组蛋白甲基化介导血管平滑肌细胞功能失调在血管疾病中的研究进展

血管平滑肌细胞(vascular smooth muscle cells, VSMC)是动脉血管的主要细胞组分之一，其正常形态功能对维持动脉血管发育、舒缩及损伤修复具有重要意义。反之，VSMC在病理状态下的异常活化、表型转换或过度死亡亦会导致动脉结构受损。近来研究发现，组蛋白甲基化修饰在VSMC自噬、增殖迁移与表型分化等过程中发挥了关键的调控作用。本文综述了组蛋白甲基化在VSMC功能障碍中的调节作用，包括增殖、分化、迁移和自噬等方面；同时，探讨了不同组蛋白甲基化转移酶及去甲基化转移酶对VSMC功能的影响。由于VSMC功能障碍会导致血管疾病的发生和发展，因此表观遗传学修饰的可逆性为基于组蛋白甲基化的干预方案提供了理论依据。本文进一步探讨了组蛋白甲基化介导的VSMC功能障碍与相关血管疾病之间的联系，以期为深入研究组蛋白甲基化在血管疾病中的关键作用提供依据。     

综述: 自噬参与心脏疾病调控的研究进展

细胞自噬(autophagy)是将细胞内受损、变性或衰老的蛋白质以及细胞器运输到溶酶体内进行消化降解的过程．细胞自噬既是一种广泛存在的正常生理过程,又是细胞对不良环境的一种防御机制,参与多种疾病的病理过程．正常水平的自噬可以保护细胞免受环境刺激的影响,但自噬过度和自噬不足却可能导致疾病的发生．在心脏中,心肌细胞自噬对维持心肌功能具有重要的作用,自噬的异常可能导致各种心肌疾病如溶酶体储积症(Danon disease)等．各种心血管刺激如心肌缺血(ischemia)、再灌注(reperfusion)损伤、慢性缺氧(chronic hypoxia)等均可诱导心肌细胞自噬增强．而这些情况下心肌细胞自噬的作用还不清楚：它是否是一种潜在的细胞存活机制还是导致细胞死亡或疾病发生的病理性机制,或者是同时具有两种作用,目前还没有定论．心脏疾病是心肌功能出现异常时产生的各种病理状态的总称．在多种心脏疾病中,均伴随有心肌细胞自噬的改变,且影响着疾病的发生发展．在心肌肥厚(hypertrophic cardiomyopathy)中,细胞自噬程度降低而加剧心肌肥厚;在心力衰竭(heart failure,HF)中,细胞自噬增强可导致心肌细胞自噬性死亡;而在心肌梗死(myocardial infarction,MI)中,细胞自噬增强可减小梗死面积．但是细胞自噬在心脏疾病中到底扮演着怎样的角色,取决于细胞自噬发生的水平及病理状态．目前越来越多的人开始关注药物与细胞自噬调节之间的联系,且主要集中于抗肿瘤药物及心血管调节药物的研究．另外,有报道维生素类以及雌激素受体拮抗剂他莫西芬对细胞自噬也具有调节作用．研究心肌细胞自噬与心脏疾病的关系,以及药物对细胞自噬的调节,将有利于从自噬的角度探讨心脏疾病的发生发展过程及机制,开发出治疗心脏疾病的药物．     

综述: 影响血管内皮细胞自噬的因素及其相关机制探讨

自噬对维持细胞自身的稳定及细胞成分更新、保持正常的生理状态起着至关重要的作用．机体在生理和病理过程中都存在自噬,基础状态下的自噬对细胞具有保护和修复作用,而自噬过度激活会引起细胞的损伤及死亡．近年来,对自噬的研究主要集中于肿瘤细胞,而对正常细胞的自噬研究较少．血管内皮细胞作为人体中最活跃的细胞之一,其功能变化与心血管疾病的发生和发展有密切相关．本文对影响血管内皮细胞自噬的因素及其相关机制进行综述．     

选择性自噬受体TAX1BP1的研究进展及意义

自噬是真核细胞内主要的降解系统之一,在清除细胞内受损物质方面发挥着重要作用。近年来,自噬与疾病的关系成为研究的热门话题。自噬功能的异常往往影响着疾病的发生、发展及预后。细胞通过自噬途径选择性地清除某些细胞质成分的过程称为选择性自噬。选择性自噬的发生通常需要自噬受体的参与,不同的自噬受体发挥的具体功能也不尽相同。其中,Tax1结合蛋白1(Tax1-binding protein 1,TAX1BP1)作为选择性自噬接头蛋白的一员,主要由一个SKIP羧基同源性域(SKIP carboxyl homology,SKICH)、一个微管相关蛋白I轻链3结合结构域(LC3-interacting region,LIR)、三个卷曲螺旋和一个羧基末端泛素锌指结合(ubiquitin-binding zinc finger,UBZ)结构域构成。这些结构域介导了TAX1BP1与其他蛋白质的相互作用,并在一定程度上对TAX1BP1在细胞中的功能产生影响。TAX1BP1同时调节NF-κB、JNK等信号通路;它广泛地参与到线粒体自噬、异体自噬以及溶酶体自噬等自噬进程中去;TAX1BP1的异常表达与炎症反应、恶性肿...     

