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He S, Qu Q, Chen X, Zhao L, Jiao Z, Wan Z, Kwok HF, Qu S. Downregulation of Ambra1 by altered DNA methylation exacerbates dopaminergic neuron damage in a fenpropathrin-induced Parkinson-like mouse model. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 2024; 271:115995. [PMID: 38245935 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2024.115995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2023] [Revised: 12/29/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
Fenpropathrin (Fen), a volatile pyrethroid insecticide, is used widely for agricultural applications and has been reported to increase the risk of Parkinson's disease (PD). However, the molecular basis, underlying mechanisms, and pathophysiology of Fen-exposed Parkinsonism remain unknown. Recent studies have revealed epigenetic mechanisms underlying PD-related pathway regulation, including DNA methylation. Epigenetic mechanisms are potential targets for therapeutic intervention in neurodegenerative diseases. After whole-genome bisulfite sequencing (WGBS) of midbrain tissues from a Fen-exposed PD-like mouse model, we performed an association analysis of DNA methylation and gene expression. Then we successfully screened for the DNA methylation differential gene Ambra1, which is closely related to PD. The hypermethylation-low expression Ambra1 gene aggravated DA neuron damage in vitro and in vivo through the Ambra1/Parkin/LC3B-mediated mitophagy pathway. We administered 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine (5-Aza-dC) to upregulate Ambra1 expression, thereby reducing Ambra1-mediated mitophagy and protecting DA neurons against Fen-induced damage. In conclusion, these findings elucidate the potential function of Ambra1 under the regulation of DNA methylation, suggesting that the inhibition of DNA methylation may alleviate Fen-exposed neuron damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Songzhe He
- Department of Neurology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510515, China; Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510515, China; Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510515, China; Department of Clinic Laboratory, Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, Guilin, Guangxi 541001, China
| | - Qi Qu
- Department of Neurology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510515, China; Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510515, China; Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510515, China; Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510515, China
| | - Xi Chen
- Department of Neurology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510515, China; Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510515, China; Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510515, China
| | - Li Zhao
- Department of Neurology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510515, China; Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510515, China; Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510515, China
| | - Zhigang Jiao
- Department of Neurology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510515, China
| | - Zhiting Wan
- Department of Neurology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510515, China; Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510515, China; Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510515, China
| | - Hang Fai Kwok
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macau Special Administrative Region 999078, China
| | - Shaogang Qu
- Department of Neurology, Ganzhou Hospital-Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Ganzhou, Jiangxi 341000, China; Department of Neurology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510515, China; Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510515, China; Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510515, China.
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Su X, Song C, He Z, Song Q, Meng L, Dong C, Zhou J, Ke H, Xiong Y, Liu J, Liao W, Yang S. Ambra1 in exosomes secreted by HK-2 cells damaged by supersaturated oxalate induce mitophagy and autophagy-ferroptosis in normal HK-2 cells to participate in the occurrence of kidney stones. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Cell Res 2024; 1871:119604. [PMID: 37806389 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamcr.2023.119604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Revised: 09/23/2023] [Accepted: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023]
Abstract
Injury to the renal tubular epithelium has emerged as a leading factor underlying the formation of kidney stones. Indeed, epithelial cell damage contributes to the adherence and aggregation of crystals, thereby accelerating the formation of renal stones. Meanwhile, exosomes play an instrumental role in cellular communication, including DNA, RNA, mRNA, etc. In this study, homogenous cells were treated with exosomes derived from damaged cells in an attempt to establish "positive feedback" of cell damage, and the desired results were achieved. To begin, a serum-free medium and supersaturated concentrations of oxalate were added to the HK-2 cell line, and then exosomes were isolated from the two groups for analysis and comparison, and the autophagy-related gene Ambra1 (autophagy and beclin-1 regulator 1) was detected. Subsequently, normal HK-2 cells were treated with exosomes, and the related indexes of autophagy, ferroptosis and mitophagy were determined. Thereafter, Ambra1 was knocked down in exosome-derived HK-2 cells, resulting in the down-regulation of Ambra1 expression in exosomes produced by HK-2 cells following oxalate intervention. Thereafter, the ability of exosomes to stimulate autophagy, mitophagy and ferroptosis was re-evaluated in HK-2 cells after Ambra1 knockdown. The results corroborated that exosomes secreted by oxalate-treated HK-2 can directly elevate autophagy, ferroptosis and mitophagy levels in normal cells, and this effect was significantly mitigated following Ambra1 knockdown within exosomes. Meanwhile, exosomes-induced autophagy and ferroptosis were alleviated after knockdown of beclin-1 in recipient HK-2 cells. These results further suggest that beclin-1 plays a critical role in the process of exosome-induced autophagy-ferroptosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaozhe Su
- Department of Urology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Chao Song
- Department of Urology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Ziqi He
- Department of Urology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Qianlin Song
- Department of Urology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Lingchao Meng
- Department of Urology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Caitao Dong
- Department of Urology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Jiawei Zhou
- Department of Urology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Hu Ke
- Department of Urology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yunhe Xiong
- Department of Urology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Junwei Liu
- Department of Urology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Wenbiao Liao
- Department of Urology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.
| | - Sixing Yang
- Department of Urology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.
