Stress-induced localization of HSPA6 (HSP70B') and HSPA1A (HSP70-1) proteins to centrioles in human neuronal cells

Single-cell transcriptomic analysis of corneal organoids during development

Corneal organoids are useful tools for disease modeling and tissue transplantation; however, they have not yet been well studied during maturation. We characterized human iPSC-derived corneal organoids at 1, 2, 3, and 4 months of development using single-cell RNA sequencing to determine the cellular heterogeneity at each stage. We found pluripotent cell clusters committed to epithelial cell lineage at 1 month; early corneal epithelial, endothelial, and stromal cell markers at 2 months; keratocytes as the largest cell population at 3 months; and a large epithelial cell population at 4 months. We compared organoid to fetal corneal development at different stages and found that 4-month organoids closely resemble the corneal cellular complexity of the fetal (16 post conception week) and adult cornea. Using RNA velocity trajectory analysis, we found that less differentiated cells appear to give rise to corneal epithelial cells during development.

Alterations in Proteostasis System Components in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells in Parkinson Disease: Focusing on the HSP70 and p62 Levels

Parkinson disease (PD) is attributed to a proteostasis disorder mediated by α-synuclein accumulating in a specific brain region. PD manifestation is often related to extraneuronal alterations, some of which could be used as diagnostic or prognostic PD biomarkers. In this work, we studied the shifts in the expression of proteostasis-associated chaperones of the HSP70 family and autophagy-dependent p62 protein values in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of mild to moderate PD patients. Although we did not detect any changes in the intracellular HSP70 protein pool in PD patients compared to non-PD controls, an increase in the transcriptional activity of the stress-associated HSPA1A/B and HSPA6 genes was observed in these cells. Basal p62 content was found to be increased in PD patients’ PBMC, similarly to the p62 level in substantia nigra neural cells in PD. Moreover, the spontaneous apoptosis level was increased among PBMC and positively correlated with the p62 intracellular level in the PD group. A combined HSPA6- and p62-based analysis among 26 PD patients and 36 age-matched non-PD controls pointed out the diagnostic significance of these markers, with intermediate sensitivity and high specificity of this combination when observing patients diagnosed with PD.

Impact of Heat Shock Protein 90 Inhibition on the Proteomic Profile of Lung Adenocarcinoma as Measured by Two-Dimensional Electrophoresis Coupled with Mass Spectrometry

Heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) is an important chaperone in lung adenocarcinoma, with relevant protein drivers such as EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor) and EML4-ALK (echinoderm microtubule-associated protein-like protein4 fused to anaplastic lymphoma kinase) depending on it for their correct function, therefore HSP90 inhibitors show promise as potential treatments for lung adenocarcinoma. To study responses to its inhibition, HSP90 was pharmacologically interrupted by geldanamycin and resorcinol derivatives or with combined inhibition of HSP90 plus HSP70 in lung adenocarcinoma cell lines. Two-dimensional electrophoresis was performed to identify proteomic profiles associated with inhibition which will help to understand the biological basis for the responses. HSP90 inhibition resulted in altered protein profiles that differed according the treatment condition studied. Results revealed 254 differentially expressed proteins after treatments, among which, eukaryotic translation initiation factor3 subunit I (eIF3i) and citrate synthase demonstrated their potential role as response biomarkers. The differentially expressed proteins also enabled signalling pathways involved in responses to be identified; these included apoptosis, serine-glycine biosynthesis and tricarboxylic acid cycle. The proteomic profiles identified here contribute to an improved understanding of HSP90 inhibition and open possibilities for the detection of potential response biomarkers which will be essential to maximize treatment efficacy in lung adenocarcinoma.

Comparative structure-function features of Hsp70s of Plasmodium falciparum and human origins

The heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) family of molecular chaperones are crucial for the survival and pathogenicity of the main agent of malaria, Plasmodium falciparum. Hsp70 is central to cellular proteostasis and some of its isoforms are essential for survival of the malaria parasite. In addition, they are also implicated in the development of antimalarial drug resistance. For these reasons, they are thought to be potential drug targets, especially in antimalarial combination therapies. However, their high sequence conservation across species presents a hurdle with respect to their selective targeting. The human genome encodes 17 Hsp70 isoforms while P. falciparum encodes for only 6. The structural architecture of Hsp70s is typically characterized by a highly conserved N-terminal nucleotide-binding domain (NBD) and a less conserved C-terminal substrate-binding domain (SBD). The two domains are connected by a highly conserved linker. In spite of their fairly high sequence conservation, Hsp70s from various species possess unique signature motifs that appear to uniquely influence their function. In addition, their cooperation with co-chaperones further regulates their functional specificity. In the current review, bioinformatics tools were used to identify conserved and unique signature motifs in Hsp70s of P. falciparum versus their human counterparts. We discuss the common and distinctive structure-function features of these proteins. This information is important towards elucidating the prospects of selective targeting of parasite heat shock proteins as part of antimalarial design efforts.

