mTORC1-independent autophagy regulates receptor tyrosine kinase phosphorylation in colorectal cancer cells via an mTORC2-mediated mechanism

An Update on the Study of the Molecular Mechanisms Involved in Autophagy during Bacterial Pathogenesis

Autophagy is a unique catabolic process that degrades irrelevant or damaged components in eukaryotic cells to maintain homeostasis and eliminate infections from pathogenesis. Pathogenic bacteria have developed many autophagy manipulation techniques that affect host immune responses and intracellular bacterial pathogens have evolved to avoid xenophagy. However, reducing its effectiveness as an innate immune response has not yet been elucidated. Bacterial pathogens cause autophagy in infected cells as a cell-autonomous defense mechanism to eliminate the pathogen. However, harmful bacteria have learned to control autophagy and defeat host defenses. Intracellular bacteria can stimulate and control autophagy, while others inhibit it to prevent xenophagy and lysosomal breakdown. This review evaluates the putative functions for xenophagy in regulating bacterial infection, emphasizing that successful pathogens have evolved strategies to disrupt or exploit this defense, reducing its efficiency in innate immunity. Instead, animal models show that autophagy-associated proteins influence bacterial pathogenicity outside of xenophagy. We also examine the consequences of the complex interaction between autophagy and bacterial pathogens in light of current efforts to modify autophagy and develop host-directed therapeutics to fight bacterial infections. Therefore, effective pathogens have evolved to subvert or exploit xenophagy, although autophagy-associated proteins can influence bacterial pathogenicity outside of xenophagy. Finally, this review implies how the complex interaction between autophagy and bacterial pathogens affects host-directed therapy for bacterial pathogenesis.

Complex Interplay between DNA Damage and Autophagy in Disease and Therapy

Cancer, a multifactorial disease characterized by uncontrolled cellular proliferation, remains a global health challenge with significant morbidity and mortality. Genomic and molecular aberrations, coupled with environmental factors, contribute to its heterogeneity and complexity. Chemotherapeutic agents like doxorubicin (Dox) have shown efficacy against various cancers but are hindered by dose-dependent cytotoxicity, particularly on vital organs like the heart and brain. Autophagy, a cellular process involved in self-degradation and recycling, emerges as a promising therapeutic target in cancer therapy and neurodegenerative diseases. Dysregulation of autophagy contributes to cancer progression and drug resistance, while its modulation holds the potential to enhance treatment outcomes and mitigate adverse effects. Additionally, emerging evidence suggests a potential link between autophagy, DNA damage, and caretaker breast cancer genes BRCA1/2, highlighting the interplay between DNA repair mechanisms and cellular homeostasis. This review explores the intricate relationship between cancer, Dox-induced cytotoxicity, autophagy modulation, and the potential implications of autophagy in DNA damage repair pathways, particularly in the context of BRCA1/2 mutations.

mTORC2: A neglected player in aging regulation

Mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is a serine/threonine kinase that plays a pivotal role in various biological processes, through integrating external and internal signals, facilitating gene transcription and protein translation, as well as by regulating mitochondria and autophagy functions. mTOR kinase operates within two distinct protein complexes known as mTOR complex 1 (mTORC1) and mTOR complex 2 (mTORC2), which engage separate downstream signaling pathways impacting diverse cellular processes. Although mTORC1 has been extensively studied as a pro-proliferative factor and a pro-aging hub if activated aberrantly, mTORC2 received less attention, particularly regarding its implication in aging regulation. However, recent studies brought increasing evidence or clues for us, which implies the associations of mTORC2 with aging, as the genetic elimination of unique subunits of mTORC2, such as RICTOR, has been shown to alleviate aging progression in comparison to mTORC1 inhibition. In this review, we first summarized the basic characteristics of mTORC2, including its protein architecture and signaling network. We then focused on reviewing the molecular signaling regulation of mTORC2 in cellular senescence and organismal aging, and proposed the multifaceted regulatory characteristics under senescent and nonsenescent contexts. Next, we outlined the research progress of mTOR inhibitors in the field of antiaging and discussed future prospects and challenges. It is our pleasure if this review article could provide meaningful information for our readers and call forth more investigations working on this topic.

Role of protein degradation systems in colorectal cancer

Protein degradation is essential for maintaining protein homeostasis. The ubiquitin‒proteasome system (UPS) and autophagy-lysosome system are the two primary pathways responsible for protein degradation and directly related to cell survival. In malignant tumors, the UPS plays a critical role in managing the excessive protein load caused by cancer cells hyperproliferation. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of the dual roles played by the UPS and autolysosome system in colorectal cancer (CRC), elucidating their impact on the initiation and progression of this disease while also highlighting their compensatory relationship. Simultaneously targeting both protein degradation pathways offers new promise for enhancing treatment efficacy against CRC. Additionally, apoptosis is closely linked to ubiquitination and autophagy, and caspases degrade proteins. A thorough comprehension of the interplay between various protein degradation pathways is highly important for clarifying the mechanism underlying the onset and progression of CRC.

Autophagy supports PDGFRA-dependent brain tumor development by enhancing oncogenic signaling

Autophagy is a conserved cellular degradation process. While autophagy-related proteins were shown to influence the signaling and trafficking of some receptor tyrosine kinases, the relevance of this during cancer development is unclear. Here, we identify a role for autophagy in regulating platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha (PDGFRA) signaling and levels. We find that PDGFRA can be targeted for autophagic degradation through the activity of the autophagy cargo receptor p62. As a result, short-term autophagy inhibition leads to elevated levels of PDGFRA but an unexpected defect in PDGFA-mediated signaling due to perturbed receptor trafficking. Defective PDGFRA signaling led to its reduced levels during prolonged autophagy inhibition, suggesting a mechanism of adaptation. Importantly, PDGFA-driven gliomagenesis in mice was disrupted when autophagy was inhibited in a manner dependent on Pten status, thus highlighting a genotype-specific role for autophagy during tumorigenesis. In summary, our data provide a mechanism by which cells require autophagy to drive tumor formation.

4-Nitrochalcone as a potential drug in non-clinical breast cancer studies

Breast cancer is a high-magnitude public health problem, continually challenging physicians and scientists worldwide in the field of drug therapy. 4-nitrochalcone (4NC) is a phenolic compound that has promising antitumor activity in vitro, but its application in breast cancer treatment is still poorly explored. This study aimed to evaluate the action of 4NC in vitro and in vivo breast cancer models. The cytotoxic potential of 4NC was tested towards MCF-7 and MDA-MD-231 breast cancer cells, with a lower impact in the non-tumor lineage HB4a. For in vivo studies, solid Ehrlich carcinoma (SEC) was used, a syngeneic mouse model with non-nuclear estrogen and progesterone positivity, characterized by immunohistochemistry. Daily oral administration of 4NC (25 mg kg-1) for 21 days led to a consistent reduction in tumor growth compared to the vehicle group. No signs of toxicity evaluated by hematological, biochemical, histological, and oxidative stress parameters were observed in mice, and the DL50 was >2000 mg kg-1. The effectors Raptor and S6K1 showed decreased activation, with a consequent reduction in protein synthesis; concomitantly, there was an increase in LC3-II levels, but the protective autophagic response was not completed, with the maintenance of p62 levels and cell death. These results open new possibilities for the use of 4NC as a tumor cell metabolism modulating agent.

