Src-dependent phosphorylation of ROCK participates in regulation of focal adhesion dynamics

Tie2 activity in cancer associated myofibroblasts serves as novel target against reprogramming of cancer cells to embryonic-like cell state and associated poor prognosis in oral carcinoma patients

BACKGROUND

Myofibroblastic cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAF) in tumor stroma serves as an independent poor prognostic indicator, supporting higher stemness in oral cancer; however, the underlying biology is not fully comprehended. Here, we have explored the crucial role of Tunica Interna Endothelial Cell Kinase (Tie2/TEK) signaling in transition and maintenance of myofibroblastic phenotype of CAFs, and as possible link with the poor prognosis of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients.

METHODS

Bulk and single cell RNA-sequencing (scRNAseq) methods and in-depth bioinformatic analysis were applied for CAF and cancer cells co-culture for studying molecular relationships. In vitro 3D-spheroid-forming ability, expression of stemness markers, in vivo tumor formation ability in zebrafish embryo and syngeneic mouse allografts formation was conducted to test stemness, upon targeting CAF-specific Tie2 activity by gene silencing or with small molecule inhibitor. Immunohistochemistry analysis was performed to locate the distribution of Tie2 and αSMA in primary tumors of oral carcinoma. Prognosis in HNSCC patient cohort from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) study was analysed based on single sample gene set enrichment score (ssGSEA) and Kaplan-Meier analysis.

RESULTS

Autocrine or exogenous TGFβ-induction in CAF led to the recruitment of histone deacetylase 2 (HDAC2) on the promoter of Tie2-antagonist, Angiopoietin-2 (ANGPT2), resulting in its downregulation, leading to phosphorylation of Tie2 (Y992) and subsequent activation of SRC (Y418). This led to SRC/ROCK mediated αSMA-positive stress-fiber formation with gain of myofibroblast phenotype. The CAF-specific Tie2-signaling was responsible for producing embryonic-like cell state in co-cultured cancer cells; with enhanced tumor initiating ability. Tie2 activity in CAF exerted the dynamic gene expression reprogramming, with the upregulation of 'cell migration' and downregulation of 'protein biosynthesis' related gene-regulatory-network modules in malignant cells. The AUCell scores calculated for gene signatures derived from these modules showed significant concordance in independently reported scRNAseq studies of HNSCC tumors and significant association with poor prognosis in HNSCC patient cohort.

CONCLUSIONS

CAF-specific Tie2 activity may serve as direct stromal-target against cancer cell plasticity leading to poor prognosis of oral cancer patients. Overall, our work has provided wider applicability of Tie2-specific functions in tumor biology, along with its known role in endothelial cell-specific function.

Shp2 contributes to the regulation of nuclear shape and cellular viscoelasticity in response to substrate spatial cues

Cell polarization can be guided by substrate topology through space constraints and adhesion induction, which are part of cellular mechanosensing pathways. Here, we demonstrated that protein tyrosine phosphatase Shp2 plays a crucial role in mediating the response of cells to substrate spatial cues. When compared to cells spreading on surfaces coated uniformly with fibronectin (FN), cells attached to 10 μm-width FN-strip micropattern (MP), which provides spatial cues for uniaxial spreading, exhibited elongated focal adhesions (FAs) and aligned stress fibers in the direction of the MP. As a result of uniaxial cell spreading, nuclei became elongated, dependent on ROCK-mediated actomyosin contractility. Additionally, intracellular viscoelasticity also increased. Shp2-deficient cells did not display elongated FAs mediated by MP, well-aligned stress fibers, or changes in nuclear shape and intracellular viscoelasticity. Overall, our data suggest that Shp2 is involved in regulating FAs and the actin cytoskeleton to modulate nuclear shape and intracellular physical properties in response to substrate spatial cues.

Developing tyrosine phosphoproteome libraries and dual quantification using a hybrid DIA approach

Protein tyrosine phosphorylation plays a critical role in initiating upstream cellular signaling transduction. However, the challenge in biological samples is the variability in relative concentrations (0.1%) of site‐specific tyrosine phosphorylation on proteins. To navigate these fluctuations and accurately quantify the absolute levels of tyrosine phosphosites among different samples, we reported a hybrid data‐independent acquisition‐parallel reaction monitoring (DIA‐PRM) MS technique for the robust identification and quantification of the phosphoproteome, the establishment of a comprehensive library of tyrosine phosphosites, and the specific assessment of changes in tyrosine phosphorylation. In our model study on non‐small cell lung cancer cells, our PRM strategy accomplished by a spiked‐in synthetic heavy phosphopeptide demonstrated reliable targeted quantification of the pY1197 on EGFR, revealing levels of 2.5, 4.9, and 5.3 fmol in pervanadate (PV)‐treated cells at 0, 15, and 30 min, respectively. Additionally, DIA‐extensive phosphoproteomic analysis provided 2765 tyrosine phosphosites within 14,961 global phosphosites corresponding to 1536 phosphoproteins, contributing to the phospho‐library establishment and relative quantification of phosphorylation level, especially in the PV‐treated time‐dependent increase of ErbB signaling pathway. This hybrid DIA‐PRM approach will advance the application of precise measurement of changes in multiple phosphotyrosine residues and enhance our understanding of phosphoproteomic dynamics in drug‐resistant cascades.

Src-Dependent NM2A Tyrosine Phosphorylation Regulates Actomyosin Remodeling

Non-muscle myosin 2A (NM2A) is a key cytoskeletal enzyme that, along with actin, assembles into actomyosin filaments inside cells. NM2A is fundamental for cell adhesion and motility, playing important functions in different stages of development and during the progression of viral and bacterial infections. Phosphorylation events regulate the activity and the cellular localization of NM2A. We previously identified the tyrosine phosphorylation of residue 158 (pTyr¹⁵⁸) in the motor domain of the NM2A heavy chain. This phosphorylation can be promoted by Listeria monocytogenes infection of epithelial cells and is dependent on Src kinase; however, its molecular role is unknown. Here, we show that the status of pTyr¹⁵⁸ defines cytoskeletal organization, affects the assembly/disassembly of focal adhesions, and interferes with cell migration. Cells overexpressing a non-phosphorylatable NM2A variant or expressing reduced levels of Src kinase display increased stress fibers and larger focal adhesions, suggesting an altered contraction status consistent with the increased NM2A activity that we also observed. We propose NM2A pTyr¹⁵⁸ as a novel layer of regulation of actomyosin cytoskeleton organization.

Nonmuscle Myosin IIA Regulates the Precise Alignment of Hexagonal Eye Lens Epithelial Cells During Fiber Cell Formation and Differentiation

Purpose

Epithelial cells in the equatorial region of the ocular lens undergo a remarkable transition from randomly packed cells into precisely aligned and hexagon-shaped cells organized into meridional rows. We investigated the function of nonmuscle myosin IIA (encoded by Myh9) in regulating equatorial epithelial cell alignment to form meridional rows during secondary fiber cell morphogenesis.

Methods

We used genetic knock-in mice to study a common human Myh9 mutation, E1841K, in the rod domain. The E1841K mutation disrupts bipolar filament assembly. Lens shape, clarity, and stiffness were evaluated, and Western blots were used to determine the level of normal and mutant myosins. Cryosections and lens whole mounts were stained and imaged by confocal microscopy to investigate cell shape and organization.

Results

We observed no obvious changes in lens size, shape, and biomechanical properties (stiffness and resilience) between the control and nonmuscle myosin IIA-E1841K mutant mice at 2 months of age. Surprisingly, we found misalignment and disorder of fiber cells in heterozygous and homozygous mutant lenses. Further analysis revealed misshapen equatorial epithelial cells that cause disorientation of the meridional rows before fiber cell differentiation in homozygous mutant lenses.

Conclusions

Our data indicate that nonmuscle myosin IIA bipolar filament assembly is required for the precise alignment of the meridional rows at the lens equator and that the organization of lens fiber cells depends on the proper patterning of meridional row epithelial cells. These data also suggest that lens fiber cell organization and a hexagonal shape are not required for normal lens size, shape transparency, or biomechanical properties.

