Cyclooxygenase-independent actions of cyclooxygenase inhibitors

Several studies have demonstrated unequivocally that certain nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as sodium salicylate, sulindac, ibuprofen, and flurbiprofen cause anti-inflammatory and antiproliferative effects independent of cyclooxygenase activity and prostaglandin synthesis inhibition. These effects are mediated through inhibition of certain transcription factors such as NF-kappaB and AP-1. The respective NSAIDs might interfere directly with the transcription factors, but their effects are probably mediated predominantly through alterations of the activity of cellular kinases such as IKKbeta, Erk, p38 MAPK, or Cdks. These effects apparently are not shared by all NSAIDs, since indomethacin failed to inhibit NF-kappaB and AP-1 activation as well as Erk and Cdk activity. In contrast, indomethacin was able to activate PPARgamma, which was not affected by sodium salicylate or aspirin. The differences in cyclooxygenase-independent mechanisms may have consequences for the specific use of these drugs in individual patients because additional effects may either enhance the efficacy or reduce the toxicity of the respective compounds.

Heat-shock proteins as activators of the innate immune system

Peptides bound or linked to heat-shock proteins (HSPs) of microbial or mammalian origin have been shown to elicit potent antigen-specific immunity. Some members of the HSP family, such as hsp60, hsp70, hsp90 and gp96, are able also to stimulate cells of the innate immune system directly and thus, act as 'danger'-signaling molecules. This effect is independent of HSP-associated peptides and, in many respects, resembles the effect of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Here, we discuss the similarities between the responses to HSPs and LPS and also, emphasize that care must be taken when working with preparations of HSPs in experimental settings and interpreting experimental data.

Geldanamycin activates a heat shock response and inhibits huntingtin aggregation in a cell culture model of Huntington's disease

Huntington's disease (HD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder with no effective treatment. Geldanamycin is a benzoquinone ansamycin that binds to the heat shock protein Hsp90 and activates a heat shock response in mammalian cells. In this study, we show by using a filter retardation assay and immunofluorescence microscopy that treatment of mammalian cells with geldanamycin at nanomolar concentrations induces the expression of Hsp40, Hsp70 and Hsp90 and inhibits HD exon 1 protein aggregation in a dose-dependent manner. Similar results were obtained by overexpression of Hsp70 and Hsp40 in a separate cell culture model of HD. This is the first demonstration that huntingtin protein aggregation in cells can be suppressed by chemical compounds activating a specific heat shock response. These findings may provide the basis for the development of a novel pharmacotherapy for HD and related glutamine repeat disorders.

Cell wall stress responses in Bacillus subtilis: the regulatory network of the bacitracin stimulon

In response to sublethal concentrations of antibiotics, bacteria often induce an adaptive response that can contribute to antibiotic resistance. We report the response of Bacillus subtilis to bacitracin, an inhibitor of cell wall biosynthesis found in its natural environment. Analysis of the global transcriptional profile of bacitracin-treated cells reveals a response orchestrated by two alternative sigma factors (sigmaB and sigmaM) and three two-component systems (YvqEC, YvcPQ and BceRS). All three two-component systems are located next to target genes that are strongly induced by bacitracin, and the corresponding histidine kinases share an unusual topology: they lack about 100 amino acids in their extracellular sensing domain, which is almost entirely buried in the cytoplasmic membrane. Sequence analysis indicates that this novel N-terminal sensing domain is a characteristic feature of a subfamily of histidine kinases, found almost entirely in Gram-positive bacteria and frequently linked to ABC transporters. A systematic mutational analysis of bacitracin-induced genes led to the identification of a new bacitracin-resistance determinant, bceAB, encoding a putative ABC transporter. The bcrC bacitracin resistance gene, which is under the dual control of sigmaX and sigmaM, was also induced by bacitracin. By comparing the bacitracin and the vancomycin stimulons, we can differentiate between loci induced specifically by bacitracin and those that are induced by multiple cell wall-active antibiotics.

Inhibitors of the heat shock response: biology and pharmacology

A number of human diseases can be linked to aberrations in protein folding which cause an imbalance in protein homeostasis. Molecular chaperones, including heat shock proteins, act to assist protein folding, stability and activity in the cell. Attention has begun to focus on modulating the expression and/or activity of this group of proteins for the treatment of a wide variety of human diseases. This review will describe the progress made to date in developing pharmacological modulators of the heat shock response, including both agents which affect the entire heat shock response and those that specifically target the HSP70 and HSP90 chaperone families.

