Aging is a multifactorial process that affects most of the biological functions of the organism and increases susceptibility to disease and death. Recent studies with animal models of accelerated ...aging have unveiled some mechanisms that also operate in physiological aging. However, little is known about the role of microRNAs (miRNAs) in this process. To address this question, we have analysed miRNA levels in Zmpste24‐deficient mice, a model of Hutchinson–Gilford progeria syndrome. We have found that expression of the miR‐29 family of miRNAs is markedly upregulated in Zmpste24−/− progeroid mice as well as during normal aging in mouse. Functional analysis revealed that this transcriptional activation of miR‐29 is triggered in response to DNA damage and occurs in a p53‐dependent manner since p53−/− murine fibroblasts do not increase miR‐29 expression upon doxorubicin treatment. We have also found that miR‐29 represses Ppm1d phosphatase, which in turn enhances p53 activity. Based on these results, we propose the existence of a novel regulatory circuitry involving miR‐29, Ppm1d and p53, which is activated in aging and in response to DNA damage.
Previous data from worms implicated miRNAs in lifespan regulation. Analysis of a mammalian progeria model now identifies a miRNA induced upon both premature and physiological aging, contributing to these processes via p53 and DNA damage response pathways.
Nuclear lamina alterations occur in physiological aging and in premature aging syndromes. Because aging is also associated with abnormal stem cell homeostasis, we hypothesize that nuclear envelope ...alterations could have an important impact on stem cell compartments. To evaluate this hypothesis, we examined the number and functional competence of stem cells in Zmpste24-null progeroid mice, which exhibit nuclear lamina defects. We show that Zmpste24 deficiency causes an alteration in the number and proliferative capacity of epidermal stem cells. These changes are associated with an aberrant nuclear architecture of bulge cells and an increase in apoptosis of their supporting cells in the hair bulb region. These alterations are rescued in Zmpste24⁻/⁻Lmna⁺/⁻ mutant mice, which do not manifest progeroid symptoms. We also report that molecular signaling pathways implicated in the regulation of stem cell behavior, such as Wnt and microphthalmia transcription factor, are altered in Zmpste24⁻/⁻ mice. These findings establish a link between age-related nuclear envelope defects and stem cell dysfunction.
Better understanding on interactions between SARS‐CoV‐2 and host cells should help to identify host factors that may be targetable to combat infection and COVID‐19 pathology. To this end, we have ...conducted a genome‐wide CRISPR/Cas9‐based loss‐of‐function screen in human lung cancer cells infected with SARS‐CoV‐2‐pseudotyped lentiviruses. Our results recapitulate many findings from previous screens that used full SARS‐CoV‐2 viruses, but also unveil two novel critical host factors: the lysosomal efflux transporter SPNS1 and the plasma and lysosomal membrane protein PLAC8. Functional experiments with full SARS‐CoV‐2 viruses confirm that loss‐of‐function of these genes impairs viral entry. We find that PLAC8 is a key limiting host factor, whose overexpression boosts viral infection in eight different human lung cancer cell lines. Using single‐cell RNA‐Seq data analyses, we demonstrate that PLAC8 is highly expressed in ciliated and secretory cells of the respiratory tract, as well as in gut enterocytes, cell types that are highly susceptible to SARS‐CoV‐2 infection. Proteomics and cell biology studies suggest that PLAC8 and SPNS1 regulate the autophagolysosomal compartment and affect the intracellular fate of endocytosed virions.
Synopsis
Identifying targetable host factors to fight COVID‐19 requires full understanding of virus‐host cell interactions. Here, a genome‐wide loss‐of‐function screen identifies new regulators of the intracellular fate of endocytosed SARS‐CoV‐2 virions.
A genome‐wide CRISPR/Cas9‐based screen in human lung cancer cells identifies lysosomal membrane proteins PLAC8 and SPNS1 as required for viral entry.
PLAC8 loss reduces SARS‐CoV‐2 infection efficiency, while overexpression boosts it in several lung cancer lines
Single‐cell RNA‐Seq analyses reveal a strong enrichment of PLAC8 expression in lung and colon SARS‐CoV‐2 target cells
PLAC8 colocalizes with ACE2, but its loss‐of‐function does not affect binding or endocytosis in experiments with recombinant SPIKE receptor binding domain
PLAC8 loss‐of‐function causes an expansion of the autophagolysosomal compartment
Genome‐wide CRISPR screens identify lysosomal efflux transporter SPNS1 and transmembrane protein PLAC8 as regulators of the intracellular fate of endocytosed SARS‐CoV‐2 virions.
Defining the relationship between ageing and cancer is a crucial but challenging task. Mice deficient in Zmpste24, a metalloproteinase mutated in human progeria and involved in nuclear prelamin A ...maturation, recapitulate multiple features of ageing. However, their short lifespan and serious cell-intrinsic and cell-extrinsic alterations restrict the application and interpretation of carcinogenesis protocols. Here we present Zmpste24 mosaic mice that lack these limitations. Zmpste24 mosaic mice develop normally and keep similar proportions of Zmpste24-deficient (prelamin A-accumulating) and Zmpste24-proficient (mature lamin A-containing) cells throughout life, revealing that cell-extrinsic mechanisms are preeminent for progeria development. Moreover, prelamin A accumulation does not impair tumour initiation and growth, but it decreases the incidence of infiltrating oral carcinomas. Accordingly, silencing of ZMPSTE24 reduces human cancer cell invasiveness. Our results support the potential of cell-based and systemic therapies for progeria and highlight ZMPSTE24 as a new anticancer target.
