Mimicking phosphorylation of alphaB-crystallin on serine-59 is necessary and sufficient to provide maximal protection of cardiac myocytes from apoptosis

Cytoplasmic and nuclear anti-apoptotic roles of αB-crystallin in retinal pigment epithelial cells

In addition to its well-characterized role in the lens, αB-crystallin performs other functions. Methylglyoxal (MGO) can alter the function of the basement membrane of retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells. Thus, if MGO is not efficiently detoxified, it can induce adverse reactions in RPE cells. In this study, we examined the mechanisms underlying the anti-apoptotic activity of αB-crystallin in the human retinal pigment epithelial cell line ARPE-19 following MGO treatment using various assays, including nuclear staining, flow cytometry, DNA electrophoresis, pulse field gel electrophoresis, western blot analysis, confocal microscopy and co-immunoprecipitation assays. To directly assess the role of phosphorylation of αB-crystallin, we used site-directed mutagenesis to convert relevant serine residues to alanine residues. Using these techniques, we demonstrated that MGO induces apoptosis in ARPE-19 cells. Silencing αB-crystallin sensitized ARPE-19 cells to MGO-induced apoptosis, indicating that αB-crystallin protects ARPE-19 cells from MGO-induced apoptosis. Furthermore, we found that αB-crystallin interacts with the caspase subtypes, caspase-2L, -2S, -3, -4, -7, -8, -9 and -12 in untreated control ARPE-19 cells and that MGO treatment caused the dissociation of these caspase subtypes from αB-crystallin; transfection of S19A, S45A or S59A mutants caused the depletion of αB-crystallin from the nuclei of untreated control RPE cells leading to the release of caspase subtypes. Additionally, transfection of these mutants enhanced MGO-induced apoptosis in ARPE-19 cells, indicating that phosphorylation of nuclear αB-crystallin on serine residues 19, 45 and 59 plays a pivotal role in preventing apoptosis in ARPE-19 cells. Taken together, these results suggest that αB-crystallin prevents caspase activation by physically interacting with caspase subtypes in the cytoplasm and nucleus, thereby protecting RPE cells from MGO-induced apoptosis.

Novel roles for α-crystallins in retinal function and disease

α-Crystallins are key members of the superfamily of small heat shock proteins that have been studied in detail in the ocular lens. Recently, novel functions for α-crystallins have been identified in the retina and in the retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE). αB-Crystallin has been localized to multiple compartments and organelles including mitochondria, golgi apparatus, endoplasmic reticulum and nucleus. α-Crystallins are regulated by oxidative and endoplasmic reticulum stress, and inhibit apoptosis-induced cell death. α-Crystallins interact with a large number of proteins that include other crystallins, and apoptotic, cytoskeletal, inflammatory, signaling, angiogenic, and growth factor molecules. Studies with RPE from αB-crystallin deficient mice have shown that αB-crystallin supports retinal and choroidal angiogenesis through its interaction with vascular endothelial growth factor. αB-Crystallin has also been shown to have novel functions in the extracellular space. In RPE, αB-crystallin is released from the apical surface in exosomes where it accumulates in the interphotoreceptor matrix and may function to protect neighboring cells. In other systems administration of exogenous recombinant αB-crystallin has been shown to be anti-inflammatory. Another newly described function of αB-crystallin is its ability to inhibit β-amyloid fibril formation. α-Crystallin minichaperone peptides have been identified that elicit anti-apoptotic function in addition to being efficient chaperones. Generation of liposomal particles and other modes of nanoencapsulation of these minipeptides could offer great therapeutic advantage in ocular delivery for a wide variety of retinal degenerative, inflammatory and vascular diseases including age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy.

Small heat shock proteins HSP27 (HspB1), αB-crystallin (HspB5) and HSP22 (HspB8) as regulators of cell death

Hsp27, αB-crystallin and HSP22 are ubiquitous small heat shock proteins (sHsp) whose expression is induced in response to a wide variety of unfavorable physiological and environmental conditions. These sHsp protect cells from otherwise lethal conditions mainly by their involvement in cell death pathways such as necrosis, apoptosis or autophagy. At a molecular level, the mechanisms accounting for sHsp functions in cell death are (1) prevention of denatured proteins aggregation, (2) regulation of caspase activity, (3) regulation of the intracellular redox state, (4) function in actin polymerization and cytoskeleton integrity and (5) proteasome-mediated degradation of selected proteins. In cancer cells, these sHsp are often overexpressed and associated with increased tumorigenicity, cancer cells metastatic potential and resistance to chemotherapy. Altogether, these properties suggest that Hsp27, αB-crystallin and Hsp22 are appropriate targets for modulating cell death pathways. In the present, we briefly review recent reports showing molecular evidence of cell death regulation by these sHsp and co-chaperones. This article is part of a Directed Issue entitled: Small HSPs in physiology and pathology.

αB-crystallin/sHSP protects cytochrome c and mitochondrial function against oxidative stress in lens and retinal cells

BACKGROUND

αB-crystallin/sHSP protects cells against oxidative stress damage. Here, we mechanistically examined its ability to preserve mitochondrial function in lens and retinal cells and protect cytochrome c under oxidative stress conditions.

METHODS

αB-crystallin/sHSP was localized in human lens (HLE-B3) and retinal (ARPE-19) cells. αB-crystallin/sHSP was stably over-expressed and its ability to preserve mitochondrial membrane potential under oxidative stress conditions was monitored. Interactions between αB-crystallin/sHSP and cytochrome c were examined by fluorescent resonance energy transfer (FRET) and by co-immune precipitation. The ability of αB-crystallin/sHSP to protect cytochrome c against methionine-80 oxidation was monitored.

RESULTS

αB-crystallin/sHSP is present in the mitochondria of lens and retinal cells and is translocated to the mitochondria under oxidative conditions. αB-crystallin/sHSP specifically interacts with cytochrome c in vitro and in vivo and its overexpression preserves mitochondrial membrane potential under oxidative stress conditions. αB-crystallin/sHSP directly protects cytochrome c against oxidation.

GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE

These data demonstrate that αB-crystallin/sHSP maintains lens and retinal cells under oxidative stress conditions at least in part by preserving mitochondrial function and by protecting cytochrome c against oxidation. Since oxidative stress and loss of mitochondrial function are associated with eye lens cataract and age-related macular degeneration, loss of these αB-crystallin/sHSP functions likely plays a key role in the development of these diseases. αB-crystallin/sHSP is expressed throughout the body and its ability to maintain mitochondrial function is likely important for the prevention of multiple degenerative diseases.

The family of mammalian small heat shock proteins (HSPBs): implications in protein deposit diseases and motor neuropathies

A number of neurological and muscular disorders are characterized by the accumulation of aggregate-prone proteins and are referred to as protein deposit or protein conformation diseases. Besides some sporadic forms, most of them are genetically inherited in an autosomal dominant manner, although recessive forms also exist. Although genetically very heterogeneous, some of these diseases are the result of mutations in some members of the mammalian small heat shock protein family (sHSP/HSPB), which are key players of the protein quality control system and participate, together with other molecular chaperones and co-chaperones, in the maintenance of protein homeostasis. Thus, on one hand upregulation of specific members of the HSPB family can exert protective effects in protein deposit diseases, such as the polyglutamine diseases. On the other hand, mutations in the HSPBs lead to neurological and muscular disorders, which may be due to a loss-of-function in protein quality control and/or to a gain-of-toxic function, resulting from the aggregation-proneness of the mutants. In this review we summarize the current knowledge about some of the best characterized functions of the HSPBs (e.g. role in cytoskeleton stabilization, chaperone function, anti-aggregation and anti-apoptotic activities), also highlighting differences in the properties of the various HSPBs and how these may counteract protein aggregation diseases. We also describe the mutations in the various HSPBs associated with neurological and muscular disorders and we discuss how gain-of-toxic function mechanisms (e.g. due to the mutated HSPB protein instability and aggregation) and/or loss-of-function mechanisms can contribute to HSPB-associated pathologies. This article is part of a Directed Issue entitled: Small HSPs in physiology and pathology.

