Hyunsook Lee

X-gene Product of Hepatitis B Virus Induces Apoptosis in Liver Cells

Hepatitis B virus is a causative agent of hepatocellular carcinoma, and in the course of tumorigenesis, the X-gene product (HBx) is known to play important roles. Here, we investigated the transforming potential of HBx by conventional focus formation assay in NIH3T3 cells. Cells were cotransfected with the HBx expression plasmid along with other oncogenes including Ha-ras, v-src, v-myc, v-fos, and E1a. Unexpectedly, the introduction of HBx completely abrogated the focus-forming ability of all five tested oncogenes. In addition, the cotransfection of Bcl-2, an apoptosis inhibitor, reversed the HBx-mediated inhibition of focus formation, suggesting that the observed repression of focus formation by HBx is through the induction of apoptosis. Next, to test unequivocally whether HBx induces apoptosis in liver cells, we established stable Chang liver cell lines expressing HBx under the control of a tetracycline-inducible promoter. Induction of HBx in these cells in the presence of 1% calf serum resulted in typical apoptosis phenomena such as DNA fragmentation, nuclear condensation, and fragmentation. Based on these results, we propose that HBx sensitizes liver cells to apoptosis upon hepatitis B virus infection, contributing to the development of hepatitis and the subsequent generation of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 1α Plays a Critical Role in PCSK9 Gene Transcription and Regulation by the Natural Hypocholesterolemic Compound Berberine

PCSK9 is a natural inhibitor of LDL receptor (LDLR) that binds the extracellular domain of LDLR and triggers its intracellular degradation. PCSK9 and LDLR are coordinately regulated at the transcriptional level by sterols through their promoter-imbedded sterol response elements (SRE) and co-induced by statins. Identification of regulatory networks modulating PCSK9 transcription is important for developing selective repressors of PCSK9 to improve statin efficacy by prolonging the up-regulation of LDLR. Interestingly, the plant-derived hypocholesterolemic compound berberine (BBR) up-regulates LDLR expression while down-regulating PCSK9. In our investigations to define mechanisms underlying the transcriptional suppression of PCSK9 by BBR in HepG2 cells, we have identified a highly conserved hepatocyte nuclear factor 1 (HNF1) binding site residing 28 bp upstream from SRE as a critical sequence motif for PCSK9 transcription and its regulation by BBR. Mutation of the HNF1 site reduced PCSK9 promoter activity >90%. A battery of functional assays identified HNF1α as the predominant trans-activator for PCSK9 gene working through this sequence motif. We further provide evidence suggesting that HNF1 site works cooperatively with SRE as HNF1 mutation significantly attenuated the activity of nuclear SREBP2 to transactivate PCSK9 promoter. Finally, we show that a coordinate modest reduction of HNF1α and nuclear SREBP2 by BBR led to a strong suppression of PCSK9 transcription through these two critical regulatory sequences. This is the first described example of SREBP pairing with HNF1 to control an important regulatory pathway in cholesterol homeostasis. This work also provides a mechanism for how BBR suppresses PCSK9 transcription.

Dual roles of human BubR1, a mitotic checkpoint kinase, in the monitoring of chromosomal instability

In this study, we show that the formation of polyploidy following sustained mitotic checkpoint activation appears to be preceded by the ubiquitin-dependent proteolysis of hBubR1. In addition, the level of hBubR1 is significantly reduced not only in polyploid cells created by sustained mitotic spindle damage, but also in 21 (31.3%) of 67 human colon adenocarcinomas tested. Importantly, the introduction of hBubR1 triggers the apoptosis of polyploid cells formed by aberrant exit from mitosis and inhibits the growth of tumors established with these cells in athymic nude mice. These results suggest that hBubR1-mediated apoptosis prevents the propagation of cells that breach the mitotic checkpoint and that the control of hBubR1 protein level is an important factor in the acquisition of preneoplastic polyploidy.

