293T细胞中SQSTM1/p62-GFP的表达及其与LC3在诱导自噬状态下的定位分布

为探究SQSTM1/p62蛋白在细胞发生自噬时的定位,以人肺腺癌A549细胞的cDNA为模板,PCR扩增SQSTM1基因(编码p62蛋白)并将其插入pEGFP-N1真核表达质粒.将重组质粒转染进入人胚肾293T细胞中表达p62绿色荧光融合蛋白(GFP-p62),利用Earle's盐平衡溶液饥饿诱导细胞自噬,Western blotting和激光共聚焦显微镜检测GFP-p62的表达及其与自噬相关蛋白LC3在自噬细胞中的定位.结果发现,重组载体pEGFP-N1-p62转染293T细胞后,293T细胞能高效表达GFP-p62融合蛋白,内源性p62所占细胞内总p62比例很低.饥饿诱导后细胞自噬体形成,LC3-Ⅱ/LC3-Ⅰ的比例明显增高,p62蛋白表达下调.同时还发现,GFP-p62在自噬细胞中仅定位于大多数自噬体且与LC3共定位,小部分自噬体及自噬体以外区域没有明显GFP-p62分布.本研究建立了一种通过p62-GFP与LC3的共定位检测人胚肾293T细胞自噬时p62蛋白和LC3聚集体的有效方法,.提示了使用内源性p62低表达细胞作为研究p62和细胞自噬的优势,也将有助于开展关于p62在细胞中定位与其生物学功能关系的研究工作.     

缺氧通过SIRT1调控结直肠癌细胞自噬

目的:探究缺氧调控结直肠癌细胞自噬的分子机制。方法:分别在常氧及缺氧(1%氧气浓度)条件下处理细胞,western blot检测细胞内沉默信息调节因子1(Silencing Information Regulator 1,SIRT1)及自噬相关标志分子的表达情况;慢病毒转染构建SIRT1稳定过表达或敲减细胞株,利用透射电镜观察细胞内自噬体形成的情况;使用m RFP-GFP-LC3双标腺病毒感染细胞,在激光扫描共聚焦显微镜下观察细胞自噬流的进展。结果:Western blot结果显示,缺氧条件下,HCT116及SW480细胞内SIRT1的表达水平随着缺氧时间的延长而降低,自噬特异性底物p62蛋白水平降低且LC3-I/II转换增加;与对照组相比,SIRT1过表达细胞内自噬特异性底物p62的表达水平升高而LC3-I/II转换受到抑制;相反在SIRT1敲减细胞内,p62的表达水平降低而LC3-I/II转换进一步促进。透射电镜结果发现SIRT1过表达后,细胞内自噬溶酶体形成减少、自噬体数量增多;激光共聚焦结果显示,SIRT1过表达细胞内绿色荧光淬灭减少、自噬体与自噬溶酶体的融合收到明显抑制,说明SIRT1通过抑制自噬溶酶体的形成,阻断自噬流的进展。结论:缺氧通过抑制SIRT1的表达促进结直肠癌的细胞自噬。     

