A novel form of chondrocyte stress is triggered by a COMP mutation causing pseudoachondroplasia

Pseudoachondroplasia (PSACH) results from mutations in cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) and the p.D469del mutation within the type III repeats of COMP accounts for approximately 30% of PSACH. To determine disease mechanisms of PSACH in vivo, we introduced the Comp D469del mutation into the mouse genome. Mutant animals were normal at birth but grew slower than their wild-type littermates and developed short-limb dwarfism. In the growth plates of mutant mice chondrocyte columns were reduced in number and poorly organized, while mutant COMP was retained within the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) of cells. Chondrocyte proliferation was reduced and apoptosis was both increased and spatially dysregulated. Previous studies on COMP mutations have shown mutant COMP is co-localized with chaperone proteins, and we have reported an unfolded protein response (UPR) in mouse models of PSACH-MED (multiple epiphyseal dysplasia) harboring mutations in Comp (T585M) and Matn3, Comp etc (V194D). However, we found no evidence of UPR in this mouse model of PSACH. In contrast, microarray analysis identified expression changes in groups of genes implicated in oxidative stress, cell cycle regulation, and apoptosis, which is consistent with the chondrocyte pathology. Overall, these data suggest that a novel form of chondrocyte stress triggered by the expression of mutant COMP is central to the pathogenesis of PSACH.     

Unique matrix structure in the rough endoplasmic reticulum cisternae of pseudoachondroplasia chondrocytes

Mutations in cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) cause two skeletal dysplasias, pseudoachondroplasia (PSACH) and multiple epiphyseal dysplasia (MED/EDM1). Because COMP exists as a homopentamer, only one mutant COMP subunit may result in an abnormal complex that is accumulated in expanded rough endoplasmic reticulum (rER) cisternae, a hallmark of PSACH. Type IX collagen and matrilin-3 (MATN3), also accumulate in the rER cisternae of PSACH chondrocytes, but it is unknown how mutant COMP interacts with these proteins. The studies herein focus on defining the organization of these intracellularly retained proteins using fluorescence deconvolution microscopy. A unique matrix organization was identified in which type II procollagen formed a central core surrounded by a protein network of mutant COMP, type IX collagen, and MATN3. This pattern of matrix organization was found in multiple cisternae from single chondrocytes and in chondrocytes with different COMP mutations, indicating a common pattern of interaction. This suggests that stalling of mutant COMP and an interaction between mutant COMP and type II procollagen are initiating events in the assembly of matrix in the rER, possibly explaining why the material is not readily cleared from the rER. Altogether, these data suggest that mutant COMP initiates and perhaps catalyzes premature intracellular matrix assembly.     

Mutation (D472Y) in the type 3 repeat domain of cartilage oligomeric matrix protein affects its early vesicle trafficking in endoplasmic reticulum and induces apoptosis

Cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) is a large pentameric extracellular glycoprotein found in cartilage, tendon, and synovium, and plays structural roles in cartilage as the fifth member of the thrombospondin family. Familial mutations in type 3 repeats of COMP are known to cause pseudoachondroplasia (PSACH) and multiple epiphyseal dysplasia (EDM1). Although such mutations induce enlarged rough endoplasmic reticulum (rER) as a morphological change, the metabolic trafficking of mutated COMP remains unclear. In transfected COS7 cells, wild-type COMP was rapidly secreted into culture medium, while the great majority of COMP with the type 3 repeats mutation (D472Y) remained in the cells and a small portion of mutated COMP was secreted. This finding was followed up with a confocal study with an antibody specific to COMP, which demonstrated mutated COMP tightly associated with abnormally enlarged rER. Phosphorylated eIF2alpha, an ER stress protein, was expressed as a pathological reaction in virtually all COS7 cells expressing mutated but not wild-type COMP. Moreover, COS7 cells expressing mutated COMP exhibited significantly more apoptotic reaction than those expressing wild-type COMP. Pathological accumulation of COMP in rER and apoptosis in COS7 cells that were induced by the mutation (D472Y) in COMP imply that COMP mutations play a role in the pathogenesis of PSACH.     

