The RIDDLE syndrome protein mediates a ubiquitin-dependent signaling cascade at sites of DNA damage.

The biological response to DNA double-strand breaks acts to preserve genome integrity. Individuals bearing inactivating mutations in components of this response exhibit clinical symptoms that include cellular radiosensitivity, immunodeficiency, and cancer predisposition. The archetype for such disorders is Ataxia-Telangiectasia caused by biallelic mutation in ATM, a central component of the DNA damage response. Here, we report that the ubiquitin ligase RNF168 is mutated in the RIDDLE syndrome, a recently discovered immunodeficiency and radiosensitivity disorder. We show that RNF168 is recruited to sites of DNA damage by binding to ubiquitylated histone H2A. RNF168 acts with UBC13 to amplify the RNF8-dependent histone ubiquitylation by targeting H2A-type histones and by promoting the formation of lysine 63-linked ubiquitin conjugates. These RNF168-dependent chromatin modifications orchestrate the accumulation of 53BP1 and BRCA1 to DNA lesions, and their loss is the likely cause of the cellular and developmental phenotypes associated with RIDDLE syndrome.

Increased placental mitochondrial fusion in gestational diabetes mellitus: an adaptive mechanism to optimize feto-placental metabolic homeostasis?

INTRODUCTION: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), a common pregnancy disorder, increases the risk of fetal overgrowth and later metabolic morbidity in the offspring. The placenta likely mediates these sequelae, but the exact mechanisms remain elusive. Mitochondrial dynamics refers to the joining and division of these organelles, in attempts to maintain cellular homeostasis in stress conditions or alterations in oxygen and fuel availability. These remodeling processes are critical to optimize mitochondrial function, and their disturbances characterize diabetes and obesity. METHODS AND RESULTS: Herein we show that placental mitochondrial dynamics are tilted toward fusion in GDM, as evidenced by transmission electron microscopy and changes in the expression of key mechanochemical enzymes such as OPA1 and active phosphorylated DRP1. In vitro experiments using choriocarcinoma JEG-3 cells demonstrated that increased exposure to insulin, which typifies GDM, promotes mitochondrial fusion. As placental ceramide induces mitochondrial fission in pre-eclampsia, we also examined ceramide content in GDM and control placentae and observed a reduction in placental ceramide enrichment in GDM, likely due to an insulin-dependent increase in ceramide-degrading ASAH1 expression. CONCLUSIONS: Placental mitochondrial fusion is enhanced in GDM, possibly as a compensatory response to maternal and fetal metabolic derangements. Alterations in placental insulin exposure and sphingolipid metabolism are among potential contributing factors. Overall, our results suggest that GDM has profound impacts on placental mitochondrial dynamics and metabolism, with plausible implications for the short-term and long-term health of the offspring.

Molecular phylogenetic diversity of bacteria associated with soil of the savanna-like Cerrado vegetation.

The Brazilian savanna-like vegetation of Cerrado is rapidly being converted to pasture and agricultural fields. A 16S rDNA-based approach was taken to study the bacterial community associated with the soil of a native cerrado area (sensu stricto) and an area that has been converted to pasture. The bacterial group most abundantly identified in cerrado sensu stricto soil was the alpha-Proteobacteria while in cerrado converted to pasture the Actinobacteria were the most abundant. Rarefaction curves indicate that the species richness of cerrado sensu stricto is greater than that of cerrado converted to pasture. Furthermore, lineage-through-time plots show that the expected richness of species present in cerrado sensu stricto soil is approximately 10 times greater than that of cerrado converted to pasture.

Faulty oxygen sensing disrupts angiomotin function in trophoblast cell migration and predisposes to preeclampsia.

