Bcl2 at the endoplasmic reticulum protects against a Bax/Bak-independent paraptosis-like cell death pathway initiated via p20Bap31

p20BAP31 promotes cell apoptosis via interaction with GRP78 and activating the PERK pathway in colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second most deadly cancer worldwide. Although various treatments for CRC have made progress, they have limitations. Therefore, the search for new effective molecular targets is important for the treatment of CRC. p20BAP31 induces apoptosis through diverse pathways and exhibits greater sensitivity in CRC. Therefore, a comprehensive exploration of the molecular functions of p20BAP31 is important for its application in anti-tumor therapy. In this study, we showed that exogenous p20BAP31 was still located in the ER and significantly activated the unfolded protein response (UPR) through the PERK pathway. The activation of the PERK pathway is prominent in p20BAP31-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation and apoptosis. We found, for the first time, that p20BAP31 leads to ER stress and markedly attenuates tumor cell growth in vivo. Importantly, mechanistic investigations indicated that p20BAP31 competitively binds to GRP78 from PERK and causes hyperactivation of the UPR. Furthermore, p20BAP31 upregulates the expression of GRP78 by promoting HSF1 nuclear translocation and enhancing its binding to the GRP78 promoter. These findings reveal p20BAP31 as a regulator of ER stress and a potential target for tumor therapy, and elucidate the underlying mechanism by which p20BAP31 mediates signal transduction between ER and mitochondria.

p20BAP31 Induces Autophagy in Colorectal Cancer Cells by Promoting PERK-Mediated ER Stress

B-cell receptor-associated protein 31 (BAP31) is an endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane protein involved in apoptosis and autophagy by communication with ER and mitochondria. BAP31 is cleaved by caspase-8 and generates a proapoptotic fragment, p20BAP31, which has shown to induce ER stress and apoptosis through multiple pathways. In this study, we found that p20BAP31 significantly increased the agglomeration of LC3 puncta, suggesting the occurrence of autophagy. Therefore, it is meaningful to explore the mechanism of p20BAP31-induced autophagy, and further analyze the relationships among p20BAP31-induced autophagy, ER stress and apoptosis. The data showed that p20BAP31 induced autophagy by inhibition of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling in colorectal cells. ER stress inhibitor 4-PBA and PERK siRNA alleviated p20BAP31-induced autophagy; in turn, autophagy inhibitors 3-MA and CQ did not affect p20BAP31-induced ER stress, suggesting that p20BAP31-induced ER stress is the upstream of autophagy. We also discovered that ROS inhibitor NAC inhibited p20BAP31-induced autophagy. Furthermore, inhibition of autophagy by CQ suppressed p20BAP31-induced apoptosis and ameliorated cell proliferation. Importantly, p20BAP31 markedly reduced the tumor size in vivo, and significantly enhanced the autophagy levels in the tumor tissues. Collectively, p20BAP31 initiates autophagy by inhibiting the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling and activating the PERK-mediated ROS accumulation, further promotes p20BAP31-induced apoptosis and ultimately results in cell death. This study comprehensively reveals the potential mechanism of p20BAP31-induced cell death, which may provide new strategies for antitumor therapy.

