3-Mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase disruption in dermal fibroblasts facilitates adipogenic trans-differentiation.

Transitioning from a differentiated state to a higher-order of plasticity, by partial rather than full reactivation of pluripotency genes, might be a better approach in regenerative medicine. Hydrogen sulfide plays a crucial role in the maintenance and differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) that have the potential to differentiate to a diverse group of mesenchymally derived cells. It was shown that these cells show a heavy reliance on cystathionine-ß-synthase (CBS)-derived hydrogen sulfide (H2S) during differentiation. We have found that expression and activity of 3-mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase (MPST), one of three enzymes that hat regulates H2S biosynthesis, is significantly lower in MSC as compared with lineage-restricted dermal fibroblasts. Here, we tested the hypothesis that suppression of MPST in dermal fibroblasts might induce plasticity-related changes and broaden the transdifferentiation potency. Inactivation of MPST with phenylpyruvate (PP) or by siRNA silencing led to diminished H2S production associated with increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and lactic acid. Accumulation of α-ketoglutarate (α-KG), a key metabolite required for the expression of ten-eleven translocation hydroxylase (TET), was associated with stimulated transcription of pluripotency related genes including OCT4, KLF4, SOX2, and NANOG. Suppression of TET1 gene and inhibition of glycolysis with glucose analog, 2-desoxy-d-glucose, or hexokinase II inhibitor significantly reduced expression of pluripotency genes following MPST inactivation or knockdown. MPST disruption promoted the conversion of fibroblasts into adipocytes as evidenced by a significant increase in expression of adipocyte-specific genes, PPARγ, and UCP1, and intracellular accumulation of oil Red-O positive fat droplets. Inhibition of glycolysis inhibited these changes. Under induced differentiation conditions, fibroblasts with disrupted MPST show the potency to differentiate to white adipogenic lineage. Thus, MPST inactivation or silencing enhances the plasticity of dermal fibroblasts in a TET1 and glycolysis dependent manner and promotes adipogenic transdifferentiation.

Dedifferentiation of cancer cells following recovery from a potentially lethal damage is mediated by H2S-Nampt.

Recently, we reported that cancer cells that recover from a potentially lethal damage gain new phenotypic features comprised of mitochondrial structural remodeling associated with increased glycolytic dependency and drug resistance. Here, we demonstrate that a subset of cancer cells, upon recovery from a potentially lethal damage, undergo dedifferentiation and express genes, which are characteristic of undifferentiated stem cells. While these cells are competent in maintaining differentiated progeny of tumor, they also exhibit transdifferentiation potential. Dedifferentiation is characterized by accumulation of hydrogen sulfide (H2S), which triggers up-regulation of nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (Nampt) accompanied by changes in the redox state. The molecular events triggered by Nampt include elevated production of NAD(+) and up-regulation of H2S producing enzymes, cystathionine beta synthase (CBS) and cystathionase (CTH) with 3-mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase (MST) being detectable only in 3D spheroids. Suppression of Nampt, or inactivation of H2S producing enzymes, all reduce H2S production and reverse the ability of cells to dedifferentiate. Moreover, H2S induced stem cell markers in parental cancer cells in a manner similar to that observed in damage recovered cells. These data suggest of existence of a positive feedback loop between H2S and Nampt that controls dedifferentiation in cancer cells that recover from a potentially lethal damage.

Analysis of circulating metabolites to differentiate Parkinson's disease and essential tremor.

Parkinson's disease (PD) and essential tremor (ET) are two common adult-onset tremor disorders in which prevalence increases with age. PD is a neurodegenerative condition with progressive disability. In ET, neurodegeneration is not an established etiology. We sought to determine whether an underlying metabolic pattern may differentiate ET from PD. Circulating metabolites in plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy. There were several disrupted pathways in PD compared to ET plasma including glycolysis, tyrosine, phenylalanine, tyrosine biosynthesis, purine and glutathione metabolism. Elevated α-synuclein levels in plasma and CSF distinguished PD from ET. The perturbed metabolic state in PD was associated with imbalance in the pentose phosphate pathway, deficits in energy production, and change in NADPH, NADH and nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase levels. This work demonstrates significant metabolic differences in plasma and CSF of PD and ET patients.

Mammalian numb-interacting protein 1/dual oxidase maturation factor 1 directs neuronal fate in stem cells.