COPII囊泡衣被蛋白SEC24A在巨自噬通路中的功能研究

细胞自噬是一种重要且保守的细胞内降解过程,通过形成双层膜的自噬体包裹细胞内容物进行降解。内质网来源的COPII囊泡被认为是饥饿诱导的应激过程中自噬体的膜源。探究了COPII囊泡衣被蛋白SEC24A在巨自噬通路中的作用。利用siRNA干扰技术敲低SEC24A的表达,EBSS饥饿处理对照组和SEC24A敲低组HeLa细胞2 h诱导自噬发生,经Western blot和免疫荧光实验检测自噬底物蛋白p62和自噬标志蛋白LC3-II的蛋白水平变化,以确定SEC24A是否参与自噬。通过RFP-GFP-LC3串联荧光检测自噬体和自噬溶酶体的数目,利用蛋白酶K保护实验验证自噬缺陷发生在自噬体闭合之前或者之后,利用免疫荧光实验检测敲低SEC24A对自噬通路上ATG复合物的影响,以确定SEC24A调控自噬通路的位点。通过免疫共沉淀实验验证SEC24A与自噬相关蛋白ATG9A是否存在相互作用。蛋白检测实验发现,饥饿条件下与对照细胞相比,敲低SEC24A细胞内自噬底物蛋白p62积累,而标志蛋白LC3-II减少。RFP-GFP-LC3串联荧光实验显示,敲低SEC24A后自噬体及自噬溶酶体的数目均减少。蛋白酶K保护实验显示,SEC24A敲低细胞中受膜结构保护的p62和GFP-LC3均减少,提示SEC24A作用位点在自噬体闭合之前。免疫荧光实验显示,敲低SEC24A的表达后ATG14L、ATG16L1点状结构减少,而ATG9A点状结构的数量没有明显变化,提示SEC24A作用于ATG14L、ATG16L1上游。免疫共沉淀实验显示SEC24A与ATG9A存在相互作用。研究结果不仅有助于深化对自噬体形成过程和分子机制的了解,也为全面解读COPII囊泡及其衣被蛋白在自噬中的重要作用提供了信息。     

CCDC3对结肠癌细胞增殖、迁移和侵袭功能的影响及其作用机制

该文研究了CCDC3基因对人结肠癌HCT116细胞增殖、迁移和侵袭的影响及其作用机制。采用CCK-8法检测CCDC3对人结肠癌HCT116细胞增殖的影响。采用平板克隆和软琼脂克隆方法检测CCDC3对癌细胞克隆形成能力的影响。采用Transwell方法检测CCDC3对HCT116细胞迁移和侵袭的影响。采用Western blot法检测CCDC3对HCT116细胞上皮间质转化相关蛋白质水平的影响。采用体内成瘤实验检测CCDC3对HCT116细胞致瘤能力的影响。结果表明, CCDC3在癌细胞的生长调节中发挥重要的作用。过表达CCDC3显著促进癌细胞生长,增强癌细胞的克隆形成能力,增强癌细胞的迁移、侵袭和致瘤能力;敲低CCDC3后,癌细胞的恶性减弱。同时,该研究还发现, CCDC3的表达与癌细胞发生上皮间质转化相关。这些研究结果表明, CCDC3可能是一个新的癌基因,为结肠癌治疗寻找新的治疗靶点提供了线索。     

PLCε通过GLS/p-mTOR途径促进膀胱癌细胞T24生存

谷氨酰胺对于细胞的代谢和生长十分重要,也是血液中含量最丰富的氨基酸,且肿瘤的代谢特征之一就是谷氨酰胺成瘾。该研究探讨磷脂酰肌醇特异性磷脂酶PLC epsilon(phospholipase C epsilon,PLCε)是否通过谷氨酰胺酶(glutaminase,GLS),调节膀胱癌细胞T24自噬,促进膀胱癌细胞生存。首先通过数据库Su Multi-cancer Statistics、Sanchez-Carbayo Bladder 2和细胞实验分析PLCε在膀胱癌中表达情况。结果表明,PLCε在膀胱癌中高表达。并通过LV-shPLCε转染膀胱癌细胞T24后,q-PCR和Western blot检测PLCε在膀胱癌细胞T24中的表达情况以及对凋亡和自噬的影响,同时免疫荧光检测细胞内自噬斑点(LC3)的变化。结果显示,敲低PLCε后,Caspase-3/Caspase-8/LC3-Ⅱ表达增加,p62表达降低;流式细胞术结果显示凋亡率增高;免疫荧光发现自噬斑点LC3均增多;GLS和p-mTOR的表达受到抑制。在shPLCε组中添加过表达GLS质粒后,p-mTOR和p62表达增加,LC3-Ⅱ表达降低并且免疫荧光自噬斑点LC3减少;加入敲低GLS质粒后出现相反结果。该研究得出,PLCε通过GLS/p-mTOR抑制膀胱癌细胞T24自噬,促进膀胱癌细胞T24的生存。     

