodegenerative disorders. Previous studies have shown the contribution of glial cells such as astrocytes in TDP-43-linked ALS. However, the role of microglia in TDP-43-mediated motor neuron degeneration remains poorly understood. In this study, we show that depletion of TDP-43 in microglia, but not in astrocytes, strikingly upregulates cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production through the activation of MAPK/ERK signaling and initiates neurotoxicity. Moreover, we find that administration of celecoxib, a specific COX-2 inhibitor, greatly diminishes the neurotoxicity triggered by TDP-43-depleted microglia. Taken together, our results reveal a previously unrecognized non-cell-autonomous mechanism in TDP-43-mediated neurodegeneration, identifying COX-2-PGE2 as the molecular events of microglia- but not astrocyte-initiated neurotoxicity and identifying celecoxib as a novel potential therapy for TDP-43-linked ALS and possibly other types of ALS.Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is an adult-onset neurodegenerative disease characterized by the degeneration of motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord.¹ Most cases of ALS are sporadic, but 10% are familial. Familial ALS cases are associated with mutations in genes such as Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1), TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TARDBP) and, most recently discovered, C9orf72. Currently, most available information obtained from ALS research is based on the study of SOD1, but new studies focusing on TARDBP and C9orf72 have come to the forefront of ALS research.^{1, 2} The discovery of the central role of the protein TDP-43, encoded by TARDBP, in ALS was a breakthrough in ALS research.^{3, 4, 5} Although pathogenic mutations of TDP-43 are genetically rare, abnormal TDP-43 function is thought to be associated with the majority of ALS cases.¹ TDP-43 was identified as a key component of the ubiquitin-positive inclusions in most ALS patients and also in other neurodegenerative diseases such as frontotemporal lobar degeneration,^{6, 7} Alzheimer''s disease (AD)^{8, 9} and Parkinson''s disease (PD).^{10, 11} TDP-43 is a multifunctional RNA binding protein, and loss-of-function of TDP-43 has been increasingly recognized as a key contributor in TDP-43-mediated pathogenesis.^{5, 12, 13, 14}Neuroinflammation, a striking and common hallmark involved in many neurodegenerative diseases, including ALS, is characterized by extensive activation of glial cells including microglia, astrocytes and oligodendrocytes.^{15, 16} Although numerous studies have focused on the intrinsic properties of motor neurons in ALS, a large amount of evidence showed that glial cells, such as astrocytes and microglia, could have critical roles in SOD1-mediated motor neuron degeneration and ALS progression,^{17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22} indicating the importance of non-cell-autonomous toxicity in SOD1-mediated ALS pathogenesis.Very interestingly, a vital insight of neuroinflammation research in ALS was generated by the evidence that both the mRNA and protein levels of the pro-inflammatory enzyme cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) are upregulated in both transgenic mouse models and in human postmortem brain and spinal cord.^{23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29} The role of COX-2 neurotoxicity in ALS and other neurodegenerative disorders has been well explored.^{30, 31, 32} One of the key downstream products of COX-2, prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), can directly mediate COX-2 neurotoxicity both in vitro and in vivo.^{33, 34, 35, 36, 37} The levels of COX-2 expression and PGE2 production are controlled by multiple cell signaling pathways, including the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)/ERK pathway,^{38, 39, 40} and they have been found to be increased in neurodegenerative diseases including AD, PD and ALS.^{25, 28, 32, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46} Importantly, COX-2 inhibitors such as celecoxib exhibited significant neuroprotective effects and prolonged survival or delayed disease onset in a SOD1-ALS transgenic mouse model through the downregulation of PGE2 release.²⁸Most recent studies have tried to elucidate the role of glial cells in neurotoxicity using TDP-43-ALS models, which are considered to be helpful for better understanding the disease mechanisms.^{47, 48, 49, 50, 51} Although the contribution of glial cells to TDP-43-mediated motor neuron degeneration is now well supported, this model does not fully suggest an astrocyte-based non-cell autonomous mechanism. For example, recent studies have shown that TDP-43-mutant astrocytes do not affect the survival of motor neurons,^{50, 51} indicating a previously unrecognized non-cell autonomous TDP-43 proteinopathy that associates with cell types other than astrocytes.Given that the role of glial cell types other than astrocytes in TDP-43-mediated neuroinflammation is still not fully understood, we aim to compare the contribution of microglia and astrocytes to neurotoxicity in a TDP-43 loss-of-function model. Here, we show that TDP-43 has a dominant role in promoting COX-2-PGE2 production through the MAPK/ERK pathway in primary cultured microglia, but not in primary cultured astrocytes. Our study suggests that overproduction of PGE2 in microglia is a novel molecular mechanism underlying neurotoxicity in TDP-43-linked ALS. Moreover, our data identify celecoxib as a new potential effective treatment of TDP-43-linked ALS and possibly other types of ALS.     