Reduced cell proliferation and increased apoptosis are significant pathological mechanisms in a murine model of mild pseudoachondroplasia resulting from a mutation in the C-terminal domain of COMP

Pseudoachondroplasia (PSACH) is one of the more common skeletal dysplasias and results from mutations in cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP). Most COMP mutations identified to date cluster in the TSP3 repeat region of COMP and the mutant protein is retained in the rough endoplasmic reticulum (rER) of chondrocytes and may result in increased cell death. In contrast, the pathomolecular mechanism of PSACH resulting from C-terminal domain COMP mutations remain largely unknown. This study describes the generation and analysis of a murine model of mild PSACH resulting from a p.Thr583Met mutation in the C-terminal globular domain (CTD) of COMP. Mutant animals are normal at birth, but grow slower than their wild-type littermates and by 9 weeks of age they have mild short-limb dwarfism. Furthermore, by 16 months of age mutant animals exhibit severe degeneration of articular cartilage, which is consistent with early onset osteoarthritis seen in PSACH patients. In the growth plates of mutant mice the chondrocyte columns are sparser and poorly organized. Mutant COMP is secreted into the extracellular matrix, but its localization is disrupted along with the distribution of several COMP-binding proteins. Although mutant COMP is not retained within the rER there is an unfolded protein/cell stress response and chondrocyte proliferation is significantly reduced, while apoptosis is both increased and spatially dysregulated. Overall, these data suggests a mutation in the CTD of COMP exerts a dominant-negative effect on both intra- and extracellular processes. This ultimately affects the morphology and proliferation of growth plate chondrocytes, eventually leading to chondrodysplasia and reduced long bone growth.     

Identification of cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) gene mutations in patients with pseudoachondroplasia and multiple epiphyseal dysplasia

Mutations in the cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) gene are responsible for two dominantly inherited skeletal dysplasias, pseudoachondroplasia (PSACH) and multiple epiphyseal dysplasia (MED). Mutation analysis of the COMP gene in Korean patients with PSACH and MED was performed. All nine patients with PSACH had mutations in the COMP gene, while three of the five patients with MED had detectable COMP mutations. Eight mutations, including three novel mutations, were identified in the COMP gene in the patients with PSACH and MED. Six mutations were found within the calmodulin-like repeats (CLRs) domain, especially in the seventh CLR and the other two mutations were in exon 16 outside of CLRs, which encode the C-terminal globular domain. Among the three novel mutations, two were missense mutations (Asp473Tyr, Asp482His) and one was a consecutive two-codon deletion, delAspAsp(469–473) in the five consecutive aspartic acid residues. All three novel mutations produced the PSACH phenotype. Electronic Publication     

Multiple epiphyseal dysplasia and pseudoachondroplasia due to novel mutations in the calmodulin-like repeats of cartilage oligomeric matrix protein

A child with a mild form of pseudoachondroplasia was heterozygous for a deletion of 12 nucleotides from exon 10 of the cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) gene. It resulted in the deletion of valine 513 to lysine 516 from the eighth calmodulin-like repeat of COMP monomers. A child with the Fairbank's type of multiple epiphyseal dysplasia was also heterozygous for a COMP mutation. It substituted cysteine 371 by serine in the fourth calmodulin-like repeat. Both mutations were likely to alter the conformation and calcium binding of the mutant COMP protein chains. These findings support the proposal that deletions and insertions within the calmodulin-like domain produce pseudoachondroplasia, while amino acid substitutions with this domain may produce either pseudoachondroplasia or multiple epiphyseal dysplasia.     