Prolyl isomerase Pin1 promotes autophagy and cancer cell viability through activating FoxO3 signalling

Pin1-directed prolyl isomerization is a central common oncogenic mechanism to drive tumorigenic processes. However, the role of Pin1 in cellular autophagy is still poorly understood. Here we report that pharmacological inhibition of Pin1 decreased the formation of autophagosome/autolysosomes upon nutrient starvation. Inhibition of Pin1 reduced, whereas forced expression of Pin1 increased, the level of LC3 and viability of U2OS and PANC-1 cells. Pin1 could augment the accumulation of LC3 upon chloroquine treatment, while chloroquine also disturbed its function on cell viability. RNA-Seq and qPCR identified altered autophagic pathway upon Pin1 silencing. Mechanistically, FoxO3 was identified critical for Pin1-mediated autophagy. Knockdown of FoxO3 could rescue the changes of LC3 level and cellular viability caused by Pin1 overexpression. In xenograft mouse model, Pin1 reduced the sensitivity of PANC-1 to chloroquine while FoxO3 silencing could inhibit Pin1's function. Moreover, Pin1 could bind FoxO3 via its pS284-P motif, reduce its phosphorylation at T32, facilitate its nuclear retention, and therefore increased its transcriptional activity. S284A mutation of FoxO3 interfered with its T32 phosphorylation, reduced its nuclear localization and disrupted its function to support cell viability upon nutrient starvation. Furthermore, the protein level of Pin1 positively correlated with FoxO3 nuclear localization and LC3 level in pancreatic adenocarcinoma and osteosarcoma samples. Together, this study highlights an important role for Pin1-FoxO3 axis in regulating autophagy and cancer cell viability. Intervening in the Pin1-FoxO3 interaction would serve as an effective therapeutic strategy and the pS284-P motif of FoxO3 provides a potential target for drug design.

USP10 suppresses ABCG2-induced malignant characteristics of doxorubicin-resistant thyroid cancer by inhibiting PI3K/AKT pathway

Doxorubicin (DOX) is the most extensively used drug in the chemotherapy of thyroid cancer (TC). However, the existence of DOX resistance is not conducive to TC treatment. Here, we investigated the role of USP10 in DOX-resistant TC and explored the underlying molecular mechanism. CCK-8 assay was used to measure cell viability in thyroid cancer FTC133 and DOX-resistant FTC133-DOX cells. RT-qPCR and western blot were used to evaluate USP10 expression. Cell migration, invasion, and apoptotic assays were conducted. Western blot was used to detect cellular signaling proteins, EMT-related proteins, and apoptosis-related proteins. We found a lower expression of USP10 in the human TC cell line FTC133 as compared to the normal human thyroid Htori-3 cells. Notably, USP10 expression was further reduced in DOX-resistant (FTC133-DOX) cells compared to the FTC133 cells. FTC133-DOX cells had increased invasion, migration, and EMT properties while less apoptosis by activating the PI3K/AKT pathway. Interestingly, overexpressing USP10 increased the chemosensitivity of FTC133 cells to DOX therapy. Overexpressing USP10 inhibited invasion, migration, and EMT properties of FTC133-DOX cells and promoted apoptosis. Mechanistically, overexpressing USP10 inhibited PI3K/AKT pathway by activating PTEN. Furthermore, overexpressed USP10 controlled all these processes by downregulating ABCG2. This study demonstrates that USP10 could reduce DOX-induced resistance of TC cells to DOX therapy and could suppress TC malignant behavior by inhibiting the PI3K/AKT pathway. Furthermore, USP10 targeted ABCG2 to inhibit all these malignant processes, therefore, either increasing USP10 expression or inhibiting ABCG2 could be used as novel targets for treating DOX-resistant thyroid cancer.

Autophagy and autophagy-related pathways in cancer

Maintenance of protein homeostasis and organelle integrity and function is critical for cellular homeostasis and cell viability. Autophagy is the principal mechanism that mediates the delivery of various cellular cargoes to lysosomes for degradation and recycling. A myriad of studies demonstrate important protective roles for autophagy against disease. However, in cancer, seemingly opposing roles of autophagy are observed in the prevention of early tumour development versus the maintenance and metabolic adaptation of established and metastasizing tumours. Recent studies have addressed not only the tumour cell intrinsic functions of autophagy, but also the roles of autophagy in the tumour microenvironment and associated immune cells. In addition, various autophagy-related pathways have been described, which are distinct from classical autophagy, that utilize parts of the autophagic machinery and can potentially contribute to malignant disease. Growing evidence on how autophagy and related processes affect cancer development and progression has helped guide efforts to design anticancer treatments based on inhibition or promotion of autophagy. In this Review, we discuss and dissect these different functions of autophagy and autophagy-related processes during tumour development, maintenance and progression. We outline recent findings regarding the role of these processes in both the tumour cells and the tumour microenvironment and describe advances in therapy aimed at autophagy processes in cancer.

Dysregulated Signalling Pathways Driving Anticancer Drug Resistance

One of the leading causes of death worldwide, in both men and women, is cancer. Despite the significant development in therapeutic strategies, the inevitable emergence of drug resistance limits the success and impedes the curative outcome. Intrinsic and acquired resistance are common mechanisms responsible for cancer relapse. Several factors crucially regulate tumourigenesis and resistance, including physical barriers, tumour microenvironment (TME), heterogeneity, genetic and epigenetic alterations, the immune system, tumour burden, growth kinetics and undruggable targets. Moreover, transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β), Notch, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), integrin-extracellular matrix (ECM), nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB), phosphoinositol-3-kinase/protein kinase B/mammalian target of rapamycin (PI3K/Akt/mTOR), wingless-related integration site (Wnt/β-catenin), Janus kinase/signal transducers and activators of transcription (JAK/STAT) and RAS/RAF/mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signalling pathways are some of the key players that have a pivotal role in drug resistance mechanisms. To guide future cancer treatments and improve results, a deeper comprehension of drug resistance pathways is necessary. This review covers both intrinsic and acquired resistance and gives a comprehensive overview of recent research on mechanisms that enable cancer cells to bypass barriers put up by treatments, and, like "satellite navigation", find alternative routes by which to carry on their "journey" to cancer progression.

The potential effect of Schisandrin-B combination with panitumumab in wild-type and mutant colorectal cancer cell lines: Role of apoptosis and autophagy

Panitumumab is an approved monoclonal antibody for the treatment of colorectal cancer (CRC); however, mutations in EGFR signaling pathway resulted in poor response. Schisandrin-B (Sch-B) is a phytochemical that was suggested to protect against inflammation, oxidative stress, and cell proliferation. The present study aimed to investigate the potential effect of Sch-B on panitumumab-induced cytotoxicity in wild-type Caco-2, and mutant HCT-116 and HT-29 CRC cell lines, and the possible underlying mechanisms. CRC cell lines were treated with panitumumab, Sch-B, and their combination. The cytotoxic effect of drugs was determined by MTT assay. The apoptotic potential was assessed in-vitro by DNA fragmentation and caspase-3 activity. Additionally, autophagy was investigated via microscopic detection of autophagosomes and quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) measurement of Beclin-1, Rubicon, LC3-II, and Bcl-2 expression. The drug pair enhanced panitumumab cytotoxicity in all CRC cell lines where IC50 of panitumumab was decreased in Caco-2 cell line. Apoptosis was induced through caspase-3 activation, DNA fragmentation, and Bcl-2 downregulation. Caco-2 cell line treated with panitumumab showed stained acidic vesicular organelles, contrariwise, all cell lines treated with Sch-B or the drug pair displayed green fluorescence indicating the lack of autophagosomes. qRT-PCR revealed the downregulation of LC3-II in all CRC cell lines, Rubicon in mutant cell lines, and Beclin-1 in HT-29 cell line only. Sch-B at 6.5 µM promoted panitumumab-induced apoptotic cell death, in-vitro, via caspase-3 activation and Bcl-2 downregulation, rather than autophagic cell death. This novel combination therapy against CRC, allows the reduction of panitumumab dose to guard against its adverse effects.

ATP-binding cassette efflux transporters and MDR in cancer

Of the many known multidrug resistance (MDR) mechanisms, ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters expelling drug molecules out of cells is a major factor limiting the efficacy of present-day anticancer drugs. In this review, we highlights updated information on the structure, function, and regulatory mechanisms of major MDR-related ABC transporters, such as P-glycoprotein (P-gp), multidrug resistance protein 1 (MRP1), and breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP), and the effect of modulators on their functions. We also provide focused information on different modulators of ABC transporters that could be utilized against the emerging MDR crisis in cancer treatment. Finally, we discuss the importance of ABC transporters as therapeutic targets in light of future strategic planning for translating ABC transporter inhibitors into clinical practice.

