Non-lipid Raft Research Articles

Development of FRET Biosensor to Characterize CSK Subcellular Regulation.

C-terminal Src kinase (CSK) is the major inhibitory kinase for Src family kinases (SFKs) through the phosphorylation of their C-tail tyrosine sites, and it regulates various types of cellular activity in association with SFK function. As a cytoplasmic protein, CSK needs be recruited to the plasma membrane to regulate SFKs' activity. The regulatory mechanism behind CSK activity and its subcellular localization remains largely unclear. In this work, we developed a genetically encoded biosensor based on fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) to visualize the CSK activity in live cells. The biosensor, with an optimized substrate peptide, confirmed the crucial Arg107 site in the CSK SH2 domain and displayed sensitivity and specificity to CSK activity, while showing minor responses to co-transfected Src and Fyn. FRET measurements showed that CSK had a relatively mild level of kinase activity in comparison to Src and Fyn in rat airway smooth muscle cells. The biosensor tagged with different submembrane-targeting signals detected CSK activity at both non-lipid raft and lipid raft microregions, while it showed a higher FRET level at non-lipid ones. Co-transfected receptor-type protein tyrosine phosphatase alpha (PTPα) had an inhibitory effect on the CSK FRET response. The biosensor did not detect obvious changes in CSK activity between metastatic cancer cells and normal ones. In conclusion, a novel FRET biosensor was generated to monitor CSK activity and demonstrated CSK activity existing in both non-lipid and lipid raft membrane microregions, being more present at non-lipid ones.

Peroxiredoxin-4 and Dopamine D5 Receptor Interact to Reduce Oxidative Stress and Inflammation in the Kidney.

Aims: Reactive oxygen species are highly reactive molecules generated in different subcellular compartments. Both the dopamine D5 receptor (D5R) and endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-resident peroxiredoxin-4 (PRDX4) play protective roles against oxidative stress. This study is aimed at investigating the interaction between PRDX4 and D5R in regulating oxidative stress in the kidney. Results: Fenoldopam (FEN), a D1R and D5R agonist, increased PRDX4 protein expression, mainly in non-lipid rafts, in D5R-HEK 293 cells. FEN increased the co-immunoprecipitation of D5R and PRDX4 and their colocalization, particularly in the ER. The efficiency of Förster resonance energy transfer was increased with FEN treatment measured with fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy. Silencing of PRDX4 increased hydrogen peroxide production, impaired the inhibitory effect of FEN on hydrogen peroxide production, and increased the production of interleukin-1β, tumor necrosis factor (TNF), and caspase-12 in renal cells. Furthermore, in Drd5-/- mice, which are in a state of oxidative stress, renal cortical PRDX4 was decreased whereas interleukin-1β, TNF, and caspase-12 were increased, relative to their normotensive wild-type Drd5+/+ littermates. Innovation: Our findings demonstrate a novel relationship between D5R and PRDX4 and the consequent effects of this relationship in attenuating hydrogen peroxide production in the ER and the production of proinflammatory cytokines. This study provides the potential for the development of biomarkers and new therapeutics for renal inflammatory disorders, including hypertension. Conclusion: PRDX4 interacts with D5R to decrease oxidative stress and inflammation in renal cells that may have the potential for translational significance. Antioxid. Redox Signal. 38, 1150-1166.

Mitochondrial bound PKA contributes to cyclic-AMP compartmentation in human airway smooth muscle cells.

