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Molecular and Cellular Biology, March 2007, p. 2215-2228, Vol. 27, No. 6
0270-7306/07/$08.00+0 doi:10.1128/MCB.01454-06
Copyright © 2007, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Carla Cano,1,2,
Stéphane Garcia,1,2
Meritxell Gironella,1,2
Sylvia Pietri,3
Marcel Culcasi,3
Marie-Josèphe Pébusque,1,2
Bernard Malissen,4
Nelson Dusetti,1,2
Juan Iovanna,1,2 and
Alice Carrier1,2*
INSERM, U624 Stress cellulaire, F-13288 Marseille, France,1 Aix-Marseille Université, Campus de Luminy, F-13000 Marseille, France,2 Aix-Marseille Université, Faculté des Sciences de Saint-Jérôme, SREP-Sondes Moléculaires en Biologie, CNRS UMR6517, F-13397 Marseille, France,3 Aix-Marseille Université, Centre d'Immunologie de Marsaille-Luminy, F-13288 Marseille, France4
Received 7 August 2006/ Returned for modification 7 September 2006/ Accepted 19 December 2006
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TP53INP1, also known as TEAP (7), SIP (60), and p53DINP1 (39), is a newly described factor involved in cell stress response. The gene encoding TP53INP1 is ubiquitously expressed, with higher expression levels in the thymus and other lymphoid organs (7). In vitro, TP53INP1 expression is up-regulated in different cell types upon treatment with agents inducing cell proliferation arrest and/or apoptosis, including oxidative stress agents (3, 25, 35, 39, 55, 60, 64, 70). TP53INP1 expression is induced by p53, which exerts its function mainly by inducing transcription of target genes involved in cell cycle arrest and apoptosis, as part of the cell response to genotoxic stress (39, 59). Induction of TP53INP1 is not always dependent on p53 but can involve p73 or E2F1 transcription factors, which also play roles in cell proliferation and apoptosis (19, 61). The TP53INP1 gene encodes two protein isoforms, TP53INP1
and TP53INP1ß, both of which induce cell cycle arrest and apoptosis when overexpressed (60). The sequences of these proteins do not contain any known functional domain except for a PEST domain generally found in proteins with a short half-life. TP53INP1 physically interacts with the homeodomain-interacting protein kinase 2, HIPK2, and with the proapoptotic PKC
upon exposure to genotoxic agents, contributing to regulation of p53 activity during apoptosis (58, 69). In vivo, the TP53INP1 gene is overexpressed during pancreatic inflammation (14, 24). Conversely, its expression is lost in rat preneoplastic lesions in liver (37, 54) and during gastric cancer progression in humans, which correlates with a decreased level of tumor cell apoptosis and a poor prognosis (23). Altogether, currently available data point to a role of TP53INP1 in cellular homeostasis through its antiproliferative and proapoptotic activities. Therefore, loss of TP53INP1 expression may contribute to deregulation of cell proliferation and death, which are hallmarks of oncogenesis.
To address the putative role of TP53INP1 as a tumor suppressor, we generated mice lacking expression of its mouse ortholog, namely Trp53inp1. Herein, we show increased susceptibility of Trp53inp1-deficient mice to experimental induction of colorectal tumorigenesis and acute colitis. Furthermore, using electron spin resonance techniques, we found a higher level of ROS production both in untreated and colitic Trp53inp1-deficient mouse colons than in WT colons. Therefore, a higher level of oxidative stress in Trp53inp1-deficient colons may provide a mechanism for increased tissue damage and colorectal carcinogenesis in these mice.
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, protein kinase C
; RNS; reactive nitrogen species; ROS, reactive oxygen species; RT, reverse transcription; SD, standard deviation; SE, standard error; SOD, superoxide dismutase; TBARS, thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances; TP53INP1, tumor protein 53-induced nuclear protein 1; WT, wild type. Gene targeting and generation of Trp53inp1-deficient mice. The Trp53inp1 gene was targeted by homologous recombination in ES cells, as described elsewhere (68), except that the neomycin selection cassette contained the gene encoding Cre recombinase, designed for self-excision in the male germ line (6). Briefly, the linearized targeting vector was electroporated into 129/Sv ES cells, and G418/Geneticin-resistant clones were screened by Southern blotting for correct integration of the cassette, using probes flanking the deleted region as well as a Neo-derived probe to verify the number of insertions of the cassette (the protocol and sequences are available upon request). Two recombinant clones were identified and independently injected into BALB/c blastocysts to generate chimeric mice. Chimeric males were mated to C57BL/6 females to generate heterozygous pups without the neomycin selection cassette. Genotype analyses were done on genomic DNA from tail biopsies with PCR primers F (5'-AATGTATGCAATCTTAGCTGATGC-3'), R1 (5'-TCTTGAGGTAACATAGTGAAATGC-3'), and R2 (5'-CCAAACACTGTCACTGTATTGATA-3'). Mice heterozygous for the mutation on a mixed 129/Sv by C57BL/6 background were intercrossed to generate homozygous mutants (Trp53inp1/) and WT littermates (Trp53inp1+/+). Absence of mRNA expression was confirmed by RT-PCR with primers Ex1F (5'-CGCAGCTACCTCAGCAC-3'), Ex5R (5'-TGTTCCAAAAATGTTGCCTG-3'), and Ex6R (5'-TTTTGGCCACGACATCTGTA-3') for Trp53inp1 and RL3-F (5'-GAAAGAAGTCGTGGAGGCTG-3') and RL3-R (5'-ATCTCATCCTGCCCAAACAC-3') for RL-3. The mice were housed in specific-pathogen-free conditions in accordance with institutional guidelines. All experimental protocols were in accordance with French laws and European directives.
