Membrane Microdomains Lipid Rafts Research Articles

Simvastatin Inhibits Brucella abortus Invasion into RAW 264.7 Cells through Suppression of the Mevalonate Pathway and Promotes Host Immunity during Infection in a Mouse Model.

Simvastatin is an inhibitor of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl CoA reductase and has been found to have protective effects against several bacterial infections. In this study, we investigate the effects of simvastatin treatment on RAW 264.7 macrophage cells and ICR mice against Brucella (B.) abortus infections. The invasion assay revealed that simvastatin inhibited the Brucella invasion into macrophage cells by blocking the mevalonic pathway. The treatment of simvastatin enhanced the trafficking of Toll-like receptor 4 in membrane lipid raft microdomains, accompanied by the increased phosphorylation of its downstream signaling pathways, including JAK2 and MAPKs, upon =Brucella infection. Notably, the suppressive effect of simvastatin treatment on Brucella invasion was not dependent on the reduction of cholesterol synthesis but probably on the decline of farnesyl pyrophosphate and geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate synthesis. In addition to a direct brucellacidal ability, simvastatin administration showed increased cytokine TNF-α and differentiation of CD8+ T cells, accompanied by reduced bacterial survival in spleens of ICR mice. These data suggested the involvement of the mevalonate pathway in the phagocytosis of B. abortus into RAW 264.7 macrophage cells and the regulation of simvastatin on the host immune system against Brucella infections. Therefore, simvastatin is a potential candidate for studying alternative therapy against animal brucellosis.

Reversible lysine fatty acylation of an anchoring protein mediates adipocyte adrenergic signaling

N-myristoylation on glycine is an irreversible modification that has long been recognized to govern protein localization and function. In contrast, the biological roles of lysine myristoylation remain ill-defined. We demonstrate that the cytoplasmic scaffolding protein, gravin-α/A kinase-anchoring protein 12, is myristoylated on two lysine residues embedded in its carboxyl-terminal protein kinase A (PKA) binding domain. Histone deacetylase 11 (HDAC11) docks to an adjacent region of gravin-α and demyristoylates these sites. In brown and white adipocytes, lysine myristoylation of gravin-α is required for signaling via β2- and β3-adrenergic receptors (β-ARs), which are G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). Lysine myristoylation of gravin-α drives β-ARs to lipid raft membrane microdomains, which results in PKA activation and downstream signaling that culminates in protective thermogenic gene expression. These findings define reversible lysine myristoylation as a mechanism for controlling GPCR signaling and highlight the potential of inhibiting HDAC11 to manipulate adipocyte phenotypes for therapeutic purposes.

A novel mitochondrial Kv1.3-caveolin axis controls cell survival and apoptosis.

The voltage-gated potassium channel Kv1.3 plays an apparent dual physiological role by participating in activation and proliferation of leukocytes as well as promoting apoptosis in several types of tumor cells. Therefore, Kv1.3 is considered a potential pharmacological target for immunodeficiency and cancer. Different cellular locations of Kv1.3, at the plasma membrane or the mitochondria, could be responsible for such duality. While plasma membrane Kv1.3 facilitates proliferation, the mitochondrial channel modulates apoptotic signaling. Several molecular determinants of Kv1.3 drive the channel to the cell surface, but no information is available about its mitochondrial targeting. Caveolins, which are able to modulate cell survival, participate in the plasma membrane targeting of Kv1.3. The channel, via a caveolin-binding domain (CDB), associates with caveolin 1 (Cav1), which localizes Kv1.3 to lipid raft membrane microdomains. The aim of our study was to understand the role of such interactions not only for channel targeting but also for cell survival in mammalian cells. By using a caveolin association-deficient channel (Kv1.3 CDBless), we demonstrate here that while the Kv1.3-Cav1 interaction is responsible for the channel localization in the plasma membrane, a lack of such interaction accumulates Kv1.3 in the mitochondria. Kv1.3 CDBless severely affects mitochondrial physiology and cell survival, indicating that a functional link of Kv1.3 with Cav1 within the mitochondria modulates the pro-apoptotic effects of the channel. Therefore, the balance exerted by these two complementary mechanisms fine-tune the physiological role of Kv1.3 during cell survival or apoptosis. Our data highlight an unexpected role for the mitochondrial caveolin-Kv1.3 axis during cell survival and apoptosis.

