Integrated Stress Response Research Articles

Efficacy of GCN2 inhibition by a novel small molecule AP030 in acute leukemia.

6532 Background: GCN2 is an evolutionarily conserved kinase and a pivotal regulator of the Integrated Stress Response (ISR) that is activated in response to amino acid scarcity. Active GCN2 phosphorylates translation initiation factor eIF2α resulting in the attenuation of global protein synthesis. ISR signaling primarily promotes cell survival but may trigger cell death, dependent on the cellular context. In hematological tumors GCN2 promotes tumor cell survival under conditions of nutrient scarcity. Several GCN2 inhibitors are in clinical development for treatment of both solid and hematological tumors. Here, we describe the preclinical results of a novel, selective ATP-competitive inhibitor of GCN2. Methods: GCN2 inhibition by AP030 was determined using a biochemical Lanthascreen assay and a cell based HTRF assay measuring eIF2a phosphorylation following stimulation with Borrelidin. Kinase selectivity was determined using KinomeScan, and bespoke biochemical and cell-based assays. Interaction of AP030 with GCN2 was determined using X-ray crystallography. AP030 activity in disease-relevant tumor cell lines was determined using cell viability, caspase activation, protein expression and qPCR gene expression endpoints. Inhibition of hematological tumor growth and induction of cell death was investigated in patient samples, and ALL and AML in vivo animal models. Results: Potent inhibition of GCN2 in the Lanthascreen assay was demonstrated with AP030 (Ki of 4.4nM). Following stimulation with Borrelidin, AP030 inhibited eIF2a phosphorylation with an IC50 of 50.8nM and inhibited downstream targets CHAC1 and DDIT3 measured by qPCR. X-ray crystallography confirmed that AP030 binds to the ATP-binding site of GCN2. The KinomeScan confirmed that AP030 was highly selective against the human kinome. AP030 led to partial or complete reduction of AML cell line viability as a single agent and acted synergistically with asparaginase in ALL cell lines. Caspase 3/7 induction was observed in the AML and ALL cell lines evaluated and AP030 increased the proportion of cells undergoing apoptosis in AML patient primary samples. In the CCRF-CEM ALL systemic in vivo tumor model AP030 inhibited tumor growth in combination with asparaginase (TGI 79.33%). Treatment with 0.5-5mg/kg (q.d.) of AP030 resulted in dose-dependent tumor growth inhibition and regression of the MOLM-16 AML in vivo model (TGI 97.37% 5mg/kg). RNA sequencing of residual tumor cells revealed disruption of amino acid and protein metabolism, consistent with GCN2 inhibition. Conclusions: Targeting hematological tumor reliance on the GCN2 arm of the ISR during nutrient scarcity is a novel approach to preventing tumor cell survival. AP030 a novel, potent, selective, ATP-competitive kinase inhibitor has been shown to lead to impressive efficacy in acute leukemia. Based on these preclinical results, a phase 1/2 study has been initiated in AML.

EIF4E integrates into stress response

In this issue, Diamond etal.1 and Kim etal.2 report that depletion of eIF4E leads to translational upregulation of GCN4, a key player in the integrated stress response, in an eIF2α phosphorylation-independent manner, suggesting a new mode of translational adaptation.

PSMD11 loss-of-function variants correlate with a neurobehavioral phenotype, obesity, and increased interferon response

Primary proteasomopathies have recently emerged as a new class of rare early-onset neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) caused by pathogenic variants in the PSMB1, PSMC1, PSMC3, or PSMD12 proteasome genes. Proteasomes are large multi-subunit protein complexes that maintain cellular protein homeostasis by clearing ubiquitin-tagged damaged, misfolded, or unnecessary proteins. In this study, we have identified PSMD11 as an additional proteasome gene in which pathogenic variation is associated with an NDD-causing proteasomopathy. PSMD11 loss-of-function variants caused early-onset syndromic intellectual disability and neurodevelopmental delay with recurrent obesity in 10 unrelated children. Our findings demonstrate that the cognitive impairment observed in these individuals could be recapitulated in Drosophila melanogaster with depletion of the PMSD11 ortholog Rpn6, which compromised reversal learning. Our investigations in subject samples further revealed that PSMD11 loss of function resulted in impaired 26S proteasome assembly and the acquisition of a persistent type I interferon (IFN) gene signature, mediated by the integrated stress response (ISR) protein kinase R (PKR). In summary, these data identify PSMD11 as an additional member of the growing family of genes associated with neurodevelopmental proteasomopathies and provide insights into proteasomal biology in human health.

