Stephen Baghdiguian

Calpain 3 deficiency is associated with myonuclear apoptosis and profoundperturbation of the IκBα/NF-κB pathway in limb-girdle musculardystrophy type 2A

Nature Med. 5, 503– 511 (1999). The top left corner of Fig. 1b on page 505 was cropped so that you could not view the calpain 3-stained nuclei in endomysia space. The corrected figure is shown below. We regret this error.

The xaxAB Genes Encoding a New Apoptotic Toxin from the Insect Pathogen Xenorhabdus nematophila Are Present in Plant and Human Pathogens

Xenorhabdus nematophila, a member of the Enterobacteriaceae, kills many species of insects by strongly depressing the immune system and colonizing the entire body. A peptide cytotoxin has been purified from X. nematophila broth growth, and the cytolytic effect on insect immunocytes and hemolytic effect on mammalian red blood cells of this toxin have been described (Ribeiro, C., Vignes, M., and Brehélin, M. (2003) J. Biol. Chem. 278, 3030–3039). We show here that this toxin, Xenorhabdus α-xenorhabdolysin (Xax), triggers apoptosis in both insect and mammalian cells. We also report the cloning and sequencing of two genes, xaxAB, encoding this toxin in X. nematophila. The expression of both genes in recombinant Escherichia coli led to the production of active cytotoxin/hemolysin. However, hemolytic activity was observed only if the two peptides were added in the appropriate order. Furthermore, we report here that inactivation of xaxAB genes in X. nematophila abolished the major cytotoxic activity present in broth growth, called C1. We also show that these genes are present in various entomopathogenic bacteria of the genera Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus, in Pseudomonas entomophila, in the human pathogens Yersinia enterocolitica and Proteus mirabilis, and in the plant pathogen Pseudomonas syringae. This toxin cannot be classified in any known family of cytotoxins on the basis of amino acid sequences, locus organization, and activity features. It is, therefore, probably the prototype of a new family of binary toxins.

Overexpression of both catalytically active and -inactive cathepsin D by cancer cells enhances apoptosis-dependent chemo-sensitivity

The aspartic protease cathepsin D (cath-D) is a key mediator of induced-apoptosis and its proteolytic activity has been generally involved in this event. During apoptosis, cath-D is translocated to the cytosol. Because cath-D is one of the lysosomal enzymes that requires a more acidic pH to be proteolytically active relative to the cysteine lysosomal enzymes such as cath-B and -L, it is therefore open to question whether cytosolic cath-D might be able to cleave substrate(s) implicated in the apoptotic cascade. Here, we have investigated the role of wild-type cath-D and its proteolytically inactive counterpart overexpressed by 3Y1-Ad12 cancer cells during chemotherapeutic-induced cytotoxicity and apoptosis, as well as the relevance of cath-D catalytic function. We demonstrate that wild-type or mutated catalytically inactive cath-D strongly enhances chemo-sensitivity and apoptotic response to etoposide. Both wild-type and mutated inactive cath-D are translocated to the cytosol, increasing the release of cytochrome c, the activation of caspases-9 and -3 and the induction of a caspase-dependent apoptosis. In addition, pretreatment of cells with the aspartic protease inhibitor, pepstatin A, does not prevent apoptosis. Interestingly therefore, the stimulatory effect of cath-D on cell death is independent of its catalytic activity. Overall, our results imply that cytosolic cath-D stimulates apoptotic pathways by interacting with a member of the apoptotic machinery rather than by cleaving specific substrate(s).

NF-κB-dependent expression of the antiapoptotic factor c-FLIP is regulated by calpain 3, the protein involved in limb-girdle muscular dystrophy type 2A