Specific phosphorylation of αA-crystallin is required for the αA-crystallin-induced protection of astrocytes against staurosporine and C2-ceramide toxicity

We previously reported that αA-crystallin and protease-activated receptor are involved in protection of astrocytes against C2-ceramide- and staurosporine-induced cell death (Li et al., 2009). Here, we investigated the molecular mechanism of αA-crystallin-mediated cytoprotection. We found that the expression of mutants mimicking specific phosphorylation of αA-crystallin increases the protection of astrocytes. However, the expression of mutants mimicking unphosphorylation of αA-crystallin results in loss of protection. These data revealed that the phosphorylation of αA-crystallin at Ser122 and Ser148 is required for protection. Furthermore, we explored the mechanism of cytoprotection of astrocytes by αA-crystallin. Application of specific inhibitors of p38 and ERK abrogates the protection of astrocytes by over-expression of αA-crystallin. Thus, p38 and ERK contribute to protective processes by αA-crystallin. This is comparable to our previous results which demonstrated that p38 and ERK regulated protease-activated receptor-2 (PAR-2)/αB-crystallin-mediated cytoprotection. Furthermore, we found that PAR-2 activation increases the expression of αA-crystallin. Thus, endogenous αA-crystallin protects astrocytes via mechanisms, which regulate the expression and/or phosphorylation status of αA-crystallin.

Cardiac phosphoproteome reveals cell signaling events involved in doxorubicin cardiotoxicity

The successful use of anthracyclines like doxorubicin in chemotherapy is limited by their severe cardiotoxicity. Despite decades of clinical application, a satisfying description of the molecular mechanisms involved and a preventive treatment have not yet been achieved. Here we address doxorubicin-induced changes in cell signaling as a novel potential mediator of doxorubicin toxicity by applying a non-biased screen of the cardiac phosphoproteome. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, phosphospecific staining, quantitative image analysis, and MALDI-TOF/TOF mass spectrometry were combined to identify (de)phosphorylation events occurring in the isolated rat heart upon Langendorff-perfusion with clinically relevant (5 μM) and supraclinical concentrations (25 μM) of doxorubicin. This approach identified 22 proteins with a significantly changed phosphorylation status and these results were validated by immunoblotting for selected phosphosites. Overrepresentation of mitochondrial proteins (>40%) identified this compartment as a prime target of doxorubicin. Identified proteins were mainly involved in energy metabolism (e.g. pyruvate dehydrogenase and acyl-CoA dehydrogenase), sarcomere structure and function (e.g. desmin) or chaperone-like activities (e.g. α-crystallin B chain and prohibitin). Changes in phosphorylation of pyruvate dehydrogenase, regulating pyruvate entry into the Krebs cycle, and desmin, maintaining myofibrillar array, are relevant for main symptoms of cardiac dysfunction related to doxorubicin treatment, namely energy imbalance and myofibrillar disorganization. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Translational Proteomics.

Preserved cardiomyocyte function and altered desmin pattern in transgenic mouse model of dilated cardiomyopathy

Taking advantage of the unique model of slowly developing dilated cardiomyopathy in mice with cardiomyocyte-specific transgenic overexpression of activated Gαq protein (Tgαq*44 mice) we analyzed the contribution of the cardiomyocyte malfunction, fibrosis and cytoskeleton remodeling to the development of heart failure in this model. Left ventricular (LV) in vivo function, myocardial fibrosis, cytoskeletal proteins expression and distribution, Ca(2+) handling and contractile function of isolated cardiomyocytes were evaluated at the stages of the early, compensated, and late, decompensated heart failure in 4-, 12- and 14-month-old Tgαq*44 mice, respectively, and compared to age-matched wild-type FVB mice. In the 4-month-old Tgαq*44 mice significant myocardial fibrosis, moderate myocyte hypertrophy and increased expression of regularly arranged and homogenously distributed desmin accompanied by increased phosphorylation of desmin chaperone protein, αB-crystallin, were found. Cardiomyocyte shortening, Ca(2+) handling and LV function were not altered. At 12 and 14 months of age, Tgαq*44 mice displayed progressive deterioration of the LV function. The contractile performance of isolated myocytes was still preserved, and the amplitude of Ca(2+) transients was even increased probably due to impairment of Na(+)/Ca(2+) exchanger function, while fibrosis was more extensive than in younger mice. Moreover, substantial disarrangement of desmin distribution accompanied by decreasing phosphorylation of αB-crystallin appeared. In Tgαq*44 mice disarrangement of desmin, at least partly related to inadequate phosphorylation of αB-crystallin seems to be importantly involved in the progressive deterioration of contractile heart function.

The anti-apoptotic function of human αA-crystallin is directly related to its chaperone activity

αA-crystallin is a molecular chaperone and an antiapoptotic protein. This study investigated the mechanism of inhibition of apoptosis by human αA-crystallin and determined if the chaperone activity of αA-crystallin is required for the antiapoptotic function. αA-crystallin inhibited chemical-induced apoptosis in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells and HeLa cells by inhibiting activation of caspase-3 and -9. In CHO cells, it inhibited apoptosis induced by the overexpression of human proapoptotic proteins, Bim and Bax. αA-crystallin inhibited doxorubicin-mediated activation of human procaspase-3 in CHO cells and it activated the PI3K/Akt cell survival pathway by promoting the phosphorylation of PDK1, Akt and phosphatase tensin homologue in HeLa cells. The phosphoinositide 3 kinase (PI3K) activity was increased by αA-crystallin overexpression but the protein content was unaltered. Downregulation of PI3K by the expression of a dominant-negative mutant or inhibition by LY294002 abrogated the ability of αA-crystallin to phosphorylate Akt. These antiapoptotic functions of αA-crystallin were enhanced in a mutant protein (R21A) that shows increased chaperone activity than the wild-type (Wt) protein. Interestingly, a mutant protein (R49A) that shows decreased chaperone activity was far weaker than the Wt protein in its antiapoptotic functions. Together, our study results show that αA-crystallin inhibits apoptosis by enhancing PI3K activity and inactivating phosphatase tensin homologue and that the antiapoptotic function is directly related to its chaperone activity.

Increased αB-crystallin in hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus of rats with myocardial infarction

The hypothalamus plays an important role in maintaining a homeostasis of the body against stress response. In particular, the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus is a critical region for disorders related to the autonomic nervous system, such as congestive heart failure and hypertension. αB-crystallin is a family of heat shock proteins that are widely expressed in the brain, including in glial cells, astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, and neurons. Many studies have demonstrated that expression level of αB-crystallin is up-regulated and involved in protecting cells from pathological conditions. In the present study, we examined the expression and potential role of αB-crystallin in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) regions of rats with myocardial infarction (MI). Our results demonstrate that mRNA encoding αB-crystallin and protein for both native and phosphorylate forms (Ser-59) of αB-crystallin was significantly increased in the PVN during MI.

