Anti-apoptotic function of Rac in hematopoietic cells

β-hydroxybutyrate impairs the directionality of migrating neutrophils through inhibiting the autophagy-dependent degradation of Cdc42 and Rac1 in ketotic cows

Dairy cows have high incidence of ketosis during perinatal. According to our previous studies, elevated ketone bodies (mainly β-hydroxybutyrate, BHB) in the peripheral blood are believed to contribute to the impairment of neutrophils mobility and directionality thereby contributing to the immunosuppression and further infectious disease secondary to ketosis. However, the specific effect of BHB on the directionality of bovine neutrophils needs further study and the underlying molecular mechanisms are still unclear. According to the concentration of serum BHB, 40 multiparous cows (within 3 wk postpartum) were selected and divided into the control (n = 20, BHB <0.6 mM) or clinical ketosis (n = 20, BHB >3.0 mM) group. Blood samples were collected for baseline serum characteristics analysis and neutrophil mobility and directionality detection. Platelet activation factor was used as a chemoattractant in cell migration experiments. Our ex-vivo data showed ketotic cows, compared with control cows, were in a negative energy balance state, and their neutrophils had shorter migration distance, lower migration speed, and impaired migration directionality. Neutrophils from control cows were incubated with 3.0 mM BHB for 6 h in vitro. Similarly, BHB stimulation resulted in impaired mobility and directionality of bovine neutrophils. We further specifically studied the underlying molecular mechanism of BHB regulating neutrophil migration directionality in the present study. Cell division control protein 42 homolog (Cdc42) and Ras-related C3 botulinum toxin substrate 1 (Rac1), 2 key markers in the regulation of migration directionality, were found increased after BHB treatment in their total and activated protein levels while decreasing in their transcription level, suggesting that an imbalance of the protein degradation system may be involved. Interestingly, transmission electron microscopy data revealed a decrease in autophagosome number in neutrophils from ketotic cows. Western blotting data showed the accumulation of sequestosome-1 (p62) protein and a decrease in microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3-II (LC3-II) protein abundance after BHB treatment, further confirming that the autophagy flux was inhibited in neutrophils from ketotic cows. Additionally, rapamycin (RAPA), a specific autophagy activator, was used with or without BHB treatment in vitro. Accordingly, the BHB-induced impairment of migration directionality but not mobility was relieved by RAPA. Furthermore, as verified by in vivo experiments, compared with the control cows, the protein abundance of total and activated Cdc42 and Rac1 increased and their mRNA abundance decreased in neutrophils from ketotic cows. Overall, the present study revealed that pathological concentration of BHB impairs neutrophil migration directionality through inhibiting the autophagy-mediated degradation of Cdc42 and Rac1. These findings help explain the immunosuppression caused by ketosis.

Functional Verification of Novel ELMO1 Variants by Live Imaging in Zebrafish

ELMO1 (Engulfment and Cell Motility1) is a gene involved in regulating cell motility through the ELMO1-DOCK2-RAC complex. Contrary to DOCK2 (Dedicator of Cytokinesis 2) deficiency, which has been reported to be associated with immunodeficiency diseases, variants of ELMO1 have been associated with autoimmune diseases, such as diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). To explore the function of ELMO1 in immune cells and to verify the functions of novel ELMO1 variants in vivo, we established a zebrafish elmo1 mutant model. Live imaging revealed that, similar to mammals, the motility of neutrophils and T-cells was largely attenuated in zebrafish mutants. Consequently, the response of neutrophils to injury or bacterial infection was significantly reduced in the mutants. Furthermore, the reduced mobility of neutrophils could be rescued by the expression of constitutively activated Rac proteins, suggesting that zebrafish elmo1 mutant functions via a conserved mechanism. With this mutant, three novel human ELMO1 variants were transiently and specifically expressed in zebrafish neutrophils. Two variants, p.E90K (c.268G>A) and p.D194G (c.581A>G), could efficiently recover the motility defect of neutrophils in the elmo1 mutant; however, the p.R354X (c.1060C>T) variant failed to rescue the mutant. Based on those results, we identified that zebrafish elmo1 plays conserved roles in cell motility, similar to higher vertebrates. Using the transient-expression assay, zebrafish elmo1 mutants could serve as an effective model for human variant verification in vivo.

Aberrant Rac pathway signalling in glioblastoma

Glioblastoma is an aggressive and incurable form of brain cancer. Both mutation analysis in human glioblastoma and mouse modelling studies have shown that aberrant activation of the PI 3-kinase pathway is a central driver of glioblastoma malignancy. The small GTPase Rac is activated downstream of this pathway, mediating a subset of the effects of aberrant PI 3-kinase pathway activation. Here I discuss the current state of our knowledge on Rac activation mechanisms in glioblastoma. Current knowledge on roles for specific PI 3-kinase pathway responsive Rac guanine nucleotide exchange factors in glioblastoma is reviewed. Rac is best known for its role in promoting cell motility and invasion, but there is also evidence for roles in multiple other cellular processes with cancer relevance, including proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, DNA damage responses, metabolism, angiogenesis and immunosuppression. I review what is known about the role of Rac in these processes in glioblastoma. Finally, I assess possible strategies to inhibit this pathway in glioblastoma through either direct inhibition of Rac or inhibition of upstream activators or downstream mediators of Rac signalling.

Cellular Stress and p53-Associated Apoptosis by Juniperus communis L. Berry Extract Treatment in the Human SH-SY5Y Neuroblastoma Cells

Plant phenolics have shown to activate apoptotic cell death in different tumourigenic cell lines. In this study, we evaluated the effects of juniper berry extract (Juniperus communis L.) on p53 protein, gene expression and DNA fragmentation in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells. In addition, we analyzed the phenolic composition of the extract. We found that juniper berry extract activated cellular relocalization of p53 and DNA fragmentation-dependent cell death. Differentially expressed genes between treated and non-treated cells were evaluated with the cDNA-RDA (representational difference analysis) method at the early time point of apoptotic process when p53 started to be activated and no caspase activity was detected. Twenty one overexpressed genes related to cellular stress, protein synthesis, cell survival and death were detected. Interestingly, they included endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress inducer and sensor HSPA5 and other ER stress-related genes CALM2 and YKT6 indicating that ER stress response was involved in juniper berry extract mediated cell death. In composition analysis, we identified and quantified low concentrations of fifteen phenolic compounds. The main groups of them were flavones, flavonols, phenolic acids, flavanol and biflavonoid including glycosides of quercetin, apigenin, isoscutellarein and hypolaetin. It is suggested that juniper berry extract induced the p53-associated apoptosis through the potentiation and synergism by several phenolic compounds.

Increased mortality and aggravation of heart failure in liver X receptor-α knockout mice after myocardial infarction

Liver X receptors, LXRα (NR1H3) and LXRβ (NR1H2), are best known as nuclear oxysterol receptors and physiological master regulators of lipid and cholesterol metabolism. LXRα play a protective role in acute myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (MI/R) injury, but its role in myocardial infarction (MI) is unknown. The present study was undertaken to determine the effect of LXRα knockout on survival and development of chronic heart failure after MI. Wild-type (WT) and LXRα(-/-) mice were subjected to MI followed by serial echocardiographic and histological assessments. Greater myocyte apoptosis and inflammation within the infarcted zones were found in LXRα(-/-) group at 3 days after MI. At 4 weeks post-MI, LXRα(-/-) MI murine hearts demonstrated significantly increased infarct size, reduced ejection fraction (LXRα(-/-) 29.4 % versus WT 34.4 %), aggravated left ventricular (LV) chamber dilation, enhanced fibrosis and reduced angiogenesis. In addition, LXRα(-/-) mice had increased mortality compared with WT mice. LXRα deficiency increases mortality, aggravates pathological injury and LV remodeling induced by MI. Drugs specifically targeting LXRα may be promising in the treatment of MI.

Deficiency of ataxia telangiectasia mutated kinase delays inflammatory response in the heart following myocardial infarction

Background

Ataxia‐telangiectasia results from mutations in ataxia telangiectasia mutated kinase (ATM) gene. We recently reported that ATM deficiency attenuates left ventricular (LV) dysfunction and dilatation 7 days after myocardial infarction (MI) with increased apoptosis and fibrosis. Here we investigated the role of ATM in the induction of inflammatory response, and activation of survival signaling molecules in the heart acute post‐MI.