In human airway smooth muscle (hASM) cells, compartmentation of cAMP signaling is necessary to maintain the fidelity of responses by different G protein-coupled receptors sharing this common diffusible second messenger. Using FRET-based biosensors targeted to different subcellular locations, we found that the EP2 prostaglandin receptors (EP2Rs) stimulate cAMP production that is restricted to locations associated with non-lipid raft regions of the plasma membrane. Furthermore, inhibition of phosphodiesterase type 4 (PDE4) allowed EP2R production of cAMP to spread to subcellular locations associated with lipid-raft membrane domains. However, computational modeling has suggested that PDEs may only contribute to compartmentation if cAMP diffusion is slowed by some other means. To test this hypothesis, we used raster image correlation spectroscopy (RICS) to estimate the diffusion coefficient of fluorescently labeled cAMP (φ575-cAMP) in hASM cells and found that it is 3.9 ± 0.49 μm2/s, or nearly two orders of magnitude slower than the predicted rate of free diffusion. Disrupting protein kinase A (PKA) interactions with A kinase anchoring proteins (AKAPs) using the anchoring inhibitor Ht31 nearly doubled the diffusion coefficient of φ575-cAMP to 7.9 ± 1.5 μm2/s, suggesting that cAMP movement was being buffered by PKA anchored by one or more AKAPs. Confocal imaging demonstrated that φ575-cAMP colocalizes with mitochondria, and Western blot analysis found that D-AKAP2 is the primary mitochondrial AKAP found in hASM cells. Knockdown of D‑AKAP2 expression was achieved using adenovirus-mediated delivery of shRNA, and in knockdown cells EP2R activation was able to stimulate cAMP production in subcellular locations associated with lipid-raft domains, similar to effects previously seen with PDE4 inhibition. These results suggest that buffering of cAMP movement by PKA anchored to the outer membrane of mitochondria contributes to compartmentation of EP2R-mediated responses in hASM cells.

Skeletal Muscle is a Source of α-Synuclein with a Sarcolemmal Non-Lipid Raft Distribution.

Alpha synuclein (αSN) is a widely distributed protein in vertebrates whose physiological significance in many tissues remains unclear, being a key protein present in neurodegenerative disease such as Parkinson's Disease, Lewy Body Dementia, and in Sporadic-Inclusion Body Myositis. We search for αSN in skeletal muscle (SM) and neuronal plasma membrane isolated from brain (BR) from young and old rats. In isolated Sarcolemma from SM and from myelin-free neuronal plasma membrane isolated from BR, we determine by Western blot with anti-αSN (2B2D1) and anti-P-αSN (EP1536Y) the αSN membrane distribution, and the SM αSN intra and extracellular localization. In SM and BR, αSN is present in cytosol (CYT) as monomer and oligomer structures mainly tetramers (TM) and in plasma membranes as oligomers (TM and PM). All αSN oligomers were localized in non-lipid rafts and their distribution was unaffected by cholesterol-depletion with Methyl-β-Cyclodextrin. Membranes with natively high cholesterol content such as Transverse Tubules in SM and myelin in BR, reduce the presence of αSN. Under the same experimental conditions, aged SM and BR plasma membranes show ≈2 folds more αSN. In SM, αSN is extruded without cell damage in young and old rats. We conclude that oligomeric αSN are regularly present in SM and BR plasma membranes of healthy young and old rats. Interestingly, low-cholesterol content membranes promote αSN interaction. SM, the largest tissue in vertebrate body is a source of αSN and may contribute to the presence of αSN in extracellular fluids.

DGKZ promotes TGF\u03b2 signaling pathway and metastasis in triple-negative breast cancer by suppressing lipid raft-dependent endocytosis of TGF\u03b2R2

Diacylglycerol kinase ζ (DGKZ) is a diacylglycerol kinase that metabolizes diacylglycerol to yield phosphatidic acid, and its function in breast cancer progression remains unclear. In this study, via screening of a CRISPR-Cas9 knockout library containing lipid metabolic genes, DGKZ was identified as a potential prometastatic gene. We first confirmed that high DGKZ expression correlated with tumor progression and poor prognosis in patients. Next, knockout of DGKZ in triple-negative breast cancer cell lines were found to significantly inhibit metastatic behaviors in vitro and in vivo, whereas its overexpression increased the metastatic potential of cell lines. Mechanistic studies based on RNA sequencing and bioinformatic analysis indicated that DGKZ might regulate cell metastasis by promoting epithelial–mesenchymal transition via the transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) signaling pathway. Furthermore, we found that overexpression of DGKZ activated the TGFβ/TGFβR2/Smad3 signaling pathway by inhibiting the degradation of TGFβR2 through suppression of caveolin/lipid raft-dependent endocytosis. Moreover, the caveolin/lipid raft-dependent endocytosis of TGFβR2 was regulated by the metabolite phosphatidic acid, which might alter TGFβR2 partitioning in lipid rafts and nonlipid rafts by affecting the fluidity of the plasma membrane. These findings suggested that DGKZ is a novel promoter of metastasis and that it could be a potential prognostic indicator in patients with triple-negative breast cancer.