Strategies for treatment in Alexander disease

Alexander disease is a rare and generally fatal disorder of the CNS, originally classified among the leukodystrophies because of the prominent myelin deficits found in young patients. The most common form of this disease affects infants, who often have profound mental retardation and a variety of developmental delays, but later onset forms also occur, sometimes with little or no white matter pathology at all. The pathological hallmark of Alexander disease is the inclusion body, known as Rosenthal fiber, within the cell bodies and processes of astrocytes. Recent genetic studies identified heterozygous missense mutations in glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), the major intermediate filament protein in astrocytes, as the cause of nearly all cases of Alexander disease. These studies have transformed our view of this disorder and opened new directions for investigation and clinical practice, particularly with respect to diagnosis. Mechanisms by which expression of mutant forms of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) lead to the pleiotropic manifestations of disease (afflicting cell types beyond the ones expressing the mutant gene) are slowly coming into focus. Ideas are beginning to emerge that suggest several compelling therapeutic targets for interventions that might slow or arrest the evolution of the disease. This review will outline the rationale for pursuing these strategies, and highlight some of the critical issues that must be addressed in the planning of future clinical trials.

Serine 59 phosphorylation of {alpha}B-crystallin down-regulates its anti-apoptotic function by binding and sequestering Bcl-2 in breast cancer cells

The small heat shock protein (sHSP) αB-crystallin is a new oncoprotein in breast carcinoma that predicts poor clinical outcome in breast cancer. However, although several reports have demonstrated that phosphorylation of sHSPs modify their structural and functional properties, the significance of αB-crystallin phosphorylation in cancer cells has not yet been investigated. In this study, we have characterized the phosphorylation status of αB-crystallin in breast epithelial carcinoma cells line MCF7 submitted to anti-cancer agents like vinblastine. We have showed that the main phosphorylation site of αB-crystallin in response to vinblastine is serine 59 and determined a correlation between this post-translational modification and higher apoptosis level. The overexpression of the serine 59 "pseudophosphorylated" mutant (S59E) induces a significant increase in the apoptosis level of vinblastine-treated MCF7 cells. In contrast, overexpression of wild-type αB-crystallin or "nonphosphorylatable" mutant (S59A) result in a resistance to this microtubule-depolymerizing agent, while inhibition of endogenous levels of αB-crystallin by expression of shRNA lowers it. Analyzing further the molecular mechanism of this phenomenon, we report for the first time that phosphorylated αB-crystallin preferentially interacts with Bcl-2, an anti-apoptotic protein, and this interaction prevents the translocation of Bcl-2 to mitochondria. Hence, this study identifies serine 59 phosphorylation as an important key in the down-regulation of αB-crystallin anti-apoptotic function in breast cancer and suggests new strategies to improve anti-cancer treatments.

Molecular chaperone alphaB-crystallin is expressed in the human fetal telencephalon at midgestation by a subset of progenitor cells

Alphab-crystallin (CRYAB) is a small heat shock protein with a chaperoning activity that is present in the postnatal healthy human brain in oligodendrocytes and in a few astrocytes. The involvement of CRYAB in cell differentiation, proliferation, signaling, cytoskeletal assembly, and apoptosis in various model systems has suggested that it might also play a role in the developing human brain. We analyzed the distribution and the levels of this molecular chaperone in healthy and polygenetically compromised (Down syndrome [DS]) human telencephalon at midgestation. We demonstrate that CRYAB is expressed in a temporospatial pattern by numerous radial glial cells and some early oligodendrocyte progenitors, including dividing cells, as well as a few astroglial cells in both healthy and DS fetal brains. We also found abundant phosphorylation of CRYAB at Ser-59, which mediates its antiapoptotic and cytoskeletal functions. There was only marginal phosphorylation at Ser-45.In contrast to our earlier study in young DS subjects, upregulation of phosphorylated CRYAB occurred rarely in DS fetuses. The distribution, the timing of appearance, and the results of colocalization studies suggest that CRYAB assists in the biological processes associated with developmental remodeling/differentiation and proliferation of select subpopulations of progenitor cells in human fetal brain at midgestation.

Activation of PKN mediates survival of cardiac myocytes in the heart during ischemia/reperfusion

RATIONALE

The function of PKN, a stress-activated protein kinase, in the heart is poorly understood.

OBJECTIVE

We investigated the functional role of PKN during myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R).

METHODS AND RESULTS

PKN is phosphorylated at Thr774 in hearts subjected to ischemia and reperfusion. Myocardial infarction/area at risk (MI/AAR) produced by 45 minutes of ischemia and 24 hours of reperfusion was significantly smaller in transgenic mice with cardiac-specific overexpression of constitutively active (CA) PKN (Tg-CAPKN) than in nontransgenic (NTg) mice (15+/-5 versus 38+/-5%, P<0.01). The number of TUNEL-positive nuclei was significantly lower in Tg-CAPKN (0.3+/-0.2 versus 1.0+/-0.2%, P<0.05). Both MI/AAR (63+/-9 versus 45+/-8%, P<0.05) and the number of TUNEL-positive cells (7.9+/-1.0 versus 1.3+/-0.9%, P<0.05) were greater in transgenic mice with cardiac-specific overexpression of dominant negative PKN (Tg-DNPKN) than in NTg mice. Thr774 phosphorylation of PKN was also observed in response to H(2)O(2) in cultured cardiac myocytes. Stimulation of PKN prevented, whereas inhibition of PKN aggravated, cell death induced by H(2)O(2), suggesting that the cell-protective effect of PKN is cell-autonomous in cardiac myocytes. PKN induced phosphorylation of alpha B crystallin and increased cardiac proteasome activity. The infarct reducing effect in Tg-CAPKN mice was partially inhibited by epoxomicin, a proteasome inhibitor.

CONCLUSIONS

PKN is activated by I/R and inhibits apoptosis of cardiac myocytes, thereby protecting the heart from I/R injury. PKN mediates phosphorylation of alpha B crystallin and stimulation of proteasome activity, which, in part, mediates the protective effect of PKN in the heart.

alphaB-crystallin regulation of angiogenesis by modulation of VEGF

alphaB-crystallin is a chaperone belonging to the small heat shock protein family. Herein we show attenuation of intraocular angiogenesis in alphaB-crystallin knockout (alphaB-crystallin(-/-)) mice in 2 models of intraocular disease: oxygen-induced retinopathy and laser-induced choroidal neovascularization. Vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) mRNA and hypoxia inducible factor-1alpha protein expression were induced during retinal angiogenesis, but VEGF-A protein expression remained low in alphaB-crystallin(-/-) retina versus wild-type mice, whereas VEGF-R2 expression was not affected. Both alphaB-crystallin and its phosphorylated serine59 formwere expressed, and immunoprecipitation revealed alphaB-crystallin binding to VEGF-A but not transforming growth factor-beta in cultured retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells. alphaB-crystallin and VEGF-A are colocalized in the endoplasmic reticulum in RPE cells under chemical hypoxia. alphaB-crystallin(-/-) RPE showed low VEGF-A secretion under serum-starved conditions compared with wild-type cells. VEGF-A is polyubiquitinated in control and alphaB-crystallin siRNA treated RPE; however, mono-tetra ubiquitinated VEGF-A increases with alphaB-crystallin knockdown. Endothelial cell apoptosis in newly formed vessels was greater in alphaB-crystallin(-/-) than wild-type mice. Proteasomal inhibition in alphaB-crystallin(-/-) mice partially restores VEGF-A secretion and angiogenic phenotype in choroidal neovascularization. Our studies indicate an important role for alphaB-crystallin as a chaperone for VEGF-A in angiogenesis and its potential as a therapeutic target.

