Lisa Bouchier-Hayes

Mitochondrial outer membrane permeabilization during apoptosis: the innocent bystander scenario

Mitochondrial outer membrane permeabilization (MOMP) is considered the ‘point of no return’ as this event is responsible for engaging the apoptotic cascade in numerous cell death pathways. MOMP is directly governed by a subset of the BCL-2 family of proapoptotic proteins, which induce disruptions in the outer mitochondrial membrane (OMM) and subsequent release of death-promoting proteins like cytochrome c. The proposal here is centered on our hypothesis that MOMP is dictated by an interaction between the cytosol and the OMM, and although proteins of the OMM may be important in the process, the ‘decision’ to undergo apoptosis originates within the cytosol with no participation (in terms of yes, no and when) by mitochondria.

Mitochondria: pharmacological manipulation of cell death

Cell death by apoptosis or necrosis is often important in the etiology and treatment of disease. Since mitochondria play important roles in cell death pathways, these organelles are potentially prime targets for therapeutic intervention. Here we discuss the mechanisms through which mitochondria participate in the cell death process and also survey some of the pharmacological approaches that target mitochondria in various ways.

CARD games in apoptosis and immunity

A bewildering array of proteins containing the caspase recruitment domain (CARD) have now been identified. Previously, CARD–CARD interactions have been shown to be involved in the assembly of protein complexes that promote caspase processing and activation in the context of apoptosis. However, as the family of CARD‐containing proteins has grown, it has become apparent that the majority of these proteins do not recruit caspases or promote caspase activation. Instead, many participate in NF‐κB signalling pathways associated with innate or adaptive immune responses. Here, we suggest a simplified classification of the CARD proteins based upon their domain structures and discuss the divergent roles of these proteins in the context of host defence.

Characterization of Cytoplasmic Caspase-2 Activation by Induced Proximity

Caspase-2 is an initiator caspase activated in response to heat shock and other stressors that induce apoptosis. Activation of caspase-2 requires induced proximity resulting after recruitment to caspase-2 activation complexes such as the PIDDosome. We have adapted bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC) to measure caspase-2 induced proximity in real time in single cells. Nonfluorescent fragments of the fluorescent protein Venus that can associate to reform the fluorescent complex were fused to caspase-2, allowing visualization and kinetic measurements of caspase-2 induced proximity after heat shock and other stresses. This revealed that the caspase-2 activation platform occurred in the cytosol and not in the nucleus in response to heat shock, DNA damage, cytoskeletal disruption, and other treatments. Activation, as measured by this approach, in response to heat shock was RAIDD dependent and upstream of mitochondrial outer-membrane permeabilization. Furthermore, we identify Hsp90alpha as a key negative regulator of heat shock-induced caspase-2 activation.

Failure of Bcl-2 to block cytochrome c redistribution during TRAIL-induced apoptosis

Tumour necrosis factor (TNF)‐related apoptosis‐inducing ligand (TRAIL) is a member of the TNF family of cytokines that promotes apoptosis and NF‐κB activation. Here we show that recombinant hu‐TRAIL initiates the activation of multiple caspases, the loss of mitochondrial transmembrane potential, the cleavage of BID and the redistribution of mitochondrial cytochrome c. However, whereas Bcl‐2 efficiently blocked UV radiation‐induced cytochrome c release and consequent apoptosis of CEM cells, it failed to do either in the context of TRAIL treatment. Thus, TRAIL engages a death pathway that is at least partially routed via the mitochondria, but in contrast with other stimuli that engage this pathway, TRAIL‐induced cytochrome c release is not regulated by Bcl‐2.

Resistance to Caspase-Independent Cell Death Requires Persistence of Intact Mitochondria

During apoptosis, mitochondrial outer membrane permeabilization (MOMP) is often a point-of-no-return; death can proceed even if caspase activation is disrupted. However, under certain conditions, resistance to MOMP-dependent, caspase-independent cell death is observed. Mitochondrial recovery represents a key process in this survival. Live cell imaging revealed that during apoptosis not all mitochondria in a cell necessarily undergo MOMP. This incomplete MOMP (iMOMP) was observed in response to various stimuli and in different cell types regardless of caspase activity. Importantly, the presence of intact mitochondria correlated with cellular recovery following MOMP, provided that caspase activity was blocked. Such intact mitochondria underwent MOMP in response to treatment of cells with the Bcl-2 antagonist ABT-737, suggesting that the resistance of these mitochondria to MOMP lies at the point of Bax or Bak activation. Thus, iMOMP provides a critical source of intact mitochondria that permits cellular survival following MOMP.

