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Cell death is a key feature of neurological diseases, including stroke and neurodegenerative disorders. Studies in a variety of ischemic/hypoxic mouse models demonstrate that poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP-1)-dependent cell death, also named PARthanatos, plays a pivotal role in ischemic neuronal cell death and disease progress. PARthanatos has its unique triggers, processors, and executors that convey a highly orchestrated and programmed signaling cascade. In addition to its role in gene transcription, DNA damage repair, and energy homeostasis through PARylation of its various targets, PARP-1 activation in neuron and glia attributes to brain damage following ischemia/reperfusion. Pharmacological inhibition or genetic deletion of PARP-1 reduces infarct volume, eliminates inflammation, and improves recovery of neurological functions in stroke. Here, we reviewed the role of PARP-1 and PARthanatos in stroke and their therapeutic potential.

27-Hydroxycholesterol (27-HC) is the most abundant oxysterol that increases the risk of breast cancer progression. However, little is known about epigenetic regulation of 27-HC metabolism and its role in breast tumor initiation. Using genetic mouse mammary tumor and human breast cancer models, we showed here that the histone reader ZMYND8 was selectively expressed in breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs) and promoted epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), BCSC maintenance and self-renewal, and oncogenic transformation through its epigenetic functions, leading to breast tumor initiation. Mechanistically, ZMYND8 was a master transcriptional regulator of 27-HC metabolism. It increased cholesterol biosynthesis and oxidation but blocked cholesterol efflux and 27-HC catabolism, leading to accumulation of 27-HC in BCSCs. Consequently, 27-HC promoted EMT, oncogenic transformation, and tumor initiation through activation of liver X receptor. These findings reveal that ZMYND8 is an epigenetic booster that drives breast tumor initiation through metabolic reprogramming.

Background Apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF), as a mitochondrial flavoprotein, plays a fundamental role in mitochondrial bioenergetics that is critical for cell survival and also mediates caspase-independent cell death once it is released from mitochondria and translocated to the nucleus under ischemic stroke or neurodegenerative diseases. Although alternative splicing regulation of AIF has been implicated, it remains unknown which AIF splicing isoform will be induced under pathological conditions and how it impacts mitochondrial functions and neurodegeneration in adult brain. Methods AIF splicing induction in brain was determined by multiple approaches including 5′ RACE, Sanger sequencing, splicing-specific PCR assay and bottom-up proteomic analysis. The role of AIF splicing in mitochondria and neurodegeneration was determined by its biochemical properties, cell death analysis, morphological and functional alterations and animal behavior. Three animal models, including loss-of-function harlequin model, gain-of-function AIF3 knockin model and conditional inducible AIF splicing model established using either Cre-loxp recombination or CRISPR/Cas9 techniques, were applied to explore underlying mechanisms of AIF splicing-induced neurodegeneration. Results We identified a nature splicing AIF isoform lacking exons 2 and 3 named as AIF3. AIF3 was undetectable under physiological conditions but its expression was increased in mouse and human postmortem brain after stroke. AIF3 splicing in mouse brain caused enlarged ventricles and severe neurodegeneration in the forebrain regions. These AIF3 splicing mice died 2–4 months after birth. AIF3 splicing-triggered neurodegeneration involves both mitochondrial dysfunction and AIF3 nuclear translocation. We showed that AIF3 inhibited NADH oxidase activity, ATP production, oxygen consumption, and mitochondrial biogenesis. In addition, expression of AIF3 significantly increased chromatin condensation and nuclear shrinkage leading to neuronal cell death. However, loss-of-AIF alone in harlequin or gain-of-AIF3 alone in AIF3 knockin mice did not cause robust neurodegeneration as that observed in AIF3 splicing mice. Conclusions We identified AIF3 as a disease-inducible isoform and established AIF3 splicing mouse model. The molecular mechanism underlying AIF3 splicing-induced neurodegeneration involves mitochondrial dysfunction and AIF3 nuclear translocation resulting from the synergistic effect of loss-of-AIF and gain-of-AIF3. Our study provides a valuable tool to understand the role of AIF3 splicing in brain and a potential therapeutic target to prevent/delay the progress of neurodegenerative diseases.

Hypoxia induces thousands of mRNAs and miRNAs to mediate tumor malignancy. However, hypoxia-induced long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) transcriptome and their role in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) have not been defined. Here we identified hypoxia-induced lncRNA transcriptome in two human TNBC cell lines by whole transcriptome sequencing. AC093818.1 was one of 26 validated lncRNAs and abundantly expressed in TNBC in vitro and in vivo. 5′- and 3′-rapid amplification of cDNA ends assays revealed that the isoform 2 was a dominant AC093818.1 transcript in TNBC cells and thus referred to as lncIHAT (lncRNA induced by hypoxia and abundant in TNBC). Hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF1) but not HIF2 bound to the hypoxia response element at the promoter of lncIHAT to activate its transcription in hypoxic TNBC cells. LncIHAT promoted TNBC cell survival in vitro and tumor growth and lung metastasis in mice. Mechanistically, lncIHAT was required for the expression of its proximal neighboring oncogenic genes PDK1 and ITGA6 in TNBC cells and tumors. Reexpression of PDK1 and ITGA6 rescued survival and growth of lncIHAT knockdown TNBC cells in vitro. Collectively, these findings uncovered lncIHAT as a new hypoxia-induced oncogenic cis-acting lncRNA in TNBC. Implications: This study systematically identified hypoxia-induced lncRNA transcriptome in TNBC and sheds light on multiple layers of regulatory mechanisms of gene expression under hypoxia.

