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Intracellular cholesterol trafficking.

The overall picture of intracellular cholesterol trafficking is very complex. The transfer of cholesterol within the cell depends on the contribution of several trafficking mechanisms. The known elements of cholesterol trafficking machinery include clathrin-coated pits, scavenger receptor type B1, caveolae, phospholipid rafts, Niemann-Pick C disease protein, sterol carrier protein 2, multidrug resistance protein, microsomal triglyceride transfer protein and steroidogenic acute regulation protein. Several pathways of intracellular cholesterol trafficking, for example retroendocytosis and cholesterol absorption in the intestine, are yet to be connected to specific structural elements. The contribution of different pathways depends on cell type, the source and destination of cholesterol and cellular cholesterol content and requirements. Some pathways are found in most, if not all, cell types, while others are associated with the specialized function of a particular cell type, for example, lipoprotein assembly in the liver or intestine and steroid hormone synthesis in steroidogenic tissue. Certain routes of intracellular cholesterol trafficking are heavily backed up by several auxiliary pathways, others entirely depend on a single functional element. In this review we describe the intracellular machinery involved in the intracellular transfer of cholesterol and give an overview of both the general and specialized pathways of intracellular cholesterol trafficking known to date.

Animals↗

Regulation of intracellular trafficking of huntingtin-associated protein-1 is critical for TrkA protein levels and neurite outgrowth.

Mutant huntingtin can affect vesicular and receptor trafficking via its abnormal protein interactions, suggesting that impairment of intracellular trafficking may contribute to Huntington's disease. There is growing evidence that huntingtin-associated protein-1 (HAP1) also interacts with microtubule-dependent transporters and is involved in intracellular trafficking. However, it remains unclear how the trafficking of HAP1 is regulated and contributes to neuronal function. Here we report that phosphorylation of HAP1 decreases its association with microtubule-dependent transport proteins dynactin p150 and kinesin light chain and reduces its localization in neurite tips. Suppressing HAP1 expression by RNA interference reduces neurite outgrowth and the level of tropomyosin-related kinase A receptor tyrosine kinase (TrkA), a nerve growth factor receptor whose internalization and trafficking are required for neurite outgrowth. HAP1 maintains the normal level of membrane TrkA by preventing the degradation of internalized TrkA. Mutant huntingtin also reduces the association of HAP1 with dynactin p150 and kinesin light chain and thereby decreases the intracellular level of TrkA. These findings suggest that HAP1 trafficking is critical for the stability of TrkA and neurite function, both of which can be attenuated by mutant huntingtin.

Animals↗

A C-terminal determinant of GluR6 kainate receptor trafficking.

Intracellular trafficking of ionotropic glutamate receptors is regulated predominantly by determinants in the cytoplasmic C-terminal domain of the subunit proteins. Although AMPA receptors are found at the vast majority of excitatory synapses, synaptic kainate receptors exhibit a much more restricted distribution, suggesting that specific mechanisms exist for selective trafficking of these receptor proteins. In this report, we define a critical forward trafficking motif that is necessary for surface expression of the glutamate receptor 6 (GluR6) kainate receptor as well as chimeric proteins containing only the GluR6 C-terminal domain. The trafficking determinant was identified by tracking surface expression of green fluorescent protein-tagged GluR6 receptors with confocal immunofluorescence in COS-7 cells and cultured neurons and patch-clamp electrophysiology in human embryonic kidney 293 cells. Serial truncation and alanine site mutagenesis of the GluR6 subunit C terminus localized the critical motif to a seven amino acid stretch of predominantly basic residues. Alanine mutation of the trafficking motif reduced kainate receptor current amplitudes by >90% and resulted in retention of the mutated receptors in the endoplasmic reticulum. This forward trafficking domain is the first such identified for kainate receptors.

Amino Acid Motifs↗

Intracellular trafficking of pigeon beta-very low density lipoprotein and low density lipoprotein at low and high concentrations in pigeon macrophages.

