Proteomic analysis of Nrk gene-disrupted placental tissue cells explains physiological significance of NRK

Abstract

Objective

NRK is a unique X chromosome-linked protein kinase expressed predominantly in placenta. The gene knockout causes placental overgrowth and delayed labor of Nrk-null fetuses from dams in mouse. To clarify unknown mechanisms behind the Nrk-null phenotypes, protein expression profiles were analyzed in the Nrk-null placenta using a high-performance two-dimensional electrophoresis methodology.

Results

Among around 1800 spots detected, we characterized a dozen protein spots whose expression levels were significantly altered in the Nrk-null placenta compared to wild-type. Analyzing these data sets is expected to reflect the difference physiologically in the presence or absence of NRK, facilitating the development of therapeutic strategies.

Introduction

Parturition essential for the survival and proliferation of eutherian mammals is considered to be strictly regulated for ensuring the safety of the next-generation descendants [1, 2]. During pregnancy, the fetus and placenta are most likely to communicate with each other until delivery in seeking the safe and secure opportunity for birth. However, little is known about the shared mechanism that controls communication between the mother and the unborn. By analyzing various single-gene knockout (KO) mice, several candidates of the messaging molecules involved in the negotiation for selecting the best timing of birth have been identified to date [3,4,5,6,7,8,9]. One of the most prominent of these candidates is NRK [10].

NRK (NIK-related kinase), highly expressed in the placenta, is a physiologically unique X-encoded Ser/Thr protein kinase [10,11,12]. We previously reported that the Nrk gene KO causes placental overgrowth, indicating that NRK is a crucial modulator of cell proliferation and development in placental tissues [10]. Furthermore, the Nrk-null fetuses influence the pregnant dam to delay delivery. Together with subsequent work using intrauterine embryonic transfer of Nrk-null fetuses into wild-type (WT) dams [10], these results suggested that NRK is required for mediating one or more unidentified delivery-inducing signals dispatched from the placenta. In addition, we have found that Nrk mutant female mice develop breast tumors frequently, suggesting that NRK is a tumor-suppressor gene [13].

These results tempted us to clarify the molecular mechanisms behind the Nrk-null phenotypes by using proteomic analysis to profile the protein expression of key regulators in the placenta of Nrk KO fetuses. We presented herein detailed two-dimensional electrophoresis (2DE) reference maps of the mutant mouse placenta to establish a NRK-connected placental database, available worldwide, that contains information on protein species identified by 2DE.

Main text

Experimental methods

We applied a high-performance 2DE methodology to analyse mouse placenta harvested in the third trimester of pregnancy. Variations in protein expression levels were defined by comparing individual protein spots on the resulting gels. The trophoblast tissue layer samples were subsequently dissected from the whole placenta as in Additional file 1: Figure S1. After treating the samples using a 2-D Clean-Up Kit (GE Healthcare Ltd., UK), protein quantification, isoelectric focusing of proteins, 2DE, gel-staining, and data analysis were performed as described by Wong et al. [14].

Results and discussion

In Table 1, we calculated the individual average from six independent trials of 2DE (Fig. 1). Although some variations are observed, it is considered that the increase or decrease in protein amount of each spot has been verified. Among several identified proteins whose levels were attenuated in the mutant, annexin A3 and A5 belong to the annexin family composed of functionally diverged Ca²⁺-dependent membrane phospholipid-bound intracellular proteins [15]. Downregulation of annexin A3 (Spot 5) inhibits growth, migration, invasion, and metastasis of lung cancer cells by suppressing the MEK/ERK signaling pathway [16]. Annexin A3 may be involved in the metabolism of estrogens; this function could be relevant, given that estrogen-induced disruption of the intracellular microenvironment leads to membrane damage and cell cycle arrest [17]. Annexin A5 (Spot 15) is known to be an expedient diagnostic marker for detecting apoptotic cells that is a component of the outer leaflet of the plasma membrane [18]. Decreased levels of Annexin A5 in the Nrk KO placenta tempts us to speculate that NRK functions by potentiating cell death, thereby promoting excess proliferation of specific tissue layers without NRK activity, and leading to phenotypes such as placentomegaly and breast tumorigenesis.

