Actin remodeling mediates ROS production and JNK activation to drive apoptosis-induced proliferation

Stress-induced cell death, mainly apoptosis, and its subsequent tissue repair is interlinked although our knowledge of this connection is still very limited. An intriguing finding is apoptosis-induced proliferation (AiP), an evolutionary conserved mechanism employed by apoptotic cells to trigger compensatory proliferation of their neighboring cells. Studies using Drosophila as a model organism have revealed that apoptotic caspases and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) signaling play critical roles to activate AiP. For example, the initiator caspase Dronc, the caspase-9 ortholog in Drosophila, promotes activation of JNK leading to release of mitogenic signals and AiP. Recent studies further revealed that Dronc relocates to the cell cortex via Myo1D, an unconventional myosin, and stimulates production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) to trigger AiP. During this process, ROS can attract hemocytes, the Drosophila macrophages, which further amplify JNK signaling cell non-autonomously. However, the intrinsic components connecting Dronc, ROS and JNK within the stressed signal-producing cells remain elusive. Here, we identified LIM domain kinase 1 (LIMK1), a kinase promoting cellular F-actin polymerization, as a novel regulator of AiP. F-actin accumulates in a Dronc-dependent manner in response to apoptotic stress. Suppression of Factin polymerization in stressed cells by knocking down LIMK1 or expressing Cofilin, an inhibitor of F-actin elongation, blocks ROS production and JNK activation, hence AiP. Furthermore, Dronc and LIMK1 genetically interact. Co-expression of Dronc and LIMK1 drives F-actin accumulation, ROS production and JNK activation. Interestingly, these synergistic effects between Dronc and LIMK1 depend on Myo1D. Therefore, F-actin remodeling plays an important role mediating caspase-driven ROS production and JNK activation in the process of AiP. Author summary In multicellular organisms, damaged cells are frequently removed via apoptosis, the major form of programmed cell death. Intriguingly, these apoptotic cells can emit signals to induce proliferation of their neighboring cells for the maintenance of tissue homeostasis, a phenomenon termed apoptosis-induced proliferation (AiP). Caspases, a family of cysteine proteases well known to execute apoptosis, also play a critical role to trigger AiP via activation of JNK, a stress response kinase. In this study, we identified the actin cytoskeleton, a dynamic structural network of the cell, as a key mediator of JNK activation in AiP. During this process, actin filaments undergo increased polymerization which depends on LIM domain kinase 1 (LIMK1). Genetically, caspases and LIMK1 work together to promote actin polymerization, which in turn drives production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the subsequent activation of JNK. Therefore, our study discovered a role of actin remodeling in dying cells which mediates the non-apoptotic roles of caspases in AiP and tissue repair.

Automated summary

Stress-induced cell death, mainly apoptosis, and the subsequent tissue repair are interlinked through the mechanism of apoptosis-induced proliferation (AiP). Caspases and JNK signaling play critical roles in activating AiP. Furthermore, F-actin remodeling mediated by LIMK1 plays an important role in caspase-driven ROS production and JNK activation in the process of AiP.