Elevated Endoplasmic Reticulum Research Articles

Chemical Chaperone Therapy Reduces Myofiber Damage in Dystrophin‐null mdx Mice

Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), which affects approximately 1 in 3600 male children, is associated with the absence of the sarcolemmal protein dystrophin, and results in severe muscle weakness, disability and early death. We hypothesize that chronically elevated endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress is a key player in the pathogenesis of DMD. We therefore predicted that in mdx mice, which model DMD, pharmacotherapy with the chemical chaperone 4‐Phenylbutyric acid (4PBA), which is known to reduce ER stress, will also reduce exercise‐induced muscle damage that is characteristic of dystrophin‐deficiency. In the unexercised tibialis anterior muscle (TA), we found that the ER stress marker CHOP is elevated ~ 3‐fold in mdx versus control mice. Three days after eccentrically‐biased exercise of the TA (90‐180 ° plantarflexion during maximal fused tetany of dorsiflexors; 20 repetitions), there were 9 ± 2 % desmin‐negative damaged fibers in TAs of mdx mice treated with 4PBA (IP injection, 200 mg/kg/day in 0.15M NaHCO3; once daily for 7 days pre‐exercise, daily thereafter until tissue collection) versus 49 ± 7 % damaged fibers in TAs of mdx mice treated with vehicle (N = 2 mice per group); peak tetanic torque of the TA was 75 ± 3 % and 36 ± 3 % of pre‐exercise levels, respectively, in the 4PBA‐ and vehicle‐treated groups (N = 4 mice per group). Data are reported as Mean ± SEM. Our data suggest that relieving ER stress through chemical chaperone therapy might reduce disease severity in patients with DMD.

Epidermal growth factor receptor signaling and the progression of diabetic nephropathy.

Epidermal growth factor receptor signaling and the progression of diabetic nephropathy.

Generation of Reactive Oxygen Species and Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress by Dictyopteris undulata Extract Leads to Apoptosis in Human Melanoma Cells.

In this study, we evaluated the hypothesis that a marine brown algae, Dictyopteris undulata ethanol extract (DUE), provokes apoptosis in a human melanoma cell line, A2058, via reactive oxygen species (ROS) and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. DUE inhibited A2058 cell proliferation and increased apoptotic body formation, as indicated by the presence of fragmented nuclei and the activation of caspase-3. Moreover, DUE-treated cells showed elevated ER staining, mitochondrial calcium cation (Ca2+) overloading, augmented levels of ER stress-related and cell death modulatory proteins, including RNA-dependent protein kinase-related ER kinase, phospho-inositol-requiring enzyme 1α, phospho-eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2α, and CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein-homologous protein, as well as increased intracellular ROS levels. However, the antioxidant N-acetyl cysteine reversed the elevated ROS levels, decreased apoptosis, and mitigated ER stress in A2058 cells following DUE treatment. These findings suggest that DUE treatment triggers apoptosis in human melanoma cells through a mechanism involving ER stress and ROS.

Taurine-Conjugated Bile Acids Protect Expanding Hematopoietic Stem/Progenitor Cells from Unfolded Protein Stress As Natural Chaperones

Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) give rise to all lineages of hematopoietic cells in the body for entire life span and are thus protected from risk factors by multiple defense systems. We have recently discovered that HSCs are highly susceptible to stress caused by accumulation of mis-/un-folded proteins, so called endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress upon enhanced growth conditions, and addition of a specific type of bile acid (BA), Tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA), known as a chemical chaperone can maintain functional murine HSCs for 2 weeks in vitro, by reducing ER stress (Miharada et al., Cell Rep. 2014). This work depicts the importance of proper protein quality control in HSC maintenance, particularly during the expansion.HSCs are kept in dormant state in the adult body, but actively expanding in the fetal liver. BAs are synthesized from cholesterol in the liver. Interestingly, bile acid synthesis is highly up-regulated in the fetal liver during embryogenesis and the composition of fetal BAs gradually reduces after birth. In addition, composition of bile acids in the fetus is different from adult liver, with the vast majority of fetal BAs are of Taurine-conjugated form that is more stable and non-toxic. Of note, hematopoietic cells and hepatocytes producing BAs are in close contact in the fetal liver and HSCs are therefore exposed to BAs, whereas the adult liver has anatomically isolated bile duct structures that separate blood flow and bile flow. However the role for these fetal BAs has been unknown.Here we report that bile acids support expansion of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) in the fetal liver and ex vivo. Since TUDCA is a rare component in human and mouse BAs, even in the fetal liver, we sought analogue(s) that similarly function as ER stress inhibitors. We identified that Taurocholic acid (TCA), one of the main components of fetal BA, and Tauro-alpha-muricholic acid (TαMCA) that is a rodent specific BA have a potential to reduce ER stress, similar to TUDCA. Mouse HSCs cultured with TCA or TαMCA in vitro for 2 weeks showed a robust increase in the reconstitution level compared to non-treated cells (14-fold, n=14, p<0.001 and 13-fold, n=9, p<0.05, respectively), which has comparable or even better potential to support HSC function than TUDCA.To study physiological roles of BA in ER stress reduction and HSC expansion in the fetal liver, an inhibitor of BA synthesis, GW4064 (an agonist of a nuclear receptor FxR that negatively regulates key enzymes in the BA biosynthesis, CYP7A1 and CYP8B1), was intraperitoneally injected into pregnant mice. E16.5 fetuses derived from GW4064-injected pregnant mice showed severe decrease in the number of HSPCs (0.40-fold, n=28-33, p<0.001) in the fetal liver, due to increased apoptosis triggered by elevated ER stress levels. Importantly, co-injection of TCA or Salubrinal (inhibitor of the ER stress-induced apoptosis signal) rescued the effects of GW4064 on cellularity of the fetal liver and levels of ER stress, confirming that the phenotype seen here is due to increased ER stress resulting from lowered levels of BA.Analyses of CYP27A1 knockout (KO) mice that have reduced BA synthesis observed decreased HSC number and increased ER stress in the fetal liver, whereas CYP8B1 KO mice that have increased Tα/βMCA synthesis instead of lack of TCA didn’t show any difference.These findings strongly suggest that fetal BA, particularly TCA and TαMCA, supports the expansion of HSPCs in the fetal liver and the ex vivo culture as chemical chaperones by lowering ER stress levels. Our findings propose a new role of bile acids in hematopoiesis as natural chaperones and provide a novel connection between hematopoiesis and fetal liver. DisclosuresNo relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Elevated endoplasmic reticulum stress reinforced immunosuppression in the tumor microenvironment via myeloid-derived suppressor cells.

The role of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in cancer has been studied in detail, and ER stress is known to increase tumor cell apoptosis, and thus, reduce tumor growth. However, in our study, persistent ER stress induced by multiple administrations of low-dose thapsigargin (Tg) accelerated tumor growth in mice. Tg-mediated ER stress increased the generation of Ly6G+CD11b+ myeloid cells, but did not alter anti-tumor effector T cells. 4-Phenylbutyric acid (4-PBA), a chemical chaperone widely used as an ER stress reducer, attenuated Tg-induced myeloid-derived suppressor cell (MDSC) expansion and tumor growth. Tg-mediated ER stress enhanced the immunosuppressive capacity of tumor-infiltrating MDSCs by increasing expression of ARG1, iNOS, and NOX2, although splenic MDSCs were not affected. Consistent with these results, 4-PBA restored the anti-tumor immune response by regulating inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α and CXCL1/KC, and activated tumor-infiltrating CD8+ T cells that were inhibited by Tg-mediated ER stress. These results suggest that significant ER stress in a tumor-bearing host might induce tumor growth mediated by enhancement of MDSC-mediated suppression. Therefore, ER stress reducers such as 4-PBA could restore anti-tumor immunity by inhibiting suppressive MDSCs that are exacerbated by ER stress.

Endoplasmic reticulum stress and cell death in mTORC1-overactive cells is induced by nelfinavir and enhanced by chloroquine

Inappropriate activation of mammalian/mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) is common in cancer and has many cellular consequences including elevated endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. Cells employ autophagy as a critical compensatory survival mechanism during ER stress. This study utilised drug-induced ER stress through nelfinavir in order to examine ER stress tolerance in cell lines with hyper-active mTORC1 signalling. Our initial findings in wild type cells showed nelfinavir inhibited mTORC1 signalling and upregulated autophagy, as determined by decreased rpS6 and S6K1 phosphorylation, and SQTSM1 protein expression, respectively. Contrastingly, cells with hyper-active mTORC1 displayed basally elevated levels of ER stress which was greatly exaggerated following nelfinavir treatment, seen through increased CHOP mRNA and XBP1 splicing. To further enhance the effects of nelfinavir, we introduced chloroquine as an autophagy inhibitor. Combination of nelfinavir and chloroquine significantly increased ER stress and caused selective cell death in multiple cell line models with hyper-active mTORC1, whilst control cells with normalised mTORC1 signalling tolerated treatment. By comparing chloroquine to other autophagy inhibitors, we uncovered that selective toxicity invoked by chloroquine was independent of autophagy inhibition yet entrapment of chloroquine to acidified lysosomal/endosomal compartments was necessary for cytotoxicity. Our research demonstrates that combination of nelfinavir and chloroquine has therapeutic potential for treatment of mTORC1-driven tumours.