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Qu X, Li XY, Feng Y, Wang X, Li L, Wang YP, Chu YL. sh- Ambra1 inhibits IRS-1/PI3K/Akt signalling pathway to reduce autophagy in gestational diabetes. Endokrynol Pol 2024; 75:61-70. [PMID: 38497391 DOI: 10.5603/ep.95519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is the most common metabolic disease in pregnancy. However, studies of activating molecule of Beclin1-regulated autophagy (Ambra1) affecting the insulin substrate receptor 1/phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase/protein kinase B (IRS-1/PI3K/Akt) signalling pathway in GDM have not been reported. The aim of the study was to detect the difference of Ambra1 expression in the placenta of normal pregnant women and GDM patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS An in vitro model of gestational diabetes mellitus was established by inducing HTR8/Svneo cells from human chorionic trophoblast layer with high glucose. The changes of cell morphology were observed by inverted microscope, and the expression levels of Ambra1 gene and protein in model cells were detected. After this, Ambra1 gene was silenced by shRNA transfection, and PI3K inhibitor was added to detect changes in Ambra1, autophagy, and insulin (INS) signalling pathways. RESULTS The protein expression levels of Ambra1, Bcl-2 interacting protein (Beclin-1), and microtubule-associated proteins 1A/1B light chain 3B (LC3-II) in the placentas of GDM pregnant women were higher than those of normal pregnant women. High glucose induces morphological changes in HTR8/Svneo cells and increases Ambra1 transcription and translation levels. sh-Ambra1 increased survival of HTR8/SvNEO-HG cells and inhibited Ambra1, Beclin1, and LC3-II transcription and translation levels. Also, sh-Ambra1 increased IRS-1/PI3K/Akt protein phosphorylation levels and inhibited the IRS-1/PI3K/Akt signalling pathway and its resulting autophagy. CONCLUSIONS sh-Ambra1 increased IRS-1/PI3K/Akt protein phosphorylation levels to reduce autophagy in gestational diabetes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Qu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital, Yantai, China
- Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Xiao-Yan Li
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital, Yantai, China
| | - Yan Feng
- Department of Clinical Nutrition, Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital, Yantai, China
| | - Xiaoli Wang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital, Yantai, China
| | - Lei Li
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital, Yantai, China
| | - Yu-Ping Wang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital, Yantai, China
| | - Yong-Li Chu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital, Yantai, China.
- Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China.
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Fontana CM, Terrin F, Facchinello N, Meneghetti G, Dinarello A, Gambarotto L, Zuccarotto A, Caichiolo M, Brocca G, Verin R, Nazio F, Carnevali O, Cecconi F, Bonaldo P, Dalla Valle L. Zebrafish ambra1b knockout reveals a novel role for Ambra1 in primordial germ cells survival, sex differentiation and reproduction. Biol Res 2023; 56:19. [PMID: 37106439 PMCID: PMC10142490 DOI: 10.1186/s40659-023-00430-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2022] [Accepted: 04/10/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AMBRA1 is an intrinsically disordered protein, working as a scaffold molecule to coordinate, by protein-protein interaction, many cellular processes, including autophagy, mitophagy, apoptosis and cell cycle progression. The zebrafish genome contains two ambra1 paralogous genes (a and b), both involved in development and expressed at high levels in the gonads. Characterization of the zebrafish paralogous genes mutant lines generated by CRISPR/Cas9 approach showed that ambra1b knockout leads to an all-male population. RESULTS We demonstrated that the silencing of the ambra1b gene determines a reduction of primordial germ cells (PGCs), a condition that, in the zebrafish, leads to the development of all-male progeny. PGC reduction was confirmed by knockdown experiments and rescued by injection of ambra1b and human AMBRA1 mRNAs, but not ambra1a mRNA. Moreover, PGC loss was not rescued by injection with human AMBRA1 mRNA mutated in the CUL4-DDB1 binding region, thus suggesting that interaction with this complex is involved in PGC protection from loss. Results from zebrafish embryos injected with murine Stat3 mRNA and stat3 