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Olivier Toussaint

Publications and source records attributed to Olivier Toussaint.

18 recordsLinked to original sources

Down-regulation and decreased activity of cyclin-dependent kinase 2 in H2O2-induced premature senescence.

Premature senescence of human diploid fibroblasts (HDFs) induced by exposure to H2O2 at subcytotoxic concentration is characterized by many biomarkers of normal senescence such as irreversible growth arrest. Cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor (CdKI) p21(Waf-1) is overexpressed in H2O2- and tert-butylhydroperoxide-induced premature senescence, likely explaining in part the hypophosphorylation of the retinoblastoma protein. p21(Waf-1) is known to inhibit the kinase activity of the cyclin-dependent kinase (CdK) 4 and 6 cyclin complexes. In this work, we investigated whether the kinase activity of the CdK4 and 6 cyclin complexes can be modulated by CdKI p16(Ink-4a), by changes in the protein level of CdKs and cyclins, or by changes in kinase activity of these CdKs not directly involving CdKIs. RNase protection assay, semi-quantitative RT-PCR, Western blot and kinase assay showed that the mRNA level, protein and kinase activity of CdK2 are decreased at 72h after H2O2 stress. These results suggest that the hypophosphorylation of the retinoblastoma protein is mediated in part by a decrease of the kinase activity of CdK2 not directly involving CdKIs. This CdK2-mediated effect should be considered in addition to the inhibition of cyclin D-CdK4 and 6 complexes by CdKI p21(Waf-1).

CDC2-CDC28 Kinases↗

Impact of ageing on proteasome structure and function in human lymphocytes.

Key actors of the immune response, lymphocytes exhibit functional deficits with advancing age. For instance, the age-related decline in lymphocyte proliferation may be related to alteration in the degradation of crucial proteins such as cell-cycle regulators. Degradation of these proteins is mediated by the ubiquitin-26S proteasome system. The proteasome is also the major "housekeeping" proteolytic complex responsible for eliminating intracellular damaged proteins. To investigate the occurrence of proteasome structural and functional age-related alterations, 26S proteasome was purified from peripheral blood lymphocytes of 20-63-year-old donors. Changes in peptidase activity were measured and modifications in the proteasome particle structure were analysed using bi-dimensional electrophoresis. We found the age-related decline of 26S proteasome-specific activity to be associated with an increased yield of post-translational modifications of proteasome subunits, while proteasome content and subunit composition were unchanged. In particular, some catalytic and assembly subunits of the 20S proteasome were preferentially modified with age. Western blotting of proteasome subunits resolved by bi-dimensional electrophoresis showed some of these modified subunits to be glycated, conjugated with a lipid peroxidation product and/or ubiquitinated. In conclusion, it is suggested that structural alterations of proteasome subunits may contribute to the observed decline of proteasome activity with age and could play a major role in immune senescence.

Adult↗

Retrovirally mediated overexpression of peroxiredoxin VI increases the survival of WI-38 human diploid fibroblasts exposed to cytotoxic doses of tert-butylhydroperoxide and UVB.

In this work, stable overexpression of peroxiredoxin VI was generated in WI-38 human diploid fibroblasts using a retrovirus-mediated transfection system. Estimation of cell survival showed that peroxiredoxin VI provides a significant protection against tert-butylhydroperoxide- or UVB-caused cytotoxicity. No protection was found against ethanol- or H(2)O(2)-caused cytotoxicity. These effects are correlated with the known functions of Prx VI.

Cell Survival↗

Identification of 30 protein species involved in replicative senescence and stress-induced premature senescence.

Exposure of human proliferative cells to subcytotoxic stress triggers stress-induced premature senescence (SIPS) which is characterized by many biomarkers of replicative senescence. Proteomic comparison of replicative senescence and stress-induced premature senescence indicates that, at the level of protein expression, stress-induced premature senescence and replicative senescence are different phenotypes sharing however similarities. In this study, we identified 30 proteins showing changes of expression level specific or common to replicative senescence and/or stress-induced premature senescence. These changes affect different cell functions, including energy metabolism, defense systems, maintenance of the redox potential, cell morphology and transduction pathways.

Base Sequence↗

Signal transduction in H2O2-induced senescence-like phenotype in human diploid fibroblasts.