Foam cell formation occurs in vitro at lipoprotein concentrations above 50 microgram/ml in pigeon macrophages. Hypothetically, intracellular trafficking of lipoproteins at higher concentrations may differ from uptake of lipoproteins associated with low concentrations, revealing a separate atherogenic endocytic pathway. Macrophage intracellular trafficking of pigeon beta-very low density lipoprotein (beta-VLDL) and low density lipoprotein (LDL) at low concentrations (12 microgram/ml) near the saturation of high affinity binding sites and high lipoprotein concentrations (50-150 microgram/ml) used to induce foam cell formation were examined. Pigeon beta-VLDL and LDL, differentially labeled with colloidal gold, were added simultaneously to contrast trafficking of beta-VLDL, which causes in vitro foam cell formation, with LDL, which does not. The binding of lipoproteins to cell surface structures, distribution of lipoproteins in endocytic organelles, and the extent of colabeling in the endocytic organelles were determined by thin-section transmission electron microscopy. At low concentrations, the intracellular trafficking of pigeon LDL and beta-VLDL was identical. At high concentrations, LDL was removed more rapidly from the plasma membrane and reached lysosomes more quickly than beta-VLDL. No separate endocytic route was present at high concentrations of beta-VLDL; rather, an increased residence on the plasma membrane, association with nonmicrovillar portions of the plasma membrane, and slower trafficking in organelles of coated-pit endocytosis reflected a more atherogenic trafficking pattern.

Animals↗

Visualizing portal vein metastatic trafficking to the liver with green fluorescent protein-expressing tumor cells.

Cell migration or trafficking is an integral aspect of cancer metastasis and is a target for development of novel antimetastatic therapy. Tumor cell trafficking has been a poorly understood phenomenon due to the inability to visualize the process. In this study, we visualized the trafficking of metastatic cells targeting the liver via the portal vein using green fluorescent protein (GFP)-expressing cancer cells. Within 72 h after transplantation of tumor cells, on the ascending colon in nude mice, metastasis was visualized ex vivo on a single-cell basis around the portal vein by GFP imaging. At this early time-point, a few cells were visualized trafficking to the liver via the portal vein. By post-implantation day-5, the caudate lobe of the liver was involved with trafficking metastatic cells. Metastasis around the portal vein increased more rapidly than those in other areas of the liver. By day-7 post-implantation, the right lateral lobe of the liver was involved with trafficking metastatic cells. By days-9 and -11, metastasis increased rapidly around the portal vein and then spread to other areas of the liver. These experiments demonstrate the critical role of the portal vein in metastasis to the liver.

Animals↗

Progenitor cell trafficking in physiologic conditions and in myeloproliferative diseases: quantification of CD34+ cells by polymerase chain reaction.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Previous studies using flow cytometry have shown that CD34+ cell trafficking is increased in patients with chronic idiopathic myelofibrosis. Few data exist on physiologic CD34 + cell trafficking and the quantification of very low cell ranges requires reliable and sensitive measurement techniques. The aim of this study was to establish a quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique for studying CD34+ cell trafficking in physiologic conditions, and in patients with myeloproliferative diseases. DESIGN AND METHODS: CD34+ cell trafficking was measured in 56 controls [(healthy controls (n=21), patients with ischemic cardiopathy (n=21), patients with secondary thrombocytosis or erythrocytosis (n=14)], and in 37 untreated patients with myeloproliferative diseases diagnosed according to the WHO-criteria [(essential thrombocythemia (n=10), polycythemia vera (n=14) and chronic idiopathic myelofibrosis (n=13)]. Quantitative PCR was used to determine CD34 mRNA expression in peripheral blood samples. RESULTS: Physiologic CD34 mRNA expression ranges were determined in the healthy control group. Mean CD34 mRNA expression was within the physiologic range in patients with ischemic cardiopathy, secondary thrombocytosis or erythrocytosis, essential thrombocythemia and polycythemia vera (p=0.146), but was significantly increased in patients with chronic idiopathic myelofibrosis (p<0.001). When analyzed individually, 12/13 patients with chronic idiopathic myelofibrosis and 3/14 patients with polycythemia vera showed CD34 mRNA expression above the physiologic range. INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSIONS: This is a first report about CD34+ cell trafficking measured by quantitative PCR. Quantitative PCR is a reliable method suitable for the quantification of very low cell populations. Our study confirms the significant increase of CD34+ cell trafficking in patients with chronic idiopathic myelofibrosis, and in a subset of patients with polycythemia vera. Prospective studies are underway to characterize these circulating CD34+ cells and to investigate their role in the pathophysiology of myeloproliferative diseases.