Differential Glycosylation and Modulation of Camel and Human HSP Isoforms in Response to Thermal and Hypoxic Stresses

Increased expression of heat shock proteins (HSPs) following heat stress or other stress conditions is a common physiological response in almost all living organisms. Modification of cytosolic proteins including HSPs by O-GlcNAc has been shown to enhance their capabilities for counteracting lethal levels of cellular stress. Since HSPs are key players in stress resistance and protein homeostasis, we aimed to analyze their forms at the cellular and molecular level using camel and human HSPs as models for efficient and moderate thermotolerant mammals, respectively. In this study, we cloned the cDNA encoding two inducible HSP members, HSPA6 and CRYAB from both camel (Camelus dromedarius) and human in a Myc-tagged mammalian expression vector. Expression of these chaperones in COS-1 cells revealed protein bands of approximately 25-kDa for both camel and human CRYAB and 70-kDa for camel HSPA6 and its human homologue. While localization and trafficking of the camel and human HSPs revealed similar cytosolic localization, we could demonstrate altered glycan structure between camel and human HSPA6. Interestingly, the glycoform of camel HSPA6 was rapidly formed and stabilized under normal and stress culture conditions whereas human HSPA6 reacted differently under similar thermal and hypoxic stress conditions. Our data suggest that efficient glycosylation of camel HSPA6 is among the mechanisms that provide camelids with a superior capability for alleviating stressful environmental circumstances.

Knockdown of Heat Shock Proteins HSPA6 (Hsp70B') and HSPA1A (Hsp70-1) Sensitizes Differentiated Human Neuronal Cells to Cellular Stress

Heat shock proteins are involved in cellular repair and protective mechanisms that counter characteristic features of neurodegenerative diseases such as protein misfolding and aggregation. The HSPA (Hsp70) multigene family includes the widely studied HSPA1A (Hsp70-1) and the little studied HSPA6 (Hsp70B') which is present in the human genome and not in mouse and rat. The effect of knockdown of HSPA6 and HSPA1A expression was examined in relation to the ability of differentiated human SH-SY5Y neuronal cells to tolerate thermal stress. Low dose co-application of celastrol and arimoclomol, which induces Hsps, enhanced the ability of differentiated neurons to survive heat shock. Small interfering RNA (siRNA) knockdown of HSPA6 and HSPA1A resulted in loss of the protective effect of co-application of celastrol/arimoclomol. More pronounced effects on neuronal viability were apparent at 44 °C heat shock compared to 43 °C. siRNA knockdown suggests that HSPA6 and HSPA1A contribute to protection of differentiated human neuronal cells from cellular stress.

Differential Targeting of Hsp70 Heat Shock Proteins HSPA6 and HSPA1A with Components of a Protein Disaggregation/Refolding Machine in Differentiated Human Neuronal Cells following Thermal Stress

Heat shock proteins (Hsps) co-operate in multi-protein machines that counter protein misfolding and aggregation and involve DNAJ (Hsp40), HSPA (Hsp70), and HSPH (Hsp105α). The HSPA family is a multigene family composed of inducible and constitutively expressed members. Inducible HSPA6 (Hsp70B') is found in the human genome but not in the genomes of mouse and rat. To advance knowledge of this little studied HSPA member, the targeting of HSPA6 to stress-sensitive neuronal sites with components of a disaggregation/refolding machine was investigated following thermal stress. HSPA6 targeted the periphery of nuclear speckles (perispeckles) that have been characterized as sites of transcription. However, HSPA6 did not co-localize at perispeckles with DNAJB1 (Hsp40-1) or HSPH1 (Hsp105α). At 3 h after heat shock, HSPA6 co-localized with these members of the disaggregation/refolding machine at the granular component (GC) of the nucleolus. Inducible HSPA1A (Hsp70-1) and constitutively expressed HSPA8 (Hsc70) co-localized at nuclear speckles with components of the machine immediately after heat shock, and at the GC layer of the nucleolus at 1 h with DNAJA1 and BAG-1. These results suggest that HSPA6 exhibits targeting features that are not apparent for HSPA1A and HSPA8.