α-Actinin-4 recruits Shp2 into focal adhesions to potentiate ROCK2 activation in podocytes

α-Actinin-4 is crucial in the regulation of Shp2 FA targeting to enhance ROCK2-mediated actomyosin contractility and thereby strengthening cell adhesion and cytoskeletal architecture in podocytes.

Cell–matrix adhesions are mainly provided by integrin-mediated focal adhesions (FAs). We previously found that Shp2 is essential for FA maturation by promoting ROCK2 activation at FAs. In this study, we further delineated the role of α-actinin-4 in the FA recruitment and activation of Shp2. We used the conditional immortalized mouse podocytes to examine the role of α-actinin-4 in the regulation of Shp2 and ROCK2 signaling. After the induction of podocyte differentiation, Shp2 and ROCK2 were strongly activated, concomitant with the formation of matured FAs, stress fibers, and interdigitating intracellular junctions in a ROCK-dependent manner. Gene knockout of α-actinin-4 abolished the Shp2 activation and subsequently reduced matured FAs in podocytes. We also demonstrated that gene knockout of ROCK2 impaired the generation of contractility and interdigitating intercellular junctions. Our results reveal the role of α-actinin-4 in the recruitment of Shp2 at FAs to potentiate ROCK2 activation for the maintenance of cellular contractility and cytoskeletal architecture in the cultured podocytes.

Protection against Hypoxia-Reoxygenation Injury of Hippocampal Neurons by H2S via Promoting Phosphorylation of ROCK2 at Tyr722 in Rat Model

The RhoA-ROCK signaling pathway is associated with the protective effects of hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) against cerebral ischemia. H₂S protects rat hippocampal neurons (RHNs) against hypoxia-reoxygenation (H/R) injury by promoting phosphorylation of RhoA at Ser188. However, effect of H₂S on the phosphorylation of ROCK₂-related sites is unclear. The present study was designed to investigate whether H₂S can play a role in the phosphorylation of ROCK₂ at Tyr722, and explore whether this role mediates the protective effect of H/R injury in RHNs. Prokaryotic recombinant plasmids ROCK₂^wild-pGEX-6P-1 and ROCK₂^Y722F-pGEX-6P-1 were constructed and transfected into E. coli in vitro, and the expressed protein, GST-ROCK₂^wild and GST-ROCK₂^Y722F were used for phosphorylation assay in vitro. Eukaryotic recombinant plasmids ROCK₂^Y722-pEGFP-N1 and ROCK₂^Y722F-pEGFP-N1 as well as empty plasmid were transfected into the RHNs. Western blot assay and whole-cell patch-clamp technique were used to detect phosphorylation of ROCK₂ at Tyr722 and BK_Ca channel current in the RHNs, respectively. Cell viability, leakages of intracellular enzymes lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and nerve-specific enolase (NSE) were measured. The H/R injury was indicated by decrease of cell viability and leakages of intracellular LDH and NSE. The results of Western blot have shown that NaHS, a H₂S donor, significantly promoted phosphorylation of GST-ROCK₂^wild at Tyr722, while no phosphorylation of GST-ROCK₂^Y722F was detected. The phosphorylation of ROCK₂^wild promoted by NaHS was also observed in RHNs. NaHS induced more potent effects on protection against H/R injury, phosphorylation of ROCK₂ at Tyr722, inhibition of ROCK₂ activity, as well as increase of the BK_Ca current in the ROCK₂^Y722-pEGFP-N1-transfected RHNs. Our results revealed that H₂S protects the RHNs from H/R injury through promoting phosphorylation of ROCK₂ at Tyr722 to inhibit ROCK₂ activity and potentially by opening channel currents.

Pannexin 1-a novel regulator of acute hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction

AIMS

Hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction (HPV) is a physiological response to alveolar hypoxia that diverts blood flow from poorly ventilated to better aerated lung areas to optimize ventilation-perfusion matching. Yet, the exact sensory and signaling mechanisms by which hypoxia triggers pulmonary vasoconstriction remain incompletely understood. Recently, ATP release via pannexin 1 (Panx1) and subsequent signaling via purinergic P2Y receptors has been identified as regulator of vasoconstriction in systemic arterioles. Here, we probed for the role of Panx1-mediated ATP release in HPV and chronic hypoxic pulmonary hypertension (PH).

METHODS AND RESULTS

Pharmacological inhibition of Panx1 by probenecid, spironolactone, the Panx1 specific inhibitory peptide (10Panx1) and genetic deletion of Panx1 specifically in smooth muscle attenuated HPV in isolated perfused mouse lungs. In pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMC), both spironolactone and 10Panx1 attenuated the increase in intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) in response to hypoxia. Yet, genetic deletion of Panx1 in either endothelial or smooth muscle cells did not prevent the development of PH in mice. Unexpectedly, ATP release in response to hypoxia was not detectable in PASMC, and inhibition of purinergic receptors or ATP degradation by ATPase failed to attenuate HPV. Rather, transient receptor potential vanilloid 4 (TRPV4) antagonism and Panx1 inhibition inhibited the hypoxia-induced [Ca2+]i increase in PASMC in an additive manner, suggesting that Panx1 regulates [Ca2+]i independently of the ATP-P2Y-TRPV4 pathway. In line with this notion, Panx1 overexpression increased the [Ca2+]i response to hypoxia in HeLa cells.

CONCLUSION

In the present study we identify Panx1 as novel regulator of HPV. Yet, the role of Panx1 in HPV was not attributable to ATP release and downstream signaling via P2Y receptors or TRPV4 activation, but relates to a role of Panx1 as direct or indirect modulator of the PASMC Ca2+ response to hypoxia. Panx1 did not affect the development of chronic hypoxic PH.

TRANSLATIONAL PERSPECTIVE

Hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction (HPV) optimizes lung ventilation-perfusion matching, but also contributes to pulmonary pathologies including high altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE) or chronic hypoxic pulmonary hypertension. Here, we demonstrate that pharmaceutical inhibition as well as genetic deletion of the hemichannel pannexin-1 (Panx1) in pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells attenuates the physiological HPV response. Panx1 deficiency did, however, not prevent the development of chronic hypoxic pulmonary hypertension in mice. Panx1 inhibitors such as the mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist spironolactone may thus present a putative strategy for the prevention or treatment of HAPE, yet not for chronic hypoxic lung disease.

Unraveling the roles of miRNAs in regulating epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in osteosarcoma

Osteosarcoma is one of the most prevalent primary bone tumors with a high metastatic and recurrence rate with poor prognosis. MiRNAs are short and non-coding RNAs that could regulate various cellular activities and one of them is the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Osteosarcoma cells that have undergone EMT would lose their cellular polarity and acquire invasive and metastatic characteristics. Our literature search showed that many pre-clinical and clinical studies have reported the roles of miRNAs in modulating the EMT process in osteosarcoma and compared to other cancers like breast cancer, there is a lack of review article which effectively summarizes the various roles of EMT-regulating miRNAs in osteosarcoma. This review, therefore, was aimed to discuss and summarize the EMT-promoting and EMT-suppressing roles of different miRNAs in osteosarcoma. The review would begin with the discussion on the concepts and principles of EMT, followed by the exploration of the diverse roles of EMT-regulating miRNAs in osteosarcoma. Subsequently, the potential use of miRNAs as prognostic biomarkers in osteosarcoma to predict the likelihood of metastases and as therapeutic agents would be discussed.