A cellular screen identifies ponatinib and pazopanib as inhibitors of necroptosis

Necroptosis is a form of regulated necrotic cell death mediated by receptor-interacting serine/threonine-protein kinase 1 (RIPK1) and RIPK3. Necroptotic cell death contributes to the pathophysiology of several disorders involving tissue damage, including myocardial infarction, stroke and ischemia-reperfusion injury. However, no inhibitors of necroptosis are currently in clinical use. Here we performed a phenotypic screen for small-molecule inhibitors of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α)-induced necroptosis in Fas-associated protein with death domain (FADD)-deficient Jurkat cells using a representative panel of Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved drugs. We identified two anti-cancer agents, ponatinib and pazopanib, as submicromolar inhibitors of necroptosis. Both compounds inhibited necroptotic cell death induced by various cell death receptor ligands in human cells, while not protecting from apoptosis. Ponatinib and pazopanib abrogated phosphorylation of mixed lineage kinase domain-like protein (MLKL) upon TNF-α-induced necroptosis, indicating that both agents target a component upstream of MLKL. An unbiased chemical proteomic approach determined the cellular target spectrum of ponatinib, revealing key members of the necroptosis signaling pathway. We validated RIPK1, RIPK3 and transforming growth factor-β-activated kinase 1 (TAK1) as novel, direct targets of ponatinib by using competitive binding, cellular thermal shift and recombinant kinase assays. Ponatinib inhibited both RIPK1 and RIPK3, while pazopanib preferentially targeted RIPK1. The identification of the FDA-approved drugs ponatinib and pazopanib as cellular inhibitors of necroptosis highlights them as potentially interesting for the treatment of pathologies caused or aggravated by necroptotic cell death.Programmed cell death has a crucial role in a variety of biological processes ranging from normal tissue development to diverse pathological conditions.^{1, 2} Necroptosis is a form of regulated cell death that has been shown to occur during pathogen infection or sterile injury-induced inflammation in conditions where apoptosis signaling is compromised.^{3, 4, 5, 6} Given that many viruses have developed strategies to circumvent apoptotic cell death, necroptosis constitutes an important, pro-inflammatory back-up mechanism that limits viral spread in vivo.^{7, 8, 9} In contrast, in the context of sterile inflammation, necroptotic cell death contributes to disease pathology, outlining potential benefits of therapeutic intervention.¹⁰ Necroptosis can be initiated by death receptors of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) superfamily,¹¹ Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3),¹² TLR4,¹³ DNA-dependent activator of IFN-regulatory factors¹⁴ or interferon receptors.¹⁵ Downstream signaling is subsequently conveyed via RIPK1¹⁶ or TIR-domain-containing adapter-inducing interferon-β,^{8, 17} and converges on RIPK3-mediated^{13, 18, 19, 20} activation of MLKL.²¹ Phosphorylated MLKL triggers membrane rupture,^{22, 23, 24, 25, 26} releasing pro-inflammatory cellular contents to the extracellular space.²⁷ Studies using the RIPK1 inhibitor necrostatin-1 (Nec-1) ²⁸ or RIPK3-deficient mice have established a role for necroptosis in the pathophysiology of pancreatitis,¹⁹ artherosclerosis,²⁹ retinal cell death,³⁰ ischemic organ damage and ischemia-reperfusion injury in both the kidney³¹ and the heart.³² Moreover, allografts from RIPK3-deficient mice are better protected from rejection, suggesting necroptosis inhibition as a therapeutic option to improve transplant outcome.³³ Besides Nec-1, several tool compounds inhibiting different pathway members have been described,^{12, 16, 21, 34, 35} however, no inhibitors of necroptosis are available for clinical use so far.^{2, 10} In this study we screened a library of FDA approved drugs for the precise purpose of identifying already existing and generally safe chemical agents that could be used as necroptosis inhibitors. We identified the two structurally distinct kinase inhibitors pazopanib and ponatinib as potent blockers of necroptosis targeting the key enzymes RIPK1/3.     