力学刺激诱导细胞自噬的研究进展

自噬是细胞重要的自我保护机制,多种伤害性刺激激活的自噬具有维持细胞稳态和正常功能的作用.此外,自噬还参与调控恶性肿瘤、动脉粥样硬化等多种疾病的发生发展过程.体内细胞处于复杂的力学微环境中,力学刺激参与调控细胞自噬,如压力可诱导心肌细胞的自噬、牵张力调控运动系统多种细胞的自噬、流体剪切力可激活血管内皮细胞和肿瘤细胞的自噬.力学刺激诱导的细胞自噬依赖众多信号通路.细胞骨架作为重要的调节因子,不仅参与细胞力学信号转导,同时可参与调控细胞自噬.因此,细胞骨架与力学刺激诱导的细胞自噬密切相关.本文结合最新的研究成果,综述力学刺激对细胞自噬的影响及其分子机制,以期为研究力学刺激对细胞生物学行为的影响提供新的视角,进而为相关疾病的治疗提供新思路和分子靶点.     

自噬与血管新生相关细胞因子

血管新生发生于机体多种生理病理过程中,已成为诸多病理过程的标志之一。自噬参与调节机体血管新生。在病变组织中,自噬不仅与血管形成密切相关,而且经调节血管新生向病理组织提供必要的氧与能量。通过抑制自噬可以抑制缺氧、能量缺乏等刺激诱导的血管新生。血管新生过程中相关细胞因子参与调节自噬而影响新生血管的形成。通过二者的作用,既可以促进血管新生,也可抑制血管新生,这种机制在机体生理和病理过程中具有重要的作用。本文从自噬通过血管新生细胞因子促进血管新生以及自噬通过血管新生细胞因子抑制血管新生两个方面概述了自噬在血管新生过程中的作用,为疾病的治疗提供新的思路与方法。     

综述:细胞自噬的调控机制及其在老年性痴呆发生发展中的作用

细胞自噬是生物体内一种用于清除功能异常的细胞器、错误折叠的蛋白质、被氧化的脂类等有害大分子物质的重要途径．它的机制从低等生物酵母到高等的哺乳动物都高度保守,对维持正常的生命活动至关重要．错误折叠的蛋白质若不能被有效清除,就会造成积聚,致使神经细胞功能丧失乃至死亡,这是神经退行性疾病包括老年性痴呆(Alzheimer's disease, AD)的主要原因．本文回顾了近年来关于细胞自噬及其与老年性痴呆关系的研究进展,主要内容包括以下几点：自噬参与Aβ的产生和清除;γ分泌酶中的Presenilin 1在自噬底物降解中的作用;Tau蛋白调控自噬体转运、融合;老年性痴呆早期自噬对细胞的保护;细胞中感应营养和能量的两个关键蛋白mTOR和AMPK调控自噬及其对老年性痴呆的潜在影响机制．     

细胞自噬调控的分子机制研究进展

细胞自噬是一种进化上保守的分解代谢过程,涉及细胞内长寿命蛋白和受损伤细胞器的降解,其在细胞内稳态、肿瘤、心力衰竭、衰老相关性疾病、神经退行性疾病以及传染病等多种生命进程中发挥着重要作用。泛素样蛋白系统、m TOR信号通路、micro RNA、caspase等均参与了细胞自噬调控过程。该文综述了细胞自噬过程、功能和分子调控机制的研究进展,以期有助于研究细胞自噬机理,为治疗心脏疾病(如动脉粥样硬化)、癌症(如乳腺癌)等提供理论基础。     

运动训练调控细胞自噬相关机体功能的分子机制研究进展

细胞自噬是真核细胞中广泛存在的一种自我保护机制,是细胞在应激情况下通过溶酶体或液泡高度保守的降解途径将细胞内异常蛋白和细胞器降解为生物大分子,重新被细胞利用的过程。适度的运动锻炼可以诱导机体多种组织细胞自噬的激活,增强机体的活力,延缓机体的衰老。运动训练可以刺激骨骼肌细胞自噬水平上调,延缓骨骼肌衰老;运动训练作为一种机械性刺激可以通过调节心肌细胞的自噬激活调控长寿命或错误折叠心肌蛋白和受损细胞器的代谢,延缓心肌衰老;此外,细胞自噬与糖尿病、肿瘤、脑血管疾病、衰老及心脏病等密切相关,运动训练可以预防动脉粥样硬化等血管类疾病的发生,也可以通过调控细胞自噬来预防与治疗心脏病、中风、糖尿病等疾病。现主要论述细胞自噬的涵义与分类,细胞自噬不同阶段的分子机制,以及运动训练通过调控细胞自噬相关基因调控骨骼肌、心肌和自噬相关疾病的分子机制,为使用科学的运动训练方式来提高机体功能及预防和治疗疾病提供了理论依据。     