GFP-LC3B真核表达载体的构建及表达鉴定

目的:构建人自噬相关基因LC3B的真核表达载体p EGFP-C1-LC3B,并鉴定其表达。方法:以乳腺文库为模板,PCR扩增LC3B全长基因,将其克隆至p EGFP-C1表达载体,得到p EGFP-C1-LC3B重组质粒,酶切和测序鉴定后,转染ZR75-1细胞,Western印迹检测真核细胞中GFP-LC3B融合蛋白的表达,用倒置荧光显微镜观察自噬诱导剂雷帕霉素处理和未处理ZR75-1细胞质中GFP-LC3B的分布。结果:Western印迹可见GFP-LC3B融合蛋白表达条带;在荧光显微镜下,ZR75-1细胞内可见绿色荧光,雷帕霉素刺激后有明显绿色荧光聚集体形成。结论:人自噬相关基因LC3B的真核表达载体p EGFP-C1-LC3B构建成功,为进一步研究自噬在乳腺癌细胞中的作用机制奠定了基础。     

过表达TRAF6对人急性髓系白血病细胞自噬活性的影响

该文旨在探讨过表达肿瘤坏死因子受体相关因子6(tumor necrosis factor receptorassociated factor 6,TRAF6)对人急性髓系白血病(acute myeloid leukemia,AML)细胞自噬活性的影响。利用基因表达数据库GEO分析TRAF6在AML患者白血病细胞中的mRNA表达水平。通过癌症基因组图谱TCGA分析TRAF6表达与AML患者临床预后的关系。将TRAF6重组质粒载体转染人AML细胞系(KG-1a和THP-1),采用自噬激活剂雷帕霉素(Rapamycin)和自噬相关抑制剂3-甲基腺嘌呤(3-methyladenine,3-MA)、巴弗洛霉素A1(bafilomycin A1,Baf-A1)分别处理AML细胞。荧光定量PCR、蛋白免疫印迹技术检测过表达TRAF6后白血病细胞自噬标志物(LC3和p62)mRNA和蛋白水平;免疫荧光方法检测LC3绿色荧光斑点结构(puncta);流式细胞术检测细胞凋亡率;CCK-8实验检测AML细胞的体外增殖能力。结果显示,AML患者白血病细胞高表达TRAF6(P<0.01);TRAF6高表达的白血病患者总体生存率和无事件生存率均较TRAF6低表达组显著降低(P=0.01)。TRAF6重组质粒转染能够显著增加两株AML细胞系中TRAF6的mRNA和蛋白水平(P<0.05)。Rapamycin处理能够激活AML细胞系自噬水平,过表达TRAF6后AML细胞LC3 mRNA和LC3II蛋白水平表达上调(P<0.05)、p62 mRNA和蛋白水平下调(P<0.05)以及LC3 puncta聚集增多。用Baf-A1处理以阻断过表达TRAF6的白血病细胞系中的自噬流后,LC3II蛋白表达水平显著提高(P<0.05)。3-MA处理过表达TRAF6的白血病细胞后,LC3II蛋白表达减少、p62蛋白表达增加(P<0.05)。此外,过表达TRAF6降低白血病细胞凋亡率和促进细胞的体外增殖(P<0.001),而过表达TRAF6后联合3-MA处理则可逆转TRAF6对白血病细胞的抗凋亡和促增殖作用(P<0.001)。以上研究结果提示,过表达TRAF6能够增强AML细胞的自噬活性,促进AML细胞的生长。     