The Desmoglein‐1 Transmembrane Domain Drives Lipid Raft Association and Desmosome Assembly

The epidermis is a barrier to the outside world, but mutations in genes encoding desmosomal proteins can inhibit this function, causing human diseases of skin fragility. Severe dermatitis, multiple allergies, and metabolic wasting (SAM) syndrome is a severe homozygous recessive disorder of skin fragility caused by mutations in the gene encoding desmoglein 1 (DSG1), a component of desmosomes. Desmosomes are junctional complexes that function in mechanical stress resistance across tissues. In these junctions, desmosomal cadherins such as DSG1 interact across extracellular spaces and with intracellular adaptor proteins to link cytoskeletal elements of adjacent cells. Both assembly and disassembly of desmosomes have been shown to rely on lipid raft membrane microdomains, highly ordered cholesterol and sphingolipid‐enriched regions of the plasma membrane important in signaling and trafficking. Our current model predicts that raft association promotes clustering of desmosomal proteins to drive assembly and mediate adhesion. However, the mechanisms of raft association and desmosome assembly are not fully understood. We created a DSG‐null A431 cell line to examine the relationship between DSG raft association and desmosomal adhesion. A431s are an immortal human epidermal carcinoma cell line commonly used in desmosomal studies that express a single DSG species, DSG2. The absence of DSG2 in these cells was confirmed by western blot and immunofluorescence. Further characterization of these DSG‐null A431 cells revealed mislocalized desmoplakin, a marker of mature desmosomes, and a lack of strong cell‐cell adhesion. Exogenous stable expression of GFP‐tagged wildtype DSG1 (DSG1WT‐GFP) rescued both desmosome formation and function, suggesting that these DSG‐null cells would be suitable for probing the relationship between DSG raft association and desmosome assembly and function. Recently, we discovered a novel, heterozygous mutation in the transmembrane domain (TMD)‐encoding region of DSG1 that causes a glycine to arginine substitution and SAM syndrome. DSG1SAM is a lipid raft targeting mutant suggesting an important role for the TMD in raft association. Stable expression of DSG1SAM‐GFP could not rescue desmosome formation or function in the DSG‐null cells, suggesting that a loss of raft association also impacts desmosome assembly and adhesive function. Intriguingly, a chimeric DSG1 protein containing the TMD from E‐cadherin (DSG1Ecad‐GFP), a non‐raft associating adhesive protein, only partly rescued desmosome formation and function. Furthermore, these results correlated with the predicted lipid raft affinity of each TMD, suggesting that desmosome assembly and function is dependent on raft association. We are currently analyzing a panel of GFP‐tagged DSG1TMD variants with differential raft targeting affinities and assessing their ability to support desmosome assembly and function. In conclusion, the TMD targets desmogleins to lipid rafts and modulates desmoglein adhesive function.Support or Funding InformationNIH R01AR050501, NIH R01AR048266

Leucine-rich repeats and calponin homology containing 4 (Lrch4) regulates the innate immune response

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are pathogen-recognition receptors that trigger the innate immune response. Recent reports have identified accessory proteins that provide essential support to TLR function through ligand delivery and receptor trafficking. Herein, we introduce leucine-rich repeats (LRRs) and calponin homology containing 4 (Lrch4) as a novel TLR accessory protein. Lrch4 is a membrane protein with nine LRRs in its predicted ectodomain. It is widely expressed across murine tissues and has two expression variants that are both regulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Predictive modeling indicates that Lrch4 LRRs conform to the horseshoe-shaped structure typical of LRRs in pathogen-recognition receptors and that the best structural match in the protein database is to the variable lymphocyte receptor of the jawless vertebrate hagfish. Silencing Lrch4 attenuates cytokine induction by LPS and multiple other TLR ligands and dampens the in vivo innate immune response. Lrch4 promotes proper docking of LPS in lipid raft membrane microdomains. We provide evidence that this is through regulation of lipid rafts as Lrch4 silencing reduces cell surface gangliosides, a metric of raft abundance, as well as expression and surface display of CD14, a raft-resident LPS co-receptor. Taken together, we identify Lrch4 as a broad-spanning regulator of the innate immune response and a potential molecular target in inflammatory disease.

Caveolae provide a specialized membrane environment for respiratory syncytial virus assembly.

ABSTRACTRespiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is an enveloped virus that assembles into filamentous virus particles on the surface of infected cells. Morphogenesis of RSV is dependent upon cholesterol-rich (lipid raft) membrane microdomains, but the specific role of individual raft molecules in RSV assembly is not well defined. Here, we show that RSV morphogenesis occurs within caveolar membranes and that both caveolin-1 and cavin-1 (also known as PTRF), the two major structural and functional components of caveolae, are actively recruited to and incorporated into the RSV envelope. The recruitment of caveolae occurred just prior to the initiation of RSV filament assembly, and was dependent upon an intact actin network as well as a direct physical interaction between caveolin-1 and the viral G protein. Moreover, cavin-1 protein levels were significantly increased in RSV-infected cells, leading to a virus-induced change in the stoichiometry and biophysical properties of the caveolar coat complex. Our data indicate that RSV exploits caveolae for its assembly, and we propose that the incorporation of caveolae into the virus contributes to defining the biological properties of the RSV envelope.