Western blotting. For Western blot analysis, fibroblasts derived from Trp53inp1+/+ and Trp53inp1/ embryos were treated with 0.1 mM H2O2 (Sigma-Aldrich) for 1 h, then allowed to recover in DMEM-10% fetal calf serum for 5 h. The proteins in the lysates were quantified and analyzed by Western blotting, as previously described (58). Incubation was performed using an in-house monoclonal antibody recognizing both isoforms of TP53INP1.
Tumor induction.
AOM is a procarcinogen with structural similarities to cycasin, a natural compound that strongly induces tumors in the colons and rectums of humans and animals. AOM causes the formation of O6-methylguanine adducts in DNA, which can lead to G
A transitions after replication. It induces tumors in the distal colon of rodents and is commonly used in experimental protocols of colorectal cancer for mechanistic exploration or screening of potential drugs (46). DSS is the most widely used toxic chemical agent in experimental models of IBD (52). Repeated administration of DSS enhances the formation of AOM-induced tumors (41, 56) by mimicking chronic ulcerative colitis (40). Trp53inp1-deficient mice and their WT littermates (7 to 10 weeks old) were injected intraperitoneally with 12.5 mg/kg AOM (Sigma). After 5 days, 2.5% DSS (molecular weight, 36,000 to 50,000; MP Biomedicals) was given in their drinking water for 5 days, followed by 16 days of tap water. This cycle was repeated twice (5 days of 2.5% DSS and 4 days of 2% DSS), and the mice were sacrificed 10 days after the last cycle. When specified, the mice were also given 10 mg/ml NAC (Sigma) in their drinking water continuously for 8 days before being injected with AOM and continuously during the entire protocol until they were sacrificed. To induce tumors by AOM or DSS alone, the mice were either treated with a single injection of AOM without further DSS treatment or mock-injected with PBS, followed by three cycles of DSS. They were sacrificed either at 9 weeks after injection (corresponding to the timeline of AOM-DSS protocol) or at 7 months after injection to assess the long-term effects of either treatment. In the latter case, for tumor induction by DSS alone, an additional DSS cycle (4 days of 2% DSS) was performed 11 weeks after the injection of PBS.
Induction and analysis of acute colitis. Treatment with DSS leads to acute colonic inflammation with superficial ulceration, mucosal damage, and leukocyte infiltration. DSS is toxic to mucosal epithelial cells, and the eventual dysfunction of the mucosal barrier leads to mucosal inflammation (30). Mice (7 to 10 weeks old) were given 3.5% DSS in drinking water for 7 days, after which they were given water only until they were sacrificed. Every day during and after the administration of DSS, the mice were monitored for weight loss, pathological features (rectal bleeding and diarrhea), and survival. When specified, the mice were also given 10 mg/ml of NAC in their drinking water continuously for 10 days before, during, and after the administration of DSS until they were sacrificed. The animals were weighed, and the value was expressed as a percentage of the initial weight on day 0 of the protocol. They were also inspected for visible clinical signs of pathology. The presence of diarrhea, rectal bleeding, and weight loss were separately graded on a 0 to 3 scale (Table 1), and the average of the three values constitutes the DAI. Additionally, colitic mice were sacrificed at various time points, and their colons were removed for histological analysis.
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TABLE 1. Criteria for scoring the disease activity indexa
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Immunohistofluorescence.