Elevated Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Response Contributes to Adipose Tissue Inflammation in Aging.

Adipose tissue inflammation has been linked to age-related metabolic diseases. However, the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. Adipose tissue inflammation and insulin resistance in diet associated obesity has been correlated with aberrant endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. This study was undertaken to test our hypothesis that increased ER stress response contributes to age-associated adipose tissue inflammation. We found elevated ER stress response in adipose tissue of old (18-20 months) compared to young (4-6 months) mice. Elevated ER stress markers BIP (GRP78), CHOP, cleaved-ATF-6, phospho-IRE1α, and XBP-1 were observed in old compared to young adipose tissue stromal cells. Additionally, old adipose tissue stromal cells were more sensitive to an ER stress inducer, thapsigargin. Similar experiments with adipose tissue macrophages showed elevated Chop and Bip expression in old adipose tissue macrophages when induced with thapsigargin. Treatment of chemical chaperone 4-phenyle-butyric acid alleviated ER stress in adipose tissue stromal cells and adipose tissue macrophages and attenuated the production of IL-6 and MCP-1 by adipose tissue stromal cells, and TNF-α by adipose tissue macrophages from both young and old mice. Finally, old mice fed with 4-phenyle-butyric acid have reduced expression of ER stress and inflammatory cytokine genes. Our data suggests that an exaggerated ER stress response in aging adipose tissue contributes to age-associated inflammation that can be mitigated by treatment with chemical chaperones.

6: Elevated hMPV, but not RSV, replication in the nasal epithelium of asthmatic adults is facilitated by an IFN-independent integrated stress response

Introduction Human metapneumovirus (hMPV) and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) cause acute respiratory tract disease and play an important role in the initiation and exacerbation of asthma. Our recently published data demonstrate that loss of viral control in nasal epithelial cells (NECs) from pre-asthmatic children is viral specific and IFN-independent. However this has not yet been established in asthmatic adults. Virus-induced Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER) stress leads to the activation of the unfolded protein response (UPR), and can contribute to viral replication and pathogenesis. The objectives of this study are to identify if intrinsic innate immune deficiencies exist in asthmatic adult NECs in response to RSV and hMPV, and whether this is associated with the ER stress response. Methods NECs were collected from healthy (n = 10) and asthmatic (n = 10) adults and cultured as submerged monolayers. Cells were infected with RSV-A2 or hMPV-CAN97/83 strains at high (3) multiplicity of infection. IFN- β , ER stress markers, caspase 3/7 activity and viral replication were quantified 24 h post-infection. Results Increased viral replication of hMPV, but not RSV, was observed in asthmatic NECs compared to healthy controls, although the IFN- β response was similar. qPCR analysis revealed an elevated expression of ER chaperone, Grp78 (p Conclusion Our data indicate that asthmatic NECs are more susceptible to infection by hMPV, but not RSV, despite a normal IFN- β response. Elevated ER stress and apoptosis were associated with elevated hMPV replication in asthmatic NECs. The stress response of NECs was virus-specific and associated with disease status, thus highlighting the importance of the UPR in viral infections in asthmatic individuals.

Dppa5 Improves Hematopoietic Stem Cell Activity by Reducing Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress

Developmental pluripotency-associated 5 (Dppa5) is an RNA binding protein highly expressed in undifferentiated pluripotent stem cells. Here, we demonstrate that Dppa5 is a regulator of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) that critically governs reconstitution capacity after bone marrow transplantation. Ectopic expression of Dppa5 followed by invitro culture robustly increased HSC reconstitution levels through suppression of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and apoptosis. Remarkably, a chemical chaperone that decreases ER stress in HSCs also increases HSC engraftment. Conversely, knockdown of Dppa5 impaired the long-term reconstitution ability of HSCs due to elevated ER stress levels, suggesting that ER stress regulation is physiologically important for proper HSC function invivo. Thus, Dppa5 represents a pivotal connection between ER stress regulation and stem cell properties in HSCs. The findings also demonstrate that protein quality control is critical for the maintenance, survival, and function of HSCs invivo and exvivo.

