The transcriptional control of trunk neural crest induction, survival, and delamination

Trunk neural crest cells are generated at the border between the neural plate and nonneural ectoderm, where they initiate a distinct program of gene expression, undergo an epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and delaminate from the neuroepithelium. Here, we provide evidence that members of three families of transcription induce these properties in premigratory neural crest cells. Sox9 acts to provide the competence for neural crest cells to undergo an EMT and is required for trunk neural crest survival. In the absence of Sox9, cells apoptose prior to or shortly after delamination. Slug/Snail, in the presence of Sox9, is sufficient to induce an EMT in neural epithelial cells, while FoxD3 regulates the expression of cell-cell adhesion molecules required for neural crest migration. Together, the data suggest a model in which a combination of transcription factors regulates the acquisition of the diverse properties of neural crest cells.

RhoB mRNA is stabilized by HuR after UV light

RhoB is a small GTP-binding protein that is involved in apoptotic signal transduction. We have cloned the mouse RhoB mRNA including a 1377 nucleotide 3'-untranslated region (UTR) that contains six AU-rich elements (AREs) as well as several uridine-rich stretches. There is 94% homology overall between the mouse and rat RhoB genes and 92% homology between the mouse and a putative human clone. Ultraviolet light (UVL) induces RhoB production through regulated changes in gene transcription and mRNA stabilization although the latter mechanism is unknown. We observed that UVL increased the half-life of RhoB mRNA from 63 min to 3.3 h in NIH/3T3 cells and from 87 min to 2.7 h in normal human keratinocyte cells. In vitro mobility shift assays demonstrated that HuR bound the 3'-UTR of RhoB at three distinct locations (nucleotides 1342-1696, 1765-1920 and 1897-1977) suggesting a regulatory role for this RNA-binding protein. HuR immunoprecipitations were positive for RhoB mRNA indicating an in vivo association, and Western blot analysis and immunofluorescence demonstrated that HuR rapidly partitions from the nucleus to the cytoplasm after UVL. Therefore, we propose a model in which UVL induces stress-activated signal transduction leading to nuclear/cytoplasmic shuttling of HuR and subsequent stabilization of RhoB mRNA.

Regulation of myosin light chain phosphorylation by RhoB in neuronal cells

The phosphorylation of myosin light chain (MLC) is a key regulatory point in the control of cellular morphology. Evidence suggests that RhoA-a member of the Rho GTPase family-regulates MLC phosphorylation via Rho kinase (ROK). Neurones display subtle alterations in their cytoarchitecture during the synaptic plasticity following high-frequency stimulation. We have recently demonstrated that RhoB, and not RhoA, is activated in neurones by high-frequency stimulation. However, the downstream consequences of RhoB activation in cells are unclear. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that RhoB might stimulate neuronal MLC phosphorylation. Transfection of PC12 cells with constitutively active RhoB increased MLC phosphorylation. Conversely, dominant-negative RhoB vectors reduced MLC phosphorylation. The effect of RhoB was attenuated by pretreatment with a selective ROK inhibitor. This confirms that Rho GTPases are important regulators of MLC phosphorylation, but suggests that, in neuronal cells, the control is exerted via RhoB rather than RhoA.

Cdc42 and RhoB activation are required for mannose receptor-mediated phagocytosis by human alveolar macrophages

Human alveolar macrophages (AMs) phagocytose Pneumocystis (Pc) organisms predominantly through mannose receptors, although the molecular mechanism mediating this opsonin-independent process is not known. In this study, using AMs from healthy individuals, Pc phagocytosis was associated with focal F-actin polymerization and Cdc42, Rac1, and Rho activation in a time-dependent manner. Phagocytosis was primarily dependent on Cdc42 and RhoB activation (as determined by AM transfection with Cdc42 and RhoB dominant-negative alleles) and mediated predominantly through mannose receptors (as determined by siRNA gene silencing of AM mannose receptors). Pc also promoted PAK-1 phosphorylation, which was also dependent on RhoGTPase activation. HIV infection of AMs (as a model for reduced mannose receptor expression and function) was associated with impaired F-actin polymerization, reduced Cdc42 and Rho activation, and markedly reduced PAK-1 phosphorylation in response to Pc organisms. In healthy AMs, Pc phagocytosis was partially dependent on PAK activation, but dependent on the Rho effector molecule ROCK. These data provide a molecular mechanism for AM mannose receptor-mediated phagocytosis of unopsonized Pc organisms that appears distinct from opsonin-dependent phagocytic receptors. Reduced AM mannose receptor-mediated Cdc42 and Rho activation in the context of HIV infection may represent a mechanism that contributes to the pathogenesis of opportunistic pneumonia.

Clostridium difficile toxin A induces expression of the stress-induced early gene product RhoB

Clostridium difficile toxin A monoglucosylates the Rho family GTPases Rho, Rac, and Cdc42. Glucosylation leads to the functional inactivation of Rho GTPases and causes disruption of the actin cytoskeleton. A cDNA microarray revealed the immediate early gene rhoB as the gene that was predominantly up-regulated in colonic CaCo-2 cells after treatment with toxin A. This toxin A effect was also detectable in epithelial cells such as HT29 and Madin-Darby canine kidney cells, as well as NIH 3T3 fibroblasts. The expression of RhoB was time-dependent and correlated with the morphological changes of cells. The up-regulation of RhoB was approximately 15-fold and was based on the de novo synthesis of the GTPase because cycloheximide completely inhibited the toxin A effect. After 8 h, a steady state was reached, with no further increase in RhoB. The p38 MAPK inhibitor SB202190 reduced the expression of RhoB, indicating a participation of the p38 MAPK in this stress response. Surprisingly, newly formed RhoB protein was only partially glucosylated by toxin A, sparing a pool of potentially active RhoB, as checked by sequential C3bot-catalyzed ADP-ribosylation. A pull-down assay in fact revealed a significant amount of active RhoB in toxin A-treated cells that was not present in control cells. We demonstrate for the first time that toxin A has not only the property to inactivate the GTPases RhoA, Rac1, and Cdc42 by glucosylation, but it also has the property to generate active RhoB that likely contributes to the overall picture of toxin treatment.