Neurohormetic phytochemicals: Low-dose toxins that induce adaptive neuronal stress responses

Diets rich in vegetables and fruits are associated with reduced risk of several major diseases, including neurodegenerative disorders. Although some beneficial phytochemicals might function solely as antioxidants, it is becoming clear that many of the beneficial chemicals in vegetables and fruits evolved as toxins (to dissuade insects and other predators) that, at subtoxic doses, activate adaptive cellular stress-response pathways in a variety of cells including neurons. Examples of such 'preconditioning' or 'neurohormesis' pathways include those involving cell-survival signaling kinases, the transcription factors NRF2 and CREB, and histone deacetylases of the sirtuin family. In these ways, neurohormetic phytochemicals such as resveratrol, sulforaphanes and curcumin might protect neurons against injury and disease by stimulating the production of antioxidant enzymes, neurotrophic factors, protein chaperones and other proteins that help cells to withstand stress. Thus, as we discuss in this review, highly conserved longevity and survival pathways in neurons are the targets of many phytochemicals.

Jasmonates act with salicylic acid to confer basal thermotolerance in Arabidopsis thaliana

* The cpr5-1 Arabidopsis thaliana mutant exhibits constitutive activation of salicylic acid (SA), jasmonic acid (JA) and ethylene (ET) signalling pathways and displays enhanced tolerance of heat stress (HS). * cpr5-1 crossed with jar1-1 (a JA-amino acid synthetase) was compromised in basal thermotolerance, as were the mutants opr3 (mutated in OPDA reductase3) and coi1-1 (affected in an E3 ubiquitin ligase F-box; a key JA-signalling component). In addition, heating wild-type Arabidopsis led to the accumulation of a range of jasmonates: JA, 12-oxophytodienoic acid (OPDA) and a JA-isoleucine (JA-Ile) conjugate. Exogenous application of methyl jasmonate protected wild-type Arabidopsis from HS. * Ethylene was rapidly produced during HS, with levels being modulated by both JA and SA. By contrast, the ethylene mutant ein2-1 conferred greater thermotolerance. * These data suggest that JA acts with SA, conferring basal thermotolerance while ET may act to promote cell death.

Molecular aspects of arsenic stress

Arsenic produces a variety of stress responses in mammalian cells, including metabolic abnormalities accompanied by growth inhibition and eventually apoptosis. Morphological alterations in cells exposed to arsenic often suggest underlying disruption of cytoskeletal structural elements responsible for cellular integrity, shape, and locomotion. However, specifics of the ultrastructural changes produced by arsenic remain poorly understood. Various tissues and organs differ in their sensitivity to arsenic, with the liver and skin being the most studied. Characteristic skin pathology related to arsenic exposure ranges from hyperkeratotic lesions to squamous-cell carcinomas. However, molecular events in the arsenic-exposed skin still remain to be elucidated. Although mutagenicity of arsenic has not been unequivocally established, recent evidence supports the view that oncogenic mutations do occur, and that only selected enzymes related to DNA replication and repair are affected by arsenic. Sensitivity of the mitotic spindle to arsenic, particularly its organic compounds, underlies the well-documented chromosomal aberrations in arsenic-exposed populations. Arsenite-induced stress at the molecular level shares many features with the heat shock response. This includes the differential sensitivity of the stress signal pathway elements to the magnitude of the stress, stressor-specific activation of the response elements, and the protective role of the heat shock response. Oxidative stress, the central component of heat shock response, is typical of arsenic-related effects that are, in fact, regarded as the chemical paradigm of heat stress. Similar to heat stress, arsenite induces heat shock proteins (HSPs) of various sizes. The signal cascade triggered by arsenite-like heat stress induces the activity of the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases, extracellular regulated kinase (ERK), c-jun terminal kinase (JNK), and p38. Through the JNK and p38 pathways, arsenite activates the immediate early genes c-fos, c-jun, and egr-1, usually activated by various growth factors, cytokines, differentiation signals, and DNA-damaging agents. Like other oxygen radical-producing stressors, arsenic induces nitric oxide production at the level of transcriptional activation along with induction of poly(ADP)-ribosylation, NAD depletion, DNA strand breaks, and formation of micronuclei. This review presents an overview of current research on molecular aspects of arsenic stress with an emphasis on the tissue-specific events in humans. It deals with current progress on the understanding of the signal transduction pathways and mechanisms underlying the sensitivity of various species, organs, and tissues to arsenic.