Metabolic reprogramming fulfils increased nutrient demands and regulates numerous oncogenic processes in tumors, leading to tumor malignancy. Branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs, i.e., valine, leucine, and isoleucine) function as nitrogen donors to generate macromolecules such as nucleotides and are indispensable for human cancer cell growth. The cell-autonomous and non-autonomous roles of altered BCAA metabolism have been implicated in cancer progression and the key proteins in the BCAA metabolic pathway serve as possible prognostic and diagnostic biomarkers in human cancers. Here we summarize how BCAA metabolic reprogramming is regulated in cancer cells and how it influences cancer progression.

Recruitment of RNA polymerase II to hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) target genes under normoxia is a prerequisite for HIF-mediated transactivation. However, the underlying mechanism of this recruitment remains unknown. Here we report that chromodomain helicase DNA-binding protein 4 (CHD4) physically interacts with α and β subunits of HIF1 and HIF2 and enhances HIF-driven transcriptional programs to promote breast cancer progression. Loss of HIF1/2α abolished CHD4-mediated breast tumor growth in mice. In breast cancer cells under normoxia, CHD4 enrichment at HIF target gene promoters increased RNA polymerase II loading through p300. Hypoxia further promoted CHD4 binding to the chromatin via HIF1/2α, where CHD4 in turn enhanced recruitment of HIF1α, leading to HIF target gene transcription. CHD4 was upregulated and correlated with HIF target gene expression in human breast tumors; upregulation of CHD4 and other known HIF coactivators in human breast tumors was mutually exclusive. Furthermore, CHD4 was associated with poor overall survival of patients with breast cancer. Collectively, these findings reveal a new fundamental mechanism of HIF regulation in breast cancer, which has clinical relevance. Significance: This study identifies CHD4 as a HIF coactivator and elucidates the fundamental mechanism underlying CHD4-mediated HIF transactivation in breast tumors.

Hypoxia induces a vast array of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNA) in breast cancer cells, but their biological functions remain largely unknown. Here, we identified a hitherto uncharacterized hypoxia-induced lncRNA RAB11B-AS1 in breast cancer cells. RAB11B-AS1 is a natural lncRNA upregulated in human breast cancer and its expression is induced by hypoxia-inducible factor 2 (HIF2), but not HIF1, in response to hypoxia. RAB11B-AS1 enhanced the expression of angiogenic factors including VEGFA and ANGPTL4 in hypoxic breast cancer cells by increasing recruitment of RNA polymerase II. In line with increased angiogenic factors, conditioned media from RAB11B-AS1-overexpressing breast cancer cells promoted tube formation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells in vitro. Gain- and loss-of-function studies revealed that RAB11B-AS1 increased breast cancer cell migration and invasion in vitro and promoted tumor angiogenesis and breast cancer distant metastasis without affecting primary tumor growth in mice. Taken together, these findings uncover a fundamental mechanism of hypoxia-induced tumor angiogenesis and breast cancer metastasis. Significance: This study reveals the molecular mechanism by which the lncRNA RAB11B-AS1 regulates hypoxia-induced angiogenesis and breast cancer metastasis, and provides new insights into the functional interaction between a lncRNA and tumor microenvironment.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI), often induced by sports, car accidents, falls, or other daily occurrences, is a primary non-genetically related risk factor for the development of subsequent neurodegeneration and neuronal cell death. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying neurodegeneration, cell death, and neurobehavioral dysfunction following TBI remain unclear. Here, we found that poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1) was hyperactivated following TBI and its inhibition reduced TBI-induced brain injury. Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF), a newly identified nuclease involved in PARP-1-dependent cell death, was translocated from the cytosol to the nucleus in cortical neurons following TBI and promoted neuronal cell death in vivo. Genetic deletion of MIF protected neurons from TBI-induced dendritic spine loss, morphological complexity degeneration, and subsequent neuronal cell death in mice. Moreover, MIF knockout reduced the brain injury volume and improved long-term animal behavioral rehabilitation. These neuroprotective effects in MIF knockout mice were reversed by the expression of wild-type MIF but not nuclease-deficient MIF mutant. In contrast, genetic deletion of MIF did not alter TBI-induced neuroinflammation. These findings reveal that MIF mediates TBI-induced neurodegeneration, neuronal cell death and neurobehavioral dysfunction through its nuclease activity, but not its pro-inflammatory role. Targeting MIF's nuclease activity may offer a novel strategy to protect neurons from TBI.

How cancer cells cope with high levels of replication stress during rapid proliferation is currently unclear. Here, we show that macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is a 3’ flap nuclease that translocates to the nucleus in S phase. Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 co-localizes with MIF to the DNA replication fork, where MIF nuclease activity is required to resolve replication stress and facilitates tumor growth. MIF loss in cancer cells leads to mutation frequency increases, cell cycle delays and DNA synthesis and cell growth inhibition, which can be rescued by restoring MIF, but not nuclease-deficient MIF mutant. MIF is significantly upregulated in breast tumors and correlates with poor overall survival in patients. We propose that MIF is a unique 3’ nuclease, excises flaps at the immediate 3’ end during DNA synthesis and favors cancer cells evading replication stress-induced threat for their growth., Replication stress is associated with cancer formation and progression. Here the authors reveal that the macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) functions as 3’ flap nuclease involved in resolving replication stress affecting overall tumor progression.

A high density of regulatory information encodes a quantitative spatial pattern in a Drosophila transcriptional enhancer., Developmental enhancers control the expression of genes prefiguring morphological patterns. The activity of an enhancer varies among cells of a tissue, but collectively, expression levels in individual cells constitute a spatial pattern of gene expression. How the spatial and quantitative regulatory information is encoded in an enhancer sequence is elusive. To link spatial pattern and activity levels of an enhancer, we used systematic mutations of the yellow spot enhancer, active in developing Drosophila wings, and tested their effect in a reporter assay. Moreover, we developed an analytic framework based on the comprehensive quantification of spatial reporter activity. We show that the quantitative enhancer activity results from densely packed regulatory information along the sequence, and that a complex interplay between activators and multiple tiers of repressors carves the spatial pattern. Our results shed light on how an enhancer reads and integrates trans-regulatory landscape information to encode a spatial quantitative pattern.