Toll receptors remodel epithelia by directing planar-polarized Src and PI3K activity

Toll-like receptors are essential for animal development and survival, with conserved roles in innate immunity, tissue patterning, and cell behavior. The mechanisms by which Toll receptors signal to the nucleus are well characterized, but how Toll receptors generate rapid, localized signals at the cell membrane to produce acute changes in cell polarity and behavior is not known. We show that Drosophila Toll receptors direct epithelial convergent extension by inducing planar-polarized patterns of Src and PI3-kinase (PI3K) activity. Toll receptors target Src activity to specific sites at the membrane, and Src recruits PI3K to the Toll-2 complex through tyrosine phosphorylation of the Toll-2 cytoplasmic domain. Reducing Src or PI3K activity disrupts planar-polarized myosin assembly, cell intercalation, and convergent extension, whereas constitutive Src activity promotes ectopic PI3K and myosin cortical localization. These results demonstrate that Toll receptors direct cell polarity and behavior by locally mobilizing Src and PI3K activity.

Cell shape-based chemical screening reveals an epigenetic network mediated by focal adhesions

Adapter proteins CRK and CRKL participate in a variety of signaling pathways, including cell adhesion, and fate regulation of mammalian cells. However, the molecular functions of CRK/CRKL in epigenetic regulation remain largely unknown. Here, we developed a pipeline to evaluate cell morphology using high-content image analysis combined with chemical screening of kinase and epigenetic modulators. We found that CRK/CRKL modulates gene regulatory networks associated with cell morphology through epigenetic alteration in mouse embryonic fibroblasts. Integrated epigenome and transcriptome analyses revealed that CRK/CRKL is involved in super-enhancer activity and upregulation of Cdt1, Rin1, and Spp1 expression for the regulation of cell morphology. Screening of a library of 80 epigenetic inhibitors showed that histone H3 modifiers, euchromatic histone methyltransferase 2 and mitogen- and stress-activated kinase 1, may be important for CRK/CRKL-mediated morphological changes. Taken together, our results indicate that CRK/CRKL plays a critical role in gene regulatory networks through epigenetic modification. DATABASES: Chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing and RNA sequencing data were deposited in the DNA Data Bank of Japan under DRA011080 and DRA011081 accession numbers, respectively.

Synergism between the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase p110β isoform inhibitor AZD6482 and the mixed lineage kinase 3 inhibitor URMC-099 on the blockade of glioblastoma cell motility and focal adhesion formation

Background

Glioblastoma multiforme, the most aggressive and malignant primary brain tumor, is characterized by rapid growth and extensive infiltration to neighboring normal brain parenchyma. Our previous studies delineated a crosstalk between PI3K/Akt and JNK signaling pathways, and a moderate anti-glioblastoma synergism caused by the combined inhibition of PI3K p110β (PI3Kβ) isoform and JNK. However, this combination strategy is not potent enough. MLK3, an upstream regulator of ERK and JNK, may replace JNK to exert stronger synergism with PI3Kβ.

Methods

To develop a new combination strategy with stronger synergism, the expression pattern and roles of MLK3 in glioblastoma patient’s specimens and cell lines were firstly investigated. Then glioblastoma cells and xenografts in nude mice were treated with the PI3Kβ inhibitor AZD6482 and the MLK3 inhibitor URMC-099 alone or in combination to evaluate their combination effects on tumor cell growth and motility. The combination effects on cytoskeletal structures such as lamellipodia and focal adhesions were also evaluated.

Results

MLK3 protein was overexpressed in both newly diagnosed and relapsing glioblastoma patients’ specimens. Silencing of MLK3 using siRNA duplexes significantly suppressed migration and invasion, but promoted attachment of glioblastoma cells. Combined inhibition of PI3Kβ and MLK3 exhibited synergistic inhibitory effects on glioblastoma cell proliferation, migration and invasion, as well as the formation of lamellipodia and focal adhesions. Furthermore, combination of AZD6482 and URMC-099 effectively decreased glioblastoma xenograft growth in nude mice. Glioblastoma cells treated with this drug combination showed reduced phosphorylation of Akt and ERK, and decreased protein expression of ROCK2 and Zyxin.

Conclusion

Taken together, combination of AZD6482 and URMC-099 showed strong synergistic anti-tumor effects on glioblastoma in vitro and in vivo. Our findings suggest that combined inhibition of PI3Kβ and MLK3 may serve as an attractive therapeutic approach for glioblastoma multiforme.

Proline-rich tyrosine kinase 2 mediates transforming growth factor-beta-induced hepatic stellate cell activation and liver fibrosis

Hepatic fibrogenesis is characterized by activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) and accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM). The impact of ECM on TGF-β-mediated fibrogenic signaling pathway in HSCs has remained obscure. We studied the role of non-receptor tyrosine kinase focal adhesion kinase (FAK) family members in TGF-β-signaling in HSCs. We used a CCl₄-induced liver fibrosis mice model to evaluate the effect of FAK family kinase inhibitors on liver fibrosis. RT-PCR and Western blot were used to measure the expression of its target genes; α-SMA, collagen, Nox4, TGF-β1, Smad7, and CTGF. Pharmacological inhibitors, siRNA-mediated knock-down, and plasmid-based overexpression were adopted to modulate the function and the expression level of proteins. Association of PYK2 activation with liver fibrosis was confirmed in liver samples from CCl₄-treated mice and patients with significant fibrosis or cirrhosis. TGF-β treatment up-regulated expression of α-SMA, type I collagen, NOX4, CTGF, TGF-β1, and Smad7 in LX-2 cells. Inhibition of FAK family members suppressed TGF-β-mediated fibrogenic signaling. SiRNA experiments demonstrated that TGF-β1 and Smad7 were upregulated via Smad-dependent pathway through FAK activation. In addition, CTGF induction was Smad-independent and PYK2-dependent. Furthermore, RhoA activation was essential for TGF-β-mediated CTGF induction, evidenced by using ROCK inhibitor and dominant negative RhoA expression. We identified that TGF-β1-induced activation of PYK2-Src-RhoA triad leads to YAP/TAZ activation for CTGF induction in liver fibrosis. These findings provide new insights into the role of focal adhesion molecules in liver fibrogenesis, and targeting PYK2 may be an attractive target for developing novel therapeutic strategies for the treatment of liver fibrosis.

Rho A and Rac1: Antagonists moving forward

Cells detect external stimuli through cell-surface receptors. In cases where the stimulus is a cytokine or a growth factor, the cell responds by inducing modifications in the actin cytoskeleton. These changes are mediated through the Rho family of GTPases. Among these GTPases, RhoA, Rac1 and Cdc42 have been extensively studied. The activity of these proteins is closely monitored and tightly regulated through Guanine-nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) and GTPase-activating proteins (GAPs) that turn the "switch" on and off respectively. Crosstalk between Rho GTPases has been long studied; yet many questions are raised regarding the spatiotemporal regulation of these GTPases, particularly RhoA and Rac1. This review sheds a light on the antagonistic relationship between both GTPases and puts emphasis on the importance of cycling of RhoA activation at the focal adhesions for optimal cell migration.

RPTPε promotes M2-polarized macrophage migration through ROCK2 signaling and podosome formation

Cysteinyl-leukotrienes (cys-LTs) have well-characterized physiopathological roles in the development of inflammatory diseases. We have previously found that protein tyrosine phosphatase ε (PTPε) is a signaling partner of CysLT₁R, a high affinity receptor for leukotriene D4 (LTD₄). There are two major isoforms of PTPε, receptor-like (RPTPε) and cytoplasmic (cyt-)PTPε, both of which are encoded by the PTPRE gene but from different promoters. In most cells, their expression is mutually exclusive, except in human primary monocytes, which express both isoforms. Here, we show differential PTPε isoform expression patterns between monocytes, M1 and M2 human monocyte-derived macrophages (hMDMs), with the expression of glycosylated forms of RPTPε predominantly in M2-polarized hMDMs. Using PTPε-specific siRNAs and expression of RPTPε and cyt-PTPε, we found that RPTPε is involved in monocyte adhesion and migration of M2-polarized hMDMs in response to LTD₄ Altered organization of podosomes and higher phosphorylation of the inhibitory Y-722 residue of ROCK2 was also found in PTPε-siRNA-transfected cells. In conclusion, we show that differentiation and polarization of monocytes into M2-polarized hMDMs modulates the expression of PTPε isoforms and RPTPε is involved in podosome distribution, ROCK2 activation and migration in response to LTD₄.

