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Nrh protein expression in healthy and tumoral tissues (A) Nrh protein expression in human healthy tissues. Immunohistochemistry on tissue array (B) Nrh expression assessed by western blot in cell lysate of liver cancer. (NAT) normal adjacent tissue.

Time-lapse imaging of dTAT-NDP action on CAL-51 breast cancer cell line

Fig. S8. Mechanism for irradiation-free dTAT peptide internalization Fig; S9. dTAT peptide treatment increases apoptosis of tumor cells in vivo

Drug resistance and metastatic relapse remain a top challenge in breast cancer treatment. In this study, we present preclinical evidence for a strategy to eradicate advanced breast cancers by targeting the BCL-2 homolog Nrh/BCL2L10, which we discovered to be overexpressed in >45% of a large cohort of breast invasive carcinomas. Nrh expression in these tumors correlated with reduced metastasis-free survival, and we determined it to be an independent marker of poor prognosis. Nrh protein localized to the endoplasmic reticulum. Mechanistic investigations showed that Nrh made BH4 domain–dependent interactions with the ligand-binding domain of the inositol-1,4,5-triphosphate receptor (IP3R), a type 1/3 Ca2+ channel, allowing Nrh to negatively regulate ER-Ca2+ release and to mediate antiapoptosis. Notably, disrupting Nrh/IP3R complexes by BH4 mimetic peptides was sufficient to inhibit the growth of breast cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. Taken together, our results highlighted Nrh as a novel prognostic marker and a candidate therapeutic target for late stage breast cancers that may be addicted to Nrh.Significance: These findings offer a comprehensive molecular model for the activity of Nrh/BCL2L10, a little studied antiapoptotic molecule, prognostic marker, and candidate drug target in breast cancer. Cancer Res; 78(6); 1404–17. ©2018 AACR.

I- Reagents and antibodies. Vectors. RNA preparation & RT-qPCR -II- Supplementary Table 1: Invasive breast carcinomas patient cohort characteristics -III- Supplementary Table 2: Correlation between Nrh protein expression and the clinicopathologic factors of breast cancer -IV- Supplementary Table 3: Multivariate analysis of clinical parameters predicting shorter DMFS -V- Legend of supplementary movie : Time-lapse imaging of dTAT-NDP action on CAL-51 breast cancer cell line

PDF file - 1195K, Supplementary Figure 4: RPTOR and mTOR silencing impair S6K phosphorylation.

PDF file - 848K, Supplementary Figure 2: Inhibition of mTORC1 activates EMT and reduces cell proliferation.

PDF file - 441K, Supplementary Figure 1: SiRNA screening procedure.

PDF file - 741K, Supplementary Figure 5: Silencing of mTOR and RPTOR activates ZEB1 mRNA expression in various cell lines.

XLSX file - 170K, Supplementary Table 1: Results of the first siRNA screen aimed at identifying new EMT regulators among protein kinases Supplementary Table 2: Selected pro-MET genes from the first siRNA screen Supplementary Table 3: Selected pro-EMT genes from the first siRNA screen Supplementary Table 4: Selected pro-MET genes challenged with 2 additional siRNAs Supplementary Table 5: Selected pro-EMT genes challenged with 2 additional siRNAs

PDF file - 91K

Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a transdifferentiation process that converts epithelial cells into highly motile mesenchymal cells. This physiologic process occurs largely during embryonic development but is aberrantly reactivated in different pathologic situations, including fibrosis and cancer. We conducted a siRNA screening targeted to the human kinome with the aim of discovering new EMT effectors. With this approach, we have identified mTOR complex 1 (mTORC1), a nutrient sensor that controls protein and lipid synthesis, as a key regulator of epithelial integrity. Using a combination of RNAi and pharmacologic approaches, we report here that inhibition of either mTOR or RPTOR triggers EMT in mammary epithelial cells. This EMT was characterized by the induction of the mesenchymal markers such as fibronectin, vimentin, and PAI-1, together with the repression of epithelial markers such as E-cadherin and ZO-3. In addition, mTORC1 blockade enhanced in vivo migratory properties of mammary cells and induced EMT independent of the TGF-β pathway. Finally, among the transcription factors known to activate EMT, both ZEB1 and ZEB2 were upregulated following mTOR repression. Their increased expression correlated with a marked reduction in miR-200b and miR-200c mRNA levels, two microRNAs known to downregulate ZEB1 and ZEB2 expression. Taken together, our findings unravel a novel function for mTORC1 in maintaining the epithelial phenotype and further indicate that this effect is mediated through the opposite regulation of ZEB1/ZEB2 and miR-200b and miR-200c. Furthermore, these results suggest a plausible etiologic explanation for the progressive pulmonary fibrosis, a frequent adverse condition associated with the therapeutic use of mTOR inhibitors. Cancer Res; 73(22); 6621–31. ©2013 AACR.

