Sequential reduction of mitochondrial transmembrane potential and generation of reactive oxygen species in early programmed cell death.

Programmed cell death (PCD) is a physiological process commonly defined by alterations in nuclear morphology (apoptosis) and/or characteristic stepwise degradation of chromosomal DNA occurring before cytolysis. However, determined characteristics of PCD such as loss in mitochondrial reductase activity or cytolysis can be induced in enucleated cells, indicating cytoplasmic PCD control. Here we report a sequential disregulation of mitochondrial function that precedes cell shrinkage and nuclear fragmentation. A first cyclosporin A-inhibitable step of ongoing PCD is characterized by a reduction of mitochondrial transmembrane potential, as determined by specific fluorochromes (5,5',6,6'-tetrachloro-1,1',3,3'-tetraethylbenzimidazolcarbocyanine++ + iodide; 3,3'dihexyloxacarbocyanine iodide). Cytofluorometrically purified cells with reduced mitochondrial transmembrane potential are initially incapable of oxidizing hydroethidine (HE) into ethidium. Upon short-term in vitro culture, such cells acquire the capacity of HE oxidation, thus revealing a second step of PCD marked by mitochondrial generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). This step can be selectively inhibited by rotenone and ruthenium red yet is not affected by cyclosporin A. Finally, cells reduce their volume, a step that is delayed by radical scavengers, indicating the implication of ROS in the apoptotic process. This sequence of alterations accompanying early PCD is found in very different models of apoptosis induction: glucocorticoid-induced death of lymphocytes, activation-induced PCD of T cell hybridomas, and tumor necrosis factor-induced death of U937 cells. Transfection with the antiapoptotic protooncogene Bcl-2 simultaneously inhibits mitochondrial alterations and apoptotic cell death triggered by steroids or ceramide. In vivo injection of fluorochromes such as 5,5',6,6'-tetrachloro-1,1',3,3'-tetraethylbenzimidazolcarbocyanine iodide; 3,3'dihexyloxacarbocyanine iodide; or HE allows for the detection of cells that are programmed for death but still lack nuclear DNA fragmentation. In particular, assessment of mitochondrial ROS generation provides an accurate picture of PCD-mediated lymphocyte depletion. In conclusion, alterations of mitochondrial function constitute an important feature of early PCD.

Effects of 17beta-estradiol on preadipocyte proliferation in human adipose tissue: Involvement of IGF1-R signaling.

Estrogens are known to stimulate the proliferation of human preadipocytes. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the increased cell growth by these steroids are poorly understood. In the present study, we have demonstrated that the proliferative effect of 17beta-estradiol involves the induction of both cell cycle gene expressions, c-myc and cyclin D1. Moreover, the mitogenic effects of 17beta-estradiol are suppressed by the pure antagonist ICI 182780 suggesting that estradiol action is mediated by estrogen receptor (ER). We have also shown that 17beta-estradiol is able to inhibit human preadipocyte apoptosis capacity as reflected by DNA fragmentation experiments and the mRNA expression of the pro- and antiapoptotic genes. Finally, 17beta-estradiol significantly induces both mRNA and protein expression of RIGF1 in human preadipose cells via ER and thus reinforces the signaling pathway of the proliferative factor, IGF1. Taken together, these data reinforce the concept of cross-talk between IGF1- and ER-signaling pathways in preadipocytes and indicate that IGFI may be a critical regulator of estrogen-mediated preadipose growth.

The mitochondrial TOM complex modulates bax-induced apoptosis in Drosophila.

Bax is a pro-apoptotic member of the Bcl-2 family proteins involved in the release of apoptogenic factors from mitochondria to the cytosol. Recently, it has been shown both in mammals and yeast that Bax insertion in the mitochondrial outer membrane involves at least two distinct mechanisms, one of which uses the TOM complex. Here, we show that in Drosophila, heterozygous loss of function mutations of Tom22 or Tom70, two receptors of the TOM complex, attenuates bax-induced phenotypes in vivo. These results argue that the TOM complex may be used as a mitochondrial Bax receptor in Drosophila.

Alterations in mitochondrial structure and function are early events of dexamethasone-induced thymocyte apoptosis.

