Secretion of annexin V from cultured cells requires a signal peptide

Exosome mimicry by a HAVCR1-NPC1 pathway of endosomal fusion mediates hepatitis A virus infection

Cell-to-cell communication by exosomes controls normal and pathogenic processes^1,2. Viruses can spread in exosomes and thereby avoid immune recognition³. While biogenesis, binding and uptake of exosomes are well characterized^4,5, delivery of exosome cargo into the cytoplasm is poorly understood³. We report that the phosphatidylserine receptor HAVCR1 (refs. ^6,7) and the cholesterol transporter NPC1 (ref. ⁸) participate in cargo delivery from exosomes of hepatitis A virus (HAV)-infected cells (exo-HAV) by clathrin-mediated endocytosis. Using CRISPR-Cas9 knockout technology, we show that these two lipid receptors, which interact in the late endosome⁹, are necessary for the membrane fusion and delivery of RNA from exo-HAV into the cytoplasm. The HAVCR1-NPC1 pathway, which Ebola virus exploits to infect cells⁹, mediates HAV infection by exo-HAV, which indicates that viral infection via this exosome mimicry mechanism does not require an envelope glycoprotein. The capsid-free viral RNA in the exosome lumen, but not the endosomal uncoating of HAV particles contained in the exosomes, is mainly responsible for exo-HAV infectivity as assessed by methylene blue inactivation of non-encapsidated RNA. In contrast to exo-HAV, infectivity of HAV particles is pH-independent and requires HAVCR1 or another as yet unidentified receptor(s) but not NPC1. Our findings show that envelope-glycoprotein-independent fusion mechanisms are shared by exosomes and viruses, and call for a reassessment of the role of envelope glycoproteins in infection.

Membrane repair of human skeletal muscle cells requires Annexin-A5

Defect in membrane repair contributes to the development of limb girdle muscular dystrophy type 2B (LGMD2B) and Miyoshi myopathy. In healthy skeletal muscle, unraveling membrane repair mechanisms requires to establish an exhaustive list of the components of the resealing machinery. Here we show that human myotubes rendered deficient for Annexin-A5 (AnxA5) suffer from a severe defect in membrane resealing. This defect is rescued by the addition of recombinant AnxA5 while an AnxA5 mutant, which is unable to form 2D protein arrays, has no effect. Using correlative light and electron microscopy, we show that AnxA5 binds to the edges of the torn membrane, as early as a few seconds after sarcolemma injury, where it probably self-assembles into 2D arrays. In addition, we observed that membrane resealing is associated with the presence of a cluster of lipid vesicles at the wounded site. AnxA5 is present at the surface of these vesicles and may thus participate in plugging the cell membrane disruption. Finally, we show that AnxA5 behaves similarly in myotubes from a muscle cell line established from a patient suffering from LGMD2B, a myopathy due to dysferlin mutations, which indicates that trafficking of AnxA5 during sarcolemma damage is independent of the presence of dysferlin.

Surface Phosphatidylserine Is Responsible for the Internalization on Microvesicles Derived from Hypoxia-Induced Human Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells into Human Endothelial Cells

Background

Previous data have proven that microvesicles derived from hypoxia-induced mesenchymal stem cells (MSC-MVs) can be internalized into endothelial cells, enhancing their proliferation and vessel structure formation and promoting in vivo angiogenesis. However, there is a paucity of information about how the MSC-MVs are up-taken by endothelial cells.

Methods

MVs were prepared from the supernatants of human bone marrow MSCs that had been exposed to a hypoxic and/or serum-deprivation condition. The incorporation of hypoxia-induced MSC-MVs into human umbilical cord endothelial cells (HUVECs) was observed by flow cytometry and confocal microscopy in the presence or absence of recombinant human Annexin-V (Anx-V) and antibodies against human CD29 and CD44. Further, small interfering RNA (siRNA) targeted at Anx-V and PSR was delivered into HUVECs, or HUVECs were treated with a monoclonal antibody against phosphatidylserine receptor (PSR) and the cellular internalization of MVs was re-assessed.

Results

The addition of exogenous Anx-V could inhibit the uptake of MVs isolated from hypoxia-induced stem cells by HUVECs in a dose- and time-dependent manner, while the anti-CD29 and CD44 antibodies had no effect on the internalization process. The suppression was neither observed in Anx-V siRNA-transfected HUVECs, however, addition of anti-PSR antibody and PSR siRNA-transfected HUVECs greatly blocked the incorporation of MVs isolated from hypoxia-induced stem cells into HUVECs.

Conclusion

PS on the MVs isolated from hypoxia-induced stem cells is the critical molecule in the uptake by HUVECs.

Review: Annexin-A5 and cell membrane repair

Annexins are soluble proteins that bind to biological membranes containing negatively charged phospholipids, principally phosphatidylserine, in a Ca(2+)-dependent manner. Annexin-A5 (AnxA5), the smallest member of the annexin family, presents unique properties of membrane binding and self-assembly into ordered two-dimensional (2D) arrays on membrane surfaces. We have previously reported that AnxA5 plays a central role in the machinery of membrane repair by enabling rapid resealing of plasma membrane disruption in murine perivascular cells. AnxA5 promotes membrane repair via the formation of a protective 2D bandage at membrane damaged site. Here, we review current knowledge on cell membrane repair and present recent findings on the role of AnxA5 in membrane resealing of human trophoblasts.

