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Pillay LM, Yano JJ, Davis AE, Butler MG, Ezeude MO, Park JS, Barnes KA, Reyes VL, Castranova D, Gore AV, Swift MR, Iben JR, Kenton MI, Stratman AN, Weinstein BM. In vivo dissection of Rhoa function in vascular development using zebrafish. Angiogenesis 2022; 25:411-434. [PMID: 35320450 DOI: 10.1007/s10456-022-09834-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2021] [Accepted: 02/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
The small monomeric GTPase RHOA acts as a master regulator of signal transduction cascades by activating effectors of cellular signaling, including the Rho-associated protein kinases ROCK1/2. Previous in vitro cell culture studies suggest that RHOA can regulate many critical aspects of vascular endothelial cell (EC) biology, including focal adhesion, stress fiber formation, and angiogenesis. However, the specific in vivo roles of RHOA during vascular development and homeostasis are still not well understood. In this study, we examine the in vivo functions of RHOA in regulating vascular development and integrity in zebrafish. We use zebrafish RHOA-ortholog (rhoaa) mutants, transgenic embryos expressing wild type, dominant negative, or constitutively active forms of rhoaa in ECs, pharmacological inhibitors of RHOA and ROCK1/2, and Rock1 and Rock2a/b dgRNP-injected zebrafish embryos to study the in vivo consequences of RHOA gain- and loss-of-function in the vascular endothelium. Our findings document roles for RHOA in vascular integrity, developmental angiogenesis, and vascular morphogenesis in vivo, showing that either too much or too little RHOA activity leads to vascular dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura M Pillay
- Division of Developmental Biology, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, 6 Center Dr. Bethesda, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Joseph J Yano
- Division of Developmental Biology, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, 6 Center Dr. Bethesda, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Pennsylvania, 440 Curie Blvd, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Andrew E Davis
- Division of Developmental Biology, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, 6 Center Dr. Bethesda, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Matthew G Butler
- Division of Developmental Biology, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, 6 Center Dr. Bethesda, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Megan O Ezeude
- Division of Developmental Biology, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, 6 Center Dr. Bethesda, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Jong S Park
- Division of Developmental Biology, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, 6 Center Dr. Bethesda, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Keith A Barnes
- Division of Developmental Biology, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, 6 Center Dr. Bethesda, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Vanessa L Reyes
- Division of Developmental Biology, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, 6 Center Dr. Bethesda, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Daniel Castranova
- Division of Developmental Biology, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, 6 Center Dr. Bethesda, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Aniket V Gore
- Division of Developmental Biology, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, 6 Center Dr. Bethesda, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Matthew R Swift
- Division of Developmental Biology, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, 6 Center Dr. Bethesda, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - James R Iben
- Division of Developmental Biology, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, 6 Center Dr. Bethesda, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Madeleine I Kenton
- Division of Developmental Biology, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, 6 Center Dr. Bethesda, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Amber N Stratman
- Division of Developmental Biology, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, 6 Center Dr. Bethesda, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Brant M Weinstein
- Division of Developmental Biology, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, 6 Center Dr. Bethesda, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA.
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Abstract
The plasma membrane is generally associated with underling actin cytoskeleton. When the plasma membrane detaches from actin filaments, it is expanded by the intracellular pressure and the spherical membrane protrusion which lacks underlying actin cortex, termed bleb, is formed. Bleb is widely used for migration across species; however, the molecular mechanism underlying membrane blebbing remains largely unknown. Our recent study revealed that 2 small GTPases, Rnd3 and RhoA, are important regulators of membrane blebbing. In the expanding blebs, Rnd3 is recruited to the plasma membrane and inhibits RhoA activity by activating RhoGAP. On the other hand, RhoA is activated at the retracting membrane and removes Rnd3 from plasma membrane by the activity of ROCK (Rho-associated protein kinase). ROCK is also important for the rapid reassembly of actin cortex and retraction of membrane blebs by activating Ezrin. We propose that a Rnd3 and RhoA cycle underlies the core machinery of continuous membrane blebbing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junichi Ikenouchi
- a Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences , Kyushu University , Fukuoka , Japan.,b PRESTO, Japan Science and Technology Agency , Saitama , Japan.,c AMED-PRIME, Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development , Tokyo , Japan