Limb‐girdle muscular dystrophy type 2A (LGMD2A) is a recessive genetic disorder caused by mutations in the cysteine protease calpain 3 (CAPN3) that leads to selective muscle wasting. We previously showed that CAPN3 deficiency is associated with a profound perturbation of the NF‐NF‐κBB/INF‐κBBα survival pathway. In this study, the consequences of altered NF‐BNF‐κBB/IBNF‐κBBBα pathway were investigated using biological materials from LGMD2A patients. We first show that the antiapoptotic factor cellular‐FLICE inhibitory protein (C‐FLIP), which is dependent on the NF‐BNF‐κBB pathway in normal muscle cells, is down‐regulated in LGMD2A biopsies. In muscle cells isolated from LGMD2A patients, NF‐BNF‐κBB is readily acti vated on cytokine induction as shown by an increase in its DNA binding activity. However, we observed discrepant transcriptional responses depending on the NF‐BNF‐κBB target genes. IBNF‐κBBBα is expressed following NF‐BNF‐κBB activation independent of the CAPN3 status, whereas expression of C‐FLIP is obtained only when CAPN3 is present. These data lead us to postulate that CAPN3 intervenes in the regulation of the expression of NF‐BNF‐κBB‐dependent survival genes to prevent apoptosis in skeletal muscle. Deregulations in the NF‐BNF‐κBB pathway could be part of the mecha nism responsible for the muscle wasting resulting from CAPN3 deficiency.—Benayoun, B., Baghdiguian, S., Lajmanovich, A., Bartoli, M., Daniele, N., Gicquel, E., Bourg, N., Raynaud, F., Pasquier, M.‐A., Suel, L., Lochmuller, H., Lefranc, G., Richard, I. NF‐BNF‐κBB‐dependent expression of the antiapoptotic factor C‐FLIP is regulated by calpain 3, the protein involved in limb‐girdle muscular dystrophy type 2A. FASEB J. 22, 1521–1529 (2008)

Applying ecological and evolutionary theory to cancer: a long and winding road

Since the mid 1970s, cancer has been described as a process of Darwinian evolution, with somatic cellular selection and evolution being the fundamental processes leading to malignancy and its many manifestations (neoangiogenesis, evasion of the immune system, metastasis, and resistance to therapies). Historically, little attention has been placed on applications of evolutionary biology to understanding and controlling neoplastic progression and to prevent therapeutic failures. This is now beginning to change, and there is a growing international interest in the interface between cancer and evolutionary biology. The objective of this introduction is first to describe the basic ideas and concepts linking evolutionary biology to cancer. We then present four major fronts where the evolutionary perspective is most developed, namely laboratory and clinical models, mathematical models, databases, and techniques and assays. Finally, we discuss several of the most promising challenges and future prospects in this interdisciplinary research direction in the war against cancer.

Intracellular calcium release induced by human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) surface envelope glycoprotein in human intestinal epithelial cells: a putative mechanism for HIV-1 enteropathy

Intracellular Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) was measured in single human epithelial intestinal HT-29-D4 cells with the Ca2+ probe Fura-2 and digital imaging microscopy. Treatment of these cells with HIV-1 surface envelope glycoprotein gp120 (or a soluble form of its precursor gp160) induced an important increase of [Ca2+]i. This effect was abolished by preincubation of the viral glycoprotein with neutralizing antibodies specific for the V3 domain of gp120. These antibodies inhibited the binding of both gp120 and gp160 to galactosylceramide (GalCer), the alternative HIV-1 receptor in HT-29-D4 cells. Moreover, treatment of HT-29-D4 cells with an anti-GalCer mAb induced an increase in [Ca2+]i and rendered the cells insensitive to HIV-1 glycoprotein stimulation. The calcium response resulted from release of Ca2+ from caffeine-sensitive intracellular stores. Finally, the viral glycoprotein specifically abrogated the calcium response to the neuropeptide agonist neurotensin, a stimulator of chloride secretion via inositol trisphosphate-mediated calcium mobilization. Reciprocally, after neurotensin stimulation, the cells did not respond to gp120, showing that neurotensin and gp120 stimulate a common pathway of [Ca2+]i mobilization. These results suggest that HIV-1 may directly alter ion secretion in the intestine and thus be the causative agent of the watery diarrhea associated with HIV-1 infection.

Three-dimensional polarization sensitizes hepatocytes to Fas/CD95 apoptotic signalling

Maintenance of epithelial cell shape and polarity determines many vital cell functions, including the appropriate response to external stimuli. Murine hepatocytes cultured in a three-dimensional Matrigel matrix formed highly polarized organoids characterized by specific localization of an ERM (ezrin/radixin/moesin) protein, radixin, at microvillus-lined membrane domains. These apical domains surrounded a lumen and were bordered by tight junctions. The hepatocyte organoids were functional as judged by the high level of albumin secretion and accumulation of bilirubin. Stimulation of the Fas/CD95 death receptor, which is highly hepatotoxic in vivo, was a strong inducer of apoptosis in the polarized organoids. This was in sharp contrast to the monolayer hepatocyte cultures, which were protected from death by exacerbated NF-κB signalling following engagement of the death receptors. Thus, hepatocytes in polarized, functional organoids modulate an intracellular signal transduction pathway, allowing the recapitulation of their physiological response to an apoptotic stimulus.