分枝菌酸诱导巨噬细胞泡沫细胞化对细胞自噬的影响

研究分枝菌酸(mycolic acid,MA)诱导的巨噬细胞泡沫细胞化对巨噬细胞自噬的影响,探讨MA促巨噬细胞泡沫细胞化的机制。构建LC3真核表达质粒(p EGFP-LC3B),转染RAW264.7细胞后获得其稳定转染细胞株(RAW264.7/p EGFP-LC3B);用MA诱导RAW264.7/p EGFP-LC3B获得RAW264.7/p EGFP-LC3B泡沫细胞。实验分为三组:RAW264.7细胞组、RAW264.7/p EGFP-LC3B细胞组及MA诱导的RAW264.7/p EGFP-LC3B泡沫细胞组。通过RT-PCR法检测各组细胞中自噬相关基因Becn1、LC3B的转录水平,Western blot法检测各组细胞自噬标志蛋白LC3B II/I的表达水平。RTPCR检测结果显示,RAW264.7/p EGFP-LC3B泡沫细胞组的Becn1基因及LC3B基因的转录水平明显较其他两组低(P0.05)。Western blot检测结果显示,RAW264.7/p EGFP-LC3B泡沫细胞组LC3B II/I比值明显较其他两组低(P0.05)。由此可见,当巨噬细胞被MA诱导成为泡沫巨噬细胞后,其自噬功能显著降低。该研究证明,MA可能通过抑制巨噬细胞自噬,引起脂代谢失衡,进而发生巨噬细胞泡沫细胞化。     

Wnt5a/PKCδ信号通路介导氧化低密度脂蛋白诱导的巨噬细胞自噬

研究发现动脉粥样硬化(atherosclerosis,AS)斑块中巨噬细胞摄取氧化低密度脂蛋白(oxidized low-density lipoprotein, ox-LDL)和巨噬细胞极化等关键变化与失调性自噬关系密切. Wnt5a (wingless-type MMTV integration site family member 5a)在AS病变的富含巨噬细胞区域中高表达,然而Wnt5a是否参与巨噬细胞自噬尚未明确.本研究发现,60 mg/L ox-LDL处理Raw264.7细胞6 h时,自噬标志物LC3Ⅱ/Ⅰ显著增加,p62显著减少,且Wnt5a、PKCδ及STAT3的表达均增加.小分子干扰RNA (small interference RNA,si RNA)敲低Wnt5a后,逆转ox-LDL诱导的LC3Ⅱ/Ⅰ和PKCδ表达,上调p62表达,减少细胞内脂质蓄积. PKCδ抑制剂Rottlerin干预后,LC3Ⅱ/Ⅰ和STAT3减少,p62增加,降低细胞内脂质含量.综上,ox-LDL可能通过Wnt5a/PKCδ信号通路诱导巨噬细胞自噬.因此,深入研究Wnt5a/PKCδ通路在巨噬细胞及AS发生发展中的作用,是研究自噬机制新的着力点,并为药物干预提供新的靶点.     

缺氧复氧诱导自噬基因表达对滋养细胞生长的影响与机制

为探索子痫前期孕妇胎盘病变的发病机制,我们模拟体内缺血再灌注微环境,在体外建立胎盘滋养细胞HTR8/SVneo缺氧复氧模型,以探究缺氧复氧对细胞自噬的诱导作用及对细胞生长的影响。将实验分为对照组、缺氧复氧组及自噬抑制剂3-MA+缺氧复氧组,应用吖啶橙染色及LC3-Ⅱ免疫荧光染色检测经处理24 h后细胞自噬水平,MTT法检测细胞增殖能力,Real time PCR检测自噬基因Beclin-1、LC3-Ⅱ的表达,Western blot分析相应自噬蛋白的表达。结果显示缺氧复氧组HTR8/SVneo细胞自噬水平明显升高(p0.01),伴随Beclin-1、LC3-Ⅱ基因及蛋白表达显著增高(p0.01),细胞增殖同时显著受抑(p0.01),而加入3-MA后缺氧复氧组细胞自噬水平明显受抑(p0.01),Beclin-1、LC3-Ⅱ基因及蛋白表达显著下降(p0.01),细胞增殖能力显著提高(p0.01)。这表明滋养细胞HTR8/SVneo在缺氧复氧环境中启动细胞自噬,过度自噬时可能通过诱导Ⅱ型程序性死亡影响细胞增殖,当自噬被抑制后,细胞增殖能力明显恢复。     

