Identification of a new CRMP5 isoform present in the nucleus of cancer cells and enhancing their proliferation

International audienceCollapsin Response Mediator Protein 5 (CRMP5) belongs to a family of five cytosolic proteins highly expressed in the developing nervous system but downregulated in the adult brain. When expressed at the adult stage, CRMP5 is involved in neurological disorders. Indeed, CRMP5 is found expressed in cancer cells of some brain tumors, such as glioblastoma, or in small cell lung cancer causing paraneoplastic neurological syndromes as a result of cancer-induced auto-immune processes. Nevertheless, its role in cancer pathology is still obscure. Here, we show a new short isoform, derived from C-terminal processing of CRMP5, presenting a nuclear localization both in human glioblastoma, and in cancer cell lines (H69, GL15). By mutational analysis, we demonstrate that nuclear translocation occurs via nuclear localization signal (NLS), where the essential residue for nuclear location is K391. Direct CRMP5/ tubulin interaction, previously shown during brain development, does not occur for cytosolic CRMP5 in pathological conditions, leading to the suggestion that in cancer cells CRMP5 is not sequestered in the cytosol; therefore it may undergo C-terminal truncation allowing the exposure of the NLS for active translocation. Moreover, we show that the function associated with the CRMP5 nuclear targeting is an increase of cell proliferation activity

Impact of meriolins, a new class of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors, on malignant glioma proliferation and neo-angiogenesis.

International audienceGlioblastomas are the most frequent and most aggressive primary brain tumors in adults. The median overall survival is limited to a few months despite surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. It is now clearly established that hyperactivity of cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) is one of the processes underlying hyperproliferation and tumoral growth. The marine natural products meridianins and variolins, characterized as CDK inhibitors, display a kinase-inhibitory activity associated with cytotoxic effects. In order to improve selectivity and efficiency of these CDK inhibitors, a series of hybrid compounds called meriolins have been synthesized. The potential antitumoral activity of meriolins was investigated in vitro on glioma cell lines (SW1088 and U87), native neural cells, and a human endothelial cell line (HUV-EC-C). The impact of intraperitoneal or intratumoral administrations of meriolin 15 was evaluated in vivo on 2 different nude mice-xenografted glioma models. Meriolins 3, 5, and 15 exhibited antiproliferative properties with nanomolar IC50 and induced cell-cycle arrest and CDK inhibition associated with apoptotic events in human glioma cell lines. These meriolins blocked the proliferation rate of HUV-EC-C through cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. In vivo, meriolin 15 provoked a robust reduction in tumor volume in spite of toxicity for highest doses, associated with inhibition of cell division, activation of caspase 3, reduction of CD133 cells, and modifications of the vascular architecture. Meriolins, and meriolin 15 in particular, exhibit antiproliferative and proapoptotic activities on both glioma and intratumoral endothelial cells, constituting key promising therapeutic lead compounds for the treatment of glioblastoma

Impact of anti-CASPR2 autoantibodies from patients with autoimmune encephalitis on CASPR2/TAG-1 interaction and Kv1 expression

International audienceAutoantibodies against CASPR2 (contactin-associated protein-like 2) have been linked to autoimmune limbic encephalitis that manifests with memory disorders and temporal lobe seizures. According to the growing number of data supporting a role for CASPR2 in neuronal excitability, CASPR2 forms a molecular complex with transient axonal glycoprotein-1 (TAG-1) and shaker-type voltage-gated potassium channels (Kv1.1 and Kv1.2) in compartments critical for neuronal activity and is required for Kv1 proper positioning. Whereas the perturbation of these functions could explain the symptoms observed in patients, the pathogenic role of anti-CASPR2 antibodies has been poorly studied. In the present study, we find that patient autoantibodies alter Caspr2 distribution at the cell membrane promoting cluster formation. We confirm in a HEK cellular model that the anti-CASPR2 antibodies impede CASPR2/TAG-1 interaction and we identify the domains of CASPR2 and TAG-1 taking part in this interaction. Moreover, introduction of CASPR2 into HEK cells induces a marked increase of the level of Kv1.2 surface expression and in cultures of hippocampal neurons Caspr2-positive inhibitory neurons appear to specifically express high levels of Kv1.2. Importantly, in both cellular models, anti-CASPR2 patient autoAb increase Kv1.2 expression. These results provide new insights into the pathogenic role of autoAb in the disease

Transcriptional regulation of CRMP5 controls neurite outgrowth through Sox5

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