MAPKAPK-2 modulates p38-MAPK localization and small heat shock protein phosphorylation but does not mediate the injury associated with p38-MAPK activation during myocardial ischemia

MAPKAPK-2 (MK2) is a protein kinase activated downstream of p38-MAPK which phosphorylates the small heat shock proteins HSP27 and alphaB crystallin and modulates p38-MAPK cellular distribution. p38-MAPK activation is thought to contribute to myocardial ischemic injury; therefore, we investigated MK2 effects on ischemic injury and p38 cellular localization using MK2-deficient mice (KO). Immunoblotting of extracts from Langendorff-perfused hearts subjected to aerobic perfusion or global ischemia or reperfusion showed that the total and phosphorylated p38 levels were significantly lower in MK2(-/-) compared to MK2(+/+) hearts at baseline, but the ratio of phosphorylated/total p38 was similar. These results were confirmed by cellular fractionation and immunoblotting for both cytosolic and nuclear compartments. Furthermore, HSP27 and alphaB crsytallin phosphorylation were reduced to baseline in MK2(-/-) hearts. On semiquantitative immunofluorescence laser confocal microscopy of hearts during aerobic perfusion, the mean total p38 fluorescence was significantly higher in the nuclear compared to extranuclear (cytoplasmic, sarcomeric, and sarcolemmal compartments) in MK2(+/+) hearts. However, although the increase in phosphorylated p38 fluorescence intensity in all compartments following ischemia in MK2(+/+) hearts was lost in MK2(-/-) hearts, it was basally elevated in nuclei of MK2(-/-) hearts and was similar to that seen during ischemia in MK2(+/+) hearts. Despite these differences, similar infarct volumes were recorded in wild-type MK2(+/+) and MK2(-/-) hearts, which were decreased by the p38 inhibitor SB203580 (1 microM) in both genotypes. In conclusion, p38 MAPK-induced myocardial ischemic injury is not modulated by MK2. However, the absence of MK2 perturbs the cellular distribution of p38. The preserved nuclear distribution of active p38 MAPK in MK2(-/-) hearts and the conserved response to SB203580 suggests that activation of p38 MAPK may contribute to injury independently of MK2.

Alpha A-crystallin and alpha B-crystallin, newly identified interaction proteins of protease-activated receptor-2, rescue astrocytes from C2-ceramide- and staurosporine-induced cell death

Protease-activated receptor-2 (PAR-2) is a G protein-coupled receptor activated by trypsin and other trypsin-like serine proteases. The widely expressed PAR-2 is involved in inflammation response but the physiological/pathological roles of PAR-2 in the nervous system are still uncertain. In the present study, we report novel PAR-2 interaction proteins, alphaA-crystallin and alphaB-crystallin. These 20 kDa proteins have been implicated in neurodegenerative diseases like Alexander's disease, Creutzfeldt-Jacob disease, Alzheimer's disease, and Parkinson's disease. Results from yeast two-hybrid assay using the cytoplasmic C-tail of PAR-2 as bait suggested that alphaA-crystallin interacts with PAR-2. We further demonstrate the in vitro and cellular in vivo interaction of C-tail of PAR-2 as well as of full-length PAR-2 with alphaA(alphaB)-crystallins. We use pull-down, co-immunoprecipitation, and co-localization assays. Analysis of alphaA-crystallin deletion mutants showed that amino acids 120-130 and 136-154 of alphaA-crystallin are required for the interaction with PAR-2. Co-immunoprecipitation experiments ruled out an interaction of alphaA(alphaB)-crystallins with PAR-1, PAR-3, and PAR-4. This demonstrates that alphaA(alphaB)-crystallins are PAR-2-specific interaction proteins. Moreover, we investigated the functional role of PAR-2 and alpha-crystallins in astrocytes. Evidence is presented to show that PAR-2 activation and increased expression of alpha-crystallins reduced C2-ceramide- and staurosporine-induced cell death in astrocytes. Thus, both PAR-2 and alpha-crystallins are involved in cytoprotection in astrocytes.

Structure and mechanism of protein stability sensors: chaperone activity of small heat shock proteins

Small heat shock proteins (sHSP) make up a remarkably diverse group of molecular chaperones possessing a degree of structural plasticity unparalleled in other protein superfamilies. In the absence of chemical energy input, these stability sensors can sensitively recognize and bind destabilized proteins, even in the absence of gross misfolding. Cellular conditions regulate affinity toward client proteins, allowing tightly controlled switching and tuning of sHSP chaperone capacity. Perturbations of this regulation, through chemical modification or mutation, directly lead to a variety of disease states. This review explores the structural basis of sHSP oligomeric flexibility and the corresponding functional consequences in the context of a model describing sHSP activity with a set of three coupled thermodynamic equilibria. As current research illuminates many novel physiological roles for sHSP outside of their traditional duties as molecular chaperones, such a conceptual framework provides a sound foundation for describing these emerging functions in physiological and pathological processes.

Age-related changes in the spatial distribution of human lens alpha-crystallin products by MALDI imaging mass spectrometry

PURPOSE

To develop a protocol for MALDI (matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization) imaging mass spectrometry for mapping the distributions of alpha-crystallin and its modified forms in human lens tissue as a function of lens age and cataract.

METHODS

Frozen human lenses were cryosectioned equatorially and axially into 20-mum-thick sections, and the sections were mounted onto conductive glass slides by methanol soft-landing. An ethanol washing procedure facilitated uniform matrix crystal formation by a two-step matrix deposition procedure to produce high-quality mass spectral data. Molecular images of modified and unmodified alpha-crystallin subunits were obtained from mass spectral data acquired in 100-mum steps across normal and cataractous lens sections. Proteins extracted from the lens sections were digested with endoproteinase Glu-C and subjected to mass spectrometric analysis for identification of modifications.

RESULTS

Intact alpha-crystallin signals were detected primarily in the outer cortical fiber cells in lenses up to 29 years of age. Multiple truncation products were observed for alpha-crystallin that increased in abundance, both with distance into the lens and with lens age. Phosphorylated alphaB-crystallin forms were most abundant in the cortical region of older lenses. In axial sections, no significant anterior-posterior pole variation was observed. A previously unreported alphaA-crystallin mutation was detected in an age-matched cataractous human lens.

CONCLUSIONS

A method has been developed to spatially map the age-related changes of human lens alpha-crystallin by MALDI imaging mass spectrometry including a novel L52F alphaA-crystallin mutation in a cataractous lens. Application of this spatially resolved proteomic technique to lens biology enhances the understanding of alpha-crystallin protein processing in aging and diseased human lenses.

Upregulation of phosphorylated alphaB-crystallin in the brain of children and young adults with Down syndrome

Our previous proteomic studies disclosed upregulation of alphaB-crystallin, a small heat shock protein, in the brain tissue of Ts65Dn mice, a mouse model for Down syndrome (DS). To validate data obtained in model animals, we studied at present the levels and distribution of total alphaB-crystallin and its forms phosphorylated at Ser-45 and Ser-59 in the brain tissues of DS subjects and age-matched controls at 4 months to 23 years of age. On immunoblots from frontal cortex and white matter, alphaB-crystallin and its form phosphorylated at Ser-59 were detectable already in infants, whereas alphaB-crystallin phosphorylated at Ser-45 appeared in small amounts in older children. Although the levels of total alphaB-crystallin were modestly increased in DS subjects, the amounts of both phosphorylated forms were much higher (up to approximately 550%) in the group of older children and young adults with DS than in age-matched controls. Immunoreactivity to alphaB-crystallin occurred not only in a subset of oligodendrocytes and some subpial and perivascular astrocytes, which was reported earlier, but also in GFAP-positive astrocytes accumulating at the sites of ependymal injury as well as some GFAP/platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha-positive cells in both DS and control brains, which is a novel observation. Given that the chaperone and anti-apoptotic activities of alphaB-crystallin are phosphorylation-dependent, we propose that enhanced phosphorylation of alphaB-crystallin in the brains of young DS subjects might reflect a cytoprotective mechanism mobilized in response to stress conditions induced or augmented by the effect of genes encoded by the triplicated chromosome 21.

