Gilles Lalmanach

Voltage-gated Sodium Channel Activity Promotes Cysteine Cathepsin-dependent Invasiveness and Colony Growth of Human Cancer Cells

Voltage-gated sodium channels (NaV) are functionally expressed in highly metastatic cancer cells derived from nonexcitable epithelial tissues (breast, prostate, lung, and cervix). MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells express functional sodium channel complexes, consisting of NaV1.5 and associated auxiliary β-subunits, that are responsible for a sustained inward sodium current at the membrane potential. Although these channels do not regulate cellular multiplication or migration, their inhibition by the specific blocker tetrodotoxin impairs both the extracellular gelatinolytic activity (monitored with DQ-gelatin) and cell invasiveness leading to the attenuation of colony growth and cell spreading in three-dimensional Matrigel®-composed matrices. MDA-MB-231 cells express functional cysteine cathepsins, which we found play a predominant role (∼65%) in cancer invasiveness. Matrigel® invasion is significantly decreased in the presence of specific inhibitors of cathepsins B and S (CA-074 and Z-FL-COCHO, respectively), and co-application of tetrodotoxin does not further reduce cell invasion. This suggests that cathepsins B and S are involved in invasiveness and that their proteolytic activity partly depends on NaV function. Inhibiting NaV has no consequence for cathepsins at the transcription, translation, and secretion levels. However, NaV activity leads to an intracellular alkalinization and a perimembrane acidification favorable for the extracellular activity of these acidic proteases. We propose that Nav enhance the invasiveness of cancer cells by favoring the pH-dependent activity of cysteine cathepsins. This general mechanism could lead to the identification of new targets allowing the therapeutic prevention of metastases.

Pregnancy-Associated Plasma Protein-A Is Involved in Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein-2 (IGFBP-2) Proteolytic Degradation in Bovine and Porcine Preovulatory Follicles: Identification of Cleavage Site and Characterization of IGFBP-2 Degradation

Abstract In mammalian ovaries, terminal follicular growth is accompanied by a decrease in levels of intrafollicular insulin-like growth factor binding protein-2 (IGFBP-2) and IGFBP-4. The decrease in IGFBP-4 is essentially due to an increase in proteolytic degradation by intrafollicular pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) in growing healthy follicles. In contrast, the decrease in IGFBP-2 is partly due to a decrease in mRNA expression by follicular cells and also to an increase in IGFBP-2 proteolytic degradation, as previously shown in ewes and sows. In the present work we show that bovine and porcine preovulatory follicular fluid contains a proteolytic activity that degrades IGFBP-2. Bovine and porcine preovulatory follicular fluids contain undetectable levels of native IGFBP-2 as assessed by Western ligand blotting in comparison with the corresponding serum. In contrast, much higher levels of 23- and 12-kDa proteolytic fragments were found by immunoblotting in bovine and porcine preovulatory follicular fluid than in the corresponding serum. Moreover, bovine and porcine preovulatory follicular fluids were able to induce proteolytic degradation of exogenous IGFBP-2, and this degradation was enhanced by insulin-like growth factors. Intrafollicular IGFBP-2 proteolytic activity was surprisingly immunoneutralized in both species by a polyclonal antibody raised against human PAPP-A. In addition, recombinant human PAPP-A (rhPAPP-A) was able to cleave IGFBP-2 between Gln165 and Met166 in vitro, generating 23- and 12-kDa proteolytic fragments. IGFBP-2 was shown to be less sensitive than IGFBP-4 to cleavage by rhPAPP-A in vitro. As in follicular fluid, cleavage of IGFBP-2 by rhPAPP-A was dose-dependently enhanced by IGFs and inhibited by a peptide derived from the heparin-binding domain of IGFBP-5 (P5). Finally, Biacore analysis showed that P5 peptide-induced inhibition of IGFBP-2 cleavage was due to a direct interaction of P5 with PAPP-A rather than with IGFBP-2. Overall, these data show that in bovine and porcine preovulatory follicles, PAPP-A is responsible for IGF-dependent IGFBP-2 degradation. During follicular growth, the increase in IGFBP-2 cleavage by PAPP-A, as well as the decrease in IGFBP-2 expression, are responsible for the decrease in intact IGFBP-2 levels and the increase in IGF bioavailability. In atretic follicles, the increase and decrease in IGFBP-2 and PAPP-A mRNA expression, respectively, as well as the inhibition of PAPP-A activity by heparin-binding domains present in IGFBP-5 or other proteins, might participate in higher IGFBP-2 levels and a decrease in IGF bioavailability.