Fasudil, a Rho-kinase inhibitor, attenuates glomerulosclerosis in Dahl salt-sensitive rats

OBJECTIVE

The present study was designed to clarify whether the Rho-Rho-kinase pathway is involved in the process of hypertensive glomerulosclerosis and to assess the therapeutic effect of fasudil, a specific Rho-kinase inhibitor.

METHOD AND RESULTS

Dahl salt-sensitive rats (DS) and Dahl salt-resistant rats (DR) were fed a high-salt diet at 6 weeks of age. Fasudil (30 mg/kg per day) was administered for 7 weeks to DS starting at the age of 11 weeks. After 7 weeks, untreated DS were characterized by decreased kidney function, increased proteinuria, abnormal morphological findings, increased adrenomedullin and atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) levels, and increased renal messenger RNA expression of RhoB, Rho-kinasealpha, Rho-kinasebeta, collagen I and collagen III, and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) in the renal cortex compared with DR. Chronic fasudil treatment significantly improved renal function (serum creatinine, -26%; blood urea nitrogen, -41%; creatinine clearance, +42%), proteinuria (-24%) and histological findings (glomerular injury score, -49%; afferent arteriolar injury score, -17%) without changing blood pressure compared with untreated DS. Interestingly, long-term fasudil treatment decreased the plasma adrenomedullin (-25%) and ANP (-49%), but did not change the plasma renin or aldosterone. Furthermore, fasudil significantly decreased the messenger RNA expression of TGF-beta (-20%), collagen I (-23%), and collagen III (-24%) in the renal cortex. However, there were still significant differences in the aforementioned parameters between DR and fasudil-treated DS.

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that the Rho-Rho-kinase pathway may be partly responsible for the pathogenesis of hypertensive glomerulosclerosis independently of blood pressure in DS, and that chronic inhibition of the Rho-Rho-kinase pathway may be a new strategy for treating hypertensive nephrosclerosis.

LSox5 regulates RhoB expression in the neural tube and promotes generation of the neural crest

Members of the Sox family of transcription factors are involved in a number of crucial developmental processes, including sex determination, neurogenesis and skeletal development. LSox5 is a member of the group D Sox factors that, in conjunction with Sox6 and Sox9, promotes chondrogenesis by activating the expression of cartilage-specific extracellular matrix molecules. We have cloned the chicken homologue of LSox5 and found that it is initially expressed in the premigratory and migratory neural crest after Slug and FoxD3. Subsequently, the expression of LSox5 is maintained in cephalic crest derivatives, and it appears to be required for the development of the glial lineage, the Schwann cells and satellite glia in cranial ganglia. Misexpression of LSox5 in the cephalic neural tube activated RhoB expression throughout the dorsoventral axis. Furthermore, the prolonged forced expression of LSox5 enlarged the dorsal territory in which the neural crest is generated, extended the 'temporal window' of neural crest segregation, and led to an overproduction of neural crest cells in cephalic regions. In addition to HNK-1, the additional neural crest cells expressed putative upstream markers (Slug, FoxD3) indicating that a regulatory feedback mechanism may operate during neural crest generation. Thus, our data show that in addition to the SoxE genes (Sox9 and Sox10) a SoxD gene (Sox5) also participates in neural crest development and that a cooperative interaction may operate during neural crest generation, as seen during the formation of cartilage.

EphA4, RhoB and the molecular development of feather buds are maintained by the integrity of the actin cytoskeleton

The development of feather buds is a highly ordered process involving epithelial-mesenchymal signalling. Cellular morphology is determined by the actin cytoskeleton, which is controlled by networks of regulators such as the GTPases. EphA4 belongs to a receptor tyrosine kinase family that has been consistently shown to regulate the cytoskeleton via Rho family GTPases in neural development and is expressed in early stages of feather bud development though its role has not been defined. We therefore used an in vitro skin culture system to interfere with EphA4 levels in feather buds using anti-sense oligonucleotides, demonstrating a severe effect on both their number and morphological form. Analysis of the Rho family of GTPases revealed that this effect was mediated by the GTPase RhoB, the expression of which was altered in response to altered levels of EphA4. In addition, the inhibition of RhoB mimicked the effects of reduced EphA4 levels on feather development. Significantly, manipulation of cytoskeletal dynamics revealed that those cells undergoing morphogenetic change regulate the patterning signals responsible for initiating feather development. We propose that this molecular maintenance mechanism between EphA4-RhoB and the actin cytoskeleton converges or coordinates with other morphogenic signalling systems to control feather bud development.

Akt mediates Ras downregulation of RhoB, a suppressor of transformation, invasion, and metastasis

Although recent evidence supports a tumor-suppressive role for the GTPase RhoB, little is known about its regulation by signal transduction pathways. Here we demonstrate that Ras downregulates RhoB expression by a phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)- and Akt- but not Mek-dependent mechanism. Furthermore, genetic and pharmacological blockade of PI3K/Akt results in upregulation of RhoB expression. We also provide evidence for the importance of the downregulation of RhoB in oncogenesis by demonstrating that RhoB antagonizes Ras/PI3K/Akt malignancy. Ectopic expression of RhoB, but not the close relative RhoA, inhibits Ras, PI3K, and Akt induction of transformation, migration, and invasion and induces apoptosis and anoikis. Finally, RhoB inhibits melanoma metastasis to the lung in a mouse model. These studies identify suppression of RhoB as a mechanism by which the Ras/PI3K/Akt pathway induces tumor survival, transformation, invasion, and metastasis.