Kinetics of the translocation and phosphorylation of alphaB-crystallin in mouse heart mitochondria during ex vivo ischemia

alphaB-crystallin (alphaBC) is a small heat shock protein expressed at high levels in the myocardium where it protects from ischemia-reperfusion damage. Ischemia-reperfusion activates p38 MAP kinase, leading to the phosphorylation of alphaBC on serine 59 (P-alphaBC-S59), enhancing its ability to protect myocardial cells from damage. In the heart, ischemia-reperfusion also causes the translocation of alphaBC from the cytosol to other cellular locations, one of which was recently shown to be mitochondria. However, it is not known whether alphaBC translocates to mitochondria during ischemia-reperfusion, nor is it known whether alphaBC phosphorylation takes place before or after translocation. In the present study, analyses of mitochondrial fractions isolated from mouse hearts subjected to various times of ex vivo ischemia-reperfusion showed that alphaBC translocation to mitochondria was maximal after 20 min of ischemia and then declined steadily during reperfusion. Phosphorylation of mitochondrial alphaBC was maximal after 30 min of ischemia, suggesting that at least in part it occurred after alphaBC association with mitochondria. Consistent with this was the finding that translocation of activated p38 to mitochondria was maximal after only 10 min of ischemia. The overexpression of alphaBC-AAE, which mimics alphaBC phosphorylated on serine 59, has been shown to stabilize mitochondrial membrane potential and to inhibit apoptosis. In the present study, infection of neonatal rat cardiac myocytes with adenovirus-encoded alphaBC-AAE decreased peroxide-induced mitochondrial cytochrome c release. These results suggest that during ischemia alphaBC translocates to mitochondria, where it is phosphorylated and contributes to modulating mitochondrial damage upon reperfusion.

Activation of caspase-3 may not contribute to postresuscitation myocardial dysfunction

We have previously reported that postresuscitation myocardial dysfunction is accompanied by the release of cytochrome c and caspase-3 activation. We now investigated the role of caspase-3 activation by examining whether such process prompts apoptotic DNA fragmentation, whether caspase-3 inhibition attenuates myocardial dysfunction, and whether myocardial protective effects of sodium-hydrogen exchanger isoform-1 (NHE-1) inhibition involve caspase-3 inhibition using a rat model of ventricular fibrillation (VF) of closed-chest resuscitation. Resuscitation after 4 or 8 min of untreated VF caused significant reductions in left ventricular stroke work index averaging 23% of sham control rats at 4 h postresuscitation. Left ventricular dysfunction was accompanied by increases in cytosolic cytochrome c, decreases in pro- and cleaved caspase-9 fragments, increases in 17-kDa caspase-3 fragments, and increases in caspase-3 activity indicating the activation of the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway but without evidence of apoptotic DNA fragmentation. In addition, levels of heat shock protein 70 were increased and levels of X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein and alphabeta-crystallin were preserved, all of which can exert antiapoptotic effects. In a separate series, the caspase-3 inhibitor z-Asp-Glu-Val-Asp chloromethyl ketone given before the induction of VF failed to prevent postresuscitation myocardial dysfunction despite reductions in caspase-3 activity (2.3 +/- 0.5 vs. 1.3 +/- 0.5 pmol fluorophore AFC released.mg protein(-1).min-1; P < 0.03). Treatment with the NHE-1 inhibitor cariporide had no effect on caspase-3 activity. Accordingly, in this rat model of VF and severe postresuscitation myocardial dysfunction, activation of caspase-3 did not lead to DNA fragmentation or contribute to myocardial dysfunction. Concomitant activation of intrinsic antiapoptotic mechanisms could play a protective role downstream to caspase-3 activation.

Identification of transcripts commonly expressed in both hematopoietic and germ-line stem cells

Germ-line stem cells (GSCs) constitute a stem cell population with remarkable stability and proliferative potential in vitro and are a useful model for studying the mechanism of self-renewal and "stemness" function of committed tissue stem cells. To identify GSC-specific genes, we performed subtractive hybridization using cDNA from GSCs, testis, and embryonic stem (ES) cells, and successfully identified 11 genes highly expressed in GSCs. Histological analysis confirmed expression of Cry alpha b, Mcpt8, Cxcl5, Fth1, Ctla2 alpha, and Spp1 in undifferentiated spermatogonia on the basement membrane area of the seminiferous epithelium of the testis, where the GSC niche is thought to be located. Among GSC-specific genes, quantitative PCR analysis showed seven genes-Fth1, Cry alpha b, Spp1, Bcap31, Arhgap1, Ctla2 alpha, and Serpina3g-to be common transcripts highly expressed in hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). Histological analysis confirmed that Ctla2 alpha-, Serpina3g-, and Spp1-expressing cells were observed in the trabecular bone region of the bone marrow, where the HSC niche is located. Furthermore, histological analysis revealed that only Spp1 was expressed in the hair follicle bulge in the area of the hair follicle stem cell niche. Thus, identifying stemness genes by comparative analysis to GSCs is a powerful tool with which to explore the fundamental commonalities of HSCs and other stem cell types.

Oxidative stress and calpain inhibition induce alpha B-crystallin phosphorylation via p38-MAPK and calcium signalling pathways in H9c2 cells

We investigated the response of alphaB-crystallin to oxidative stress and calpain inhibition in an attempt to elucidate the signalling pathways mediating its phosphorylation. Given the high expression levels of alphaB-crystallin in cardiac muscle one can evaluate the significance of its participation in preservation of homeostasis under adverse conditions. H9c2 cardiac myoblasts were used as our experimental model since their response reflects the signal transduction pathways activated by stress conditions in the myocardium. Thus, in H9c2 cells treated with H2O2 the mechanism regulating alphaB-crystallin phosphorylation was found to involve p38-MAPK/MSK1 as well as intracellular free calcium levels. Our immunocytochemical experiments demonstrated phosphorylated alphaB-crystallin to be co-localized with tubulin, potentially preserving cytoskeletal architecture under these interventions. In H9c2 cells treated with calpain inhibitors (ALLN, ALLM) alphaB-crystallin exhibited a p38-MAPK- and [Ca 2+](i)-dependent phosphorylation pattern since the latter was ablated in the presence of the selective p38-MAPK inhibitor SB203580 and calcium chelator BAPTA-AM. Calpain activity repression ultimately led to apoptosis confirmed by PARP fragmentation and chromatin condensation. However, the apoptotic pathway activated by ALLM and ALLN differed, underlying the diverse transduction mechanisms stimulated. In addition to this, an anti-apoptotic role for phospho-alphaB-crystallin was verified by confirmation of its interaction with pro-caspase 3, hindering its cleavage and subsequent activation. Collectively, our findings underline alphaB-crystallin crucial role as a participant of cardiac cells early response to stressful stimuli compromising their survival.

αB-crystallin promotes tumor angiogenesis by increasing vascular survival during tube morphogenesis

Selective targeting of endothelial cells in tumor vessels requires delineation of key molecular events in formation and survival of blood vessels within the tumor microenvironment. To this end, proteins transiently up-regulated during vessel morphogenesis were screened for their potential as targets in antiangiogenic tumor therapy. The molecular chaperone αB-crystallin was identified as specifically induced with regard to expression level, modification by serine phosphorylation, and subcellular localization during tubular morphogenesis of endothelial cells. Small interfering RNA–mediated knockdown of αB-crystallin expression did not affect endothelial proliferation but led to attenuated tubular morphogenesis, early activation of proapoptotic caspase-3, and increased apoptosis. αB-crystallin was expressed in a subset of human tumor vessels but not in normal capillaries. Tumors grown in αB-crystallin−/− mice were significantly less vascularized than wild-type tumors and displayed increased areas of apoptosis/necrosis. Importantly, tumor vessels in αB-crystallin−/− mice were leaky and showed signs of caspase-3 activation and extensive apoptosis. Ultrastructural analyses showed defective vessels partially devoid of endothelial lining. These data strongly implicate αB-crystallin as an important regulator of tubular morphogenesis and survival of endothelial cell during tumor angiogenesis. Hereby we identify the small heat shock protein family as a novel class of angiogenic modulators.