V. J, Pal S, Nair BG, Kar R, Mishra N. Paraptosis: a unique cell death mode for targeting cancer

Programmed cell death (PCD) is the universal process that maintains cellular homeostasis and regulates all living systems' development, health and disease. Out of all, apoptosis is one of the major PCDs that was found to play a crucial role in many disease conditions, including cancer. The cancer cells acquire the ability to escape apoptotic cell death, thereby increasing their resistance towards current therapies. This issue has led to the need to search for alternate forms of programmed cell death mechanisms. Paraptosis is an alternative cell death pathway characterized by vacuolation and damage to the endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria. Many natural compounds and metallic complexes have been reported to induce paraptosis in cancer cell lines. Since the morphological and biochemical features of paraptosis are much different from apoptosis and other alternate PCDs, it is crucial to understand the different modulators governing it. In this review, we have highlighted the factors that trigger paraptosis and the role of specific modulators in mediating this alternative cell death pathway. Recent findings include the role of paraptosis in inducing anti-tumour T-cell immunity and other immunogenic responses against cancer. A significant role played by paraptosis in cancer has also scaled its importance in knowing its mechanism. The study of paraptosis in xenograft mice, zebrafish model, 3D cultures, and novel paraptosis-based prognostic model for low-grade glioma patients have led to the broad aspect and its potential involvement in the field of cancer therapy. The co-occurrence of different modes of cell death with photodynamic therapy and other combinatorial treatments in the tumour microenvironment are also summarized here. Finally, the growth, challenges, and future perspectives of paraptosis research in cancer are discussed in this review. Understanding this unique PCD pathway would help to develop potential therapy and combat chemo-resistance in various cancer.

p20BAP31 induces cell apoptosis via both AIF caspase-independent and the ROS/JNK mitochondrial pathway in colorectal cancer

Background

During cell apoptosis, the C-terminus of BAP31 is cleaved by caspase-8 and generates p20BAP31, which has been shown to induce an apoptotic pathway between the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and mitochondria. However, the underlying mechanisms of p20BAP31 in cell apoptosis remains unclear.

Methods

We compared the effects of p20BAP31 on cell apoptosis in six cell lines and selected the most sensitive cells. Functional experiments were conducted, including Cell Counting Kit 8 (CCK-8), reactive oxygen species (ROS), and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) assay. Then, cell cycle and apoptosis were investigated by flow cytometry and verified by immunoblotting. Next, NOX inhibitors (ML171 and apocynin), ROS scavenger (NAC), JNK inhibitor (SP600125), and caspase inhibitor (Z-VAD-FMK) were used to further investigate the underlying mechanisms of p20BAP31 on cell apoptosis. Finally, apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) translocation from the mitochondria to the nuclei was verified by immunoblotting and immunofluorescence assay.

Results

We found that overexpression of p20BAP31 indeed induced apoptosis and had a much greater sensitivity in HCT116 cells. Furthermore, the overexpression of p20BAP31 inhibited cell proliferation by causing S phase arrest. Further study revealed that p20BAP31 reduced MMP, with a significant increase in ROS levels, accompanied by the activation of the MAPK signaling pathway. Importantly, the mechanistic investigation indicated that p20BAP31 induces mitochondrial-dependent apoptosis by activating the ROS/JNK signaling pathway and induces caspase-independent apoptosis by promoting the nuclear translocation of AIF.

Conclusions

p20BAP31 induced cell apoptosis via both the ROS/JNK mitochondrial pathway and AIF caspase-independent pathway. Compared with antitumor drugs that are susceptible to drug resistance, p20BAP31 has unique advantages for tumor therapy.

BCAP31 is involved in modulating colorectal cancer cell proliferation via the Emerin/β-catenin axis

Understanding the mechanisms of colorectal cancer (CRC) progression is critical for developing innovative treatment strategies. As an endoplasmic reticulum-located protein, B cell receptor-associated protein 31 (BCAP31) has been identified to be highly expressed in multiple cancers. However, its function and molecular mechanism in CRC remain not fully understood. In the present study, BCAP31 expression and its correlation with the clinical stage were analyzed based on TCGA database. We demonstrated that loss of BCAP31 suppressed CRC cell proliferation in vitro and tumor growth in vivo. Mechanistically, we demonstrated that Emerin was an interaction partner and downstream molecule of BCAP31. Knockdown of BCAP31 promoted the nuclear envelope localization of Emerin, leading to a reduction of β-catenin accumulation in the nucleus, which resulted in downregulation of Wnt/β-catenin downstream target genes, including c-Myc, cyclin D1, Survivin, and Mcl-1. Moreover, downregulation of Emerin partially restored the BCAP31 depletion-mediated β-catenin protein level and tumor suppressive effects in CRC cells.Our data highlights the pivotal role of BCAP31 depletion in inhibiting cell proliferation in CRC cells, and mechanistically via Emerin/β-catenin signaling, which may serve as a promising target for CRC treatment.