Activation of heat shock and antioxidant responses by the natural product celastrol: transcriptional signatures of a thiol-targeted molecule

Stress response pathways allow cells to sense and respond to environmental changes and adverse pathophysiological states. Pharmacological modulation of cellular stress pathways has implications in the treatment of human diseases, including neurodegenerative disorders, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. The quinone methide triterpene celastrol, derived from a traditional Chinese medicinal herb, has numerous pharmacological properties, and it is a potent activator of the mammalian heat shock transcription factor HSF1. However, its mode of action and spectrum of cellular targets are poorly understood. We show here that celastrol activates Hsf1 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae at a similar effective concentration seen in mammalian cells. Transcriptional profiling revealed that celastrol treatment induces a battery of oxidant defense genes in addition to heat shock genes. Celastrol activated the yeast Yap1 oxidant defense transcription factor via the carboxy-terminal redox center that responds to electrophilic compounds. Antioxidant response genes were likewise induced in mammalian cells, demonstrating that the activation of two major cell stress pathways by celastrol is conserved. We report that celastrol's biological effects, including inhibition of glucocorticoid receptor activity, can be blocked by the addition of excess free thiol, suggesting a chemical mechanism for biological activity based on modification of key reactive thiols by this natural product.

Antitumour Quinones

Quinones still comprise one of the largest classes of antitumour agents. For example, the anthracycline antibiotics are among the most utilised anticancer agents ever developed. Many other quinones were tested for their anticancer activity. Though there are general and well-established mechanisms for quinone toxicity, the exact contribution of the quinone moiety to the cytotoxic effect remains frequently uncertain. However, DNA represents the main target for quinoid antitumour agents and most of them belong to the groups of DNA intercalating and/or alkylating agents. But also other cellular structures such as heat shock protein 90 or telomerase have been identified as targets for quinoid compounds.

Evidence for a role of gibberellins in salicylic acid-modulated early plant responses to abiotic stress in Arabidopsis seeds

Exogenous application of gibberellic acid (GA(3)) was able to reverse the inhibitory effect of salt, oxidative, and heat stresses in the germination and seedling establishment of Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana), this effect being accompanied by an increase in salicylic acid (SA) levels, a hormone that in recent years has been implicated in plant responses to abiotic stress. Furthermore, this treatment induced an increase in the expression levels of the isochorismate synthase1 and nonexpressor of PR1 genes, involved in SA biosynthesis and action, respectively. In addition, we proved that transgenic plants overexpressing a gibberellin (GA)-responsive gene from beechnut (Fagus sylvatica), coding for a member of the GA(3) stimulated in Arabidopsis (GASA) family (FsGASA4), showed a reduced GA dependence for growth and improved responses to salt, oxidative, and heat stress at the level of seed germination and seedling establishment. In 35S:FsGASA4 seeds, the improved behavior under abiotic stress was accompanied by an increase in SA endogenous levels. All these data taken together suggest that this GA-responsive gene and exogenous addition of GAs are able to counteract the inhibitory effects of these adverse environmental conditions in seed germination and seedling growth through modulation of SA biosynthesis. Furthermore, this hypothesis is supported by the fact that sid2 mutants, impaired in SA biosynthesis, are more sensitive to salt stress than wild type and are not affected by exogenous application of GA(3).

The heat shock factor family from Triticum aestivum in response to heat and other major abiotic stresses and their role in regulation of heat shock protein genes

Heat shock factors (Hsfs) play a central regulatory role in acquired thermotolerance. To understand the role of the major molecular players in wheat adaptation to heat stress, the Hsf family was investigated in Triticum aestivum. Bioinformatic and phylogenetic analyses identified 56 TaHsf members, which are classified into A, B, and C classes. Many TaHsfs were constitutively expressed. Subclass A6 members were predominantly expressed in the endosperm under non-stress conditions. Upon heat stress, the transcript levels of A2 and A6 members became the dominant Hsfs, suggesting an important regulatory role during heat stress. Many TaHsfA members as well as B1, C1, and C2 members were also up-regulated during drought and salt stresses. The heat-induced expression profiles of many heat shock protein (Hsp) genes were paralleled by those of A2 and A6 members. Transactivation analysis revealed that in addition to TaHsfA members (A2b and A4e), overexpression of TaHsfC2a activated expression of TaHsp promoter-driven reporter genes under non-stress conditions, while TaHsfB1b and TaHsfC1b did not. Functional heat shock elements (HSEs) interacting with TaHsfA2b were identified in four TaHsp promoters. Promoter mutagenesis analysis demonstrated that an atypical HSE (GAACATTTTGGAA) in the TaHsp17 promoter is functional for heat-inducible expression and transactivation by Hsf proteins. The transactivation of Hsp promoter-driven reporter genes by TaHsfC2a also relied on the presence of HSE. An activation motif in the C-terminal domain of TaHsfC2a was identified by amino residue substitution analysis. These data demonstrate the role of HsfA and HsfC2 in regulation of Hsp genes in wheat.