Structure-function relations of the giant elastic protein titin in striated and smooth muscle cells

The striated muscle sarcomere contains, in addition to thin and thick filaments, a third myofilament comprised of titin. The extensible region of titin spans the I-band region of the sarcomere and develops passive force in stretched sarcomeres. This force positions the A-bands in the middle of the sarcomere, maintains sarcomere length homogeneity and, importantly, is responsible for myocardial passive tension that determines diastolic filling. Recent work suggests that smooth muscle expresses a truncated titin isoform with a short extensible region that is predicted to develop high passive force levels. Several mechanisms for tuning the titin-based passive tension have been discovered that involve alternative splicing as well as posttranslational modification, mechanisms that are at play both during normal muscle function as well as during disease.

Time-dependent changes in caspase-3 activity and heat shock protein 25 after spinal cord transection in adult rats

Chronic reductions in muscle activation and loading are associated with decreased heat shock protein 25 (Hsp25) expression and phosphorylation (pHsp25) which, in turn, may contribute to elevated caspase-3-mediated muscle protein breakdown. Thus, the purpose of the present study was to determine whether there are any changes in Hsp25, pHsp25 and caspase-3 activity among rat muscles having different fibre type compositions and functions [soleus, adductor longus (AL), plantaris and tibialis anterior (TA)] at 0 (control), 1, 8 or 28 days after a complete spinal cord transection (ST). The Hsp25 levels were unaffected on days 1 and 8 in all muscles, except for a significant reduction on day 8 in plantaris. The Hsp25 levels were lower than control values in all muscles except TA on day 28. The pHsp25 levels were lower than control values after 8 and 28 days in plantaris and AL and after 28 days in soleus, but higher than control in TA after 8 and 28 days. Caspase-3 activity was higher in ST than control rats on day 8 in all muscles except TA. Caspase-3 activity was negatively correlated with muscle mass for all muscles. In plantaris, Hsp25 and pHsp25 were negatively correlated with caspase-3 activity and Hsp25 was correlated with muscle mass. These relationships were not observed in other muscles. Thus, the effects of ST on Hsp25 and caspase-3 are muscle specific and time dependent, factors that should be considered in developing any intervention to maintain muscle mass after a spinal cord injury.

Localization of phosphorylated alphaB-crystallin to heart mitochondria during ischemia-reperfusion

The cytosolic small heat shock protein alphaB-crystallin (alphaBC) is a molecular chaperone expressed in large quantities in the heart, where it protects from stresses such as ischemia-reperfusion (I/R). Upon I/R, p38 MAP kinase activation leads to phosphorylation of alphaBC on Ser(59) (P-alphaBC-S59), which increases its protective ability. alphaBC confers protection, in part, by interacting with and affecting the functions of key components in stressed cells. We investigated the hypothesis that protection from I/R damage in the heart by P-alphaBC-S59 can be mediated by localization to mitochondria. We found that P-alphaBC-S59 localized to mitochondria isolated from untreated mouse hearts and that this localization increased more than threefold when the hearts were subjected to ex vivo I/R. Mitochondrial P-alphaBC-S59 decreased when hearts were treated with the p38 inhibitor SB-202190. Moreover, SB-202190-treated hearts exhibited more tissue damage and less functional recovery upon reperfusion than controls. I/R activates mitochondrial permeability transition (MPT) pore opening, which increases cell damage. We found that mitochondria incubated with a recombinant mutant form of alphaBC that mimics P-alphaBC-S59 exhibited decreased calcium-induced MPT pore opening. These results indicate that mitochondria may be among the key components in stressed cells with which P-alphaBC-S59 interacts and that this localization may protect the myocardium, in part, by modulating MPT pore opening and, thus, reducing I/R injury.

CRYAB and HSPB2 deficiency alters cardiac metabolism and paradoxically confers protection against myocardial ischemia in aging mice

The abundantly expressed small molecular weight proteins, CRYAB and HSPB2, have been implicated in cardioprotection ex vivo. However, the biological roles of CRYAB/HSPB2 coexpression for either ischemic preconditioning and/or protection in situ remain poorly defined. Wild-type (WT) and age-matched ( approximately 5-9 mo) CRYAB/HSPB2 double knockout (DKO) mice were subjected either to 30 min of coronary occlusion and 24 h of reperfusion in situ or preconditioned with a 4-min coronary occlusion/4-min reperfusion x 6, before similar ischemic challenge (ischemic preconditioning). Additionally, WT and DKO mice were subjected to 30 min of global ischemia in isolated hearts ex vivo. All experimental groups were assessed for area at risk and infarct size. Mitochondrial respiration was analyzed in isolated permeabilized cardiac skinned fibers. As a result, DKO mice modestly altered heat shock protein expression. Surprisingly, infarct size in situ was reduced by 35% in hearts of DKO compared with WT mice (38.8 +/- 17.9 vs. 59.8 +/- 10.6% area at risk, P < 0.05). In DKO mice, ischemic preconditioning was additive to its infarct-sparing phenotype. Similarly, infarct size after ischemia and reperfusion ex vivo was decreased and the production of superoxide and creatine kinase release was decreased in DKO compared with WT mice (P < 0.05). In permeabilized fibers, ADP-stimulated respiration rates were modestly reduced and calcium-dependent ATP synthesis was abrogated in DKO compared with WT mice. In conclusion, contrary to expectation, our findings demonstrate that CRYAB and HSPB2 deficiency induces profound adaptations that are related to 1) a reduction in calcium-dependent metabolism/respiration, including ATP production, and 2) decreased superoxide production during reperfusion. We discuss the implications of these disparate results in the context of phenotypic responses reported for CRYAB/HSPB2-deficient mice to different ischemic challenges.

Protein kinase C delta regulates anti-apoptotic alphaB-crystallin in the retina of type 2 diabetes

We investigated the relationship between phosphorylation of alphaB-crystallin (alphaBC) and retinal apoptosis in type 2 diabetes. The retinas of male Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima fatty (OLETF) rats at 24 and 35 weeks were used as an animal model for type 2 diabetes and sex- and age-matched Long-Evans Tokushima Otsuka (LETO) rats were used as controls. In the retinas of 35-week OLETF rats, the interaction between alphaBC and protein kinase C delta (PKC delta) among the PKC isozymes, alphaBC phosphorylation at Ser45 (S45p-alphaBC), TUNEL-positive apoptotic ganglion cells, several apoptotic signs, and co-localization of S45p-alphaBC and TUNEL significantly increased as compared with other groups while the alphaBC-Bax interaction greatly decreased. These changes were abolished by rottlerin treatment, a highly specific PKC delta inhibitor. These results suggest that PKC delta is involved in regulation of anti-apoptotic function of alphaBC in the retina of type 2 diabetes.

Protective and therapeutic role for alphaB-crystallin in autoimmune demyelination

alphaB-crystallin (CRYAB) is the most abundant gene transcript present in early active multiple sclerosis lesions, whereas such transcripts are absent in normal brain tissue. This crystallin has anti-apoptotic and neuroprotective functions. CRYAB is the major target of CD4+ T-cell immunity to the myelin sheath from multiple sclerosis brain. The pathophysiological implications of this immune response were investigated here. We demonstrate that CRYAB is a potent negative regulator acting as a brake on several inflammatory pathways in both the immune system and central nervous system (CNS). Cryab-/- mice showed worse experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) at the acute and progressive phases, with higher Th1 and Th17 cytokine secretion from T cells and macrophages, and more intense CNS inflammation, compared with their wild-type counterparts. Furthermore, Cryab-/- astrocytes showed more cleaved caspase-3 and more TUNEL staining, indicating an anti-apoptotic function of Cryab. Antibody to CRYAB was detected in cerebrospinal fluid from multiple sclerosis patients and in sera from mice with EAE. Administration of recombinant CRYAB ameliorated EAE. Thus, the immune response against a negative regulator of inflammation, CRYAB, in multiple sclerosis, would exacerbate inflammation and demyelination. This can be countered by giving CRYAB itself for therapy of ongoing disease.

