Age-dependent decrease in the heat-inducible DNA sequence-specific binding activity in human diploid fibroblasts

PolyQ-Expanded Mutant Huntingtin Forms Inclusion Body Following Transient Cold Shock in a Two-Step Aggregation Mechanism

Age-dependent formation of insoluble protein aggregates is a hallmark of many neurodegenerative diseases. We are interested in the cell chemistry that drives the aggregation of polyQ-expanded mutant Huntingtin (mHtt) protein into insoluble inclusion bodies (IBs). Using an inducible cell model of Huntington's disease, we show that a transient cold shock (CS) at 4 °C followed by recovery incubation at temperatures of 25-37 °C strongly and rapidly induces the compaction of diffuse polyQ-expanded HuntingtinExon1-enhanced green fluorescent protein chimera protein (mHtt) into round, micron size, cytosolic IBs. This transient CS-induced mHtt IB formation is independent of microtubule integrity or de novo protein synthesis. The addition of millimolar concentrations of sodium chloride accelerates, whereas urea suppresses this transient CS-induced mHtt IB formation. These results suggest that the low temperature of CS constrains the conformation dynamics of the intrinsically disordered mHtt into labile intermediate structures to facilitate de-solvation and hydrophobic interaction for IB formation at the higher recovery temperature. This work, along with our previous observation of the effects of heat shock protein chaperones and osmolytes in driving mHtt IB formation, underscores the primacy of mHtt structuring and rigidification for H-bond-mediated cross-linking in a two-step mechanism of mHtt IB formation in living cells.

HSF1, Aging, and Neurodegeneration

Heat shock factor 1 (HSF1) is a master transcription regulator that mediates the induction of heat shock protein chaperones for quality control (QC) of the proteome and maintenance of proteostasis as a protective mechanism in response to stress. Research in this particular area has accelerated dramatically over the past three decades following successful isolation, cloning, and characterization of HSF1. The intricate multi-protein complexes and transcriptional activation orchestrated by HSF1 are fundamental processes within the cellular QC machinery. Our primary focus is on the regulation and function of HSF1 in aging and neurodegenerative diseases (ND) which represent physiological and pathological states of dysfunction in protein QC. This chapter presents an overview of HSF1 structural, functional, and energetic properties in healthy cells while addressing the deterioration of HSF1 function viz-à-viz age-dependent and neuron-specific vulnerability to ND. We discuss the structural domains of HSF1 with emphasis on the intrinsically disordered regions and note that disease proteins associated with ND are often structurally disordered and exquisitely sensitive to changes in cellular environment as may occur during aging. We propose a hypothesis that age-dependent changes of the intrinsically disordered proteome likely hold answers to understand many of the functional, structural, and organizational changes of proteins and signaling pathways in aging - dysfunction of HSF1 and accumulation of disease protein aggregates in ND included.Structured AbstractsIntroduction: Heat shock factor 1 (HSF1) is a master transcription regulator that mediates the induction of heat shock protein chaperones for quality control (QC) of the proteome as a cyto-protective mechanism in response to stress. There is cumulative evidence of age-related deterioration of this QC mechanism that contributes to disease vulnerability.

OBJECTIVES

Herein we discuss the regulation and function of HSF1 as they relate to the pathophysiological changes of protein quality control in aging and neurodegenerative diseases (ND).

METHODS

We present an overview of HSF1 structural, functional, and energetic properties in healthy cells while addressing the deterioration of HSF1 function vis-à-vis age-dependent and neuron-specific vulnerability to neurodegenerative diseases.

RESULTS

We examine the impact of intrinsically disordered regions on the function of HSF1 and note that proteins associated with neurodegeneration are natively unstructured and exquisitely sensitive to changes in cellular environment as may occur during aging.

CONCLUSIONS

We put forth a hypothesis that age-dependent changes of the intrinsically disordered proteome hold answers to understanding many of the functional, structural, and organizational changes of proteins - dysfunction of HSF1 in aging and appearance of disease protein aggregates in neurodegenerative diseases included.

HSF1 Alleviates Microthrombosis and Multiple Organ Dysfunction in Mice with Sepsis by Upregulating the Transcription of Tissue-Type Plasminogen Activator

Sepsis is a life-threatening complication of infection closely associated with coagulation abnormalities. Heat shock factor 1 (HSF1) is an important transcription factor involved in many biological processes, but its regulatory role in blood coagulation remained unclear. We generated a sepsis model in HSF1-knockout mice to evaluate the role of HSF1 in microthrombosis and multiple organ dysfunction. Compared with septic wild-type mice, septic HSF1-knockout mice exhibited a greater degree of lung, liver, and kidney tissue damage, increased fibrin/: fibrinogen deposition in the lungs and kidneys, and increased coagulation activity. RNA-seq analysis revealed that tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) was upregulated in the lung tissues of septic mice, and the level of t-PA was significantly lower in HSF1-knockout mice than in wild-type mice in sepsis. The effects of HSF1 on t-PA expression were further validated in HSF1-knockout mice with sepsis and in vitro in mouse brain microvascular endothelial cells using HSF1 RNA interference or overexpression under lipopolysaccharide stimulation. Bioinformatics analysis, combined with electromobility shift and luciferase reporter assays, indicated that HSF1 directly upregulated t-PA at the transcriptional level. Our results reveal, for the first time, that HSF1 suppresses coagulation activity and microthrombosis by directly upregulating t-PA, thereby exerting protective effects against multiple organ dysfunction in sepsis.

