Targeting 14-3-3ε activates apoptotic signaling to prevent cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma

More than a million cases of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma are diagnosed in the USA each year, and its incidence is increasing. Most of these malignancies arise from premalignant lesions, providing an opportunity for intervention before malignant progression. We previously documented how cytoplasmic mislocalization of CDC25A in premalignant and malignant skin cancers confers resistance to apoptotic cell death via a mechanism that depends on its interaction with 14-3-3ε. From these data, we hypothesized that 14-3-3ε overexpression drives skin tumor development and progression, such that targeting 14-3-3ε may be a useful strategy for skin cancer treatment. Like CDC25A, 14-3-3ε was overexpressed and mislocalized to the cytoplasm of both benign and malignant human skin cancer. Skin-targeted deletion of the 14-3-3ε gene reduced skin tumor development by 75% and blocked malignant progression. 14-3-3ε suppressed apoptosis through activation of Akt, leading to inhibition of BCL2 associated agonist of cell death and upregulation of Survivin. Using virtual tetrapeptide libraries, we developed a novel peptide that specifically blocked 14-3-3ε heterodimerization and thereby prevented its interaction with CDC25A. The peptide reduced prosurvival signaling, killed skin cancer cells and reduced skin tumor growth in xenograft. Normal skin keratinocytes were unaffected by inhibition or deletion of 14-3-3ε. Thus, targeting of 14-3-3ε dimerization is a promising strategy for the treatment of premalignant skin lesions.

RIP3 antagonizes a TSC2-mediated pro-survival pathway in glioblastoma cell death

Glioblastomas are the deadliest type of brain cancer and are frequently associated with poor prognosis and a high degree of recurrence despite removal by surgical resection and treatment by chemo- and radio-therapy. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a treatment well known to induce mainly necrotic and apoptotic cell death in solid tumors. 5-Aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA)-based PDT was recently shown to sensitize human glioblastoma cells (LN-18) to a RIP3 (Receptor Interacting Protein 3)-dependent cell death which is counter-acted by activation of autophagy. These promising results led us to investigate the pathways involved in cell death and survival mechanisms occurring in glioblastoma following PDT. In the present study, we describe a new TSC2 (Tuberous Sclerosis 2)-dependent survival pathway implicating MK2 (MAPKAPK2) kinase and 14-3-3 proteins which conducts to the activation of a pro-survival autophagy. Moreover, we characterized a new RIP3/TSC2 complex where RIP3 is suggested to promote cell death by targeting TSC2-dependent survival pathway. These results highlight (i) a new role of TSC2 to protect glioblastoma against PDT-induced cell death and (ii) TSC2 and 14-3-3 as new RIP3 partners.

Inhibition of 14-3-3 Proteins Leads to Schizophrenia-Related Behavioral Phenotypes and Synaptic Defects in Mice

BACKGROUND

The 14-3-3 family of proteins is implicated in the regulation of several key neuronal processes. Previous human and animal studies suggested an association between 14-3-3 dysregulation and schizophrenia.

METHODS

We characterized behavioral and functional changes in transgenic mice that express an isoform-independent 14-3-3 inhibitor peptide in the brain.

RESULTS

We recently showed that 14-3-3 functional knockout mice (FKO) exhibit impairments in associative learning and memory. We report here that these 14-3-3 FKO mice display other behavioral deficits that correspond to the core symptoms of schizophrenia. These behavioral deficits may be attributed to alterations in multiple neurotransmission systems in the 14-3-3 FKO mice. In particular, inhibition of 14-3-3 proteins results in a reduction of dendritic complexity and spine density in forebrain excitatory neurons, which may underlie the altered synaptic connectivity in the prefrontal cortical synapse of the 14-3-3 FKO mice. At the molecular level, this dendritic spine defect may stem from dysregulated actin dynamics secondary to a disruption of the 14-3-3-dependent regulation of phosphorylated cofilin.

CONCLUSIONS

Collectively, our data provide a link between 14-3-3 dysfunction, synaptic alterations, and schizophrenia-associated behavioral deficits.

Increased 14-3-3ζ expression in the multidrug-resistant leukemia cell line HL-60/VCR as compared to the parental line mediates cell growth and apoptosis in part through modification of gene expression

BACKGROUND

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) recurrence is largely a result of multidrug resistance (MDR). We aimed to examine the role of 14-3-3ζ in AML chemosensitivity using HL-60 and vincristine-resistant HL-60/VCR cells.