Colon cryosections (10 µm) were air-dried, fixed in acetone for 5 min, and washed in PBS before being saturated in blocking buffer (2.5% bovine serum albumin, 5% normal goat serum, 10% anti-FcR hybridoma supernatant) for 30 min. Then the sections were stained in 0.5x blocking buffer with fluorescein isothiocyanate-conjugated rat anti-mouse B220, CD3
, or Gr1 monoclonal antibody (eBiosciences) or with purified rabbit anti-mouse NF-
B (p65) polyclonal antibody (Santa Cruz) for 1 h at room temperature in a humid chamber. The NF-
B staining was revealed using Alexa Fluor 546-conjugated goat anti-rabbit polyclonal antibody (Invitrogen). The nuclei were stained with Hoechst 33258 (Invitrogen). Photographs were taken at x40 magnification, and quantification was performed. For quantification of the NF-
B-stained samples, no less than 250 nuclei were counted per slide. For quantification of immune cell infiltration, no less than 25 crypts were counted per animal.
ESR studies and lipid peroxidation assay. The spin trap DEPMPO was synthesized as previously described (16). For determination of the AFR-DMSO content by ESR, blood was drawn from either anesthetized Trp53inp1-deficient or WT mice at day 2 of DSS-induced acute colitis or from untreated mice. The blood was collected in heparinized tubes which were immediately inverted five times and stored at room temperature for 2 h. Plasma samples were prepared by centrifugation (4,700 x g; 10 min; 4°C) and immediately frozen in liquid nitrogen. Prior to being analyzed by ESR, the plasma samples were thawed, and 1 volume of DMSO (Sigma-Aldrich) was added. For spin-trapping experiments, the samples were prepared as follows: the colons were removed from untreated or DSS-treated mice at day 2 of colitis, cut into small pieces, and split into three equal parts which were separately cultured either in medium alone (DMEM, 10% fetal bovine serum, 1% penicillin/streptomycin; all from Invitrogen) or in medium containing 100 U/ml SOD (Sigma-Aldrich) or 5,000 U/ml CAT (Sigma-Aldrich). After 1 h, aliquots of aqueous DEPMPO were added to the culture medium to reach final concentrations of 10 mM. After 5-min incubations with the spin trap, the supernatants of the colon cultures were immediately frozen in liquid nitrogen. Thawed samples were quickly introduced into a standard aqueous flat cell which was fitted within the cavity of a Bruker ESP 300 (Karlsruhe, Germany) X-band (9.8 GHz) ESR spectrometer equipped with a TM110 cavity and operating at a field modulation of 100-kHz and a microwave power of 10 mW. Spectral acquisition was initiated at room temperature 60 s after either the addition of DMSO or the complete thawing of the DEPMPO-supplemented samples. Instrument settings for the AFR-DMSO (spin-trapping) experiments were as follows: modulation amplitude, 0.1 mT (0.05 mT); time constant, 163.8 ms (20.5 ms); receiver gain, 4 x 105 (2 x 105); scan rate, 0.05 mT·s1 (0.29 mT·s1); number of accumulated scans, 2 (1). Assignment of the ESR signals was performed according to the literature (16, 42, 44). Free-radical concentrations were derived from double integrals of the simulated spectra obtained with either WinSim software (13) or the program of Rockenbauer and Korecz (48). Data (arbitrary units) are expressed as means ± SDs, with 3 to 7 independent experiments per group. The lipid peroxidation level in plasma, a common indicator of oxidative stress, was assessed by measuring TBARS, using a modified procedure (43) of the general protocol (38).
Data analysis.
In all experiments except the ESR studies, statistical analyses were performed with Statview software (SAS Institute), using the chi-square (
2) or unpaired Student's t test, Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, or the nonparametric Mann-Whitney U test when appropriate. All values are reported as means ± SEs. P values of <0.05 were considered significant. For the ESR studies, statistical analysis was performed by one-way ANOVA. When P was <0.01, ANOVA was followed by a Newman-Keuls multiple-comparison test for intergroup differences, which were considered significant when P was <0.05. Values are reported as means ± SDs.
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FIG. 1. Inactivation of the Trp53inp1 gene in mice. (A) Targeting strategy. The endogenous Trp53inp1 locus (WT, top bar), targeting construct (middle bar), and targeted Trp53inp1 locus (bottom bar) are shown schematically. The five exons of Trp53inp1 are represented by gray boxes, and the coding regions are hatched. The translation initiation codon located in the second exon and the stop codons located in the fourth and last exon are depicted. In the targeting vector, the boxes correspond to the loxP-flanked (black arrowheads) Neo-Cre cassette containing the neomycin resistance gene and the Cre recombinase gene under the control of the testes-specific angiotensin-converting enzyme gene promoter (Neo-Cre), the thymidine kinase expression cassette (tk), and the pBlueScript II KS+ vector (pBS). The F, R1, and R2 primers used to detect the two alleles are indicated by the white arrowheads. (B) PCR analysis of DNA obtained from the tails of WT (+/+) mice and their littermates heterozygous (+/) and homozygous (/) for the Trp53inp1 deletion. The primers F, R1, and R2 were used in the same amplification reaction. M, molecular size marker (in base pairs). (C) RT-PCR analysis. Total RNA from the spleens of Trp53inp1+/+, Trp53inp1+/, and Trp53inp1/ mice was analyzed by RT-PCR with primers for Trp53inp1 (identifying the two transcripts generated by differential splicing of exon 4) or primers for RL-3 as the housekeeping-gene control. (D) Western blot analysis. Lysates (60 µg protein/lane) from H2O2-treated Trp53inp1+/+ and Trp53inp1/ mouse embryonic fibroblasts were analyzed by immunoblotting, using an in-house rat monoclonal antibody directed against both isoforms of TP53INP1. The asterisk indicates a nonspecific band.
