Regulator Of Lysosomal Biogenesis Research Articles

Targeting autophagy impairment improves the phenotype of a novel CLN8 zebrafish model

CLN8 is an endoplasmic reticulum cargo receptor and a regulator of lysosome biogenesis whose loss of function leads to neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis. CLN8 has been linked to autophagy and lipid metabolism, but much remains to be learned, and there are no therapies acting on the molecular signatures in this disorder. The present study aims to characterize the molecular pathways involved in CLN8 disease and, by pinpointing altered ones, to identify potential therapies. To bridge the gap between cell and mammalian models, we generated a new zebrafish model of CLN8 deficiency, which recapitulates the pathological features of the disease. We observed, for the first time, that CLN8 dysfunction impairs autophagy. Using autophagy modulators, we showed that trehalose and SG2 are able to attenuate the pathological phenotype in mutant larvae, confirming autophagy impairment as a secondary event in disease progression. Overall, our successful modeling of CLN8 defects in zebrafish highlights this novel in vivo model's strong potential as an instrument for exploring the role of CLN8 dysfunction in cellular pathways, with a view to identifying small molecules to treat this rare disease.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis resides in lysosome-poor monocyte-derived lung cells during chronic infection.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) infects lung myeloid cells, but the specific Mtb-permissive cells and host mechanisms supporting Mtb persistence during chronic infection are incompletely characterized. We report that after the development of T cell responses, CD11clo monocyte-derived cells harbor more live Mtb than alveolar macrophages (AM), neutrophils, and CD11chi monocyte-derived cells. Transcriptomic and functional studies revealed that the lysosome pathway is underexpressed in this highly permissive subset, characterized by less lysosome content, acidification, and proteolytic activity than AM, along with less nuclear TFEB, a regulator of lysosome biogenesis. Mtb infection does not drive lysosome deficiency in CD11clo monocyte-derived cells but promotes recruitment of monocytes that develop into permissive lung cells, mediated by the Mtb ESX-1 secretion system. The c-Abl tyrosine kinase inhibitor nilotinib activates TFEB and enhances lysosome functions of macrophages in vitro and in vivo, improving control of Mtb infection. Our results suggest that Mtb exploits lysosome-poor lung cells for persistence and targeting lysosome biogenesis is a potential host-directed therapy for tuberculosis.

Inhibition of the dopamine transporter promotes lysosome biogenesis and ameliorates Alzheimer's disease-like symptoms in mice.

Lysosomes are degradative organelles that maintain cellular homeostasis and protein quality control. Transcription factor EB (TFEB)-mediated lysosome biogenesis enhances lysosome-dependent degradation and alleviates neurodegenerative diseases, but the mechanisms underlying TFEB regulation and modification are still poorly understood. By screening novel small-molecule compounds, we identified a group of lysosome-enhancing compounds (LYECs) that promote TFEB activation and lysosome biogenesis. One of these compounds, LH2-051, significantly inhibited the function of the dopamine transporter (DAT) and subsequently promoted lysosome biogenesis. We uncovered cyclin-dependent kinase 9 (CDK9) as a novel regulator of DAT-mediated lysosome biogenesis and identified six novel CDK9-phosphorylated sites on TFEB. We observed that signal transduction by the DAT-CDK9-TFEB axis occurs on lysosomes. Finally, we found that LH2-051 enhanced the degradation of amyloid beta plaques and improved the memory of amyloid precursor protein (APP)/Presenilin 1 (PS1) mice. We identified the DAT-CDK9-TFEB signaling axis as a novel regulator of lysosome biogenesis. Our study sheds light on the mechanisms of protein quality control under pathophysiological conditions.

TFEB controls integrin-mediated endothelial cell adhesion by the regulation of cholesterol metabolism

The dynamic integrin-mediated adhesion of endothelial cells (ECs) to the surrounding ECM is fundamental for angiogenesis both in physiological and pathological conditions, such as embryonic development and cancer progression. The dynamics of EC-to-ECM adhesions relies on the regulation of the conformational activation and trafficking of integrins. Here, we reveal that oncogenic transcription factor EB (TFEB), a known regulator of lysosomal biogenesis and metabolism, also controls a transcriptional program that influences the turnover of ECM adhesions in ECs by regulating cholesterol metabolism. We show that TFEB favors ECM adhesion turnover by promoting the transcription of genes that drive the synthesis of cholesterol, which promotes the aggregation of caveolin-1, and the caveolin-dependent endocytosis of integrin β1. These findings suggest that TFEB might represent a novel target for the pharmacological control of pathological angiogenesis and bring new insights in the mechanism sustaining TFEB control of endocytosis.