血管内皮细胞衰老与血管疾病

细胞衰老是指细胞在各种应激条件下出现周期阻滞,不可逆地丧失增殖能力,其形态、基因表达和功能都发生特定变化的过程。研究表明,血管内皮细胞衰老可以通过削弱血管功能,促进衰老相关血管疾病的发生发展。然而,有关内皮细胞衰老的发生机制以及内皮细胞衰老影响血管功能及衰老相关血管疾病的潜在机制尚待挖掘。本文从血管内皮细胞衰老相关的信号通路,以及血管内皮细胞衰老与血管功能和血管相关疾病（动脉粥样硬化、高血压和糖尿病血管并发症）的最新研究进展进行综述,为进一步认识血管疾病的发病机制,延缓血管衰老提供新的思路。     

Celastrol ameliorates vascular neointimal hyperplasia through Wnt5a-involved autophagy

Neointimal hyperplasia caused by the excessive proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) is the pathological basis of restenosis. However, there are few effective strategies to prevent restenosis. Celastrol, a pentacyclic triterpene, has been recently documented to be beneficial to certain cardiovascular diseases. Based on its significant effect on autophagy, we proposed that celastrol could attenuate restenosis through enhancing autophagy of VSMCs. In the present study, we found that celastrol effectively inhibited the intimal hyperplasia and hyperproliferation of VSMCs by inducing autophagy. It was revealed that autophagy promoted by celastrol could induce the lysosomal degradation of c-MYC, which might be a possible mechanism contributing to the reduction of VSMCs proliferation. The Wnt5a/PKC/mTOR signaling pathway was found to be an underlying mechanism for celastrol to induce autophagy and inhibit the VSMCs proliferation. These observations indicate that celastrol may be a novel drug with a great potential to prevent restenosis.     

Implications of autophagy for vascular smooth muscle cell function and plasticity

Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) are fundamental in regulating blood pressure and distributing oxygen and nutrients to peripheral tissues. They also possess remarkable plasticity, with the capacity to switch to synthetic, macrophage-like, or osteochondrogenic phenotypes when cued by external stimuli. In arterial diseases such as atherosclerosis and restenosis, this plasticity seems to be critical and, depending on the disease context, can be deleterious or beneficial. Therefore, understanding the mechanisms regulating VSMC phenotype and survival is essential for developing new therapies for vascular disease as well as understanding how secondary complications due to surgical interventions develop. In this regard, the cellular process of autophagy is increasingly being recognized as a major player in vascular biology and a critical determinant of VSMC phenotype and survival. Although autophagy was identified in lesional VSMCs in the 1960s, our understanding of the implications of autophagy in arterial diseases and the stimuli promoting its activation in VSMCs is only now being elucidated. In this review, we highlight the evidence for autophagy occurring in VSMCs in vivo, elaborate on the stimuli and processes regulating autophagy, and discuss the current understanding of the role of autophagy in vascular disease.     

Dynamin Regulates Autophagy by Modulating Lysosomal Function

Autophagy is a central lysosomal degradation pathway required for maintaining cellular homeostasis and its dysfunction is associated with numerous human diseases. To identify players in autophagy, we tested w1200 chemically induced mutations on the X chromosome in Drosophila fat body clones and discovered that shibire(shi) plays an essential role in starvation-induced autophagy. shi encodes a dynamin protein required for fission of clathrin-coated vesicles from the plasma membrane during endocytosis. We showed that Shi is dispensable for autophagy initiation and autophagosomeelysosome fusion, but required for lysosomal/autolysosomal acidification. We also showed that other endocytic core machinery components like clathrin and AP2 play similar but not identical roles in regulating autophagy and lysosomal function as dynamin. Previous studies suggested that dynamin directly regulates autophagosome formation and autophagic lysosome reformation(ALR) through its excision activity. Here, we provide evidence that dynamin also regulates autophagy indirectly by regulating lysosomal function.     