In this paper we used a multiparametric approach to analyze extensively the events occurring during apoptotic cell death of thymocytes, and furthermore, we asked whether alterations in mitochondrial structure and function are occurring in early stages of apoptosis. A multiparametric quantitative analysis was performed on normal or apoptotic thymocytes emerging from a few-hour culture performed in culture medium or in the presence of dexamethasone. Simultaneous detection of light scattering properties, integrity of plasma membrane (trypan blue exclusion), chromatin condensation (AO/EB staining of entire cells or PI staining of nuclei), and DNA fragmentation (in situ nick-translation in apoptotic cells) allowed a precise analysis of the preapoptotic and apoptotic stages. Moreover a thorough study of mitochondrial transmembrane potential (delta psi m) assessed following in a time course study the uptake by apoptotic cells of the cationic lipophilic dye DiOC6(3) or the J-aggregate-forming cation JC-1, indicates that a drop in delta psi m occurs very early in thymocyte apoptosis, before DNA fragmentation. This is associated with alteration in mitochondrial structure assessed by cytofluorimetric study of NAO uptake in apoptotic cells. Finally these dramatic alterations in mitochondrial structure and function occurring in early stages of apoptosis were confirmed by confocal and electron microscopy analysis.

The myb-related gene stonewall induces both hyperplasia and cell death in Drosophila: rescue of fly lethality by coexpression of apoptosis inducers.

We carried out gain-of-function mutagenesis screening and identified a mutant in which GAL4 induction led to both hyperplasia and apoptosis. The gene involved was identified as stonewall (stwl), a myb-related gene involved in germ cell proliferation and differentiation during oogenesis. As observed with dmyb, the ectopic expression of stwl(UY823) inhibited endoreplication in salivary glands. We also found that stwl(UY823) overexpression, like overexpression of the wild-type gene, activated G1/S transition and apoptosis. The apoptosis triggered by stwl(UY823) expression is correlated to induction of the proapoptotic gene reaper. Finally, the death of flies induced by ectopic stwl(UY823) expression is efficiently prevented in vivo by triggering cell death in stwl(UY823)-expressing cells. Our results suggest that stwl(UY823) kills flies by causing inappropriate cell cycle entry, and that triggering the death of these overproliferating cells or slowing their proliferation restores viability.

FGF1 C-terminal domain and phosphorylation regulate intracrine FGF1 signaling for its neurotrophic and anti-apoptotic activities.

Fibroblast growth factor 1 (FGF1) is a prototypic member of the FGFs family overexpressed in various tumors. Contrarily to most FGFs, FGF1 lacks a secretion peptide signal and acts mainly in an intracellular and nuclear manner. Intracellular FGF1 induces cell proliferation, differentiation and survival. We previously showed that intracellular FGF1 induces neuronal differentiation and inhibits both p53- and serum-free-medium-induced apoptosis in PC12 cells. FGF1 nuclear localization is required for these intracellular activities, suggesting that FGF1 regulates p53-dependent apoptosis and neuronal differentiation by new nuclear pathways. To better characterize intracellular FGF1 pathways, we studied the effect of three mutations localized in the C-terminal domain of FGF1 (i.e., FGF1(K132E), FGF1(S130A) and FGF1(S130D)) on FGF1 neurotrophic and anti-apoptotic activities in PC12 cells. The change of the serine 130 to alanine precludes FGF1 phosphorylation, while its mutation to aspartic acid mimics phosphorylation. These FGF1 mutants kept both a nuclear and cytosolic localization in PC12 cells. Our study highlights for the first time the role of FGF1 phosphorylation and the implication of FGF1 C-terminal domain on its intracellular activities. Indeed, we show that the K132E mutation inhibits both the neurotrophic and anti-apoptotic activities of FGF1, suggesting a regulatory activity for FGF1 C terminus. Furthermore, we observed that both FGF1(S130A) and FGF1(S130D) mutant forms induced PC12 cells neuronal differentiation. Therefore, FGF1 phosphorylation does not regulate FGF1-induced differentiation of PC12 cells. Then, we showed that only FGF1(S130A) protects PC12 cells against p53-dependent apoptosis, thus phosphorylation appears to inhibit FGF1 anti-apoptotic activity in PC12 cells. Altogether, our results show that phosphorylation does not regulate FGF1 neurotrophic activity but inhibits its anti-apoptotic activity after p53-dependent apoptosis induction, giving new insight into the poorly described FGF1 intracrine/nuclear pathway. The study of nuclear pathways could be crucial to identify key regulators involved in neuronal differentiation, tumor progression and resistances to radio- and chemo-therapy.