Subsynaptic Distribution, Lipid Raft Targeting and G Protein-Dependent Signalling of the Type 1 Cannabinoid Receptor in Synaptosomes from the Mouse Hippocampus and Frontal Cortex

Numerous studies have investigated the roles of the type 1 cannabinoid receptor (CB1) in glutamatergic and GABAergic neurons. Here, we used the cell-type-specific CB1 rescue model in mice to gain insight into the organizational principles of plasma membrane targeting and Gαi/o protein signalling of the CB1 receptor at excitatory and inhibitory terminals of the frontal cortex and hippocampus. By applying biochemical fractionation techniques and Western blot analyses to synaptosomal membranes, we explored the subsynaptic distribution (pre-, post-, and extra-synaptic) and CB1 receptor compartmentalization into lipid and non-lipid raft plasma membrane microdomains and the signalling properties. These data infer that the plasma membrane partitioning of the CB1 receptor and its functional coupling to Gαi/o proteins are not biased towards the cell type of CB1 receptor rescue. The extent of the canonical Gαi/o protein-dependent CB1 receptor signalling correlated with the abundance of CB1 receptor in the respective cell type (glutamatergic versus GABAergic neurons) both in frontal cortical and hippocampal synaptosomes. In summary, our results provide an updated view of the functional coupling of the CB1 receptor to Gαi/o proteins at excitatory and inhibitory terminals and substantiate the utility of the CB1 rescue model in studying endocannabinoid physiology at the subcellular level.

Abstract P212: Peroxiredoxin-4 And Dopamine D5 Receptor Interact To Reduce Oxidative Stress And Inflammation In The Kidney

Peroxiredoxin-4 (PRDX4), an endoplasmic reticulum peroxiredoxin protein, plays a protective role against oxidative stress and inflammation by reducing hydrogen peroxide to water. The dopamine D5 receptor (D 5 R) is also important in protecting against oxidative stress, but the interaction between PRDX4 and D 5 R in regulating oxidative stress in the kidney is not known. In D 5 R-HEK 293 cells, fenoldopam (FEN, 25 nM/12 hr, n=4), a D1-likereceptor agonist, increased PRDX4 protein expression (1.92±0.12-fold over basal level, n=4), mainly in non-lipid rafts (LRs: 24.9±11.4%, non-LRs: 75.1±11.4%, baseline; LRs: 30.9±13.9%, non-LRs: 174.1±16.7%, FEN). FEN also increased the co-immunoprecipitation of D 5 R and PRDX4 and their colocalization, particularly in the endoplasmic reticulum. In human renal proximal tubule cells (hRPTCs), FEN (25 nM/12 hr, n=3) increased PRDX4 and D 5 R interaction in non-LRs, also. Si-RNA silencing of PRDX4 increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and impaired the inhibitory effect of FEN on ROS production (scrambled siRNA: 100.0±11.6% and 65.4±5.6% for Vehicle (Veh) and FEN, respectively; PRDX4 siRNA: 147.7±11.8% and 134.8±11.2% for Veh and FEN, respectively, n=4/group) detected by Amplex Red. In addition in both D 5 R-HEK 293 and hRPTCs, siRNA silencing of PRDX4 increased the production of interleukin-1β (26.88±3.8 and 46.40±4.2 pg/mL [n=3, D 5 R-HEK 293]; 15.87±1.2 and 37.9±1.4 pg/mL [n=3 in hRPTCs]), tumor necrosis factor (131.7±6.5 and 271.2±18.1 pg/mL [n=4, D 5 R-HEK 293]; 108.8±11.8 and 240.1±13.7 pg/mL [n=4 in hRPTCs]), and caspase-12 (15.21±3.8 and 40.78±4.3 ng/mL [n=4,n D 5 R-HEK 293]; 8.8±1.1 and 27.9±2.0 ng/mL [n=4, hRPTCs]). Furthermore, the protein expression of D 5 R was decreased in PRDX4 siRNA-treated D 5 R-HEK293 (~41.2%, n=3) and hRPTCs (~39.6%, n=3). PRDX4 protein was also reduced in the kidney homogenates from D 5 R -/- mice (WT: 1.00±0.18, n=5; D 5 R -/- : 0.686±0.14, n=4; P<0.05). Taken together, PRDX4 interacts with D 5 R to decrease oxidative stress and inflammation in the kidney.

