Tyrosine-phosphorylated caveolin is a physiological substrate of the low M(r) protein-tyrosine Phosphatase

Low M(r) phosphotyrosine-protein phosphatase is involved in the regulation of several tyrosine kinase growth factor receptors. The best characterized action of this enzyme is on the signaling pathways activated by platelet-derived growth factor, where it plays multiple roles. In this study we identify tyrosine-phosphorylated caveolin as a new potential substrate for low M(r) phosphotyrosine-protein phosphatase. Caveolin is tyrosine-phosphorylated in vivo by Src kinases, recruits into caveolae, and hence regulates the activities of several proteins involved in cellular signaling cascades. Our results demonstrate that caveolin and low M(r) phosphotyrosine-protein phosphatase coimmunoprecipitate from cell lysates, and that a fraction of the enzyme localizes in caveolae. Furthermore, in a cell line sensitive to insulin, the overexpression of the C12S dominant negative mutant of low M(r) phosphotyrosine-protein phosphatase (a form lacking activity but able to bind substrates) causes the enhancement of tyrosine-phosphorylated caveolin. Insulin stimulation of these cells induces a strong increase of caveolin phosphorylation. The localization of low M(r) phosphotyrosine-protein phosphatase in caveolae, the in vivo interaction between this enzyme and caveolin, and the capacity of this enzyme to rapidly dephosphorylate phosphocaveolin, all indicate that tyrosine-phosphorylated caveolin is a relevant substrate for this phosphatase

Mitochondrial Oxidative Stress due to Complex I Dysfunction Promotes Fibroblast Activation and Melanoma Cell Invasiveness

Increased ROS (cellular reactive oxygen species) are characteristic of both fibrosis and tumour development. ROS induce the trans-differentiation to myofibroblasts, the activated form of fibroblasts able to promote cancer progression. Here, we report the role of ROS produced in response to dysfunctions of mitochondrial complex I, in fibroblast activation and in tumour progression. We studied human fibroblasts with mitochondrial dysfunctions of complex I, leading to hyperproduction of ROS. We demonstrated that ROS level produced by the mutated fibroblasts correlates with their activation. The increase of ROS in these cells provides a greater ability to remodel the extracellular matrix leading to an increased motility and invasiveness. Furthermore, we evidentiated that in hypoxic conditions these fibroblasts cause HIF-1α stabilization and promote a proinvasive phenotype of human melanoma cells through secretion of cytokines. These data suggest a possible role of deregulated mitochondrial ROS production in fibrosis evolution as well as in cancer progression and invasion