Matrilin-3 mutations that cause chondrodysplasias interfere with protein trafficking while a mutation associated with hand osteoarthritis does not

Several mutations in the extracellular matrix protein matrilin-3 cause a heterogeneous disease spectrum affecting skeletal tissues. We introduced three disease causing point mutations leading to single amino acid exchanges (R116W, T298M, C299S) in matrilin-3 and expressed the corresponding proteins in primary articular chondrocytes to elucidate pathogenic mechanisms at the cellular level. Expression levels, processing, and the secretion pattern of a mutation linked to hand osteoarthritis (T298M) were similar to the wildtype protein, whereas the two other mutants were poorly expressed and hardly detectable in supernatants of transiently transfected cells. Using immunofluorescence staining, we demonstrated that mutants R116W and C299S are retained and accumulate within the endoplasmatic reticulum (ER). Their further trafficking to the Golgi compartment seems to be disturbed, whereas T298M is secreted normally. In cells transfected with the wildtype and T298M constructs, a matrilin-3 containing filamentous network was formed surrounding the cells, whereas in the case of R116W and C299S such structures were completely absent. These observations are similar to those for mutations in the cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) leading to multiple epiphyseal dysplasia and pseudoachondroplasia suggesting that retention and accumulation of cartilage proteins in the ER might be a general mechanism involved in the pathogenesis of chondrodysplasias.     

Lipid droplet-associated proteins in alcoholic liver disease: a potential linkage with hepatocellular damage

Steatosis is a characteristic morphological change of alcoholic liver disease, but its pathologic significance is still obscure. Regardless of cell types, intracellular lipid droplets are coated with a phospholipid monolayer, on which many kinds of lipid droplet-associated proteins are present. These proteins, such as the perilipin family of proteins and the cell death inducing DNA fragmentation factor (DFF) 45-like effectors, are recognized to play important roles in lipid metabolism in the physiological settings. In addition, recent lipidology studies have revealed that expression of the lipid droplet-associated proteins possibly participate in the pathologic processes of many metabolic disorders, including fatty liver and insulin resistance. Hence, controlling protein expressions is expected to offer novel therapeutic options. In this review, we summarize collected data concerning the potential contribution of the lipid droplet-associated proteins to the development of alcoholic fatty liver. Without exception, existing data indicates that the lipid droplet-associated proteins, especially the perilipin family proteins, are important factors in alcoholic fatty liver. These proteins exert a prosteatotic effect, and their expression is closely associated with lipotoxicity based on endoplasmic reticulum stress and oxidative injury. Although suppression of their expression may be beneficial, careful consideration is required because these proteins simultaneously function as protective factors against lipotoxicity.     

氧化应激与脑缺血-再灌注损伤

脑缺血-再灌注损伤是一个复杂的级联反应过程,涉及多种机制,其中氧化应激起到关键作用。目前的研究表明,氧化应激可以通过脂质过氧化、蛋白质变性和/或DNA修饰等途径促使神经细胞坏死,也可以通过线粒体、内质网或死亡受体等途径启动神经细胞凋亡。本文就氧化应激在脑缺血-再灌注损伤中的作用机制及抗氧化治疗的新进展作一综述。     

AGEs介导的糖尿病肾损伤机制及二甲双胍的干预作用

糖尿病肾病(diabetic nephropathy,DN)是糖尿病(diabetes mellitus,DM)的常见的慢性微血管并发症之一。慢性高糖状态下糖基化终末产物(AGEs)形成增加,诱导肾脏氧化应激和内质网应激,参与糖尿病肾病的发生与发展。二甲双胍是目前临床治疗糖尿病的最常用药物之一。越来越多的研究表明,二甲双胍除了最主要的降糖作用外,其尚可抑制AGEs形成和具有抗氧化作用,深入研究AGEs与DN的关系,有助于进一步了解DN的发病机制并对干预其发生和发展具有重要的指导意义。     

The functional role of stress proteins in ER stress mediated cell death

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is an intracellular organelle involved in biosynthesis and the secretory pathway. This organelle has many resident proteins including biosynthetic enzymes and secretory proteins. Recent studies have suggested that dysfunction of the ER or secretory pathway is involved in the pathogenesis of various human diseases. Some stresses acting on the ER, which are designated ER stress, induce the accumulation of unfolded/misfolded proteins in the ER, leading to cell death. Misfolded proteins are retained until they form their native conformation or returned to the cytosol for degradation by the proteasome. Among the ER-resident proteins, molecular chaperones prevent aggregation of proteins within the ER, and orchestrate the ER quality control systems. We have reported the roles of novel stress proteins, namely 150-kDa oxygen-regulated protein, 94-kDa glucose-regulated protein and RA410. These proteins are induced significantly by hypoxia or oxidative stress and have cytoprotective effects under these conditions. These findings suggest that hypoxia and oxidative stress target the ER and secretory pathway, resulting in ER stress, and that these proteins exert cytoprotective effects in various diseases associated with ER stress.     