Cardiac Hypertrophy Changes Compartmentation of cAMP in Non-Raft Membrane Microdomains.

3′,5′-Cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) is a ubiquitous second messenger which plays critical roles in cardiac function and disease. In adult mouse ventricular myocytes (AMVMs), several distinct functionally relevant microdomains with tightly compartmentalized cAMP signaling have been described. At least two types of microdomains reside in AMVM plasma membrane which are associated with caveolin-rich raft and non-raft sarcolemma, each with distinct cAMP dynamics and their differential regulation by receptors and cAMP degrading enzymes phosphodiesterases (PDEs). However, it is still unclear how cardiac disease such as hypertrophy leading to heart failure affects cAMP signals specifically in the non-raft membrane microdomains. To answer this question, we generated a novel transgenic mouse line expressing a highly sensitive Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET)-based biosensor E1-CAAX targeted to non-lipid raft membrane microdomains of AMVMs and subjected these mice to pressure overload induced cardiac hypertrophy. We could detect specific changes in PDE3-dependent compartmentation of β-adrenergic receptor induced cAMP in non-raft membrane microdomains which were clearly different from those occurring in caveolin-rich sarcolemma. This indicates differential regulation and distinct responses of these membrane microdomains to cardiac remodeling.

Differential expression of two ATPases revealed by lipid raft isolation from gills of euryhaline teleosts with different salinity preferences.

In euryhaline teleosts, Na+, K+-ATPase (NKA) and V-type H+-ATPase A (VHA A) are important ion-transporters located in cell membrane. Lipid rafts (LR) are plasma membrane microdomains enriched in cholesterol, sphingolipids, and proteins (e.g., flotillin). Flotillin is a LR-associated protein, commonly used as the LR marker. Previous mammalian studies showed that LR may play a crucial role in ion exchanges. Meanwhile, studies on mammals and rainbow trout showed that NKA were found to be present mainly in LR. However, little is known about LR in fish. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the involvement of branchial LR in osmoregulation of tilapia and milkfish, two euryhaline teleosts with different salinity preferences, by (i) extracting LR from the gills of euryhaline teleosts; (ii) detecting the abundance of LR marker protein (flotillin-2) and ion-transporters (NKA and VHA A) in branchial LR and non-LR of fresh water- and seawater-acclimated milkfish and tilapia. The results indicated that the protein abundance of LR marker, flotillin-2, changed with environmental salinities in branchial LR of tilapia. In addition, flotillin-2 and NKA were only found in LR in both tilapia and milkfish gills, while VHA A were mainly present in non-LR. Relative protein abundance of NKA was found to be significantly higher in gills of freshwater milkfish and seawater tilapia, while VHA A was significantly higher in gills of freshwater tilapia and milkfish. This study illustrated differential distribution and salinity-dependent expression of NKA and VHA A in cell membrane of gill tissues of euryhaline teleosts with different salinity preferences.

The cytotoxicity and molecular mechanisms of the Clostridium perfringens NetB toxin.

The necrotic enteritis toxin B-like (NetB) toxin secreted by Clostridium perfringens is a key virulence agent in the pathogenesis of avian necrotic enteritis, a disease that causes significant economic loss to the poultry industry worldwide. NetB was purified from Clostridium perfringens type G (CNEOP004) that was isolated from chickens with necrotic enteritis in Japan. EC50 of this purified NetB toward chicken liver-derived LMH cells was 0.63 µg/ml. In vivo pathogenicity of NetB to chicks produced characteristic lesions of necrotic enteritis. Analysis of the localization of the NetB monomer and oligomer molecules on LMH cells showed that both molecules of the toxin were localized in non-lipid raft regions. Moreover, removal of cholesterol with the cholesterol depletion assay carried out in LMH cells detected both oligomers and monomers of the NetB molecule. These data suggest that the NetB toxin may recognize membrane molecules different from cholesterol in non-raft region. Furthermore, NetB-binding molecules on LMH cell membranes using the toxin overlay assay with immunoblotting showed that protein molecules of different molecular sizes were bound to NetB on non-lipid raft fractions. Further studies are necessary to characterize these protein molecules to examine their specific association with NetB binding and oligomerization.

PLAG enhances macrophage mobility for efferocytosis of apoptotic neutrophils via membrane redistribution of P2Y2.