Human placenta development and a successful pregnancy is incumbent upon precise oxygen-dependent control of trophoblast migration/invasion. Persistent low oxygen leading to failed trophoblast invasion promotes inadequate spiral artery remodeling, a characteristic of preeclampsia. Angiomotin (AMOT) is a multifaceted scaffolding protein involved in cell polarity and migration, yet its upstream regulation and significance in the human placenta remain unknown. Herein, we show that AMOT is primarily expressed in migratory extravillous trophoblast cells (EVTs) of the intermediate and distal anchoring column. Its expression increases after 10 weeks of gestation when oxygen tension rises and EVT migration/invasion peaks. Time-lapse imaging confirmed that the AMOT 80-kDa isoform promotes migration of trophoblastic JEG3 and HTR-8/SVneo cells. In preeclampsia, however, AMOT expression is decreased and its localization to migratory fetomaternal interface EVTs is disrupted. We demonstrate that Jumonji C domain-containing protein 6 (JMJD6), an oxygen sensor, positively regulates AMOT via oxygen-dependent lysyl hydroxylation. Furthermore, in vitro and ex vivo studies show that transforming growth factor-ß (TGF-ß) regulates AMOT expression, its interaction with polarity protein PAR6, and its subcellular redistribution from tight junctions to cytoskeleton. Our data reveal an oxygen- and TGF-ß-driven migratory function for AMOT in the human placenta, and implicate its deficiency in impaired trophoblast migration that plagues preeclampsia.

Ceramide-induced BOK promotes mitochondrial fission in preeclampsia.

Mitochondria are in a constant balance of fusing and dividing in response to cellular cues. Fusion creates healthy mitochondria, whereas fission results in removal of non-functional organelles. Changes in mitochondrial dynamics typify several human diseases. However, the contribution of mitochondrial dynamics to preeclampsia, a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy characterized by placental cell autophagy and death, remains unknown. Herein, we show that the mitochondrial dynamic balance in preeclamptic placentae is tilted toward fission (increased DRP1 expression/activation and decreased OPA1 expression). Increased phosphorylation of DRP1 (p-DRP1) in mitochondrial isolates from preeclamptic placentae and transmission electron microscopy corroborated augmented mitochondrial fragmentation in cytotrophoblast cells of PE placentae. Increased fission was accompanied by build-up of ceramides (CERs) in mitochondria from preeclamptic placentae relative to controls. Treatment of human choriocarcinoma JEG3 cells and primary isolated cytrophoblast cells with CER 16:0 enhanced mitochondrial fission. Loss- and gain-of-function experiments showed that Bcl-2 member BOK, whose expression is increased by CER, positively regulated p-DRP1/DRP1 and MFN2 expression, and localized mitochondrial fission events to the ER/MAM compartments. We also identified that the BH3 and transmembrane domains of BOK were vital for BOK regulation of fission. Moreover, we found that full-length PTEN-induced putative kinase 1 (PINK1) and Parkin, were elevated in mitochondria from PE placentae, implicating mitophagy as the process that degrades excess mitochondria fragments produced from CER/BOK-induced fission in preeclampsia. In summary, our study uncovered a novel CER/BOK-induced regulation of mitochondrial fission and its functional consequence for heightened trophoblast cell autophagy in preeclampsia.

Augmented trophoblast cell death in preeclampsia can proceed via ceramide-mediated necroptosis.