Methods and Results

LV structure, function, inflammatory response, and biochemical parameters were measured in wild‐type (WT) and ATM heterozygous knockout (hKO) mice 1 and 3 days post‐MI. ATM deficiency had no effect on infarct size. MI‐induced decline in heart function, as measured by changes in percent fractional shortening, ejection fraction and LV end systolic and diastolic volumes, was lower in hKO‐MI versus WT‐MI (n=10 to 12). The number of neutrophils and macrophages was significantly lower in the infarct LV region of hKO versus WT 1 day post‐MI. Fibrosis and expression of α‐smooth muscle actin (myofibroblast marker) were higher in hKO‐MI, while active TGF‐β1 levels were higher in the WT‐MI 3 days post‐MI. Myocyte cross‐sectional area was higher in hKO‐sham with no difference between the two MI groups. MMP‐9 protein levels were similarly increased in the infarct LV region of both MI groups. Apoptosis was significantly higher in the infarct LV region of hKO at both time points. Akt activation was lower, while Bax expression was higher in hKO‐MI infarct.

Conclusion

ATM deficiency results in decreased dilative remodeling and delays inflammatory response acute post‐MI. However, it associates with increased fibrosis and apoptosis.

The bipartite rac1 Guanine nucleotide exchange factor engulfment and cell motility 1/dedicator of cytokinesis 180 (elmo1/dock180) protects endothelial cells from apoptosis in blood vessel development

Engulfment and cell motility 1/dedicator of cytokinesis 180 (Elmo1/Dock180) is a bipartite guanine nucleotide exchange factor for the monomeric GTPase Ras-related C3 botulinum toxin substrate 1 (Rac1). Elmo1/Dock180 regulates Rac1 activity in a specific spatiotemporal manner in endothelial cells (ECs) during zebrafish development and acts downstream of the Netrin-1/Unc5-homolog B (Unc5B) signaling cascade. However, mechanistic details on the pathways by which Elmo1/Dock180 regulates endothelial function and vascular development remained elusive. In this study, we aimed to analyze the vascular function of Elmo1 and Dock180 in human ECs and during vascular development in zebrafish embryos. In vitro overexpression of Elmo1 and Dock180 in ECs reduced caspase-3/7 activity and annexin V-positive cell number upon induction of apoptosis. This protective effect of Elmo1 and Dock180 is mediated by activation of Rac1, p21-activated kinase (PAK) and AKT/protein kinase B (AKT) signaling. In zebrafish, Elmo1 and Dock180 overexpression reduced the total apoptotic cell and apoptotic EC number and promoted the formation of blood vessels during embryogenesis. In conclusion, Elmo1 and Dock180 protect ECs from apoptosis by the activation of the Rac1/PAK/AKT signaling cascade in vitro and in vivo. Thus, Elmo1 and Dock180 facilitate blood vessel formation by stabilization of the endothelium during angiogenesis.

Sema3C promotes the survival and tumorigenicity of glioma stem cells through Rac1 activation

Different cancer cell compartments often communicate through soluble factors to facilitate tumor growth. Glioma stem cells (GSCs) are a subset of tumor cells that resist standard therapy to contribute to disease progression. How GSCs employ a distinct secretory program to communicate with and nurture each other over the nonstem tumor cell (NSTC) population is not well defined. Here, we show that GSCs preferentially secrete Sema3C and coordinately express PlexinA2/D1 receptors to activate Rac1/nuclear factor (NF)-κB signaling in an autocrine/paracrine loop to promote their own survival. Importantly, Sema3C is not expressed in neural progenitor cells (NPCs) or NSTCs. Disruption of Sema3C induced apoptosis of GSCs, but not NPCs or NSTCs, and suppressed tumor growth in orthotopic models of glioblastoma. Introduction of activated Rac1 rescued the Sema3C knockdown phenotype in vivo. Our study supports the targeting of Sema3C to break this GSC-specific autocrine/paracrine loop in order to improve glioblastoma treatment, potentially with a high therapeutic index.

The Pleckstrin and Sec7 domain-containing gene as a novel epigenetic modification marker in human gastric cancer and its clinical significance

The Pleckstrin and Sec7 domain-containing (PSD) gene has been recently found to participate in the progression of several types of cancer. In the present study, we identified PSD as a candidate tumor suppressor gene silenced through epigenetic modification in gastric cancer (GC). PSD mRNA expression and DNA methylation were evaluated by real-time reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and methylation-specific PCR in GC cell lines and tissue samples. Involvement of histone modification in GC cell lines was examined by chromatin immunoprecipitation assay. We also used an siRNA-mediated approach to knock down the PSD gene in SGC7901 cells, which was utilized to detect the role of PSD in GC progression, followed by analysis of cell apoptosis and invasion. PSD gene expression was reduced in all GC cell lines compared with GES1 (an immortalized normal gastric cell line). In addition, PSD expression was markedly downregulated in gastric carcinoma tissues when compared to adjacent non-tumor tissues. Our data also indicated that PSD mRNA and protein levels were associated with tumor differentiation and lymph node metastasis. Aberrant DNA methylation status and histone modification were also found in GC cell lines. Enhanced gene expression was detected when the HGC27, AGS and BGC823 GC cell lines were treated with the DNA-demethylating agent 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine. However, treatment with trichostatin A, a histone deacetylase inhibitor, had no effect on PSD expression in any of the GC cell lines. Suppression of PSD by siRNA led to enhanced SGC7901 cell invasion. The depletion of PSD expression inhibited cell proliferation and decreased apoptosis in SGC7901 cell lines. Knockdown of the PSD expression decreased caspase-3 and -7 protein levels in SGC7901 cells. PSD gene may function as a tumor suppressor in GC suggesting a vital role for DNA methylation and histone modification in PSD silencing. PSD expression might be a useful biomarker for epigenetic-based GC early diagnosis and may lead to the identification of new targets for pharmacological intervention.

Rac1 signaling is critical to cardiomyocyte polarity and embryonic heart development

BACKGROUND

Defects in cardiac septation are the most common form of congenital heart disease, but the mechanisms underlying these defects are still poorly understood. The small GTPase Rac1 is implicated in planar cell polarity of epithelial cells in Drosophila; however, its role in mammalian cardiomyocyte polarity is not clear. We tested the hypothesis that Rac1 signaling in the second heart field regulates cardiomyocyte polarity, chamber septation, and right ventricle development during embryonic heart development.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Mice with second heart field-specific deficiency of Rac1 (Rac1(SHF)) exhibited ventricular and atrial septal defects, a thinner right ventricle myocardium, and a bifid cardiac apex. Fate-mapping analysis showed that second heart field contribution to the interventricular septum and right ventricle was deficient in Rac1(SHF) hearts. Notably, cardiomyocytes had a spherical shape with disrupted F-actin filaments in Rac1(SHF) compared with elongated and well-aligned cardiomyocytes in littermate controls. Expression of Scrib, a core protein in planar cell polarity, was lost in Rac1(SHF) hearts with decreased expression of WAVE and Arp2/3, leading to decreased migratory ability. In addition, Rac1-deficient neonatal cardiomyocytes displayed defects in cell projections, lamellipodia formation, and cell elongation. Furthermore, apoptosis was increased and the expression of Gata4, Tbx5, Nkx2.5, and Hand2 transcription factors was decreased in the Rac1(SHF) right ventricle myocardium.

CONCLUSIONS

Deficiency of Rac1 in the second heart field impairs elongation and cytoskeleton organization of cardiomyocytes and results in congenital septal defects, thin right ventricle myocardium, and a bifid cardiac apex. Our study suggests that Rac1 signaling is critical to cardiomyocyte polarity and embryonic heart development.

Overexpression of developmentally regulated GTP-binding protein-2 increases bone loss

The developmentally regulated GTP-binding protein-2 (DRG2) is a novel subclass of GTP-binding proteins. Many functional characteristics of osteoclasts (OC) are associated with small GTPases. We hypothesized that DRG2 affects bone mass via modulating OC activity. Using DRG2 transgenic mice, we investigated the role of DRG2 in bone remodeling. DRG2 overexpression caused a decrease in bone mass and an increase in the number and activity of OC in vivo. DRG2 overexpression increased fusion, spreading, survival, and resorption activity of OC in vitro. Downregulation of DRG2 by siRNA decreased fusion, spreading, and survival of OC, supporting the observations found in DRG2 transgenic OC. Transgenic mature OCs were larger, with actin rings and higher ERK, Akt, Rac1 and Rho activities than wild-type OCs. Inhibition of these proteins abolished the effects of DRG2 on formation of large OCs with actin rings, implying that DRG2 affects cytoskeleton reorganization in a Rac1/Rho/ERK/Akt-dependent manner. In summary, DRG2 is associated with survival and cytoskeleton organization of OC under influence of macrophage colony-stimulating factor, and its overexpression leads to elevated bone resorptive activity of OC, resulting in bone loss.

