bims-unfpre 2021-09-26 papers

bims-unfpre

Biomed News

on Unfolded protein response

Issue of 2021–09–26
eleven papers selected by
Susan Logue, University of Manitoba

Necroptosis activates UPR sensors without disrupting their binding with GRP78.
Creld2 function during unfolded protein response is essential for liver metabolism homeostasis.
Endoplasmic reticulum stress induces hepatic steatosis by transcriptional upregulating lipid droplet protein perilipin2.
Elongin functions as a loading factor for Mediator at ATF6α-regulated ER stress response genes.
Targeting the IRE1α/XBP1 Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Response Pathway in ARID1A-Mutant Ovarian Cancers.
ATP-competitive partial antagonists of the IRE1α RNase segregate outputs of the UPR.
ATF6 is essential for human cone photoreceptor development.
PERK in POMC neurons connects celastrol with metabolism.
Therapeutic Effects of Natural Compounds and Small Molecule Inhibitors Targeting Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress in Alzheimer's Disease.
Multi-level inhibition of coronavirus replication by chemical ER stress.
ATF4-mediated transcriptional regulation protects against β-cell loss during endoplasmic reticulum stress in a mouse model.

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2021 09 28. pii: e2110476118. [Epub ahead of print]118(39):

Necroptosis activates UPR sensors without disrupting their binding with GRP78.

Wei Liang, Weiwei Qi, Yang Geng, Linhan Wang, Jing Zhao, Kezhou Zhu, Guowei Wu, Zairong Zhang, Heling Pan, Lihui Qian, Junying Yuan.

  Necroptosis is a form of regulated necrosis mediated by the formation of the necrosome, composed of the RIPK1/RIPK3/MLKL complex. Here, we developed a proximity ligation assay (PLA) that allows in situ visualization of necrosomes in necroptotic cells and in vivo. Using PLA assay, we show that necrosomes can be found in close proximity to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Furthermore, we show that necroptosis activates ER stress sensors, PERK, IRE1α, and ATF6 in a RIPK1-RIPK3-MLKL axis-dependent manner. Activated MLKL can be translocated to the ER membrane to directly initiate the activation of ER stress signaling. The activation of IRE1α in necroptosis promotes the splicing of XBP1, and the subsequent incorporation of spliced XBP1 messenger RNA (mRNA) into extracellular vesicles (EVs). Finally, we show that unlike that of a conventional ER stress response, necroptosis promotes the activation of unfolded protein response (UPR) sensors without affecting their binding of GRP78. Our study reveals a signaling pathway that links MLKL activation in necroptosis to an unconventional ER stress response.

Keywords:  ER stress; IRE1α; PERK; UPR sensors; necroptosis

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2110476118
FASEB J. 2021 Oct;35(10): e21939

Creld2 function during unfolded protein response is essential for liver metabolism homeostasis.

Paul Kern, Nora R Balzer, Nelli Blank, Cornelia Cygon, Klaus Wunderling, Franziska Bender, Alex Frolov, Jan-Peter Sowa, Lorenzo Bonaguro, Thomas Ulas, Mirka Homrich, Eva Kiermaier, Christoph Thiele, Joachim L Schultze, Ali Canbay, Reinhard Bauer, Elvira Mass.

  The unfolded protein response (UPR) is associated with hepatic metabolic function, yet it is not well understood how endoplasmic reticulum (ER) disturbance might influence metabolic homeostasis. Here, we describe the physiological function of Cysteine-rich with EGF-like domains 2 (Creld2), previously characterized as a downstream target of the ER-stress signal transducer Atf6. To this end, we generated Creld2-deficient mice and induced UPR by injection of tunicamycin. Creld2 augments protein folding and creates an interlink between the UPR axes through its interaction with proteins involved in the cellular stress response. Thereby, Creld2 promotes tolerance to ER stress and recovery from acute stress. Creld2-deficiency leads to a dysregulated UPR and causes the development of hepatic steatosis during ER stress conditions. Moreover, Creld2-dependent enhancement of the UPR assists in the regulation of energy expenditure. Furthermore, we observed a sex dimorphism in human and mouse livers with only male patients showing an accumulation of CRELD2 protein during the progression from non-alcoholic fatty liver disease to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis and only male Creld2-deficient mice developing hepatic steatosis upon aging. These results reveal a Creld2 function at the intersection between UPR and metabolic homeostasis and suggest a mechanism in which chronic ER stress underlies fatty liver disease in males.