Botulinum Toxin Type A Targets RhoB to Inhibit Lysophosphatidic Acid-Stimulated Actin Reorganization and Acetylcholine Release in Nerve Growth Factor-Treated PC12 Cells

Botulinum toxin type A (BoNT/A) produced by Clostridium botulinum inhibits Ca2+-dependent acetylcholine (ACh) release (neuroexocytosis) at peripheral neuromuscular junctions, sometimes causing neuromuscular paralysis. This inhibitory effect is attributed to its metalloprotease activity to cleave the 25-kDa synaptosomal-associated protein, which is essential for the exocytotic machinery. However, deletion of this protein does not result in a complete block of neuroexocytosis, suggesting that botulinum-mediated inhibition may occur via another mechanism. Rho GTPases, a class of small GTP-binding proteins (G proteins), control actin cytoskeletal organization, thereby regulating a variety of cellular functions in various cells, including neuronal cells. We have shown that the G protein activator lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) triggered actin reorganization followed by Ca2+-dependent ACh release in nerve growth factor-treated PC12 cells and that BoNT/A blocked both events through degradation of RhoB by the proteasome. Overexpression of wild-type RhoB caused actin reorganization and enhanced the release of ACh by LPA to overcome toxin's inhibitory effect on actin reorganization/exocytosis stimulated by LPA, whereas overexpression of a dominant negative RhoB inhibited ACh release, regardless of LPA and/or toxin treatment. Finally, a knockdown of the RhoB gene via sequence-specific, post-transcriptional gene silencing reduced RhoB expression in PC12 cells, resulting in total inhibition of both actin reorganization and ACh release induced by LPA. We conclude that the RhoB signaling pathway regulates ACh release via actin cytoskeletal reorganization and that botulinum toxin inhibits neuroexocytosis by targeting RhoB pathway.

Relative expression of Slug, RhoB, and HNK-1 in the cranial neural crest of the early chicken embryo

The neural crest constitutes a complex population of cells that originates at the edges of the neural plate of vertebrate embryos and gives rise to a high diversity of tissues and cell types. Molecular markers are very useful to identify cell populations, and in the case of the neural crest at early stages, many of them have been described. Here, we show a series of chicken embryos double labeled for several of the most commonly used crest markers that evidence the existence of different subpopulations. Slug is a very good marker for premigratory and early migratory cranial neural crest, RhoB labels delaminating cells and the very early migratory population, and the HNK-1 epitope is acquired in the migratory crest cells at a distance from the neural tube, with a significant proportion of the Slug-expressing migratory cells negative for HNK-1. The existence of these crest subpopulations should be considered when analyzing both wild-type embryos and the phenotype of experimentally manipulated chick embryos. Developmental Dynamics 229:136-139, 2004.

Transcription regulation by histone deacetylases

Dynamic changes in the post-translational modification pattern of histories such as acetylation, deacetylation, phosphorylation, methylation and ubiquitination are thought to provide a code for correct regulation of gene expression by affecting chromatin structure and interaction with regulatory factors. Our studies focus on the role of histone deacetylases (HDACs) in transcriptional regulation and addressing functional differences of class I and class II HDACs. To identify genes that were transcriptionally regulated by specific HDACs, genome scale expression profiles were performed in cancer cells following the inhibition of three HDAC family members by specific oligonucleotides. The modulated genes identified in this study represented a wide range of modifications in different cellular pathways. In addition, treatment of cancer cells with a HDAC inhibitor was found to induce the expression of the small GTPase RhoB through an inverted CCAAT box in the RhoB promoter. These studies identified a specific transcription element involved in HDAC-mediated gene transcription and genes that are transcriptionally regulated by specific HDACs, providing important insight into the potential therapeutic benefit of HDAC inhibition.

Down-regulation of the GTPase RhoB might be involved in the pre-apoptotic phenotype of osteoarthritic chondrocytes

Anabolic activity, phenotypic alterations, and in particular survival of the chondrocytes are essential for the maintenance of proper articular cartilage and appears to fail during osteoarthritic cartilage degeneration. In this study, we investigated the presence and expression of RhoB in adult human articular cartilage and its regulation in osteoarthritic cartilage as well as in chondrocytes in vitro. RhoB belongs to the family of small GTPases, which are thought to be involved in a large range of activities important for eukaryotic cells. Conventional and quantificative PCR analysis showed significant levels of RhoB expression in normal articular cartilage. Immunolocalization and confocal laser scanning microscopy showed strong cytoplasmic signals for RhoB in normal chondrocytes. In osteoarthritic cartilage, a significantly lower expression of RhoB was detectable. In vitro experiments showed a quick (and transient) up-regulation of RhoB after stimulation with interleukin-1beta and serum. Our study suggests that RhoB is constitutively expressed and essential for adult articular chondrocytes, but significantly down-regulated in osteoarthritic chondrocytes. One intriguing speculation might be that the down-regulation of RhoB in osteoarthritic chondrocytes is at least partly a prerequisite for the sustained pre- or para-apoptotic phenotype of osteoarthritic chondrocytes, because RhoB is known to be one important molecule in the induction of apoptotic cell death in response to DNA damage and osteoarthritic chondrocytes are known to have significant DNA damage. Alternatively, RhoB could be involved in the activation or deactivation and the destabilization of the functional phenotype of chondrocytes in osteoarthritic joint degeneration Thirdly, RhoB is associated with the cell cycle, which is re-initiated in osteoarthritis.

RhoB controls Akt trafficking and stage-specific survival of endothelial cells during vascular development

Blood vessel formation is a complex morphological process that is only beginning to be understood at the molecular level. In this study, we demonstrate a novel and critical role for the small GTPase, RhoB, in vascular development. RhoB null mice have retarded vascular development in the retina characterized by altered sprout morphology. Moreover, pharmaceutical means to deplete RhoB in neonatal rats is associated with apoptosis in the sprouting endothelial cells of newly forming vessels. Similarly, acute depletion of RhoB by antisense or dominant-negative strategies in primary endothelial cell culture models led to apoptosis and failures in tube formation. We identified a novel link between RhoB and the Akt survival signaling pathway to explain these changes. Confocal microscopy revealed that RhoB is highly localized to the nuclear margin with a small percentage found inside the nucleus. Similarly, total Akt is throughout the cell but has increased accumulation at the nuclear margin, and active phosphorylated Akt is found primarily inside the nucleoplasm, where it partially colocalizes with the RhoB therein. We show that this colocalization is functionally relevant, because when RhoB was depleted, Akt was excluded from the nucleus and total cellular Akt protein was decreased in a proteosome-dependent manner. Because the function of RhoB in vivo appears to only be rate limiting for endothelial cell sprouting, we propose that RhoB has a novel stage-specific function to regulate endothelial cell survival during vascular development. RhoB may offer a therapeutic target in diseases such as cancer, diabetic retinopathy, and macular degeneration, where the disruption of sprouting angiogenesis would be desirable.

