Pier Carlo Marchisio

Control of apoptosis and mitotic spindle checkpoint by survivin

Progression of the cell cycle and control of apoptosis (programmed cell death) are thought to be intimately linked processes, acting to preserve homeostasis and developmental morphogenesis. Although proteins that regulate apoptosis have been implicated in restraining cell-cycle entry and controlling ploidy (chromosome number), the effector molecules at the interface between cell proliferation and cell survival have remained elusive. Here we show that a new inhibitor of apoptosis (IAP) protein,, survivin, is expressed in the G2/M phase of the cell cycle in a cycle-regulated manner. At the beginning of mitosis, survivin associates with microtubules of the mitotic spindle in a specific and saturable reaction that is regulated by microtubule dynamics. Disruption of survivin–microtubule interactions results in loss of survivins anti-apoptosis function and increased caspase-3 activity, a mechanism involved in cell death, during mitosis. These results indicate that survivin may counteract a default induction of apoptosis in G2/M phase. The overexpression of survivin in cancer may overcome this apoptotic checkpoint and favour aberrant progression of transformed cells through mitosis.

Pleiotropic cell-division defects and apoptosis induced by interference with survivin function.

Here we investigate the role of the control of apoptosis in normal cell division. We show that interference with the expression or function of the apoptosis inhibitor survivin causes caspase-dependent cell death in the G2/M phase of the cell cycle, and a cell-division defect characterized by centrosome dysregulation, multipolar mitotic spindles and multinucleated, polyploid cells. Use of a dominant-negative survivin mutant or antisense survivin complementary DNA disrupts a supramolecular assembly of survivin, caspase-3 and the cyclin-dependent-kinase inhibitor p21Waf1/Cip1 within centrosomes, and results in caspase-dependent cleavage of p21. Polyploidy induced by survivin antagonists is accentuated in p21-deficient cells, and corrected by exogenous expression of p21. These findings show that control of apoptosis and preservation of p21 integrity within centrosomes by survivin are required for normal mitotic progression.

Rous sarcoma virus-transformed fibroblasts adhere primarily at discrete protrusions of the ventral membrane called podosomes

Rous sarcoma virus-transformed BHK cells (RSV/B4-BHK) adhere to a fibronectin-coated substratum primarily at specific dot-shaped sites. Such sites contain actin and vinculin and represent close contacts with the substratum as revealed by interference reflection microscopy. Only a few adhesion plaques and actin filament bundles can be detected in these cells as compared to untransformed parental fibroblasts. In thin sections examined with transmission electron microscopy (TEM) these adhesion sites correspond to short protrusions of the ventral cell surface that contact the substratum at their apical portion. These structures, which may represent cellular feet, are therefore called podosomes. By screening a number of different transformed fibroblasts plated on a fibronectin-coated substratum we find that podosomes are common to mammalian and avian cell lines transformed either by Rous sarcoma virus (RSV) or by Fujinami avian sarcoma virus (FSV), whose oncogenes encode specific tyrosine kinases. Using antibodies reacting with phosphotyrosine in immunofluorescence experiments, we show that phosphotyrosine-containing molecules are concentrated in podosomes. Podosomes are not detected in fibroblasts transformed by other retroviruses (Snyder-Theilen sarcoma virus, Abelson leukemia virus and Kirsten sarcoma virus) or by DNA tumor viruses (polyoma, SV40), indicating that podosome-mediated adhesion in transformed fibroblasts is related to the peculiar properties of some oncoproteins and possibly to their tropism for adhesion systems. Podosomes and adhesion plaques, although similar in cytoskeletal protein composition, have different mechanisms and kinetics of formation. Assembly of podosomes, in fact (i) does not require fetal calf serum (FCS) in the adhesion medium, that is necessary for the organization of adhesion plaques; (ii) does not require protein synthesis; and (iii) is insensitive to the ionophore monensin, that prevents adhesion plaque formation. Moreover, during attachment to fibronectin-coated dishes, podosomes appear in the initial phase (60 min) of attachment, while adhesion plaques require a minimum of 180 min. In conclusion podosomes of RSV- and FSV-transformed fibroblasts represent a phenotypic variant of adhesion structures.

