Supplemental material to this article can be found at: http://molpharm.aspetjournals.org/content/suppl/2019/02/14/mol.118.114710.DC1

1521-0111/95/4/361–375$35.00 https://doi.org/10.1124/mol.118.114710 MOLECULAR PHARMACOLOGY Mol Pharmacol 95:361–375, April 2019 Copyright ª 2019 by The American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics

Statins Perturb Gbg Signaling and Cell Behavior in a Gg Subtype Dependent Manner s

Mithila Tennakoon, Dinesh Kankanamge, Kanishka Senarath, Zehra Fasih, and Ajith Karunarathne Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University of Toledo, Toledo, Ohio Received October 6, 2018; accepted January 25, 2019 Downloaded from ABSTRACT Guanine nucleotide-binding proteins (G proteins) facilitate the G protein–coupled receptor (GPCR)-mediated signaling, how transduction of external signals to the cell interior, regulate most mevalonate pathway inhibitors, statins, influence subcellular eukaryotic signaling, and thus have become crucial disease distribution of Gbg dimer and Gabg heterotrimer, as well as drivers. G proteins largely function at the inner leaflet of the their signaling upon GPCR activation, is poorly understood. The plasma membrane (PM) using covalently attached lipid anchors. present study shows that clinically used statins not only Both small monomeric and heterotrimeric G proteins are significantly disrupt PM localization of Gbg but also perturb molpharm.aspetjournals.org primarily prenylated, either with a 15-carbon farnesyl or a GPCR-G protein signaling and associated cell behaviors. The 20-carbon geranylgeranyl polyunsaturated lipid. The mevalonate results also demonstrate that the efficiency of prenylation [3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reduc- inhibition by statins is Gg subtype-dependent and is more tase] pathway synthesizes lipids for G-protein prenylation. It effective toward farnesylated Gg types. Since Gg is required is also the source of the precursor lipids for many biomole- for Gbg signaling and shows a cell- and tissue-specific subtype cules, including cholesterol. Consequently, the rate-limiting en- distribution, the present study can help understand the mech- zymes of the mevalonate pathway are major targets for anisms underlying clinical outcomes of statin use in patients. cholesterol-lowering medications and anticancer drug devel- This work also reveals the potential of statins as clinically usable opment. Although prenylated G protein g (Gg)isessentialfor drugs to control selected GPCR-G protein signaling. at ASPET Journals on September 29, 2021

Introduction (Goldstein and Brown, 1990). Inhibitors of HMG-CoA re- ductase, also called statins, are heavily prescribed to reduce As a major source of morbidity and mortality in developed serum cholesterol. Initially, statins were identified as second- countries, cardiovascular diseases, specifically coronary heart ary metabolites in fungi, and mevastatin is the first natural diseases, have been in the spotlight for years. Most patients statin to be identified (Endo et al., 1976; Alberts, 1988). All with cardiovascular diseases are diagnosed with atheroscle- statins contain a region that resembles the HMG moiety and rosis, which is associated with elevated serum cholesterol thus bind to the active site of the HMG-CoA reductase levels (Gordon and Kannel, 1971; Sytkowski et al., 1990). enzyme (Istvan and Deisenhofer, 2001). As a result, statins Although a fraction of serum cholesterol comes from dietary reversibly inhibit the enzymatic activity of HMG-CoA re- cholesterol, it is regulated primarily through hepatic choles- ductase and reduce mevalonic acid production (Istvan and terol biosynthesis by the mevalonate pathway (Hajar, 2011) Deisenhofer, 2001). (Fig. 1A). The rate-limiting step of cholesterol biosynthesis in Numerous side effects are associated with statin use, the liver is the conversion of 5-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl- including myopathic effects, short-term memory loss, abnor- coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) to mevalonic acid (Rodwell et al., mal liver function, glucose intolerance, hyperglycemia, and 1976). The enzyme HMG-CoA reductase catalyzes this process increased risk for diabetes (Golomb and Evans, 2008; Davies et al., 2016; Ramkumar et al., 2016). Up to 25% of statin users report muscle symptoms, cramping, soreness, and fatigue, This research was supported in part by the University of Toledo and National Institutes of Health National Institute of General Medical Sciences thereby forcing many patients to switch to lower doses, switch (Grant 1R15GM126455-01A1). to lower potency statins, or to withdraw (Carris et al., 2017). https://doi.org/10.1124/mol.118.114710. s This article has supplemental material available at molpharm. Statins are also associated with ocular adverse effects, in- aspetjournals.org. cluding blurred vision, visual impairment, visual-field defect,

ABBREVIATIONS: a2-AR, a2-adrenergic receptor; ANOVA, analysis of variance; ARPE-19, adult retinal pigment epithelial-19; b1-AR, b1- adrenergic receptor; CFP, cyan fluorescent protein; CT, C terminus; DFBS, dialyzed fetal bovine serum; DMSO, dimethylsulfoxide; FBS, fetal bovine serum; FPP, farnesyl pyrophosphate; G proteins, guanine nucleotide-binding proteins; GGPP, geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate; GPCR, G proteincoupled receptor; GRK, G-protein receptor kinase; Gg, G protein g; HMG-CoA, 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A; IM, internal membrane; IP3, inositol 1, 4,0 5-triphosphate; mCh, m cherry; MEM, minimum essential medium; Nb80, nanobody-80; PCR, polymerase chain reaction; PI3K, phosphatidylinositol-4, 5-bisphosphate 3-kinase; PLC b, phospholipase C b; PM, plasma membrane; RPMI 1640, Roswell Park Memorial Institute medium; YFP, yellow fluorescent protein.

361 362 Tennakoon et al. Downloaded from molpharm.aspetjournals.org at ASPET Journals on September 29, 2021

