Ao Lin Hsu

The cyclo-oxygenase-2 inhibitor celecoxib perturbs intracellular calcium by inhibiting endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPases: a plausible link with its anti-tumour effect and cardiovascular risks.

Substantial evidence indicates that the cyclo-oxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitor celecoxib, a widely prescribed anti-inflammatory agent, displays anti-tumour effect by sensitizing cancer cells to apoptosis. As part of our effort to understand the mechanism by which celecoxib mediates apoptosis in androgen-independent prostate cancer cells, we investigated its effect on intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca(2+)](i)). Digital ratiometric imaging analysis indicates that exposure of PC-3 cells to celecoxib stimulates an immediate [Ca(2+)](i) rise in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Kinetic data show that this Ca(2+) signal arises from internal Ca(2+) release in conjunction with external Ca(2+) influx. Examinations of the biochemical mechanism responsible for this Ca(2+) mobilization indicate that celecoxib blocks endoplasmic reticulum (ER) Ca(2+)-ATPases. Consequently, inhibition of this Ca(2+) reuptake mechanism results in Ca(2+) mobilization from ER stores followed by capacitative calcium entry, leading to [Ca(2+)](i) elevation. In view of the important role of Ca(2+) in apoptosis regulation, this Ca(2+) perturbation may represent part of the signalling mechanism that celecoxib uses to trigger rapid apoptotic death in cancer cells. This Ca(2+)-ATPase inhibitory activity is highly specific for celecoxib, and is not noted with other COX inhibitors tested, including aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen, rofecoxib (Vioxx), DuP697 and NS398. Moreover, it is noteworthy that this activity is also observed in many other cell lines examined, including A7r5 smooth muscle cells, NIH 3T3 fibroblast cells and Jurkat T cells. Consequently, this Ca(2+)-perturbing effect may provide a plausible link with the reported toxicities of celecoxib such as increased cardiovascular risks in long-term anti-inflammatory therapy.

Identification by machine vision of the rate of motor activity decline as a lifespan predictor in C. elegans

One challenge in aging research concerns identifying physiological parameters or biomarkers that can reflect the physical health of an animal and predict its lifespan. In C. elegans, a model organism widely used in aging research, motor deficits develop in old worms. Here we employed machine vision to quantify worm locomotion behavior throughout lifespan. We confirm that aging worms undergo a progressive decline in motor activity, beginning in early life. Importantly, the rate of motor activity decline rather than the absolute motor activity in the early-to-mid life of individual worms in an isogenic population inversely correlates with their lifespan, and thus may serve as a lifespan predictor. Long-lived mutant strains with deficits in insulin/IGF-1 signaling or food intake display a reduction in the rate of motor activity decline, suggesting that this parameter might also be used for across-strain comparison of healthspan. Our work identifies an endogenous physiological parameter for lifespan prediction and healthspan comparison.

Novel Function of Phosphoinositide 3-Kinase in T Cell Ca2+ Signaling A PHOSPHATIDYLINOSITOL 3,4,5-TRISPHOSPHATE-MEDIATED Ca2+ ENTRY MECHANISM