内质网应激在氧化三甲胺促人脐静脉内皮细胞氧化应激中的作用

目的:探讨内质网应激是否参与氧化三甲胺(TMAO)促人脐静脉内皮细胞(HUVECs)氧化应激的过程。方法:体外培养HUVECs;CCK-8法测定细胞活力;DCFH-DA染色、倒置相差荧光显微镜观察及流式细胞术检测内皮细胞内活性氧簇(ROS)水平;Western blot法检测内皮细胞中phospho-IRE-1α、IRE-1α和GRP78/BiP的蛋白水平。结果:TMAO未表现出对HUVECs活力有显著影响;作用较长时间(>24 h),较低浓度(10μmol/L)的TMAO即可引起原代HUVECs氧化应激增加(P<0.05);TMAO可引起HUVECs IRE-1α磷酸化水平和GRP78/BiP蛋白水平显著升高(P<0.01);IRE1α特异性抑制剂STF-083010预处理1 h可缓解TMAO促HUVECs氧化应激作用(P<0.05)。结论:内质网应激参与了TMAO致HUVECs氧化应激的过程。     

Expanding insights on the involvement of endoplasmic reticulum stress in Parkinson's disease

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease characterized by selective loss of dopaminergic neurons and the presence of Lewy bodies. The pathogenesis of PD remains incompletely understood. Environmental factors, oxidative damage, misfolded protein aggregates, ubiquitin-proteasome system impairment, and mitochondrial dysfunction might all be involved. Recent studies point to activation of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-mediated cell death linked to PD. Accumulation of unfolded and/or misfolded proteins in the ER lumen induces ER stress. To withstand such potentially lethal conditions, intracellular signaling pathways collectively termed the unfolded protein responses (UPR) are activated. The UPR include translational attenuation, induction of ER resident chaperones, and degradation of misfolded proteins through the ER-associated degradation. In case of severe and/or prolonged ER stress, cellular signals leading to cell death are activated. Accumulating evidence suggests that ER stress induced by aberrant protein degradation is implicated in PD. Here the authors review the emerging role of ER stress in PD and related disorders, and highlight current knowledge in this field that may reveal novel insight into disease mechanisms and help to provide novel avenues to potential therapies.     

内质网应激对胰岛β细胞凋亡的损伤效应

胰岛β细胞具有高度发达的内质网,是对内质网应激最敏感的细胞之一.内质网应激是胰岛β细胞在受到应激条件下,细胞的适应性反应.内外环境中的多种因素：氧化损伤、脂毒性、细胞因子作用等均可打破内质网的稳态,导致蛋白质折叠障碍或错误折叠,进而触发内质网应激.严重而持久的应激将导致β细胞的凋亡,参与多种代谢性疾病乃至多种疾病的发生.综述多种因素诱导的内质网应激对胰岛β细胞的损伤效应.     