Fig. 1. G-protein prenylation and fluvastatin induced inhibition of Gb1g localization on the PM. (A) Major steps of the hepatic cholesterol biosynthesis/mevalonate pathway. By inhibiting the rate-limiting step enzyme HMG-CoA reductase, statins reduce the biosynthesis of many lipids, including cholesterol. (B) Quantification of statin-mediated inhibition of G-protein PM localization in living cells. Images of HeLa cells expressing Gb1- YFP. Cells treated with 2 mM fluvastatin exhibited a complete cytosolic distribution of Gb1, whereas control cells showed primarily PM- and IM-localized Gb1-YFP. Cartoon shows how the line-profile data were obtained to calculate the G proteins distribution ratio (FPM/Cytosol) in control and Fluvastatin- treated cells. Bar graph shows FPM/Cytosol , 1.0 for fluvastatin treated cells since Gb1 is cytosolic, likely because of a lack of prenylation (error bars: S.E.M., n = 12 cells, P , 0.05). (C) Left: GPCR activation induced translocation of Gbg dimer from the PM to IMs. In the GPCR-inactive state, G-protein heterotrimers reside on the PM, and upon activation, heterotrimers dissociate, generating Ga-GTP and free Gbg. The resultant Gbg then can translocate from the PM to IMs in a Gg-type–dependent manner. Middle: Images show translocation of Gb1 in control HeLa cells upon activation of endogenous a2-AR with 100 mM norepinephrine (NE). Fluvastatin-treated cells exhibited ∼50% attenuated translocation. Right: The plot shows the translocation dynamics of Gb1. Yellow arrows indicate translocated Gb1 on IMs (scale bar, 5 mm, error bars: S.E.M., n = 20 cells, two-tailed t test was performed after the time point the response reached equilibrium; data are statistically significant at the 0.0001 level). reduced visual acuity, myopia, hypermetropia, presbyopia, showed higher incidences of muscle and liver problems and astigmatism (Machan et al., 2012; Mizranita and Pratisto, (Mizranita and Pratisto, 2015). Age-related cataracts have 2015). Whereas one retrospective study indicated that all occurred more frequently in patients receiving statin ther- statins are associated with ocular side effects, atorvastatin apy (Machan et al., 2012). Furthermore, chronic cholesterol Inhibition of Gbg Signaling by Statins 363 depletion using statins has impaired human serotonin 1A St.Louis,MO),c5a(ANASPEC,Fremont,CA),Fluo-4AM(Molec- receptor function (Shrivastava et al., 2010). ular Probes, Eugene, OR), and 11-cis-retinal (National Eye Institute, Besides cholesterol, mevalonate pathway synthesizes several Bethesda, MD). important lipid precursors, such as polyisopreneoids and sterols DNA Constructs. Blue opsin-mTurquoise, a2-AR-cyan fluores- (Miziorko, 2011). Isoprenoid lipids—farnesyl pyrophosphate cent protein (CFP), Akt-PH-mCherry (mCh), GFP-Gg9, GFP-Gg3, Gb1-yellow fluorescent protein (YFP), YFP-Gg2, Gg4, Gg5, GFP- (FPP) and geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate (GGPP)—provide Rac1, and untagged K-Ras and M-Ras were kindly provided by membrane-anchoring abilities to many proteins and thus are Professor N. Gautam’s laboratory (Washington University, St. Louis, required for numerous functions, including cytoskeletal re- MO). mCh was amplified from Akt-PH-mCh with NheI and HindIII organization, differentiation, and proliferation (Casey, 1992; restriction sites and performed the restriction digestion of both Ras Chan et al., 2003; Buhaescu and Izzedine, 2007). FPP and isoforms (vector: untagged K-Ras and M-Ras) and amplified mCh GGPP are precursor lipids for G-protein prenylation. GPCRs (insert). Digested insert and vectors were ligated and chemically and G proteins govern numerous biological processes and transformed to generate N-terminally mCh-tagged K-Ras and M-Ras have become therapeutic targets in areas that include cancer, constructs. Nanobody 80 (Nb80) was kindly provided by Dr. Roshanak cardiac dysfunction, diabetes, central nervous system disor- Irannejad (University of California, San Francisco, CA). To generate ders, obesity, inflammation, vision, and pain. G protein– the Nb80-mCh construct, G-protein receptor kinase 2 (GRK2)-mCh was digested with BamHI and XbaI to remove GRK2. Polymerase mediated signaling process consists of GPCRs, heterotrimeric chain reaction (PCR) product of Nb80 was then inserted into remain- Downloaded from G proteins Ga,Gbg, and their effectors. Ga and Gbg act as ing mCh vector backbone, finally producing Nb80-mCh. Venus- switches that transmit information from cell-surface receptors GRK3ct was kindly provided by Dr. Nevin Lambert. mCh-Gg3(C72A) to intracellular effectors. N and C termini (NT and CT) of Ga construct was generated by substituting Cys 72 residue in mCh-Gg3 and Gg, respectively, are post-translationally modified with with an Ala residue using the overlap PCR method. lipid anchors, facilitating heterotrimer formation and their Cell Culture and Transfections. HeLa cells were cultured in anchoring to the plasma membrane (PM). N-myristoylation MEM/10% DFBS/1% penicillin-streptomycin medium in a humidified molpharm.aspetjournals.org and N-palmitoylation mediate Ga-PM interactions (Chen and 5% CO2 incubator at 37°C. RAW 264.7 cells were cultured in RPMI Manning, 2001). We showed that distinct PM-interacting 1640/10% DFBS with 1% penicillin-streptomycin, and ARPE-19 cells ’ ’ properties of 12 mammalian Gg types are controlled by their were cultured in Dulbecco s modified Eagle s medium/nutrient mix- – CT sequences (Senarath et al., 2018). This sequence comprises ture F-12 10% FBS/ with 1% penicillin-streptomycin. At 70% 80% confluency, the growth medium was aspirated, and cells were in- a polybasic pre-CaaX region and a CaaX motif (Watson et al., cubated with Versene EDTA (CellGro) for 2 minutes at 37°C. After 1994; Wedegaertner et al., 1995; Cook et al., 2006). CaaX motif incubation, cells were lifted and centrifuged at 1000g for 3 minutes. Cysisprenylatedeitherwith a 15-carbon farnesyl or Versene-EDTA was then aspirated, and the cell pellet was resus- 20-carbon geranylgeranyl polyunsaturated lipid anchors pended in the growth medium and seeded on glass-bottomed dishes (Wedegaertner et al., 1995). Type of prenylation is dictated (In Vitro Scientific, Sunnyvale, CA) with a 1 Â 105/ml cell density. The primarily by the CaaX motif sequence of each Gg subtype following day, after seeding, Lipofectamine 2000–mediated trans- at ASPET Journals on September 29, 2021 (Wedegaertner et al., 1995), and lipid anchors for prenylation fection was performed according to the manufacturer’s instructions. are synthesized by the HMG-CoA pathway (Lacher et al., After 3.5 hours of transfection, cells were replenished with the growth 2017). Not only Gg, but many other Ras superfamily G medium containing either dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) or respective proteins, also use prenylation for membrane targeting. How statins. The next day, live-cell imaging was performed. Live-Cell Imaging, Confocal Microscopy, and Data Analysis. statins perturb prenylation of Ras members has been exten- An imaging system composed of a Nikon Ti-R/B–inverted total sively studied (Cordle et al., 2005; Dai et al., 2007; Mörck et al., internal reflection microscope, a Yokogawa CSU-X1 spinning-disk 2009). Anticancer effects of statins are assigned to their ability unit (5000 rpm), an Andor FRAPPA (fluorescence recovery after to downregulate oncogenic Ras (Wong et al., 2002; Chan et al., photo-bleaching and photo-activation) module, and iXon ULTRA 2003; Greenwood et al., 2006). Several studies have suggested 897BV back illuminated deep-cooled EMCCD camera was used that statins reduce isoprenylation of Gg and subsequently for live-cell imaging as well as optogenetics experiments. Grayscale attenuate GPCR signaling (Mühlhäuser et al., 2006; confocal images were captured on to 512 Â 512-pixel CCD with Schmechel et al., 2009); however, considering the necessity 16 Â 16 mm2-pixel size. Pixel depths of the active area and gain of Gg for Gbg signaling and their diverse cell- and tissue-wide register were, respectively, 180,000 e- and 800,000 e-. Images were expression, molecular details, including whether statins acquired with 50-millisecond exposure with four-frame averaging. The EM gain was set for 300. Four, 402100 mW 445, 488, 515, and universally and equally inhibit prenylation of Gg members 594 nm solid-state lasers and an acousto-optical tunable filter were and attenuate GPCR-G protein signaling, are not sufficiently used for excitation, optical activation, as well as photobleaching. Live- explored. cell imaging was performed using 60Â, 1.4 NA (numerical aperture) oil objective. Emission filters 478 6 20 nm [cyan fluorescent protein 6 Materials and Methods (CFP), mTurquoise], 488 20 nm [enhanced green fluorescence protein (eGFP)], 542 6 30 nm [yellow fluorescent protein (YFP), and Materials. HeLa, adult retinal pigment epithelial-19 (ARPE-19), Venus], and 630 6 30 nm (mCherry) were used, respectively, with and RAW 264.7 mouse macrophage cell lines were purchased from 445 nm (∼40 mW), 488 nm (∼30 mW), 515 nm (∼20 mW), and 595 nm American Type Culture Collection (Rockville, MD). Cell culture (∼60 mW) excitation lasers. The power listed was measured at the focal media—minimum essential medium (MEM), Dulbecco’smodified plane of the 60Â objective using 1-cm2 sensor (Ophir PD300, North Eagle’s medium/nutrient mixture F-12, and Roswell Park Memorial Logan, UT). For optical activation of blue opsin using the FRAPPA Institute medium (RPMI 1640)—were obtained from Gibco-Thermo raster scanning, selected regions of cells were exposed to 445 nm Fisher Scientific (Waltham, MA). FBS and dialyzed FBS (DFBS) (0.2–1.0 mW at the objective) light. Before optical activation, cells were purchased from Atlanta Biologicals (Hall County, GA). The were incubated with 50 mM 11-cis-retinal for 3–5 minutes in dark. reagents included Lipofectamine 2000 (Thermo Fisher), fluvastatin, Digital image analysis was performed using Andor iQ 3.1 software atorvastatin, lovastatin, and gallein (Cayman Chemical, Ann Arbor, (Andor Technology, South Windson CT), and color values were MI), norepinephrine, and isoproterenol hydrochloride (Sigma-Aldrich, normalized using in-built Look Up Table tools in iQ 3.1, maintaining 364 Tennakoon et al. an approximately constant setting for each fluorescence sensors. significance. Distinct cellular conditions such as Gg9 and Gg3 cells Fluorescence intensities obtained from regions of interest (PM, IMs, and (or) exposed to several statins were compared using one- or two- and cytosol) were baseline normalized using the intensity of the way analysis of variance (ANOVA) to assess statistical significance. background. Normalized data were then plotted using Origin Pro Statistical analyses of data, including Ca21 and G-protein trans- (OriginLab Corporation, Northamptom, MA). Results of all quantitative location responses for control and statin-treated cells, were per- assays (Gbg translocation, phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-triphosphate formed using two-tailed unpaired t test. P , 0.05 was considered generation, and calcium responses) in time curves were expressed significant. Both Ca21 and Western blot analysis data were pre- with the S.E.M. from n number of cells (indicated in the figure sented as mean 6 S.D. legends). Intracellular Ca21 Measurements. To measure cytosolic Ca21, Results RAW 264.7 cells were cultured on glass-bottomed dishes with RPMI Statins Disrupt PM Localization and Signaling of 1640/DFBS at 37°C with 5% CO2 as described in Cell Culture and Transfections section. Experiments were performed 2 days after Endogenous Gbg in HeLa Cells seeding cells on glass-bottomed dishes. The day after seeding, cells The goal was to examine whether statins interrupt the PM were treated with 10 mM fluvastatin and incubated overnight in the localization of endogenous Gbg and their signaling activation 37°C incubator with 5% CO2. The following day, cells were washed by GPCRs in HeLa cells. Cells were transfected with Gb1-YFP twice with 1% (v/v) Hanks’ balanced salt solution containing NaHCO3 21 by incubating cells with transfection medium containing and Ca (pH 7.2) supplemented with 10 mM fluvastatin. Washed cells Downloaded from were then incubated for 30 minutes at room temperature with a Lipofectamine 2000 reagent for 3.5 hours, and subsequently fluorescent calcium indicator, Fluo-4 AM (2.28 mM), and supple- cells were transferred to the regular culture medium, addi- mented with 10 mM fluvastatin in dark conditions. Before the tionally containing statins [i.e., fluvastatin (2 mM), lovastatin start of imaging, cells were again washed twice with 1% v/v) (2 mM), or atorvastatin (20 mM)] for 12 hours. These concen- 21 Hanks’ balanced salt solution containing NaHCO3, Ca , and 10 mM trations were selected considering their IC50 values (Martín- fluvastatin to remove excess Fluo-4 AM. Processed cells were imaged Navarro et al., 2013). In place of statins, control cells were to capture fluorescent intensity of Fluo-4 AM (488 nm) at 1-second treated with DMSO, the vehicle solvent of statins. Confocal molpharm.aspetjournals.org intervals using 488-nm excitation/515-nm emission after addition of time-lapse images of cells were captured using a 60Â objective 20 mM c5a to activate endogenous c5a receptors. The control cells were with a 1.49 NA. Subcellular distribution of GFP-Gb1 was treated with the vehicle solvent DMSO and imaged the same way as captured using 488-nm excitation and 515-nm emission. Cells fluvastatin-treated cells. 1 Western Blot Analysis. After 12-hour incubation, with either treated with fluvastatin ( flu) exhibited primarily a cytosolic carrier solvent (DMSO) or fluvastatin (2 mM), RAW 264.7 cells were Gb1 distribution (Fig. 1B, bottom), whereas control cells exposed to 12.5 mM c5a for 30 minutes to activate endogenous c5aR. showed primarily a PM and a somewhat internal membrane After incubation, cells were lysed, and the whole-cell lysate was (IM) distribution (Fig. 1B, top). Cytosolic GFP-Gb1 distribu- subjected to SDS-PAGE to separate proteins. Proteins were trans- tion indicates that the associated Gg lacks the prenyl modi- ferred to a polyvinylidene fluoride membrane. After blocking with 5% fication at the Cys residue of the CaaX motif. Prenylated Gbg at ASPET Journals on September 29, 2021 nonfat milk, the membrane was incubated with the primary anti- usually resides either on the PM or IMs. To obtain a numerical bodies specific for p-Akt, t-Akt, and b-actin (no. 4060S; Cell Signaling, value to quantify the extent of inhibition of PM localization, sc-5298, sc-47778; Santa Cruz, CA) overnight at 4°C. The next day, the ratio between fluorescence intensities of Gb1-YFP on the the membrane was incubated with the appropriate horseradish PM and cytosol (F ) was calculated. A line profile of peroxidase–conjugated secondary antibodies (no. 1705047, no. 1705046; PM/Cytosol fluorescence intensities across the PM to the cytosol was Bio-Rad, Hercules, CA) at room temperature for 2 hours. After incubating with chemiluminescent detection solutions, the mem- measured (Fig. 1B, cartoon and plot), and average fluores- brane was exposed to an X-ray film. The protein-band intensities on cence intensities on the PM and cytosol were calculated. X-ray films were quantified and normalized to the level of b-actin. Calculations showed FPM/Cytosol # 1 for cells with completely Experiments were performed in triplicate with independent biologic inhibited PM localization of Gbg and FPM/Cytosol . 1 for cells replicates; quantification and statistical analysis were performed. with a partial to no inhibition. Deviation of FPM/Cytosol of a Transwell Invasion Assay. Transwell invasion chambers (with treated cell from its control represents the extent of the 8-mm membrane pores) were coated with 1Â Matrigel (100 ml). The presence of cytosolic Gbg, indicating the extent of presumptive next day, RAW 264.7 cells preincubated with DMSO, fluvastatin prenylation inhibition. For Gb1 distribution, FPM/Cytosol was (2 mM), Rho-A inhibitors (EHop-016, 5 mM; EHT1864, 10 mM; 1.04 6 0.09 for 1flu cells (Fig. 1B, bar graph). The images GSK269962, 12.5 mM), or wortmannin (50 nM) for 24 hours were show that in the 1flu cell, a distinguishable PM region is transferred on top of Matrigel-coated invasion chambers in serum-free RPMI (5 Â 104 cells/well). In transwell chambers, cells were also lacking since fluorescence in the cytosol and the PM is similar. treated with either DMSO or the above-listed inhibitors. To asym- The plot shows the steep drop in the intensity (red curve) at metrically activate endogenous c5aR, RPMI containing 10% DFBS the edge of the cell to the level of the extracellular background. with 12.5 mM c5a was added to the lower chambers. After incubation Overall, contrary to the control cell, 1flu data suggest strong for 24 hours at 37°C and 5% CO2, the invaded cells on the lower surface prenylation inhibition by fluvastatin. Next, the effect of of the insert membrane were fixed and stained using the Fisher fluvastatin on the availability of G- protein heterotrimers to HealthCare PROTOCOL Hema 3 fixative and solutions (Fisher be activated by GPCR was examined using GPCR activation ’ Scientific) according to the manufacturer s protocol. The number of induced Gb1g translocation. We have previously shown that, Â invaded cells were counted under a light microscope at 200 total upon GPCR activation, Gbg translocates from the PM to IMs magnification. Every experiment was performed in triplicate, and all (Ajith Karunarathne et al., 2012) (Fig. 1C, cartoon). Control experiments were repeated four times over different days. Statistics and Reproducibility. Results of all quantitative HeLa cells exhibited a robust translocation of Gb1-YFP upon assays (Gbg translocation, PIP3 generation, cell migration, and activation of endogenous a2-ARs with 100 mM norepinephrine Ca21 response) were calculated as the mean 6 S.E.M. or S.D. with (Fig. 1C, top panel and plot); however, 1flu cells exhibited the listed number of cells in figure legends from multiple independent 42.85% attenuated translocation (Fig. 1C, bottom panel and experiments (˃3). P , 0.05 was considered the threshold for statistical plot). This finding suggests it is likely that fluvastatin disrupts Inhibition of Gbg Signaling by Statins 365 endogenous Gg prenylation and thereby attenuates hetero- Since Gg9 and Gg3 are respectively considered farnesylated trimer formation as well as Gbg translocation. and geranylgeranylated based on their CaaX motif se- quences, we examined whether the PM interaction of other farnesylated as well as geranylgeranylated Gg types are Fluvastatin-Induced Inhibition of Gg PM Localization is Gg similarly disrupted by fluvastatin. Like Gg9, Gg1 is identified Identity-Dependent as a farnesylated protein, and 1flu cells exhibited a com- The goal was to examine whether fluvastatin equally and pletely cytosolic distribution of YFP-Gg1, whereas control universally inhibits PM localization of all Gg types. This is cells showed a prominent PM distribution (Fig. 3A). Except crucial since Gg shows a cell- and tissue-type specific distri- Gg19and11,otherGg types are considered primarily bution (Cali et al., 1992). Compared with the control HeLa geranylgeranylated. Fluvastatin-treated Gg2- expressing cells, which exhibited GFP-Gg9 distribution on the PM, 1flu cells exhibited a partial inhibition of YFP-Gg2 membrane cells exhibited a completely cytosolic GFP-Gg9 distribution attachment (Fig. 3B), similar to that of Gg3. Compared with (Fig. 2A, left images and bar graph). Upon activation of Gg1, fluvastatin also induced a more pronounced cytosolic endogenous a2-AR, control cells exhibited a robust trans- distribution of Gg4andGg5 (Fig. 3, C and D). Nevertheless, location of GFP-Gg9 to IMs, indicating G-protein activation control cells expressing these Gg subtypes always exhibited and heterotrimer dissociation (Fig. 2A, 1NE-top images and primarily PM distributions (Fig. 3, A–D). To further support plot). By contrast, fluvastatin-treated cells exhibited only a our observation that the PM localization of farnesylated Gg Downloaded from minor increase in their already cytosolic GFP-Gg9 after a2-AR types are more effectively inhibited by fluvastatin than by activation (Fig. 2A, 1NE, 1flu images and plot). Like Gg9, geranylgeranylated Gg s, the extent of observed inhibitions control HeLa cells expressing geranylgeranylated GFP-Gg3 in 1flu cells across Gg types were normalized to their also showed a prominent PM distribution (Fig. 2B, bottom left untreated controls (Supplemental Fig. 1B). Of the four Gg and bar graph). Even after 12-hour exposure to fluvastatin, types compared, the greatest inhibition of membrane an- Gg3 was seen primarily on the PM, and only a minor cytosolic chorage was observed in Gg1, whereas Gg2, 4, and 5 are less molpharm.aspetjournals.org distribution was observed (Fig. 2B, middle left and bar graph). affected by fluvastatin. Overall, the data suggest that pre- This nearly unperturbed PM-bound GFP-Gg3 fluorescence in sumptively fluvastatin inhibits farnesylation more effec- fluvastatin-treated cells indicated that perhaps a considerable tively than geranylgeranylation. population of Gg3 is still prenylated. Activation of endogenous Heterotrimeric G proteins shuttle between the PM and IMs, a2-AR receptors in both 1flu and control cells exhibited GFP- as heterotrimers at the GPCR-inactive state and as free Gbg Gg3 translocation from the PM to IMs but exhibited a 1/3 (Ajith Karunarathne et al., 2012). Regardless of the type of Gg lower magnitude in 1flu cells (Fig. 2B, plot). These data in the heterotrimer, inactive-state shuttling allows hetero- suggest that fluvastatin is likely to attenuate prenylations of trimers to maintain a pool at IMs, whereas most heterotrimers

