Christopher J. Nelsen

Evidence That Cyclin D1 Mediates Both Growth and Proliferation Downstream of TOR in Hepatocytes

Signaling through the target of rapamycin is required for increased protein synthesis, cell growth, and proliferation in response to growth factors. However, the downstream mediators of these responses, and the elements linking growth and proliferation, have not been fully elucidated. Rapamycin inhibits hepatocyte proliferation in culture and liver regenerationin vivo. In cultured rat hepatocytes, rapamycin prevented the up-regulation of cyclin D1 as well as proteins acting downstream in the cell cycle. Transfection with cyclin D1 or E2F2, but not cyclin E or activated Akt, overcame the rapamycin-mediated cell cycle arrest. Rapamycin also inhibited the induction of global protein synthesis after growth factor stimulation, and cyclin D1 overcame this inhibition. Rapamycin inhibited hepatocyte proliferation and cyclin D1 expression in the mouse liver after 70% partial hepatectomy. In rapamycin-treated mice, transfection with cyclin D1 induced hepatocyte proliferation, increased hepatocyte cell size, and promoted growth of the liver. These results suggest that cyclin D1 is a key mediator of increased protein synthesis, cell growth, and proliferation downstream of target of rapamycin in mitogen-stimulated hepatocytes.

Induction of hepatocyte proliferation and liver hyperplasia by the targeted expression of cyclin E and skp2

Cells in culture become competent to replicate in the absence of growth factor after progressing beyond the late G1 restriction point, suggesting that a set of genes expressed during G1 phase is sufficient to trigger completion of the cell cycle. However, this has not been demonstrated in an in vivo system. In this study, we examined whether transfection of genes associated with the G1/S transition could trigger hepatocyte replication. Co-transfection of cyclin E and skp2 synergistically promoted cell cycle progression in cultured primary hepatocytes in the absence of mitogen or in the presence of growth inhibitors. Furthermore, transfection of hepatocytes in vivo with cyclin E and skp2 promoted abundant hepatocyte replication and hyperplasia of the liver. These studies confirm that transfection with a small number of genes can trigger proliferation of quiescent hepatocytes in vivo, and suggest that therapies to enhance liver regeneration by targeting cell cycle control genes may be feasible.

Distinct proliferative and transcriptional effects of the D-type cyclins in vivo.

The D-type cyclins (D1, D2, and D3) are components of the cell cycle machinery and govern progression through G1 phase in response to extracellular signals. Although these proteins are highly homologous and conserved in evolution, they contain distinct structural motifs and are differentially regulated in various cell types. Cyclin D1 appears to play a role in many different types of cancer, whereas cyclins D2 and D3 are less frequently associated with malignancy. In this study, we transiently expressed cyclin D1, D2, or D3 in hepatocytes and analyzed transcriptional networks regulated by each. All three D-type cyclins promoted robust hepatocyte proliferation and marked liver growth, although cyclin D3 stimulated less DNA synthesis than D1 or D2. Accordingly, the three D-type cyclins similarly activated genes associated with cell division. Cyclin D1 regulated transcriptional pathways involved in the metabolism of carbohydrates, lipids, amino acids, and other substrates, whereas cyclin D2 did not regulate these pathways despite having an equivalent effect on proliferation. Comparison of transcriptional profiles following 70% partial hepatectomy and cyclin D1 transduction revealed a highly significant overlap, suggesting that cyclin D1 may regulate diverse cellular processes in the regenerating liver. In summary, these studies provide the first comparative analysis of the transcriptional networks regulated by the D-type cyclins and provide insight into novel functions of these key cell cycle proteins. Further study of the unique targets of cyclin D1 should provide further insight into its prominent role in proliferation, growth, and cancer.

