Activation and repression of prion protein expression by key regions of intron 1

Copper chaperone antioxidant 1: multiple roles and a potential therapeutic target

Copper (Cu) was recently demonstrated to play a critical role in cellular physiological and biochemical processes, including energy production and maintenance, antioxidation and enzymatic activity, and signal transduction. Antioxidant 1 (ATOX1), a chaperone of Cu previously named human ATX1 homologue (HAH1), has been found to play an indispensable role in maintaining cellular Cu homeostasis, antioxidative stress, and transcriptional regulation. In the past decade, it has also been found to be involved in a variety of diseases, including numerous neurodegenerative diseases, cancers, and metabolic diseases. Recently, increasing evidence has revealed that ATOX1 is involved in the regulation of cell migration, proliferation, autophagy, DNA damage repair (DDR), and death, as well as in organism development and reproduction. This review summarizes recent advances in the research on the diverse physiological and cytological functions of ATOX1 and the underlying mechanisms of its action in human health and diseases. The potential of ATOX1 as a therapeutic target is also discussed. This review aims to pose unanswered questions related to ATOX1 biology and explore the potential use of ATOX1 as a therapeutic target.

Functions of the Prion Protein

Although initially disregarded compared to prion pathogenesis, the functions exerted by the cellular prion protein PrP^C have gained much interest over the past two decades. Research aiming at unraveling PrP^C functions started to intensify when it became appreciated that it would give clues as to how it is subverted in the context of prion infection and, more recently, in the context of Alzheimer's disease. It must now be admitted that PrP^C is implicated in an incredible variety of biological processes, including neuronal homeostasis, stem cell fate, protection against stress, or cell adhesion. It appears that these diverse roles can all be fulfilled through the involvement of PrP^C in cell signaling events. Our aim here is to provide an overview of our current understanding of PrP^C functions from the animal to the molecular scale and to highlight some of the remaining gaps that should be addressed in future research.

CpG site DNA methylation patterns reveal a novel regulatory element in the mouse prion protein gene

The cellular isoform of the prion protein (PrP^C) plays critical roles in the development of prion disorders. Although PrP mRNA is ubiquitously present in a tissue-specific manner, the DNA methylation of PrP gene (Prnp) is still unknown. In this study, we demonstrated that the CpG island (CGI, positioned at −218 to +152 bp from the transcriptional start site) including the Prnp core promoter region was completely unmethylated in all tested tissues. On the other hand, CpG methylation in the CGI shore region (positioned at −599 to −238 bp) occurred in various tissue- and site-specific proportions. Interestingly, the correlation analysis between CpG methylation status and PrP mRNA levels showed that one CpG site methylation at −576 was negatively correlated with the PrP mRNA level (Pearson’s r = −0.374, P=0.035). Taken together, our results suggest that Prnp is a typical housekeeping gene and various methylation frequencies of the CGI shore region are likely to affect Prnp expression in a tissue-specific manner.

Prion Protein Family Contributes to Tumorigenesis via Multiple Pathways

A wealth of evidence suggests that proteins from prion protein (PrP) family contribute to tumorigenesis in many types of cancers, including pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), breast cancer, glioblastoma, colorectal cancer, gastric cancer, melanoma, etc. It is well documented that PrP is a biomarker for PDAC, breast cancer, and gastric cancer. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. The major reasons for cancer cell-caused patient death are metastasis and multiple drug resistance, both of which connect to physiological functions of PrP expressing in cancer cells. PrP enhances tumorigenesis by multiple pathways. For example, PrP existed as pro-PrP in most of the PDAC cell lines, thus increasing cancer cell motility by binding to cytoskeletal protein filamin A (FLNa). Using PDAC cell lines BxPC-3 and AsPC-1 as model system, we identified that dysfunction of glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchor synthesis machinery resulted in the biogenesis of pro-PrP. In addition, in cancer cells without FLNa expression, pro-PrP can modify cytoskeleton structure by affecting cofilin/F-actin axis, thus influencing cancer cell movement. Besides pro-PrP, we showed that GPI-anchored unglycosylated PrP can elevate cell mobility by interacting with VEGFR2, thus stimulating cell migration under serum-free condition. Besides affecting cancer cell motility, overexpressed PrP or doppel (Dpl) in cancer cells has been shown to increase cell proliferation, multiple drug resistance, and angiogenesis, thus, proteins from PrP gene family by affecting important processes via multiple pathways for cancer cell growth exacerbating tumorigenesis.