A novel strategy for specifically down-regulating individual Rho GTPase activity in tumor cells

The Rho family GTPases RhoA, RhoB, and RhoC regulate the actin cytoskeleton, cell movement, and cell growth. Unlike Ras, up-regulation or overexpression of these GDP/GTP binding molecular switches, but not activating point mutations, has been associated with human cancer. Although they share over 85% sequence identity, RhoA, RhoB, and RhoC appear to play distinct roles in cell transformation and metastasis. In NIH 3T3 cells, RhoA or RhoB overexpression causes transformation whereas RhoC increases the cell migration rate. To specifically target RhoA, RhoB, or RhoC function, we have generated a set of chimeric molecules by fusing the RhoGAP domain of p190, a GTPase-activating protein that accelerates the intrinsic GTPase activity of all three Rho GTPases, with the C-terminal hypervariable sequences of RhoA, RhoB, or RhoC. The p190-Rho chimeras were active as GTPase-activating proteins toward RhoA in vitro, co-localized with the respective active Rho proteins, and specifically down-regulated Rho protein activities in cells depending on which Rho GTPase sequences were included in the chimeras. In particular, the p190-RhoA-C chimera specifically inhibited RhoA-induced transformation whereas p190-RhoC-C specifically reversed the migration phenotype induced by the active RhoC. In human mammary epithelial-RhoC breast cancer cells, p190-RhoC-C, but not p190-RhoA-C or p190-RhoB-C, reversed the anchorage-independent growth and invasion phenotypes caused by RhoC overexpression. In the highly metastatic A375-M human melanoma cells, p190-RhoC-C specifically reversed migration, and invasion phenotypes attributed to RhoC up-regulation. Thus, we have developed a novel strategy utilizing RhoGAP-Rho chimeras to specifically down-regulate individual Rho activity and demonstrate that this approach may be applied to multiple human tumor cells to reverse the growth and/or invasion phenotypes associated with disregulation of a distinct subtype of Rho GTPase.

Histone deacetylase 1 represses the small GTPase RhoB expression in human nonsmall lung carcinoma cell line

The dynamic balance between histone acetylation and deacetylation plays a significant role in the regulation of gene transcription. Much of our current understanding of this transcriptional control comes from the use of HDAC inhibitors such as trapoxin A (TPX), which leads to hyperacetylated histone, alters local chromatin architecture and transcription and results in tumor cell death. In this study, we treated tumor cells with TPX and HDAC1 antisense oligonucleotides, and analysed the transcriptional consequences of HDAC inhibition. Among other genes, the small GTPase RhoB was found to be significantly upregulated by TPX and repressed by HDAC1. The induction of RhoB by HDAC inhibition was mediated by an inverted CCAAT box in the RhoB promoter. Interestingly, measurement of RhoB transcription in approximately 130 tumor-derived cell lines revealed low expression in almost all of these samples, in contrast to RhoA and RhoC. Accumulating evidence indicates that the small GTPase Rho proteins are involved in a variety of important processes in cancer, including cell transformation, survival, invasion, metastasis and angiogenesis. This study for the first time demonstrates a link between HDAC inhibition and RhoB expression and provides an important insight into the mechanisms of HDAC-mediated transcriptional control and the potential therapeutic benefit of HDAC inhibition.

Mitogen-responsive expression of RhoB is regulated by RNA stability

The small GTPase-encoding gene RhoB is strongly induced as part of the immediate early response of serum-stimulated fibroblasts. In this report, we have characterized the mechanism for growth factor responsiveness of RhoB in Rat-2 fibroblasts. By Northern blotting and ribonuclease protection, we observed low or barely detectable levels of RhoB mRNA in quiescent cells, but expression was transiently induced in response to serum stimulation, such that the mRNA peaked within 30 min and then declined over the next hour. Analysis of the rat promoter revealed cis-elements conserved with the mouse and human genes, including a pair of CEBP sites near the transcriptional start site. However, in contrast to the analysis of RNA, RhoB promoter fusions were constitutively expressed in quiescent cells in transient transfections, and were unaffected by serum. Similarly, stable RhoB promoter integrants were highly expressed in quiescent cells, and growth factor caused a slight decrease in activity. This indicates that growth factor-inducible RhoB expression cannot be mediated by transcriptional activation. We then examined decay of the RhoB mRNA and found that serum caused significant stabilization. Additionally, fusion of the 3' RhoB untranslated region (UTR) to a constitutively expressed reporter gene caused serum and growth factor as well as DNA damage-inducible expression. These observations are consistent with the view that RhoB mRNA is produced constitutively but its abundance is controlled in response to growth factors, and other signals including DNA damage, by stabilization through elements within the 3' UTR.

Entrapment of Rho ADP-ribosylated by Clostridium botulinum C3 exoenzyme in the Rho-guanine nucleotide dissociation inhibitor-1 complex

RhoA, -B, and -C are ADP-ribosylated by Clostridium botulinum exoenzyme C3 to induce redistribution of the actin filaments in intact cells, a finding that has led to the notion that the ADP-ribosylation blocks coupling of Rho to the downstream effectors. ADP-ribosylation, however, does not alter nucleotide binding, intrinsic, and GTPase-activating protein-stimulated GTPase activity. ADP-ribosylated Rho is even capable of activating the effector protein ROK in a recombinant system. Treatment of cells with a cell-permeable chimeric C3 toxin led to complete localization of modified Rho to the cytosolic fraction based on the complexation of ADP-ribosylated Rho with the guanine-nucleotide dissociation inhibitor-1 (GDI-1). The modified complex turned out to be resistant to phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate- and GTPgammaS-induced release of Rho from GDI-1. Thus, ADP-ribosylation leads to entrapment of Rho in the GDI-1 complex. The increased stability of the GDI complex prevented binding of Rho to membrane-associated players of the GTPase cycle such as the activating guanine nucleotide exchange factors and effector proteins.