morpholino suggest that Ambra1b could indirectly regulate this protein through CUL4-DDB1 interaction. According to this, Ambra1+/- mice showed a reduced Stat3 expression in the ovary together with a low number of antral follicles and an increase of atretic follicles, indicating a function of Ambra1 in the ovary of mammals as well. Moreover, in agreement with the high expression of these genes in the testis and ovary, we found significant impairment of the reproductive process and pathological alterations, including tumors, mainly limited to the gonads. CONCLUSIONS By exploiting ambra1a and ambra1b knockout zebrafish lines, we prove the sub-functionalization between the two paralogous zebrafish genes and uncover a novel function of Ambra1 in the protection from excessive PGC loss, which seems to require binding with the CUL4-DDB1 complex. Both genes seem to play a role in the regulation of reproductive physiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camilla Maria Fontana
- Department of Biology, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
- Department of Animal and Aquatic Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
| | | | | | | | - Alberto Dinarello
- Department of Biology, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
- Department of Medicine, Anschutz Medical Campus, University of Colorado, Denver, USA
| | - Lisa Gambarotto
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Annalisa Zuccarotto
- Department of Biology, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
- Department of Biology and Evolution of Marine Organisms, Zoological Station Anton Dohrn, Naples, Italy
| | | | - Ginevra Brocca
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science (BCA), University of Padova, Legnaro, PD, Italy
- Aquatic Diagnostic Services, Atlantic Veterinary College, University of Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada
| | - Ranieri Verin
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science (BCA), University of Padova, Legnaro, PD, Italy
| | - Francesca Nazio
- Department of Pediatric Hemato-Oncology and Cell and Gene Therapy, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
- Department of Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Oliana Carnevali
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancona, Italy
| | - Francesco Cecconi
- Cell Stress and Survival Unit, Danish Cancer Society Research Center, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Paolo Bonaldo
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
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Qin YQ, Liu SY, Lv ML, Sun WL. Ambra1 in cancer: implications for clinical oncology. Apoptosis 2022; 27:720-729. [PMID: 35994214 DOI: 10.1007/s10495-022-01762-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Activating molecule in Beclin-1-regulated autophagy protein 1 (Ambra1) is well known to mediate the autophagy process and promote the formation of autophagosomes. In addition, Ambra1 is involved in the execution of apoptosis. A growing number of studies have revealed that this protein modifies the sensitivity of cancer cells to anticancer drugs by controlling the balance between autophagy and apoptosis. In addition, Ambra1 is a key factor in regulating the cell cycle, proliferation, invasion and migration. Therefore, it plays a key role in tumorigenesis and progression. Moreover, Ambra1 is highly expressed in a variety of cancers and is closely related to the prognosis of patients. Thus, it appears that Ambra1 has multiple roles in tumorigenesis and progression, which may have implications for clinical oncology. The present review focuses on recent advances in the study of Ambra1, especially the role of the protein in tumorigenesis, progression and effects on anticancer drug sensitivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan-Qiu Qin
- Department of Medical Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, No. 166 Daxuedong Road, Nanning, 530007, Guangxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Si-Yu Liu
- Department of Medical Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, No. 166 Daxuedong Road, Nanning, 530007, Guangxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Mei-Ling Lv
- Department of Medical Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, No. 166 Daxuedong Road, Nanning, 530007, Guangxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Wei-Liang Sun
- Department of Medical Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, No. 166 Daxuedong Road, Nanning, 530007, Guangxi, People's Republic of China.