The prevalence of BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations in Spain is heterogeneous and varies according to geographical origin of studied families. The contribution of these mutations to hereditary breast and ...ovarian cancer has not been previously investigated in Asturian populations (Northern Spain).
In the present work, 256 unrelated high-risk probands with breast and/or ovarian cancer from families living in Asturias were analyzed for the presence of a BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation from October 2007 to May 2012. The entire coding sequences and each intron/exon boundaries of BRCA1/2 genes were screened both by direct sequencing and Multiplex Ligation-dependent Probe Amplification (MLPA).
A total of 59 families (23%) were found to carry a pathogenic germ line mutation, 39 in BRCA1 and 20 in BRCA2. Twenty nine additional families (12%) carried an unknown significance variant. We detected 28 distinct pathogenic mutations (16 in BRCA1 and 12 in BRCA2), of which 3 mutations in BRCA1 (c.1674delA, c.1965C>A and c.2900_2901dupCT) and 5 in BRCA2 (c.262_263delCT, c.2095C>T, c.3263dupC, c.4030_4035delinsC, c.8042_8043delCA) had not been previously described.The novel mutations c.2900_2901dupCT in BRCA1 and c.4030_4035delinsC in BRCA2 occurred in 8 and 6 families respectively and clustered in two separated small geographically isolated areas suggesting a founder effect. These 2 mutations, together with the Galician BRCA1 mutation c.211A>G (9 families), and the common BRCA1 mutation c.3331_3334delCAAG (6 families), account for approximately 50% of all affected families. By contrast, very frequent mutations in other Spanish series such as the BRCA1 Ashkenazi founder mutation c.68_69delAG, was found in only one family.
In this study we report the BRCA1 and BRCA2 spectrum of mutations and their geographical distribution in Asturias, which largely differ from other areas of Spain. Our findings may help design a first step recurrent mutation panel for screening high-risk breast and/or ovarian cancer families from this specific area.
Monitoring activity of specific signaling pathways in vivo is challenging and requires highly sensitive methods to detect dynamic perturbations in whole organisms.
In vivo gene delivery of a ...luciferase reporter followed by bioluminiscence imaging allows measuring NF-κB activity in mice liver and lungs.
This protocol allows a direct measure of NF-κB activity through quantification of bioluminescence signal, demonstrating its accuracy and sensitivity in different animal models and experimental conditions. Variants could be also applied for the analysis of NF-κB activity in different tissues or for studying other signaling pathways in vivo.
Zmpste24 (also called FACE-1) is a metalloproteinase involved in the maturation of lamin A (Lmna), an essential component of the nuclear envelope. Both Zmpste24- and Lmna-deficient mice exhibit ...profound nuclear architecture abnormalities and multiple histopathological defects that phenocopy an accelerated ageing process. Similarly, diverse human progeroid syndromes are caused by mutations in ZMPSTE24 or LMNA genes. To elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying these devastating diseases, we have analysed the transcriptional alterations occurring in tissues from Zmpste24-deficient mice. We demonstrate that Zmpste24 deficiency elicits a stress signalling pathway that is evidenced by a marked upregulation of p53 target genes, and accompanied by a senescence phenotype at the cellular level and accelerated ageing at the organismal level. These phenotypes are largely rescued in Zmpste24-/-Lmna+/- mice and partially reversed in Zmpste24-/-p53-/- mice. These findings provide evidence for the existence of a checkpoint response activated by the nuclear abnormalities caused by prelamin A accumulation, and support the concept that hyperactivation of the tumour suppressor p53 may cause accelerated ageing.
Reprogramming aging and progeria Freije, José MP; López-Otín, Carlos
Current opinion in cell biology,
12/2012, Volume:
24, Issue:
6
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
The aging rate of an organism depends on the ratio of tissue degeneration to tissue repair. As a consequence, molecular alterations that tip this balance toward degeneration cause accelerated aging. ...Conversely, interventions can be pursued to reduce tissue degeneration or to increase tissue repair with the aim of delaying the onset of age-associated manifestations. Recent studies on the biology of stem cells in aging have revealed the influence of systemic factors on their functionality and demonstrated the feasibility of reprogramming aged and progeroid cells. These results illustrate the reversibility of some aspects of the aging process and encourage the search for new anti-aging and anti-progeria interventions.
The mouse ortholog of human FACE-1, Zmpste24, is a multispanning membrane protein widely distributed in mammalian tissues and structurally related to Afc1p/ste24p, a yeast metalloproteinase involved ...in the maturation of fungal pheromones. Disruption of the gene Zmpste24 caused severe growth retardation and premature death in homozygous-null mice. Histopathological analysis of the mutant mice revealed several abnormalities, including dilated cardiomyopathy, muscular dystrophy and lipodystrophy. These alterations are similar to those developed by mice deficient in A-type lamin, a major component of the nuclear lamina, and phenocopy most defects observed in humans with diverse congenital laminopathies. In agreement with this finding, Zmpste24-null mice are defective in the proteolytic processing of prelamin A. This deficiency in prelamin A maturation leads to the generation of abnormalities in nuclear architecture that probably underlie the many phenotypes observed in both mice and humans with mutations in the lamin A gene. These results indicate that prelamin A is a specific substrate for Zmpste24 and demonstrate the usefulness of genetic approaches for identifying the in vivo substrates of proteolytic enzymes.
PDF