Impaired autophagic flux is associated with increased endoplasmic reticulum stress during the development of NAFLD.

The pathogenic mechanisms underlying the progression of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) are not fully understood. In this study, we aimed to assess the relationship between endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and autophagy in human and mouse hepatocytes during NAFLD. ER stress and autophagy markers were analyzed in livers from patients with biopsy-proven non-alcoholic steatosis (NAS) or non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) compared with livers from subjects with histologically normal liver, in livers from mice fed with chow diet (CHD) compared with mice fed with high fat diet (HFD) or methionine-choline-deficient (MCD) diet and in primary and Huh7 human hepatocytes loaded with palmitic acid (PA). In NASH patients, significant increases in hepatic messenger RNA levels of markers of ER stress (activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4), glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78) and C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP)) and autophagy (BCN1) were found compared with NAS patients. Likewise, protein levels of GRP78, CHOP and p62/SQSTM1 (p62) autophagic substrate were significantly elevated in NASH compared with NAS patients. In livers from mice fed with HFD or MCD, ER stress-mediated signaling was parallel to the blockade of the autophagic flux assessed by increases in p62, microtubule-associated protein 2 light chain 3 (LC3-II)/LC3-I ratio and accumulation of autophagosomes compared with CHD fed mice. In Huh7 hepatic cells, treatment with PA for 8 h triggered activation of both unfolding protein response and the autophagic flux. Conversely, prolonged treatment with PA (24 h) induced ER stress and cell death together with a blockade of the autophagic flux. Under these conditions, cotreatment with rapamycin or CHOP silencing ameliorated these effects and decreased apoptosis. Our results demonstrated that the autophagic flux is impaired in the liver from both NAFLD patients and murine models of NAFLD, as well as in lipid-overloaded human hepatocytes, and it could be due to elevated ER stress leading to apoptosis. Consequently, therapies aimed to restore the autophagic flux might attenuate or prevent the progression of NAFLD.

Elevated systemic expression of ER stress related genes is associated with stress-related mental disorders in the Detroit Neighborhood Health Study

The role of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress response in mental illness is not well understood. Human studies and animal models of depression show elevated brain ER stress response. In addition, some ER stress associated disorders (e.g. cardiovascular disease) show higher rates of depression compared to the general population, raising the possibility that ER stress response contributes to depression risk. It remains unknown, however, if ER stress response is present among individuals suffering from other stress-related mental illness, and whether such a response would be evident in a non-clinical sample. This study tests for systemic changes in ER stress response associated with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among community-dwelling individuals. We analyzed expression of BiP, EDEM1, CHOP, and XBP1, the major indicators of ER stress response, with real-time PCR in leukocyte-derived RNA samples from 86 participants of the Detroit Neighborhood Health Study. Participants were selected based on the presence of either past year MDD or past year PTSD; controls were age and sex matched. Relative to controls, MDD is associated with a 1.34-fold increase in BiP (P=0.004), 1.35-fold increase in EDEM1 (P=0.001), 1.68-fold increase in CHOP (P=0.002), and 1.60-fold increase in XBP1 (P=0.004). These results remained significant after correction for multiple testing. In contrast, PTSD is associated with a 1.27-fold increase in EDEM1 expression only (P=0.027), a result that is attenuated to non-significance following adjustment for multiple testing; however, a subsample of participants with past month PTSD showed elevated expression of BiP and EDEM1 (uncorrected P value 0.049 and 0.017, respectively). These data indicate systemic and persistent activation of the ER stress response pathway in MDD among community-dwelling individuals. Systemic activation of the ER stress response may also occur in PTSD among persons with more recent symptoms.

