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Suppressive effects of 4-phenylbutyrate on the aggregation of Pael receptors and endoplasmic reticulum stress.

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress is defined as an accumulation of unfolded proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum. 4-phenylbutyrate (4-PBA) has been demonstrated to promote the normal trafficking of the DeltaF508 cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) mutant from the ER to the plasma membrane and to restore activity. We have reported that 4-PBA protected against cerebral ischemic injury and ER stress-induced neuronal cell death. In this study, we revealed that 4-PBA possesses chemical chaperone activity in vitro, which prevents the aggregation of denatured alpha-lactalbumin and bovine serum albumin (BSA). Furthermore, we investigated the effects of 4-PBA on the accumulation of Parkin-associated endothelin receptor-like receptor (Pael-R) pathologically relevant to the loss of dopaminergic neurons in autosomal recessive juvenile parkinsonism (AR-JP). Interestingly, 4-PBA restored the normal expression of Pael-R protein and suppressed ER stress induced by the overexpression of Pael-R. In addition, we showed that 4-PBA attenuated the activation of ER stress-induced signal transduction pathways and subsequent neuronal cell death. Moreover, 4-PBA restored the viability of yeasts that fail to induce an ER stress response under ER stress conditions. These results suggest that 4-PBA suppresses ER stress by directly reducing the amount of misfolded protein, including Pael-R accumulated in the ER.

Antineoplastic Agents↗

A transgenic mouse model for monitoring endoplasmic reticulum stress.

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress is caused by the accumulation of unfolded proteins in the ER lumen, and is associated with vascular and neurodegenerative diseases. Although the connection between ER stress and some disease-related proteins has been studied using animal models of these diseases, no in vivo data concerning ER stress are available. Here we report a new method for monitoring ER stress in vivo, based on XBP-1 mRNA splicing by inositol requiring-1 (IRE-1) during ER stress. The stress indicator was constructed by fusing XBP-1 and venus, a variant of green fluorescent protein. During stress, the spliced indicator mRNA is translated into an XBP-1-venus fusion protein, which can be detected by its fluorescence. We used transgenic animals expressing the ER stress indicator to show that it can be used to monitor physiological and pathological ER stress in vivo.

Animals↗

Roles of CHOP/GADD153 in endoplasmic reticulum stress.

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is the site of synthesis and folding of secretory proteins. Perturbations of ER homeostasis affect protein folding and cause ER stress. ER can sense the stress and respond to it through translational attenuation, upregulation of the genes for ER chaperones and related proteins, and degradation of unfolded proteins by a quality-control system. However, when the ER function is severely impaired, the organelle elicits apoptotic signals. ER stress has been implicated in a variety of common diseases such as diabetes, ischemia and neurodegenerative disorders. One of the components of the ER stress-mediated apoptosis pathway is C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP), also known as growth arrest- and DNA damage-inducible gene 153 (GADD153). Here, we summarize the current understanding of the roles of CHOP/GADD153 in ER stress-mediated apoptosis and in diseases including diabetes, brain ischemia and neurodegenerative disease.

Animals↗

Role of oxidative stress, endoplasmic reticulum stress, and c-Jun N-terminal kinase in pancreatic beta-cell dysfunction and insulin resistance.

Type 2 diabetes is the most prevalent and serious metabolic disease affecting people all over the world. Pancreatic beta-cell dysfunction and insulin resistance are the hallmark of type 2 diabetes. Normal beta-cells can compensate for insulin resistance by increasing insulin secretion and/or beta-cell mass, but insufficient compensation leads to the onset of glucose intolerance. Once hyperglycemia becomes apparent, beta-cell function gradually deteriorates and insulin resistance aggravates. Under diabetic conditions, oxidative stress and endoplasmic reticulum stress are induced in various tissues, leading to activation of the c-Jun N-terminal kinase pathway. The activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase suppresses insulin biosynthesis and interferes with insulin action. Indeed, suppression of c-Jun N-terminal kinase in diabetic mice improves insulin resistance and ameliorates glucose tolerance. Thus, the c-Jun N-terminal kinase pathway plays a central role in pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes and could be a potential target for diabetes therapy.

Animals↗

Role of oxidative stress, endoplasmic reticulum stress, and c-Jun N-terminal kinase in pancreatic beta-cell dysfunction and insulin resistance.