Autophagy Induction by Scutellaria Flavones in Cancer: Recent Advances

In parallel with a steady rise in cancer incidence worldwide, the scientific community is increasingly focused on finding novel, safer and more efficient modalities for managing this disease. Over the past decades, natural products have been described as a significant source of new structural leads for novel drug candidates. Scutellaria root is one of the most studied natural products because of its anticancer potential. Besides just describing the cytotoxic properties of plant constituents, their molecular mechanisms of action in different cancer types are equally important. Therefore, this review article focuses on the role of the Scutellaria flavones wogonin, baicalein, baicalin, scutellarein and scutellarin in regulating the autophagic machinery in diverse cancer models, highlighting these molecules as potential lead compounds for the fight against malignant neoplasms. The knowledge that autophagy can function as a dual-edged sword, acting in both a pro- and antitumorigenic manner, further complicates the issue, revealing an amazing property of flavonoids that behave either as anti- or proautophagic agents.

Autophagy and the Insulin-like Growth Factor (IGF) System in Colonic Cells: Implications for Colorectal Neoplasia

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common human malignancies worldwide. Along with apoptosis and inflammation, autophagy is one of three important mechanisms in CRC. The presence of autophagy/mitophagy in most normal mature intestinal epithelial cells has been confirmed, where it has mainly protective functions against reactive oxygen species (ROS)-induced DNA and protein damage. Autophagy regulates cell proliferation, metabolism, differentiation, secretion of mucins and/or anti-microbial peptides. Abnormal autophagy in intestinal epithelial cells leads to dysbiosis, a decline in local immunity and a decrease in cell secretory function. The insulin-like growth factor (IGF) signaling pathway plays an important role in colorectal carcinogenesis. This is evidenced by the biological activities of IGFs (IGF-1 and IGF-2), IGF-1 receptor type 1 (IGF-1R) and IGF-binding proteins (IGF BPs), which have been reported to regulate cell survival, proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis. Defects in autophagy are found in patients with metabolic syndrome (MetS), inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) and CRC. In neoplastic cells, the IGF system modulates the autophagy process bidirectionally. In the current era of improving CRC therapies, it seems important to investigate the exact mechanisms not only of apoptosis, but also of autophagy in different populations of tumor microenvironment (TME) cells. The role of the IGF system in autophagy in normal as well as transformed colorectal cells still seems poorly understood. Hence, the aim of the review was to summarize the latest knowledge on the role of the IGF system in the molecular mechanisms of autophagy in the normal colon mucosa and in CRC, taking into account the cellular heterogeneity of the colonic and rectal epithelium.

Qingre Huazhuo Jiangsuan Decoction promotes autophagy by inhibiting PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway to relieve acute gouty arthritis

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Gout belongs to the category of "arthralgia syndrome" in traditional Chinese medicine. It is believed that gout is caused by stagnation of blood stasis, heat, and turbid toxin. Qingre Huazhuo Jiangsuan Decoction (QHJD) is a traditional Chinese medicine prescription developed from the classic Chinese medicine prescription Simiao powder to clear heat, remove turbidity, reduce acid, and reduce inflammation. Now Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) physicians often apply it to treat acute gouty arthritis (AGA). However, the mechanism of QHJD in relieving acute gouty arthritis is still unclear, and further research is needed.

AIM OF THE STUDY

Here, we aim to explore the potential mechanism of QHJD in relieving acute gouty arthritis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Acute gouty arthritis model was established by injecting monosodium urate (MSU) suspension into knee joint. The pathological state of synovial tissue in each group was evaluated by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining. The level of TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). qRT-PCR was used to detect the mRNA expression of NLRP3, ATG5, ATG7, PI3K, AKT, and mTOR. The protein expression of LC3II/I, p62, ULK1, P-ULK1, Beclin-1, PI3K, AKT, mTOR, P-PI3K, P-AKT, and P-mTOR were detected by Western blot.

RESULTS

(1) The level of autophagy protein (mRNA) was significantly up-regulated in QHJD group and rapamycin, while the expression of autophagy protein (mRNA) was significantly downregulated in the 3-methyladenoenoic acid (3 MA) group; (2) QHJD and rapamycin significantly inhibited PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway, while 3 MA group activated this pathway. (3) It was worth noting that after treatment with QHJD and rapamycin, the inflammatory pathological state of AGA synovial tissue was significantly reduced with the activation of the autophagy gene in knee synovial tissue, and the inhibition of PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway.

CONCLUSIONS

This research revealed that QHJD activates autophagy by inhibiting PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway, thereby relieving acute gouty arthritis.

Candidate genes potentially involved in molting and body size reduction in the male of the horned gall aphid, Schlechtendalia chinensis

In general, insects grow (increase in body size) through molting. To the opposite, the body size of the males of the horned gall aphid, Schlechtendalia chinensis, gets smaller after molting and as they age. To understand the molecular bases of this rare phenomenon, transcriptomes were generated from 1-5 days old male and the data were analyzed via a weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA). A total of 15 partitioned modules with different topological overlaps were obtained, and four modules were identified as highly significant for male body length (p < 0.05). Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis suggested that a portion of genes in the four modules are likely involved in autophagy and apoptosis. In addition, a total of 40 hub genes were obtained in the four modules, and among them eight genes were highly expressed in males compared to individuals of other generations of S. chinensis. These eight genes were associated with autophagy and apoptosis. Our results reveal the unique negative growth phenomenon in male S. chinensis after molting, and also suggest that the male S. chinensis with no ability to feed probably decompose their own substances via autophagy and apoptosis to provide energy for life activities such as germ cell development.

Aberrant paracrine signalling for bone remodelling underlies the mutant histone-driven giant cell tumour of bone

Oncohistones represent compelling evidence for a causative role of epigenetic perturbations in cancer. Giant cell tumours of bone (GCTs) are characterised by a mutated histone H3.3 as the sole genetic driver present in bone-forming osteoprogenitor cells but absent from abnormally large bone-resorbing osteoclasts which represent the hallmark of these neoplasms. While these striking features imply a pathogenic interaction between mesenchymal and myelomonocytic lineages during GCT development, the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. We show that the changes in the transcriptome and epigenome in the mesenchymal cells caused by the H3.3-G34W mutation contribute to increase osteoclast recruitment in part via reduced expression of the TGFβ-like soluble factor, SCUBE3. Transcriptional changes in SCUBE3 are associated with altered histone marks and H3.3^G34W enrichment at its enhancer regions. In turn, osteoclasts secrete unregulated amounts of SEMA4D which enhances proliferation of mutated osteoprogenitors arresting their maturation. These findings provide a mechanism by which GCTs undergo differentiation in response to denosumab, a drug that depletes the tumour of osteoclasts. In contrast, hTERT alterations, commonly found in malignant GCT, result in the histone-mutated neoplastic cells being independent of osteoclasts for their proliferation, predicting unresponsiveness to denosumab. We provide a mechanism for the initiation of GCT, the basis of which is dysfunctional cross-talk between bone-forming and bone-resorbing cells. The findings highlight the role of tumour/microenvironment bidirectional interactions in tumorigenesis and how this is exploited in the treatment of GCT.

Dengue activates mTORC2 signaling to counteract apoptosis and maximize viral replication

The mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) functions in two distinct complexes: mTORC1, and mTORC2. mTORC1 has been implicated in the pathogenesis of flaviviruses including dengue, where it contributes to the establishment of a pro-viral autophagic state. Activation of mTORC2 occurs upon infection with some viruses, but its functional role in viral pathogenesis remains poorly understood. In this study, we explore the consequences of a physical protein-protein interaction between dengue non-structural protein 5 (NS5) and host cell mTOR proteins during infection. Using shRNA to differentially target mTORC1 and mTORC2 complexes, we show that mTORC2 is required for optimal dengue replication. Furthermore, we show that mTORC2 is activated during viral replication, and that mTORC2 counteracts virus-induced apoptosis, promoting the survival of infected cells. This work reveals a novel mechanism by which the dengue flavivirus can promote cell survival to maximize viral replication.