Annexin-A5 promotes membrane resealing in human trophoblasts

Annexin-A5 (AnxA5) is the smallest member of the annexins, a group of soluble proteins that bind to membranes containing negatively-charged phospholipids, principally phosphatidylserine, in a Ca(2+)-dependent manner. AnxA5 presents unique properties of binding and self-assembling on membrane surfaces, forming highly ordered two-dimensional (2D) arrays. We showed previously that AnxA5 plays a central role in the machinery of cell membrane repair of murine perivascular cells, promoting the resealing of membrane damages via the formation of 2D protein arrays at membrane disrupted sites and preventing the extension of membrane ruptures. As the placenta is one of the richest source of AnxA5 in humans, we investigated whether AnxA5 was involved in membrane repair in this organ. We addressed this question at the level of human trophoblasts, either mononucleated cytotrophoblasts or multinucleated syncytiotrophoblasts, in choriocarcinoma cells and primary trophoblasts. Using established procedure of laser irradiation and fluorescence microscopy, we observed that both human cytotrophoblasts and syncytiotrophoblasts repair efficiently a μm²-size disruption. Compared to wild-type cells, AnxA5-deficient trophoblasts exhibit severe defect of membrane repair. Through specifically binding to the disrupted site as early as a few seconds after membrane wounding, AnxA5 promotes membrane resealing of injured human trophoblasts. In addition, we observed that a large membrane area containing the disrupted site was released in the extracellular milieu. We propose mechanisms ensuring membrane resealing and subsequent lesion removal in human trophoblasts. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: 13th European Symposium on Calcium.

Annexin-phospholipid interactions. Functional implications

Annexins constitute an evolutionary conserved multigene protein superfamily characterized by their ability to interact with biological membranes in a calcium dependent manner. They are expressed by all living organisms with the exception of certain unicellular organisms. The vertebrate annexin core is composed of four (eight in annexin A6) homologous domains of around 70 amino acids, with the overall shape of a slightly bent ring surrounding a central hydrophilic pore. Calcium- and phospholipid-binding sites are located on the convex side while the N-terminus links domains I and IV on the concave side. The N-terminus region shows great variability in length and amino acid sequence and it greatly influences protein stability and specific functions of annexins. These proteins interact mainly with acidic phospholipids, such as phosphatidylserine, but differences are found regarding their affinity for lipids and calcium requirements for the interaction. Annexins are involved in a wide range of intra- and extracellular biological processes in vitro, most of them directly related with the conserved ability to bind to phospholipid bilayers: membrane trafficking, membrane-cytoskeleton anchorage, ion channel activity and regulation, as well as antiinflammatory and anticoagulant activities. However, the in vivo physiological functions of annexins are just beginning to be established.

Annexin A5 down-regulates surface expression of tissue factor: a novel mechanism of regulating the membrane receptor repertoir

Phosphatidylserine (PtdSer) is exposed on the external leaflet of the plasma membrane during apoptosis. The protein annexin A5 (anxA5) shows high affinity for PtdSer. When anxA5 binds to the PtdSer-expressing membranes during apoptosis, it crystallizes as an extended two-dimensional network and activates thereby a novel portal of cell entry that results in the internalization of the PtdSer-expressing membrane patches. This novel pathway of cell entry is potentially involved in the regulation of the surface expression of membrane receptors. In this study we report the regulation of surface expression of the initiator of blood coagulation tissue factor (TF) by this novel pathway of cell entry. AnxA5 induces the internalization of tissue factor expressed on the surface of apoptotic THP-1 macrophages. This down-regulation depends on the abilities of anxA5 to bind to PtdSer and to form a two-dimensional crystal at the membrane. We furthermore show that THP-1 cells produce and externalize anxA5 that cause the internalization of TF in an autocrine type of mechanism. We extended our in vitro work to the in vivo situation and show in a mouse model that anxA5 causes the down-regulation of TF expression by smooth muscle cells of the media of the carotid artery that was mechanically injured. In conclusion, anxA5 down-regulates surface-expressed TF by activating the novel portal of cell entry. This mechanism may be part of a more general autocrine function of anxA5 to regulate the plasma membrane receptor repertoir under stress conditions associated with the surface expression of PtdSer.

Ligand-regulated secretion of recombinant annexin V from cultured thyroid epithelial cells

The exposure of anionic phospholipids on the external surface of injured endothelial cells and activated platelets is a primary biological signal to initiate blood coagulation. Disease conditions that promote the formation of ectopic thrombi result in tissue ischemia. Annexins, Ca2+-dependent anionic phospholipid binding proteins, are potential therapeutic agents for the inhibition of coagulation. We have designed a transgene that targets secretion of annexin V from cultured thyroid cells under the control of doxycycline. Our results indicate that annexin V in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER)/Golgi lumen does not affect the synthesis, processing, and secretion of thyroglobulin. ER luminal Ca2+ was moderately increased and can be released by inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate. Our study demonstrates that targeting and secretion of annexin V through the secretory pathway of mammalian cells does not adversely affect cellular function. Regulated synthesis and release of annexin V may exert anticoagulatory and anti-inflammatory effects systemically and may prove useful in further developing therapeutic strategies for conditions including antiphospholipid syndrome.