Small molecule ISRIB suppresses the integrated stress response within a defined window of activation.

Activation of the integrated stress response (ISR) by a variety of stresses triggers phosphorylation of the α-subunit of translation initiation factor eIF2. P-eIF2α inhibits eIF2B, the guanine nucleotide exchange factor that recycles inactive eIF2•GDP to active eIF2•GTP. eIF2 phosphorylation thereby represses translation. Persistent activation of the ISR has been linked to the development of several neurological disorders, and modulation of the ISR promises new therapeutic strategies. Recently, a small-molecule ISR inhibitor (ISRIB) was identified that rescues translation in the presence of P-eIF2α by facilitating the assembly of more active eIF2B. ISRIB enhances cognitive memory processes and has therapeutic effects in brain-injured mice without displaying overt side effects. While using ISRIB to investigate the ISR in picornavirus-infected cells, we observed that ISRIB rescued translation early in infection when P-eIF2α levels were low, but not late in infection when P-eIF2α levels were high. By treating cells with varying concentrations of poly(I:C) or arsenite to induce the ISR, we provide additional proof that ISRIB is unable to inhibit the ISR when intracellular P-eIF2α concentrations exceed a critical threshold level. Together, our data demonstrate that the effects of pharmacological activation of eIF2B are tuned by P-eIF2α concentration. Thus, ISRIB can mitigate undesirable outcomes of low-level ISR activation that may manifest neurological disease but leaves the cytoprotective effects of acute ISR activation intact. The insensitivity of cells to ISRIB during acute ISR may explain why ISRIB does not cause overt toxic side effects in vivo.

Pathogenesis and promising therapeutics of Alzheimer disease through eIF2α pathway and correspondent kinases.

Eukaryotic initiation factor 2 (eIF2α) pathway is overactivated in Alzheimer disease and is probably associated with synaptic and memory deficiencies. EIF2α protein is principally in charge of the regulation of protein synthesis in eukaryotic cells. Four kinases responsible for eIF2α phosphorylation at ser-51 are: General control non-derepressible-2 kinase (GCN2), double-stranded RNA-activated protein kinase (PKR), PKR-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase (PERK), and heme-regulated inhibitor kinase (HRI) are the four kinases. They lead to reduced levels of general translation and paradoxical increase of stress-responsive mRNAs expression including the B-secretase (BACE1) and the transcriptional modulator activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4), which in turn accelerates the beta-amyloidogenesis, tau phosphorylation, proapoptotic pathway induction and autophagy elements formation leading to the main pathological hallmarks of AD. Findings suggest that genetic or pharmacological inhibition of correspondent kinases can restore memory and prevent neurodegeneration. This implies that inhibition of eIF2α phosphorylation through respondent kinases is indeed a feasible prospect of clinical application. This review discusses recent therapeutic approaches targeting eIF2α pathway and provides an overview of the links between correspondent kinases overactivation with neurodegeneration in AD.

Activated Integrated Stress Response Induced by Salubrinal Promotes Cisplatin Resistance in Human Gastric Cancer Cells via Enhanced xCT Expression and Glutathione Biosynthesis.

The integrated stress response (ISR) pathway is essential for adaption of various stresses and is related to mitochondrion-to-nucleus communication. Mitochondrial dysfunction-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) was demonstrated to activate general control nonderepressible 2 (GCN2)⁻eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2α (eIF2α)⁻activating transcription factor-4 (ATF4) pathway-mediated cisplatin resistance of human gastric cancer cells. However, whether or how ISR activation per se could enhance chemoresistance remains unclear. In this study, we used eIF2α phosphatase inhibitor salubrinal to activate the ISR pathway and found that salubrinal reduced susceptibility to cisplatin. Moreover, salubrinal up-regulated ATF4-modulated gene expression, and knockdown of ATF4 attenuated salubrinal-induced drug resistance, suggesting that ATF4-modulated genes contribute to the process. The ATF4-modulated genes, xCT (a cystine/glutamate anti-transporter), tribbles-related protein 3 (TRB3), heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1), and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase 2 (PCK2), were associated with a poorer prognosis for gastric cancer patients. By silencing individual genes, we found that xCT, but not TRB3, HO-1, or PCK2, is responsible for salubrinal-induced cisplatin resistance. In addition, salubrinal increased intracellular glutathione (GSH) and decreased cisplatin-induced lipid peroxidation. Salubrinal-induced cisplatin resistance was attenuated by inhibition of xCT and GSH biosynthesis. In conclusion, our results suggest that ISR activation by salubrinal up-regulates ATF4-modulated gene expression, increases GSH synthesis, and decreases cisplatin-induced oxidative damage, which contribute to cisplatin resistance in gastric cancer cells.