METHODS

The effects of 14-3-3ζ siRNA on the growth and cell cycle progression of HL-60 and HL-60/VCR cells were determined. The effect of 14-3-3ζ siRNA on topotecan (TPT)-induced apoptosis was evaluated by several assays.

RESULTS

Compared to HL-60 cells, HL-60/VCR cells had increased 14-3-3ζ mRNA and protein expression. Increased mdr-1 mRNA as well as mdr-1, Bcl-2 and Mcl-1 protein expression were observed in HL-60/VCR cells. In both HL-60 and HL-60/VCR cells, 14-3-3ζ was observed in the cytoplasm and nuclear compartments. 14-3-3ζ siRNA significantly reduced HL-60 and HL-60/VCR cell growth after 48 h and increased the proportion of cells in the G0/G1 phase. Moreover, 14-3-3ζ siRNA significantly increased the sensitivity of both HL-60 and HL-60/VCR cells to TPT, possibly through the inhibition of Bcl-2, Mcl-1 and mdr-1 protein expression.

CONCLUSIONS

Silencing of 14-3-3ζ increased the sensitivity of both sensitive and resistant HL-60 cells to TPT-induced apoptosis, possibly through altering the expression of apoptosis-associated proteins, suggesting that it may be a potential target for MDR AML.

The Arabidopsis F-box protein AtFBS1 interacts with 14-3-3 proteins

AtFBS1 is an F-box protein whose transcript accumulates in response to biotic and abiotic stresses. Previous evidence suggests that a postranscriptional event regulates AtFBS1 expression [1]. We now found that AtFBS1 interacts with 14-3-3 proteins through its amino-terminus and the F-box motif. Deletion of any of these regions abolishes the interaction between AtFBS1 and 14-3-3 proteins. On the other hand, the treatment with the proteasome inhibitor MG132 or the deletion of the F-box from AtFBS1 increases β-glucuronidase (GUS) activity in plants containing a translational fusion of AtFBS1 with the GUS reporter gene, indicating that AtFBS1 is degraded by the 26S proteasome. MG132 treatment of seedlings containing a gene fusion between AtFBS1 and the TAP (Tandem Affinity Purification) cassette causes an increase in the half-life of the protein. In an attempt to understand the role of 14-3-3 interactions, we treated Arabidopsis seedlings with 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide-1-β-d-ribofuranosyl 5'-monophosphate (AICAR), an inhibitor of 14-3-3 client interactions. We observed an increase in AtFBS1-TAP stability as a consequence of AICAR treatment. Based on these data we propose that 14-3-3 proteins promote the dimerization of SCF(AtFBS1). This also may enhance the AtFBS1 autoubiquitination activity and its degradation by the 26S proteasome. AICAR also affects Cullin1 (CUL1) modification by RUB1, which would provide an additional element to the effect of this compound on AtFBS1 stability.

Differential effects of ethanol on c-jun N-terminal kinase, 14-3-3 proteins, and Bax in postnatal day 4 and postnatal day 7 rat cerebellum

These studies investigated ethanol effects on upstream cellular elements and interactions which contribute to Bax-related apoptosis in neonatal rat cerebellum at ages of peak ethanol sensitivity (postnatal day 4 [P4]), compared to later ages of relative resistance (P7). Analyses were made of basal levels of the pro-apoptotic c-jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), Bax, and the 14-3-3 anchoring proteins, as well as the responsiveness of these substances to ethanol at P4 versus P7. Dimerization of Bax with 14-3-3 was also investigated at the two ages following ethanol treatment, a process which sequesters Bax in the cytosol, thus inhibiting its mitochondrial translocation and disruption of the mitochondrial membrane potential. Cultured cerebellar granule cells were used to examine the protective potential of JNK inhibition on ethanol-mediated cell death. Basal levels of JNK were significantly higher at P4 than P7, but no differences in the other proteins were found. Activated JNK, and cytosolic and mitochondrially-translocated Bax were increased in P4 but not P7 animals following ethanol exposure, while protective 14-3-3 proteins were increased only at P7. Ethanol treatment resulted in decreases in Bax:14-3-3 heterodimers at P4, but not at P7. Inhibition of JNK activity in vitro provided partial protection against ethanol neurotoxicity. Thus, differential temporal vulnerability to ethanol in this CNS region correlates with differences in both levels of apoptosis-related substances (e.g., JNK), and differential cellular responsiveness, favoring apoptosis at the most sensitive age and survival at the resistant age. The upstream elements contributing to this vulnerability can be targets for future therapeutic strategies.