Overexpression of Bcl-2 proteins such as Bcl2L10, also referred to as Nrh, is associated with resistance to therapy and poor survival in various cancers, including breast cancer, lung cancer and leukemia. The single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of BCL2L10 in its BH4 domain at position 11 (BCL2L10 Leu11Arg, rs2231292), corresponding to position 11 in the Nrh open reading frame, is reported to lower resistance towards chemotherapy, with patients showing better survival in the context of acute leukemia and colorectal cancer. Using cellular models and clinical data, we aimed to extend this knowledge to breast cancer. We report that the homozygous status of the Nrh Leu11Arg isoform (Nrh-R) is found in 9.7–11% percent of the clinical datasets studied. Furthermore, Nrh-R confers higher sensitivity towards Thapsigargin-induced cell death compared to the NrhL isoform, due to altered interactions with IP3R1 Ca2+ channels in the former case. Collectively, our data show that cells expressing the NrhR isoform are more prone to death triggered by Ca2+ stress inducers, compared to Nrh-L expressing cells. Analysis of breast cancer cohorts revealed that patients genotyped as Nrh-R/Nrh-R may have a better outcome. Overall, this study supports the notion that the rs2231292 Nrh SNP could be used as a predictive tool regarding chemoresistance, improving therapeutic decision-making processes. Moreover, it sheds new light on the contribution of the BH4 domain to the anti-apoptotic function of Nrh and identifies the IP3R1/Nrh complex as a potential therapeutic target in the context of breast cancer.

Apoptosis plays a role in cell homeostasis in both normal development and disease. Bcl-xL, a member of the Bcl-2 family of proteins, regulates the intrinsic mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis. It is overexpressed in several cancers. Bcl-xL has a dual subcellular localization and is found at the mitochondria as well as the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). However, the biological significance of its ER localization is unclear. In order to decipher the functional contributions of the mitochondrial and reticular pools of Bcl-xL, we generated genetically modified mice expressing exclusively Bcl-xL at the ER, referred to as ER-xL, or the mitochondria, referred to as Mt-xL. By performing cell death assays, we showed that ER-xL MEFs show increased vulnerability to apoptotic stimuli but are more resistant to ER stress. Furthermore, ER-xL MEFs demonstrated a reduced expression of the Unfolded Protein Response (UPR) markers upon ER stress and displayed reduced inositol trisphosphate receptor (IP3R)-mediated ER calcium release. Collectively, our data show that upon ER stress, Bcl-xL negatively regulates IP3R-mediated calcium flux from the ER, which prevents ER calcium depletion and maintains the UPR and subsequent cell death in check. This work reveals a moonlighting function of Bcl-xL at the ER, apart from its cliché regulation of apoptosis.

International audience; The Bcl-xL apoptosis inhibitor plays a major role in vertebrate development. In addition to its effect on apoptosis, Bcl-xL is also involved in cell migration and mitochondrial metabolism. These effects may favour the onset and dissemination of metastasis. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain to be fully understood. Here we focus on the control of cell migration by Bcl-xL in the context of breast cancer cells. We show that Bcl-xL silencing led to migration defects in Hs578T and MDA-MB231 cells. These defects were rescued by re-expressing mitochondria-addressed, but not endoplasmic reticulum-addressed, Bcl-xL. The use of BH3 mimetics, such as ABT-737 and WEHI-539 confirmed that the effect of Bcl-xL on migration did not depend on interactions with BH3-containing death accelerators such as Bax or BH3-only proteins. In contrast, the use of a BH4 peptide that disrupts the Bcl-xL/VDAC1 complex supports that Bcl-xL by acting on VDAC1 permeability contributes to cell migration through the promotion of reactive oxygen species production by the electron transport chain. Collectively our data highlight the key role of Bcl-xL at the interface between cell metabolism, cell death, and cell migration, thus exposing the VDAC1/Bcl-xL interaction as a promising target for anti-tumour therapy in the context of metastatic breast cancer.