Imatinib disturbs lysosomal function and morphology and impairs the activity of mTORC1 in human hepatocyte cell lines

The tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) imatinib and lapatinib are associated with severe hepatotoxicity, whose mechanisms are currently under investigation. As amphiphilic drugs, imatinib and lapatinib enrich in lysosomes. In the present study, we investigated their effects on lysosomal morphology and function in HepG2 and HuH-7 cells and explored possible links between lysosomal dysfunction and hepatotoxicity. Both TKIs increased the lysosomal volume time and concentration-dependently in HepG2 and HuH-7 cells. In HepG2 cells, lapatinib and imatinib raised the lysosomal pH and destabilized the lysosomal membrane, thereby impairing lysosomal proteolytic activity such as cathepsin B processing. Imatinib activated the transcription factor EB (TFEB), a regulator of lysosomal biogenesis and function, as demonstrated by nuclear TFEB accumulation and increased expression of TFEB-target genes. Because of lysosomal dysfunction, imatinib impaired mTORC1 activation, a protein complex activated on the lysosomal surface, which explained TFEB activation. HepG2 cells treated with imatinib showed increased levels of MAP1LC3A/B-II and of ATG13 (S318) phosphorylation, indicating induction of autophagy due to TFEB activation. Finally, imatinib induced apoptosis in HepG2 cells in a time and concentration-dependent manner, explained by lysosomal and mitochondrial toxicity. Our findings provide a new lysosome-centered mechanism for imatinib-induced hepatotoxicity that could be extended to other lysosomotropic drugs.

Abstract 12584: Transcription Factor EB Regulates Vascular Smooth Muscle Calcification

Introduction: Vascular calcification is a strong predictor of cardiovascular-related mortality. Hyperphosphatemia causes phenotypic switches of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), leading to medial calcification. Recent studies have suggested that dysfunction of the autophagy-lysosomal pathway in VSMCs is a cause of vascular calcification, but the process through which this pathway fails is elusive. Transcription factor EB (TFEB) is a master regulator of lysosome biogenesis; its function in VSMCs is unknown. Hypothesis: We assessed the hypothesis that the dysfunction of TFEB in VSMCs is a cause of vascular calcification. Methods and Results: We induced vascular calcification in wild type mouse aorta with an ex vivo hyperphosphatemia model . Addition of inorganic phosphate at a 1.7 mmol/L for five days decreased TFEB protein expression (0.23 ± 0.10-fold vs. day0, n = 5-7). Immunohistochemistry and alizarin red staining showed that a decrease in TFEB expression in the tunica media was correlated with the formation of calcification. VSMCs were isolated from rat aorta and were cultured for seven days in vitro . Addition of inorganic phosphate dose-dependently decreased TFEB protein expression both in whole cell lysate and in nuclear fraction (0.07± 0.03-fold vs. control, n = 5 ; 0.01 ± 0.003-fold vs. control, n = 4, respectively) while it rather increased mRNA expression of Tfeb (4.48 ± 0.95-fold, n = 7 vs. control). The Decrease in TFEB protein by inorganic phosphate was correlated with the accumulation of TFEB in the SDS-insoluble fraction, suggesting the formation of protein aggregates. The Knockdown of TFEB in VSMCs by siRNA exacerbated phosphate-induced calcium deposition (2.93 ± 0.85-fold, n = 4 vs. negative siRNA). The addition of inorganic phosphate significantly decreased lysosomal activity determined by LysoTracker dye; and treatment with 20 nmol/L of bafilomycin A, a lysosome inhibitor, further accelerated phosphate-induced calcium deposition (13.6 ± 3.69-fold, n = 7 vs. vehicle). Conclusion: In conclusion, TFEB expression in VSMCs is downregulated at the protein level by hyperphosphatemia. The diminution of functional TFEB predisposes to vascular calcification, presumably through downregulating lysosomal activity.