DAPK plays an important role in panobinostat-induced autophagy and commits cells to apoptosis under autophagy deficient conditions

The histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDACi) LBH589 has been verified as an effective anticancer agent. The identification and characterization of new targets for LBH589 action would further enhance our understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in HDACi therapy. The role of the tumor suppressor death-associated protein kinase (DAPK) in LBH589-induced cytotoxicity has not been investigated to date. Stable DAPK knockdown (shRNA) and DAPK overexpressing (DAPK+++) cell lines were generated from HCT116 wildtype colon cancer cells. LBH589 inhibited cell proliferation, reduced the long-term survival, and up-regulated and activated DAPK in colorectal cancer cells. Moreover, LBH589 significantly suppressed the growth of colon tumor xenografts and in accordance with the in vitro studies, increased DAPK levels were detected immunohistochemically. LBH589 induced a DAPK-dependent autophagy as assessed by punctuate accumulation of LC3-II, the formation of acidic vesicular organelles, and degradation of p62 protein. LBH589-induced autophagy seems to be predominantly caused by DAPK protein interactions than by its kinase activity. Caspase inhibitor zVAD increased autophagosome formation, decreased the cleavage of caspase 3 and PARP but didn’t rescue the cells from LBH589-induced cell death in crystal violet staining suggesting both caspase-dependent as well as caspase-independent apoptosis pathways. Pre-treatment with the autophagy inhibitor Bafilomycin A1 caused caspase 3-mediated apoptosis in a DAPK-dependent manner. Altogether our data suggest that DAPK induces autophagy in response to HDACi-treatment. In autophagy deficient cells, DAPK plays an essential role in committing cells to HDACi-induced apoptosis.     

Inhibition of autophagy by 3-MA potentiates purvalanol-induced apoptosis in Bax deficient HCT 116 colon cancer cells

The purine-derived analogs, roscovitine and purvalanol are selective synthetic inhibitors of cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) induced cell cycle arrest and lead to apoptotic cell death in various cancer cells. Although a number of studies investigated the molecular mechanism of each CDK inhibitor on apoptotic cell death mechanism with their therapeutic potential, their regulatory role on autophagy is not clarified yet. In this paper, our aim was to investigate molecular mechanism of CDK inhibitors on autophagy and apoptosis in wild type (wt) and Bax deficient HCT 116 cells. Exposure of HCT 116 wt and Bax^−/− cells to roscovitine or purvalanol for 24 h decreased cell viability in dose-dependent manner. However, Bax deficient HCT 116 cells were found more resistant against purvalanol treatment compared to wt cells. We also established that both CDK inhibitors induced apoptosis through activating mitochondria-mediated pathway in caspase-dependent manner regardless of Bax expression in HCT 116 colon cancer cells. Concomitantly, we determined that purvalanol was also effective on autophagy in HCT 116 colon cancer cells. Inhibition of autophagy by 3-MA treatment enhanced the purvalanol induced apoptotic cell death in HCT 116 Bax^−/− cells. Our results revealed that mechanistic action of each CDK inhibitor on cell death mechanism differs. While purvalanol treatment activated apoptosis and autophagy in HCT 116 cells, roscovitine was only effective on caspase-dependent apoptotic pathway. Another important difference between two CDK inhibitors, although roscovitine treatment overcame Bax-mediated drug resistance in HCT 116 cells, purvalanol did not exert same effect.     

Hydrogen sulfide lowers proliferation and induces protective autophagy in colon epithelial cells