Targeting 14-3-3 protein, difopein induces apoptosis of human glioma cells and suppresses tumor growth in mice

14-3-3 protein has emerged as critical regulators of diverse cellular responses. Previous studies found that strong 14-3-3 protein expression was observed and associated with tumor genesis and progression in glioma. Here, we further elucidated the role of 14-3-3 protein in apoptosis of human glioma U251 and U87 cells by global inhibition of 14-3-3 functions with a general 14-3-3 antagonist, difopein. In vitro, morphological observation and DNA laddering assay showed that difopein-treated glioma cells displayed outstanding apoptosis characteristics, such as nuclear fragmentation, appearance of membrane-enclosed apoptotic bodies and DNA laddering fragment. Moreover, flow cytometric detection of phosphatidylserine externalization indicated that difopein-induced apoptosis occurred in a time-dependent manner. Interestingly, inhibiting 14-3-3 with small interfere RNA also induce apoptosis of human glioma U251 cells. Furthermore, RT-PCR and western blot assay further substantiated that difopein had strong effects to induce glioma cell apoptosis through down-regulating Bcl-2, up-regulating Bax and activating caspase-9 and caspase-3. In vivo, retroviral vector was constructed and retroviral-mediated transfer of difopein to glioma was implanted in nude mice. Difopein effectively hindered proliferation and triggered apoptosis of tumor cells implanted into nude mice. This work not only reveals a critical role of 14-3-3 in apoptosis suppression in glioma cells, but also identifies and validates 14-3-3 as a potential molecular target for anticancer therapeutic development.

Hsp27 promotes insulin-like growth factor-I survival signaling in prostate cancer via p90Rsk-dependent phosphorylation and inactivation of BAD

Hsp27 is highly expressed in castrate-resistant prostate cancer. Although its overexpression confers resistance to androgen ablation and chemotherapy, the mechanisms by which Hsp27 inhibits treatment-induced apoptosis are incompletely defined. Castrate-resistance often correlates with increased activity of autocrine and/or paracrine growth/survival stimulatory loops including the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and Akt pathways and insulin-like growth factor (IGF) axis components. Because Hsp27 can be activated by both MAPK and Akt pathways, it is possible that interactions between IGF-I signaling and Hsp27 phosphoactivation function to promote castrate-resistant progression. Here, we report that Hsp27 expression and phosphorylation levels correlate with IGF-I signaling and castrate-resistant progression in human prostate cancer specimens and cell lines. IGF-I induces Hsp27 phosphorylation in a time- and dose-dependent manner via p90Rsk, which interacts directly with and phosphorylates Hsp27 in vitro and in vivo. Conversely, p90Rsk inhibition using short interfering RNA or a dominant negative mutant abolishes IGF-I-induced Hsp27 phosphorylation. Hsp27 overexpression increases IGF-I-induced phosphorylation of Erk, p90Rsk, and Akt. Conversely, Hsp27 knockdown abrogates IGF-I-induced phosphorylation of Erk, p90Rsk, and Akt, thereby destabilizing Bad/14-3-3 complexes and increasing apoptotic rates. These data elucidate the interactions between Hsp27 phosphorylation and the IGF-I receptor signaling pathway and support targeting Hsp27 as a therapeutic strategy for castrate-resistant prostate cancer.

Depletion of 14-3-3 proteins in bloodstream-form Trypanosoma brucei inhibits variant surface glycoprotein recycling

Bloodstream-form Trypanosoma brucei have two 14-3-3 proteins, which are required for parasite multiplication. We here describe the effects of 14-3-3 depletion on vesicular transport of variant surface glycoprotein (VSG). 14-3-3 depletion had no detectable effect on de novo synthesis and trafficking of VSG to the cell surface, or on VSG endocytosis. Despite strong inhibition of cell division, the flagellar pocket was not enlarged and the ultrastructure of internal organelles appeared normal. The Rab11-positive recycling endosome compartment was, however, fivefold smaller than normal, and the rate of return of recycling VSG to the surface was correspondingly reduced. Down-regulating 14-3-3 also prevented enlargement of the flagellar pocket by clathrin depletion. These results suggest that there is a remarkably specific requirement for 14-3-3 in normal functioning of the Rab11-positive recycling endosome compartment.