Transformation-selective apoptotic program triggered by farnesyltransferase inhibitors requires Bin1

Neoplastic transformation sensitizes many cells to apoptosis. This phenomenon may underlie the therapeutic benefit of many anticancer drugs, but its molecular basis is poorly understood. We have used a selective and potent farnesyltransferase inhibitor (FTI) to probe a mechanism of apoptosis that is peculiarly linked to neoplastic transformation. While nontoxic to untransformed mouse cells, FTI triggers a massive RhoB-dependent, p53-independent apoptosis in mouse cells that are neoplastically transformed. Here we offer evidence that the BAR adapter-encoding tumor suppressor gene Bin1 is required for this transformation-selective death program. Targeted deletion of Bin1 in primary mouse embyro fibroblasts (MEFs) transformed by E1A+Ras did not affect FTI-induced reversion, actin fiber formation, or growth inhibition, but it abolished FTI-induced apoptosis. The previously defined requirement for RhoB in these effects suggests that Bin1 adapter proteins act downstream or in parallel to RhoB in cell death signaling. The death defect in Bin1 null cells was significant insofar as it abolished FTI efficacy in tumor xenograft assays. p53 deletion did not phenocopy the effects of Bin1 deletion. However, MEFs transformed by SV40 large T antigen+Ras were also resistant to apoptosis by FTI, consistent with other evidence that large T inhibits Bin1-dependent cell death by a p53-independent mechanism. Taken together, the results define a function for Bin1 in apoptosis that is conditional on transformation stress. This study advances understanding of the functions of BAR adapter proteins, which are poorly understood, by revealing genetic interactions with an Rho small GTPase that functions in stress signaling. The frequent losses of Bin1 expression that occur in human breast and prostate cancers may promote tumor progression and limit susceptibility to FTI or other therapeutic agents that exploit the heightened sensitivity of neoplastic cells to apoptosis.

Cloning of the human RHOB gene promoter: characterization of a VNTR sequence that affects transcriptional activity

The RHOB gene is an immediate-early gene implicated in cell growth control, cytoskeletal organization, and neoplastic transformation. Although the mouse RHOB gene (Arhb) promoter has been described, the human promoter is unknown. We cloned the human RHOB gene (ARHB) 5'-flanking region from the human genome and characterized its promoter region. Unlike its mouse counterpart, the human gene shows a variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR) sequence with a 34-bp repetitive unit between positions -1124 and -821. We demonstrated that this VNTR sequence significantly decreases the transcriptional activity of ARHB and simian virus-40 (SV40) promoters. PCR amplification of the VNTR sequence using genomic DNA from many cell lines revealed the existence of at least four alleles containing a different number of the repetitive unit. Our data suggest a potential regulatory role for the VNTR sequence in ARHB expression.

Genetic response to farnesyltransferase inhibitors: proapoptotic targets of RhoB

Knockout mouse studies have established that the transformation-selective death program triggered by farnesyltransferase inhibitor (FTI) requires a gain-of-function in the stress-regulated small GTPase RhoB. To gain insight into this death program, we compared the genetic response of cells with different RhoB genotypes to FTI treatment. The microarray hybridization strategy we employed focused specifically on events preceding the execution of RhoB-dependent apoptosis, which is crucial for effective antineoplastic responses in mouse, rather than on other aspects of the FTI response mediated by RhoB gain-of-function (e.g., growth inhibition). Genes that control cell adhesion and cell shape were represented prominently among upregulated targets, as were genes that control signal transduction, vesicle dynamics, transcription, and immunity. Genes that control cell cycle checkpoints and progression through S phase and mitosis were among the major downregulated targets. In support of the concept of RhoB as a negative regulator of Ras signaling pathways, the most strongly downregulated gene scored was farnesyl pyrophosphate synthetase, the enzyme that produces the substrate used by FT to farnesylate Ras proteins. Gene clustering revealed modules for MAPK signaling, cell cycle progression, and immune response as proapoptotic targets of RhoB. This report identifies genes that pertain to the transformation-selective apoptotic program triggered by FTI. Further study of this program may yield insights into the dramatic differences in efficacy and apoptotic prowess of most FTIs in human cancers, versus transgenic mouse models.

Isoprenoids influence expression of Ras and Ras-related proteins

Mevalonate depletion by inhibition of hydroxymethylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase impairs post-translational processing of Ras and Ras-related proteins. We have previously shown that this mevalonate depletion also leads to the upregulation of Ras, Rap1a, RhoA, and RhoB. This upregulation may result from global inhibition of isoprenylation or depletion of key regulatory isoprenoid species. Studies utilizing specific isoprenoid pyrophosphates in mevalonate-depleted cells reveal that farnesyl pyrophosphate (FPP) restores Ras processing and prevents RhoB upregulation while geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate (GGPP) restores Rap1a processing and prevents RhoA and RhoB upregulation. Either FPP or GGPP completely prevents lovastatin-induced upregulation of RhoB mRNA. Inhibition of FPP or squalene synthase allowed for the further identification of the putative regulatory species. Studies involving the specific isoprenyl transferase inhibitors FTI-277 and GGTI-286 demonstrate that selective inhibition of protein isoprenylation does not mimic lovastatin's ability to increase Ras and RhoA synthesis, decrease Ras and RhoA degradation, increase RhoB mRNA, or increase total levels of Ras, Rap1a, RhoA, and RhoB. In aggregate, these findings reveal a novel role and mechanism for isoprenoids to influence levels of Ras and Ras-related proteins.