In this study, we describe a role for the mammalian Numb-interacting protein 1 (Nip1) in regulation of neuronal differentiation in stem cells. The expression of Nip1 was detected in the developing mouse brain, embryonic stem cells, primary neuronal stem cells, and retinoic acid-treated P19 embryonal carcinoma cells. The highest expression of Nip1 was observed in undifferentiated neuronal stem cells and was associated with Duox1-mediated reactive oxygen species ROS production. Ectopic nip1 expression in P19 embryonal carcinoma cells induced neuronal differentiation, and this phenotype was also linked to elevated ROS production. The neuronal differentiation in nip1-overexpressing P19 cells was achieved in a retinoic acid-independent manner and was corroborated by an increase in the expression of the neuronal basic helix-loop-helix transcription factors and neural-lineage cell markers. Furthermore, depletion of nip1 by short hairpin RNA led to a decrease in the expression of neuronal basic helix-loop-helix transcription factors and ROS. However, inhibition of ROS production in nip1-overexpressing P19 cells restricted but did not extinguish neuronal differentiation. Microarray and mass spectrometry analysis identified intermediate filaments as the principal cytoskeletal elements affected by up-regulation of nip1. We show here the first evidence for a functional interaction between Nip1 and a component of the nuclear lamina, lamin A/C. associated with a neuronal-specific phenotype. Taken together, our data reveal an important role for Nip1 in the guidance of neuronal differentiation through ROS generation and modulation of intermediate filaments and implicate Nip1 as a novel intrinsic regulator of neuronal cell fate.

NIP1/DUOXA1 expression in epithelial breast cancer cells: regulation of cell adhesion and actin dynamics.

DUOXA1/NIP1, originally identified as a Numb-interacting protein, was recently shown to function as a maturation factor for the dual oxidase 1(DUOX1). In this study, we identified DUOXA1/NIP1 expression in breast cancer cells, observed high expression of DUOXA1 in non-invasive MCF7 cells and low expression in highly metastatic cells with impaired p53 functions linking the expression of DUOXA1 with p53. An inhibition of cell proliferation associated with upregulation of p21(Cip1/WAF1) was observed in MDA-MB-231 cells following transfection of DUOXA1. The transient DUOXA1 overexpression also inhibited expression of cell-surface integrin alphaVbeta5 and CD9, which is associated with impaired spreading ability. However, there was no difference in expression of these proteins in DUOX1-depleted cells. The observed effects coincided with an increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. Our data also demonstrate that DUOXA1 transient overexpression affected the cell-cell adhesion by modulating the actin cytoskeleton, and sensitized cells to doxorubicin.

Hydrogen sulfide facilitates reprogramming and trans-differentiation in 3D dermal fibroblast.

The efficiency of cell reprogramming in two-dimensional (2D) cultures is limited. Given that cellular stemness is intimately related to microenvironmental changes, 3D cell cultures have the potential of overcoming this limited capacity by allowing cells to self-organize by aggregation. In 3D space, cells interact more efficiently, modify their cellular topology, gene expression, signaling, and metabolism. It is yet not clear as how 3D culture environments modify the reprogramming potential of fibroblasts. We demonstrate that 3D spheroids from dermal fibroblasts formed under ultra-low attachment conditions showed increased lactate production. This is a requisite for cell reprogramming, increase their expression of pluripotency genes, such as OCT4, NANOG and SOX2, and display upregulated cystathionine-ß-synthase (CBS) and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) production. Knockdown of CBS by RNAi suppresses lactic acid and H2S production and concomitantly decreases the expression of OCT4 and NANOG. On the contrary, H2S donors, NaHS and garlic-derived diallyl trisulfide (DATS), promote the expression of OCT4, and support osteogenic trans-differentiation of fibroblasts. These results demonstrate that CBS mediated release of H2S regulates the reprogramming of dermal fibroblasts grown in 3D cultures and supports their trans-differentiation.

Replicative senescence is distinguishable from DNA damage-induced senescence by increased methylation of promoter of rDNA and reduced expression of rRNA.

Human fibroblasts become senescent after a limited number of replications or by diverse stresses, such as DNA damage. However, replicative and damage induced senescence are indistinguishable in respect to proliferation cessation and expression of senescence markers, senescence-associated ß-galactosidase, p16 and p21. Here, we show that senescence types can be distinguished by reduced levels of 18S, 5.8S and 28S rRNA, in replicative but not induced senescence. We also demonstrate that promoter region of rRNA is hypermethylated in replicative senescence. The findings show that expression level of rRNA or methylation of its promoter can be used to distinguish between senescence types.

