| HOME | HELP | FEEDBACK | SUBSCRIPTIONS | ARCHIVE | SEARCH | TABLE OF CONTENTS |












¶
From the Departments of Pathology,* Biochemistry,
Ophthalmology,¶ and Medicine,
The Mass Spectrometry Resource 224 and the Amyloid Treatment and Research Program and Gerry Amyloid Research Laboratory,
Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
| Abstract |
|---|
|
|
|---|
1,
6, and
3 subtypes), internalized by cardiac fibroblasts, enhanced sulfation of secreted glycosaminoglycans. In this study, we investigated the inter-nalization and cellular trafficking of urinary immunoglobulin light chains into cardiac fibroblasts. We demonstrate that these light chains have the ability to form annular rings in solution. Internalization was assessed by incubating cells in the presence of light chain conjugated to Oregon Green 488 followed by monitoring with live cell confocal imaging. The rate of light chain internalization was reduced by treatment with methyl-ß-cyclodextrin but not filipin. Amyloid light chain did co-localize with dextran-Texas Red. Once internalized, the light chains were detected in lysosomes and then secreted into the extracellular medium. The light chain detected in the cell lysate and medium possessed a lower hydrophobic species. Nocodazole, a microtubule inhibitor, did not disperse aggregates. In addition, internalization and retention of the light chain proteins was altered in the presence of the proteasomal inhibitor MG132. These results indicate that the cell internalizes light chain by a fluid phase endocytosis, which is then modified and ultimately compro-mises the cell.
The LCs are known to disrupt the normal physiology of organs such as heart, kidney, lungs, peripheral nerves, and intestines, with the most common involvement in kidney and heart. Although renal amyloidosis often results in nephrotic syndrome, cardiac involvement occurs in up to 50% of patients with AL amyloidosis and is a leading cause of morbidity.1,2 Congestive heart failure is associated with amyloidotic cardiomyopathy.2
Investigators have demonstrated that LCs induce oxidative stress responses in isolated cardiac cells and are associated with a decrease in contractility.3
These data indicate that LC toxicity may contribute to cardiac dysfunction as well as play a role in amyloid fibril deposition. Furthermore, internalization of LCs (
1,
6, and
3 subtypes) by cardiac fibroblasts resulted in enhanced sulfation of secreted glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) with minimal heparan-sulfated proteoglycans localized within the cytoplasm.4
These results supported earlier studies demonstrating an increase in GAGs with amyloid deposition.5
However, the mechanism of internalization and cellular trafficking of LCs is not well understood.
Internalization and cellular trafficking has been studied using a number of amyloid systems. Models of AA and Aß amyloid suggest that endocytosis and/or pinocytosis may be critical to amyloid protein internalization.6,7 In addition, studies using mesangial cells demonstrate that internalization of LCs by cells utilizes a specific receptor complex pathway.8,9 In neuronal cells, investigators showed that receptors of advanced glycation end products function as signal-transducing cell surface acceptors for Aß.10 In fact, receptors of advanced glycation end products are proposed by investigators to act as a general mechanism for cellular uptake of misfolded proteins.11 These results may reflect differences in cell types.
Structural analyses of a number of amyloidogenic proteins suggest that internalization of these biomolecules may occur when they adopt pore-like conformations that can penetrate and disrupt the cellular membrane.12-18 The oligomers possess a number of morphologies, including annular rings that form on mica at concentrations less than 50 µg/ml.12 Pore-like structures such as these have been identified in other diseases with protein misfolding, ie, Parkinsons,19 , Huntingtons, and Alzheimers14,20 diseases and on mitochondrial21 and lysosomal22 membranes.
