Pro-autophagic polyphenols reduce the acetylation of cytoplasmic proteins

Resveratrol is a polyphenol contained in red wine that has been amply investigated for its beneficial effects on organismal metabolism, in particular in the context of the so-called “French paradox,” i.e., the relatively low incidence of coronary heart disease exhibited by a population with a high dietary intake of cholesterol and saturated fats. At least part of the beneficial effect of resveratrol on human health stems from its capacity to promote autophagy by activating the NAD-dependent deacetylase sirtuin 1. However, the concentration of resveratrol found in red wine is excessively low to account alone for the French paradox. Here, we investigated the possibility that other mono- and polyphenols contained in red wine might induce autophagy while affecting the acetylation levels of cellular proteins. Phenolic compounds found in red wine, including anthocyanins (oenin), stilbenoids (piceatannol), monophenols (caffeic acid, gallic acid) glucosides (delphinidin, kuronamin, peonidin) and flavonoids (catechin, epicatechin, quercetin, myricetin), were all capable of stimulating autophagy, although with dissimilar potencies. Importantly, a robust negative correlation could be established between autophagy induction and the acetylation levels of cytoplasmic proteins, as determined by a novel immunofluorescence staining protocol that allows for the exclusion of nuclear components from the analysis. Inhibition of sirtuin 1 by both pharmacological and genetic means abolished protein deacetylation and autophagy as stimulated by resveratrol, but not by piceatannol, indicating that these compounds act through distinct molecular pathways. In support of this notion, resveratrol and piceatannol synergized in inducing autophagy as well as in promoting cytoplasmic protein deacetylation. Our results highlight a cause-effect relationship between the deacetylation of cytoplasmic proteins and autophagy induction by red wine components.     

Spermidine and resveratrol induce autophagy by distinct pathways converging on the acetylproteome

Autophagy protects organelles, cells, and organisms against several stress conditions. Induction of autophagy by resveratrol requires the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide-dependent deacetylase sirtuin 1 (SIRT1). In this paper, we show that the acetylase inhibitor spermidine stimulates autophagy independent of SIRT1 in human and yeast cells as well as in nematodes. Although resveratrol and spermidine ignite autophagy through distinct mechanisms, these compounds stimulate convergent pathways that culminate in concordant modifications of the acetylproteome. Both agents favor convergent deacetylation and acetylation reactions in the cytosol and in the nucleus, respectively. Both resveratrol and spermidine were able to induce autophagy in cytoplasts (enucleated cells). Moreover, a cytoplasm-restricted mutant of SIRT1 could stimulate autophagy, suggesting that cytoplasmic deacetylation reactions dictate the autophagic cascade. At doses at which neither resveratrol nor spermidine stimulated autophagy alone, these agents synergistically induced autophagy. Altogether, these data underscore the importance of an autophagy regulatory network of antagonistic deacetylases and acetylases that can be pharmacologically manipulated.     

Pterostilbene Acts through Metastasis-Associated Protein 1 to Inhibit Tumor Growth,Progression and Metastasis in Prostate Cancer

The development of natural product agents with targeted strategies holds promise for enhanced anticancer therapy with reduced drug-associated side effects. Resveratrol found in red wine, has anticancer activity in various tumor types. We reported earlier on a new molecular target of resveratrol, the metastasis-associated protein 1 (MTA1), which is a part of nucleosome remodeling and deacetylation (NuRD) co-repressor complex that mediates gene silencing. We identified resveratrol as a regulator of MTA1/NuRD complex and re-activator of p53 acetylation in prostate cancer (PCa). In the current study, we addressed whether resveratrol analogues also possess the ability to inhibit MTA1 and to reverse p53 deacetylation. We demonstrated that pterostilbene (PTER), found in blueberries, had greater increase in MTA1-mediated p53 acetylation, confirming superior potency over resveratrol as dietary epigenetic agent. In orthotopic PCa xenografts, resveratrol and PTER significantly inhibited tumor growth, progression, local invasion and spontaneous metastasis. Furthermore, MTA1-knockdown sensitized cells to these agents resulting in additional reduction of tumor progression and metastasis. The reduction was dependent on MTA1 signaling showing increased p53 acetylation, higher apoptotic index and less angiogenesis in vivo in all xenografts treated with the compounds, and particularly with PTER. Altogether, our results indicate MTA1 as a major contributor in prostate tumor malignant progression, and support the use of strategies targeting MTA1. Our strong pre-clinical data indicate PTER as a potent, selective and pharmacologically safe natural product that may be tested in advanced PCa.     

