Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD BioMed Central
Résumé : International audience
Background: The Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK signaling pathway is involved in essential cell processes and it is abnormally activated in similar to 30 % of cancers and cognitive disorders. Two ERK isoforms have been described, ERK1 and ERK2; ERK2 being regarded by many as essential due to the embryonic lethality of ERK2 knock-out mice, whereas mice lacking ERK1 are viable and fertile. The controversial question of why we have two ERKs and whether they have differential functions or display functional redundancy has not yet been resolved. Results: To investigate this question we used a novel approach based on comparing the evolution of ERK isoforms' sequences and protein expression across vertebrates. We gathered and cloned erk1 and erk2 coding sequences and we examined protein expression of isoforms in brain extracts in all major clades of vertebrate evolution. For the first time, we measured each isoforms' relative protein level in phylogenetically distant animals using anti-phospho antibodies targeting active ERKs. We demonstrate that squamates (lizards, snakes and geckos), despite having both genes, do not express ERK2 protein whereas other tetrapods either do not express ERK1 protein or have lost the erk1 gene. To demonstrate the unexpected squamates' lack of ERK2 expression, we targeted each ERK isoform in lizard primary fibroblasts by specific siRNA-mediated knockdown. We also found that undetectable expression of ERK2 in lizard is compensated by a greater strength of lizard's erk1 promoter. Finally, phylogenetic analysis revealed that ERK1 amino acids sequences evolve faster than ERK2' s likely due to genomic factors, including a large difference in gene size, rather than from functional differences since amino acids essential for function are kept invariant. Conclusions: ERK isoforms appeared by a single gene duplication at the onset of vertebrate evolution at least 400 Mya. Our results demonstrate that tetrapods can live by expressing either one or both ERK isoforms, supporting the notion that ERK1/2 act interchangeably. Substrate recognition sites and catalytic cleft are nearly invariant in all vertebrate ERKs further suggesting functional redundancy. We suggest that future ERK research should shift towards understanding the role and regulation of total ERK quantity, especially in light of newly described erk2 gene amplification identified in tumors.
ISSN: 1471-2148

hal-01546165
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01546165
DOI : 10.1186/s12862-015-0450-x

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Wiley
Résumé : International audience
Motility and invasiveness events require specific intracellular signaling cascade activations. In cancer liver cells, one of these mechanisms could involve the MAPK MEK/ERK cascade activation which has been shown over expressed and activated in hepatocellular carcinoma. To study whether the MEK/ERK cascade is involved in the motility of HCC, we examined the effect of MEK inhibitor and ERK2 silencing using monolayer wound-healing assays and fluoroblock invasion systems. Evidence was provided that the MAPK cascade is a key transduction pathway which controls HCC cells motility and invasiveness. We could disconnect proliferation to motility using mitomycin C and we established that RNAi-mediated inhibition of ERK2 led to strongly reduced cell motility. To improve our understanding, we analysed the regulation and the role of urokinase receptor (uPAR) in this process. We provided evidence that uPAR was under a MEK/ERK dependent mechanism and blocking uPAR activity using specific antagonist or inhibiting its expression by RNA interference which resulted in complete inhibition of motility. Moreover, we found in MAPK inhibited cultures and in uPAR silencing cells that p70S6K phosphorylation on residue Thr-389 was significantly reduced, whereas Ser-421/Thr-424 phosphorylation did not change. We highlighted that the FRAP/mTOR pathway did not affect motility and Thr-389 phosphorylation. Furthermore, we demonstrated that p70S6K inhibition by RNA interference completely inhibited hepatocarcinoma cell motility. Therefore, targeting uPAR and/or MEK/ERK/S6K by RNA interference could be a major therapeutic strategy for the future treatment of invasive hepatocarcinoma cells.
ISSN: 0021-9541

hal-00697044
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00697044
DOI : 10.1002/jcp.21049
PUBMED : 17427199

