Tumour necrosis factor receptor associated factors (TRAFs) play a key role in signal transduction in mammalian cells. Several members of the TRAF family have been identified but only TRAF2 and TRAF6 are implicated in the regulation of both osteoclastic bone resorption and breast cancer. Here I studied the role of TRAF2 and TRAF6 in breast cancer induced osteoclastogenesis and osteolysis. I observed that TRAF2, but not TRAF6, is highly expressed in a highly metastatic bone-tropic clone of the human MDA-MB-231-BT (MDA-231-BT) breast cancer cells when compared to parental MDA-MB-231 (MDA-231) cells. Targeted knockdown of TRAF2, but not TRAF6, in both parental MDA-231 and bone-tropic MDA-231-BT breast cancer cells by siRNAs markedly reduced cell migration and significantly reduced the ability of these cells and their conditioned medium to induce osteoclast formation in RANKL stimulated bone marrow cultures. Encouraged by these data, I generated stable parental MDA-231 and bone-tropic MDA-231-BT breast cancer cell lines overexpressing TRAF2 using a retroviral approach. Then, I went on to show that overexpression of TRAF2 in parental MDA-231 cell line significantly stimulated directed cell migration and 3D invasion in vitro. Bone-tropic MDA-231-BT breast cancer cells over expressing TRAF2 or their conditioned medium were significantly effective in enhancing RANKL induced osteoclast formation in vitro. Mechanistic studies in parental MDA-231 and bone-tropic MDA-231-BT breast cancer cells revealed that over-expression of TRAF2 enhanced cell migration and osteoclastogenesis via a mechanism that involves the activation of the breast cancer oncogene IKKepsilon (IKKε) coupled with significant increase in levels of Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Ex vivo studies in human MDA-231-mouse calvaria organ co-cultures showed that conditioned medium obtained from MDA- 231 cells enhanced calvarial osteolysis. In vivo studies showed that overexpression of TRAF2 in the human breast cancer cells MDA-231 enhanced tumour incidence and tumour volume after orthotopic injection and exacerbated osteolysis after supracalvarial injection of conditioned medium from these cells. In conclusion, our studies showed that the TRAF2/IKK/VEGF axis in breast cancer cells regulates breast cancer cell motility in vitro, osteoclastogenesis in vitro and osteolysis ex vivo and in vivo. However, the role of TRAF2 in bone metastasis associated with breast cancer will require further in vivo investigation.

PiT1/SLC20A1 a été identifiée pour la première fois comme récepteur rétroviral, puis de nombreuses autres études réalisées in vitro ont permis de révéler ces différentes fonctions. PiT1 est notamment un transporteur de phosphate-sodium dépendant. Par le biais de cette activité de transporteur de phosphate inorganique (Pi), PiT1 est impliqué dans plusieurs processus cellulaires comme la minéralisation osseuse, la calcification vasculaire (dans certaines pathologies), et la réabsorption rénale et intestinale de Pi. Dans notre laboratoire, afin de mieux caractériser les fonctions physiologiques de PiT1, un Knock Out (KO) total pour cette protéine a été généré. Les souris présentent un phénotype létal embryonnaire et une atteinte hépatique. Au vu de ces résultats, d’autres études, réalisées dans le laboratoire, ont mis en évidence l’implication de PiT1 dans la prolifération et l’apoptose cellulaire. Ces fonctions nouvellement décrites sont spécifiques à PiT1 et indépendantes de sa fonction de transporteur de Pi.Les objectifs majeurs de mon travail de thèse ont consisté à mieux comprendre le rôle de PiT1 dans les mécanismes apoptotiques déclenchés par le TNF-α. Pour cela, j’ai étudié la cascade d’activation du TNF-α dans les cellules Hela exprimant de manière stable un shPiT1 ou un shScramble. En effet, mes résultats suggèrent que l’association de TRAF2 ; un élément clé de l’activation de la voie des MAPKs ; à PiT1 par le bisais de sa large boucle intracellulaire, permettrait la dissociation des kinases en amont de la voie des MAPKs, GCK (MAP4K) et MLK3 (MAP3K), induisant leur désactivation et ainsi la régulation négative de JNK. La désactivation de JNK induit à son tour à l’inhibition des caspases et donc la signalisation apoptotique. Par ailleurs, j’ai montré que la suractivation de JNK dans les cellules invalidées pour PiT1 corrèle avec la dissocition antérieur du complexe TRAF2-cellular Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins (cIAPs). Ainsi, le complexe pro-apoptotique formé de la caspase-8, la protéine FAS-Associated via Death Domaine (FADD) et du Receptor Interactinf Protein 1 (RIP1) était plus actif.Par ailleurs, la boucle PiT1 et la boucle PiT2 ; son homologue ; ont été échangées, permettant ainsi l’obtention des protéines chimères P2-BclP1 et P1-BclP2. Celles-ci représenteraient des outils intéressants pour mieux comprendre les mécanismes cellulaires engagés dans cette voie apoptotique. Enfin, le rôle de PiT1 dans l’apoptose induite par le TNF-α étudié dans des modèles cellulaires a été confirmé dans deux modèles murins faisant ainsi et pour la première fois un lien entre PiT1 et une pathologie inflammatoire, l’hépatite fulminante. Ces résultats montrent que l’absence de PiT1 sensibilise le foie à l’apoptose; à l’appui d’autres résultats ; PiT1 pourrait être considéré comme une cible thérapeutique dans des pathologies inflammatoires et cancéreuses. / PiT1/SLC20A1 was identified for the first time as retroviral receptor then phosphate inorganic-dependent sodium transporter activity. Through this more a function of phosphate inorganic (Pi) transporter, PiT1 is involved in multiple cellular processes such as bone mineralization, vascular calcification, renal and intestinal reabsorption of Pi. In our laboratory, a total mice Knock Out (KO) for this gene encoding for PiT1 was generated to characterize its physiological functions. The embryonic mice PiT1 KO have a lethal phenotype through liver damage. We have previously found that additional transport-independent functions. PiT1 is involeved in proliferation and in the regulation of tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-induced apoptosis. Modulated cells was mediated by an increased activation of c-Jun N-terminal Kinase (JNK).The aim of my study was to define the role of PiT1 in apoptotic mechanisms of TNF-α signaling. For that, I have studied the regulation cascade of TNF-α pathway in Hela cells expressing shPiT1 or shScramble. My results suggest that intra-cytoplasmic loop domain of PiT1 was interact with TRAF2 ; a key element in the MAPK pathway activation. Furthermore, we also have shown that TNF-induced association of two JNK upstream kinases (Germinal Centre Kinase (GCK or MAP4K) and Mixed Lineage Kinase 3 (MLK3 or MAP3K) to PiT1 suggesting that PiT1 inducing their deactivation and thus down-regulation of JNK. Furthermore, we have shown that JNK increased signalling in PiT1-depleted cells correlates with the earlier dissociation of TRAF2 – cellular Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins (cIAPs) complexes. Thus, the apoptotic complex formed by caspase-8, Fas-Associated protein via Death Domain (FADD) and Receptor Interacting Protein 1 (RIP1) was more effectively activated. Moreover, PiT1 and PiT2 loops, were exchanged, thus allowing obtaining chimeric proteins BclP1-P2 and P1-BclP2. These proteins represent valuable tools to explore the mechanisms involved in the apoptotic pathway. Finally, we confirmed the relevance of these observations in vitro and showed that PiT1 gene conditional deletion in the liver of adult mice increases their sensitivity to fulminant hepatitis TNF-induced. These results are the first report of the involvement of PiT1 in a fatal pathology.