Coupling of Translation Initiation and Termination Does Not Depend on the Mode of Initiation.

Recently we described a novel phenomenon observed during eukaryotic translation in a cell-free system: the coupling of initiation and termination on different mRNA molecules. Here we show that the phenomenon does not depend on a special mode of initiation. The mRNAs with certain leader sequences known to require different determinants for successful initiation were examined. Even in a case of using the intergenic internal ribosome entry site (IRES) of cricket paralysis virus RNA as the leader sequence, while no initiation factors are required, the effect of coupling is well expressed, including trials in the presence of hippuristanol as an inhibitor of eIF4A. Thus, the effect persists in the absence of scanning and does not depend on initiator tRNA and eIF2. The results suggest that the initiation factors are not involved in the coupling mechanism.

Impairment of stress granule assembly via inhibition of the eIF2alpha phosphorylation sensitizes glioma cells to chemotherapeutic agents.

Malignant gliomas are a lethal type of brain tumors that poorly respond to chemotherapeutic drugs. Several therapy resistance mechanisms have been characterized. However, the response to stress through mRNA translational control has not been evaluated for this type of tumor. A potential target would involve the alpha subunit of eukaryotic translation initiation factor (eIF2α) that leads to assembly of stress granules (SG) which are cytoplasmic granules mainly composed by RNA binding proteins and untranslated mRNAs. We assessed whether glioma cells are capable of assembling SG after exposure to different classes of chemotherapeutic agents through evaluation of the effects of interfering in this process by impairing the eIF2α signaling. C6 and U87MG cells were exposed to bortezomib, cisplatin, or etoposide. Forced expression of a dominant negative mutant of eIF2α (eIF2α(DN)) was employed to block this pathway. We observed that exposure to drugs stimulated SG assembly. This was reduced in eIF2α(DN)-transfected cells and this strategy enhanced chemotherapeutically-induced cell death for all drugs. Our data suggest that SG assembly occurs in glioma cells in response to chemotherapeutic drugs in an eIF2α-dependent manner and this response is relevant for drug resistance. Interfering with eIF2α signaling pathway may be a potential strategy for new co-adjuvant therapies to treat gliomas.

eIF5 has GDI activity necessary for translational control by eIF2 phosphorylation.

In protein synthesis initiation, the eukaryotic translation initiation factor (eIF) 2 (a G protein) functions in its GTP-bound state to deliver initiator methionyl-tRNA (tRNA(i)(Met)) to the small ribosomal subunit and is necessary for protein synthesis in all cells. Phosphorylation of eIF2 [eIF2(alphaP)] is critical for translational control in diverse settings including nutrient deprivation, viral infection and memory formation. eIF5 functions in start site selection as a GTPase accelerating protein (GAP) for the eIF2.GTP.tRNA(i)(Met) ternary complex within the ribosome-bound pre-initiation complex. Here we define new regulatory functions of eIF5 in the recycling of eIF2 from its inactive eIF2.GDP state between successive rounds of translation initiation. First we show that eIF5 stabilizes the binding of GDP to eIF2 and is therefore a bi-functional protein that acts as a GDP dissociation inhibitor (GDI). We find that this activity is independent of the GAP function and identify conserved residues within eIF5 that are necessary for this role. Second we show that eIF5 is a critical component of the eIF2(alphaP) regulatory complex that inhibits the activity of the guanine-nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) eIF2B. Together our studies define a new step in the translation initiation pathway, one that is critical for normal translational controls.

Essential role of eIF5-mimic protein in animal development is linked to control of ATF4 expression.