BAP31: Physiological functions and roles in disease

B-cell receptor-associated protein 31 (BAP31 or BCAP31) is a ubiquitously expressed transmembrane protein found mainly in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), including in mitochondria-associated membranes (MAMs). It acts as a broad-specificity membrane protein chaperone and quality control factor, which can promote different fates for its clients, including ER retention, ER export, ER-associated degradation (ERAD), or evasion of degradation, and it also acts as a MAM tetherer and regulatory protein. It is involved in several cellular processes - it supports ER and mitochondrial homeostasis, promotes proliferation and migration, plays several roles in metabolism and the immune system, and regulates autophagy and apoptosis. Full-length BAP31 can be anti-apoptotic, but can also mediate activation of caspase-8, and itself be cleaved by caspase-8 into p20-BAP31, which promotes apoptosis by mobilizing ER calcium stores at MAMs. BAP31 loss-of-function mutations is the cause of 'deafness, dystonia, and central hypomyelination' (DDCH) syndrome, characterized by severe neurological symptoms and early death. BAP31 is furthermore implicated in a growing number of cancers and other diseases, and several viruses have been found to target it to promote their survival or life cycle progression. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview and examination of the basic properties, functions, mechanisms, and roles in disease of BAP31.

Traumatic Brain Injury: Ultrastructural Features in Neuronal Ferroptosis, Glial Cell Activation and Polarization, and Blood-Brain Barrier Breakdown

The secondary injury process after traumatic brain injury (TBI) results in motor dysfunction, cognitive and emotional impairment, and poor outcomes. These injury cascades include excitotoxic injury, mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, ion imbalance, inflammation, and increased vascular permeability. Electron microscopy is an irreplaceable tool to understand the complex pathogenesis of TBI as the secondary injury is usually accompanied by a series of pathologic changes at the ultra-micro level of the brain cells. These changes include the ultrastructural changes in different parts of the neurons (cell body, axon, and synapses), glial cells, and blood–brain barrier, etc. In view of the current difficulties in the treatment of TBI, identifying the changes in subcellular structures can help us better understand the complex pathologic cascade reactions after TBI and improve clinical diagnosis and treatment. The purpose of this review is to summarize and discuss the ultrastructural changes related to neurons (e.g., condensed mitochondrial membrane in ferroptosis), glial cells, and blood–brain barrier in the existing reports of TBI, to deepen the in-depth study of TBI pathomechanism, hoping to provide a future research direction of pathogenesis and treatment, with the ultimate aim of improving the prognosis of patients with TBI.

Biological roles of the B cell receptor-associated protein 31: Functional Implication in Cancer

BAP31 is a ubiquitously expressed integral membrane protein of the endoplasmic reticulum. BAP31 is involved in various biological and molecular processes, including protein transport, viral processing, apoptosis signaling, MHC 1 antigen processing and presentation, mitochondria and ER calcium regulation, and proteasomal protein degradation. We employed a BAP31 interaction search using STRING and inBioMap™ protein-protein interaction networks, and the Metabolic Atlas, which revealed molecular and metabolic interactors involved in various pathways essential for cell growth, cell survival, and disease development. BAP31, as a chaperone and resident protein of the ER, was reported in the development of some central nervous system disorders and metabolic diseases about AD, ALS, and Liver disease. In addition, BAP31 is overexpressed in many cancers. Furthermore, research around BAP31 involvement in cancer has taken up a shape, focusing on its roles in cancer cell survival, disease prognosis, and targeted treatment. Here, we address published data on the Biological roles of BAP31 in both health and disease. We present an analytical description of BAP31 expression and functional implication in some human cancers and the impact of its expression and regulation while it models as a potential target in cancer therapy. Besides, a profound understanding of BAP31 is insightful of the gap between cancer development and neurodegeneration, thus generating novel ideas surrounding the link between the two different cell phenomena.