This study presents evidence that phosphoinositide (PI) 3-kinase is involved in T cell Ca2+ signaling via a phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate PI(3,4,5)P3-sensitive Ca2+entry pathway. First, exogenous PI(3,4,5)P3 at concentrations close to its physiological levels induces Ca2+ influx in T cells, whereas PI(3,4)P2, PI(4,5)P2, and PI(3)P have no effect on [Ca2+] i . This Ca2+ entry mechanism is cell type-specific as B cells and a number of cell lines examined do not respond to PI(3,4,5)P3 stimulation. Second, inhibition of PI 3-kinase by wortmannin and by overexpression of the dominant negative inhibitor Δp85 suppresses anti-CD3-induced Ca2+response, which could be reversed by subsequent exposure to PI(3,4,5)P3. Third, PI(3,4,5)P3 is capable of stimulating Ca2+ efflux from Ca2+-loaded plasma membrane vesicles prepared from Jurkat T cells, suggesting that PI(3,4,5)P3 interacts with a Ca2+ entry system directly or via a membrane-bound protein. Fourth, although D-myo-inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate (Ins(1,3,4,5)P4) mimics PI(3,4,5)P3 in many aspects of biochemical functions such as membrane binding and Ca2+ transport, we raise evidence that Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 does not play a role in anti-CD3- or PI(3,4,5)P3-mediated Ca2+ entry. This PI(3,4,5)P3-stimulated Ca2+ influx connotes physiological significance, considering the pivotal role of PI 3-kinase in the regulation of T cell function. Given that PI 3-kinase and phospholipase C-γ form multifunctional complexes downstream of many receptor signaling pathways, we hypothesize that PI(3,4,5)P3-induced Ca2+ entry acts concertedly with Ins(1,4,5)P3-induced Ca2+ release in initiating T cell Ca2+ signaling. By using a biotinylated analog of PI(3,4,5)P3 as the affinity probe, we have detected several putative PI(3,4,5)P3-binding proteins in T cell plasma membranes.

Functional aging in the nervous system contributes to age-dependent motor activity decline in C. elegans.

Aging is characterized by a progressive decline in multiple physiological functions (i.e., functional aging). As animals age, they exhibit a gradual loss in motor activity, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Here we approach this question in C. elegans by functionally characterizing its aging nervous system and muscles. We find that motor neurons exhibit a progressive functional decline, beginning in early life. Surprisingly, body-wall muscles, which were previously thought to undergo functional aging, do not manifest such a decline until mid-late life. Notably, motor neurons first develop a deficit in synaptic vesicle fusion followed by that in quantal size and vesicle docking/priming, revealing specific functional deteriorations in synaptic transmission. Pharmacological stimulation of synaptic transmission can improve motor activity in aged animals. These results uncover a critical role for the nervous system in age-dependent motor activity decline in C. elegans and provide insights into how functional aging occurs in this organism.

Drr-2 encodes an eIF4H that acts downstream of TOR in diet-restriction-induced longevity of C. elegans

Dietary restriction (DR) results in a robust increase in lifespan while maintaining the physiology of much younger animals in a wide range of species. Here, we examine the role of drr‐2, a DR‐responsive gene recently identified, in determining the longevity of Caenorhabditis elegans. Inhibition of drr‐2 has been shown to increase longevity. However, the molecular mechanisms by which drr‐2 influences longevity remain unknown. We report here that drr‐2 encodes an ortholog of human eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4H (eIF4H), whose function is to mediate the initiation step of mRNA translation. The molecular function of DRR‐2 is validated by the association of DRR‐2 with polysomes and by the decreased rate of protein synthesis observed in drr‐2 knockdown animals. Previous studies have also suggested that DR might trigger a regulated reduction in drr‐2 expression to initiate its longevity response. By examining the effect of increasing drr‐2 expression on DR animals, we find that drr‐2 is essential for a large portion of the longevity response to DR. The nutrient‐sensing target of rapamycin (TOR) pathway has been shown to mediate the longevity effects of DR in C. elegans. Results from our genetic analyses suggest that eIF4H/DRR‐2 functions downstream of TOR, but in parallel to the S6K/PHA‐4 pathway to mediate the lifespan effects of DR. Together, our findings reveal an important role for eIF4H/drr‐2 in the TOR‐mediated longevity responses to DR.

