Fawzia Bardag-Gorce

Mapping the murine cardiac 26S proteasome complexes

The importance of proteasomes in governing the intracellular protein degradation process has been increasingly recognized. Recent investigations indicate that proteasome complexes may exist in a species- and cell-type–specific fashion. To date, despite evidence linking impaired protein degradation to cardiac disease phenotypes, virtually nothing is known regarding the molecular composition, function, or regulation of cardiac proteasomes. We have taken a functional proteomic approach to characterize 26S proteasomes in the murine heart. Multidimensional chromatography was used to obtain highly purified and functionally viable cardiac 20S and 19S proteasome complexes, which were subjected to electrophoresis and tandem mass spectrometry analyses. Our data revealed complex molecular organization of cardiac 26S proteasomes, some of which are similar to what were reported in yeast, whereas others exhibit contrasting features that have not been previously identified in other species or cell types. At least 36 distinct subunits (17 of 20S and 19 of 19S) are coexpressed and assembled as 26S proteasomes in this vital cardiac organelle, whereas the expression of PA200 and 11S subunits were detected with limited participation in the 26S complexes. The 19S subunits included a new alternatively spliced isoform of Rpn10 (Rpn10b) along with its primary isoform (Rpn10a). Immunoblotting and immunocytochemistry verified the expression of key &agr; and &bgr; subunits in cardiomyocytes. The expression of 14 constitutive &agr; and &bgr; subunits in parallel with their three inducible subunits (&bgr;1i, &bgr;2i, and &bgr;5i) in the normal heart was not expected; these findings represent a distinct level of structural complexity of cardiac proteasomes, significantly different from that of yeast and human erythrocytes. Furthermore, liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectroscopy characterized 3 distinct types of post-translational modifications including (1) N-terminal acetylation of 19S subunits (Rpn1, Rpn5, Rpn6, Rpt3, and Rpt6) and 20S subunits (&agr;2, &agr;5, &agr;7, &bgr;3, and &bgr;4); (2) N-terminal myristoylation of a 19S subunit (Rpt2); and (3) phosphorylation of 20S subunits (eg, &agr;7)). Taken together, this report presents the first comprehensive characterization of cardiac 26S proteasomes, providing critical structural and proteomic information fundamental to our future understanding of this essential protein degradation system in the normal and diseased myocardium.

Regulation of Murine Cardiac 20S Proteasomes. Role of Associating Partners

Our recent studies have provided a proteomic blueprint of the 26S proteasome complexes in the heart, among which 20S proteasomes were found to contain cylinder-shaped structures consisting of both α and β subunits. These proteasomes exhibit a number of features unique to the myocardium, including striking differences in post-translational modifications (PTMs) of individual subunits and novel PTMs that have not been previously reported. To date, mechanisms contributing to the regulation of this myocardial proteolytic core system remain largely undefined; in particular, little is known regarding PTM-dependent regulation of cardiac proteasomes. In this investigation, we seek to elucidate the function and regulation of 20S proteasome complexes in the heart. Functionally viable murine cardiac 20S proteasomes were purified. Tandem mass spectrometry analyses, combined with native gel electrophoresis, immunoprecipitation, and immunoblotting, revealed the identification of 2 previously unrecognized functional partners in the endogenous intact cardiac 20S complexes: protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A), and protein kinase A (PKA). Furthermore, our results demonstrated that PP2A and PKA profoundly impact the proteolytic function of 20S proteasomes: phosphorylation of 20S complexes enhances the peptidase activity of individual subunits in a substrate-specific fashion. Moreover, inhibition of PP2A or the addition of PKA significantly modified both the serine- and threonine-phosphorylation profile of proteasomes; multiple individual subunits of 20S (eg, α1 and β2) were targets of PP2A and PKA. Taken together, these studies provide the first demonstration that the function of cardiac 20S proteasomes is modulated by associating partners and that phosphorylation may serve as a key mechanism for regulation.

FAT10 IS AN EPIGENETIC MARKER FOR LIVER PRENEOPLASIA IN A DRUG-PRIMED MOUSE MODEL OF TUMORIGENESIS

There is clinical evidence that chronic liver diseases in which MDBs (Mallory Denk Bodies) form progress to hepatocellular carcinoma. The present study provides evidence that links MDB formation induced by chronic drug injury, with preneoplasia and later to the formation of tumors, which develop long after drug withdrawal. Evidence indicated that this link was due to an epigenetic cellular memory induced by chronic drug ingestion. Microarray analysis showed that the expressions of many markers of preneoplasia (UBD, Alpha Fetoprotein, KLF6 and glutathione-S-transferase mu2) were increased together when the drug DDC was refed. These changes were suppressed by S-adenosylmethionine feeding, indicating that the drug was affecting DNA and histones methylation in an epigenetic manner. The link between MDB formation and neoplasia formation was likely due to the over expression of UBD (also called FAT10), which is up regulated in 90% of human hepatocellular carcinomas. Immunohistochemical staining of drug-primed mouse livers showed that FAT10 positive liver cells persisted up to 4 months after drug withdrawal and they were still found in the livers of mice, 14 months after drug withdrawal. The refeeding of DDC increased the percent of FAT10 hepatocytes.