Role of Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress in the Anticancer Activity of Natural Compounds

Cancer represents a serious global health problem, and its incidence and mortality are rapidly growing worldwide. One of the main causes of the failure of an anticancer treatment is the development of drug resistance by cancer cells. Therefore, it is necessary to develop new drugs characterized by better pharmacological and toxicological profiles. Natural compounds can represent an optimal collection of bioactive molecules. Many natural compounds have been proven to possess anticancer effects in different types of tumors, but often the molecular mechanisms associated with their cytotoxicity are not completely understood. The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is an organelle involved in multiple cellular processes. Alteration of ER homeostasis and its appropriate functioning originates a cascade of signaling events known as ER stress response or unfolded protein response (UPR). The UPR pathways involve three different sensors (protein kinase RNA(PKR)-like ER kinase (PERK), inositol requiring enzyme1α (IRE1) and activating transcription factor 6 (ATF6)) residing on the ER membranes. Although the main purpose of UPR is to restore this organelle's homeostasis, a persistent UPR can trigger cell death pathways such as apoptosis. There is a growing body of evidence showing that ER stress may play a role in the cytotoxicity of many natural compounds. In this review we present an overview of different plant-derived natural compounds, such as curcumin, resveratrol, green tea polyphenols, tocotrienols, and garcinia derivates, that exert their anticancer activity via ER stress modulation in different human cancers.

The thiosemicarbazone Me2NNMe2 induces paraptosis by disrupting the ER thiol redox homeostasis based on protein disulfide isomerase inhibition

Due to their high biological activity, thiosemicarbazones have been developed for treatment of diverse diseases, including cancer, resulting in multiple clinical trials especially of the lead compound Triapine. During the last years, a novel subclass of anticancer thiosemicarbazones has attracted substantial interest based on their enhanced cytotoxic activity. Increasing evidence suggests that the double-dimethylated Triapine derivative Me₂NNMe₂ differs from Triapine not only in its efficacy but also in its mode of action. Here we show that Me₂NNMe₂- (but not Triapine)-treated cancer cells exhibit all hallmarks of paraptotic cell death including, besides the appearance of endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-derived vesicles, also mitochondrial swelling and caspase-independent cell death via the MAPK signaling pathway. Subsequently, we uncover that the copper complex of Me₂NNMe₂ (a supposed intracellular metabolite) inhibits the ER-resident protein disulfide isomerase, resulting in a specific form of ER stress based on disruption of the Ca²⁺ and ER thiol redox homeostasis. Our findings indicate that compounds like Me₂NNMe₂ are of interest especially for the treatment of apoptosis-resistant cancer and provide new insights into mechanisms underlying drug-induced paraptosis.

The tumorigenic role of DSPP and its potential regulation of the unfolded protein response and ER stress in oral cancer cells

Dentin sialophosphoprotein (DSPP) is upregulated in various human cancers, including head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Cancer cells are commonly found under constant endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and exhibit increased levels of misfolded proteins, due to gene mutations and a stressful microenvironment. The present study examined the effects of DSPP silencing on the regulation of ER stress and the unfolded protein response (UPR) in oral cancer cells. A recently established stable DSPP short hairpin (sh)RNA-silenced OSC2 oral cancer cell line was used. The mRNA expression levels of ER stress-associated proteins, including 78 kDa glucose-regulated protein (GRP78), sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic reticulum calcium ATPase 2b (SERCA2b), inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor (IP3r), protein kinase R-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase (PERK), serine/threonine-protein kinase/endoribonuclease IRE1 (IRE1), activating transcription factor 6 (ATF6) and matrix metalloproteinase 20 (MMP20), were assessed by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The expression levels of apoptosis-related [B‑cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl2), Bcl2-associated X protein (Bax) and cytochrome c] and cell proliferation-related [proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA)] proteins were analyzed by western blotting. Cell viability, apoptosis and migration were monitored by MTT assay, Annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate flow cytometry and wound-healing assay, respectively. In transiently transfected puromycin‑free OSC2 cells, DSPP silencing markedly downregulated the mRNA expression levels of major ER stress regulators, including GRP78, SERCA2b, PERK, IRE1 and ATF6, as well as MMP20. DSPP silencing also resulted in decreased cell viability and migration, and enhanced apoptosis. Furthermore, PCNA and Bcl2 levels were decreased, whereas Bax and cytochrome c protein levels were increased in DSPP-silenced OSC2 cells. Sustained puromycin treatment partially counteracted the effects of DSPP silencing on the mRNA expression levels of ER stress-related proteins and MMP20, and on the migratory capacity of OSC2 cells. However, following puromycin treatment of DSPP-silenced cells, cell viability was further reduced and apoptosis was enhanced. In conclusion, these data provide evidence to suggest that DSPP may be involved in ER stress mechanisms in oral squamous cell carcinoma, since its downregulation in OSC2 cells led to significant alterations in the levels of major ER stress-associated proteins, and subsequent collapse of the UPR system.