ACH2.0/E, the Consolidated Theory of Conventional and Unconventional Alzheimer's Disease: Origins, Progression, and Therapeutic Strategies.

The centrality of amyloid-beta (Aβ) is an indisputable tenet of Alzheimer's disease (AD). It was initially indicated by the detection (1991) of a mutation within Aβ protein precursor (AβPP) segregating with the disease, which served as a basis for the long-standing Amyloid Cascade Hypothesis (ACH) theory of AD. In the intervening three decades, this notion was affirmed and substantiated by the discovery of numerous AD-causing and AD-protective mutations with all, without an exception, affecting the structure, production, and intraneuronal degradation of Aβ. The ACH postulated that the disease is caused and driven by extracellular Aβ. When it became clear that this is not the case, and the ACH was largely discredited, a new theory of AD, dubbed ACH2.0 to re-emphasize the centrality of Aβ, was formulated. In the ACH2.0, AD is caused by physiologically accumulated intraneuronal Aβ (iAβ) derived from AβPP. Upon reaching the critical threshold, it triggers activation of the autonomous AβPP-independent iAβ generation pathway; its output is retained intraneuronally and drives the AD pathology. The bridge between iAβ derived from AβPP and that generated independently of AβPP is the neuronal integrated stress response (ISR) elicited by the former. The ISR severely suppresses cellular protein synthesis; concurrently, it activates the production of a small subset of proteins, which apparently includes components necessary for operation of the AβPP-independent iAβ generation pathway that are absent under regular circumstances. The above sequence of events defines "conventional" AD, which is both caused and driven by differentially derived iAβ. Since the ISR can be elicited by a multitude of stressors, the logic of the ACH2.0 mandates that another class of AD, referred to as "unconventional", has to occur. Unconventional AD is defined as a disease where a stressor distinct from AβPP-derived iAβ elicits the neuronal ISR. Thus, the essence of both, conventional and unconventional, forms of AD is one and the same, namely autonomous, self-sustainable, AβPP-independent production of iAβ. What distinguishes them is the manner of activation of this pathway, i.e., the mode of causation of the disease. In unconventional AD, processes occurring at locations as distant from and seemingly as unrelated to the brain as, say, the knee can potentially trigger the disease. The present study asserts that these processes include traumatic brain injury (TBI), chronic traumatic encephalopathy, viral and bacterial infections, and a wide array of inflammatory conditions. It considers the pathways which are common to all these occurrences and culminate in the elicitation of the neuronal ISR, analyzes the dynamics of conventional versus unconventional AD, shows how the former can morph into the latter, explains how a single TBI can hasten the occurrence of AD and why it takes multiple TBIs to trigger the disease, and proposes the appropriate therapeutic strategies. It posits that yet another class of unconventional AD may occur where the autonomous AβPP-independent iAβ production pathway is initiated by an ISR-unrelated activator, and consolidates the above notions in a theory of AD, designated ACH2.0/E (for expanded ACH2.0), which incorporates the ACH2.0 as its special case and retains the centrality of iAβ produced independently of AβPP as the driving agent of the disease.

Harnessing Mitochondrial Stress for Health and Disease: Opportunities and Challenges.

Mitochondria, essential organelles orchestrating cellular metabolism, have emerged as central players in various disease pathologies. Recent research has shed light on mitohormesis, a concept proposing an adaptive response of mitochondria to minor disturbances in homeostasis, offering novel therapeutic avenues for mitochondria-related diseases. This comprehensive review explores the concept of mitohormesis, elucidating its induction mechanisms and occurrence. Intracellular molecules like reactive oxygen species (ROS), calcium, mitochondrial unfolded proteins (UPRmt), and integrated stress response (ISR), along with external factors such as hydrogen sulfide (H2S), physical stimuli, and exercise, play pivotal roles in regulating mitohormesis. Based on the available evidence, we elucidate how mitohormesis maintains mitochondrial homeostasis through mechanisms like mitochondrial quality control and mitophagy. Furthermore, the regulatory role of mitohormesis in mitochondria-related diseases is discussed. By envisioning future applications, this review underscores the significance of mitohormesis as a potential therapeutic target, paving the way for innovative interventions in disease management.