Fibroblasts From Type 1 Diabetics Exhibit Enhanced Ca2+ Mobilization after TNF or Fat Exposure

The effects of cytokine and fatty acid treatment on signal transduction in dermal fibroblasts from type 1 diabetics and matched controls were compared. Chronic exposure to TNF, accentuated Ca2+ mobilization in response to bradykinin (BK) in cells from both controls and diabetics; responses were three-fold greater in cells from diabetics than in controls. Similarly, with chronic exposure to IL-1β, BK-induced Ca2+ mobilization was accentuated in cells from type 1 diabetics compared to the controls. Pretreatment with the protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide or the protein kinase C inhibitor calphostin C prior to the addition of TNF completely abrogated the TNF-induced increment in peak bradykinin response. Ca2+ transients induced by depleting endoplasmic reticulum (ER) Ca2+ with thapsigargin were also greater in TNF treated fibroblasts than in untreated cells, with greater increases in cells from diabetics. Exposing fibroblasts for 48 hours to 2 mM oleate also increased both the peak bradykinin response and the TNF-induced increment in peak response, which were significantly greater in diabetics than controls. These data indicate that cells from diabetic patients acquire elevated ER Ca2+ stores in response to both cytokines and free fatty acids,and thus exhibit greater sensitivity to environmental inflammatory stimuli and elevated lipids.

Cyclophilin B Supports Myc and Mutant p53-Dependent Survival of Glioblastoma Multiforme Cells

Glioblastoma multiforme is an aggressive, treatment-refractory type of brain tumor for which effective therapeutic targets remain important to identify. Here, we report that cyclophilin B (CypB), a prolyl isomerase residing in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), provides an essential survival signal in glioblastoma multiforme cells. Analysis of gene expression databases revealed that CypB is upregulated in many cases of malignant glioma. We found that suppression of CypB reduced cell proliferation and survival in human glioblastoma multiforme cells in vitro and in vivo. We also found that treatment with small molecule inhibitors of cyclophilins, including the approved drug cyclosporine, greatly reduced the viability of glioblastoma multiforme cells. Mechanistically, depletion or pharmacologic inhibition of CypB caused hyperactivation of the oncogenic RAS-mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway, induction of cellular senescence signals, and death resulting from loss of MYC, mutant p53, Chk1, and Janus-activated kinase/STAT3 signaling. Elevated reactive oxygen species, ER expansion, and abnormal unfolded protein responses in CypB-depleted glioblastoma multiforme cells indicated that CypB alleviates oxidative and ER stresses and coordinates stress adaptation responses. Enhanced cell survival and sustained expression of multiple oncogenic proteins downstream of CypB may thus contribute to the poor outcome of glioblastoma multiforme tumors. Our findings link chaperone-mediated protein folding in the ER to mechanisms underlying oncogenic transformation, and they make CypB an attractive and immediately targetable molecule for glioblastoma multiforme therapy.

Peroxisome Proliferator–Activated Receptor δ Agonist GW1516 Attenuates Diet-Induced Aortic Inflammation, Insulin Resistance, and Atherosclerosis in Low-Density Lipoprotein Receptor Knockout Mice

The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) δ regulates systemic lipid homeostasis and inflammation. However, the ability of PPARδ agonists to improve the pathology of pre-established lesions and whether PPARδ activation is atheroprotective in the setting of insulin resistance have not been reported. Here, we examine whether intervention with a selective PPARδ agonist corrects metabolic dysregulation and attenuates aortic inflammation and atherosclerosis. Low-density lipoprotein receptor knockout mice were fed a chow or a high-fat, high-cholesterol (HFHC) diet (42% fat, 0.2% cholesterol) for 4 weeks. For a further 8 weeks, the HFHC group was fed either HFHC or HFHC plus GW1516 (3 mg/kg per day). GW1516 significantly attenuated pre-established fasting hyperlipidemia, hyperglycemia, and hyperinsulinemia, as well as glucose and insulin intolerance. GW1516 intervention markedly reduced aortic sinus lesions and lesion macrophages, whereas smooth muscle α-actin was unchanged and collagen deposition enhanced. In aortae, GW1516 increased the expression of the PPARδ-specific gene Adfp but not PPARα- or γ-specific genes. GW1516 intervention decreased the expression of aortic proinflammatory M1 cytokines, increased the expression of the anti-inflammatory M2 cytokine Arg1, and attenuated the iNos/Arg1 ratio. Enhanced mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling, known to induce inflammatory cytokine expression in vitro, was enhanced in aortae of HFHC-fed mice. Furthermore, the HFHC diet impaired aortic insulin signaling through Akt and forkhead box O1, which was associated with elevated endoplasmic reticulum stress markers CCAAT-enhancer-binding protein homologous protein and 78kDa glucose regulated protein. GW1516 intervention normalized mitogen-activated protein kinase activation, insulin signaling, and endoplasmic reticulum stress. Intervention with a PPARδ agonist inhibits aortic inflammation and attenuates the progression of pre-established atherosclerosis.