Preeclampsia, a serious hypertensive disorder of pregnancy, is characterized by elevated ceramide (CER) content that is responsible for heightened trophoblast cell death rates via apoptosis and autophagy. Whether trophoblast cells undergo necroptosis, a newly characterized form of regulated necrosis, and the potential role of CER in this process remain to be established. Herein, we report that exposure of both JEG3 cells and primary isolated cytotrophoblasts to C16:0 CER in conjunction with a caspase-8 inhibitor (Q-VD-OPh) promoted necroptotic cell death, as evidenced by increased expression and association of receptor-interacting protein kinases RIP1 and RIP3, as well as phosphorylation of mixed lineage kinase domain-like (MLKL) protein. MLKL activation and oligomerization could be abrogated by pretreatment with the necroptosis inhibitor necrostatin-1 (Nec-1). CER+Q-VD-OPH-treated primary trophoblasts displayed striking necrotic morphology along with disrupted fusion processes as evidenced by maintenance of E-cadherin-stained membrane boundaries and reduced glial cell missing-1 expression, but these events were effectively reversed using Nec-1. Of clinical relevance, we established an increased susceptibility to necroptotic cell death in preeclamptic placentae relative to normotensive controls. In preeclampsia, increased necrosome (RIP1/RIP3) protein levels, as well as MLKL activation and oligomerization associated with necrotic cytotrophoblast morphology. In addition, caspase-8 activity was reduced in severe early-onset preeclampsia cases. This study is the first to report that trophoblast cells undergo CER-induced necroptotic cell death, thereby contributing to the increased placental dysfunction and cell death found in preeclampsia.

Factor inhibiting HIF1-A novel target of SUMOylation in the human placenta.

Adaptations to changes in oxygen are critical to ensure proper placental development, and impairments in oxygen sensing mechanisms characterize placental pathologies such as preeclampsia. In this study, we examined the involvement of SUMOylation, a reversible posttranslational modification, in the regulation of the asparaginyl hydroxylase Factor Inhibiting Hypoxia Inducible Factor 1 (FIH1) in the human placenta in development and in disease status. FIH1 protein abundance and spatial distribution in the developing placenta directly correlated with oxygen tension in vivo. Immunofluorescence analysis showed that early on FIH1 primarily localized to nuclei of cytotrophoblast cells, while after 10 weeks of gestation it was present in nuclei and cytoplasm of both cytotrophoblast and syncytiotrophoblast cells. Exposure of choriocarcinoma JEG-3 cells to hypoxia induced FIH1 SUMOylation by promoting its association to SUMO2/3. Transfection of JEG-3 cells with FIH1 constructs containing SUMO-mutated sites revealed that SUMOylation of FIH1 by SUMO2/3 targeted it for proteasomal degradation, particularly in hypoxia. SUMOylation of FIH1 directly impacted on HIF1A activity as determined by HIF-responsive luciferase assay. Co-immunoprecipitation analyses revealed enhanced FIH1-SUMO2/3 associations early in development, when FIH1 levels are low, while deSUMOylation of FIH1 by SENP3 increased later in gestation, when FIH1 levels are rising. In preeclampsia, decreased FIH1 protein expression associated with impaired deSUMOylation by SENP3 and increased association with the ubiquitin ligase RNF4. We propose a novel mode of regulation of FIH1 stability by dynamic SUMOylation and deSUMOylation in the human placenta in response to changing oxygen tension, thereby mediating HIF1A transcriptional activity in physiological and pathological conditions.

Dynamic regulation of HIF1Α stability by SUMO2/3 and SENP3 in the human placenta.

INTRODUCTION: Hypoxia-inducible factor 1A (HIF1A) stability is tightly regulated by hydroxylation and ubiquitination. Emerging evidence indicates that HIF1A is also controlled by the interplay between SUMO-specific ligases, which execute protein SUMOylation, and Sentrin/SUMO-specific proteases that de-SUMOylate target proteins. Given the significance of HIF1A in the human placenta, we investigated whether placental HIF1A is subject to SUMOylation in physiological and pathological conditions. METHODS: Placentae were obtained from normal and pregnancies complicated by preeclampsia. Human choriocarcinoma JEG3 cells were maintained at either 21% or 3% oxygen or exposed to sodium nitroprusside (SNP). Cells were transfected with SUMO2/3 constructs with and without Mg132, a proteasome inhibitor. Expression, distribution and associations of SUMO/SENPs and HIF1A were evaluated by Western blotting, immunohistochemistry and co-immunoprecipitation. RESULTS: HIF1A-SUMO2/3 associations peaked at 9-10 weeks, while its deSUMOylation by SENP3 was greatest at 10-12 weeks. In E-PE, HIF1A deSUMOylation by SENP3 was significantly elevated, while HIF1A-SUMO2/3 associations remained constant. In vitro, overexpression of SUMO2/3 de-stabilized HIF1A in hypoxia, and abrogated HIF1A expression following Mg132 treatment in normoxia. Hypoxia and SNP treatments promoted SENP3 nuclear redistribution from nucleoli to the nucleoplasm where it associates with HIF1A. CONCLUSION: During early placental development, SUMOylation events control HIF1A stability in an oxygen-dependent manner. In E-PE, enhanced deSUMOylation of HIF1A by SENP3 may in part contribute to increased HIF1A activity and stability found in this pathology.

