Src family kinase-dependent phosphorylation of a 29-kDa caveolin-associated protein

Caveolin-1 in sarcomas: friend or foe?

Sarcomas represent a heterogeneous group of tumors with a complex and difficult reproducible classification. Their pathogenesis is poorly understood and there are few effective treatment options for advanced disease. Caveolin-1 is a multifunctional scaffolding protein with multiple binding partners that regulates multiple cancer-associated processes including cellular transformation, tumor growth, cell death and survival, multidrug resistance, angiogenesis, cell migration and metastasis. However, ambiguous roles have been ascribed to caveolin-1 in signal transduction and cancer, including sarcomas. In particular, evidence indicating that caveolin-1 function is cell context dependent has been repeatedly reported. Caveolin-1 appears to act as a tumor suppressor protein at early stages of cancer progression. In contrast, a growing body of evidence indicates that caveolin-1 is up-regulated in several multidrug-resistant and metastatic cancer cell lines and human tumor specimens. This review is focused on the role of caveolin-1 in several soft tissue and bone sarcomas and discusses the use of this protein as a potential diagnostic and prognostic marker and as a therapeutic target.

Fyn kinase function in lipid utilization: a new upstream regulator of AMPK activity?

The balance of cellular energy levels in response to changes of nutrient availability, stress stimuli or exercise is a critical step in maintaining tissue and whole body homeostasis. Disruption of this balance is associated with various pathologies, including the metabolic syndrome. Recently, accumulating evidence has demonstrated that the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) plays a central role in sensing changes in energy levels. The regulation of AMPK activity is currently the subject of significant investigation since this enzyme is a potential therapeutic target in both metabolic disorders and tumorigenesis. In this review, we present novel evidence of crosstalk between Fyn, one member of the Src kinase family, and AMPK.

Tyrosine phosphorylation-dependence of caveolae-mediated endocytosis

Caveolae are flask-shaped plasma membrane invaginations that mediate endocytosis and transcytosis of plasma macromolecules, such as albumin, insulin and low-density lipoprotein (LDL), as well as certain viruses, bacteria and bacterial toxins. Caveolae-mediated transcytosis of macromolecules is critical for maintaining vascular homeostasis by regulating the oncotic pressure gradient and tissue delivery of drugs, vitamins, lipids and ions. Entrapment of cargo within caveolae induces activation of signalling cascades leading to caveolae fission and internalization. Activation of Src tyrosine kinase is an early and essential step that triggers detachment of loaded caveolae from the plasma membrane. In this review, we examine how Src-mediated phosphorylation regulates caveolae-mediated transport by orchestrating the localization and activity of essential proteins of the endocytic machinery to regulate caveolae formation and fission.

Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and xanthine oxidase regulate nitric oxide and reactive oxygen species productions by apoptotic lymphocyte microparticles in endothelial cells

Microparticles (MPs) are membrane vesicles released during cell activation and apoptosis. We have previously shown that MPs from apoptotic T cells induce endothelial dysfunction, but the mechanisms implicated are not completely elucidated. In this study, we dissect the pathways involved in endothelial cells with respect to both NO and reactive oxygen species (ROS). Incubation of endothelial cells with MPs decreased NO production that was associated with overexpression and phosphorylation of endothelial NO synthase (eNOS). Also, MPs enhanced expression of caveolin-1 and decreased its phosphorylation. Microparticles enhanced ROS by a mechanism sensitive to xanthine oxidase and P-IkappaBalpha inhibitors. PI3K inhibition reduced the effects of MPs on eNOS, but not on caveolin-1, whereas it enhanced the effects of MPs on ROS production. Microparticles stimulated ERK1/2 phosphorylation via a PI3K-depedent mechanism. Inhibition of MEK reversed eNOS phosphorylation but had no effect on ROS production induced by MPs. In vivo injection of MPs in mice impaired endothelial function. In summary, MPs activate pathways related to NO and ROS productions through PI3K, xanthine oxidase, and NF-kappaB pathways. These data underscore the pleiotropic effects of MPs on NO and ROS, leading to an increase oxidative stress that may account for the deleterious effects of MPs on endothelial function.

Fyn is required for oxidative- and hyperosmotic-stress-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of caveolin-1

Caveolin-1 is phosphorylated on Tyr(14) in response to both oxidative and hyperosmotic stress. In the present paper, we show that this phosphorylation requires activation of the Src family kinase Fyn. Stress-induced caveolin phosphorylation was abolished by three Src kinase inhibitors, SU6656, PP2 and PD180970, and was not observed in fibroblasts derived from a Src, Yes and Fyn triple-knockout mouse (SYF-/-). Using cell lines derived from single-kinase-knockout mice (Src-/-, Yes-/- and Fyn-/-), we show that expression of Fyn, but not Src or Yes, is required for stress-induced caveolin phosphorylation. Heterologous expression of Fyn in the SYF-/- and Fyn-/- cells was sufficient to reconstitute stress-induced caveolin phosphorylation, and overexpression of Fyn in wild-type cells induced hyperphosphorylation of caveolin. Fyn was autophosphorylated following oxidative stress, verifying activation of this kinase. Interestingly, there was a concomitant increase in the phosphorylation of Fyn on its Csk (C-terminal Src kinase) site, indicating feedback inhibition. Csk binds to phosphocaveolin [Cao, Courchesne and Mastick (2002) J. Biol. Chem. 277, 8771-8774] and should phosphorylate any co-localized Src-family kinases. Oxidative-stress-induced phosphorylation of caveolin-1 also requires expression of Abl [Sanguinetti and Mastick (2003) Cell Signal. 15, 289-298]. Using inhibitors and cells derived from knockout mice, we verified a requirement for both Abl and Fyn in stress-induced caveolin phosphorylation in a single cell type. Our data suggest a novel mechanism for attenuation of Src-kinase activity by Abl: stable tyrosine phosphorylation of a scaffolding protein, caveolin, and recruitment of Csk. Paxillin, a substrate of both Abl and Src, organizes a similar regulatory complex.

c-Abl is required for oxidative stress-induced phosphorylation of caveolin-1 on tyrosine 14

Caveolin-1 is phosphorylated at tyrosine 14 in response to cellular stress. Tyrosine 14 is a consensus Abl phosphorylation site suggesting that caveolin-1 may be an Abl substrate. We report here that expression of c-Abl is required for oxidative stress-induced caveolin-1 phosphorylation. In contrast, c-Src expression is not required. Phosphocaveolin is one of only two phosphotyrosine signals missing in lysates from the Abl(-/-) cells, indicating that these cells still respond to oxidative stress. Oxidative stress-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of caveolin-1 occurs only at the Abl site, tyrosine 14. Caveolin-1 is also a major phosphotyrosine signal detected in cells over-expressing c-Abl. Our results show that Abl activation leads to phosphorylation of caveolin-1 on tyrosine 14. Both Abl and caveolin have been linked to the actin cytoskeleton, and oxidative stress-induced phosphocaveolin is enriched at focal contacts. This suggests that phosphocaveolin regulates these structures, perhaps through recruiting and activating SH2-domain proteins such as Csk.