Neutrophil activity, including trapping of damage-associated molecular patterns by neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), is an important response to microbial infection. Most activated neutrophils commit to apoptosis and are removed by activated macrophages in the process of efferocytosis. Improper clearance of apoptotic neutrophils often causes an unnecessary and exaggerated immune response and subsequent chronic inflammation. Effective macrophage mobility toward activated neutrophils, which is triggered by binding of 'find-me' signals to receptors such as P2Y2, is a crucial step for the timely clearance of apoptotic neutrophils. In this paper, we investigated the effect of 1-palmitoyl-2-linoleoyl-3-acetyl-rac-glycerol (PLAG) on efferocytosis and the underlying molecular mechanisms. In a coculture of apoptotic neutrophils with macrophages, PLAG treatment increased levels of efferocytosis of apoptotic neutrophils. PLAG induced faster translocation of P2Y2 from lipid rafts to nonlipid raft plasma membrane domains in macrophages. This repositioning of P2Y2 enables the polarization of the cytoskeleton by association of the receptor with cytoskeletal proteins such as α-tubulin and actin to improve the mobility of macrophages. The formation of vesicular, chylomicron-like structures by PLAG was a prerequisite for the induction of this macrophage activity, as none of these effects was seen when the vesicle receptor GPIHBP1 was absent. Taken together, these data showed that PLAG is a powerful immune resolvent that triggers the prompt clearance of apoptotic neutrophils by enhanced efferocytosis activity. PLAG could therefore be an effective lipid-based efferocytosis enhancer for use as a therapeutic drug to prevent inflammatory disease caused by uncontrolled immune responses.

Tandem Requirement for Renal D1R and D5R Functionality

The peripheral dopaminergic system assists in maintaining blood pressure homeostasis by engendering natriuresis mainly through the D1R and D5R receptors. These receptors share structural features and pharmacological profiles; there is no specific agonist that can discriminate between these two receptors. Genetic ablation of one receptor in the kidney results in the loss of activity of the other. Therefore, we evaluated the mechanisms for the cooperative and co‐dependent interaction between these two receptors. Both receptors share the same anatomical distribution, specifically at the brush border and luminal membranes of renal proximal tubules and collecting ducts, respectively. These receptors dimerized (~110 kDa) and coimmunoprecipitated each other, basally and after fenoldopam (D1R/D5R agonist, 1 μM/15 min) treatment. Bimolecular fluorescence complementation showed that heterologously expressed D1R and D5R tagged with the C and N termini of the fluorescent protein EYFP, respectively, heterodimerized basally in HEK‐293 cells. This was corroborated by confocal microscopy of HEK‐293 cells that were transiently transfected with D1R::RFP and D5R::GFP, which showed colocalization basally at the plasma membrane, most abundantly at the apical membrane in polarized cells. The D1R and D5R partitioned to lipid and non‐lipid rafts; agonist treatment enhanced the lipid raft segregation of D1R and D5R. Both receptors were abundantly expressed in renal proximal tubules of human and C57Bl/6 mouse kidneys, where they colocalized basally that was increased by fenoldopam (1 μM/15 min). D1R/D5R stimulation is known to increase cAMP production and inhibit renal sodium transport. Receptor gene silencing via antisense technology in human renal proximal tubule cells (hRPTCs) decreased the cAMP response to fenoldopam (−71±2% for D1R, vs. −38±7% for D5R, vs. −90±2% for both, *P<0.05). In hRPTCs grown in Transwells, fenoldopam or ouabain (500 nM/30 min) given at the basolateral compartment inhibited Na+/K+‐ATPase (NKA) activity and increased intracellular Na+. siRNA‐mediated gene silencing of DRD1/DRD5 prevented the inhibition of NKA activity by fenoldopam (*P<0.05). Our observations demonstrate the requirement for D1R/D5R to form heterodimers to achieve their full functionality.Support or Funding InformationR01DK039308, R01HL092196, and P01HL074940This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2019 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.