Chloroplast small heat shock protein HSP21 interacts with plastid nucleoid protein pTAC5 and is essential for chloroplast development in Arabidopsis under heat stress

Compared with small heat shock proteins (sHSPs) in other organisms, those in plants are the most abundant and diverse. However, the molecular mechanisms by which sHSPs are involved in cell protection remain unknown. Here, we characterized the role of HSP21, a plastid nucleoid-localized sHSP, in chloroplast development under heat stress. We show that an Arabidopsis thaliana knockout mutant of HSP21 had an ivory phenotype under heat stress. Quantitative real-time RT-PCR, run-on transcription, RNA gel blot, and polysome association analyses demonstrated that HSP21 is involved in plastid-encoded RNA polymerase (PEP)-dependent transcription. We found that the plastid nucleoid protein pTAC5 was an HSP21 target. pTAC5 has a C4-type zinc finger similar to that of Escherichia coli DnaJ and zinc-dependent disulfide isomerase activity. Reduction of pTAC5 expression by RNA interference led to similar phenotypic effects as observed in hsp21. HSP21 and pTAC5 formed a complex that was associated mainly with the PEP complex. HSP21 and pTAC5 were associated with the PEP complex not only during transcription initiation, but also during elongation and termination. Our results suggest that HSP21 and pTAC5 are required for chloroplast development under heat stress by maintaining PEP function.

Melatonin enhances thermotolerance by promoting cellular protein protection in tomato plants

Melatonin is a pleiotropic signaling molecule that provides physiological protection against diverse environmental stresses in plants. Nonetheless, the mechanisms for melatonin-mediated thermotolerance remain largely unknown. Here, we report that endogenous melatonin levels increased with a rise in ambient temperature and that peaked at 40°C. Foliar pretreatment with an optimal dose of melatonin (10 μmol/L) or the overexpression of N-acetylserotonin methyltransferase (ASMT) gene effectively ameliorated heat-induced photoinhibition and electrolyte leakage in tomato plants. Both exogenous melatonin treatment and endogenous melatonin manipulation by overexpression of ASMT decreased the levels of insoluble and ubiquitinated proteins, but enhanced the expression of heat-shock proteins (HSPs) to refold denatured and unfolded proteins under heat stress. Meanwhile, melatonin also induced expression of several ATG genes and formation of autophagosomes to degrade aggregated proteins under the same stress. Proteomic profile analyses revealed that protein aggregates for a large number of biological processes accumulated in wild-type plants. However, exogenous melatonin treatment or overexpression of ASMT reduced the accumulation of aggregated proteins. Aggregation responsive proteins such as HSP70 and Rubisco activase were preferentially accumulated and ubiquitinated in wild-type plants under heat stress, while melatonin mitigated heat stress-induced accumulation and ubiquitination of aggregated proteins. These results suggest that melatonin promotes cellular protein protection through induction of HSPs and autophagy to refold or degrade denatured proteins under heat stress in tomato plants.

Salicylic acid alleviates adverse effects of heat stress on photosynthesis through changes in proline production and ethylene formation

We investigated the potential of salicylic acid (SA) in alleviating the adverse effects of heat stress on photosynthesis in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cv WH 711. Activity of ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase (Rubisco), photosynthetic-nitrogen use efficiency (NUE), and net photosynthesis decreased in plants subjected to heat stress (40 °C for 6 h), but proline metabolism increased. SA treatment (0.5 mM) alleviated heat stress by increasing proline production through the increase in γ-glutamyl kinase (GK) and decrease in proline oxidase (PROX) activity, resulting in promotion of osmotic potential and water potential necessary for maintaining photosynthetic activity. Together with this, SA treatment restricted the ethylene formation in heat-stressed plants to optimal range by inhibiting activity of 1-aminocyclopropane carboxylic acid (ACC) synthase (ACS). This resulted in improved proline metabolism, N assimilation and photosynthesis. The results suggest that SA interacts with proline metabolism and ethylene formation to alleviate the adverse effects of heat stress on photosynthesis in wheat.