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Public Library of Science
Résumé : International audience
The increased expression of the Disintegrin and Metalloprotease ADAM12 has been associated with human cancers, however its role remain unclear. We have previously reported that ADAM12 expression is induced by the transforming growth factor, TGF-β and promotes TGF-β-dependent signaling through interaction with the type II receptor of TGF-β. Here we explore the implication of ADAM12 in TGF-β-mediated epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT), a key process in cancer progression. We show that ADAM12 expression is correlated with EMT markers in human breast cancer cell lines and biopsies. Using a non-malignant breast epithelial cell line (MCF10A), we demonstrate that TGF-β-induced EMT increases expression of the membrane-anchored ADAM12L long form. Importantly, ADAM12L overexpression in MCF10A is sufficient to induce loss of cell-cell contact, reorganization of actin cytoskeleton, up-regulation of EMT markers and chemoresistance. These effects are independent of the proteolytic activity but require the cytoplasmic tail and are specific of ADAM12L since overexpression of ADAM12S failed to induce similar changes. We further demonstrate that ADAM12L-dependent EMT is associated with increased phosphorylation of Smad3, Akt and ERK proteins. Conversely, inhibition of TGF-β receptors or ERK activities reverses ADAM12L-induced mesenchymal phenotype. Together our data demonstrate that ADAM12L is associated with EMT and contributes to TGF-β-dependent EMT by favoring both Smad-dependent and Smad-independent pathways
ISSN: 1932-6203

hal-01207281
https://hal-univ-rennes1.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01207281
DOI : 10.1371/journal.pone.0139179
PUBMED : 26407179

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD
Résumé : International audience
Primary cultures of hepatocytes are powerful models in studying the sequence of events that are necessary for cell progression from a G0-like state to S phase. The models mimic the physiological process of hepatic regeneration after liver injury or partial hepatectomy. Many reports suggest that the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) ERK1/2 can support hepatocyte proliferation in vitro and in vivo and the MEK/ERK cascade acts as an essential element in hepatocyte responses induced by the EGF. Moreover, its disregulation has been associated with the promotion of tumor cell growth of a variety of tumors, including hepatocellular carcinoma. Whereas the strict specificity of action of ERK1 and ERK2 is still debated, the MAPKs may have specific biological functions under certain contexts and according to the differentiation status of the cells, notably hepatocytes. In this paper, we will focus on MEK1/2-ERK1/2 activations and roles in normal rodent hepatocytes in vitro and in vivo after partial hepatectomy and in human hepatocarcinoma cells. The possible specificity of ERK1 and ERK2 in normal and transformed hepatocyte will be discussed in regard to other differentiated and undifferentiated cellular models.
International Journal of Hepatology

Droits : info:eu-repo/semantics/OpenAccess
hal-00875664
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00875664
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00875664/document
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00875664/file/TheMAPKMEK12-accepted.pdf
DOI : 10.1155/2012/328372

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Elsevier
Résumé : International audience
Aryl hydrocarbon receptor-dependent genomic effects of environmental polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) have been shown to be modulated by non-genomic protein kinase C (PKC)-related pathways. The present study was designed to determine whether PKC activation may also impair estrogenic genomic response triggered by PAHs. Treatment by the PKC activator phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) was found to markedly and differentially impair the up-regulation of estrogenic markers triggered by the estrogenic PAH benzanthracene (BZA) in cultured human mammary cells; BZA-mediated mRNA up-regulation of pS2 and amphiregulin was thus increased, whereas that of progesterone receptor and CXCL12 was repressed. BZA/PMA cotreatment however failed to alter BZA-mediated increase of activity of a luciferase gene reporter construct driven by an estrogen response element, thus discarding any global effect of PMA toward BZA-triggered estrogen receptor activation. Various chemicals inhibiting PKCs or extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) as well as the knock-down of PKCδ expression counteracted the PMA-mediated increase of pS2 mRNA up-regulation triggered by BZA, demonstrating that it was dependent on PKCs, including PKCδ isoform, and ERKs. This non-genomic modulation of estrogenic effects of PAHs by PKC activation may have to be considered when considering the deleterious effects of these environmental contaminants towards the endocrine system.
ISSN: 0887-2333

inserm-00872862
http://www.hal.inserm.fr/inserm-00872862
DOI : 10.1016/j.tiv.2012.05.006
PUBMED : 22643241

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Wiley
Résumé : International audience
The extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)1/2 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase pathway has been involved in the positive and negative regulation of cell proliferation. Upon mitogen stimulation, ERK1/ERK2 activation is necessary for G1- to S-phase progression whereas when hyperactived, this pathway could elicit cell cycle arrest. The mechanisms involved are not fully elucidated but a kinase-independent function of ERK1/2 has been evidenced in the MAPK-induced growth arrest. Here, we show that p70S6K, a central regulator of protein biosynthesis, is essential for the cell cycle arrest induced by overactivation of ERK1/2. Indeed, whereas MEK1 silencing inhibits cell cycle progression, we demonstrate that active mutant form of MEK1 or MEK2 triggers a G1 phase arrest by stimulating an activation of p70S6K by ERK1/2 kinases. Silencing of ERK1/2 activity by shRNA efficiently suppresses p70S6K phosphorylation on Thr421/Ser424 and S6 phosphorylation on Ser240/244 as well as p21 expression, but these effects can be partially reversed by the expression of kinase-dead mutant form of ERK1 or ERK2. In addition, we demonstrate that the kinase p70S6K modulates neither the p21 gene transcription nor the stability of the protein but enhances the translation of the p21 mRNA. In conclusion, our data emphasizes the importance of the translational regulation of p21 by the MEK1/2-ERK1/2-p70S6K pathway to negatively control the cell cycle progression. J. Cell. Physiol. 229: 903-915, 2014. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
ISSN: 0021-9541