Bcl-2 and Hsp27 act at different levels to suppress programmed cell death.

Apoptosis and necrosis, two morphologically distinct forms of cell death, can be induced by common stimuli depending on the doses and the cell type. This study compares the protective effect of oncoprotein Bcl-2 and of the small stress protein Hsp27 on these two types of cell death. We use rat embryo fibroblasts conditionally immortalized by the tsA58 mutant of SV40 large T antigen as parental cells to develop cell lines carrying inducible bcl-2 or hsp27 genes. Two apoptotic stimuli were used: shift to the restrictive temperature that induced p53-mediated apoptosis and treatment with low doses of hydrogen peroxide. Necrosis was induced by high doses of hydrogen peroxide. Although Bcl-2 and Hsp27 protect these cells from necrotic death, only Bcl-2 appears capable of preventing apoptotic death. Bcl-2 protection is not mediated by a negative effect on the induction of the p53 responsive genes bax or waf1 but it slows down at least two stages of apoptosis: decrease of mitochondrial membrane potential and subsequent morphological changes. In contrast, although Hsp27 has been recently shown to inhibit apoptosis induced by various stimuli, its overexpression has no effect on apoptosis in this cell system. It should be also noticed that the apoptotic stimuli (temperature shift or hydrogen peroxide treatment) induce Hsp27, but not Bcl-2 accumulation suggesting that, in parental cells, Hsp27 might already provide some protection. However, taken together these results suggest that Hsp27, as well as Bcl-2, acts at several levels to inhibit cell death, but that their protective functions only partially overlap.

Apoptosis is antagonized by large T antigens in the pathway to immortalization by polyomaviruses.

The viability of rat embryo cells immortalized by thermosensitive mutants of SV40 or polyoma Large T antigen is impaired at the non-permissive temperature thus demonstrating that the immortal phenotype is dominantly maintained by Large T antigens. We have observed that exposing these cells to the restrictive temperature not only induces growth arrest but also causes apoptotic cell death. We present evidence supporting the model that polyomaviruses may indeed establish immortality by antagonizing the lethal effects of tumor suppressor genes via physical interactions between their products and Large T antigens. In the case of SV40-immortalized cells REtsAF, shift-up to 39.5 degrees C dissociates Large T antigen/p53 complexes releasing wild-type p53 molecules capable of inducing apoptotic cell death. In polyomavirus-immortalized cells, apoptosis may result from an alternative pathway mediated by other unidentified negatively acting molecules.

TNF-alpha activates at least two apoptotic signaling cascades.

Apoptosis, the process whereby cells activate an intrinsic death program, can be induced in HeLa cells by TNF-alpha treatment. The aims of the present study were (i) to examine the precise role and the origin of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) in the TNF-alpha-induced programmed cell death, (ii) to characterize and order the morphological and mitochondrial changes associated with this process and (iii) to link these events with the activation of caspases. Analyses were performed on TNF-alpha-treated cells in the presence of an anti-oxidant, or of a general caspase inhibitor. To assess the role of mitochondria in the cell death signal transduction, these studies were also realized on HeLa-variant cell lines lacking functional mitochondrial respiratory chain. We show that at least two separate signaling cascades, both mediated by Z-VAD-sensitive caspase(s), contribute to the TNF-alpha-induced apoptosis of HeLa cells. One signaling pathway involves an early mitochondria-dependent ROS production, the other being ROS-independent.

SV40 induced cellular immortalization: phenotypic changes associated with the loss of proliferative capacity in a conditionally immortalized cell line.

Immortalization of rodent embryo fibroblasts by SV40 is dominantly maintained by the large T antigen. The aim of this work is to characterize some of the events associated with the loss of proliferative capacity in a rat cell line, called REtsAF, which is conditionally immortalized by the tsA58 allele of SV40 large T antigen. DNA replication is arrested less than 24 h after the shift to the restrictive temperature (39 degrees C). This arrest occurs without specificity relative to the cell cycle stage, which suggests that a function essential throughout the cell cycle is affected. A two-dimensional SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis of proteins shows that, although the global rate of protein synthesis is only slightly affected at 39 degrees C, the rate of accumulation of specific proteins is either increased or decreased. Finally we present biochemical and electron microscopy data showing that alterations of the mitochondria occur upon shift to 39 degrees C.

