Drug Inhibition of Redox Factor-1 Restores Hypoxia-Driven Changes in Tuberous Sclerosis Complex 2 Deficient Cells.

Therapies with the mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) inhibitors are not fully curative for tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) patients. Here, we propose that some mTORC1-independent disease facets of TSC involve signaling through redox factor-1 (Ref-1). Ref-1 possesses a redox signaling activity that stimulates the transcriptional activity of STAT3, NF-kB, and HIF-1α, which are involved in inflammation, proliferation, angiogenesis, and hypoxia, respectively. Here, we demonstrate that redox signaling through Ref-1 contributes to metabolic transformation and tumor growth in TSC cell model systems. In TSC2-deficient cells, the clinically viable Ref-1 inhibitor APX3330 was effective at blocking the hyperactivity of STAT3, NF-kB, and HIF-1α. While Ref-1 inhibitors do not inhibit mTORC1, they potently block cell invasion and vasculature mimicry. Of interest, we show that cell invasion and vasculature mimicry linked to Ref-1 redox signaling are not blocked by mTORC1 inhibitors. Metabolic profiling revealed that Ref-1 inhibitors alter metabolites associated with the glutathione antioxidant pathway as well as metabolites that are heavily dysregulated in TSC2-deficient cells involved in redox homeostasis. Therefore, this work presents Ref-1 and associated redox-regulated transcription factors such as STAT3, NF-kB, and HIF-1α as potential therapeutic targets to treat TSC, where targeting these components would likely have additional benefits compared to using mTORC1 inhibitors alone.

Correction: Loss of tuberous sclerosis complex 2 sensitizes tumors to nelfinavir-bortezomib therapy to intensify endoplasmic reticulum stress-induced cell death.

This article was originally published under standard licence, but has now been made available under a CC BY 4.0 license. The PDF and HTML versions of the paper have been modified accordingly.

Loss of tuberous sclerosis complex 2 sensitizes tumors to nelfinavir-bortezomib therapy to intensify endoplasmic reticulum stress-induced cell death.

Cancer cells lose homeostatic flexibility because of mutations and dysregulated signaling pathways involved in maintaining homeostasis. Tuberous Sclerosis Complex 1 (TSC1) and TSC2 play a fundamental role in cell homeostasis, where signal transduction through TSC1/TSC2 is often compromised in cancer, leading to aberrant activation of mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1). mTORC1 hyperactivation increases the basal level of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress via an accumulation of unfolded protein, due to heightened de novo protein translation and repression of autophagy. We exploit this intrinsic vulnerability of tumor cells lacking TSC2, by treating with nelvinavir to further enhance ER stress while inhibiting the proteasome with bortezomib to prevent effective protein removal. We show that TSC2-deficient cells are highly dependent on the proteosomal degradation pathway for survival. Combined treatment with nelfinavir and bortezomib at clinically relevant drug concentrations show synergy in selectively killing TSC2-deficient cells with limited toxicity in control cells. This drug combination inhibited tumor formation in xenograft mouse models and patient-derived cell models of TSC and caused tumor spheroid death in 3D culture. Importantly, 3D culture assays differentiated between the cytostatic effects of the mTORC1 inhibitor, rapamycin, and the cytotoxic effects of the nelfinavir/bortezomib combination. Through RNA sequencing, we determined that nelfinavir and bortezomib tip the balance of ER protein homeostasis of the already ER-stressed TSC2-deficient cells in favor of cell death. These findings have clinical relevance in stratified medicine to treat tumors that have compromised signaling through TSC and are inflexible in their capacity to restore ER homeostasis.

FLCN, a novel autophagy component, interacts with GABARAP and is regulated by ULK1 phosphorylation.

Birt-Hogg-Dubé (BHD) syndrome is a rare autosomal dominant condition caused by mutations in the FLCN gene and characterized by benign hair follicle tumors, pneumothorax, and renal cancer. Folliculin (FLCN), the protein product of the FLCN gene, is a poorly characterized tumor suppressor protein, currently linked to multiple cellular pathways. Autophagy maintains cellular homeostasis by removing damaged organelles and macromolecules. Although the autophagy kinase ULK1 drives autophagy, the underlying mechanisms are still being unraveled and few ULK1 substrates have been identified to date. Here, we identify that loss of FLCN moderately impairs basal autophagic flux, while re-expression of FLCN rescues autophagy. We reveal that the FLCN complex is regulated by ULK1 and elucidate 3 novel phosphorylation sites (Ser406, Ser537, and Ser542) within FLCN, which are induced by ULK1 overexpression. In addition, our findings demonstrate that FLCN interacts with a second integral component of the autophagy machinery, GABA(A) receptor-associated protein (GABARAP). The FLCN-GABARAP association is modulated by the presence of either folliculin-interacting protein (FNIP)-1 or FNIP2 and further regulated by ULK1. As observed by elevation of GABARAP, sequestome 1 (SQSTM1) and microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (MAP1LC3B) in chromophobe and clear cell tumors from a BHD patient, we found that autophagy is impaired in BHD-associated renal tumors. Consequently, this work reveals a novel facet of autophagy regulation by ULK1 and substantially contributes to our understanding of FLCN function by linking it directly to autophagy through GABARAP and ULK1.

Disparities in the association of the ryanodine receptor and the FK506-binding proteins in mammalian heart.

The FK506-binding proteins (FKBP12 and FKBP12.6; also known as FKBP1A and FKBP1B, respectively) are accessory subunits of the ryanodine receptor (RyR) Ca(2+) release channel. Aberrant RyR2-FKBP12.6 interactions have been proposed to be the underlying cause of channel dysfunction in acquired and inherited cardiac disease. However, the stoichiometry of the RyR2 association with FKBP12 or FKBP12.6 in mammalian heart is currently unknown. Here, we describe detailed quantitative analysis of cardiac stoichiometry between RyR2 and FKBP12 or FKBP12.6 using immunoblotting and [(3)H]ryanodine-binding assays, revealing striking disparities between four mammalian species. In mouse and pig heart, RyR2 is found complexed with both FKBP12 and FKBP12.6, although the former is the most abundant isoform. In rat heart, RyR2 is predominantly associated with FKBP12.6, whereas in rabbit it is associated with FKBP12 only. Co-immunoprecipitation experiments demonstrate RyR2-specific interaction with both FKBP isoforms in native cardiac tissue. Assuming four FKBP-binding sites per RyR2 tetramer, only a small proportion of available sites are occupied by endogenous FKBP12.6. FKBP interactions with RyR2 are very strong and resistant to drug (FK506, rapamycin and cyclic ADPribose) and redox (H(2)O(2) and diamide) treatment. By contrast, the RyR1-FKBP12 association in skeletal muscle is readily disrupted under oxidative conditions. This is the first study to directly assess association of endogenous FKBP12 and FKBP12.6 with RyR2 in native cardiac tissue. Our results challenge the widespread perception that RyR2 associates exclusively with FKBP12.6 to near saturation, with important implications for the role of the FK506-binding proteins in RyR2 pathophysiology and cardiac disease.