Hydrogen sulfide (H(2)S) is a gaseous bacterial metabolite that reaches high levels in the large intestine. In the present study, the effect of H(2)S on the proliferation of normal and cancerous colon epithelial cells was investigated. An immortalized colon epithelial cell line (YAMC) and a panel of colon cancer cell lines (HT-29, SW1116, HCT116) were exposed to H(2)S at concentrations similar to those found in the human colon. H(2)S inhibited normal and cancerous colon epithelial cell proliferation as measured by MTT assay. The anti-mitogenic effect of H(2)S was accompanied by G(1)-phase cell cycle arrest and the induction of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21(Cip). Moreover, exposure to H(2)S led to features characteristic of autophagy, including increased formation of LC3B(+) autophagic vacuoles and acidic vesicular organelles as determined by immunofluorescence and acridine orange staining, respectively. Abolition of autophagy by RNA interference targeting Vps34 or Atg7 enhanced the anti-proliferative effect of H(2)S. Further mechanistic investigation revealed that H(2)S stimulated the phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and inhibited the phosphorylation of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and S6 kinase. Inhibition of AMPK significantly reversed H(2)S-induced autophagy and inhibition of cell proliferation. Collectively, we demonstrate that H(2)S inhibits colon epithelial cell proliferation and induces protective autophagy via the AMPK pathway.     

MAPK14/p38α confers irinotecan resistance to TP53-defective cells by inducing survival autophagy

Recently we have shown that the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) MAPK14/p38α is involved in resistance of colon cancer cells to camptothecin-related drugs. Here we further investigated the cellular mechanisms involved in such drug resistance and showed that, in HCT116 human colorectal adenocarcinoma cells in which TP53 was genetically ablated (HCT116-TP53KO), overexpression of constitutively active MAPK14/p38α decreases cell sensitivity to SN-38 (the active metabolite of irinotecan), inhibits cell proliferation and induces survival-autophagy. Since autophagy is known to facilitate cancer cell resistance to chemotherapy and radiation treatment, we then investigated the relationship between MAPK14/p38α, autophagy and resistance to irinotecan. We demonstrated that induction of autophagy by SN38 is dependent on MAPK14/p38α activation. Finally, we showed that inhibition of MAPK14/p38α or autophagy both sensitizes HCT116-TP53KO cells to drug therapy. Our data proved that the two effects are interrelated, since the role of autophagy in drug resistance required the MAPK14/p38α. Our results highlight the existence of a new mechanism of resistance to camptothecin-related drugs: upon SN38 induction, MAPK14/p38α is activated and triggers survival-promoting autophagy to protect tumor cells against the cytotoxic effects of the drug. Colon cancer cells could thus be sensitized to drug therapy by inhibiting either MAPK14/p38 or autophagy.     

miR-125a-3p调控人结肠癌细胞浸润转移的作用及机制研究

目的:探讨miR-125a-3p在结肠癌细胞浸润与转移中的作用及其可能机制。方法:通过qRT-PCR方法检测miR-125a-3p在结肠癌细胞及组织样本中的表达;在结肠癌细胞过表达或沉默miR-125a-3p后,通过平板克隆实验、MTT实验、划痕实验、Transwell实验检测结肠癌细胞增殖、迁移及侵袭能力的变化;采用Western blot方法检测miR-125a-3p过表达后相关标志分子的表达水平变化情况。结果:miR-125a-3p在结肠癌细胞及组织呈现异常低表达;过表达miR-125a-3p抑制结肠癌细胞HCT116及SW480的增殖能力;过表达或沉默miR-125a-3p分别抑制或增强结肠癌细胞的迁移与侵袭能力;过表达miR-125a-3p在mRNA及蛋白水平均能够显著抑制Snail、N-cadherin及Vimentin的表达,而增加E-cadherin的表达。结论:miR-125a-3p参与调节结肠癌细胞浸润与转移,其机制可能是通过调控上皮间质转化途径介导的。     

MAPK14/p38α confers irinotecan resistance to TP53-defective cells by inducing survival autophagy

