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Kodra AL, Singh AS, de la Cova C, Ziosi M, Johnston LA. The Drosophila tumor necrosis factor Eiger promotes Myc supercompetition independent of canonical Jun N-terminal kinase signaling. Genetics 2024; 228:iyae107. [PMID: 38985651 PMCID: PMC11373512 DOI: 10.1093/genetics/iyae107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2024] [Revised: 06/19/2024] [Accepted: 06/21/2024] [Indexed: 07/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Numerous factors have been implicated in the cell-cell interactions that lead to elimination of cells via cell competition, a context-dependent process of cell selection in somatic tissues that is based on comparisons of cellular fitness. Here, we use a series of genetic tests in Drosophila to explore the relative contribution of the pleiotropic cytokine tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) in Myc-mediated cell competition (also known as Myc supercompetition or Myc cell competition). We find that the sole Drosophila TNF, Eiger (Egr), its receptor Grindelwald (Grnd/TNF receptor), and the adaptor proteins Traf4 and Traf6 are required to eliminate wild-type "loser" cells during Myc cell competition. Although typically the interaction between Egr and Grnd leads to cell death by activating the intracellular Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) stress signaling pathway, our experiments reveal that many components of canonical JNK signaling are dispensable for cell death in Myc cell competition, including the JNKKK Tak1, the JNKK Hemipterous and the JNK Basket. Our results suggest that Egr/Grnd signaling participates in Myc cell competition but functions in a role that is largely independent of the JNK signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Albana L Kodra
- Department of Genetics and Development, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Aditi Sharma Singh
- Department of Genetics and Development, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Claire de la Cova
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53201, USA
| | | | - Laura A Johnston
- Department of Genetics and Development, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
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Pragati, Sarkar S. Targeted upregulation of dMyc restricts JNK-mediated degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the paraquat-induced Parkinson's disease model of Drosophila. Neurosci Res 2024; 200:57-62. [PMID: 37913999 DOI: 10.1016/j.neures.2023.10.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2023] [Revised: 10/07/2023] [Accepted: 10/29/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023]
Abstract
Parkinson's disease is the second most common neurodegenerative disease characterized by the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the brain. Parkinson's disease has both familial and sporadic cases of origin governed differentially by genetic and/or environmental factors. Different epidemiological studies have proposed an association between the pathogenesis of cancer and Parkinson's disease; however, a precise correlation between these two illnesses could not be established yet. In this study, we examined the disease-modifying property of dmyc (a Drosophila homolog of human cmyc proto-oncogene) in the paraquat-induced sporadic Parkinson's disease model of Drosophila. We report for the first time that targeted upregulation of dMyc significantly restricts paraquat-mediated neurotoxicity. We observed that paraquat feeding reduces the cellular level of dMyc. We further noted that targeted upregulation of dMyc in paraquat-exposed flies mitigates degeneration of dopaminergic neurons by reinstating the aberrantly activated JNK pathway, and this in turn improves the motor performance and survival rate of the flies. Our study provides the first evidence that improved cellular level of dMyc could efficiently minimize the neurotoxic effects of paraquat, which could be beneficial in designing novel therapeutic strategies against Parkinson's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pragati
- Department of Genetics, University of Delhi South Campus, Benito Juarez Road, New Delhi 110021, India
| | - Surajit Sarkar
- Department of Genetics, University of Delhi South Campus, Benito Juarez Road, New Delhi 110021, India.
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Dysfunction of lipid storage droplet-2 suppresses endoreplication and induces JNK pathway-mediated apoptotic cell death in Drosophila salivary glands. Sci Rep 2022; 12:4302. [PMID: 35277579 PMCID: PMC8917166 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-08299-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2021] [Accepted: 02/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The lipid storage droplet-2 (LSD-2) protein of Drosophila is a homolog of mammalian perilipin 2, which is essential for promoting lipid accumulation and lipid droplet formation. The function of LSD-2 as a regulator of lipolysis has also been demonstrated. However, other LSD-2 functions remain unclear. To investigate the role of LSD-2, we performed tissue-specific depletion in the salivary glands of Drosophila using a combination of the Gal4-upstream activating sequence system and RNA interference. LSD-2 depletion inhibited the entry of salivary gland cells into the endoreplication cycle and delayed this process by enhancing CycE expression, disrupting the development of this organ. The deficiency of LSD-2 expression enhanced reactive oxygen species production in the salivary gland and promoted JNK-dependent apoptosis by suppressing dMyc expression. This phenomenon did not result from lipolysis. Therefore, LSD-2 is vital for endoreplication cell cycle and cell death programs.