Functions of autophagy in normal and diseased liver

Autophagy has emerged as a critical lysosomal pathway that maintains cell function and survival through the degradation of cellular components such as organelles and proteins. Investigations specifically employing the liver or hepatocytes as experimental models have contributed significantly to our current knowledge of autophagic regulation and function. The diverse cellular functions of autophagy, along with unique features of the liver and its principal cell type the hepatocyte, suggest that the liver is highly dependent on autophagy for both normal function and to prevent the development of disease states. However, instances have also been identified in which autophagy promotes pathological changes such as the development of hepatic fibrosis. Considerable evidence has accumulated that alterations in autophagy are an underlying mechanism of a number of common hepatic diseases including toxin-, drug- and ischemia/reperfusion-induced liver injury, fatty liver, viral hepatitis and hepatocellular carcinoma. This review summarizes recent advances in understanding the roles that autophagy plays in normal hepatic physiology and pathophysiology with the intent of furthering the development of autophagy-based therapies for human liver diseases.     

Autophagy in Neurodegenerative Diseases: From Mechanism to Therapeutic Approach

Autophagy is a lysosome-dependent intracellular degradation process that allows recycling of cytoplasmic constituents into bioenergetic and biosynthetic materials for maintenance of homeostasis. Since the function of autophagy is particularly important in various stress conditions, perturbation of autophagy can lead to cellular dysfunction and diseases. Accumulation of abnormal protein aggregates, a common cause of neurodegenerative diseases, can be reduced through autophagic degradation. Recent studies have revealed defects in autophagy in most cases of neurodegenerative disorders. Moreover, deregulated excessive autophagy can also cause neurodegeneration. Thus, healthy activation of autophagy is essential for therapeutic approaches in neurodegenerative diseases and many autophagy-regulating compounds are under development for therapeutic purposes. This review describes the overall role of autophagy in neurodegeneration, focusing on various therapeutic strategies for modulating specific stages of autophagy and on the current status of drug development.     

A butyrolactone derivative suppressed lipopolysaccharide-induced autophagic injury through inhibiting the autoregulatory loop of p8 and p53 in vascular endothelial cells

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced vascular endothelial cell (VEC) dysfunction is an important contributing factor in vascular diseases. Recently, we found that LPS impaired VEC by inducing autophagy. Our previous researches showed that a butyrolactone derivative, 3-benzyl-5-((2-nitrophenoxy) methyl)-dihydrofuran-2(3H)-one (3BDO) selectively protected VEC function. The objective of the present study is to investigate whether and how 3BDO inhibits LPS-induced VEC autophagic injury. Our results showed that LPS induced autophagy and led to increase of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and decrease of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) in Human umbilical vein vascular endothelial cells (HUVECs). Furthermore, LPS significantly increased p8 and p53 protein levels and the nuclear translocation of p53. All of these effects of LPS on HUVECs were strongly inhibited by 3BDO. Importantly, the ROS scavenger N-acetylcysteine (NAC) could inhibited LPS-induced autophagy and knockdown of p8 by RNA interference inhibited the autophagy, p53 protein level increase, the translocation of p53 into nuclei and the ROS level increase induced by LPS in HUVECs. The data suggested that 3BDO inhibited LPS-induced autophagy in HUVECs through inhibiting the ROS overproduction, the increase of p8 and p53 expression and the nuclear translocation of p53. Our findings provide a potential tool for understanding the mechanism underlying LPS-induced autophagy in HUVECs and open the door to a novel therapeutic drug for LPS-induced vascular diseases.     

ATG7(2) Interacts With Metabolic Proteins and Regulates Central Energy Metabolism

Macroautophagy/autophagy is an essential catabolic process that targets a wide variety of cellular components including proteins, organelles, and pathogens. ATG7, a protein involved in the autophagy process, plays a crucial role in maintaining cellular homeostasis and can contribute to the development of diseases such as cancer. ATG7 initiates autophagy by facilitating the lipidation of the ATG8 proteins in the growing autophagosome membrane. The noncanonical isoform ATG7(2) is unable to perform ATG8 lipidation; however, its cellular regulation and function are unknown. Here, we uncovered a distinct regulation and function of ATG7(2) in contrast with ATG7(1), the canonical isoform. First, affinity-purification mass spectrometry analysis revealed that ATG7(2) establishes direct protein–protein interactions (PPIs) with metabolic proteins, whereas ATG7(1) primarily interacts with autophagy machinery proteins. Furthermore, we identified that ATG7(2) mediates a decrease in metabolic activity, highlighting a novel splice-dependent function of this important autophagy protein. Then, we found a divergent expression pattern of ATG7(1) and ATG7(2) across human tissues. Conclusively, our work uncovers the divergent patterns of expression, protein interactions, and function of ATG7(2) in contrast to ATG7(1). These findings suggest a molecular switch between main catabolic processes through isoform-dependent expression of a key autophagy gene.