Recently we have shown that the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) MAPK14/p38α is involved in resistance of colon cancer cells to camptothecin-related drugs. Here we further investigated the cellular mechanisms involved in such drug resistance and showed that, in HCT116 human colorectal adenocarcinoma cells in which TP53 was genetically ablated (HCT116-TP53KO), overexpression of constitutively active MAPK14/p38α decreases cell sensitivity to SN-38 (the active metabolite of irinotecan), inhibits cell proliferation and induces survival-autophagy. Since autophagy is known to facilitate cancer cell resistance to chemotherapy and radiation treatment, we then investigated the relationship between MAPK14/p38α, autophagy and resistance to irinotecan. We demonstrated that induction of autophagy by SN38 is dependent on MAPK14/p38α activation. Finally, we showed that inhibition of MAPK14/p38α or autophagy both sensitizes HCT116-TP53KO cells to drug therapy. Our data proved that the two effects are interrelated, since the role of autophagy in drug resistance required the MAPK14/p38α. Our results highlight the existence of a new mechanism of resistance to camptothecin-related drugs: upon SN38 induction, MAPK14/p38α is activated and triggers survival-promoting autophagy to protect tumor cells against the cytotoxic effects of the drug. Colon cancer cells could thus be sensitized to drug therapy by inhibiting either MAPK14/p38 or autophagy.     

P38 MAP kinase functions as a switch in MS-275-induced reactive oxygen species-dependent autophagy and apoptosis in human colon cancer cells

MS-275 is a synthetic benzamide derivative of the histone deacetylase inhibitor and is currently in phase I/II clinical trials. Many reports have shown that the anti-tumor activity of MS-275 in several types of cancer is mainly attributable to its capacity to induce the apoptotic death of tumor cells. It remains unclear if autophagy is involved in MS-275 treatment of cancer cells. Here, we first show that MS-275 induces human colon cancer cell HCT116 autophagy as well as apoptosis. Short-term treatment (24h) induced HCT116 cells to undergo autophagy with dependence on intracellular reactive oxygen species production and ERK activation. The activated reactive oxygen species/ERK signal promoted Atg7 protein expression, which triggered MS-275-induced cancer cell autophagy. However, after prolonged treatment with MS-275 (over 48h), autophagic cells turned apoptotic, which was also dependent on reactive oxygen species generation. Interestingly, we found that p38 MAP kinase played a vital role in the switch from autophagy to apoptosis in MS-275-induced human colon cancer cells. High expression of p38 induced cell autophagy, but low expression resulted in apoptosis. In addition, observations in vivo are strongly consistent with the in vitro results. Therefore, these findings extend our understanding of the action of MS-275 in inducing cancer cell death and suggest that it may be a promising clinical chemotherapeutic agent with multiple effects.     

Lucanthone is a novel inhibitor of autophagy that induces cathepsin D-mediated apoptosis

Cellular stress induced by nutrient deprivation, hypoxia, and exposure to many chemotherapeutic agents activates an evolutionarily conserved cell survival pathway termed autophagy. This pathway enables cancer cells to undergo self-digestion to generate ATP and other essential biosynthetic molecules to temporarily avoid cell death. Therefore, disruption of autophagy may sensitize cancer cells to cell death and augment chemotherapy-induced apoptosis. Chloroquine and its analog hydroxychloroquine are the only clinically relevant autophagy inhibitors. Because both of these agents induce ocular toxicity, novel inhibitors of autophagy with a better therapeutic index are needed. Here we demonstrate that the small molecule lucanthone inhibits autophagy, induces lysosomal membrane permeabilization, and possesses significantly more potent activity in breast cancer models compared with chloroquine. Exposure to lucanthone resulted in processing and recruitment of microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3) to autophagosomes, but impaired autophagic degradation as revealed by transmission electron microscopy and the accumulation of p62/SQSTM1. Microarray analysis, qRT-PCR, and immunoblotting determined that lucanthone stimulated a large induction in cathepsin D, which correlated with cell death. Accordingly, knockdown of cathepsin D reduced lucanthone-mediated apoptosis. Subsequent studies using p53(+/+) and p53(-/-) HCT116 cells established that lucanthone induced cathepsin D expression and reduced cancer cell viability independently of p53 status. In addition, lucanthone enhanced the anticancer activity of the histone deacetylase inhibitor vorinostat. Collectively, our results demonstrate that lucanthone is a novel autophagic inhibitor that induces apoptosis via cathepsin D accumulation and enhances vorinostat-mediated cell death in breast cancer models.