Aberrant TGFß Signaling Contributes to Altered Trophoblast Differentiation in Preeclampsia.

TGFß has been implicated in preeclampsia, but its intracellular signaling via phosphorylated mothers against decapentaplegic (SMADs) and SMAD-independent proteins in the placenta remains elusive. Here we show that TGFß receptor-regulated SMAD2 was activated (Ser(465/467) phosphorylation) in syncytiotrophoblast and proliferating extravillous trophoblast cells of first-trimester placenta, whereas inhibitory SMAD7 located primarily to cytotrophoblast cells. SMAD2 phosphorylation decreased with advancing gestation, whereas SMAD7 expression increased and shifted to syncytiotrophoblasts toward term. Additionally, we found that the TGFß SMAD-independent signaling via partitioning defective protein 6 (PARD6)/Smad ubiquitylation regulatory factor was activated at approximately 10-12 weeks of gestation in cytotrophoblast and extravillous trophoblast cells comprising the anchoring column. Placentae from early-onset, but not late-onset, preeclampsia exhibited elevated SMAD2 phosphorylation and SMAD7 levels. Whereas PARD6 expression increased and SMURF1 levels decreased in preeclamptic placentae, their association increased. SMAD2 phosphorylation by TGFß in villous explants and BeWo cells resulted in a reduction of Glial cell missing-1 (GCM1) and fusogenic protein syncytin-1 while increasing cell cycle regulators cyclin E-1 (CCNE1) and cyclin-dependent kinase 4. SMAD7 abrogated the proliferative effects of TGFß. CCNE1 levels were increased in preeclamptic placentae, whereas GCM1 was markedly reduced. In addition, TGFß treatment increased the association of PARD6 and SMURF1 and down-regulated Ras homolog gene family, member A (RHOA) GTPase in JEG3 cells. In a wound assay, TGFß treatment increased the association of PARD6 and SMURF1 and triggered JEG3 cell migration through increased cellular protrusions. Taken together, our data indicate that TGFß signaling via both SMAD2/7 and PARD6/SMURF1 pathways plays a role in trophoblast growth and differentiation. Altered SMAD regulation of GCM1 and CCNE1 and aberrant expression/activation of PARD6/SMURF1 may contribute to the pathogenesis of preeclampsia by affecting cellular pathways associated with this disorder.

Aberrant TGFß Signalling Contributes to Dysregulation of Sphingolipid Metabolism in Intrauterine Growth Restriction.

CONTEXT: Sphingolipids function as key bioactive mediators that regulate cell fate events in a variety of systems. Disruptions in sphingolipid metabolism characterize several human pathologies. OBJECTIVE: In the present study we examined sphingolipid metabolism in intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), a severe disorder complicating 4-7% of pregnancies at increased risk of perinatal morbidity and mortality, which is characterized by placental dysfunction and augmented trophoblast cell death rates. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Placentae from early severe IUGR with documented abnormal umbilical artery Doppler defined as absence or reverse of end diastolic velocity and a birth weight below the fifth percentile for gestational age were collected (n = 58). Placental tissues obtained from healthy, age-matched preterm and term deliveries (n = 46; TC, n=28) were included as controls. RESULTS: Sphingolipid analysis by tandem mass spectrometry revealed elevated sphingosine and decreased ceramide levels in placentae from pregnancies complicated by IUGR relative to age-matched controls. Sphingosine accumulation was due to accelerated ceramide breakdown via increased acid ceramidase (ASAH1) expression/activity caused by augmented TGFß signalling via the ALK5/SMAD2 pathway. In addition, a marked reduction in sphingosine kinase 1 (SPHK1) expression/activity due to impaired TGFß signalling via ALK1/SMAD1 contributed to the sphingosine buildup in IUGR. Of clinical significance, ALK/SMAD signalling pathways were differentially altered in IUGR placentae. CONCLUSIONS: Altered TGFß signalling in IUGR placentae causes dysregulation of sphingolipid metabolism, which may contribute to the increased trophoblast cell death typical of this pathology.