Akt-mediated Liver Growth Promotes Induction of Cyclin E through a Novel Translational Mechanism and a p21-mediated Cell Cycle Arrest

The control of hepatocyte growth is relevant to the processes of liver regeneration, development, metabolic homeostasis, and cancer. A key component of growth control is the protein kinase Akt, which acts downstream of mitogens and nutrients to affect protein translation and cell cycle progression. In this study, we found that transient transfection of activated Akt triggered a 3-4-fold increase in liver size within days but only minimal hepatocyte proliferation. Akt-induced liver growth was associated with marked up-regulation of cyclin E but not cyclin D1. Analysis of liver polyribosomes demonstrated that the post-transcriptional induction of cyclin E was associated with increased translational efficiency of this mRNA, suggesting that cell growth promotes expression of this protein through a translational mechanism that is distinct from the cyclin D-E2F pathway. Treatment of Akt-transfected mice with rapamycin only partially inhibited liver growth and did not prevent the induction of cyclin E protein, indicating that target of rapamycin activity is not necessary for this response. In the enlarged livers, cyclin E-Cdk2 complexes were present in high abundance but were inactive due to increased binding of p21 to these complexes. Akt transfection of p21-/- mice promoted liver growth, activation of Cdk2, and enhanced hepatocyte proliferation. In conclusion, growth promotes cyclin E expression through a novel translational mechanism in the liver, suggesting a new link between cell growth and the cell cycle machinery. Furthermore, p21 suppresses proliferation in the overgrown livers and may play a role in preventing cell cycle progression in response to organ size homeostatic mechanisms.

Regulation of G1 cyclin-dependent kinases in the liver: role of nuclear localization and p27 sequestration

Recent studies suggest that cyclin D1 mediates progression of hepatocytes through G(1) phase of the cell cycle. The present study further examines the regulation of cyclin D1-dependent kinase activity and the interplay between cyclin D1 and other G(1) phase regulatory proteins during liver regeneration. After 70% partial hepatectomy in rats, there was upregulation of kinase activity associated with cyclins (A, D1, D3, and E), cyclin-dependent kinases (Cdk2 and Cdk4), and Cdk-inhibitory proteins (p27, p107, and p130). Although cyclin D1/Cdk4 complexes were more abundant in the cytoplasmic fraction after partial hepatectomy, kinase activity was detected primarily in the nuclear fraction. Cytoplasmic cyclin D1/Cdk4 complexes were activated by recombinant cyclin H/Cdk7. Because endogenous Cdk7 activity was found in the nucleus, this suggests that activation of cyclin D1/Cdk4 requires nuclear importation and subsequent phosphorylation by cyclin H/Cdk7. Recombinant cyclin E/Cdk2 was inhibited by extracts from quiescent liver, and cyclin D1 could titrate out this inhibitory activity. Induction of cyclin D1 was accompanied by increased abundance of cyclin D1/p27 complexes, and most p27 was sequestered by cyclin D1 after partial hepatectomy. Thus cyclin D1 appears to play two roles during G(1) phase progression in the regenerating liver: it forms a nuclear kinase complex, and it promotes activation of Cdk2 by sequestering inhibitory proteins such as p27. These experiments underscore the complexity of cyclin/Cdk regulatory networks in the regenerating liver.Recent studies suggest that cyclin D1 mediates progression of hepatocytes through G1 phase of the cell cycle. The present study further examines the regulation of cyclin D1-dependent kinase activity and the interplay between cyclin D1 and other G1phase regulatory proteins during liver regeneration. After 70% partial hepatectomy in rats, there was upregulation of kinase activity associated with cyclins (A, D1, D3, and E), cyclin-dependent kinases (Cdk2 and Cdk4), and Cdk-inhibitory proteins (p27, p107, and p130). Although cyclin D1/Cdk4 complexes were more abundant in the cytoplasmic fraction after partial hepatectomy, kinase activity was detected primarily in the nuclear fraction. Cytoplasmic cyclin D1/Cdk4 complexes were activated by recombinant cyclin H/Cdk7. Because endogenous Cdk7 activity was found in the nucleus, this suggests that activation of cyclin D1/Cdk4 requires nuclear importation and subsequent phosphorylation by cyclin H/Cdk7. Recombinant cyclin E/Cdk2 was inhibited by extracts from quiescent liver, and cyclin D1 could titrate out this inhibitory activity. Induction of cyclin D1 was accompanied by increased abundance of cyclin D1/p27 complexes, and most p27 was sequestered by cyclin D1 after partial hepatectomy. Thus cyclin D1 appears to play two roles during G1 phase progression in the regenerating liver: it forms a nuclear kinase complex, and it promotes activation of Cdk2 by sequestering inhibitory proteins such as p27. These experiments underscore the complexity of cyclin/Cdk regulatory networks in the regenerating liver.