Our goal was to evaluate the internalization and processing of soluble LCs by cardiac fibroblasts. Cardiac fibroblasts were chosen because of their role in the enhanced production of glycosaminoglycans in response to LCs, and the known association of GAGs and amyloid deposits.4,23,24 Rat primary cardiac fibroblasts were treated with fluorescently labeled LCs in the presence of endocytic inhibitors, proteasomal inhibitors, and cellular probes. The response of the cells and the localization of the LCs were evaluated. We established that the rate of internalization was concentration and mass-dependent and was reduced by treatment with methyl-ß-cyclodextrin (MßCD) but not by filipin. Co-localization is detected with dextran-Texas Red, a marker of pinocytosis. In addition, proteasomal inhibitors altered processing of the LC, resulting in increased retention.25,26
| Materials and Methods |
|---|
|
|
|---|
LCs were purified from urine collected from patients with AL amyloidosis with the approval of the Institutional Review Board of Boston University Medical Center. A total of four
1 and one
6 LCs were evaluated. The
LCs included two monomers, a truncated form, and a dimer. The
6 LC was a monomer. All LCs examined here had been evaluated previously and had demonstrated internalization.4
Urine samples were dialyzed, lyophilized, and treated with Affi-Gel Blue (Bio-Rad Laboratories, Hercules, CA) to remove albumin. LC proteins were purified by chromatographic separation on a Sephacryl S-200 column (Amersham Pharmacia Bio-Tech, Buckingham, UK). The immunoglobulin LC proteins were subtyped using a number of cellular and molecular analyses and the sequence examined using both molecular and mass spectrometry.27
Cell Culture
Primary rat cardiac fibroblasts were isolated as previously described.4 In brief, ventricles were subjected to digestion in a buffer containing collagenase, hyaluronidase, and trypsin. Cells were cultured in Dulbeccos low-glucose modified Eagles medium supplemented with 7% calf serum, 1% nonessential amino acids, 100 U/ml penicillin, and 100 µg/ml streptomycin (Life Technologies, Grand Island, NY).4 Cells were used in either the first or second passage. For live cell imaging experiments cells were plated at a concentration of 5 x 103 cells/ml on eight-well coverslip chamber slides (Nalge Nunc, Rochester, NY) and cultured for 48 hours. For other assays, cells were plated on P-100s at an equivalent cell density.
Confocal Laser-Scanning Microscopy
Imaging was performed on a Zeiss LSM 510 confocal microscope (Thornwood, NY) as described previously.4,28,29 Images were taken using a x63 objective with an optical slice of 3 µm. Live cell imaging was performed with a x40 objective with an optical slice ranging from 1 to 3 µm. Z-stacks were taken with an optical slice of 1 µm at an interval of 0.5 µm. Images were collected with x4 averaging. Detector gain and amplitude offset were determined for each experiment to maximize the linear range without saturation and were kept consistent for comparable experiments. Average fluorescence intensities of internalized LCs were measured in individual cells using Zeiss LSM software for region of interest and graphed throughout time.
Localization of LC
Live cell imaging was performed to monitor the localization and internalization rate of LC proteins. Amyloidogenic LCs were conjugated to Oregon Green 488 (Molecular Probes, Eugene, OR) and purified over a sizing column using the suggested methodology from Molecular Probes and Trinkaus-Randall and colleagues.4 The ratio of Oregon Green molecules/LC was determined for each conjugation and used to calculate comparative internalization rates between different LCs. OG488:LC = A496 · 100/70,000 · Cp, where Cp is LC molar concentration. The fluorescently conjugated LCs (1.29 µmol/L) were added to cells plated on eight-well glass coverslips and imaged at an excitation of 488 nm for interval time points throughout a period of 24 hours. A single Z-series was taken at each experiment to determine the localization of the LC within the cell compared with a simultaneously acquired differential interference contrast image. The addition of unconjugated Oregon Green 488 to cells was used as a control.
