Melatonin protects against rotenone-induced cell injury via inhibition of Omi and Bax-mediated autophagy in Hela cells

Parkinson's disease is the second most common neurodegenerative disease, and environmental toxins such as rotenone play an important role in causing degeneration of dopaminergic neurons. Melatonin, a major secretory product of pineal, is recently reported to protect against rotenone-induced cell death in animal models. Yet, the mechanism involved in this protection needs to be elucidated. Here, we report that rotenone treatment (0-100 μM) decreased cell survival of Hela cells in a dose-dependent manner. At concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 100 μM, rotenone induced a dose-dependent increase in the expression of microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3)-II, a protein associated with the autophagosomal membrane. Knockdown of Bax or Omi using shRNA inhibited 1 μM rotenone-induced autophagy. To determine whether melatonin would protect cells against rotenone-induced cell death and autophagy, we pretreated Hela cells with 250 μM melatonin for 24 hr in the presence of rotenone. Melatonin inhibited Bax expression and the release of the omi/HtrA2 into the cytoplasm induced by 1 μM rotenone. Melatonin 250 μM treatment also suppressed cell death induced by 0.1-100 μM rotenone and protected against the formation of LC3-II in cells exposed to 1 μM rotenone. This work demonstrates a novel role for melatonin as a neuroprotective agent against rotenone.     

Valproic acid reduces autophagy and promotes functional recovery after spinal cord injury in rats

Secondary damage is a critical determinant of the functional outcome in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI), and involves multiple mechanisms of which the most important is the loss of nerve cells mediated by multiple factors. Autophagy can result in cell death, and plays a key role in the development of SCI. It has been recognized that valproic acid (VPA) is neuroprotective in certain experimental animal models, however, the levels of autophagic changes in the process of neuroprotection by VPA treatment following SCI are still unknown. In the present study, we determined the extent of autophagy after VPA treatment in a rat model of SCI. We found that both the mRNA and protein levels of Beclin-1 and LC3 were significantly increased at 1, 2, and 6 h after SCI and peaked at 2 h; however, Western blot showed that autophagy was markedly decreased by VPA treatment at 2 h post-injury. Besides, post-SCI treatment with VPA improved the Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan scale, increased the number of ventral horn motoneurons, and reduced myelin sheath damage compared with vehicle-treated animals at 42 days after SCI. Together, our results demonstrated the characteristics of autophagy expression following SCI, and found that VPA reduced autophagy and enhanced motor function.     

Expression of autophagy-related proteins in phyllodes tumor

Phyllodes tumors (PTs) are classified as fibroepithelial tumors and their histologic grade is determined primarily by the features of the stromal component. In this study, we examined the expression profiles of autophagy-related proteins in the stromal component of PTs and analyzed their clinical implications. We selected 204 human PT samples which were excised and diagnosed at Severance Hospital from 2000 to 2008 and created tissue microarray (TMA) blocks. Immunohistochemical assays for autophagy-related proteins (beclin-1, LC3A, LC3B, and p62) were then performed on these samples. The surgical specimens from higher grade PTs less frequently displayed cytoplasmic expression of beclin-1, LC3A, LC3B, and p62 in the stromal component (p<0.001). In univariate analysis, the following profiles were associated with shorter disease-free survival and overall survival: nuclear beclin-1 positivity in the stromal component (p=0.013 and p=0.044, respectively), LC3A positivity in the stromal component (p<0.001 and p<0.001, respectively), and p62 positivity in the stromal component (p=0.012 and p=0.004, respectively). In conclusion, we determined that increased activity of autophagy-related proteins correlated with a higher histologic grade and poorer prognosis in PTs. These results lead us to conclude that the autophagy activity of the stromal cells plays a key role in the progression of PTs.     

