Toll-like receptor agonists, poly(I:C) and flagellin, lead to IL-36γ induction with divergent release kinetics and differentially alter autophagy in primary human keratinocytes

IL-36γ, a pro-inflammatory member of the IL-1 cytokine superfamily, can be induced and secreted by normal human foreskin keratinocytes (HFKs) in response to pathogenic stimuli, however, the mechanisms underlying the secretion are unknown. In this study, we demonstrate that stimulation with the TLR3 agonist, poly (I:C), led to a delayed secretion of IL-36γ compared to stimulation with the TLR5 agonist, flagellin, despite equal levels of the cytokine (p = 0.006). IL-36γ was shown to be released from HFKs in its inactive, uncleaved form, based on western blotting. Moreover, recombinant IL-36γ in its activated, cleaved form induced endogenous IL-36γ 10-fold (p = 0.004) and CXCL8 five-fold (p = 0.003) over baseline levels compared to unactivated full-length recombinant IL-36γ. The ratio of LC3b-II/LC3b-I was significantly higher in poly(I:C)-treated cells compared to flagellin-treated and unstimulated controls without a change in SQSTM1/p62 after 24 hours of stimulation (p = 0.043). Under fluorescence microscopy, poly(I:C) led to a two-fold increase at eight hours and four-fold increase at 24 hours in accumulated autophagosomes post-stimulation (p = 0.032). In contrast, autophagosomes were unchanged relative to baseline in response to flagellin. Bafilomycin A1 treatment enhanced poly(I:C)-mediated IL-36γ secretion (p = 0.044) while rapamycin led to a noticeable, but non-significant, increase in flagellin-mediated IL-36γ secretion, indicating that interrupting autophagic flux can alter IL-3γ grelease from HFKs. Finally, we show that, compared to clinically normal laryngeal tissue, there were significantly higher levels of LC3b-II in HPV-infected respiratory papilloma tissue, indicating a higher number of autophagosomes; a signature of disrupted autophagic flux.

Risk1, a Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase Effector, Promotes Rickettsia typhi Intracellular Survival

Rickettsia species are Gram-negative obligate intracellular bacteria that infect a wide range of eukaryotes and vertebrates. In particular, human body louse-borne Rickettsia prowazekii and flea-borne Rickettsia typhi have historically plagued humankind and continue to reemerge globally. The unavailability of vaccines and limited effectiveness of antibiotics late in infection place lethality rates up to 30%, highlighting the need to elucidate the mechanisms of Rickettsia pathogenicity in greater detail. Here, we characterize a new effector, Risk1, as a secreted phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) with unique dual class I and class III activities. Risk1 is required for host colonization, and its vacuolar phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate generation modulates endosomal trafficking to arrest autophagosomal maturation. Collectively, Risk1 facilitates R. typhi growth by altering phosphoinositide metabolism and subverting intracellular trafficking.

To establish a habitable intracellular niche, various pathogenic bacteria secrete effectors that target intracellular trafficking and modulate phosphoinositide (PI) metabolism. Murine typhus, caused by the obligate intracellular bacterium Rickettsia typhi, remains a severe disease in humans. However, the mechanisms by which R. typhi effector molecules contribute to internalization by induced phagocytosis and subsequent phagosomal escape into the cytosol to facilitate the intracellular growth of the bacteria remain ill-defined. Here, we characterize a new molecule, Risk1, as a phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) secreted effector and the first bacterial secretory kinase with both class I and III PI3K activities. Inactivation of Risk1 PI3K activities reduced the phosphorylation of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate to phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate within the host, which consequently diminished host colonization by R. typhi. During infection, Risk1 targets the Rab5-EEA1-phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate [PI(3)P] signaling axis to promote bacterial phagosomal escape. Subsequently, R. typhi undergoes ubiquitination and induces host autophagy; however, maturation to autolysosomes is subverted to support intracellular growth. Intriguingly, only enzymatically active Risk1 binds the Beclin-1 core complex and contributes to R. typhi-induced autophagosome formation. In sum, our data suggest that Risk1, with dual class I and class III PI3K activities, alters host PI metabolism and consequently subverts intracellular trafficking to facilitate intracellular growth of R. typhi.