Translational control of transcription factor ATF4 through paired upstream ORFs (uORFs) plays an important role in eukaryotic gene regulation. While it is typically induced by phosphorylation of eIF2α, ATF4 translation can be also induced by expression of a translational inhibitor protein, eIF5-mimic protein 1 (5MP1, also known as BZW2) in mammals. Here we show that the 5MP gene is maintained in eukaryotes under strong purifying selection, but is uniquely missing in two major phyla, nematoda and ascomycota. The common function of 5MP from protozoa, plants, fungi and insects is to control translation by inhibiting eIF2. The affinity of human 5MP1 to eIF2ß was measured as being equivalent to the published value of human eIF5 to eIF2ß, in agreement with effective competition of 5MP with eIF5 for the main substrate, eIF2. In the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum, RNA interference studies indicate that 5MP facilitates expression of GADD34, a downstream target of ATF4. Furthermore, both 5MP and ATF4 are essential for larval development. Finally, 5MP and the paired uORFs allowing ATF4 control are conserved in the entire metazoa except nematoda. Based on these findings, we discuss the phylogenetic and functional linkage between ATF4 regulation and 5MP expression in this group of eukaryotes.

Endoplasmic reticulum stress-mediated autophagy contributes to bluetongue virus infection via the PERK-eIF2α pathway.

Bluetongue virus (BTV) is an important pathogen of wild and domestic ruminants. We have previously reported that BTV1 infection induced autophagy for its own benefit, but how this occurs remains unclear. Here, the classical autophagy features including autophagsomes formation, GFP-LC3 dots and LC3-II conversation were shown in BTV1-infected cells, we also found the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress was triggered by BTV1 infection, which was demonstrated by the increased transcription level of the ER stress marker GRP78 and the expanded morphology of ER. During ER stress, PERK and eIF2α phosphorylation increased along with BTV1 infection, consistent with the elevated LC3 level, indicating that the PERK pathway of the unfolded protein response (UPR) was activated. In addition, both the blockage of PERK by GSK2656157 or knockdown of eIF2α by siRNA reduced the level of LC3, which suggested that the PERK-eIF2α pathway contributed to autophagy induced by BTV1. Furthermore, inactivation of PERK or silencing of eIF2α both significantly reduced the expression of VP2 protein and the viral yields in the supernatants. In sum, these data suggest that ER stress mediates autophagy via the PERK-eIF2α pathway and contributes to BTV1 replication, thus offering new insight into the molecular mechanisms of the BTV-host interaction.

Depletion of key protein components of the RISC pathway impairs pre-ribosomal RNA processing.

Little is known about whether components of the RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC) mediate the biogenesis of RNAs other than miRNA. Here, we show that depletion of key proteins of the RISC pathway by antisense oligonucleotides significantly impairs pre-rRNA processing in human cells. In cells depleted of Drosha or Dicer, different precursors to 5.8S rRNA strongly accumulated, without affecting normal endonucleolytic cleavages. Moderate yet distinct processing defects were also observed in Ago2-depleted cells. Physical links between pre-rRNA and these proteins were identified by co-immunoprecipitation analyses. Interestingly, simultaneous depletion of Dicer and Drosha led to a different processing defect, causing slower production of 28S rRNA and its precursor. Both Dicer and Ago2 were detected in the nuclear fraction, and reduction of Dicer altered the structure of the nucleolus, where pre-rRNA processing occurs. Together, these results suggest that Drosha and Dicer are implicated in rRNA biogenesis.

Sequestration of translation initiation factors in p62 condensates.

Selective autophagy mediates the removal of harmful material from the cytoplasm. This cargo material is selected by cargo receptors, which orchestrate its sequestration within double-membrane autophagosomes and subsequent lysosomal degradation. The cargo receptor p62/SQSTM1 is present in cytoplasmic condensates, and a fraction of them are constantly delivered into lysosomes. However, the molecular composition of the p62 condensates is incompletely understood. To obtain insights into their composition, we develop a method to isolate these condensates and find that p62 condensates are enriched in components of the translation machinery. Furthermore, p62 interacts with translation initiation factors, and eukaryotic initiation factor 2α (eIF2α) and eIF4E are degraded by autophagy in a p62-dependent manner. Thus, p62-mediated autophagy may in part be linked to down-regulation of translation initiation. The p62 condensate isolation protocol developed here may facilitate the study of their contribution to cellular quality control and their roles in health and disease.

Activation of the unfolded protein response by 2-deoxy-D-glucose inhibits Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus replication and gene expression.