Melatonin-induced autophagy protects against human prion protein-mediated neurotoxicity

Melatonin has neuroprotective effects in the models of neurodegenerative disease including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. Several studies have shown that melatonin prevents neurodegeneration by regulation of mitochondrial function. However, the protective action of melatonin has not been reported in prion disease. We investigated the influence of melatonin on prion-mediated neurotoxicity. Melatonin rescued neuronal cells from PrP(106-126)-induced neurotoxicity by prevention of mitochondrial dysfunction. Moreover, the protective effect of melatonin against mitochondrial dysfunction was related with autophagy activation. Melatonin-treated cells were dose-dependently increased in LC3-II, an autophagy marker. Melatonin-induced autophagy prevented a PrP(106-126)-induced reduction in mitochondrial potential and translocation of Bax to the mitochondria and cytochrome c release. On the other hand, downregulation of autophagy protein 5 with Atg5 siRNA or the autophagy blocker 3-methyladenine prevented the melatonin-mediated neuroprotective effects. This is the first report demonstrating that treatment with melatonin appears to protect against prion-mediated neurotoxicity and that the neuroprotection is induced by melatonin-mediated autophagy signals. The results of this study suggest that regulation of melatonin is a therapeutic strategy for prion peptide-induced apoptosis.     

Inhibition of miR-665-3p Enhances Autophagy and Alleviates Inflammation in Fusarium solani-Induced Keratitis

PurposeAccumulated evidence has shown that microRNAs (miRNAs) are closely related with the regulation of autophagy, which plays vital roles in fungal keratitis (FK). Microarray data showed elevated expression of miR-665-3p in mouse corneal tissues after infection with Fusarium solani (F. solani). Here, we investigated the effect of miR-665-3p in regulating autophagy in experimental F. solani keratitis and determined the potential molecular mechanisms involved.MethodsIn this article, we established an in vivo mouse model of FK and an in vitro model of corneal stromal cells by inoculating with F. solani. We divided them into the following six groups: control, chloroquine (CQ), rapamycin (Rapa), miR-665-3p antagomir (ant-665), miR-665-3p agomir (miR-665), and the negative control group (miR-NC). The levels of autophagy were detected by electron microscopy, Western blotting, and immunofluorescence. Then, we used a dual-luciferase reporter assay to determine the binding of miR-665-3p to the autophagy-related gene (ATG)5 3''UTR. Detection of IL-1β protein levels and hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining of corneal tissues were used to observe the effect of miR-665-3p on inflammation in FK.ResultsHere, we showed that inhibition of miR-665-3p expression in FK upregulated autophagy and alleviated inflammation. Nevertheless, the opposite results were found by overexpressing miR-665-3p. Additionally, ATG5 was a direct target gene for miR-665-3p.ConclusionsTogether, our data demonstrated that miR-665-3p might be involved in F. solani keratitis of mice by regulating autophagic pathways and inflammation.     

非编码RNA调控晶状体上皮细胞死亡在白内障中的作用

非编码RNA（ncRNA）是不编码蛋白质的RNA,其中包括微小RNA（miRNA）、长链非编码RNA（lncRNA）和环状RNA（circRNA）等。ncRNA可以广泛参与细胞增殖、分化、生长以及细胞死亡等重要的生物学过程。ncRNA的异常表达可导致晶状体上皮细胞发生细胞凋亡、焦亡以及自噬异常,使得晶状体透明度下降,从而导致白内障的发生。本文主要对8种miRNA（miR-125b、let-7a、miR-4328、miR-34a、miR-133b、miR138、miR-23b-3p、miRNA-30a）、9种lncRNA（lncRNA MIAT、lncRNA ANRIL、lncRNA PLCD3-OT1、lncRNA GPX3-AS、H19、TUG1、lncRNA PVT1、lncRNA ALB、KCNQ1OT1）以及一种circRNA （circHIPK3）调控晶状体上皮细胞死亡在白内障发生发展中的作用机制最新进展予以综述。     

Ciliogenesis and autophagy are coordinately regulated by EphA2 in the cornea to maintain proper epithelial architecture