Type 2 diabetes is the most prevalent and serious metabolic disease affecting people all over the world. Pancreatic beta-cell dysfunction and insulin resistance are the hallmark of type 2 diabetes. Normal beta-cells can compensate for insulin resistance by increasing insulin secretion and/or beta-cell mass, but insufficient compensation leads to the onset of glucose intolerance. Once hyperglycemia becomes apparent, beta-cell function gradually deteriorates and insulin resistance aggravates. Under diabetic conditions, oxidative stress and endoplasmic reticulum stress are induced in various tissues, leading to activation of the c-Jun N-terminal kinase pathway. The activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase suppresses insulin biosynthesis and interferes with insulin action. Indeed, suppression of c-Jun N-terminal kinase in diabetic mice improves insulin resistance and ameliorates glucose tolerance. Thus, the c-Jun N-terminal kinase pathway plays a central role in pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes and could be a potential target for diabetes therapy.

Animals↗

Suppressive effects of FR167653, an inhibitor of p38 mitogen-activated kinase, on calreticulin mRNA expression induced by endoplasmic reticulum stresses.

Several endoplasmic reticulum chaperones are simultaneously transactivated in response to various forms of endoplasmic reticulum stresses. Calreticulin is one such chaperone. We here show that the compound FR167653 [1-[7-(4-fluorophenyl)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-8-(4-pyridyl)pyrazolo[5,1-c][1,2,4]triazin-2-yl]-2-phenylethanedione sulfate monohydrate] suppresses the transactivation of calreticulin following endoplasmic reticulum stress. FR167653, like SB203580 [4-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-(4-methylsulfinylphenyl)-5-(4-pyridyl)-imidazole], has been reported to inhibit p38 mitogen-activated kinase (p38 MAPK). In this study, FR167653 concentration-dependently inhibited the up-regulation of the calreticulin mRNA level following an endoplasmic reticulum stress induced by thapsigargin in human embryonic kidney 293 (HEK293) cells and rat phechromocytoma PC12 cells. The compound concentration-dependently suppressed the transactivation of luciferase by thapsigargin in a reporter assay with a calreticulin promoter-luciferase conjugated reporter vector. SB203580 also significantly suppressed the transactivation of calreticulin by thapsigargin. Therefore, FR167653 regulated the mRNA expression of calreticulin at the transcriptional level without affecting the stability of the mRNA, as well as via inhibition of p38 MAPK activated by thapsigargin. FR167653 also inhibited the transactivation of calreticulin stimulated by two other endoplasmic reticulum stress inducers, tunicamycin and A23187. Moreover, the inhibitory action of the compound on the transactivation was observed in other cell lines. The calreticulin promoter region includes three sequential cis-acting endoplasmic reticulum stress response elements (ERSEs). As each of these ERSEs was sequentially deleted, there was an increasing loss of the transactivation by thapsigargin or tunicamycin. FR167653 inhibited the transactivation in all the reporter plasmid constructs containing the calreticulin promoter region with an ERSE/ERSEs. In conclusion, FR167653 is the first compound shown to inhibit the transactivation of calreticulin following various endoplasmic reticulum stresses. The suppressive effects of the compound were considered to be due to an inhibition of the signaling leading to ERSEs activation in the calreticulin promoter region via an inhibition of p38 MAPK, which is activated by endoplasmic reticulum stresses.

Animals↗

BBF2H7, a novel transmembrane bZIP transcription factor, is a new type of endoplasmic reticulum stress transducer.

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress transducers IRE1 (inositol requiring 1), PERK (PKR-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase), and ATF6 (activating transcription factor 6) are well known to transduce signals from the ER to the cytoplasm and nucleus when unfolded proteins accumulate in the ER. Recently, we identified OASIS (old astrocyte specifically induced substance) as a novel ER stress transducer expressed in astrocytes. We report here that BBF2H7 (BBF2 human homolog on chromosome 7), an ER-resident transmembrane protein with the bZIP domain in the cytoplasmic portion and structurally homologous to OASIS, is cleaved at the membrane in response to ER stress. The cleaved fragments of BBF2H7 translocate into the nucleus and can bind directly to cyclic AMP-responsive element sites to activate transcription of target genes. Interestingly, although BBF2H7 protein is not expressed under normal conditions, it is markedly induced at the translational level during ER stress, suggesting that BBF2H7 might contribute to only the late phase of unfolded protein response signaling. In a mouse model of focal brain ischemia, BBF2H7 protein is prominently induced in neurons in the peri-infarction region. Furthermore, in a neuroblastoma cell line, BBF2H7 overexpression suppresses ER stress-induced cell death, while small interfering RNA knockdown of BBF2H7 promotes ER stress-induced cell death. Taken together, our results suggest that BBF2H7 is a novel ER stress transducer and could play important roles in preventing accumulation of unfolded proteins in damaged neurons.