Gg3 to a level that induces a detectable reduction of hetero- reside at the PM. To examine whether fluvastatin treatment at ASPET Journals on September 29, 2021 trimer activation and free Gbg translocation. To validate alters relative PM-IM distribution of heterotrimers, HeLa that the remaining PM-bound fraction of Gg observed after cells cotransfected with the endoplasmic reticulum marker, fluvastatin treatment is still prenylated, we examined the CFP-KDEL, and either GFP-Gg9 or GFP-Gg3 were exposed to subcellular distribution ofaprenylation-deficientGg3 fluvastatin. Unlike control cells which show heterotrimers on mutant. We generated Gg3(C72A) mutant to eliminate its the PM and in IMs, both Gg types were not observed in IMs prenylation, and in HeLa cells, this mutant exhibited a in 1flu cells; however, CFP-KDEL expression remained un- completely cytosolic distribution (Supplemental Fig. 1A). This changed, indicating an intact endoplasmic reticulum (Supple- Gg distribution was similar to the Gg9 distribution observed mental Fig. 1C). This indicates that PM is the primary location in 1flu cells. Therefore, we anticipated that membrane- bound for heterotrimers, and we anticipate that when cells have a Gg is prenylated and that cytosolic Gg lacks prenylation. surplus heterotrimers, they are docked in IMs. Since fluvas- To confirm that statins inhibit membrane attachment of Gg tatin treatment is likely to reduce heterotrimer availability, as by inhibiting mevalonate synthesis, HeLa cells expressing indicated by universal reduction of Gbg translocation (Fig. 2), either GFP-Gg3 or GFP-Gg9 were exposed to fluvastatin we hypothesize that 1flu cells can accommodate the avail- (2 mM) for 12 hours in the presence and absence of mevalonate able heterotrimers at the PM. Additionally, the effect of (0.5 mM). In contrast to control cells exposed to fluvastatin statins on Ga distribution was examined by expressing Gao- alone, Gg9 and Gg3in1flu- and mevalonate-treated cells CFP, Gb1-mCh, and Gg9-YFP in the same cell. Although Gb1 showed a completely PM distribution (Fig. 2, middle and and Gg9 showed primarily a cytosolic distribution, Ga stayed bottom). These cells also exhibited translocation- like un- PM-bound in most cells (Supplemental Fig. 1D). treated cells upon endogenous a2-AR activation (Fig. 2, plots); however, 1flu cells exhibited a 10-fold lower extent of trans- location for Gg9 and ∼2-fold lower for Gg3 than the respective Mitigation Potentials of G Protein-Membrane Interactions of control cells. Additionally, Gg9 distribution in cells exposed to Different Statins Are Diverse farnesyl transferase inhibitor lonafarnib was similar to that of We compared how different statins perturb G protein- fluvastatin-treated cells (Supplemental Fig. 1E). These data membrane interactions presumptively by reducing G-protein collectively show that fluvastatin-induced inhibition of Gg prenylation. In place of 2 mM fluvastatin, HeLa cells were membrane anchoring is due to inhibition of mevalonate and exposed to either 2 mM lovastatin or 20 mM atorvastatin, and subsequent reduction of isoprenyl pyrophosphate synthesis. their effects on GFP-Gg9 or GFP-Gg3 distribution in HeLa These data also clearly show that the observed lack of Gg PM cells were examined (Martín-Navarro et al., 2013) (Fig. 4A, top attachment is not due to a nonspecific effect of statins on the panel and plot). Two-way ANOVA shows that Gg3 and Gg9 cell cycle. responses to statins significantly differ, F (1,12) 5 41.2, 366 Tennakoon et al.

