PLC-γ1 Signaling Pathway and Villin Activation Are Involved In Actin Cytoskeleton Reorganization Induced by Na+/Pi Cotransport Up-regulation

Serum- and glucocorticoid-inducible kinase SGK1 regulates reorganization of actin cytoskeleton in mast cells upon degranulation

Aggregation of the high-affinity IgE receptor (FcεRI) on mast cells (MCs) causes MC degranulation, a process that involves cortical F-actin disassembly. Actin depolymerization may be triggered by increase of cytosolic Ca(2+). Entry of Ca(2+) through the Ca(2+) release-activated Ca(2+) (CRAC) channels is under powerful regulation by the serum- and glucocorticoid-inducible kinase SGK1. Moreover, FcεRI-dependent degranulation is decreased in SGK1-deficient (sgk1(-/-)) MCs. The present study addressed whether SGK1 is required for actin cytoskeleton rearrangement in MCs and whether modulation of actin architecture could underlie decreased degranulation of sgk1(-/-) MCs. Confirming previous results, release of β-hexosaminidase reflecting FcεRI-dependent degranulation was impaired in sgk1(-/-) MCs compared with sgk1(+/+) MCs. When CRAC channels were inhibited by 2-aminoethoxydiphenyl borate (2-APB; 50 μM), MC degranulation was strongly decreased in both sgk1(+/+) and sgk1(-/-) MCs and the difference between genotypes was abolished. Moreover, degranulation was impaired by actin-stabilizing (phallacidin) and enhanced by actin-disrupting (cytochalasin B) agents to a similar extent in sgk1(+/+) MCs and sgk1(-/-) MCs, implying a regulatory role of actin reorganization in this event. In line with this, measurements of monomeric (G) and filamentous (F) actin content by FACS analysis and Western blotting of detergent-soluble and -insoluble cell fractions indicated an increase of the G/F-actin ratio in sgk1(+/+) MCs but not in sgk1(-/-) MCs upon FcεRI ligation, an observation reflecting actin depolymerization. In sgk1(+/+) MCs, FcεRI-induced actin depolymerization was abolished by 2-APB. The observed actin reorganization was confirmed by confocal laser microscopic analysis. Our observations uncover SGK1-dependent Ca(2+) entry in mast cells as a novel mechanism regulating actin cytoskeleton.

Coordinate regulation of sphingosine kinase and actin dynamics

The activation of lipid-modifying enzymes generally involves a physical change in their interactions with the membrane substrate. For sphingosine kinase, a predominantly cytosolic enzyme in resting cells, activation is accompanied by translocation to specific subsets of cellular membranes where catalysis occurs. As all eukaryotic membranes have a tightly associated filamentous actin skeleton, we investigated potential regulatory interactions between sphingosine kinase and actin. Sphingosine kinase 1 (SK1) exhibited constitutive- and stimulus-enhanced association with actin filaments and F-actin-enriched membrane fractions in both intact macrophages and an in vitro reconstitution assay, whereas SK1 bound G-actin only under stimulated conditions. Actin inhibitors disrupted SK1 localization and increased its enzymatic activity. Both the localization and the activity of SK1 were coordinately regulated with the actin cytoskeleton. The association of enzymes with the actin cytoskeleton and how this regulates their activities and functions are subjects of intense interest. Here, we describe the approach we used to investigate regulation of SK1. This provides general methods that can be used to examine the role of actin in regulating enzyme activity in macrophages and other myeloid cells.

Regulation of cell structure and function by actin-binding proteins: villin's perspective

Villin is a tissue-specific actin modifying protein that is associated with actin filaments in the microvilli and terminal web of epithelial cells. It belongs to a large family of actin-binding proteins which includes actin-capping, -nucleating and/or -severing proteins such as gelsolin, severin, fragmin, adseverin/scinderin and actin crosslinking proteins such as dematin and supervillin. Studies done in epithelial cell lines and villin knock-out mice have demonstrated the function of villin in regulating actin dynamics, cell morphology, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, cell migration and cell survival. In addition, the ligand-binding properties of villin (F-actin, G-actin, calcium, phospholipids and phospholipase C-gamma1) are mechanistically important for the crosstalk between signaling pathways and actin reorganization in epithelial cells.

Cell responses regulated by early reorganization of actin cytoskeleton

Microfilaments exist in a dynamic equilibrium between monomeric and polymerized actin and the ratio of monomers to polymeric forms is influenced by a variety of extracellular stimuli. The polymerization, depolymerization and redistribution of actin filaments are modulated by several actin-binding proteins, which are regulated by upstream signalling molecules. Actin cytoskeleton is involved in diverse cellular functions including migration, ion channels activity, secretion, apoptosis and cell survival. In this review we have outlined the role of actin dynamics in representative cell functions induced by the early response to extracellular stimuli.