Selected human immunodeficiency virus replicates preferentially through the basolateral surface of differentiated human colon epithelial cells

We have used HIV1-NDK-infected HT29 cells grown on permeable substratum to study the polarity of virus maturation in human intestinal cells. When cultured in glucose-containing medium, these cells are mostly undifferentiated. The removal of glucose from the medium allowed the emergence of a selected differentiated subpopulation which continued to produce viral particles in the culture supernatant. The polarity of viral production was evaluated by harvesting virus from the two sides of the monolayer. Seventy-five percent of released HIV was found on the basolateral side of the monolayer. Mature viral particles were observed by electron microscopy near the apical (luminal) and the basolateral (serosal) membrane. These data suggest that epithelial cells of the colon productively infected by a selected strain of HIV are able to produce the virus through both sides of the epithelium but mainly through the serosal side.

Distinctive pattern of infection and replication of HIV1 strains in blood-derived macrophages

The macrophage-tropic virus HIV1-PAR, isolated from cerebrospinal fluid of HIV1-seropositive man, induced cytopathic effect accompanied by different magnitude of the virus production in blood-derived macrophages (BDM) obtained from different donors. HIV1-PAR-specific RNA was detected by in situ hybridization in 15 and 66% of BDM producing low and high levels of virus, respectively. In contrast with HIV1-PAR, infection of BDM with two laboratory strains adapted to T-cell lines, HIV1-LAV prototype and HIV1-NDK, a Zairian virus that is highly cytopathic for T-lymphocytes, resulted in a low production of HIV1 p24gag in culture fluid. Expression of HIV1-LAV and HIV1-NDK RNA was detected by in situ hybridization in a maximum of 1% of macrophages. Only HIV1-NDK, and not HIV1-LAV, induced ultrastructural alterations in BDM. In contrast with a striking difference in the production of macrophage-tropic and T-lymphotropic viruses, no significant differences were found in the proportion of macrophages containing retrotranscribed genomes of HIV1-. HIV1 DNA was detected by in situ hybridization in 93, 100, and 80% of macrophages infected with HIV1-PAR, HIV1-LAV, and HIV1-NDK, respectively. A higher level of HIV1 DNA was detected by polymerase chain reaction in the BDM infected with HIV1-PAR than in that infected with HIV1-LAV and HIV1-NDK. The results indicate that both macrophage-tropic as well as T-lymphotropic viruses can enter and retrotranscribe their genomes in a vast majority of macrophages.

Mechanical constraint imposed on plasma membrane through transverse phospholipid imbalance induces reversible actin polymerization via phosphoinositide 3-kinase activation

Platelets were used to explore the effect of membrane curvature induced by phospholipid excess on cell shape and on organization of the actin cytoskeleton. We showed that the addition of short chain analogues of phospholipids to the outer leaflet of plasma membrane of resting platelets immediately induced a shape change with long filopodia formation containing newly polymerized actin. Cells recovered rapidly their discoid shape and their initial F-actin content only with the phosphatidylserine analogue, which was transported to the inner leaflet by aminophospholipid translocase. Filopodia formation and actin polymerization were inhibited in platelets pre-incubated with cytochalasin D. Both wortmannin and LY294002, two unrelated inhibitors of phosphoinositide 3-kinase, considerably reduced actin polymerization and filopodia formation. Phospholipid imbalance was accompanied by a reversible translocation of phosphoinositide 3-kinase from cytoplasm to plasma membrane. In agreement with a role for PI 3-kinase, when phospholipids were added to platelets, PtdIns(3,4)P2 increased two-fold and Akt protein was partly phosphorylated. A similar shape change was also observed in nocodazole-treated L929 fibroblasts which were incubated with the similar phospholipid analogues. In those nucleated cells, where the microtubule cytoskeleton was disrupted, a major actin-dependent membrane extension was induced by addition of short chain phospholipids that required the functional integrity of PI 3-kinase. We conclude that any physical constraint acting on plasma membrane and resulting on local changes in membrane curvature is sufficient to initiate transient actin polymerization via phosphoinositide 3-kinase activation.