Actin-independent trafficking of cochlear connexin 26 to non-lipid raft gap junction plaques

Hereditary hearing loss affects about 1 per 1000 children. Mutations in GJB2, which encodes the connexin 26 protein (Cx26) involved in cochlear homeostasis, are found in about 50% of patients with autosomal recessive non-syndromic hearing loss. Deciphering the trafficking pathway of cochlear Cx26 in situ should represent an advance in understanding the pathogenic significance of many of these mutations. Connexins trafficking and delivery to lipid raft-associated gap junction plaques usually requires successively microtubule and actin networks. Here we show that cochlear Cx26 exhibits an unusual trafficking pathway. We observed that Cx26 assembly occurs in non-lipid raft membrane domains and that junctional plaques are devoid of actin and associated zonula occludens proteins. Using cytoskeleton-disrupting drugs in organotypic culture, we found that cochlear Cx26 gap junction assembly requires microtubules but not actin filaments. Altogether, our data provide an unexpected insight into Cx26 trafficking pathway and gap junction assembly in the cochlea.

Abstract 047: Sorting Nexin 19: A Novel & Key Player in Renal Dopamine D 1 R Regulation

The cellular localization and signal transduction of a ligand-occupied G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) are tightly regulated to generate an appropriate response in terms of specificity, magnitude, and duration through the interplay of key proteins. We recently identified sorting nexin 19 (SNX19) as a binding partner for the renal dopamine D 1 receptor (D 1 R) and demonstrated its role in receptor lipid raft distribution and activity. We have shown that SNX19 and D 1 R co-immunoprecipitated (co-IP’d) and colocalized at the plasma membrane of human renal proximal tubule cells (hRPTCs) and at the brush border of RPTs of C57Bl/6 mice. Treatment with the D 1 R/D 5 R agonist fenoldopam promoted the colocalization to the cytoplasm of RPTCs. SNX19 silencing in hRPTCs decreased the D 1 R expression (-60±4% of basal, P<0.05, n=4) and impaired D 1 R recruitment and endocytosis following agonist stimulation, as observed via live cell imaging. SNX19 silencing markedly decreased the fenoldopam-mediated increase in cAMP production in hRPTCs (+115±30% vs . +45±12% in mock siRNA-treated control cells, P<0.05, n=4), and abrogated the fenoldopam-mediated inhibition of Na + ,K + -ATPase activity in polarized hRPTCs (+21±1.2% intracellular Na + vs . +2±2% in control cells, P<0.05, n=4). Kidney-restricted Snx19 silencing in C57Bl/6 mice increased the systolic blood pressure (124±3 mm Hg vs . 101±2 mm Hg in control mice, P>0.05, n=5), thus demonstrating the importance of SNX19 in renal D 1 R activity and blood pressure control. SNX19 also co-IP’d with GRK4 and GODZ finger protein, an enzyme involved in GPCR palmitoylation, which is a process that promotes lipid raft partitioning. Mutation of the canonical PX domain of SNX19, which prevented its targeting to the plasma membrane, and the heterologous expression of these mutants in hRPTCs decreased the abundance of D 1 R, which became exclusively distributed in non-lipid rafts. The disruption of lipid rafts in the kidneys of mice resulted in hypertension (120±3 mm Hg vs . 101±2 mm Hg in control mice, n=4). Our results highlight the crucial role of SNX19 in the proper trafficking and functioning of renal D 1 R through its ability to promote the localization of D 1 R in lipid rafts for an effective signal transduction and appropriate cellular response.

Sorafenib suppresses TGF-β responses by inducing caveolae/lipid raft-mediated internalization/degradation of cell-surface type II TGF-β receptors: Implications in development of effective adjunctive therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma

Sorafenib is the only FDA approved drug for the treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and other malignancies. Studies indicate that TGF-β signalling is associated with tumour progression in HCC. Autocrine and paracrine TGF-β promotes tumour growth and malignancy by inducing epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Sorafenib is believed to antagonize tumour progression by inhibiting TGF-β-induced EMT. It improves survival of patients but HCC later develops resistance and relapses. The underlying mechanism of resistance is unknown. Understanding of the molecular mechanism of sorafenib inhibition of TGF-β-induced signalling or responses in HCC may lead to development of adjunctive effective therapy for HCC. In this study, we demonstrate that sorafenib suppresses TGF-β responsiveness in hepatoma cells, hepatocytes, and animal liver, mainly by downregulating cell-surface type II TGF-β receptors (TβRII) localized in caveolae/lipid rafts and non-lipid raft microdomains via caveolae/lipid rafts-mediated internalization and degradation. Furthermore, sorafenib-induced downregulation and degradation of cell-surface TβRII is prevented by simultaneous treatment with a caveolae disruptor or lysosomal inhibitors. On the other hand, sorafenib only downregulates cell-surface TβRII localized in caveolae/lipid rafts but not localized in non-lipid raft microdomains in hepatic stellate cells. These results suggest that sorafenib inhibits TGF-β signalling mainly by inducing caveolae/lipid raft-mediated internalization and degradation of cell-surface TβR-II in target cells. They may also imply that treatment with agents which promote formation of caveolae/lipid rafts, TGF-β receptor kinase inhibitors (e.g., LY2157299) or TGF-β peptide antagonists (by liver-targeting delivery) may be considered as effective adjunct therapy with sorafenib for HCC.