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6
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Gambarotto L, Metti S, Chrisam M, Cerqua C, Sabatelli P, Armani A, Zanon C, Spizzotin M, Castagnaro S, Strappazzon F, Grumati P, Cescon M, Braghetta P, Trevisson E, Cecconi F, Bonaldo P. Ambra1 deficiency impairs mitophagy in skeletal muscle. J Cachexia Sarcopenia Muscle 2022; 13:2211-2224. [PMID: 35593053 PMCID: PMC9434724 DOI: 10.1002/jcsm.13010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2022] [Revised: 03/21/2022] [Accepted: 04/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Maintaining healthy mitochondria is mandatory for muscle viability and function. An essential surveillance mechanism targeting defective and harmful mitochondria to degradation is the selective form of autophagy called mitophagy. Ambra1 is a multifaceted protein with well-known autophagic and mitophagic functions. However, the study of its role in adult tissues has been extremely limited due to the embryonic lethality caused by full-body Ambra1 deficiency. METHODS To establish the role of Ambra1 as a positive regulator of mitophagy, we exploited in vivo overexpression of a mitochondria-targeted form of Ambra1 in skeletal muscle. To dissect the consequence of Ambra1 inactivation in skeletal muscle, we generated muscle-specific Ambra1 knockout (Ambra1fl/fl :Mlc1f-Cre) mice. Mitochondria-enriched fractions were obtained from muscles of fed and starved animals to investigate the dynamics of the mitophagic flux. RESULTS Our data show that Ambra1 has a critical role in the mitophagic flux of adult murine skeletal muscle and that its genetic inactivation leads to mitochondria alterations and myofibre remodelling. Ambra1 overexpression in wild-type muscles is sufficient to enhance mitochondria clearance through the autophagy-lysosome system. Consistently with this, Ambra1-deficient muscles display an abnormal accumulation of the mitochondrial marker TOMM20 by +76% (n = 6-7; P < 0.05), a higher presence of myofibres with swollen mitochondria by +173% (n = 4; P < 0.05), and an alteration in the maintenance of the mitochondrial membrane potential and a 34% reduction in the mitochondrial respiratory complex I activity (n = 4; P < 0.05). Lack of Ambra1 in skeletal muscle leads to impaired mitophagic flux, without affecting the bulk autophagic process. This is due to a significantly decreased recruitment of DRP1 (n = 6-7 mice; P < 0.01) and Parkin (n = 6-7 mice; P < 0.05) to the mitochondrial compartment, when compared with controls. Ambra1-deficient muscles also show a marked dysregulation of the endolysosome compartment, as the incidence of myofibres with lysosomal accumulation is 20 times higher than wild-type muscles (n = 4; P < 0.05). Histologically, Ambra1-deficient muscles of both 3- and 6-month-old animals display a significant decrease of myofibre cross-sectional area and a 52% reduction in oxidative fibres (n = 6-7; P < 0.05), thus highlighting a role for Ambra1 in the proper structure and activity of skeletal muscle. CONCLUSIONS Our study indicates that Ambra1 is critical for skeletal muscle mitophagy and for the proper maintenance of functional mitochondria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Gambarotto
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.,Department of Biology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Samuele Metti
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Martina Chrisam
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Cristina Cerqua
- Institute of Pediatric Research IRP, Fondazione Città della Speranza, Padova, Italy
| | - Patrizia Sabatelli
- IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, Bologna, Italy.,CNR - Institute of Molecular Genetics "Luigi Luca Cavalli-Sforza", Unit of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Andrea Armani
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.,Fondazione per la Ricerca Biomedica Avanzata, VIMM, Padova, Italy
| | - Carlo Zanon
- Institute of Pediatric Research IRP, Fondazione Città della Speranza, Padova, Italy
| | | | - Silvia Castagnaro
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Flavie Strappazzon
- IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy.,Institut NeuroMyogène, CNRS UMR5261 - INSERM U1315, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Lyon, France
| | - Paolo Grumati
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine, Pozzuoli, Italy
| | - Matilde Cescon
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Paola Braghetta
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Eva Trevisson
- Institute of Pediatric Research IRP, Fondazione Città della Speranza, Padova, Italy.,Clinical Genetics Unit, Department of Women's and Children's Health, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | | | - Paolo Bonaldo
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
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Sun WL, He LY, Liang L, Liu SY, Luo J, Lv ML, Cai ZW. Ambra1 regulates apoptosis and chemosensitivity in breast cancer cells through the Akt-FoxO1-Bim pathway. Apoptosis 2022; 27:329-341. [PMID: 35257265 DOI: 10.1007/s10495-022-01718-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
The sensitivity of cells to chemotherapeutic agents has a major effect on disease outcome in breast cancer patients. Unfortunately, there are numerous factors involved in the regulation of chemosensitivity, and the mechanisms need to be further investigated. Autophagy/Beclin 1 regulator 1 (Ambra1) is a key protein in the crosstalk between autophagy and apoptosis. It controls the switch between these two processes, which determines whether cells survive or die. Induction of apoptosis is the primary mechanism by which most chemotherapeutic drugs eliminate cancer cells. Recently, Ambra1 has been shown to modulate paclitaxel-induced apoptosis in breast cancer cells via the Bim/mitochondrial pathway, thereby modifying the sensitivity of cells to paclitaxel. However, how Ambra1 regulates Bim expression remains unclear. Here, we further confirmed that Bim plays an indispensable role in Ambra1's regulation of apoptosis and chemosensitivity in breast cancer cells. Furthermore, Ambra1 was found to regulate Bim expression at the transcriptional level through the Akt-FoxO1 pathway. Therefore, we propose a novel pathway, Ambra1-Akt-FoxO1-Bim, which regulates apoptosis and chemosensitivity in breast cancer cells. Thus, Ambra1 may represent a potential target for breast cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei-Liang Sun
- Department of Medical Oncology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, No. 166 Daxuedonglu Road, Nanning, 530007, Guangxi, People's Republic of China.