Animals↗

Stable binding of ATF6 to BiP in the endoplasmic reticulum stress response.

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-induced activation of ATF6, an ER membrane-bound transcription factor, requires a dissociation step from its inhibitory regulator, BiP. It has been generally postulated that dissociation of the BiP-ATF6 complex is a result of the competitive binding of misfolded proteins generated during ER stress. Here we present evidence against this model and for an active regulatory mechanism for dissociation of the complex. Contradictory to the competition model that is based on dynamic binding of BiP to ATF6, our data reveal relatively stable binding. First, the complex was easily isolated, in contrast to many chaperone complexes that require chemical cross-linking. Second, ATF6 bound at similar levels to wild-type BiP and a BiP mutant form that binds substrates stably because of a defect in its ATPase activity. Third, ER stress specifically induced the dissociation of BiP from ER stress transducers while the competition model would predict dissociation from any specific substrate. Fourth, the ATF6-BiP complex was resistant to ATP-induced dissociation in vitro when isolated without detergents, suggesting that cofactors stabilize the complex. In favor of an active dissociation model, one specific region within the ATF6 lumenal domain was identified as a specific ER stress-responsive sequence required for ER stress-triggered BiP release. Together, our results do not support a model in which competitive binding of misfolded proteins causes dissociation of the BiP-ATF6 complex in stressed cells. We propose that stable BiP binding is essential for ATF6 regulation and that ER stress dissociates BiP from ATF6 by actively restarting the BiP ATPase cycle.

Activating Transcription Factor 6↗

ATM deficiency induces oxidative stress and endoplasmic reticulum stress in astrocytes.

ATM kinase, the product of the ataxia telangiectasia mutated (Atm) gene, is activated by genomic damage. ATM plays a crucial role in cell growth and development. Here we report that primary astrocytes isolated from ATM-deficient mice grow slowly, become senescent, and die in culture. However, before reaching senescence, these primary Atm(-/-) astrocytes, like Atm(-/-) lymphocytes, show increased spontaneous DNA synthesis. These astrocytes also show markers of oxidative stress and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, including increased levels of heat shock proteins (HSP70 and GRP78), malondialdehyde adducts, Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase, procaspase 12 cleavage, and redox-sensitive phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase 1 and 2 (ERK1/2). In addition, HSP70 and ERK1/2 phosphorylation are upregulated in the cerebella of ATM-deficient mice. This increase in ERK1/2 phosphorylation is seen primarily in cerebellar astrocytes, or Bergmann glia, near degenerating Purkinje cells. ERK1/2 activation and astrogliosis are also found in other parts of the brain, for example, the cortex. We conclude that ATM deficiency induces intrinsic growth defects, oxidative stress, ER stress, and ERKs activation in astrocytes.

Animals↗

Synergism between staurosporine and drugs inducing endoplasmic reticulum stress.

Drugs causing endoplasmic reticulum or mitochondrial dysfunction may trigger apoptosis in eukaryotic cells. The thiol reagent dithiothreitol (DTT) belongs to the first group whereas the protein kinases inhibitor staurosporine acts on mitochondria. Since the endoplasmic reticulum and the mitochondrial pathways of apoptosis may converge in common steps, we examined the possibility of synergism between these two drugs. Using the activation of caspase-3 as indicator of apoptosis, we found that in two cell lines, Jurkat and Mono-Mac 6, staurosporine and DTT elicited apoptosis with a different pattern: staurosporine acted rapidly and at nanomolar concentrations while DTT acted slowly and at higher concentrations (1mM). When staurosporine and DTT were combined, the proapoptotic action was increased. This was confirmed examining late apoptotic events such as the translocation of phosphatidylserine across the plasma membrane and the cleavage of the antiapoptotic protein Mcl-1. The use of subthreshold DTT concentrations and isobologram analysis demonstrated the synergic nature of the interaction. Tunicamycin, a drug that, like DTT, inhibits protein folding in the endoplasmic reticulum also increased the proapoptotic effect of staurosporine. In agreement with the interplay between the mitochondrial and the endoplasmic reticulum pathways it was found that both staurosporine and DTT induced cytochrome c release. Furthermore, 90min incubation with DTT did not induce caspase-4 activation while staurosporine alone or in combination with DTT stimulated caspase-4 activity. We conclude that staurosporine is more active in cells undergoing endoplasmic reticulum stress. This synergism may warrant evaluation to establish whether the anticancer activity of staurosporine is also enhanced.