COX-2/PGE2: molecular ambassadors of Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpes virus oncoprotein-v-FLIP

Kaposi's sarcoma herpesvirus (KSHV) latent oncoprotein viral FLICE (FADD-like interferon converting enzyme)-like inhibitory protein (v-FLIP) or K13, a potent activator of NF-κB, has well-established roles in KSHV latency and oncogenesis. KSHV-induced COX-2 represents a novel strategy employed by KSHV to promote latency and inflammation/angiogenesis/invasion. Here, we demonstrate that v-FLIP/K13 promotes tumorigenic effects via the induction of host protein COX-2 and its inflammatory metabolite PGE2 in an NF-κB-dependent manner. In addition to our previous studies demonstrating COX-2/PGE2's role in transcriptional regulation of KSHV latency promoter and latent gene expression, the current study adds to the complexity that though LANA-1 (latency associated nuclear antigen) is utilizing COX-2/PGE2 as critical factors for its transcriptional regulation, it is the v-FLIP/K13 gene in the KSHV latency cluster that maintains continuous COX-2/PGE2 levels in the infected cells. We demonstrate that COX-2 inhibition, via its chemical inhibitors (NS-398 or celecoxib), reduced v-FLIP/K13-mediated NF-κB induction, and extracellular matrix (ECM) interaction-mediated signaling, mitochondrial antioxidant enzyme manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) levels, and subsequently downregulated detachment-induced apoptosis (anoikis) resistance. vFLIP expression mediated the secretion of cytokines, and spindle cell differentiation activated the phosphorylation of p38, RSK, FAK, Src, Akt and Rac1-GTPase. The COX-2 inhibition in v-FLIP/K13-HMVECs reduced inflammation and invasion/metastasis-related genes, along with reduced anchorage-independent colony formation via modulating ‘extrinsic' as well as ‘intrinsic' cell death pathways. COX-2 blockade in v-FLIP/K13-HMVEC cells drastically augmented cell death induced by removal of essential growth/survival factors secreted in the microenvironment. Transformed cells obtained from anchorage-independent colonies of COX-2 inhibitor-treated v-FLIP/K13-HMVEC cells expressed lower levels of endothelial–mesenchymal transition genes such as slug, snail and twist, and higher expression of the tumor-suppressor gene, E-cadherin. Taken together, our study provides strong evidences that FDA-approved COX-2 inhibitors have great potential in blocking tumorigenic events linked to KSHV's oncogenic protein v-FLIP/K13.

Aberrant methylation of PSD disturbs Rac1-mediated immune responses governing neutrophil chemotaxis and apoptosis in ulcerative colitis-associated carcinogenesis

We previously reported that the Pleckstrin and Sec7 domain-containing (PSD) gene is preferentially methylated in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) who developed colorectal cancer (CRC), and is implicated in UC-associated carcinogenesis through its inhibition of apoptosis. This study aimed to determine the potential effect of PSD methylation on its downstream molecule, Ras-related C3 botulinum toxin substrate 1 (Rac1), which governs neutrophil chemotaxis and apoptosis signaling. PSD was knocked down in a normal human fibroblast cell line (HNDF) and a neutrophil-like cell line (HL-60). Both NHDF and HL-60 cells exhibited numerous filamentous-actin (F-actin) rich membrane extensions, resulting in the activation of Rac1; this activation was hampered by PSD silencing. Lipopolysaccharide, a reactive oxygen species (ROS) inducer, stimulated NHDF cells to release ROS and activated caspase‑3/7 in the presence of neutrophils, which was inhibited by PSD knockdown. Migration assays demonstrated that chemotaxis of HL-60 cells was affected by PSD silencing in NHDF cells. Tissue sections from 6 UC patients with CRC and 15 UC patients without CRC were examined. To verify Rac1-mediated chemotaxis in tissue sections, we evaluated the grade of neutrophil infiltration by histological assessment and assessed F-actin and PSD expression by immunohistochemistry. Neutrophil infiltration, F-actin and PSD expression were significantly decreased in specimens from UC patients with PSD methylation compared with those without. Decreased levels of F-actin expression were observed in colorectal mucosa, as well as in infiltrating cells with PSD methylation. PSD expression was preferentially inhibited in colorectal mucosa by PSD methylation, whereas PSD expression was rarely observed in infiltrating cells, regardless of PSD methylation status. These data indicate that aberrant methylation of PSD occurs in UC-associated colorectal mucosa, enabling circumvention of Rac1-mediated immune responses governing neutrophil chemotaxis and apoptosis, and thus plays a pivotal role in the mechanisms underlying UC-associated carcinogenesis.

Rac1 GTPase-deficient mouse lens exhibits defects in shape, suture formation, fiber cell migration and survival

Morphogenesis and shape of the ocular lens depend on epithelial cell elongation and differentiation into fiber cells, followed by the symmetric and compact organization of fiber cells within an enclosed extracellular matrix-enriched elastic capsule. The cellular mechanisms orchestrating these different events however, remain obscure. We investigated the role of the Rac1 GTPase in these processes by targeted deletion of expression using the conditional gene knockout (cKO) approach. Rac1 cKO mice were derived from two different Cre (Le-Cre and MLR-10) transgenic mice in which lens-specific Cre expression starts at embryonic day 8.75 and 10.5, respectively, in both the lens epithelium and fiber cells. The Le-Cre/Rac1 cKO mice exhibited an early-onset (E12.5) and severe lens phenotype compared to the MLR-10/Rac1 cKO (E15.5) mice. While the Le-Cre/Rac1 cKO lenses displayed delayed primary fiber cell elongation, lenses from both Rac1 cKO strains were characterized by abnormal shape, impaired secondary fiber cell migration, sutural defects and thinning of the posterior capsule which often led to rupture. Lens fiber cell N-cadherin/β-catenin/Rap1/Nectin-based cell-cell junction formation and WAVE-2/Abi-2/Nap1-regulated actin polymerization were impaired in the Rac1 deficient mice. Additionally, the Rac1 cKO lenses were characterized by a shortened epithelial sheet, reduced levels of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins and increased apoptosis. Taken together, these data uncover the essential role of Rac1 GTPase activity in establishment and maintenance of lens shape, suture formation and capsule integrity, and in fiber cell migration, adhesion and survival, via regulation of actin cytoskeletal dynamics, cell adhesive interactions and ECM turnover.

The role of FilGAP-filamin A interactions in mechanoprotection

Cells in mechanically active environments are subjected to high-amplitude exogenous forces that can lead to cell death. Filamin A (FLNa) may protect cells from mechanically induced death by mechanisms that are not yet defined. We found that mechanical forces applied through integrins enhanced Rac-mediated lamellae formation in FLNa-null but not FLNa-expressing cells. Suppression of force-induced lamella formation was mediated by repeat 23 of FLNa, which also binds FilGAP, a recently discovered Rac GTPase-activating protein (GAP). We found that FilGAP is targeted to sites of force transfer by FLNa. This force-induced redistribution of FilGAP was essential for the suppression of Rac activity and lamellae formation in cells treated with tensile forces. Depletion of FilGAP by small interfering RNA, inhibition of FilGAP activity by dominant-negative mutation or deletion of its FLNa-binding domain, all resulted in a dramatic force-induced increase of the percentage of annexin-V-positive cells. FilGAP therefore plays a role in protecting cells against force-induced apoptosis, and this function is mediated by FLNa.

Domain-domain interaction of P-Rex1 is essential for the activation and inhibition by G protein betagamma subunits and PKA

PtdIns(3, 4, 5)P(3)-dependent Rac exchanger (P-Rex) 1 is a guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) for the small GTPase Rac. P-Rex1 is activated by G protein betagamma subunits (Gbetagamma), and the Gbetagamma-induced activation is inhibited by cAMP-dependent protein kinase A (PKA). However, the details of regulatory mechanism of P-Rex1 remain to be clarified. In the present study, we investigated the mechanism of activation and inhibition of P-Rex1 using various truncated and alanine-substituted mutants and found that the domain-domain interaction of P-Rex1 is important for Gbetagamma-induced activation and PKA-induced inhibition. Immunoprecipitation analysis showed that the second Disheveled/EGL-10/Pleckstrin (DEP) and first PSD-95/Dlg/ZO-1 (PDZ) domains of P-Rex1 associate with the inositol polyphosphate-4-phosphatase (IP4P) domain. Carboxyl-terminal truncation on the IP4P domain or mutations in the protein-binding pocket of the first PDZ domain abolished the association. Analysis of in vitro guanine nucleotide exchange assay, PAK1/2 phosphorylation, and Rac-specific actin reorganization revealed that Gbetagamma could activate a complex of the P-Rex1 mutant lacking the IP4P domain and the isolated IP4P domain as well as full-length P-Rex1. Moreover, PKA phosphorylation prevented the domain-domain interaction and Gbetagamma-binding. These results provide a new insight into the regulation of other Rho-family GEFs and cell responses induced by the heterotrimeric G protein.