Bcl-2 and Bax mammalian regulators of apoptosis are functional in Drosophila.

Studies of apoptosis in C. elegans have allowed the identification of three genes, ced-3, ced-4 and ced-9. Their products constitute the components of an induction pathway of apoptosis conserved in the nematode and mammals. In Drosophila, homologues have been found for CED-3, CED-4 and CED-9. CED-9 belongs to the Bcl-2 family which includes negative (Bcl-2) and positive (Bax) regulators of apoptosis. The recently discovered Bcl-2 family member named Drob-1 acts as a positive regulator of cell death. To address whether a Bcl-2 anti-apoptotic pathway exists in the fly, we studied the effects of expressing the mammalian genes bcl-2 in Drosophila. In embryos, expression of bcl-2 inhibits developmental and X-ray-induced apoptosis. Expressing bcl-2 or the pro-apoptotic mammalian bax in the developing eye and wing alters these structures, bcl-2 increasing the number of cells, while bax reduces the number of cells. In addition, the functional interaction between Bcl-2 and Bax is conserved. These results indicate that factors necessary for the activity of bcl-2 and bax are present in Drosophila. Therefore, a Bcl-2 pathway for inhibition of cell death may exist in the fly.

Inactivation of p53 Is Sufficient to Induce Development of Pulmonary Hypertension in Rats.

OBJECTIVE: Pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PA-SMCs) in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) show similarities to cancer cells. Due to the growth-suppressive and pro-apoptotic effects of p53 and its inactivation in cancer, we hypothesized that the p53 pathway could be altered in PAH. We therefore explored the involvement of p53 in the monocrotaline (MCT) rat model of pulmonary hypertension (PH) and the pathophysiological consequences of p53 inactivation in response to animal treatment with pifithrin-α (PFT, an inhibitor of p53 activity). METHODS AND RESULTS: PH development was assessed by pulmonary arterial pressure, right ventricular hypertrophy and arterial wall thickness. The effect of MCT and PFT on lung p53 pathway expression was evaluated by western blot. Fourteen days of daily PFT treatment (2.2 mg/kg/day), similar to a single injection of MCT (60 mg/kg), induced PH and aggravated MCT-induced PH. In the first week after MCT administration and prior to PH development, p53, p21 and MDM2 protein levels were significantly reduced; whereas PFT administration effectively altered the protein level of p53 targets. Anti-apoptotic and pro-proliferative effects of PFT were revealed by TUNEL and MTT assays on cultured human PA-SMCs treated with 50 µM PFT. CONCLUSIONS: Pharmacological inactivation of p53 is sufficient to induce PH with a chronic treatment by PFT, an effect related to its anti-apoptotic and pro-proliferative properties. The p53 pathway was down-regulated during the first week in the rat MCT model. These in vivo experiments implicate the p53 pathway at the initiation stages of PH pathogenesis.

Studies of specific gene induction during apoptosis of cell lines conditionally immortalized by SV40.

Inactivation of SV40 large T antigen in cells immortalized with conditional mutants leads to activation of p53 and apoptosis. We have analysed during this process the expression of genes induced by p53 or differentially expressed during apoptosis in other systems. We find an early induction of Waf1/Cip1. We also observe clusterin is induced during the process and displays a high level of expression in non-apoptotic cells, suggesting a protective role for clusterin. Other genes associated with thymocyte and lymphocyte apoptosis are not induced, showing that the pattern of gene induction is specific to the system studied.

Inhibition of Bcl-2-dependent cell survival by a caspase inhibitor: a possible new pathway for Bcl-2 to regulate cell death.