Melatonin inhibits apoptotic cell death induced by Vibrio vulnificus VvhA via melatonin receptor 2 coupling with NCF-1

Melatonin, an endogenous hormone molecule, has a variety of biological functions, but a functional role of melatonin in the infection of Gram-negative bacterium Vibrio vulnificus has yet to be described. In this study, we investigated the molecular mechanism of melatonin in the apoptosis of human intestinal epithelial (HCT116) cells induced by the hemolysin (VvhA) produced by V. vulnificus. Melatonin (1 μM) significantly inhibited apoptosis induced by the recombinant protein (r) VvhA, which had been inhibited by the knockdown of MT2. The rVvhA recruited caveolin-1, NCF-1, and Rac1 into lipid rafts to facilitate the production of ROS responsible for the phosphorylation of PKC and JNK. Interestingly, melatonin recruited NCF-1 into non-lipid rafts to prevent ROS production via MT2 coupling with Gαq. Melatonin inhibited the JNK-mediated phosphorylation of c-Jun responsible for Bax expression, the release of mitochondrial cytochrome c, and caspase-3/-9 activation during its promotion of rVvhA-induced apoptotic cell death. In addition, melatonin inhibited JNK-mediated phosphorylation of Bcl-2 responsible for the release of Beclin-1 and Atg5 expression during its promotion of rVvhA-induced autophagic cell death. These results demonstrate that melatonin signaling via MT2 triggers recruitment of NCF-1 into non-lipid rafts to block ROS production and JNK-mediated apoptotic and autophagic cell deaths induced by rVvhA in intestinal epithelial cells.

Actin-independent Trafficking of Cochlear Connexin 26 to Non-lipid Raft Gap Junction Plaques

Hereditary hearing loss affects about 1 per 1000 children. Mutations in GJB2, which encodes the connexin 26 protein (Cx26) involved in cochlear homeostasis, are found in about 50% of patients with autosomal recessive non-syndromic hearing loss. Deciphering the trafficking pathway of cochlear Cx26 in situ should represent an advance in understanding the pathogenic significance of many of these mutations. Connexins trafficking and delivery to lipid raft-associated gap junction plaques usually requires successively microtubule and actin networks. Here we show that cochlear Cx26 exhibits an unusual trafficking pathway. We observed that Cx26 assembly occurs in non-lipid raft membrane domains and that junctional plaques are devoid of actin and associated zonula occludens proteins (ZOs). Using cytoskeleton-disrupting drugs in organotypic culture, we found that cochlear Cx26 gap junction assembly requires microtubules but not actin filaments. Altogether, our data provide an unexpected insight into Cx26 trafficking pathway and gap junction assembly in the cochlea.

A Vibrio vulnificus VvpM Induces IL-1β Production Coupled with Necrotic Macrophage Death via Distinct Spatial Targeting by ANXA2.