A novel function of AAA-ATPase p97/VCP in the regulation of cell motility

High level of the multifunctional AAA-ATPase p97/VCP is often correlated to the development of cancer; however, the underlying mechanism is not understood completely. Here, we report a novel function of p97/VCP in actin regulation and cell motility. We found that loss of p97/VCP promotes stabilization of F-actin, which cannot be reversed by actin-destabilizing agent, Cytochalasin D. Live-cell imaging demonstrated reduced actin dynamics in p97/VCP-knockdown cells, leading to compromised cell motility. We further examined the underlying mechanism and found elevated RhoA protein levels along with increased phosphorylation of its downstream effectors, ROCK, LIMK, and MLC upon the knockdown of p97/VCP. Since p97/VCP is indispensable in the ubiquitination-dependent protein degradation pathway, we investigated if the loss of p97/VCP hinders the protein degradation of RhoA. Knockdown of p97/VCP resulted in a higher amount of ubiquitinated RhoA, suggesting p97/VCP involvement in the proteasome-dependent protein degradation pathway. Finally, we found that p97/VCP interacts with FBXL19, a molecular chaperone known to guide ubiquitinated RhoA for proteasomal degradation. Reduction of p97/VCP may result in the accumulation of RhoA which, in turn, enhances cytoplasmic F-actin formation. In summary, our study uncovered a novel function of p97/VCP in actin regulation and cell motility via the Rho-ROCK dependent pathway which provides fundamental insights into how p97/VCP is involved in cancer development.

Increasing the effectiveness of tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) in combination with a statin in reducing liver fibrosis

It has been shown that both nilotinib as a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, and atorvastatin as a rho-kinase inhibitor, have antifibrotic effects. Therefore, considering the relationship between these two pathways, this study aimed to investigate the effects of their co-treatment against hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) activation and liver fibrosis. For this purpose, the activation of HSCs coincided with these therapies. Also, liver fibrosis by carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄ ) was induced in male Wistar rats and treated simultaneously with these compounds. The expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), Ras homolog gene family, and member A (RhoA)/Rho-associated protein kinase (ROCK) in HSCs were measured. The expression of transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGF-β1), its receptor (TβRII), CTGF, and platelets derived growth factor (PDGF), in the livers, were also investigated, all by real-time PCR and western blot analysis. Also, histopathologic and immunohistochemical evaluations were performed to evaluate changes in liver fibrosis during treatment. The results indicated the down-regulation of RhoA/ROCK, CTGF, and α-SMA, and inhibition of the HSCs activation toward myofibroblasts. The results also showed that the combined use of atorvastatin and nilotinib has significantly higher inhibitory effects. The antifibrotic effects of atorvastatin and nilotinib co-administration were also observed by histopathologic and immunohistochemical observations, and inhibiting the expression of TGF-β1, TβRII, CTGF, and PDGF. Taken together, this study revealed that co-administration of nilotinib-atorvastatin has novel antifibrotic effects, by inhibiting RhoA/ROCK, and CTGF pathway. Therefore, the importance of the common pathway of RhoA/ROCK and CTGF, in reducing fibrosis may almost be concluded.

Nonphosphorylatable Src Ser75 Mutation Increases Ethanol Preference and Consumption in Mice

Src is highly expressed in CNS neurons and contributes not only to developmental proliferation and differentiation but also to high-order brain functions, such as those contributing to alcohol consumption. Src knock-out mice exhibit no CNS abnormalities, presumably due to compensation by other Src family kinases (SFKs), but have a shortened lifespan and osteopetrosis-associated defects, impeding investigations of the role of Src on behavior in adult mice. However, the Unique domain of Src differs from those in other SFKs and is phosphorylated by cyclin-dependent kinase 1 (Cdk1) and Cdk5 at Ser75, which influences its postmitotic function in neurons. Therefore, ethanol consumption in mice harboring nonphosphorylatable (Ser75Ala) or phosphomimetic (Ser75Asp) Src mutants was investigated. Mice harboring the Ser75Ala Src mutant, but not the Ser75Asp mutant, had a higher preference for and consumption of solutions containing 5% and 10% ethanol than wild-type mice. However, plasma ethanol concentrations and sensitivities to the sedative effects of ethanol were not different among the groups. In mice harboring the Ser75Ala Src mutant, the activity of Rho-associated kinase (ROCK) in the striatum was significantly lower and Akt Ser473 phosphorylation was significantly higher than in wild-type mice. These results suggest that Src regulates voluntary ethanol drinking in a manner that depends on Ser75 phosphorylation.

Spatially modulated ephrinA1:EphA2 signaling increases local contractility and global focal adhesion dynamics to promote cell motility

Recent studies have revealed pronounced effects of the spatial distribution of EphA2 receptors on cellular response to receptor activation. However, little is known about molecular mechanisms underlying this spatial sensitivity, in part due to lack of experimental systems. Here, we introduce a hybrid live-cell patterned supported lipid bilayer experimental platform in which the sites of EphA2 activation and integrin adhesion are spatially controlled. Using a series of live-cell imaging and single-molecule tracking experiments, we map the transmission of signals from ephrinA1:EphA2 complexes. Results show that ligand-dependent EphA2 activation induces localized myosin-dependent contractions while simultaneously increasing focal adhesion dynamics throughout the cell. Mechanistically, Src kinase is activated at sites of ephrinA1:EphA2 clustering and subsequently diffuses on the membrane to focal adhesions, where it up-regulates FAK and paxillin tyrosine phosphorylation. EphrinA1:EphA2 signaling triggers multiple cellular responses with differing spatial dependencies to enable a directed migratory response to spatially resolved contact with ephrinA1 ligands.

Rho-Kinase Inhibition Ameliorates Dasatinib-Induced Endothelial Dysfunction and Pulmonary Hypertension

The multi-kinase inhibitor dasatinib is used for treatment of imatinib-resistant chronic myeloid leukemia, but is prone to induce microvascular dysfunction. In lung this can manifest as capillary leakage with pleural effusion, pulmonary edema or even pulmonary arterial hypertension. To understand how dasatinib causes endothelial dysfunction we examined the effects of clinically relevant concentrations of dasatinib on both human pulmonary arterial macro- and microvascular endothelial cells (ECs). The effects of dasatinib was compared to imatinib and nilotinib, two other clinically used BCR/Abl kinase inhibitors that do not inhibit Src. Real three-dimensional morphology and high resolution stiffness mapping revealed softening of both macro- and microvascular ECs upon dasatinib treatment, which was not observed in response to imatinib. In a dose-dependent manner, dasatinib decreased transendothelial electrical resistance/impedance and caused a permeability increase as well as disruption of tight adherens junctions in both cell types. In isolated perfused and ventilated rat lungs, dasatinib increased mean pulmonary arterial pressure, which was accompanied by a gain in lung weight. The Rho-kinase inhibitor Y27632 partly reversed the dasatinib-induced changes in vitro and ex vivo, presumably by acting downstream of Src. Co-administration of the Rho-kinase inhibitor Y27632 completely blunted the increased pulmonary pressure in response to dasatinib. In conclusion, a dasatinib-induced permeability increase in human pulmonary arterial macro- and microvascular ECs might explain many of the adverse effects of dasatinib in patients. Rho-kinase inhibition might be suitable to ameliorate these effects.

Cardiomyocytes Sense Matrix Rigidity through a Combination of Muscle and Non-muscle Myosin Contractions

Mechanical properties are cues for many biological processes in health or disease. In the heart, changes to the extracellular matrix composition and cross-linking result in stiffening of the cellular microenvironment during development. Moreover, myocardial infarction and cardiomyopathies lead to fibrosis and a stiffer environment, affecting cardiomyocyte behavior. Here, we identify that single cardiomyocyte adhesions sense simultaneous (fast oscillating) cardiac and (slow) non-muscle myosin contractions. Together, these lead to oscillating tension on the mechanosensitive adaptor protein talin on substrates with a stiffness of healthy adult heart tissue, compared with no tension on embryonic heart stiffness and continuous stretching on fibrotic stiffness. Moreover, we show that activation of PKC leads to the induction of cardiomyocyte hypertrophy in a stiffness-dependent way, through activation of non-muscle myosin. Finally, PKC and non-muscle myosin are upregulated at the costameres in heart disease, indicating aberrant mechanosensing as a contributing factor to long-term remodeling and heart failure.