Genetic Variations in EIF2AK3 are Associated with Neurocognitive Impairment in People Living with HIV

Based on emerging evidence on the role for specific single-nucleotide variants (SNVs) in EIF2AK3 encoding the integrated stress response kinase PERK, in neurodegeneration, we assessed the association of EIF2AK3 SNVs with neurocognitive performance in people with HIV (PWH) using a candidate gene approach. This retrospective study included the CHARTER cohort participants, excluding those with severe neuropsychiatric comorbidities. Genome-wide data previously obtained for 1047 participants and targeted sequencing of 992 participants with available genomic DNA were utilized to interrogate the association of three noncoding and three coding EIF2AK3 SNVs with the continuous global deficit score (GDS) and global neurocognitive impairment (NCI; GDS ≥ 0.5) using univariable and multivariable methods, with demographic, disease-associated, and treatment characteristics as covariates. The cohort characteristics were as follows: median age, 43.1 years; females, 22.8%; European ancestry, 41%; median CD4 + T cell counts, 175/µL (nadir) and 428/µL (current). At first assessment, 70.5% used ART and 68.3% of these had plasma HIV RNA levels ≤ 200 copies/mL. All three noncoding EIF2AK3 SNVs were associated with GDS and NCI (all p < 0.05). Additionally, 30.9%, 30.9%, and 41.2% of participants had at least one risk allele for the coding SNVs rs1805165 (G), rs867529 (G), and rs13045 (A), respectively. Homozygosity for all three coding SNVs was associated with significantly worse GDS (p < 0.001) and more NCI (p < 0.001). By multivariable analysis, the rs13045 A risk allele, current ART use, and Beck Depression Inventory-II value > 13 were independently associated with GDS and NCI (p < 0.001) whereas the other two coding SNVs did not significantly correlate with GDS or NCI after including rs13045 in the model. The coding EIF2AK3 SNVs were associated with worse performance in executive functioning, motor functioning, learning, and verbal fluency. Coding and non-coding SNVs of EIF2AK3 were associated with global NC and domain-specific performance. The effects were small-to-medium in size but present in multivariable analyses, raising the possibility of specific SNVs in EIF2AK3 as an important component of genetic vulnerability to neurocognitive complications in PWH.Graphical

Ethnic Variation and Structure‐Function Analysis of Tauopathy‐Associated PERK Alleles

AbstractEIF2AK3, also known as PERK, plays a pivotal role in cellular proteostasis, orchestrating the Unfolded Protein Response (UPR) and Integrated Stress Response (ISR) pathways. In addition to its central position in intracellular stress regulation, human GWAS identify EIF2AK3 as a risk factor in tauopathies, neurodegenerative diseases caused by aberrant tau protein accumulation. Guided by these genomic indicators, our investigation systematically analyzed human PERK variants, focusing on those with potential tauopathy linkages. We assembled a comprehensive data set of human PERK variants associated with Wolcott Rallison Syndrome (WRS), tauopathies, and bioinformatically predicted loss‐of‐function, referencing the gnomAD, Ensembl, and NCBI databases. We found extensive racial/ethnic variation in the prevalence of common PERK polymorphisms linked to tauopathies. Using SWISS‐MODEL, we identified structural perturbations in the ER stress‐sensing luminal domain dimers/oligomers of tauopathy‐associated PERK variants, Haplotypes A and B, in combination with another tauopathy‐linked R240H mutation. Recombinant expression of disease‐associated variants in vitro revealed altered PERK signal transduction kinetics in response to ER stress compared to the predominant non‐disease variant. In summary, our data further substantiates that human PERK variants identified in tauopathy genetic studies negatively impact PERK structure, function, and downstream signaling with significant variations in prevalence among different racial and ethnic groups.

Molecular and cellular consequences of mitochondrial DNA double-stranded breaks.