Apoptosis↗

Prolonged endoplasmic reticulum stress in hypertrophic and failing heart after aortic constriction: possible contribution of endoplasmic reticulum stress to cardiac myocyte apoptosis.

BACKGROUND: The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is recognized as an organelle that participates in folding secretory and membrane proteins. The ER responds to stress by upregulating ER chaperones, but prolonged and/or excess ER stress leads to apoptosis. However, the potential role of ER stress in pathophysiological hearts remains unclear. METHODS AND RESULTS: Mice were subjected to transverse aortic constriction (TAC) or sham operation. Echocardiographic analysis demonstrated that mice 1 and 4 weeks after TAC had cardiac hypertrophy and failure, respectively. Cardiac expression of ER chaperones was significantly increased 1 and 4 weeks after TAC, indicating that pressure overload by TAC induced prolonged ER stress. In addition, the number of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL)-positive cells increased, and caspase-3 was cleaved in failing hearts. The antagonism of angiotensin II type 1 receptor prevented upregulation of ER chaperones and apoptosis in failing hearts. On the other hand, angiotensin II upregulated ER chaperones and induced apoptosis in cultured adult rat cardiac myocytes. We also investigated possible signaling pathways for ER-initiated apoptosis. The CHOP- (a transcription factor induced by ER stress), but not JNK- or caspase-12-, dependent pathway was activated in failing hearts by TAC. Pharmacological ER stress inducers upregulated ER chaperones and induced apoptosis in cultured cardiac myocytes. Finally, mRNA levels of ER chaperones were markedly increased in failing hearts of patients with elevated brain natriuretic peptide levels. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that pressure overload by TAC induces prolonged ER stress, which may contribute to cardiac myocyte apoptosis during progression from cardiac hypertrophy to failure.

Angiotensin II↗

Mitogen-activated protein kinase stimulation of Ca(2+) signaling is required for survival of endoplasmic reticulum stress in yeast.

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae triggers Ca2+ influx through a plasma membrane channel composed of Cch1 and Mid1. This response activates calcineurin, which helps to prevent cell death during multiple forms of ER stress, including the response to azole-class antifungal drugs. Herein, we show that ER stress activates the cell integrity mitogen-activate protein kinase cascade in yeast and that the activation of Pkc1 and Mpk1 is necessary for stimulation of the Cch1-Mid1 Ca2+ channel independent of many known targets of Mpk1 (Rlm1, Swi4, Swi6, Mih1, Hsl1, and Swe1). ER stress generated in response to miconazole, tunicamycin, or other inhibitors also triggered a transient G2/M arrest that depended upon the Swe1 protein kinase. Calcineurin played little role in the Swe1-dependent cell cycle arrest and Swe1 had little effect on calcineurin-dependent avoidance of cell death. These findings help to clarify the interactions between Mpk1, calcineurin, and Swe1 and suggest that the calcium cell survival pathway promotes drug resistance independent of both the unfolded protein response and the G2/M cell cycle checkpoint.

Antifungal Agents↗

GLP-1 receptor activation improves beta cell function and survival following induction of endoplasmic reticulum stress.

