Olga Simakova

Hsc70 and Hsp70 interact with phosphatidylserine on the surface of PC12 cells resulting in a decrease of viability

Heat shock proteins (hsps) are involved in multiple cellular processes during normal and stress conditions, particularly in the folding of polypeptides. A newly recognized property of the members of the Hsp70 family is their ability to interact with lipids, opening ion conductance pathways in artificial membranes, and integrating into natural membranes. The formation of Hsp70 channels in biological membranes and their function is still elusive. In this study, we showed that Hsp70 and Hsc70 display a highly selective interaction with phosphatidylserine moieties on membranes, followed by rapid incorporation into the lipid bilayer. Addition of Hsp70 or Hsc70 into the extracellular medium resulted in a viability decrease of cells beading PS on the exterior surface, such as PC12 cells. This toxic effect is modulated by the presence of ATP or ADP and can be blocked by screening PS moieties with annexin 5. These observations suggest that the presence of Hsp70 in the extracellular medium may be an accelerator of apoptosis since the presence of PS on the surface is an early indicator of this process. These findings may also explain the toxicity observed in cells overexpressing Hsp70s and provide a rational for the tight regulation of Hsp70 expression.—Arispe, N., Doh, M., Simakova, O., Kurganov, B., De Maio, A. Hsc70 and Hsp70 interact with phosphatidylserine on the surface of PC12 cells resulting in a decrease of viabifity.FASEBJ. 18, 1636–1645 (2004)

The Cell-Selective Neurotoxicity of the Alzheimer's Aβ Peptide Is Determined by Surface Phosphatidylserine and Cytosolic ATP Levels. Membrane Binding Is Required for Aβ Toxicity

Measurement of Aβ toxicity of cells in culture exposes a subpopulation of cells with resistance to Aβ, even at high concentrations and after long periods of treatment. The cell-selective toxicity of Aβ resembles the selective damage observed in cells of specific regions of the Alzheimers disease (AD) brain and suggests that there must be particular characteristics or stages of these cells that make them exceptionally sensitive or resistant to the effect of Aβ. Using flow cytometry and cell sorting, we efficiently separated and analyzed the Aβ-sensitive and the Aβ-resistant subpopulations within a variety of neuronal cell lines (PC12, GT1–7) and primary cultured neurons (hippocampal, cortex). We found that this distinctive sensitivity to Aβ was essentially associated with cell membrane Aβ binding. This selective Aβ binding was correlated to distinctive cell characteristics, such as cell membrane exposure of the apoptotic signal molecule phosphatidyl serine, larger cell size, the G1 cell cycle stage, and a lower than normal cytosolic ATP level. The response to Aβ by the cells with high Aβ binding affinity was characterized by a larger calcium response and increased mortality, lactate dehydrogenase release, caspase activation, and DNA fragmentation. The distinctive sensitivity or resistance to Aβ of the different subpopulations was maintained even after multiple cell divisions. We believe that these distinctive cell characteristics are the determining factors for the selective attack of Aβ on cells in culture and in the AD brain.

Small molecule blockers of the Alzheimer A calcium channel potently protect neurons from A cytotoxicity

Alzheimers disease (AD) is a common, chronic neurodegenerative disease that is thought to be caused by the neurotoxic effect of the Amyloid beta peptides (Aβ). We have hypothesized that the intrinsic Aβ calcium channel activity of the oligomeric Aβ polymer may be responsible for the neurotoxic properties of Aβ, and that Aβ channel blockers may be candidate AD therapeutics. As a consequence of a rational search paradigm based on the model structure of the Aβ channel, we have identified two compounds of interest: MRS2481 and an enatiomeric species, MRS2485. These are amphiphilic pyridinium salts that both potently block the Aβ channel and protect neurons from Aβ toxicity. Both block the Aβ channel with similar potency (≈500 nM) and efficacy (100%). However, we find that inhibition by MRS2481 is easily reversible, whereas inhibition by MRS2485 is virtually irreversible. We suggest that both species deserve consideration as candidates for Alzheimers disease drug discovery.