Lytic replication of the Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) is essential for the maintenance of both the infected state and characteristic angiogenic phenotype of Kaposi's sarcoma and thus represents a desirable therapeutic target. During the peak of herpesvirus lytic replication, viral glycoproteins are mass produced in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Normally, this leads to ER stress which, through an unfolded protein response (UPR), triggers phosphorylation of the α subunit of eukaryotic initiation factor 2 (eIF2α), resulting in inhibition of protein synthesis to maintain ER and cellular homeostasis. However, in order to replicate, herpesviruses have acquired the ability to prevent eIF2α phosphorylation. Here we show that clinically achievable nontoxic doses of the glucose analog 2-deoxy-d-glucose (2-DG) stimulate ER stress, thereby shutting down eIF2α and inhibiting KSHV and murine herpesvirus 68 replication and KSHV reactivation from latency. Viral cascade genes that are involved in reactivation, including the master transactivator (RTA) gene, glycoprotein B, K8.1, and angiogenesis-regulating genes are markedly decreased with 2-DG treatment. Overall, our data suggest that activation of UPR by 2-DG elicits an early antiviral response via eIF2α inactivation, which impairs protein synthesis required to drive viral replication and oncogenesis. Thus, induction of ER stress by 2-DG provides a new antiherpesviral strategy that may be applicable to other viruses.

Antisense tools for functional studies of human Argonaute proteins.

The Argonaute proteins play essential roles in development and cellular metabolism in many organisms, including plants, flies, worms, and mammals. Whereas in organisms such as Caenorhabditis elegans and Arabidopsis thaliana, creation of Argonaute mutant strains allowed the study of their biological functions, in mammals the application of this approach is limited by its difficulty and in the specific case of Ago2 gene, by the lethality of such mutation. Hence, in human cells, functional studies of Ago proteins relied on phenotypic suppression using small interfering RNA (siRNA) which involves Ago proteins and the RNA interference mechanism. This bears the danger of undesired or unknown interference effects which may lead to misleading results. Thus, alternative methods acting by different regulatory mechanisms would be advantageous in order to exclude unspecific effects. The knockdown may be achieved by using specific antisense oligonucleotides (asONs) which act via an RNase H-dependent mechanism, not thought to interfere with processes in which Agos are involved. Different functional observations in the use of siRNA versus asONs indicate the relevance of this assumption. We developed asONs specific for the four human Agos (hAgos) and compared their activities with those obtained by siRNA. We confirm that hAgo2 is involved in microRNA (miRNA)- and in siRNA-mediated silencing pathways, while the other hAgos play a role only in miRNA-based gene regulation. Using combinations of asONs we found that the simultaneous down-regulation of hAgo1, hAgo2, and hAgo4 led to the strongest decrease in miRNA activity, indicating a main role of these proteins.

Endoplasmic reticulum stress modulates nicotine-induced extracellular matrix degradation in human periodontal ligament cells.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Tobacco smoking is considered to be one of the major risk factors for periodontitis. For example, about half the risk of periodontitis can be attributable to smoking in the USA. It is evident that smokers have greater bone loss, greater attachment loss and deeper periodontal pockets than nonsmoking patients. It has recently been reported that endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress markers are upregulated in periodontitis patients; however, the direct effects of nicotine on ER stress in regard to extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation are unclear. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of nicotine on cytotoxicity and expression of ER stress markers, selected ECM molecules and MMPs, and to identify the underlying mechanisms in human periodontal ligament cells. We also examined whether ER stress was responsible for the nicotine-induced cytotoxicity and ECM degradation. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Cytotoxicity and cell death were measured by 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5 diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay and flow cytometric annexin V and propidium iodide staining. The mRNA and protein expressions of MMPs and ER markers were examined by RT-PCR and western blot analysis. RESULTS: Treatment with nicotine reduced cell viability and increased the proportion of annexin V-negative, propidium iodide-positive cells, an indication of cell death. Nicotine induced ER stress, as evidenced by survival molecules, such as phosphorylated protein kinase-like ER-resident kinase, phosphorylated eukaryotic initiation factor-2α and glucose-regulated protein-78, and apoptotic molecules, such as CAAT/enhancer binding protein homologous protein (CHOP). Nicotine treatment led to the downregulation of ECM molecules, including collagen type I, elastin and fibronectin, and upregulation of MMPs (MMP-1, MMP-2, MMP-8 and MMP-9). Inhibition of ER stress by salubrinal and transfection of CHOP small interfering RNA attenuated the nicotine-induced cell death, ECM degradation and production of MMPs. Salubrinal and CHOP small interfering RNA inhibited the effects of nicotine on the activation of Akt, JNK and nuclear factor-κB. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that nicotine-induced cell death is mediated by the ER stress pathway, involving ECM degradation by MMPs, in human periodontal ligament cells.