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Talin in cardiomyocytes is unstretched, cyclically stretched, or continuously stretched

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Talin stretching depends on stiffness, myofibrillar tension, and non-myofibrillar tension

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Non-myofibrillar contractility requires PKC, Src, FHOD1, and non-muscle myosin

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PKC and non-muscle myosin activity are enhanced in cardiac disease

Dasatinib increases endothelial permeability leading to pleural effusion

Pleural effusion is a frequent side-effect of dasatinib, a second-generation tyrosine kinase inhibitor used in the treatment of chronic myelogenous leukaemia. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. We hypothesised that dasatinib alters endothelial integrity, resulting in increased pulmonary vascular endothelial permeability and pleural effusion.To test this, we established the first animal model of dasatinib-related pleural effusion, by treating rats with a daily regimen of high doses of dasatinib (10 mg·kg^-1·day^-1 for 8 weeks).Pleural ultrasonography revealed that rats chronically treated with dasatinib developed pleural effusion after 5 weeks. Consistent with these in vivo observations, dasatinib led to a rapid and reversible increase in paracellular permeability of human pulmonary endothelial cell monolayers as reflected by increased macromolecule passage, loss of vascular endothelial cadherin and zonula occludens-1 from cell-cell junctions, and the development of actin stress fibres. These results were replicated using human umbilical vein endothelial cells and confirmed by decreased endothelial resistance. Interestingly, we demonstrated that this increased endothelial permeability is a reactive oxygen species (ROS)-dependent mechanism in vitro and in vivo using a cotreatment with an antioxidant agent, N-acetylcysteine.This study shows that dasatinib alters pulmonary endothelial permeability in a ROS-dependent manner in vitro and in vivo leading to pleural effusion.

Fasudil ameliorates the ischemia/reperfusion oxidative injury in rat hearts through suppression of myosin regulatory light chain/NADPH oxidase 2 pathway

Fasudil is a potent Rho-kinase (ROCK) inhibitor and can relax smooth muscle or cardiac muscle contraction through decreasing the phosphorylation level of myosin regulatory light chain (p-MLC₂₀ or p-MLC2v), while p-MLC2v can function as a transcription factor to promote the NADPH oxidase 2 (NOX2) expression in rat hearts subjected to ischemia/reperfusion (I/R). This study aims to explore whether fasudil can protect the rat hearts against I/R oxidative injury through suppressing NOX2 expression via reduction of p-MLC2v level. The SD rat hearts were subjected to 1h-ischemia plus 3h-reperfusion, which showed myocardial injuries (myocardial fiber loss and disarray, increase of creatine kinase release and myocardial infarction/apoptosis), increase in ROCK activity and nuclear p-MLC_2v level concomitant with up-regulation of NOX2 and H₂O₂ production; these phenomena were attenuated by fasudil in a dose-dependent manner. Next, we verified the cardioprotective effect of fasudil and the underlying mechanisms in hypoxia-reoxygenation (H/R) -treated H9c2 cells. Consistent with the results in vivo, the H/R-treated H9c2 cells showed cellular injury (increase in apoptotic ratio), elevation in ROCK activity and nuclear p-MLC_2v level, accompanied by up-regulation of NOX2 and H₂O₂ production; these effects were blocked in the presence of fasudil in a dose-dependent way. Based on these observations, we conclude that beneficial effect of fasudil against myocardial I/R or H/R oxidative injury is related to the suppression of NOX2 expression through decrease of the p-MLC2v level. Our findings also highlight that intervention of MLC2v phosphorylation by drugs may provide a novel strategy to protect heart from I/R oxidative injury.

Proteomic Dissection of Nanotopography-Sensitive Mechanotransductive Signaling Hubs that Foster Neuronal Differentiation in PC12 Cells

Neuronal cells are competent in precisely sensing nanotopographical features of their microenvironment. The perceived microenvironmental information will be “interpreted” by mechanotransductive processes and impacts on neuronal functioning and differentiation. Attempts to influence neuronal differentiation by engineering substrates that mimic appropriate extracellular matrix (ECM) topographies are hampered by the fact that profound details of mechanosensing/-transduction complexity remain elusive. Introducing omics methods into these biomaterial approaches has the potential to provide a deeper insight into the molecular processes and signaling cascades underlying mechanosensing/-transduction but their exigence in cellular material is often opposed by technical limitations of major substrate top-down fabrication methods. Supersonic cluster beam deposition (SCBD) allows instead the bottom-up fabrication of nanostructured substrates over large areas characterized by a quantitatively controllable ECM-like nanoroughness that has been recently shown to foster neuron differentiation and maturation. Exploiting this capacity of SCBD, we challenged mechanosensing/-transduction and differentiative behavior of neuron-like PC12 cells with diverse nanotopographies and/or changes of their biomechanical status, and analyzed their phosphoproteomic profiles in these settings. Versatile proteins that can be associated to significant processes along the mechanotransductive signal sequence, i.e., cell/cell interaction, glycocalyx and ECM, membrane/f-actin linkage and integrin activation, cell/substrate interaction, integrin adhesion complex, actomyosin organization/cellular mechanics, nuclear organization, and transcriptional regulation, were affected. The phosphoproteomic data suggested furthermore an involvement of ILK, mTOR, Wnt, and calcium signaling in these nanotopography- and/or cell mechanics-related processes. Altogether, potential nanotopography-sensitive mechanotransductive signaling hubs participating in neuronal differentiation were dissected.

Molecular Regulation of Sprouting Angiogenesis

The term angiogenesis arose in the 18th century. Several studies over the next 100 years laid the groundwork for initial studies performed by the Folkman laboratory, which were at first met with some opposition. Once overcome, the angiogenesis field has flourished due to studies on tumor angiogenesis and various developmental models that can be genetically manipulated, including mice and zebrafish. In addition, new discoveries have been aided by the ability to isolate primary endothelial cells, which has allowed dissection of various steps within angiogenesis. This review will summarize the molecular events that control angiogenesis downstream of biochemical factors such as growth factors, cytokines, chemokines, hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs), and lipids. These and other stimuli have been linked to regulation of junctional molecules and cell surface receptors. In addition, the contribution of cytoskeletal elements and regulatory proteins has revealed an intricate role for mobilization of actin, microtubules, and intermediate filaments in response to cues that activate the endothelium. Activating stimuli also affect various focal adhesion proteins, scaffold proteins, intracellular kinases, and second messengers. Finally, metalloproteinases, which facilitate matrix degradation and the formation of new blood vessels, are discussed, along with our knowledge of crosstalk between the various subclasses of these molecules throughout the text. Compr Physiol 8:153-235, 2018.

A Ser75-to-Asp phospho-mimicking mutation in Src accelerates ageing-related loss of retinal ganglion cells in mice

Src knockout mice show no detectable abnormalities in central nervous system (CNS) post-mitotic neurons, likely reflecting functional compensation by other Src family kinases. Cdk1- or Cdk5-dependent Ser75 phosphorylation in the amino-terminal Unique domain of Src, which shares no homology with other Src family kinases, regulates the stability of active Src. To clarify the roles of Src Ser75 phosphorylation in CNS neurons, we established two types of mutant mice with mutations in Src: phospho-mimicking Ser75Asp (SD) and non-phosphorylatable Ser75Ala (SA). In ageing SD/SD mice, retinal ganglion cell (RGC) number in whole retinas was significantly lower than that in young SD/SD mice in the absence of inflammation and elevated intraocular pressure, resembling the pathogenesis of progressive optic neuropathy. By contrast, SA/SA mice and wild-type (WT) mice exhibited no age-related RGC loss. The age-related retinal RGC number reduction was greater in the peripheral rather than the mid-peripheral region of the retina in SD/SD mice. Furthermore, Rho-associated kinase activity in whole retinas of ageing SD/SD mice was significantly higher than that in young SD/SD mice. These results suggest that Src regulates RGC survival during ageing in a manner that depends on Ser75 phosphorylation.