Keywords:  Creld2; ER stress; NASH; UPR; liver steatosis

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1096/fj.202002713RR
FASEB J. 2021 Oct;35(10): e21900

Endoplasmic reticulum stress induces hepatic steatosis by transcriptional upregulating lipid droplet protein perilipin2.

Qiuchi Chen, Wei Fang, Kun Cui, Qiang Chen, Xiaojun Xiang, Junzhi Zhang, Yunqiang Zhang, Kangsen Mai, Qinghui Ai.

  Previous studies have shown that endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress contributes to hepatic steatosis in several manners. However, how lipid droplet (LD) proteins participate in this process has rarely been reported. In the present study, ER stress was induced at both in vitro and in vivo levels with tunicamycin in large yellow croaker (Larimichthys crocea). Effects of LD protein perilipin2 (PLIN2) on hepatic lipid accumulation and lipoprotein transport under normal physiological condition and ER stress were then explored using dsRNA mediated knockdown. Subsequently, the transcriptional regulation of plin2 expression by transcription factors generated in the unfolded protein response (UPR) was determined by dual-luciferase reporter assays, chromatin immunoprecipitation and electrophoretic mobility-shift assay. We demonstrated that ER stress could promote LDs accumulation and inhibit lipoprotein transport by transcriptionally upregulating PLIN2 in liver. Among the transcription factors generated by UPR, spliced X-box binding protein1 can directly upregulated the expression of plin2, whereas C/EBP homologous protein can upregulate the expression of plin2 through peroxisome proliferator activated-receptor α. These results revealed that the LD protein PLIN2 played an important role in ER stress-induced hepatic steatosis, which might be a novel mechanism explaining hepatic steatosis triggered by ER stress.

Keywords:  ER stress; hepatic steatosis; lipid droplet; lipoprotein; perilipin2

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1096/fj.202100739RR
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2021 09 28. pii: e2108751118. [Epub ahead of print]118(39):

Elongin functions as a loading factor for Mediator at ATF6α-regulated ER stress response genes.

Yanfeng He, Shigeo Sato, Chieri Tomomori-Sato, Shiyuan Chen, Zach H Goode, Joan W Conaway, Ronald C Conaway.

  The bZIP transcription factor ATF6α is a master regulator of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress response genes. In this report, we identify the multifunctional RNA polymerase II transcription factor Elongin as a cofactor for ATF6α-dependent transcription activation. Biochemical studies reveal that Elongin functions at least in part by facilitating ATF6α-dependent loading of Mediator at the promoters and enhancers of ER stress response genes. Depletion of Elongin from cells leads to impaired transcription of ER stress response genes and to defects in the recruitment of Mediator and its CDK8 kinase subunit. Taken together, these findings bring to light a role for Elongin as a loading factor for Mediator during the ER stress response.

Keywords:  Mediator; RNA polymerase II; enhancer; transcription

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2108751118
Cancer Res. 2021 Sep 21.

Targeting the IRE1α/XBP1 Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Response Pathway in ARID1A-Mutant Ovarian Cancers.

Joseph A Zundell, Takeshi Fukumoto, Jianhuang Lin, Nail Fatkhudinov, Timothy Nacarelli, Andrew V Kossenkov, Qin Liu, Joel Cassel, Chih-Chi Andrew Hu, Shuai Wu, Rugang Zhang.