A stress-induced senescence-like phenotype is induced by exposure of human diploid fibroblasts to subcytotoxic H2O2 stress. Previous studies showed that TGF-beta1 is responsible for the induction of several biomarkers of replicative senescence within 72 h after stress: senescence-like morphology, senescence-associated beta-galactosidase activity, and an increase in the mRNA steady state level of four senescence-associated genes. Other studies showed that the retinoblastoma protein is responsible for the appearance of these biomarkers in the same conditions. Here we show that sustained p38(MAPK) phosphorylation is responsible for both H2O2-induced overexpression of TGF-beta 1 and subsequent TGF-beta 1-induced appearance of these biomarkers. p38(MAPK) phosphorylation is shown to be necessary for a self-sustained TGF-beta 1 overexpression after H2O2 stress through the activation of ATF-2 transcription factor, thereby creating a regulatory loop between sustained p38(MAPK) activation and sustained TGF-beta 1 overexpression after stress. p38(MAPK) activation is also shown to be responsible in part for the growth arrest observed in stress-induced senescence-like phenotype. At 48 h after stress, ATF-2 starts to interact with hypophosphorylated Rb, which allows the biomarkers of stress-induced senescence-like phenotype to appear. This report gives an overall explanation of how a senescence-like phenotype is established after subcytotoxic H2O2 stress.

Activating Transcription Factor 2↗

Stress-induced premature senescence in BJ and hTERT-BJ1 human foreskin fibroblasts.

To test the involvement of the telomeres in the senescent phenotype, we used telomerase-immortalized human foreskin fibroblasts (hTERT-BJ1). We exposed hTERT-BJ1 and parental BJ cells to either UVB or H(2)O(2) subcytotoxic stress(es). Both cell lines developed biomarkers of replicative senescence: loss of replicative potential, increase in senescence-associated beta-galactosidase activity, typical senescence-like morphology, overexpression of p21(WAF-1) and p16(INK-4a), and decreased level of the hyperphosphorylated form of pRb. Telomere shortening was slightly higher under stress for both BJ and hTERT-BJ1 but still much lower than that reported for other cell lines. We conclude that pathways alternative to telomere shortening must cause the appearance of the senescence phenotype.

Cell Line↗

Approach of evolutionary theories of ageing, stress, senescence-like phenotypes, calorie restriction and hormesis from the view point of far-from-equilibrium thermodynamics.

B. L. Strehler wrote that "Any system that is not in thermodynamic equilibrium will approach that state at a rate that is a function of absolute temperature and the energy barriers to the rearrangements of components". Far-from-equilibrium thermodynamics allows a global systemic description of the cellular behaviour. This approach transcends the genetic and stochastic considerations on ageing as well as some evolutionary questions about ageing. The fundamental difference between the processes of development and ageing could reflect the intrinsic differences existing between biological systems where an increase in specific entropy production (SEP) is, respectively, still possible or not. The increase of the potential of SEP which probably occurred with evolution might explain in part why life span could increase. However, this SEP-driven increase in life span was possible only in those species which did not take advantage of their increased potential of SEP to ameliorate their reproductive capacity at the expense of possible increases in repair capacity. The criteria of stability of far-from-equilibrium open systems and the theory of attractors also help to sort the possible types of cellular stress responses: normal ageing, hormesis, stress-induced premature senescence, apoptosis or necrosis.

Aging↗

Stress-induced premature senescence or stress-induced senescence-like phenotype: one in vivo reality, two possible definitions?

No consensus exists so far on the definition of cellular senescence. The narrowest definition of senescence is irreversible growth arrest triggered by telomere shortening counting cell generations (definition 1). Other authors gave an enlarged functional definition encompassing any kind of irreversible arrest of proliferative cell types induced by damaging agents or cell cycle deregulations after overexpression of proto-oncogenes (definition 2). As stress increases, the proportion of cells in "stress-induced premature senescence-like phenotype" according to definition 1 or "stress-induced premature senescence," according to definition 2, should increase when a culture reaches growth arrest, and the proportion of cells that reached telomere-dependent replicative senescence due to the end-replication problem should decrease. Stress-induced premature senescence-like phenotype and telomere-dependent replicatively senescent cells share basic similarities such as irreversible growth arrest and resistance to apoptosis, which may appear through different pathways. Irreversible growth arrest after exposure to oxidative stress and generation of DNA damage could be as efficient in avoiding immortalisation as "telomere-dependent" replicative senescence. Probabilities are higher that the senescent cells (according to definition 2) appearing in vivo are in stress-induced premature senescence rather than in telomere-dependent replicative senescence. Examples are given suggesting these cells affect in vivo tissue (patho)physiology and aging.