Disruption of sphingolipid metabolism augments ceramide-induced autophagy in preeclampsia.

Bioactive sphingolipids including ceramides are involved in a variety of pathophysiological processes by regulating cell death and survival. The objective of the current study was to examine ceramide metabolism in preeclampsia, a serious disorder of pregnancy characterized by oxidative stress, and increased trophoblast cell death and autophagy. Maternal circulating and placental ceramide levels quantified by tandem mass spectrometry were elevated in pregnancies complicated by preeclampsia. Placental ceramides were elevated due to greater de novo synthesis via high serine palmitoyltransferase activity and reduced lysosomal breakdown via diminished ASAH1 expression caused by TGFB3-induced E2F4 transcriptional repression. SMPD1 activity was reduced; hence, sphingomyelin degradation by SMPD1 did not contribute to elevated ceramide levels in preeclampsia. Oxidative stress triggered similar changes in ceramide levels and acid hydrolase expression in villous explants and trophoblast cells. MALDI-imaging mass spectrometry localized the ceramide increases to the trophophoblast layers and syncytial knots of placentae from pregnancies complicated by preeclampsia. ASAH1 inhibition or ceramide treatment induced autophagy in human trophoblast cells via a shift of the BOK-MCL1 rheostat toward prodeath BOK. Pharmacological inhibition of ASAH1 activity in pregnant mice resulted in increased placental ceramide content, abnormal placentation, reduced fetal growth, and increased autophagy via a similar shift in the BOK-MCL1 system. Our results reveal that oxidative stress-induced reduction of lysosomal hydrolase activities in combination with elevated de novo synthesis leads to ceramide overload, resulting in increased trophoblast cell autophagy, and typifies preeclampsia as a sphingolipid storage disorder.

Where polarity meets fusion: role of Par6 in trophoblast differentiation during placental development and preeclampsia.

Trophoblast cell fusion is a prerequisite for proper human placental development. Herein we examined the contribution of Par6 (Partitioning defective protein 6), a key regulator of cell polarity, to trophoblast cell fusion in human placental development. During early placentation, Par6 localized to nuclei of cytotrophoblast cells but with advancing gestation Par6 shifted its localization to the cytoplasm and apical brush border of the syncytium. Exposure of primary isolated trophoblasts to 3% O(2) resulted in elevated Par6 expression, maintenance of tight junction marker ZO-1 at cell boundaries, and decreased fusogenic syncytin 1 expression compared with cells cultured at 20% O(2). Treatment of choriocarcinoma BeWo cells with forskolin, a known inducer of fusion, increased syncytin 1 expression but decreased that of Par6 and ZO-1. Par6 overexpression in the presence of forskolin maintained ZO-1 at cell boundaries while decreasing syncytin 1 levels. In contrast, silencing of Par6 disrupted ZO-1 localization at cell boundaries and altered the expression and distribution of acetylated α-tubulin. Par6 expression was elevated in preeclamptic placentas relative to normotensive preterm controls and Par6 located to trophoblast cells expressing ZO-1. Together, our data indicate that Par6 negatively regulates trophoblast fusion via its roles on tight junctions and cytoskeleton dynamics and provide novel insight into the contribution of this polarity marker in altered trophoblast cell fusion typical of preeclampsia.