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FIG. 2. Absence of Trp53inp1 increases colon tumorigenesis. Cohorts of 7- to 10-week-old WT and Trp53inp1-deficient mice (n = 31 and 36, respectively) were treated with a single injection of AOM, followed by three cycles of DSS to induce a moderate, long-lasting colitis. Animals were sacrificed 9 weeks after injection of AOM, and the colons were collected and analyzed for the presence of tumors. (A) Representative macroscopic images of colons from Trp53inp1-deficient (/) and WT (+/+) animals. (B) Mean number ± SE of tumors per colon from WT and Trp53inp1-deficient animals (**, P < 0.01 versus results for the WT). (C) Means ± SEs of the weight-to-length ratios of the colons. The green and red bars correspond to WT and Trp53inp1-deficient untreated animals, respectively (&, P < 0.01 versus results for untreated mice; **, P < 0.01 versus results for the WT). (D and E) Overview of H&E-stained sections of representative colons from WT (left) and Trp53inp1-deficient mice (right). The tumors are encircled. Microscopic examination of the tumor sections was performed at x25 (F and G) or x200 (H and I) magnification. (J) Mean tumor surface ± SE measured on one colon section for each animal. (K and L) Tumor proliferation and apoptosis indices determined by PCNA and active caspase-3 staining, respectively, and expressed as the percentage of the total tumoral surface stained ± the SE.
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TABLE 2. Incidence of tumors in the colons of mice treated with either AOM alone or DSS alone, at 9 weeks or 7 months
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FIG. 3. The absence of Trp53inp1 increases the severity of colitis in mice. Cohorts of 7- to 10-week-old mice (n > 12 per group) were given 3.5% DSS in their drinking water for 7 days to induce acute colitis and then given tap water without DSS while being monitored for 15 days. (A) The mice were weighed every day, and the values were expressed as percentages of the initial weights. Mice deficient in Trp53inp1 lost more weight and showed poorer recovery than WT mice. (B) Kaplan-Meier analysis showed a higher mortality rate after induction of colitis in the Trp53inp1-deficient mice than in the WT mice (P = 0.029). (C) The DAI increased more rapidly, and to higher values, in Trp53inp1-deficient mice than in WT mice. The data shown in panels A, B, and C are representative of two independent experiments. For panels A and C, an asterisk indicates a P value of <0.05 for Trp53inp1-deficient mice (/) versus that for WT mice (+/+). (D and E) Microscopic examination of colon sections at 9 days after the induction of colitis shows more-extensive ulceration (indicated by the black line) in Trp53inp1-deficient animals (right) than in the WT (left). (F and G) Histological analysis at higher magnification (x200) shows moderate epithelium damage in WT mice, with a progressive disappearance of glands (left). The damage is more severe in Trp53inp1-deficient animals, where only the surface epithelium persists (G).
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B activation and immune cell infiltration in the colonic epithelia during colitis. NF-
B is a proinflammatory transcription factor which, upon activation, induces transcription of genes involved in survival, proliferation, inflammation, and innate immunity. Inactive NF-
B is present in the cytoplasms of all cells and is translocated to the nucleus upon activation. We assessed NF-
B activation in colons from WT and Trp53inp1-deficient mice at day 10 of colitis by immunohistofluorescence, using an antibody specific for the p65 subunit of NF-
B (Fig. 4A). Our results showed a threefold-higher percentage of NF-
B-positive nuclei in colons from Trp53inp1-deficient mice than in those from WT colons. Thus, NF-
B activation is stronger in colons from Trp53inp1-deficient mice than in those from WT mice. Then we analyzed immune cell infiltration at day 10 of colitis by immunohistofluorescence, using antibodies specific for markers of either innate immune cells (Gr1 marker for granulocytes) or adaptive immune cells (B220 and CD3
markers for B and T cells, respectively). Quantification of the ratio of positive cells to the number of colonic crypts showed a higher infiltration of Gr1-positive cells in colons from Trp53inp1-deficient mice than in those from WT mice (Fig. 4B), whereas the degrees of B- and T-cell infiltration did not differ (Fig. 4C and D). Altogether, these results indicate that Trp53inp1-deficient mice developed a stronger inflammatory response than their WT counterparts following DSS treatment, which is in accordance with their increased susceptibility to experimental acute colitis.