The fundamental molecular determinants by which ATP-dependent chromatin remodelers organize nucleosomes across eukaryotic genomes remain largely elusive. Here, chromatin reconstitutions on physiological, whole-genome templates reveal how remodelers read and translate genomic information into nucleosome positions. Using the yeast genome and the multi-subunit INO80 remodeler as a paradigm, we identify DNA shape/mechanics encoded signature motifs as sufficient for nucleosome positioning and distinct from known DNA sequence preferences of histones. INO80 processes such information through an allosteric interplay between its core- and Arp8-modules that probes mechanical properties of nucleosomal and linker DNA. At promoters, INO80 integrates this readout of DNA shape/mechanics with a readout of co-evolved sequence motifs via interaction with general regulatory factors bound to these motifs. Our findings establish a molecular mechanism for robust and yet adjustable +1 nucleosome positioning and, more generally, remodelers as information processing hubs that enable active organization and allosteric regulation of the first level of chromatin., DNA sequence preferences or statistical positioning of histones has not explained genomic patterns of nucleosome organisation in vivo. Here, the authors establish DNA shape/mechanics as key elements that have evolved together with binding sites of DNA sequence-specific barriers so that such information directs nucleosome positioning by chromatin remodelers.

Emerging studies indicate that DNA damage in cancer cells triggers antitumor immunity, but its intrinsic regulatory mechanism in breast cancer cells remains poorly understood. Here, we show that ZMYND8 is upregulated and inhibits micronucleus formation and DNA damage in breast cancer cells. Loss of ZMYND8 triggered activation of the DNA sensor cyclic guanosine monophosphate-adenosine monophosphate synthase in micronuclei, leading to further activation of the downstream signaling effectors stimulator of IFN genes and NF-κB, but not TANK-binding kinase 1 and IFN regulatory factor 3, thereby inducing the expression of IFNβ and IFN-stimulated genes (ISG) in breast cancer cells in vitro and tumors in vivo. ZMYND8 knockout (KO) in breast cancer cells promoted infiltration of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, leading to tumor inhibition in syngeneic mouse models, which was significantly attenuated by treatment of anti-CD4/CD8–depleting antibodies or anti-IFNAR1 antibody and in immunodeficient Rag1 KO mice. In human breast tumors, ZMYND8 was negatively correlated with ISGs, CD4, CD8A, CD8B, and the tumor-lymphocyte infiltration phenotype. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that maintenance of genome stability by ZMYND8 causes breast cancer cells to evade cytotoxic T-lymphocyte surveillance, which leads to tumor growth. Significance: These findings show that ZMYND8 is a new negative and intrinsic regulator of the innate immune response in breast tumor cells, and ZMYND8 may be a possible target for antitumor immunotherapy.

Altered epigenetic reprogramming contributes to breast cancer progression and metastasis. How the epigenetic reader mediates breast cancer progression remains poorly understood. Here, we showed that the epigenetic reader zinc finger MYND-type containing 8 (ZMYND8) is induced by HIF-1 and HIF-2 in breast cancer cells and also upregulated in human breast tumors, and is correlated with poor survival of patients with breast cancer. Genetic deletion of ZMYND8 decreases breast cancer cell colony formation, migration, and invasion in vitro, and inhibits breast tumor growth and metastasis to the lungs in mice. The ZMYND8’s oncogenic effect in breast cancer requires HIF-1 and HIF-2. We further showed that ZMYND8 interacts with HIF-1α and HIF-2α and enhances elongation of the global HIF-induced oncogenic genes by increasing recruitment of BRD4 and subsequent release of paused RNA polymerase II in breast cancer cells. ZMYND8 acetylation at lysines 1007 and 1034 by p300 is required for HIF activation and breast cancer progression and metastasis. These findings uncover a primary epigenetic mechanism of HIF activation and HIF-mediated breast cancer progression, and discover a possible molecular target for the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer.

The hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) is a heterodimeric transcription factor governing a transcriptional program in response to reduced O2 availability in metazoans. It contributes to physiology and pathogenesis of many human diseases through its downstream target genes. Emerging studies have shown that the transcriptional activity of HIF is highly regulated at multiple levels and the epigenetic regulators are essential for HIF-mediated transactivation. In this review, we will discuss the comprehensive regulation of HIF transcriptional activity by different types of epigenetic regulators.

Myocardial ischemia is a primary cause of sudden death worldwide. Numerous active ingredients of traditional Chinese medicines including danshensu (DSS) and tetramethylpyrazine (TMP) have been widely used for the treatment of myocardial ischemia. To enhance their therapeutic efficacy and improve their drugability, in this work, we designed new DSS and TMP conjugates. Their water solubility and protective effects were studied in vitro and in experimental animal models. The new compounds demonstrated higher activities than the positive control agents acetylated danshensu and tetramethylpyrazine conjugate (ADTM) and salvianolic acid B (SAB) in preventing cells from oxidative insult. Among the new compounds, 14, bearing two glycine moieties, was more water soluble. In addition, compound 14 was much more potent in preventing cells from oxidative injury, at least 10- and 20-fold as potent as ADTM and SAB, respectively. The protective effects of compound 14 may be attributed to its anti-radical activity and anti-apoptotic activity. These results suggest that compound 14 is a promising candidate for the treatment of myocardial ischemia.

Hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs) control the transcription of genes that are crucial for the pathogenesis of cancer and other human diseases. The transcriptional activity of HIFs is rapidly increased upon exposure to hypoxia, but expression of some HIF target genes decreases during prolonged hypoxia. However, the underlying mechanism for feedback inhibition is not completely understood. Here, we report that peroxiredoxin 2 (PRDX2) and PRDX4 interact with HIF-1α and HIF-2α in vitro and in hypoxic HeLa cells. Prolonged hypoxia increases the nuclear translocation of PRDX2 and PRDX4. As a result, PRDX2 and PRDX4 impair HIF-1 and HIF-2 binding to the hypoxia response elements of a subset of HIF target genes, thereby inhibiting gene transcription in cells exposed to prolonged hypoxia. PRDX2 and PRDX4 have no effect on the recruitment of p300 and RNA polymerase II to HIF target genes and the enzymatic activity of PRDX2 and PRDX4 is not required for inhibition of HIF-1 and HIF-2. We also demonstrate that PRDX2 is a direct HIF target gene and that PRDX2 expression is induced by prolonged hypoxia. These findings uncover a novel feedback mechanism for inhibition of HIF transcriptional activity under conditions of prolonged hypoxia.

The aim of this study was to investigate the photolysis mechanism of ketoprofen (KET) under simulated sunlight. The results demonstrated that the photolysis of KET aligned well with pseudo first-order kinetics. Radical scavenging experiments and dissolved oxygen experiments revealed that the superoxide anion radical (O2˙−) played a primary role in the photolytic process in pure water. Bicarbonate slightly increased the photodegradation of KET through generating carbonate radicals, while DOM inhibited the photolysis via both attenuating light and competing radicals. Moreover, Zhujiang river water inhibited KET phototransformation. Potential KET degradation pathways were proposed based on the identification of products using LC/MS/MS and GC/MS techniques. The theoretical prediction of reaction sites was derived from Frontier Electron Densities (FEDs), which primarily involved the KET decarboxylation reaction. The ecotoxicity of the treated solutions was evaluated by employing Daphnia magna and V. fischeri as biological indicators. Ecotoxicity was also hypothetically predicted through the “ecological structure–activity relationship” (ECOSAR) program, which revealed that toxic products might be generated during the photolysis process.

Poly(ADP-ribose) (PAR) polymerase-1 (PARP-1) acts as a DNA damage sensor. It recognizes DNA damage and facilitates DNA repair by recruiting DNA repair machinery to damage sites. Recent studies reported that PARP-1 also plays an important role in DNA replication by recognizing the unligated Okazaki fragments and controlling the speed of fork elongation. On the other hand, emerging evidence reveals that excessive activation of PARP-1 causes chromatin DNA fragmentation and triggers an intrinsic PARP-1-dependent cell death program designated parthanatos, which can be blocked by genetic deletion or pharmacological inhibition of PARP-1. Therefore, PARP-1 plays an essential role in maintaining genomic stability by either facilitating DNA repair/replication or triggering DNA fragmentation to kill cells. A group of structure-specific nucleases is crucial for executing DNA incision and fragmentation following PARP-1 activation. In this review, we will discuss how PARP-1 coordinates with its associated nucleases to maintain genomic integrity and control the decision of cell life and death.

DNA damage-activated nuclease identified Cells that experience stresses and accumulate excessive damage to DNA undergo cell death mediated by a nuclear enzyme known as PARP-1. During this process, apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) translocates to the nucleus and activates one or more nucleases to cleave DNA. Wang et al. found that macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is an AIF-associated endonuclease that contributes to PARP-1-induced DNA fragmentation (see the Perspective by Jonas). In mouse neurons in culture, loss of MIF protected neurons from cell death caused by excessive stimulation. Targeting MIF could thus provide a therapeutic strategy against diseases in which PARP-1 activation is excessive. Science , this issue p. 82 ; see also p. 36

Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1) plays a pivotal role in multiple neurologic diseases by mediating caspase-independent cell death, which has recently been designated parthanatos to distinguish it from other forms of cell death such as apoptosis, necrosis and autophagy. Mitochondrial apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) release and translocation to the nucleus is the commitment point for parthanatos. This process involves a pathogenic role of poly (ADP-ribose) (PAR) polymer. It generates in the nucleus and translocates to the mitochondria to mediate AIF release following lethal PARP-1 activation. PAR polymer itself is toxic to cells. Thus, PAR polymer signaling to mitochondrial AIF is the key event initiating the deadly crosstalk between the nucleus and the mitochondria in parthanatos. Targeting PAR-mediated AIF release could be a potential approach for the therapy of neurologic disorders.

Apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) is critical for poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1)-dependent cell death (parthanatos). The molecular mechanism of mitochondrial AIF release to the nucleus remains obscure, although a possible role of calpain I has been suggested. Here we show that calpain is not required for mitochondrial AIF release in parthanatos. Although calpain I cleaved recombinant AIF in a cell-free system in intact cells under conditions where endogenous calpain was activated by either NMDA or N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG) administration, AIF was not cleaved, and it was released from mitochondria to the nucleus in its 62-kDa uncleaved form. Moreover, NMDA administration under conditions that failed to activate calpain still robustly induced AIF nuclear translocation. Inhibition of calpain with calpastatin or genetic knockout of the regulatory subunit of calpain failed to prevent NMDA- or MNNG-induced AIF nuclear translocation and subsequent cell death, respectively, which was markedly prevented by the PARP-1 inhibitor, 3,4-dihydro-5-[4-(1-piperidinyl)butoxyl]-1(2H)-iso-quinolinone. Our study clearly shows that calpain activation is not required for AIF release during parthanatos, suggesting that other mechanisms rather than calpain are involved in mitochondrial AIF release in parthanatos.