Indirect Immunohistochemistry and Co-Localization
Indirect immunohistochemistry was performed to localize specific proteins after fixation.30-32 In brief, cells were fixed with freshly prepared 4% paraformaldehyde in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) at pH 7.2 for 15 minutes at room temperature, washed with PBS, permeabilized with 0.1% Triton X-100, and blocked with PBS containing 5% bovine serum albumin. The cells were incubated in PBS/1% bovine serum albumin containing appropriate monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) for 18 hours at 4°C. After incubation with the primary antibody, cells were rinsed with PBS, washed in 3% bovine serum albumin/PBS, and incubated with a secondary antibody conjugated to Alexa Fluor 546 or 633 (1:250) (Molecular Probes) for 2 hours at room temperature or co-stained with rhodamine phalloidin (1:50) for 45 minutes at room temperature. Confocal settings were optimized to control for signal crossover. Cells were imaged using the LSM 510 version 3.2 as described.32,33
Inhibitors
The internalization of LCs by cardiac fibroblasts was evaluated in the presence of inhibitors of endocytosis. The following optimal conditions were established to maintain morphological integrity and demonstrate efficacy of the drug: 10 mmol/L methyl-ß-cyclodextrin (MßCD), 1 hour pretreatment; 10 µmol/L cytochalasin D, 30 minutes pretreatment; 1 µmol/L nocodazole, 1 hour pretreatment; 7.6 µmol/L filipin, 1 hour pretreatment; and 5 µmol/L MG132 for 1 hour pretreatment (Sigma, St. Louis, MO). Light Chain-OG was added to cells in the presence or absence of inhibitors and followed throughout time.
Co-Localization Studies
To monitor intracellular trafficking of LCs, fluorescent markers of membrane structures and mechanisms were used. The following fluorescent live cell markers were used in conjunction with LC-OG (488): cholera toxin B (555) 0.877 µmol/L for 2 hours, wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) (633) 0.105 µmol/L at several time points at 37°C, Lysotracker DND 99 (577) 50 nmol/L for 30 minutes, Mitotracker 25 nmol/L for 30 minutes, ER Tracker (587) 1 µmol/L for 20 minutes, transferrin 0.312 µmol/L with an 8-minute pulse,34 FLAER (633) 108 mol/L, and FM4-64 8.23 µmol/L for 8 minutes at 4°C at 37°C (Molecular Probes). Dextran-Texas Red (10 and 40 kd) (Molecular Probes) were added to cells at equimolar concentrations as AL-LC for parallel time course experiments. Co-localization was defined using the Zeiss LSM 510 co-localization co-efficient program, images were scanned at the optimal pixel number (2048 x 2048) and the crosshair function and scatter region of interest mode were used. Only pixels above background fluorescence were evaluated using LSM 510 co-localization and crosshair functions.35
Transmission Electron and Atomic Force Microscopy
To assess the formation of annular LC complexes, transmission electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy were used. Five µl of 1.1 µmol/L LC solution were applied to 300 mesh carbon-coated copper grids that had been glow discharged rendering the surface hydrophilic. The LC was adsorbed onto the grid for 25 minutes at room temperature, and the excess solution was removed by wicking filter paper. Samples deposited on grids were stained negatively with 1% sodium phosphotungstic acid (NaPT) for 10 seconds. NaPT was removed and the sample air-dried. Grids were visualized with a Philips CM12 transmission electron microscope.
Atomic force microscopy imaging was performed with a commercial MultiMode atomic force microscope controlled by Nanoscope IIIa electronics (Digital Instruments, Santa Barbara, CA) equipped with a 12-µm scanner (E-scanner). Images were taken in air using a tapping mode on the mica surface. RTESP tapping mode silicon tips were mounted on triangular 100-µm-long cantilevers (k = 20 to 80 N/m) (Digital Instruments). The tips were exposed to UV light before use. For high-resolution imaging, the microscope head was placed on a vibration-isolated air table. Samples were imaged by adding the same concentration onto freshly cleaved mica. Samples were incubated for 3 minutes at room temperature, washed with dH2O, and dried under a nitrogen stream.