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FIG. 4. The absence of Trp53inp1 increases epithelial cell NF- B activation and granulocyte infiltration during acute colitis. Colon cryosections (10 µm) were obtained from WT and Trp53inp1-deficient animals (n = 3 of each genotype) after 10 days of colitis. (A) Nuclei stained with Hoechst (blue) are shown on the left; the middle panel shows NF- B-stained (red) colon sections with a p65-specific antibody (magnification, x40). The histogram on the right shows the quantification of NF- B activation expressed as the mean percentage (± SE) of NF- B-positive nuclei of the total number of nuclei. (B) Gr1-stained (green) colon sections (magnification, x60) are shown; positive cells are highlighted with a star. The histogram on the right shows the quantification of Gr1-positive cells per crypt expressed as means ± SEs. (C and D) Colon-infiltrating B and T lymphocytes were stained, using B220- and CD3 -specific antibodies, respectively. The results were quantified and expressed as for panel B. *, P < 0.05 for Trp53inp1-deficient mice (/) versus results for the WT (+/+). nb, number.
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FIG. 5. (A to E) Treatment with NAC abolishes genotype-specific differences in early colitis. Cohorts of WT (+/+) or Trp53inp1-deficient mice (/) (n = 15 to 18 mice per group) were treated with DSS with or without cotreatment with NAC. The incidences of the clinical signs of pathology (diarrhea, rectal bleeding, and weight loss) are shown in panels A to C. Panel D shows the averages of the three values from panels A to C (the DAI). *, P < 0.05 for Trp53inp1-deficient mice not treated with NAC versus results for untreated WT mice; $, P < 0.05 for NAC-treated mice versus results for mice of the same genotype not treated with NAC; #, P < 0.05 for NAC-treated Trp53inp1-deficient mice versus results for NAC-treated WT mice. Administration of NAC significantly delays diarrhea and rectal bleeding in both genotypes. After day 5 of treatment, genotype-specific differences were observed again, as disease progression was more rapid in Trp53inp1-deficient animals than in WT mice. For both groups, administration of NAC does not significantly reduce colitis-induced weight loss or mortality, as shown by Kaplan-Meier analyses (E). (F) AOM-DSS-induced colon tumorigenesis in the presence of NAC. The weight-to-length ratio of the colons from mice given NAC in their drinking water during the whole AOM-DSS procedure (wave-patterned bars) shows that NAC almost completely abolishes tumorigenesis in WT mice, whereas it only reduces tumorigenesis in Trp53inp1-deficient mice (£, P < 0.01 for AOM-DSS-plus-NAC-treated mice compared to the results for untreated mice). The ratios shown in Fig. 2C are reported here for easy comparison (hatched bars correspond to untreated animals).
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Trp53inp1-deficient mice show increased plasma and colon oxidative stress. Since it allows direct detection and characterization of free radicals, ESR spectroscopy can provide the most-definitive proof of the formation of ROS after the induction of acute colitis in Trp53inp1-deficient animals compared to that in the WT. It is believed that blood serum and plasma antioxidant levels reflect the total antioxidant capacity of the body. Decreased plasma levels of ascorbate (vitamin C), which is one of the main water-soluble antioxidants, is observed during human IBD (27). Addition of DMSO to the blood plasma from both WT and Trp53inp1-deficient animals led to the detection of the AFR-ESR doublet (aH = 0.18 mT) (Fig. 6A and B). We have previously shown that the concentration of this AFR-DMSO complex is representative of the ascorbate content of the plasma (42, 44). In untreated WT mice, the baseline AFR-DMSO concentration corresponded to the signal yielded by 40 to 50 µM sodium ascorbate (Fig. 6C). In contrast, Trp53inp1-deficient mice exhibited a significantly decreased AFR-DMSO content (50% versus that of the baseline concentration) (Fig. 6B and C), suggesting that these animals are continuously subjected to free-radical-induced oxidative stress that causes ascorbate consumption in the plasma. Induction of acute colitis strongly depleted AFR-DMSO levels in the plasma at day 2 for WT (62% versus those for the baseline) and Trp53inp1-deficient (71% versus those for untreated Trp53inp1-deficient animals) mice (Fig. 6C). As expected, these Trp53inp1 deficiency- or acute colitis-induced ascorbate depletions occurred along with a significant increase in lipid peroxidation levels in the plasma both in DSS-treated versus untreated groups and in Trp53inp1-deficient versus WT animals (Fig. 6D). Interestingly, we noted a higher lipid peroxidation level in untreated Trp53inp1-deficient mice than in DSS-treated WT animals (Fig. 6D).