The Localization and Activity of Sphingosine Kinase 1 Are Coordinately Regulated with Actin Cytoskeletal Dynamics in Macrophages

The physiologic and pathologic functions of sphingosine kinase (SK) require translocation to specific membrane compartments. We tested the hypothesis that interactions with actin filaments regulate the localization of SK1 to membrane surfaces, including the plasma membrane and phagosome. Macrophage activation is accompanied by a marked increase in association of SK1 with actin filaments. Catalytically-inactive (CI)- and phosphorylation-defective (PD)-SK1 mutants exhibited reductions in plasma membrane translocation, colocalization with cortical actin filaments, membrane ruffling, and lamellipodia formation, compared with wild-type (WT)-SK1. However, translocation of CI- and PD-SK1 to phagosomes were equivalent to WT-SK1. SK1 exhibited constitutive- and stimulus-enhanced association with actin filaments and F-actin-enriched membrane fractions in both intact macrophages and a novel in vitro assay. In contrast, SK1 bound G-actin only under stimulated conditions. Actin inhibitors disrupted SK1 localization and modulated its activity. Conversely, reduction of SK1 levels or activity via RNA interference or specific chemical inhibition resulted in dysregulation of actin filaments. Thus, the localization and activity of SK1 are coordinately regulated with actin dynamics during macrophage activation.

Phosphorylation of FAK, PI-3K, and impaired actin organization in CK-positive micrometastatic breast cancer cells

Several markers have been used to detect circulating tumor cells (CTC) in the peripheral blood of patients with breast cancer. However, analysis of activated signaling kinases in CTC implicated in cellular transformation, migration, and survival has not been addressed so far. In the present study, we focused on the phenotypic profile of micrometastatic cells in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) preparations from 45 breast cancer patients. PBMC cytospins from 28 cytokeratin (CK)-positive and 17 CK-negative samples were assessed for the expression of phosphorylated FAK (p-FAK), phosphorylated PI-3 kinase (p-PI-3K), and HER2 using confocal laser scanning microscopy. The expression of p-FAK was documented in all 28 CK-positive samples, while all 17 CK-negative samples were tested negative for p-FAK. Immunomagnetic separation using EpCAM antibody fully confirmed these findings, implying a sound correlation for the co-expression of the two molecules. Interestingly, 15 of 28 CK- and p-FAK-positive samples also expressed the HER2 oncoprotein. p-PI-3K was documented in 15 of 17 CK- and p-FAK-positive samples. Immunoblot analysis of micrometastatic cells in co-culture with PBMC confirmed the specific expression of both p-FAK and p-PI-3K. Finally, impaired actin organization was apparent in CK- and p-FAK/p-PI-3K-positive samples, comparable to that observed in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells. Our findings provide strong evidence that micrometastatic cells express activated signaling kinases, which may regulate migration mechanisms, supporting the presumption of their malignant and metastatic nature.

Actin cytoskeleton architecture and signaling in osmosensing

Since the early days of cell volume regulation research, the role of actin cytoskeleton organization and rearrangement has attracted specific interest. Rapid modifications in actin dynamics and architecture have been described. They were shown to regulate cell volume changes, as well as regulatory volume decrease in a large variety of cell types, including hepatocytes, lymphocytes, fibroblasts, myocytes, and various tumor cells. Using microscopic and biochemical analyses, modifications of actin organization and polymerization dynamics were studied. This chapter summarizes the molecular approaches applied so far for the quantitative assessment of actin cytoskeleton dynamics in the various cell types. It demonstrates that rapid modifications of actin cytoskeleton dynamics regulated by specific signaling pathways play a functional role in cell volume regulation. It is concluded that studying actin polymerization dynamics and signaling represents a challenging tool for the understanding of osmosensing and osmosignaling regulation in cellular physiology.

Interaction of phospholipase C-gamma1 with villin regulates epithelial cell migration

Tyrosine-phosphorylated villin regulates actin dynamics, cell morphology, and cell migration. Previously, we identified four tyrosine phosphorylation sites in the amino-terminal domain of villin. In this study we report six new sites in the carboxyl-terminal region of the villin core. With this study we document all phosphorylatable tyrosine residues in villin and map them to functions of villin. In this study, we identify for the first time the functional relevance of the carboxyl-terminal domains of the villin core. Expression of the carboxyl-terminal phosphorylation site mutant, as well as the villin truncation mutant S1-S3, inhibited cell migration in HeLa and Madin-Darby canine kidney Tet-Off cells, confirming the role of the carboxyl-terminal phosphorylation sites in villin-induced cell migration. The carboxyl-terminal phosphorylation sites were found to be critical for the interaction of villin with its ligand phospholipase C-gamma1 and for its localization to the developing lamellipodia in a motile cell. The results presented here elucidate the molecular basis for tyrosine-phosphorylated villin-induced changes in cell motility.

