Cytoskeleton keratin regulation of FasR signaling through modulation of actin/ezrin interplay at lipid rafts in hepatocytes

Apoptosis. 2012 Aug;17(8):880-94. doi: 10.1007/s10495-012-0733-2.

Abstract

FasR stimulation by Fas ligand leads to rapid formation of FasR microaggregates, which become signaling protein oligomerization transduction structures (SPOTS), through interactions with actin and ezrin, a structural step that triggers death-inducing signaling complex formation, in association with procaspase-8 activation. In some cells, designated as type I, caspase 8 directly activates effector caspases, whereas in others, known as type II, the caspase-mediated death signaling is amplified through mitochondria. Keratins are the intermediate filament (IF) proteins of epithelial cells, expressed as pairs in a lineage/differentiation manner. Hepatocyte IFs are made solely of keratins 8/18 (K8/K18), the hallmark of all simple epithelia. We have shown recently that in comparison to type II wild-type (WT) mouse hepatocytes, the absence of K8/K18 IFs in K8-null hepatocytes leads to more efficient FasR-mediated apoptosis, in link with a type II/type I-like switch in FasR-death signaling. Here, we demonstrate that the apoptotic process occurring in type I-like K8-null hepatocytes is associated with accelerated SPOTS elaboration at surface membrane, along with manifestation of FasR cap formation and internalization. In addition, the lipid raft organization is altered in K8-null hepatocytes. While lipid raft inhibition impairs SPOTS formation in both WT and K8-null hepatocytes, the absence of K8/K18 IFs in the latter sensitizes SPOTS to actin de-polymerization, and perturbs ezrin compartmentalization. Overall, the results indicate that the K8/K18 IF loss in hepatocytes alters the initial FasR activation steps through perturbation of ezrin/actin interplay and lipid raft organization, which leads to a type II/type I switch in FasR-death signaling.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Actins / metabolism*
  • Animals
  • Apoptosis
  • Caveolin 1 / metabolism
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Cytochalasin D / pharmacology
  • Cytoskeletal Proteins / metabolism*
  • Cytoskeleton / metabolism
  • Diffusion
  • Hepatocytes / drug effects
  • Hepatocytes / metabolism*
  • Hepatocytes / ultrastructure
  • Intermediate Filaments / metabolism*
  • Keratin-18 / metabolism
  • Keratin-8 / deficiency*
  • Keratin-8 / genetics
  • Membrane Microdomains / metabolism*
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Protein Multimerization / drug effects
  • Signal Transduction
  • fas Receptor / metabolism*

Substances

  • Actins
  • Caveolin 1
  • Cytoskeletal Proteins
  • Keratin-18
  • Keratin-8
  • Krt8 protein, mouse
  • Membrane Proteins
  • ezrin
  • fas Receptor
  • flotillins
  • radixin
  • Cytochalasin D