Involvement of G proteins of the Rho family in the regulation of Bcl-2-like protein expression and caspase 3 activation by Gastrins

Gastrins, including amidated gastrin (Gamide) and glycine-extended gastrin (Ggly), are known to accelerate the growth of gastric and colorectal cancer cells by stimulation of proliferation and inhibition of apoptosis. Gamide controls apoptosis by regulation of proteins of the Bcl-2 family and by regulation of the activation of caspases. However the interactions between Ggly and proteins of the Bcl-2 family and caspases are not known. Since in other systems G proteins of the Rho family inhibit apoptosis via interaction with proteins of the Bcl-2 family, leading to changes in caspase activities, we have compared the role of Rho family G proteins in regulation of Bcl-2-like (Bad/Bax/Bcl-xl) protein expression and caspase 3 activation by Ggly and Gamide. The effects of the specific inhibitors C3 (for Rho) and Y-27632 (for ROCK), and of dominant negative mutants of Rac, Cdc42 and PAK, were investigated in the gastric epithelial cell line IMGE-5. Apoptosis was induced by serum starvation and confirmed by annexin V staining and caspase 3 activation. Ggly inhibits caspase 3 activation via a Bcl-2-like protein-mediated pathway which requires activation of both Rho/ROCK and Rac/Cdc42/PAK. Gamide inhibits caspase 3 activation via redundant Bcl-2-like protein-mediated pathways which involve alternative activation of Rac/Cdc42/PAK and Rho/ROCK. Gamide and Ggly differentially activate members of Rho family G proteins which in turn regulate different proteins of the Bcl-2 family leading to changes in caspase 3 activity. The findings offer potential targets for blocking the growth-stimulating effects of these gastrins.

Cytotoxic necrotizing factor 1 prevents apoptosis via the Akt/IkappaB kinase pathway: role of nuclear factor-kappaB and Bcl-2

Cytotoxic necrotizing factor 1 (CNF1) is a protein toxin produced by some pathogenic strains of Escherichia coli that specifically activates Rho, Rac, and Cdc42 GTPases. We previously reported that this toxin prevents the ultraviolet-B-induced apoptosis in epithelial cells, with a mechanism that remained to be defined. In this work, we show that the proteasomal degradation of the Rho GTPase is necessary to achieve cell death protection, because inhibition of Rho degradation abolishes the prosurvival activity of CNF1. We hypothesize that Rho inactivation allows the activity of Rac to become dominant. This in turn leads to stimulation of the phosphoinositide 3-kinase/Akt/IkappaB kinase/nuclear factor-kappaB prosurvival pathway and to a remarkable modification in the architecture of the mitochondrial network, mainly consisting in the appearance of elongated and interconnected mitochondria. Importantly, we found that Bcl-2 silencing reduces the ability of CNF1 to protect cells against apoptosis and that it also prevents the CNF1-induced mitochondrial changes. It is worth noting that the ability of a bacterial toxin to induce such a remodeling of the mitochondrial network is herein reported for the first time. The possible pathophysiological relevance of this finding is discussed.

Inhibition of protein geranylgeranylation induces apoptosis in synovial fibroblasts

Statins, competitive inhibitors of hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA reductase, have recently been shown to have a therapeutic effect in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In RA, synovial fibroblasts in the synovial lining, are believed to be particularly important in the pathogenesis of disease because they recruit leukocytes into the synovium and secrete angiogenesis-promoting molecules and proteases that degrade extracellular matrix. In this study, we show a marked reduction in RA synovial fibroblast survival through the induction of apoptosis when the cells were cultured with statins. Simvastatin was more effective in RA synovial fibroblasts than atorvastatin, and both statins were more potent on tumor necrosis factor-α-induced cells. In contrast, in osteoarthritis synovial fibroblasts, neither the statin nor the activation state of the cell contributed to the efficacy of apoptosis induction. Viability of statin-treated cells could be rescued by geranylgeraniol but not by farnesol, suggesting a requirement for a geranylgeranylated protein for synovial fibroblast survival. Phase partitioning experiments confirmed that in the presence of statin, geranylgeranylated proteins are redistributed to the cytoplasm. siRNA experiments demonstrated a role for Rac1 in synovial fibroblast survival. Western blotting showed that the activated phosphorylated form of Akt, a protein previously implicated in RA synovial fibroblast survival, was decreased by about 75%. The results presented in this study lend further support to the importance of elevated pAkt levels to RA synovial fibroblast survival and suggest that statins might have a beneficial role in reducing the aberrant pAkt levels in patients with RA. The results may also partly explain the therapeutic effect of atorvastatin in patients with RA.

Inhibition of protein prenylation by bisphosphonates causes sustained activation of Rac, Cdc42, and Rho GTPases

N-BPs, which inhibit bone resorption by preventing prenylation of small GTPases, unexpectedly cause the accumulation of GTP-bound, unprenylated Rho family GTPases in macrophages and osteoclasts. In macrophages, this also leads to sustained, Rac-mediated activation of p38. The antiresorptive activity of N-BPs may therefore be caused at least in part, by the accumulation of unprenylated small GTPases, causing inappropriate activation of downstream signaling pathways.

INTRODUCTION

Nitrogen-containing bisphosphonates (N-BPs) are potent inhibitors of bone resorption that act by inhibiting farnesyl diphosphate synthase, thereby indirectly preventing the prenylation of Rho family GTPases that are required for the function and survival of bone-resorbing osteoclasts. However, the effect that these drugs have on the activity of Rho family GTPases has not been determined.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The effect of N-BPs on the activity of Rho family GTPases in J774 macrophages and osteoclasts was measured using a pull-down assay to isolate the GTP-bound forms. The effect of N-BPs, or decreasing Rac expression using siRNA, on downstream p38 activity was evaluated by Western blotting and apoptosis assessed by measurement of caspase 3/7 activity.

RESULTS

Rather than inhibiting GTPase function, loss of prenylation after treatment with N-BPs caused an increase in the GTP-bound form of Rac, Cdc42, and Rho in J774 cells and osteoclast-like cells, which paralleled the rate of accumulation of unprenylated small GTPases. Activation of Rac also occurred with other inhibitors of prenylation of Rho-family proteins, such as mevastatin and the geranylgeranyl transferase I inhibitor GGTI-298. The Rac-GTP that increased after N-BP treatment was newly translated, cytoplasmic unprenylated protein, because it was not labeled with [(14)C] mevalonate, and the increase in Rac-GTP was prevented by cycloheximide. Furthermore, this unprenylated Rac-GTP retained at least part of its functional activity in J774 cells, because it mediated N-BP-induced activation of p38. Paradoxically, although risedronate induces apoptosis of J774 macrophages by inhibiting protein prenylation, the p38 inhibitor SB203580 enhanced N-BP-induced apoptosis, suggesting that Rac-induced p38 activation partially suppresses the pro-apoptotic effect of N-BPs in these cells.

CONCLUSIONS

N-BP drugs may disrupt the function of osteoclasts in vivo and affect other cell types in vitro by inhibiting protein prenylation, thereby causing inappropriate and sustained activation, rather than inhibition, of some small GTPases and their downstream signaling pathways.

The Rac and Rho hall of fame: a decade of hypertrophic signaling hits

Over the last decade, the Rho family GTPases have gained considerable recognition as powerful regulators of actin cytoskeletal organization. As with many high profile signal transducers, these molecules soon attracted the attention of the cardiovascular research community. Shortly thereafter, two prominent members known as RhoA and Rac1 were linked to agonist-induced gene expression and myofilament organization using the isolated cardiomyocyte cell model. Subsequent creation of transgenic mouse lines provided evidence for more complex roles of RhoA and Rac1 signaling. Clues from in vitro and in vivo studies suggest the involvement of numerous downstream targets of RhoA and Rac1 signaling including serum response factor, NF-kappaB, and other transcription factors, myofilament proteins, ion channels, and reactive oxygen species generation. Which of these contribute to the observed phenotypic effects of enhanced RhoA and Rac activation in vivo remain to be determined. Current research efforts with a more translational focus have used statins or Rho kinase blockers to assess RhoA and Rac1 as targets for interventional approaches to blunt hypertrophy or heart failure. Generally, salutary effects on remodeling and ischemic damage are observed, but the broad specificity and multiple cellular targets for these drugs within the myocardium demands caution in interpretation. In this review, we assess the evolution of knowledge related to Rac1 and RhoA in the context of hypertrophy and heart failure and highlight the direction that future exploration will lead.