Angiogenin-induced tRNA-derived stress-induced RNAs promote stress-induced stress granule assembly.

Angiogenin (ANG) is a secreted ribonuclease that cleaves tRNA to initiate a stress-response program in mammalian cells. Here we show that ANG inhibits protein synthesis and promotes arsenite- and pateamine A-induced assembly of stress granules (SGs). These effects are abrogated in cells transfected with the ANG inhibitor RNH1. Transfection of natural or synthetic 5'- but not 3'-tRNA fragments (tRNA-derived stress-induced RNAs; tiRNAs) induces the phospho-eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2alpha-independent assembly of SGs. Natural 5'-tiRNAs but not 3'-tiRNAs are capped with a 5'-monophosphate that is required for optimal SG assembly. These findings reveal that SG assembly is a component of the ANG- and tiRNA-induced stress response program.

Junin virus infection impairs stress-granule formation in Vero cells treated with arsenite via inhibition of eIF2α phosphorylation.

Stress granules (SGs) are ephemeral cytoplasmic aggregates containing stalled translation preinitiation complexes involved in mRNA storage and triage during the cellular stress response. SG formation is triggered by the phosphorylation of the alpha subunit of eIF2 (eIF2α), which provokes a dramatic blockage of protein translation. Our results demonstrate that acute infection of Vero cells with the arenavirus Junín (JUNV), aetiological agent of Argentine haemorrhagic fever, does not induce the formation of SGs. Moreover, JUNV negatively modulates SG formation in infected cells stressed with arsenite, and this inhibition correlates with low levels of eIF2α phosphorylation. Transient expression of JUNV nucleoprotein (N) or the glycoprotein precursor (GPC), but not of the matrix protein (Z), inhibits SG formation in a similar manner, comparable to infectious virus. Expression of N and GPC also impaired eIF2α phosphorylation triggered by arsenite. A moderate inhibition of SG formation was also observed when DTT and thapsigargin were employed as stress inducers. In contrast, no inhibition was observed when infected cells were treated with hippuristanol, a translational inhibitor and inducer of SGs that bypasses the requirement for eIF2α phosphorylation. Finally, we analysed SG formation in persistently JUNV-infected cells, where N and GPC are virtually absent and truncated N products are expressed abundantly. We found that persistently infected cells show a quite normal response to arsenite, with SG formation comparable to that of uninfected cells. This suggests that the presence of GPC and/or N is crucial to control the stress response upon JUNV infection of Vero cells.

Hsp90 is involved in the formation of P-bodies and stress granules.

Previously, we found that treatment of cells with the Hsp90 inhibitor geldanamycin (GA) leads to a substantial reduction in the number of processing bodies (P-bodies), and also alters the size and subcellular localization of stress granules. These findings imply that the chaperone activity of Hsp90 is involved in the formation of P-bodies and stress granules. To verify these observations, we examined whether another Hsp90 inhibitor radicicol (RA) affected P-bodies and stress granules. Treatment with RA reduced the level of the Hsp90 client protein Argonaute 2 and the number of P-bodies. Although stress granules still assembled in RA-treated cells upon heat shock, they were smaller and more dispersed in the cytoplasm than those in untreated cells. Furthermore eIF4E and eIF4E-transporter were dissociated selectively from stress granules in RA-treated cells. These observations were comparable to those obtained upon treatment with GA in our previous work. Thus, we conclude that abrogation of the chaperone activity of Hsp90 affects P-body formation and the integrity of stress granules.

Mitochondrial respiration inhibitors suppress protein translation and hypoxic signaling via the hyperphosphorylation and inactivation of translation initiation factor eIF2α and elongation factor eEF2.