BubR1 acetylation at prometaphase is required for modulating APC/C activity and timing of mitosis

Regulation of BubR1 is central to the control of APC/C activity. We have found that BubR1 forms a complex with PCAF and is acetylated at lysine 250. Using mass spectrometry and acetylated BubR1‐specific antibodies, we have confirmed that BubR1 acetylation occurs at prometaphase. Importantly, BubR1 acetylation was required for checkpoint function, through the inhibition of ubiquitin‐dependent BubR1 degradation. BubR1 degradation began before the onset of anaphase. It was noted that the pre‐anaphase degradation was regulated by BubR1 acetylation. Degradation of an acetylation‐mimetic form, BubR1–K250Q, was inhibited and chromosome segregation in cells expressing BubR1–K250Q was markedly delayed. By contrast, the acetylation‐deficient mutant, BubR1–K250R, was unstable, and mitosis was accelerated in BubR1–K250R‐expressing cells. Furthermore, we found that APC/C–Cdc20 was responsible for BubR1 degradation during mitosis. On the basis of our collective results, we propose that the acetylation status of BubR1 is a molecular switch that converts BubR1 from an inhibitor to a substrate of the APC/C complex, thus providing an efficient way to modulate APC/C activity and mitotic timing.

LIME, a Novel Transmembrane Adaptor Protein, Associates with p56lck and Mediates T Cell Activation

In this study, we identify and characterize a novel transmembrane adaptor protein, designated Lck-interacting membrane protein (LIME), as a binding partner of the Lck Src homology (SH)2 domain. LIME possesses a short extracellular domain, a transmembrane domain, and a cytoplasmic tail containing five tyrosine-based motifs. The protein is primarily expressed in hematopoietic cells and lung. Interestingly, LIME expression is up-regulated by TCR stimulation and sustained up to 24 h, suggesting that LIME acts throughout the early to late stages of T cell activation. LIME is localized to membrane rafts and distributed within the T cell–APC contact site. Upon TCR stimulation of Jurkat T cells, LIME associates with Lck as a tyrosine-phosphorylated protein. Experiments using Jurkat T cells expressing CD8–LIME chimera reveal that the protein associates with phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, Grb2, Gads, and SHP2, and activates ERK1/2 and JNK but not p38. Moreover, overexpression of LIME in Jurkat T cells induces transcriptional activation of the IL-2 promoter. Our data collectively show that LIME is a raft-associated transmembrane adaptor protein linking TCR stimuli to downstream signaling pathways via associations with Lck.

Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor-δ Agonist Enhances Vasculogenesis by Regulating Endothelial Progenitor Cells Through Genomic and Nongenomic Activations of the Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase/Akt Pathway

Background— Despite the therapeutic potential of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) in ischemic vascular diseases, their insufficient numbers limit clinical applications. Peroxisome proliferator–activated receptor (PPAR)-&dgr; belongs to the nuclear hormone receptor superfamily, and its functions in various tissues and cells are almost unexplored, especially with respect to vascular biology. Methods and Results— PPAR-&dgr; activation in EPCs phosphorylated Akt, and this phosphorylation was mediated not only by genomic but also by nongenomic pathways through interaction with the regulatory subunit of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase. PPAR-&dgr; activation with agonist (GW501516 or L-165041) increased the proliferation of human EPCs and protected them from hypoxia-induced apoptosis. In addition, PPAR-&dgr; activation enhanced EPC functions, such as transendothelial migration, and tube formation. These actions by PPAR-&dgr; activation in EPCs were dependent on the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt pathway. In ischemic hindlimb of mice models, transplantation of PPAR-&dgr; agonist–treated human or mouse EPCs enhanced blood flow recovery to ischemic limbs compared with vehicle-treated EPCs. In EPCs from PPAR-&dgr;–knockout mice, however, treatment with PPAR-&dgr; agonist did not enhance in vivo vasculogenic potential. Systemic administration of PPAR-&dgr; agonist increased hematopoietic stem cells in bone marrow and EPCs in peripheral blood, leading to improved vasculogenesis with incorporation of bone marrow–derived cells to new vessels in a corneal neovascularization model and limb salvage with better blood flow in an ischemic hindlimb model. Conclusions— The results of our study suggest that PPAR-&dgr; agonist has therapeutic vasculogenic potential for the treatment of ischemic cardiovascular diseases.