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha promotes survival of opossum kidney cells via Cdc42-induced phospholipase C-gamma1 activation and actin filament redistribution

Although the renal proximal tubular epithelial cells are targeted in a variety of inflammatory diseases of the kidney, the signaling mechanism by which tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha exerts its effects in these cells remains unclear. Here, we report that TNF-alpha elicits antiapoptotic effects in opossum kidney cells and that this response is mediated via actin redistribution through a novel signaling mechanism. More specifically, we show that TNF-alpha prevents apoptosis by inhibiting the activity of caspase-3 and this effect depends on actin polymerization state and nuclear factor-kappaB activity. We also demonstrate that the signaling cascade triggered by TNF-alpha is governed by the phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase, Cdc42/Rac1, and phospholipase (PLC)-gamma1. In this signaling cascade, Cdc42 was found to be selectively essential for PLC-gamma1 activation, whereas phosphatidylinositol-3,4,5-triphosphate alone is not sufficient to activate the phospholipase. Moreover, PLC-gamma1 was found to associate in vivo with the small GTPase(s). Interestingly, PLC-gamma1 was observed to associate with constitutively active (CA) Cdc42V12, but not with CA Rac1V12, whereas no interaction was detected with Cdc42(T17N). The inactive Cdc42(T17N) and the PLC-gamma1 inhibitor U73122 prevented actin redistribution and depolymerization, confirming that both signaling molecules are responsible for the reorganization of actin. Additionally, the actin filament stabilizer phallacidin potently blocked the nuclear translocation of nuclear factor-kappaB and its binding activity, resulting in abrogation of the TNF-alpha-induced inhibition of caspase-3. To conclude, our findings suggest that actin may play a pivotal role in the response of opossum kidney cells to TNF-alpha and implicate Cdc42 in directly regulating PLC-gamma1 activity.

Villin enhances hepatocyte growth factor-induced actin cytoskeleton remodeling in epithelial cells

Villin is an actin-binding protein localized to intestinal and kidney brush borders. In vitro, villin has been demonstrated to bundle and sever F-actin in a calcium-dependent manner. Although villin is not necessary for the bundling of F-actin in vivo, it is important for the reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton elicited by stress during both physiological and pathological conditions (Ferrary et al., 1999). These data suggest that villin may be involved in actin cytoskeleton remodeling necessary for many processes requiring cellular plasticity. Here, we study the role of villin in hepatocyte growth factor (HGF)-induced epithelial cell motility and morphogenesis. For this purpose, we used primary cultures of enterocytes derived from wild-type and villin knock-out mice and Madin-Darby canine kidney cells, expressing villin in an inducible manner. In vitro, we show that epithelial cell lysates from villin-expressing cells induced dramatic, calcium-dependent severing of actin filaments. In cell culture, we found that villin-expressing cells exhibit enhanced cell motility and morphogenesis upon HGF stimulation. In addition, we show that the ability of villin to potentiate HGF-induced actin reorganization occurs through the HGF-activated phospholipase Cgamma signaling pathway. Collectively, these data demonstrate that villin acts as a regulator of HGF-induced actin dynamics.

The human prostate cancer cell line LNCaP bears functional membrane testosterone receptors that increase PSA secretion and modify actin cytoskeleton

Recent findings have shown that, in addition to the genomic action of steroids, through intracellular receptors, short-time effects could be mediated through binding to membrane sites. In the present study of prostate cancer LNCaP cells, we report that dihydrotestosterone and the non-internalizable analog testosterone-BSA increase rapidly the release of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in the culture medium. Membrane testosterone binding sites were identified through ligand binding on membrane preparations, flow cytometry, and confocal laser microscopy of the non-internalizable fluorescent analog testosterone-BSA-FITC, on whole cells. Binding on these sites is time- and concentration-dependent and specific for testosterone, presenting a KD of 10.9 nM and a number of 144 sites/mg protein (approximately 13000 sites/cell). Membrane sites differ immunologically for intracellular androgen receptors. The secretion of PSA after membrane testosterone receptor stimulation was inhibited after pretreatment with the actin cytoskeleton disrupting agent cytochalasin B. In addition, membrane testosterone binding modifies the intracellular dynamic equilibrium of monomeric to filamentous actin and remodels profoundly the actin cytoskeleton organization. These results are discussed in the context of a possible involvement of these sites in cancer chemotherapy.

