Heat shock factor 1 (HSF1) mediates the cellular response to stress to increase the production of heat shock protein (HSP) chaperones for proper protein folding, trafficking, and degradation; failure of this homeostatic mechanism likely contributes to neurodegeneration. We show that the neuroprotective drug riluzole increased the amount of HSF1 in NG108-15 neuroprogenitor cells by slowing the specific turnover of HSF1 and supporting a more robust and sustained activation of HSF1. Using Hsp70-luciferase as a functional readout of the activity of HSF1, we show that riluzole amplified the heat shock induction of the reporter gene with an optimal increase at 1 M. Immunocytochemical staining and Western blot quantitation of HSP70 in NG108-15 neuroprogenitor cells and embryonic spinal cord neurons provided corroborative evidence that riluzole amplified the HSF1-dependent regulation of HSP70 expression. Parallel studies on the GLT1 glutamate transporter showed that riluzole increased GLT1-reporter and GLT1 protein expression and that the increase was enhanced by heat shock and coincident with the increased expression of HSP70 and HSP90. This result is consistent with the anti-glutamatergic profile of riluzole and the presence of multiple heat shock elements on the GLT1 gene promoter, suggesting that riluzole may modulate GLT1 expression through HSF1. The increased HSP chaperones and GLT1 transporter blunted glutamate-induced and N-methyl D-aspartate receptor-mediated excitotoxic death. In summary, we show that riluzole increased the amount and activity of HSF1 to boost the expression of HSPs and GLT1 for neuroprotection under stress.Induction of the heat shock response (HSR 2 ; also known as stress response) is a universally important quality control mechanism in protein homeostasis; it is a primary and evolutionarily conserved response to diverse stressors, mediated by activation of the HSF1 transcription factor, culminating in the induction of a family of heat shock proteins (HSPs) that function as chaperones to assist in the proper folding of non-native proteins and proteases to help in the degradation of damaged proteins for the protection and recovery from cellular damages (1-3). The biological importance of HSR is underscored by genetic evidence linking stress and protein homeostasis with the health and life span of the organism (4 -6) and by the increasing appreciation that problems in protein folding and aggregation likely contribute to the pathogenesis of a number of age-dependent neurodegenerative diseases that include amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Huntington, Parkinson, Alzheimer, and prion diseases (6 -10).We are interested in harnessing the cytoprotective activity of HSR/HSF1 to promote cell survival under stress. In particular, we are interested in identifying agents that are not overtly proteotoxic and would not by themselves induce a robust HSR but would amplify the HSR and enhance the expression of HSPs. Riluzole is the only Food and Drug Administration-approved drug for ALS. The mode of action ...

Implantation and placentation in the mouse requires successful invasion of the uterine wall by primary and secondary trophoblast giant cells. Their invasive nature depends in part on the upregulation of proteinases for the phagocytosis and extracelluar digestion of maternal cells and matrix materials. The work reported here studies the expression of cathepsin proteinases during secondary trophoblast differentiation, and compares the expression patterns to fully differentiated day 8.5 primary trophoblast giant cells. Cathepsins B (CB), L (CL), and D (CD) were found to be upregulated during trophoblast differentiation in vivo at the message and protein level producing expression patterns equivalent to those of primary trophoblast. Invasive trophoblast cells expressed higher levels of the processed or active forms of the enzymes, coinciding with the period of trophoblast phagocytosis of maternal blood, decidual cells, and matrix materials. Trophoblast differentiation in vitro showed a similar upregulation of cathepsin enzymes. The enzymes were localized to heterogeneous vesicles that resembled both lysosomes and heterophagic vesicles. The presence of a large lysosomal population within the giant cells was confirmed by vital staining with acridine orange. Analysis of trophoblast‐conditioned media also demonstrated secreted forms of CB and CL. The results suggest that cathepsin enzymes may contribute to trophoblast invasion not only through the intracellular breakdown of molecules phagocytosed by trophoblast cells, but also by the extracellular digestion of matrix molecules and activation of other pro‐enzymes. Dev Dyn 1999;216:374–384. ©1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

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During mouse embryo implantation, trophoblast invasion is controlled in part by a balance of trophoblast-derived proteinases and uterine decidual proteinase inhibitors. Our work has focused on cystatin C, the secreted inhibitor of cathepsins B and L. We have previously shown that cystatin C is synthesized by the uterine decidua and localized to the cells in close contact with the trophoblast during implantation in vivo. In the work reported here we have established that decidualizing cultures show a similar upregulation of cystatin C. Using Northern and Western blotting and immunolocalization techniques both cystatin C mRNA and secreted protein increased with the morphological differentiation of stromal or decidual capsule cultures. In an effort to understand the regulation of cystatin C expression, decidual cells were analyzed under various culture conditions. Cystatin C expression was upregulated by increased cell density and by the presence of serum in the media. The growth factors TGF-beta(1) and EGF were found to induce cystatin C to levels comparable to serum stimulation. Co-culture with ectoplacental cones (EPCs) likewise induced expression and resulted in the localization of cystatin at the decidua:trophoblast interface. This work shows that decidualizing cultures are a good system to study cystatin C expression and that the expression is controlled in part by TGF-beta(1) and EGF signaling.

The implantation of the mouse embryo requires the controlled invasion of the uterine stroma by the embryonic trophoblast. This event is dependent, in part, on the secretion of matrix metalloproteinases and serine proteinases for the extracellular degradation of the uterine matrix. Proteinase activity is controlled by stromal decidualization and specific proteinase inhibitors. This work adds to our understanding of implantation and placentation by reporting the expression and function of another class of proteinases/inhibitors closely related to invasive cell behavior. We focused on the cysteine proteinases, cathepsins B and L, and their inhibitor cystatin C. Northern blots showed that trophoblast expressed cathepsin B throughout the invasive period (days 5.5-10.5). Both cathepsin B message and cathepsin L protein were localized to the mature, invasive trophoblast giant cells. Substrate gel electrophoresis showed an increase in giant cell cathepsin activity with enzyme profiles changing at the end of the invasive period. Northern and western blotting showed that cystatin C, the main inhibitor of cathepsins, was a major product of the decidualizing stroma. Message levels first increased in peripheral decidualizing cells, with the protein localizing close to the embryo during implantation (days 5.5-8.5). With the regression of the decidua beginning on day 9.5, a coordinated upregulation of both cathepsin B and cystatin C was observed implying a role for controlled cathepsin expression during apoptosis. E-64, a synthetic inhibitor of cathepsins B and L, was injected into pregnant females at the stage of blastocyst attachment (days 4.5-5.5). High doses resulted in the complete failure of implantation while lower doses resulted in stunted embryos and a reduced decidual reaction. These results suggested that cathepsins B and L are necessary for normal embryo development and uterine decidualization, and that decidua contributes to their control by a coordinated expression of cystatin C within the implantation site.