CD40 is a TNF-Receptor (TNFR) superfamily member that functions to promote several facets of the humoral immune response--including B cell proliferation, differentiation, antibody isotype switching, and cytokine expression. TNFR superfamily members lack intrinsic kinase activity and must recruit members of the TNFR-associated factor (TRAF) family of adaptor proteins to connect the receptor to intracellular signaling pathways. CD40-mediated JNK and NF-κB activation is critical for an intact humoral immune response; however, the precise mechanisms governing the spatiotemporal activation of these pathways are not completely understood. In this study we report that CD40 ligation results in the dual phosphorylation of TRAF2 on Ser-11 and Ser-55 to control the subcellular localization of key pathway intermediates and temporally regulate downstream JNK and IKK/NF-κB pathway activation. Notably, TBK1- mediated TRAF2 Ser-11 phosphorylation elicits the dissociation of a signaling complex, consisting of TRAF2, cIAP1/2, and IKKγ, from the CD40 receptor to potentiate a secondary phase of JNK and IKK activation. In the absence of this phosphorylation event, these proteins translocate to the insoluble lipid rafts along with the membrane-bound receptor complex, where TRAF2 undergoes Ser-55 phosphorylation-dependent self-ubiquitination and degradation necessary for cessation of JNK activation. Furthermore, TRAF2 Ser-11 phosphorylation inhibits non-canonical NF-κB activation by promoting the lipid raft localization of the CD40 receptor complex. This suggests that TRAF2 dual phosphorylation acts as a molecular switch to control canonical and non-canonical NF-κB activation. CD40 signaling is heavily implicated in a wide array of chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases--including Alzheimer's, Grave's disease, and diabetes. As such, characterization of the molecular mechanisms directing CD40 signal transduction will provide a foundation for the further development of targeted immunomodulatory therapeutics. In addition, the NF-κB transcriptional program has well-defined roles in oncogenesis and tumor progression, and many B cell lymphomas exploit the CD40L/CD40 dyad to constitutively activate the NF-κB pathway and potentiate neoplastic growth and survival. Through these analyses, we demonstrate that TRAF2 phosphorylation on Ser-11 and Ser-55 promote cell survival in response to genotoxic and oxidative stress, respectively, by regulating JNK and NF-κB pathway activation and coordinating the subcellular localization and stability of key signaling effectors. Furthermore, we show that inhibition of TRAF2 phosphorylation in B-cell lymphoma cells increases their sensitivity to standard frontline chemotherapeutics, including doxorubicin and vincristine, as well as the novel agents bortezomib and arsenic trioxide. These findings are clinically significant, as TRAF2 is found over-expressed and constitutively phosphorylated in DLBCL cell lines and patient biopsies. In addition, mice bearing tumors that harbor TRAF2 Ser-11 phospho-null mutations are more responsive to treatment with doxorubicin and have significantly prolonged survival compared to wild-type counterparts in a syngeneic model of B-cell lymphoma. The tumor microenvironment is characterized by pro-inflammatory cytokines, hypoxia, low glucose, and free radicals, all of which are known to induce chronic cellular stress and NF-κB activation. Cancer cell adaptation to these stressors has profound consequences for malignant progression and therapeutic response. In this regard, our findings present a unique opportunity where the molecular targeting to TRAF2 phosphorylation could increase the efficacy of current therapies by suppressing basal NF-κB activation, thus synergistically sensitizing NF-κB-driven malignancies to chemotherapeutic-induced cell death.

Cellular Inhibitor of Apoptosis Protein 1 (cIAP1) de la famille des IAP (Inhibitor of ApoptosisProtein) est un oncogène à activité E3-ubiquitine ligase. Notre équipe s’intéresse aux processus de différenciation des cellules hématopoïétique. cIAP1 est localisée dans le noyau des précurseurs hématopoïétiques exprimant le marqueur CD34. Lors de leur différenciationnotamment en macrophages ou en cellules dendritiques, cIAP1 est exclue du noyau. L’objectif de ma thèse a été de caractériser de nouvelles fonctions nucléaires et cytoplasmiques de cIAP1. Mes résultats ont contribués à mettre en évidence une fonction nucléaire de cIAP1 dans la régulation du cycle cellulaire via le contrôle du facteur de transcription E2F1. Dans le cytoplasme, cIAP1 est un régulateur de l’activation de la signalisation NF-kB et TNF-α. cIAP1 est un déterminant de la réponse des cellules au TNF-a, favorisant l’activation de NF-kB aux dépens de la mort cellulaire. Le TNF-α est aussi capable de moduler le cytosquelette d’actine et les propriétés morphologiques et migratoires des cellules. Dans les fibroblastes, il induit la formation de fines protrusions membranaires riches en actine appelées filipodes. Mes travaux ont montrés que cIAP1, associée à son partenaire historique TRAF2, régule la formation de ces filipodes. Elle est capable d’interagirdirectement avec la RhoGTPase Cdc42 et de contrôler