hal-01061238
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01061238
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01061238/document
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01061238/file/MEK12_OveractivationArticle_GUEGAN_JCP_2014.pdf
DOI : 10.1002/jcp.24521

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD
Résumé : Communication between tumoral cells and the microenvironnement plays an essential role in the developpement of tumors. In that context, the new family of metalloproteases, the ADAM proteins, are major regulators of the tumoral progression by acting on the bioavaibility of importants mediators of cellular communication as cytokines and growth factors. Among this family, ADAM12 is the most associated with cancer. It has been shown to mediate signaling pathways by a process independant of its metalloproteasis activity, in particular for TGFβ signaling. This study show for the first time a role for the membrane form of ADAM12 in the induction of epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT), a essential process involved in tumor invasion, whom TGFβ is a main inducer. This effect is mediated by the activation of TGFβ signaling pathways, SMAD3, AKT and ERK and require the cytoplasmic tail of ADAM12L but not its catalytic activity. Activation of these pathways could involve a relocalisation of ADAM12L in special signaling platform in lipid rafts. Moreover, we have shown that ADAM12L interact with ZO-1 and ZO-2, two proteins of tight junctions, and could facilitate their desassembling during EMT. This work underscore for the first time a new function of ADAM12L in EMT, by a mecanism invovlving a modulation of signals regulating this process. A better understanding of the dynamic of these molecular mecanisms could allow the developpement of new targeted therapies to fight against tumoral progression.
Les échanges entre les cellules tumorales et le microenvironnement jouent un rôle essentiel dans le développement des tumeurs. Dans ce contexte, la nouvelle famille de métalloprotéases, les protéines ADAM, constituent aujourd’hui des régulateurs majeurs de la progression tumorale en agissant sur la biodisponibilité des médiateurs de la communication cellulaire que sont les cytokines, chimiokines et facteurs de croissance. Au sein de cette famille, ADAM12 est la plus associée au cancer. Elle possède la particularité de jouer un rôle dans la signalisation cellulaire, de façon indépendante de son activité métalloprotéase, notamment dans les voies de signalisation du TGFβ. Notre étude montre pour la première fois un rôle pour la forme membranaire d'ADAM12 dans l'induction de la transition épithélio-mésenchymateuse (EMT), un processus essentiel à l'invasion tumorale dont le TGFβ est un inducteur majeur. Cet effet est médié par l'activation des voies de signalisation du TGFβ, impliquant les protéines SMAD3, AKT et ERK et requiert le domaine cytoplasmique d'ADAM12L mais pas son domaine catalytique. L'activation de ces voies de signalisation pourrait impliquer une relocalisation d'ADAM12L au sein de plates-formes de signalisation dans les radeaux lipidiques. Par ailleurs, nous avons montré qu'ADAM12L interagit avec les protéines ZO-1 et ZO-2, des protéines des jonctions serrées, et pourrait favoriser leur désassemblage au cours de l'EMT. Nos travaux ont permis de mettre en évidence une nouvelle fonction pour ADAM12L dans l'EMT, par un mécanisme impliquant une modulation des signaux régulant ce processus. Une meilleure compréhension de la dynamique de ces mécanismes moléculaires pourrait permettre de développer de nouvelles thérapies ciblées pour lutter contre la progression tumorale.
https://tel.archives-ouvertes.fr/tel-01267577

Droits : info:eu-repo/semantics/OpenAccess
NNT : 2015REN1S063
tel-01267577
https://tel.archives-ouvertes.fr/tel-01267577
https://tel.archives-ouvertes.fr/tel-01267577/document
https://tel.archives-ouvertes.fr/tel-01267577/file/RUFF_Michael.pdf