Pharmacological targeting of CXCL12/CXCR4 signaling in prostate cancer bone metastasis.

BackgroundThe CXCL12/CXCR4 axis transactivates HER2 and promotes intraosseous tumor growth. To further explore the transactivation of HER2 by CXCL12, we investigated the role of small GTP protein Gαi2 in Src and HER2 phosphorylation in lipid raft membrane microdomains and the significance of CXCR4 in prostate cancer bone tumor growth.MethodsWe used a variety of methods such as lipid raft isolation, invasion assays, an in vivo model of intratibial tumor growth, bone histomorphometry, and immunohistochemistry to determine the role of CXCR4 signaling in lipid raft membrane microdomains and effects of targeting of CXCR4 for bone tumor growth.ResultsWe determined that (a) CXCL12/CXCR4 transactivation of EGFR and HER2 is confined to lipid raft membrane microdomains, (b) CXCL12 activation of HER2 and Src is mediated by small GTP proteins in lipid rafts, (c) inhibition of the CXCL12/CXCR4 axis through plerixafor abrogates the initial establishment of tumor growth without affecting the growth of established bone tumors, and (d) inhibition of EGFR signaling through gefitinib leads to inhibition of established bone tumor growth.ConclusionsThese data suggest that lipid raft membrane microdomains are key sites for CXCL12/CXCR4 transactivation of HER2 via small GTP binding protein Gαi2 and Src kinase. The initial establishment of prostate cancer is supported by the endosteal niche, and blocking the CXCL12/CXCR4 axis of this niche along with its downstream signaling severely compromises initial establishment of tumors in the bone microenvironment, whereas expanding bone tumors are sensitive only to the members of growth factor receptor inhibition.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12943-016-0552-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Lipid raft-associated stomatin enhances cell fusion.

Membrane fusions that occur during vesicle transport, virus infection, and tissue development, involve receptors that mediate membrane contact and initiate fusion and effectors that execute membrane reorganization and fusion pore formation. Some of these fusogenic receptors/effectors are preferentially recruited to lipid raft membrane microdomains. Therefore, major constituents of lipid rafts, such as stomatin, may be involved in the regulation of cell-cell fusion. Stomatin produced in cells can be released to the extracellular environment, either through protein refolding to pass across lipid bilayer or through exosome trafficking. We report that cells expressing more stomatin or exposed to exogenous stomatin are more prone to undergoing cell fusion. During osteoclastogenesis, depletion of stomatin inhibited cell fusion but had little effect on tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase production. Moreover, in stomatin transgenic mice, increased cell fusion leading to enhanced bone resorption and subsequent osteoporosis were observed. With its unique molecular topology, stomatin forms molecular assembly within lipid rafts or on the appositional plasma membranes, and promotes membrane fusion by modulating fusogenic protein engagement.-Lee, J.-H., Hsieh, C.-F., Liu, H.-W., Chen, C.-Y., Wu, S.-C., Chen, T.-W., Hsu, C.-S., Liao, Y.-H., Yang, C.-Y., Shyu, J.-F., Fischer, W. B., Lin, C.-H. Lipid raft-associated stomatin enhances cell fusion.