Longevity-relevant regulation of autophagy at the level of the acetylproteome

The acetylase inhibitor, spermidine and the deacetylase activator, resveratrol, both induce autophagy and prolong life span of the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans in an autophagydependent fashion. Based on these premises, we investigated the differences and similarities in spermidine and resveratrol-induced autophagy. The deacetylase sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) and its orthologs are required for the autophagy induction by resveratrol but dispensable for autophagy stimulation by spermidine in human cells, Saccharomyces cerevisiae and C. elegans. SIRT1 is also dispensable for life-span extension by spermidine. Mass spectrometry analysis of the human acetylproteome revealed that resveratrol and/or spermidine induce changes in the acetylation of 560 peptides corresponding to 375 different proteins. Among these, 170 proteins are part of the recently elucidated human autophagy protein network. Importantly, spermidine and resveratrol frequently affect the acetylation pattern in a similar fashion. In the cytoplasm, spermidine and resveratrol induce convergent protein de-acetylation more frequently than convergent acetylation, while in the nucleus, acetylation is dominantly triggered by both agents. We surmise that subtle and concerted alterations in the acetylproteome regulate autophagy at multiple levels.     

Longevity-relevant regulation of autophagy at the level of the acetylproteome

The acetylase inhibitor, spermidine and the deacetylase activator, resveratrol, both induce autophagy and prolong life span of the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans in an autophagydependent fashion. Based on these premises, we investigated the differences and similarities in spermidine and resveratrol-induced autophagy. The deacetylase sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) and its orthologs are required for the autophagy induction by resveratrol but dispensable for autophagy stimulation by spermidine in human cells, Saccharomyces cerevisiae and C. elegans. SIRT1 is also dispensable for life-span extension by spermidine. Mass spectrometry analysis of the human acetylproteome revealed that resveratrol and/or spermidine induce changes in the acetylation of 560 peptides corresponding to 375 different proteins. Among these, 170 proteins are part of the recently elucidated human autophagy protein network. Importantly, spermidine and resveratrol frequently affect the acetylation pattern in a similar fashion. In the cytoplasm, spermidine and resveratrol induce convergent protein de-acetylation more frequently than convergent acetylation, while in the nucleus, acetylation is dominantly triggered by both agents. We surmise that subtle and concerted alterations in the acetylproteome regulate autophagy at multiple levels.     

Triethylenetetramine (trientine): a caloric restriction mimetic with a new mode of action

ABSTRACT

Caloric restriction mimetics (CRMs) are nontoxic macroautophagy/autophagy enhancers that act through the stimulation of cytoplasmic protein deacetylation reactions. Thus far, three functional classes of CRMs have been described: inhibitors of acetyltransferases (such as spermidine), inhibitors of acetyl coenzyme (AcCoA) synthesis (such as hydroxycitrate) and activators of deacetylases/sirtuins (such as resveratrol). Triethylenetetramine (also called trientine, abbreviated TETA) is a synthetic polyamine with resemblance in its structure to spermidine, a natural polyamine reputed for its pro-autophagic, anti-obesity and anti-aging effects. TETA, which is approved for the treatment of Wilson disease, has no effects on the longevity of mice, yet does induce autophagy and reduces weight gain in mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD). Mechanistically, these effects of TETA involve an increased activity of the TETA-metabolizing enzyme, SAT1 (spermidine/spermine N1-acetyltransferase 1). SAT1 overactivation ultimately results in the depletion of intracellular AcCoA with a consequent de-acetylation of cytoplasmic proteins and induction of autophagy. Accordingly, TETA fails to induce autophagy or to control HFD-induced weight gain in SAT1-deficient mice. Altogether, these findings indicate that TETA induces autophagy through a novel mode of action, namely, by the activation of an AcCoA-depleting enzyme.     