In the animal kingdom, proteins of the Bcl-2 family are widely recognized as regulators of mitochondrial outer membrane permeabilization (MOMP), leading to apoptotic cell death. These proteins were recently also shown to control IP3-dependent calcium fluxes at the level of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). However, the origin and evolution of these pleiotropic functions remain elusive. Here, we molecularly characterized the four members of the Bcl-2 family (trBcl-2L1 to -2L4) in the most primitive metazoan, namely Trichoplax adhaerens. Primary structure and phylogenetic analyses demonstrated that all four trBcl-2 homologs belong to the multidomain Bcl-2 group and presented a conserved C-terminus transmembrane (TM) domain. TrBcl-2L1 and trBcl-2L2 are highly divergent proteins clustering with the anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 members, whereas trBcl-2L3 and trBcl-2L4 were homologous to the pro-apoptotic Bax (trBax) and Bak (trBak). Interestingly, at the functional level, trBak operates as a BH3 only sensitizer repressing the anti-apoptotic activities of trBcl-2L1 and trBcl-2L2, whereas trBax leads to MOMP, similarly to the well-known indirect model of Bax activation. Finally, we found that trBcl-2L1 had a dual ER and mitochondrial subcellular localization and was able to bind to IP3R. By generating two TM domain mutants we demonstrated that trBcl-2L1 targeted to the ER was able to control IP3-dependent calcium fluxes, whereas Mito-trBcl-2L1 represses trBax-dependent MOMP, suggesting that Bcl-2 pleiotropy appeared early and was conserved throughout metazoan evolution.

The Bcl-xL apoptosis inhibitor plays a major role in vertebrate development. In addition to its effect on apoptosis, Bcl-xL is also involved in cell migration and mitochondrial metabolism. These effects may favour the onset and dissemination of metastasis. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain to be fully understood. Here we focus on the control of cell migration by Bcl-xL in the context of breast cancer cells. We show that Bcl-xL silencing led to migration defects in Hs578T and MDA-MB231 cells. These defects were rescued by re-expressing mitochondria-addressed, but not endoplasmic reticulum-addressed, Bcl-xL. The use of BH3 mimetics, such as ABT-737 and WEHI-539 confirmed that the effect of Bcl-xL on migration did not depend on interactions with BH3-containing death accelerators such as Bax or BH3-only proteins. In contrast, the use of a BH4 peptide that disrupts the Bcl-xL/VDAC1 complex supports that Bcl-xL by acting on VDAC1 permeability contributes to cell migration through the promotion of reactive oxygen species production by the electron transport chain. Collectively our data highlight the key role of Bcl-xL at the interface between cell metabolism, cell death, and cell migration, thus exposing the VDAC1/Bcl-xL interaction as a promising target for anti-tumour therapy in the context of metastatic breast cancer.

Drug resistance and metastatic relapse remain a top challenge in breast cancer treatment. In this study, we present preclinical evidence for a strategy to eradicate advanced breast cancers by targeting the BCL-2 homolog Nrh/BCL2L10, which we discovered to be overexpressed in >45% of a large cohort of breast invasive carcinomas. Nrh expression in these tumors correlated with reduced metastasis-free survival, and we determined it to be an independent marker of poor prognosis. Nrh protein localized to the endoplasmic reticulum. Mechanistic investigations showed that Nrh made BH4 domain–dependent interactions with the ligand-binding domain of the inositol-1,4,5-triphosphate receptor (IP3R), a type 1/3 Ca2+ channel, allowing Nrh to negatively regulate ER-Ca2+ release and to mediate antiapoptosis. Notably, disrupting Nrh/IP3R complexes by BH4 mimetic peptides was sufficient to inhibit the growth of breast cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. Taken together, our results highlighted Nrh as a novel prognostic marker and a candidate therapeutic target for late stage breast cancers that may be addicted to Nrh. Significance: These findings offer a comprehensive molecular model for the activity of Nrh/BCL2L10, a little studied antiapoptotic molecule, prognostic marker, and candidate drug target in breast cancer. Cancer Res; 78(6); 1404–17. ©2018 AACR.

