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Wu C, Cai X, Wang Y, Rodriguez CD, Zoaldi G, Herrmann L, Huang CY, Wang X, Sanghvi VR, Lu RO, Meng Z. Interplay of RAP2 GTPase and the cytoskeleton in Hippo pathway regulation. J Biol Chem 2024; 300:107257. [PMID: 38574891 PMCID: PMC11067347 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2024.107257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2023] [Revised: 03/24/2024] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024] Open
Abstract
The Hippo signaling is instrumental in regulating organ size, regeneration, and carcinogenesis. The cytoskeleton emerges as a primary Hippo signaling modulator. Its structural alterations in response to environmental and intrinsic stimuli control Hippo signaling pathway activity. However, the precise mechanisms underlying the cytoskeleton regulation of Hippo signaling are not fully understood. RAP2 GTPase is known to mediate the mechanoresponses of Hippo signaling via activating the core Hippo kinases LATS1/2 through MAP4Ks and MST1/2. Here we show the pivotal role of the reciprocal regulation between RAP2 GTPase and the cytoskeleton in Hippo signaling. RAP2 deletion undermines the responses of the Hippo pathway to external cues tied to RhoA GTPase inhibition and actin cytoskeleton remodeling, such as energy stress and serum deprivation. Notably, RhoA inhibitors and actin disruptors fail to activate LATS1/2 effectively in RAP2-deficient cells. RNA sequencing highlighted differential regulation of both actin and microtubule networks by RAP2 gene deletion. Consistently, Taxol, a microtubule-stabilizing agent, was less effective in activating LATS1/2 and inhibiting cell growth in RAP2 and MAP4K4/6/7 knockout cells. In summary, our findings position RAP2 as a central integrator of cytoskeletal signals for Hippo signaling, which offers new avenues for understanding Hippo regulation and therapeutic interventions in Hippo-impaired cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenzhou Wu
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA; Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Xiaomin Cai
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA; Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Ying Wang
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA; Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Carlos D Rodriguez
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Giorgia Zoaldi
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Lydia Herrmann
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Chun-Yuh Huang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida, USA
| | - Xiaoqiong Wang
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Viraj R Sanghvi
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA; Department of Medicine, Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University Medical Center, New York City, New York, USA
| | - Rongze O Lu
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Brain Tumor Center, Helen Diller Cancer Center, UCSF, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Zhipeng Meng
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA; Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA.
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Wu C, Cai X, Wang Y, Rodriguez CD, Herrmann L, Zoaldi G, Huang CY, Wang X, Sanghvi VR, Lu RO, Meng Z. Interplay of RAP2 GTPase and the cytoskeleton in Hippo pathway regulation. bioRxiv 2023:2023.10.10.561687. [PMID: 37873252 PMCID: PMC10592777 DOI: 10.1101/2023.10.10.561687] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2023]
Abstract
The Hippo signaling is instrumental in regulating organ size, regeneration, and carcinogenesis. The cytoskeleton emerges as a primary Hippo signaling modulator. Its structural alterations in response to environmental and intrinsic stimuli control Hippo kinase cascade activity. However, the precise mechanisms underlying the cytoskeleton regulation of Hippo signaling are not fully understood. RAP2 GTPase is known to mediate the mechanoresponses of Hippo signaling via activating the core Hippo kinases LATS1/2 through MAP4Ks and MST1/2. Here we show the pivotal role of the reciprocal regulation between RAP2 GTPase and the cytoskeleton in Hippo signaling. RAP2 deletion undermines the responses of the Hippo pathway to external cues tied to RhoA GTPase inhibition and actin cytoskeleton remodeling, such as energy stress and serum deprivation. Notably, RhoA inhibitors and actin disruptors fail to activate LATS1/2 effectively in RAP2-deficient cells. RNA sequencing highlighted differential regulation of both actin and microtubule networks by RAP2 gene deletion. Consistently, Taxol, a microtubule-stabilizing agent, was less effective in activating LATS1/2 and inhibiting cell growth in RAP2 and MAP4K4/6/7 knockout cells. In summary, our findings position RAP2 as a central integrator of cytoskeletal signals for Hippo signaling, which offers new avenues for understanding Hippo regulation and therapeutic interventions in Hippo-impaired cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenzhou Wu