P , 0.05, such that the average inhibition was significantly higher for Gg9; mean 5 51.2%, S.E.M. 5 10.8) than for Gg3 (mean 5 22.8%, S.E.M. 5 5.4). The inhibitory effect on Gg membrane interactions of drugs were also significant, F (2, 12) 5 63.2, P . 0.05 such that 1flu effect was signifi- cantly higher (mean 5 74.6%, S.E.M. 5 10.5), compared with lovastatin (mean 5 28.1%, S.E.M. 5 7.5) and atorvastatin (mean 5 19.0%, S.E.M. 5 3.4). The interaction effect was significant also, F(2, 12) 5 8.5, P , 0.05, where fluvastatin on Gg9 (mean 5 92.0%, S.E.M. 5 1.0) and fluvastatin on Gg3 (mean 5 49.0%, S.E.M. 5 1.0) showed the greatest effect, whereas atorvastatin on Gg3 (mean 5 17.0%, S.E.M. 5 3.7) and lovastatin on Gg3 (mean 5 11.0%, S.E.M. 5 1.0) exhibit the lowest effect. Collectively, this analysis shows that Gg9 and Gg3 responded to drug treatments differently. Also, at the same confidence level, three drugs influenced each Gg type differentially. Although the difference between influences of Downloaded from lovastatin and atorvastatin on each Gg type was not signifi- cant, they both differed from fluvastatin (i.e., the presumed Gg prenylation inhibition potential of both atorvastatin and lovastatin was significantly lower than that of fluvastatin). We also examined whether these statins also attenuate a2-AR activation-induced GFP-Gg3orGg9 translocation from molpharm.aspetjournals.org the PM to IMs (Supplemental Fig. 1E). One-way ANOVA showed that the inhibitory effects of statins on Gg9 translo- cations were significant, F (3, 65) 5 30.53, P , 0.05. The inhibitory effects of 1flu and 1lovastatin were significant, where (mean 5 1.01, S.E.M. 5 0.06) and (mean 5 1.04, S.E.M. 5 0.21), respectively, whereas the effect of 1Ator was not significant (mean 5 1.40, S.E.M. 5 0.21). A one-way ANOVA with F (3, 86) 5 9.74, P , 0.05 for the inhibitory

effects of statins on Gg3 translocation was significant. 1Flu on at ASPET Journals on September 29, 2021 Gg3 translocation (mean 5 1.16, S.E.M. 5 0.11) and 1Ator (mean 5 1.22, S.E.M. 5 0.12) were significant, whereas the effect of 1lovastatin (mean 5 1.36, S.E.M. 5 0.24) was not significant. These data collectively suggest that different statins possess distinct abilities to attenuate prenylation of Gg and thereby the extent of Gbg translocation. Next, we examined the ability of fluvastatin, lovastatin, and atorvastatin to attenuate prenylation of Ras superfamily members. Most of the Ras superfamily proteins are prenylated and interact with lipid membranes where they regulate designated biologic functions, such as cell proliferation and differentiation (Wang and Casey, 2016). The actions of the Ras superfamily proteins are tightly regulated, and their aberrant behaviors are found in many cancers (Fernández- Fig. 2. Fluvastatin differentially attenuates the PM localization of Gg9 Medarde and Santos, 2011). Together with chemotherapeu- and Gg3. (A) Images of control cells pretreated with the carrier solvent tic agents, statins are prescribed to accelerate tumor cell (DMSO) exhibited a clear distribution of GFP-Gg9 on the PM, indicating apoptosis since they diminish the HMG-CoA pathway me- prenylated Gg9. Fluvastatin-treated cells showed near-complete cytosolic tabolites, FPP and GGPP, which are required for Ras protein GFP-Gg9, suggesting a complete inhibition of Gg9 prenylation. +Flu + mevalonate cells show that supplementation of mevalonate abrogates prenylation (Hindler et al., 2006; Yu et al., 2018). HeLa cells fluvastatin action. Bar graphs show that of +flu cells with FPM/Cytosol # 1, incubated with fluvastatin exhibited a near-complete cyto- exhibiting lack of GFP fluorescence on the PM; both control and +flu + solic distribution of mCh-KRas, as well as mCh-MRas, mevalonate cells with FPM/Cytosol . 1 indicating the PM-bound GFP fluorescence. Images (left) and the plot show endogenous a2-AR activation mediated Gg9 translocation only in control and +flu + mevalonate cells. The t statistics show that at P , 0.05, mean FPM/Cytosol are not significantly different for control and +flu +mevalonate cells. In contrast, translocation whereas no Gg3 residing in IMs is observed. Upon endogenous a2-AR in Fluvastatin-treated cells were significantly attenuated, indicating a activation, cells in all three conditions exhibited translocation. The plot lack of PM-bound heterotrimers (error bars: S.E.M., n = 12 cells; two-tailed (right) shows a ∼1/3 magnitude lower translocation in +flu cells compared t test was performed after the time point the response reached equilibrium, with controls and +flu + mevalonate cells, which indicates that fluvastatin and the data are statistically significant at 0.05 level). (B) Partial prenylation can attenuate Gbg3 activation. Yellow arrows indicate Gbg translocated to inhibition of GFP-Gg3 in HeLa cells. Like GFP-Gg9-expressing cells, IMs (Scale bar, 5 mm, error bars: S.E.M., n = 15 cells; two- tailed t test was control and +flu + mevalonate cells showed that GFP-Gg3 is on the PM. In performed after the time point the response reached equilibrium, and the contrast to Gg9, +flu cells showed GFP-Gg3 distribution only on the PM, data are statistically significant at the 0.05 level). Inhibition of Gbg Signaling by Statins 367 Downloaded from