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Elsevier
Résumé : International audience
Formaldehyde (FA) is a volatile organic compound (VOC), considered as a major indoor air pollutant and suspected to favor the development of inflammatory lung diseases. The present study was aimed at identifying cytokines/chemokines targeted by FA in human lung cells. This VOC was demonstrated to up-regulate interleukin-11 (IL-11) mRNA and secretion levels in a dose-dependent manner in cultured lung epithelial BEAS-2B cells. It concomitantly induced mRNA expression of transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1, a fibrogenic marker regulated by IL-11. FA was also found to trigger an early phosphorylation of p38 and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)1/2 mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) in BEAS-2B cells, whose inhibition by ERK and p38 MAPK chemical inhibitors (U0126 and SB203580, respectively) counteracted FA-mediated induction of IL-11. In addition, FA increased phosphorylation of cAMP response element binding protein (CREB) and the use of small-interfering RNA targeting CREB demonstrated that this transcription factor was required for the up-regulation of IL-11 by FA. Implication of protein kinase C (PKC) in FA-induced IL-11 expression was moreover demonstrated by using RO-31-8220, a PKC inhibitor. We finally showed using SB203580 and RO-31-8220 that phosphorylation of CREB and CREB-promoter activity induced by FA are under the control of both p38 MAPK and PKC. Taken together, the results showed that FA uses different pathways to induce IL-11 expression in lung BEAS-2B cells. IL-11, well-known to contribute to lung inflammatory diseases, appears thus as a molecular target of FA, which could be involved in putative deleterious inflammatory and fibrogenic pulmonary effects of this VOC.
ISSN: 0300-483X

hal-00682486
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00682486
DOI : 10.1016/j.tox.2011.11.011
PUBMED : 22138297

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Elsevier
Résumé : International audience
The heterodimeric L-type amino acid transporter (LAT) 1/ CD98hc is overexpressed in lung cancers with a poor prognosis factor. Factors that contribute to LAT1/CD98hc overexpression in lung cells remain however to be determined, but the implication of atmospheric pollution can be suspected. The present study was therefore designed to analyze the effects of diesel exhaust particle (DEP) extract (DEPe) on LAT1/CD98hc expression in bronchial epithelial BEAS-2B cells. Exposure to DEPe up-regulated LAT1 and CD98hc mRNA levels in a concentration-dependent manner, with DEPe EC50 values (around 0.2 μg/mL) relevant to environmental situations. DEPe concomitantly induced LAT1/CD98hc protein expression and LAT1-mediated leucine accumulation in BEAS-2B cells. Inhibition of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) pathway through the use of a chemical AhR antagonist or the siRNA-mediated silencing of AhR expression was next found to prevent DEPe-mediated induction of LAT1/CD98hc, indicating that this regulation depends on AhR, known to be activated by major chemical DEP components like polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. DEPe exposure was finally shown to induce mRNA expression and activity of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 in BEAS-2B cells, in a CD98hc/focal adhesion kinase (FAK)/extracellular regulated kinase (ERK) manner, thus suggesting that DEPe-mediated induction of CD98hc triggers activation of the integrin/FAK/ERK signaling pathway known to be involved in MMP-2 regulation. Taken together, these data demonstrate that exposure to DEPe induces functional overexpression of the amino acid transporter LAT1/CD98h in lung cells. Such a regulation may participate to pulmonary carcinogenic effects of DEPs, owing to the well-documented contribution of LAT1 and CD98hc to cancer development.
ISSN: 0041-008X

hal-01237095
https://hal-univ-rennes1.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01237095
https://hal-univ-rennes1.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01237095/document
https://hal-univ-rennes1.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01237095/file/Aryl%20hydrocarbon%20receptor-dependent%20up-regulation_accepted.pdf
DOI : 10.1016/j.taap.2015.11.014

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Wiley
Résumé : International audience
Recent reports suggest that extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK1) and ERK2 mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) may direct specific biological functions under certain contexts. In this study, we investigated the role of early and sustained epidermal growth factor (EGF) stimulation on long-term hepatocyte differentiation and the possible role of ERK1 and ERK2 in this process. We demonstrate a long-term survival and an elevated level of differentiation up to 3 weeks. The differentiation state of hepatocytes is supported by sustained expression of aldolase B, albumin, and the detoxifying enzymes CYP1A2, 2B2, and 3A23. Similarly to freshly isolated cells, cultured hepatocytes also retain the ability to respond to 3-methylcholanthrene (3MC) and phenobarbital (PB), two known CYP inducers. In addition, we show evidence that continuous MAPK/ERK kinase (MEK) inhibition enhances the level of differentiation. Using RNA interference approaches against ERK1 and ERK2, we demonstrate that this effect requires both ERK1 and ERK2 activity, whereas the specific ERK1 knockdown promotes cell survival and the specific ERK2 knockdown regulates cell proliferation. In conclusion, we demonstrate that early and sustained EGF stimulation greatly extends long-term hepatocyte survival and differentiation, and that inhibition of the ERK1/2 MAPK pathway potentiates these pro-survival/pro-differentiation phenotypes. We clearly attest that specific ERK1 and ERK2 MAPKs determine hepatocyte survival and proliferation, respectively, whereas dual inhibition is required to stabilize a highly differentiated state.
ISSN: 0021-9541

hal-00681056
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00681056
DOI : 10.1002/jcp.22742
PUBMED : 21437905