Aging↗

Stress-induced premature senescence and tissue ageing.

Various human proliferative cell types exposed in vitro to many types of subcytotoxic stresses undergo stress-induced premature senescence (SIPS). The known mechanisms of appearance the main features of SIPS are reviewed: senescent-like morphology, growth arrest, senescence-related changes in gene expression. All cell types undergoing SIPS in vivo, are likely to participate in the tissular changes observed along ageing. For instance, human diploid fibroblasts exposed in vivo and in vitro to pro-inflammatory cytokines display biomarkers of senescence and might participate in the degradation of the extracellular matrix observed in ageing.

Aging, Premature↗

Stress-induced premature senescence and replicative senescence are different phenotypes, proteomic evidence.

In this paper, we illustrate how a proteomic analysis can be useful to approach complex biological problems, in this case the concept of stress-induced premature senescence (SIPS). According to the stochastic theories of ageing, damage that accumulate with time in the cellular components are responsible for cellular ageing. As a corollary, some sort of premature senescence should appear if the damage level is artificially increased due to the presence of stressing agents at subcytotoxic level. It has been shown, in several different models, that at a long-term after subcytotoxic stresses of many different natures, human diploid fibroblasts (HDFs) display biomarkers of replicative senescence (RS), which led to the concept of SIPS as compared to telomere-dependent RS. We compared RS and SIPS of HDFs by proteome analysis. SIPS was induced by two very different stressors: tert-butyhydroperoxide or ethanol. First, only a part of the protein expression changes observed in RS were also observed in SIPS. Second, HDFs in SIPS show changes specific either to the long-term effects of t-BHP or ethanol or independent of the nature of the stress. These changes have been termed "molecular scars" of subcytotoxic stresses. This work is also an excellent opportunity to discuss on important methodological issue in proteomics: the absolute requirement to start from reliable and reproducible models, which was the case in this study. We also focus on the data handling and statistical analysis allowing to use two-dimensional gel electrophoresis patterns in a semi-quantitative analysis.

Aging, Premature↗

Proteomics in experimental gerontology.

The first gerontological studies using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2DGE) were frustrating since it was very difficult, when not impossible, to identify the proteins for which an age-related change in expression level was suspected. Reproducibility was also a main pitfall. Accumulated progress in 2DGE and especially the development of mass spectrometry of proteins and peptides gave accessibility to the routine identification of differentially expressed proteins. A new paradigm was born: proteomics. In addition to expression changes, post-translational modifications are included in proteomics, and will be more and more studied using mass spectrometry. After a review of the current developments of 2DGE and mass spectrometry, we shall discuss how the technologies currently available in proteomics could give fresh impetus to experimental gerontology, complementary to more recent approaches based on wide expression analysis tools such as DNA and protein arrays.

Aging↗

The evolution of mammalian aging.

The incidence of aging is different between mammals and their closer ancestors (e.g. reptiles and amphibians). While all studied mammals express a well-defined aging phenotype, many amphibians and reptiles fail to show signs of aging. In addition, mammalian species show great similarities in their aging phenotype, suggesting that a common origin might be at work. The proposed hypothesis is that mammalian aging evolved together with the ancestry of modern mammals. In turn, this suggests that the fundamental cause of human aging is common to most, if not all, mammals and might be a unique phenomenon. Experimental procedures capable of testing these theories and how to map the causes of mammalian and thus, human aging, are predicted.

Aging↗

UVB-induced premature senescence of human diploid skin fibroblasts.

In this work, we show that repeated stresses with UVB (290-320 nm) induce stress-induced premature senescence (SIPS) of skin human diploid fibroblasts (HDFs). HDFs at early cumulative population doublings were exposed three or five times to increasing subcytotoxic doses of UVB with one stress per day. After 2 days of recovery, several biomarkers of replicative senescence were established. First, there was an increase in the proportion of cells positive for senescence-associated beta-galactosidase activity. Second, there was a loss of replicative potential as assessed by a very low level of [3H]-thymidine incorporation. Third, the steady-state level of the mRNA of three senescence-associated genes, i.e. fibronectin, osteonectin and SM22, was increased in HDFs at 72 h after three and five exposures to UVB. In conclusion, these results suggest that it is possible to induce SIPS in HDFs after repeated exposures to subcytotoxic doses of UVB. This model could be used to test whether HDFs in UVB-induced premature senescence are able to promote epithelial cell growth and tumorigenesis in skin, as shown recently with HDFs in H(2)O(2)-induced premature senescence.