Regulation of RhoA by STAT3 coordinates glial scar formation

The transcription factor STAT3 is known to control glial scar formation, but the underlying mechanism is unknown. Renault-Mihara et al. show that inhibition of the small GTPase RhoA by STAT3 coordinates reactive astrocyte dynamics during glial scar formation.

Understanding how the transcription factor signal transducer and activator of transcription–3 (STAT3) controls glial scar formation may have important clinical implications. We show that astrocytic STAT3 is associated with greater amounts of secreted MMP2, a crucial protease in scar formation. Moreover, we report that STAT3 inhibits the small GTPase RhoA and thereby controls actomyosin tonus, adhesion turnover, and migration of reactive astrocytes, as well as corralling of leukocytes in vitro. The inhibition of RhoA by STAT3 involves ezrin, the phosphorylation of which is reduced in STAT3-CKO astrocytes. Reduction of phosphatase and tensin homologue (PTEN) levels in STAT3-CKO rescues reactive astrocytes dynamics in vitro. By specific targeting of lesion-proximal, reactive astrocytes in Nestin-Cre mice, we show that reduction of PTEN rescues glial scar formation in Nestin-Stat3^+/− mice. These findings reveal novel intracellular signaling mechanisms underlying the contribution of reactive astrocyte dynamics to glial scar formation.

Protein tyrosine phosphatase SHP2 promotes invadopodia formation through suppression of Rho signaling

Invadopodia are actin-enriched membrane protrusions that are important for extracellular matrix degradation and invasive cell motility. Src homolog domain-containing phosphatase 2 (SHP2), a non-receptor protein tyrosine phosphatase, has been shown to play an important role in promoting cancer metastasis, but the underlying mechanism is unclear. In this study, we found that depletion of SHP2 by short-hairpin RNA suppressed invadopodia formation in several cancer cell lines, particularly in the SAS head and neck squamous cell line. In contrast, overexpression of SHP2 promoted invadopodia formation in the CAL27 head and neck squamous cell line, which expresses low levels of endogenous SHP2. The depletion of SHP2 in SAS cells significantly decreased their invasive motility. The suppression of invadopodia formation by SHP2 depletion was restored by the Clostridium botulinum C3 exoenzyme (a Rho GTPase inhibitor) or Y27632 (a specific inhibitor for Rho-associated kinase). Together, our results suggest that SHP2 may promote invadopodia formation through inhibition of Rho signaling in cancer cells.

Epigenetic repression of ribosomal RNA transcription by ROCK-dependent aberrant cytoskeletal organization

It is known that ribosomal RNA (rRNA) synthesis is regulated by cellular energy and proliferation status. In this study, we investigated rRNA gene transcription in response to cytoskeletal stress. Our data revealed that the cell shape constrained by isotropic but not elongated micropatterns in HeLa cells led to a significant reduction in rRNA transcription dependent on ROCK. Expression of a dominant-active form of ROCK also repressed rRNA transcription. Isotropic constraint and ROCK over-activation led to different types of aberrant F-actin organization, but their suppression effects on rRNA transcription were similarly reversed by inhibition of histone deacetylase (HDAC) or overexpression of a dominant negative form of Nesprin, which shields the signal transmitted from actin filament to the nuclear interior. We further showed that the binding of HDAC1 to the active fraction of rDNA genes is increased by ROCK over-activation, thus reducing H3K9/14 acetylation and suppressing transcription. Our results demonstrate an epigenetic control of active rDNA genes that represses rRNA transcription in response to the cytoskeletal stress.

Novel Insights into the Roles of Rho Kinase in Cancer

Rho-associated coiled-coil kinase (ROCK) is a major downstream effector of the small GTPase RhoA. The ROCK family, consisting of ROCK1 and ROCK2, plays a central role in the organization of the actin cytoskeleton, and is involved in a wide range of fundamental cellular functions such as contraction, adhesion, migration, proliferation, and apoptosis. Since the discovery of effective inhibitors such as fasudil and Y27632, the biological roles of ROCK have been extensively explored in numerous diseases, including cancer. Accumulating evidence supports the concept that ROCK plays important roles in tumor development and progression through regulating many key cellular functions associated with malignancy, including tumorigenicity, tumor growth, metastasis, angiogenesis, tumor cell apoptosis/survival and chemoresistance as well. This review focuses on the new advances of the most recent 5 years from the studies on the roles of ROCK in cancer development and progression; the discussion is mainly focused on the potential value of ROCK inhibitors in cancer therapy.

The Function of Rho-Associated Kinases ROCK1 and ROCK2 in the Pathogenesis of Cardiovascular Disease

Rho-associated kinases ROCK1 and ROCK2 are serine/threonine kinases that are downstream targets of the small GTPases RhoA, RhoB, and RhoC. ROCKs are involved in diverse cellular activities including actin cytoskeleton organization, cell adhesion and motility, proliferation and apoptosis, remodeling of the extracellular matrix and smooth muscle cell contraction. The role of ROCK1 and ROCK2 has long been considered to be similar; however, it is now clear that they do not always have the same functions. Moreover, depending on their subcellular localization, activation, and other environmental factors, ROCK signaling can have different effects on cellular function. With respect to the heart, findings in isoform-specific knockout mice argue for a role of ROCK1 and ROCK2 in the pathogenesis of cardiac fibrosis and cardiac hypertrophy, respectively. Increased ROCK activity could play a pivotal role in processes leading to cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension, pulmonary hypertension, angina pectoris, vasospastic angina, heart failure, and stroke, and thus ROCK activity is a potential new biomarker for heart disease. Pharmacological ROCK inhibition reduces the enhanced ROCK activity in patients, accompanied with a measurable improvement in medical condition. In this review, we focus on recent findings regarding ROCK signaling in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease, with a special focus on differences between ROCK1 and ROCK2 function.

Rho Kinases in Health and Disease: From Basic Science to Translational Research

Rho-associated kinases ROCK1 and ROCK2 are key regulators of actin cytoskeleton dynamics downstream of Rho GTPases that participate in the control of important physiologic functions, S including cell contraction, migration, proliferation, adhesion, and inflammation. Several excellent review articles dealing with ROCK function and regulation have been published over the past few years. Although a brief overview of general molecular, biochemical, and functional properties of ROCKs is included, an effort has been made to produce an original work by collecting and synthesizing recent studies aimed at translating basic discoveries from cell and experimental models into knowledge of human physiology, pathophysiological mechanisms, and medical therapeutics. This review points out the specificity and distinct roles of ROCK1 and ROCK2 isoforms highlighted in the last few years. Results obtained from genetically modified mice and genetic analysis in humans are discussed. This review also addresses the involvement of ROCKs in human diseases and the potential use of ROCK activity as a biomarker or a pharmacological target for specific inhibitors.

Using carboxyfluorescein diacetate succinimidyl ester to monitor intracellular protein glycation

Protein glycation is a ubiquitous process involved in vascular complications observed in diabetes. Glyoxal (GO), an intracellular reactive oxoaldehyde that is one of the most potent glycation agents, readily reacts with amines present on proteins to produce the lysine-derived adduct carboxymethyllysine, which is a prevalent advanced glycation end-product (AGE). Our group previously showed that cell exposure to GO leads to an alteration in the cell contractile activity that could occur as a result of the glycation of various proteins regulating the cell contractile machinery. Here, we measured the extent of glycation on three functionally distinct proteins known to participate in cell contraction and cytoskeletal organization-Rho-kinase (ROCK), actin, and gelsolin (GSN)-using an assay based on the reaction of the cell membrane-permeable fluorescent probe carboxyfluorescein diacetate succinimidyl ester (CFDA-SE), which reacts with primary amine groups of proteins. By combining CFDA-SE fluorescence and Western blot detection, we observed (following GO incubation) increased glycation of actin and ROCK as well as an increased interaction between actin and GSN as observed by co-immunoprecipitation. Thus, we conclude that the use of the fluorescent probe CFDA-SE offers an interesting alternative to perform a comparative analysis of the extent of intracellular protein glycation in live cells.

