Search

In specialized cell types, lysosome-related organelles support regulated secretory pathways, whereas in nonspecialized cells, lysosomes can undergo fusion with the plasma membrane in response to a transient rise in cytosolic calcium. Recent evidence also indicates that lysosome secretion can be controlled transcriptionally and promote clearance in lysosome storage diseases. In addition, evidence is also accumulating that low concentrations of cyclodextrins reduce the cholesterol-storage phenotype in cells and animals with the cholesterol storage disease Niemann-Pick type C, via an unknown mechanism. Here, we report that cyclodextrin triggers the secretion of the endo/lysosomal content in nonspecialized cells and that this mechanism is responsible for the decreased cholesterol overload in Niemann-Pick type C cells. We also find that the secretion of the endo/lysosome content occurs via a mechanism dependent on the endosomal calcium channel mucolipin-1, as well as FYCO1, the AP1 adaptor, and its partner Gadkin. We conclude that endo-lysosomes in nonspecialized cells can acquire secretory functions elicited by cyclodextrin and that this pathway is responsible for the decrease in cholesterol storage in Niemann-Pick C cells.

N‐acyl dopamines (NADAs) are bioactive lipids of the endovanilloid family with known cytotoxicity for the cancer cells; however, the available data on the participation of the endovanilloids in epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) and cancer stemness are controversial. This study unveils the inhibitory role of N‐arachidonoyl dopamine (AA‐DA), a typical representative of the NADA family, in breast cancer cell migration, EMT, and stemness. AA‐DA treatment also led to a decrease in cholesterol biosynthesis gene expressions, and addition of exogenous cholesterol reverted these AA‐DA‐mediated inhibitory effects. Notably, AA‐DA treatment inhibited the key regulatory gene of the cholesterol biosynthesis pathway, sterol regulatory element‑binding protein 1 (SREBP1), with concurrent repression of the endoplasmic reticulum kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) pathway. Furthermore, U0126, an ERK inhibitor, inhibited SREBP1 and decreased cellular cholesterol level, unwinding the molecular mechanism behind AA‐DA‐mediated anticancer activity. Thus, we, for the first time, revealed that AA‐DA counteracts breast cancer EMT via inhibition of ERK signaling and cholesterol content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACTInfluenza A virus (IAV) is a common pathogen of respiratory disease. The IAV-induced seasonal epidemics and the sporadic pandemics are associated with high morbidity and mortality. Therefore, effective protection and therapy for IAV infections is an important challenge in countering this public health threat. Because vaccinations only protect against known circulating strains, and the currently available antivirals pose the risk of resistance formation, drugs targeting host cell factors needed for viral replication offer a promising therapeutic approach. In this study, we describe the use of the antifungal therapeutics posaconazole and itraconazole in the therapy of IAV. We show that both drugs efficiently inhibit the propagation of IAV in the cell culture model without being cytotoxic. The mode of action is probably based on several targets and includes both a priming of the interferon response and the induced imbalance of cellular cholesterol. The antiviral effect of itraconazole could be confirmed in the mouse model, where the administration of itraconazole led to a drastic reduction in mortality and a significant increase in the survival rate. Thus, our data indicate a promising therapeutic potential of at least itraconazole in influenza therapy.

Eukaryotic cells employ distinct means to release specific signals and material. Research within the last decade has identified different types of membrane-enclosed structures collectively called extracellular vesicles (EVs) as one of them. EVs fall into two categories depending on their subcellular origin. Exosomes are generated within the endosomal system and reach the extracellular space upon fusion of multivesicular bodies. Microvesicles or microparticles are generated by shedding of the plasma membrane. Sterols are essential components of eukaryotic membranes and serve as precursors or cofactors of numerous signaling molecules; their content and subcellular distribution are tightly controlled. The prominent roles of sterols in cells raise the question of whether and how these components impact EVs. In this review, we compile evidence for cholesterol accumulation in EVs and discuss its possible contribution to their biogenesis, release, and uptake. We also consider potential implications of EVs in cellular sterol homeostasis and in cholesterol-related diseases.

Niemann-Pick C (NPC) disease is an autosomal recessive disorder that leads to excessive storage of cholesterol and other lipids in late endosomes and lysosomes. The large majority of NPC disease is caused by mutations in NPC1, a large polytopic membrane protein that functions in late endosomes. There are many disease-associated mutations in NPC1, and most patients are compound heterozygotes. The most common mutation, NPC1I1061T, has been shown to cause endoplasmic reticulum-associated degradation of the NPC1 protein. Treatment of patient-derived NPC1I1061T fibroblasts with histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACis) vorinostat or panobinostat increases expression of the mutant NPC1 protein and leads to correction of the cholesterol storage. Here, we show that several other human NPC1 mutant fibroblast cell lines can also be corrected by vorinostat or panobinostat and that treatment with vorinostat extends the lifetime of the NPC1I1061T protein. To test effects of HDACi on a large number of NPC1 mutants, we engineered a U2OS cell line to suppress NPC1 expression by shRNA and then transiently transfected these cells with 60 different NPC1 mutant constructs. The mutant NPC1 did not significantly reduce cholesterol accumulation, but approximately 85% of the mutants showed reduced cholesterol accumulation when treated with vorinostat or panobinostat.

