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High levels and activity of Src kinase are common among breast cancer subtypes, and several inhibitors of the kinase are currently tested in clinical trials. Alterations in mitochondrial activity is also observed among the different types of breast cancer. Src kinase is localized in several subcellular compartments, including mitochondria where it targets several proteins to modulate the activity of the organelle. Although the subcellular localization of other oncogenes modulates the potency of known treatments, nothing is known about the specific role of intra-mitochondrial Src (mtSrc) in breast cancer. The aim of this work was to determine whether mtSrc kinase has specific impact on breast cancer cells. We first observed that activity of mtSrc is higher in breast cancer cells of the triple negative subtype. Over-expression of Src specifically targeted to mitochondria reduced mtDNA levels, mitochondrial membrane potential and cellular respiration. These alterations of mitochondrial functions led to lower cellular viability, shorter cell cycle and increased invasive capacity. Proteomic analyses revealed that mtSrc targets the mitochondrial single-stranded DNA-binding protein, a regulator of mtDNA replication. Our findings suggest that mtSrc promotes aggressiveness of breast cancer cells via phosphorylation of mitochondrial single-stranded DNA-binding protein leading to reduced mtDNA levels and mitochondrial activity. This study highlights the importance of considering the subcellular localization of Src kinase in the development of potent therapy for breast cancer.

Background Platelet-activating factor (PAF) is a potent lipid mediator whose involvement in the onset and progression of atherosclerosis is mediated by, among others, the modulation of cytokine expression patterns. The presence of multiple potential protein-tyrosine phosphatase (PTP) 1B substrates in PAF receptor signaling pathways brought us to investigate its involvement in PAF-induced cytokine expression in monocyte-derived dendritic cells (Mo-DCs) and to study the pathways involved in this modulation. Methods We used in-vitro-matured human dendritic cells and the HEK-293 cell line in our studies. PTP1B inhibition was though siRNAs and a selective inhibitor. Cytokine expression was studied with RT-PCR, luciferase assays and ELISA. Phosphorylation status of kinases and transcription factors was studied with western blotting. Results Here, we report that PTP1B was involved in the modulation of cytokine expression in PAF-stimulated Mo-DCs. A study of the down-regulation of PAF-induced IL-8 expression, by PTP1B, showed modulation of PAF-induced transactivation of the IL-8 promoter which was dependent on the presence of the C/EBPß -binding site. Results also suggested that PTP1B decreased PAF-induced IL-8 production by a glycogen synthase kinase (GSK)-3-dependent pathway via activation of the Src family kinases (SFK). These kinases activated an unidentified pathway at early stimulation times and the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in a later phase. This change in GSK-3 activity decreased the C/EBPß phosphorylation levels of the threonine 235, a residue whose phosphorylation is known to increase C/EBPß transactivation potential, and consequently modified IL-8 expression. Conclusion The negative regulation of GSK-3 activity by PTP1B and the consequent decrease in phosphorylation of the C/EBPß transactivation domain could be an important negative feedback loop by which cells control their cytokine production after PAF stimulation. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12964-019-0334-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Given the increasing amount of data showing the importance of protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs) in G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) signaling pathways, the modulation of this enzyme family by that type of receptor can become an important experimental question. Here, we describe two different methods, an in-gel and a colorimetric PTP assay, to evaluate the modulation of PTP activity after stimulation with GPCR agonists.

Atherosclerosis is a pro-inflammatory condition underlying many cardiovascular diseases. Platelet-activating factor (PAF) and interleukin 6 (IL-6) are actively involved in the onset and progression of atherosclerotic plaques. The involvement of monocyte-derived macrophages is well characterized in the installation of inflammatory conditions in the plaque, but less is known about the contribution of monocyte-derived dendritic cells (Mo-DCs). In the same way, the involvement of calcium, phospholipase C and A2 in PAF-induced IL-6 production, in different cells types, has been shown; however, the importance of the Jak/STAT pathway and its regulation by protein-tyrosine phosphatases in this response have not been addressed. In this study, we report that PAF stimulates PTP1B activity via Jak2, thereby modulating PAF-induced IL-6 production. Using HEK 293 cells stably transfected with the PAF receptor in order to discriminate the pathway components, our results suggest that Jak2 modulates PAF-induced IL-6 production via both positive and negative pathways. Jak2 kinase activity was necessary for maximal transactivation of the IL-6 promoter, as seen by luciferase assays, whereas the same kinase also downregulated this promoter transactivation through the activation of a calcium/calpain/PTP1B pathway. The same pathways were operational in monocyte-derived dendritic cells, since PAF-induced PTP1B activation negatively regulated PAF-induced IL-6 mRNA production and, in addition, Jak2 activated calpain, one of the components involved in PAF-induced PTP1B activation. Results obtained in this study indicate that Jak2 activation is important for maximal IL-6 promoter transactivation by PAF and that PTP1B is involved in the negative regulation of this transactivation. However, PTP1B does not directly regulate Jak2 activation, but rather Jak2 regulates PAF-induced PTP1B activation.