SIVcpz closely related to the ancestral HIV-1 is less or non-pathogenic to humans in a hu-BLT mouse model

The HIV-1 pandemic is a consequence of the cross-species transmission of simian immunodeficiency virus in wild chimpanzees (SIVcpz) to humans. Our previous study demonstrated SIVcpz strains that are closely related to the ancestral viruses of HIV-1 groups M (SIVcpzMB897) and N (SIVcpzEK505) and two SIVcpz lineages that are not associated with any known HIV-1 infections in humans (SIVcpzMT145 and SIVcpzBF1167), all can readily infect and robustly replicate in the humanized-BLT mouse model of humans. However, the comparative pathogenicity of different SIVcpz strains remains unknown. Herein, we compared the pathogenicity of the above four SIVcpz strains with HIV-1 using humanized-BLT mice. Unexpectedly, we found that all four SIVcpz strains were significantly less pathogenic or non-pathogenic compared to HIV-1, manifesting lower degrees of CD4+ T-cell depletion and immune activation. Transcriptome analyses of CD4+ T cells from hu-BLT mice infected with SIVcpz versus HIV-1 revealed enhanced expression of genes related to cell survival and reduced inflammation/immune activation in SIVcpz-infected mice. Together, our study results demonstrate for the first time that SIVcpz is significantly less or non-pathogenic to human immune cells compared to HIV-1. Our findings lay the groundwork for a possible new understanding of the evolutionary origins of HIV-1, where the initial SIVcpz cross-species transmission virus may be initially less pathogenic to humans.

Plant-specific 4/1 polypeptide interacts with an endoplasmic reticulum protein related to human BAP31

MAIN CONCLUSION

The plant-specific 4/1 protein interacts, both in yeast two-hybrid system and in vitro, and co-localizes in plant cells with plant BAP-like protein, the orthologue of human protein BAP31. In yeast two-hybrid system, we identified a number of Nicotiana benthamiana protein interactors of Nt-4/1, the protein known to affect systemic transport of potato spindle tuber viroid. For one of these interactors, an orthologue of human B-cell receptor-associated protein 31 (BAP31) termed plant BAP-like protein (PBL), the ability to interact with Nt-4/1 was studied in greater detail. Analyses of purified proteins expressed in bacterial cells carried out in vitro with the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) spectroscopy revealed that the N. tabacum PBL (NtPBL) was able to interact with Nt-4/1 with high-affinity, and that their complex can form at physiologically relevant concentrations of both proteins. Subcellular localization studies of 4/1-GFP and NtPBL-mRFP transiently co-expressed in plant cells revealed the co-localization of the two fusion proteins in endoplasmic reticulum-associated bodies, suggesting their interaction in vivo. The N-terminal region of the Nt-4/1 protein was found to be required for the specific subcellular targeting of the protein, presumably due to a predicted amphipathic helix mediating association of the Nt-4/1 protein with cell membranes. Additionally, this region was found to contain a trans-activator domain responsible for the Nt-4/1 ability to activate transcription of a reporter gene in yeast.