MP84-16 PHOSPHATIDYLINOSITOL 4-KINASE TYPE III? (PI4KA) AND CXCR4 CROSSTALK IN PROSTATE CANCER CELLS

You have accessJournal of UrologyProstate Cancer: Basic Research & Pathophysiology III1 Apr 2016MP84-16 PHOSPHATIDYLINOSITOL 4-KINASE TYPE III? (PI4KA) AND CXCR4 CROSSTALK IN PROSTATE CANCER CELLS Michael Cher, Diego Sbrissa, Louie Semaan, Yanfeng Li, Assia Shisheva, and Srinivasa Chinni Michael CherMichael Cher More articles by this author , Diego SbrissaDiego Sbrissa More articles by this author , Louie SemaanLouie Semaan More articles by this author , Yanfeng LiYanfeng Li More articles by this author , Assia ShishevaAssia Shisheva More articles by this author , and Srinivasa ChinniSrinivasa Chinni More articles by this author View All Author Informationhttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.juro.2016.02.2240AboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints ShareFacebookTwitterLinked InEmail INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES The CXCR4 receptor directs homing of hematopoietic stem cells to CXCL12 ligand-rich bone marrow. Previous studies demonstrated that the CXCL12/CXCR4 axis promotes prostate cancer (PC) invasion and bone metastasis. We showed that CXCR4 expression is transcriptionally upregulated by TMPRSS2-ERG gene fusions in PC tumors, and its localization in lipid raft membrane microdomains promotes expression of invasive proteases. To identify novel lipid raft-associated CXCR4 regulators supporting invasion and metastasis, we performed proteomics analysis of lipid raft microdomains from stable CXCR4-overexpressing (CXCR4) and CXCR4-knockdown (shCXCR4) PC3 cell lines generated by lentiviral infection. METHODS We used stable isotope labeling by amino acids in cell culture (SILAC) proteomics, sucrose gradient buoyant density ultracentrifugation, fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS), knockdown by siRNA silencing, cell invasion/growth assays, [2-3H]inositol cell labeling, SDS PAGE, Western blotting (WB), and inositol-lipid HPLC profiling. RESULTS SILAC identified phosphatidylinositol 4-kinase IIIα (PI4KA) to be highly associated with CXCR4 cells, along with slightly elevated SAC1 phosphatase. WB confirmed that expression of these phosphoinositide-regulating enzymes is associated with CXCR4 overexpression, thus anticipating their promotion of invasion and metastasis. Several lines of data demonstrated a link between PI4KA and CXCR4 signaling: PI4KA knockdown (i) reduced surface CXCR4 expression and CXCL12-stimulated invasion of CXCR4 cells; (ii) blocked CXCR4/AKT signaling lowering pAKT(Ser473) and pCXCR4(Ser339); and (iii) dropped global cellular PI4P levels. Unexpectedly, PI4KA knockdown resulted in a rise in PI4,5P2, suggesting a homeostatic response. Conversely, CXCR4 knockdown showed an expected increase in PI4,5P2 but an unexpected decrease in PI4P. Importantly, human PC tumor microarray data showed higher PI4KA expression in metastatic vs. localized PC or normal adjacent tissue. CONCLUSIONS These data confirm that PI4KA upregulates CXCR4 expression by altering inositol lipid levels thereby promoting CXCR4/AKT signaling, and that inhibition of CXCR4 signaling via PI4KA knockdown can suppress PC growth/invasion. Thus, PI4KA inhibitors may beneficial in patients with prostate cancer. © 2016FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Volume 195Issue 4SApril 2016Page: e1095 Advertisement Copyright & Permissions© 2016MetricsAuthor Information Michael Cher More articles by this author Diego Sbrissa More articles by this author Louie Semaan More articles by this author Yanfeng Li More articles by this author Assia Shisheva More articles by this author Srinivasa Chinni More articles by this author Expand All Advertisement Advertisement PDF downloadLoading ...

Candida albicans Targets a Lipid Raft/Dectin-1 Platform to Enter Human Monocytes and Induce Antigen Specific T Cell Responses.

Several pathogens have been described to enter host cells via cholesterol-enriched membrane lipid raft microdomains. We found that disruption of lipid rafts by the cholesterol-extracting agent methyl-β-cyclodextrin or by the cholesterol-binding antifungal drug Amphotericin B strongly impairs the uptake of the fungal pathogen Candida albicans by human monocytes, suggesting a role of raft microdomains in the phagocytosis of the fungus. Time lapse confocal imaging indicated that Dectin-1, the C-type lectin receptor that recognizes Candida albicans cell wall-associated β-glucan, is recruited to lipid rafts upon Candida albicans uptake by monocytes, supporting the notion that lipid rafts act as an entry platform. Interestingly disruption of lipid raft integrity and interference with fungus uptake do not alter cytokine production by monocytes in response to Candida albicans but drastically dampen fungus specific T cell response. In conclusion, these data suggest that monocyte lipid rafts play a crucial role in the innate and adaptive immune responses to Candida albicans in humans and highlight a new and unexpected immunomodulatory function of the antifungal drug Amphotericin B.

Abstract 5162: Phosphatidylinositol 4-Kinase type IIIa (PI4KA) expression in prostate cancer