Rho GTPases in human breast tumours: expression and mutation analyses and correlation with clinical parameters

In the present study, we addressed the question of a putative relevance of Rho proteins in tumour progression by analysing their expression on protein and mRNA level in breast tumours. We show that the level of RhoA, RhoB, Rac1 and Cdc42 protein is largely enhanced in all tumour samples analysed (n=15) as compared to normal tissues originating from the same individual. The same is true for (32)P-ADP-ribosylation of Rho proteins which is catalysed by Clostridium botulinum exoenzyme C3. Also the amount of Rho-GDI and ERK2 as well as the level of overall (32)P-GTP binding activity was tumour-specific elevated, yet to a lower extent than Rho proteins. Although the amount of Rho proteins was enhanced in tumours, most of them did not show changes in rho mRNA expression as compared to the corresponding normal tissue. Thus, elevated gene expression seems not to be the underlying mechanism of tumour-specific overexpression of Rho proteins. Sequence analysis of RhoA, RhoB, RhoC and Rac1 failed to detect any mutations in both the GTP-binding site and effector binding region. By analysing >50 tumour samples, the amount of RhoA-like proteins (i.e. RhoA, B, C), but not of Rac1, was found to significantly increase with histological grade and proliferation index. Rho protein expression was neither related to p53 nor to HER-2/neu oncogene status. Expression of rho mRNAs did not show a significant increase with histological grade. Overall the data show that (1) Rho proteins are overexpressed in breast tumours (2) overexpression is not regulated on the mRNA level (3) the expression level of RhoA-like proteins correlates with malignancy and (4) Rho proteins are not altered by mutation in breast tumours.

Farnesyltransferase inhibitor, R115777, reverses the resistance of human glioma cell lines to ionizing radiation

We investigated for the first time the ability of farnesyltransferase inhibitors (FTI) to radiosensitize human glioma. For this, human glioma cell lines were treated with the specific FTI, R115777, 48 hr prior to a 2Gy irradiation. The treatment with R115777 decreased by 45% the SF2 value of the more radioresistant glioma cell lines (SF763 and U87) without any significant effect on the radioresistance of the radiosensitive ones (SF767 and U251-MG). This radiosensitizer effect was due to the induction of post-mitotic necrotic cell death. We then tested the hypothesis that wild-type Ras or RhoB, which has been proposed as potential FTI target, could control the glioma radioresistance. For this, we expressed inducible dominant negative forms of Ras (RasN17) and RhoB (RhoBN19) in radioresistant U87 glioma cell line and analyzed the survival after irradiation of the obtained clones. While blocking Ras pathways by expression of RasN17 did not affect the SF2 value of the U87 glioma cell line, the expression of RhoBN19 dramatically reduced the cell survival after irradiation of these cells. Taken together, these data demonstrated that RhoB, but not Ras, is implicated in glioma radioresistance. Furthermore, the R115777 differential radiosensitizer effect underlines the potential therapeutic interest of using this drug as a radiosensitizer of human glioma.

Suppression of rho B expression in invasive carcinoma from head and neck cancer patients

PURPOSE

In contrast to Ras small GTPases, which contribute to human malignancy when overexpressed or constitutively activated, convincing evidence for the involvement of Ras homologous (Rho) GTPases in human cancer is still missing. In cell culture and animal models, RhoB antagonizes malignant transformation, but no data are available regarding the expression of RhoB in human tumors. In this study, we have analyzed the status of the RhoB protein and the closely related family member RhoA in human head and neck squamous cell carcinomas.

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

Protein immunoexpression was quantitated by image analysis in the context of tumor invasion and differentiation. To account for possible individual variations, expression levels of RhoB and RhoA were evaluated in the tumor and its adjacent nonneoplastic tissue. Potential gene deletions or mutations were assessed by PCR and RT-PCR.

RESULTS

RhoB expression is readily detected in normal epithelium, carcinomas in situ, and well-differentiated tumors, but it becomes weak to undetectable as tumors become deeply invasive and poorly differentiated. In contrast, Ki67 (proliferation marker) and RhoA protein levels increase with tumor progression. Furthermore, whereas in nonneoplastic keratinocytes RhoB is localized mainly in the nucleus, in carcinomas RhoB is predominantly located in the cytoplasm. RhoB gene deletions or mutations were not found.

CONCLUSIONS

These results give additional support to the notion that RhoB may play a tumor suppressive role in squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck. The lack of RhoB expression in deeply invasive carcinoma argues against inhibition of RhoB farnesylation as a mediator of farnesyltransferase inhibitors' antitumor activity.

Y-27632 prevents tubulointerstitial fibrosis in mouse kidneys with unilateral ureteral obstruction

BACKGROUND

The small GTPase Rho is involved in cell-to-substratum adhesion and cell contraction. These actions of Rho mediated by downstream Rho effectors such as Rho-associated coiled-coil forming protein kinase (ROCK) may be partly responsible for the progression of renal interstitial fibrosis.

METHODS

The anti-fibrosis effects of Y-27632, a specific ROCK inhibitor, were studied both in vivo (unilateral ureteral obstruction; UUO) and in vitro. To investigate the therapeutic efficacy of Y-27632 in UUO kidneys, smooth muscle alpha actin (SMalphaA) expression, macrophage infiltration and fibrosis in the obstructed kidneys were studied. SMalphaA, transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta), alpha1 (I) collagen, osteopontin, macrophage chemoattractant peptide-1 (MCP-1), and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) gene expression were examined by Northern blotting. To elucidate the mechanism linking the Rho-ROCK pathway with renal fibrosis, the effects of Y-27632 on in vitro cell proliferation and cell migration were studied.

RESULTS

In vivo analysis showed that Y-27632 suppressed SMalphaA expression, macrophage infiltration and interstitial fibrosis, and that Y-27632 suppressed SMalphaA, TGF-beta and alpha1 (I) collagen mRNA expression. In vitro analysis showed that Y-27632 did not suppress proliferation of renal fibroblasts but suppressed migration of macrophages.

CONCLUSIONS

The Rho-ROCK system may play an important role in the development of tissue fibrosis, and the Rho-ROCK signaling pathway may be a new therapeutic target for preventing interstitial fibrosis in progressive renal disease.