The SWI/SNF chromatin-remodeling complex is frequently altered in human cancers. For example, the SWI/SNF component ARID1A is mutated in more than 50% of ovarian clear cell carcinomas (OCCC), for which effective treatments are lacking. Here, we report that ARID1A transcriptionally represses the IRE1α-XBP1 axis of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress response, which confers sensitivity to inhibition of the IRE1α-XBP1 pathway in ARID1A-mutant OCCC. ARID1A mutational status correlated with response to inhibition of the IRE1α-XBP1 pathway. In a conditional Arid1aflox/flox/Pik3caH1047R genetic mouse model, Xbp1 knockout significantly improved survival of mice bearing OCCCs. Furthermore, the IRE1α inhibitor B-I09 suppressed the growth of ARID1A-inactivated OCCCs in vivo in orthotopic xenograft, patient-derived xenograft, and the genetic mouse models. Finally, B-I09 synergized with inhibition of HDAC6, a known regulator of the ER stress response, in suppressing the growth of ARID1A-inactivated OCCCs. These studies define the IRE1α-XBP1 axis of the ER stress response as a targetable vulnerability for ARID1A-mutant OCCCs, revealing a promising therapeutic approach for treating ARID1A-mutant ovarian cancers. SIGNIFICANCE: These findings indicate that pharmacological inhibition of the IRE1α-XBP1 pathway alone or in combination with HDAC6 inhibition represents an urgently needed therapeutic strategy for ARID1A-mutant ovarian cancers.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-21-1545
Nat Chem Biol. 2021 Sep 23.

ATP-competitive partial antagonists of the IRE1α RNase segregate outputs of the UPR.

Hannah C Feldman, Rajarshi Ghosh, Vincent C Auyeung, James L Mueller, Jae-Hong Kim, Zachary E Potter, Venkata N Vidadala, B Gayani K Perera, Alina Olivier, Bradley J Backes, Julie Zikherman, Feroz R Papa, Dustin J Maly.

The unfolded protein response (UPR) homeostatically matches endoplasmic reticulum (ER) protein-folding capacity to cellular secretory needs. However, under high or chronic ER stress, the UPR triggers apoptosis. This cell fate dichotomy is promoted by differential activation of the ER transmembrane kinase/endoribonuclease (RNase) IRE1α. We previously found that the RNase of IRE1α can be either fully activated or inactivated by ATP-competitive kinase inhibitors. Here we developed kinase inhibitors, partial antagonists of IRE1α RNase (PAIRs), that partially antagonize the IRE1α RNase at full occupancy. Biochemical and structural studies show that PAIRs promote partial RNase antagonism by intermediately displacing the helix αC in the IRE1α kinase domain. In insulin-producing β-cells, PAIRs permit adaptive splicing of Xbp1 mRNA while quelling destructive ER mRNA endonucleolytic decay and apoptosis. By preserving Xbp1 mRNA splicing, PAIRs allow B cells to differentiate into immunoglobulin-producing plasma cells. Thus, an intermediate RNase-inhibitory 'sweet spot', achieved by PAIR-bound IRE1α, captures a desirable conformation for drugging this master UPR sensor/effector.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41589-021-00852-0
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2021 Sep 28. pii: e2103196118. [Epub ahead of print]118(39):

ATF6 is essential for human cone photoreceptor development.

Heike Kroeger, Julia M D Grandjean, Wei-Chieh Jerry Chiang, Daphne D Bindels, Rebecca Mastey, Jennifer Okalova, Amanda Nguyen, Evan T Powers, Jeffery W Kelly, Neil J Grimsey, Michel Michaelides, Joseph Carroll, R Luke Wiseman, Jonathan H Lin.

  Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and Unfolded Protein Response (UPR) signaling promote the pathology of many human diseases. Loss-of-function variants of the UPR regulator Activating Transcription Factor 6 (ATF6) cause severe congenital vision loss diseases such as achromatopsia by unclear pathomechanisms. To investigate this, we generated retinal organoids from achromatopsia patient induced pluripotent stem cells carrying ATF6 disease variants and from gene-edited ATF6 null hESCs. We found that achromatopsia patient and ATF6 null retinal organoids failed to form cone structures concomitant with loss of cone phototransduction gene expression, while rod photoreceptors developed normally. Adaptive optics retinal imaging of achromatopsia patients carrying ATF6 variants also showed absence of cone inner/outer segment structures but preserved rod structures, mirroring the defect in cone formation observed in our retinal organoids. These results establish that ATF6 is essential for human cone development. Interestingly, we find that a selective small molecule ATF6 signaling agonist restores the transcriptional activity of some ATF6 disease-causing variants and stimulates cone growth and gene expression in patient retinal organoids carrying these variants. These findings support that pharmacologic targeting of the ATF6 pathway can promote human cone development and should be further explored for blinding retinal diseases.