Association of PI-3 kinase with PAK1 leads to actin phosphorylation and cytoskeletal reorganization

The family of p21-activated kinases (PAKs) have been implicated in the rearrangement of actin cytoskeleton by acting downstream of the small GTPases Rac and Cdc42. Here we report that even though Cdc42/Rac1 or Akt are not activated, phosphatidylinositol-3 (PI-3) kinase activation induces PAK1 kinase activity. Indeed, we demonstrate that PI-3 kinase associates with the N-terminal regulatory domain of PAK1 (amino acids 67-150) leading to PAK1 activation. The association of the PI-3 kinase with the Cdc42/Rac1 binding-deficient PAK1(H83,86L) confirms that the small GTPases are not involved in the PI-3 kinase-PAK1 interaction. Furthermore, PAK1 was activated in cells expressing the dominant-negative forms of Cdc42 or Rac1. Additionally, we show that PAK1 phosphorylates actin, resulting in the dissolution of stress fibers and redistribution of microfilaments. The phosphorylation of actin was inhibited by the kinase-dead PAK1(K299R) or the PAK1 autoinhibitory domain (PAK1(83-149)), indicating that PAK1 was responsible for actin phosphorylation. We conclude that the association of PI-3 kinase with PAK1 regulates PAK1 kinase activity through a Cdc42/Rac1-independent mechanism leading to actin phosphorylation and cytoskeletal reorganization.

Regulation of phospholipase C-gamma(1) by the actin-regulatory protein villin

The actin-regulatory protein villin is tyrosine phosphorylated and associates with phospholipase C-gamma(1) (PLC-gamma(1)) in the brush border of intestinal epithelial cells. To study the mechanism of villin-associated PLC-gamma(1) activation, we reconstituted in vitro the tyrosine phosphorylation of villin and its association with PLC-gamma(1). Recombinant villin was phosphorylated in vitro by the nonreceptor tyrosine kinase c-src or by expression in the TKX1 competent cells that carry an inducible tyrosine kinase gene. Using in vitro binding assays, we demonstrated that tyrosine-phosphorylated villin associates with the COOH-terminal Src homology 2 (SH2) domain of PLC-gamma(1). The catalytic activity of PLC-gamma(1) was inhibited by villin in a dose-dependent manner with half-maximal inhibition at a concentration of 12.4 microM. Villin inhibited PLC-gamma(1) activity by sequestering the substrate phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP(2)), since increasing concentrations of PIP(2) reversed the inhibitory effects of villin on PLC activity. The inhibition of PLC-gamma(1) activity by villin was reversed by the tyrosine phosphorylation of villin. Further, we demonstrated that tyrosine phosphorylation of villin abolished villin's ability to associate with PIP(2). In conclusion, tyrosine-phosphorylated villin associates with the COOH-terminal SH2 domain of PLC-gamma(1) and activates PLC-gamma(1) catalytic activity. Villin regulates PLC-gamma(1) activity by modifying its own ability to bind PIP(2). This study provides biochemical proof of the functional relevance of tyrosine phosphorylation of villin and identifies the molecular mechanisms involved in the activation of PLC-gamma(1) by villin.

Opioids suppress basal and nicotine-induced catecholamine secretion via a stabilizing effect on actin filaments

Catecholamine secretion and actin filament disassembly are closely coupled in chromaffin cells. Opioid suppression of catecholamine secretion is fast and transient, both characteristics of actin filament involvement. The aim of the present work was to test the hypothesis that opioids suppress catecholamine secretion via an inhibitory effect on actin filament disassembly. For this purpose we used the PC12 rat pheochromocytoma cell line. Norepinephrine and dopamine were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay or RIA. Polymerized actin was measured by rhodamine-phalloidin and visualized by confocal laser scanning microscopy. Opioids suppressed basal catecholamine secretion. The onset of this effect was fast and transient, peaking at 2 min, and was reversible by opioid antagonists. Synchronously, opioids suppressed actin filament disassembly; this was also reversible by opioid antagonists. Cytochalasin B prevented the inhibitory effect of opioids on catecholamine secretion. In addition, opioids suppressed the stimulatory effect of nicotine on catecholamine secretion and actin depolymerization. Changes in actin cytoskeleton in neuron-like PC12 cells make them resistant to both effects of opioids, i.e. on catecholamine secretion and actin disassembly. In conclusion, our data suggest that the suppressive effect of opioids on basal and nicotine-induced catecholamine secretion may result from an opioid-provoked stabilization of cortical actin. It also appears that basal catecholamine secretion is associated with opioid-sensitive machinery regulating the continuous formation of short-lived areas of cortical actin filament disassembly.