Perturbation of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) homeostasis impairs insulin biosynthesis, beta cell survival, and glucose homeostasis. We show that a murine model of diabetes is associated with the development of ER stress in beta cells and that treatment with the GLP-1R agonist exendin-4 significantly reduced biochemical markers of islet ER stress in vivo. Exendin-4 attenuated translational downregulation of insulin and improved cell survival in purified rat beta cells and in INS-1 cells following induction of ER stress in vitro. GLP-1R agonists significantly potentiated the induction of ATF-4 by ER stress and accelerated recovery from ER stress-mediated translational repression in INS-1 beta cells in a PKA-dependent manner. The effects of exendin-4 on the induction of ATF-4 were mediated via enhancement of ER stress-stimulated ATF-4 translation. Moreover, exendin-4 reduced ER stress-associated beta cell death in a PKA-dependent manner. These findings demonstrate that GLP-1R signaling directly modulates the ER stress response leading to promotion of beta cell adaptation and survival.

Activating Transcription Factor 4↗

The protective effect of dantrolene on ischemic neuronal cell death is associated with reduced expression of endoplasmic reticulum stress markers.

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) plays an important role in ischemic neuronal cell death. In order to determine the effect of dantrolene, a ryanodine receptor antagonist, on ER stress response and ischemic brain injury, we investigated changes in ER stress-related molecules, that is phosphorylated form of double-stranded RNA-activated protein kinase (PKR)-like ER kinase (p-PERK), phosphorylated form of eukaryotic initiation factor 2alpha (p-eIF2alpha), activating transcription factor-4 (ATF-4), and C/EBP-homologous protein (CHOP), as well as terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) in the peri-ischemic area and ischemic core region of rat brain after transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). In contrast to the cases treated with vehicle, the infarct volume and TUNEL-positive cells were significantly reduced at 24 h of reperfusion by treatment with dantrolene. The immunoreactivities for p-PERK, p-eIF2alpha, ATF-4, and CHOP were increased at the ischemic peripheral region after MCAO, which were partially inhibited by dantrolene treatment. The present results suggest that dantrolene significantly decreased infarct volume and provided neuroprotective effect on rats after transient MCAO by reducing ER stress-mediated apoptotic signal pathway activation in the ischemic area.

Activating Transcription Factor 4↗

Development and Validation of a Prognostic Signature Based on Transcription Factors Associated with Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress in Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Endoplasmic reticulum stress (ER stress) plays a crucial role in influencing the malignant behaviors of various tumors. Targeting the expression or degradation of transcription factors (TFs) offers a promising avenue for cancer treatment. However, a detailed understanding of how ER stress affects TF function and their interactions remains limited. This study aims to develop a prognostic model and identify TFs associated with ER stress in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). METHODS: We obtained gene expression profiles and corresponding clinical data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). To develop a prognostic signature, we performed several analyses, including unsupervised clustering, enrichment analysis, immune infiltration assessment, as well as univariate, LASSO, and multivariate Cox regression analyses. Four transcription factors-STAT1, IRF6, NRF1, and RXRA-were incorporated into a risk model, which was subsequently validated using the GSE dataset. Additionally, we examined IRF6 through quantitative PCR, western blotting, flow cytometry, and immunohistochemistry in vitro using pancreatic cancer cell lines and a tissue microarray. RESULTS: The high-risk group identified by the model exhibited significant associations with immune cell infiltration and poorer survival outcomes, though there was no significant correlation with tumor purity (p = 0.19). Furthermore, IRF6 downregulation in vitro was found to inhibit pancreatic cancer cell proliferation and promote apoptosis. IRF6 depletion also increased the expression of key molecules involved in ER stress at both the transcriptional and translational levels. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed marked differences in IRF6 expression between tumor and adjacent non-tumor tissues (59.29&#xb1;29.88 vs. 95.22&#xb1;40.80, p<0.001). CONCLUSION: This study provides evidence that the constructed risk model can effectively predict prognosis in PDAC patients. Transcription factors related to ER stress, such as IRF6, show promise as both prognostic biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets for PDAC.

Humans↗

Methoxyflavones protect cells against endoplasmic reticulum stress and neurotoxin.