HSF1 Alleviates Microthrombosis and Multiple Organ Dysfunction in Mice with Sepsis by Upregulating the Transcription of Tissue-Type Plasminogen Activator

Sepsis is a life-threatening complication of infection closely associated with coagulation abnormalities. Heat shock factor 1 (HSF1) is an important transcription factor involved in many biological processes, but its regulatory role in blood coagulation remained unclear. We generated a sepsis model in HSF1-knockout mice to evaluate the role of HSF1 in microthrombosis and multiple organ dysfunction. Compared with septic wild-type mice, septic HSF1-knockout mice exhibited a greater degree of lung, liver, and kidney tissue damage, increased fibrin/: fibrinogen deposition in the lungs and kidneys, and increased coagulation activity. RNA-seq analysis revealed that tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) was upregulated in the lung tissues of septic mice, and the level of t-PA was significantly lower in HSF1-knockout mice than in wild-type mice in sepsis. The effects of HSF1 on t-PA expression were further validated in HSF1-knockout mice with sepsis and in vitro in mouse brain microvascular endothelial cells using HSF1 RNA interference or overexpression under lipopolysaccharide stimulation. Bioinformatics analysis, combined with electromobility shift and luciferase reporter assays, indicated that HSF1 directly upregulated t-PA at the transcriptional level. Our results reveal, for the first time, that HSF1 suppresses coagulation activity and microthrombosis by directly upregulating t-PA, thereby exerting protective effects against multiple organ dysfunction in sepsis.

HSF1 Attenuates LPS-Induced Acute Lung Injury in Mice by Suppressing Macrophage Infiltration

Heat shock factor 1 (HSF1) is a transcription factor involved in the heat shock response and other biological processes. We have unveiled here an important role of HSF1 in acute lung injury (ALI). HSF1 knockout mice were used as a model of lipopolysaccharide- (LPS-) induced ALI. Lung damage was aggravated, and macrophage infiltration increased significantly in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and lung tissue of HSF^-/- mice compared with the damage observed in HSF1^+/+ mice. Upon LPS stimulation, HSF^-/- mice showed higher levels of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) in the serum, BALF, and lung tissue and increased the expression of MCP-1 and chemokine (C-C motif) receptor 2 (CCR2) on the surface of macrophages compared with those in HSF1^+/+. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSA) and dual luciferase reporter assays revealed that HSF1 could directly bind to heat shock elements (HSE) in the promoter regions of MCP-1 and its receptor CCR2, thereby inhibiting the expression of both genes. We concluded that HSF1 attenuated LPS-induced ALI in mice by directly suppressing the transcription of MCP-1/CCR2, which in turn reduced macrophage infiltration.

Tissue formation and tissue engineering through host cell recruitment or a potential injectable cell-based biocomposite with replicative potential: Molecular mechanisms controlling cellular senescence and the involvement of controlled transient telomerase activation therapies

Accumulated data indicate that wound-care products should have a composition equivalent to that of the skin: a combination of particular growth factors and extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins endogenous to the skin, together with viable epithelial cells, fibroblasts, and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). Strategies consisting of bioengineered dressings and cell-based products have emerged for widespread clinical use; however, their performance is not optimal because chronic wounds persist as a serious unmet medical need. Telomerase, the ribonucleoprotein complex that adds telomeric repeats to the ends of chromosomes, is responsible for telomere maintenance, and its expression is associated with cell immortalization and, in certain cases, cancerogenesis. Telomerase contains a catalytic subunit, the telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT). Introduction of TERT into human cells extends both their lifespan and their telomeres to lengths typical of young cells. The regulation of TERT involves transcriptional and posttranscriptional molecular biology mechanisms. The manipulation, regulation of telomerase is multifactorial in mammalian cells, involving overall telomerase gene expression, post-translational protein-protein interactions, and protein phosphorylation. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been implicated in aging, apoptosis, and necrosis of cells in numerous diseases. Upon production of high levels of ROS from exogenous or endogenous generators, the redox balance is perturbed and cells are shifted into a state of oxidative stress, which subsequently leads to modifications of intracellular proteins and membrane lipid peroxidation and to direct DNA damage. When the oxidative stress is severe, survival of the cell is dependent on the repair or replacement of damaged molecules, which can result in induction of apoptosis in the injured with ROS cells. ROS-mediated oxidative stress induces the depletion of hTERT from the nucleus via export through the nuclear pores. Nuclear export is initiated by ROS-induced phosphorylation of tyrosine 707 within hTERT by the Src kinase family. It might be presumed that protection of mitochondria against oxidative stress is an important telomere length-independent function for telomerase in cell survival. Biotechnology companies are focused on development of therapeutic telomerase vaccines, telomerase inhibitors, and telomerase promoter-driven cell killing in oncology, have a telomerase antagonist in late preclinical studies. Anti-aging medicine-oriented groups have intervened on the market with products working on telomerase activation for a broad range of degenerative diseases in which replicative senescence or telomere dysfunction may play an important role. Since oxidative damage has been shown to shorten telomeres in tissue culture models, the adequate topical, transdermal, or systemic administration of antioxidants (such as, patented ocular administration of 1% N-acetylcarnosine lubricant eye drops in the treatment of cataracts) may be beneficial at preserving telomere lengths and delaying the onset or in treatment of disease in susceptible individuals. Therapeutic strategies toward controlled transient activation of telomerase are targeted to cells and replicative potential in cell-based therapies, tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.

Lysine deacetylases regulate the heat shock response including the age-associated impairment of HSF1

Heat shock factor 1 (HSF1) is critical for defending cells from both acute and chronic stresses. In aging cells, the DNA binding activity of HSF1 deteriorates correlating with the onset of pathological events including neurodegeneration and heart disease. We find that DNA binding by HSF1 is controlled by lysine deacetylases with HDAC7, HDAC9, and SIRT1 distinctly increasing the magnitude and length of a heat shock response (HSR). In contrast, HDAC1 inhibits HSF1 in a deacetylase-independent manner. In aging cells, the levels of HDAC1 are elevated and the HSR is impaired, yet reduction of HDAC1 in aged cells restores the HSR. Our results provide a mechanistic basis for the age-associated regulation of the HSR. Besides HSF1, the deacetylases differentially modulate the activities of unrelated DNA binding proteins. Taken together, our data further support the model that lysine deacetylases are selective regulators of DNA binding proteins.