Role of VraSR in antibiotic resistance and antibiotic-induced stress response in Staphylococcus aureus

Exposure of Staphylococcus aureus to cell wall inhibitors induces massive overexpression of a number of genes, provided that the VraSR two-component sensory regulatory system is intact. Inactivation of vraS blocks this transcriptional response and also causes a drastic reduction in the levels of resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics and vancomycin. We used an experimental system in which the essential cell wall synthesis gene of S. aureus, pbpB, was put under the control of an isopropyl-beta-d-thiogalactopyranoside-inducible promoter in order to induce reversible perturbations in cell wall synthesis without the use of any cell wall-active inhibitor. Changes in the level of transcription of pbpB were rapidly followed by parallel changes in the vraSR signal, and the abundance of the pbpB transcript was precisely mirrored by the abundance of the transcripts of vraSR and some additional genes that belong to the VraSR regulon. Beta-lactam resistance in S. aureus appears to involve a complex stress response in which VraSR performs the critical role of a sentinel system capable of sensing the perturbation of cell wall synthesis and allowing mobilization of genes that are essential for the generation of a highly resistant phenotype. One of the sites in cell wall synthesis "sensed" by the VraSR system appears to be a step catalyzed by PBP 2.

Melatonin induces class A1 heat-shock factors (HSFA1s) and their possible involvement of thermotolerance in Arabidopsis

Melatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine) serves as an important signal molecule during plant developmental processes and multiple abiotic stress responses. However, the involvement of melatonin in thermotolerance and the underlying molecular mechanism in Arabidopsis were largely unknown. In this study, we found that the endogenous melatonin level in Arabidopsis leaves was significantly induced by heat stress treatment, and exogenous melatonin treatment conferred improved thermotolerance in Arabidopsis. The transcript levels of class A1 heat-shock factors (HSFA1s), which serve as the master regulators of heat stress responses, were significantly upregulated by heat stress and exogenous melatonin treatment in Arabidopsis. Notably, exogenous melatonin-enhanced thermotolerance was largely alleviated in HSFA1s quadruple knockout (QK) mutants, and HSFA1s-activated transcripts of heat-responsive genes (HSFA2, heat stress-associated 32 (HSA32), heat-shock protein 90 (HSP90), and 101 (HSP101)) might be contributed to melatonin-mediated thermotolerance. Taken together, this study provided direct link between melatonin and thermotolerance and indicated the involvement of HSFA1s-activated heat-responsive genes in melatonin-mediated thermotolerance in Arabidopsis.

Induction of heat shock response protects the heart against atrial fibrillation

There is evidence suggesting that heat shock proteins (HSPs) may protect against clinical atrial fibrillation (AF). We evaluated the effect of HSP induction in an in vitro atrial cell line (HL-1) model of tachycardia remodeling and in tachypaced isolated canine atrial cardiomyocytes. We also evaluated the effect of HSP induction on in vivo AF promotion by atrial tachycardia-induced remodeling in dogs. Tachypacing (3 Hz) significantly and progressively reduced Ca(2+) transients and cell shortening of HL-1 myocytes over 4 hours. These reductions were prevented by HSP-inducing pretreatments: mild heat shock, geranylgeranylacetone (GGA), and transfection with human HSP27 or the phosphorylation-mimicking HSP27-DDD. However, treatment with HSP70 or the phosphorylation-deficient mutant HSP27-AAA failed to alter tachycardia-induced Ca(2+) transient and cell-shortening reductions, and downregulation (short interfering RNA) of HSP27 prevented GGA-mediated protection. Tachypacing (3 Hz) for 24 hours in vitro significantly reduced L-type Ca(2+) current and action potential duration in canine atrial cardiomyocytes; these effects were prevented when tachypacing was performed in cells exposed to GGA. In vivo treatment with GGA increased HSP expression and suppressed refractoriness abbreviation and AF promotion in dogs subjected to 1-week atrial tachycardia-induced remodeling. In conclusion, our findings indicate that (1) HSP induction protects against atrial tachycardia-induced remodeling, (2) the protective effect in HL-1 myocytes requires HSP27 induction and phosphorylation, and (3) the orally administered HSP inducer GGA protects against AF in a clinically relevant animal model. These findings advance our understanding of the biochemical determinants of AF and suggest the possibility that HSP induction may be an interesting novel approach to preventing clinical AF.