Abstract Advanced prostatic carcinoma (PC) is a progressive disease characterized by a high rate of recurrence and death even after traditional pharmacological androgen deprivation therapy. Phosphatidylinositol 4-kinases (PI4K’s) and the counteracting Sac1 phosphatase, which generates and turns over phosphoinositide phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate [PtdIns4P], respectively, are required for maintenance and functioning of the Golgi apparatus. Intriguingly, both enzymes have been recently identified as cellular factors associated with prostate cancer. These findings support the hypothesis that modulation in PtdIns4P levels and ER-Golgi and Golgi-PM trafficking activities regulated by PI4K's and the Sac1 phosphatase, can alter the membrane trafficking flux to meet the proliferative demands of cancer-cell growth. Targeting these enzymes with drugs could potentially reduce the proliferation/invasion phenotype and prolong patient survival. The goal of our study was to demonstrate the expression of PI4KA and Sac1 in prostate cancer cells and correlate their expression with CXCR4 status. CXCR4 overexpression and knockdown were performed with PC-3 cells using lentiviral infections. Stable isotope labeling by amino acids in cell culture (SILAC) proteomics analysis was performed on lipid raft membrane micro-domains isolated from PC-3 CXCR4 knockdown and overexpressing cells. Reverse transcription, quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR) was used to quantitate PI4KA mRNA; Western blotting (WB), for PI4KA and Sac1 protein expression levels and immunoprecipitation followed by lipid kinase activity assays were used to determine the PI4KA activity. SILAC analysis of lipid raft membrane microdomains in CXCR4 knockdown and overexpressing cells reveal alterations in G-protein coupled receptor signaling and endocytic vesicular traffic pathways. PI4KA is one of the proteins highly associated with CXCR4 overexpressing cells. PI4KA protein expression was 2.4 to 3.5-fold more abundant in CXCR4-overexpressing vs. control PC3 cell line. A similar finding was made for the C2-4B compared to its progenitor line LnCap, ranging from 1.2 to 2.7-fold higher. PI4KA activity measured by lipid kinase assay in CXCR4-overexpressing cells reflected these enhanced expression levels, showing increases by ∼2 fold. This upregulation may correlate with both PC cell-migration/invasion. This correlation confirmed initial proteomics analysis of CXCR4 association with PI4KA and Sac1 in lipid raft membrane microdomains. Our findings suggest that PI4KA mRNA could be used as a new molecular marker to improve established prognostic models for PC. These findings also indicate possible new lines of research for the development of innovative therapeutic approaches targeting PI4KA in PC, whereby reductions in PI4KA levels would be expected to reduce its severity/recurrence and improve patient survival. Citation Format: Diego Sbrissa, Louie Semaan, Li Yanfeng, Assia Shisheva, Sreenivasa R. Chinni. Phosphatidylinositol 4-Kinase type IIIa (PI4KA) expression in prostate cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr 5162. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-5162

Proteomic Analysis of ABCA1-Null Macrophages Reveals a Role for Stomatin-Like Protein-2 in Raft Composition and Toll-Like Receptor Signaling

Lipid raft membrane microdomains organize signaling by many prototypical receptors, including the Toll-like receptors (TLRs) of the innate immune system. Raft-localization of proteins is widely thought to be regulated by raft cholesterol levels, but this is largely on the basis of studies that have manipulated cell cholesterol using crude and poorly specific chemical tools, such as β-cyclodextrins. To date, there has been no proteome-scale investigation of whether endogenous regulators of intracellular cholesterol trafficking, such as the ATP binding cassette (ABC)A1 lipid efflux transporter, regulate targeting of proteins to rafts. Abca1(-/-) macrophages have cholesterol-laden rafts that have been reported to contain increased levels of select proteins, including TLR4, the lipopolysaccharide receptor. Here, using quantitative proteomic profiling, we identified 383 proteins in raft isolates from Abca1(+/+) and Abca1(-/-) macrophages. ABCA1 deletion induced wide-ranging changes to the raft proteome. Remarkably, many of these changes were similar to those seen in Abca1(+/+) macrophages after lipopolysaccharide exposure. Stomatin-like protein (SLP)-2, a member of the stomatin-prohibitin-flotillin-HflK/C family of membrane scaffolding proteins, was robustly and specifically increased in Abca1(-/-) rafts. Pursuing SLP-2 function, we found that rafts of SLP-2-silenced macrophages had markedly abnormal composition. SLP-2 silencing did not compromise ABCA1-dependent cholesterol efflux but reduced macrophage responsiveness to multiple TLR ligands. This was associated with reduced raft levels of the TLR co-receptor, CD14, and defective lipopolysaccharide-induced recruitment of the common TLR adaptor, MyD88, to rafts. Taken together, we show that the lipid transporter ABCA1 regulates the protein repertoire of rafts and identify SLP-2 as an ABCA1-dependent regulator of raft composition and of the innate immune response.

Lenalidomide Induces Lipid Raft Assembly to Enhance Erythropoietin Receptor Signaling in Myelodysplastic Syndrome Progenitors