| | - Ling-Yan He
- Department of Medical Oncology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, No. 166 Daxuedonglu Road, Nanning, 530007, Guangxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Li Liang
- Department of Medical Oncology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, No. 166 Daxuedonglu Road, Nanning, 530007, Guangxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Si-Yu Liu
- Department of Medical Oncology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, No. 166 Daxuedonglu Road, Nanning, 530007, Guangxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Jie Luo
- Department of Medical Oncology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, No. 166 Daxuedonglu Road, Nanning, 530007, Guangxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Mei-Ling Lv
- Department of Medical Oncology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, No. 166 Daxuedonglu Road, Nanning, 530007, Guangxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Zheng-Wen Cai
- Department of Medical Oncology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, No. 166 Daxuedonglu Road, Nanning, 530007, Guangxi, People's Republic of China
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8
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Liu J, Xu Y, Liao G, Tu H, Huang Y, Peng T, Chen X, Huang Z, Zhang Y, Meng X, Zou F. The role of ambra1 in Pb-induced developmental neurotoxicity in zebrafish. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2022; 594:139-145. [PMID: 35085890 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2021.12.084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2021] [Accepted: 12/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Lead is a highly toxic metal that displays developmental neurotoxicity. Ambra1 plays a crucial role in embryonic neural development. At present, the role of Ambra1 in lead-induced developmental neurotoxicity remains unknown. In this study, we investigated the mechanism of Ambra1 concerning its role in lead-induced neurotoxicity. Zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos were exposed to 0.1, 1, or 10 μM Pb until 5 days post-fertilization, and their locomotor activity was significantly impaired by the 10 μM treatment. Meanwhile, Pb reduced the expression of ambra1a and ambra1b in the brain at 48 and 72 h post-fertilization. Overexpression of ambra1a or ambra1b reversed Pb-induced alterations in locomotor activity, and decreased the apoptotic cell numbers in the brains of Pb-treated zebrafish. Our data reveal a novel protective role of Ambra1 against Pb-induced neural damage in the developing zebrafish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaxian Liu
- Department of Occupational Health and Occupational Medicine, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Yongjie Xu
- Department of Occupational Health and Occupational Medicine, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Gengze Liao
- Department of Occupational Health and Occupational Medicine, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Hongwei Tu
- Department of Occupational Health and Occupational Medicine, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Ying Huang
- Department of Occupational Health and Occupational Medicine, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Tao Peng
- Department of Occupational Health and Occupational Medicine, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Xiaohui Chen
- Key Laboratory of Zebrafish Modeling and Drug Screening for Human Diseases of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Department of Developmental Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhibin Huang
- Key Laboratory of Zebrafish Modeling and Drug Screening for Human Diseases of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Department of Developmental Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yiyue Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Zebrafish Modeling and Drug Screening for Human Diseases of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Department of Developmental Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaojing Meng
- Department of Occupational Health and Occupational Medicine, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
| | - Fei Zou
- Department of Occupational Health and Occupational Medicine, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
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9
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Yang M, Wang S, Fu S, Wu NN, Xu X, Sun S, Zhang Y, Ren J. Deletion of the E3 ubiquitin ligase, Parkin, exacerbates chronic alcohol intake-induced cardiomyopathy through an Ambra1-dependent mechanism. Br J Pharmacol 2021; 178:964-982. [PMID: 33300167 DOI: 10.1111/bph.15340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2020] [Revised: 08/17/2020] [Accepted: 09/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Chronic alcohol consumption contributes to contractile dysfunction and unfavourable geometric changes in myocardium, accompanied by altered autophagy and disturbed mitochondrial homeostasis. The E3 ubiquitin ligase Parkin encoded by PARK2 gene maintains a fundamental role in regulating mitophagy and mitochondrial homeostasis, although little is known of its role in the aetiology of alcoholic cardiomyopathy. Here we assessed the effects of Parkin deletion in chronic alcohol-evoked cardiotoxicity. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH Following alcohol (4%) or control diet intake for 8 weeks, adult male wild-type (WT) and PARK2 knockout (Parkin-/- ) mice were examined using echocardiography. Cardiomyocyte mechanical properties, morphology of myocardium, and mitochondrial damage were also evaluated. Autophagy and mitophagy levels were assessed by LC3B and GFP-LC3 puncta, and lysosome-dependent autophagic flux was scrutinized using GFP-mRFP-LC3 puncta and Bafilomycin A1 treatment. KEY RESULTS Chronic alcohol exposure provoked unfavourable geometric changes in myocardium and led to mitochondrial dysfunction and cardiac contractile defects, effects further exacerbated by Parkin knockout. Chronic alcohol exposure provoked autophagy and PINK1/Parkin-mediated mitophagy without affecting lysosome-dependent autophagic flux, the effects of which were diminished by Parkin deletion. Parkin adenovirus infection in neonatal rat cardiomyocytes further increased autophagy and protected against alcohol-induced myocardial injury, effects blocked by siRNA for Ambra1 (Autophagy and Beclin1 regulator 1). Immunofluorescence staining and co-immunoprecipitation assays showed interactions between Parkin and Ambra1. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS Parkin was essential for cardiac homeostasis in alcohol challenge, accompanied by increased autophagy/mitophagy and maintenance of mitochondrial integrity through its interaction with Ambra1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingjie Yang
- Department of Cardiology and Shanghai Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Fudan University Zhongshan Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Shuyi Wang
- Department of Emergency, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Shouzhi Fu
- Department of ICU/Emergency Wuhan Third Hospital, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Ne N Wu
- Department of Cardiology and Shanghai Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Fudan University Zhongshan Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Xihui Xu
- Cytokinetics Inc, South San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Shiqun Sun
- Department of Cardiology and Shanghai Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Fudan University Zhongshan Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Yingmei Zhang
- Department of Cardiology and Shanghai Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Fudan University Zhongshan Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Jun Ren
- Department of Cardiology and Shanghai Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Fudan University Zhongshan Hospital, Shanghai, China
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10
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Masuhara K, Akatsuka H, Tokusanai M, Li C, Iida Y, Okada Y, Suzuki T, Ohtsuka M, Inoue I, Kimura M, Hosokawa H, Hozumi K, Sato T. AMBRA1 controls antigen-driven activation and proliferation of naïve T cells. Int Immunol 2020; 33:107-118. [PMID: 32909612 DOI: 10.1093/intimm/dxaa063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2020] [Accepted: 09/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
AMBRA1 is a member of the BECN1 (BECLIN1) complex protein, and it plays a role in autophagy, cell death, tumorigenesis, and proliferation. We recently reported that on TCR stimulation, AMBRA1 controlled both autophagy and the cell cycle with metabolic regulation. Accumulating evidence has shown that autophagy and metabolic control are pivotal for T cell activation, clonal expansion, and effector/memory cell fate decision. However, it is unknown whether AMBRA1 is involved in T cell function under physiological conditions. We found that T cells in Ambra1-conditional knockout (cKO) mice induced exacerbated graft versus host response when they were transplanted into allogeneic BALB/c mice. Furthermore, Ambra1-deficient T cells showed increased proliferation and cytotoxic capability towards specific antigens in response to in vivo stimulation using allogeneic spleen cells. This enhanced immune response mainly contributed to naïve T cell hyperactivity. The T cell hyperactivity observed in this study were similar to those in some metabolic factor-deficient mice, but not those in other pro-autophagic factor-deficient mice. Under the static condition, however, naïve T cells were reduced in Ambra1-cKO mice, as same as in pro-autophagic factor-deficient mice. Collectively, these results suggested that AMBRA1 was involved in regulating T cell-mediated immune responses through autophagy-dependent and -independent mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaori Masuhara
- Department of Immunology, Tokai University School of Medicine, Isehara, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Hisako Akatsuka
- Department of Immunology, Tokai University School of Medicine, Isehara, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Mizuki Tokusanai
- Department of Immunology, Tokai University School of Medicine, Isehara, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Chenyang Li
- Department of Immunology, Tokai University School of Medicine, Isehara, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Yumi Iida
- Support Center for Medical Research and Education, Tokai University School of Medicine, Isehara, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Yoshinori Okada
- Support Center for Medical Research and Education, Tokai University School of Medicine, Isehara, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Takahiro Suzuki
- Department of Ophthalmology, Tokai University School of Medicine, Isehara, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Masato Ohtsuka
- Department of Molecular Life Science, Tokai University School of Medicine, Isehara, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Ituro Inoue
- Division of Human Genetics, National Institute of Genetics, Mishima, Shizuoka, Japan
| | - Minoru Kimura
- Department of Molecular Life Science, Tokai University School of Medicine, Isehara, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Hosokawa