P6273Inhibitory phosphorylation of RIP1 at Ser320 induces nuclear translocation of TFEB, leading to suppression of necroptosis in cardiomyocytes

Abstract Background Necroptosis, a form of programmed necrosis, has been shown to contribute to the pathogenesis of various diseases including ischemia/reperfusion injury and heart failure. We recently reported that necroptotic signals suppresses autophagy in cardiomyocytes and that rapamycin, an mTORC1 inhibitor, not only promotes autophagy but also protect the cells from necroptosis. Purpose We examined the mechanism by which rapamycin suppresses necroptosis of cardiomyocytes, focusing on regulation of RIP1 activity and autophagic flux. Methods and results In H9c2 cardiomyoblasts, necroptosis was induced by treatment with TNF and z-VAD-fmk (zVAD) for 24 h, and cell death was determined by LDH release (as % of total). The treatment with TNF/zVAD increased LDH release from 3.4±1.3% to 46.1±2.3%, and LDH release was suppressed by necrostatin-1 (5.9±0.9%), a RIP1 inhibitor, and by rapamycin (23.5±1.4%). The protective effect of rapamycin was mimicked by Ku-0063794, an mTORC1/2 inhibitor. TNF/zVAD induced RIP1-RIP3 complex formation, together with suppression of TNF-induced RIP1 cleavage, which was mitigated by rapamycin. In addition, rapamycin not only suppressed TNF/zVAD-induced phosphorylation of RIP1-Ser166, an index of RIP1 activation, but also increased phosphorylation of RIP1-Ser320, an inhibitory phosphorylation site. In cells transfected with RIP1-S320A, which lack Ser320 for inhibitory phosphorylation, rapamycin failed to suppress TNF/zVAD-induced RIP1-RIP3 binding and cell death. Immunoblot analyses showed that TNF/zVAD significantly increased level of LC3-II. The accumulation of LC3-II protein was not further increased by bafilomycin A1 (100 nM), an inhibitor of lysosomal protein degradation, indicating that accumulation of LC3-II by TNF/zVAD reflected suppression of autophagic flux. Inhibition of RIP1 by necrostatin-1 attenuated TNF/zVAD-induced accumulation of LC3 II. The restoration of autophagic flux in TNF/zVAD-treated cells by necrostatin-1 was confirmed by monitoring tandem RFP-GFP-LC3 transfected cells; necrostatin-1 increased a ratio of RFP-LC3-puncta (autolysosomes) to RFP-GFP-LC3-puncta (autophagosomes) in TNF/zVAD-treated cells. In addition, necrostatin-1 and rapamycin induced nuclear translocation of TFEB, a regulator of lysosome biogenesis, which was associated with upregulation of MCOLN1 mRNA, a downstream target of TFEB. Restoration of autophagic flux in TNF/zVAD-treated cells by necrostatin-1 was inhibited by siRNA-mediated knockdown of TFEB. Conclusion Activation of TFEB by inhibitiory phosphorylation of RIP1-Ser320 is a primary mechanism of cytoprotection afforded by mTORC1 inhibition against necroptosis.

Regulation of autophagic and mitophagic flux during chronic contractile activity-induced muscle adaptations.

Autophagy and mitophagy are important for training-inducible muscle adaptations, yet it remains unclear how these systems are regulated throughout the adaptation process. Here, we studied autophagic and mitophagic flux in the skeletal muscles of Sprague-Dawley rats (300-500g) exposed to chronic contractile activity (CCA; 3h/day, 9V, 10Hz continuous, 0.1ms pulse duration) for 1, 2, 5, and 7days (N = 6-8/group). In order to determine the flux rates, colchicine (COL; 0.4mg/ml/kg) was injected 48h before tissue collection, and we evaluated differences of autophagosomal protein abundances (LC3-II and p62) between colchicine- and saline-injected animals. We confirmed that CCA resulted in mitochondrial adaptations, including improved state 3 respiration as early as day 1 in permeabilized muscle fibers, as well significant increases in mitochondrial respiratory capacity and marker proteins in IMF mitochondria by day 7. Mitophagic and autophagic flux (LC3-II and p62) were significantly decreased in skeletal muscle following 7days of CCA. Notably, the mitophagic system seemed to be downregulated prior (day 3-5) to changes in autophagic flux (day 7), suggesting enhanced sensitivity of mitophagy compared to autophagy with chronic muscle contraction. Although we detected no significant change in the nuclear translocation of TFEB, a regulator of lysosomal biogenesis, CCA increased total TFEB protein, as well as LAMP1, in skeletal muscle. Thus, chronic muscle activity reduces mitophagy in parallel with improved mitochondrial function, and this is supported by enhanced lysosomal degradation capacity.