Erythropoietin receptor (EpoR) signaling is impaired in patients with Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS) despite appropriate growth factor production and cellular receptor display. We previously reported that EpoR signaling is dependent upon receptor localization within membrane lipid raft microdomains, and that disruption of raft integrity abolishes signaling capacity (McGraw KL, et al. PLoS One 2012). Here, we show that MDS erythroid progenitors display markedly diminished raft assembly (p=0.005) and smaller raft aggregates (p=0.023) compared to normal controls. Because lenalidomide triggers raft coalescence in T-lymphocytes to promote immune synapse formation, we assessed the effects of lenalidomide on raft assembly in MDS erythroid precursors and UT7 cells. Lipid rafts were isolated from UT7 cells using ultracentrifugation and identified by GM-1 dot blot and Lyn kinase western blot. Lenalidomide rapidly induced lipid raft formation in UT7 cells which was confirmed by confocal microscopy visualization of GM-1 fluorescence. Lenalidomide also significantly induced lipid raft formation in pooled MDS erythroid progenitors (CD71+, cKit+) from 11 patients [mean raft size, control (n=569) vs. lenalidomide treatment (n=659), p<0.001], with no significant change observed in pooled erythroids from 3 normal donors (n= 327 for control and n=365 for lenalidomide treated, p=0.37). Interestingly, lipid rafts were significantly larger in erythroid progenitors from patients who responded (n=5) to lenalidomide treatment compared to non-responders (n=3) (75.52 ±13.68 vs. 35.85 ±8.56, p=0.02). Although lenalidomide increased raft size in erythroid progenitors from both responders (p=0.0007) and non-responders (p=0.013), mean raft size was greater in erythroid precursors from responding patients after treatment (p=0.11). Increased raft aggregation after lenalidomide treatment was accompanied by EpoR recruitment into raft fractions together with STAT5, JAK2, and Lyn kinase, whereas the JAK2 phosphatase, CD45, a negative regulator of EpoR signaling, was displaced from raft fractions. Incubation with lenalidomide prior to Epo stimulation enhanced both JAK2 and STAT5 phosphorylation in UT7 cells and primary MDS erythroid precursors. Bone marrow specimens from 12 non-del(5q) IPSS lower risk, lenalidomide naive MDS patients were analyzed by flow cytometry to compare changes in STAT5 phosphorylation in response to Epo stimulation in the presence or absence of lenalidomide. We found a 79.1% mean increase in p-STAT5 mean fluorescence intensity (MFI 95th percentile) in CD45dim, CD71high, Glylow erythroid precursors in 7 of the 12 patient specimens following lenalidomide exposure. Furthermore, increased STAT5 phosphorylation was accompanied by increased DNA binding of the transcription factor in UT7 cells, and improved erythroid colony forming capacity in both UT7 and primary MDS bone marrow cells. Raft induction was associated with F-actin polymerization that was blocked by Rho kinase inhibition and confirmed by lipid raft isolation followed by dot blot with western blot and confocal microscopy. These data provide new insight into abnormalities in the EpoR signaling platform that underlie impaired Epo responsiveness in MDS erythroid precursors. Our findings that deficient raft integrity impairs EpoR signaling provides a novel strategy to enhance EpoR signal fidelity in non-del(5q) MDS. These data also warrant investigation in a larger data set to determine whether lipid raft size may be a predictive biomarker for lenalidomide response. DisclosuresList:Celgene: Consultancy.

Lateral diffusion of Gαs in the plasma membrane is decreased after chronic but not acute antidepressant treatment: role of lipid raft and non-raft membrane microdomains.

GPCR signaling is modified both in major depressive disorder and by chronic antidepressant treatment. Endogenous Gαs redistributes from raft- to nonraft-membrane fractions after chronic antidepressant treatment. Modification of G protein anchoring may participate in this process. Regulation of Gαs signaling by antidepressants was studied using fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) of GFP-Gαs. Here we find that extended antidepressant treatment both increases the half-time of maximum recovery of GFP-Gαs and decreases the extent of recovery. Furthermore, this effect parallels the movement of Gαs out of lipid rafts as determined by cold detergent membrane extraction with respect to both dose and duration of drug treatment. This effect was observed for several classes of compounds with antidepressant activity, whereas closely related molecules lacking antidepressant activity (eg, R-citalopram) did not produce the effect. These results are consistent with previously observed antidepressant-induced translocation of Gαs, but also suggest an alternate membrane attachment site for this G protein. Furthermore, FRAP analysis provides the possibility of a relatively high-throughput screening tool for compounds with putative antidepressant activity.

Annexin A2 mediates apical trafficking of renal Na‐K‐2Cl cotransporter (892.22)