Armed Oncolytic Virus Enhances Immune Functions of Chimeric Antigen Receptor–Modified T Cells in Solid Tumors

The clinical efficacy of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-redirected T cells remains marginal in solid tumors compared with leukemias. Failures have been attributed to insufficient T-cell migration and to the highly immunosuppressive milieu of solid tumors. To overcome these obstacles, we have combined CAR-T cells with an oncolytic virus armed with the chemokine RANTES and the cytokine IL15, reasoning that the modified oncolytic virus will both have a direct lytic effect on infected malignant cells and facilitate migration and survival of CAR-T cells. Using neuroblastoma as a tumor model, we found that the adenovirus Ad5Δ24 exerted a potent, dose-dependent, cytotoxic effect on tumor cells, whereas CAR-T cells specific for the tumor antigen GD2 (GD2.CAR-T cells) were not damaged. When used in combination, Ad5Δ24 directly accelerated the caspase pathways in tumor cells exposed to CAR-T cells, whereas the intratumoral release of both RANTES and IL15 attracted CAR-T cells and promoted their local survival, respectively, increasing the overall survival of tumor-bearing mice. These preclinical data support the use of this innovative biologic platform of immunotherapy for solid tumors. Cancer Res; 74(18); 5195-205. ©2014 AACR.

Limited Mitochondrial Permeabilization Causes DNA Damage and Genomic Instability in the Absence of Cell Death

Summary During apoptosis, the mitochondrial outer membrane is permeabilized, leading to the release of cytochrome c that activates downstream caspases. Mitochondrial outer membrane permeabilization (MOMP) has historically been thought to occur synchronously and completely throughout a cell, leading to rapid caspase activation and apoptosis. Using a new imaging approach, we demonstrate that MOMP is not an all-or-nothing event. Rather, we find that a minority of mitochondria can undergo MOMP in a stress-regulated manner, a phenomenon we term “minority MOMP.” Crucially, minority MOMP leads to limited caspase activation, which is insufficient to trigger cell death. Instead, this caspase activity leads to DNA damage that, in turn, promotes genomic instability, cellular transformation, and tumorigenesis. Our data demonstrate that, in contrast to its well-established tumor suppressor function, apoptosis also has oncogenic potential that is regulated by the extent of MOMP. These findings have important implications for oncogenesis following either physiological or therapeutic engagement of apoptosis.

Iodine-124 labelled annexin-V as a potential radiotracer to study apoptosis using positron emission tomography.

Annexin-V is a calcium-dependent protein that binds with high affinity to phosphaditylserine exposed during apoptosis. The aim of this study was to radiolabel annexin-V with iodine-124 for use as a potential probe of apoptosis by positron emission tomography. Annexin-V was radioiodinated directly using the cyclotron-produced positron emitter iodine-124 by the chloramine-T (CAT) method and indirectly by the pre-labelled reagent N-succinimidyl 3-[124I]iodobenzoate ([124I]m-SIB). Some reaction parameters of the CAT method such as reaction time and pH were optimised to give radiochemical yields of 22.3 +/- 2.6%(n = 3, gel-filtration). After incubation with [124I]m-SIB, radiolabelled annexin-V was obtained in 14% and 25% yield by FPLC and gel-filtration, respectively. The radiochemical purities from direct and indirect labelling were 97.7 +/- 1.0%(n = 3) and 96.7 +/- 2.1%(n = 3), respectively. The new radiotracers could be stored for up to four days without significant de-iodination. The biological activity of radiolabelled annexin-V was tested in control and camptothecin-treated (i.e. apoptotic) human leukaemic HL60 cells. A significantly higher (21%) binding in treated cells was observed with [125I]m-SIB-annexin-V. The binding of [125I]m-SIB labelled annexin-V to camptothecin treated cells was blocked (68%) by a 100-fold excess of unlabelled annexin-V.

Caspase-2: the orphan caspase

Despite an abundance of literature on the role of caspase-2 in apoptosis, there exists much controversy about this protease making it difficult to place caspase-2 correctly in the apoptotic cascade, and hence its role in apoptosis remains unclear. The identification of the PIDDosome as a signaling platform for caspase-2 activation prompted intense investigation into the true role of this orphan caspase. What has emerged is the idea that caspase-2 may not be mandatory for apoptosis and that activation of this caspase in response to some forms of stress has other effects on the cell such as regulation of cell cycle progression. This idea is particularly relevent to the discovery that caspase-2 may act as a tumor suppressor. Here, we discuss the proposed mechanisms through which caspase-2 signals, in particular those involving PIDD, and their impact on cellular fate.