Aberrant regulation and modification of heat shock factor 1 in senescent human diploid fibroblasts

Induction of the heat shock response (HSR), determined by hsp70-luciferase reporter and HSP70 protein expression, is attenuated as a function of age of the IMR-90 human diploid fibroblasts. To better understand the underlying mechanism, we evaluated changes in the regulation and function of the HSF1 transcription factor. We show that the activation of HSF1 both in vivo and in vitro was decreased as a function of age, and this was attributable to a change in the regulation of HSF1 as the abundance of HSF1 protein and mRNA was unaffected. HSF1 was primarily cytosolic in young cells maintained at 37 degrees C, and heat shock promoted its quantitative nuclear translocation and trimerization. In old cells, some HSF1 was nuclear sequestered at 37 degrees C, and heat shock failed to promote the quantitative trimerization of HSF1. These changes in HSF1 could be reproduced by treating young cells with H2O2 to stunt them into premature senescence. Flow cytometry measurement of peroxide content showed higher levels in old cells and H2O2-induced premature senescent cells as compared to young cells. Experiments using isoelectric focusing and Western blot showed age-dependent changes in the mobility of HSF1 in a pattern consistent with its S-glutathiolation and S-nitrosylation; these changes could be mimicked by treating young cells with H2O2. Our results demonstrated dynamic age-dependent changes in the regulation but not the amount of HSF1. These changes are likely mediated by oxidative events that promote reversible and irreversible modification of HSF1 including S-glutathiolation and S-nitrosylation.

Lifespan extension of Caenorhabditis elegans following repeated mild hormetic heat treatments

Mild hormetic heat treatments early in life can significantly increase the lifespan of the nematode C. elegans. We have examined the effects of heat treatments at different ages and show that treatments early in life cause the largest increases in lifespan. We also find that repeated mild heat treatments throughout life have a larger effect on lifespan compared to a single mild heat treatment early in life. We hypothesize that the magnitude of the hormetic effect is related to the levels of heat shock protein expression. Following heat treatment young worms show a dramatic increase in the levels of the small heat shock protein HSP-16 whereas old worms are a 100-fold less responsive. The levels of the heat shock proteins HSP-4 and HSP-16 correlate well with the effects on lifespan by the hormetic treatments.

Hypoxia upregulates osteopontin expression in NIH-3T3 cells via a Ras-activated enhancer

Osteopontin (OPN) is a secreted phosphoglycoprotein that has been linked to tumor progression and survival in several solid tumors, including head and neck cancers. Previous studies showed that OPN expression is induced by tumor hypoxia, and its plasma levels can serve as a surrogate marker for tumor hypoxia and treatment outcome in head and neck cancer patients. In this study, we investigate the transcriptional mechanism by which hypoxia enhances OPN expression. We found that OPN is induced in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) cell lines and in NIH3T3 cells by hypoxia at both mRNA and protein levels in a time-dependent manner. Actinomycin D chase experiments showed that hypoxic induction of OPN was not due to increased mRNA stability. Deletion analyses of the mouse OPN promoter regions indicated that a ras-activated enhancer (RAE) located at -731 to -712 relative to the transcription start site was essential for hypoxia-enhanced OPN transcription. Using electrophoretic mobility shift assays with the RAE DNA sequence, we found that hypoxia induced sequence-specific DNA-binding complexes. Furthermore, hypoxia and ras exposure resulted in an additive induction of OPN protein and mRNA levels that appeared to be mediated by the RAE. Induction of OPN through the RAE element by hypoxia is mediated by an Akt-kinase signaled pathway as decreasing Akt levels with dominant negative constructs resulted in inhibition of OPN induction by hypoxia. Taken together, these results have identified a new hypoxia responsive transcriptional enhancer that is regulated by Akt signaling.

Chromatin structure at the flanking regions of the human beta-globin locus control region DNase I hypersensitive site-2: proposed nucleosome positioning by DNA-binding proteins including GATA-1

The human beta-globin locus control region DNase I hypersensitive site-2 (LCR HS-2) is erythroid-specific and is located 10.9 kb upstream of the epsilon-globin gene. Most studies have only examined the core region of HS-2. However, previous studies in this laboratory indicate that positioned nucleosomes are present at the 5'- and 3'-flanking regions of HS-2. In addition, footprints were observed that indicated the involvement of DNA-binding proteins in positioning the nucleosome cores. A consensus GATA-1 site exists in the region of the 3'-footprint. In this study, using an electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) and DNase I footprinting, we confirmed that GATA-1 binds in vitro at the 3'-end of HS-2. An additional GATA-1 site was found to bind GATA-1 in vitro at a site positioned 40 bp upstream. At the 5'-end of HS-2, DNase I footprinting revealed a series of footprints showing a marked correlation with the in vivo footprints. EMSA indicated the presence of several erythroid-specific complexes in this region including GATA-1 binding. Sequence alignment for 12 mammalian species in HS-2 confirmed that the highest conservation to be in the HS-2 core. However, a second level of conservation extends from the core to the sites of the proposed positioning proteins at the HS-2 flanking regions, before declining rapidly. This indicates the importance of the HS-2 flanking regions and supports the proposal of nucleosome positioning proteins in these regions.

mRNA level of alpha-2-macroglobulin as an aging biomarker of human fibroblasts in culture

Cellular senescence is a well-established model system for studying the molecular basis of aging. To identify a reliable biomarker for cellular age and further study the gene expression of aging, we profiled the gene expression difference between aged and young cultured human embryonic lung fibroblasts by high-density complementary deoxyribonucleic acid (cDNA) arrays. Among the differentially expressed genes, alpha-2-macroglobulin (alpha(2)M) was selected for further study. Its gene expression level as a function of population doubling level (PDL) in cultured fibroblasts was determined by RT-PCR and northern hybridization. mRNA level of alpha(2)M showed a positive linear-correlation with cumulative PDL. Additional assays revealed that the levels of alpha(2)M increased in irreversible growth arrest induced by sublethal H(2)O(2), but not in quiescent state of cultured fibroblasts induced by serum-deprivation, and remained stable in Hela cells. These results suggest that mRNA level of alpha(2)M can be used as a biomarker of aging in cultured fibroblasts. mRNA level of alpha(2)M showed significant difference between newborn and old human leucocytes, which suggest that the mRNA level of alpha(2)M may be used as a biomarker of aging in vivo.