Over 20,000 lipid extracts of plants and marine organisms were evaluated in a human breast tumor T47D cell-based reporter assay for hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) inhibitory activity. Bioassay-guided isolation and dereplication-based structure elucidation of an active extract from the Bael tree (Aegle marmelos) afforded two protolimonoids, skimmiarepin A (1) and skimmiarepin C (2). In T47D cells, 1 and 2 inhibited hypoxia-induced HIF-1 activation with IC50 values of 0.063 and 0.068 µM, respectively. Compounds 1 and 2 also suppressed hypoxic induction of the HIF-1 target genes GLUT-1 and VEGF. Mechanistic studies revealed that 1 and 2 inhibited HIF-1 activation by blocking the hypoxia-induced accumulation of HIF-1α protein. At the range of concentrations that inhibited HIF-1 activation, 1 and 2 suppressed cellular respiration by selectively inhibiting the mitochondrial electron transport chain at complex I (NADH dehydrogenase). Further investigation indicated that mitochondrial respiration inhibitors such as 1 and rotenone induced the rapid hyperphosphorylation and inhibition of translation initiation factor eIF2α and elongation factor eEF2. The inhibition of protein translation may account for the short-term exposure effects exerted by mitochondrial inhibitors on cellular signaling, while the suppression of cellular ATP production may contribute to the inhibitory effects following extended treatment periods.

The Unfolded Protein Response Reveals eIF2α Phosphorylation as a Critical Factor for Direct MHC Class I Antigen Presentation.

The ability to modulate direct MHC class I (MHC I) Ag presentation is a desirable goal for the treatment of a variety of conditions, including autoimmune diseases, chronic viral infections, and cancers. It is therefore necessary to understand how changes in the cellular environment alter the cells' ability to present peptides to T cells. The unfolded protein response (UPR) is a signaling pathway activated by the presence of excess unfolded proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum. Previous studies have indicated that chemical induction of the UPR decreases direct MHC I Ag presentation, but the precise mechanisms are unknown. In this study, we used a variety of small molecule modulators of different UPR signaling pathways to query which UPR signaling pathways can alter Ag presentation in both murine and human cells. When signaling through the PERK pathway, and subsequent eIF2α phosphorylation, was blocked by treatment with GSK2656157, MHC I Ag presentation remain unchanged, whereas treatment with salubrinal, which has the opposite effect of GSK2656157, decreases both Ag presentation and overall cell-surface MHC I levels. Treatment with 4µ8C, an inhibitor of the IRE1α UPR activation pathway that blocks splicing of Xbp1 mRNA, also diminished MHC I Ag presentation. However, 4µ8C treatment unexpectedly led to an increase in eIF2α phosphorylation in addition to blocking IRE1α signaling. Given that salubrinal and 4µ8C lead to eIF2α phosphorylation and similar decreases in Ag presentation, we conclude that UPR signaling through PERK, leading to eIF2α phosphorylation, results in a modest decrease in direct MHC I Ag presentation.

Endoplasmic reticulum stress drives a regulatory phenotype in human T-cell clones.

T cells alter their functional phenotype during the evolution of an immune response (intra-lineage differentiation), but the driving forces to this plastic intra-lineage differentiation are poorly understood. The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress response is a possible critical event for the initial T cell differentiation upon antigen recognition. Here we studied the relationship between ER and Il-10 transcription in human Treg clones. The induction of ER stress with a canonical stressor, thapsigargin, enhances Il-10 transcription. Salubrinal, a small molecule inhibitor of the eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2α (eIF2α) dephosphporylation, dramatically inhibits it. Il-10 transcription is also enhanced by exogenous TNFα. These results disclose a role for ER stress in driving T cell plasticity.

The integrated stress response: From mechanism to disease.

Protein quality control is essential for the proper function of cells and the organisms that they make up. The resulting loss of proteostasis, the processes by which the health of the cell's proteins is monitored and maintained at homeostasis, is associated with a wide range of age-related human diseases. Here, we highlight how the integrated stress response (ISR), a central signaling network that responds to proteostasis defects by tuning protein synthesis rates, impedes the formation of long-term memory. In addition, we address how dysregulated ISR signaling contributes to the pathogenesis of complex diseases, including cognitive disorders, neurodegeneration, cancer, diabetes, and metabolic disorders. The development of tools through which the ISR can be modulated promises to uncover new avenues to diminish pathologies resulting from it for clinical benefit.