SIRT1 attenuates sepsis-induced acute kidney injury via Beclin1 deacetylation-mediated autophagy activation

Our previous studies showed that silent mating-type information regulation 2 homologue-1 (SIRT1, a deacetylase) upregulation could attenuate sepsis-induced acute kidney injury (SAKI). Upregulated SIRT1 can deacetylate certain autophagy-related proteins (Beclin1, Atg5, Atg7 and LC3) in vitro. However, it remains unclear whether the beneficial effect of SIRT1 is related to autophagy induction and the underlying mechanism of this effect is also unknown. In the present study, caecal ligation and puncture (CLP)-induced mice, and an LPS-challenged HK-2 cell line were established to mimic a SAKI animal model and a SAKI cell model, respectively. Our results demonstrated that SIRT1 activation promoted autophagy and attenuated SAKI. SIRT1 deacetylated only Beclin1 but not the other autophagy-related proteins in SAKI. SIRT1-induced autophagy and its protective effect against SAKI were mediated by the deacetylation of Beclin1 at K430 and K437. Moreover, two SIRT1 activators, resveratrol and polydatin, attenuated SAKI in CLP-induced septic mice. Our study was the first to demonstrate the important role of SIRT1-induced Beclin1 deacetylation in autophagy and its protective effect against SAKI. These findings suggest that pharmacologic induction of autophagy via SIRT1-mediated Beclin1 deacetylation may be a promising therapeutic approach for future SAKI treatment.Subject terms: Macroautophagy, Acetylation     

The controversial links among calorie restriction, SIRT1, and resveratrol

It has been widely known that slow metabolism induced by calorie restriction (CR) can extend the life span of model organisms though the underlying mechanism remains poorly understood. Accumulated evidence suggests that SIRT1 may be actively involved in CR-induced signaling pathways. As a putative activator of SIRT1, resveratrol, known for the French paradox, can partially mimic the physiological effects of CR. While the deacetylase activity of SIRT1 is important for the beneficial effects of resveratrol, resveratrol-induced SIRT1 activation has recently been challenged by the observations that resveratrol could not induce SIRT1-mediated deacetylation of native substrates in vitro. To resolve the discrepancy of resveratrol-induced activation of SIRT1 deacetylase activity between the in vitro and in vivo assays, a model of indirect SIRT1 activation by resveratrol is proposed. In this review, we will discuss the emerging roles of SIRT1 and resveratrol in CR and focus on debate over the links between SIRT1 and resveratrol.     

LC3B-II deacetylation by histone deacetylase 6 is involved in serum-starvation-induced autophagic degradation

Autophagy is a conserved mechanism for controlling the degradation of misfolded proteins and damaged organelles in eukaryotes and can be induced by nutrient withdrawal, including serum starvation. Although differential acetylation of autophagy-related proteins has been reported to be involved in autophagic flux, the regulation of acetylated microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3) is incompletely understood. In this study, we found that the acetylation levels of phosphotidylethanolamine (PE)-conjugated LC3B (LC3B-II), which is a critical component of double-membrane autophagosome, were profoundly decreased in HeLa cells upon autophagy induction by serum starvation. Pretreatment with lysosomal inhibitor chloroquine did not attenuate such deacetylation. Under normal culture medium, we observed increased levels of acetylated LC3B-II in cells treated with tubacin, a specific inhibitor of histone deacetylase 6 (HDAC6). However, tubacin only partially suppressed serum-starvation-induced LC3B-II deacetylation, suggesting that HDAC6 is not the only deacetylase acting on LC3B-II during serum-starvation-induced autophagy. Interestingly, tubacin-induced increase in LC3B-II acetylation was associated with p62/SQSTM1 accumulation upon serum starvation. HDAC6 knockdown did not influence autophagosome formation but resulted in impaired degradation of p62/SQSTM1 during serum starvation. Collectively, our data indicated that LC3B-II deacetylation, which was partly mediated by HDAC6, is involved in autophagic degradation during serum starvation.     

Lignin-derived oak phenolics: a theoretical examination of additional potential health benefits of red wine

Lignin-derived phenolic compounds can be extracted from oak barrels during the aging of red wine, and it is hypothesized that these compounds may contribute to the health benefits of red wine by their antioxidant, radical-scavenging, or chemopreventive activities. Density functional calculations (B3LYP/6-311++G**) support the radical-scavenging abilities of the oak phenolics. Sinapaldehyde, syringaldehyde, syringol, and syringylacetone all have bond dissociation energies that are lower than resveratrol and comparable to the flavonoid catechin. Molecular docking studies of the oak phenolics with known resveratrol protein targets also show that these compounds dock favorably to the protein targets. Thus, lignin-derived oak phenolics, although found in small concentrations, may contribute to the beneficial antioxidant, chemopreventive, and cardioprotective effects of red wine.     