Reverse Phase-High Performance Liquid Chromatography (RP-HPLC)
The hydrophobic nature of AL-LC-OG in cell culture media and lysate samples was assessed by RP-HPLC. Cell lysates and medium samples were separated on a gel filtration column (GF-250) to assess for change in mass. Analyses were performed on the samples on a Poroshell 300SB-C8 (5 µm, 2.1 x 75 mm) reversed-phase column (Agilent, Palo Alto, CA) using a linear gradient of 0 to 100% solvent B throughout 5 minutes and operating at a flow rate of 1.0 ml/minute (solvent A: 5% CH3CN, 10 mmol/L Tris, pH 7.4; solvent B: 85% CH3CN, 10 mmol/L Tris, pH 7.4). Elution profiles were generated with fluorescence monitoring (excitation wavelength, 488 nm; emission wavelength, 530 nm). Peak fractions were collected and dried in a SPD111V centrifugal concentrator (ThermoSavant, Holbrook, NY).
Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate-Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and Western Blot Analysis
The presence of LC-OG proteins was evaluated by SDS-PAGE and Western blot analysis. Dried fractions collected from RP-HPLC separations were reconstituted in SDS-PAGE reducing buffer (10 mmol/L Tris-HCl, 1 mmol/L ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, 2.5% SDS, 5% ß-mercaptoethanol, and 0.01% bromphenol blue), heat-denatured with boiling for 3 minutes, electrophoresed on 10 to 15% polyacrylamide gradient gels, and stained with Coomassie blue or immunoblotted. Nitrocellulose membranes were probed with rabbit anti-human antibodies directed against
1-LC (Dako Cytomation, Carpinteria, CA) and then incubated with a goat anti-rabbit whole IgG antibody conjugated to alkaline phosphatase (Sigma). Blots were visualized using BCIP/NBT color development substrate (Promega, Madison, WI). SDS-PAGE and transfer of HPLC samples were performed on the PhastSystem (GE Health Care, Giles, UK). Other lysates were evaluated using SDS-PAGE, and the LC-OG was detected using an antibody directed against Oregon Green (Molecular Probes), or the LC-OG was imaged directly on the KODAK Image Station 440 (Eastman-Kodak, Rochester, NY).
| Results |
|---|
|
|
|---|
Formation of pore-like structures have been demonstrated with a number of proteins associated with protein misfolding. Our goal was to determine whether annular rings formed from
1-LCs in solution in our system. The change from oligomers to ring-like structures was detected using atomic force microscopy and transmission electron microscopy (Figure 1)
. The atomic force microscopy image represents an annular ring formed in solution (0.25 mg
1-LC, pH 2, 25°C). It has an average outer/inner diameter of 68.01 nm/30.07 nm, respectively (Figure 1)
. At this level of resolution (500 nm x 500 nm), three subunits were detected. Rings were detected throughout a range of pH (2 to 7) and were a minor species (1%). To image larger surface areas, negative staining transmission electron microscopy was used. The experiments were performed under conditions determined to be optimal for fibril formation (without the addition of other components such as GAGs) (0.25 mg/ml
1-LC, pH 6, 37°C, rotation of 25 rpm). Two types of ring-like structures were observed; one with a larger ring (average outer/inner diameter, 110.5/42.5 nm) and a second smaller ring with a dimension similar to the atomic force microscopy (average outer/inner diameter, 76.5/36 nm). These data indicate that soluble LCs purified from clinical sources (see Materials and Methods) are capable of forming annular ring structures in vitro.
|
To determine internalization rate, fluorescence intensity of internalization of
1-LC-OG was measured as described in the Materials and Methods, reflecting the number of Oregon Green molecules bound per LC. Images taken every minute throughout a period of 1 hour demonstrated a gradual increase in internalized LC-OG signal, shown in representative images (Figure 2A)
. The
1-LC displayed a cytoplasmic, punctate pattern with an increase in perinuclear concentration throughout time (Figure 2A)
. When the images were run continuously as movies, the internalized LCs displayed continual motion (average rate, 0.25 um/second) (Supplemental Movie 1, see http://ajp.amjpathol.org). By 4 hours, the punctae had a mean volume of 0.5 µm3. The motion was arrested when cells were treated with nocodazole, a microtubule inhibitor. In addition, the punctae appeared to form small aggregates in the presence of nocodazole, which had a mean volume of 0.75 µm3. There was no dispersion of the aggregates detected throughout time in the presence of the microtubule inhibitor.