Survival of HT29 cancer cells is influenced by hepatocyte growth factor receptor inhibition through modulation of self-DNA-triggered TLR9-dependent autophagy response

HGFR activation drives the malignant progression of colorectal cancer, and its inhibition displays anti-autophagic activity. The interrelated role of HGFR inhibition and TLR9/autophagy signaling in HT29 cancer cells subjected to modified self-DNA treatments has not been clarified. We analyzed this complex interplay with cell metabolism and proliferation measurements, TLR9, HGFR and autophagy inhibitory assays and WES Simple Western blot-based autophagy flux measurements, gene expression analyses, immunocytochemistry, and transmission electron microscopy. The overexpression of MyD88 and caspase-3 was associated with enhanced HT29 cell proliferation, suggesting that incubation with self-DNAs could suppress the apoptosis-induced compensatory cell proliferation. HGFR inhibition blocked the proliferation-reducing effect of genomic and hypermethylated, but not that of fragmented DNA. Lowest cell proliferation was achieved with the concomitant use of genomic DNA, HGFR inhibitor, and chloroquine, when the proliferation stimulating effect of STAT3 overexpression could be outweighed by the inhibitory effect of LC3B, indicating the putative involvement of HGFR-mTOR-ULK1 molecular cascade in HGFR inhibitor-mediated autophagy. The most intense cell proliferation was caused by the co-administration of hypermethylated DNA, TLR9 and HGFR inhibitors, when decreased expression of both canonical and non-canonical HGFR signaling pathways and autophagy-related genes was present. The observed ultrastructural changes also support the context-dependent role of HGFR inhibition and autophagy on cell survival and proliferation. Further investigation of the influence of the studied signaling pathways and cellular processes can provide a basis for novel, individualized anti-cancer therapies.

Autophagy Signaling by Neural-Induced Human Adipose Tissue-Derived Stem Cell-Conditioned Medium during Rotenone-Induced Toxicity in SH-SY5Y Cells

Rotenone (ROT) inhibits mitochondrial complex I, leading to reactive oxygen species formation, which causes neurodegeneration and alpha-synuclein (α-syn) aggregation and, consequently, Parkinson’s disease. We previously found that a neurogenic differentiated human adipose tissue-derived stem cell-conditioned medium (NI-hADSC-CM) was protective against ROT-induced toxicity in SH-SY5Y cells. In the present study, ROT significantly decreased the phospho (p)-mTORC1/total (t)-mTOR, p-mTORC2/t-mTOR, and p-/t-ULK1 ratios and the ATG13 level by increasing the DEPTOR level and p-/t-AMPK ratio. Moreover, ROT increased the p-/t-Akt ratio and glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK3β) activity by decreasing the p-/t-ERK1/2 ratios and beclin-1 level. ROT also promoted the lipidation of LC3B-I to LC3B-II by inducing autophagosome formation in Triton X-100-soluble and -insoluble cell lysate fractions. Additionally, the levels of ATG3, 5, 7, and 12 were decreased, along with those of lysosomal LAMP1, LAMP2, and TFEB, leading to lysosomal dysfunction. However, NI-hADSC-CM treatment increased the p-mTORC1, p-mTORC2, p-ULK1, p-Akt, p-ERK1/2, ATG13, and beclin-1 levels and decreased the p-AMPK level and GSK3β activity in response to ROT-induced toxicity. Additionally, NI-hADSC-CM restored the LC3B-I level, increased the p62 level, and normalized the ATG and lysosomal protein amounts to control levels. Autophagy array revealed that the secreted proteins in NI-hADSC-CM could be crucial in the neuroprotection. Taken together, our results showed that the neuroprotective effects of NI-hADSC-CM on the autophagy signaling pathways could alleviate the aggregation of α-syn in Parkinson’s disease and other neurodegenerative disorders.

The role of metabolic ecosystem in cancer progression — metabolic plasticity and mTOR hyperactivity in tumor tissues

Despite advancements in cancer management, tumor relapse and metastasis are associated with poor outcomes in many cancers. Over the past decade, oncogene-driven carcinogenesis, dysregulated cellular signaling networks, dynamic changes in the tissue microenvironment, epithelial-mesenchymal transitions, protein expression within regulatory pathways, and their part in tumor progression are described in several studies. However, the complexity of metabolic enzyme expression is considerably under evaluated. Alterations in cellular metabolism determine the individual phenotype and behavior of cells, which is a well-recognized hallmark of cancer progression, especially in the adaptation mechanisms underlying therapy resistance. In metabolic symbiosis, cells compete, communicate, and even feed each other, supervised by tumor cells. Metabolic reprogramming forms a unique fingerprint for each tumor tissue, depending on the cellular content and genetic, epigenetic, and microenvironmental alterations of the developing cancer. Based on its sensing and effector functions, the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) kinase is considered the master regulator of metabolic adaptation. Moreover, mTOR kinase hyperactivity is associated with poor prognosis in various tumor types. In situ metabolic phenotyping in recent studies highlights the importance of metabolic plasticity, mTOR hyperactivity, and their role in tumor progression. In this review, we update recent developments in metabolic phenotyping of the cancer ecosystem, metabolic symbiosis, and plasticity which could provide new research directions in tumor biology. In addition, we suggest pathomorphological and analytical studies relating to metabolic alterations, mTOR activity, and their associations which are necessary to improve understanding of tumor heterogeneity and expand the therapeutic management of cancer.

Autophagy Modulation and Cancer Combination Therapy: A Smart Approach in Cancer Therapy

The autophagy pathway is the process whereby cells keep cellular homeostasis and respond to stress via recycling their damaged cellular proteins, organelles, and other cellular components. In the context of cancer, autophagy is a dual-edge sword pro- and anti-tumorigenic role depending on the oncogenic context and stage of tumorigenesis. Cancer cells have a higher dependency on autophagy compared with normal cells because of cellular damages and high demands for energy. The carbon, nitrogen, and molecular oxygen are building blocks for highly proliferative cancer cells which extremely depend on glutaminolysis and aerobic glycolysis; when a cancer cell is restricted to glucose and glutamine, it initiates to activate a stress response pathway using autophagy. Oncogenic tyrosine kinases (OncTKs) and receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) activation result in autophagy modulation through activation of the PI3K/AKT/mTORC1 and RAS/MAPK signaling pathways. Targeted inhibition of tyrosine kinases (TKs) and RTKs have recently been considered as cancer therapy but drug resistance and cancer relapse continue to be a major limitation of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). Manipulation of autophagy pathway along with TKIs may be a promising strategy to circumvent unknown existing drug-resistance mechanisms that may emerge in a treated patient. In this way, clinical trials are ongoing to modulate autophagy to treat cancer. This review aims to summarize the combination therapy of autophagy affecting compounds with anticancer drugs which target cell signaling pathways, metabolism mechanisms, and epigenetics modification to improve therapeutic efficacy against cancers.

mTORC2: The other mTOR in autophagy regulation

The mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) has gathered significant attention as a ubiquitously expressed multimeric kinase with key implications for cell growth, proliferation, and survival. This kinase forms the central core of two distinct complexes, mTORC1 and mTORC2, which share the ability of integrating environmental, nutritional, and hormonal cues but which regulate separate molecular pathways that result in different cellular responses. Particularly, mTORC1 has been described as a major negative regulator of endosomal biogenesis and autophagy, a catabolic process that degrades intracellular components and organelles within the lysosomes and is thought to play a key role in human health and disease. In contrast, the role of mTORC2 in the regulation of autophagy has been considerably less studied despite mounting evidence this complex may regulate autophagy in a different and perhaps complementary manner to that of mTORC1. Genetic ablation of unique subunits is currently being utilized to study the differential effects of the two mTOR complexes. RICTOR is the best‐described subunit specific to mTORC2 and as such has become a useful tool for investigating the specific actions of this complex. The development of complex‐specific inhibitors for mTORC2 is also an area of intense interest. Studies to date have demonstrated that mTORC1/2 complexes each signal to a variety of exclusive downstream molecules with distinct biological roles. Pinpointing the particular effects of these downstream effectors is crucial toward the development of novel therapies aimed at accurately modulating autophagy in the context of human aging and disease.