Zidovudine (AZT) and Hepatic Lipid Accumulation: Implication of Inflammation, Oxidative and Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Mediators

The clinical effectiveness of Zidovudine (AZT) is constrained due to its side-effects including hepatic steatosis and toxicity. However, the mechanism(s) of hepatic lipid accumulation in AZT-treated individuals is unknown. We hypothesized that AZT-mediated oxidative and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress may play a role in the AZT-induced hepatic lipid accumulation. AZT treatment of C57BL/6J female mice (400 mg/day/kg body weight, i.p.) for 10 consecutive days significantly increased hepatic triglyceride levels and inflammation. Markers of oxidative stress such as protein oxidation, nitration, glycation and lipid peroxidation were significantly higher in the AZT-treated mice compared to vehicle controls. Further, the levels of ER stress marker proteins like GRP78, p-PERK, and p-eIF2α were significantly elevated in AZT-treated mice. The level of nuclear SREBP-1c, a transcription factor involved in fat synthesis, was increased while significantly decreased protein levels of phospho-acetyl-CoA carboxylase, phospho-AMP kinase and PPARα as well as inactivation of 3-keto-acyl-CoA thiolase in the mitochondrial fatty acid β-oxidation pathway were observed in AZT-exposed mice compared to those in control animals. Collectively, these data suggest that elevated oxidative and ER stress plays a key role, at least partially, in lipid accumulation, inflammation and hepatotoxicity in AZT-treated mice.

Protein trafficking abnormalities inDrosophilatissues with impaired activity of the ZIP7 zinc transporter Catsup

Developmental patterning requires the precise interplay of numerous intercellular signaling pathways to ensure that cells are properly specified during tissue formation and organogenesis. The spatiotemporal function of the Notch signaling pathway is strongly influenced by the biosynthesis and intracellular trafficking of signaling components. Receptors and ligands must be trafficked to the cell surface where they interact, and their subsequent endocytic internalization and endosomal trafficking is crucial for both signal propagation and its down-modulation. In a forward genetic screen for mutations that alter intracellular Notch receptor trafficking in Drosophila epithelial tissues, we recovered mutations that disrupt the Catsup gene, which encodes the Drosophila ortholog of the mammalian ZIP7 zinc transporter. Loss of Catsup function causes Notch to accumulate abnormally in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and Golgi compartments, resulting in impaired Notch signaling. In addition, Catsup mutant cells exhibit elevated ER stress, suggesting that impaired zinc homeostasis causes increased levels of misfolded proteins within the secretory compartment.

Abstract 79: Examining the Role of Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Induced Glycogen Synthase Kinase-3a/ß in Accelerated Atherosclerosis

Introduction Cardiovascular disease accounts for a third of all deaths in the western world, however our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of atherosclerosis development is incomplete. Our previous findings have suggested that endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress plays a causative role in atherogenesis. The objective of this study is to investigate how ER stress promotes atherosclerosis with a specific focus on ER stress-induced Glycogen Synthase Kinase (GSK)-3α and β. Methods and Results Established mouse models of accelerated atherosclerosis including hyperglycemia, hyperhomocysteinemia and relative dyslipidemia in female ApoE-/- mice were examined. A subset of mice from each group was supplemented with valproate (625 mg/kg), a compound with GSK3α/β inhibitory properties. Hyperglycemia, hyperhomocysteinemia and high fat diet elevated ER stress levels in multiple tissues, enhanced GSK3β activity, increased atherosclerotic plaque size, and induced hepatic steatosis. Valproate-supplementation significantly attenuated GSK3 activation, aortic plaque development and hepatic steatosis without altering ER stress levels. ER stress and valproate appears to modulate GSK3 activity by altering its phosphorylation status. To examine the mechanism linking ER stress to the activation of pro-atherogenic pathways, cultured THP1-derived macrophages were treated with the ER stress inducing agents, glucosamine (5mM), thapsigargin (1.5μM) or palmitate (800μM). GSK3α/β activity was inhibited with the specific inhibitor CT99021 (4μM). In macrophages, ER stress upregulated the mRNA expression of genes controlling lipid biosynthesis while GSK3α/β inhibition attenuated lipid synthesis. The expression of downstream targets of the PERK ER stress signaling pathway, CHOP and ATF4, were downregulated by GSK3α/β inhibition. Further, PERK-/- mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) had significantly attenuated lipid accumulation while expression of constitutively active GSK3β-S9A restored the ability of PERK deficient cells to accumulate lipids. Conclusions These findings support the a common pathway that links cardiovascular risk factors to the activationof pro-atherogenic pathways by a mechanism involving ER stress-induced GSK3α/β.