Protease-activated receptors (PARs) are G protein-coupled receptors that regulate the cellular response to extracellular serine proteases, like thrombin, trypsin, and tryptase. The PAR family consists of four members: PAR-1, -3, and -4 as thrombin receptors and PAR-2 as the trypsin/tryptase receptor, which are abundantly expressed in the brain throughout development. Recent evidence has supported the direct involvement of PARs in brain development and function. The expression of PARs in the brain is differentially upregulated or downregulated under pathological conditions in neurodegenerative disorders, like Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis, stroke, and human immunodeficiency virus-associated dementia. Activation of PARs mediates cell death or cell survival in the brain, depending on the amplitude and the duration of agonist stimulation. Interference or potentiation of PAR activation is beneficial in animal models of neurodegenerative diseases. Therefore, PARs mediate either neurodegeneration or neuroprotection in neurodegenerative diseases and represent attractive therapeutic targets for treatment of brain injuries. Here, we review the abnormal expression of PARs in the brain under pathological conditions, the functions of PARs in neurodegenerative disorders, and the molecular mechanisms involved.

Several serine proteases including thrombin, tissue-type plasminogen activator and urokinase-type plasminogen activator have been well characterized in the brain. In this article, we review the brain-related trypsin and trypsin-like serine proteases. Accumulating evidence demonstrates that trypsin and trypsin-like serine proteases play very important roles in neural development, plasticity, neurodegeneration and neuroregeneration in the brain. Neuropsin is able to hydrolyze the extracellular matrix components by its active site serine, and regulates learning and memory in normal brain. The mutant neurotrypsin contributes to mental retardation in children. Neurosin seems to be involved in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders, like Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease or multiple sclerosis. Although mesotrypsin/trypsin IV is also implicated in neurodegeneration, its functional significance still remains largely unknown. Particularly, mesotrypsin/trypsin IV, P22 and neurosin exert their physiological and pathological functions through activation of certain protease-activated receptors (PARs). In the brain, the presence of serpins controls the activity of serine proteases. Therefore, understanding the interaction among brain trypsin, serpins and PARs will provide invaluable tools for regulating normal brain functions and for the clinical treatment of neural disorders.

Doxorubicin (Dox) is an anthracycline antibiotic widely used in clinics as an anticancer agent. However, the use of Dox is limited by its cardiotoxicity. We have previously shown that a Danshensu (DSS) derivative, ADTM, displayed strong cardioprotective effects. With improved chemical stability and activity, a novel DSS derivative, D006, based on the structure of ADTM, was synthesized. In the present study, the protective effects of D006, indexed by attenuation of the cardiotoxicity induced by Dox as well as chemosensitizing effects that increase the antitumor activity of Dox, were investigated. Our results showed that D006 was more potent than either parental compound, or their use in combination, in ameliorating Dox-induced toxicity in H9c2 cells. In our zebrafish model, D006, but not DSS, alone significantly preserved the ventricular function of zebrafish after Dox treatment. Moreover, D006 upregulated mitochondrial biogenesis and increased mtDNA copy number after Dox treatment of H9c2 cells. D006 promoted the expression of HO-1 protein in a time-dependent manner while the HO-1 inhibitor, Znpp, reversed the protective effects of D006. In human breast tumor MCF-7 cells, D006 enhanced Dox-induced cytotoxicity by increasing apoptosis. In conclusion, our results indicate that a new DSS derivative exhibits promising protective effects against Dox-induced cardiotoxicity both in vivo and in vitro, an effect at least partially mediated by induction of HO-1 expression and the activation of mitochondrial biogenesis. Meanwhile, D006 also potentiated the anti-cancer effects of Dox in breast tumor cells.

Decreased ability in oxygen delivery and diffusion of the blood vessels and increased oxygen consumption in the rapidly proliferating cancer cells both contribute to reduced oxygen availability in the solid tumors, a major signature of the tumor microenvironment [1]. The oxygen concentration is dynamically changed within the tumor, and thus tumor cells are frequently subjected to acute or chronic hypoxia. Tumor cells exposed to chronic hypoxia are highly malignant and resistant to radiation therapy and chemotherapy [1]. Hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) and HIF-2 are two master regulators in response to low oxygen and mediate tumor progression by regulating the transcription of target genes [2]. HIF-mediated cellular processes are distinct under conditions of acute and chronic hypoxia, which may have great impact on therapeutic consequences. In this editorial, we will discuss the negative HIF regulators that differentially control HIF transcriptional activity under conditions of acute and chronic hypoxia. HIF is a heterodimeric transcription factor, consisting of an oxygen-regulated α subunit and a constitutively expressed β subunit. The regulation of HIF-α protein levels is a critical determinant of HIF-mediated gene transcription. Our previous study showed that chronic hypoxia causes the selective decay of HIF-1α at least in part by HSP70- and CHIP-dependent ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation [3]. The levels of HIF-1α mRNA are also suppressed by repressor element 1-silencing transcription factor (REST) [4], miR-155 [5], or tristetraprolin [6] under conditions of chronic hypoxia. Apart from decreased mRNA and protein stability, we recently found that HIF transcriptional activity is directly inhibited by peroxiredoxin 2 (PRDX2) and PRDX4 under conditions of chronic hypoxia [7]. PRDX2 mRNA and protein levels are elevated in HeLa cells exposed to chronic hypoxia in a HIF-1- and HIF-2-dependent manner [7]. Chronic hypoxia also increases the nuclear translocation of PRDX2 and PRDX4 in HeLa cells [7]. The nuclear PRDX2 or PRDX4 physically binds to the inhibitory domain of HIF-1α and HIF-2α, and directly inhibits the transcriptional activity of HIF-1 and HIF-2 in multiple cell lines, including human cervical carcinoma HeLa, human embryonic kidney HEK293T, and mouse embryo fibroblasts [7]. The antioxidant activity of PRDX2 and PRDX4 are dispensable for HIF suppression [7]. Moreover, we further found that double knockdown of PRDX2 and PRDX4 selectively increases expression of a subset of HIF target genes, including SLC2A3, GPI, PDK3, HGF, in HeLa cells exposed to chronic hypoxia (1% O2 for 72 hr) [7]. However, PRDX2 and PRDX4 fail to affect the mRNA levels of these genes under conditions of acute hypoxia (1% O2 for 24 hr) [7]. Mechanistically, PRDX2 and PRDX4 selectively impair HIF-1 and HIF-2 binding to the hypoxia response element of a subset of HIF target genes, thereby inhibiting gene expression in cells under conditions of chronic hypoxia [7]. Future studies are required to determine whether PRDX2 and PRDX4 are involved in recruitment of the HIF corepressor complex to the HIF target genes. Nevertheless, our findings indicate that PRDX2 and PRDX4 represent a novel feedback mechanism for inhibition of HIF transcriptional activity under conditions of chronic hypoxia. HIFs have been the attractive targets for cancer therapy. Identification of the specific HIF regulators under conditions of acute and chronic hypoxia may yield the new therapeutic strategies. Indeed, high levels of PRDX2 and PRDX4 are significantly correlated with increased survival of patients with bladder cancer (our unpublished data), suggesting that PRDX2 and PRDX4 may be the new therapeutic targets for treatment of cancer.