Fig. 3. Fluvastatin has distinct inhibition abilities of membrane localization of Gg1, Gg2, Gg4, and Gg5. HeLa cells expressing (A) YFP-Gg1 (B) YFP- Gg2 (C) YFP-Gg4 and (D) YFP-Gg5, pretreated overnight with 2 mM fluvastatin during transfection. Control cells showed a clear localization of Gg on the PMs and in IMs. Fluvastatin-treated cells showed a complete cytosolic distribution of Gg1-, Gg2-, Gg4-, and Gg5-transfected cells exposed to fluvastatin

and showed only a partial presence of YFP in the cytosol, similar to GFP-Gg3 cells exposed to fluvastatin. Bar graphs show FPM/Cytosol in control and +flu molpharm.aspetjournals.org cells in which Gg1, Gg2, and Gg4 show a significant increase in cytosolic YFP compared with control cells; however, no significant difference in FPM/Cytosol of Gg5 cells was observed between control and +flu conditions. (Scale bar, 5 mm, error bars: S.D., 10 , n , 15 cells, P , 0.05). respectively, indicating their lack of prenyl anchors (Fig. 4B). also exhibited nuclear localized Rac1-GFP (Supplemental This inhibition was quantified using the method in Fig. 1B. Fig. 2A). Moreover, Gg9 in lonafarnib-treated cells were Control cells incubated with vehicle solvent exhibited cytosolic as well. primarily PM-bound KRas and MRas. At P 5 0.05, mean Ramifications of Gbg Signaling in Statin-Treated Cells FPM/Cytosol ratios of control and 1flu are different where

FPM/Cytosol (control) .. 1 $ FPM/Cytosol (1flu). These results Most Gbg effectors are PM bound or interact with the PM at ASPET Journals on September 29, 2021 were not surprising since both KRas and MRas are consid- during activation. The goal was to examine whether fluvasta- ered farnesylated (Berndt et al., 2011). Interestingly, HeLa tin disrupts Gbg effector signaling significantly. We also cells exposed to lovastatin and atorvastatin exhibited examined whether the signaling of Gbg composed of specific primarily a PM distribution of KRas and MRas (Fig. 4B, Gg types is more susceptible to be perturbed by fluvastatin. bar graph right). Compared with the near-complete inhibi- Gbg Induced Phospholipase C b (PLCb) Activation tion of PM interaction exhibited by fluvastatin, atorvastatin and Subsequent Calcium Mobilization. Compared with showed ∼40% inhibition of MRas and near-zero inhibition GaqGTP, Gbg activates PLCb to a lesser extent; however, it of KRas, whereas lovastatin exhibited minor inhibition of induces phosphatidylinositol 4, 5-bisphosphate hydrolysis, both Ras members. Collectively, these data suggest that generating diacylglycerol and inositol 1, 4, 5-triphosphate fluvastatin, lovastatin, and atorvastatin exhibit distinct (IP3) (Park et al., 1993). We previously demonstrated that, prenylation inhibitions of the same Ras protein. upon activation, Gi-coupled a2-AR using norepinephrine Additionally, prenylation inhibition of small G-protein Rac1 activates PLCb and induces calcium mobilization (Gupta by fluvastatin, lovastatin, and atorvastatin was examined in et al., 2017). Since our data show that statins reduce the HeLa cells expressing GFP-Rac1. Rac1, being a member of concentration of PM-interacting Gbg at near-complete to Rho-GTPases, plays a major role in cell migration by contrib- partial levels, we examined the effect of statins on Gbg- uting to lamellipodia formation (Cotton and Claing, 2009). governed calcium mobilization response. RAW 264.7 cells Whereas the control cells treated with DMSO showed a clear incubated with either 10 mM fluvastatin, 20 mM atorvastatin, Rac1 distribution on the PM (Fig. 4C, top right image and pie or 10 mM lovastatin for 12 hours were pretreated with chart), fluvastatin-treated cells exhibited a nuclear localiza- the small- molecule calcium indicator fluo-4 AM (2.28 mM). tion (Fig. 4C, bottom left image and pie chart). The extent of Calcium imaging was performed as described previ- inhibition of PM localization of Rac1 by lovastatin and ously (Siripurapu et al., 2017). After baseline, fluo-4 atorvastatin was significantly lower than that by fluvastatin. fluorescence was captured, endogenous c5a receptors were A one-way ANOVA shows that three statins inhibit Rac1 activated with 20 mM c5a, and fluo4 imaging was continued. localization at the PM to significantly different extents, One-way ANOVA that yielded F (3, 36) 5 157.3, P , 0.05 F (2, 6) 5 117.5, P , 0.01. Fluvastatin-treated cells showed showed that, compared with the control cells in which 55.3% the highest mean inhibition of 99.2% (S.D. 5 0.5), whereas (S.D. 5 5.7) cells showed c5A receptor activation-induced lower inhibitions were exhibited by lovastatin (77.0% 6 7.7%) calcium responses, fluvastatin treated cells showed a signif- and atorvastatin (25.0% 6 7.2%). Additionally, confirming icant inhibition of the response with a mean difference of that nuclear-localized Rac1 is unprenylated, cells incubated 40.2% (S.E.M. 5 2.0) cells (Fig. 5A, images and bar graph). with lonafarnib (10 mM), a farnesyl transferase inhibitor, Not only the percentage of the number of cells with calcium 368 Tennakoon et al. Downloaded from molpharm.aspetjournals.org at ASPET Journals on September 29, 2021

Fig. 4. Different statins show distinct inhibitions of the PM localization of the same G protein. (A) Compared with Fluvastatin-treated cells, HeLa cells expressing GFP-Gg9andGFP-Gg3 treated with either lovastatin or atorvastatin only exhibited a minor inhibition of the Gg-PM localization. The plot shows the percentage of cells that showed at least partial membrane localization inhibition in the GFP-Gg–expressing cell populations. and • on the plot indicate complete, moderate, and minor inhibitions respectively (10 , n , 30 cells). A two-way ANOVA shows that Gg3 ٭ ,■ Symbols and Gg9 significantly differ, F (1,12) = 41.2, P , 0.05, such that the average inhibition was significantly higher for Gg9(M = 51.2%, S.E.M. = 10.8) than for Gg3(M = 22.8%, S.E.M. = 5.4). The inhibitory effect on Gg membrane interactions of drugs were also significant, F (2, 12) = 63.2, P . 0.05 such that +flu effect was significantly higher (M = 74.6%, S.E.M. = 10.5), compared with Ator (M = 28.1%, S.E.M. = 7.5) and lovastatin (M = 19.0%, S.E.M. = 3.4). (B) HeLa cells expressing mCh-KRas and mCh-MRas pretreated with either DMSO (control) or fluvastatin. Compared with control cells, both KRas and MRas in +flu cells showed a complete cytosolic fluorescence distribution, indicating the near-complete inhibition of their farnesylation.Bar graph (middle) with FPM/Cytosol indicates significant differences in inhibitions between control and +flu cells in both KRas and MRas cells. Bar graph (right) with percentage of the number of cells with PM localization. +Flu shows effective inhibitions of both Ras members; atorvastatin shows ∼40% inhibition of MRas and near-zero inhibition of KRas. + Lovastatin exhibited minor inhibition of both Ras members (scale bar, 5 mm, error bars: S.E.M., n = 17 cells, P , 0.05). (C) HeLa cells expressing GFP-Rac1 showed a clear PM localization; +flu cells showed GFP fluorescence primarily in the nucleus. +Lov and +Ator treatments induced bi-phasic responses, i.e., only a fraction of cell population exhibited complete nuclear localization ofRac1 (scale bar, 5 mm, error bars: S.E.M., n $ 15 cells, P , 0.05). increase (15.1% 6 5.3%) was reduced in fluvastatin-treated translated into a reduction in signaling. We have demon- cells, but the relative response magnitude was also reduced strated that farnesylated Gg types, including Gg9, attenuate (Fig. 5A, plot). Lovastatin showed a minor inhibition of Gbg-effectors PLCb and phosphatidylinositol-4, 5-bisphosphate calcium response, whereas inhibition by atorvastatin was 3-kinase (PI3K) activations, whereas geranylgeranylated Gg insignificant. types enhance their signaling (Senarath et al., 2018). We also Gbg Mediated Activation of Phosphatidylinositol-4, showed that endogenously expressed Gg3 in RAW cells are 5-Bisphosphate 3-Kinase, Subsequent PIP3 Genera- required for Gi pathway activation–mediated PIP3 produc- tion, and Cell Migration. Subsequently, we examined tion and PLCb activation during cell migration (Siripurapu whether presumptive partial prenylation inhibition of gera- et al., 2017; Senarath et al., 2018). In migratory cells, nylgeranylated Gg types in RAW 264.7 cells by statins is lamellipodia formation at the leading edge is driven by Inhibition of Gbg Signaling by Statins 369 Downloaded from molpharm.aspetjournals.org at ASPET Journals on September 29, 2021