REDD2-mediated inhibition of mTOR promotes dendrite retraction induced by axonal injury

Dendritic defects occur in neurodegenerative diseases accompanied by axonopathy, yet the mechanisms that regulate these pathologic changes are poorly understood. Using Thy1-YFPH mice subjected to optic nerve axotomy, we demonstrate early retraction of retinal ganglion cell (RGC) dendrites and selective loss of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) activity, which precede soma loss. Axonal injury triggered rapid upregulation of the stress-induced protein REDD2 (regulated in development and DNA damage response 2), a potent inhibitor of mTOR. Short interfering RNA-mediated REDD2 knockdown restored mTOR activity and rescued dendritic length, area and branch complexity in a rapamycin-dependent manner. Whole-cell recordings demonstrated that REDD2 depletion leading to mTOR activation in RGCs restored their light response properties. Lastly, we show that REDD2-dependent mTOR activity extended RGC survival following axonal damage. These results indicate that injury-induced stress leads to REDD2 upregulation, mTOR inhibition and dendrite pathology causing neuronal dysfunction and subsequent cell death.During normal neural development there is selective elimination of dendritic and axonal branches without loss of the neuron itself.¹ This developmental pruning refines neuronal processes and ensures precise connectivity. Most of our current knowledge about structural changes in dendrites stems from studies of dendritic remodeling during development.^2,3 In contrast, little is known about how dendritic arbors are affected by trauma or disease in the adult central nervous system (CNS). Defects in dendritic arborization and connectivity are being recognized as one of the first stages of neurodegeneration. Indeed, dendritic abnormalities and loss of synapses have been reported in neuropsychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia and depression, as well as in neurodegenerative conditions including Alzheimer''s disease, stroke and glaucoma.^4,5 Despite the fact that dendritic defects are likely to have devastating consequences on neuronal function and survival, the mechanisms that regulate dendrite degeneration in mature CNS neurons are poorly understood.Recent studies have identified the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) as a critical component of dendritic tree development.^{6, 7, 8, 9} A substantial reduction in the number of dendritic branches and arbor shrinkage were observed in developing hippocampal neurons when mTOR was inhibited.^6,7 In addition, mTOR has been recently implicated in the regulation of dendritic spine morphology, synaptogenesis and synaptic plasticity.^10,11 The emerging developmental role of mTOR in the regulation of dendritic dynamics prompted us to put forward the hypothesis that dysregulation of mTOR function might contribute to dendritic pathology in adult neurons following injury.Many of the signals that impinge upon mTOR activity act through the tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC1/2), a negative regulator of mTOR function. For instance, stress signals such as hypoxia and energy depletion activate TSC1/2 through the REDD (regulated in development and DNA damage response) proteins,^{12, 13, 14} leading to the loss of mTOR activity. REDD2, a member of this family also known as DDIT4L or RTP801L, is an attractive target because in addition to being a potent mTOR inhibitor, it is implicated in stress responses leading to cell death.^15,16 Although REDD2 is enriched in skeletal muscle and has been shown to inhibit mTOR signaling in response to leucine and stretch,¹⁷ its expression and function in the nervous system is currently unknown.We used a model of acute optic nerve lesion in vivo to ask whether axonal damage had a direct effect on retinal ganglion cell (RGC) dendrite morphology and, if so, to identify the molecular mechanisms that regulate this injury-induced response. Our data demonstrate that axonal damage leads to substantial retraction of RGC dendritic arbors before soma loss. Optic nerve lesion led to selective REDD2 upregulation in RGCs, which coincided with the loss of mTOR activity. Short interfering RNA (siRNA)-mediated knockdown of REDD2 restored mTOR function in injured neurons and fully rescued their dendritic arbors, increasing dendritic length, field area and branch complexity. REDD2 depletion also abrogated pathologic RGC hyperexcitability and restored the light response properties of these neurons. Collectively, these data identify the REDD2-mTOR signaling pathway as a critical regulator of dendritic arbor morphology in adult central neurons undergoing axonal damage.     