The mitochondrial protein apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) plays a pivotal role in poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1)-mediated cell death (parthanatos), during which it is released from the mitochondria and translocates to the nucleus. We show that AIF is a high-affinity poly(ADP-ribose) (PAR)-binding protein and that PAR binding to AIF is required for parthanatos both in vitro and in vivo. AIF bound PAR at a site distinct from AIF's DNA binding site, and this interaction triggered AIF release from the cytosolic side of the mitochondrial outer membrane. Mutation of the PAR binding site in AIF did not affect its NADH (reduced form of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) oxidase activity, its ability to bind FAD (flavin adenine dinucleotide) or DNA, or its ability to induce nuclear condensation. However, this AIF mutant was not released from mitochondria and did not translocate to the nucleus or mediate cell death after PARP-1 activation. These results suggest a mechanism for PARP-1 to initiate AIF-mediated cell death and indicate that AIF's bioenergetic cell survival-promoting functions are separate from its effects as a mitochondrially derived death effector. Interference with the PAR-AIF interaction or PAR signaling may provide notable opportunities for preventing cell death after activation of PARP-1.

We recently characterized the proteinase-activated receptor (PAR)-2, a G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR), as the first cargo protein recognized by p24A. Here, we demonstrate that p24A binds to several other GPCRs, including PAR-1, the nucleotide receptors P2Y(1), P2Y(2), P2Y(4), and P2Y(11), as well as the μ-opioid receptor 1B. The acidic amino acid residues Glu and Asp at the second extracellular loop of GPCRs are essential for interaction with p24A. p23, another member of the p24 family, also interacts with GPCRs, similar to p24A. However, p23 shows a delayed dissociation from PAR-2 after activation of PAR-2, compared to the dissociation between PAR-2 and p24A. p24A and p23 arrest both P2Y(4) receptor and μ-opioid receptor 1B at the intracellular compartments, as observed for PAR-2. A comparable result was obtained when we studied primary rat astrocytes in culture. Over-expression of the N-terminal p24A fragment impairs PAR-2 resensitization in astrocytes that extends our findings to a native system. In summary, we demonstrate that p24A and p23 are specific cargo receptors of GPCRs and differentially control GPCR trafficking in the biosynthetic pathway, and thereby, p24A and p23 regulate GPCR signaling in astrocytes.

Activation of protease-activated receptors (PARs) is known to exert neuroprotection when low concentrations of the agonist protease thrombin are applied. However, the mechanism of protection is still unclear. Here, we showed that activation of multiple PARs, including PAR-1, PAR-2 and PAR-4, was able to elevate the release of the chemokine cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant (CINC)-3 from rat astrocytes, in addition to evoking CINC-1 secretion. Different molecular mechanisms were identified as being involved in the secretion of CINC-1 and CINC-3, upon activation of different PARs. Importantly, we found that both CINC-1 and CINC-3 could signal to rat cortical neurons. Both chemokines acted via CXCR2 to prevent C2-ceramide-induced cytochrome c release from mitochondria. Consequently CINC-1 and CINC-3 protected neurons from apoptosis. We further revealed that conditioned media obtained from PAR-activated astrocytes similarly protected cortical neurons against C2-ceramide-induced cell death. The neuroprotection was considerably suppressed by a CXCR2 antagonist. CXCR2 is the cognate receptor for CINC. Therefore, our findings demonstrate that PAR-activated astrocytes are able to protect neurons against neurodegeneration and cell death via regulation of the secretion of chemokines CINC-1 and CINC-3. These data indicate a previously unknown mechanism for astrocyte-mediated neuroprotection achieved by PAR activation.

Protease-activated receptor-2 (PAR-2), the second member of the G protein-coupled PAR family, is irreversibly activated by trypsin or tryptase and then targeted to lysosomes for degradation. Intracellular presynthesized receptors stored at the Golgi apparatus repopulate the cell surface after trypsin stimulation, thereby leading to rapid resensitization to trypsin signaling. However, the molecular mechanisms of the exocytic trafficking of PAR-2 from the Golgi apparatus to the plasma membrane remain largely unclear. Here we show that p24A, a type I transmembrane protein, which is a crucial constituent of the Golgi apparatus, associates with PAR-2 at the Golgi apparatus. The protein interaction occurs between the N-terminal region of p24A (residues 1-105; p24A-GL (GOLD domain with a small linker)) and the second extracellular loop of PAR-2. After receptor activation, PAR-2 dissociates from p24A. Importantly, we found that ADP-ribosylation factor 1 regulated the dissociation process and initiated PAR-2 trafficking to the plasma membrane. Conversely, overexpression of the fragment p24A-GL, but not other mutants containing the functional coiled-coil domain of p24A, arrested PAR-2 at the Golgi apparatus and inhibited receptor trafficking to the plasma membrane, which consequently prevented resensitization of PAR-2. These findings identify a new function of p24A as a regulator of signal-dependent trafficking that regulates the life cycle of PAR-2, Thus, we reveal a new molecular mechanism underlying resensitization of PAR-2.

