In the absence of major histocompatibility complex class II molecules,invariant chain is translocated to late endocytic compartments by autophagy

It has been suggested that the cytoplasmic amino-terminal tail of invariant chain (Ii) contains a sorting signal that directs trafficking of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II: Ii oligomeric complex to endocytic compartments. This model is based, in part, on the observation that in the absence of MHC class II molecules, Ii is detectable in lysosomal structures, a phenotype that is dependent on an intact NH₂ terminus. However, the route by which Ii gains access to endosomal compartments in the absence of class II molecules remains uncertain. Here we report a mechanism that localizes Ii in lysosomal compartments independently of class II. We show that murine Ii can be detected by immunofluorescence within late endocytic compartments of stably transfected Ltk^? mouse fibroblasts. Immunochemical studies indicate that degradation of Ii in these cells is sensitive to the lysosomotropic agent ammonium chloride, yet the majority of Ii that undergoes this apparent lysosomal degradation is sensitive to the enzyme endoglycosidase H. This finding suggests that Ii may reach the lysosomal compartment by a route that bypasses the Golgi complex. Consistent with this possibility, we found that in contrast to Ii which is complexed to class II molecules, transport of free Ii to lysosomes is prevented by 3-methyladenine, an inhibitor of the autophagic pathway of protein degradation, a process which involves direct transport from the endoplasmic reticulum to lysosomes. These data suggest the route of transport that leads to endosomal localization of Ii in the absence of class II is distinct from that taken when expressed with class II. This forces a re-evaluation of the concept that the cytosolic tail of Ii contains a dominant Golgi-to-endosomal sorting signal.     

Ultrastructure of cell death in bulbar cushions of chick embryo heart

Summary The ultrastructure of the physiological cell death was studied in distal ventral bulbar cushions of 15 chick embryo hearts on the 4th and 5th day of incubation. Microperfusion fixation was performed. The ultracytochemistry of a lysosomal hydrolytic enzyme acid phosphatase was also investigated in another 15 embryonic hearts.In the course of the cell degeneration an increase in cellulr autophagy was observed without previous cytoplasmic or nuclear changes or phagocyte ingestion. A cytoplasmic diffusion of acid phosphatase outside of lysosomes was observed.Besides the cell death with the marked participation of the lysosomal system, another kind of dying cells was found, characterized by their nuclear pycnosis and cytoplasmic condensation. Starting from the 5th day of incubation the dying and dead cells were found phagocytized by some of their neighbouring viable mesenchymal cells. A formation of ribosomal crystals was not observed.The formation and fate of cytolysomes as well as the fate of phagocytes are discussed. The presence of pre-necrotic cells with important autophagy and of necrotic cells with nuclear changes was related to the possibility of a dual cause of the cell death. In the case of pre-necrotic cells the epigenetic factors like the biomechanic action of hemodynamics were considered, while the necrotic cells seem to be programmed to death by their genome.Finally the uniformity of cell death ultrastructure in different organs and species was noticed.     

Homer 1b/c通过内质网功能调节由谷氨酸诱发的HT22细胞自噬

目的　研究Homer1b/c蛋白在谷氨酸诱发的细胞自噬中的作用及机制。方法　选用小鼠海马细胞系HT22细胞,通过500 ?mol/L谷氨酸处理建立细胞损伤模型。用siRNA慢病毒转染方式下调Homer1b/c表达和10 ?mol/LBAPTA-AM（1,2-双(2-氨基苯氧基)乙烷-N,N,N`,N`-四乙酸四乙酸甲酯,钙离子螯合剂）、10 mmol/L4-PBA（4-苯基丁酸,内质网应激抑制剂）分别抑制细胞内钙离子释放和内质网应激后,使用蛋白质印迹法检测Homer1b/c,自噬蛋白Beclin-1、微管相关蛋白轻链3（LC3）,以及内质网应激标志蛋白CHOP（人内质网应激相关蛋白）、GRP-78(葡萄糖调节蛋白78)的表达水平。每组实验均进行3次,采用独立样本t检验和单因素方差分析进行统计学分析。结果　谷氨酸处理HT22细胞12 h后,Beclin-1表达和LC3-Ⅱ/LC3-Ⅰ比值均升高（P<0.05）,下调Homer1b/c表达可降低Beclin-1表达和LC3-Ⅱ/LC3-Ⅰ比值的升高程度（P<0.05）。抑制细胞内钙离子释放和抑制内质网应激均能降低Beclin-1表达和LC3-Ⅱ/LC3-Ⅰ比值的升高程度（P<0.05）。然而在下调Homer1b/c表达后,抑制细胞内钙离子释放和抑制内质网应激未能进一步降低Beclin-1表达和LC3-Ⅱ/LC3-Ⅰ比值的升高程度（P<0.05）。结论　Homer1b/c能够调节谷氨酸诱导的自噬,其调节作用可能与内质网功能有关。     

内质网应激和自噬在骨骼肌再生中的作用研究进展

骨骼肌卫星细胞(muscle satellite/stem cells, MuSCs)介导的再生和修复对骨骼肌损伤后完整肌肉功能的恢复至关重要。在多种病理生理过程中,内质网应激(endoplasmic reticulum stress, ERS)诱导的未折叠蛋白质反应(unfolded protein response, UPR)和自噬能够清除积累的错误折叠的蛋白质,是细胞维持稳态的重要机制。近年来,越来越多的研究发现在骨骼肌再生过程中内质网应激和自噬被激活,且在肌再生过程中发挥重要的调控作用,对损伤后肌肉的修复至关重要。本文主要针对近年来内质网应激和自噬在肌再生过程中的作用的研究进展做一综述,旨在为研发以内质网应激和自噬为靶点改善骨骼肌再生的药物提供理论依据。     