Enhanced endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress leads to cell death in various pathophysiological situations. During a search for compounds that regulate ER stress, we identified methoxyflavones, a group of flavonoids, as strong protective agents against ER stress. Analysis in mouse insulinoma MIN6 cells revealed that methoxyflavones mildly activated the eukaryotic initiation factor 2alpha and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor pathways, but not the XBP1 pathway, and induced downstream genes, including glucose-regulated protein (GRP) 78, a molecular chaperone in the ER. The protective effect of methoxyflavones was enhanced by agents that increase intracellular cAMP levels such as forskolin, dibutyryl-cAMP and IBMX, but suppressed by the protein kinase A (PKA) inhibitor H-89, suggesting involvement of the PKA pathway in the regulation of ER stress by methoxyflavones. Consistent with the results in cultured cells, pretreatment of mice with tangeretin, a methoxyflavone, enhanced expression of GRP78 and HO-1 without causing ER stress in renal tubular epithelium and prevented tunicamycin-induced cell death. Furthermore, preadministration of tangeretin in mice enhanced expression of GRP78 in the substantia nigra pars compacta and protected dopaminergic neurons against 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine, a neurotoxin that induces both oxidative and ER stress. These results suggest that methoxyflavones play an important role in the regulation of ER stress and could be a therapeutic target for the ER stress-related diseases.

1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine↗

Herp stabilizes neuronal Ca2+ homeostasis and mitochondrial function during endoplasmic reticulum stress.

In response to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, cells launch homeostatic and protective responses, but can also activate cell death cascades. A 54 kDa integral ER membrane protein called Herp was identified as a stress-responsive protein in non-neuronal cells. We report that Herp is present in neurons in the developing and adult brain, and that it is regulated in neurons by ER stress; sublethal levels of ER stress increase Herp levels, whereas higher doses decrease Herp levels and induce apoptosis. The decrease in Herp protein levels following a lethal ER stress occurs prior to mitochondrial dysfunction and cell death, and is mediated by caspases which generate a 30-kDa proteolytic Herp fragment. Mutagenesis of the caspase cleavage site in Herp enhances its neuroprotective function during ER stress. While suppression of Herp induction by RNA interference sensitizes neural cells to apoptosis induced by ER stress, overexpression of Herp promotes survival by a mechanism involving stabilization of ER Ca(2+) levels, preservation of mitochondrial function and suppression of caspase 3 activation. ER stress-induced activation of JNK/c-Jun and caspase 12 are reduced by Herp, whereas induction of major ER chaperones is unaffected. Herp prevents ER Ca(2+) overload under conditions of ER stress and agonist-induced ER Ca(2+) release is attenuated by Herp suggesting a role for Herp in regulating neuronal Ca(2+) signaling. By stabilizing ER Ca(2+) homeostasis and mitochondrial functions, Herp serves a neuroprotective function under conditions of ER stress.

Amyloid beta-Peptides↗

Cytoprotection following endoplasmic reticulum stress protein induction in continuous cell lines.

Prior induction of an endoplasmic reticulum stress response has been associated with an increased tolerance to cellular toxins in in vitro systems, primarily involving renal and neuronal cells. Reactive intermediates are involved in toxicity in many tissues, therefore, we wished to determine if cytoprotection after induction of an endoplasmic reticulum stress response was a general phenomenon in other cell types. A stress response was induced by tunicamycin in a human hepatocyte cell line (HepG2), a rat hepatocyte cell line (H4IIE), a porcine kidney cell line (LLC-PK1), and a human lymphocyte cell line (K562). Induction of the endoplasmic reticulum stress proteins GRP78, GRP94, calreticulin and protein disulfide isomerase was assessed by immunoblotting. Cytotoxicity was assessed 24 hr after a 3 hr exposure to iodoacetamide, tert-butylhydrogenperoxide, menadione, or sulfamethoxazole hydroxylamine, or after a 2 hr exposure to N-acetyl-p-benzoquinoneimine, the reactive metabolite of acetaminophen. Induction of endoplasmic reticulum stress proteins in LLC-PK1 cells resulted in a 2-6 times increase in the concentration of all the cytotoxins required to cause a 50% decrease in cell viability at 24 hr. In contrast, tunicamycin pretreatment only resulted in a 1.7-times increase for iodo-acetamide in HepG2 cells and a 2.2-times increase for N-acetyl-p-benzoquinoneimine in the H4IIE cells, but had no effect on the other toxins tested. Induction of endoplasmic reticulum stress proteins in K562 cells did not alter susceptibility to any toxins tested. Our results indicate that protection afforded by the induction of an endoplasmic reticulum stress response is dependent on the cell type and may be toxin specific. These results suggest that either the molecular pathways of cell death for individual toxins are different between cell types and toxins, or that the function of endoplasmic reticulum stress proteins are dependent on the cell type.

Animals↗