Our recent data showed that activation of protease-activated receptor (PAR)-1 and PAR-2 in rat astrocytes not only evokes calcium signaling, but also regulates the release of the chemokine growth-regulated oncogene/cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant-1 (GRO/CINC-1), a counterpart of the human GRO. This chemokine provides a feedback to protect astrocytes from toxic insults. Activated PAR-1 and PAR-2 were strong stimuli to induce the release of GRO/CINC-1. The effect was comparable to that induced by TNF-alpha. However, the role of calcium in the PAR-induced GRO/CINC-1 secretion remains unknown. Here, we found that the pharmacological blockade of either calcium release from the intracellular stores, or influx from the extracellular space, increased PAR-1- and PAR-2-induced GRO/CINC-1 secretion. Under calcium-free conditions, the basal mRNA level of GRO/CINC-1 was clearly increased. Further studies revealed that the intracellular GRO/CINC-1 protein level was slightly increased by treatment with thrombin or TRag in calcium-free conditions. However, the amount of protein synthesized was largely reduced in the absence of extracellular calcium as compared to that under normal calcium conditions. Importantly, we found that the intracellularly formed GRO/CINC-1 was not secreted into the cell culture supernatant under calcium-free conditions. These data suggest a dual role of calcium. On the one side, an increase in cytosolic calcium negatively regulates PAR-induced GRO/CINC-1 gene expression in rat astrocytes, but on the other side, the basal level of calcium is the pre-requisite for GRO/CINC-1 protein synthesis and secretion.

Activation of both PAR-1 (proteinase-activated receptor-1) and PAR-2 resulted in release of the chemokine GRO (growth-regulated oncogene)/CINC-1 (cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant-1), a functional counterpart of human interleukin-8, from rat astrocytes. Here, we investigate whether the two PAR receptor subtypes can signal separately. PAR-2-induced GRO/CINC-1 release was independent of protein kinase C, phosphoinositide 3-kinase and MEK (mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase)-1/2 activation, whereas these three kinases were involved in PAR-1-induced GRO/CINC-1 release. Despite such clear differences between PAR-1 and PAR-2 signalling pathways, JNK (c-Jun N-terminal kinase) was identified in both signalling pathways to play a pivotal role. By isoform-specific loss-of-function studies using small interfering RNA against JNK1–3, we demonstrate that different JNK isoforms mediated GRO/CINC-1 secretion, when it was induced by either PAR-1 or PAR-2 activation. JNK2 and JNK3 isoforms were both activated by PAR-1 and essential for chemokine GRO/CINC-1 secretion, whereas PAR-1-mediated JNK1 activation was mainly responsible for c-Jun phosphorylation, which was not involved in GRO/CINC-1 release. In contrast, PAR-2-induced JNK1 activation, which failed to phosphorylate c-Jun, uniquely contributed to GRO/CINC-1 release. Therefore our results show for the first time that JNK-mediated chemokine GRO/CINC-1 release occurred in a JNK isoform-dependent fashion and invoked PAR subtype-specific mechanisms. Furthermore, here we demonstrate that activation of PAR-2, as well as PAR-1, rescued astrocytes from ceramide-induced apoptosis via regulating chemokine GRO/CINC-1 release. Taken together, our results suggest that PAR-1 and PAR-2 have overlapping functions, but can activate separate pathways under certain pathological conditions to rescue neural cells from cell death. This provides new functional insights into PAR/JNK signalling and the protective actions of PARs in brain.

Proteinase-activated receptors (PARs), a subfamily of G protein-coupled receptors, which are activated by serine proteases, such as trypsin, play pivotal roles in the CNS. Mesotrypsin (trypsin IV) has been identified as a brain-specific trypsin isoform. However, its potential physiological role concerning PAR activation in the brain is largely unknown. Here, we show for the first time that mesotrypsin, encoded by the PRSS3 (proteinase, serine) gene, evokes a transient and pronounced Ca(2+) mobilization in both primary rat astrocytes and retinal ganglion RGC-5 cells, suggesting a physiological role of mesotrypsin in brain cells. Mesotrypsin mediates Ca(2+) responses in rat astrocytes in a concentration-dependent manner, with a 50% effective concentration (EC(50)) value of 25 nm. The maximal effect of mesotrypsin on Ca(2+) mobilization in rat astrocytes is much higher than that observed in 1321N1 human astrocytoma cells, indicating that the activity of mesotrypsin is species-specific. The pre-treatment of cells with thrombin or the PAR-1-specific peptide TRag (Ala-pFluoro-Phe-Arg-Cha-HomoArg-Tyr-NH(2), synthetic thrombin receptor agonist peptide), but not the PAR-2-specific peptide, reduces significantly the mesotrypsin-induced Ca(2+) response. Treatment with the PAR-1 antagonist SCH79797 confirms that mesotrypsin selectively activates PAR-1 in rat astrocytes. Unlike mesotrypsin, the two other trypsin isoforms, cationic and anionic trypsin, activate multiple PARs in rat astrocytes. Therefore, our data suggest that brain-specific mesotrypsin, via the regulation of PAR-1, is likely to be involved in multiple physiological/pathological processes in the brain.