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FIG. 6. Trp53inp1 deficiency decreases ascorbate levels in plasma, increases lipid peroxide content in plasma, and potentiates acute colitis-induced depletion of ascorbate and lipid peroxidation in plasma. Acute colitis was induced in WT (+/+) and Trp53inp1-deficient (/) mice by treatment with 3.5% DSS for 2 days (D2). D0 indicates samples from untreated animals. Ascorbate levels in plasma were assessed through ESR detection of AFR-DMSO doublets, and lipid peroxidation levels were determined by TBARS assay. (A) Chemical structure of AFR. (B) Selected ESR spectra from WT and Trp53inp1-deficient mice either untreated or treated for 2 days with DSS. (C) Means ± SDs (n = 5 to 7 mice per group) of AFR-DMSO concentrations in plasma from the different groups of animals calibrated to a similar signal yielded by 50 µM aqueous sodium ascorbate. (D) Means ± SDs (n = 5 to 7 mice per group) of TBARS concentrations in plasma. Untreated Trp53inp1-deficient mice show significantly decreased ascorbate levels in plasma and increased lipid peroxide concentrations compared to those of untreated WT mice. Trp53inp1-deficient mice are more susceptible than WT mice to acute colitis-induced ascorbate depletion and increased lipid peroxidation in the plasma. The statistics are based on the results of one-way ANOVA (P < 0.0002) followed by Newman-Keuls tests for intergroup differences. *, P < 0.01; **, P < 0.001 versus results for D0+/+; , P < 0.001 versus results for D2+/+; +, P < 0.05 versus results for D0/.
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FIG. 7. Colons from Trp53inp1-deficient mice behave as continuous, low-level ROS-producing systems which are stimulated by acute colitis. ROS production was assessed by ESR using spin trap DEPMPO, in the presence or absence of 100 U/ml SOD or 5,000 U/ml CAT in the culture media of colons from WT or Trp53inp1-deficient mice either untreated or treated for 2 days with 3.5% DSS. (A and B) Representative spectra from WT (+/+) and Trp53inp1-deficient mice (/), respectively. In panels A and B, the computer-simulated spectra are presented below the experimental spectra, while filled circles and pluses mark the lines from DEPMPO-OH and DEPMPO-alkyl adducts, respectively. The y axis scales for the top and bottom AFR spectra are given relative to the middle DEPMPO adduct signals. The bottom spectra in panels A and B show the complete inhibition of these DEPMPO adduct signals by SOD. (C) Means ± SDs (n = 4) of the concentrations of AFR in supernatants. (D) Means ± SDs (n = 4) of the relative total spin adduct concentrations. The histogram in panel C shows that Trp53inp1 deficiency (D0/) significantly amplifies low-level background, ROS-triggered AFR release observed in the colons of untreated WT mice. AFR release can be evidenced in colitic colons due to the complete inhibition of spin-trapping signals by SOD. The histogram in panel D shows that acute colitis induces a burst of DEPMPO-trapped radicals (HO· and alkyl radicals) in colon cultures which is significantly stronger in Trp53inp1-deficient mice. Spin adduct formation is partially inhibited by the addition of CAT. The statistics are based on one-way ANOVA (P < 0.007) followed by the Newman-Keuls test for intergroup differences (level of significance, P < 0.05). D0+/+, untreated WT mice; D0/, untreated Trp53inp1-deficient mice; D2+/+, WT mice treated for 2 days with DSS; D2/, Trp53inp1-deficient mice treated for 2 days with DSS.
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We investigated the role of Trp53inp1 in inflammation-associated colonic tumor development by evaluating the susceptibility of Trp53inp1-deficient and control WT mice to developing tumors during a protocol of colorectal tumorigenesis in which one injection of the procarcinogen AOM was followed by repeated administrations of DSS leading to chronic colon inflammation. We observed a significantly higher rate of both tumor incidence and multiplicity for Trp53inp1-deficient mice than for their WT counterparts. The increase in colon weight was twofold higher in Trp53inp1-deficient mice than in WT mice, reflecting the twofold-higher number of tumors. This increase was independent of the proliferation and death of tumoral cells, since proliferation and caspase-3 activation indices for tumors were not significantly different between the two genotypes, in agreement with the observation that tumors were of the same size in both genotypes. Interestingly, when we investigated tumor development induced either by AOM injection alone or by DSS-induced chronic colitis without prior injection of AOM, we observed tumors only in Trp53inp1-deficient mice during examinations 7 months after starting the experiment. Deficiency of TP53INP1 is thus an enhancing factor for colorectal tumorigenesis induced by either chemical carcinogen treatment alone or by chronic inflammation alone. Altogether, our data showed that the absence of TP53INP1 significantly exacerbates tumor development, suggesting that early events in tumoral transformation (initiation) in epithelial cells were different in the two groups. Alternatively, absence of TP53INP1 might promote tumorigenesis by favoring clonal expansion of initiated cells. Considering that the Trp53inp1 gene is induced by cell stress, that it is highly expressed in immune cells (7; also unpublished data), and that an association between inflammation and cancer has been well documented, we favor the latter possibility.