Endoplasmic reticulum-mediated unfolded protein response and mitochondrial apoptosis in cancer

Abrogation of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) protein folding triggered by exogenous or endogenous factors, stimulates a cellular stress response, termed ER stress. ER stress re-establishes ER homeostasis through integrated signaling termed the ER-unfolded protein response (UPR^ER). In the presence of severe toxic or prolonged ER stress, the pro-survival function of UPR^ER is transformed into a lethal signal transmitted to and executed through mitochondria. Mitochondria are key for both apoptotic and autophagic cell death. Thus ER is vital in sensing and coordinating stress pathways to maintain overall physiological homeostasis. However, this function is deregulated in cancer, resulting in resistance to apoptosis induction in response to various stressors including therapeutic agents. Here we review the connections between ER stress and mitochondrial apoptosis, describing potential cancer therapeutic targets.

Pretreatment of rats with increased bioavailable berberine attenuates cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury via down regulation of adenosine-5'monophosphate kinase activity

Berberine (BBR) exhibits multiple beneficial biological effects. However, poor bioavailability of BBR has limited its clinical application. We previously demonstrated that solid dispersion of BBR with sodium caprate (HGSD) remarkably improves its bioavailability. We examined whether this increased bioavailability of BBR could protect the brain from ischemia-reperfusion (IR) induced injury. Rats treated with HGSD, SC and saline for 7 days then subjected to cerebral ischemia reperfusion by middle cerebral artery occlusion for 2h followed 12h reperfusion. Neurological deficit scores, infarct size, SOD, MDA and NO levels were examined. P-AMPK, Bax, cleaved-Caspase-3 in brain was determined. To further probe for the mechanism of beneficial effect of HGSD, PC12 cells were incubated with serum from control or HGSD pretreated animals, incubated with 300μM H2O2 to induce apoptosis. Caspase-3 activity and cell apoptosis was evaluated. HGSD pretreatment significantly attenuated neurological deficit scores, reduced infarct size, increased SOD and decreased MDA and NO after cerebral IR injury compared to controls. Meanwhile, HGSD pretreatment significantly reduced expression of p-AMPK, Bax, cleaved-Caspase-3 after cerebral IR injury. Sodium caprate (100mg/kg/d) pretreatment alone did not exhibit any of these beneficial effects. PC12 cell apoptosis was attenuated when cells were cultured with HGSD serum compared to control. The presence of AMPK activator (AICAR) attenuated whereas AMPK inhibitor (Compound C) augmented the protective effect of HGSD serum on PC12 cell apoptosis.The results indicate that HGSD-pretreatment of rats protects the brain from ischemia-reperfusion injury and the mechanism is due to its anti-apoptotic effect mediated by decreased activation of AMPK.

Identification of interacting partners of Human Mpv17-like protein with a mitigating effect of mitochondrial dysfunction through mtDNA damage

Human Mpv17-like protein (M-LPH) has been suggested to participate in mitochondrial function. In this study, we investigated the proteins that interact with M-LPH, and identified four: H2A histone family, member X (H2AX), ribosomal protein S14 (RPS14), ribosomal protein S3 (RPS3) and B-cell receptor-associated protein 31 (Bap31). Immunofluorescence and subcellular fractionation studies revealed that M-LPH is localized predominantly in the nucleus, to some extent in a subset of mitochondria, and marginally in the cytosol. Mitochondrial M-LPH appeared as punctate foci, and these were co-localized with a subset of mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM) and mtDNA, indicating that M-LPH is localized in or in close proximity to mitochondrial nucleoids. RNAi-mediated knockdown of M-LPH resulted in an increase of mtDNA damage and reduced the expression of mtDNA-encoded genes. A ROS inducer, antimycin A, caused an increase in both the number and size of the mitochondrial M-LPH foci, and these foci were co-localized with two enzymes, DNA polymerase γ (POLG) and DNA ligase III (LIG3), both involved in mtDNA repair. Furthermore, knockdown of M-LPH hampered mitochondrial localization of these enzymes. Taken together, these observations suggest that M-LPH is involved in the maintenance of mtDNA and protects cells from mitochondrial dysfunction.