Thrombin at low doses is an endogenous mediator of protection in ischaemic and haemorrhagic models of stroke. However, the mechanism of thrombin-induced protection remains unclear. Recently accumulating evidence has shown that astrocytes play an important role in the brain after injury. We report that thrombin and thrombin receptor agonist peptide (TRag) up-regulated secretion of the chemokine growth-regulated oncogene/cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant-1 (GRO/CINC-1) in primary rat astrocytes in a concentration-dependent manner. However, we found no increase of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1beta and tumour necrosis factor-alpha secretion. Protease-activated receptor 1 (PAR-1)-induced GRO/CINC-1 release was mainly mediated by c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) activation. Extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 might be partially involved, but not p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase. Further studies demonstrated that PAR-1 activation, as well as application of recombinant GRO/CINC-1, protected astrocytes from C(2)-ceramide-induced cell death. Protection occurred with suppression of cytochrome c release from mitochondria. The inhibition of cytochrome c release was largely reduced by the antagonist of chemokine receptor CXCR2, SB-332235. Importantly, a specific JNK inhibitor significantly abolished the protective action of PAR-1. These results demonstrate for the first time that PAR-1 plays an important role in anti-apoptosis in the brain by regulating the release of chemokine GRO/CINC-1, which gives a feedback through its receptor CXCR2 to preserve astrocytes from toxic insults.

Protease-activated receptor-2 (PAR-2), a G protein-coupled receptor for trypsin and tryptase, exerts important physiological and pathological functions in multiple systems. However, unlike PAR-1, the PAR-2-mediated intracellular signal transductions are hardly known. Here, using yeast two-hybrid screening with a human brain cDNA library, we identified an interacting partner of human PAR-2, the Jun activation domain-binding protein 1 (Jab1). The interaction was confirmed by glutathione S-transferase pull-down assays in vitro, and by co-immunoprecipitation assays in vivo. Jab1 was also shown to be colocalized with PAR-2 in both transfected HEK293 cells and in normal primary human astrocytes by double immunofluorescence staining. Further experiments demonstrated that multiple intracellular domains of PAR-2 are required for the interaction with Jab1. We then showed that agonist stimulation of PAR-2 disrupted the interaction, which could be prevented by the inhibitor of receptor endocytosis phenylarsine oxide, but not by the lysosomal protease inhibitor ZPAD. Importantly, we found that activation of PAR-2 induced the redistribution of Jab1 from the plasma membrane to the cytosol, but did not influence expression of Jab1. Furthermore, Jab1 mediated PAR-2-induced c-Jun activation, which was followed by increased activation of activator protein-1. Loss-of-function studies, using Jab1 small interfering RNA, demonstrated that Jab1 knockdown blocked PAR-2-induced activator protein-1 activation. Taken together, our data demonstrate that Jab1 is an important effector that mediates a novel signal transduction pathway for PAR-2-dependent gene expression.

Protease-activated receptors (PARs), G-protein-coupled receptors, are widely expressed in various tissues, where they participate in physiological and pathological processes, such as hemostasis, proliferation, tissue repair, and inflammation. Recently, we found that PARs were upregulated in the rat retina following optic nerve crush injury. However, the role of PAR in retinal ganglion cells following optic nerve crush still remains unknown. Here, we studied PAR-mediated calcium signaling in retinal ganglion cells, RGC-5. Using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, we demonstrate that RGC-5 cells mainly express PAR-1 and to a lower extent PAR-2, which was further confirmed by indirect immunofluorescence. Short-term stimulation of RGC-5 cells with thrombin (0.001–1 U/ml) and trypsin (1–100 nM) concentration-dependently induced a transient increase in intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca 2+ ] i ). An increase in [Ca 2+ ] i was also induced by both TRag (PAR-1 activating peptide) and PAR-2 activating peptide (PAR-2 AP). The EC 50 values were 0.3 nM for thrombin, 12.0 nM for trypsin, 1.3 μM for TRag, and 1.6 μM for PAR-2 AP, respectively. Desensitization was studied using two successive pulses of agonists. The thrombin-induced calcium response was significantly reduced by PAR-1 desensitization caused by pre-challenging RGC-5 cells with thrombin or TRag, but not by PAR-2 desensitization. On the other hand, pretreatment with trypsin, TRag or PAR-2 AP desensitized the cells since the calcium response to a second exposure to trypsin was significantly reduced. Calcium source studies revealed that PAR-induced [Ca 2+ ] i rise mainly comes from intracellular stores in RGC-5 cells. Thus, we demonstrate that PAR-1 and PAR-2 are functionally expressed in retinal ganglion cells, mediating calcium mobilization mainly from intracellular stores.

Protease-activated receptors (PARs) are a group of four members of the superfamily of G protein-coupled receptors that transduce cell signaling by proteolytic activity of extracellular serine proteases, such as thrombin. Possible expression and functions of PARs in oligodendrocytes, the myelin forming cells of the CNS, are still unclear. Here, the oligodendrocyte cell line OLN-93 was used to investigate the signaling of PARs. By reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), immunostaining and Ca(2+) imaging studies, we demonstrate that OLN-93 cells functionally express PAR-1. PAR-3 seems to be expressed without apparent activity, and PAR-2 and PAR-4 cannot be detected. Short-term stimulation of the OLN-93 cells with PAR-1 agonists, such as thrombin, trypsin and PAR-1 activating peptide, dose-dependently induced a transient rise of [Ca(2+)](i). Concentration-effect curves display a sigmoidal concentration dependence. Elevation of [Ca(2+)](i) induced by PAR-1 mainly resulted from Ca(2+) release from intracellular stores. Studies on the effects of pertussis toxin (PTX), phospholipase C antagonist and 2-APB, showed that in OLN-93 cells (i). the calcium signaling cascade from PAR-1 was mediated through PTX-insensitive G proteins, (ii). activation of phospholipase C and liberation of InsP(3) were events upstream of the Ca(2+) release from the stores. In addition, the present study analyzed PAR-1 desensitization caused by exposure to thrombin, trypsin, and PAR-1 activating peptide, elucidated the influence of the protease cathepsin G on PAR-1 activation, and also characterized PAR-1 desensitization. This is the first study, which shows that OLN-93 oligodendrocytes functionally express PAR-1, and identifies the receptor coupling to mobilization of intracellular calcium. Moreover, the expression of PAR-1 was demonstrated by RT-PCR in primary oligodendrocytes from rat brain.