Akt is a key modulator of endothelial progenitor cell trafficking in ischemic muscle.

Trafficking of transplanted endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) to ischemic tissue is enhanced by stromal‐derived factor 1 (SDF‐1) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). However, it has not been studied how these cytokines modulate the local milieu to entrap EPCs. This study was performed to elucidate a molecular pathway of trafficking EPCs through Akt and to test its application as an adjuvant modality to increase EPC homing. In a mouse hind limb ischemia model, systemically administered 1,1′‐dioctadecyl‐3,3,3′,3′‐tetramethylindocarbocyanine‐labeled mouse EPCs showed three stages of homing to ischemic limb: adhesion to endothelial cells (ECs), incorporation to capillary, and transendothelial migration into extravascular space. As an underlying mechanism to control adhesion of EPCs to ECs, we found that Akt was activated in ECs of ischemic muscle by ischemia‐induced VEGF and SDF‐1. In vitro and in vivo experiments using adenoviral vector for constitutively active or dominant‐negative Akt genes showed that activated Akt enhanced intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM‐1) expression on ECs. Akt activation in ECs also enhanced EPC incorporation to ECs and transendothelial migration in vitro experiments. Activated Akt was sufficient for induction of EPC homing even in normal hind limb, where VEGF or SDF‐1 was not increased. Finally, local Akt gene transfer to ischemic limb significantly enhanced homing of systemically administered EPCs, new vessel formation, blood flow recovery, and tissue healing. Akt plays a key role in EPC homing to ischemic limb by controlling ICAM‐1 and transendothelial migration. Modulation of Akt in the target tissue may be an adjunctive measure to enhance homing of systemically administered stem cells, suggesting a possibility of cell‐and‐gene hybrid therapy.

BRCA2 Fine-Tunes the Spindle Assembly Checkpoint through Reinforcement of BubR1 Acetylation

Germline mutations that inactivate BRCA2 promote early-onset cancer with chromosome instability. Here, we report that BRCA2 regulates the spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC). Previously, we reported that BubR1 acetylation is essential for SAC activity. In this study we show that BRCA2 recruits the PCAF acetyltransferase and aids in BubR1 acetylation during mitosis. In the absence of BRCA2, BubR1 acetylation is abolished, and the level of BubR1 decreases during mitosis. Similarly, Brca2-deficient mouse embryonic fibroblasts exhibited weak SAC activity. Transgenic mice that were engineered to have interruptions in the BRCA2-BubR1 association exhibited marked decrease of BubR1 acetylation, weakened SAC activity, and aneuploidy. These transgenic mice developed spontaneous tumors at 40% penetrance. Moreover, immunohistochemical analyses of human breast cancer specimens suggested that BRCA2 mutation and BubR1 status is closely linked. Our results provide an explanation for how mutation of BRCA2 can lead to chromosome instability without apparent mutations in SAC components.

BubR1 as a prognostic marker for recurrence-free survival rates in epithelial ovarian cancers

Background:Epithelial ovarian cancer is one of the most lethal malignancies, and has a high recurrence rate. Thus, prognostic markers for recurrence are crucial for the care of ovarian cancer. As ovarian cancers frequently exhibit chromosome instability, we aimed at assessing the prognostic significance of two key mitotic kinases, BubR1 and Aurora A.Methods:We analysed paraffin-embedded tissue sections from 160 ovarian cancer patients whose clinical outcomes had been tracked after first-line treatment.Results:The median recurrence-free survival in patients with a positive and negative expression of BubR1 was 27 and 83 months, respectively (P<0.001). A positive BubR1 expression was also associated with advanced stage, serous histology and high grade. In contrast, Aurora A immunostaining did not correlate with any of the clinical parameters analysed.Conclusion:BubR1, but not Aurora A, is a prognostic marker for recurrence-free survival rates in epithelial ovarian cancers.

Loss of BubR1 acetylation causes defects in spindle assembly checkpoint signaling and promotes tumor formation

Failure of chromosome–spindle attachment and a weakened spindle assembly checkpoint lead to genetic instability and cancer in mice expressing acetylation-deficient BubR1.