The Transcriptional Repressor ZNF503/Zeppo2 Promotes Mammary Epithelial Cell Proliferation and Enhances Cell Invasion

The NET (nocA, Nlz, elB, TLP-1) subfamily of zinc finger proteins is an important mediator during developmental processes. The evolutionary conserved zinc finger protein ZNF503/Zeppo2 (zinc finger elbow-related proline domain protein 2, Zpo2) plays critical roles during embryogenesis. We found that Zpo2 is expressed in adult tissue and examined its function. We found that ZPO2 is a nuclearly targeted transcriptional repressor that is expressed in mammary epithelial cells. Elevated Zpo2 levels increase mammary epithelial cell proliferation. Zpo2 promotes cellular invasion through down-regulation of E-cadherin and regulates the invasive phenotype in a RAC1-dependent manner. We detect elevated Zpo2 expression during breast cancer progression in a MMTV-PyMT transgenic mouse model. Tumor transplant experiments indicated that overexpression of Zpo2 in MMTV-PyMT mammary tumor cell lines enhances lung metastasis. Our findings suggest that Zpo2 plays a significant role in mammary gland homeostasis and that deregulation of Zpo2 may promote breast cancer development.

Displacement of p130Cas from focal adhesions links actomyosin contraction to cell migration

Cell adhesion complexes provide platforms where cell-generated forces are transmitted to the extracellular matrix (ECM). Tyrosine phosphorylation of focal adhesion proteins is crucial for cells to communicate with the extracellular environment. However, the mechanisms that transmit actin cytoskeletal motion to the extracellular environment to drive cell migration are poorly understood. We find that the movement of p130Cas (Cas, also known as BCAR1), a mechanosensor at focal adhesions, correlates with actin retrograde flow and depends upon actomyosin contraction and phosphorylation of the Cas substrate domain (CasSD). This indicates that CasSD phosphorylation underpins the physical link between Cas and the actin cytoskeleton. Fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) experiments reveal that CasSD phosphorylation, as opposed to the association of Cas with Src, facilitates Cas displacement from adhesion complexes in migrating cells. Furthermore, the stabilization of Src-Cas binding and inhibition of myosin II, both of which sustain CasSD phosphorylation but mitigate Cas displacement from adhesion sites, retard cell migration. These results indicate that Cas promotes cell migration by linking actomyosin contractions to the adhesion complexes through a dynamic interaction with Src as well as through the phosphorylation-dependent association with the actin cytoskeleton.

Rho kinases in cardiovascular physiology and pathophysiology: the effect of fasudil

Rho kinase (ROCK) is a major downstream effector of the small GTPase RhoA. ROCK family, consisting of ROCK1 and ROCK2, plays central roles in the organization of actin cytoskeleton and is involved in a wide range of fundamental cellular functions, such as contraction, adhesion, migration, proliferation, and apoptosis. Due to the discovery of effective inhibitors, such as fasudil and Y27632, the biological roles of ROCK have been extensively explored with particular attention on the cardiovascular system. In many preclinical models of cardiovascular diseases, including vasospasm, arteriosclerosis, hypertension, pulmonary hypertension, stroke, ischemia-reperfusion injury, and heart failure, ROCK inhibitors have shown a remarkable efficacy in reducing vascular smooth muscle cell hypercontraction, endothelial dysfunction, inflammatory cell recruitment, vascular remodeling, and cardiac remodeling. Moreover, fasudil has been used in the clinical trials of several cardiovascular diseases. The continuing utilization of available pharmacological inhibitors and the development of more potent or isoform-selective inhibitors in ROCK signaling research and in treating human diseases are escalating. In this review, we discuss the recent molecular, cellular, animal, and clinical studies with a focus on the current understanding of ROCK signaling in cardiovascular physiology and diseases. We particularly note that emerging evidence suggests that selective targeting ROCK isoform based on the disease pathophysiology may represent a novel therapeutic approach for the disease treatment including cardiovascular diseases.

Small Rho GTPases in the control of cell shape and mobility

Rho GTPases are a class of evolutionarily conserved proteins comprising 20 members, which are predominantly known for their role in regulating the actin cytoskeleton. They are primarily regulated by binding of GTP/GDP, which is again controlled by regulators like GEFs, GAPs, and RhoGDIs. Rho GTPases are thus far well known for their role in the regulation of actin cytoskeleton and migration. Here we present an overview on the role of Rho GTPases in regulating cell shape and plasticity of cell migration. Finally, we discuss the emerging roles of ubiquitination and sumoylation in regulating Rho GTPases and cell migration.

PTK7-Src signaling at epithelial cell contacts mediates spatial organization of actomyosin and planar cell polarity

Actomyosin contractility plays a key role in tissue morphogenesis. During mammalian development, PTK7 regulates epithelial morphogenesis and planar cell polarity (PCP) through modulation of actomyosin contractility, but the underlying mechanism is unknown. Here, we show that PTK7 interacts with the tyrosine kinase Src and stimulates Src signaling along cell-cell contacts. We further identify ROCK2 as a target of junctional PTK7-Src signaling. PTK7 knockdown in cultured epithelial cells reduced the level of active Src at cell-cell contacts, resulting in delocalization of ROCK2 from cell-cell contacts and decreased junctional contractility, with a concomitant increase in actomyosin on the basal surface. Moreover, we present in vivo evidence that Src family kinase (SFK) activity is critical for PCP regulation in the auditory sensory epithelium and that PTK7-SFK signaling regulates tyrosine phosphorylation of junctional ROCK2. Together, these results delineate a PTK7-Src signaling module for spatial regulation of ROCK activity, actomyosin contractility, and epithelial PCP.

The on-off relationship of Rho and Rac during integrin-mediated adhesion and cell migration

Rho GTPases play an essential role in regulating cell spreading, adhesion, and migration downstream of integrin engagement with the extracellular matrix. In this review, we focus on RhoA and Rac1--2 Rho GTPases that are required for efficient adhesion and migration--and describe how specific guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) and GTPase-activating proteins (GAPs) regulate the extensive crosstalk that exists between them. In particular, we assess the role of GEFs and GAPs in light of recent, unexpected evidence concerning the spatiotemporal relationship between RhoA and Rac1 at the leading edge of migrating cells. Force is increasingly recognized as a key regulator of cell adhesion and we highlight the role of GEFs and GAPs in mechanotransduction, before debating the controversial role of tension in focal adhesion maturation.

Dual inhibition of Src family kinases and Aurora kinases by SU6656 modulates CTGF (connective tissue growth factor) expression in an ERK-dependent manner

Src kinases are regulators of the expression of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF/CCN2), which plays a role in fibrotic injuries. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the potential of SU6656, a dual inhibitor of Src family and Aurora kinases, to interfere with the synthesis of this pro-fibrotic factor. SU6656 impaired TGF-β-mediated upregulation of CTGF mRNA and protein in proximal epithelial HKC-8 cells, and also reduced CTGF expression in cells exposed to autocrine growth factors. In association with the inhibition of Src family kinases and diminished focal adhesion kinase activity, adherence of the cells was reduced. Furthermore, SU6656 interfered with Aurora kinase activity resulting in inhibition of cell division and formation multilobular nuclei after 24h. Comparable alterations were observed in primary tubular cells. When cell division was inhibited by SU6656 or ZM447439, a specific inhibitor of Aurora kinases, CTGF levels were back to control or even increased after 48h. The activity of RhoA-Rho kinase and ERK signaling was analyzed to delineate the signaling pathways responsible for the biphasic regulation of CTGF. While Rho kinase was not significantly altered by SU6656, ERK activity was inhibited in the early phase and increased after 24-48h. ERK activity correlated with secreted CTGF. As ZM447439 increased ERK activity only after 48h, cellular reorganization is likely responsible for triggering the ERK-dependent upregulation of CTGF. Taken together, in non-transformed epithelial cells, SU6656 modulates the expression of the pro-fibrotic factor CTGF in a time-dependent manner by inhibition of Src kinases and Aurora kinases.