Components of a mammalian protein disaggregation/refolding machine are targeted to nuclear speckles following thermal stress in differentiated human neuronal cells

Heat shock proteins (Hsps) are a set of highly conserved proteins involved in cellular repair and protective mechanisms. They counter protein misfolding and aggregation that are characteristic features of neurodegenerative diseases. Hsps act co-operatively in disaggregation/refolding machines that assemble at sites of protein misfolding and aggregation. Members of the DNAJ (Hsp40) family act as "holdases" that detect and bind misfolded proteins, while members of the HSPA (Hsp70) family act as "foldases" that refold proteins to biologically active states. HSPH1 (Hsp105α) is an important additional member of the mammalian disaggregation/refolding machine that acts as a disaggregase to promote the dissociation of aggregated proteins. Components of a disaggregation/refolding machine were targeted to nuclear speckles after thermal stress in differentiated human neuronal SH-SY5Y cells, namely: HSPA1A (Hsp70-1), DNAJB1 (Hsp40-1), DNAJA1 (Hsp40-4), and HSPH1 (Hsp105α). Nuclear speckles are rich in RNA splicing factors, and heat shock disrupts RNA splicing which recovers after stressful stimuli. Interestingly, constitutively expressed HSPA8 (Hsc70) was also targeted to nuclear speckles after heat shock with elements of a disaggregation/refolding machine. Hence, neurons have the potential to rapidly assemble a disaggregation/refolding machine after cellular stress using constitutively expressed Hsc70 without the time lag needed for synthesis of stress-inducible Hsp70. Constitutive Hsc70 is abundant in neurons in the mammalian brain and has been proposed to play a role in pre-protecting neurons from cellular stress.

HSPA6 augments garlic extract-induced inhibition of proliferation, migration, and invasion of bladder cancer EJ cells; Implication for cell cycle dysregulation, signaling pathway alteration, and transcription factor-associated MMP-9 regulation

Although recent studies have demonstrated the anti-tumor effects of garlic extract (GE), the exact molecular mechanism is still unclear. In this study, we investigated the molecular mechanism associated with the inhibitory action of GE against bladder cancer EJ cell responses. Treatment with GE significantly inhibited proliferation of EJ cells dose-dependently through G₂/M-phase cell cycle arrest. This G₂/M-phase cell cycle arrest by GE was due to the activation of ATM and CHK2, which appears to inhibit phosphorylation of Cdc25C (Ser216) and Cdc2 (Thr14/Tyr15), this in turn was accompanied by down-regulation of cyclin B1 and up-regulation of p21WAF1. Furthermore, GE treatment was also found to induce phosphorylation of MAPK (ERK1/2, p38MAPK, and JNK) and AKT. In addition, GE impeded the migration and invasion of EJ cells via inhibition of MMP-9 expression followed by decreased binding activities of AP-1, Sp-1, and NF-κB motifs. Based on microarray datasets, we selected Heat shock protein A6 (HSPA6) as the most up-regulated gene responsible for the inhibitory effects of GE. Interestingly, overexpression of HSPA6 gene resulted in an augmentation effect with GE inhibiting proliferation, migration, and invasion of EJ cells. The augmentation effect of HSPA6 was verified by enhancing the induction of G₂/M-phase-mediated ATM-CHK2-Cdc25C-p21WAF1-Cdc2 cascade, phosphorylation of MAPK and AKT signaling, and suppression of transcription factor-associated MMP-9 regulation in response to GE in EJ cells. Overall, our novel results indicate that HSPA6 reinforces the GE-mediated inhibitory effects of proliferation, migration, and invasion of EJ cells and may provide a new approach for therapeutic treatment of malignancies.

Dynamics of the association of heat shock protein HSPA6 (Hsp70B') and HSPA1A (Hsp70-1) with stress-sensitive cytoplasmic and nuclear structures in differentiated human neuronal cells