Keywords:  ATF6 signaling; achromatopsia; cone photoreceptors; retinal organoids; stem cell biology

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2103196118
JCI Insight. 2021 Sep 22. pii: e145306. [Epub ahead of print]6(18):

PERK in POMC neurons connects celastrol with metabolism.

Zhenyan He, Linh Lieu, Yanbin Dong, Sadia Afrin, Dominic Chau, Anita Kabahizi, Briana Wallace, Jianhong Cao, Eun-Sang Hwang, Ting Yao, Yiru Huang, Jennifer Okolo, Bo Cheng, Yong Gao, Ling Hu, Kevin W Williams.

  ER stress and activation of the unfolded protein response in the periphery as well as the central nervous system have been linked to various metabolic abnormalities. Chemically lowering protein kinase R-like ER kinase (PERK) activity within the hypothalamus leads to decreased food intake and body weight. However, the cell populations required in this response remain undefined. In the current study, we investigated the effects of proopiomelanocortin-specific (POMC-specific) PERK deficiency on energy balance and glucose metabolism. Male mice deficient for PERK in POMC neurons exhibited improvements in energy balance on a high-fat diet, showing decreased food intake and body weight, independent of changes in glucose and insulin tolerances. The plant-based inhibitor of PERK, celastrol, increases leptin sensitivity, resulting in decreased food intake and body weight in a murine model of diet-induced obesity (DIO). Our data extend these observations by demonstrating that celastrol-induced improvements in leptin sensitivity and energy balance were attenuated in mice with PERK deficiency in POMC neurons. Altogether, these data suggest that POMC-specific PERK deficiency in male mice confers protection against DIO, possibly providing a new therapeutic target for the treatment of diabetes and metabolic syndrome.

Keywords:  Diabetes; Endocrinology; Leptin; Neuroscience; Obesity

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1172/jci.insight.145306
Front Cell Dev Biol. 2021 ;9 745011

Therapeutic Effects of Natural Compounds and Small Molecule Inhibitors Targeting Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress in Alzheimer's Disease.

Xun Gao, Yuanyuan Xu.

  Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disease, characterized by progressive cognitive impairment and memory loss. So far, the pathogenesis of AD has not been fully understood. Research have shown that endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and unfolded protein response (UPR) participate in the occurrence and development of AD. Furthermore, various studies, both in vivo and in vitro, have shown that targeting ER stress and ER stress-mediated apoptosis contribute to the recovery of AD. Thus, targeting ER stress and ER stress-mediated apoptosis may be effective for treating AD. In this review, the molecular mechanism of ER stress and ER stress-mediated apoptosis, as well as the therapeutic effects of some natural compounds and small molecule inhibitors targeting ER stress and ER stress-mediated apoptosis in AD will be introduced.

Keywords:  Alzheimer’s disease; apoptosis; endoplasmic reticulum stress; neuroprotection; unfolded protein response

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3389/fcell.2021.745011
Nat Commun. 2021 09 20. 12(1): 5536

Multi-level inhibition of coronavirus replication by chemical ER stress.

Mohammed Samer Shaban, Christin Müller, Christin Mayr-Buro, Hendrik Weiser, Johanna Meier-Soelch, Benadict Vincent Albert, Axel Weber, Uwe Linne, Torsten Hain, Ilya Babayev, Nadja Karl, Nina Hofmann, Stephan Becker, Susanne Herold, M Lienhard Schmitz, John Ziebuhr, Michael Kracht.