Virus-induced gene silencing of 14-3-3 genes abrogates dark repression of nitrate reductase activity in Nicotiana benthamiana

In order to study the effect of repression of 14-3-3 genes on actual activity of the nitrate reductase (NR) in Nicotiana benthamiana leaves, Nb14-3-3a gene was silenced by virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) method using potato virus X (PVX). Expression of Nb14-3-3a as well as Nb14-3-3b genes was altogether repressed in the leaves of PVX-14-3a-infected plants. Furthermore, two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and immunoblot analysis with anti-14-3-3 antiserum suggested that the expressions of Nb14-3-3a and Nb14-3-3b proteins are accordingly repressed in PVX-14-3a-infected plants. It is well known that binding of 14-3-3 proteins to phosphorylated NR leads to substantial decrease in NR activity of leaves under darkness. Therefore, we studied the changes in NR activity in response to light/dark transitions in the leaves of PVX-14-3a-infected plants. NR activation state was kept at a high level under darkness in PVX-14-3a-infected plants, but not in PVX-green fluorescent protein (GFP)-infected and control plants. This result suggests that Nb14-3-3a and/or Nb14-3-3b proteins are indeed involved in the inactivation of NR activity under darkness in N. benthamiana.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs induce colorectal cancer cell apoptosis by suppressing 14-3-3epsilon

To determine the role of 14-3-3 in colorectal cancer apoptosis induced by nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), we evaluated the effects of sulindac on 14-3-3epsilon protein expression in colorectal cancer cells. Sulindac sulfide inhibited 14-3-3epsilon proteins in HT-29 and DLD-1 cells in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. Sulindac sulfone at 600 mumol/L inhibited 14-3-3epsilon protein expression in HT-29. Indomethacin and SC-236, a selective cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitor, exerted a similar effect as sulindac. Sulindac suppressed 14-3-3epsilon promoter activity. As 14-3-3epsilon promoter activation is mediated by peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor delta (PPARdelta), we determined the correlation between 14-3-3epsilon inhibition and PPARdelta suppression by NSAIDs. Sulindac sulfide inhibited PPARdelta protein expression and PPARdelta transcriptional activity. Overexpression of PPARdelta by adenoviral transfer rescued 14-3-3epsilon proteins from elimination by sulindac or indomethacin. NSAID-induced 14-3-3epsilon suppression was associated with reduced cytosolic Bad with elevation of mitochondrial Bad and increase in apoptosis which was rescued by Ad-PPARdelta transduction. Stable expression of 14-3-3epsilon in HT-29 significantly protected cells from apoptosis. Our findings shed light on a novel mechanism by which NSAIDs induce colorectal cancer apoptosis via the PPARdelta/14-3-3epsilon transcriptional pathway. These results suggest that 14-3-3epsilon is a target for the prevention and therapy of colorectal cancer.

Inhibitory effect of 14-3-3 proteins on serum-induced proliferation of cardiac fibroblasts

Proliferation in cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) can be induced by a wide variety of growth factors that recruit multiple signal transduction pathways, including mitogen-activated protein kinase, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and protein kinase C. As a family of dimeric phophoserine-binding proteins, 14-3-3s are associated with a multitude of proteins that regulate signal transduction, apoptosis and checkpoint control pathways. However, it remains unknown whether the 14-3-3 proteins play an active role in cardiac proliferation and alter their expression patterns in response to growth factors in CFs. R18 peptide, an isoform-independent 14-3-3 inhibitor, was used to disrupt 14-3-3 function by adenovirus-mediated transfer of R18-EYFP (AdR18). Our results demonstrate that the 14-3-3 isoforms gamma, zeta and epsilon were highly expressed in CFs and the expression of 14-3-3 epsilon was elevated following serum stimulation. Inhibition of 14-3-3 proteins by AdR18 potentiated mitogen-induced DNA synthesis in CFs. This potentiation was presumably due to the increased inactivated glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta by Ser9 phosphorylation and nuclear factor of activated T-cell nuclear accumulation. However, AdR18 had no effect on extracellular signal-regulated kinase phosphorylation and reduced p70 S6 kinase (p70S6K) phosphorylation upon mitogenic stimulation. Furthermore, though R18 can block 14-3-3 binding abilities, it did not affect the serum-induced upregulation of 14-3-3 epsilon protein. Collectively, these findings reveal that the expression of 14-3-3 epsilon can be upregulated by serum in CFs and 14-3-3s may exert an inhibitory effect on serum-induced proliferation.