Release of eIF6 (p27BBP) from the 60S subunit allows 80S ribosome assembly

The assembly of 80S ribosomes requires joining of the 40S and 60S subunits, which is triggered by the formation of an initiation complex on the 40S subunit. This event is rate-limiting for translation, and depends on external stimuli and the status of the cell. Here we show that 60S subunits are activated by release of eIF6 (also termed p27BBP). In the cytoplasm, eIF6 is bound to free 60S but not to 80S. Furthermore, eIF6 interacts in the cytoplasm with RACK1, a receptor for activated protein kinase C (PKC). RACK1 is a major component of translating ribosomes, which harbour significant amounts of PKC. Loading 60S subunits with eIF6 caused a dose-dependent translational block and impairment of 80S formation, which were reversed by expression of RACK1 and stimulation of PKC in vivo and in vitro. PKC stimulation led to eIF6 phosphorylation, and mutation of a serine residue in the carboxy terminus of eIF6 impaired RACK1/PKC-mediated translational rescue. We propose that eIF6 release regulates subunit joining, and that RACK1 provides a physical and functional link between PKC signalling and ribosome activation.

Regulation of survivin function by Hsp90

Pathways controlling cell proliferation and cell survival require flexible adaptation to environmental stresses. These mechanisms are frequently exploited in cancer, allowing tumor cells to thrive in unfavorable milieus. Here, we show that Hsp90, a molecular chaperone that is central to the cellular stress response, associates with survivin, an apoptosis inhibitor and essential regulator of mitosis. This interaction involves the ATPase domain of Hsp90 and the survivin baculovirus inhibitor of apoptosis repeat. Global suppression of the Hsp90 chaperone function or targeted Abmediated disruption of the survivin–Hsp90 complex results in proteasomal degradation of survivin, mitochondrial-dependent apoptosis, and cell cycle arrest with mitotic defects. These data link the cellular stress response to an antiapoptotic and mitotic checkpoint maintained by survivin. Targeting the survivin–Hsp90 complex may provide a rational approach for cancer therapy.

Transgenic expression of survivin in keratinocytes counteracts UVB-induced apoptosis and cooperates with loss of p53

The inhibitor of apoptosis protein survivin has been implicated in both cell cycle control and apoptosis resistance. To discriminate between these different roles, we used transgenic expression of survivin in the skin as a model for cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. Transgenic mice expressing survivin under the control of a keratin-14 promoter developed normally, without histologic abnormalities of the skin or hair, epidermal hyperplasia, or developmental abnormalities of basal or suprabasal epidermis. Keratinocyte proliferation assessed under basal conditions, or after ultraviolet-B (UVB) irradiation, or phorbol ester stimulation was unchanged in survivin transgenic mice. In contrast, survivin expression inhibited UVB-induced apoptosis in vitro and in vivo (i.e., sunburn cell formation), whereas it did not affect Fas-induced cell death. When crossed with p53 knockout mice, transgenic expression of survivin in a p53(+/-) background substituted for the loss of a second p53 allele and further inhibited UVB-induced apoptosis. These data provide the first in vivo evidence that survivin inhibits apoptosis and suggest that this pathway may oppose the elimination of cancerous cells by p53.

Rous sarcoma virus-transformed fibroblasts and cells of monocytic origin display a peculiar dot-like organization of cytoskeletal proteins involved in microfilament-membrane interactions☆

By immunofluorescence and interference reflection microscopy (IRM) we found that F-actin and a group of cytoskeletal proteins involved in microfilament-membrane interaction, including vinculin, alpha-actinin, fimbrin and talin, are specifically organized in discrete dot-like structures corresponding to cell-substratum contact sites in both monocytes and monocyte-derived cells such as macrophages and osteoclasts. These proteins have a precise topological distribution; vinculin and talin form a doughnut-like ring, while actin, fimbrin and alpha-actinin are organized in dots matching the rings. An identical dot-like organization of F-actin and associated cytoskeletal proteins was also detected in malignant fibroblasts transformed by Rous Sarcoma virus (RSV) but not in the corresponding untransformed cells in culture. It is concluded that RSV transformation induces fibroblasts to express a cytoskeletal organization and a pattern of adhesion that are normally found in cells of monocytic origin. We propose that the occurrence of this cytoskeletal organization in RSV-transformed fibroblasts and in monocyte-derived cells may reflect a common ability to migrate across anatomical boundaries.