Icariin alleviates osteoarthritis by regulating autophagy of chondrocytes by mediating PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic degenerative disease that significantly impacts the quality of life of the elderly population. Recently, the pathogenesis of OA has been reported to involve autophagy in chondrocytes. Intriguingly, icariin, one of the main components of epimedium, exerts multiple pharmacological effects, including a protective effect against chondrocyte damage. Thus, we aimed to investigate the therapeutic effect of icariin on OA and its potential underlying mechanism by using a rat model of OA. After treatment with icariin or an autophagy activator (rapamycin) or inhibitor (3-methyladenine), OA chondrocyte viability was measured using the CCK-8 assay, apoptosis in the chondrocytes was evaluated using the acridine orange-propidium iodide assay and flow cytometry, and OA tissue pathological state was assessed using micro-CT scanning and safranin O staining. Furthermore, immunohistochemical staining was used to measure the expression level of Beclin-1 and immunofluorescence labeling was used to visualize LC3 expression, and western blotting was used to determine the expression levels of autophagy proteins and key proteins in the PI3K signaling pathway. The apoptotic rate of OA chondrocytes was markedly elevated by 3-methyladenine and suppressed by rapamycin and icariin; autophagy genes were drastically downregulated in the 3-methyladenine group and upregulated in the rapamycin and icariin groups; and the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway was activated by 3-methyladenine and inhibited by rapamycin and icariin. Notably, following treatment with rapamycin and icariin, the severe pathological state in OA cartilage tissues was substantially alleviated, and this was accompanied by activated autophagy and inhibited PI3K signaling in the cartilage tissues. Taken together, these findings indicate that icariin alleviates OA by regulating the autophagy of chondrocytes by mediating PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling.

Autophagy, tissue repair, and fibrosis: a delicate balance

Tissue repair and fibrosis, an abnormal form of repair, occur in most human organs in response to injury or inflammation. Fibroblasts play a major role in the normal repair process by differentiating into myofibroblasts that synthesize extracellular matrix (ECM) components and favor tissue remodeling to reestablish normal function and integrity. However, their persistent accumulation at the site of injury is a hallmark of fibrosis. Autophagy is a catabolic process that occurs in eukaryotic cells as a stress response to allow cell survival and maintenance of cellular homeostasis by degrading and recycling intracellular components. Recent advances identify autophagy as an important regulator of myofibroblast differentiation, tissue remodeling, and fibrogenesis. In this mini-review, we provide an overview of the interactions between autophagy, ECM, and fibrosis, and emphasize the molecular mechanisms involved in myofibroblast differentiation. We also describe the emerging concept of secretory autophagy as a new avenue for intercellular communication at the site of tissue injury and repair.

The role of the mTOR pathway in models of drug-induced reward and the behavioural constituents of addiction

BACKGROUND

Exposure to drugs of abuse induces neuroadaptations in critical nodes of the so-called reward systems that are thought to mediate the transition from controlled drug use to the compulsive drug-seeking that characterizes addictive disorders. These neural adaptations are likely to require protein synthesis, which is regulated, among others, by the mechanistic target of the rapamycin kinase (mTOR) signalling cascade.

METHODS

We have performed a narrative review of the literature available in PubMed about the involvement of the mTOR pathway in drug-reward and addiction-related phenomena.

AIMS

The aim of this study was to review the underlying architecture of this complex intracellular network and to discuss the alterations of its components that are evident after exposure to drugs of abuse. The aim was also to delineate the effects that manipulations of the mTOR network have on models of drug reward and on paradigms that recapitulate some of the psychological components of addiction.

RESULTS

There is evidence for the involvement of the mTOR pathway in the acute and rewarding effects of drugs of abuse, especially psychostimulants. However, the data regarding opiates are scarce. There is a need to use sophisticated animal models of addiction to ascertain the real role of the mTOR pathway in this pathology and not just in drug-mediated reward. The involvement of this pathway in behavioural addictions and impulsivity should also be studied in detail in the future.

CONCLUSIONS

Although there is a plethora of data about the modulation of mTOR by drugs of abuse, the involvement of this signalling pathway in addictive disorders requires further research.

VPS53 Suppresses Malignant Properties in Colorectal Cancer by Inducing the Autophagy Signaling Pathway

Background

Many studies found that VPS53, one of the subunits of the golgi-associated retrograde protein (GARP) complexes, was aberrantly expressed in human diseases.

Aim

This study investigated the functions and molecular mechanisms of VPS53 in colorectal cancer (CRC).

Methods

Expression and correlation of Beclin 1 and VPS53 were analyzed by RT-qPCR and Pearson’s correlation in CRC tissues, and VPS53 expression was also determined in CRC cells. The changes of proliferation, migration, invasion, apoptosis, and autophagy of CRC cells were examined by a succession of functional experiments including CCK-8, flow cytometry, transwell assay, and electron microscopy. The levels of autophagy related proteins were evaluated by Western blotting analysis.

Results

RT-qPCR results found that VPS53 was downregulated in CRC tissues and cells, and Beclin 1 expression was also decreased in CRC tissues. There was a positive correlation between VPS53 and Beclin 1. Functional results showed that overexpression of VPS53 could suppress proliferation, migration, and invasion, and accelerate apoptosis and autophagy of CRC cells. Also, VPS53 could upregulate Beclin 1 and LC3BII, suggesting the inductive effect of VPS53 on CRC cell autophagy. Furthermore, it was found that the autophagy inhibitor (Inhb) could attenuate the inhibition of VPS53 on CRC progression.

Conclusion

VPS53 repressed CRC progression by regulating the autophagy signaling pathway, suggesting that VPS53 might be a promising therapeutic target for CRC.

Inhibition of Histone H3K27 Demethylases Inactivates Brachyury (TBXT) and Promotes Chordoma Cell Death

Expression of the transcription factor brachyury (TBXT) is normally restricted to the embryo, and its silencing is epigenetically regulated. TBXT promotes mesenchymal transition in a subset of common carcinomas, and in chordoma, a rare cancer showing notochordal differentiation, TBXT acts as a putative oncogene. We hypothesized that TBXT expression is controlled through epigenetic inhibition to promote chordoma cell death. Screening of five human chordoma cell lines revealed that pharmacologic inhibition of the histone 3 lysine 27 demethylases KDM6A (UTX) and KDM6B (JMJD3) leads to cell death. This effect was phenocopied by dual genetic inactivation of KDM6A/B using CRISPR/Cas9. Inhibition of KDM6A/B with a novel compound KDOBA67 led to a genome-wide increase in repressive H3K27me3 marks with concomitant reduction in active H3K27ac, H3K9ac, and H3K4me3 marks. TBXT was a KDM6A/B target gene, and chromatin changes at TBXT following KDOBA67 treatment were associated with a reduction in TBXT protein levels in all models tested, including primary patient-derived cultures. In all models tested, KDOBA67 treatment downregulated expression of a network of transcription factors critical for chordoma survival and upregulated pathways dominated by ATF4-driven stress and proapoptotic responses. Blocking the AFT4 stress response did not prevent suppression of TBXT and induction of cell death, but ectopic overexpression of TBXT increased viability, therefore implicating TBXT as a potential therapeutic target of H3K27 demethylase inhibitors in chordoma. Our work highlights how knowledge of normal processes in fetal development can provide insight into tumorigenesis and identify novel therapeutic approaches. SIGNIFICANCE: Pharmacologic inhibition of H3K27-demethylases in human chordoma cells promotes epigenetic silencing of oncogenic TBXT, alters gene networks critical to survival, and represents a potential novel therapy.

PI3K/AKT pathway as a key link modulates the multidrug resistance of cancers

Multidrug resistance (MDR) is the dominant challenge in the failure of chemotherapy in cancers. Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) is a lipid kinase that spreads intracellular signal cascades and regulates a variety of cellular processes. PI3Ks are considered significant causes of chemoresistance in cancer therapy. Protein kinase B (AKT) is also a significant downstream effecter of PI3K signaling, and it modulates several pathways, including inhibition of apoptosis, stimulation of cell growth, and modulation of cellular metabolism. This review highlights the aberrant activation of PI3K/AKT as a key link that modulates MDR. We summarize the regulation of numerous major targets correlated with the PI3K/AKT pathway, which is further related to MDR, including the expression of apoptosis-related protein, ABC transport and glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta (GSK-3β), synergism with nuclear factor kappa beta (NF-κB) and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), and the regulation of glycolysis.

