Viral control of mitochondrial apoptosis.
Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Galluzzi L
PROVIDER: S-EPMC2376094 | biostudies-literature |
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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Project description:The important role of IGF-1R in cancers has been well established. Classical model involves IGF-1/2 binding to IGF-1R, following activation of the PI3K/Akt pathway, thereby promoting cell proliferation, apoptosis inhibition and treatment resistance. While IGF-1R has become a promising target for cancer therapy, clinical disclosures subsequently have been less encouraging. The question is whether targeting IGF/IGF-1R still holds therapeutic potential. Here we show a novel mechanism that knockdown IGF-1R surprisingly triggers cytoplasmic viral RNA sensors MDA5 and RIG-1, leading to mitochondrial apoptosis in cancer. We analyzed MDA5 and RIG-1 in the intestinal epithelium of IGF-1R knockdown mice. Igf1r+/- mice demonstrated higher MDA5 and RIG-1 than WT mice. IGF-1R knockdown-triggered MDA5 and RIG-1 was further analyzed in human cancer and normal cells. Increased MDA5 and RIG-1 were clearly seen in the cytoplasm identified by immunofluoresce in the cells silenced IGF-1R. Block off IGF-1R downstream PI3K/Akt did not impact on MDA5 and RIG-1 expression. IGF-1R knockdown-triggered MDA5 and RIG-1 and their signaling pathways were similar to those of viral RNA mimetic poly(I:C) had. IGF-1R knockdown-triggered MDA5 and RIG-1 led to cancer apoptosis through activation of the mitochondrial pathway. In vivo assay, Igf1r+/- mice strongly resisted AOM-induced colonic tumorigenesis through triggering MDA¬5- and RIG-1-mediated apoptosis. Notably, RIG-I and MDA5-mediated proapoptotic signaling pathway is preferential active in cancer cells. These data suggest that targeting IGF-1R-triggered MDA5 and RIG-1 might have therapeutic potential for cancer treatment.
2019-11-30 | GSE122534 | GEO
Project description:Apoptosis is an essential strategy of host defense responses and is used by viruses to maintain their life cycles. However, the apoptotic signals involved in virus replication are poorly known. In the present study, we report the molecular mechanism of apoptotic induction by the viral protein ORF4, a newly identified viral protein of porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2). Apoptosis detection revealed not only that the activity of caspase-3 and -9 is increased in PCV2-infected and ORF4-transfected cells but also that cytochrome c release from the mitochondria to the cytosol is upregulated. Subsequently, ORF4 protein colocalization with adenine nucleotide translocase 3 (ANT3) was observed using structured illumination microscopy. Moreover, coimmunoprecipitation and pulldown analyses confirmed that the ORF4 protein interacts directly with mitochondrial ANT3 (mtANT3). Binding domain analysis further confirmed that N-terminal residues 1 to 30 of the ORF4 protein, comprising a mitochondrial targeting signal, are essential for the interaction with ANT3. Knockdown of ANT3 markedly inhibited the apoptotic induction of both ORF4 protein and PCV2, indicating that ANT3 plays an important role in ORF4 protein-induced apoptosis during PCV2 infection. Taken together, these data indicate that the ORF4 protein is a mitochondrial targeting protein that induces apoptosis by interacting with ANT3 through the mitochondrial pathway.IMPORTANCE The porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) protein ORF4 is a newly identified viral protein; however, little is known about its functions. Apoptosis is an essential strategy of the host defense response and is used by viruses to maintain their life cycles. In the present study, we report the molecular mechanism of the apoptosis induced by the ORF4 protein. The ORF4 protein contains a mitochondrial targeting signal and is an unstable protein that is degraded by the proteasome-dependent pathway. Viral protein ORF4 triggers caspase-3- and -9-dependent cellular apoptosis in mitochondria by directly binding to ANT3. We conclude that the ORF4 protein is a mitochondrial targeting protein and reveal a mechanism whereby circovirus recruits ANT3 to induce apoptosis.
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