Influenza A virus protein PB1-F2 impairs innate immunity by inducing mitophagy

Influenza A virus (IAV) infection induces mitophagy, which is essential for the clearance of damaged mitochondria. Dysfunctional mitochondria can be selectively targeted by PINK1, which recruits PRKN/PARK2 and leads to subsequent mitochondrial sequestration within autophagosomes. The IAV PB1-F2 protein translocates to mitochondria, accelerates the mitochondrial fragmentation and impairs the innate immunity. However, whether PB1-F2 mediates IAV-induced mitophagy and the relation between mitophagy and PB1-F2-attenuated innate immunity remain obscure. Here, we showed that PB1-F2 translocated to mitochondria by interacting and colocalizing with TUFM (Tu translation elongation factor, mitochondrial). Further studies revealed that PB1-F2 induced complete mitophagy, which required the interactions of PB1-F2 with both TUFM and MAP1LC3B/LC3B that mediated the autophagosome formation. PB1-F2-induced mitophagy was critical for the MAVS (mitochondrial antiviral signaling protein) degradation and led to its suppression of the type I IFN production. Importantly, the C-terminal LIR motif of PB1-F2 protein was demonstrated to be essential for its mitophagy induction and attenuated innate immunity. In conclusion, PB1-F2-induced mitophagy strongly correlates with impaired cellular innate immunity, revealing it is a potential therapeutic target.Abbreviations: BCL2L13: BCL2 like 13; BECN1: beclin 1; BNIP3L/Nix: BCL2 interacting protein 3 like; CQ: chloroquine; DDX58: DExD/H-box helicase 58; eGFP: enhanced green fluorescent protein; hpi: hours post infection; IAV: influenza A virus; IFN: interferon; IP: immunoprecipitation; LIR: LC3-interacting region; MAP1LC3B/LC3B: microtubule associated protein 1 light chain 3 beta; MAVS: mitochondrial antiviral signaling protein; MMP: mitochondrial membrane potential; MOI, multiplicity of infection; mRFP: monomeric red fluorescent protein; NBR1: NBR1 autophagy cargo receptor; NC: negative control; NLRP3: NLR family pyrin domain containing 3; PINK1: PTEN induced kinase 1; PRKN/PARK2: parkin RBR E3 ubiquitin protein ligase; RLR: RIG-I-like-receptor; ROS: reactive oxygen species; SEV: sendai virus; SQSTM1/p62: sequestosome 1; TAX1BP1: Tax1 binding protein 1; TM: transmembrane; TOMM20/40: translocase of outer mitochondrial membrane 20/40; TUFM: Tu translation elongation factor, mitochondrial.

p38β MAPK mediates ULK1-dependent induction of autophagy in skeletal muscle of tumor-bearing mice

Muscle wasting is the key manifestation of cancer-associated cachexia, a lethal metabolic disorder seen in over 50% of cancer patients. Autophagy is activated in cachectic muscle of cancer hosts along with the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway (UPP), contributing to accelerated protein degradation and muscle wasting. However, established signaling mechanism that activates autophagy in response to fasting or denervation does not seem to mediate cancer-provoked autophagy in skeletal myocytes. Here, we show that p38β MAPK mediates autophagy activation in cachectic muscle of tumor-bearing mice via novel mechanisms. Complementary genetic and pharmacological manipulations reveal that activation of p38β MAPK, but not p38α MAPK, is necessary and sufficient for Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC)-induced autophagy activation in skeletal muscle cells. Particularly, muscle-specific knockout of p38β MAPK abrogates LLC tumor-induced activation of autophagy and UPP, sparing tumor-bearing mice from muscle wasting. Mechanistically, p38β MAPK-mediated activation of transcription factor C/EBPβ is required for LLC-induced autophagy activation, and upregulation of autophagy-related genes LC3b and Gabarapl1. Surprisingly, ULK1 activation (phosphorylation at S555) by cancer requires p38β MAPK, rather than AMPK. Activated ULK1 forms a complex with p38β MAPK in myocytes, which is markedly increased by a tumor burden. Overexpression of a constitutively active p38Tbeta; MAPK in HEK293 cells increases phosphorylation at S555 and other amino acid residues of ULK1, but not several of AMPK-mediated sites. Finally, ULK1 activation is abrogated in tumor-bearing mice with muscle-specific knockout of p38β MAPK. Thus, p38β MAPK appears a key mediator of cancer-provoked autophagy activation, and a therapeutic target of cancer-induced muscle wasting.