Adult↗

African-American youth: drug trafficking and the justice system.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the role of the legal system in adolescent drug trafficking. METHODS: Descriptive and analytic review of the literature and relevant legislation. FINDINGS: Utilization of young adolescents by drug "kingpins" in drug trafficking is a new practice that is highly advantageous to the employer for several legal and economic reasons. From the perspective of the drug kingpins, juveniles are particularly useful in drug trafficking because they work for lower wages. Further, even if the youth are arrested, the juvenile justice system enables their rapid return for continued service in the drug trade. From the perspective of the youth, drug trafficking offers one of the few economic opportunities available to them. Further, the numbers suggest a tremendous racial disparity in the juvenile justice system. CONCLUSIONS: The mutual advantages to both employer and employee of using youths in drug trafficking increases the likelihood that this new practice will continue to flourish and with increasingly young children. Effective prevention and treatment interventions will need to be multifaceted, addressing the economic, educational, and social issues that have permitted the rapid emergence of adolescent drug trafficking. Finally, further investigation of the apparent racial disparities is necessary.

Adolescent↗

The role of Sec1p-related proteins in vesicle trafficking in the nerve terminal.

Vesicle trafficking at multiple stages of the secretory pathway depends on a family of soluble proteins related to yeast Sec1p. In yeast, this family consists of four members: the late-acting Sec1p that is required for vesicular transport between the Golgi apparatus and the cell surface; Vps33p and Vps45p which are required for trafficking between the Golgi complex and the lysosome-like vacuole; and Sly1p that is essential for trafficking between the endoplasmic reticulum and the Golgi apparatus. In mammalian systems, homologues of these proteins have been identified. In particular, a neural-specific Sec1p homologue (n-sec1/Munc-18) binds the plasma membrane protein syntaxin and may regulate synaptic vesicle docking. The Sec1p family of proteins is essential for vesicle trafficking in both regulated and constitutive trafficking pathways, and n-sec1 is critical in the regulated release of neurotransmitter from the nerve terminal.

Animals↗

Slowed receptor trafficking in mutant CHO lines of the End1 and End2 complementation groups.

A mutant Chinese hamster ovary cell line with nonconditional kinetic defects in receptor internalization and recycling was isolated, based on selection for resistance to a transferrin-diphtheria toxin conjugate and screening for aberrant receptor trafficking. The 12-4 cell line internalizes transferrin at approximately 75% of the parental rate and recycles transferrin back to the cell surface at approximately 55% of the parental rate. Internalization of low density lipoprotein is also reduced to approximately 70% of the parental cell rate, demonstrating that the mutant phenotype affects the trafficking of multiple receptors. Characterization of somatic cell hybrids indicated that the 12-4 phenotype is recessive, and complementation analysis determined that the 12-4 cell line is a member of the End2 complementation group. End2 mutants have previously been described as defective in endosomal acidification but have not been known to be defective in receptor trafficking. We have found similar defects in another End2 mutant cell line, suggesting that slowed receptor trafficking is characteristic of End2 mutants. Interestingly, transferrin receptor recycling and internalization are also slowed in another complementation group of mutants, End1, that is also defective in endosomal acidification. This study demonstrates altered receptor trafficking in End1 and End2 cell lines, a novel aspect of the mutant phenotypes. These findings provide evidence, based on a cellular genetic approach, that proper endosome acidification is necessary for maintenance of normal receptor recycling.