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Xiaomin Cai
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Ying Wang
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Carlos D. Rodriguez
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Lydia Herrmann
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Giorgia Zoaldi
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Chun-Yuh Huang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Miami, 1251 Memorial Drive, Coral Gables, FL 33146, USA
| | - Xiaoqiong Wang
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Viraj R. Sanghvi
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
- Department of Medicine, Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University Medical Center, New York City, USA
| | - Rongze O. Lu
- Brain Tumor Center, Department of Neurological Surgery, Helen Diller Cancer Center, UCSF, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Zhipeng Meng
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
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Cai X, Warburton C, Perez OF, Wang Y, Ho L, Finelli C, Ehlen QT, Wu C, Rodriguez CD, Kaplan L, Best TM, Huang CY, Meng Z. Hippo Signaling Modulates the Inflammatory Response of Chondrocytes to Mechanical Compressive Loading. bioRxiv 2023:2023.06.09.544419. [PMID: 37662374 PMCID: PMC10473729 DOI: 10.1101/2023.06.09.544419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/05/2023]
Abstract
Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a degenerative disease resulting from mechanical overload, where direct physical impacts on chondrocytes play a crucial role in disease development by inducing inflammation and extracellular matrix degradation. However, the signaling cascades that sense these physical impacts and induce the pathogenic transcriptional programs of KOA remain to be defined, which hinders the identification of novel therapeutic approaches. Recent studies have implicated a crucial role of Hippo signaling in osteoarthritis. Since Hippo signaling senses mechanical cues, we aimed to determine its role in chondrocyte responses to mechanical overload. Here we show that mechanical loading induces the expression of inflammatory and matrix-degrading genes by activating the nuclear factor-kappaB (NFκB) pathway in a Hippo-dependent manner. Applying mechanical compressional force to 3-dimensional cultured chondrocytes activated NFκB and induced the expression of NFκB target genes for inflammation and matrix degradation (i.e., IL1β and ADAMTS4). Interestingly, deleting the Hippo pathway effector YAP or activating YAP by deleting core Hippo kinases LATS1/2 blocked the NFκB pathway activation induced by mechanical loading. Consistently, treatment with a LATS1/2 kinase inhibitor abolished the upregulation of IL1β and ADAMTS4 caused by mechanical loading. Mechanistically, mechanical loading activates Protein Kinase C (PKC), which activates NFκB p65 by phosphorylating its Serine 536. Furthermore, the mechano-activation of both PKC and NFκB p65 is blocked in LATS1/2 or YAP knockout cells, indicating that the Hippo pathway is required by this mechanoregulation. Additionally, the mechanical loading-induced phosphorylation of NFκB p65 at Ser536 is blocked by the LATS1/2 inhibitor Lats-In-1 or the PKC inhibitor AEB-071. Our study suggests that the interplay of the Hippo signaling and PKC controls NFκB-mediated inflammation and matrix degradation in response to mechanical loading. Chemical inhibitors targeting Hippo signaling or PKC can prevent the mechanoresponses of chondrocytes associated with inflammation and matrix degradation, providing a novel therapeutic strategy for KOA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaomin Cai
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, FL
- These authors contributed equally to this work
| | - Christopher Warburton
- USOAR Scholar Program, Medical Education, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL
- These authors contributed equally to this work
| | - Olivia F. Perez
- USOAR Scholar Program, Medical Education, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL
- These authors contributed equally to this work
| | - Ying Wang
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, FL
- These authors contributed equally to this work
| | - Lucy Ho
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Miami, FL
| | | | - Quinn T. Ehlen
- USOAR Scholar Program, Medical Education, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL
| | - Chenzhou Wu
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, FL
| | - Carlos D. Rodriguez
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, FL
| | - Lee Kaplan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Miami, FL
- Department of Orthopedics, University of Miami, Miami, FL
- UHealth Sports Medicine Institute, University of Miami, Miami, FL
| | - Thomas M. Best
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Miami, FL
- Department of Orthopedics, University of Miami, Miami, FL
- UHealth Sports Medicine Institute, University of Miami, Miami, FL
| | - Chun-Yuh Huang