惊厥性脑损伤与细胞自噬的相关性

自噬是溶酶体降解利用细胞内物质成分的过程,对应激状态下神经细胞存活及清除衰老细胞器和错误折叠蛋白等起重要作用;其可作为神经细胞的保护机制,也可作为神经细胞死亡方式之一.反复惊厥可以导致脑损伤,但具体机制尚不清楚,最近研究表明,惊厥时可启动细胞凋亡途径,并且也可启动细胞自噬,从而介导神经元适应、损伤或凋亡,惊厥性脑损伤与细胞自噬密切相关.细胞自噬作为一条新的重要的信号途径,为惊厥脑损伤的防治提供新的治疗方向.     

沙格列汀干预非酒精性脂肪性肝病合并2型糖尿病大鼠肝组织AMPK/mTOR-TFEB自噬信号通路蛋白表达变化

目的 探讨沙格列汀干预非酒精性脂肪性肝病(NAFLD)合并2型糖尿病(T2DM)大鼠对肝组织腺苷酸活化蛋白激酶(AMPK)/哺乳动物雷帕霉素靶蛋白(mTOR)-转录因子EB(TFEB)自噬信号通路蛋白表达的影响。方法 将42只大鼠随机分为对照组、模型组和沙格列汀干预组,每组14只。采用高脂饲料喂养和链脲佐菌素腹腔注射构建NAFLD合并T2DM模型。在建模成功后,分别给予沙格列汀或生理盐水灌胃8 w。采用放射免疫法检测空腹胰岛素(INS,使用全自动生化分析仪检测空腹血糖(FPG),计算胰岛素抵抗指数(HOMA-IR)。采用Western bloting法检测肝组织p-AMPK、mTOR、TFEB和自噬标记物LC3B-II蛋白表达。结果 沙格列汀处理组大鼠体质量、肝质量和肝脏指数分别为(341.53±5.15)g、(11.06±0.49)g和(3.32±0.25)%,显著低于模型组【分别为(353.27±8.74)g、(12.77±0.84)g和(3.67±0.18)%,P<0.05】;FPG、INS和HOMA-IR水平分别为(9.45±0.71)mmol/L、(7.92±0.34)...     

Beclin1介导的自噬在辐射诱导细胞早衰中的作用

自噬是机体及细胞必不可少的调节过程,在维持细胞的正常生理状态过程中发挥重要的作用.Beclin1是自噬的核心功能基因之一,其影响自噬体形成,并通过自噬影响肿瘤的发生和发展.研究发现Beclin1在p62蛋白介导的早衰调控中发挥一定作用,电离辐射可引起细胞发生自噬及早衰等细胞反应,导致细胞死亡.研究Beclin1介导的自...     

自噬对糖皮质激素作用下MC3T3-E1成骨细胞增殖的影响

背景:目前,糖皮质激素(GCs)作用下成骨细胞自噬与其增殖能力的关系尚存争议.目的:探讨自噬对GCs作用下MC3T3-E1成骨细胞增殖能力的影响.方法:不同浓度(0、10-8 M、10-6 M、10-4 M)的地塞米松(DXMS)分别作用于MC3T3-E1成骨细胞,CCK-8检测不同时间(12 h、24 h、48 h)...     

Nec-1对铝致神经细胞凋亡和自噬的作用

目的观察和探讨在铝致神经细胞死亡中,坏死抑制剂1(Nec-1)对凋亡和自噬的作用。方法用体外原代培养小鼠神经细胞的方法,制造铝损伤神经细胞模型,然后用细胞活力检测、荧光定量PCR(qRT-PCR)、蛋白印迹(Western-Blot)以及流式细胞术等方法从多角度对Nec-1的作用进行研究。结果①流式结果显示,在Al3+(2mmol/L)作用于神经细胞后,随着Nec-1剂量的增加,细胞的凋亡率呈下降趋势,且差异有统计学意义(P0.05);②qRT-PCR结果显示,以Al3+(2mmol/L)为对照,Nec-1(60和90μmol/L)可使神经细胞的凋亡和自噬相关基因的表达呈显著性下降(P0.05);③Western-Blot结果显示,同Al3+(2mmol/L)组比,Nec-1(60和90μmol/L)组凋亡相关蛋白caspase-3的表达下降(P0.01),Nec-1(30和60μmol/L)可使自噬相关蛋白LC3-Ⅱ表达下降(P0.05)。结论在本试验条件下,Nec-1可减少铝导致的神经细胞凋亡和自噬,起到保护神经细胞的作用。     

Inhibition of autophagy by chloroquine makes chemotherapy in nasopharyngeal carcinoma more efficient

Objectives

A combination of platinum-based chemotherapy and radiotherapy is the standard treatment for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). However, the efficacy of chemotherapy has reached a plateau. Many autophagy studies suggest that autophagy can either promote or suppress to cancer progression. Thus, a role of autophagy in the acquisition of chemoradioresistance has recently been a notable event. Therefore, we examined the relationship between autophagy and chemotherapy in NPC.