Enhancing circadian clock function in cancer cells inhibits tumor growth

BACKGROUND

Circadian clocks control cell cycle factors, and circadian disruption promotes cancer. To address whether enhancing circadian rhythmicity in tumor cells affects cell cycle progression and reduces proliferation, we compared growth and cell cycle events of B16 melanoma cells and tumors with either a functional or dysfunctional clock.

RESULTS

We found that clock genes were suppressed in B16 cells and tumors, but treatments inducing circadian rhythmicity, such as dexamethasone, forskolin and heat shock, triggered rhythmic clock and cell cycle gene expression, which resulted in fewer cells in S phase and more in G1 phase. Accordingly, B16 proliferation in vitro and tumor growth in vivo was slowed down. Similar effects were observed in human colon carcinoma HCT-116 cells. Notably, the effects of dexamethasone were not due to an increase in apoptosis nor to an enhancement of immune cell recruitment to the tumor. Knocking down the essential clock gene Bmal1 in B16 tumors prevented the effects of dexamethasone on tumor growth and cell cycle events.

CONCLUSIONS

Here we demonstrated that the effects of dexamethasone on cell cycle and tumor growth are mediated by the tumor-intrinsic circadian clock. Thus, our work reveals that enhancing circadian clock function might represent a novel strategy to control cancer progression.

Opposing actions of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and glycogen synthase kinase-3beta in the regulation of HSF-1 activity

Elevated temperatures activate the survival promoters Akt and heat shock factor-1 (HSF-1), a transcription factor that induces the expression of heat shock proteins (HSPs), such as HSP-70. Because neuronal mechanisms controlling these responses are not known, these were investigated in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells. Heat shock (45 degrees C) rapidly activated Akt, extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/2), and p38, but only Akt was activated in a phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI-3K)-dependent manner, as the PI-3K inhibitors LY294002 and wortmannin blocked Akt activation, but not ERK1/2 or p38 activation. Akt activation was not blocked by inhibition of p38 or ERK1/2, indicating the independence of these signaling systems. Heat shock treatment also caused a rapid increase in HSF-1 DNA binding activity that was partially dependent on PI-3K activity, as both the PI-3K inhibitors attenuated this response. Because Akt inhibits glycogen synthase kinase-3beta (GSK-3beta), an enzyme that facilitates cell death, we tested if GSK-3beta is a negative regulator of HSF-1 activation. Overexpression of GSK-3beta impaired heat shock-induced activation of HSF-1, and also reduced HSP-70 production, which was partially restored by the GSK-3beta inhibitor lithium. Thus, heat shock-induced activation of PI-3K and the inhibitory effect of GSK-3beta on HSF-1 activation and HSP-70 expression imply that Akt-induced inhibition of GSK-3beta contributes to the activation of HSF-1.

Antioxidant-mediated inhibition of the heat shock response leads to apoptosis

We examined the hypothesis that reactive oxygen species (ROS) contribute to the induction of heat shock proteins (hsps) during stress response. Exposure of HL-60 human myelocytic cells to 42 degrees C induced both hsp72 and hsp27. In the presence of the antioxidant molecules pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate or 1,10-phenanthroline induction of hsp72 and 27 was significantly decreased, while N-acetyl-L-cysteine caused a slight reduction. Prevention of hsp induction was associated with heat sensitization and increased caspase activity, indicating that the cells were undergoing apoptosis. These data suggest that ROS contribute to the induction of hsps and furthermore, that hsp induction and apoptosis are mutually exclusive events within the same cell.