Nrf-2 regulation of prion protein expression is independent of oxidative stress

Cellular expression of host prion protein (PrP) is essential to infection with prion disease. Understanding the mechanisms that regulate prion protein expression at both the transcriptional and translational levels is therefore an important goal. The cellular prion protein has been associated with resistance to oxidative, and its expression is also increased by oxidative stress. The transcription factor Nrf-2 is associated with cellular responses to oxidative stress and is known to induce upregulation of antioxidant defense mechanisms. We have identified an Nrf-2 binding site in the prion protein promoter (Prnp) and shown that Nrf-2 downregulated PrP expression. However, this effect is independent of oxidative stress as oxidative stress can up-regulate PrP expression regardless of the level of Nrf-2 expression. Furthermore, Nrf-2 has no impact on PrP expression when cells are infected with scrapie. These findings highlight that Nrf-2 can regulate PrP expression, but that this regulation becomes uncoupled during cellular stress.

IGF-1-induced enhancement of PRNP expression depends on the negative regulation of transcription factor FOXO3a

The conformational conversion of the cellular prion protein (PrP^C) into its β-sheet-rich scrapie isoform (PrP^Sc) causes fatal prion diseases, which are also called transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs). Recent studies suggest that the expression of PrP^C by the PRNP gene is crucial for the development of TSEs. Therefore, the identification of the exogenous and endogenous stimulating factors that regulate PRNP expression would help to understand the pathogenesis of TSEs. Here, we demonstrate that forkhead box O3a (FOXO3a) negatively regulates PRNP expression by binding to the PRNP promoter, which is negatively regulated by insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1). Our results show that the IGF-1-induced enhancement of PRNP mRNA and protein levels is due to the activation of the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway. The activation of Akt then induces the phosphorylation of FOXO3a, leading to its translocation from the nucleus to the cytoplasm and preventing its binding to the PRNP promoter. Treatment with the PI3K-Akt inhibitor LY294002 induces the nuclear retention of FOXO3a, which leads to a decrease in PRNP expression. We present a new IGF-1-PI3K-Akt-FOXO3a pathway, which influences PRNP expression. The results of this work are vital for understanding the function of PrP^C and for future therapeutic approaches to human TSEs.

Role of the cellular prion protein in the neuron adaptation strategy to copper deficiency

Copper transporter 1 (CTR1), cellular prion protein (PrP(C)), natural resistance-associated macrophage protein 2 (NRAMP2) and ATP7A proteins control the cell absorption and efflux of copper (Cu) ions in nervous tissues upon physiological conditions. Little is known about their regulation under reduced Cu availability, a condition underlying the onset of diffused neurodegenerative disorders. In this study, rat neuron-like cells were exposed to Cu starvation for 48 h. The activation of Caspase-3 enzymes and the impairment of Cu,Zn superoxide dismutase (Cu,Zn SOD) activity depicted the initiation of a pro-apoptotic program, preliminary to the appearance of the morphological signs of apoptosis. The transcriptional response related to Cu transport proteins has been investigated. Notably, PrP(C) transcript and protein levels were consistently elevated upon Cu deficiency. The CTR1 protein amount was stable, despite a two-fold increase in the transcript amount, meaning the activation of post-translational regulatory mechanisms. NRAMP2 and ATP7A expressions were unvaried. The up-regulated PrP(C) has been demonstrated to enhance the cell Cu uptake ability by about 50% with respect to the basal transport, and so sustain the Cu delivery to the Cu,Zn SOD cuproenzymes. Conclusively, the study suggests a pivotal role for PrP(C) in the cell adaptation to Cu limitation through a direct activity of ion uptake. In this view, the PrP(C) accumulation observed in several cancer cell lines could be interpreted as a molecular marker of cell Cu deficiency and a potential target of therapeutic interventions against disorders caused by metal imbalances.