Expression of transcriptional factor EB (TFEB) in differentiating spermatogonia potentially promotes cell migration in mouse seminiferous epithelium

BackgroundSpermatogenesis is a complex process involving the self-renewal and differentiation of spermatogonia into mature spermatids in the seminiferous tubules. During spermatogenesis, germ cells migrate from the basement membrane to cross the blood-testis barrier (BTB) and finally reach the luminal side of the seminiferous epithelium. However, the mechanism for regulating the migration of germ cells remains unclear. In this study, we focused on the expression and function of transcriptional factor EB (TFEB), a master regulator of lysosomal biogenesis, autophagy and endocytosis, in spermatogenesis.MethodsThe expression pattern of the TFEB in mouse testes were investigated by Western blotting and immunohistochemistry analyses. Either undifferentiated spermatogonia or differentiating spermatogonia were isolated from testes using magnetic-activated cell sorting based on specific cell surface markers. Differentiation of spermatogonia was induced with 100 nM retinoic acid (RA). shRNA was used to knock down TFEB in cells. TFEB expression was detected by immunofluorescence, qRT-PCR, and Western blotting. Cell migration was determined by both transwell migration assay and wound healing assay applied to a cell line of immortalized spermatogonia, GC-1 cells.ResultsDuring testicular development, TFEB expression was rapidly increased in the testes at the period of 7 days post-partum (dpp) to 14 dpp, whereas in adult testis, it was predominantly localized in the nucleus of spermatogonia at stages VI to VIII of the seminiferous epithelial cycle. Accordingly, TFEB was observed to be mainly expressed in differentiating spermatogonia and was activated for nuclear translocation by RA treatment. Moreover, knockdown of TFEB expression by RNAi did not affect spermatogonial differentiation, but significantly reduced cell migration in GC-1 cells.ConclusionThese findings imply that regionally distinct expression and activation of TFEB was strongly associated with RA signaling, and therefore may promote cell migration across the BTB and transport along the seminiferous epithelium.

PO-292 Exercise Delays Alzheimer's Disease Through Enhancing Lysosomal Function

Objective Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease characterized by aggregation of amyloid-β (Aβ) peptides. Reduction of progressive accumulation of Aβ will delay the progression of AD. As a main digestive organelles in cells, lysosome is crucial to clear the harmful proteins from extracellular and intracellular. Recent evidences have shown that exercise improves cognitive function of AD, but the reason is not very clear. This manuscript is to study the effect of long-term running exercise training on lysosomal function in mouse brain and explore its relationship with the progress of Alzheimer’s disease.
 Methods the APP/PSEN1 transgenic mice were used as the AD model to examine the relationship between AD, exercise and lysosomes. The mice were trained on a treadmill from the 5 months old, 60 min/day and 5 days/week for 5 months. The Lashley water maze and the novel object recognition test were used to estimate the cognitive ability of the mice; the balance beam and the rotating rod experiment were used to estimate motor coordination. The Aβ accumulation was measured with brain section and immunochemistry. The effects of long-term exercise on lysosomal function of cerebral cortex, striatum and hippocampus were measured. Among them, the autophagy/lysosome associated proteins level was determined by Western blot and the autophagy vacuoles and lysosome were observed through electron microscope. TFEB nuclear translocation was determined by Western blot and Immunofluorescence. The transcription of the TFEB-regulating genes were determined by quantitative PCR (qPCR). 
 Results Long-term exercise improved the cognitive ability and physical coordination of AD transgenic mice. Exercise reduced Aβ accumulation through increase the clearance of Aβ and affected little on the production of Aβ. Exercise, not only increased the colocalization of lysosomes with Aβ, but also increased the mature type of lysosomal protease cathepsin D and cathepsin L. In the meanwhile, exercise promoted the nuclear translocation of TFEB, a master transcriptional regulator of lysosomal biogenesis and autophagy, and increased the transcription of genes associated with the biogenesis of lysosome.
 Conclusions Long-term exercise training delays the progress of Alzheimer's disease through activating function of lysosome and enhancing the biogenesis of lysosome. Exercise may be a therapeutic approach for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

Abstract 608: Induction of Lysosomal Biogenesis in Adipose Tissue Macrophages Attenuates Inflammation and Cardiometabolic Disease