Interaction of metallothionein with tumor suppressor p53 protein.

Previous reports have shown that metallothionein (MT) may modulate p53 activity through zinc exchange. However, little is known on a direct interaction between MT and p53 in cells. The results demonstrate an interaction between MT and p53 can occur in vitro. The complex between MT and p53 was observed in breast cancer epithelial cells with both wild and inactive type of p53. Furthermore, it was shown that wt-p53 was preferentially associated with Apo-MT. Our data suggest that co-expression of MT and p53 and their complex formation in tumor cells may be involved in regulation of apoptosis in these cells.

Homocysteine in Chronic Kidney Disease.

Hyperhomocysteinemia occurs in chronic- and end-stage kidney disease at the time when dialysis or transplant becomes indispensable for survival. Excessive accumulation of homocysteine (Hcy) aggravates conditions associated with imbalanced homeostasis and cellular redox thereby resulting in severe oxidative stress leading to oxidation of reduced free and protein-bound thiols. Thiol modifications such as N-homocysteinylation, sulfination, cysteinylation, glutathionylation, and sulfhydration control cellular responses that direct complex metabolic pathways. Although cysteinyl modifications are kept low, under Hcy-induced stress, thiol modifications persist thus surpassing cellular proteostasis. Here, we review mechanisms of redox regulation and show how cysteinyl modifications triggered by excess Hcy contribute development and progression of chronic kidney disease. We discuss different signaling events resulting from aberrant cysteinyl modification with a focus on transsulfuration.

A H2S-Nampt dependent energetic circuit is critical to survival and cytoprotection from damage in cancer cells.

We recently demonstrated that cancer cells that recover from damage exhibit increased aerobic glycolysis, however, the molecular mechanism by which cancer cells survive the damage and show increased aerobic glycolysis remains unknown. Here, we demonstrate that diverse cancer cells that survive hypoxic or oxidative damage show rapid cell proliferation, and develop tolerance to damage associated with increased production of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) which drives up-regulation of nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (Nampt). Consistent with existence of a H2S-Nampt energetic circuit, in damage recovered cancer cells, H2S, Nampt and ATP production exhibit a significant correlation. Moreover, the treatment of cancer cells with H2S donor, NaHS, coordinately increases Nampt and ATP levels, and protects cells from drug induced damage. Inhibition of cystathionine beta synthase (CBS) or cystathionase (CTH), enzymes which drive generation of H2S, decreases Nampt production while suppression of Nampt pathway by FK866, decreases H2S and ATP levels. Damage recovered cells isolated from tumors grown subcutaneously in athymic mice also show increased production of H2S, Nampt and ATP levels, associated with increased glycolysis and rapid proliferation. Together, these data show that upon recovery from potential lethal damage, H2S-Nampt directs energy expenditure and aerobic glycolysis in cancer cells, leads to their exponential growth, and causes a high degree of tolerance to damage. Identification of H2S-Nampt as a pathway responsible for induction of damage tolerance in cancer cells may underlie resistance to therapy and offers the opportunity to target this pathway as a means in treatment of cancer.

p53-mediated regulation of neuronal differentiation via regulation of dual oxidase maturation factor 1.

The p53 transcription factor is involved in cell cycle, apoptosis and differentiation. However, the mechanism of p53 mediated differentiation is not fully understood. Here, we show that recently discovered dual oxidase maturation factor 1 (DUOXA1), which was implicated in neuronal differentiation, is regulated by p53 and may be an important factor in neuronal differentiation. We show that DUOXA1 is highly expressed in mouse neuronal stem cells with intensive nuclear localization. A strong interaction between DUOXA1 and p53 is observed in undifferentiated cells and declines in terminally differentiated neurons. Overexpressed p53 induces marked DUOXA1 expression in P19 cells and intensifies neuronal differentiation in the presence of retinoic acid, which suggests that p53 and DUOXA1 possess a neural differentiation potential. At day 3 of retinoic acid induced differentiation when cells showed a typical morphology of neuronal progenies, CD133 expression was down-regulated. The expression level of CD133 was significantly decreased in p53 over-expressing cells and was accompanied by a substantial increase in the expression level of neurofilament. In conclusion, DUOXA1 is a novel p53-regulated neurogenic factor involved in p53 dependent neuronal differentiation.