In order to test the hypothesis that TP53INP1 has a physiological role in colonic inflammation, we challenged mutant and WT mice to acute DSS-induced colitis. The Trp53inp1-deficient mice lost much more weight than the WT mice, and they failed to recover their initial weights by day 15 of the experiment. The other clinical signs of colitis, namely diarrhea and rectal bleeding, were consistently more severe in Trp53inp1-deficient mice. Eventually, in the course of the experiment, mortality was significantly higher among Trp53inp1-deficient mice. Taken together, these data show that DSS-induced colitis is particularly severe in Trp53inp1-deficient mice, suggesting that TP53INP1 plays a role in limiting colonic inflammation. Interestingly, we noted that the first 7 days of DSS treatment had no impact on the weight and survival of mice, the striking differences appearing later. However, clinical signs of pathology (diarrhea and rectal bleeding) appeared at day 3, although the histology remained normal. This is in agreement with the previously documented delay between loss of mucosal integrity (which contributes to diarrhea and bleeding) and the first histologically detectable lesions in the mouse model of DSS-induced colitis (30). Finally, histological analyses showed that mucosal damage was more severe in Trp53inp1-deficient colons than in those of the WT during colitis and was accompanied by increased infiltration by Gr1-positive cells and augmentation of the epithelial cell fraction containing activated NF-
B. These observations indicated exacerbated colon inflammation in Trp53inp1-deficient mice. The role of NF-
B in the initiation and promotion of tumorigenesis has been documented in many reports (recently reviewed in reference 26). NF-
B contributes to tumor development, acting as a protumoral factor, during colitis-associated colorectal cancer in both enterocytes and myeloid cells (17). Thus, increased NF-
B activation in Trp53inp1-deficient colonic epithelial cells during chronic colitis was likely involved in increased colorectal tumorigenesis.
Oxidative stress is a major risk factor associated with inflammation and carcinogenesis (21, 22, 45, 52). It arises from an imbalance between oxidants and antioxidants in favor of the former, leading to an overload of ROS and RNS, which causes DNA and protein oxidation and lipid peroxidation, which can in turn lead to alterations in cell turnover and cell death (15, 31, 33, 63). A low level of oxidative stress can stimulate cell division and thus the promotion of tumor growth. It is known that during acute and chronic inflammation, ROS are produced at rates that overwhelm the capacity of the endogenous defense system to remove them (33, 49). To get further insights into the physiological role of TP53INP1 during oxidative stress in the colon, we evaluated the impact of an antioxidant during both acute colitis and colitis-associated tumorigenesis in mutant and WT mice. NAC is a precursor of reduced glutathione, a major antioxidant in the cells, and may also scavenge ROS on its own (12, 51). We observed a preventive effect of NAC on colitis during the first days of DSS treatment in cohorts of both genotypes, confirming the major role played by oxidative stress during DSS-induced acute colitis. Nevertheless, we evidenced a second phase during which the preventive action of NAC was less efficient in Trp53inp1-deficient mice than in WT mice, as the former showed clinical signs of colitis sooner. In addition, NAC efficiently prevented tumor development in WT mice but not in Trp53inp1-deficient mice, which still presented significant adenoma development. These results indicate that, as DSS treatment progresses, administered NAC becomes unable to inhibit colitis pathology. Although we do not exclude the possibility that a ROS-independent mechanism may be implicated in the second phase of colitis progression, one can hypothesize that either the level or the nature of ROS generated in the inflamed colons hinders the capacity of NAC to remove them. If we assume that the latter hypothesis is correct, Trp53inp1-deficient mice should present higher ROS levels in the colon than WT mice, as they develop a more-severe colitis.