Interactive sequences in the stress protein and molecular chaperone human alphaB crystallin recognize and modulate the assembly of filaments

Molecular chaperones including the small heat shock proteins, alphaB crystallin and sHSP27 participate in the assembly, disassembly, and reorganization of the cytoskeleton during cell development and differentiation. While alphaB crystallin and sHSP27 stabilize and modulate filament assembly and re-organization, the sequences and structural domains mediating interactions between these proteins and filaments are unknown. It is important to define these interactive domains in order to understand differential interactions between chaperones and stable or unfolding filaments and their function in the cellular stress response. Protein pin arrays identified sequences in human alphaB crystallin that selectively interacted with native or partially unfolded filament proteins desmin, glial-fibrillary acidic protein, and actin. Circular dichroism spectroscopy determined differences in the structure of these filaments at 23 and 45 degrees C. Seven alphaB crystallin sequences had stronger interactions with desmin and six sequences had stronger interactions with glial-fibrillary acidic protein at 23 degrees C than at 45 degrees C. The alphaB crystallin sequences (33)LESDLFPTSTSLSPFYLRPPSFLR(56) and (129)DPLTITSSLSSDGV(145) had the strongest interactions with actin at 23 degrees C, while (57)APSWFDTG(64), (111)HGFISREF(118), (145)VNGPRKQVSG(154), and (155)PERTIPITREEK(165) had the strongest interactions with actin at 45 degrees C. The actin interactive sequences of alphaB crystallin overlapped with previously identified alphaB crystallin chaperone sequences and were synthesized to evaluate their effect on the assembly and aggregation of actin. Full-length alphaB crystallin and the core domain chaperone sequence (131)LTITSSLSSDGV(143) promoted actin polymerization at 37 degrees C and inhibited depolymerization and aggregation at 50 degrees C. The results support the hypothesis that interactive domains in alphaB crystallin have multiple functions in stabilizing the cytoskeleton and protecting cytosolic proteins from unfolding.

Age-Related Increase of Insoluble, Phosphorylated Small Heat Shock Proteins in Human Skeletal Muscle

Among mammalian heat shock proteins (Hsps), small Hsps (sHsps) are constitutively expressed in skeletal muscles. We investigated age-related changes of phosphorylation and cellular distribution of representative sHsps (Hsp27 and alphaB-crystallin) in human vastus lateralis muscle under resting conditions. We also examined upstream kinases which may be responsible for phosphorylation of sHsps, namely p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), MAPK-activated protein kinase-2, and extracellular signal-regulated kinase-1/2. The study groups consisted of nine young (15-38 years old) and nine aged (51-79 years old) patients who underwent orthopedic surgery. sHsps protein levels were higher in the insoluble fraction of aged muscles. The phosphorylated states of sHsps were enhanced in both the soluble and insoluble fraction of aged patients. The phosphorylated form of each upstream kinase was elevated in aged patients. Ubiquitinated proteins accumulated in the insoluble fractions of aged muscles. Aging mechanisms may affect the activation process of MAPKs, and the phosphorylation and accumulation of sHsps.

Hsp27 (HspB1) and alphaB-crystallin (HspB5) as therapeutic targets

Hsp27 and alphaB-crystallin are molecular chaperones that are constitutively expressed in several mammalian cells, particularly in pathological conditions. These proteins share functions as diverse as protection against toxicity mediated by aberrantly folded proteins or oxidative-inflammation conditions. In addition, these proteins share anti-apoptotic properties and are tumorigenic when expressed in cancer cells. This review summarizes the current knowledge about Hsp27 and alphaB-crystallin and the implications, either positive or deleterious, of these proteins in pathologies such as neurodegenerative diseases, myopathies, asthma, cataracts and cancers. Approaches towards therapeutic strategies aimed at modulating the expression and/or the activities of Hsp27 and alphaB-crystallin are presented.

Association of αB-Crystallin, a Small Heat Shock Protein, with Actin: Role in Modulating Actin Filament Dynamics in Vivo

Disruption of cytoskeletal assembly is one of the early effects of any stress that can ultimately lead to cell death. Stabilization of cytoskeletal assembly, therefore, is a critical event that regulates cell survival under stress. alphaB-crystallin, a small heat shock protein, has been shown to associate with cytoskeletal proteins under normal and stress conditions. Earlier reports suggest that alphaB-crystallin could prevent stress-induced aggregation of actin in vitro. However, the molecular mechanisms by which alphaB-crystallin stabilizes actin filaments in vivo are not known. Using the H9C2 rat cardiomyoblast cell line as a model system, we show that upon heat stress, alphaB-crystallin preferentially partitions from the soluble cytosolic fraction to the insoluble cytoskeletal protein-rich fraction. Confocal microscopic analysis shows that alphaB-crystallin associates with actin filaments during heat stress and the extent of association increases with time. Further, immunoprecipitation experiments show that alphaB-crystallin interacts directly with actin. Treatment of heat-stressed H9C2 cells with the actin depolymerzing agent, cytochalasin B, failed to disorganize actin. We show that this association of alphaB-crystallin with actin is dependent on its phosphorylation status, as treatment of cells with MAPK inhibitors SB202190 or PD98059 results in abrogation of this association. Our results indicate that alphaB-crystallin regulates actin filament dynamics in vivo and protects cells from stress-induced death. Further, our studies suggest that the association of alphaB-crystallin with actin helps maintenance of pinocytosis, a physiological function essential for survival of cells.

Small heat shock protein alphaB-crystallin binds to p53 to sequester its translocation to mitochondria during hydrogen peroxide-induced apoptosis

Apoptosis is a highly conserved procedure of cell death and occurs under various stimuli, including oxidative stress. A small heat shock protein, alphaB-crystallin, is found to process resistance to apoptosis in some cells and tissues. But the mechanisms under this protective role are not fully understood. In the present study, we reported the early protective role of alphaB-crystallin against hydrogen peroxide-induced apoptosis in mice myogenic C(2)C(12) cells. alphaB-Crystallin interacted with p53, a proapoptotic protein, during cell apoptosis and such protein interaction mainly occurred in the cytoplasm of the cells, suggesting that the interaction of alphaB-crystallin with p53 might prevent the translocation of p53 from cytoplasm to mitochondria. Hence, this study provides a hint that alphaB-crystallin affects on p53 mitochondrial translocation during oxidative stress-induced apoptosis.

Effects of sodium salicylate on the expression of HSP27 protein during oxidative stress in tissue-cultured human lens epithelial cells

The effects of sodium salicylate on the expression of heat shock protein 27 (HSP27) during oxidative stress in tissue-cultured human lens epithelial cells were investigated. Cultured human lens epithelial cells (HLB-3) were divided into 3 groups: control group (group A), oxidation injury group (group B) and sodium salicylate group (group C). Apoptosis of human lens epithelial cells cultured in vitro was induced in the presence of 150 micromol/L H2O2. Cells viability and the expression of HSP27 were analyzed. Viability of the cells was measured by methyl thiazole tetrazolium (MTF) chromatometry. The expression of HSP27 in HLB-3 cells was detected by using immunohistochemistry and image analysis system. Sodium salicylate could induce the expression of HSP27, and the cells viability in group C was significantly higher than in group B (0.2667+/-0.01414 vs 0.2150+/-0.01080, P=0.012<0.05). The average gray value of HSP27 in group B was less than that in group C (P=0.000<0.05). The increased expression of HSP27 by sodium salicylate might play an important role in the protection of hydrogen peroxide-induced injury of human lens epithelial cells, suggesting that sodium salicylate could suppress, at least in part, the apoptosis of human lens epithelial cells.