Animals↗

Plasmid DNA induces increased lymphocyte trafficking: a specific role for CpG motifs.

Bacterial DNA, primarily through immunostimulatory cytosine-guanine (CpG) motifs, induces the secretion of cytokines and activates a variety of effector cells. We investigated the possibility that CpG motifs might also modulate immunosurveillance by altering cell trafficking through a regional lymph node. Intradermal injection of plasmid DNA induced rapid and prolonged increases in the number of lymphocytes collected in efferent lymph. This effect on cell trafficking was not dependent on the expression of an encoded reporter gene but varied with plasmid construct and required a circular form. Injection of synthetic oligodeoxyribonucleotides containing CpG motifs did not alter lymphocyte trafficking but CpG-enhanced plasmid induced a dose-dependent increase in cell trafficking. Phenotypic analyses revealed that the increase in cell trafficking involved all lymphocyte subpopulations and represented a mass movement of cells. These observations reveal that bacterial DNA, through immunostimulatory CpG motifs, alters immunosurveillance by increasing cell recruitment to a regional lymph node.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗

Defective lentiviral vectors are efficiently trafficked by HIV-1 and inhibit its replication.

Gene therapy against HIV infection should involve vector-mediated delivery of anti-HIV therapeutic genes into T-lymphocytes and macrophages or, alternatively, hematopoietic progenitors. Transduction of mature cells with defective vectors would have limited success because the vector would disappear with cell turnover. However, if a vector could be trafficked by wild-type HIV, initial transduction of a majority of the population would not be required, as the vector would be able to spread. We describe HIV-1-based lentiviral vectors that are efficiently packaged and trafficked by HIV-1, allowing a small number of cells initially transduced to spread the vector within a nontransduced cell population. We examined whether the presence or absence of the rev gene and the Rev-responsive element (RRE) would have a noticeable effect on the ability of lentiviral vectors to be trafficked and to inhibit HIV-1 replication. We found that replacement of rev/RRE with a constitutive transport element from Mason-Pfizer monkey virus had no apparent effect on trafficking and did not change the intrinsic inhibitory abilities of the vectors. We also constructed a rev/RRE-independent HIV-1-derived vector carrying a trans-dominant negative mutant of HIV-1 Rev, RevM10. This vector was less efficiently trafficked by HIV-1 and, despite the presence of an anti-HIV-1 gene, RevM10, was less efficient at inhibiting HIV-1 replication when introduced into a target T-cell population.

Cells, Cultured↗

Protein kinase A-regulated membrane trafficking of a green fluorescent protein-aquaporin 5 chimera in MDCK cells.

The green fluorescent protein (GFP) of the jellyfish, Aeqorea victoria, was used as an autofluorescent tag to track the trafficking of aquaporin 5 (AQP5), an exocrine gland-type water channel. Two groups of chimeric proteins were constructed; one in which GFP was fused to the amino-terminus of AQP5 (GFP-AQP5) and the other, in which it was fused to the carboxyl terminus of it (AQP5-GFP). In each group, 2 chimeras were produced, a wild-type AQP5 with its normal sequence and a mutant AQP5 having a mutated amino acid at 259, i.e., GFP-AQP5-T259A and AQP5-GFP-T259A. They were used to transfect Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells. The GFP-AQP5 chimera was localized in the intracellular vesicles, which trafficked to the plasma membrane in response to N(6), 2'-O-dibutyryladenosine 3', 5'-cyclic monophosphate (dbcAMP). Membrane trafficking was inhibited by N-[2-(p-bromocinnamylamino)ethyl]-5-isoquimolinesulfonamide (H-89) but not by palmitoyl-dl-carnitine chloride (PCC). In contrast, the AQP5-GFP chimera expressed in MDCK cells was localized constitutively on the plasma membrane. The cellular localization of the latter chimera was not affected by stimulation with dbcAMP in the presence or absence of H-89 or PCC. Replacement of Thr-259 with Ala-259 did not affect the dbcAMP-induced translocation of the chimeric protein, suggesting that phosphorylation of Thr-259 was not necessary for AQP5 trafficking under the present experimental conditions. Thus, the GFP-AQP5 chimera will be a useful tool to study AQP5 trafficking in vitro, whereas the constitutive membrane localization of the AQP5-GFP chimera suggests the importance of the carboxyl terminus of the AQP5 protein for its sorting, whether it is translocated to intracellular vesicles or to the plasma membrane.