Apoptosis, necrosis and cellular senescence: chaperone occupancy as a potential switch

Chaperone function plays a key role in repairing proteotoxic damage and in the maintenance of cell survival. Here we compare the regulatory role of molecular chaperones (heat shock proteins, stress proteins) in cellular senescence, apoptosis and necrosis. We also review the current data on chaperone level and function in aging cells, and list some possible therapeutic interventions. Finally, we postulate a hypothesis, that increasing chaperone occupancy might be an important event which forces cells out of the normal cell cycle towards senescence. In the case of severe stress, this may lead to apoptosis or, following lethal stress, to cell necrosis.

From the Hayflick mosaic to the mosaics of ageing. Role of stress-induced premature senescence in human ageing

The Hayflick limit-senescence of proliferative cell types-is a fundamental feature of proliferative cells in vitro. Various human proliferative cell types exposed in vitro to many types of subcytotoxic stresses undergo stress-induced premature senescence (SIPS) (also called stress-induced premature senescence-like phenotype, according to the definition of senescence). The known mechanisms of appearance the main features of SIPS are reviewed: senescent-like morphology, growth arrest, senescence-related changes in gene expression, telomere shortening. Long before telomere-shortening induces senescence, other factors such as culture conditions or lack of 'feeder cells' can trigger either SIPS or prolonged reversible G(0) phase of the cell cycle. In vivo, 'proliferative' cell types of aged individuals are likely to compose a mosaic made of cells irreversibly growth arrested or not. The higher level of stress to which these cells have been exposed throughout their life span, the higher proportion of the cells of this mosaic will be in SIPS rather than in telomere-shortening dependent senescence. All cell types undergoing SIPS in vivo, most notably the ones in stressful conditions, are likely to participate in the tissular changes observed along ageing. For instance, human diploid fibroblasts (HDFs) exposed in vivo and in vitro to pro-inflammatory cytokines display biomarkers of senescence and might participate in the degradation of the extracellular matrix observed in ageing.

Chaperones come of age

Chaperone function plays a key role in repairing proteotoxic damage, in the maintenance of cell architecture, and in cell survival. Here, we summarize our current knowledge about changes in chaperone expression and function in the aging process, as well as their involvement in longevity and cellular senescence.

JNK phosphorylates the HSF1 transcriptional activation domain: role of JNK in the regulation of the heat shock response

The role of c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK) signaling cascade in the stress-inducible phosphorylation of heat shock factor 1 (HSF1) was investigated using known agonists and antagonists of JNK. We showed that treatment of HeLa cells with MG132, a proteasome inhibitor and known INK activator, caused the transcriptional activation domain of HSF1 to be targeted and phosphorylated by JNK2 in vivo. Dose-response and time course studies of the effects of heat shock and anisomycin treatment showed a close correlation of the activation of JNK and hyperphosphorylation of HSF1. SB203580 inhibited INK at the 100 microM concentration and significantly reduced the amount of hyperphosphorylated HSF1 upon heat shock or anisomycin treatment. SB203580 and dominant-negative JNK suppress hsp70 promoter-driven reporter gene expression selectively at 45 degrees C but not at 42 degrees C heat stress, suggesting that JNK would be preferentially associated with the protective heat shock response against severe heat stress. The possibility that JNK-mediated phosphorylation of HSF1 may selectively stabilize the HSF1 protein and confers protection to cells under conditions of severe stress is discussed.

Heat-induced proteasomic degradation of HSF1 in serum-starved human fibroblasts aging in vitro

The exposure of human fibroblasts (HF) aging in vitro to heat shock resulted in an attenuated expression of the heat shock-inducible HSP70. When late passage cells were cultured in the continuous presence of serum, we observed a reduced accumulation of the cytoplasmic polyadenylated HSP70 mRNA. The levels of HSF1 activation and nuclear HSP70 mRNA were comparable to those of early passage cells (M. A. Bonelli et al., Exp. Cell Res. 252, 20-32, 1999). When late passage cells were serum-starved overnight, we observed a reduced activation of HSF1 and a decreased level of HSP70 mRNA during heat shock. However, at 37 degrees C the levels of HSF1 differed little between late passage HF and early passage cells, irrespective of the presence of serum. Interestingly, during heat shock a marked decrease in the level and, consequently, in the binding activity of HSF1 was noted only in serum-starved, late passage HF. The decrease in the level of HSF1 was counteracted by back addition of serum to the cells during heat shock. Addition of the specific proteasome inhibitor MG132 blocked a decrease in HSF1 during heat shock, maintaining levels observed in late passage cells and HSF1 activity comparable to that of early passage HF. The recovery of the level and activity of HSF1 observed in late passage HF incubated in the presence of MG132 suggests that heat shock unmasks a latent proteasome activity responsible for HSF1 degradation.

Resolution, detection, and characterization of redox conformers of human HSF1

We describe here an experimental protocol for the resolution, detection, and quantitation of the reduced and oxidized conformers of human heat shock factor 1 (hHSF1) and report on the effects in vitro and in vivo of redox-active agents on the redox status, structure, and function of hHSF1. We showed that diamide, a reagent that promotes disulfide bond formation, caused a loss of immunorecognition of the monomeric hHSF1 protein in a standard Western blot detection procedure. Modification of the Western blot procedure to include dithiothreitol in the equilibration and transfer buffers after gel electrophoresis allowed for the detection of a compact, intramolecularly disulfide cross-linked oxidized hHSF1 (ox-hHSF1) in the diamide-treated sample. The effect of diamide was blocked by pretreatment with N-ethylmaleimide and was reversed by dithiothreitol added to the sample prior to gel electrophoresis. Incubation with nitrosoglutathione at 42 degrees C also promoted the conversion of HSF1 to ox-HSF1; at 25 degrees C, however, nitrosoglutathione was by itself without effect but blocked the formation of ox-hHSF1 in the presence of diamide. The disulfide cross-linked ox-hHSF1 was monomeric and resistant to the in vitro heat-induced trimerization and activation. The possibility that ox-HSF1 may occur in oxidatively stressed cells was evaluated. Treatment of HeLa cells with 2 mm l-buthionine sulfoximine promoted the formation of ox-HSF1 and blocked the heat-induced activation of HSF DNA binding activity. Our result suggests that hHSF1 may have integrated redox chemistry of cysteine sulfhydryl into its functional responses.