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A Novel Imidazopyridine Derivative Exerts Anticancer Activity by Inducing Mitochondrial Pathway-Mediated Apoptosis. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2020; 2020:4929053. [PMID: 32908894 PMCID: PMC7468608 DOI: 10.1155/2020/4929053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2020] [Accepted: 07/27/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Background Cancer remains a major clinical challenge because of the lack of effective drug for its treatment. To find out novel cancer chemotherapeutic molecules, we explored the anticancer effect of novel imidazopyridine compound 9i and also investigated the underlying molecular mechanism. Methods Human cervical cancer cell (HeLa) viability was measured by an MTT assay after treatment with compound 9i. Clonogenicity of HeLa cells was investigated by an in vitro colony formation assay. Cell death was visualized by propidium iodide (PI) staining. Fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) was used to determine apoptosis and mitochondrial membrane potential in HeLa cells. The expression level of apoptosis-related proteins was also determined by western blot. Results Compound 9i suppressed HeLa cell viability in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Compound 9i induced mitochondrial outer membrane permeabilization (MOMP), activated caspase cascade, and finally resulted in apoptosis. Conclusion Compound 9i induces mitochondrial pathway-mediated apoptosis in human cervical cancer cells, suggesting that 9i could be a potential lead compound to be developed as a cancer therapeutic molecule.
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Wang XC, Liu Z, Jin LH. Drosophila jumu modulates apoptosis via a JNK-dependent pathway and is required for other processes in wing development. Apoptosis 2020; 24:465-477. [PMID: 30796611 DOI: 10.1007/s10495-019-01527-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Previous studies in several model organisms have revealed that members of the Forkhead (Fkh) transcription factor family have multiple functions. Drosophila Jumeau (Jumu), a member of this family, participates in cardiogenesis, hematopoiesis and immune system homeostasis. Here, we show that loss of jumu function positively regulates or triggers apoptosis via a JNK-dependent pathway in wing development. jumu mutants showed reduced wing size and increased apoptosis. Moreover, we observed a loss of the anterior cross vein (ACV) phenotype that was similar to that observed in wings in which JNK signaling has been ectopically activated. The JNK signaling markers puckered (puc) and p-JNK were also significantly increased in the wing discs of jumu mutants. In addition, apoptosis induced by the loss of jumu was rescued by knocking down JNK, indicating a role for JNK in reducing jumu-induced apoptosis. Jumu could also control wing margin development via the positive regulation of cut expression, and the observed wing margin defect did not result from a loss of jumu-induced apoptosis. Further, jumu deficiency in the pupal wing could induce multiple wing hairs via a Rho1-mediated planar cell polarity pathway, but abnormal Rho1 expression was not why jumu loss induced apoptosis via a JNK-dependent pathway in wing discs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Chun Wang
- Department of Genetics, College of Life Sciences, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, 150040, China
| | - Ziguang Liu
- Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, 150040, China
| | - Li Hua Jin
- Department of Genetics, College of Life Sciences, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, 150040, China.
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Li Z, Wu C, Ding X, Li W, Xue L. Toll signaling promotes JNK-dependent apoptosis in Drosophila. Cell Div 2020; 15:7. [PMID: 32174999 PMCID: PMC7063707 DOI: 10.1186/s13008-020-00062-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2019] [Accepted: 02/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Apoptosis plays pivotal roles in organ development and tissue homeostasis, with its major function to remove unhealthy cells that may compromise the fitness of the organism. Toll signaling, with the ancient evolutionary origin, regulates embryonic dorsal–ventral patterning, axon targeting and degeneration, and innate immunity. Using Drosophila as a genetic model, we characterized the role of Toll signaling in apoptotic cell death. Results We found that gain of Toll signaling is able to trigger caspase-dependent cell death in development. In addition, JNK activity is required for Toll-induced cell death. Furthermore, ectopic Toll expression induces the activation of JNK pathway. Moreover, physiological activation of Toll signaling is sufficient to produce JNK-dependent cell death. Finally, Toll signaling activates JNK-mediated cell death through promoting ROS production. Conclusions As Toll pathway has been evolutionarily conserved from Drosophila to human, this study may shed light on the mechanism of mammalian Toll-like receptors (TLRs) signaling in apoptotic cell death.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhuojie Li
- 1Institute of Intervention Vessel, Shanghai 10th People's Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, School of Life Science and Technology, Tongji University, 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai, 200092 China
| | - Chenxi Wu
- 1Institute of Intervention Vessel, Shanghai 10th People's Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, School of Life Science and Technology, Tongji University, 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai, 200092 China.,2College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, North China University of Science and Technology, 21 Bohai Road, Tangshan, 063210 China
| | - Xiang Ding
- 1Institute of Intervention Vessel, Shanghai 10th People's Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, School of Life Science and Technology, Tongji University, 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai, 200092 China
| | - Wenzhe Li
- 1Institute of Intervention Vessel, Shanghai 10th People's Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, School of Life Science and Technology, Tongji University, 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai, 200092 China
| | - Lei Xue