Heat shock proteins (Hsps) are cellular repair agents that counter the effects of protein misfolding that is a characteristic feature of neurodegenerative diseases. HSPA1A (Hsp70-1) is a widely studied member of the HSPA (Hsp70) family. The little-studied HSPA6 (Hsp70B') is present in the human genome and absent in mouse and rat; hence, it is missing in current animal models of neurodegenerative diseases. Differentiated human neuronal SH-SY5Y cells were employed to compare the dynamics of the association of YFP-tagged HSPA6 and HSPA1A with stress-sensitive cytoplasmic and nuclear structures. Following thermal stress, live-imaging confocal microscopy and Fluorescence Recovery After Photobleaching (FRAP) demonstrated that HSPA6 displayed a prolonged and more dynamic association, compared to HSPA1A, with centrioles that play critical roles in neuronal polarity and migration. HSPA6 and HSPA1A also targeted nuclear speckles, rich in RNA splicing factors, and the granular component of the nucleolus that is involved in rRNA processing and ribosomal subunit assembly. HSPA6 and HSPA1A displayed similar FRAP kinetics in their interaction with nuclear speckles and the nucleolus. Subsequently, during the recovery from neuronal stress, HSPA6, but not HSPA1A, localized with the periphery of nuclear speckles (perispeckles) that have been characterized as transcription sites. The stress-induced association of HSPA6 with perispeckles displayed the greatest dynamism compared to the interaction of HSPA6 or HSPA1A with other stress-sensitive cytoplasmic and nuclear structures. This suggests involvement of HSPA6 in transcriptional recovery of human neurons from cellular stress that is not apparent for HSPA1A.

Targeting of Heat Shock Protein HSPA6 (HSP70B') to the Periphery of Nuclear Speckles is Disrupted by a Transcription Inhibitor Following Thermal Stress in Human Neuronal Cells

Heat shock proteins (Hsps) are a set of highly conserved proteins involved in cellular repair and protective mechanisms. The intracellular localization of inducible members of the HSPA (HSP70) family can be used as an index to identify stress-sensitive sites in differentiated human neuronal cells. Following thermal stress, the little studied HSPA6 (HSP70B') was targeted to the periphery of nuclear speckles (perispeckles) that are sites of transcription factories. Triptolide, a fast-acting transcription inhibitor, knocked down levels of the large subunit of RNA polymerase II, RPB1, during the time-frame when HSPA6 associated with perispeckles. Administration of triptolide to heat shocked human neuronal SH-SY5Y cells, disrupted HSPA6 localization to perispeckles, suggesting the involvement of HSPA6 in transcriptional recovery after stress. The HSPA6 gene is present in the human genome but is not found in the genomes of the mouse and rat. Hence current animal models of neurodegenerative diseases lack a member of the HSPA family that exhibits the feature of stress-induced targeting to perispeckles.

Microarray expression profiling identifies genes, including cytokines, and biofunctions, as diapedesis, associated with a brain metastasis from a papillary thyroid carcinoma

Brain metastatic papillary thyroid carcinomas (PTCs) are afflicted with unfavorable prognosis; however, the underlying molecular genetics of these rare metastases are virtually unknown. In this study, we compared whole transcript microarray expression profiles of a BRAF mutant, brain metastasis from a PTC, including its technical replicate (TR), with eight non-brain metastatic PTCs and eight primary brain tumors. The top 95 probe sets (false discovery rate (FDR) p-value < 0.05 and fold change (FC) > 2) that were differentially expressed between the brain metastatic PTC, including the TR, and both, non-brain metastatic PTCs and primary brain tumors were in the vast majority upregulated and comprise, e.g. ROS1, MYBPH, SLC18A3, HP, SAA2-SAA4, CP, CCL20, GFAP, RNU1-120P, DMBT1, XDH, CXCL1, PI3, and NAPSA. Cytokines were represented by 10 members in the top 95 probe sets. Pathway and network analysis (p-value < 0.05 and FC > 2) identified granulocytes adhesion and diapedesis as top canonical pathway. Most significant upstream regulators were lipopolysaccharide, TNF, NKkB (complex), IL1A, and CSF2. Top networks categorized under diseases & functions were entitled migration of cells, cell movement, cell survival, apoptosis, and proliferation of cells. Probe sets that were significantly shared between the brain metastatic PTC, the TR, and primary brain tumors include CASP1, CASP4, C1R, CC2D2B, RNY1P16, WDR72, LRRC2, ZHX2, CITED1, and the noncoding transcript AK128523. Taken together, this study identified a set of candidate genes and biofunctions implicated in, so far nearly uncharacterized, molecular processes of a brain metastasis from a PTC.

HSP70 regulates the function of mitotic centrosomes

To establish a functional bipolar mitotic spindle, the centrosome expands and matures, acquiring enhanced activities for microtubule (MT) nucleation and assembly at the onset of mitosis. However, the regulatory mechanisms of centrosome maturation and MT assembly from the matured centrosome are largely unknown. In this study, we showed that heat shock protein (HSP) 70 considerably accumulates at the mitotic centrosome during prometaphase to metaphase and is required for bipolar spindle assembly. Inhibition or depletion of HSP70 impaired the function of mitotic centrosome and disrupted MT nucleation and polymerization from the spindle pole, and may thus result in formation of abnormal mitotic spindles. In addition, HSP70 may associate with NEDD1 and γ-tubulin, two pericentriolar material (PCM) components essential for centrosome maturation and MT nucleation. Loss of HSP70 function disrupted the interaction between NEDD1 and γ-tubulin, and reduced their accumulation at the mitotic centrosome. Our results thus demonstrate a role for HSP70 in regulating centrosome integrity during mitosis, and indicate that HSP70 is required for the maintenance of a functional mitotic centrosome that supports the assembly of a bipolar mitotic spindle.