Pervanadate induces the hyperphosphorylation but not the activation of human heat shock factor 1

In this study, we evaluated the effects of pervanadate, a tyrosine phosphatase inhibitor, on the regulation and function of heat-shock factor 1 (HSF1) in HeLa cells. We showed that 50-100 microM pervanadate induced the hyperphosphorylation of the latent HSF1, as demonstrated by a retarded mobility of the HSF1 protein in SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and as supported by the reversal of this mobility shift upon treatment of the cell extract with acid phosphatase. Pervanadate by itself had no effect on the monomeric stoichiometry and DNA-binding activity of HSF1. Upon heat shock, the pervanadate-induced hyperphosphorylated HSF1 formed DNA-binding trimers and translocated into the nuclear compartment. At high concentration (approximately 500 microM), pervanadate also induced the tyrosine phosphorylation of many cellular proteins and blunted the heat-induced transcription of hsp 70. N-acetyl cysteine inhibited these effects of pervanadate, suggesting a redox-based mechanism for its activity. Analysis of the activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) using antibodies specific for the phospho-form (activated) of the kinases in Western blot showed that pervanadate activated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK1/2), c-Jun-N-terminal kinase 1/2 (JNK1/2), and p-38 kinase. Pharmacological inhibitors of the ERK1/2 kinase pathway or the p38 kinase had little or no effect on the pervanadate-induced hyperphosphorylation of HSF1. Our results show that hyperphosphorylation of hHSF1 can occur prior to and independent of other events involved in the activation of hHSF1. The possibility that activation of the MAPK signaling cascade, notably JNK, may contribute to the hyperphosphorylation of human HSF1 (hHSF1) is discussed.

Induction of BGT-1 and amino acid system A transport activities in endothelial cells exposed to hyperosmolarity

We studied the responses to hypertonicity of cultured endothelial cells from swine pulmonary arteries. In 0.5 osmol/kgH(2)O medium, initial cell shrinkage was followed by a regulatory volume increase (RVI), complete after 1 h, concomitant with an increase in cellular K(+) content. Then the activity of amino acid transport System A increased, accompanied by an accumulation of ninhydrin-positive solutes (NPS), reaching a peak at approximately 6 h. The subsequent decline in System A activity was paralleled by an induction of the betaine-GABA transporter (BGT-1), detected as increases of BGT-1 mRNA and of transport activity, which peaked at approximately 24 h. Inhibitors of transcription or translation prevented induction of both transport activities. The increased expression of BGT-1, which involved activation of "tonicity-responsive enhancer," was inhibited by 5 mM extracellular betaine. Cellular K(+) concentration gradually declined after the accumulation of NPS and during the induction of BGT-1. This very effective adaptation to hypertonicity suggests it has a physiological role.

Activation of heat shock factor 1 by hyperosmotic or hypo-osmotic stress is drastically attenuated in normal human fibroblasts during senescence

We have previously reported that osmotic stress prominently induces the DNA binding activity of the heat shock transcription factor 1 (HSF1). In the present study, we examined the effects of medium osmolarity on both the activation of HSF1 and the programmed cell death in normal human fibroblasts during cellular senescence. The activation of HSF1 occurred rapidly in presenescent (early passage) IMR-90 cells when exposed to either hypo-osmotic or hyperosmotic stress. In contrast, the activation of HSF1 was significantly attenuated in senescent cells. Western blot analysis indicated that equal amounts of HSF1 were present as monomers in the cytoplasm of both presenescent and senescent cells in normal growth medium. Under either hypo-osmotic or hyperosmotic stress, trimerization and nuclear localization of HSF1 occurred in presenescent cells but not in senescent cells. More than 80% of HSF1 in senescent cells remained as monomers in the cytoplasm under osmotic stress, suggesting a defect in the signal transduction pathways that lead to HSF1 trimerization or a dysfunction in the HSF1 protein itself. Possible involvement of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signal transduction pathways in the activation HSF1 was investigated by monitoring the activation of the three MAPKs, ERK1/2, JNK1/2, and p38, in cells exposed to hypo-osmotic or hyperosmotic stress. All three MAPKs were activated by hyperosmotic stress but not hypo-osmotic stress, suggesting that the MAPK signal transduction pathways may not be directly linked to the osmotic stress-induced activation of HSF1. In contrast to the rapid heat shock transcription factor (HSF) activation, apoptosis occurred only after long-term exposure to hypo-osmotic or hyperosmotic stress. Despite the prominent induction of HSF1 activation, the presenescent cells were more sensitive than the senescent cells to the osmotic stress-induced apoptosis.

Attenuated expression of 70-kDa heat shock protein in WI-38 human fibroblasts during aging in vitro

We examined the effects of cellular aging on the expression of the heat shock-inducible HSP70 gene in WI-38 diploid human fibroblasts serially passaged in vitro. The senescence of the cells was established by evaluating population doubling level, cell density at confluency, and cell morphology along with the detection of senescence-associated beta-galactosidase activity (histochemically detectable at pH 6), a reliable marker of aging in low-density cultures. A marked decrease in the synthesis and accumulation of the inducible HSP70 protein was observed in serum-fed late passage cells exposed to a severe heat shock (30 min at 45 degrees C) in comparison to early passage cells. However, the degree of HSF-DNA binding, monitored by gel retardation assay was similar in both early and late passage cells. Similarly, Northern blotting analysis indicated that comparable amounts of inducible HSP70 mRNA were present in the total RNA fraction, in the total polyadenylated RNA fraction, or in the nuclear polyadenylated RNA fraction extracted from both early and late passage cells. In contrast, much less inducible HSP70 mRNA was detected in the total cytoplasmic RNA fraction or in the polyadenylated cytoplasmic RNA fraction of late passage cells. Thus age-related differences in heat-induced HSP70 synthesis and accumulation observed in serum-fed WI-38 cells appeared to result from an impairment in the posttranscriptional processing of the HSP70 mRNA at a level following the polyadenylation step and preceding translocation from the nucleus to the cytoplasm. When HF were serum deprived for 20 h before heat shock, the induction of HSP70 mRNA was less than 30% reduced in early passage cells in comparison to serum-fed cells; however, the level of HSP70 mRNA was markedly (over 80%) decreased in serum-deprived late passage cells. This result indicated that the presence of serum has a strong influence on heat shock-induced HSP70 gene expression in human fibroblasts aging in vitro.