Cdk2 plays a critical role in hepatocyte cell cycle progression and survival in the setting of cyclin D1 expression in vivo.

Cdk2 was once believed to play an essential role in cell cycle progression, but cdk2-/- mice have minimal phenotypic abnormalities. In this study, we examined the role of cdk2 in hepatocyte proliferation, centrosome duplication, and survival. Cdk2-/- hepatocytes underwent mitosis and had normal centrosome content after mitogen stimulation. Unlike wild-type cells, cdk2-/- liver cells failed to undergo centrosome overduplication in response to ectopic cyclin D1 expression. After mitogen stimulation in culture or partial hepatectomy in vivo, cdk2-/- hepatocytes demonstrated diminished proliferation. Cyclin D1 is a key mediator of cell cycle progression in hepatocytes, and transient expression of this protein is sufficient to promote robust proliferation of these cells in vivo. In cdk2-/- mice and animals treated with the cdk2 inhibitor seliciclib, cyclin D1 failed to induce hepatocyte cell cycle progression. Surprisingly, cdk2 ablation or inhibition led to massive hepatocyte and animal death following cyclin D1 transfection. In a transgenic model of chronic hepatic cyclin D1 expression, seliciclib induced hepatocyte injury and animal death, suggesting that cdk2 is required for survival of cyclin D1-expressing cells even in the absence of substantial proliferation. In conclusion, our studies demonstrate that cdk2 plays a role in liver regeneration. Furthermore, it is essential for centrosome overduplication, proliferation, and survival of hepatocytes that aberrantly express cyclin D1 in vivo. These studies suggest that cdk2 may warrant further investigation as a target for therapy of liver tumors with constitutive cyclin D1 expression.

Rapamycin-sensitive induction of eukaryotic initiation factor 4F in regenerating mouse liver.

Following acute injuries that diminish functional liver mass, the remaining hepatocytes substantially increase overall protein synthesis to meet increased metabolic demands and to allow for compensatory liver growth. Previous studies have not clearly defined the mechanisms that promote protein synthesis in the regenerating liver. In the current study, we examined the regulation of key proteins involved in translation initiation following 70% partial hepatectomy (PH) in mice. PH promoted the assembly of eukaryotic initiation factor (eIF) 4F complexes consisting of eIF4E, eIF4G, eIF4A1, and poly‐A binding protein. eIF4F complex formation after PH occurred without detectable changes in eIF4E‐binding protein 1 (4E‐BP1) phosphorylation or its binding eIF4E. The amount of serine 1108‐phosphorylated eIF4G (but not Ser209‐phosphorylated eIF4E) was induced following PH. These effects were antagonized by treatment with rapamycin, indicating that target of rapamycin (TOR) activity is required for eIF4F assembly in the regenerating liver. Rapamycin inhibited the induction of cyclin D1, a known eIF4F‐sensitive gene, at the level of protein expression but not messenger RNA (mRNA) expression. In conclusion, increased translation initiation mediated by the mRNA cap‐binding complex eIF4F contributes to the induction of protein synthesis during compensatory liver growth. Further study of factors that regulate translation initiation may provide insight into mechanisms that govern metabolic homeostasis and regeneration in response to liver injury. (HEPATOLOGY 2004;40:537–544.)