We assessed this question directly, using the powerful ESR technology. It has been shown that ascorbate depletion or its reaction with free radicals can be directly probed by direct detection of AFR-DMSO or AFR, respectively, in a variety of chronic or acute oxidative stress situations in animals (28, 29, 42) and humans (2, 43, 44). Altered ascorbic acid status has been reported in the mucosa (5) and plasma (27) of IBD patients. By documenting a decrease in AFR-DMSO in DSS-treated WT mice, our data confirm the usefulness of this ESR index in the measurement of ascorbate levels. Thus, our parallel finding that induction of acute colitis results in even more depleted ascorbate levels and elevated lipid peroxidation status in Trp53inp1-deficient mice than in their WT counterparts strongly advocates for higher production of ROS in the former. In this regard, low basal levels of ascorbate and high concentrations of lipid peroxidation in plasma from untreated Trp53inp1-deficient mice demonstrate that these animals are submitted to chronic oxidant stress that could explain their increased ROS production during colitis. Unexpectedly, whereas untreated deficient mice showed an even higher mean TBARS concentration than WT mice during colitis, the difference between genotypes was no longer significant for AFR-DMSO. Finally, the above data are in line with the appearance of a higher level of AFR released by the colons of untreated Trp53inp1-deficient animals, indicating more-severe tissue damage (44). Altogether, our results show that Trp53inp1-deficient mice present increased oxidative stress and reduced antioxidant defenses (at least regarding the ascorbate pool) in the absence of treatment compared to WT mice and that this stress is amplified during DSS-induced colitis, unequivocally pointing to a role for TP53INP1 in the control of the oxidative status in vivo.
Unstable free radicals involved in oxidative stress, such as O2· and HO·, require a trapping reaction to be detected by ESR, but even with the use of an improved nitrone such as DEPMPO (16), the resulting aminoxyls are prone to unavoidable reduction to ESR-silent hydroxylamines, especially by ascorbate (50) or AFR, and/or to structural modification in biological systems. Thus, it is possible that some spin adduct formation in colons from untreated Trp53inp1-deficient mice may have escaped from ESR detection due to the concomitant strong AFR release. We have previously reported that DEPMPO-OOH, the ESR spectrum of which displays 12 lines, can be readily converted to DEPMPO-OH by specific hydroperoxide-reducing enzymes such as glutathione peroxidase (16). This can explain why the DEPMPO-OH signals seen in DSS-treated mice can be completely inhibited by SOD, and we therefore demonstrate here that O2· is the major, primary ROS formed in DSS-treated colons. The presence of an increased amount of superoxide in colons from Trp53inp1-deficient mice compared to that in colons from WT mice may be a consequence of the increased granulocyte infiltration observed in the former. Superoxide has been linked to the onset of DSS-induced colitis (32), and mechanisms of formation involving vitamin K semiquinones or specific enzymes such as xanthine oxidase have been proposed (9, 62). In our study, the observation of DEPMPO-alkyl adducts, likely secondary adducts of carbon-centered radicals, supports a decisive role for HO·, and its precursor, H2O2, as the actual damaging species. The poorer capacity of CAT to inhibit DEPMPO adduct formation in colon cultures from 2-days colitic Trp53inp1-deficient mice versus that for WT mice may reflect a higher capacity of the former to produce H2O2. The formation of HO· in DSS-induced colitis has previously been hypothesized on the basis of more-indirect assays than ESR (8, 57).
To summarize, we would like to propose a model in which Trp53inp1-deficient mice deal with chronic endogenous oxidant stress by overconsuming endogenous antioxidant defenses (like blood ascorbate). While this compensation mechanism manages to prevent oxidative damage and related pathologies in the absence of exogenous challenge, it is insufficient to deal with strong oxidant stress during colitis, allowing extensive colon epithelium damage and concomitant leukocyte recruitment. Infiltrating Gr1+ cells will release superoxide in the epithelium, thus increasing oxidative load and tissue damage. Whether TP53INP1 exerts an intrinsic or extrinsic function on granulocytes is currently being studied in the laboratory.
In conclusion, we showed that a deficiency in the Trp53inp1 gene leads to increased tumorigenesis in the mouse model of AOM-DSS-induced colorectal cancer. Furthermore, Trp53inp1-deficient mice showed more-severe colitis than the WT, due to a higher oxidative load, which might account for enhanced tumoral promotion during colitis. These findings strengthen the hypothesis that TP53INP1 is a tumor suppressor and underscore the role of oxidative stress in colitis-associated cancer. In this work, we shed light on critical functions of TP53INP1 in the colon, which opens up new preventive and/or therapeutical avenues for the control of oxidative stress in IBD and CRC patients.
This work was supported by INSERM, CNRS, the Association pour la Recherche sur le Cancer (B.M.), and Plate-forme RIO-MNG (B.M.). J.G. was supported by doctoral fellowships from the Ministère de l'Education Nationale de la Recherche et de la Technologie, the Association pour la Recherche sur le Cancer, and the Société Française du Cancer. C.C. was supported by a postdoctoral fellowship from the Association pour la Recherche sur le Cancer, and M.G. was supported by a postdoctoral fellowship from INSERM.
Published ahead of print on 22 January 2007. ![]()
These authors contributed equally to this work. ![]()
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- and RAG1-deficient thymuses: definition of a set of genes potentially involved in thymocyte maturation. Immunogenetics 50:255-270.[CrossRef][Medline]
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