Immunocytochemical distribution of extracellular matrix receptors in human osteoclasts: A β3 integrin is colocalized with vinculin and talin in the podosomes of osteoclastoma giant cells

Human osteoclasts (OCLs) obtained from cell suspensions of surgically excised giant cell bone tumors (osteoclastomas) were attached to glass coverslips and analyzed by immunofluorescence with antibodies to integrins and cytoskeletal proteins. It was found that in OCLs (i) podosomes, identified by their F-actin core and by interference reflection microscopy, were predominantly found in a peripheral belt as described in avian OCLs; (ii) each F-actin core was surrounded by a ring of vinculin and talin; (iii) beta 1 integrin was diffuse in the ventral membrane; (iv) beta 3 integrin was distributed in intensely fluorescent rings surrounding F-actin cores; (v) beta 2 integrin was absent; (vi) beta 4 integrin was absent. The macrophages detected in the same coverslips displayed podosomes containing beta 2 but not beta 3, fibroblasts showed adhesion plaques positive for beta 1 and beta 3 but not for beta 2, and platelets were intensely positive for beta 3. These results indicate that OCLs produce an integrin complex that is absent in the monocyte-macrophage lineage.

Eukaryotic Initiation Factor 6 is rate-limiting in translation, growth and transformation

Cell growth and proliferation require coordinated ribosomal biogenesis and translation. Eukaryotic initiation factors (eIFs) control translation at the rate-limiting step of initiation. So far, only two eIFs connect extracellular stimuli to global translation rates: eIF4E acts in the eIF4F complex and regulates binding of capped messenger RNA to 40S subunits, downstream of growth factors, and eIF2 controls loading of the ternary complex on the 40S subunit and is inhibited on stress stimuli. No eIFs have been found to link extracellular stimuli to the activity of the large 60S ribosomal subunit. eIF6 binds 60S ribosomes precluding ribosome joining in vitro. However, studies in yeasts showed that eIF6 is required for ribosome biogenesis rather than translation. Here we show that mammalian eIF6 is required for efficient initiation of translation, in vivo. eIF6 null embryos are lethal at preimplantation. Heterozygous mice have 50% reduction of eIF6 levels in all tissues, and show reduced mass of hepatic and adipose tissues due to a lower number of cells and to impaired G1/S cell cycle progression. eIF6+/- cells retain sufficient nucleolar eIF6 and normal ribosome biogenesis. The liver of eIF6+/- mice displays an increase of 80S in polysomal profiles, indicating a defect in initiation of translation. Consistently, isolated hepatocytes have impaired insulin-stimulated translation. Heterozygous mouse embryonic fibroblasts recapitulate the organism phenotype and have normal ribosome biogenesis, reduced insulin-stimulated translation, and delayed G1/S phase progression. Furthermore, eIF6+/- cells are resistant to oncogene-induced transformation. Thus, eIF6 is the first eIF associated with the large 60S subunit that regulates translation in response to extracellular signals.

Expression, topography, and function of integrin receptors are severely altered in keratinocytes from involved and uninvolved psoriatic skin.

Psoriasis is a hyperproliferative cutaneous disease of unknown etiology and etiopathogenesis. Alteration of keratinocyte adhesiveness to basal lamina has been proposed as the initial disturbance leading to poorly controlled proliferation. Keratinocyte adhesion to basal lamina and lateral interactions among basal epidermal cells are mediated, besides other molecules, by integrin receptors that are segregated to discrete membrane domains. In this paper, the expression and function of integrins in psoriatic keratinocytes were examined, both in vivo and in vitro. We found that: (a) in psoriatic keratinocytes the integrin heterodimers alpha 2 beta 1, alpha 3 beta 1, and alpha 6 beta 4 have lost their polarized distribution on the plasma membrane; (b) the role of these integrins in mediating keratinocyte adhesion in vitro is altered; (c) psoriatic keratinocytes form focal contacts containing both beta 1 and beta 4 integrins. In normal adult keratinocytes the alpha 5 beta 1 fibronectin receptor is poorly expressed and diffusely distributed on the basal keratinocyte plasma membrane and is not organized in defined adhesive structures. In contrast, psoriatic keratinocytes show a clear fibronectin receptor staining in vivo, and organize alpha 5 beta 1 in typical focal contacts in vitro without any obvious increase of its expression and synthesis. These multiple alterations of integrins are also present in uninvolved keratinocytes from psoriatic patients, suggesting a key role for altered integrin-mediated adhesion in the pathogenesis of this disease.