Alterations in oxidative phosphorylation complex proteins in the hearts of transgenic mice that overexpress the p38 MAP kinase activator, MAP kinase kinase 6

Ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) has critical consequences in the heart. Recent studies on the functions of I/R-activated kinases, such as p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), showed that I/R injury is reduced in the hearts of transgenic mice that overexpress the p38 MAPK activator MAPK kinase 6 (MKK6). This protection may be fostered by changes in the levels of many proteins not currently known to be regulated by p38. To examine this possibility, we employed the multidimensional protein identification technology MudPIT to characterize changes in levels of proteins in MKK6 transgenic mouse hearts, focusing on proteins in mitochondria, which play key roles in mediating I/R injury in the heart. Of the 386 mitochondrial proteins identified, the levels of 58 were decreased, while only 2 were increased in the MKK6 transgenic mouse hearts. Among those that were decreased were 21 mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation complex proteins, which was unexpected because p38 is not known to mediate such decreases. Immunoblotting verified that proteins in each of the five oxidative phosphorylation complexes were reduced in MKK6 mouse hearts. On assessing functional consequences of these reductions, we found that MKK6 mouse heart mitochondria exhibited 50% lower oxidative respiration and I/R-mediated reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, both of which are predicted consequences of decreased oxidative phosphorylation complex proteins. Thus the cardioprotection observed in MKK6 transgenic mouse hearts may be partly due to decreased electron transport, which is potentially beneficial, because damaging ROS are known to be generated by mitochondrial complexes I and III during reoxygenation.

Cell signaling pathways to αB-crystallin following stresses of the cytoskeleton

Small heat shock proteins (sHSPs) act as chaperone, but also in protecting the different cytoskeletal components. Recent results suggest that alphaB-crystallin, a member of sHSPs family, might regulate actin filament dynamics, stabilize them in a phosphorylation dependent manner, and protect the integrity of intermediate filaments (IF) against extracellular stress. We demonstrate that vinblastin and cytochalasin D, which respectively disorganize microtubules and actin microfilaments, trigger the activation of the p38/MAPKAP2 kinase pathway and lead to the specific alphaB-crystallin phosphorylation at serine 59. Upstream of p38, we found that RhoK, PKC and PKA are selectively involved in the activation of p38 and phosphorylation of alphaB-crystallin, depending on the cytoskeletal network disorganized. Moreover, we demonstrate that chronic perturbations of IF network result in the same activation of p38 MAPK and alphaB-crystallin phosphorylation, as with severe disorganization of other cytoskeletal networks. Finally, we also show that Ser 59 phosphorylated alphaB-crystallin colocalizes with cytoskeletal components. Thus, disturbance of cytoskeleton leads by converging signaling pathways to the phosphorylation of alphaB-crystallin, which probably acts as a protective effector of the cytoskeleton.

Proteomic analysis reveals significant alternations of cardiac small heat shock protein expression in congestive heart failure

BACKGROUND

Because congestive heart failure (CHF) is a complex syndrome with many different underlying mechanisms of worsening of heart function, it is important to recognize the global alternations in protein expression associated with the processes of CHF.

METHODS AND RESULTS

The purpose of our study was to use a proteomic approach to investigate global alternations in protein expression in tachycardia induced CHF dogs. We compared the 2-dimensional electrophoresis protein patterns of left ventricular samples from the normal with those from failing myocardium. Differentially expressed cardiac proteins showed approximately 500 cardiac protein spots. A total of 20 spots (14 increased, 6 decreased) was altered in CHF, whereas the more distinguishably increased spots in CHF were identified by using mass spectrometry as alpha B crystallin, heat shock protein (HSP) 27, and HSP20, which maintain both the morphologic and functional integrity of the cardiomyocytes and increase tolerance against various types of stress. Because phosphorylation is one of the most important posttranslational modifications, we evaluated whether or not the overexpressed small HSPs were phosphorylated in CHF. Phosphoprotein staining and Western blotting demonstrated that the phosphorylation of alpha B crystallin at serine (Ser)-59 site and of HSP27 at both Ser-78 and Ser-82 sites increased in CHF.

CONCLUSION

Proteomics studies can provide new insights into molecular mechanisms in CHF and phosphorylated small HSPs may be involved in preventing cardiac dysfunction.

Stress-induced corneal epithelial apoptosis mediated by K+ channel activation

One of the functional roles of the corneal epithelial layer is to protect the cornea, lens and other underlying ocular structures from damages caused by environmental insults. It is important for corneal epithelial cells to maintain this function by undergoing continuous renewal through a dynamic process of wound healing. Previous studies in corneal epithelial cells have provided substantial evidence showing that environmental insults, such as ultraviolet (UV) irradiation and other biohazards, can induce stress-related cellular responses resulting in apoptosis and thus interrupt the dynamic process of wound healing. We found that UV irradiation-induced apoptotic effects in corneal epithelial cells are started by the hyperactivation of K+ channels in the cell membrane resulting in a fast loss of intracellular K+ ions. Recent studies provide further evidence indicating that these complex responses in corneal epithelial cells are resulted from the activation of stress-related signaling pathways mediated by K+ channel activity. The effect of UV irradiation on corneal epithelial cell fate shares common signaling mechanisms involving the activation of intracellular responses that are often activated by the stimulation of various cytokines. One piece of evidence for making this distinction is that at early times UV irradiation activates a Kv3.4 channel in corneal epithelial cells to elicit activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase cascades and p53 activation leading to cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. The hypothetic model is that UV-induced potassium channel hyperactivity as an early event initiates fast cell shrinkages due to the loss of intracellular potassium, resulting in the activation of scaffolding protein kinases and cytoskeleton reorganizations. This review article presents important control mechanisms that determine Kv channel activity-mediated cellular responses in corneal epithelial cells, involving activation of stress-induced signaling pathways, arrests of cell cycle progression and/or induction of apoptosis.

Activation of the unfolded protein response in infarcted mouse heart and hypoxic cultured cardiac myocytes

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stresses that reduce ER protein folding activate the unfolded protein response (UPR). One effector of the UPR is the transcription factor X-box binding protein-1 (XBP1), which is expressed on ER stress-mediated splicing of the XBP1 mRNA. XBP1 induces certain ER-targeted proteins, eg, glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78), that help resolve the ER stress and foster cell survival. In this study, we determined whether hypoxia can activate the UPR in the cardiac context. Neonatal rat ventricular myocyte cultures subjected to hypoxia (16 hours) exhibited increased XBP1 mRNA splicing, XBP1 protein expression, GRP78 promoter activation, and GRP78 protein levels; however, the levels of these UPR markers declined during reoxygenation, suggesting that the UPR is activated during hypoxia but not during reoxygenation. When cells were infected with a recombinant adenovirus (AdV) encoding dominant-negative XBP1 (AdV-XBP1dn), UPR markers were reduced; however, hypoxia/reoxygenation-induced apoptosis increased. Confocal immunocytofluorescence demonstrated that hypoxia induced GRP78 in neonatal rat and isolated adult mouse ventricular myocytes. Moreover, mouse hearts subjected to in vivo myocardial infarction exhibited increased GRP78 expression in cardiac myocytes near the infarct, but not in healthy cells distal to the infarct. These results indicate that hypoxia activates the UPR in cardiac myocytes and that XBP1-inducible proteins may contribute to protecting the myocardium during hypoxic stress.