Enhanced expression of Harvey ras induced by serum deprivation in cultured astrocytes

Redox-sensitive small GTPase H-Ras in murine astrocytes, an in vitro study

Background

Although the protooncogenes small GTPases Ras are redox-sensitive proteins, how they are regulated by redox signaling in the central nervous system (CNS) is still poorly understood. Alteration in redox-sensitive targets by redox signaling may have myriad effects on Ras stability, activity and localization. Redox-mediated changes in astrocytic RAS may contribute to the control of redox homeostasis in the CNS that is connected to the pathogenesis of many diseases.

Results and Methods

Here, we investigated the transient physiological induction, at both transcriptional and translational levels, of small GTPases Ras in response to redox stimulation. Cultured astrocytes were treated with hydrogen peroxide as in bolus addition and relative mRNA levels of murine hras and kras genes were detected by qRT-PCR. We found that de novo transcription of hras mRNA in reactive astrocytes is redox-sensitive and mimics the prototypical redox-sensitive gene iNOS. Protein abundance in combination with protein turnover measurements by cycloheximide-chase experiments revealed distinct translation efficiency, GTP-bound enrichment, and protein turnover rates between the two isoforms H-Ras and K-Ras.

Conclusion

Reports from recent years support a significant role of H-Ras in driving redox processes. Beyond its canonical functions, Ras may impact on the core astrocytic cellular machinery that operates during redox stimulation.

Cysteine-based regulation of redox-sensitive Ras small GTPases

Reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (ROS and RNS, respectively) activate the redox-sensitive Ras small GTPases. The three canonical genes (HRAS, NRAS, and KRAS) are archetypes of the superfamily of small GTPases and are the most common oncogenes in human cancer. Oncogenic Ras is intimately linked to redox biology, mainly in the context of tumorigenesis. The Ras protein structure is highly conserved, especially in effector-binding regions. Ras small GTPases are redox-sensitive proteins thanks to the presence of the NKCD motif (Asn116-Lys 117-Cys118-Asp119). Notably, the ROS- and RNS-based oxidation of Cys118 affects protein stability, activity, and localization, and protein-protein interactions. Cys residues at positions 80, 181, 184, and 186 may also help modulate these actions. Moreover, oncogenic mutations of Gly12Cys and Gly13Cys may introduce additional oxidative centres and represent actionable drug targets. Here, the pathophysiological involvement of Cys-redox regulation of Ras proteins is reviewed in the context of cancer and heart and brain diseases.

N-Acetyl-l-Cysteine Protects Astrocytes against Proteotoxicity without Recourse to Glutathione

N-acetyl-l-cysteine (NAC) exhibits protective properties in brain injury models and has undergone a number of clinical trials. Most studies of NAC have focused on neurons. However, neuroprotection may be complemented by the protection of astrocytes because healthier astrocytes can better support the viability of neurons. Here, we show that NAC can protect astrocytes against protein misfolding stress (proteotoxicity), the hallmark of neurodegenerative disorders. Although NAC is thought to be a glutathione precursor, NAC protected primary astrocytes from the toxicity of the proteasome inhibitor MG132 without eliciting any increase in glutathione. Furthermore, glutathione depletion failed to attenuate the protective effects of NAC. MG132 elicited a robust increase in the folding chaperone heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70), and NAC mitigated this effect. Nevertheless, three independent inhibitors of Hsp70 function ablated the protective effects of NAC, suggesting that NAC may help preserve Hsp70 chaperone activity and improve protein quality control without need for Hsp70 induction. Consistent with this view, NAC abolished an increase in ubiquitinated proteins in MG132-treated astrocytes. However, NAC did not affect the loss of proteasome activity in response to MG132, demonstrating that it boosted protein homeostasis and cell viability without directly interfering with the efficacy of this proteasome inhibitor. The thiol-containing molecules l-cysteine and d-cysteine both mimicked the protective effects of NAC, whereas the thiol-lacking molecule N-acetyl-S-methyl-l-cysteine failed to exert protection or blunt the rise in ubiquitinated proteins. Collectively, these findings suggest that the thiol group in NAC is required for its effects on glial viability and protein quality control.

Early and Late Induction of KRAS and HRAS Proto-Oncogenes by Reactive Oxygen Species in Primary Astrocytes

Astrocytes, one of the predominant types of glial cells, function as both supportive and metabolic cells for the brain. Among mammalian tissues, the highest levels of p21^Ras protein are detected in the brain. Here, we investigated the expression of KRAS and HRAS proto-oncogenes in primary astrocytes following acute oxidative stimulation. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) changed the expression of proto-oncogenes at both transcriptional and translational levels. De novo protein synthesis analysis measured approximate values of proteins half-life, ranging from 1–4 h, of the different H- and K- isoforms by western blot analysis. Quantitative gene expression analysis of KRAS and HRAS revealed an unexpected short-term induction of KRAS mRNA in primary astrocytes in response to acute stimulation. Indeed, cultured astrocytes responded to proteasomal inhibition by preventing the reduction of c-K-Ras. A fraction of K-Ras protein accumulated in the presence of ROS and cycloheximide, while a substantial proportion was continuously synthesized. These data indicate that ROS regulate in a complementary fashion p21^Ras isoforms in primary astrocytes: K-Ras is rapidly and transiently induced by post-translational and post-transcriptional mechanisms, while H-Ras is stably induced by mRNA accumulation. We suggest that K-Ras and H-Ras are ROS sensors that adapt cells to metabolic needs and oxidative stress.

Disparate effects of serum on basal and evoked NFAT activity in primary astrocyte cultures

In astrocytes, the Ca(2+)-dependent protein phosphatase calcineurin (CN) strongly regulates neuro-immune/inflammatory cascades through activation of the transcription factor, nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT). While primary cell cultures provide a useful model system for investigating astrocytic CN/NFAT signaling, variable results may arise both within and across labs because of differences in culture conditions. Here, we determined the extent to which serum and cell confluency affect basal and evoked astrocytic NFAT activity in primary cortical astrocyte cultures. Cells were grown to either approximately 50% or >90% confluency, pre-loaded with an NFAT-luciferase reporter construct, and maintained for 16 h in medium with or without 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS). NFAT-dependent luciferase expression was then measured 5h after treatment with vehicle alone to assess basal NFAT activity, or with Ca(2+) mobilizers and IL-1 beta to assess evoked activity. The results revealed significantly higher levels of basal NFAT activity in FBS-containing medium, regardless of cell confluency. Conversely, evoked NFAT activation was significantly lower in serum-containing medium, with an even greater inhibition observed in confluent cultures. Application of 10% FBS to serum-free astrocyte cultures quickly evoked a roughly seven-fold increase in NFAT activity that was significantly reduced by co-delivery of neutralizing agents for IL-1 beta, TNFalpha, and/or IFN gamma, suggesting that serum occludes evoked NFAT activation through a cytokine-based mechanism. Together, the results demonstrate that the presence of serum and cell confluency have a major impact on CN/NFAT signaling in primary astrocyte cultures and therefore must be taken into consideration when using this model system.