Mitochondria are subcellular organelles essential for life. Beyond their role in producing energy, mitochondria govern various physiological mechanisms, encompassing energy generation, metabolic processes, apoptotic events, and immune responses. Mitochondria also contain genetic material that is susceptible to various forms of damage. Mitochondrial double-stranded breaks (DSB) are toxic lesions that the nucleus repairs promptly. Nevertheless, the significance of DSB repair in mammalian mitochondria is controversial. This review presents an updated view of the available research on the consequences of mitochondrial DNA DSB from the molecular to the cellular level. We discuss the crucial function of mitochondrial DNA damage in regulating processes such as senescence, integrated stress response, and innate immunity. Lastly, we discuss the potential role of mitochondrial DNA DSB in mediating the cellular consequences of ionizing radiations, the standard of care in treating solid tumors.

Functional validation of EIF2AK4 (GCN2) missense variants associated with pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a disorder with a large genetic component. Biallelic mutations of EIF2AK4, which encodes the kinase GCN2, are causal in two ultra-rare subtypes of PAH, pulmonary veno-occlusive disease and pulmonary capillary haemangiomatosis. EIF2AK4 variants of unknown significance have also been identified in patients with classical PAH, though their relationship to disease remains unclear. To provide patients with diagnostic information and enable family testing, the functional consequences of such rare variants must be determined, but existing computational methods are imperfect. We applied a suite of bioinformatic and experimental approaches to sixteen EIF2AK4 variants that had been identified in patients. By experimentally testing the functional integrity of the integrated stress response (ISR) downstream of GCN2, we determined that existing computational tools have insufficient sensitivity to reliably predict impaired kinase function. We determined experimentally that several EIF2AK4 variants identified in patients with classical PAH had preserved function and are therefore likely to be non-pathogenic. The dysfunctional variants of GCN2 that we identified could be subclassified into three groups: misfolded, kinase-dead, and hypomorphic. Intriguingly, members of the hypomorphic group were amenable to paradoxical activation by a type-1½ GCN2 kinase inhibitor. This experiment approach may aid in the clinical stratification of EIF2AK4 variants and potentially identify hypomorophic alleles receptive to pharmacological activation.

IGHMBP2 deletion suppresses translation and activates the integrated stress response.

IGHMBP2 is a nonessential, superfamily 1 DNA/RNA helicase that is mutated in patients with rare neuromuscular diseases SMARD1 and CMT2S. IGHMBP2 is implicated in translational and transcriptional regulation via biochemical association with ribosomal proteins, pre-rRNA processing factors, and tRNA-related species. To uncover the cellular consequences of perturbing IGHMBP2, we generated full and partial IGHMBP2 deletion K562 cell lines. Using polysome profiling and a nascent protein synthesis assay, we found that IGHMBP2 deletion modestly reduces global translation. We performed Ribo-seq and RNA-seq and identified diverse gene expression changes due to IGHMBP2 deletion, including ATF4 up-regulation. With recent studies showing the integrated stress response (ISR) can contribute to tRNA metabolism-linked neuropathies, we asked whether perturbing IGHMBP2 promotes ISR activation. We generated ATF4 reporter cell lines and found IGHMBP2 knockout cells demonstrate basal, chronic ISR activation. Our work expands upon the impact of IGHMBP2 in translation and elucidates molecular mechanisms that may link mutant IGHMBP2 to severe clinical phenotypes.

Molecular Characterization and Inhibition of a Novel Stress-Induced Mitochondrial Protecting Role for Misfolded TrkAIII in Human SH-SY5Y Neuroblastoma Cells.