LC3C-Mediated Autophagy Selectively Regulates the Met RTK and HGF-Stimulated Migration and Invasion

The Met/hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) is deregulated in many cancers and is a recognized target for cancer therapies. Following HGF stimulation, the signaling output of Met is tightly controlled by receptor internalization and sorting for degradation or recycling. Here, we uncover a role for autophagy in selective degradation of Met and regulation of Met-dependent cell migration and invasion. Met engagement with the autophagic pathway is dependent on complex formation with the mammalian ATG8 family member MAP1LC3C. LC3C deletion abrogates Met entry into the autophagy-dependent degradative pathway, allowing identification of LC3C domains required for rescue. Cancer cells with low LC3C levels show enhanced Met stability, signaling, and cell invasion. These findings provide mechanistic insight into RTK recruitment to autophagosomes and establish distinct roles for ATG8 proteins in this process, supporting that differential expression of ATG8 proteins can shape the functional consequences of autophagy in cancer development and progression.

Berberine Induces Autophagic Cell Death in Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia by Inactivating AKT/mTORC1 Signaling

Introduction

Berberine has been reported to inhibit cancer cell growth by apoptosis induction and exhibits a protective role against cancer progression. The current study aims to investigate the effects of berberine on acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and the mechanism beyond apoptosis.

Methods

Cell viability was determined in ALL cell lines EU-6 and SKW-3 using trypan blue staining. Cell autophagy was determined by immunofluorescence and Western blot. ALL xenograft mice were established to investigate the anti-tumor effects of BBR. The molecular mechanism was explored in ALL cell lines using siRNA and signaling inhibitors.

Results

Herein, we show that berberine treatment significantly inhibits ALL cell viability and promotes cell death by inducing autophagy in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, berberine significantly alleviates the aggressive pathological condition in ALL xenograft mice. Mechanistic studies exhibit that berberine induces autophagic death in ALL cells by inactivating AKT/mTORC1 signaling. Chemically targeting AKT/mTORC1 signaling controls berberine-induced cell autophagy in vitro, and blockade of autophagic process blunts berberine-alleviated pathological condition in vivo.

Discussion

In conclusion, our study reveals that berberine could induce ALL cell autophagic death by inactivating AKT/mTORC1 signaling that could be used to develop small molecule drug for ALL treatment.

Minocycline promotes cardiomyocyte mitochondrial autophagy and cardiomyocyte autophagy to prevent sepsis-induced cardiac dysfunction by Akt/mTOR signaling

Myocardial damage is responsible for the high mortality of sepsis. However, the underlying mechanism is not well understood. Cardiomyocyte autophagy alleviates the cardiac injury caused by myocardial infarction. Enhanced cardiomyocyte autophagy also has protective effects against cardiomyocyte mitochondrial injury. Minocycline enhances autophagy in many types of cells under different types of pathological stress and can be easily taken up by cardiomyocytes. The present study investigated whether minocycline prevented myocardial injury caused by sepsis and whether cardiomyocyte autophagy participated in this process. The results indicated that minocycline enhanced cardiomyocyte mitochondrial autophagy and cardiomyocyte autophagy and improved myocardial mitochondrial and cardiac function. Minocycline upregulated protein kinase B (Akt) phosphorylation, inhibited mTORC1 expression and enhanced mTORC2 expression. In conclusion, minocycline enhanced cardiomyocyte mitochondrial autophagy and cardiomyocyte autophagy and improved cardiac function. The underlying mechanisms were associated with mTORC1 inhibition and mTORC2 activation. Thus, our findings suggest that minocycline may represent a potential approach for treating myocardial injury and provide novel insights into the underlying mechanisms of myocardial injury and dysfunction after sepsis.

The role of RICTOR amplification in targeted therapy and drug resistance

The emergence of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) has changed the current treatment paradigm and achieved good results in recent decades. However, an increasing number of studies have indicated that the complex network of receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) co-activation could influence the characteristic phenotypes of cancer and the tumor response to targeted treatments. One of strategies to blocking RTK co-activation is targeting the downstream factors of RTK, such as PI3K-AKT-mTOR pathway. RICTOR, a core component of mTORC2, acts as a key effector molecule of the PI3K-AKT pathway; its amplification is often associated with poor clinical outcomes and resistance to TKIs. Here, we discuss the biology of RICTOR in tumor and the prospects of targeting RICTOR as a complementary therapy to inhibit RTK co-activation.

Silencing of PARP2 Blocks Autophagic Degradation

Poly(ADP-Ribose) polymerases (PARPs) are enzymes that metabolize NAD⁺. PARP1 and PARP10 were previously implicated in the regulation of autophagy. Here we showed that cytosolic electron-dense particles appear in the cytoplasm of C2C12 myoblasts in which PARP2 is silenced by shRNA. The cytosolic electron-dense bodies resemble autophagic vesicles and, in line with that, we observed an increased number of LC3-positive and Lysotracker-stained vesicles. Silencing of PARP2 did not influence the maximal number of LC3-positive vesicles seen upon chloroquine treatment or serum starvation, suggesting that the absence of PARP2 inhibits autophagic breakdown. Silencing of PARP2 inhibited the activity of AMP-activated kinase (AMPK) and the mammalian target of rapamycin complex 2 (mTORC2). Treatment of PARP2-silenced C2C12 cells with AICAR, an AMPK activator, nicotinamide-riboside (an NAD⁺ precursor), or EX-527 (a SIRT1 inhibitor) decreased the number of LC3-positive vesicles cells to similar levels as in control (scPARP2) cells, suggesting that these pathways inhibit autophagic flux upon PARP2 silencing. We observed a similar increase in the number of LC3 vesicles in primary PARP2 knockout murine embryonic fibroblasts. We provided evidence that the enzymatic activity of PARP2 is important in regulating autophagy. Finally, we showed that the silencing of PARP2 induces myoblast differentiation. Taken together, PARP2 is a positive regulator of autophagic breakdown in mammalian transformed cells and its absence blocks the progression of autophagy.

Emerging Roles of lncRNAs in the Formation and Progression of Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the primary cause of cancer-related death worldwide; however, specific and sensitive tools for the early diagnosis and targeted therapy of CRC are currently lacking. High-throughput sequencing technology revealed that gene expression of long-chain non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in a number of cancers directly or indirectly interferes with various biological processes. Emerging evidence suggests that lncRNAs regulate target genes and play an important role in the biological processes of malignancies, including CRC. Many carcinostatic/oncogenic lncRNAs have been identified as biomarkers for metastasis and prognosis in CRC; hence, they serve as therapeutic tools. In this article, we systematically review the literature on the disordered lncRNAs in CRC from four aspects: DNA transcription, RNA level regulation, post-translational level, and the translation of lncRNAs into polypeptides. Subsequently, we analyze the mechanism through which lncRNAs participate in the biological process of CRC. Finally, we discuss the application and prospects of these lncRNAs in CRC.

mTOR-Mediated Antioxidant Activation in Solid Tumor Radioresistance

Radiotherapy is widely used for the treatment of cancer patients, but tumor radioresistance presents serious therapy challenges. Tumor radioresistance is closely related to high levels of mTOR signaling in tumor tissues. Therefore, targeting the mTOR pathway might be a strategy to promote solid tumor sensitivity to ionizing radiation. Radioresistance is associated with enhanced antioxidant mechanisms in cancer cells. Therefore, examination of the relationship between mTOR signaling and antioxidant mechanism-linked radioresistance is required for effective radiotherapy. In particular, the effect of mTOR signaling on antioxidant glutathione induction by the Keap1-NRF2-xCT pathway is described in this review. This review is expected to assist in the identification of therapeutic adjuvants to increase the efficacy of radiotherapy.

Dihydroartemisinin Induces Endothelial Cell Autophagy through Suppression of the Akt/mTOR Pathway

Aims: Dihydroartemisinin (DHA), a derivative of artemisinin, suppresses angiogenesis by regulating endothelial cell phenotypes. In this study, we investigated the effect of DHA on endothelial cell autophagy and the underlying mechanisms.

Methods: Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were treated with DHA. Formation of autophagosomes in HUVECs was observed by fluorescence microscope after pcDNA3.1-green fluorescent protein (GFP)-microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3) plasmids transfection. Dichlorofluorescein diacetate (DCFH-DA) staining was used to detect intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS). Western blot was performed to detect the protein levels of LC3, p62, beclin 1, autophagy-related protein (Atg) 5, p-Akt (protein kinase B), p-mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin), p-4E-BP1 (eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E-binding protein 1), and p-p70S6K (p70 ribosomal S6 kinase).