Our data indicate that the opposite process is taking place - not the modified LDL-induced accumulation of cholesterol causing an inflammatory response, but rather certain pro-inflammatory molecules triggering cholesterol accumulation. Keywords: Atherosclerosis; Cellular cholesterol; Cytokines; Foam cells; Macrophages; Signaling pathways EN Atherosclerosis Cellular cholesterol Cytokines Foam cells Macrophages Signaling pathways 129 130 2 03/03/21 20210301 NES 210301 To the Editor, A recent review article by Boucher et al. "Atherosclerosis: Gone with the Wnt?". [Extracted from the article]

Abstract: We report a new series of naphthoquinone derivatives as potent ACAT inhibitors, which were obtained through structural variations of previously disclosed lead 1. Several analogs represented by 3i–l, 4k–m, 6a–n, 7a, and 7i demonstrated potent human macrophage ACAT inhibitory activity by a cell-based reporter assay with human HepG2 cell lines. In particular, compounds 4l and 6j emerged as highly potent inhibitors, exhibiting significantly high inhibitory potencies with IC50 values of 0.44 μM and 0.6 μM, respectively. Moreover, compound 4l significantly reduced the accumulation of cellular cholesterol in HepG2 cell lines. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This study investigates compositional differences in low density lipoprotein (LDL) subfractions and their relationship to cellular cholesterol synthesis. We examined ten normocholesterolaemic (serum cholesterol <6.5 mM) non-diabetic subjects (group 1) and compared them with ten normocholesterolaemic (group 2) and ten hypercholesterolaemic (group 3) (serum cholesterol >6.5 mM) type 2 (non-insulin-dependent) diabetic patients. Serum cholesterol levels for groups 1, 2 and 3 were 5.19±0.27, 5.20±0.27 and 7.51±0.31 mM. LDL (density 1.006-1.028 g/l) and LDL (1.028-1.063 g/l) were isolated by density gradient ultracentrifugation. A significantly greater proportion of cholesterol was carried in LDL than LDL in all groups. There was a significantly lower cholesterol/protein ratio in LDL from the hypercholesterolaemic diabetic patients compared with controls. The LDL esterified/free cholesterol ratio was significantly greater in both LDL and LDL in the hypercholesterolaemic diabetic patients compared with the other two groups. There was a negative correlation between inhibition of cholesterol synthesis and the esterified/free cholesterol ratio of both LDL ( r=0.56, P<0.002) and LDL ( r=0.63, P<0.001). Cellular cholesterol of 41.0±0.3 μg/mg cell protein in the hypercholesterolaemic diabetic patients was also significantly higher compared with values of 30.32±2.0 and 34.1±4.2 μg/mg cell protein for the normocholesterolaemic non-diabetic and diabetic groups. In vitro LDL esterification led to a decrease in LDL receptor-mediated binding and resulted in a 40% reduction in the ability of the LDL to suppress cholesterol synthesis. The study demonstrates a relationship between the LDL esterified/free cholesterol ratio, LDL receptor binding and cellular cholesterol and may have implications for the understanding of hypercholesterolaemia in diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lipid metabolism derangement contributes to increased cardiovascular risk in Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA). It is still debated whether and how tocilizumab, an interleukin-6 receptor inhibitor used in active RA, impacts cardiovascular risk. We studied the effect of tocilizumab on the regulation of macrophage cholesterol homeostasis, measuring patient serum ability to respectively load (cholesterol loading capacity, CLC) and discharge (cholesterol efflux capacity, CEC) cells with cholesterol. Patients with RA (n = 8) were studied before and after 4 and 12 weeks of tocilizumab treatment. CLC was measured by a fluorimetric assay of intracellular cholesterol content in human macrophages and CEC was measured for the three main pathways, mediated by the transporters Scavenger Receptor class B-type I (SR-BI), ATP binding cassette-G1 (ABCG1) and -A1 (ABCA1) in specific cell models. After 12 weeks of tocilizumab treatment, serum LDL cholesterol levels were increased, while CLC was reduced. HDL cholesterol levels were unchanged, but CEC was significantly ameliorated for the SR-BI and ABCG1 pathways with respect to baseline. Tocilizumab reduces LDL pro-atherogenic potential despite increasing their serum levels and increases HDL protective activity in RA. The data of our pilot study suggest that tocilizumab regulates lipoprotein function in selected patient populations and lay the groundwork for future larger studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]