SAP binds to CD22 and regulates B cell inhibitory signaling and calcium flux.

The signaling lymphocyte activation molecule (SLAM)-associated protein (SAP or SH2D1A) is an important regulator of immune function which, when mutated or deleted, causes the X-linked lymphoproliferative syndrome (XLP). Because B cell lymphoma is a major phenotype of XLP, it is important to understand the function of SAP in B cells. Here we report that SAP is expressed endogenously in mouse splenic B cells, is inducibly expressed in the human BJAB cells, and co-localizes and interacts with CD22. We also show that SAP binding to the inhibitory immunoreceptor CD22 regulates calcium mobilization in B cells. Moreover, forced expression of SAP leads to constitutive CD22 tyrosine phosphorylation and decreased Ca(2+) response in B cells. Biochemical analysis reveals that, in response to IgM cross-linking, the phosphorylation of Syk, Blnk, or PLCgamma2 and their interactions with one another were either diminished or completely abolished in SAP-expressing cells compared to cells that lack SAP. Collectively our work identifies a novel role for SAP in B cells and extends its function to inhibitory immunoreceptor signaling and calcium mobilization.

Stimulation of phosphoinositide 3-kinase/Akt signaling by copper and zinc ions: mechanisms and consequences.

The phosphoinositide 3'-kinase (PI3K)/Akt signaling cascade controls cellular processes such as apoptosis and proliferation. Moreover, it is a mediator of insulin effects on target cells and as such is a major regulator of fuel metabolism. The PI3K/Akt cascade was demonstrated to be activated by stressful stimuli, including heat shock and reactive oxygen species (ROS). This minireview focuses on activation of the pathway by exposure of cells to heavy metal ions, Cu2+ and Zn2+. It is hypothesized that stimulation of PI3K/Akt is the molecular mechanism underlying the known insulin-mimetic effects of copper and zinc ions. Following a brief summary of PI3K/Akt signaling and of activation of the cascade by Cu2+ and Zn2+, mechanisms of metal-induced PI3K/Akt activation are discussed with a focus on the role of ROS and of cellular thiols (glutathione, thioredoxin) and protein tyrosine phosphatases in Cu2+ and Zn2+ signaling. Finally, consequences of metal-induced PI3K/Akt activation are discussed, focusing on the modulation of FoxO-family transcription factors by Cu2+ and Zn2+.

P53 mediated regulation of metallothionein transcription in breast cancer cells.

Recent studies have shown that only breast cancer epithelial cells with intact p53 can induce metallothionein (MT) synthesis after exposure to metals. In this study, the potential role of p53 on regulation of MT was investigated. Results demonstrate that zinc and copper increased metal response elements (MREs) activity and MTF-1 expression in p53 positive MN1 and parental MCF7 cells. However, inactivation of p53 by treatment with pifithrin-alpha or the presence of inactive p53 inhibited MRE-dependent reporter gene expression in response to metals. MTF-1 levels remained unchanged after treatment with zinc in cells with nonfunctional p53. The introduction of wild-type p53 in MDD2 cells, containing nonfunctional p53, enhanced the ability of zinc to increase MRE-dependent reporter gene expression. The cellular level of p21Cip1/WAF1 was increased in MDD2 cells after p53 transfection, confirming the presence of active p53. The treatment of MN1 and parental MCF7 with trichostatin A led to a sixfold increase in the MRE activity in response to zinc. On the contrary, MRE activity remained unaltered in MDD2 cells with inactive p53. The above results demonstrate that activation of p53 is an important factor in metal regulation of MT.

The role of SLAM family receptors in immune cell signaling.

The signaling lymphocyte-activating molecule (SLAM) family immunoreceptors are expressed in a wide array of immune cells, including both T and B lymphocytes. By virtue of their ability to transduce tyrosine phosphorylation signals through the so-called ITSM (immunoreceptor tyrosine-based switch motif) sequences, they play an important part in regulating both innate and adaptive immune responses. The critical role of the SLAM immunoreceptors in mediating normal immune reactions was highlighted in recent findings that SAP, a SLAM-associated protein, modulates the activities of various immune cells through interactions with different members of the SLAM family expressed in these cells. Importantly, mutations or deletions of the sap gene in humans result in the X-linked lymphoproliferative syndrome. In this review, we summarize current knowledge and survey the latest developments in signal transduction events triggered by the activation of SLAM family receptors in different cell types.