MYB30 transcription factor regulates oxidative and heat stress responses through ANNEXIN-mediated cytosolic calcium signaling in Arabidopsis

Cytosolic calcium signaling is critical for regulating downstream responses in plants encountering unfavorable environmental conditions. In a genetic screen for Arabidopsis thaliana mutants defective in stress-induced cytosolic free Ca²⁺ ([Ca²⁺ ]_cyt ) elevations, we identified the R2R3-MYB transcription factor MYB30 as a regulator of [Ca²⁺ ]_cyt in response to H₂ O₂ and heat stresses. Plants lacking MYB30 protein exhibited greater elevation of [Ca²⁺ ]_cyt in response to oxidative and heat stimuli. Real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) results indicated that the expression of a number of ANNEXIN (ANN) genes, which encode Ca²⁺ -regulated membrane-binding proteins modulating cytosolic calcium signatures, were upregulated in myb30 mutants. Further analysis showed that MYB30 bound to the promoters of ANN1 and ANN4 and repressed their expression. myb30 mutants were sensitive to methyl viologen (MV) and heat stresses. The H₂ O₂ - and heat-induced abnormal [Ca²⁺ ]_cyt in myb30 was dependent on the function of ANN proteins. Moreover, the MV and heat sensitivity of myb30 was suppressed in mutants lacking ANN function or by application of LaCl₃ , a calcium channel blocker. These results indicate that MYB30 regulates oxidative and heat stress responses through calcium signaling, which is at least partially mediated by ANN1 and ANN4.

Proline accumulation is inhibitory to Arabidopsis seedlings during heat stress

The effect of proline (Pro) accumulation on heat sensitivity was investigated using transgenic Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) plants ectopically expressing the Δ(1)-pyrroline-5-carboxylate synthetase 1 gene (AtP5CS1) under the control of a heat shock protein 17.6II gene promoter. During heat stress, the heat-inducible expression of the AtP5CS1 transgene was capable of enhancing Pro biosynthesis. Twelve-day-old seedlings were first treated with heat at 37 °C for 24 h to induce Pro and then were stressed at 50 °C for 4 h. After recovery at 22 °C for 96 h, the growth of Pro-overproducing plants was significantly more inhibited than that of control plants that do not accumulate Pro, manifested by lower survival rate, higher ion leakage, higher reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde levels, and increased activity of the Pro/P5C cycle. The activities of antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase, guaiacol peroxidase, and catalase, but not those of glutathione reductase and ascorbate peroxidase, increased in all lines after heat treatment, but the increase was more significant in Pro-overproducing seedlings. Staining with MitoSox-Red, reported for being able to specifically detect superoxide formed in mitochondria, showed that Pro accumulation during heat stress resulted in elevated levels of ROS in mitochondria. Interestingly, exogenous abscisic acid (ABA) and ethylene were found to partially rescue the heat-sensitive phenotype of Pro-overproducing seedlings. Measurement of ethylene and ABA levels further confirmed that these two hormones are negatively affected in Pro-overproducing seedlings during heat stress. Our results indicated that Pro accumulation under heat stress decreases the thermotolerance, probably by increased ROS production via the Pro/P5C cycle and inhibition of ABA and ethylene biosynthesis.

Expression and protective effects of urocortin in cardiac myocytes

Reverse transcription PCR showed that mRNA encoding the CRH-like molecule, urocortin, is expressed in a rat cardiac myocyte cell line and in primary cultures of cardiac myocytes. Identity of the amplified with the published sequence was established by restriction mapping and direct sequencing. Expression of urocortin mRNA was increased 12-18 h after thermal injury. Urocortin peptide protected cardiac myocytes from cell death induced by hypoxia. The data suggest that urocortin is an endogenous cardiac myocyte peptide which modulates the cellular response to stress.

p53 inhibitor pifithrin alpha can suppress heat shock and glucocorticoid signaling pathways

Pifithrin alpha (PFTalpha) is a chemical compound isolated for its ability to suppress p53-mediated transactivation. It can protect cells from p53-mediated apoptosis induced by various stimuli and reduce sensitivity of mice to gamma radiation. Identification of molecular targets of PFTalpha is likely to provide new insights into mechanisms of regulation of p53 pathway and is important for predicting potential risks associated with administration of PFTalpha-like p53 inhibitors in vivo. We found that PFTalpha, in addition to p53, can suppress heat shock and glucocorticoid receptor signaling but has no effect on nuclear factor-kappaB signaling. PFTalpha reduces activation of heat shock transcription factor (HSF1) and increases cell sensitivity to heat. Moreover, it reduces activation of glucocorticoid receptor and rescues mouse thymocytes in vitro and in vivo from apoptotic death after dexamethasone treatment. PFTalpha affected both signaling pathways in a p53-independent manner. These observations suggest that PFTalpha targets some unknown factor that is common for three major signal transduction pathways.