Overexpression of Snail family members highlights their ability to promote chick neural crest formation

The Snail gene family of transcription factors plays crucial roles in different morphogenetic processes during the development of vertebrate and invertebrate embryos. In previous studies of function interference for one of the family members, Slug, we showed its involvement and neural crest formation in the chick embryo. Now we have carried out a series of gain-of-function experiments in which we show that Slug overexpression in the neural tube of the chick embryo induces an increase in neural crest production. The analysis of electroporated embryos shows that Slug can induce the expression of rhoB and an increase in the number of HNK-1-positive migratory cells, indicating that it lies upstream of them in the genetic cascade of neural crest development. The increase in neural crest production after Slug overexpression was confined to the cranial region, indicating that the mechanisms of crest induction somehow differ between head and trunk.

The expression of the two vertebrate family members, Slug and Snail, is peculiar with respect to the neural crest. Slug is not expressed in the premigratory crest in the mouse, whereas it is expressed in this cell population in the chick and the opposite is true for Snail(Sefton, M., Sánchez, S. and Nieto M. A. (1998) Development125, 3111-3121). This raises the question of whether they can be functionally equivalent. To test this hypothesis both intra- and interspecies, we have performed a series of ectopic expression experiments by electroporating chick and mouse Snail in the chick embryo hindbrain. We observe that both genes elicit the same responses in the neural tube. Our results indicate that they can be functionally equivalent, although the embryos show a higher response to the endogenous gene, chick Slug.

The winged-helix transcription factor Foxd3 suppresses interneuron differentiation and promotes neural crest cell fate

The neural crest is a migratory cell population that gives rise to multiple cell types in the vertebrate embryo. The intrinsic determinants that segregate neural crest cells from multipotential dorsal progenitors within the neural tube are poorly defined. In this study, we show that the winged helix transcription factor Foxd3 is expressed in both premigratory and migratory neural crest cells. Foxd3 is genetically downstream of Pax3 and is not expressed in regions of Pax3 mutant mice that lack neural crest, implying that Foxd3 may regulate aspects of the neural crest differentiation program. We show that misexpression of Foxd3 in the chick neural tube promotes a neural crest-like phenotype and suppresses interneuron differentiation. Cells that ectopically express Foxd3 upregulate HNK1 and Cad7, delaminate and emigrate from the neural tube at multiple dorsoventral levels. Foxd3 does not induce Slug and RhoB, nor is its ability to promote a neural crest-like phenotype enhanced by co-expression of Slug. Together these results suggest Foxd3 can function independently of Slug and RhoB to promote the development of neural crest cells from neural tube progenitors.

RhoB is dispensable for mouse development, but it modifies susceptibility to tumor formation as well as cell adhesion and growth factor signaling in transformed cells

RhoB is an endosomal small GTPase that is implicated in the response to growth factors, genotoxic stress, and farnesyltransferase inhibitors. To gain insight into its physiological functions we examined the consequences of homozygous gene deletion in the mouse. Loss of RhoB did not adversely affect mouse development, fertility, or wound healing. However, embryo fibroblasts cultured in vitro exhibited a defect in motility, suggesting that RhoB has a role in this process that is conditional on cell stress. Neoplastic transformation by adenovirus E1A and mutant Ras yielded differences in cell attachment and spreading that were not apparent in primary cells. In addition, transformed -/- cells displayed altered actin and proliferative responses to transforming growth factor beta. A negative modifier role in transformation was suggested by the increased susceptibility of -/- mice to 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene-induced skin carcinogenesis and by the increased efficiency of intraperitoneal tumor formation by -/- cells. Our findings suggest that RhoB is a negative regulator of integrin and growth factor signals that are involved in neoplastic transformation and possibly other stress or disease states.

GTPase RhoB: an early predictor of neuronal death after transient focal ischemia in mice

Applying the recently developed DNA array technique to a murine stroke model, we found that the gene coding for RhoB, a member of the family of GTPases that regulate a variety of signal transduction pathways, is upregulated in ischemia-damaged neurons. RhoB immunoreactivity precedes DNA single-strand breaks and heralds the evolving infarct, making it an early predictor of neuronal death. Expression of RhoB colocalized with drastic rearrangement of the actin cytoarchitecture indicates a role for Rho in postischemic morphological changes. Apoptosis in a murine hippocampal cell line was also associated with an early increase in RhoB protein. Activation of caspase-3, a crucial step in apoptosis, could be inhibited by cytochalasin D, a substance that counteracts the actin-modulating activity of Rho GTPases, indicating that Rho proteins may have impact on injury-initiated neuronal signal transduction. Our findings make Rho GTPases potential targets for the development of drugs aimed at limiting neuronal death following brain damage.

RhoB is required to mediate apoptosis in neoplastically transformed cells after DNA damage

The effect of neoplastic transformation on the response to genotoxic stress is of significant clinical interest. In this study, we offer genetic evidence that the apoptotic response of neoplastically transformed cells to DNA damage requires RhoB, a member of the Rho family of actin cytoskeletal regulators. Targeted deletion of the rhoB gene did not affect cell cycle arrest in either normal or transformed cells after exposure to doxorubicin or gamma irradiation, but rendered transformed cells resistant to apoptosis. This effect was specific insofar as rhoB deletion did not affect apoptotic susceptibility to agents that do not damage DNA. However, rhoB deletion also affected apoptotic susceptibility to Taxol, an agent that disrupts microtubule dynamics. We have demonstrated that RhoB alteration mediates the proapoptotic and antineoplastic effects of farnesyltransferase inhibitors, and we show here that RhoB alteration is also crucial for farnesyltransferase inhibitors to sensitize neoplastic cells to DNA damage-induced cell death. We found RhoB to be an important determinant of long-term survival in vitro and tumor response in vivo after gamma irradiation. Our findings identify a pivotal role for RhoB in the apoptotic response of neoplastic cells to DNA damage at a novel regulatory point that may involve the actin cytoskeleton.