- 1Institute of Intervention Vessel, Shanghai 10th People's Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, School of Life Science and Technology, Tongji University, 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai, 200092 China.,3Zhuhai Interventional Medical Center, Zhuhai Precision Medical Center, Zhuhai People's Hospital, Zhuhai Hospital Affiliated with Jinan University, Zhuhai, Guangdong 519000 China
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Sun Y, Zhang D, Li C, Huang J, Li W, Qiu Y, Mao A, Zhou M, Xue L. Lic regulates JNK-mediated cell death in Drosophila. Cell Prolif 2019; 52:e12593. [PMID: 30847993 PMCID: PMC6536442 DOI: 10.1111/cpr.12593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2018] [Revised: 01/30/2019] [Accepted: 01/31/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Objectives The evolutionary conserved JNK pathway plays crucial role in cell death, yet factors that modulate this signalling have not been fully disclosed. In this study, we aim to identify additional factors that regulate JNK signalling in cell death, and characterize the underlying mechanisms. Materials and Methods Drosophila were raised on standard media, and cross was carried out at 25°C. The Gal4/UAS system was used to express proteins or RNAi in a specific temporal and spatial pattern. Gene expression was revealed by GFP fluorescence, X‐gal staining or immunostaining of 3rd instar larval eye and wing discs. Cell death was visualized by acridine orange (AO) staining. Images of fly eyes and wings were taken by OLYMPUS microscopes. Results We found that licorne (lic) encoding the Drosophila MKK3 is an essential regulator of JNK‐mediated cell death. Firstly, loss of lic suppressed ectopic Egr‐triggered JNK activation and cell death in eye and wing development. Secondary, lic is necessary for loss‐of‐cell polarity‐induced, physiological JNK‐dependent cell death in wing development. Thirdly, Lic overexpression is sufficient to initiate JNK‐mediated cell death in developing eyes and wings. Furthermore, ectopic Lic activates JNK signalling by promoting JNK phosphorylation. Finally, genetic epistatic analysis confirmed that Lic acts in parallel with Hep in the Egr‐JNK pathway. Conclusions This study not only identified Lic as a novel component of the JNK signalling, but also disclosed the crucial roles and mechanism of Lic in cell death.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yihao Sun
- The First Rehabilitation Hospital of Shanghai, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Diseases Research, School of Life Science and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Di Zhang
- The First Rehabilitation Hospital of Shanghai, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Diseases Research, School of Life Science and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Chenglin Li
- The First Rehabilitation Hospital of Shanghai, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Diseases Research, School of Life Science and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jiuhong Huang
- International Academy of Targeted Therapeutics and Innovation, Chongqing University of Arts and Sciences, Chongqing, China
| | - Wenzhe Li
- The First Rehabilitation Hospital of Shanghai, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Diseases Research, School of Life Science and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yu Qiu
- The First Rehabilitation Hospital of Shanghai, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Diseases Research, School of Life Science and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Aiwu Mao
- Tongren Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Mingcheng Zhou
- The First Rehabilitation Hospital of Shanghai, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Diseases Research, School of Life Science and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Lei Xue
- The First Rehabilitation Hospital of Shanghai, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Diseases Research, School of Life Science and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
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Di Giacomo S, Sollazzo M, Paglia S, Grifoni D. MYC, Cell Competition, and Cell Death in Cancer: The Inseparable Triad. Genes (Basel) 2017; 8:genes8040120. [PMID: 28420161 PMCID: PMC5406867 DOI: 10.3390/genes8040120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2017] [Revised: 04/09/2017] [Accepted: 04/12/2017] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Deregulation of MYC family proteins in cancer is associated with a global reprogramming of gene expression, ultimately promoting glycolytic pathways, cell growth, and proliferation. It is well known that MYC upregulation triggers cell-autonomous apoptosis in normal tissues, while frankly malignant cells develop resistance to apoptotic stimuli, partly resulting from MYC addiction. As well as inducing cell-autonomous apoptosis, MYC upregulation is able to trigger non cell-autonomous apoptotic death through an evolutionarily conserved mechanism known as “cell competition”. With regard to this intimate and dual relationship between MYC and cell death, recent evidence obtained in Drosophila models of cancer has revealed that, in early tumourigenesis, MYC upregulation guides the clonal expansion of mutant cells, while the surrounding tissue undergoes non-cell autonomous death. Apoptosis inhibition in this context was shown to restrain tumour growth and to restore a wild-type phenotype. This suggests that cell-autonomous and non cell-autonomous apoptosis dependent on MYC upregulation may shape tumour growth in different ways, soliciting the need to reconsider the role of cell death in cancer in the light of this new level of complexity. Here we review recent literature about MYC and cell competition obtained in Drosophila, with a particular emphasis on the relevance of cell death to cell competition and, more generally, to cancer. Possible implications of these findings for the understanding of mammalian cancers are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone Di Giacomo
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Via Selmi 3, 40126 Bologna, Italy.
| | - Manuela Sollazzo
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Via Selmi 3, 40126 Bologna, Italy.
| | - Simona Paglia
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Via Selmi 3, 40126 Bologna, Italy.
| | - Daniela Grifoni
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Via Selmi 3, 40126 Bologna, Italy.
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