Animals↗

Role of p120-catenin in cadherin trafficking.

p120-catenin (p120) has emerged over the past several years as an important regulatory component of the cadherin adhesive complex. A core function of p120 in mammalian cells is to stabilize cadherins at the cell membrane by modulating cadherin membrane trafficking and degradation. In this way, p120 levels act as a set point mechanism that tunes cell-cell adhesive interactions. The primary control point for this regulatory activity appears to be at the level of cadherin internalization from the plasma membrane, although p120 may also impact other aspects of cadherin trafficking and turnover. In the following review, the general mechanisms of cadherin trafficking are discussed, and models for how p120 may influence cadherin membrane dynamics are presented. In one model, p120 may function as a "cap" to bind the cadherin cytoplasmic tail and prevent cadherin interactions with endocytic membrane trafficking machinery. Alternatively, p120 may stabilize cell junctions or regulate membrane trafficking machinery through interactions with small GTPases such as Rho A, Rac and Cdc42. Through these mechanisms p120 exerts influence over a wide range of biological processes that are dependent upon tight regulation of cell surface cadherin levels.

Animals↗

Functional links between mucolipin-1 and Ca2+-dependent membrane trafficking in mucolipidosis IV.

Most of the membrane trafficking phenomena including those involving the interactions between endosomes and lysosomes are regulated by changes in intracellular Ca2+ (Cai). These processes are disturbed in some types of mucolipidoses and other lysosomal storage disorders, such as mucolipidosis IV (MLIV), a neurological disorder that usually presents during the first year of life with blindness, cognitive impairment, and psychomotor delays. It is caused by mutations in MCOLN1, the gene encoding mucolipin-1 (MLN1), which we have recently established to represent a Ca2+-permeable cation channel that is transiently modulated by changes in Cai. The cells of MLIV patients contain enlarged lysosomes that are likely associated with abnormal sorting and trafficking of these and related organelles. We studied fibroblasts from MLIV patients and found disturbed Ca2+ signaling and large acidic organelles such as late endosomes and lysosomes (LEL) with altered cellular localization in these cells. The fusion between LEL vesicles in these cells was defective. This is a Ca2+-dependent process related to signaling pathways involved in regulation of Ca2+ homeostasis and trafficking. The MLN1 channels could play a key role in Ca2+ release from LEL vesicles, which triggers the fusion and trafficking of these organelles. The characterization of this MLN1-mediated Ca2+-dependent process should provide new insights into the pathophysiological mechanisms that lead to the development of MLIV and other mucolipidoses associated with similar disturbances in membrane trafficking.

Animals↗

Ral: mediator of membrane trafficking.

Ral is a multifunctional small GTPase involved in tumorigenesis and in controlling intracellular membrane trafficking. It is mainly activated by factors downstream of Ras, or independently of these factors and operates by protein-protein interactions with an expanding repertoire of partners. RalA is a positive regulator of calcium-evoked exocytosis via binding phospholipase D and is involved in G protein coupled receptor signalling by binding phospholipase C-delta1. The binding of Ral to calmodulin links to intracellular trafficking events. Another link is direct binding of activated Ral (Ral-GTP) to the endocytic and exocytic machineries. Ral-GTP binds RalBP1, which connects to receptor-mediated endocytosis via AP-2. Alternatively, Ral-GTP binds the exocyst complex, which controls secretory vesicle trafficking in regulated secretion and filopodia formation. Thus, Ral-GTP "chooses" between different membrane trafficking pathways. Other Ral partners are still being uncovered that may provide further mechanistic insights into how Ral controls diverse membrane trafficking pathways.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Transaldolase is part of a supramolecular complex containing glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase in human neutrophils that undergoes retrograde trafficking during pregnancy.