- Department of Immunology, Tokai University School of Medicine, Isehara, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Katsuto Hozumi
- Department of Immunology, Tokai University School of Medicine, Isehara, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Takehito Sato
- Department of Immunology, Tokai University School of Medicine, Isehara, Kanagawa, Japan
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11
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Schoenherr C, Byron A, Griffith B, Loftus A, Wills JC, Munro AF, von Kriegsheim A, Frame MC. The autophagy protein Ambra1 regulates gene expression by supporting novel transcriptional complexes. J Biol Chem 2020; 295:12045-12057. [PMID: 32616651 PMCID: PMC7443501 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra120.012565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2020] [Revised: 06/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Ambra1 is considered an autophagy and trafficking protein with roles in neurogenesis and cancer cell invasion. Here, we report that Ambra1 also localizes to the nucleus of cancer cells, where it has a novel nuclear scaffolding function that controls gene expression. Using biochemical fractionation and proteomics, we found that Ambra1 binds to multiple classes of proteins in the nucleus, including nuclear pore proteins, adaptor proteins such as FAK and Akap8, chromatin-modifying proteins, and transcriptional regulators like Brg1 and Atf2. We identified biologically important genes, such as Angpt1, Tgfb2, Tgfb3, Itga8, and Itgb7, whose transcription is regulated by Ambra1-scaffolded complexes, likely by altering histone modifications and Atf2 activity. Therefore, in addition to its recognized roles in autophagy and trafficking, Ambra1 scaffolds protein complexes at chromatin, regulating transcriptional signaling in the nucleus. This novel function for Ambra1, and the specific genes impacted, may help to explain the wider role of Ambra1 in cancer cell biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina Schoenherr
- Cancer Research UK Edinburgh Centre, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Adam Byron
- Cancer Research UK Edinburgh Centre, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Billie Griffith
- Cancer Research UK Edinburgh Centre, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Alexander Loftus
- Cancer Research UK Edinburgh Centre, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Jimi C Wills
- Cancer Research UK Edinburgh Centre, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Alison F Munro
- Cancer Research UK Edinburgh Centre, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Alex von Kriegsheim
- Cancer Research UK Edinburgh Centre, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Margaret C Frame
- Cancer Research UK Edinburgh Centre, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
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12
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Meneghetti G, Skobo T, Chrisam M, Fontana CM, Facchinello N, Nazio F, Cecconi F, Bonaldo P, Dalla Valle L. Zebrafish ambra1a and ambra1b Silencing Affect Heart Development. Zebrafish 2020; 17:163-176. [PMID: 32320344 DOI: 10.1089/zeb.2020.1860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
In zebrafish, two paralogous genes, activating molecule in beclin-1 (BECN1)-regulated autophagy ambra1a and ambra1b, both required for the autophagic process and during development, encode the protein AMBRA1, a positive regulator of early steps of autophagosome formation. As transcripts for both genes are expressed during embryogenesis in the heart region, in this work, we investigated the effects of ambra1a and ambra1b knockdown on heart development by means of morpholino oligonucleotides (MOs). Silencing of the two proteins by MOs directed against the ATG translation initiation codon affects cardiac morphogenesis, resulting in a small, string-like heart with pericardial edema, whereas treatment with splice-blocking MOs does not lead to overt cardiac phenotypes, thus revealing the relevance of maternally supplied ambra1 transcripts for heart development. Co-injection of both ATG-MOs determines a more severe cardiac phenotype, with prominent pericardial edema. Whole-mount in situ hybridization (WMISH) for myosin light chain 7 (myl7), as well as ambra1 ATG-MO microinjection in zebrafish transgenic line expressing green fluorescent protein in the heart, revealed defects with the heart jogging process followed by imperfect cardiac looping. Moreover, WMISH of homeodomain transcription factor 2 isoform c (pitx2c) transcripts showed both bilateral and reversed pitx2c expression in morphants. The morphants' cardiac phenotypes were effectively rescued by co-injection of MOs with human AMBRA1 (hAMBRA1) messenger RNA (mRNA), pointing at the conservation of Ambra1 functions during evolution. Co-injections of ambra1 ATG-MOs with a hAMBRA1 mRNA mutated in the protein phosphatase 2a (PP2A) binding sites (hAMBRA1PXP) were not able to rescue the cardiac phenotypes, at the difference from wild-type hAMBRA1 mRNA, and treatment of zebrafish embryos with the specific PP2A inhibitor cantharidin resulted in similar developmental cardiac defects. These results suggest a critical role for AMBRA1 in vertebrate heart development, likely involving the binding site for the PP2A phosphatase.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Tatjana Skobo
- Department of Biology and University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Martina Chrisam
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | | | | | - Francesca Nazio
- Department of Pediatric Hemato-Oncology and Cell and Gene therapy, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesco Cecconi