Abnormalities in oxygen sensing define early and late onset preeclampsia as distinct pathologies.

BACKGROUND: The pathogenesis of preeclampsia, a serious pregnancy disorder, is still elusive and its treatment empirical. Hypoxia Inducible Factor-1 (HIF-1) is crucial for placental development and early detection of aberrant regulatory mechanisms of HIF-1 could impact on the diagnosis and management of preeclampsia. HIF-1α stability is controlled by O(2)-sensing enzymes including prolyl hydroxylases (PHDs), Factor Inhibiting HIF (FIH), and E3 ligases Seven In Absentia Homologues (SIAHs). Here we investigated early- (E-PE) and late-onset (L-PE) human preeclamptic placentae and their ability to sense changes in oxygen tension occurring during normal placental development. METHODS AND FINDINGS: Expression of PHD2, FIH and SIAHs were significantly down-regulated in E-PE compared to control and L-PE placentae, while HIF-1α levels were increased. PHD3 expression was increased due to decreased FIH levels as demonstrated by siRNA FIH knockdown experiments in trophoblastic JEG-3 cells. E-PE tissues had markedly diminished HIF-1α hydroxylation at proline residues 402 and 564 as assessed with monoclonal antibodies raised against hydroxylated HIF-1α P402 or P564, suggesting regulation by PHD2 and not PHD3. Culturing villous explants under varying oxygen tensions revealed that E-PE, but not L-PE, placentae were unable to regulate HIF-1α levels because PHD2, FIH and SIAHs did not sense a hypoxic environment. CONCLUSION: Disruption of oxygen sensing in E-PE vs. L-PE and control placentae is the first molecular evidence of the existence of two distinct preeclamptic diseases and the unique molecular O(2)-sensing signature of E-PE placentae may be of diagnostic value when assessing high risk pregnancies and their severity.

HAUS, the 8-subunit human Augmin complex, regulates centrosome and spindle integrity.

BACKGROUND: The assembly of a robust microtubule-based mitotic spindle is a prerequisite for the accurate segregation of chromosomes to progeny. Spindle assembly relies on the concerted action of centrosomes, spindle microtubules, molecular motors, and nonmotor spindle proteins. RESULTS: Here we use an RNA-interference screen of the human centrosome proteome to identify novel regulators of spindle assembly. One such regulator is HAUS, an 8-subunit protein complex that shares homology to Drosophila Augmin. HAUS localizes to interphase centrosomes and to mitotic spindle microtubules, and its disruption induces microtubule-dependent fragmentation of centrosomes along with an increase in centrosome size. HAUS disruption results in the destabilization of kinetochore microtubules and the eventual formation of multipolar spindles. These severe mitotic defects are alleviated by codepletion of NuMA, indicating that both factors regulate opposing activities. HAUS disruption alters NuMA localization, suggesting that mislocalized NuMA activity contributes to the spindle and centrosome defects observed. CONCLUSION: The human Augmin complex (HAUS) is a critical and evolutionary conserved multisubunit protein complex that regulates centrosome and spindle integrity.

Avaliaçäo "in vitro" da capacidade seladora da técnica de obturaçäo microseal através da infiltraçäo apical do corante azul de metileno a 2 por cento / Evaluation \"in vitro\" of sealing ability of microseal filling technique upon methilene blue 2 per cent microleakage

No presente trabalho, foi analisada comparativamente a capacidade seladora das técnicas de MicroSeal e da Condensaçäo Lateral Ativa Clássica em 30 dentes unirradiculares, através da infiltraçäo do corante azul-metileno a 2 por cento, em ambiente sob vácuo. Concluímos que, estatisticamente, a técnica de Microseal apresentou uma capacidade seladora mais eficiente que a técnica de Condensaçäo Lateral Ativa Clássica com 0,680mm por 1,025mm de infiltraçäo linear respectivamente