Cell Line↗

From the Hayflick mosaic to the mosaics of ageing. Role of stress-induced premature senescence in human ageing.

The Hayflick limit-senescence of proliferative cell types-is a fundamental feature of proliferative cells in vitro. Various human proliferative cell types exposed in vitro to many types of subcytotoxic stresses undergo stress-induced premature senescence (SIPS) (also called stress-induced premature senescence-like phenotype, according to the definition of senescence). The known mechanisms of appearance the main features of SIPS are reviewed: senescent-like morphology, growth arrest, senescence-related changes in gene expression, telomere shortening. Long before telomere-shortening induces senescence, other factors such as culture conditions or lack of 'feeder cells' can trigger either SIPS or prolonged reversible G(0) phase of the cell cycle. In vivo, 'proliferative' cell types of aged individuals are likely to compose a mosaic made of cells irreversibly growth arrested or not. The higher level of stress to which these cells have been exposed throughout their life span, the higher proportion of the cells of this mosaic will be in SIPS rather than in telomere-shortening dependent senescence. All cell types undergoing SIPS in vivo, most notably the ones in stressful conditions, are likely to participate in the tissular changes observed along ageing. For instance, human diploid fibroblasts (HDFs) exposed in vivo and in vitro to pro-inflammatory cytokines display biomarkers of senescence and might participate in the degradation of the extracellular matrix observed in ageing.

Aging↗

Stress-induced premature senescence: from biomarkers to likeliness of in vivo occurrence.

The similarities between the biomarkers of stress-induced premature senescence and replicative senescence are reviewed. The possibility of existence of 'molecular scars', i.e. long-term changes observed after subcytotoxic stress and not observed in replicative senescence, is considered. Lastly, the likeliness of existence of stress-induced premature senescence in vivo is discussed. The possible effects on normal and pathological tissue ageing are predicted.

Aging, Premature↗

Overexpression of apolipoprotein J in human fibroblasts protects against cytotoxicity and premature senescence induced by ethanol and tert-butylhydroperoxide.

Human diploid fibroblasts (HDFs) exposed to subcytotoxic stresses under H2O2, tert-butylhydroperoxide (t-BHP), and ethanol (EtOH) undergo stress-induced premature senescence (SIPS) characterized by many biomarkers of HDFs replicative senescence. Among these biomarkers are a growth arrest, an increase in the senescence-associated beta-galactosidase activity, a senescent morphology, an overexpression of p21waf-1 and the subsequent inability to phosphorylate pRb, the presence of the common 4977-bp mitochondrial deletion, and an increase in the steady-state level of several senescence-associated genes such as apolipoprotein J (apo J). Apo J has been described as a survival gene against cytotoxic stress. In order to study whether apo J would be protective against cytotoxicity SIPS and replicative senescence in human fibroblasts, a full-length complementary deoxyribonucleic acid of apo J was transfected into WI-38 HDFs and SV40-transformed WI-38 HDFs. The overexpression of apo J resulted in an increased cell survival after t-BHP and EtOH stresses at cytotoxic concentrations. In addition, when WI-38 HDFs were exposed to 5 subcytotoxic stresses with EtOH or t-BHP, in conditions that were previously shown to induce SIPS, a lower induction of 2 biomarkers of SIPS was observed in HDFs overexpressing apo J. No effect of apo J overexpression was observed on the proliferative life span of HDFs, even if apo J overexpression triggered osteonectin (SPARC) overexpression, which was shown to decrease the mitogenic potential of platelet-derived growth factor but not of other common growth-inducing conditions. Apo J senescence-related overexpression is proposed to have antiapoptotic rather than antiproliferative effects.

Cell Line, Transformed↗

Normal brain aging: a commentary.

Brain gerontology encounters problems that, analogically, are similar with those encountered in biogerontology in general. These problems are namely interactions between aging per se, stress response and bioenergetics. These interaction exist for instance as concerns cross-talks between stress response- and senescence-specific signaling pathways. Analogies with replicative senescence and stress-induced premature senescence are drawn.

Aging↗