Stress Response Leading to Resistance in Glioblastoma-The Need for Innovative Radiotherapy (iRT) Concepts

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common and most aggressive malignant primary brain tumor in adults. In spite of multimodal therapy concepts, consisting of surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy, the median survival, merely 15–18 months, is still poor. Mechanisms for resistance of GBM to radio(chemo)therapy are not fully understood yet and due to the genetic heterogeneity within the tumor including radiation-resistant tumor stem cells, there are several factors leading to therapy failure. Recent research revealed that, hypoxia during radiation and miRNAs may adversely affect the therapeutic response to radiotherapy. Further molecular alterations and prognostic markers like the DNA-repair protein O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT), anti-apoptotic molecular chaperones, and/or the activity of aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 (ALDH1) have also been identified to play a role in the sensitivity to cytostatic agents. Latest approaches in the field of radiotherapy to use particle irradiation or dose escalation strategies including modern molecular imaging, however, need further evaluation with regard to long-term outcome. In this review we focus on current information about the mechanisms and markers that mediate resistance to radio(chemo)therapy, and discuss the opportunities of Innovative Radiotherapy (iRT) concepts to improve treatment options for GBM patients.

Expression, function, and regulation of the testis-enriched heat shock HSPA2 gene in rodents and humans

The HSPA2 gene is a poorly characterized member of the HSPA (HSP70) family. HSPA2 was originally described as testis-specific and expressed at the highest level in pachytene spermatocytes of rodents, the expression of which is not induced by heat shock. HSPA2 is crucial for male fertility. However, recent advances have shown that HSPA2 is expressed in various tumors and in certain types of somatic tissues. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge on the HSPA2 expression pattern, including information on transcriptional, translational, posttranslational, and epigenetic mechanisms which regulate HSPA2 expression. We also present and discuss the current views concerning the functions of the HSPA2 protein in spermatogenetic, somatic, and cancer cells. The knowledge of the properties of HSPA2, although limited, shows this protein as a unique member of the HSPA family. However, understanding whether this protein could become a relevant cancer biomarker or a therapeutically applicable target requires extensive further studies.

Functional chromatographic technique for natural product isolation

Natural product discovery arises through a unique interplay between chromatographic purification and biological assays. Currently, most techniques used for natural product purification deliver leads without a defined biological action. We now describe a technique, referred to herein as functional chromatography, that deploys biological affinity as the matrix for compound isolation.

Basal and stress-inducible expression of HSPA6 in human keratinocytes is regulated by negative and positive promoter regions

Epidermal keratinocytes serve as the primary barrier between the body and environmental stressors. They are subjected to numerous stress events and are likely to respond with a repertoire of heat shock proteins (HSPs). HSPA6 (HSP70B') is described in other cell types with characteristically low to undetectable basal expression, but is highly stress induced. Despite this response in other cells, little is known about its control in keratinocytes. We examined endogenous human keratinocyte HSPA6 expression and localized some responsible transcription factor sites in a cloned HSPA6 3 kb promoter. Using promoter 5' truncations and deletions, negative and positive regulatory regions were found throughout the 3 kb promoter. A region between -346 and -217 bp was found to be crucial to HSPA6 basal expression and stress inducibility. Site-specific mutations and DNA-binding studies show that a previously uncharacterized AP1 site contributes to the basal expression and maximal stress induction of HSPA6. Additionally, a new heat shock element (HSE) within this region was defined. While this element mediates increased transcriptional response in thermally stressed HaCaT keratinocytes, it preferentially binds a stress-inducible factor other than heat shock factor (HSF)1 or HSF2. Intriguingly, this newly characterized HSPA6 HSE competes HSF1 binding a consensus HSE and binds both HSF1 and HSF2 from other epithelial cells. Taken together, our results demonstrate that the HSPA6 promoter contains essential negative and positive promoter regions and newly identified transcription factor targets, which are key to the basal and stress-inducible expression of HSPA6. Furthermore, these results suggest that an HSF-like factor may preferentially bind this newly identified HSPA6 HSE in HaCaT cells.