Oncogenic Vav1 induces Rac-dependent apoptosis via inhibition of Bcl-2 family proteins and collaborates with p53 deficiency to promote hematopoietic progenitor cell proliferation

Vav1 is an hematopoietic-specific Rho guanine nucleotide exchange factor coupling tyrosine kinase receptors and Rac GTPases, and has been implicated in transformation of fibroblasts and pancreas. To determine the biologic effect and oncogenic potential of Vav1 in hematopoietic lineages, we stably express oncogenic mutant of Vav1 in primary bone marrow cells using retrovirus-mediated gene transfer. Contrary to the growth stimulatory effects observed in fibroblasts, oncogenic Vav1 inhibits hematopoietic stem cell/progenitor engraftment in vivo and progenitor cell expansion in vitro via inducing apoptosis. The oncogenic Vav1-induced apoptosis is associated with reduced expression of Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL proteins and effectively suppressed by transgenic overexpression of Bcl-2, suggesting Vav1-mediated signaling via Bcl-2 in apoptosis. Also, oncogenic Vav1 stimulates sustained activation of Rac GTPases and the biologic effects of oncogenic Vav1 are Rac-dependent. Further, when expressed in the p53-deficient cells, which express elevated Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL and are resistant to the apoptosis, oncogenic Vav1 enhances both proliferation and self-renewal of hematopoietic progenitor cells. These results demonstrate clear phenotypic differences between wild-type and p53(-/-) hematopoietic cells expressing oncogenic Vav1, and suggest oncogenic potential of Vav1-mediated pathways in primary hematopoietic cell when they collaborate with additional genetic hits that affect the p53 pathway.

Regulation of osteoclast apoptosis and motility by small GTPase binding protein Rac1

The role of Rac1 in osteoclast survival and bone-resorbing activity was examined using adenovirus vector expression systems. Rac1 is critically involved in M-CSF receptor signaling and mediates survival signaling primarily through PI3K/Akt pathways. Rac1 also plays a significant role in bone resorptive activity, probably by regulating the motility of osteoclasts.

INTRODUCTION

Rac1 is a member of Rho family small G-proteins, and recent studies have revealed that it mediates anti-apoptotic signals in some types of cells. Rac1 is reported to be required for the cytoskeletal organization and bone-resorbing activity of osteoclasts, but their roles in osteoclast survival and function are not fully elucidated.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We constructed the adenovirus vector carrying cDNA of either the dominant negative Rac1 (Rac1(DN)) or constitutively active Rac1 (Rac1(CA)) gene, and osteoclast-like cells (OCLs) generated in mouse co-culture system were infected with these viruses. To examine the role of Rac1 in osteoclast survival and function, we performed pit formation assays, survival assays, and Western blotting, including an activated-Rac1 pull-down assay using adenovirus-infected OCLs. To further clarify the mechanism of Rac1 regulation in osteoclast survival, some specific inhibitors and adenovirus vectors of signal transduction molecules were used. To quantify membrane movement before and after macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) treatment, OCLs expressing either enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) or Rac1(DN) were recorded with a time-lapse video microscope.

RESULTS

Adenovirus vector-mediated dominant negative Rac1 (Rac1(DN)) expression significantly reduced pit formation, and promoted their apoptosis. M-CSF rapidly activated Rac1, and the prosurvival effect of M-CSF for OCLs was abrogated by Rac1(DN) overexpression. Constitutively active Rac1 enhanced OCL survival, which was completely suppressed by phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase (PI3K) inhibitors, whereas a Mek inhibitor had only partial effect. Rac1(DN) also partially blocked the activation of Akt induced by the overexpressing catalytic subunit of PI3K. Using time-lapse video microscopy, we found that Rac1(DN) expression reduced membrane ruffling and the spreading of OCLs in response to M-CSF.

CONCLUSIONS

Small guanosine triphosphatase (GTPase) Rac1 is critically involved in M-CSF receptor signaling and mediates survival signaling of osteoclasts primarily by modulating PI3K/Akt pathways. Rac1 also plays a significant role in the bone resorptive activity of cells, probably by regulating the motility of osteoclasts.

Erythropoietin Receptor Signal Transduction Requires Protein Geranylgeranylation

Erythropoietin (Epo) acts through the erythropoietin receptor, a member of the type-1 cytokine receptor family, to influence survival, proliferation, and differentiation of erythroid progenitors. Epo stimulation of factor-dependent 32D cells results in phosphorylation of many proteins, including Janus kinase (Jak) 2, signal transducer and activator of transcription (Stat) 5, and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (Erk). Some of Epo-activated signaling proteins require isoprenylation, either farnesylation or geranylgeranylation, for post-translational modification. In this study, we sought to characterize the interplay between protein isoprenylation and Epo signal transduction. Using two different Epo-responsive cell lines, we found that depletion of mevalonate and its isoprenoid derivatives using the 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl (HMG)-CoA reductase inhibitor lovastatin impairs Epo signaling as assessed by phosphorylation of cellular substrates and inhibition of apoptosis. Interestingly, the effect of mevalonate depletion was prevented by adding back geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate but not farnesyl pyrophosphate. Furthermore, selective inhibition of protein geranylgeranylation mimicked the effect of lovastatin, whereas selective inhibition of farnesylation had no effect. These results indicate that protein geranylgeranylation and not farnesylation is important for proper Epo signal transduction.

RhoH, a hematopoietic-specific Rho GTPase, regulates proliferation, survival, migration, and engraftment of hematopoietic progenitor cells

Rho guanosine triphosphatases (GT-Pases) are recognized as critical mediators of signaling pathways regulating actin assembly, migration, proliferation, and survival in hematopoietic cells. Here, we have studied a recently identified hematopoietic-specific Rho GTPase, RhoH. Unlike most members of the Rho GTPase family, RhoH is GTPase deficient and does not cycle between GTP- and guanosine diphosphate (GDP)–bound forms, suggesting that regulation of RhoH expression may be critical in its activity. We found that RhoH is expressed in murine hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs) and fully differentiated myeloid and lymphoid lineages. In cytokine-stimulated HPCs, knockdown of RhoH expression via RNA interference stimulates proliferation, survival, and stromal cell-derived factor-1α (SDF-1α)–induced migration in vitro. Conversely, RhoH overexpression in these cells via retrovirus-mediated gene transfer is associated with impaired activation of Rac GTPases, reduced proliferation, increased apoptosis, and defective actin polymerization and chemotaxis. In vivo, HPCs with RhoH overexpression demonstrate defective hematopoietic reconstitution capability compared with control vector-transduced cells. Our results suggest that RhoH serves as a negative regulator of both growth and actin-based function of HPCs possibly via suppression of Rac-mediated signaling.

A Rac1/phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt3 anti-apoptotic pathway, triggered by AlsinLF, the product of the ALS2 gene, antagonizes Cu/Zn-superoxide dismutase (SOD1) mutant-induced motoneuronal cell death

AlsinLF, the product of the ALS2 gene, inhibits Cu/Zn-superoxide dismutase (SOD1) mutant-induced neurotoxicity via its Rho guanine nucleotide-exchanging factor domain. We here identified Rac1, a Rho family small GTPase, as a target for the Rho guanine nucleotide-exchanging factor activity of alsinLF. Rac1 associates with alsinLF. The amount of the GTP form of Rac1 is up-regulated by enforced overexpression of alsinLF. We further found not only that constitutively active Rac1 suppresses motoneuronal cell death induced by SOD1 mutants but also that the neuroprotective activity of alsinLF was completely inhibited by knocking down the endogenous Rac1 expression with small interfering RNA for Rac1, indicating that Rac1 is the major effector for alsinLF-mediated neuroprotection. Such alsinLF/Rac1-mediated neuroprotection occurs specifically against the SOD1 mutant-induced cell death but not against the cell death induced by any other neurotoxic insults in motoneuronal NSC34 cells. We further demonstrated that the alsinLF/Rac1-mediated neuroprotective signal is transmitted to the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt anti-apoptotic axis. Among three Akt family proteins, Akt3 is the major downstream mediator for alsinLF/Rac1-mediated neuroprotection, which is specifically effective against SOD1 mutant-induced neurotoxicity.

Role of small GTP binding proteins in the growth-promoting and antiapoptotic actions of gastrin

G17 has growth promoting and antiapoptotic effects on the AR4-2J pancreatic acinar cell line. We previously reported that whereas MAPK regulates G17-stimulation of AR4-2J cell proliferation, Akt mediates the antiapoptotic action of G17. We examined the signal-transduction pathways mediating G17 stimulation of AR4-2J cell growth and survival. G17 activated the small GTP binding proteins Ras, Rac, Rho, and Cdc42. Transduction of the cells with adenoviral vectors expressing dominant negative Akt, Ras, Rho, and Cdc42 but not dominant negative Rac inhibited AR4-2J cell proliferation and survival. Both exoenzyme C3 from Clostridium botulinum (C3), a toxin known to inactivate Rho, and PD98059, a MAPK inhibitor, reversed G17 inhibition of AR4-2J cell apoptosis. G17 induction of Akt activation was reduced by >60% by both dominant negative Ras and Rho and by 30% by dominant negative Cdc42. In contrast, G17-stimulated MAPK activation was blocked by >80% by dominant negative Ras but not by dominant negative Rho and Cdc42. Similar results were observed in the presence of C3. Dominant negative Rac failed to affect G17 induction of both Akt and MAPK, whereas it inhibited sorbitol by almost 50% but not G17-stimulated activation of p38 kinase. Thus G17 promotes AR4-2J cell growth and survival through the activation of multiple GTP binding proteins, which, in turn, regulate different protein kinase cascades. Whereas Ras activates Akt and MAPK, Rho and Cdc42 appear to regulate Akt and possibly other as yet unidentified kinases mediating the growth-stimulatory actions of G17.