B-cell receptor-associated protein 31 regulates human embryonic stem cell adhesion, stemness, and survival via control of epithelial cell adhesion molecule

B-Cell receptor-associated protein 31 (BAP31) regulates the export of secreted membrane proteins from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to the downstream secretory pathway. Previously, we generated a monoclonal antibody 297-D4 against the surface molecule on undifferentiated human embryonic stem cells (hESCs). Here, we found that 297-D4 antigen was localized to pluripotent hESCs and downregulated during early differentiation of hESCs and identified that the antigen target of 297-D4 was BAP31 on the hESC-surface. To investigate the functional role of BAP31 in hESCs, BAP31 expression was knocked down by small interfering RNA. BAP31 depletion impaired hESC self-renewal and pluripotency and drove hESC differentiation into multicell lineages. BAP31 depletion hindered hESC proliferation by arresting cell cycle at G0/G1 phase and inducing caspase-independent cell death. Interestingly, BAP31 depletion reduced hESC adhesion to extracellular matrix (ECM). Analysis of cell surface molecules showed decreased expression of epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) in BAP31-depleted hESCs, while ectopic expression of BAP31 elevated the expression of EpCAM. EpCAM depletion also reduced hESC adhesion to ECM, arrested cell cycle at G0/G1 phase and induced cell death, producing similar effects to those of BAP31 depletion. BAP31 and EpCAM were physically associated and colocalized at the ER and cell surface. Both BAP31 and EpCAM depletion decreased cyclin D1 and E expression and suppressed PI3K/Akt signaling, suggesting that BAP31 regulates hESC stemness and survival via control of EpCAM expression. These findings provide, for the first time, mechanistic insights into how BAP31 regulates hESC stemness and survival via control of EpCAM expression.

Toxic response of HIPCO single-walled carbon nanotubes in mice and RAW264.7 macrophage cells

In this study, we identified the toxic response of pristine single-walled carbon nanotubes (P-SWCNTs) synthesized by HIPCO method in mice and RAW264.7 cells, a murine peritoneal macrophage cell line. P-SWCNT contained a large amount of Fe ion (36 wt%). In the lungs of mice 24 h after intratracheal administration, P-SWCNTs increased the secretion of IL-6 and MCP-1, and the number of total cells, the portion of neutrophils, lymphocytes, and eosinophils, also significantly increased at a 100 μg/mL of concentration. In RAW264.7 cells, cell viability and ATP production decreased in a dose-dependent manner at 24 h after exposure, whereas the generations of ROS and NO were enhanced at all concentrations together with the activation of the MAP kinase pathway. Moreover, the levels of both apoptosis- and autophagy-related proteins and ER stress-related proteins clearly increased, and the concentrations of Fe, Cu, and Zn ions, but not of Mn ions, increased in a dose-dependent manner. TEM images also revealed that P-SWCNTs induced the formation of autophagosome-like vacuoles, the dilatation of the ER, the generation of mitochondrial flocculent densities, and the separation of organelle by disappearance of the cell membrane. Taken together, we suggest that P-SWCNTs cause acute inflammatory response in the lungs of mice, and induce autophagy accompanied with apoptosis through mitochondrial dysfunction and ER stress in RAW264.7 cells. Furthermore, further study is required to elucidate how the physicochemical properties of SWCNTs determine the cell death pathway and an immune response.

Crosstalk between apoptosis and autophagy: molecular mechanisms and therapeutic strategies in cancer

Both apoptosis and autophagy are highly conserved processes that besides their role in the maintenance of the organismal and cellular homeostasis serve as a main target of tumor therapeutics. Although their important roles in the modulation of tumor therapeutic strategies have been widely reported, the molecular actions of both apoptosis and autophagy are counteracted by cancer protective mechanisms. While apoptosis is a tightly regulated process that is implicated in the removal of damaged or unwanted cells, autophagy is a cellular catabolic pathway that is involved in lysosomal degradation and recycling of proteins and organelles, and thereby is considered an important survival/protective mechanism for cancer cells in response to metabolic stress or chemotherapy. Although the relationship between autophagy and cell death is very complicated and has not been characterized in detail, the molecular mechanisms that control this relationship are considered to be a relevant target for the development of a therapeutic strategy for tumor treatment. In this review, we focus on the molecular mechanisms of apoptosis, autophagy, and those of the crosstalk between apoptosis and autophagy in order to provide insight into the molecular mechanisms that may be essential for the balance between cell survival and death as well as their role as targets for the development of novel therapeutic approaches.