Premature induction of aging in sublethally H2O2-treated young MRC5 fibroblasts correlates with increased glutathione peroxidase levels and resistance to DNA breakage

Human MRC5 fibroblasts, at different passages in cultures, were used as an in vitro model to assess variations and/or induction of aging parameters under basal conditions or following sublethal oxidative stress by H2O2. DNA sensitivities to oxidatively-induced breakage, rather than basal levels of damaged DNA, were significantly different between cultures at low and high population doubling level (PDL): old cells maintained most of their DNA integrity even at high concentrations of H2O2, while young cells showed more extensive DNA damage which developed in a dose-dependent fashion. However, young cells pretreated with low doses of H2O2 exhibited increased resistance against further oxidative damage to DNA thus reproducing a senescent-like profile of sensitivity. In turn, DNA from old cultures incubated in a NAD precursor-free medium was more prone to H2O2-induced strand breaks mimicking DNA sensitivity of young cells. The extent of oxidatively-induced DNA damage in MRC5 populations correlated inversely with the levels of glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity that almost doubled when cells passed from the young to the senescent stage. In addition, H2O2-pretreatment of young cells induced an increase in GPx expression approaching old cell values and promoted also the premature appearance of neutral beta-galactosidase activity and decreased c-fos expression upon serum stimulation, both of which were assumed to be characteristic traits of the senescent phenotype.

Negative regulation of the heat shock transcriptional response by HSBP1

In response to stress, heat shock factor 1 (HSF1) acquires rapid DNA binding and transient transcriptional activity while undergoing conformational transition from an inert non-DNA-binding monomer to active functional trimers. Attenuation of the inducible transcriptional response occurs during heat shock or upon recovery at non-stress conditions and involves dissociation of the HSF1 trimer and loss of activity. We have used the hydrophobic repeats of the HSF1 trimerization domain in the yeast two-hybrid protein interaction assay to identify heat shock factor binding protein 1 (HSBP1), a novel, conserved, 76-amino-acid protein that contains two extended arrays of hydrophobic repeats that interact with the HSF1 heptad repeats. HSBP1 is nuclear-localized and interacts in vivo with the active trimeric state of HSF1 that appears during heat shock. During attenuation of HSF1 to the inert monomer, HSBP1 associates with Hsp70. HSBP1 negatively affects HSF1 DNA-binding activity, and overexpression of HSBP1 in mammalian cells represses the transactivation activity of HSF1. To establish a biological role for HSBP1, the homologous Caenorhabditis elegans protein was overexpressed in body wall muscle cells and was shown to block activation of the heat shock response from a heat shock promoter-reporter construct. Alteration in the level of HSBP1 expression in C. elegans has severe effects on survival of the animals after thermal and chemical stress, consistent with a role for HSBP1 as a negative regulator of the heat shock response.

The expression of heat shock protein 70 decreases with cellular senescence in vitro and in cells derived from young and old human subjects

Because heat shock proteins have been shown to play a critical role in protecting cells from hyperthermia and other types of stresses, it was of interest to determine what effect cellular senescence in vitro and cells cultured in vitro from young and old human donors have on the ability of cells to regulate the expression of heat shock protein 70 (hsp70), the most prominent and most evolutionary conserved of the heat shock proteins. The ability of early and late passage IMR-90 lung fibroblasts and epidermal melanocytes and skin fibroblasts obtained from young and old human donors to express hsp70 was determined after a brief heat shock. We found that the levels of hsp70 protein and mRNA were lower in late passage cells and cells from old donors than in early passage cells and cells from young donors. The binding activity of the heat shock transcription factor HSF1, as measured by a gel shift assay, was significantly higher in early passage cells and cells from young donors in comparison to late passage cells and cells from old donors. In addition, the levels of HSF1 decreased significantly in late passage cells and cells from old donors in comparison to early passage cells and cells from young donors. Thus, our study demonstrates that the induction of hsp70 by hyperthermia in fibroblasts is significantly lower in late passage fibroblasts and in fibroblasts from old donors. In addition, our study shows that the decline in hsp70 expression during cellular senescence in vitro and in cells derived from old human subjects is paralleled by a decrease in the levels of HSF1.

Effects of age on the posttranscriptional regulation of CCAAT/enhancer binding protein alpha and CCAAT/enhancer binding protein beta isoform synthesis in control and LPS-treated livers

The CCAAT/enhancer binding protein alpha (C/EBPalpha) and CCAAT/enhancer binding protein beta (C/EBPbeta) mRNAs are templates for the differential translation of several isoforms. Immunoblotting detects C/EBPalphas with molecular masses of 42, 38, 30, and 20 kDa and C/EBPbetas of 35, 20, and approximately 8.5 kDa. The DNA-binding activities and pool levels of p42(C/EBPalpha) and p30(C/EBPalpha) in control nuclear extracts decrease significantly whereas the binding activity and protein levels of the 20-kDa isoforms increase dramatically with LPS treatment. Our studies suggest that the LPS response involves alternative translational initiation at specific in-frame AUGs, producing specific C/EBPalpha and C/EBPbeta isoform patterns. We propose that alternative translational initiation occurs by a leaky ribosomal scanning mechanism. We find that nuclear extracts from normal aged mouse livers have decreased p42(C/EBPalpha) levels and binding activity, whereas those of p20(C/EBPalpha) and p20(C/EBPbeta) are increased. However, translation of 42-kDa C/EBPalpha is not down-regulated on polysomes, suggesting that aging may affect its nuclear translocation. Furthermore, recovery of the C/EBPalpha- and C/EBPbeta-binding activities and pool levels from an LPS challenge is delayed significantly in aged mouse livers. Thus, aged livers have altered steady-state levels of C/EBPalpha and C/EBPbeta isoforms. This result suggests that normal aging liver exhibits characteristics of chronic stress and a severe inability to recover from an inflammatory challenge.