| | - Kana Aoki
- a Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences , Kyushu University , Fukuoka , Japan
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Mouawad F, Aoudjit L, Jiang R, Szaszi K, Takano T. Role of guanine nucleotide exchange factor-H1 in complement-mediated RhoA activation in glomerular epithelial cells. J Biol Chem 2013; 289:4206-18. [PMID: 24356971 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m113.506816] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Visceral glomerular epithelial cells (GEC), also known as podocytes, are vital for the structural and functional integrity of the glomerulus. The actin cytoskeleton plays a central role in maintaining GEC morphology. In a rat model of experimental membranous nephropathy (passive Heymann nephritis (PHN)), complement C5b-9-induced proteinuria was associated with the activation of the actin regulator small GTPase, RhoA. The mechanisms of RhoA activation, however, remained unknown. In this study, we explored the role of the epithelial guanine nucleotide exchange factor, GEF-H1, in complement-induced RhoA activation. Using affinity precipitation to monitor GEF activity, we found that GEF-H1 was activated in glomeruli isolated from rats with PHN. Complement C5b-9 also induced parallel activation of GEF-H1 and RhoA in cultured GEC. In GEC in which GEF-H1 was knocked down, both basal and complement-induced RhoA activity was reduced. On the other hand, GEF-H1 knockdown augmented complement-mediated cytolysis, suggesting a role for GEF-H1 and RhoA in protecting GEC from cell death. The MEK1/2 inhibitor, U0126, and mutation of the ERK-dependent phosphorylation site (T678A) prevented complement-induced GEF-H1 activation, indicating a role for the ERK pathway. Further, complement induced GEF-H1 and microtubule accumulation in the perinuclear region. However, both the perinuclear accumulation and the activation of GEF-H1 were independent of microtubules and myosin-mediated contractility, as shown using drugs that interfere with microtubule dynamics and myosin II activity. In summary, we have identified complement-induced ERK-dependent GEF-H1 activation as the upstream mechanism of RhoA stimulation, and this pathway has a protective role against cell death.
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Affiliation(s)
- Flaviana Mouawad
- From the Department of Medicine, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Quebec H3A 2B4, Canada and
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Kim HJ, Kim JG, Moon MY, Park SH, Park JB. IκB kinase γ/nuclear factor-κB-essential modulator (IKKγ/NEMO) facilitates RhoA GTPase activation, which, in turn, activates Rho-associated KINASE (ROCK) to phosphorylate IKKβ in response to transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1. J Biol Chem 2013; 289:1429-40. [PMID: 24240172 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m113.520130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 plays several roles in a variety of cellular functions. TGF-β1 transmits its signal through Smad transcription factor-dependent and -independent pathways. It was reported that TGF-β1 activates NF-κB and RhoA, and RhoA activates NF-κB in several kinds of cells in a Smad-independent pathway. However, the activation molecular mechanism of NF-κB by RhoA upon TGF-β1 has not been clearly elucidated. We observed that RhoA-GTP level was increased by TGF-β1 in RAW264.7 cells. RhoA-GDP and RhoGDI were bound to N- and C-terminal domains of IKKγ, respectively. Purified IKKγ facilitated GTP binding to RhoA complexed with RhoGDI. Furthermore, Dbs, a guanine nucletotide exchange factor of RhoA much more enhanced GTP binding to RhoA complexed with RhoGDI in the presence of IKKγ. Indeed, si-IKKγ abolished RhoA activation in response to TGF-β1 in cells. However, TGF-β1 stimulated the release of RhoA-GTP from IKKγ and Rho-associated kinase (ROCK), an active RhoA effector protein, directly phosphorylated IKKβ in vitro, whereas TGF-β1-activated kinase 1 activated RhoA upon TGF-β1 stimulation. Taken together, our data indicate that IKKγ facilitates RhoA activation via a guanine nucletotide exchange factor, which in turn activates ROCK to phosphorylate IKKβ, leading to NF-κB activation that induced the chemokine expression and cell migration upon TGF-β1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hee-Jun Kim
- From the Department of Biochemistry, Hallym University College of Medicine, Chuncheon, Kangwon-Do 200-702, Korea
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Abstract
A number of proteins that play key roles in cell signaling are post-translationally modified by the prenylation pathway. The final step in this pathway is methylation of the carboxyl terminus of the prenylated protein by isoprenylcysteine carboxylmethyltransferase. Due to the impact of methylation on Rho function, we sought to determine if the process was reversible and hence could control Rho function in a dynamic fashion. Elevating isoprenylcysteine carboxylmethyltransferase activity in cells has profound effects on MDA-MB-231 cell morphology, implying the presence of a pool of unmethylated prenyl proteins in these cells under normal conditions. Using a knockdown approach, we identified a specific esterase, carboxylesterase 1, whose function had a clear impact not only on the methylation status of RhoA but also RhoA activation and cell morphology. These data provide compelling evidence that C-terminal modification of prenyl proteins, rather than being purely a constitutive process, can serve as a point of regulation of function for this important class of protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian Cushman
- Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710, USA
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