|
1-LC. When cells were exposed to increasing concentrations of protein (0 to 5.15 µmol/L), the internalization rate (change in intracellular fluorescence intensity) did not plateau throughout a period of 4 hours (Figure 3A)
|
|
1 LCs of varying size (truncated 12 kd, monomer 23 kd, dimer 47 kd) were added to cells at an equivalent molar concentration (1.29 µmol/L). Images were taken throughout time, and internalization rate was calculated (Figure 4A)
1 and one
6) showed minor variations in rate of internalization (Figure 4B)
|
1-LC that is a monomer and was evaluated in Figures 2, 3, and 4Association of Amyloid LC with the Plasma Membrane and Co-Localization with Dextran
To evaluate whether LC-OG interacted with proteins found on the plasma membrane, co-localization studies were performed. There was minimal co-localization with the membrane dyes FLAER (0.6 ± 0.1%), FM4-64 (5 ± 2.4%), and WGA (used as a membrane marker at 10 minutes) (4.7 ± 1.8%) throughout a period of 4 hours (Figure 5, AC)
. To assess co-localization images were scanned at the optimal pixel number (2048 x 2048), and only pixels above background fluorescence were evaluated using the Zeiss LSM 510 co-localization co-efficient program. The crosshair function and scatter region of interest mode were used.
|
|
|
Dextran-Texas Red, a classic marker of pinocytosis, was used to test the hypothesis that the AL-LC was internalized by pinocytosis. Co-localization of dextran with internalized LC-OG was detected with a co-localization co-efficient of 45 ± 1.9 SEM in both Z-stacks and time lapse imaging (Figure 7)
. Together these results support the hypothesis that LC is internalized by bulk flow endocytosis.
|
|
|
To determine whether there was a change in hydrophobicity or mass in the LC after it was internalized or secreted, cells were incubated in LC for 3 days, and media and cell lysates were collected. At day 3, the media was removed and replaced with exogenous media lacking LC, and medium was collected after day 6. When mass of the media and cell lysate fractions were assessed using gel filtration HPLC (GF-250), we did not detect changes in the profile (data not shown). In addition, the cell lysates and medium were eluted from a Poroshell 300SB-C8 reversed-phase column with increasing acetonitrile and analyzed using both UV and fluorescent monitors. Comparison was made to LC-OG that was not internalized. Elution profiles were compared with unbound Oregon Green, unconjugated LC, and LC-OG that was not added to cells. There was a shift to a less hydrophobic species in both the cell lysate and medium compared with the LC-OG purified from the day 0 cell lysate (Figure 10)
. Although the LC-OG eluted with its major peak at 4 minutes (data not shown), the major peak of the cell lysate was eluted at 3.8 minutes at day 0 and at 3.4 minutes after 3 days. The shift to a less hydrophobic species was detected in the medium after 6 days. Immunogenicity was verified using Western blot analysis.
Cellular Response
Because amyloidogenic proteins are associated with cellular stress, we hypothesized that exposure to the AL-LC would induce responses that are characteristic of toxicity and cell death. Fibroblasts respond to the stress of the LC within 2 days using the thiazolyl blue (MTT) assay to determine mitochondrial function. The response was calculated as percent change of mitochondrial function compared to cells lacking LC. Cells were plated at the same seeding density and evaluated throughout 8 days. Previous experiments had shown that LC did not alter proliferation. There was an initial 25% increase greater than control for the first 2 days, which was followed by a negative 45% change by day 4.