Induction of a subgroup of acute phase protein genes in mouse liver by hyperthermia

We have demonstrated that two members of the acute phase reactant family of positively regulated genes, alpha 1-acid glycoprotein (AGP-1 and AGP-2) and C-reactive protein (CRP) are induced by hyperthermia, while two others, the serum amyloid A (SAA) and alpha 1-antitrypsin (AT) genes, are not. Albumin (ALB), a negative acute phase reactant gene, is also induced by hyperthermia. The AGP-1, AGP-2, and CRP genes require glucocorticoids, but not IL-6, IL-1 beta or TNF alpha in response to hyperthermia. As with LPS, the C/EBP beta mRNA levels increased, while the C/EBP alpha mRNA levels decreased in response to LPS. In contrast to the LPS response, C/EBP delta was unchanged. Protein pool levels and DNA-binding activities of the 35 and 20 kDa C/EBP beta isoforms increase, whereas protein pool levels of the 42 kDa C/EBP alpha decrease and the 30kDa remained high. These studies suggest that the synthesis of specific C/EBP alpha and C/EBP beta isoforms is induced by hyperthermia, and that the regulation of the AGP-1 and AGP-2 genes during heat stress may involve one of these isoforms. The difference between the responses to hyperthermia and LPS is that the former, may not involve the participation of cytokines. Furthermore, since cis-acting heat shock elements (HSE) are located in the promoter regions of the ALB, CRP, and C/EBP beta genes, these regulatory sequences may be involved in the in vivo activation of these genes by hyperthermia.

Exercise-induced stress response as an adaptive tolerance strategy

Interaction between the quality of the environment and the health of the exposed population determines the survival response of living organisms. The phenomenon of induced tolerance by exposure to threshold levels of stressors to stimulate natural defense mechanisms has potential therapeutic value. The paucity of information on predictability of individual response and information on the operative fundamental mechanisms limit applicability of the adaptive tolerance strategy. A potential biomarker of the stress response includes members of the stress-inducible ubiquitin gene family. Transcript sizes detected with Northern blot analysis identify different classes of ubiquitin gene family members and the intensity of the radioactive signal allows abundance determinations. Using moderate exercise as the stressor, significant increase (p < 0.028) in abundance of inducible polyubiquitin genes was found in human blood. Both the potential of exercise as a model system of a natural stress inducer and polyubiquitin as a biomarker of stress were established in these studies.

Changes in jun N-terminal kinase activation by stress during aging of cultured normal human fibroblasts

The molecular changes associated with the aging process include the reduced activity of transcription factors (such as AP-1) and an impaired response to stress, which has been well documented in the case of the heat-shock (HS) response. Using human diploid fibroblasts of early and late passages as an in vitro model for aging, we elucidated changes in the activation of jun N-terminal kinases (JNKs), which play an important role in the mammalian stress response. We found that early-passage cells exhibited a greater degree of JNK activation in response to HS and ultraviolet (UV) C light treatments than did late-passage cells. Decreased JNK activation was dependent on the number of passages but was not affected by varying doses of UV irradiation. Analysis of protein kinase A, mitogen-activated protein kinase, and src-related tyrosine kinases revealed no decreased activities in aged cells, indicating a selective rather than generalized decrease in kinase activities during aging. A further understanding of this impaired activation of JNK may provide insights into the mechanisms of stress response and cellular aging.

Alterations in transcription factor-binding activities to fibronectin promoter during aging of vascular endothelial cells

Previously, we showed that the expression of the fibronectin (FN) gene is enhanced during aging of human endothelial cells and fibroblasts. To elucidate the mechanism, we explored binding proteins to the FN promoter. The promoter contains sites for the general transcription factors: CAAT-binding transcription factor (CTF), promoter-specific transcription factor-1 (Sp1), and transcription factor-IID (TFIID). The promoter also contains sites for inducible transcription factors, cAMP-responsive element (CRE)-binding protein (CREB), and Activator protein 2 (AP-2). We synthesized 10 different oligonucleotides for these and other potential transcription factor-binding sites. Using these oligonucleotides, we searched for binding proteins in young and old endothelial cells by electrophoretic mobility shift and supershift assays. Our results showed that AP-1 decreased with aging, but Sp1 and CREB1 were unaffected. However, decreased binding activities to CRE at positions -170 and -415 were shown in old cells. This could be explained by the decrease of AP-1 because these CREs bound not only CREB1 but also AP-1. Moreover, we observed that the binding activities of TFIID, CTF, and binding proteins to -40, -120 and -260 regions increased. These differential changes may cause the enhancement of FN expression in senescent cells.

Impaired cAMP-mediated gene expression and decreased cAMP response element binding protein in senescent cells

The capacity of various growth factors to induce c-fos expression is diminished with senescence. Because adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP)-mediated responses are also blunted with aging, we wondered whether cAMP-induced c-fos gene expression might be impaired with senescence. Using IMR fibroblasts, we found that prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) and forskolin, stimulators of cAMP accumulation in young and senescent cells, increased abundance of c-fos and junB mRNA more in young than senescent cells. The abundance of the cAMP response element binding protein (CREB), a transcription factor which enhances gene expression when phosphorylated by protein kinase A, was markedly decreased in both whole cell and nuclear extracts of senescent cells, in both Western blotting and in gel retardation assays. Also, PGE1-induced phosphorylation of CREB by protein kinase A was markedly attenuated in senescent cells. There is a marked decrement in expression of CREB with senescence, and the results suggest the possibility that the diminished expression of CREB may contribute to altered cAMP-mediated regulation of gene expression with senescence.