Fig. 5. Fluvastatin perturbs Gbg signaling in RAW 264.7 macrophages. (A) Upon activation of endogenous c5a receptor with 20 mM c5a, 55% of control (DMSO-treated) RAW 264.7 cells exhibited increase in fluo-4 fluorescence (green), indicating cellular calcium increase. By contrast, only ∼11% of 10 mM Fluvastatin-treated cells showed weaker calcium responses. The plot compares representative calcium responses by a control and +flu cell. Bar graph shows that, compared with control cells, +flu, +ator-, and +lov-treated cells exhibited varying levels of calcium-response inhibitions; however, the +ator cells were not significantly different from the responses of control cells (scale bar, 10 mm, number of fields $6, n , 30 cells in each field, error bars: S.D., P , 0.05). (B) RAW 264.7 cells expressing blue opsin-mTurquoise (Gi-coupled GPCR), Akt-PH-mCh (PIP3 sensor), and either GFP-GPI or GFP-Gg3 preincubated with 50 mM11-cis-retinal. Both WT control and GFP-Gg3 cells showed PIP3 generation, indicated by the translocation of cytosolic Akt-PH-mCh to the PM (yellow arrow). Fluvastatin exhibited the highest inhibition in both WT control and GFP-Gg3–expressing cells. Plots and a two-way ANOVA showed that the PIP3 production inhibitions by all three drugs are statistically significant (scale bar, 5 mm, error bars: S.E.M., n $ 15 cells, P , 0.05).

PIP3, produced as a result of Gbg-mediated PI3K activation or GFP-Gg3. Cells were exposed to either fluvastatin (2 mM), (Kölsch et al., 2008). To interact with Gbg, the p110 subunit lovastatin (2 mM), or atorvastatin (20 mM) for 12 hours after of PI3K translocates from the cytosol to the PM and sub- transfection. Both WT-control and Gg3-control RAW264.7 sequently catalyzes PIP3 production (Braselmann et al., cells were treated with DMSO. Cells were supplemented with 1997; Brock et al., 2003). We used the translocation of 11-cis-retinal (50 mM) to generate light-sensing blue opsin and fluorescently tagged PIP3 sensor (Akt-PH-mCh) from cyto- imaging of GFP using the 488-nm light activated opsin. Plots sol to the PM to measure PIP3 production. RAW 264.7 (Fig. 5B) and two-way ANOVA showed that PIP3 responses cells were transfected with blue opsin-mTurquoise (a observed in WT or Gg3 cells upon blue opsin activation were Gi-coupled GPCR), Akt-PH-mCh, and either GFP-GPI (WT) not significantly different [F(1, 57) 520.026, P 5 1]. Also, 370 Tennakoon et al. selected drugs to inhibit PIP3 production in WT or Gg3 cells were not significantly different [F(4, 57) 5 0.754, P 5 0.56]; however, all three drugs exhibited significant differences in their PIP3 response both in WT and Gg3 cells [F(4, 57) 5 5.40 P , 0.01] such that, compared with WT-control and Gg3- control cells, fluvastatin-treated cells showed, respectively, ∼73% and ∼82% reductions in PIP3 production. Similarly, lovastatin showed 38% and 58% and atorvastatin exhibited 13% and 79% reductions in WT and Gg3-control cells, respectively. We next determined whether the observed reduction of PIP3 generation in fluvastatin-treated RAW 264.7 cells also impairs optically directed migration through localized activa- tion of blue opsin to activate the Gi pathway. Blue opsin in localized regions of RAW 264.7 cells (Fig. 6A, blue box) pre- reconstituted with 11-cis-retinal was activated using blue light, and cells exhibited directional migration towards the Downloaded from optical stimuli. Compared with the migration of the leading edge of control cells (6.8 mM 6 0.8), which also exhibited a robust lamellipodia formation and PIP3 production (Fig. 6A, yellow arrow), cells exposed to 10 mM fluvastatin exhibited significantly reduced (P , 0.05) migration (2.2 mM 6 0.2, (Fig. 6A, bar graph). Fluvastatin- treated cells showed a molpharm.aspetjournals.org significantly attenuated PIP3 generation, ascertaining the data obtained for PIP3 generation after global activation of opsins (Fig. 5B, yellow arrow). Trailing-edge migration of fluvastatin-treated cells also exhibited a significantly reduced (P , 0.05) migration compared with control cells. Cell migration and invasion play a critical role in cancer cell progression and subsequent cancer metastasis (Kirui et al., 2010). The role of Gbg signaling in cell migration and invasion is thoroughly investigated and well documented (Kirui et al., at ASPET Journals on September 29, 2021 2010; Tang et al., 2011; Kim et al., 2012; Vázquez-Prado et al., 2016). In addition to PI3K, Gbg signaling contributes to full activation of PIP3-dependent Rac exchanger 1 (P-Rex1) and thus to Rac1-mediated cell mobility (Dbouk et al., 2012; Kim et al., 2012). Blockade of Gbg is found to diminish cancer metastasis (Tang et al., 2011). Therefore, the ability of fluvastatin to perturb cell invasion was tested by using transwell invasion assay for control, as well as fluvastatin Fig. 6. Fluvastatin attenuates Gi-pathway–governed cell migration and (2 mM), Rho-A inhibitors (EHop-016, 5 m; EHT1864, 10 mM; invasion and reduces Akt phosphorylation. (A) A RAW 264.7 cell-express- ing blue opsin-mTurquoise and Akt-PH-mCh and incubated with 50 mM GSK269962, 12.5 mM) or wortmannin (50 nM)-treated cells for 11-cis-retinal exhibited a directional migration toward the optical stimuli 24 hours. Compared with the number of cells invaded in upon localized optical activation of blue opsin (blue box). This migration is controls, one-way ANOVA with F (3, 9) 5 24, P , 0.01 showed accompanied with lamellipodia and clear generation of PIP3 at the leading that all three treatments significantly inhibited the number of edge. In contrast, cells treated with 10 mM fluvastatin exhibited a significant reduction (P , 0.05) in cell migration, lamellipodia formation, and PIP3 cells invaded (Fig. 6B). Fluvastatin, RhoA inhibitors, and generation (error bars: S.D., n . 10 cells, P , 0.05). (B) Bar graph shows wortmannin exhibited, respectively ∼11-fold, 75-fold, and invasion of RAW 264.7 cells in the transwell invasion assay, induced by 6-fold reductions in their invasion. The higher reduction in endogenous c5a receptor activation using 12.5 mM c5a. Compared with control (DMSO) cells, fluvastatin, RhoA inhibitors (EHop-016, EHT1864, and cell invasion by fluvastatin compared with wortmannin can be GSK269962), and PI3K inhibitor (wortmannin)-treated cells exhibited signif- attributed to the ability of fluvastatin to attenuate PM icant reductions in cell invasion (n = 2). Compared with wortmannin-treated localization of both Gbg and Rho GTPases such as Rac1, cells, Fluvastatin-treated cells exhibited ∼50% more inhibition, indicating that inhibition through fluvastatin can be due to prenylation inhibition of both Gg which facilitate cell migration. as well as Ras family proteins (error bars: S.D., n , 3 independent experi- Fluvastatin Exposure Attenuates Downstream Sig- ments, P , 0.05). (C) Examination of Akt phosphorylation in cells exposed to naling of Gbg. The Akt/PKB pathway is one of the major fluvastatin using Western blot analysis. Images and bar graph show ∼40% less signaling networks activated by Gbg.Gbg-induced phosphor- Akt phosphorylation in +flu cells, compared with control cells. Protein expressions were normalized to both total Akt and b-Actin. (error bars: S.D., ylation of the PI3K and subsequent PIP3 generation recruits n = three independent experiments, P , 0.05). Akt to the PM. Activated Akt triggers numerous downstream responses, including cell survival, proliferation, growth, and cell migration (Hemmings and Restuccia, 2015). Since our data effect of fluvastatin on Akt phosphorylation. Raw264.7 cells show that fluvastatin treatment diminishes Gbg-mediated were incubated either with 2 mM fluvatatin or DMSO for PI3K/PIP3 signaling and Akt links Gbg with cell migration 24 hours. Cells were lysed and extracted proteins were and invasion, Western blot analysis was used to examine the separated using SDS-PAGE. Western blot analysis was Inhibition of Gbg Signaling by Statins 371 performed using standard protocols, and total Akt, phospho-Akt, (Machan et al., 2012; Mizranita and Pratisto, 2015). Visual and actin were detected using specific primary and secondary transduction requires the activation of G-protein hetero- antibodies. The phospho-Akt level was normalized to expression trimers by light-activated opsins, and cells in the retina levels of both total-Akt and b-actin. The data revealed a 2-fold primarily use farnesylated Gg types (Gg1 and Gg9) in reduction in Akt phosphorylation compared with the DMSO- heterotrimers. Since statins greatly perturb the PM localiza- treated control cells (Fig. 6C; Supplemental Fig. 2B). These data tion of the farnesylated Gg types, we examined whether further confirm the ability of fluvastatin to inhibit Gbg signaling statins reduce Gbg translocation (which is considered a mea- and Gbg-mediated downstream cellular events. sure of heterotrimer activation) (Senarath et al., 2016) in adult retinal pigment epithelial-19 (ARPE-19) cells. Gg-subtype Fluvastatin Suppresses Internalization of Activated expression profile of ARPE-19 cells was determined using b1-Adrenergic Receptors quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). Data have shown that the major Gg subtypes endogenously expressed in ARPE19 Desensitization of activated GPCRs protects cells from cells are Gg11 and Gg5 (Fig. 7B, bar graph). Since Gg11 is excessive signaling and is achieved by receptor internalization farnesylated and possesses a low PM affinity (Ajith Karunar- (van Koppen and Jakobs, 2004). G-protein receptor kinases athne et al., 2012), we examined GPCR activation–induced (GRKs) help physical removal of activated GPCR from the PM translocation of Gbg in fluvastatin-exposed ARPE-19. by phosphorylating the serine and tyrosine residues in the Downloaded from ARPE19 cells were transfected with Gb1-mCh and a2AR- third cytosolic loop and the CT of the receptor (van Koppen and CFP while being exposed to 2 mM fluvastatin. Control cells Jakobs, 2004; Evron et al., 2012). GRK2 (b-adrenergic receptor treated with DMSO exhibited a prominent distribution of kinase 2) phosphorylates agonist-activated b-adrenergic re- Gb1-mCh on the PM and IMs, whereas Gb1 distribution was ceptors (b1-AR), promoting GPCR-barrestin interactions and completely cytosolic in cells exposed to 2 mM fluvastatin (Fig. subsequent desensitization (Lefkowitz, 1998). GRK2 activity 7B, top panel). Similarly, inhibition of membrane distribution