Transcriptional activation of the small GTPase gene rhoB by genotoxic stress is regulated via a CCAAT element

The gene encoding the Ras-related GTPase RhoB-specific is immediate-early inducible by genotoxic treatments. Regulation of transcriptional activation of rhoB is still unclear. Here we show that cells lacking either p53 or c-Fos are not different from wild-type cells with respect to the level of rhoB induction upon UV irradiation, indicating that these transcription factors are not crucial for stimulation of rhoB mRNA expression. Extracts from UV-irradiated and non-irradiated cells revealed similar DNA-binding activities to a 0.17 kb rhoB promoter fragment harboring the functional element(s) necessary for stimulation of rhoB by UV light. By means of immunoprecipitation we found that an ATF-2-specific antibody co-precipitates the (32)P-labeled 0.17 kb rhoB fragment, whereas an anti-AP1 antibody did not. Since no consensus sequence for binding of ATF-2 is present within the rhoB promoter, ATF-2 is likely to be associated with another factor that binds to the minimal promoter. Deletion analysis and site-directed mutagenesis of the 0.17 kb rhoB fragment revealed a CCAAT box to be an essential requirement for stimulation of rhoB by UV light and methyl methanesulfonate. Moreover, immunoprecipitation experiments showed that the CCAAT-binding factor NF-YA is complexed with ATF-2. Overall, the data strongly indicate that transcriptional activation of the rhoB gene by genotoxic stress is regulated via a CCAAT box and that interaction of CCAAT-binding factor and ATF-2 triggers the stress-inducible expression of rhoB.

RhoB prenylation is driven by the three carboxyl-terminal amino acids of the protein: evidenced in vivo by an anti-farnesyl cysteine antibody

Protein isoprenylation is a lipid posttranslational modification required for the function of many proteins that share a carboxyl-terminal CAAX motif. The X residue determines which isoprenoid will be added to the cysteine. When X is a methionine or serine, the farnesyl-transferase transfers a farnesyl, and when X is a leucine or isoleucine, the geranygeranyl-transferase I, a geranylgeranyl group. But despite its CKVL motif, RhoB was reported to be both geranylgeranylated and farnesylated. Thus, the determinants of RhoB prenylation appear more complex than initially thought. To determine the role of RhoB CAAX motif, we designed RhoB mutants with modified CAAX sequence expressed in baculovirus-infected insect cells. We demonstrated that RhoB was prenylated as a function of the three terminal amino acids, i.e., RhoB bearing the CAIM motif of lamin B or CLLL motif of Rap1A was farnesylated or geranylgeranylated, respectively. Next, we produced a specific polyclonal antibody against farnesyl cysteine methyl ester allowing prenylation analysis avoiding the metabolic labeling restrictions. We confirmed that the unique modification of the RhoB CAAX box was sufficient to direct the RhoB distinct prenylation in mammalian cells and, inversely, that a RhoA-CKVL chimera could be alternatively prenylated. Moreover, the immunoprecipitation of endogenous RhoB from cells with the anti-farnesyl cysteine antibody suggested that wild-type RhoB is farnesylated in vivo. Taken together, our results demonstrated that the three last carboxyl amino acids are the main determinants for RhoB prenylation and described an anti-farnesyl cysteine antibody as a useful tool for understanding the cellular control of protein farnesylation.

Ras-related GTPase RhoB forces alkylation-induced apoptotic cell death

rhoB encoding a Ras-related GTPase is immediate-early inducible by genotoxic treatments. To address the question of the physiological role of RhoB in cellular defense, cells stably overexpressing wild-type RhoB protein were generated. Overexpression of RhoB renders cells hypersensitive to the killing effect of alkylating agents including antineoplastic drugs but not to UV-light and doxorubicin. As compared to control cells, RhoB overexpressing cells revealed an increase in the frequency of alkylation-induced apoptotic cell death. This indicates that RhoB is involved in modulating apoptotic signaling. Furthermore, overexpression of RhoB resulted in a prolonged transient block to DNA replication upon MMS treatment. UV-induced replication blockage was not affected by RhoB. Based on the data we suggest RhoB to be a novel regulatory factor which takes influence on the level of cytotoxicity of DNA damaging drugs and forces cells to alkylation-induced apoptosis. The data indicate that this might be due to RhoB mediated delay in cell cycle progression upon alkylation treatment.

Regulation of the onset of neural crest migration by coordinated activity of BMP4 and Noggin in the dorsal neural tube

For neural crest cells to engage in migration, it is necessary that epithelial premigratory crest cells convert into mesenchyme. The mechanisms that trigger cell delamination from the dorsal neural tube remain poorly understood. We find that, in 15- to 40-somite-stage avian embryos, BMP4 mRNA is homogeneously distributed along the longitudinal extent of the dorsal neural tube, whereas its specific inhibitor noggin exists in a gradient of expression that decreases caudorostrally. This rostralward reduction in signal intensity coincides with the onset of emigration of neural crest cells. Hence, we hypothesized that an interplay between Noggin and BMP4 in the dorsal tube generates graded concentrations of the latter that in turn triggers the delamination of neural crest progenitors. Consistent with this suggestion, disruption of the gradient by grafting Noggin-producing cells dorsal to the neural tube at levels opposite the segmental plate or newly formed somites, inhibited emigration of HNK-1-positive crest cells, which instead accumulated within the dorsal tube. Similar results were obtained with explanted neural tubes from the same somitic levels exposed to Noggin. Exposure to Follistatin, however, had no effect. The Noggin-dependent inhibition was overcome by concomitant treatment with BMP4, which when added alone, also accelerated cell emigration compared to untreated controls. Furthermore, the observed inhibition of neural crest emigration in vivo was preceded by a partial or total reduction in the expression of cadherin-6B and rhoB but not in the expression of slug mRNA or protein. Altogether, these results suggest that a coordinated activity of Noggin and BMP4 in the dorsal neural tube triggers delamination of specified, slug-expressing neural crest cells. Thus, BMPs play multiple and discernible roles at sequential stages of neural crest ontogeny, from specification through delamination and later differentiation of specific neural crest derivatives.