CA-074, But Not Its Methyl Ester CA-074Me, Is a Selective Inhibitor of Cathepsin B within Living Cells

Abstract Studies using inhibitors that reportedly discriminate between cathepsin B and related lysosomal cysteine proteinases have implicated the enzyme in a wide range of physiological and pathological processes. The most popular substance to selectively inhibit cathepsin B in vivo is CA-074Me, the methyl ester of the E-64 derivative CA-074. However, we now have found that CA-074Me inactivates both cathepsin B and cathepsin L within murine fibroblasts. In contrast, exposure of these cells to the parental compound CA 074 leads to the selective inhibition of endogenous cathepsin B, while intracellular cathepsin L remains unaffected. These results indicate that CA-074 rather than CA-074Me should be used to specifically inactivate cathepsin B within living cells.

Congopain from Trypanosoma congolense: Drug target and vaccine candidate

Abstract Trypanosomes are the etiological agents of human sleeping sickness and livestock trypanosomosis (nagana), which are major diseases in Africa. Their cysteine proteases (CPs), which are members of the papain family, are expressed during the infective stages of the parasites life cycle. They are suspected to act as pathogenic factors in the mammalian host, where they also trigger prominent immune responses. Trypanosoma congolense, a major pathogenic species in livestock, possesses at least two families of closely related CPs, named CP1 and CP2. Congopain, a CP2-type of enzyme, shares structural and functional resemblances with cruzipain from T. cruzi and with mammalian cathepsin L. Like CPs from other Trypanosomatids, congopain might be an attractive target for trypanocidal drugs. Here we summarise the current knowledge in the two main areas of research on congopain: first, the biochemical properties of congopain were characterised and its substrate specificity was determined, as a first step towards drug design; second, the possibility was being explored that inhibition of congopain by hostspecific antibodies may mitigate the pathology associated with trypanosome infection.

Synthesis of a Biologically Active Triazole‐Containing Analogue of Cystatin A Through Successive Peptidomimetic Alkyne–Azide Ligations

Amide surrogates are common in naturally occurring peptides and in synthetic peptides used in therapy. Whereas backbone-engineered proteins are, to date, extremely laborious to produce by genetic means, the advent of chemoselective peptide chemical ligation reactions paved the way to such complex molecular architectures of considerable potential for protein therapeutics. To date, the most popular strategy to introduce amide bond surrogates in proteins relies on an elaborate combination of 1) solutionphase synthesis to provide a suitably protected pseudo-dipeptide, 2) solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS) to incorporate the modification in a peptide fragment, and 3) native chemical ligation (NCL) to yield a full-length backbone-engineered protein. A valuable alternative for the introduction of amide-bond mimics in proteins would be a peptidomimetic ligation strategy combining in a single step the formation of the amide surrogate, its incorporation in a peptide backbone, and ligation of fragments. Besides the pioneering study on thioester backbone-engineered proteins, only few examples have been reported, including a recent study concerning a ligation of thioacidand aziridine-terminated model peptides, giving a reduced form (Y[CH2NH2]) of an amide bond. To enlarge the palette of the synthetic protein chemist, we envisioned developing a new peptidomimetic ligation prototype that leads to bioactive backbone-modified proteins. Herein, we report for the first time the use of the Cu-mediated cycloaddition of azides and terminal alkynes (CuAAC) for the assembly of unprotected peptide fragments into a bioactive triazole-containing protein.

Immunisation of cattle with cysteine proteinases of Trypanosoma congolense: Targetting the disease rather than the parasite

In order to test the hypothesis that trypanosome cysteine proteinases (CPs) contribute to pathology of trypanosomosis, cattle were immunised with CP1 and/or CP2, the major CPs of Trypanosoma congolense, and subsequently challenged with T. congolense. Immunisation had no effect on the establishment of infection and the development of acute anaemia. However, immunised cattle, unlike control cattle, maintained or gained weight during infection. Their haematocrit and leukocyte counts showed a tendency to recovery after 2-3 months of infection. Cattle immunised with CP2 mounted early and prominent IgG responses to CPs and to the variable surface glycoprotein following challenge. Thus trypanosome CPs may play a role in anaemia and immunosuppression; conversely, anti-CP antibody may modulate the trypanosome-induced pathology.

Active cathepsins B, H, K, L and S in human inflammatory bronchoalveolar lavage fluids

Background information. Chronic inflammation and tissue remodelling result from an imbalance between proteolytic enzymes and their inhibitors in the lungs in favour of proteolysis. While many studies have examined serine proteases (e.g. cathepsin G and neutrophil elastase) and matrix metalloproteases, little is known about the role of papain‐like CPs (cysteine proteases). The present study focuses on the thiol‐dependent cathepsins (CPs) and their specific cystatin‐like inhibitors [CPIs (CP inhibitors)] in human inflammatory BALFs (BAL fluids, where BAL stands for broncho‐alveolar lavage).