Calorie restriction combined with resveratrol induces autophagy and protects 26-month-old rat hearts from doxorubicin-induced toxicity

The multiple beneficial effects of calorie restriction (CR) on several organs, including the heart, are widely known. Recently, the plant polyphenol resveratrol has been shown to possess several beneficial effects similar to those of CR. Among the host of effects on cardiac muscle, a cellular self-eating process called autophagy has been shown to be induced by both CR and resveratrol. Autophagy is vital in removing dysfunctional organelles and damaged proteins from the cell, thereby maintaining cellular quality control. In this study, we explored whether short-term moderate CR (20%), either alone or in combination with resveratrol, can induce autophagy in the hearts of 26-month-old Fischer 344 × Brown Norway rats. Autophagy stimulation was investigated by measuring the protein expression levels of the autophagy proteins beclin-1, Atg5, and p62 and the LC3-II/LC3-I ratio. We found that 20% CR or resveratrol alone for 6 weeks could not induce autophagy, but 20% CR in combination with 50 mg/kg/day resveratrol resulted in an induction of autophagy in the hearts of 26-month-old rats. Although oxidative stress has been proposed to be an inducer of autophagy, treatment with the chemotherapeutic drug doxorubicin was unable to stimulate autophagy. The enhanced autophagy due to CR + resveratrol was associated with protection from doxorubicin-induced damage, as measured by cardiac apoptotic levels and serum creatine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase activity. We propose that a combinatorial approach of low-dose CR and resveratrol has the potential to be used therapeutically to induce autophagy and provides protection against doxorubicin-mediated toxicity.     

Antioxidant effects of resveratrol and other stilbene derivatives on oxidative stress and *NO bioavailability: Potential benefits to cardiovascular diseases

Oxidative stress plays an important part in the appearance and development of cardiovascular diseases. In this context, overproduction of reactive oxygen species leads to deregulation of metabolic pathways, such as cell proliferation or inflammation, which interferes with the homeostasis of vascular endothelium. Oxidative stress can decrease the bioavailability of nitric oxide (*NO) in vessels. This decrease is highly associated with endothelial dysfunction. The "French paradox" is a phenomenon that associates a diet rich in saturated fatty acids and a moderate consumption of wine to a low prevalence of cardiovascular diseases. During the past 10 years, the beneficial effects of wine on cardiovascular diseases have been attributed to the actions of resveratrol and other polyphenols. One of the mechanisms involved in these beneficial effects is the capacity of resveratrol and some other stilbene derivatives to maintain sufficient *NO bioavailability in vascular endothelium. This review presents the latest findings on the molecular effects of resveratrol and other stilbene derivatives on the various actors that modulate *NO bioavailability during oxidative stress.     

Resveratrol-activated AMPK/SIRT1/autophagy in cellular models of Parkinson's disease

Excessive misfolded proteins and/or dysfunctional mitochondria, which may cause energy deficiency, have been implicated in the etiopathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD). Enhanced clearance of misfolded proteins or injured mitochondria via autophagy has been reported to have neuroprotective roles in PD models. The fact that resveratrol is a known compound with multiple beneficial effects similar to those associated with energy metabolism led us to explore whether neuroprotective effects of resveratrol are related to its role in autophagy regulation. We tested whether modulation of mammalian silent information regulator 2 (SIRT1) and/or metabolic energy sensor AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) are involved in autophagy induction by resveratrol, leading to neuronal survival. Our results showed that resveratrol protected against rotenone-induced apoptosis in SH-SY5Y cells and enhanced degradation of α-synucleins in α-synuclein-expressing PC12 cell lines via autophagy induction. We found that suppression of AMPK and/or SIRT1 caused decrease of protein level of LC3-II, indicating that AMPK and/or SIRT1 are required in resveratrol-mediated autophagy induction. Moreover, suppression of AMPK caused inhibition of SIRT1 activity and attenuated protective effects of resveratrol on rotenone-induced apoptosis, further suggesting that AMPK-SIRT1-autophagy pathway plays an important role in the neuroprotection by resveratrol on PD cellular models.     