Increased autophagy signaling but not proteasome activity in human skeletal muscle after prolonged low-intensity exercise with negative energy balance

Little is known about the molecular regulation of skeletal muscle protein turnover during exercise in field conditions where energy is intake inadequate. Here, 17 male and 7 female soldiers performed an 8 days long field-based military operation. Vastus lateralis muscle biopsies, in which autophagy, the ubiquitin-proteasome system, and the mTORC1 signaling pathway were studied, were collected before and after the operation. The 187 h long operation resulted in a 15% and 29% negative energy balance as well as a 4.1% and 4.6% loss of body mass in women and men, respectively. After the operation protein levels of ULK1 as well as the phosphorylation of ULK1^Ser317 and ULK1^Ser555 had increased by 11%, 39%, and 13%, respectively, and this was supported by a 17% increased phosphorylation of AMPK^Thr172 (P < 0.05). The LC3b-I/II ratio was threefold higher after compared to before the operation (P < 0.05), whereas protein levels of p62/SQSTM1 were unchanged. The β1, β2, and β5 activity of the proteasome and protein levels of MAFbx did not change, whereas levels of MuRF-1 were slightly reduced (6%, P < 0.05). Protein levels and phosphorylation status of key components in the mTORC1 signaling pathway remained at basal levels after the operation. Muscle levels of glycogen decreased from 269 ± 12 to 181 ± 9 mmol·kg dry·muscle^-1 after the exercise period (P < 0.05). In conclusion, the 8 days of field-based exercise resulted in induction of autophagy without any increase in proteasome activity or protein ubiquitination. Simultaneously, the regulation of protein synthesis through the mTORC1 signaling pathway was maintained.

Negative LC3b immunoreactivity in cancer cells is an independent prognostic predictor of prostate cancer specific death

Background

Autophagy is a catabolic cellular process used for degradation of cytoplasmic organelles and preservation of cell viability. In this study we aimed to analyse the level of autophagy markers in benign and malignant prostate tissue and to evaluate the prognostic properties for patients with prostate cancer (PCa).

Results

LC3b expression was significantly upregulated in PCa, especially in metastatic and castration-resistant PCa samples compared to benign prostate tissue (p<0.001). Evaluation of expression in malignant radical prostatectomy specimens revealed an inverse association with preoperative serum PSA levels (p=0.02) and Gleason Score (p=0.07). LC3b immunoreactivity was identified as a novel predictor of PCa specific death after radical prostatectomy, independent of Gleason score, tumour stage, and surgical margin status in a multivariable cox regression analysis (hazard ratio 0.09, 95% confidence interval 0.01-0.69, p=0.021). A significant association of ATG-5 and Beclin 1 with LC3b expression could be noticed (p<0.001), but no link with other clincopathologic parameters was observed.

Materials and Methods

A Tissue microarray containing 468 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded prostate tissue cores was stained immunohistochemically for major autophagy proteins LC3b, ATG5 and Beclin 1. Immunoreactivity was semiquantitatively scored and correlated with pathologic and clinical parameters, including tumour stage, Gleason score, preoperative PSA level, biochemical recurrence rate and survival. The median clinical follow-up was 132 months.

Conclusion

LC3b was significantly overexpressed in malignant compared to benign prostate tissue. However, positive LC3b immunoreactivity in PCa, as a marker of increased autophagy, was independently associated with a reduced disease-specific mortality.

TSC1 and TSC2 regulate cilia length and canonical Hedgehog signaling via different mechanisms

Primary cilia are sensory organelles that coordinate multiple cellular signaling pathways, including Hedgehog (HH), Wingless/Int (WNT) and Transforming Growth Factor-β (TGF-β) signaling. Similarly, primary cilia have been implicated in regulation of mTOR signaling, in which Tuberous Sclerosis Complex proteins 1 and 2 (TSC1/2) negatively regulate protein synthesis by inactivating the mTOR complex 1 (mTORC1) at energy limiting states. Here we report that TSC1 and TSC2 regulate Smoothened (SMO)-dependent HH signaling in mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs). Reduced SMO-dependent expression of Gli1 was demonstrated in both Tsc1^−/− and Tsc2^−/− cells, and we found that Tsc1 is required for TGF-β induced phosphorylation of SMAD2/3 and subsequent expression of the HH signaling effector and transcription factor GLI2. Hedgehog signaling was restored in Tsc1^−/− cells after exogenous expression of Gli2, whereas rapamycin restored HH signaling in Tsc2^−/− cells. Furthermore, we observed that Tsc1^−/− MEFs display significantly elongated cilia, whereas cilia in Tsc2^−/− MEFs were shorter than normal. The elongated cilium phenotype of Tsc1^−/− MEFs is likely due to increased mTORC1-dependent autophagic flux observed in these cells, as both the autophagic flux and the cilia length phenotype was restored by rapamycin. In addition, ciliary length control in Tsc1^−/− MEFs was also influenced by reduced expression of Gli2, which compromised expression of Wnt5a that normally promotes cilia disassembly. In summary, our results support distinct functions of Tsc1 and Tsc2 in cellular signaling as the two genes affect ciliary length control and HH signaling via different mechanisms.