PERK通路在吗啡保护心肌H9c2细胞过程中的作用

目的:探讨吗啡(morphine)是否通过PERK通路降低内质网应激,阻止线粒体膜通透性转换孔(mPTP)开放,从而保护氧化应激损伤的心肌细胞。方法:体外培养大鼠心肌H9c2细胞,用H2O2建立氧化应激模型,随机分为对照组、H2O2组、H2O2+morphine组、H2O2+morphine+PERK通路抑制剂GSK2656157组、morphine组和GSK2656157组。免疫组化法检测吗啡对氧化应激引起葡萄糖调节蛋白(GRP)78和GRP94表达的影响;Western blot法检测PERK信号通路相关蛋白的水平;利用共聚焦显微镜观察吗啡对氧化应激所致mPTP开放及内质网的影响;乳酸脱氢酶(LDH)和MTT试剂盒分别检测细胞毒性和细胞活力。结果:与对照组相比,H2O2组GRP78和GRP94蛋白为强阳性表达,棕黄色颗粒明显增加,吗啡明显抑制此过程。与对照组相比,不同浓度GSK2656157使PERK的磷酸化明显减少,其中2μmol/L的作用效果最为显著(P<0.05)。氧化应激使GRP78、GRP94、p-PERK和CHOP的蛋白水平明显增加,使糖原合成酶激酶3β(GSK-3β)磷酸化明显减少;线粒体TMRE和内质网ER-Tracker Red红色荧光强度均明显减少;细胞毒性明显增强,细胞活力明显减弱。吗啡明显抑制H2O2引起的改变,而GSK2656157可进一步加强吗啡的作用(P<0.05)。结论:吗啡通过抑制PERK通路降低内质网应激,使GSK-3β失活,进而阻止mPTP开放,保护受氧化应激损伤的心肌H9c2细胞。     

氧化损伤对内皮细胞内质网应激相关蛋白表达的影响

目的:通过第三丁基过氧化氢(t-BHP)诱导人脐静脉内皮细胞(HUVECs),建立体外氧化应激的细胞凋亡模型,观察氧化损伤对内皮细胞内质网应激(ER stress)相关蛋白表达的影响。方法:不同浓度t-BHP(25、50、100、200、400μmol/L)诱导HUVECs 1-24 h,MTT法观察t-BHP作用后细胞的存活率;Hoechst/PI染色荧光显微镜观测细胞凋亡形态;Western blotting检测ER应激标志物肌醇需求激酶1α(IRE1α)、c-Jun氨基末端激酶(JNK)及凋亡蛋白半胱氨酸天冬氨酸蛋白酶3(caspase-3)的表达情况。结果:不同浓度t-BHP(25、50、100、200、400μmol/L)诱导HUVECs 1-24 h后,发现随着t-BHP作用浓度的增加和时间的延长,细胞活力逐渐下降;不同浓度t-BHP处理8 h后,t-BHP大于25μmol/L时,细胞凋亡率明显增加(6.3%±0.6%、16.1%±0.9%、24.7%±1.5%、23.8%±1.3%,P0.05);ER应激相关信号蛋白IRE1α、磷酸化c-Jun氨基末端激酶(p-JNK)及凋亡蛋白caspase-3表达增加。结论:氧化应激可导致内皮细胞发生凋亡,可能与引起内质网应激相关信号蛋白的表达有关。     

Activation of caspase 3, 9, 12, and Bax in masseter muscle of mdx mice during necrosis

The mdx mouse, a model of muscular dystrophy, lacks dystrophin, a cell membrane protein. It is known that the lack of dystrophin causes muscle fiber necrosis from 2 weeks after birth, and the majority of necrotic muscle fibers are replaced by regenerated muscle fibers by 4 weeks after birth. A recent study indicated the possibility that mitochondria-mediated intracellular stress, a phenomenon similar to apoptosis, may be produced during muscle fiber necrosis, but did not analyze endoplasmic reticulum-mediated intracellular stress. Therefore, we examined the expression of the caspase-12 gene involved in the endoplasmic reticulum stress pathway and the Bax, caspase-9, and caspase-3 genes involved in the mitochondrial stress pathway in the mdx masseter muscle. We found over-expression of caspase-12 in cells at 2–3 weeks after birth when muscle fiber necrosis was not prominent. This suggests that stress occurs in the endoplasmic reticulum to maintain cell morphology in the absence of dystrophin. In addition, Bax was abundantly expressed in the mdx masseter muscle at 3 weeks after birth, and the expression of caspase-9 and -3 was prominent at 3–4 weeks after birth when necrosis and regeneration were marked. These results indicate that endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondrial stresses are produced during necrosis of the mdx masseter muscle, and suggest that these events are a phenomenon similar to apoptosis.