C. elegans SIRT6/7 Homolog SIR-2.4 Promotes DAF-16 Relocalization and Function during Stress

FoxO transcription factors and sirtuin family deacetylases regulate diverse biological processes, including stress responses and longevity. Here we show that the Caenorhabditis elegans sirtuin SIR-2.4—homolog of mammalian SIRT6 and SIRT7 proteins—promotes DAF-16–dependent transcription and stress-induced DAF-16 nuclear localization. SIR-2.4 is required for resistance to multiple stressors: heat shock, oxidative insult, and proteotoxicity. By contrast, SIR-2.4 is largely dispensable for DAF-16 nuclear localization and function in response to reduced insulin/IGF-1-like signaling. Although acetylation is known to regulate localization and activity of mammalian FoxO proteins, this modification has not been previously described on DAF-16. We find that DAF-16 is hyperacetylated in sir-2.4 mutants. Conversely, DAF-16 is acetylated by the acetyltransferase CBP-1, and DAF-16 is hypoacetylated and constitutively nuclear in response to cbp-1 inhibition. Surprisingly, a SIR-2.4 catalytic mutant efficiently rescues the DAF-16 localization defect in sir-2.4 null animals. Acetylation of DAF-16 by CBP-1 in vitro is inhibited by either wild-type or mutant SIR-2.4, suggesting that SIR-2.4 regulates DAF-16 acetylation indirectly, by preventing CBP-1-mediated acetylation under stress conditions. Taken together, our results identify SIR-2.4 as a critical regulator of DAF-16 specifically in the context of stress responses. Furthermore, they reveal a novel role for acetylation, modulated by the antagonistic activities of CBP-1 and SIR-2.4, in modulating DAF-16 localization and function.

Enhanced Energy Metabolism Contributes to the Extended Life Span of Calorie-restricted Caenorhabditis elegans

Background: How energy metabolism contributes to the extended life span of calorie-restricted animals remains an enigma. Results: We identified enhanced fuel oxidation and a preference of fatty acids as the major energy source in calorie-restricted nematodes. Conclusion: Enhanced fuel utilization rather than total ingested calories contributes to the beneficial effects of calorie restriction. Significance: Enhanced fuel oxidation to extend life span is a conserved mechanism across phylogeny. Caloric restriction (CR) markedly extends life span and improves the health of a broad number of species. Energy metabolism fundamentally contributes to the beneficial effects of CR, but the underlying mechanisms that are responsible for this effect remain enigmatic. A multidisciplinary approach that involves quantitative proteomics, immunochemistry, metabolic quantification, and life span analysis was used to determine how CR, which occurs in the Caenorhabditis elegans eat-2 mutants, modifies energy metabolism of the worm, and whether the observed modifications contribute to the CR-mediated physiological responses. A switch to fatty acid metabolism as an energy source and an enhanced rate of energy metabolism by eat-2 mutant nematodes were detected. Life span analyses validated the important role of these previously unknown alterations of energy metabolism in the CR-mediated longevity of nematodes. As observed in mice, the overexpression of the gene for the nematode analog of the cytosolic form of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase caused a marked extension of the life span in C. elegans, presumably by enhancing energy metabolism via an altered rate of cataplerosis of tricarboxylic acid cycle anions. We conclude that an increase, not a decrease in fuel consumption, via an accelerated oxidation of fuels in the TCA cycle is involved in life span regulation; this mechanism may be conserved across phylogeny.

Integrin-linked kinase modulates longevity and thermotolerance in C. elegans through neuronal control of HSF-1

Integrin‐signaling complexes play important roles in cytoskeletal organization and cell adhesion in many species. Components of the integrin‐signaling complex have been linked to aging in both Caenorhabditis elegans and Drosophila melanogaster, but the mechanism underlying this function is unknown. Here, we investigated the role of integrin‐linked kinase (ILK), a key component of the integrin‐signaling complex, in lifespan determination. We report that genetic reduction of ILK in both C. elegans and Drosophila increased resistance to heat stress, and led to lifespan extension in C. elegans without majorly affecting cytoskeletal integrity. In C. elegans, longevity and thermotolerance induced by ILK depletion was mediated by heat‐shock factor‐1 (HSF‐1), a major transcriptional regulator of the heat‐shock response (HSR). Reduction in ILK levels increased hsf‐1 transcription and activation, and led to enhanced expression of a subset of genes with roles in the HSR. Moreover, induction of HSR‐related genes, longevity and thermotolerance caused by ILK reduction required the thermosensory neurons AFD and interneurons AIY, which are known to play a critical role in the canonical HSR. Notably, ILK was expressed in neighboring neurons, but not in AFD or AIY, implying that ILK reduction initiates cell nonautonomous signaling through thermosensory neurons to elicit a noncanonical HSR. Our results thus identify HSF‐1 as a novel effector of the organismal response to reduced ILK levels and show that ILK inhibition regulates HSF‐1 in a cell nonautonomous fashion to enhance stress resistance and lifespan in C. elegans.