S‐adenosylmethionine prevents mallory denk body formation in drug‐primed mice by inhibiting the epigenetic memory

In previous studies, microarray analysis of livers from mice fed diethyl‐1,4‐dihydro‐2,4,6‐trimethyl‐3,5‐pyridine decarboxylate (DDC) for 10 weeks followed by 1 month of drug withdrawal (drug‐primed mice) and then 7 days of drug refeeding showed an increase in the expression of numerous genes referred to here as the molecular cellular memory. This memory predisposes the liver to Mallory Denk body formation in response to drug refeeding. In the current study, drug‐primed mice were refed DDC with or without a daily dose of S‐adenosylmethionine (SAMe; 4 g/kg of body weight). The livers were studied for evidence of oxidative stress and changes in gene expression with microarray analysis. SAMe prevented Mallory Denk body formation in vivo. The molecular cellular memory induced by DDC refeeding lasted for 4 months after drug withdrawal and was not manifest when SAMe was added to the diet in the in vivo experiment. Liver cells from drug‐primed mice spontaneously formed Mallory Denk bodies in primary tissue cultures. SAMe prevented Mallory Denk bodies when it was added to the culture medium. Conclusion: SAMe treatment prevented Mallory Denk body formation in vivo and in vitro by preventing the expression of a molecular cellular memory induced by prior DDC feeding. No evidence for the involvement of oxidative stress in induction of the memory was found. The molecular memory included the up‐regulation of the expression of genes associated with the development of liver cell preneoplasia. (HEPATOLOGY 2007.) (This is a corrected version of the abstract first published online on 20 December 2007 — the corrected version appears in print.)

PROTECTIVE EFFECT OF QUERCETIN, EGCG, CATECHIN AND BETAINE AGAINST OXIDATIVE STRESS INDUCED BY ETHANOL IN VITRO

There is a need for a nontoxic antioxidant agent to be identified which will prevent alcoholic liver disease (ALD) in alcoholic patients. We tested 4 candidate agents: quercetin, EGCG, catechin and betaine, all of which occur naturally in food. HepG2 cells overexpressing CYP2E1 were subjected to arachidonic acid, iron and 100mM ethanol with or without the antioxidant agent. All the agents prevented oxidative stress and MDA/4HNE formation induced by ethanol, except for EGCG. Catechin prevented CYP2E1 induction by ethanol. All the agents tended to down-regulate the ethanol-induced increased expression of glutathionine peroxidase 4 (GPX4). All the agents, except catechin, tended to reduce the expression of SOD2 induced by ethanol. Heat shock protein 70 was up-regulated by ethanol alone and betaine tended to prevent this. All 4 agents down-regulated the expression of Gadd45b in the presence of ethanol, which could explain the mechanism of DNA demethylation associated with the up-regulation of the gene expression observed in experimental ALD. In conclusion, the in vitro model of oxidative stress induced by ethanol provided evidence that all 4 agents tested prevented some aspect of liver cell injury caused by ethanol.

Heat shock proteins are present in mallory bodies (cytokeratin aggresomes) in human liver biopsy specimens

Mallory bodies (MBs) are aggresomes, composed of cytokeratin and various other proteins, which form in diseased liver because of disruption in the ubiquitin-proteasome protein degradation pathway. Heat shock proteins (hsps) are thought to be involved in this process because it was discovered that MB formation is induced by heat shock in drug-primed mice. It has been reported that ubiquitin and a mutant form of ubiquitin (UBB(+1)) are found in aggresomes formed in the neurons in Alzheimers disease and in the liver MBs in various liver diseases. In addition, hsp 70 has been found in aggresomes in Alzheimers and in MBs in drug-primed mice. Therefore, we hypothesized that hsps might be involved in MB formation in human liver diseases. Liver biopsy sections were double-stained using ubiquitin and hsp 70 or 90b antibodies. Both hsps 70 and 90b were found in MBs in all liver diseases investigated including primary billiary cirrhosis, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, hepatitis B and C, idiopathic cirrhosis, alcoholic hepatitis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Ubiquitin and the hsps colocalized in all MBs in the diseased liver sections. These results indicate that hsp involvement in MB formation is similar to that seen in aggresome formation in other conformational diseases.

