Desipramine-induced lysosomal vacuolization is independent of autophagy

Induced pluripotent stem cell-conditional medium inhibits H9C2 cardiomyocytes apoptosis via autophagy flux and Wnt/β-catenin pathway

Induced pluripotent stem cell‐derived conditioned medium (iPS‐CM) could improve cell viability in many types of cells and may be a better alternative for the treatment of myocardial infarction. This study aimed to examine the influence of iPS‐CM on anti‐apoptosis and the proliferation of H9C2 cardiomyocytes and investigate the underlying mechanisms. H9C2 cardiomyocytes were exposed to 200 μmol/L hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) for 24 hours with or without pre‐treatment with iPS‐CM. The ratio of apoptotic cells, the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (△Ψm) and the levels of intracellular reactive oxygen species were analysed by flow cytometric analysis. The expression levels of BCL‐2 and BAX proteins were analysed by Western blot. Cell proliferation was assessed using cell cycle and EdU staining assays. To study cell senescence, senescence‐associated β‐galactosidase (SA‐β‐gal) staining was conducted. The levels of malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase and glutathione were also quantified using commercially available enzymatic kits. The results showed that iPS‐CM containing basic fibroblast growth factor significantly reduced H₂O₂‐induced H9C2 cardiomyocyte apoptosis by activating the autophagy flux pathway, promoted cardiomyocyte proliferation by up‐regulating the Wnt/β‐catenin pathway and inhibited oxidative stress and cell senescence. In conclusion, iPS‐CM effectively enhanced the cell viability of H9C2 cardiomyocytes and could potentially be used to inhibit cardiomyocytes apoptosis to treat myocardial infarction in the future.

Is There a Role of Autophagy in Depression and Antidepressant Action?

Autophagy has been recognized as evolutionary conserved intracellular pathway that ensures energy, organelle, and protein homeostasis through lysosomal degradation of damaged macromolecules and organelles. It is activated under various stress situations, e.g., food deprivation or proteotoxic conditions. Autophagy has been linked to several diseases, more recently also including stress-related diseases such as depression. A growing number of publications report on the role of autophagy in neurons, also referred to as "neuronal autophagy" on the one hand, and several studies describe effects of antidepressants-or of compounds that exert antidepressant-like actions-on autophagy on the other hand. This minireview highlights the emerging evidence for the involvement of autophagy in the pathology and treatment of depression and discusses current limitations as well as potential avenues for future research.

Induced pluripotent stem cell-derived conditional medium promotes Leydig cell anti-apoptosis and proliferation via autophagy and Wnt/β-catenin pathway

Leydig cell transplantation is a better alternative in the treatment of androgen-deficient males. The main purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of induced pluripotent stem cell-derived conditioned medium (iPS-CM) on the anti-apoptosis, proliferation and function of immature Leydig cells (ILCs), and illuminate the underlying mechanisms. ILCs were exposed to 200 μmol/L hydrogen peroxide (H2 O2 ) for 24 hours with or without iPS-CM treatments. Cell apoptosis was detected by flow cytometric analysis. Cell proliferation was assessed using cell cycle assays and EdU staining. The steroidogenic enzyme expressions were quantified with Western blotting. The results showed that iPS-CM significantly reduced H2 O2 -induced ILC apoptosis through down-regulation of autophagic and apoptotic proteins LC3-I/II, Beclin-1, P62, P53 and BAX as well as up-regulation of BCL-2, which could be inhibited by LY294002 (25 μmol/L). iPS-CM could also promote ILC proliferation through up-regulation of β-catenin and its target proteins cyclin D1, c-Myc and survivin, but was inhibited by XAV939 (10 μmol/L). The level of bFGF in iPS-CM was higher than that of DMEM-LG. Exogenous bFGF (20 ng/mL) or Wnt signalling agonist lithium chloride (LiCl) (20 mmol/L) added into DMEM-LG could achieve the similar effects of iPS-CM. Meanwhile, iPS-CM could improve the medium testosterone levels and up-regulation of LHCGR, SCARB1, STAR, CYP11A1, HSD3B1, CYP17A1, HSD17B3 and SF-1 in H2 O2 -induced ILCs. In conclusion, iPS-CM could reduce H2 O2 -induced ILC apoptosis through the activation of autophagy, promote proliferation through up-regulation of Wnt/β-catenin pathway and enhance testosterone production through increasing steroidogenic enzyme expressions, which might be used in regenerative medicine for future.