Coronaviruses (CoVs) are important human pathogens for which no specific treatment is available. Here, we provide evidence that pharmacological reprogramming of ER stress pathways can be exploited to suppress CoV replication. The ER stress inducer thapsigargin efficiently inhibits coronavirus (HCoV-229E, MERS-CoV, SARS-CoV-2) replication in different cell types including primary differentiated human bronchial epithelial cells, (partially) reverses the virus-induced translational shut-down, improves viability of infected cells and counteracts the CoV-mediated downregulation of IRE1α and the ER chaperone BiP. Proteome-wide analyses revealed specific pathways, protein networks and components that likely mediate the thapsigargin-induced antiviral state, including essential (HERPUD1) or novel (UBA6 and ZNF622) factors of ER quality control, and ER-associated protein degradation complexes. Additionally, thapsigargin blocks the CoV-induced selective autophagic flux involving p62/SQSTM1. The data show that thapsigargin hits several central mechanisms required for CoV replication, suggesting that this compound (or derivatives thereof) may be developed into broad-spectrum anti-CoV drugs.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-25551-1
Mol Metab. 2021 Sep 18. pii: S2212-8778(21)00185-X. [Epub ahead of print] 101338

ATF4-mediated transcriptional regulation protects against β-cell loss during endoplasmic reticulum stress in a mouse model.

Keisuke Kitakaze, Miho Oyadomari, Jun Zhang, Yoshimasa Hamada, Yasuhiro Takenouchi, Kazuhito Tsuboi, Mai Inagaki, Masanori Tachikawa, Yoshio Fujitani, Yasuo Okamoto, Seiichi Oyadomari.

   OBJECTIVE: Activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4) is a transcriptional regulator of the unfolded protein response and integrated stress response (ISR) that promote the restoration of normal endoplasmic reticulum (ER) function. Previous reports demonstrated that dysregulation of the ISR showed development of severe diabetes. However, the contribution of ATF4 to pancreatic beta cells remains poorly understood. In this study, we aimed to analyze the effect of ISR enhancer Sephin1 and ATF4-deficient beta cells for clarifying the role of ATF4 in beta cells under ER stress conditions.
METHODS: To examine the role of ATF4 in vivo, ISR enhancer Sephin1 (5 mg/kg body weight, p.o.) was administered daily for 21 days to Akita mice. We also established beta cell-specific Atf4 knockout (βAtf4-KO) mice that were further crossed with Akita mice. These mice were analyzed for characteristics of diabetes, beta cell function and morphology of the islets. To identify the downstream factors of ATF4 in beta cells, the islets of βAtf4-KO mice were subjected to cDNA microarray analyses. To examine the transcriptional regulation by ATF4, we also performed in situ PCR analysis of pancreatic sections from mice and ChIP-qPCR analysis in CT215 beta cells.
RESULTS: Administration of the ISR enhancer Sephin1 improved glucose metabolism in Akita mice. Sephin1 also increased the insulin-immunopositive area and ATF4 expression in the pancreatic islets. Akita/βAtf4-KO mice exhibited dramatically exacerbated diabetes as shown by hyperglycemia in their early age as well as a remarkable short life span owing to diabetic ketoacidosis. Moreover, the islets of Akita/βAtf4-KO mice presented increased numbers of cells stained for glucagon, somatostatin, and pancreatic polypeptide and increased expression of aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 family member 3, a marker of dedifferentiation. Using microarray analysis, we identified atonal BHLH transcription factor 8 (ATOH8) as a downstream factor of ATF4. Deletion of ATF4 in beta cells showed reduced Atoh8 expression and increased expressions of undifferentiation markers, Nanog and Pou5f1. Atoh8 expression was also abolished in the islets of Akita/βAtf4-KO mice.
CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that transcriptional regulation by ATF4 maintains beta cell identity via ISR modulation. This mechanism provides a promising target for the treatment of diabetes.

Keywords:  Activating Transcription Factor 4; Beta Cell; Diabetes; Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress; Integrated Stress Response; Unfolded Protein Response

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molmet.2021.101338