son activation après un traitement par le TNF- α, mais aussi EGF. De plus, cIAP1 régule aussi la polarisation de l’appareil de Golgi, une fonction spécifiquement attribuée à Cdc42. Cette nouvelle fonction de cIAP1 dans le contrôle de Cdc42 pourrait contribuer aux propriétés oncogéniques de cIAP1 / Cellular Inhibitor of Apoptosis Protein 1 (cIAP1), a IAP family member (Inhibitor of ApoptosisProtein) is an E3 ubiquitin ligase which displays oncogenic properties. The research project of our team is focused on hematopoietic differentiation. cIAP1 is localized in the nucleus of hematopoietic precursors CD34+, and is excluded to the cytoplasm along macrophage and dendritic cell differentiation. The aim of my thesis was to characterize new nuclear and cytoplasmic fonctions of cIAP1. I have contributed to identify a nuclear function of cIAP1 in the regulation of cell cycle through a control of E2F1 transcription factor. In the cytoplasm, cIAP1 is a well-known modulator of NF-kB and TNF-α signaling pathway. It can determine the response of cells to TNF-α, through stimuling the canonical activation of NF-kB and inhibiting cell death. TNF-α can also promote cytoskeleton remodeling which determine morphogenetic properties including morphology or motility. My results suggest a role for cIAP1, when associated its partner TRAF2, in the control of actin rich protrusions called filipodia upon TNF-α stimulation. cIAP1 can interact and control Cdc42 activation, a member of Rho GTPases protein family. cIAP1/TRAF2 appears to control other process controlled by Cdc42 including, filipodia formation in response to EGF, or Golgi polarization. This function of cIAP1 in the control of Cdc42 could contribute to cIAP1 oncogenic properties

The tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor-associated factors (TRAFs) were initially discovered as proteins that inducibly interact with the intracellular region of TNF receptors (TNFRs). Because the TNFRs lack intrinsic catalytic activity, the TRAFs are hypothesized to orchestrate signaling activation downstream of the TNFR superfamily, however their mechanism of activation remains unclear (Inoue et al., 2000; Bishop, 2004). Originally, the TRAFs were compared to the signal transducers and activators of transcription (STAT) protein family, due to their sequence homology, and the presence of multiple RING- and zinc-finger domains, suggesting that their function may be to regulate transcriptional activity (Rothe et al., 1994; Hu et al., 1994; Sato et al. 1995; Cheng et al., 1995). However, subsequent research focused predominantly on their cytoplasmic functions, and more recently on their function as E3 ubiquitin ligases (Pineda et al., 2007). In my research, I analyzed the subcellular localizations of the TRAFs following CD40 ligand (CD40L)-stimulation, and found that TRAF2 and 3 rapidly translocate into the nucleus of primary neurons and Neuro2a cells. Interestingly, similar analysis conducted in pre-B lymphocytes (Daudi cells) revealed a different response to CD40L-stimulation, with TRAF2 and 3 being rapidly degraded within 5-minutes of stimulation. These findings are significant because they demonstrate for the first time that the TRAFs translocate into the nucleus and suggest that they may function within the nucleus in a cell-specific manner. I next analyzed the ability of TRAF2 and 3 to bind to DNA, and found that they both bind to chromatin and the NF-kappaB consensus element in Neuro2a cells, following CD40L-stimulation. Similar analyses of the chromatin binding of TRAF2 and 3 in Daudi cells revealed that they were rapidly degraded, similar to the results from my analysis of their subcellular localization. These findings show for the first time that the TRAFs interact with DNA, and therefore support the hypothesis that the TRAFs may function within the nucleus as transcriptional regulators. Finally, I analyzed the ability of the TRAFs to regulate transcriptional activity by luciferase assay. Previous studies showed that overexpression of TRAF2 and 6 could induce NF-kappaB transcriptional activity; however researchers have not been able to determine the mechanism by which they do so. In my studies, I found that every TRAF can directly regulate transcriptional activity either as co-activators or co-repressors of transcription, in a cell- and target protein-specific manner. Additionally, I found that TRAF2 can act as a transcriptional activator, and that its ability to regulate transcription is largely dependent upon the presence of its RING-finger domain. In conclusion, these studies have revealed an entirely novel function for the TRAFs as immediate-early transcriptional regulators. Future research into the genes that are regulated by the specific TRAF complexes will further elucidate how the TRAFs regulate TNFR signaling, as well as whether dysfunctions in TRAF signaling may be associated with known disorders. If specific TRAF complexes are found to regulate specific genes, then pharmacological targeting of the individual TRAF complexes may allow for the highly specific inhibition of signaling events downstream of the TNFRs, without compromising overall receptor signaling, transcription factor pathways, or cellular systems.