Pediatric neuroblastomas (NBs) are heterogeneous, aggressive, therapy-resistant embryonal tumors that originate from cells of neural crest origin committed to the sympathoadrenal progenitor cell lineage. Stress- and drug-resistance mechanisms drive post-therapeutic relapse and metastatic progression, the characterization and inhibition of which are major goals in improving therapeutic responses. Stress- and drug-resistance mechanisms in NBs include alternative TrkAIII splicing of the neurotrophin receptor tropomyosin-related kinase A (NTRK1/TrkA), which correlates with post-therapeutic relapse and advanced-stage metastatic disease. The TrkAIII receptor variant exerts oncogenic activity in NB models by mechanisms that include stress-induced mitochondrial importation and activation. In this study, we characterize novel targetable and non-targetable participants in this pro-survival mechanism in TrkAIII-expressing SH-SY5Y NB cells, using dithiothreitol (DTT) as an activator and a variety of inhibitors by regular and immunoprecipitation Western blotting of purified mitochondria and IncuCyte cytotoxicity assays. We report that stress-induced TrkAIII misfolding initiates this mechanism, resulting in Grp78, Ca2+-calmodulin, adenosine ribosylating factor (Arf) and Hsp90-regulated mitochondrial importation. TrkAIII imported into inner mitochondrial membranes is cleaved by Omi/high temperature requirement protein A2 (HtrA2) then activated by a mechanism dependent upon calmodulin kinase II (CaMKII), alpha serine/threonine kinase (Akt), mitochondrial Ca2+ uniporter and reactive oxygen species (ROS), involving inhibitory mitochondrial protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTPase) oxidation, resulting in phosphoinositide 3 kinase (PI3K) activation of mitochondrial Akt, which enhances stress resistance. This novel pro-survival function for misfolded TrkAIII mitigates the cytotoxicity of mitochondrial Ca2+ homeostasis disrupted during integrated stress responses, and is prevented by clinically approved Trk and Akt inhibitors and also by inhibitors of 78kDa glucose regulated protein (Grp78), heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90), Ca2+-calmodulin and PI3K. This identifies Grp78, Ca2+-calmodulin, Hsp90, PI3K and Akt as novel targetable participants in this mechanism, in addition to TrkAIII, the inhibition of which has the potential to enhance the stress-induced elimination of TrkAIII-expressing NB cells, with the potential to improve therapeutic outcomes in NBs that exhibit TrkAIII expression and activation.

Maximizing ISRIB Potential Requires Addressing Specificity, Long-Term Safety, and Disease-Specific Considerations.

Integrated Stress Response Inhibitor (ISRIB) works by inhibiting the integrated stress response, a cellular pathway involved in the regulation of protein synthesis during stress conditions. Conditions that have been studied or suggested as potential candidates for treatment with ISRIB include neurological and metabolic disorders, cognitive impairment, viral infections, and cancer. The study aimed to discuss the challenges related to specificity, long-term safety, and disease-specific considerations crucial for realizing the full potential of ISRIB. A narrative review of the literature has been conducted to delve into ISRIB's chemistry, mechanisms of action, disease-specific considerations, and long-term safety implications. While ISRIB has shown promising results in preclinical studies, more research is needed to determine its safety and effectiveness in human patients. Clinical trials are required to validate its therapeutic potential for various conditions. Despite having been proposed a decade ago, news of its clinical trials has been circulated only recently, without any published information yet and with rumors that its efficacy vs. safety profile may be compromised by side effects. While ISRIB offers exciting prospects for a range of biomedical applications, addressing challenges related to specificity, disease-specific considerations, and importantly long-term safety, is crucial for realizing its full potential.

The integrated stress response promotes neural stem cell survival under conditions of mitochondrial dysfunction in neurodegeneration.

Impaired mitochondrial function is a hallmark of aging and a major contributor to neurodegenerative diseases. We have shown that disrupted mitochondrial dynamics typically found in aging alters the fate of neural stem cells (NSCs) leading to impairments in learning and memory. At present, little is known regarding the mechanisms by which neural stem and progenitor cells survive and adapt to mitochondrial dysfunction. Using Opa1-inducible knockout as a model of aging and neurodegeneration, we identify a decline in neurogenesis due to impaired stem cell activation and progenitor proliferation, which can be rescued by the mitigation of oxidative stress through hypoxia. Through sc-RNA-seq, we identify the ATF4 pathway as a critical mechanism underlying cellular adaptation to metabolic stress. ATF4 knockdown in Opa1-deficient NSCs accelerates cell death, while the increased expression of ATF4 enhances proliferation and survival. Using a Slc7a11 mutant, an ATF4 target, we show that ATF4-mediated glutathione production plays a critical role in maintaining NSC survival and function under stress conditions. Together, we show that the activation of the integrated stress response (ISR) pathway enables NSCs to adapt to metabolic stress due to mitochondrial dysfunction and metabolic stress and may serve as a therapeutic target to enhance NSC survival and function in aging and neurodegeneration.