Results: DHA increased LC3-II and the number of fluorescent GFP-LC3 puncta in HUVECs. Silencing ATG5 by siRNA interference attenuated DHA-induced LC3-II elevation. DHA enhanced ROS production, but pretreatment with antioxidant N-acety-l-cysteine (NAC) failed to reduce DHA-induced autophagy in HUVECs. Pretreatment with PD98059, SP600125 and SB203580, the inhibitors of ERK, JNK, and p38 MAPK, did not reverse autophagy in DHA-treated HUVECs. DHA significantly reduced phosphorylation of Akt, mTOR, p70S6K, 4E-BP1 in HUVECs. Rapamycin, an mTOR antagonist, compromised DHA-induced autophagy.

Conclusion: DHA induces autophagy in HUVECs by inhibition of the Akt/mTOR pathway

Targeting of early endosomes by autophagy facilitates EGFR recycling and signalling

Despite recently uncovered connections between autophagy and the endocytic pathway, the role of autophagy in regulating endosomal function remains incompletely understood. Here, we find that the ablation of autophagy-essential players disrupts EGF-induced endocytic trafficking of EGFR. Cells lacking ATG7 or ATG16L1 exhibit increased levels of phosphatidylinositol-3-phosphate (PI(3)P), a key determinant of early endosome maturation. Increased PI(3)P levels are associated with an accumulation of EEA1-positive endosomes where EGFR trafficking is stalled. Aberrant early endosomes are recognised by the autophagy machinery in a TBK1- and Gal8-dependent manner and are delivered to LAMP2-positive lysosomes. Preventing this homeostatic regulation of early endosomes by autophagy reduces EGFR recycling to the plasma membrane and compromises downstream signalling and cell survival. Our findings uncover a novel role for the autophagy machinery in maintaining early endosome function and growth factor sensing.

Colorectal cancer cells respond differentially to autophagy inhibition in vivo

Autophagy has both tumor-promoting and -suppressing effects in cancer, including colorectal cancer (CRC), with transformed cells often exhibiting high autophagic flux. In established tumors, autophagy inhibition can lead to opposite responses resulting in either tumor cell death or hyperproliferation. The functional mechanisms underlying these differences are poorly understood. The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between the autophagic capacities of CRC cells and their sensitivities to autophagy inhibition. All studied CRC cell lines showed high basal autophagic flux. However, only HCT116 and Caco-2/15 cells displayed regulated autophagic flux upon starvation. Knockdown of ATG5 (which disrupts autophagosome elongation) or RAB21 (which decreases autophagosome/lysosome fusion) had little effect on CRC cell proliferation in vitro. Nonetheless, inhibition of autophagy in vivo had a substantial cell line-dependent impact on tumor growth, with some cells displaying decreased (HCT116 and Caco-2/15) or increased (SW480 and LoVo) proliferation. RNA sequencing and Western blot analyses in hyperproliferative SW480 tumors revealed that the mTORC2 and AKT pathways were hyperactivated following autophagy impairment. Inhibition of either mTOR or AKT activities rescued the observed hyperproliferation in autophagy-inhibited SW480 and reduced tumor growth. These results highlight that autophagy inhibition can lead, in specific cellular contexts, to compensatory mechanisms promoting tumor growth.

Allicin attenuates pathological cardiac hypertrophy by inhibiting autophagy via activation of PI3K/Akt/mTOR and MAPK/ERK/mTOR signaling pathways

BACKGROUND

Cardiac hypertrophy is an adaptive response of the myocardium to pressure or volume overload. Recent evidences indicate that allicin can prevent cardiac hypertrophy. However, it is not clear whether allicin alleviates cardiac hypertrophy by inhibiting autophagy.

PURPOSE

We aimed to investigate the effects of allicin on pressure overload-induced cardiac hypertrophy, and further to clarify the related mechanism.

STUDY DESIGN/METHODS

Cardiac hypertrophy was successfully established by abdominal aortic constriction (AAC) in rats, and cardiomyocytes hypertrophy was simulated by angiotensin II (Ang II) in vitro. Hemodynamic parameters were monitored by organism function experiment system in vivo. The changes of cell surface area were observed using HE and immunofluorescence staining in vivoand in vitro, respectively. The expressions of cardiac hypertrophy relative protein (BNP and β-MHC), autophagy marker protein (LC3-II and Beclin-1), Akt, PI3K and ERK were detected by western blot.

RESULTS

Allicin could improve cardiac function, and reduce cardiomyocytes size, and decrease BNP and β-MHC protein expressions. Further results showed that allicin could lower LC3-II and Beclin-1 protein expressions both in vivo and in vitro experiments. And pharmacological inhibitor of mTOR, rapamycin could antagonize the effects of allicin on Ang II-induced cardiac hypertrophy and autophagy. Simultaneously, allicin could promote the expressions of p-Akt, p-PI3K and p-ERK protein.

CONCLUSION

These findings reveal a novel mechanism of allicin attenuating cardiac hypertrophy which allicin could inhibit excessive autophagy via activating PI3K/Akt/mTOR and MAPK/ERK/mTOR signaling pathways.

The HGF-MET axis coordinates liver cancer metabolism and autophagy for chemotherapeutic resistance

Notwithstanding the numerous drugs available for liver cancer, emerging evidence suggests that chemotherapeutic resistance is a significant issue. HGF and its receptor MET play critical roles in liver carcinogenesis and metastasis, mainly dependent on the activity of receptor tyrosine kinase. However, for unknown reasons, all HGF-MET kinase activity-targeted drugs have failed or have been suspended in clinical trials thus far. Macroautophagy/autophagy is a protective ‘self-eating’ process for resisting metabolic stress by recycling obsolete components, whereas the impact of autophagy-mediated reprogrammed metabolism on therapeutic resistance is largely unclear, especially in liver cancer. In the present study, we first observed that HGF stimulus facilitated the Warburg effect and glutaminolysis to promote biogenesis in multiple liver cancer cells. We then identified the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDHC) and GLS/GLS1 as crucial substrates of HGF-activated MET kinase; MET-mediated phosphorylation inhibits PDHC activity but activates GLS to promote cancer cell metabolism and biogenesis. We further found that the key residues of kinase activity in MET (Y1234/1235) also constitute a conserved LC3-interacting region motif (Y1234-Y1235-x-V1237). Therefore, on inhibiting HGF-mediated MET kinase activation, Y1234/1235-dephosphorylated MET induced autophagy to maintain biogenesis for cancer cell survival. Moreover, we verified that Y1234/1235-dephosphorylated MET correlated with autophagy in clinical liver cancer. Finally, a combination of MET inhibitor and autophagy suppressor significantly improved the therapeutic efficiency of liver cancer in vitro and in mice. Together, our findings reveal an HGF-MET axis-coordinated functional interaction between tyrosine kinase signaling and autophagy, and establish a MET-autophagy double-targeted strategy to overcome chemotherapeutic resistance in liver cancer.

Abbreviations: ALDO: aldolase, fructose-bisphosphate; CQ: chloroquine; DLAT/PDCE2: dihydrolipoamide S-acetyltransferase; EMT: epithelial-mesenchymal transition; ENO: enolase; GAPDH: glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase; GLS/GLS1: glutaminase; GLUL/GS: glutamine-ammonia ligase; GPI/PGI: glucose-6-phosphate isomerase; HCC: hepatocellular carcinoma; HGF: hepatocyte growth factor; HK: hexokinase; LDH: lactate dehydrogenase; LIHC: liver hepatocellular carcinoma; LIR: LC3-interacting region; PDH: pyruvate dehydrogenase; PDHA1: pyruvate dehydrogenase E1 alpha 1 subunit; PDHX: pyruvate dehydrogenase complex component X; PFK: phosphofructokinase; PK: pyruvate kinase; RTK: receptor tyrosine kinase; TCGA: The Cancer Genome Atlas

The Role of PI3K in Met Driven Cancer: A Recap

The Receptor Tyrosine Kinase (RTK) Met, overexpressed or mutated in cancer, plays a major role in cancer progression and represents an attractive target for cancer therapy. However RTK inhibitors can lead to drug resistance, explaining the necessity to develop therapies that target downstream signaling. Phosphatidylinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) is one of the most deregulated pathways in cancer and implicated in various types of cancer. PI3K signaling is also a major signaling pathway downstream of RTK, including Met. PI3K major effectors include Akt and "mechanistic Target of Rapamycin" (mTOR), which each play key roles in numerous and various cell functions. Advancements made due to the development of molecular and pharmaceutical tools now allow us to delve into the roles of each independently. In this review, we summarize the current understanding we possess of the activation and role of PI3K/Akt/mTOR, downstream of Met, in cancer.