MicroRNA profiling of follicular lymphoma identifies microRNAs related to cell proliferation and tumor response

Background MicroRNAs can play an important role in tumorigenesis through post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression, and are not well characterized in follicular lymphoma. Design and Methods MicroRNA profiles of enriched follicular lymphoma tumor cells from 16 patients were generated by assaying 851 human microRNAs. Tandem gene expression profiles were obtained for predicting microRNA targets. Results The expression of 133 microRNAs was significantly different (> 2-fold; P<0.05) between follicular lymphoma and follicular hyperplasia. Forty-four microRNAs in three groups generated a unique follicular lymphoma signature. Of these, ten microRNAs were increased (miR-193a-5p, -193b*, -345, -513b, -574-3p, -584, -663, -1287, -1295, and -1471), 11 microRNAs were decreased (miR-17*, -30a, -33a, -106a*, -141, -202, -205, -222, -301b, -431*, and -570), and 23 microRNAs formed a group that was increased in most cases of follicular lymphoma but showed lower expression in a subset of cases (let-7a, let-7f, miR-7-1*, -9, -9*, -20a, -20b, -30b, -96, -98, -194, -195, -221*, -374a, -374b, -451, -454, -502-3p, -532-3p, -664*, -1274a, -1274b, and -1260). Higher expression of this last group was associated with improved response to chemotherapy. Gene expression analysis revealed increased expression of MAPK1, AKT1, PRKCE, IL4R and DROSHA and decreased expression of CDKN1A/p21, SOCS2, CHEK1, RAD51, KLF4, BLIMP1 and IRF4 in follicular lymphoma. Functional studies indicated that CDKN1A/p21 and SOCS2 expression is directly regulated by miR-20a/-20b and miR-194, respectively. Conclusions Follicular lymphoma is characterized by a unique microRNA signature, containing a subset of microRNAs whose expression correlate with response to chemotherapy. miR-20a/b and miR-194 target CDKN1A and SOCS2 in follicular lymphoma, potentially contributing to tumor cell proliferation and survival.

Clonal analysis of NRAS activating mutations in KIT-D816V systemic mastocytosis

Cooperating genetic events are likely to contribute to the phenotypic diversity of KIT-D816V systemic mastocytosis. In this study, 44 patients with KIT-D816V systemic mastocytosis were evaluated for coexisting NRAS, KRAS, HRAS or MRAS mutations. Activating NRAS mutations were identified in 2 of 8 patients with advanced disease. NRAS mutations were not found in patients with indolent systemic mastocytosis. To better understand the clonal evolution of mastocytosis, we evaluated the cell compartments impacted by the NRAS and KIT mutations. Clonal mast cells harbored both mutations. KIT-D816V was not detected in bone marrow CD34+ progenitors, whereas the NRAS mutation was present. These findings suggest that NRAS mutations may have the potential to precede KIT-D816V in clonal development. Unlike other mature lineages, mast cell survival is dependent on KIT and the presence of these two activating mutations may have a greater impact on the expansion of this cell compartment and in resultant disease severity. (Clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT00044122, NCT00001756)

Carbon nanotubes activate store-operated calcium entry in human blood platelets.

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are known to potentiate arterial thrombosis in animal models, which raises serious safety issues concerning environmental or occupational exposure to CNTs and their use in various biomedical applications. We have shown previously that different CNTs, but not fullerene (nC60), induce the aggregation of human blood platelets. To date, however, a mechanism of potentially thrombogenic CNT-induced platelet activation has not been elucidated. Here we show that pristine multiwalled CNTs (MWCNTs) penetrate platelet plasma membrane without any discernible damage but interact with the dense tubular system (DTS) causing depletion of platelet intracellular Ca(2+) stores. This process is accompanied by the clustering of stromal interaction molecule 1 (STIM1) colocalized with Orai1, indicating the activation of store-operated Ca(2+) entry (SOCE). Our findings reveal the molecular mechanism of CNT-induced platelet activation which is critical in the evaluation of the biocompatibility of carbon nanomaterials with blood.

mTORC1 and mTORC2 differentially regulate homeostasis of neoplastic and non-neoplastic human mast cells

Increased mast cell burden is observed in the inflamed tissues and affected organs and tissues of patients with mast cell proliferative disorders. However, normal mast cells participate in host defense, so approaches to preferentially target clonally expanding mast cells are needed. We found that mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) and 2 (mTORC2) are up-regulated in neoplastic and developing immature mast cells compared with their terminally differentiated counterparts. Elevated mTOR mRNA was also observed in bone marrow mononuclear cells of patients exhibiting mast-cell hyperplasia. Selective inhibition of mTORC1 and mTORC2 through genetic and pharmacologic manipulation revealed that, whereas mTORC1 may contribute to mast-cell survival, mTORC2 was only critical for homeostasis of neoplastic and dividing immature mast cells. The cytostatic effect of mTORC2 down-regulation in proliferating mast cells was determined to be via inhibition of cell-cycle progression. Because mTORC2 was observed to play little role in the homeostasis of differentiated, nonproliferating, mature mast cells, these data provide a rationale for adopting a targeted approaching selectively inhibiting mTORC2 to effectively reduce the proliferation of mast cells associated with inflammation and disorders of mast cell proliferation while leaving normal differentiated mast cells largely unaffected.