The microtubule targeting agent ST-401 triggers cell death in interphase and prevents the formation of polyploid giant cancer cells

Microtubule targeting agents (MTAs) are commonly prescribed to treat cancers and predominantly kill cancer cells in mitosis. Significantly, some MTA-treated cancer cells escape death in mitosis, exit mitosis and become malignant polyploid giant cancer cells (PGCC). Considering the low number of cancer cells undergoing mitosis in tumor tissues, killing them in interphase may represent a favored antitumor approach. We discovered that ST-401, a mild inhibitor of microtubule (MT) assembly, preferentially kills cancer cells in interphase as opposed to mitosis, a cell death mechanism that avoids the development of PGCC. Single cell RNA sequencing identified mRNA transcripts regulated by ST-401, including mRNAs involved in ribosome and mitochondrial functions. Accordingly, ST-401 induces a transient integrated stress response, reduces energy metabolism, and promotes mitochondria fission. This cell response may underly death in interphase and avoid the development of PGCC. Considering that ST-401 is a brain-penetrant MTA, we validated these results in glioblastoma cell lines and found that ST-401 also reduces energy metabolism and promotes mitochondria fission in GBM sensitive lines. Thus, brain-penetrant mild inhibitors of MT assembly, such as ST-401, that induce death in interphase through a previously unanticipated antitumor mechanism represent a potentially transformative new class of therapeutics for the treatment of GBM.Graphical

High fat diet ameliorates mitochondrial cardiomyopathy in CHCHD10 mutant mice

Mutations in CHCHD10, a mitochondrial protein with undefined functions, are associated with autosomal dominant mitochondrial diseases. Chchd10 knock-in mice harboring a heterozygous S55L mutation (equivalent to human pathogenic S59L) develop a fatal mitochondrial cardiomyopathy caused by CHCHD10 aggregation and proteotoxic mitochondrial integrated stress response (mtISR). In mutant hearts, mtISR is accompanied by a metabolic rewiring characterized by increased reliance on glycolysis rather than fatty acid oxidation. To counteract this metabolic rewiring, heterozygous S55L mice were subjected to chronic high-fat diet (HFD) to decrease insulin sensitivity and glucose uptake and enhance fatty acid utilization in the heart. HFD ameliorated the ventricular dysfunction of mutant hearts and significantly extended the survival of mutant female mice affected by severe pregnancy-induced cardiomyopathy. Gene expression profiles confirmed that HFD increased fatty acid utilization and ameliorated cardiomyopathy markers. Importantly, HFD also decreased accumulation of aggregated CHCHD10 in the S55L heart, suggesting activation of quality control mechanisms. Overall, our findings indicate that metabolic therapy can be effective in mitochondrial cardiomyopathies associated with proteotoxic stress.

The stress-responsive cytotoxic effect of diesel exhaust particles on lymphatic endothelial cells

Diesel exhaust particles (DEPs) are very small (typically < 0.2 μm) fragments that have become major air pollutants. DEPs are comprised of a carbonaceous core surrounded by organic compounds such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and nitro-PAHs. Inhaled DEPs reach the deepest sites in the respiratory system where they could induce respiratory/cardiovascular dysfunction. Additionally, a previous study has revealed that a portion of inhaled DEPs often activate immune cells and subsequently induce somatic inflammation. Moreover, DEPs are known to localize in lymph nodes. Therefore, in this study we explored the effect of DEPs on the lymphatic endothelial cells (LECs) that are a constituent of the walls of lymph nodes. DEP exposure induced cell death in a reactive oxygen species (ROS)-dependent manner. Following exposure to DEPs, next-generation sequence (NGS) analysis identified an upregulation of the integrated stress response (ISR) pathway and cell death cascades. Both the soluble and insoluble components of DEPs generated intracellular ROS. Three-dimensional Raman imaging revealed that DEPs are taken up by LECs, which suggests internalized DEP cores produce ROS, as well as soluble DEP components. However, significant cell death pathways such as apoptosis, necroptosis, ferroptosis, pyroptosis, and parthanatos seem unlikely to be involved in DEP-induced cell death in LECs. This study clarifies how DEPs invading the body might affect the lymphatic system through the induction of cell death in LECs.