Table 1 List of mouse placental proteins whose expression differed significantly between control and Nrk^−/− 2DE performed on proteins from E18.5 concepti, as identified by LC-MS/MS analysis

Fig. 1

2DE map of the Nrk^−/− mouse placenta. Representative 2DE protein profiles with the protein spots marked as differentially regulated on Nrk^−/− placentas at embryonic day 18.5 (E18.5). We performed proteomics in over triplicate experiments and presented herein the dataset for late-pregnancy placental tissues disrupted for the tumor suppressor gene Nrk. Pairs of WT/KO gel images were compared to identify 18 protein spots (from approximately 1800 detected spots) that differed significantly in the 2DE images. The identities of the spots, as determined by LC–ESI–MS/MS, are presented in Table 1. Total protein fractions were separated by isoelectric focusing on a Multiphor II system (GE Healthcare Ltd., UK) and SDS-PAGE using a NuPAGE 4–12% Bis–Tris Z00m Gel (Thermo Fisher Scientific). SYPRO Ruby-stained gels were scanned using the Typhoon Imaging System (GE Healthcare Ltd., UK) and analyzed using Image Master 2D Platinum 7.0 software (GE Healthcare Ltd., UK). Spots corresponding to differentially expressed proteins are labeled with numbers

Calpain, a calcium-regulated cysteine protease corresponded to Spot 17, the intensity of which was decreased in the Nrk KO placenta. Calpain is implicated in cytoskeletal remodeling and signal transduction. Calpain-mediated proteolytic cleavage induces cytoskeletal dynamics. This activity is altered during aging and in the progression of numerous diseases, including calcium-dependent disorders and pathological conditions [19, 20]. Spot 2, a signal decreased in the KO placenta, was identified as HSP90, a molecular chaperone with numerous client proteins. Many HSP90 inhibitors are undergoing study for potential use as clinical therapies [21]. Calpain is known to regulate HSP90 expression by cleaving HSP90 directly. On the other hand, HSP90 has been reported to affect the activity of calpain, suggesting that interactions between HSP90 and calpain jointly contribute to physiological functions. Indeed, genetic disruption of the calpain-encoding gene or treatment with HSP90 inhibitors has been shown to yield attenuation of mammary tumorigenesis [22].

Spot 4, a signal decreased in the KO placenta, corresponded to serpins of clade B (serpinb9f), a unique class of intracellular protease inhibitors [23]. Among these inhibitors, serpin B9 is a well-studied specific inhibitor of granzyme B [24]. It seems likely that the granzyme-mediated proteolysis is important for the immune response to infection or tumorigenesis. Changes in serpin levels are expected to cause cell damage in normal tissues. Therefore, NRK may contribute to a cytoprotective function by safeguarding lymphocytes from granzymes.

For the purposes of the present study, proteomics may be a more informative approach than gene expression (transcriptional) profiling, given that transcript accumulation does not always correlate with qualitative or quantitative differences in protein levels and often fails to reflect in vivo protein localization, depending on the tissue. Our data tempted to speculate that dysfunction of NRK leads to defects in cellular proliferation, cell cycle progression, resistance to apoptosis, and oncogenesis. Also, recent progress in advanced mass spectrometry methods is expected to enable us to monitor numerous phosphorylation sites in proteins. Together with the genomic discoveries through genome-wide association studies reported recently [25], further profiling analyses of the gene product changes in the Nrk-gene-mutants is expected to clarify the functional mechanism of fetoplacental development and differentiation during pregnancy, facilitating the identification of potential targets of current chemotherapeutic treatments available for perinatal medicine.

Limitations

The main limitation of our research was that we couldn’t verify why each identified expressed protein decreased in NRK-deficient placental tissue cells which could explain how NRK works physiologically in the state of health. Elucidating the physiological role of NRK in future studies would not only become one target protein for drug discovery but also helps to improve human health.