The PERK pathway independently triggers apoptosis and a Rac1/Slpr/JNK/Dilp8 signaling favoring tissue homeostasis in a chronic ER stress Drosophila model

Cell Death Dis. 2014 Oct 9;5(10):e1452. doi: 10.1038/cddis.2014.403.

Abstract

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) has a major role in protein folding. The accumulation of unfolded proteins in the ER induces a stress, which can be resolved by the unfolded protein response (UPR). Chronicity of ER stress leads to UPR-induced apoptosis and in turn to an unbalance of tissue homeostasis. Although ER stress-dependent apoptosis is observed in a great number of devastating human diseases, how cells activate apoptosis and promote tissue homeostasis after chronic ER stress remains poorly understood. Here, using the Drosophila wing imaginal disc as a model system, we validated that Presenilin overexpression induces chronic ER stress in vivo. We observed, in this novel model of chronic ER-stress, a PERK/ATF4-dependent apoptosis requiring downregulation of the antiapoptotic diap1 gene. PERK/ATF4 also activated the JNK pathway through Rac1 and Slpr activation in apoptotic cells, leading to the expression of Dilp8. This insulin-like peptide caused a developmental delay, which partially allowed the replacement of apoptotic cells. Thanks to a novel chronic ER stress model, these results establish a new pathway that both participates in tissue homeostasis and triggers apoptosis through an original regulation.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apoptosis*
  • Drosophila / cytology
  • Drosophila / genetics
  • Drosophila / metabolism*
  • Drosophila Proteins / genetics
  • Drosophila Proteins / metabolism*
  • Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress*
  • Humans
  • Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins / genetics
  • Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins / metabolism*
  • Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / genetics
  • Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / metabolism*
  • MAP Kinase Kinase 4 / genetics
  • MAP Kinase Kinase 4 / metabolism*
  • MAP Kinase Kinase Kinases / genetics
  • MAP Kinase Kinase Kinases / metabolism*
  • Models, Animal
  • Presenilins / genetics
  • Presenilins / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction
  • Unfolded Protein Response
  • eIF-2 Kinase / genetics
  • eIF-2 Kinase / metabolism*
  • rac GTP-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • rac GTP-Binding Proteins / metabolism*

Substances

  • DIAP1 protein, Drosophila
  • Drosophila Proteins
  • Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins
  • Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Presenilins
  • Rac1 protein, Drosophila
  • insulin-like peptide 8, Drosophila
  • PERK kinase
  • eIF-2 Kinase
  • MAP Kinase Kinase Kinases
  • slpr protein, Drosophila
  • MAP Kinase Kinase 4
  • rac GTP-Binding Proteins