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Intrarenal interleukin-15 (IL-15) participates to renal pathophysiology, but the role of its different membrane-bound isoforms remains to be elucidated. In this study, we reassess the biology of membrane-bound IL-15 (mb-IL-15) isoforms by comparing primary cultures of human renal proximal tubular epithelial cells (RPTEC) to peritumoral (ptumTEC), tumoral (RCC), and cancer stem cells (CSC/CD105 + ). RPTEC express a 14 to 16 kDa mb-IL-15, whose existence has been assumed but never formally demonstrated and likely represents the isoform anchored at the cell membrane through the IL-15 receptor α (IL-15Rα) chain, because it is sensitive to acidic treatment and is not competent to deliver a reverse signal. By contrast, ptumTEC, RCC, and CSC express a novel N-hyperglycosylated, short-lived transmembrane mb-IL-15 (tmb-IL-15) isoform around 27 kDa, resistant to acidic shock, delivering a reverse signal in response to its soluble receptor (sIL-15Rα). This reverse signal triggers the down-regulation of the tumor suppressor gene E-cadherin in ptumTEC and RCC but not in CSC/CD105 + , where it promotes survival. Indeed, through the AKT pathway, tmb-IL-15 protects CSC/CD105 + from non-programmed cell death induced by serum starvation. Finally, both mb-IL-15 and tmb-IL-15 are sensitive to metalloproteases, and the cleaved tmb-IL-15 (25 kDa) displays a powerful anti-apoptotic effect on human hematopoietic cells. Overall, our data indicate that both mb-IL-15 and tmb-IL-15 isoforms play a complex role in renal pathophysiology downregulating E-cadherin and favoring cell survival. Moreover, "apparently normal" ptumTEC cells, sharing different properties with RCC, could contribute to organize an enlarged peritumoral "preneoplastic" environment committed to favor tumor progression.

Heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) has recently emerged as an attractive therapeutic target in cancer treatment because of its role in stabilizing the active form of a wide range of client oncoproteins. This study investigated the mechanism of apoptosis induced by the purine-scaffold Hsp90 inhibitor PU-H71 in different human cancer cell lines and examined the role of Bcl-2 and Bax in this process. We demonstrated that Hsp90 inhibition by PU-H71 generated endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and activated the Unfolded Protein Response (UPR) as evidenced by XBP1 mRNA splicing and up-regulation of Grp94, Grp78, ATF4 and CHOP. In response to PU-H71-induced ER stress, apoptosis was triggered in melanoma, cervix, colon, liver and lung cancer cells, but not in normal human fibroblasts. Apoptosis was executed through the mitochondrial pathway as shown by down-regulation of Bcl-2, up-regulation and activation of Bax, permeabilization of mitochondrial membranes, release of cytochrome c and activation of caspases. We also found that, in contrast to the ER stressor thapsigargin, PU-H71 induced apoptosis in cells overexpressing Bcl-2 and thus overcame the resistance conferred by this anti-apoptotic protein. In addition, although Bax deficiency rendered cells resistant to PU-H71, combined treatment with the anticancer drugs cisplatin or melphalan greatly sensitized these cells to PU-H71. Taken together, these data suggest that inhibition of Hsp90 by PU-H71 is a promising strategy for cancer treatment, particularly in the case of tumors resistant to conventional chemotherapy.

Deoxynivalenol (DON) is a widespread trichothecene mycotoxin which contaminates cereal crops and harmfully affects the gastrointestinal tract. Since it is well known that mitochondria play a central role in apoptosis triggered by many stimuli, an effort was made to examine whether DON-induced cytotoxicity occurs through mitochondria-mediated apoptotic pathway. The intestinal system being one of the primary targets of mycotoxins, the human colon carcinoma cell line HCT116 was used in this study. Using flow cytometric analyses and immunofluorescence, we showed that DON at 100 μM induced a mitochondria-dependent apoptotic pathway associated with opening of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (PTP), loss of the mitochondrial transmembrane potential (ΔΨm), downstream generation of O₂·⁻ and cytochrome c release. The DON-induced apoptosis was accompanied by an activation of caspase 9 and 3, as demonstrated by Western blot and caspase activity assay. In addition, by taking advantage of HCT116 cells invalidated for Bax, we showed that this pro-apoptotic protein favored mitochondrial alterations induced by the mycotoxin. Besides, incubation of purified mitochondria with DON indicated that this mycotoxin does not directly target mitochondria to induce PTP-dependent permeabilization of mitochondrial membranes. Altogether, our results indicate that mitochondria-related caspase-dependent apoptotic pathway is involved in this in vitro model of DON induced-cytotoxicity.