Depletion of white adipocyte progenitors induces beige adipocyte differentiation and suppresses obesity development

Overgrowth of white adipose tissue (WAT) in obesity occurs as a result of adipocyte hypertrophy and hyperplasia. Expansion and renewal of adipocytes relies on proliferation and differentiation of white adipocyte progenitors (WAP); however, the requirement of WAP for obesity development has not been proven. Here, we investigate whether depletion of WAP can be used to prevent WAT expansion. We test this approach by using a hunter-killer peptide designed to induce apoptosis selectively in WAP. We show that targeted WAP cytoablation results in a long-term WAT growth suppression despite increased caloric intake in a mouse diet-induced obesity model. Our data indicate that WAP depletion results in a compensatory population of adipose tissue with beige adipocytes. Consistent with reported thermogenic capacity of beige adipose tissue, WAP-depleted mice display increased energy expenditure. We conclude that targeting of white adipocyte progenitors could be developed as a strategy to sustained modulation of WAT metabolic activity.Obesity, a medical condition predisposing to diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and complicating other life-threatening diseases, is becoming an increasingly important social problem.^{1, 2, 3} Development of pharmacological approaches to reduction of body fat has remained a daunting task.⁴ Approved obesity treatments typically produce only moderate and temporary effects.^2,5 White adipocytes are the differentiated cells of white adipose tissue (WAT) that store triglycerides in lipid droplets.^6,7 In contrast, adipocytes of brown adipose tissue (BAT) dissipate excess energy through adaptive thermogenesis. Under certain conditions, white adipocytes can become partially replaced with brown-like ‘beige'' (‘brite'') adipocytes that simulate the thermogenic function of BAT adipocytes.^7,8 Obesity develops in the context of positive energy balance as a result of hypertrophy and hyperplasia of white adipocytes.⁹Expansion and renewal of the white adipocyte pool in WAT continues in adulthood.^10,11 This process is believed to rely on proliferation and self-renewal of mesenchymal precursor cells¹² that we term white adipocyte progenitors (WAPs). WAPs reside within the population of adipose stromal cells (ASCs)¹³ and are functionally similar to bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs).^{14, 15, 16} ASCs can be isolated from the stromal/vascular fraction (SVF) of WAT based on negativity for hematopoietic (CD45) and endothelial (CD31) markers.^17,18 ASCs support vascularization as mural/adventitial cells secreting angiogenic factors^5,19 and, unlike bone marrow MSCs, express CD34.^19,20 WAPs have been identified within the ASC population based on expression of mesenchymal markers, such as platelet-derived growth factor receptor-β (PDGFRβ, aka CD140b) and pericyte markers.^17,18 Recently, a distinct ASC progenitor population capable of differentiating into both white and brown adipocytes has been identified in WAT based on PDGFRα (CD140a) expression and lack of PDGFRβ expression.^21,22 The physiological relevance of the two precursor populations residing in WAT has not been explored.We have previously established an approach to isolate peptide ligands binding to receptors selectively expressed on the surface of cell populations of interest.^{23, 24, 25, 26, 27} Such cell-targeted peptides can be used for targeted delivery of experimental therapeutic agents in vivo. A number of ‘hunter-killer'' peptides²⁸ composed of a cell-homing domain binding to a surface marker and of KLAKLAK₂ (sequence KLAKLAKKLAKLAK), a moiety inducing apoptosis upon receptor-mediated internalization, has been described by our group.^26,29 Such bimodal peptides have been used for depletion of malignant cells and organ-specific endothelial cells in preclinical animal models.^26,30,31 Recently, we isolated a cyclic peptide WAT7 (amino acid sequence CSWKYWFGEC) based on its specific binding to ASCs.²⁰ We identified Δ-decorin (ΔDCN), a proteolytic cleavage fragment of decorin, as the WAT7 receptor specifically expressed on the surface of CD34+PDGFRβ+CD31-CD45- WAPs and absent on MSCs in other organs.²⁰Here, we investigated whether WAPs are required for obesity development in adulthood. By designing a new hunter-killer peptide that directs KLAKLAK₂ to WAPs through WAT7/ΔDCN interaction, we depleted WAP in the mouse diet-induced obesity model. We demonstrate that WAP depletion suppresses WAT growth. We show that, in response to WAP deficiency, WAT becomes populated with beige adipocytes. Consistent with the reported thermogenic function of beige adipocytes,^32,33 the observed WAT remodeling is associated with increased energy expenditure. We identify a population of PDGFRα-positive, PDGFRβ-negative ASCs reported recently²² as a population surviving WAP depletion and responsible for WAT browning.     