Transcriptional regulation of the beta-synuclein 5'-promoter metal response element by metal transcription factor-1

The progression of many human neurodegenerative disorders is associated with an accumulation of alpha-synuclein. Alpha-synuclein belongs to the homologous synuclein family, which includes beta-synuclein. It has been proposed that beta-synuclein may be a natural regulator of alpha-synuclein. Therefore controlling beta-synuclein expression may control the accumulation of alpha-synuclein and ultimately prevent disease progression. The regulation of synucleins is poorly understood. We investigated the transcriptional regulation of beta-synuclein, with the aim of identifying molecules that differentially control beta-synuclein expression levels. To investigate transcriptional regulation of beta-synuclein, we used reporter gene assays and bioinformatics. We identified a region -1.1/-0.6 kb upstream of the beta-synuclein translational start site to be a key regulatory region of beta-synuclein 5'-promoter activity in human dopaminergic cells (SH-SY5Y). Within this key promoter region we identified a metal response element pertaining to a putative Metal Transcription Factor-1 (MTF-1) binding site. We demonstrated that MTF-1 binds to this 5'-promoter region using EMSA analysis. Moreover, we showed that MTF-1 differentially regulates beta-synuclein promoter binding site, as well as beta-synuclein mRNA and protein expression. This effect of MTF-1 on expression was found to be specific to beta-synuclein when compared to alpha-synuclein. Understanding the regulation of synucleins and how they interact may point to molecular targets that could be manipulated for therapeutic benefit. In this study we showed that MTF-1 differentially controls the expression of beta-synuclein when compared to its homolog alpha-synuclein. This could potentially provide a novel targets or pathways for therapeutic intervention and/or treatment of synucleinopathies.

Peripheral nerve and brain differ in their capacity to resolve N,N-diethyldithiocarbamate-mediated elevations in copper and oxidative injury

Previous studies have demonstrated that N,N-diethyldithiocarbamate (DEDC) elevates copper and promotes oxidative stress within the nervous system. However, whether these effects resolve following cessation of exposure or have the potential to persist and result in cumulative injury has not been determined. In this study, an established model for DEDC myelin injury in the rat was used to determine whether copper levels, oxidative stress, and neuromuscular deficits resolve following the cessation of DEDC exposure. Rats were exposed to DEDC for 8 weeks and then either euthanized or maintained for 2, 6 or 12 weeks after cessation of exposure. At each time point copper levels were measured by inductively coupled mass spectrometry to assess the ability of sciatic nerve, brain, spinal cord and liver to eliminate excess copper post-exposure. The protein expression levels of glutathione transferase alpha, heme oxygenase 1 and superoxide dismutase 1 in peripheral nerve and brain were also determined by western blot to assess levels of oxidative stress as a function of post-exposure duration. As an initial assessment of the bioavailability of the excess copper in brain the protein expression levels of copper chaperone for superoxide dismutase 1, and prion protein were determined by western blot as a function of exposure and post-exposure duration. Neuromuscular function in peripheral nerve was evaluated using grip strengths, nerve conduction velocities, and morphologic changes at the light microscope level. The data demonstrated that in peripheral nerve, copper levels and oxidative stress return to control levels within several weeks after cessation of exposure. Neuromuscular function also showed a trend towards pre-exposure values, although the resolution of myelin lesions was more delayed. In contrast, total copper and antioxidant enzyme levels remained significantly elevated in brain for longer post-exposure periods. The persistence of effects observed in brain suggests that the central nervous system is more susceptible to long-term cumulative adverse effects from dithiocarbamates. Additionally, significant changes in expression levels of chaperone for superoxide dismutase 1, and prion protein were observed consistent with at least a portion of the excess copper being bioactive.