ER homeostasis and motility of NSCLC cell lines can be therapeutically targeted with combined Hsp90 and HDAC inhibitors

Background and objectiveLung cancer remains the most common cause of cancer-related death in the world for which novel systemic treatments are urgently needed.Protein homeostasis that regulates protein levels and their fold is critical for cancer cell proliferation and survival. A complex network of cellular organelles and signaling cascades is involved in control of protein homeostasis including endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Thus, proteins in control of ER homeostasis are increasingly recognized as potential therapeutic targets.Molecular chaperone heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) and histone deacetylase (HDAC) play an important role in ER homeostasis. Previous studies demonstrate that Hsp90 and HDAC inhibitors are individually functional against lung cancer. In this work we suggested that combined Hsp90 and HDAC inhibitors may elevate ER stress thereby enhancing the anti non small lung cancer (NSCLC) activity. Methods and resultsUsing an in vitro cell line model we demonstrated that 17-DMAG (HSP90 inhibitor) co-administration with PTACH (HDAC inhibitor) caused elevated ER stress (immunoblotting) (more than 110%↑, p < 0.05) accompanied by apoptotic cell death (Annexin V) (7–21%↑, p < 0.05). Moreover, 17-DMAG/PTACH treated cells lost the ability to migrate (scratch test) (57–85%↓ of scratch closure, p < 0.05). ConclusionsOur findings provide proof-of-concept that targeting ER homeostasis is therapeutically beneficial in lung cancer cell lines. Indeed, the elevated ER stress caused by 17-DMAG/PTACH combined treatment leads to increased cell death of NSCLC cell lines compared to the application of the drugs separately.

Negative feedback by IRE1β optimizes mucin production in goblet cells

In mammals, the prototypical endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress sensor inositol-requiring enzyme 1 (IRE1) has diverged into two paralogs. IRE1α is broadly expressed and mediates the unconventional splicing of X-box binding protein 1 (XBP1) mRNA during ER stress. By contrast, IRE1β is expressed selectively in the digestive tract, and its function remains unclear. Here, we report that IRE1β plays a distinctive role in mucin-secreting goblet cells. In IRE1β(-/-) mice, aberrant mucin 2 (MUC2) accumulated in the ER of goblet cells, accompanied by ER distension and elevated ER stress signaling such as increased XBP1 mRNA splicing. In contrast, conditional IRE1α(-/-) mice showed no such ER distension but a marked decrease in spliced XBP1 mRNA. mRNA stability assay revealed that MUC2 mRNA was greatly stabilized in IRE1β(-/-) mice. These findings suggest that in goblet cells, IRE1β, but not IRE1α, promotes efficient protein folding and secretion in the ER by optimizing the level of mRNA encoding their major secretory product, MUC2.

Depletion of the ER chaperone ENPL-1 sensitizesC. elegansto the anticancer drug cisplatin

Cisplatin is an essential chemotherapeutic drug in the treatment of many cancers. Its use, however, is limited by the development of resistance in many tumors. The ability to re-sensitize resistant tumors could significantly strengthen cisplatin therapy in patients. Caenorhabditis elegans is a suitable model for studying the cytoplasmic role of cisplatin in tumor cells. We have previously shown that the ATPase ASNA-1 has similar roles as a factor governing cisplatin sensitivity in mammalian tumor cells and C. elegans. Here we study the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) resident chaperone ENPL-1/GRP94 and find that its depletion makes worms sensitive to cisplatin. Elevated ER stress levels in enpl-1 mutants is the likely cause of this sensitivity because a correlation can be made between cisplatin sensitivity and the high ER stress levels. We also find that asna-1 mutants have elevated unfolded protein response (UPR) activity and that the intrinsically cisplatin resistant wild-type worms become sensitive when ER stress is high. We conclude that enpl-1 is a cisplatin sensitizing factor and suggest that manipulation of its levels or of UPR activity will enhance the effects of cisplatin based cancer therapy.