Triclosan administration to humanized UDP-glucuronosyltransferase 1 neonatal mice induces UGT1A1 through a dependence on PPARα and ATF4

Triclosan (TCS) is an antimicrobial toxicant found in a myriad of consumer products and has been detected in human tissues, including breastmilk. We have evaluated the impact of lactational TCS on UDP-glucuronosyltransferase 1A1 (UGT1A1) expression and bilirubin metabolism in humanized UGT1 (hUGT1) neonatal mice. In hUGT1 mice, expression of the hepatic UGT1A1 gene is developmentally delayed resulting in elevated total serum bilirubin (TSB) levels. We found that newborn hUGT1 mice breastfed or orally treated with TCS presented lower TSB levels along with induction of hepatic UGT1A1. Lactational and oral treatment by gavage with TCS leads to the activation of hepatic nuclear receptors constitutive androstane receptor (CAR), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARα), and stress sensor, activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4). When CAR-deficient hUGT1 mice (hUGT1/Car-/-) were treated with TCS, TSB levels were reduced with a robust induction of hepatic UGT1A1, leaving us to conclude that CAR is not tied to UGT1A1 induction. Alternatively, when PPARα-deficient hUGT1 mice (hUGT1/Pparα-/-) were treated with TCS, hepatic UGT1A1 was not induced. Additionally, we had previously demonstrated that TCS is a potent inducer of ATF4, a transcriptional factor linked to the integrated stress response. When ATF4 was deleted in liver of hUGT1 mice (hUGT1/Atf4ΔHep) and these mice treated with TCS, we observed superinduction of hepatic UGT1A1. Oxidative stress genes in livers of hUGT1/Atf4ΔHep treated with TCS were increased, suggesting that ATF4 protects liver from excessive oxidative stress. The increase oxidative stress may be associated with superinduction of UGT1A1. The expression of ATF4 in neonatal hUGT1 hepatic tissue may play a role in the developmental repression of UGT1A1.

Regulation of the mitochondrial integrated stress response and ATF4 by acute contractile activity in mouse muscle

In the context of energetically demanding conditions, such as exercise, skeletal muscle relies on mitochondria to support its metabolic requirements. Maintenance of mitochondria and their bioenergetic availability is thus critical to sustain the metabolic flexibility of muscle. The quality of the organelle network is highly regulated by the coordination of mitochondrial quality control (MQC) processes. One MQC pathway that has garnered recent interest is the integrated stress response (ISR), which is activated in response to a variety of stimuli. The transcription factor ATF4, denoted as the main effector of this response pathway, serves to ameliorate cellular stress by upregulating a plethora of cytoprotective genes, such as CHOP and ATF5. Current literature has shown that the ISR is activated upon mitochondrial stress/perturbations to restore optimal organelle function and health. However, the precise mechanism that constitutes the activation of ISR and thus the response of ATF4 following acute exercise-induced stress is unknown. Therefore, our objective is to determine the extent of ISR/ATF4 induction in vivo and to test whether this pathway is required for the maintenance of muscle function. To investigate this, a mouse in situ hindlimb protocol was utilized to acutely stimulate muscles at 0.25-1 tetani/per second for 9 mins, followed by a 1-hour recovery period. The kinases, CAMKIIα and JNK2, were robustly phosphorylated/activated 6-fold immediately following the protocol. The initial stage of ISR activation, reflected in the ratio of phosphorylated to total-eIF2α protein levels, was also increased in response to acute contractile activity, evident in the recovery phase. Downstream of ISR activation, the total protein expression of ATF4 remained unchanged, however, contractile activity induced an increase in the localization of ATF4 to the nucleus. Robust 2-fold increases in the mRNA expression of ATF4 and CHOP were also observed and enhanced following the recovery period. Changes in ATF4 mRNA appeared to be independent of transcriptional activation, as assessed using an ATF4 promoter-reporter plasmid. An in vitro cell free mRNA decay assay revealed an increase in ATF4 mRNA stability post-stimulation, possibly as a result of cellular compartmental changes in the RNA binding proteins, HuR and CUGBP1. RNA sequencing analyses also confirmed the observed increase in related ISR genes following an exhaustive bout of exercise. These data suggest that acute contractile activity is indeed suffcient to induce mitochondrial stress and activate the ISR, corresponding to the induction of ATF4. Future work will reveal the underlying mitochondrial signal responsible for activating this pathway, as well as the downstream consequences for the regulation of MQC processes in maintaining mitochondrial homeostasis. This work was supported by funds from the Canadian Institutes for Health Research (CIHR). Victoria C. Sanfrancesco is the recipient of the CIHR Frederick Banting and Charles Best Canada Graduate Scholarship-Master's (CGS-M). David A. Hood is the holder of a Canadian Research Chair in Cell Physiology. This is the full abstract presented at the American Physiology Summit 2024 meeting and is only available in HTML format. There are no additional versions or additional content available for this abstract. Physiology was not involved in the peer review process.