PurposeTo understand the relationship between ciliogenesis and autophagy in the corneal epithelium.MethodssiRNAs for EphA2 or PLD1 were used to inhibit protein expression in vitro. Morpholino-anti-EphA2 was used to knockdown EphA2 in Xenopus skin. An EphA2 knockout mouse was used to conduct loss of function studies. Autophagic vacuoles were visualized by contrast light microscopy. Autophagy flux, was measured by LC3 turnover and p62 protein levels. Immunostaining and confocal microscopy were conducted to visualize cilia in cultured cells and in vivo.ResultsLoss of EphA2 (i) increased corneal epithelial thickness by elevating proliferative potential in wing cells, (ii) reduced the number of ciliated cells, (iii) increased large hollow vacuoles, that could be rescued by BafA1; (iv) inhibited autophagy flux and (v) increased GFP-LC3 puncta in the mouse corneal epithelium. This indicated a role for EphA2 in stratified epithelial assembly via regulation of proliferation as well as a positive role in both ciliogenesis and end-stage autophagy. Inhibition of PLD1, an EphA2 interacting protein that is a critical regulator of end-stage autophagy, reversed the accumulation of vacuoles, and the reduction in the number of ciliated cells due to EphA2 depletion, suggesting EphA2 regulation of both end-stage autophagy and ciliogenesis via PLD1. PLD1 mediated rescue of ciliogenesis by EphA2 depletion was blocked by BafA1, placing autophagy between EphA2 signaling and regulation of ciliogenesis.ConclusionOur findings demonstrate a novel role for EphA2 in regulating both autophagy and ciliogenesis, processes that are essential for proper corneal epithelial homeostasis.     

小梁网细胞氧化应激在青光眼发病中的研究进展

青光眼是一种常见的不可逆性致盲眼病,病理性眼压升高为主要临床特征。眼压的形成与房水循环密切相关,房水动力学异常,会引起病理性眼压升高。小梁网是房水外流通道的主要组成部分,对维持正常眼压起到非常关键的作用。氧化应激是导致青光眼眼压升高的直接危险因素,表现为氧化与抗氧化作用的失衡。小梁网细胞氧化应激可能导致细胞外基质的沉积与退行性变,使细胞发生自噬和衰老,造成小梁网细胞功能障碍,最终导致房水外流阻力增大,引起病理性眼压升高。本文将针对小梁网细胞氧化应激与青光眼关系的研究进展进行综述,以期为进一步的临床研究提供依据,为探讨青光眼的发病机制、预防及治疗青光眼提供参考。     

缺血后处理激活自噬保护皮瓣机制研究

目的:缺血后处理皮瓣在临床上已经运用,开始相关研究探究缺血后处理对皮瓣保护机制。方法:健康成年新西兰大白兔,分为3组。A组为给予缺血后处理;B组为再灌注前5mi n给予自噬阻滞剂3-甲基腺嘌呤10μl+缺血后处理。C组,直接应用微血管夹阻断腹壁浅血管持续缺。6h后再灌。各组分别进行自噬指标Becl i n1、LC3免疫组化和皮瓣存活率检测。结果:新西兰大白兔完全存活。B、C组相比较,自噬Becl i n1、LC3免疫组化染色阳性细胞面积变化未见统计学差别(P>0.005)。实验组皮瓣存活面积比较,B与C相比较,无统计学意义(P>0.005),但是A与B、C相比较,上述指标两两之间都有统计学意义差别(P<0.005)。结论:缺血后处理对皮瓣再灌注损伤有保护作用,该作用可能和自噬激活有关。     

Elevated urinary β2 microglobulin in the first identified Japanese family afflicted by X-linked myopathy with excessive autophagy

Here we report what is to our knowledge the first identified Japanese family afflicted by X-linked myopathy with excessive autophagy. The index case is a 52-year-old man with almost 40 years of progressive proximal muscle weakness. High urinary β2 microglobulin, normal serum β2 microglobulin, autophagic vacuoles with sarcolemmal features, and a hemizygous c.164–7T>G mutation in the VMA21 gene were found. His two maternal uncles had similar clinicopathological findings. High urinary β2 microglobulin without obvious renal dysfunction might result from decreased urine acidification in the distal convoluted tubules caused by the VMA21 gene mutation. These findings might prove to be useful as a preliminary marker suggestive of X-linked myopathy with excessive autophagy.