Celecoxib extends C. elegans lifespan via inhibition of insulin-like signaling but not cyclooxygenase-2 activity

One goal of aging research is to develop interventions that combat age‐related illnesses and slow aging. Although numerous mutations have been shown to achieve this in various model organisms, only a handful of chemicals have been identified to slow aging. Here, we report that celecoxib, a nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drug widely used to treat pain and inflammation, extends Caenorhabditis elegans lifespan and delays the age‐associated physiological changes, such as motor activity decline. Celecoxib also delays the progression of age‐related proteotoxicity as well as tumor growth in C. elegans. Celecoxib was originally developed as a potent cyclooxygenase‐2 (COX‐2) inhibitor. However, the result from a structural–activity analysis demonstrated that the antiaging effect of celecoxib might be independent of its COX‐2 inhibitory activity, as analogs of celecoxib that lack COX‐2 inhibitory activity produce a similar effect on lifespan. Furthermore, we found that celecoxib acts directly on 3′‐phosphoinositide‐dependent kinase‐1, a component of the insulin/IGF‐1 signaling cascade to increase lifespan.

Identification of Multiple Phosphoinositide-specific Phospholipases D as New Regulatory Enzymes for Phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-Trisphosphate

In the course of delineating the regulatory mechanism underlying phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate (PI(3,4,5)P3) metabolism, we have discovered three distinct phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase D (PI-PLD) isozymes from rat brain, tentatively designated as PI-PLDa, PI-PLDb, and PI-PLDc. These enzymes convert [3H]PI(3,4,5)P3 to generate a novel inositol phosphate, d-myo-[3H]inositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate ([3H]Ins(3,4,5)P3) and phosphatidic acid. These isozymes are predominantly associated with the cytosol, a notable difference from phosphatidylcholine PLDs. They are partially purified by a three-step procedure consisting of DEAE, heparin, and Sephacryl S-200 chromatography. PI-PLDa and PI-PLDb display a high degree of substrate specificity for PI(3,4,5)P3, with a relative potency of PI(3,4,5)P3 ≫ phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate (PI(3)P) or phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate (PI(4)P) > phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PI(4,5)P2) > phosphatidylinositol 3,4-bisphosphate (PI(3,4)P2). In contrast, PI-PLDc preferentially utilizes PI(3)P as substrate, followed by, in sequence, PI(3,4,5)P3, PI(4)P, PI(3,4)P2, and PI(4,5)P2. Both PI(3,4)P2 and PI(4,5)P2 are poor substrates for all three isozymes, indicating that the regulatory mechanisms underlying these phosphoinositides are different from that of PI(3,4,5)P3. None of these enzymes reacts with phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylserine, or phosphatidylethanolamine. All three PI-PLDs are Ca2+-dependent. Among them, PI-PLDb and PI-PLDc show maximum activities within a sub-μm range (0.3 and 0.9 μmCa2+, respectively), whereas PI-PLDa exhibits an optimal [Ca2+] at 20 μm. In contrast to PC-PLD, Mg2+ has no significant effect on the enzyme activity. All three enzymes require sodium deoxycholate for optimal activities; other detergents examined including Triton X-100 and Nonidet P-40 are, however, inhibitory. In addition, PI(4,5)P2 stimulates these isozymes in a dose-dependent manner. Enhancement in the enzyme activity is noted only when the molar ratio of PI(4,5)P2 to PI(3,4,5)P3 is between 1:1 and 2:1.