The red wine component ellagic acid induces autophagy and exhibits anti‐lung cancer activity in vitro and in vivo

Red wine consists of a large amount of compounds such as resveratrol, which exhibits chemopreventive and therapeutic effects against several types of cancers by targeting cancer driver molecules. In this study, we tested the anti‐lung cancer activity of 11 red wine components and reported that a natural polyphenol compound ellagic acid (EA) inhibited lung cancer cell proliferation at an efficacy approximately equal to that of resveratrol. EA markedly increased the expression of the autophagosomal marker LC3‐II as well as inactivation of the mechanistic target of rapamycin signalling pathway. EA elevated autophagy‐associated cell death by down‐regulating the expression of cancerous inhibitor of protein phosphatase 2A (CIP2A), and CIP2A overexpression attenuated EA‐induced autophagy of lung cancer cells. Treating tumour‐bearing mice with EA resulted in significant inhibition of tumour growth with suppression of CIP2A levels and increased autophagy. In addition, EA potentiated the inhibitory effects of the natural compound celastrol on lung cancer cells in vitro and in vivo by enhancing autophagy and down‐regulating CIP2A. These findings indicate that EA may be a promising chemotherapeutic agent for lung cancer, and that the combination of EA and celastrol may have applicability for the treatment of this disease.     

Protective effects of piceatannol on methylglyoxal-induced cytotoxicity in MC3T3-E1 osteoblastic cells

Methylglyoxal (MG) is a reactive α-oxoaldehyde that increases under diabetic conditions and subsequently contributes to the complications associated with this disease. Piceatannol is a naturally occurring analogue of resveratrol that possesses multiple biological functions. The present study investigated the effects of piceatannol on MG-induced cytotoxicity in MC3T3-E1 osteoblastic cells. Piceatannol significantly restored MG-induced reductions in cell viability and reduced lactate dehydrogenase release in MG-treated MC3T3-E1 osteoblastic cells, which suggests that it suppressed MG-induced cytotoxicity. Piceatannol also increased glyoxalase I activity and glutathione levels in MG-treated cells, which indicates that it enhanced the glyoxalase system and thus cellular protection. The present study also showed that piceatannol inhibited the generation of inflammatory cytokines and reactive oxygen species and ameliorated mitochondrial dysfunction induced by MG. Furthermore, piceatannol treatment significantly reduced the levels of endoplasmic reticulum stress and autophagy induced by MG. Therefore, piceatannol could be a potent option for the development of antiglycating agents for the treatment of diabetic osteopathy.     

Why are grape/fresh wine anthocyanins so simple and why is it that red wine color lasts so long?

Vitis vinifera red berries are characterized by anthocyanins whose chemical structures are among the simplest encountered in higher plants. On the contrary, many plants, including orchids, petunias, red cabbage, elderberries, potatoes for instance, have developed very complicated anthocyanins featuring side-chains at the available positions of the aglycone skeleton. Such pigments were shown to possess bio-physico-chemical properties not to be seen with the grape common anthocyanins. Among beverages (water, tea, beer, wine, coffee, juices, milk), red wine is the only one whose organoleptic properties improve with time and this is called ageing. The grape/fresh red wine pigments, after a few months, disappear from the wine giving birth to new pigments resulting from the wine spontaneous chemistry allowing it to remain red for many years. What are the wine pigments and why are they so stable is the purpose of this mini-review. The structural simplicity of grape anthocyanins and the long lasting colour of red wine is another French paradox; we call it French paradox II.     

Delivery of cytoplasmic proteins to autophagosomes

Autophagy represents a signaling-dependent regulated process that allows the degradation of some cellular proteins in autophagosomes, and plays a critical role in the management of cellular homeostasis under various stress conditions. In recent years, selective degradation of cytoplasmic proteins during stress has attracted considerable scientific interest. Here we examined the ability of resveratrol to induce autophagy in a variety of human cancer cell lines. We found that resveratrol-induced autophagy is accompanied by colocalization of proline-, glutamic acid-, and leucine-rich protein-1 (PELP1) with the green fluorescent protein-microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (GFP-LC3) in autophagosomes. In addition, we found that hepatocyte growth factor-regulated tyrosine kinase substrate (HRS), a previously shown PELP1-interacting protein, is co-recruited to autophagosomes in the presence of resveratrol. Although autophagy has been assumed to be a bulk and non-selective degradation process, in recent years, evidence of selective degradation of cytosolic proteins and organelles by autophagy is mounting. These observations suggest that the interaction of the target protein(s) with the delivery protein or proteins such as HRS facilitates the transport of certain cytoplasmic proteins to autophagosomes for their selective degradation, and thus, could influence the cytoplasmic as well as nuclear functions of nuclear receptor coregulators. Since PELP1 and, perhaps, other nuclear receptor coregulators are widely dysregulated in human cancers, these findings highlight the significance of the autophagic selective degradation of PELP1 following resveratrol (or other phytoestrogens) treatment in developing future strategies to use resveratrol under cancer prevention and therapeutic settings.