Alternariol monomethyl ether (AME) is a major mycotoxin produced by fungi of the genus Alternaria and a common contaminant of food products such as fruits and cereals worldwide. AME can cause serious health problems for animals as well as for humans. In this study, human colon carcinoma cells (HCT116) were used to explore the mechanisms of cell death induced by AME. Exposure of HCT116 cells to AME resulted in significant cytotoxicity manifested by a loss in cell viability mainly mediated by activation of apoptotic process. AME activated the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway evidenced by the opening of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (PTP), loss of the mitochondrial transmembrane potential (ΔΨm) downstream generation of O 2 − , cytochrome c release and caspase 9 and 3 activation. Experiments conducted on isolated organelles indicated that AME does not directly target mitochondria to induce PTP-dependent permeabilization of mitochondrial membranes. Moreover, no difference was observed in Bax-KO cells in comparison to parental cells, suggesting that the pro-apoptotic protein Bax is not involved in AME-induced mitochondrial apoptosis. Our findings demonstrate for the first time that AME induces cell death in human colon carcinoma cells by activating the mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis.

The adenine nucleotide translocator (ANT) is a mitochondrial bi-functional protein, which catalyzes the exchange of ADP and ATP between cytosol and mitochondria and participates in many models of mitochondrial apoptosis. The human adenine nucleotide translocator sub-family is composed of four isoforms, namely ANT1-4, encoded by four nuclear genes, whose expression is highly regulated. Previous studies have revealed that ANTI and 3 induce mitochondrial apoptosis, whereas ANT2 is anti-apoptotic. However, the role of the recently identified isoform ANT4 in the apoptotic pathway has not yet been elucidated. Here, we investigated the effects of stable heterologous expression of the ANT4 on proliferation, mitochondrial respiration and cell death in human cancer cells, using ANT3 as a control of pro-apoptotic isoform. As expected, ANT3 enhanced mitochondria-mediated apoptosis in response to lonidamine, a mitochondriotoxic chemotherapeutic drug, and staurosporine, a protein kinase inhibitor. Our results also indicate that the pro-apoptotic effect of ANT3 was accompanied by decreased rate of cell proliferation, alteration in the mitochondrial network topology, and decreased reactive oxygen species production. Of note, we demonstrate for the first time that ANT4 enhanced cell growth without impacting mitochondria] network or respiration. Moreover, ANT4 differentially regulated the intracellular levels of hydrogen peroxide without affecting superoxide anion levels. Finally, stable ANT4 overexpression protected cancer cells from lonidamine and staurosporine apoptosis in a manner independent of Bcl-2 expression. These data highlight a hitherto undefined cytoprotective activity of ANT4, and provide a novel dichotomy in the human ANT isoform sub-family with ANT1 and 3 isoforms functioning as pro-apoptotic while ANT2 and 4 isoforms render cells resistant to death inducing stimuli. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

orrigendum to “The fourth isoform of the adenine nucleotide ranslocator inhibits mitochondrial apoptosis in cancer cells” Int. J. Biochem. Cell Biol. 42 (2010) 623–629] indy Gallernea,2, Zahia Touata,1, Zhi Xiong Chenb, Cecile Martela,2, Eleonore Mayolaa,2, ssama Sharaf el deina,2, Nelly Buronc,3, Morgane Le Brasa, Etienne Jacototc,4, nnie Borgne-Sanchezc,3, Antoinette Lemoined, Christophe Lemairea,2, Shazib Pervaizb, atherine Brennera,∗,2