RhoA controls myoblast survival by inducing the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-Akt signaling pathway

The small GTPase RhoA regulates the expression of the myogenic transcription factor, MyoD, and the transcription of muscle-specific genes. We report that RhoA also affects the survival of differentiating myoblasts. Two signaling pathways, extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-K)-Akt, are involved in myoblast survival. Here, we show that inhibition of RhoA prevents the phosphorylation of Akt, but does not affect the phosphorylation of ERK. Constitutive expression of an active form of Akt prevents apoptosis in myoblasts treated with the Rho inhibitor C3-transferase. These results indicate that RhoA functions to prevent myoblast death by inducing the PI3-K-Akt pathway.

Role of the Sec14-like domain of Dbl family exchange factors in the regulation of Rho family GTPases in different subcellular sites

Mechanisms underlying subcellular region-specific regulation of Rho family GTPases through Dbl family guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) remain totally unknown. Here we show that the Sec14-like domain, which lies in the N-terminus of the Dbl family GEFs Dbl and Ost, directs the subcellular localization of these GEFs and also their substrate Cdc42. When coexpressed with Cdc42 in human adenocarcinoma HeLa cells, Dbl-I and Ost-I, which lack the Sec14-like domain, translocated Cdc42 to the plasma membrane, where Dbl-I or Ost-I was colocalized. In marked contrast, Dbl-II and Ost-II, which contain the Sec14-like domain, were colocalized with Cdc42 in endomembrane compartments. Furthermore, ruffle membrane formation upon epidermal growth factor treatment was mediated by Dbl-I or Ost-I, but neither Dbl-II nor Ost-II, supporting a notion that GEFs with or without the Sec14-like domain are linked to different upstream signals. By employing a novel method to detect the active GTP-bound form of Cdc42 in situ, we demonstrate that Dbl-I and Ost-I, but neither Dbl-II nor Ost-II, indeed activate colocalized Cdc42.

Differential interaction and activation of Rho family GTPases by p210bcr-abl and p190bcr-abl

The p210(bcr-abl) and p190(bcr-abl) fusion proteins, respectively responsible for chronic myelogenous leukemia and acute lymphoblastic leukemia, present deregulated tyrosine kinase activity and abnormal localization. The Dbl homology domain of Bcr, activating Rho GTPases, is present in p210(bcr-abl), but absent in p190(bcr-abl). We investigated the interaction of Bcr-Abl chimeras and Rho proteins by coimmunoprecipitation, pull-down experiments and GEF activity measurement. RhoA, Rac1 and Cdc42 interact in vivo with p210(bcr-abl) only. Moreover, the three types of GTPases are activated in vitro and in vivo by p210(bcr-abl). Nevertheless, Rac1 and Cdc42, but not RhoA, are activated by p190(bcr-abl) in vitro and in vivo. Part of this GEF activity of p190(bcr-abl) is probably attributable to p95(vav), which is complexed with both p190(bcr-abl) and p210(bcr-abl) in an activated form. p160(bcr), also in complex with Bcr-Abl, presents no GEF activity in p190(bcr-abl)-expressing cells. These results suggest that differential activation of Rho proteins should play a major role in Bcr-Abl-induced leukemogenesis.

Selenite-induced survival of HuH7 hepatoma cells involves activation of focal adhesion kinase-phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-Akt pathway and Rac1

Selenium has been shown to sustain the growth of selected human hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines under serum-free conditions, but the detailed mechanism remained undetermined. In the present study, the molecular mechanism(s) involving sodium selenite (Na2SO3, Se) as a survival agent were determined. Selenite not only protects HuH7 cells from serum deprivation-induced apoptosis, it also supports its long-term growth in sodium selenite (10(-7)m) supplemented serum-free medium. The anti-apoptotic effect correlates with activation of focal adhesion kinase and the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)-Akt kinase pathway. Using HuH7 cells stably transfected with a constitutively active Akt kinase and PI3K inhibitor LY294002, selenite-induced cell survival was shown to be PI3K-Akt-dependent. Parallel changes included a significant reduction in the intracellular reactive oxygen species content, the reversal of DNA fragmentation, and the suppression of caspase and apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1 activities. HuH7 cells stably expressing a Rac1 mutant N17 (Rac1N17-HuH7) are refractory to selenite treatment. In these cells selenite supplement neither triggers Akt activation nor supports cell proliferation. Participation of Rac1 activation in this event is supported by the fact that selenite treatment drastically enhanced activation of Rac1. The exact link between selenite treatment, Rac1 activation, and activation of the focal adhesion kinase-PI 3-kinase, however, remains to be characterized. The mitogenic signaling mediated by selenite may involve unconventional growth stimuli including higher glutathione peroxidase 1 activity and higher transcription levels of selenoprotein P. The selenium-HuH7 system we have established thus provides a unique tool that will allow the biological role of selenite in growth regulation of hepatocytes to be studied in detail.

Interleukin-3-mediated cell survival signals include phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-dependent translocation of the glucose transporter GLUT1 to the cell surface

Maintenance of glucose uptake is a key component in the response of hematopoietic cells to survival factors. To investigate the mechanism of this response we employed the interleukin-3 (IL-3)-dependent murine mast cell line IC2.9. In these cells, hexose uptake decreased markedly upon withdrawal of IL-3, whereas its readdition led to rapid (t(1/2) approximately 10 min) stimulation of transport, associated with an approximately 4-fold increase in Vmax but no change in Km. Immunocytochemistry and photoaffinity labeling revealed that IL-3 caused translocation of intracellular GLUT1 transporters to the cell surface, whereas a second transporter isoform, GLUT3, remained predominantly intracellular. The inhibitory effects of latrunculin B and jasplakinolide, and of nocodazole and colchicine, respectively, revealed a requirement for both the actin and microtubule cytoskeletons in GLUT1 translocation and transport stimulation. Both IL-3 stimulation of transport and GLUT1 translocation were also prevented by the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase inhibitors wortmannin and LY294002. The time courses for activation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and its downstream target, protein kinase B, by IL-3 were consistent with a role in IL-3-induced transporter translocation and enhanced glucose uptake. We conclude that one component of the survival mechanisms elicited by IL-3 involves the subcellular redistribution of glucose transporters, thus ensuring the supply of a key metabolic substrate.

Lovastatin induces apoptosis of anaplastic thyroid cancer cells via inhibition of protein geranylgeranylation and de novo protein synthesis

Lovastatin has been used to treat hypercholesterolemia through blocking the mevalonate biosynthesis pathway. Inhibition of mevalonate synthesis may result in antiproliferation and cell apoptosis. The aim of the present study was to examine the apoptotic effect of lovastatin in human ARO cells and delineate its underlying molecular mechanism. Our results showed that lovastatin dose- and time-dependently induced apoptosis in ARO cells. Pretreatment with cycloheximide dose-dependently suppressed lovastatin-induced apoptosis, suggesting that de novo protein synthesis is required for lovastatin effect on the induction of apoptosis in ARO cells. Treatment of the cells with 50 microM lovastatin induced cytochrome c translocation from mitochondria to cytosol; increases in caspase-2, -3, and -9 activity; and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase degradation in a time-dependent manner. However, administration of mevalonate or geranylgeraniol, but not farnesol, dose-dependently prevented lovastatin-induced poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase degradation and the occurrence of apoptosis, but treatment with geranylgeranyl transferase inhibitor, GGTI-298, which blocks the geranylgeranylation, induced an increase in the percentage of the apoptotic cells. These data suggest that geranylgeranylation is required for survival of the lovastatin-treated ARO cells. To support this notion, we demonstrate that lovastatin dose-dependently decreased the translocation of RhoA and Rac1, but not Ras, from cytosol to membrane fraction. Moreover, the lovastatin-induced translocation inhibitions in RhoA and Rac1 were prevented by mevalonate and geranylgeraniol but not farnesol. In conclusion, our data suggest that lovastatin induced apoptosis in ARO cells by inhibiting protein geranylgeranylation of the Rho family but not farnesylation of the Ras family.