Autophagy suppresses self-renewal ability and tumorigenicity of glioma-initiating cells and promotes Notch1 degradation

Autophagy is a vital process that involves degradation of long-lived proteins and dysfunctional organelles and contributes to cellular metabolism. Glioma-initiating cells (GICs) have the ability to self-renew, differentiate into heterogeneous types of tumor cells, and sustain tumorigenicity; thus, GICs lead to tumor recurrence. Accumulating evidence indicates that autophagy can induce stem cell differentiation and increase the lethality of temozolomide against GICs. However, the mechanism underlying the regulation of GIC self-renewal by autophagy remains uncharacterized. In the present study, autophagy induced by AZD8055 and rapamycin treatment suppressed GIC self-renewal in vitro. We found that autophagy inhibited Notch1 pathway activation. Moreover, autophagy activated Notch1 degradation, which is associated with maintenance of the self-renewal ability of GICs. Furthermore, autophagy abolished the tumorigenicity of CD133 + U87-MG neurosphere cells in an intracranial model. These findings suggest that autophagy regulating GICs self-renewal and tumorigenicity is probably bound up with Notch1 degradation. The results of this study could aid in the design of autophagy-based clinical trials for glioma treatments, which may be of great value.

Trafficking of Adhesion and Growth Factor Receptors and Their Effector Kinases

Cell adhesion to macromolecules in the microenvironment is essential for the development and maintenance of tissues, and its dysregulation can lead to a range of disease states, including inflammation, fibrosis, and cancer. The biomechanical and biochemical mechanisms that mediate cell adhesion rely on signaling by a range of effector proteins, including kinases and associated scaffolding proteins. The intracellular trafficking of these must be tightly controlled in space and time to enable effective cell adhesion and microenvironmental sensing and to integrate cell adhesion with, and compartmentalize it from, other cellular processes, such as gene transcription, protein degradation, and cell division. Delivery of adhesion receptors and signaling proteins from the plasma membrane to unanticipated subcellular locales is revealing novel biological functions. Here, we review the expected and unexpected trafficking, and sites of activity, of adhesion and growth factor receptors and intracellular kinase partners as we begin to appreciate the complexity and diversity of their spatial regulation.

CD24 regulates sorafenib resistance via activating autophagy in hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma is one of most common solid cancers worldwide. Sorafenib is indicated as a treatment for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the clinical efficacy of sorafenib has been severely compromised by the development of drug resistance, and the precise mechanisms of drug resistance remain largely unknown. Here we found that a cell surface molecule, CD24, is overexpressed in tumor tissues and sorafenib-resistant hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines. Moreover, there is a positive correlation between CD24 expression levels and sorafenib resistance. In sorafenib-resistant HCC cell lines, depletion of CD24 caused a notable increase of sorafenib sensitivity. In addition, we found that CD24-related sorafenib resistance was accompanied by the activation of autophagy and can be blocked by the inhibition of autophagy using either pharmacological inhibitors or essential autophagy gene knockdown. In further research, we found that CD24 overexpression also leads to an increase in PP2A protein production and induces the deactivation of the mTOR/AKT pathway, which enhances the level of autophagy. These results demonstrate that CD24 regulates sorafenib resistance via activating autophagy in HCC. This is the first report to describe the relationships among CD24, autophagy, and sorafenib resistance. In conclusion, the combination of autophagy modulation and CD24 targeted therapy is a promising therapeutic strategy in the treatment of HCC.

The miR-3127-5p/p-STAT3 axis up-regulates PD-L1 inducing chemoresistance in non-small-cell lung cancer

It is less known about miRNA3127‐5p induced up‐regulation of PD‐L1, immune escape and drug resistance caused by increased PD‐L1 in lung cancer. In this study, lentivirus was transduced into lung cancer cells, and quantitative PCR and Western blot were used to detect the expression of PD‐L1. Then immunofluorescence assay was applied to detect autophagy, finally we explored the relationship between PD‐L1 expressions and chemoresistance in patients. As a result, we found that microRNA‐3127‐5p promotes pSTAT3 to induce the expression of PD‐L1; microRNA‐3127‐5p promotes STAT3 phosphorylation through suppressing autophagy, and autophagy could retaine pSTAT3 into the nucleus in miRNA‐3127‐5p knocked cells, and immune escape induced by elevated level of PD‐L1 results in chemoresistance of lung cancer. In conclusion, microRNA‐3127‐5p induces PD‐L1 elevation through regulating pSTAT3 expression. We also demonstrate that immune escape induced by PD‐L1 can be dismissed by corresponding monoclonal antibody.

Activation of the SphK1/ERK/p-ERK pathway promotes autophagy in colon cancer cells

Sphingosine kinase 1 (SphK1) is a master kinase that catalyzes the synthesis of sphingosine 1 phosphate and participates in the regulation of cell proliferation and autophagy. The present study aimed to assess the effects of the activation of the SphK1/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)/phosphorylated (p-)ERK pathway in the regulation of autophagy in colon cancer (HT-29) cells. Inverted fluorescence microscopy was used to detect the expression of green fluorescent protein (GFP) in the SphK1-overexpressing HT-29 cells [SphK1(+)-HT-29] and the negative control HT-29 cells (NC-HT-29). Western blotting was used to detect the protein expression levels of SphK1, ERK1/2, p-ERK1/2, as well as those of the autophagy-associated markers LC3A, ATG5, and ULK1. Protein localization and expression of the LC3A antibody were detected by immunofluorescence. The results demonstrated that GFP was similarly expressed in SphK1(+)-HT-29 and NC-HT-29 cells. However, significantly increased SphK1 mRNA and protein expression levels were detected in SphK1(+)-HT-29 cells compared with in NC-HT-29 cells, which resulted in upregulated ERK/p-ERK. Furthermore, the protein expression levels of the three autophagy-associated markers increased. LC3A protein was localized in the cytoplasm of SphK1(+)-HT-29 cells, indicating autophagy. In summary, the findings of the present study suggested that activation of the SphK1/ERK/p-ERK pathway promotes autophagy in colon cancer HT-29 cells.

The role of RICTOR downstream of receptor tyrosine kinase in cancers

The importance of the network defined by phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K), AKT and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) downstream of Receptor Tyrosine Kinase (RTK) has been known for many years but the central role of RICTOR (rapamycin-insensitive companion of mTOR) in this pathway is only starting to emerge. RICTOR is critical for mTORC2 (the mammalian target of rapamycin complex 2) kinase activity and as such plays a key role downstream of RTK. Alterations of RICTOR have been identified in a number of cancer cell types and its involvement in tumorigenesis has begun to be unraveled recently. Here, we summarize new research into the biology of RICTOR signaling in cancers focusing on tumors with altered RTK. We show that, as a key signaling node and critical effector of RTKs, RICTOR is becoming a valuable therapeutic target in cancer with altered RTK.

Interplay of autophagy, receptor tyrosine kinase signalling and endocytic trafficking

Vesicular trafficking events play key roles in the compartmentalization and proper sorting of cellular components. These events have crucial roles in sensing external signals, regulating protein activities and stimulating cell growth or death decisions. Although mutations in vesicle trafficking players are not direct drivers of cellular transformation, their activities are important in facilitating oncogenic pathways. One such pathway is the sensing of external stimuli and signalling through receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs). The regulation of RTK activity by the endocytic pathway has been extensively studied. Compelling recent studies have begun to highlight the association between autophagy and RTK signalling. The influence of this interplay on cellular status and its relevance in disease settings will be discussed here.