As we demonstrated that the LC was internalized and secreted, we examined whether the proteasomal inhibitor (MG132) altered internalization or processing of the LC. In our cell culture system, when cells were preincubated with inhibitor there was a fourfold decrease in internalization compared with control (Figure 11A)
. To determine whether the inhibitor altered the retention of the LC, cells were incubated with LC until it was internalized and then incubated in the presence or absence of inhibitor. When cell lysates were immunoprecipitated with antibody to anti-OG and immunoblotted with anti-OG antibody, there was an increase in the retention of LC in the presence of inhibitor (Figure 11B)
. The increase detected with Western blot analysis was corroborated by confocal images of cells in the presence and absence of inhibitor (Figure 11C)
.
|
| Discussion |
|---|
|
|
|---|
and
LCs caused an increase in both the sulfation of secreted GAGs and the presence of unsulfated cytoplasmic heparan-sulfated proteoglycans. Furthermore, we showed that heparan sulfate associated with a
1-LC and caused an alteration in the thermal stability of the LC.4
Internalization of
1-LCs revealed that a reduction of temperature from 37 to 4°C or inhibition with MßCD reduced the rate and overall uptake. These results were not surprising because lowered temperature and MßCD are both known to reduce endocytosis and decrease membrane fluidity.37,38
However, disruption of lipid rafts with filipin did not alter internalization. The lack of disruption by filipin is consistent because it intercalates into cholesterol-rich lipid rafts without altering cholesterol composition and is further supported by the lack of co-localization of LC-OG with markers of clathrin-mediated endocytosis.39,40
This is supported by the absence of co-localization with additional membrane probes (FM4-64) and membrane-associated probes (WGA or FLAER), which have been used previously to demonstrate receptor-mediated endocytosis. In our system, there was co-localization of dextran and LC. These results indicate that different cell types such as mesangial cells may have distinct modes of internalization.9
Furthermore, when differential interference contrast images were superimposed on confocal images, the LC-OG488 was present within membrane vesicles but was not observed at the plasma membrane. Results from staining with FM4-64 were consistent with these conclusions. In addition, we detected neither aggregation nor pinching off of LC vesicles at the plasma membrane in contrast to groups that have detected receptor-mediated endocytosis with epidermal growth factor.41
Additional studies with fluoresceinated nonamyloidogenic proteins of similar mass demonstrated a similar internalization (data not shown). Together, these results suggest that internalization occurs via a nonspecific endocytotic mechanism in which the LCs remain in a fluid phase when internalized.
Our experimental results demonstrate that internalization is mediated by a number of factors including mass and concentration of the LCs. Although there was a significant decrease in uptake exhibited by an increase in mass, there were only minor differences in the internalization of the three monomers, which may reflect structural differences in the LCs. In addition, there was no detectable saturation of internalization rate during the first 4 hours of the incubation. At later time points (24 hours), the rate of uptake plateaus, and we hypothesize that this may be attributable to secretion of the LC. These data agree with pinocytotic and secretory models,40,42-44
which hypothesize that internalization rate can be mediated by protein concentration in the fluid phase and adsorption to the membrane surface of each endocytosed vesicle.42,44
The models accurately reflect our data in that internalization correlates directly with the concentration of the protein in the surrounding medium and inversely to the mass of the LC (Figures 3 and 4)
. If the LC was induced to form aggregates and then added to the cells, internalization was not detected. Together, the data indicate that the internalization rate of the LC is not dependent on a finite number of membrane receptors but better fits a fluid phase endocytic model.42
The internalization of LCs may provide an environment that is conducive to the formation of toxic oligomers or pores.45
Formation is thought to be favored by high protein concentration, pH, and posttranslational modifications that favor protein destabilization.13,15
It has been hypothesized that when LCs are concentrated, they have the ability to form pores that can penetrate or disrupt membrane-bound vesicles.46,47
The passage of Alzheimers Aß amyloid protein into membranes was hypothesized to occur via channels.48
Our in vitro work demonstrates the ability of a
1-LC protein to form such conformations in solution. Additional work is necessary to understand if pores form on cell membranes and under what conditions and to compare it to other morphologies that are detected in solution.47
Shtilerman and colleagues15
demonstrated that annular
-synuclein protofibrils are produced in solution or bound to membrane surfaces. We hypothesize that the LCs that are internalized and subsequently released into the extracellular matrix may be modified to facilitate binding to GAGs and formation of Congo Red-positive amyloid fibrils.