The REtsAF cell line expresses a temperature-sensitive mutant of the SV40 large tumor antigen. At restrictive temperature (39.5 degrees C), the cells undergo p53-mediated apoptosis, which can be inhibited by Bcl-2. Here, we show that Z-VAD-fmk, a caspase inhibitor, can suppress the Bcl-2-dependent cell survival at 39.5 degrees C. This result suggests that a caspase-like activity can act as an inhibitor of apoptosis in this model, downstream of Bcl-2. Our results also suggest that this activity may be up-regulated by Bcl-2 and may be responsible for cleavage of the tumor suppressor Rb protein.

Mitochondria and programmed cell death: back to the future.

Programmed cell death, or apoptosis, has in the past few years undoubtedly become one of the most intensively investigated biological processes. However, fundamental questions concerning the molecular and biochemical mechanisms remain to be elucidated. The central question concerns the biochemical steps shared by the numerous death induction pathways elicited by different stimuli. Heterogeneous death signals precede a common effector phase during which cells pass a threshold of 'no return' and are engaged in a degradation phase where they acquire the typical onset of late apoptosis. Alterations in mitochondrial permeability transition linked to membrane potential disruption precede nuclear and plasma membrane changes. In vitro induction of permeability transition in isolated mitochondria provokes the release of a protein factor capable of inducing nuclear chromatin condensation and fragmentation. This permeability transition is regulated by multiple endogenous effectors, including members of the bcl-2 gene family. Inhibition of these effects prevents apoptosis.

The amino-terminal sequence of the Xenopus laevis mitochondrial SSB is homologous to that of the Escherichia coli protein.

Two closely related forms of the single-stranded DNA binding protein purified from Xenopus laevis oocytes mitochondria have been identified. Their amino terminal sequences exhibit homology with the Escherichia coli SSB protein.

Amino terminal sequence of the mitochondrial protein mtDBP-C: similarity with nonhistone chromosomal proteins HMG 1 and 2.

We have previously reported the characterization of a DNA-binding protein isolated from Xenopus laevis mitochondria (mtDBP-C). The amino terminal sequence of this protein (26 residues) has been determined by automated Edman degradation and used to search for sequence similarity with the NBRF library. A segment of 17 amino acids displays 47.1% of identity with proteins HMG-1 and 2 of various vertebrate species.

Structural modifications induced by the mtDBP-C protein in the replication origin of Xenopus laevis mitochondrial DNA.

The structure of the non-coding region of Xenopus laevis mitochondrial DNA has been studied by electron microscopy analysis of DNA molecules end-labelled with streptavidin-ferritin. We have shown that the effect of a protein modifying the shape of the DNA double-helix can be studied and precisely located by this method. It was found that the non-coding region contains curved segments and that the mitochondrial protein mtDBP-C preferentially enhances the curvature of the promoters-replication origin region.

Quantification of enterovirus RNA in sludge samples using single tube real-time RT-PCR.

We have developed a quantitative RT-PCR method that can be used to determine the amount of enterovirus RNA in urban sludge samples. This method combines Taq-Man technology with the ABI Prism 7700 real-time sequence detection system. We optimized a one-step RT-PCR that uses a dual-labeled fluorogenic probe to quantify the 5' noncoding region of enteroviruses. For accurate quantification of the number of copies, a Mahoney type 1 poliovirus RNA standard was designed and produced using genetic engineering. This fragment, quantified using the Ribogreen method, was used in serial dilutions as an external standard. The method had a 7-log dynamic range (5 to 2 x 10(7)). PCR inhibitors were removed by extracting viral RNA (after virus concentration) using the RNeasy mini kit with added polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and running the amplification reaction with a mixture containing PVP and T4 gene 32 protein. This real-time quantification of enterovirus RNA allows large numbers of samples to be screened. Its sensitivity, simplicity and reproducibility render it suitable as a screening method with which to characterize enteroviruses, the presence of infectious particles being subsequently confirmed by cell culture.

Comparative study of techniques used to recover viruses from residual urban sludge.

Eight virus extraction techniques were compared on three types of residual urban sludge for simultaneous detection of infectious enteroviruses, somatic coliphages, F-specific RNA bacteriophages and Bacteroides fragilis bacteriophages. The highest virus counts were found in extracts obtained using three extraction techniques described by respectively using a 10% beef extract solution at pH 9 and sonication, using a 0.3 M NaCl/7% beef extract solution at pH 7.5 and freon, and finally using a 0.1 M borate buffer/3% beef extract solution at pH 9 and sonication.