The S2 subsites of cathepsins K and L and their contribution to collagen degradation

The exchange of residues 67 and 205 of the S2 pocket of human cysteine cathepsins K and L induces a permutation of their substrate specificity toward fluorogenic peptide substrates. While the cathepsin L‐like cathepsin K (Tyr67Leu/Leu205Ala) mutant has a marked preference for Phe, the Leu67Tyr/Ala205Leu cathepsin L variant shows an effective cathepsin K‐like preference for Leu and Pro. A similar turnaround of inhibition was observed by using specific inhibitors of cathepsin K [1‐(N‐Benzyloxycarbonyl‐leucyl)‐5‐(N‐Boc‐phenylalanyl‐leucyl)carbohydrazide] and cathepsin L [N‐(4‐biphenylacetyl)‐S‐methylcysteine‐(D)‐Arg‐Phe‐β‐phenethylamide]. Molecular modeling studies indicated that mutations alter the character of both S2 and S3 subsites, while docking calculations were consistent with kinetics data. The cathepsin K‐like cathepsin L was unable to mimic the collagen‐degrading activity of cathepsin K against collagens I and II, DQ‐collagens I and IV, and elastin‐Congo Red. In summary, double mutations of the S2 pocket of cathepsins K (Y67L/L205A) and L (L67Y/A205L) induce a switch of their enzymatic specificity toward small selective inhibitors and peptidyl substrates, confirming the key role of residues 67 and 205. However, mutations in the S2 subsite pocket of cathepsin L alone without engineering of binding sites to chondroitin sulfate are not sufficient to generate a cathepsin K‐like collagenase, emphasizing the pivotal role of the complex formation between glycosaminoglycans and cathepsin K for its unique collagenolytic activity.

Cysteine cathepsins S and L modulate anti-angiogenic activities of human endostatin.

Background: Cathepsins participate to the release of endostatin, a potent anti-angiogenic protein. Results: Both cathepsins L and S generate two peptides from human endostatin with increased angiostatic properties. Conclusion: Endostatin-derived peptides reduce tube formation of endothelial cells. Significance: Endostatin-derived peptides may represent novel molecular links between cysteine cathepsins and aminopeptidase N in the regulation of angiogenesis. Human endostatin, a potent anti-angiogenic protein, is generated by release of the C terminus of collagen XVIII. Here, we propose that cysteine cathepsins are involved in both the liberation and activation of bioactive endostatin fragments, thus regulating their anti-angiogenic properties. Cathepsins B, S, and L efficiently cleaved in vitro FRET peptides that encompass the hinge region corresponding to the N terminus of endostatin. However, in human umbilical vein endothelial cell-based assays, silencing of cathepsins S and L, but not cathepsin B, impaired the generation of the ∼22-kDa endostatin species. Moreover, cathepsins L and S released two peptides from endostatin with increased angiostatic properties and both encompassing the NGR sequence, a vasculature homing motif. The G10T peptide (residues 1455–1464: collagen XVIII numbering) displayed compelling anti-proliferative (EC50 = 0.23 nm) and proapoptotic properties. G10T inhibited aminopeptidase N (APN/CD13) and reduced tube formation of endothelial cells in a manner similar to bestatin. Combination of G10T with bestatin resulted in no further increase in anti-angiogenic activity. Taken together, these data suggest that endostatin-derived peptides may represent novel molecular links between cathepsins and APN/CD13 in the regulation of angiogenesis.

Proteolysis of cystatin C by cathepsin D in the breast cancer microenvironment

The aspartic protease cathepsin D, a poor prognostic indicator of breast cancer, is abundantly secreted as procathepsin D by human breast cancer cells and self‐activates at low pH in vitro, giving rise to catalytically active cathepsin D. Due to a lower extracellular pH in tumor microenvironments compared to normal tissues, cathepsin D may cleave pathophysiological substrates contributing to cancer progression. Here, we show by yeast 2‐hybrid and degradomics analyses that cystatin C, the most potent natural secreted inhibitor of cysteine cathepsins, both binds to and is a substrate of extracellular procathepsin D. The amount of cystatin C in the extracellular environment is reduced in the secretome of mouse embryonic fibroblasts stably transfected with human cathepsin D. Cathepsin D extensively cleaved cystatin C in vitro at low pH. Cathepsin D secreted by breast cancer cells also processed cystatin C at the pericellular pH of tumors and so enhancing extracellular proteolytic activity of cysteine cathepsins. Thus, tumor derived cathepsin D assists breast cancer progression by reducing cystatin C activity, which, in turn, enhances cysteine cathepsin proteolytic activity, revealing a new link between protease classes in the protease web.—Laurent‐Matha, V., Huesgen, P. F., Masson, O., Derocq, D., Prébois, C., Gary‐Bobo, M., Lecaille, F., Rebière, B., Meurice, G., Oréar, C., Hollingsworth, R. E., Abrahamson, M., Lalmanach, G., Overall, C. M., Liaudet‐Coopman, E. Proteolysis of cystatin C by cathepsin D in the breast cancer microenvironment. FASEB J. 26, 5172–5181 (2012). www.fasebj.org