York platelet syndrome is a CRAC channelopathy due to gain-of-function mutations in STIM1

Store-operated Ca(2+) entry is the major route of replenishment of intracellular Ca(2+) in animal cells in response to the depletion of Ca(2+) stores in the endoplasmic reticulum. It is primarily mediated by the Ca(2+)-selective release-activated Ca(2+) (CRAC) channel, which consists of the pore-forming subunits ORAI1-3 and the Ca(2+) sensors, STIM1 and STIM2. Recessive loss-of-function mutations in STIM1 or ORAI1 result in immune deficiency and nonprogressive myopathy. Heterozygous gain-of-function mutations in STIM1 cause non-syndromic myopathies as well as syndromic forms of miosis and myopathy with tubular aggregates and Stormorken syndrome; some of these syndromic forms are associated with thrombocytopenia. Increased concentration of Ca(2+) as a result of store-operated Ca(2+) entry is essential for platelet activation. The York Platelet syndrome (YPS) is characterized by thrombocytopenia, striking ultrastructural platelet abnormalities including giant electron-opaque organelles and massive, multilayered target bodies and deficiency of platelet Ca(2+) storage in delta granules. We present clinical and molecular findings in 7 YPS patients from 4 families, demonstrating that YPS patients have a chronic myopathy associated with rimmed vacuoles and heterozygous gain-of-function STIM1 mutations. These findings expand the phenotypic spectrum of STIM1-related human disorders and define the molecular basis of YPS.

IL-5 receptor α levels in patients with marked eosinophilia or mastocytosis

BACKGROUND IL-5 plays a central role in the development and maintenance of eosinophilia (EO) and eosinophil activation in a wide variety of eosinophilic disorders. Although IL-5, IL-3, and GM-CSF can modulate the expression of IL-5 receptor α (IL-5Rα) on eosinophils in vitro, little is known about soluble and surface IL-5Rα levels in vivo. OBJECTIVE To assess soluble and surface IL-5Rα levels in patients with EO and/or mastocytosis. METHODS Surface IL-5Rα expression was assessed by flow cytometry in blood and/or bone marrow from subjects with EO (n = 39) and systemic mastocytosis (n = 8) and from normal volunteers (n = 28). Soluble IL-5Rα (sIL-5Rα) level was measured in a cohort of 177 untreated subjects and correlated with EO, eosinophil activation, and serum tryptase and cytokine levels. RESULTS IL-5Rα expression on eosinophils inversely correlated with EO (r = -0.48; P < .0001), whereas serum levels of sIL-5Rα increased with the eosinophil count (r = 0.56; P < .0001) and serum IL-5 (r = 0.40; P < .0001) and IL-13 (r = 0.29; P = .004) levels. Of interest, sIL-5Rα level was significantly elevated in patients with systemic mastocytosis without EO. Although sIL-5Rα levels correlated with serum tryptase levels in these patients, eosinophil activation, assessed by CD69 expression on eosinophils and serum eosinophil-derived neurotoxin levels, was increased compared with that in normal subjects. CONCLUSIONS These data are consistent with an in vivo IL-5Rα regulatory pathway in human eosinophils similar to that described in vitro and involving a balance between soluble and surface receptor levels. This may have implications with respect to the use of novel therapeutic agents targeting IL-5 and its receptor in patients with EO and/or mastocytosis.

Heart failure drug digitoxin induces calcium uptake into cells by forming transmembrane calcium channels

Digitoxin and other cardiac glycosides are important, centuries-old drugs for treating congestive heart failure. However, the mechanism of action of these compounds is still being elucidated. Calcium is known to potentiate the toxicity of these drugs, and we have hypothesized that digitoxin might mediate calcium entry into cells. We report here that digitoxin molecules mediate calcium entry into intact cells. Multimers of digitoxin molecules also are able to form calcium channels in pure planar phospholipid bilayers. These digitoxin channels are blocked by Al3+ and La3+ but not by Mg2+ or the classical l-type calcium channel blocker, nitrendipine. In bilayers, we find that the chemistry of the lipid affects the kinetics of the digitoxin channel activity, but not the cation selectivity. Antibodies against digitoxin promptly neutralize digitoxin channels in both cells and bilayers. We propose that these digitoxin calcium channels may be part of the mechanism by which digitoxin and other active cardiac glycosides, such as digoxin, exert system-wide actions at and above the therapeutic concentration range.