requires binding of Gbg (Haga and Haga, 1990; Pitcher et al., molpharm.aspetjournals.org of Gg9 was also examined by transfecting ARPE19 cells with 1992). Disruption of Gbg binding domain of GRK2 eliminates mCh-Gg9. Like Gb1, Gg9 also exhibited a complete cytosolic this activation-dependent receptor phosphorylation (Carman distribution in cells exposed to Fluvastatin, whereas control et al., 2000). Recently, nanobody-80 (Nb80), a conformation- cells showed a membrane distribution (Fig. 7B, bottom panel). specific single domain antibody for activated b1-AR was used Next, the effect of fluvastatin on heterotrimer activation in to monitor active-state b1-AR. Upon activation of b1-AR with ARPE19 cells was investigated by monitoring mCh-Gg9, as its agonist, it has been shown that cytosolic Nb80-GFP well as Gb1-mCh translocation from the PM to IMs after translocates to the PM and binds to the agonist-bound activating the transfecteda2AR. Analogous to the observa- activated b1-AR. When GRK2 induces internalization of tions in HeLa cells, both Gb1 and Gg9 exhibited a robust activated b1-AR, bound Nb80 also internalizes, and this is translocation from PM to the IM in control cells, whereas at ASPET Journals on September 29, 2021 indicated by the accumulation of Nb80-GFP fluorescence in Fluvastatin-treated ARPE-19 cells failed to exhibit detectable IMs (Irannejad et al., 2017) (Fig. 7A, cartoon). Since Gbg plays translocations of either Gb1orGg9 (Fig. 7B, plots). a key role in GRK2-mediated receptor internalization, we examined the internalization of activated b1-AR by monitor- ing subcellular location of Nb80-GFP in the presence and Discussion absence (control) of fluvastatin. To confirm Gbg involvement, Statins are globally used as effective lipid-lowering medi- additional experiments were performed in the presence of cations, primarily to reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases gallein (Gbg inhibitor) (Casey et al., 2010) and in cells and associated mortality; however, several side effects, such expressing venus-GRK3ct (to sequester Gbg) (Hollins et al., as myopathy, ocular adverse effects (including blurred vision 2009). HeLa cells expressing b1-AR-CFP and Nb80-GFP were and visual impairment), cognitive effects (such as short-term preincubated with 5 mM fluvastatin or DMSO for 12 hours. memory loss), abnormal liver function, glucose intolerance, Using 20 mM isoproterenol, b1-AR was activated and the and increased risk for diabetes are reported in patients Nb80-GFP recruitment to IMs monitored (Fig. 7A, images and treated with statins (Golomb and Evans, 2008; Mizranita plot). One-way ANOVA showed that, compared with control and Pratisto, 2015; Davies et al., 2016). Being a competitive cells with the mean normalized IM fluorescence of 2.061 6 inhibitor of the enzyme, HMG-CoA reductase, a crucial 0.003, fluvastatin showed a significantly lower Nb80 recruit- enzyme of the mevalonate (or cholesterol synthesis) pathway, ment to IMs (1.523 6 0.002, ∼50%) at P , 0.05. Even more sig- statins effectively reduce not only the production of cholesterol nificant reductions (∼80%) were observed in gallein-treated but also other lipids, including isoprenoids (Miziorko, 2011). cells (1.159 6 0.06) and in GRK3ct-expressing cells (1.216 6 Isoprenoids are precursors for the synthesis of prenyl pyro- 0.002) compared with control cells. Since the extent of phosphates, which are required for the prenylation of a large Nb80-recruitment inhibition by fluvastatin is between that cohort of G proteins. The present study draws a clear link of the control and gallein-treated as well as GRK3ct cells, between the use of statins and the perturbation of GPCR and fluvastatin-mediated Gbg inhibition in Raw 264.7 cells ap- heterotrimeric G-protein signaling, providing potential expla- pears to be partial. nations for some of the side effects related to statin use (Golomb and Evans, 2008). Fluvastatin Significantly Impairs Heterotrimer Activation Membrane anchorage is a crucial factor for the functioning and Gbg Translocation from the PM to IMs in Retinal of Ras superfamily and heterotrimeric G proteins. Being able Pigment Epithelial Cells to modulate and prevent the activity of Ras superfamily G Use of statins is associated with ocular diseases, including proteins, statins exert several pleiotropic side effects, such as vision impairment, blurred vision, and cataract development reduction of cell proliferation, that consequently has expanded 372 Tennakoon et al. Downloaded from molpharm.aspetjournals.org at ASPET Journals on September 29, 2021