Caspase 3-mediated inactivation of rac GTPases promotes drug-induced apoptosis in human lymphoma cells

The Rac members of the Rho family GTPases control signaling pathways that regulate diverse cellular activities, including cytoskeletal organization, gene transcription, and cell transformation. Rac is implicated in apoptosis, but little is known about the mechanism by which it responds to apoptotic stimuli. Here we demonstrate that endogenous Rac GTPases are caspase 3 substrates that are cleaved in human lymphoma cells during drug-induced apoptosis. Cleavage of Rac1 occurs at two unconventional caspase 3 sites, VVGD11/G and VMVD47/G, and results in inactivation of the GTPase and effector functions of the protein (binding to the p21-activated protein kinase PAK1). Expression of caspase 3-resistant Rac1 mutants in the cells suppresses drug-induced apoptosis. Thus, proteolytic inactivation of Rac GTPases represents a novel, irreversible mechanism of Rac downregulation that allows maximal cell death following drug treatment.

Cdc42 plays a critical role in assembly of sarcomere units in series of cardiac myocytes

Cardiomyocyte hypertrophy is observed in various cardiovascular diseases and causes heart failure. We here examined the role of small GTP-binding proteins of Rho family in phenylephrine (PE)-or leukocyte inhibitory factor (LIF)-induced hypertrophic morphogenesis of cultured neonatal rat cardiomyocytes. Both LIF and PE increased cell size of cardiomyocytes. LIF induced an increase in the length/width ratio of cardiomyocytes, while PE did not change the ratio. Adenoviral gene transfer of constitutively active mutants of Cdc42 increased the length/width ratio of cardiomyocytes and dominant negative mutants of Cdc42 conversely inhibited LIF-induced cell-elongation, while mutants of RhoA and Rac1 did not affect the length/width ratio of cardiomyocytes. These results suggest that Cdc42, but not RhoA and Rac1, is involved in LIF-induced sarcomere assembly in series in cardiomyocytes.

Guanine nucleotide exchange factor, Tiam1, directly binds to c-Myc and interferes with c-Myc-mediated apoptosis in rat-1 fibroblasts

The transcription factor c-Myc is important for the control of cell growth, cell cycle progression, neoplasia, and apoptotic cell death. Recently, c-Myc-binding proteins, which bind either to the N-terminal domain or the C-terminal domain of c-Myc, have been proposed as the key molecules to realize the mechanisms of these multiple c-Myc functions. We report in the present study on another protein, Tiam1, which is a specific guanine nucleotide exchange factor of Rac1 and which binds to c-Myc and modulates several of its biological functions. We were able to detect the direct binding and in vivo association between c-Myc and Tiam1. The necessary role in this interaction of the Myc box II of c-Myc was revealed in the cell extracts. The additional discovery of the intranuclear localization of Tiam1 in Rat1 cells and in neuronal cells of the mouse brain suggests this interaction may occur in the nucleus. Overexpression of Tiam1 repressed the luciferase activity of c-Myc and also inhibited the c-Myc apoptotic activity through this protein-protein interaction. Taken together, we concluded that Tiam1 is another c-Myc regulator, working in the nuclei to control c-Myc-related apoptosis.

Activation of Rac-1, Rac-2, and Cdc42 by hemopoietic growth factors or cross-linking of the B-lymphocyte receptor for antigen

Interleukin-3 (IL-3)-induced activation of endogenous Rac-1, Rac-2, and Cdc42. Rac-1 was also activated by colony-stimulating factor-1 (CSF-1), Steel locus factor (SLF), granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), and IL-5 or by cross-linking the B-lymphocyte receptor for antigen (BCR). The activation of Rac-1 induced by cross-linking the BCR or by IL-3 stimulation was blocked only partially by Ly294002, with about 25% to 30% of Rac-1 activation still occurring in the absence of detectable increases in phosphatidyl-inositol-3 kinase (PI-3K) activity. Overexpression of constitutively active mutants of H-Ras, N-Ras, or M-Ras resulted in activation of coexpressed Rac-1 through an Ly29402-resistant, PI-3K-independent mechanism. Overexpression of constitutively active mutants of p21 Ras, or Rac-1, but not of PI-3K, was sufficient for activation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) in cells of hemopoietic origin. Inhibition of increases in PI-3K activity by Ly294002 had no effect on the IL-3-induced activation of p38 MAPK. In contrast, Ly294002 partially inhibited the activation of p38 MAPK induced by cross-linking of the BCR, although some p38 MAPK activation occurred in the absence of increases in the activity of Rac-1 or PI-3K. The activation of Rac-1, Rac-2, and Cdc42 by IL-3 and other hemopoietic growth factors is likely to be an important component of their actions in promoting growth, survival, and function.

Rac1 prevents cisplatin-induced apoptosis through down-regulation of p38 activation in NIH3T3 cells

In this study, the role of V12-Rac1 in the cisplatin-induced apoptosis was investigated. Cisplatin-induced apoptosis is associated with cytochrome c release, which can be inhibited by V12-Rac1 expression. The analysis of mitogen-activated protein kinase activity indicated that V12-Rac1 expression led to a decrease in p38 activity after exposure to cisplatin but not c-jun N-terminal kinase and extracellular signal-regulated kinase. Using pharmacological inhibitors, it was found that only p38 is a critical mediator in the cisplatin-induced apoptosis of NIH3T3 cells. This suggests that V12-Rac1 can stimulate the anti-apoptotic signaling pathway in response to cisplatin, and that decreased p38 activity caused by V12-Rac1 expression in cisplatin-treated NIH3T3 cells is crucial for V12-Rac1-dependent cell survival.

NADPH oxidase mediates tissue factor-dependent surface procoagulant activity by thrombin in human vascular smooth muscle cells

BACKGROUND

Tissue factor (TF) initiates the extrinsic coagulation cascade leading to thrombin formation. Thrombin induces TF mRNA in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), thereby contributing to the prolonged procoagulant activity and enhanced thrombogenicity at sites of vascular injury. However, the signaling mechanisms mediating this thrombogenic cycle are unclear. Characteristically, vascular injury promotes the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Because ROS exert signaling functions, we investigated whether the NADPH oxidase, an important source of ROS in VSMCs, contributes to upregulation of TF by thrombin.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Thrombin not only stimulated TF mRNA expression, but also TF-dependent surface procoagulant activity in cultured human VSMCs. This response was attenuated by antioxidants; the flavin inhibitor diphenylene-iodonium, Clostridium difficile toxin B, which inhibits Rho GTPases, p22phox antisense oligonucleotides, or the dominant-negative RacT17N mutant. Inhibitors of p38 MAP kinase and phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3-kinase also prevented thrombin-stimulated TF mRNA expression. Furthermore, thrombin stimulated the phosphorylation of the PI 3-kinase target protein kinase B/Akt in a redox-sensitive and NADPH oxidase-dependent manner.

CONCLUSION

These findings indicate that the NADPH oxidase is essentially involved in the redox-sensitive induction of TF mRNA expression and surface procoagulant activity by thrombin. This response is mediated by NADPH oxidase-dependent activation of p38 MAP kinase and the PI 3-kinase/protein kinase B/Akt pathway. Given that active TF promotes thrombin formation, the NADPH oxidase may play a crucial role in perpetuating the thrombogenic cycle in the injured vessel wall.

Rac is activated by erythropoietin or interleukin-3 and is involved in activation of the Erk signaling pathway

Previous studies have shown that hematopoietic cytokines, including erythropoietin (Epo) and interleukin (IL)-3, activate the Ras GTPase and the downstream Raf/Erk/Elk-1 signaling pathway. Here we report that Epo or IL-3 rapidly and transiently activates Rac, a Rho family GTPase, in hematopoietic cell lines, 32D/EpoR-Wt and UT-7. The cytokine-induced activation of Rac was augmented in a 32D/EpoR-Wt clone that inducibly overexpresses the adaptor protein CrkL or the Ras guanine nucleotide exchange factor C3G, which forms a complex with CrkL. Furthermore, the Rac activation was enhanced or inhibited in cells inducibly expressing an activated Ras mutant, H-Ras61L, or a dominant negative Ras mutant, H-Ras17N, respectively. In addition, the cytokine-induced Rac activation was inhibited by a phosphatidyl-inositol 3'-kinase (PI3K) inhibitor, LY294002, which also inhibited the Erk activation. A dominant negative Rac mutant, Rac17N, also inhibited the cytokine-induced activation of Erk as well as Elk-1. On the other hand, activation of Akt downstream of PI3K was found to play an inhibitory role in cytokine activation of Erk/Elk-1. Together, these results indicate that Rac is activated by Epo or IL-3 at downstream of the Ras/PI3K pathway in parallel with Akt and plays a role in activation of the Erk/Elk-1 signaling pathway in hematopoietic cells.