An inflammatory form of phagocyte death evoked by the Gram-negative bacterium Vibrio (V.) vulnificus (WT) is one of hallmarks to promote their colonization, but the virulence factor and infectious mechanism involved in this process remain largely unknown. Here, we identified extracellular metalloprotease VvpM as a new virulence factor and investigated the molecular mechanism of VvpM which acts during the regulation of the inflammatory form of macrophage death and bacterial colonization. Mutation of the vvpM gene appeared to play major role in the prevention of IL-1β production due to V. vulnificus infection in macrophage. However, the recombinant protein (r) VvpM caused IL-1β production coupled with necrotic cell death, which is highly susceptible to the knockdown of annexin A2 (ANXA2) located in both membrane lipid and non-lipid rafts. In lipid rafts, rVvpM recruited NOX enzymes coupled with ANXA2 to facilitate the production of ROS responsible for the epigenetic and transcriptional regulation of NF-κB in the IL-1β promoter. rVvpM acting on non-lipid rafts increased LC3 puncta formation and autophagic flux, which are required for the mRNA expression of Atg5 involved in the autophagosome formation process. The autophagy activation caused by rVvpM induced NLRP3 inflammasome-dependent caspase-1 activation in the promoting of IL-1β production. In mouse models of V. vulnificus infection, the VvpM mutant failed to elevate the level of pro-inflammatory responses closely related to IL-1β production and prevented bacterial colonization. These findings delineate VvpM efficiently regulates two pathogenic pathways that stimulate NF-κB-dependent IL-1β production and autophagy-mediated NLRP3 inflammasome via distinct spatial targeting by ANXA2.

Compartmentalized cAMP responses to prostaglandin EP2 receptor activation in human airway smooth muscle cells.

Previous studies indicate that prostaglandin EP2 receptors selectively couple to AC2 in non-lipid raft domains of airway smooth muscle (ASM) cells, where they regulate specific cAMP-dependent responses. The goal of the present study was to identify the cellular microdomains where EP2 receptors stimulate cAMP production. FRET-based cAMP biosensors were targeted to different subcellular locations of primary human ASM cells. The Epac2-camps biosensor, which expresses throughout the cell, was used to measure bulk cytoplasmic responses. Epac2-MyrPalm and Epac2-CAAX were used to measure responses associated with lipid raft and non-raft regions of the plasma membrane respectively. Epac2-NLS was used to monitor responses at the nucleus. Activation of AC with forskolin or β2 -adrenoceptors with isoprenaline increased cAMP in all subcellular locations. Activation of EP2 receptors with butaprost produced cAMP responses that were most readily detected by the non-raft and nuclear sensors, but only weakly detected by the cytosolic sensor and not detected at all by the lipid raft sensor. Exposure to rolipram, a PDE4 inhibitor, unmasked the ability of EP2 receptors to increase cAMP levels associated with lipid raft domains. Overexpression of AC2 selectively increased EP2 receptor-stimulated production of cAMP in non-raft membrane domains. EP2 receptor activation of AC2 leads to cAMP production in non-raft and nuclear compartments of human ASMs, while β2 adrenoceptor signalling is broadly detected across microdomains. The activity of PDE4 appears to play a role in maintaining the integrity of compartmentalized EP2 receptor responses in these cells.

Localization of the placental BCRP/ABCG2 transporter to lipid rafts: Role for cholesterol in mediating efflux activity

IntroductionThe breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP/ABCG2) is an efflux transporter in the placental barrier. By transporting chemicals from the fetal to the maternal circulation, BCRP limits fetal exposure to a range of drugs, toxicants, and endobiotics such as bile acids and hormones. The purpose of the present studies was to 1) determine whether BCRP localizes to highly-ordered, cholesterol-rich lipid raft microdomains in placenta microvillous membranes, and 2) determine the impact of cholesterol on BCRP-mediated placental transport in vitro. MethodsBCRP expression was analyzed in lipid rafts isolated from placentas from healthy, term pregnancies and BeWo trophoblasts by density gradient ultracentrifugation. BeWo cells were also tested for their ability to efflux BCRP substrates after treatment with the cholesterol sequestrant methyl-β-cyclodextrin (MβCD, 5 mM, 1 h) or the cholesterol synthesis inhibitor pravastatin (200 μM, 48 h). Results and discussionBCRP was found to co-localize with lipid raft proteins in detergent-resistant, lipid raft-containing fractions from placental microvillous membranes and BeWo cells. Treatment of BeWo cells with MβCD redistributed BCRP protein into higher density non-lipid raft fractions. Repletion of the cells with cholesterol restored BCRP localization to lipid raft-containing fractions. Treatment of BeWo cells with MβCD or pravastatin increased cellular retention of two BCRP substrates, the fluorescent dye Hoechst 33342 and the mycotoxin zearalenone. Repletion with cholesterol restored BCRP transporter activity. Taken together, these data demonstrate that cholesterol may play a critical role in the post-translational regulation of BCRP in placental lipid rafts.