14-3-3gamma binds to MDMX that is phosphorylated by UV-activated Chk1, resulting in p53 activation

It has been shown that MDMX inhibits the activity of the tumor suppressor p53 by primarily cooperating with the p53 feedback regulator MDM2. Here, our study shows that this inhibition can be overcome by 14-3-3gamma and Chk1. 14-3-3gamma was identified as an MDMX-associated protein via an immuno-affinity purification-coupled mass spectrometry. Consistently, 14-3-3gamma directly interacted with MDMX in vitro, and this interaction was stimulated by MDMX phosphorylation in vitro and in cells. Interestingly, in response to UV irradiation, the wild-type, but not the kinase-dead mutant, Chk1 phosphorylated MDMX at serine 367, enhanced the 14-3-3gamma-MDMX binding and the cytoplasmic retaining of MDMX. The Chk1 specific inhibitor UCN-01 repressed all of these effects. Moreover, overexpression of 14-3-3gamma, but not its mutant K50E, which did not bind to MDMX, suppressed MDMX-enhanced p53 ubiquitination, leading to p53 stabilization and activation. Finally, ablation of 14-3-3gamma by siRNA reduced UV-induced p53 level and G1 arrest. Thus, these results demonstrate 14-3-3gamma and Chk1 as two novel regulators of MDMX in response to UV irradiation.

14-3-3 proteins are involved in the regulation of mammalian cell proliferation

The 14-3-3 proteins are a family of abundant, widely expressed acidic polypeptides. The seven isoforms interact with over 70 different proteins. 14-3-3 isoforms have been demonstrated to be involved in the control of positive as well as negative regulators of mammalian cell proliferation. Here we used the approach of inactivating 14-3-3 protein functions via overexpression of dominant negative mutants to analyse the role of 14-3-3 proteins in mammalian cell proliferation. We found 14-3-3 dominant negative mutants to downregulate the proliferation rates of HeLa cells. Overexpression of these dominant negative mutants triggers upregulation of the protein levels of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p27, a major negative cell cycle regulator. In addition, they downregulate the protein levels of the important cell cycle promoter cyclin D1. These data provide new insights into mammalian cell proliferation control and allow a better understanding of the functions of 14-3-3 proteins.

14-3-3 proteins regulate glycogen synthase 3beta phosphorylation and inhibit cardiomyocyte hypertrophy

14-3-3 proteins are dimeric phophoserine-binding molecules that participate in important cellular processes such as cell proliferation, cell-cycle control and the stress response. In this work, we report that several isoforms of 14-3-3s are expressed in neonatal rat cardiomyocytes. To understand their function, we utilized a general 14-3-3 peptide inhibitor, R18, to disrupt 14-3-3 functions in cardiomyocytes. Cardiomyocytes infected with adenovirus-expressing YFP-R18 (AdR18) exhibited markedly increased protein synthesis and atrial natriuretic peptide production and potentiated the responses to norepinephrine stimulation. This response was blocked by the pretreatment with LY294002, a phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitor. Consistent with a role of PI3K in the R18 effect, R18 induced phosphorylation of a protein cloned from the vakt oncogene of retrovirus AKT8 (Akt - also called protein kinase B, PKB) at Ser473 and glycogen synthase 3beta (GSK3beta) at Ser9, but not extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2). AdR18-induced PKB and GSK3beta phosphorylation was completely blocked by LY294002. In addition, a member of the nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) family, NFAT3, was converted into faster mobility forms and translocated into the nucleus upon the treatment of AdR18. These results suggest that 14-3-3s inhibits cardiomyocytes hypertrophy through regulation of the PI3K/PKB/GSK3beta and NFAT pathway.

Spatial coordination of chloroplast and plasma membrane activities in Chara cells and its disruption through inactivation of 14-3-3 proteins

In Chara corallina cells exposed to continuous light, external pH (pH(o)) and photosystem II (PSII) photochemical yield show correlated banding patterns. Photosynthetic activity is low in cell regions producing alkaline zones and high in the acid regions. We addressed the question whether (and how) photosynthetic activity and plasma membrane (PM) H+-pumping and H+-conductance are coupled in the different bands. First, PM H+-pump activity was stimulated with fusicoccin. This resulted in a more acidic pH in the acid bands without disturbing the correlation of photosynthetic electron transport and H+ fluxes across the PM. Next, H+-pump activity was reduced through microinjection of a phosphorylated peptide matching the canonical 14-3-3 binding motif RSTpSTP in the acid cell region. Microinjection induced a rapid (~5 min) rise in pH(o) by ca. 1.0 unit near the injection site, whereas the injection of the non-phosphorylated peptide had no effect. This pH rise confirms the supposed inhibition of the H+-pump upon the detachment of 14-3-3 proteins from the H+-ATPase. However, the PSII yield in the cell regions corresponding to the new alkaline peak remained high, which violated the normal inverse relations between the pH(o) and PSII photochemical yield. We conclude that the injection of the competitive inhibitor of the H+-ATPase disrupts the balanced operation of PM H+-transport and photosynthetic electron flow and promotes electron flow through alternative pathways.