Previous studies have shown that glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDase) and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase form a supramolecular complex in human neutrophils that undergoes retrograde trafficking in cells from pregnant women, but anterograde trafficking in cells from nonpregnant individuals. Using fluorescence resonance energy transfer techniques, we now demonstrate that transaldolase (TALase), a key regulatory enzyme in the nonoxidative branch of the hexose monophosphate shunt, is in close physical proximity with G6PDase, but not with lactate dehydrogenase, thus suggesting the formation of a TALase-G6PDase complex. Moreover, immunofluorescence microscopy demonstrated that TALase undergoes anterograde trafficking in neutrophils from nonpregnant individuals, whereas retrograde trafficking is found during pregnancy. However, pregnancy did not affect lactate dehydrogenase distribution. Colchicine treatment blocked the retrograde distribution of TALase, suggesting that microtubules are involved in TALase trafficking. We suggest that TALase is part of a supramolecular hexose monophosphate shunt complex, which likely increases the efficiency of the shunt via substrate channeling. We further suggest that TALase's retrograde motion contributes to uncoupling the shunt from its source of glucose-6-phosphate at the plasma membrane, thereby blunting nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (reduced form) production and downstream oxidant production by neutrophils.

Cell Membrane↗

Polarized secretory trafficking directs cargo for asymmetric dendrite growth and morphogenesis.

Proper growth of dendrites is critical to the formation of neuronal circuits, but the cellular machinery that directs the addition of membrane components to generate dendritic architecture remains obscure. Here, we demonstrate that post-Golgi membrane trafficking is polarized toward longer dendrites of hippocampal pyramidal neurons in vitro and toward apical dendrites in vivo. Small Golgi outposts partition selectively into longer dendrites and are excluded from axons. In dendrites, Golgi outposts concentrate at branchpoints where they engage in post-Golgi trafficking. Within the cell body, the Golgi apparatus orients toward the longest dendrite, and this Golgi polarity precedes asymmetric dendrite growth. Manipulations that selectively block post-Golgi trafficking halt dendrite growth in developing neurons and cause a shrinkage of dendrites in mature pyramidal neurons. Further, disruption of Golgi polarity produces neurons with symmetric dendritic arbors lacking a single longest principal dendrite. These results define a novel polarized organization of neuronal secretory trafficking and demonstrate a mechanistic link between directed membrane trafficking and asymmetric dendrite growth.

Animals↗

Endocytic trafficking of Wingless and its receptors, Arrow and DFrizzled-2, in the Drosophila wing.

During animal development, Wnt/Wingless (Wg) signaling is required for the patterning of multiple tissues. While insufficient signal transduction is detrimental to normal development, ectopic activation of the pathway can be just as devastating. Thus, numerous controls exist to precisely regulate Wg signaling levels. Endocytic trafficking of pathway components has recently been proposed as one such control mechanism. Here, we characterize the vesicular trafficking of Wg and its receptors, Arrow and DFrizzled-2 (DFz2), and investigate whether trafficking is important to regulate Wg signaling during dorsoventral patterning of the larval wing. We demonstrate a role for Arrow and DFz2 in Wg internalization. Subsequently, Wg, Arrow and DFz2 are trafficked through the endocytic pathway to the lysosome, where they are degraded in a hepatocyte growth factor-regulated tyrosine kinase substrate (Hrs)-dependent manner. Surprisingly, we find that Wg signaling is not attenuated by lysosomal targeting in the wing disc. Rather, we suggest that signaling is dampened intracellularly at an earlier trafficking step. This is in contrast to patterning of the embryonic epidermis, where lysosomal targeting is required to restrict the range of Wg signaling. Thus, signal modulation by endocytic routing will depend on the tissue to be patterned and the goals during that patterning event.

Animals↗