IL10 inhibits starvation-induced autophagy in hypertrophic scar fibroblasts via cross talk between the IL10-IL10R-STAT3 and IL10-AKT-mTOR pathways

Hypertrophic scar (HS) is a serious skin fibrotic disease characterized by excessive hypercellularity and extracellular matrix (ECM) component deposition. Autophagy is a tightly regulated physiological process essential for cellular maintenance, differentiation, development, and homeostasis. Previous studies show that IL10 has potential therapeutic benefits in terms of preventing and reducing HS formation. However, no studies have examined IL10-mediated autophagy during the pathological process of HS formation. Here, we examined the effect of IL10 on starvation-induced autophagy and investigated the molecular mechanism underlying IL10-mediated inhibition of autophagy in HS-derived fibroblasts (HSFs) under starvation conditions. Immunostaining and PCR analysis revealed that a specific component of the IL10 receptor, IL10 alpha-chain (IL10Rα), is expressed in HSFs. Transmission electron microscopy and western blot analysis revealed that IL10 inhibited starvation-induced autophagy and induced the expression of p-AKT and p-STAT3 in HSFs in a dose-dependent manner. Blocking IL10R, p-AKT, p-mTOR, and p-STAT3 using specific inhibitors (IL10RB, {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"LY294002","term_id":"1257998346","term_text":"LY294002"}}LY294002, rapamycin, and cryptotanshinone, respectively) showed that IL10 inhibited autophagy via IL10Rα-mediated activation of STAT3 (the IL10R-STAT3 pathway) and by directly activating the AKT-mTOR pathway. Notably, these results suggest that IL10-mediated inhibition of autophagy is facilitated by the cross talk between STAT3, AKT, and mTOR; in other words, the IL10-IL10R-STAT3 and IL10-AKT-mTOR pathways. Finally, the results also indicate that mTOR-p70S6K is the molecule upon which these two pathways converge to induce IL10-mediated inhibition of autophagy in starved HSFs. In summary, the findings reported herein shed light on the molecular mechanism underlying IL10-mediated inhibition of autophagy and suggest that IL10 is a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of HS.Autophagy is a degradative process in eukaryotic cells that removes or turns over bulk cytoplasmic constituents through the endosomal and lysosomal fusion system (i.e., autophagosomes).^{1, 2} Autophagy is induced by stressful conditions such as starvation and pathogenic invasion.²Hypertrophic scar (HS) is a major skin fibrotic disorder caused by hypercellularity and extracellular matrix (ECM) component deposition.^{3, 4, 5} HS formation is usually recognized as the consequence of disturbed tissue repair processes and/or disrupted homeostasis in the skin after traumatic injury: HS negatively impacts on patient appearance, skeletal muscle function, and quality of life in general.^{6, 7, 8, 9} About 40–70% of surgeries and over 91% of burn injuries result in HS.¹⁰ A key feature of HS is a metabolic disorder of collagen-based ECM proteins.^{11, 12, 13} Autophagy has an important role in homeostasis of tissue structure and function.^{2, 14, 15} Skin autophagic capability is associated with HS and with the pathogenesis of many human diseases.^{16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23}Existing studies suggest that cytokines are important regulators of the autophagic process in both immune and non-immune cells.^{24, 25, 26} Interleukin-10 (IL10), expressed by a variety of mammalian cell types, was first described as a cytokine-synthesis-inhibitory factor with immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory functions.^{27, 28} IL10 has a pivotal role in wound healing^{29, 30} and is a promising therapeutic agent for scar improvement in both animal models and human cutaneous wounds.^{9, 31, 32}Fibroblasts are one of the most important effector cells responsible for HS formation.^{12, 33, 34} Thus, we were prompted to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the interactions among IL10, autophagy, and HS formation, with the aim of providing a molecular foundation for the therapeutic efficacy IL10. We used HS tissue, HS-derived fibroblasts (HSFs), and starvation-induced autophagy in HSFs as our research platform.Here, we report that IL10 inhibited autophagy by interfering with IL10R-mediated activation of IL10R-STAT3, as well as by activating the AKT-mTOR pathway. In addition, cross talk among STAT3, AKT, and mTOR and between the IL10-IL10R-STAT3 and IL10-AKT-mTOR pathways collaboratively regulated starvation-induced autophagy in HSFs.     