Higher activation of autophagy in skeletal muscle of mice during endurance exercise in the fasted state

Activation of autophagy in skeletal muscle has been reported in response to endurance exercise and food deprivation independently. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether autophagy was more activated when both stimuli were combined, namely when endurance exercise was performed in a fasted rather than a fed state. Mice performed a low-intensity running exercise (10 m/min for 90min) in both dietary states after which the gastrocnemius muscles were removed. LC3b-II, a marker of autophagosome presence, increased in both conditions, but the increase was higher in the fasted state. Other protein markers of autophagy, like Gabarapl1-II and Atg12 conjugated form as well as mRNA of Lc3b, Gabarapl1, and p62/Sqstm1 were increased only when exercise was performed in a fasted state. The larger activation of autophagy by exercise in a fasted state was associated with a larger decrease in plasma insulin and phosphorylation of Akt(Ser473), Akt(Thr308), FoxO3a(Thr32), and ULK1(Ser757). AMPKα(Thr172), ULK1(Ser317), and ULK1(Ser555) remained unchanged in both conditions, whereas p38(Thr180/Tyr182) increased during exercise to a similar extent in the fasted and fed conditions. The marker of mitochondrial fission DRP1(Ser616) was increased by exercise independently of the nutritional status. Changes in mitophagy markers BNIP3 and Parkin suggest that mitophagy was increased during exercise in the fasted state. In conclusion, our results highlight a major implication of the insulin-Akt-mTOR pathway and its downstream targets FoxO3a and ULK1 in the larger activation of autophagy observed when exercise is performed in a fasted state compared with a fed state.

Regulation of Akt-mTOR, ubiquitin-proteasome and autophagy-lysosome pathways in response to formoterol administration in rat skeletal muscle

Administration of β2-agonists triggers skeletal muscle anabolism and hypertrophy. We investigated the time course of the molecular events responsible for rat skeletal muscle hypertrophy in response to 1, 3 and 10 days of formoterol administration (i.p. 2000μg/kg/day). A marked hypertrophy of rat tibialis anterior muscle culminated at day 10. Phosphorylation of Akt, ribosomal protein S6, 4E-BP1 and ERK1/2 was increased at day 3, but returned to control level at day 10. This could lead to a transient increase in protein translation and could explain previous studies that reported increase in protein synthesis following β2-agonist administration. Formoterol administration was also associated with a significant reduction in MAFbx/atrogin-1 mRNA level (day 3), suggesting that formoterol can also affect protein degradation of MAFbx/atrogin1 targeted substrates, including MyoD and eukaryotic initiation factor-3f (eIF3-f). Surprisingly, mRNA level of autophagy-related genes, light chain 3 beta (LC3b) and gamma-aminobutyric acid receptor-associated protein-like 1 (Gabarapl1), as well as lysosomal hydrolases, cathepsin B and cathepsin L, was significantly and transiently increased after 1 and/or 3 days, suggesting that autophagosome formation would be increased in response to formoterol administration. However, this has to be relativized since the mRNA level of Unc-51-like kinase1 (Ulk1), BCL2/adenovirus E1B interacting protein3 (Bnip3), and transcription factor EB (TFEB), as well as the protein content of Ulk1, Atg13, Atg5-Atg12 complex and p62/Sqstm1 remained unchanged or was even decreased in response to formoterol administration. These results demonstrate that the effects of formoterol are mediated, in part, through the activation of Akt-mTOR pathway and that other signaling pathways become more important in the regulation of skeletal muscle mass with chronic administration of β2-agonists.