Adipose tissue inflammation is a fundamental feature of obesity and is strongly implicated in progression to overt cardiometabolic disease. In situ, this response is defined by a notable increase in number of adipose tissue macrophages (ATM’s) surrounding dying adipocytes and a phenotypic switch towards pro-inflammatory “M1” polarization. However, recent data suggest an equally notable upregulation of lysosomal catabolic pathways in these cells, and that inflammatory phenotypes may regulated by these processes. We and others speculate ATM lysosomal biogenesis is an adaptive response that can be harnessed for therapeutic benefit in treating cardiometabolic disease. To this end, we examined the effects of macrophage-specific overexpression of TFEB (mϕ-TFEB), a transcription factor master regulator of lysosomal biogenesis, in a murine model of diet induced obesity. We show broad physiological metabolic benefits including attenuated weight gain, improved body composition, and increased metabolic rate. Further, mϕ-TFEB mice demonstrate increased insulin sensitivity and glucose tolerance (Insulin and Glucose Tolerance Tests). These phenotypes are linked to profound changes in cellular, tissue, and systemic inflammation. mϕ-TFEB overexpression greatly reduces circulating interleukin 1β, and polarizes adipose tissue macrophages isolated from epididymal fat to an anti-inflammatory “M2” state in a manner that is dependent on lysosomal lipolysis. In cultured primary macrophages, TFEB overexpression attenuates LPS-induced proinflammatory M1 activation, and predisposes to IL-4 induced M2 polarization. Thus, harnessing the lysosomal biogenesis response in macrophages abrogates diet induced metabolic pathophysiology, potentially through regulation of inflammatory phenotypes. We postulate that ATM lysosomal biogenesis is a crucial, adaptive cellular response to obesity that can be preemptively induced to slow progression of cardiometabolic disease.

Calcium signals for more lysosomes

Starvation triggers calcium signaling in lysosomes that leads to the activation of TFEB, a master regulator of lysosomal biogenesis.

Abstract 474: Atherosclerotic Macrophages Develop a Progressive Lysosomal Dysfunction that can be Rescued by Induction of a Lysosomal Biogenesis Program

Recent reports of the proatherogenic phenotype of mice with a macrophage-specific autophagy deficiency has renewed interest in the role of the autophagy-lysosomal system in atherosclerosis. Lysosomes have the unique role of serving to process both exogenous material including the excess of atherogenic lipids and endogenous cargo including dysfunctional proteins and organelles. Surprisingly, little is known about the effect of an atherogenic environment on macrophage lysosomes. To address this, we utilize a variety of complementary techniques to show that oxidized LDL and cholesterol crystals, two of the commonly encountered lipid species in the atherosclerotic plaque, create a profound lysosomal dysfunction in cultured peritoneal macrophages. Disruptions in lysosomal pH, enzyme activity, proteolytic capacity, membrane integrity, and morphology are readily seen when cells are incubated with such lipids. Using flow cytometry to isolate resident tissue macrophages, we show that atherosclerotic plaque macrophages show features of dysfunctional lysosomes, a process that appears to be progressive with advanced plaque formation. These observations lead us to investigate whether stimulation of lysosomal function can ameliorate some of these effects. TFEB is the only known transcription factor that acts as a master regulator of lysosomal biogenesis, although its role in macrophages has not been studied. We show that overexpression of TFEB in cultured macrophages initiates a robust prodegradative response including induction of lysosomal genes and the generation of nascent lysosomes. Interestingly, this response can rescue several deleterious effects seen with atherogenic lipid loading including reductions in the secretion of the proinflammatory cytokine IL-1β and reductions in foam cell formation. Taken together, these data demonstrate that lysosomal function is markedly impaired in atherosclerosis and suggest that induction of a lysosomal biogenesis program can have anti-atherogenic effects.

Trex1 regulates lysosomal biogenesis and interferon-independent activation of antiviral genes

Innate immune sensing of viral nucleic acids triggers type I interferon (IFN) production, which activates interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs) and directs a multifaceted antiviral response. ISGs can also be activated through IFN-independent pathways, although the precise mechanisms remain elusive. Here we found that the cytosolic exonuclease Trex1 regulates the activation of a subset of ISGs independently of IFN. Both Trex1−/− mouse and TREX1-mutant human cells express high levels of antiviral genes and are refractory to viral infections. The IFN-independent activation of antiviral genes in Trex1−/− cells requires STING, TBK1 and IRF3 and IRF7. We also found that Trex1-deficient cells display expanded lysosomal compartment, altered subcellular localization of the transcription factor EB (TFEB), and reduced mTORC1 activity. Together, our data identify Trex1 as a regulator of lysosomal biogenesis and IFN-independent activation of antiviral genes, and shows dysregulation of lysosomes can elicit innate immune responses.