Intracellular Ca2+ signaling regulates cell migration by acting on cytoskeleton architecture, cell directionality and focal adhesions dynamics. In migrating cells, cytosolic Ca2+ pool and Ca2+ pulses are described as key components of these effects. Whereas the role of the mitochondrial calcium homeostasis and the Mitochondria Cacium Uniporter (MCU) in cell migration were recently highlighted in vivo using the zebrafish model, their implication in actin cystokeleton dynamics and cell migration in mammals is not totally characterized. Here, we show that mcu silencing in two human cell lines compromises their migration capacities. This phenotype is characterized by actin cytoskeleton stiffness, a cell polarization loss and an impairment of the focal adhesion proteins dynamics. At the molecular level, these effects appear to be mediated by the reduction of the ER and cytosolic Ca2+ pools, which leads to a decrease in Rho-GTPases, RhoA and Rac1, and Ca2+-dependent Calpain activites, but seem to be independent of intracellular ATP levels. Together, this study highlights the fundamental and evolutionary conserved role of the mitochondrial Ca2+ homeostasis in cytoskeleton dynamics and cell migration.

As part of a study on uranium nephrotoxicity, we investigated the effect of uranyl nitrate in isolated human and mouse kidney cortex tubules metabolizing the physiological substrate lactate. In the millimolar range, uranyl nitrate reduced lactate removal and gluconeogenesis and the cellular ATP level in a dose-dependent fashion. After incubation in phosphate-free Krebs-Henseleit medium with 5 mM L-[1-{sup 13}C]-, or L-[2-{sup 13}C]-, or L-[3-{sup 13}C]lactate, substrate utilization and product formation were measured by enzymatic and NMR spectroscopic methods. In the presence of 3 mM uranyl nitrate, glucose production and the intracellular ATP content were significantly reduced in both human and mouse tubules. Combination of enzymatic and NMR measurements with a mathematical model of lactate metabolism revealed an inhibition of fluxes through lactate dehydrogenase and the gluconeogenic enzymes in the presence of 3 mM uranyl nitrate; in human and mouse tubules, fluxes were lowered by 20% and 14% (lactate dehydrogenase), 27% and 32% (pyruvate carboxylase), 35% and 36% (phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase), and 39% and 45% (glucose-6-phosphatase), respectively. These results indicate that natural uranium is an inhibitor of renal lactate gluconeogenesis in both humans and mice.

We determined the role of ischemic preconditioning on renal function and histology in a rat model.A total of 34 Sprague-Dawley rats (Janvier Laboratories, Le Genet-St-Isle, France) were divided into 6 groups, including sham operation, ischemic preconditioning alone (5 minutes of bilateral ischemia followed by 5 minutes of reperfusion for 3 cycles), ischemia alone (60 minutes of bilateral renal pedicle clamping), ischemic preconditioning before bilateral ischemia, ischemic preconditioning before ischemia in left nephrectomized rats and ischemic preconditioning of the left kidney alone before 60 minutes of bilateral warm ischemia to assess the effect of left kidney preconditioning on the contralateral kidney. Serum creatinine and malondialdehyde levels were recorded at days 0, 1, 3, 11 and 15. Kidneys were harvested at day 15 for histological study and alpha-smooth muscle actin typing.At days 1 and 3 serum creatinine and malondialdehyde levels were significantly lower in the ischemic preconditioning group compared to levels in the ischemia alone group. At days 11 and 15 creatinine and malondialdehyde levels were similar in all groups and comparable to levels at day 0. At day 15 ischemic preconditioning kidneys showed significantly decreased fibrosis and alpha-smooth muscle actin expression than ischemia alone kidneys.Ischemic preconditioning improves the ability of rat kidney to tolerate subsequent ischemic injury in the first 3 days after reperfusion. Moreover, fibrosis and alpha-smooth muscle actin expression are decreased in ischemic preconditioning kidneys 15 days after reperfusion, suggesting a potential interest of ischemic preconditioning in surgical situations that expose kidneys to prolonged warm ischemia.

Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a transdifferentiation process that converts epithelial cells into highly motile mesenchymal cells. This physiologic process occurs largely during embryonic development but is aberrantly reactivated in different pathologic situations, including fibrosis and cancer. We conducted a siRNA screening targeted to the human kinome with the aim of discovering new EMT effectors. With this approach, we have identified mTOR complex 1 (mTORC1), a nutrient sensor that controls protein and lipid synthesis, as a key regulator of epithelial integrity. Using a combination of RNAi and pharmacologic approaches, we report here that inhibition of either mTOR or RPTOR triggers EMT in mammary epithelial cells. This EMT was characterized by the induction of the mesenchymal markers such as fibronectin, vimentin, and PAI-1, together with the repression of epithelial markers such as E-cadherin and ZO-3. In addition, mTORC1 blockade enhanced in vivo migratory properties of mammary cells and induced EMT independent of the TGF-β pathway. Finally, among the transcription factors known to activate EMT, both ZEB1 and ZEB2 were upregulated following mTOR repression. Their increased expression correlated with a marked reduction in miR-200b and miR-200c mRNA levels, two microRNAs known to downregulate ZEB1 and ZEB2 expression. Taken together, our findings unravel a novel function for mTORC1 in maintaining the epithelial phenotype and further indicate that this effect is mediated through the opposite regulation of ZEB1/ZEB2 and miR-200b and miR-200c. Furthermore, these results suggest a plausible etiologic explanation for the progressive pulmonary fibrosis, a frequent adverse condition associated with the therapeutic use of mTOR inhibitors. Cancer Res; 73(22); 6621–31. ©2013 AACR.

International audience; Bcl-2 proteins are acknowledged as key regulators of programmed cell death. However, increasing data suggest additional roles, including regulation of the cell cycle, metabolism and cytoskeletal dynamics. Here we report the discovery and characterization of a new Bcl-2-related multidomain apoptosis accelerator, Bcl-wav, found in fish and frogs. Genetic and molecular studies in zebrafish indicate that Bcl-wav and the recently identified mitochondrial calcium uniporter (MCU) contribute to the formation of the notochord axis by controlling blastomere convergence and extension movements during gastrulation. Furthermore, we found that Bcl-wav controls intracellular Ca(2+) trafficking by acting on the mitochondrial voltage-dependent anion channel, and possibly on MCU, with direct consequences on actin microfilament dynamics and blastomere migration guidance. Thus, from an evolutionary point of view, the original function of Bcl-2 proteins might have been to contribute in controlling the global positioning system of blastomeres during gastrulation, a critical step in metazoan development.

Background. A decrease in renal oxygen content can be measured non-invasively by the increase of the R2* value derived from blood oxygen level-dependent magnetic resonance imaging (BOLD MRI). The aim of this study was to test if renal hypoxia occurs in kidneys downstream a chronic and unilateral renal artery stenosis. Methods. Chronic renal ischaemia was induced in rats using a calibrated clip inserted on the right renal artery. R2* was determined, using a multiple recalled gradientecho sequence, before and once a week after a clip insertion over 4 weeks, in a group of clipped (n = 8) and shamoperated (n = 7) rats. Results. At baseline, in stenotic kidneys, R2* was higher in the outer stripe of outer medulla (105 ± 4.6) and the outer medulla (99 ± 2.5) than in the cortex (84 ± 2.5; P < 0.002 for comparison with both areas). R2* was unchanged in the cortex, the outer stripe of outer medulla and the outer medulla in stenotic kidneys, sham-operated kidneys and contralateral kidneys during the 4 weeks. Mean blood pressure was higher in rats with clipped kidney than in sham-operated rats from Day 11 and remained increased thereafter. The renal volume increased progressively in sham-operated kidneys and contralateral kidneys, whereas it slightly decreased in stenotic kidneys. Conclusions. Our study shows that after 4 weeks, no renal hypoxia can be detected in the kidney downstream to a renal artery stenosis, suggesting that atrophy could be induced by other factors.