Inhibition of extracellular signal regulated kinase (ERK) leads to apoptosis inducing factor (AIF) mediated apoptosis in epithelial breast cancer cells: the lack of effect of ERK in p53 mediated copper induced apoptosis.

Recent studies have shown that MEK/ERK-mediated signals play a major role in regulation of activity of p53 tumor suppressor protein. In this study, we investigated whether or not there is functional interaction between p53 and MEK/ERK pathways in epithelial breast cancer cells exposed to copper or zinc. We demonstrated that expression of wild-type p53 induced by copper or zinc significantly reduced phosphorylation of extracellular signal regulated kinase (ERK) in epithelial breast cancer MCF7 cells. Mutation or suppression of p53 in MDA-MB231 and MCF7-E6 cells, respectively, resulted in a strong ERK phosphorylation in the presence of metals. Weak ERK phosphorylation in MCF7 cells induced by copper or zinc was linked to mitochondrial disruption and apoptosis. Furthermore, inhibition of ERK through addition of PD98059 stimulated p53 activation in MCF7 cells and also led to upregulation of p53 downstream targets, p21 and Bax, which is a proapototic member of Bcl-2 family triggering mitochondrial pore opening. Moreover, blockage of the MEK/ERK pathway caused a breakdown of the mitochondrial membrane potential accompanied by an elevation in the ROS production. Disruption of p53 expression attenuated the depolarization of the mitochondrial membrane and ROS generation. Furthermore, PD98059 initiated apoptosis inducing factor (AIF) translocation from mitochondria to the nucleus in MCF7 cells; which are depleted in caspase 3. Interestingly, repression of MEK/ERK pathway did not intensify the cell stress caused by metal toxicity. Therefore, these findings demonstrate that MEK/ERK pathway plays an important role in downregulation of p53 and cell survival. Inhibition of ERK can lead to apoptosis via nuclear relocation of AIF. However, metal-induced activation of p53 and mitochondrial depolarization appears to be independent of ERK. Our data suggest that copper induces apoptosis through depolarization of mitochondrial membrane with release of AIF, and this process is MEK/ERK independent.

Copper ions strongly activate the phosphoinositide-3-kinase/Akt pathway independent of the generation of reactive oxygen species.

Copper is implicated in metabolic disorders, such as Wilson's disease or Alzheimer's disease. Analysis of signaling pathways regulating cellular survival and function in response to a copper stress is crucial for understanding the pathogenesis of such diseases. Exposure of human skin fibroblasts or HeLa cells to Cu(2+) resulted in a dose- and time-dependent activation of the antiapoptotic kinase Akt/protein kinase B, starting at concentrations as low as 3 microM. Only Cu(II), but not Cu(I), had this effect. Activation of Akt was accompanied by phosphorylation of a downstream target of Akt, glycogen synthase kinase-3. Inhibitors of phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PI3K) completely blocked activation of Akt by Cu(2+), indicating a requirement of PI3K for Cu(2+)-induced activation of Akt. Indeed, cellular PI3K activity was strongly enhanced after exposure to Cu(2+). Copper ions may lead to the formation of reactive oxygen species, such as hydrogen peroxide. Activation of Akt by hydrogen peroxide or growth factors is known to proceed via the activation growth factor receptors. In line with this, pretreatment with inhibitors of growth factor receptor tyrosine kinases blocked activation of Akt by hydrogen peroxide and growth factors, as did a src-family tyrosine kinase inhibitor or the broad-spectrum tyrosine kinase inhibitor genistein. Activation of Akt by Cu(2+), however, remained unimpaired, implying (i) that tyrosine kinase activation is not involved in Cu(2+) activation of Akt and (ii) that activation of the PI3K/Akt pathway by Cu(2+) is initiated independently of that induced by reactive oxygen species. Comparison of the time course of the oxidation of 2',7'-dichlorodihydrofluorescein in copper-treated cells with that of Akt activation led to the conclusion that production of hydroperoxides cannot be an upstream event in copper-induced Akt activation. Rather, both activation of Akt and generation of ROS are proposed to occur in parallel, regulating cell survival after a copper stress.