A matter of life, death and diseases: mitochondria from a proteomic perspective

Mitochondria are highly ordered, integrated organelles that energize cellular activities and contribute to programmed death by initiating disciplined apoptotic cascades. This review seeks to clarify our understanding of mitochondrial structural-functional integrity beyond the resolved nuclear genome by unraveling the dynamic mitochondrial proteome and elucidating proteome/genome interplay. The roles of mechanochemical coupling between mitoskeleton and cytoskeleton and crosstalk with other organelles in orchestrating cellular outcomes are explained. The authors also review the modulation of mitochondrial-related oxidative stress on apoptosis and cancer development and the context is applied to interpret pathogenetic events in neurodegenerative disorders and cardiovascular diseases. The accumulated proteomics evidence is used to describe the integral role that mitochondria play and how they influence other intracellular organelles. Possible mitochondrial-targeted therapeutic interventions are also discussed.

The selective BH4-domain biology of Bcl-2-family members: IP3Rs and beyond

Anti-apoptotic Bcl-2-family members not only neutralize pro-apoptotic proteins but also directly regulate intracellular Ca(2+) signaling from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), critically controlling cellular health, survival, and death initiation. Furthermore, distinct Bcl-2-family members may selectively regulate inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor (IP3R): Bcl-2 likely acts as an endogenous inhibitor of the IP3R, preventing pro-apoptotic Ca(2+) transients, while Bcl-XL likely acts as an endogenous IP3R-sensitizing protein promoting pro-survival Ca(2+) oscillations. Furthermore, distinct functional domains in Bcl-2 and Bcl-XL may underlie the divergence in IP3R regulation. The Bcl-2 homology (BH) 4 domain, which targets the central modulatory domain of the IP3R, is likely to be Bcl-2's determining factor. In contrast, the hydrophobic cleft targets the C-terminal Ca(2+)-channel tail and might be more crucial for Bcl-XL's function. Furthermore, one amino acid critically different in the sequence of Bcl-2's and Bcl-XL's BH4 domains underpins their selective effect on Ca(2+) signaling and distinct biological properties of Bcl-2 versus Bcl-XL. This difference is evolutionary conserved across five classes of vertebrates and may represent a fundamental divergence in their biological function. Moreover, these insights open novel avenues to selectively suppress malignant Bcl-2 function in cancer cells by targeting its BH4 domain, while maintaining essential Bcl-XL functions in normal cells. Thus, IP3R-derived molecules that mimic the BH4 domain's binding site on the IP3R may function synergistically with BH3-mimetic molecules selectivity suppressing Bcl-2's proto-oncogenic activity. Finally, a more general role for the BH4 domain on IP3Rs, rather than solely anti-apoptotic, may not be excluded as part of a complex network of molecular interactions.

γ-Tocotrienol induces paraptosis-like cell death in human colon carcinoma SW620 cells

Colorectal cancer is one of the most serious illnesses among diagnosed cancer. As a new type of anti-cancer composition from tocotrienol-rich fraction of palm oil, γ-tocotrienol is widely used in anti-cancer research. The objectives of this study were to investigate the effects of γ-tocotrienol on human colon cancer SW620 and HCT-8 cells. We showed that treatment with different concentrations of γ-tocotrienol resulted in a dose dependent inhibition of cell growth. Cell death induced by γ-tocotrienol was mediated by a paraptosis-like cell death in SW620 and HCT-8 cells. Real-time RT-PCR and western blot analyses showed that γ-tocotrienol inhibited the expression level of β-catenin, cyclin D1 and c-jun. These data suggest that a paraptosis-like cell death induced by γ-tocotrienol in SW620 cells is associated with the suppression of the Wnt signaling pathway, which offers a novel tool for treating apoptosis-resistance colon cancer.