Betaine prevents Mallory-Denk body formation in drug-primed mice by epigenetic mechanisms

Previous studies showed that S-Adenosylmethionine (SAMe) prevented MDB formation and the hypomethylation of histones induced by DDC feeding. These results suggest that formation of MDBs is an epigenetic phenomenon. To further test this theory, drug-primed mice were fed the methyl donor, betaine, together with DDC, which was refed for 7 days. Betaine significantly reduced MDB formation, decreased the liver/body weight ratio and decreased the number of FAT10 positive liver cells when they proliferate in response to DDC refeeding. Betaine also significantly prevented the decreased expression of BHMT, AHCY, MAT1a and GNMT and the increased expression of MTHFR, caused by DDC refeeding. S-Adenosylhomocysteine (SAH) levels were reduced by DDC refeeding and this was prevented by betaine. The results support the concept that betaine donates methyl groups, increasing methionine available in the cell. SAMe metabolism was reduced by the decrease in GNMT expression, which prevented the conversion of SAMe to SAH. As a consequence, betaine prevented MDB formation and FAT10 positive cell proliferation by blocking the epigenetic memory expressed by hepatocytes. The results further support the concept that MDB formation is the result of an epigenetic phenomenon, where a change in methionine metabolism causes global gene expression changes in hepatocytes.

The mechanism of cytokeratin aggresome formation: the role of mutant ubiquitin (UBB+1)

Aggresome formation in cells involves the failure of the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway to dispose of proteins destined for degradation by the 26S proteasome. UBB(+1) is present in Mallory bodies in alcoholic liver disease and in aggresomes formed in Alzheimers desease. The present investigation focuses on the role that UBB(+1) plays in cytokeratin aggresome formation in Mallory bodies (MBs) in vitro. Immunoprecipitation with a monoclonal antibody to cytokeratin-8 (CK-8) was used. The immunoprecipitate was incubated for 24 h in the presence of different constituents involved in aggresome formation including ubiquitin, UBB(+1), the proteasome inhibitor PS341, an ATP generating energy source, a deubiquitinating enzyme inhibitor, a purified proteasome fraction, and an E(1-3) conjugating enzyme fraction. MB-like protein aggregates formed in the presence of ubiquitin, plus UBB(+1) or PS341. These aggregates stained positively for CK-8. UBB(+1), and a proteasome subunit Tbp7, as demonstrated on Western blots. A second approach was used to form MBs in vitro in cultured hepatocytes transfected with UBB(+1) protein using Chariot. The cells were double stained using CK-8 and ubiquitin antibodies. The two proteins colocalized in MB-like aggregates. The results support the possibility that aggresome formation is a complex multifactor process, which is favored by inhibition of the proteasome and by the presence of UBB(+1).

Chronic Ethanol Feeding Alters Hepatocyte Memory Which is not Altered by Acute Feeding

BACKGROUND Gene expression changes in the liver after acute binge drinking may differ from the changes seen in chronic ethanol feeding in the rat. The changes in gene expression after chronic ethanol feeding may sensitize the liver to alcohol-induced liver damage, which is not seen after acute binge drinking. METHODS To test this hypothesis, gene microarray analysis was performed on the livers of rats (n = 3) fed an acute binge dose of ethanol (6 g/kg body wt) and killed at 3 and 12 hours after ethanol by gavage. The gene microarrays were compared with those made on the liver of rats from a previous study, in which the rats were fed ethanol by intragastric tube for 1 month (36% of calories derived from ethanol). RESULTS Microarray analysis data varied between the acute and chronic models in several important respects. Growth factors increased mainly in the chronic alcohol fed rat. Changes in enzymes involved in oxidative stress were noted only with chronic ethanol feeding. Gene expression of fat metabolism was increased only with chronic ethanol feeding. Most importantly, epigenetic related enzymes and acetylation and methylation of histones changed only after chronic ethanol feeding. CONCLUSIONS The results support the concept that chronic ethanol ingestion induces altered gene expression as a result of changes in epigenetic mechanisms, where acetylation and methylation of histones were altered.

SIRT1 IS INVOLVED IN ENERGY METABOLISM: THE ROLE OF CHRONIC ETHANOL FEEDING AND RESVERATROL

Sirt1, a deacetylase involved in regulating energy metabolism in response to calorie restriction, is up regulated after chronic ethanol feeding using the intragastric feeding model of alcohol liver disease. PGC1 alpha is also up regulated in response to ethanol. These changes are consistent with activation of the Sirt1/PGC1 alpha pathway of metabolism and aging, involved in alcohol liver disease including steatosis, necrosis and fibrosis of the liver. To test this hypothesis, male rats fed ethanol intragastrically for 1 month were compared with rats fed ethanol plus resveratrol or naringin. Liver histology showed macrovesicular steatosis caused by ethanol and this change was unchanged by resveratrol or naringin treatment. Necrosis occurred with ethanol alone but was accentuated by resveratrol treatment, as was fibrosis. The expression of Sirt1 and PGC1 alpha was increased by ethanol but not when naringin or resveratrol was fed with ethanol. Sirt3 was also up regulated by ethanol but not when resveratrol was fed with ethanol. These results support the concept that ethanol induces the Sirt1/PGC1 alpha pathway of gene regulation and both naringin and resveratrol prevent the activation of this pathway by ethanol. However, resveratrol did not reduce the liver pathology caused by chronic ethanol feeding.