Small GTPases and tyrosine kinases coregulate a molecular switch in the phosphoinositide 3-kinase regulatory subunit

Phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) type IA is a heterodimer of a catalytic subunit, p110, and a regulatory subunit, p85. Here we show that p85 contains a GTPase-responsive domain and an inhibitory domain, which together form a molecular switch that regulates PI3K. H-Ras and Rac1 activate PI3K by targeting the GTPase-responsive domain. The stimulatory effect of these molecules, however, is blocked by the inhibitory domain, which functions by binding to tyrosine-phosphorylated molecules and is neutralized by tyrosine phosphorylation. The complementary effects of tyrosine kinases and small GTPases on the p85 molecular switch result in synergy between these two classes of molecules toward the activation of the PI3K/Akt pathway.

Rac1 and RhoG promote cell survival by the activation of PI3K and Akt, independently of their ability to stimulate JNK and NF-kappaB

Small GTPases of the Rho family play a central role in cellular processes that involve the reorganization of the actin-based cytoskeleton. Rho-related GTPases, which include Rac and Cdc42, can also regulate gene expression often through the activation of kinase cascades leading to enhanced activity of stress activated protein kinases (SAPKs), including JNK and p38 MAP kinases. As SAPKs are implicated in programmed cell death, these observations suggest that Rho GTPases may promote the initiation of the apoptotic process. However, recent reports suggest that Rho GTPases can have either a protective or a pro-apoptotic role, depending on the particular cellular context. In an effort to explore the molecular mechanisms underlying these divergent biological activities, we asked whether there was indeed a correlation between the ability to induce SAPKs and apoptosis by Rho family members. We found that although constitutively activated (Q61L) mutants of Rac1, Cdc42, and RhoG, a Rac1 related GTPase of unknown function, potently induce JNK in COS 7 cells, none of these GTPases could induce apoptosis, nor enhance uv-induced cell death. In contrast, Rac1 and RhoG efficiently protected cells from uv-induced apoptosis. Furthermore, we provide evidence that Rac1 and RhoG can activate both apoptotic and anti-apoptotic pathways. Whereas the former is mediated through JNK, the latter is independent on the transcriptional activation of NF-kappaB, a pro-survival pathway, but results from the direct interaction of these GTPases with phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) and the stimulation of Akt. Together, these findings indicate that members of the Rho family of small GTP-binding proteins can provoke the concomitant stimulation of two counteracting signaling pathways, and that their balance ultimately determines the ability of these GTPases to promote cell survival or death.

An essential role for Rac/Cdc42 GTPases in cerebellar granule neuron survival

Rho family GTPases are critical molecular switches that regulate the actin cytoskeleton and cell function. In the current study, we investigated the involvement of Rho GTPases in regulating neuronal survival using primary cerebellar granule neurons. Clostridium difficile toxin B, a specific inhibitor of Rho, Rac, and Cdc42, induced apoptosis of granule neurons characterized by c-Jun phosphorylation, caspase-3 activation, and nuclear condensation. Serum and depolarization-dependent survival signals could not compensate for the loss of GTPase function. Unlike trophic factor withdrawal, toxin B did not affect the antiapoptotic kinase Akt or its target glycogen synthase kinase-3beta. The proapoptotic effects of toxin B were mimicked by Clostridium sordellii lethal toxin, a selective inhibitor of Rac/Cdc42. Although Rac/Cdc42 GTPase inhibition led to F-actin disruption, direct cytoskeletal disassembly with Clostridium botulinum C2 toxin was insufficient to induce c-Jun phosphorylation or apoptosis. Granule neurons expressed high basal JNK and low p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase activities that were unaffected by toxin B. However, pyridyl imidazole inhibitors of JNK/p38 attenuated c-Jun phosphorylation. Moreover, both pyridyl imidazoles and adenoviral dominant-negative c-Jun attenuated apoptosis, suggesting that JNK/c-Jun signaling was required for cell death. The results indicate that Rac/Cdc42 GTPases, in addition to trophic factors, are critical for survival of cerebellar granule neurons.

Transduction of a dominant-negative H-Ras into human eosinophils attenuates extracellular signal-regulated kinase activation and interleukin-5-mediated cell viability

Inhibition of eosinophil apoptosis by exposure to interleukin-5 (IL-5) is associated with the development of tissue eosinophilia and may contribute to the inflammation characteristic of asthma. Analysis of the signaling events associated with this process has been hampered by the inability to efficiently manipulate eosinophils by the introduction of active or inhibitory effector molecules. Evidence is provided, using a dominant-negative N17 H-Ras protein (dn-H-Ras) and MEK inhibitor U0126, that activation of the Ras-Raf-MEK-ERK pathway plays a determining role in the prolongation of eosinophil survival by IL-5. For these studies, a small region of the human immunodeficiency virus Tat protein, a protein transduction domain known to enter mammalian cells efficiently, was fused to the N-terminus of dn-H-Ras. The Tat-dn-H-Ras protein generated from this construct transduced isolated human blood eosinophils at more than 95% efficiency. When Tat-dn-H-Ras-transduced eosinophils were treated with IL-5, they exhibited a time- and dosage-dependent reduction in extracellular regulated kinase 1 and 2 activation and an inhibition of p90 Rsk1 phosphorylation and IL-5-mediated eosinophil survival in vitro. In contrast, Tat-dn-H-Ras did not inhibit CD11b up-regulation or STAT5 tyrosine phosphorylation. These data demonstrate that Tat dominant-negative protein transduction can serve as an important and novel tool in studying primary myeloid cell signal transduction in primary leukocytes and can implicate the Ras-Raf-MEK-ERK pathway in IL-5-initiated eosinophil survival.

Raf-MEK-Erk cascade in anoikis is controlled by Rac1 and Cdc42 via Akt

Signals from the extracellular matrix are essential for the survival of many cell types. Dominant-negative mutants of two members of Rho family GTPases, Rac1 and Cdc42, mimic the loss of anchorage in primary mouse fibroblasts and are potent inducers of apoptosis. This pathway of cell death requires the activation of both the p53 tumor suppressor and the extracellular signal-regulated mitogen-activated protein kinases (Erks). Here we characterize the proapoptotic Erk signal and show that it differs from the classically observed survival-promoting one by the intensity of the kinase activation. The disappearance of the GTP-bound forms of Rac1 and Cdc42 gives rise to proapoptotic, moderate activation of the Raf-MEK-Erk cascade via a signaling pathway involving the kinases phosphatidlyinositol 3-kinase and Akt. Moreover, concomitant activation of p53 and inhibition of Akt are both necessary and sufficient to signal anoikis in primary fibroblasts. Our data demonstrate that the GTPases of the Rho family control three major components of cellular signal transduction, namely, p53, Akt, and Erks, which collaborate in the induction of apoptosis due to the loss of anchorage.

Implication of the small GTPase Rac1 in the apoptosis induced by UV in Rat-2 fibroblasts

Exposure of mammalian cells to ultraviolet (UV) light elicits a cellular response and also lead to apoptotic cell death. However, the role of Rac, a member of Rho family GTPases, in the UV-induced apoptosis has never been examined. In UV-irradiated Rat-2 fibroblasts, nuclear fragmentation began to be observed within 2 h and the total viability of Rat-2 cells were only about 15% at 6 h following by UV irradiation, whereas the total viability in Rat2-Rac(N17) cells stably expressing RacN17, a dominant negative Rac1 mutant, was almost close to 67%. Pretreatment with SB203580, a specific inhibitor of p38 kinase, likewise attenuated UV-induced cell death, but PD98059, a MEK inhibitor, did not. Thus, Rac1 and p38 kinase appear to be components in the apoptotic signaling pathway induced by UV irradiation in Rat-2 fibroblasts. In addition, our results show that p38 kinase stimulation by UV is dramatically inhibited by RacN17, suggesting that p38 kinase is situated downstream of Rac1 in the UV signaling to apoptosis.

Rac and p38 kinase mediate 5-lipoxygenase translocation and cell death

5-Lipoxygenase (5-LO) is a key enzyme involved in the synthesis of leukotrienes from arachidonic acid, and its activation is usually followed by translocation to the nuclear envelope. The details of mechanisms involved in the translocation of 5-LO are not well understood, though Ca(2+) is known to be essential. Here we show that ionomycin, a Ca(2+) ionophore, induces 5-LO translocation and necrotic cell death in Rat-2 fibroblasts, suggesting a potential relationship between activation of 5-LO and cell death. These effects were markedly attenuated in Rat2-Rac(N17) cells expressing a dominant negative Rac1 mutant. Pretreatment with SB203580, a specific inhibitor of p38 MAP kinase, or EGTA, a Ca(2+) chelator, likewise diminished ionomycin-induced 5-LO translocation and cell death, but PD98059, a MEK inhibitor, did not. Thus, Rac and p38 MAP kinase appear to be components in a Ca(2+)-dependent pathway leading to 5-LO translocation and necrotic cell death in Rat-2 fibroblasts.