Apoptosis plays essential roles in development and homeostasis in multicellular organisms by sculpting tissues, deleting unwanted structures, and eliminating abnormal, injured or dangerous cells1. In addition, targeting apoptotic pathways is an important strategy for treatment of intractable diseases such as cancer, whereas limiting apoptosis may be beneficial for treating ischemic injury and degenerative disorders. Although loss- or gain-of-function of apoptotic regulators can artificially allow cells to survive beyond normal checkpoints, apoptosis is generally assumed to be an intrinsically irreversible process2,3. However, we recently discovered a natural reversibility of late-stage apoptosis in human and mouse cells4,5. Dying cells can reverse apoptosis and survive, despite having passed through checkpoints previously believed to be the point of no return, including caspase-3 activation and DNA damage. Simply washing away apoptotic inducers is sufficient to allow the majority of dying cells to survive and most hallmarks of apoptosis to vanish, indicating that reversal of apoptosis is an endogenous cellular mechanism. Notably, while most cells recover completely, a small fraction of cells that reverse apoptosis retain genetic alterations and undergo oncogenic transformation at a higher frequency than control cells. We propose that reversal of apoptosis may be a physiological mechanism that can serve several beneficial functions. Arrest of apoptosis at the execution stage could in principle promote survival of cells, such as neurons and heart muscle cells, which are difficult to replace. Alternatively or in addition, this recovery process, which we have named anastasis (Greek for rising to life), could promote genetic and phenotypic diversity in response to environmental or physiological stresses that initiate apoptosis. A negative side effect of this otherwise beneficial process is oncogenic transformation. We have developed and tested a biosensor to detect cells that have undergone anastasis in vivo in Drosophila melanogaster.
In specific aim 1 we will test the hypothesis that anastasis functions to salvage cells that are difficult to replace, thus limiting permanent tissue damage following transient insults. We also propose to develop a similar biosensor for use in mammalian cells.
In specific aim 2 we propose to initiate studies of the molecular mechanisms controlling anastasis. The proposed work has the potential to lead to a new understanding of and treatments for degenerative diseases and cancer.

Public Health Relevance

Targeting the cell death process known as apoptosis is an important strategy for treating intractable diseases such as cancer, whereas limiting apoptosis may be beneficial for degenerative diseases such as Parkinson's. We recently discovered a natural and surprising reversibility of late-stage apoptosis in human and mouse cells. Here we propose to determine whether reversal of apoptosis occurs in living animals, to identify which cell types and conditions promote this response, and to uncover the molecular mechanisms, which could lead to a whole new strategy for the prevention and treatment of degenerative diseases and cancer.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Eye Institute (NEI)
Type
Exploratory/Developmental Grants (R21)
Project #
1R21EY022498-01A1
Application #
8589289
Study Section
Cellular Signaling and Regulatory Systems Study Section (CSRS)
Program Officer
Neuhold, Lisa
Project Start
2013-09-01
Project End
2015-08-31
Budget Start
2013-09-01
Budget End
2014-08-31
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2013
Total Cost
$229,625
Indirect Cost
$79,625
Name
University of California Santa Barbara
Department
Biochemistry
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
094878394
City
Santa Barbara
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
93106