Internalization was partially inhibited by disruption to the cytoarchitecture of the cells. The response of LC in the presence of cytochalasin D was monitored because the actin cytoskeleton plays a critical role in recycling associated with pinocytosis.49 When cells were cultured with cytochalasin D and LC, there was a decrease in internalization as predicted by a pinocytotic model and supported by the co-localization with dextran. In contrast, microtubules do not seem to play a role in internalization. Instead, preliminary results indicate that microtubules may play a role in cellular trafficking. In our model, nocodazole inhibited the intracellular motility, as described by Goldman and colleagues,50 and increased the retention of the LC, which resulted in large irregular clusters or aggregates. It has been hypothesized that LCs form aggresomes in cells and that the aggregates are dispersed with nocodazole.48,51 In our system, the addition of nocodazole did not disperse the large aggregates of LC. Our data support a lysosomal pathway, rather than a cytoplasmic proteasomal pathway implicated in aggresome formation. This is supported by experiments that demonstrate a concentration of LC in lysosomes throughout long-term experiments. The proteasomal pathway may be ultimately used if the LC departs from the cell through pores as suggested by investigators.23,52 Together these data indicate that internalization occurs via an active mechanism such as constitutive pinocytosis into an endosomal/lysosomal pathway mediated by microtubules.42,44
The processing of the LC that occurs after internalization is of interest. When macrophages internalize serum amyloid A, the protein is intact initially; however, after 24 hours greater than 90% was degraded.6 Although we do not detect degradation in our model system, the amount of protein was low. In fact, there were minor changes in hydrophobicity, and more in-depth analyses will be examined using mass spectrometry.
To evaluate downstream processing pathways, studies were performed throughout time, and co-localization was detected at specific time points in lysosomes but not Golgi or ER. These data are distinct from other studies implicating the role of Golgi in intracellular trafficking of sorLA and the amyloid precursor protein.53 Initially, we proposed that there was co-localization to the Golgi; however, additional live cell stains demonstrated no localization to the ER and no localization with an antibody directed against the trans Golgi. A similar interpretation was made by Dul and colleagues.48 In addition, co-localization with lysosomes increased throughout time which support observations of Teng and colleagues.9 In addition, Yang and colleagues23,52 have reported that lysosomal damage is an early event in amyloid Aß pathogenesis. It is possible that a similar processing mechanism occurs in AL-amyloid. We did not detect any co-localization of LC with mitochondria using Mitotracker, even though it has been reported that amyloidogenic proteins increase the permeability of mitochondrial proteins.54 However, there was a detectable change in mitochondrial function in response to LC.
Internalization and cellular trafficking of the LC was altered by the proteasomal inhibitor MG132, a classical competitive inhibitor of chymotrypsin-like activity. MG132 decreased the internalization rate of LC compared to controls. Interestingly, when the inhibitor was added to cells after exposure to LC, there was a decrease in secretion compared to LC alone. The decrease in secretion of LC was accompanied by a collapse in the F-actin filaments. Bortezomib, a modified dipeptidyl boronic acid with a similar structure to MG132, was used in parallel experiments and yielded similar results.26,27 We hypothesize that this may be attributable to a decrease in trafficking and processing of LC. Additional studies must be performed to understand the underlying mechanism because we did not detect association of LC with ubiquitin using either biochemical or immunohistochemical methodologies. Together, these data indicate that the LC mediates the cells response to stress and that it can be altered by a number of pharmacological agents. The downstream responses may ultimately alter cellular homeostasis leading to cellular toxicity, alteration of matrix production, and LC fibrillogenesis.
| Acknowledgements |
|---|
| Footnotes |
|---|
Supported by funds from the National Institutes of Health (P01 HL-068705), the Gerry Foundation, the Amyloid Research Foundation (to M.S.), the Grunebaum Foundation, and the Massachusetts Lions Eye Research Fund.
Supplemental material for this article can be found on http://ajp.amjpathol.org.
Accepted for publication August 28, 2006.
| References |
|---|
|
|
|---|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| HOME | HELP | FEEDBACK | SUBSCRIPTIONS | ARCHIVE | SEARCH | TABLE OF CONTENTS |