The Integrated Stress Response Regulates Diurnal Rhythms in Liver Metabolism

Disruptions in biological rhythms are associated with the development of metabolic diseases. General control nonderepressible 2 (GCN2), a primary sensor of amino acid insuffciency and activator of the integrated stress response (ISR), plays an integral role in liver metabolism. The objective of this work was to examine the impact of feeding a low protein quality (LPQ) diet on diurnal rhythms in liver metabolism. We hypothesized that activation of the ISR by GCN2 maintains metabolic rhythms within the liver during LPQ feeding. To address our objective, wild type (WT) and whole body Gcn2 knockout (GCN2KO) mice were housed in total darkness and provided free access to either a Control or a LPQ diet (devoid of leucine) for 8-days and then killed at 2 circadian time (CT) points 12-hours apart (CT3, CT15). WT mice fed a Control diet showed oscillations in hepatic ISR activation that were lost in the livers of GCN2KO mice. Diurnal patterns in the liver transcriptome including genes regulating triglyceride metabolism were also dampened in GCN2KO mice. WT mice fed LPQ showed increased hepatic ISR activation and greater abundance of ISR target genes relative to Control only at CT15 (p&lt;0.05 by two factor ANOVA). GCN2KO mice fed LPQ failed to show oscillations in ISR activation and instead displayed reductions in liver intracellular amino acids alongside significant upregulation of genes encoding gluconeogenesis and amino acid catabolism at CT15 (q&lt;0.05, Log2FC&gt;1). In conclusion, GCN2 is required for diurnal ISR activation and execution in the liver. LPQ feeding increases hepatic ISR activation in a time dependent manner. Sensing of LPQ by GCN2 is necessary for the maintenance of rhythms in liver macronutrient metabolism. NIH DK109714, Pilot award from the NJ IFNH Center for Human Nutrition, Exercise, and Metabolism (NExT). This is the full abstract presented at the American Physiology Summit 2024 meeting and is only available in HTML format. There are no additional versions or additional content available for this abstract. Physiology was not involved in the peer review process.

The Transcription Factor ELF4 Restrains the Inflammatory Potential of CD4+ T Cells

Abstract ELF4 is a member of the ETS family of transcription factors, known to be involved in the regulation and development of immune cells. Yet, the primary function of ELF4 was unknown prior to our discovery of patients with loss-of-function mutations in ELF4 that cause the monogenic autoinflammatory disease Deficiency in ELF4, X-linked (DEX), driven by aberrant inflammation. While it has been demonstrated by our lab that global loss of ELF4 results in hyper-cytokine release in macrophages and restrains Th17 differentiation in mice, the breadth and mechanisms of CD4+ T cell regulation by ELF4 remain enigmatic. Here, we show that loss of T cell-intrinsic ELF4 leads to enhanced interferon gamma and IL-17A production upon activation of naïve CD4+ T cells and demonstrate modulation of CD4+ T cell cytokine production by ELF4 is independent of its presence during T cell development as well as extrinsic signaling in vivo. Further, absence of T cell-intrinsic ELF4 leads to decreased expression of ATF4, a master regulator of the integrated stress response demonstrated to be crucial in restraining cytokine release upon initial activation of naïve T cells. Notably, we found ELF4 binds to the promoter region of ATF4, and expression of ATF4-induced genes is significantly reduced in CD4+ T cells in the absence of ELF4 post-activation. Thus, we elucidate an essential mechanism for restraining CD4+ T cell inflammatory potential dependent on regulation of the integrated stress response by ELF4.