Juqiang Lin

Real-time detection of caspase-2 activation in a single living HeLa cell during cisplatin-induced apoptosis

Caspase-2 is important for the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway, however, the mechanism by which caspase-2 executes apoptosis remains obscure. We carry out the first measurements of the dynamics of caspase-2 activation in a single living cell by a FRET (fluorescence resonance energy transfer) probe. Two FRET probes are constructed that each encoded a CRS (caspase-2 or caspase-3 recognition site) fused with a cyan fluorescent protein (CFP) and a red fluorescent protein (DsRed) (CFP-CRS-DsRed). Using these probes, we found that during cisplatin-induced apoptosis, caspase-2 activation occurred more slowly than did activation of caspase-3; additionally, caspase-2 activation was initiated much earlier than that of caspase-3.

Fluorescence imaging to assess the matrix metalloproteinase activity and its inhibitor in vivo.

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a kind of secretory proteinases. Degradation of the extracellular matrix (ECM) by MMPs enhances tumor invasion and metastasis. To monitor MMPs activity and assess the MMP inhibitor effects in vivo, we constructed a plasmid that encoded a secretory fluorescent sensor named DMC (DsRed2-MSS-CFP expressed from pDisplay vector) that DsRed2 and cyan fluorescent protein (CFP) linked by MMP substrate site (MSS). MDA-MB 435s cells highly expressing endogenetic secretory MMP were transfected with the DMC plasmid so that the DMC could be cleaved by endogenetic MMP and the fluorescence ratio of DsRed2 to CFP was decreased. Treating the cells with GM6001, an MMP inhibitor, blocked the cleavage of DMC and caused an increase of the DsRed2/CFP ratio. The same result was achieved by using an in vivo tumor model that stable DMC-expressing MDA-MB 435s cells inoculated onto the chorioallantoic membrane of developing chick embryos to form primary tumors on the membrane. Thus, the fluorescent sensor DMC is able to sensitively monitor MMP activity and assess MMP inhibitors for anticancer research in vivo. This proves a novel method to efficiently screen and assess the anticancer drug MMP inhibitor in living cells and in vivo tumor models.

Optical imaging the redox status change during cell apoptosis

Many cellular events involve the alteration in redox equilibrium, globally or locally. In many cases, excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) production is the underlying cause. Several green fluoresecence protein based indicators are constructed to measure redox status in cells, e.g, rxYFP and roGFPs, which allow real time detection. reduction and oxidization-sensitive GFP (RoGFPs) are more useful due to ratiometric variation by excitation, making the measurement more accurate. Utilizing one of those roGFPs called roGFP1, we establish a mitochondrial redox state probing platform in HeLa cells with laser scan confocal microscopy (LSCM) as detection system. Control experiments confirmed that our platform could produce stable ratiometric values, which made the data more accurately reflect the real environmental changes of redox status that roGFP1 probed. Using exogenous H2O2 and DTT, we evaluated the reactivity and reversibility of roGFP1. The minimal hydrogen peroxide concentration that roGFP1 could show detectable ratiometric changes in our system was about 200&mgr;M. Preliminarily applying our platform to exploring the redox status during apoptosis, we observed an increase in ratiometric, suggesting an excessive ROS production.

Measurement of caspase-2 activation during different anti-tumor drugs induced apoptosis by FRET technique

Caspase-2 is important for the engagement of the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway, in the presence of DNA-damaging agents, such as cisplatin; however, the mechanism by which caspase-2 executes apoptosis remains obscure. In this study, we carried out the measurements of the dynamics of caspase-2 activation in a single living cell by a FRET (fluorescence resonance energy transfer) probe. A FRET probe was constructed that encoded a CRS (caspase-2 recognition site) fused with a cyan fluorescent protein (CFP) and a red fluorescent protein (DsRed) (CFP-CRS-DsRed). Using this probe, we found that during TRAIL-induced apoptosis, caspase-2 was not activated, and caspase-2 activation occurred in etoposide and cisplatin treated cells. However, during cisplatin-induced apoptosis caspase-2 activation was initiated much earlier than that of etoposide. Cisplatin and etoposide is one of the most broadly used drugs in the Clinical applications of cancer chemotherapy, and TRAIL, which belongs to the TNF family proteins, can selectively induce apoptosis in many transformed cells but not in normal cells. Most of anticancer drugs can induce apoptosis mediated by the activation of caspase pathway. Thus, the perfect synergistic effect group of multi-drug can be selected by using our FRET probe.

Monitoring apoptosis of TK-GFP-expressing ACC-M cells induced by ACV using FRET technique

Apoptosis is an evolutionary conserved cellular process that plays an important role during development, but it is also involved in tissue homeostasis and in many diseases. To study the characteristics of suicide gene system of the herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase (HSV-tk) gene in tumor cells and explore the apoptosis phenomena in this system and its effect on the human adenoid cystic carcinoma line ACC-M cell, we detected apoptosis of CD3- (ECFP-CRS-DsRed) and TK-GFP-expressing ACC-M (ACC-M-TK-GFP-CD3) cells induced by acyclovir (ACV) using fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) technique. CD3 is a FRET-based indicator for activity of caspase-3, which is composed of an enhanced cyan fluorescent protein, a caspase-3 sensitive linker, and a red fluorescent protein from Discosoma with efficient maturation property. FRET from ECFP to DsRed could be detected in normal ACC-M-TK-GFP-CD3 cells, and the FRET efficient was remarkably decreased and then disappeared during the cells apoptosis induced by ACV. It was due to the activated caspase-3 cleaved the CD3 fusion protein. In this study, the results suggested that the ACV-induced apoptosis of ACC-M-TK-GFP-CD3 cells was through caspase-3 pathway.

Application of a FRET probe for Caspase-3 activation in living HeLa cells by sequentially treated cisplatin and TRAIL

Caspase-3 is a kind of cysteine proteases that plays an important role in cell apoptosis. We have constructed a FRET (fluorescence resonance energy transfer) probe fused with ECFP (enhanced cyan fluorescence protein) and DsRed (Discosoma red fluorescent protein) with a linker containing a caspase-3 cleavage sequence (CCS, DEVD).It could be observed much change in fluorescence emission ratio when the probe was cleaved by caspase-3. Therefore, application of this probe we can real-time detected the activation of caspase-3. It was already confirmed that caspase-3 was activated in HeLa cells treated by cisplatin or TRAIL (Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-related apoptosis-inducing ligand). In the present study, we detected the activation of caspase-3 during cisplatin or TRAIL induced apoptosis in living HeLa cells, and also observed the activation of caspase-3 caused by both cisplatin and TRAIL combined treatment. Our results demonstrated a synergistic effect between cisplatin and TRAIL. Cisplatin is one of the most broadly used drugs in the Clinical applications of cancer chemotherapy, and TRAIL, which belongs to the TNF family proteins, can selectively induce apoptosis in many transformed cells but not in normal cells. Therefore, TRAIL is a very valuably prospective utility as its potential tumor-specific cancer therapeutic. Most of anticancer drugs can induce apoptosis which mediated by the activation of caspase pathway. We can select the best synergistic effect group by our FRET probe. This finding would be useful in the design of treatment modalities for patients.