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Oxford University Press (OUP)
Résumé : International audience
Hepatocellular carcinoma treatment by arterial infusion of cis-diamminedichloroplatinum-II (cisplatin) exhibits certain therapeutic efficacy. However, optimizations are required and the mechanisms underlying cisplatin proapoptotic effect remain unclear. The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway plays a key role in cell response to cisplatin and the functional specificity of the isoform MAPK/ERK kinase 1 and 2 (MEK1/2) and ERK1/2 could influence this response. The individual contribution of each kinase on cisplatin-induced death was thus analyzed after a transient or stable specific inhibition by RNA interference in the human hepatocellular carcinoma cells Huh-7 or in knockout mice. We demonstrated here that ERK1 played a predominant role over ERK2 in cisplatin-induced death, whereas MEK1 and MEK2 acted in a redundant manner. Indeed, at clinically relevant concentrations of cisplatin, ERK1 silencing alone was sufficient to protect cells from cisplatin-induced death both in vitro, in Huh-7 cells and ERK1(-/-) hepatocytes, and in vivo, in ERK1-deficient mice. Moreover, we showed that ERK1 activity correlated with the induction level of the proapoptotic BH3-only protein Noxa, a critical mediator of cisplatin toxicity. On the contrary, ERK2 inhibition upregulated ERK1 activity, favored Noxa induction and sensitized hepatocarcinoma cells to cisplatin. Our results point to a crucial role of ERK1 in cisplatin-induced proapoptotic signal and lead us to propose that ERK2-specific targeting could improve the efficacy of cisplatin therapy by increasing ERK1 prodeath functions.
ISSN: 0143-3334

inserm-00814096
http://www.hal.inserm.fr/inserm-00814096
DOI : 10.1093/carcin/bgs317
PUBMED : 23042098

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Elsevier
Résumé : Thanks to Dr M. Blanchard-Desce (UMR CNRS 5255, University of Bordeaux, France), who kindly provided us with fluorescent dye RS19 and the PIXEL, MRIc, flow cytometry and H2P2 platforms (SFR Biosit, UMS CNRS 3480/US INSERM 018, Rennes).
International audience
[1-9-NαC]-crourorb A1 is a cyclic peptide isolated from Croton urucurana Baillon latex, found in midwestern Brazil, that has been shown to exert cytotoxic effects against a panel of cancer cell lines. However, the underlying mechanisms responsible for the crourorb A1-induced cytotoxicity in cancer cells remain unknown. In this study, the effects of crourorb A1 on the viability, apoptosis, cell cycle and migration of Huh-7 (human hepatocarcinoma) cells were investigated. We evaluated the viability of Huh-7 cells treated with crourorb A1 in 2D and 3D collagen cultures and found that cells in 3D culture exhibited increased resistance to crourorb A1 compared to cells in 2D culture (IC50: 62μg/ml versus 35.75μg/ml). Crourorb A1 treatment decreases the viability of Huh-7 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner and is associated with the induction of apoptosis, in the absence of necrotic cells, through the activation of caspase-3/7 and increased expression of the pro-apoptotic proteins Bak, Bid, Bax, Puma, Bim, and Bad. The effects of crourorb A1 are also associated with G2/M phase cell cycle arrest and increases in cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK1) and cyclin B1 expression. A significant reduction in Huh-7 cell migration induced by crourorb A1 was also observed in the presence of mitomycin C. Finally, we showed that the JNK/MAP pathway, but not ERK signaling, is involved in crourorb A1-induced hepatocarcinoma cell mortality.
ISSN: 0378-4274

hal-01526429
https://hal-univ-rennes1.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01526429
https://hal-univ-rennes1.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01526429/document
https://hal-univ-rennes1.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01526429/file/de%20Matos%20C%C3%A2ndido-Bacani%20et%20al.%20-%20%5B1%E2%80%939-N%CE%B1C%5D-crourorb%20A1%20isolated%20from%20Croton%20urucura.pdf
DOI : 10.1016/j.toxlet.2017.03.020