- USOAR Scholar Program, Medical Education, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Miami, FL
- UHealth Sports Medicine Institute, University of Miami, Miami, FL
| | - Zhipeng Meng
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, FL
- USOAR Scholar Program, Medical Education, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL
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Rodriguez RA, Rodriguez CD, Mesana T, Nathan HJ. Distinguishing air from solid emboli using ultrasound: in-vitro study of the effect of Doppler carrier frequency. J Neuroimaging 2007; 17:211-8. [PMID: 17608906 DOI: 10.1111/j.1552-6569.2007.00107.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To compare the ability of the signal relative-intensity and sample-volume-length (SVL) to discriminate air bubbles from solid spheres in an in-vitro model using two different carrier frequencies of the Doppler transducer. METHODS A gel ultrasound phantom was connected to a circuit in which blood-mimicking fluid circulated. Air bubbles (100-140 microm) and latex spheres (125 +/- 10 microm) were injected into the circuit and interrogated using 1- and 2-MHz transducers. High-intensity-transient-signals (HITS) were recorded with a dual-gated transcranial Doppler (TCD) system. Receiver-Operating-Characteristic curves determined the best cut-off points that would distinguish between embolic materials. RESULTS HITS from air bubbles had higher intensities and longer SVL than solid spheres with either transducer (P < .0001). Air bubbles (P < .0001) and microspheres (P= .049) showed higher intensities with the 1-MHz relative to the 2-MHz transducer. The intensity increase with the 1-MHz transducer was greater for air bubbles than microspheres (P < .0001). The discriminating efficacy of both the relative-intensity and SVL was similar between transducers (intensity, P= .201; SVL, P= .98). CONCLUSIONS The relative-intensity and SVL are equally effective to distinguish solid from air emboli using 1- and 2-MHz transducers. Our study indicates that using a lower carrier frequency does not improve the discrimination of air from solid emboli.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosendo A Rodriguez
- Department of Surgery, Division of Cardiac Surgery, University of Ottawa Heart Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
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Rodriguez RA, Rubens F, Rodriguez CD, Nathan HJ. Sources of Variability in the Detection of Cerebral Emboli with Transcranial Doppler During Cardiac Surgery. J Neuroimaging 2006; 16:126-32. [PMID: 16629734 DOI: 10.1111/j.1552-6569.2006.00035.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The application of intensity thresholds for embolus detection with transcranial Doppler (TCD) can exclude from analysis an unrecognized proportion of high-intensity transient signals (HITS))whose intensities are below the threshold. The lack of consistent threshold criteria between clinical trials may explain part of the discrepancy in the reported HITS counts. We investigated the effect of choosing different thresholds on the sensitivity and specificity of detecting HITS during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). METHODS Two observers independently analyzed TCD recordings from 8 patients under CPB. Doppler signals were classified as true HITS, equivocal HITS, artifacts, and Doppler speckles according to preestablished criteria. The relative intensity of Doppler signals was measured by two different methods (TCD software vs manual). Receiver Operating Characteristic curves determined the optimal threshold for each of the two intensity methods. RESULTS Reviewers achieved agreement in 96% of 2190 Doppler signals (kappa = 0.90). Relative intensities calculated with the TCD-software method were 3 dB (95% CI: 3.0-3.4) higher than the manual method. The optimal threshold was found at 10 dB (sensitivity: 99%; specificity: 90.8%) with the software method and at 7 dB with the manual method (sensitivity: 96%; specificity: 83%). The use of an intensity threshold 2 dB higher than the optimal increased the rejection of true HITS by 8% and 14%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Using intensity thresholds higher than the optimal for embolus detection decreases HITS counts. Choosing a threshold depends on the type of method used for measuring the signal intensity. Uniform threshold criteria and comparative studies between different Doppler devices are necessary for making clinical trials more comparable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosendo A Rodriguez
- Department of Surgery, Division of Cardiac Surgery, University of Ottawa Heart Institute, 40 Ruskin Street, Ottawa, Ontario K1Y 4W7, Canada.
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Mason LS, Rodriguez CD, McKissock BI, Hanlon JC, Mansfield BC. SP-100 reactor with Brayton conversion for lunar surface applications. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 1992. [DOI: 10.1063/1.41842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
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