Ser1333 phosphorylation indicates ROCKI activation

Background

Two isoforms of Rho-associated protein kinase (ROCK), ROCKI and ROCKII, play a pivotal role in regulation of cytoskeleton and are involved in multiple cellular processes in mammalian cells. Knockout mice experiments have indicated that the functions of ROCKI and II are probably non-redundant in physiology. However, it is difficult to differentiate the activation status of ROCKI and ROCKII in biological samples. Previously, we have identified phosphorylation site of ROCKII at Ser1366 residue sensitive to ROCK inhibition. We further investigated the activity-dependent phosphorylation site in ROCKI to establish the reagents that can be used to detect their individual activation.

Results

The phosphorylation site of ROCKI sensitive to its inhibition was identified to be the Ser1333 residue. The ROCKI pSer1333-specific antibody does not cross-react with phosphorylated ROCKII. The extent of S1333 phosphorylation of ROCKI correlates with myosin II light chain phosphorylation in cells in response to RhoA stimulation.

Conclusions

Active ROCKI is phosphorylated at Ser1333 site. Antibodies that recognize phospho-Ser1333 of ROCKI and phospho-S1366 residues of ROCKII offer a means to discriminate their individual active status in cells and tissues.

Fibroblast growth factor 2 causes G2/M cell cycle arrest in ras-driven tumor cells through a Src-dependent pathway

We recently reported that paracrine Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 (FGF2) triggers senescence in Ras-driven Y1 and 3T3^Ras mouse malignant cell lines. Here, we show that although FGF2 activates mitogenic pathways in these Ras-dependent malignant cells, it can block cell proliferation and cause a G2/M arrest. These cytostatic effects of FGF2 are inhibited by PD173074, an FGF receptor (FGFR) inhibitor. To determine which downstream pathways are induced by FGF2, we tested specific inhibitors targeting mitogen-activated protein kinase (MEK), phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (PI3K) and protein kinase C (PKC). We show that these classical mitogenic pathways do not mediate the cytostatic activity of FGF2. On the other hand, the inhibition of Src family kinases rescued Ras-dependent malignant cells from the G2/M irreversible arrest induced by FGF2. Taken together, these data indicate a growth factor-sensitive point in G2/M that likely involves FGFR/Ras/Src pathway activation in a MEK, PI3K and PKC independent manner.

CD99 suppresses osteosarcoma cell migration through inhibition of ROCK2 activity

CD99, a transmembrane protein encoded by MIC2 gene is involved in multiple cellular events including cell adhesion and migration, apoptosis, cell differentiation and regulation of protein trafficking either in physiological or pathological conditions. In osteosarcoma, CD99 is expressed at low levels and functions as a tumour suppressor. The full-length protein (CD99wt) and the short-form harbouring a deletion in the intracytoplasmic domain (CD99sh) have been associated with distinct functional outcomes with respect to tumour malignancy. In this study, we especially evaluated modulation of cell-cell contacts, reorganisation of the actin cytoskeleton and modulation of signalling pathways by comparing osteosarcoma cells characterised by different metastasis capabilities and CD99 expression, to identify molecular mechanisms responsible for metastasis. Our data indicate that forced expression of CD99wt induces recruitment of N-cadherin and β-catenin to adherens junctions. In addition, transfection of CD99wt inhibits the expression of several molecules crucial to the remodelling of the actin cytoskeleton, such as ACTR2, ARPC1A, Rho-associated, coiled-coil containing protein kinase 2 (ROCK2) as well as ezrin, an ezrin/radixin/moesin family member that has been clearly associated with tumour progression and metastatic spread in osteosarcoma. Functional studies point to ROCK2 as a crucial intracellular mediator regulating osteosarcoma migration. By maintaining c-Src in an inactive conformation, CD99wt inhibits ROCK2 signalling and this leads to ezrin decrease at cell membrane while N-cadherin and β-catenin translocate to the plasma membrane and function as main molecular bridges for actin cytoskeleton. Taken together, we propose that the re-expression of CD99wt, which is generally present in osteoblasts but lost in osteosarcoma, through inhibition of c-Src and ROCK2 activity, manages to increase contact strength and reactivate stop-migration signals that counteract the otherwise dominant promigratory action of ezrin in osteosarcoma cells.

Shp2 plays a crucial role in cell structural orientation and force polarity in response to matrix rigidity

Cells can sense and respond to physical properties of their surrounding extracellular matrix. We have demonstrated here that tyrosine phosphatase Shp2 plays an essential role in the response of mouse embryonic fibroblasts to matrix rigidity. On rigid surfaces, large focal adhesions (FAs) and anisotropically oriented stress fibers are formed, whereas cells plated on compliant substrates form numerous small FAs and radially oriented stress fibers. As a result, traction force is increased and organized to promote cell spreading and elongation on rigid substrates. Shp2-deficient cells do not exhibit the stiffness-dependent increase in FA size and polarized stress fibers nor the intracellular tension and cell shape change. These results indicate the involvement of Shp2 in regulating the FAs and the cytoskeleton for force maintenance and organization. The defect of FA maturation in Shp2-deficient cells was rescued by expressing Y722F Rho-associated protein kinase II (ROCKII), suggesting that ROCKII is the molecular target of Shp2 in FAs for the FA maturation. Thus, Shp2 serves as a key mediator in FAs for the regulation of structural organization and force orientation of mouse embyonic fibroblasts in determining their mechanical polarity in response to matrix rigidity.

α2β1 integrin and RhoA mediates electric field-induced ligament fibroblast migration directionality

Guided cell migration is important in tissue development, repair, and engineering. We have previously demonstrated that applied electric fields (EFs) enhanced and directed ligament fibroblast migration and collagen production, depending on EF parameters. Electrical stimulation is widely used for the treatment of pain and to promote wound healing. In orthopaedic practices, applied EFs promote bone healing and ligament repair in vivo. In the current study, stimulation waveforms used in physical therapy for promoting tissue repair were adapted to examine their effects on ACL fibroblast migration. Using different waveform and field strengths, we discovered a decoupling of cell motility and directionality, which suggests disparate mechanisms. Integrin, a major extracellular matrix receptor, polarized in response to applied EFs and controlled cell directionality and signaling. Furthermore, we demonstrated that RhoA is a mediator between integrin aggregation and directed cell migration. Polarization is essential in directed cell migration and our study establishes an outside-in signaling mechanism for EF-induced cell directionality.

Phosphorylation of moesin by c-Jun N-terminal kinase is important for podosome rosette formation in Src-transformed fibroblasts

Podosomes are actin-based membrane protrusions that facilitate extracellular matrix degradation and invasive cell motility. Podosomes can self-organize into large rosette-like structures in Src-transformed fibroblasts, osteoclasts, and some highly invasive cancer cells. However, the mechanism of this assembly remains obscure. In this study, we show that the suppression of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) by the JNK inhibitor SP600125 or short-hairpin RNA inhibited podosome rosette formation in SrcY527F-transformed NIH3T3 fibroblasts. In addition, SrcY527F was less potent to induce podosome rosettes in JNK1-null or JNK2-null mouse embryo fibroblasts than in their wild-type counterparts. The kinase activity of JNK was essential for promoting podosome rosette formation but not for its localization to podosome rosettes. Moesin, a member of the ERM (ezrin, radixin, and moesin) protein family, was identified as a substrate of JNK. We show that the phosphorylation of moesin at Thr558 by JNK was important for podosome rosette formation in SrcY527F-transformed NIH3T3 fibroblasts. Taken together, our results unveil a novel role of JNK in podosome rosette formation by phosphorylating moesin.