Transport activity of the thick ascending limb (TAL) Na‐K‐2Cl‐cotransporter (NKCC2) critically depends on its association with lipid raft membrane microdomains (LR). The mechanisms involved in the recruitment of NKCC2 into LR have not been elucidated so far. In the present study we hypothesized that the lipid raft scaffolding protein annexin A2 serves as an essential mediator in this process. Detergent‐resistant LR were isolated from rat renal outer medullary tissue samples using discontinuous sucrose density gradient and ultracentrifugation (floating assay). Interaction between NKCC2 and Anxa2 was analyzed by immunoprecipitation, GST pull down, and peptide spot assays. Distribution of the products in the apical TAL membrane was studied by immunofluorescence and immunogold electron microscopy. Trafficking was studied in AVP‐deficient rats and cultured TAL cells using the AVP analogue desmopressin (dDAVP) or low chloride hypotonic stress. Functional relevance of Anxa2 for NKCC2 trafficking was studied using RNAi‐mediated knockdown strategies. Floating assay, immunoprecipitation and colocalization studies confirmed the parallel presence of NKCC2 and Anxa2 in apical membrane LR of the TAL. Binding assays approved physical interaction of Anxa2 and the non‐phosphorylated N‐terminus of NKCC2. Moreover, dDAVP and low chloride hypotonic stress caused parallel trafficking of NKCC2 and Anxa2 in rats and in cultured TAL cells and this response was inhibited by RNAi‐mediated knockdown of Anxa2. In conclusion our data demonstrate that Anxa2 is an essential component of the NKCC2 trafficking protein complex and mediates its recruitment into LR microdomains.

Targeting CXCR4 with CTCE-9908 inhibits prostate tumor metastasis

BackgroundCXCL12/CXCR4 transactivation of epidermal growth factor family receptors in lipid raft membrane microdomains on cell surface is thought to mediate tumor growth and subsequent development of metastatic disease. CTCE-9908 is a known inhibitor of CXCR4. Herein, we tested the efficacy of CTCE-9908 in inhibiting prostate cancer cell growth, invasion, and metastasis.MethodsWe used a panel of in vitro assays utilizing human prostate cancer cell lines and an in vivo orthotopic prostate cancer model to assess the anti-tumoral activity of CTCE-9908.ResultsWe demonstrated that (a) CTCE-9908 treatment resulted in no significant change in the growth of PC-3 and C4-2B cells; (b) 50 μg/ml of CTCE-9908 inhibited the invasive properties of PC-3 cells; (c) 25 mg/kg of CTCE-9908 did not alter primary tumor growth but it did significantly reduce total tumor burden in the animal including the growth of prostate and soft tissue metastases to lymph node and distant organ tissues. Histological analysis showed that CTCE-9908 treatment resulted in tumor necrosis in primary prostate tumors and no significant change in proliferation of tumor cells as measured by Ki-67 staining; (d) CTCE-9908 inhibited the tumor angiogenesis as measured by CD34 positive vessels in tumors.ConclusionsThese data suggest that CXCR4 inhibition by CTCE-9908 decreases the invasion potential in vitro, which then translated to a reduction of tumor spread with associated reduction in angiogenesis. Hence, CTCE-9908 may prove to be an efficacious novel agent to prevent and treat the spread of metastatic prostate cancer.

Activated Cdc42-associated Kinase 1 (Ack1) Is Required for Tumor Necrosis Factor-related Apoptosis-inducing Ligand (TRAIL) Receptor Recruitment to Lipid Rafts and Induction of Cell Death

TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) holds promise for treatment of cancer due to its ability to selectively kill cancer cells while sparing normal cells. Ligand-induced translocation of TRAIL receptors (TRAIL-R) 1 and 2 (also called DR4 and DR5, respectively) into lipid raft membrane microdomains is required for TRAIL-induced cell death by facilitating receptor clustering and formation of the death-inducing signaling complex, yet the underlying regulatory mechanisms remain largely unknown. We show here that the non-receptor tyrosine kinase Ack1, previously implicated in the spatiotemporal regulation of the EGF receptor, is required for TRAIL-induced cell death in multiple epithelial cell lines. TRAIL triggered a transient up-regulation of Ack1 and its recruitment to lipid rafts along with TRAIL-R1/2. siRNA-mediated depletion of Ack1 disrupted TRAIL-induced accumulation of TRAIL-R1/2 in lipid rafts and efficient recruitment of caspase-8 to the death-inducing signaling complex. Pharmacological inhibition of Ack1 did not affect TRAIL-induced cell death, indicating that Ack1 acts in a kinase-independent manner to promote TRAIL-R1/2 accumulation in lipid rafts. These findings identify Ack1 as an essential player in the spatial regulation of TRAIL-R1/2.

Abstract 1067: HTLV-1 Tax deregulates autophagy in promoting T-cell survival and proliferation.