Attenuated heat shock transcriptional response in aging: molecular mechanism and implication in the biology of aging

A characteristic feature of aging is a progressive impairment in the ability to adapt to environmental challenges. The purpose of this review is to present the experimental evidence of an attenuated heat shock transcriptional response to heat and physiological stresses in a number of aging mammalian model systems. These include the human diploid fibroblasts in culture, whole animals and animal derived cells and cell cultures, as well as peripheral blood mononuclear cells obtained from human donors. The possibility that age-dependent changes in cellular redox status, as exemplified by the increased production of reactive oxygen inter-mediates and accumulation of oxidatively-modified proteins, affects the regulation and function of the heat shock factor 1 (HSF1) and contributes to the attenuated heat shock transcriptional response in aging cells and organisms is discussed. Given the fundamentally important role of HSPs in many aspects of protein homeostasis and signal transduction, it seems likely that the inability, or compromised ability, of aging cells and organisms to produce HSPs in response to stress would contribute to the well known increase in morbidity and mortality of the aged when challenged.

UV irradiation and heat shock mediate JNK activation via alternate pathways

To elucidate cellular pathways involved in Jun-NH2-terminal kinase (JNK) activation by different forms of stress, we have compared the effects of UV irradiation, heat shock, and H2O2. Using mouse fibroblast cells (3T3-4A) we show that while H2O2 is ineffective, UV and heat shock (HS) are potent inducers of JNK. The cellular pathways that mediate JNK activation after HS or UV exposure are distinctly different as can be concluded from the following observations: (i) H2O2 is a potent inhibitor of HS-induced but not of UV-induced JNK activation; (ii) Triton X-100-treated cells abolish the ability of UV, but not HS, to activate JNK; (iii) the free radical scavenger N-acetylcysteine inhibits UV- but not HS-mediated JNK activation; (iv) N-acetylcysteine inhibition is blocked by H2O2 in a dose-dependent manner; (v) a Cockayne syndrome-derived cell line exhibits JNK activation upon UV exposure, but not upon HS treatment. The significance of Jun phosphorylation by JNK after treatment with UV, HS, or H2O2 was evaluated by measuring Jun phosphorylation in vivo and also its binding activity in gel shifts. HS and UV, which are potent inducers of JNK, increased the level of c-Jun phosphorylation when this was measured by [32P]orthophosphate labeling of 3T3-4A cultures. H2O2 had no such effect. Although H2O2 failed to activate JNK in vitro and to phosphorylate c-Jun in vivo, all three forms of stress were found to be potent inducers of binding to the AP1 target sequence. Overall, our data indicate that both membrane-associated components and oxidative damage are involved in JNK activation by UV irradiation, whereas HS-mediated JNK activation, which appears to be mitochondrial-related, utilizes cellular sensors.

Acute hypertension induces heat-shock protein 70 gene expression in rat aorta

BACKGROUND

Many factors cause acute systemic hypertension, which in turn can result in damage to the vessel wall and lead to vascular disease. In previous studies, we demonstrated that restraint, or immobilization stress, results in the induction of heat-shock protein 70 (hsp70) gene expression in the aorta of adult rat and showed that this response was markedly attenuated with age.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Here we provide evidence that restraint-induced hsp70 expression occurs secondary to a rise in systemic blood pressure. Old rats were unable to mount a significant stress-induced hypertensive response, providing an explanation for the reduced hsp70 response in the old rats. A variety of vasoactive agents that induce acute hypertension through distinct signal transduction pathways, including phenylephrine, dopamine, vasopressin, angiotensin II, and endothelin-1, were found to result in hsp70 mRNA induction in the aorta. The magnitude of hsp70 expression achieved with these hypertensive agents was directly correlated with their relative effects on blood pressure. Rats were treated with the vasodilator sodium nitroprusside, which prevented an acute rise in blood pressure from the hypertensive agents tested and abolished induction of hsp70 expression.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings support the conclusion that hsp70 induction occurs as a physiological response to acute hypertension and suggest the possibility that hsp70 plays a role in the protecting the vasculature from damage during hemodynamic stress.

Effect of an alkaline shift on induction of the heat shock response in human fibroblasts

The simultaneous exposure of WI-38 human fibroblasts (HF) to a heat shock (45 degrees C, 30 min) and an alkaline shift (> or = pH 8.0) in the incubation medium increased and extended the expression of heat shock proteins (hsps). Hsp70 was the most prominent inducible hsp synthesized during the recovery phase after the double shock, and the increase in synthesis depended on the degree of alkalinization during the heat shock. The accumulation of inducible hsp70, which was shown by Western blotting to occur in the late part of the recovery period, was more pronounced in the cells exposed to alkaline medium during the heat shock. Northern blotting did not reveal any increase in hsp70 mRNA, although time course studies following the double shock indicated a more prolonged presence of mRNA. Hsp70 gene activation was evaluated by a gel retardation assay using a 32P-labelled DNA oligonucleotide containing the heat shock consensus element (HSE) and a heat shock-induced specific binding protein (heat shock transcription factor, HSTF) from the cell extract. Heat shock activated HSTF-DNA binding and induced hsp70 mRNA expression as well as the synthesis and accumulation of hsp70. Alkaline shift, which by itself did not induce hsps expression, activated HSTF DNA-binding. However, in combination with heat shock, alkaline shift enhanced and prolonged HSTF-HSE complex association and hsp expression at both mRNA and protein levels. Since the alkaline shift-induced activation of hsp gene does not allow full transcription, these results provide further support for the multistep nature of the heat shock transcriptional response.

Gene expression and aging

Considerable amount of data has accumulated during the past few years showing several changes in gene expression as a function of age. However, the basic mechanism of aging still remains poorly understood. In this review, we have mainly analysed the data pertaining to the hypothesis that aging is associated with genetic instability and have attempted further to highlight the gaps that need to be bridged in order to have a clear picture of the aging phenomenon. Extensive investigations employing new and novel approaches are needed in future to elucidate the intricately interwoven patterns of molecular control that underlie the various aspects of gene expression during aging.