Fig. 7. Fluvastatin (A) attenuates internalization of activated ß1-adrenergic receptors in HeLa cells and (B) impairs Gbg-mediated signaling in ARPE- 19 cells. (A) The schematic representation of Nb80 translocation to activated b1-AR and its subsequent internalization with the receptor. Images show the Nb80-GFP movement in HeLa cells expressing b1-AR-CFP upon receptor activation. After activation of b1-AR with 20 mM isoproterenol, control cells showed a robust recruitment of Nb80 (both GFP and mCh tagged) to the IMs with the internalized and active b1-AR (top image panel, yellow arrows). A comparatively reduced Nb80 recruitment was observed in +flu cells (second panel right, white arrow). The plot shows ∼50% reduced mean GFP fluorescence of Nb80 in the IMs in Fluvastatin-treated cells, indicating attenuated b1-AR desensitization (n = 20 cells from four independent experiments). Both 10 mM gallein (Gbg inhibitor)-treated cells (third panel right, white arrow) and membrane-targeted venus-GRK3ct (mask Gbg) expressing cells showed ∼80% lower Nb80 accumulation in IMs (white arrows), indicating the involvement of Gbg in the pathway. Both Nb80-GFP and -mCh versions exhibited similar internalization in control cells (red and black curves respectively). (B) Real-time PCR quantification of relative expression levels of the 12 Gg subtypes in ARPE-19 cells. Farnesylated Gg11 showed the highest expression. Images show ARPE-19 cells expressing blue opsin-mTurquoise with either Gb1-mCh or mCh-Gg9 and incubated with 50 mM 11-cis-retinal. Gb1andGg9 in control cells were found primarily on the Inhibition of Gbg Signaling by Statins 373 its usage as a chemotherapeutic agent for cancers (Liao and translocation has been observed in statin-exposed cells in a Laufs, 2005). The data presented in this study show that Gg-dependent manner, thus signifying the reduction of het- statins perturb the PM localization of Gg, and thereby Gbg in erotrimer activation. Therefore, it is likely that heterotrimeric aGg subtype–dependent manner, as a result of the reduction G-protein signaling is similarly perturbed in patients treated of prenyl anchors required for Gg prenylation (Wedegaertner with statins. Gg types show cell- and tissue-specific subtype et al., 1995; Hildebrandt, 2011). Data show that Gg types that distributions (Cali et al., 1992). Our data therefore suggest are being prenylated with geranylgeranyl anchors are only that G-protein signaling perturbation by statins can differ- partially susceptible to statin-mediated likely inhibition of entially influence GPCR-G protein–controlled processes in a prenylation. This differential inhibition is also characterized tissue- and organ function-specific manner. Extensive in- by near-complete inhibition of PM localization of farnesylated hibition of Gg farnesylation by statins, which is pronounced Gg, attenuating activation of heterotrimers with farnesylated after effects in tissues and organs that predominantly use Gg. The effectiveness of statins to inhibit farnesylation is farnesylated Gg types, can be anticipated. For instance, also evident from the near-complete inhibition of primarily photoreceptor cells in the retina of the eye express Gg1and farnesylation-sensitive Ras family proteins, such as KRas, Gg9asthemajorGg (Pearring et al., 2013). This unique Gg NRas, and HRas. expression can be understood by examining the visual It has been suggested that the CT sequence that determines transduction in which GTP-bound Ga-transducin is the the type of prenylation is not limited to CaaX motif (Senarath major signal transducer, generated by the activated opsin Downloaded from et al., 2018). Also suggested was the ability of proteins that to trigger cGMP signaling. Here, cells appear to use Gbg with usually prefer farnesylation can undergo geranylgeranylation farnesylated Gg owing to their low PM affinity to prevent in the presence of farnesyl transferase inhibitors (Whyte et al., unnecessary, as well as potentially deleterious, Gbg signal- 1997). We hypothesized that Gg types are not completely ing for photoreceptor cells. If statins significantly reduce farnesylated or geranylgeranylated. Although 9 of 12 Gg types farnesylation, consequently, transducin-containing hetero- are primarily identified as geranylgeranylated proteins, to a trimer formation is reduced as well, hampering cGMP molpharm.aspetjournals.org certain degree, they are also farnesylated. It appears that the pathway activation. Recovery from the effects on statin major anchoring type of a Gg is recognized as the type of discontinuation has also been reported (Leuschen et al., prenylation. Our experimental data showed varying degrees 2013). These observations are consistent with the ability of of likely inhibition of Gg geranylgeranylation upon exposure statin to temporarily inhibit HMG-CoA. Data from ARPE19 to statins, supporting this hypothesis. For instance, the extent cells with primarily farnesylated endogenous Gg showed of the presence of cytosolic Gg indicates a minor Gg2, Gg3, significant inhibition of PM localization and GPCR activation– Gg4, and Gg5 prenylation inhibition and also suggests that a induced Gbg translocation on exposure to fluvastatin and considerable fraction in Gg4, as well as Gg5, are likely to be indicate the likely after-effects of statins on the vision farnesylated. A larger reduction of NE-induced Gg3 trans- system. Based on these facts and data, we propose that the at ASPET Journals on September 29, 2021 location compared with that of Gb1 by fluvastatin was dominant expression of farnesylated Gg types in photore- observed, although their subcellular distribution data show ceptor cells is linked to the occurrence of ocular disorders in a relatively a lesser inhibition of Gg3 prenylation by fluvas- patients using statins. tatin. We believe this is due to partially cytosolic YFP-Gb1 Several studies have shown interference of immune re- interfering with the detection of YFP-Gb1 translocation. The sponses by statins owing to the attenuated production of observed differential effects of statins on farnesylated and downstream metabolites in the HMG-CoA pathway, including geranylgeranylated Gg, likely indicating distinct prenylation FPP and GGPPs. Like Gg, these lipids are required for PM inhibition patterns, can be partly due to the higher incidence anchoring of small GTPases, such as RhoA, Rac, and Ras. Our of GGPP production. This is in addition to the conversion of data show an impairment of their PM localization in cells FPP to GGPP by GGPP synthase. Examination of cholesterol exposed to statins. Our data also show that statins induce synthesis pathway indicates that, compared with FPP, a cell perturbation of Gbg-mediated cell migration and invasion, can have a relatively higher population of GGPP through the which are critical steps of immune responses and metastasis. direct conversion of isopentenyl-PP to GGPP. Alternatively, in Prolonged exposure to statins including fluvastatin, has been addition to being used to produce farnesylated proteins, FPP shown to negatively impact cognitive function (Golomb and is also consumed to produce other lipids in the mevalonate Evans, 2008; Ramkumar et al., 2016). Of 12 g subtypes, Gg2 pathway, including GGPP and cholesterol. Collectively, these and Gg3 are predominant in the brain (Yim et al., 2017); differences can explain why Gg types are differentially sus- partial inhibition of their membrane localization by fluvasta- ceptible to prenylation inhibition by statins (Fig. 1A). The tin and the consequent perturbation of associated signaling near-complete inhibition of both Gg1 and Gg9 suggests that, can be partially responsible for the development of cognitive in the absence of farnesylation, these Gg types cannot effects in patients using statins. Our previous findings show effectively undergo geranylgeranylation. that Gi pathway–governed PIP3 production is Gg subtype- Translocation of G bg in cells expressing different dependent, and Gg3 is the foremost Gg that supports PIP3 Gg subtypes upon activation of GPCR indicates activation production (Senarath et al., 2018). Partially delocalized Gg3 G proteins (Ajith Karunarathne et al., 2012). Attenuated from the PM to the cytosol upon fluvastatin treatment thus

PM (white arrows), and upon blue opsin activation, both proteins exhibited robust translocations from the PMs to IMs (yellow arrows). Likely because of prenylation inhibition, both Gb1 and Gg9 distribution in +flu cells were completely cytosolic, and their translocations upon blue opsin activation were not detected. Collectively, these data indicate the lack of prenylation of endogenous Gg types as well as transfected Gg9 upon fluvastatin treatment. (Scale bar, 5 mm, error bars: S.E.M., n = 16 cells, P , 0.05). 374 Tennakoon et al. explains the attenuation of downstream signaling of Gbg, post-myocardial infarction heart failure via cardiac and adrenal-dependent neu- rohormonal mechanisms. Hypertension 63(2):404–412. including Akt phosphorylation, cell migration, and invasion. Berndt N, Hamilton AD, and Sebti SM (2011) Targeting protein prenylation for Cardiac muscle activities are strongly regulated by GPCRs, cancer therapy. Nat Rev Cancer 11:775–791. 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Upregulation of GRK isoforms, such as Kahsai AW, Bassoni DL, Gavino BJ, et al. (2017) Distinct conformations of GPCR- b-arrestin complexes mediate desensitization, signaling, and endocytosis. Proc GRK2 and GRK5, markedly cause chronic heart failure owing Natl Acad Sci USA 114:2562–2567. to reduction of b-adrenergic receptors in cardiac muscles Cali JJ, Balcueva EA, Rybalkin I, and Robishaw JD (1992) Selective tissue distri- bution of G protein gamma subunits, including a new form of the gamma subunits (Lymperopoulos et al., 2012). Patients treated with statins identified by cDNA cloning. J Biol Chem 267:24023–24027. have exhibited substantially lower cardiac problems, includ- Carman CV, Barak LS, Chen C, Liu-Chen LY, Onorato JJ, Kennedy SP, Caron MG, ing reduced damage from ischemia-reperfusion injury. Exces- and Benovic JL (2000) Mutational analysis of Gbetagamma and phospholipid in- teraction with G protein-coupled receptor kinase 2. 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