Calcineurin B-Like Protein-Interacting Protein Kinase CIPK21 Regulates Osmotic and Salt Stress Responses in Arabidopsis

The role of calcium-mediated signaling has been extensively studied in plant responses to abiotic stress signals. Calcineurin B-like proteins (CBLs) and CBL-interacting protein kinases (CIPKs) constitute a complex signaling network acting in diverse plant stress responses. Osmotic stress imposed by soil salinity and drought is a major abiotic stress that impedes plant growth and development and involves calcium-signaling processes. In this study, we report the functional analysis of CIPK21, an Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) CBL-interacting protein kinase, ubiquitously expressed in plant tissues and up-regulated under multiple abiotic stress conditions. The growth of a loss-of-function mutant of CIPK21, cipk21, was hypersensitive to high salt and osmotic stress conditions. The calcium sensors CBL2 and CBL3 were found to physically interact with CIPK21 and target this kinase to the tonoplast. Moreover, preferential localization of CIPK21 to the tonoplast was detected under salt stress condition when coexpressed with CBL2 or CBL3. These findings suggest that CIPK21 mediates responses to salt stress condition in Arabidopsis, at least in part, by regulating ion and water homeostasis across the vacuolar membranes.Drought and salinity cause osmotic stress in plants and severely affect crop productivity throughout the world. Plants respond to osmotic stress by changing a number of cellular processes (Xiong et al., 1999; Xiong and Zhu, 2002; Bartels and Sunkar, 2005; Boudsocq and Lauriére, 2005). Some of these changes include activation of stress-responsive genes, regulation of membrane transport at both plasma membrane (PM) and vacuolar membrane (tonoplast) to maintain water and ionic homeostasis, and metabolic changes to produce compatible osmolytes such as Pro (Stewart and Lee, 1974; Krasensky and Jonak, 2012). It has been well established that a specific calcium (Ca²⁺) signature is generated in response to a particular environmental stimulus (Trewavas and Malhó, 1998; Scrase-Field and Knight, 2003; Luan, 2009; Kudla et al., 2010). The Ca²⁺ changes are primarily perceived by several Ca²⁺ sensors such as calmodulin (Reddy, 2001; Luan et al., 2002), Ca²⁺-dependent protein kinases (Harper and Harmon, 2005), calcineurin B-like proteins (CBLs; Luan et al., 2002; Batistič and Kudla, 2004; Pandey, 2008; Luan, 2009; Sanyal et al., 2015), and other Ca²⁺-binding proteins (Reddy, 2001; Shao et al., 2008) to initiate various cellular responses.Plant CBL-type Ca²⁺ sensors interact with and activate CBL-interacting protein kinases (CIPKs) that phosphorylate downstream components to transduce Ca²⁺ signals (Liu et al., 2000; Luan et al., 2002; Batistič and Kudla, 2004; Luan, 2009). In several plant species, multiple members have been identified in the CBL and CIPK family (Luan et al., 2002; Kolukisaoglu et al., 2004; Pandey, 2008; Batistič and Kudla, 2009; Weinl and Kudla, 2009; Pandey et al., 2014). Involvement of specific CBL-CIPK pair to decode a particular type of signal entails the alternative and selective complex formation leading to stimulus-response coupling (D’Angelo et al., 2006; Batistič et al., 2010).Several CBL and CIPK family members have been implicated in plant responses to drought, salinity, and osmotic stress based on genetic analysis of Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) mutants (Zhu, 2002; Cheong et al., 2003, 2007; Kim et al., 2003; Pandey et al., 2004, 2008; D’Angelo et al., 2006; Qin et al., 2008; Tripathi et al., 2009; Held et al., 2011; Tang et al., 2012; Drerup et al., 2013; Eckert et al., 2014). A few CIPKs have also been functionally characterized by gain-of-function approach in crop plants such as rice (Oryza sativa), pea (Pisum sativum), and maize (Zea mays) and were found to be involved in osmotic stress responses (Mahajan et al., 2006; Xiang et al., 2007; Yang et al., 2008; Tripathi et al., 2009; Zhao et al., 2009; Cuéllar et al., 2010).In this report, we examined the role of the Arabidopsis CIPK21 gene in osmotic stress response by reverse genetic analysis. The loss-of-function mutant plants became hypersensitive to salt and mannitol stress conditions, suggesting that CIPK21 is involved in the regulation of osmotic stress response in Arabidopsis. These findings are further supported by an enhanced tonoplast targeting of the cytoplasmic CIPK21 through interaction with the vacuolar Ca²⁺ sensors CBL2 and CBL3 under salt stress condition.