Abstract The retroviral oncoprotein Tax from Human T cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) is an etiological factor of adult T cell leukemia and lymphoma. HTLV-1 viral genome-encoded oncoprotein, Tax, plays a pivotal role for promoting viral replication and initiating malignant transformation of CD4+ T lymphocytes. Tax deregulates various oncogenic signaling pathways including IκB kinase (IKK)/NF-κB, STAT3 and PI3K/Akt for aberrant proliferation of infected T cells. Tax activates IKK complex in the cytoplasm, resulting in persistent activation of NF-κB, a transcriptional factor that plays key roles in the pathogenesis of chronic inflammation and cancer. The IKK complex can be activated by divergent upstream kinases that connect it to signals from cell surface receptors such as T cell receptor (TCR). Upon T cell activation, IKKs are recruited to the plasma membrane lipid raft microdomains where they become catalytically active. Lipid raft microdomains are detergent-resistant membrane structure enriched with cholesterol and sphingolipids and serve as crucial signal transduction platforms. Distinct from TCR activation, Tax bypasses upstream kinases to directly target IKKγ, thereby recruiting the IKK complex to the lipid raft microdomains for activation. The IKK complex has been implicated to play an important role in starvation- or rapamycin-induced autophagy, though the underlying mechanism is not yet determined. Autophagy is a catabolic process that involves degradation of unnecessary or dysfunctional cellular proteins and organelles through lysosomal machinery. In response to metabolic stress, autophagy process generates energy for the need of metabolically stressed cells, and hence, the primary function of autophagy is pro-survival. The autophagic process is regulated by a variety of oncogenic signaling pathways. Given the evidence that HTLV-1 mediates oncogenic activation, it is conceivable that HTLV-1 may deregulate autophagy for its own benefits in viral oncogenesis. We here report that Tax is the causative factor for induction of autophagy in HTLV-1-transformed T cells and Tax-immortalized CD4 memory T cells. Tax deregulates autophagy by activating the IκB kinase complex, which subsequently recruits the autophagy molecule complex containing Bif-1, Beclin 1 and PI3KC3 to the lipid raft microdomains. By connecting the IkB kinase complex to the autophagy molecule complex, Tax facilitates assembly of LC3+ autophagosomes. Expression of the lipid raft targeted Bif-1 or Beclin1 is sufficient to form LC3+ autophagosomes, indicating that Tax recruitment of the autophagic molecules to lipid rafts is the main strategy to deregulate autophagy. Further, depletion of Beclin 1, the key mediator of autophagy pathway, results in growth arrest of the leukemic cells. Together, our data suggest an essential role of Tax-mediated autophagy in promoting survival and malignant transformation of virally infected T cells. Citation Format: Tong Ren, Wen Dong, Yoshinori Takahashi, Thomas P. Loughran, Shao-Cong Sun, Hong-gang Wang, Hua Cheng. HTLV-1 Tax deregulates autophagy in promoting T-cell survival and proliferation. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 1067. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-1067

The Antiviral Effector IFITM3 Disrupts Intracellular Cholesterol Homeostasis to Block Viral Entry

SummaryVesicle-membrane-protein-associated protein A (VAPA) and oxysterol-binding protein (OSBP) regulate intracellular cholesterol homeostasis, which is required for many virus infections. During entry, viruses or virus-containing vesicles can fuse with endosomal membranes to mediate the cytosolic release of virions, and alterations in endosomal cholesterol can inhibit this invasion step. We show that the antiviral effector protein interferon-inducible transmembrane protein 3 (IFITM3) interacts with VAPA and prevents its association with OSBP, thereby disrupting intracellular cholesterol homeostasis and inhibiting viral entry. By altering VAPA-OSBP function, IFITM3 induces a marked accumulation of cholesterol in multivesicular bodies and late endosomes, which inhibits the fusion of intraluminal virion-containing vesicles with endosomal membranes and thereby blocks virus release into the cytosol. Consequently, ectopic expression or depletion of the VAPA gene profoundly affects IFITM3-mediated inhibition of viral entry. Thus, IFITM3 disrupts intracellular cholesterol homeostasis to block viral entry, further underscoring the importance of cholesterol in virus infection.

The iron transport inhibitor ferristatin II induces degradation of transferrin receptor‐1

Ferristatin II, a polyaromatic compound previously proposed to be an iron uptake inhibitor, induces degradation of transferrin (Tf) receptor‐1 (TfR1) in HeLa cells within 4 h of treatment. Dose response experiments established an IC50 of 12 μM for inhibition of 55Fe‐Tf uptake, consistent with receptor degradation. Ferristatin II‐induced TfR1 degradation was blocked by nystatin, a cholesterol‐depleting agent that disrupts lipid raft membrane microdomains. siRNA knockdown of flotillin, a protein component of lipid rafts, also blocked TfR1 degradation by ferristatin II. Constitutive trafficking of TfR1 through clathrin‐mediated endocytosis occurs with or without ligand. In contrast, Tf antagonized TfR1 degradation by ferristatin II, an effect that was abrogated for the Tf binding mutant G647A TfR1. Combined, these data indicate that ferristatin II‐induced trafficking and degradation of TfR1 occurs through a lipid raft pathway gated in a ligand dependent manner.This work is supported by NIH grant DK064750 to M.W‐R., DK054488 to C.E., S.L.B is supported by NHGRI/NIEHS Training Grant T32ES016645.