- Unit of Cell Stress and Survival, Danish Cancer Society Research Center, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Paolo Bonaldo
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
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13
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Liu J, Chen Z, Guo J, Wang L, Liu X. Ambra1 induces autophagy and desensitizes human prostate cancer cells to cisplatin. Biosci Rep 2019; 39:BSR20170770. [PMID: 29101240 DOI: 10.1042/BSR20170770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2017] [Revised: 10/28/2017] [Accepted: 11/01/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Prostate cancer (PCa), the second most mortal cancer from developed countries, presents a high level of chemoresistance. There is emerging evidence underscores the critical role of autophagy in the onset, progression, and chemoresistance of PCa. In the present study, we investigated the possible role of a novel autophagy regulator, activating molecule in beclin1-regulated autophagy1 (Ambra1), a novel ATG gene in the sensitivity or PCa cells to cisplatin. We explored the regulation by the Ambra1 manipulation on the induction of apoptosis and autophagy in human PCa DU145 cells in the presence of cisplatin, via up- or down-regulating Ambra1 expression. In addition, we examined the colony forming of DU145 cells post cisplatin treatment and Ambra1 manipulation. Our results demonstrated that the Ambra1 up-regulation reduced, whereas Ambra1 knockdown increased the cisplatin-induced apoptosis, caspase 3 cleavage, and poly ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) cleavage. Interestingly, we also found significant autophagy induction in the cisplatin-treated DU145 cells, with increased autophagic vesicles, up-regulated autophagy-related markers. However, the cisplatin-induced autophagy was up-regulated by the Ambra1 overexpression or was down-regulated by the Ambra1 knockdown. In addition, the colony forming was also positively regulated by Ambra1 in DU145 cells post cisplatin treatment. In conclusion, Ambra1 negatively regulates the cisplatin-induced apoptosis and the cisplatin-mediated growth reduction in DU145 cells, in association with the Ambra1-mediated autophagy promotion. It implies that Ambra1-mediated autophagy might be an important mechanism underlining the sensitivity reduction of PCa cells.
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14
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La Barbera L, Vedele F, Nobili A, D'Amelio M, Krashia P. Neurodevelopmental Disorders: Functional Role of Ambra1 in Autism and Schizophrenia. Mol Neurobiol 2019; 56:6716-6724. [PMID: 30915711 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-019-1557-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2019] [Accepted: 03/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The activating molecule in Beclin-1-regulated autophagy (Ambra1) is a highly intrinsically disordered protein best known for its role as a mediator in autophagy, by favoring the formation of autophagosomes. Additional studies have revealed that Ambra1 is able to coordinate cell responses to stress conditions such as starvation, and it actively participates in cell proliferation, cytoskeletal modification, apoptosis, mitochondria removal, and cell cycle downregulation. All these functions highlight the importance of Ambra1 in crucial physiological events, including metabolism, cell death, and cell division. Importantly, Ambra1 is also crucial for proper embryonic development, and its complete absence in knock-out animal models leads to severe brain morphology defects. In line with this, it has recently been implicated in neurodevelopmental disorders affecting humans, particularly autism spectrum disorders and schizophrenia. Here, we discuss the recent links between Ambra1 and neurodevelopment, particularly focusing on its role during the maturation of hippocampal parvalbumin interneurons and its importance for maintaining a proper excitation/inhibition balance in the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Livia La Barbera
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurosciences, Department of Experimental Neurosciences, IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy.,Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome 'Tor Vergata', Rome, Italy
| | - Francescangelo Vedele
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurosciences, Department of Experimental Neurosciences, IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy.,Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome 'Tor Vergata', Rome, Italy
| | - Annalisa Nobili
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurosciences, Department of Experimental Neurosciences, IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy.,Unit of Molecular Neurosciences, Department of Medicine, University Campus-Biomedico, Rome, Italy
| | - Marcello D'Amelio
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurosciences, Department of Experimental Neurosciences, IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy. .,Unit of Molecular Neurosciences, Department of Medicine, University Campus-Biomedico, Rome, Italy.
| | - Paraskevi Krashia
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurosciences, Department of Experimental Neurosciences, IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy. .,Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome 'Tor Vergata', Rome, Italy.
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15
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Lijie G, Yueyue Z, Nan Z, Ling W, Xuan W, Weijie Y. Mitsugumin 53 promotes mitochondrial autophagy through regulating Ambra1 expression in C2C12 myoblast cells. Cell Biol Int 2019; 43:290-298. [PMID: 30614598 DOI: 10.1002/cbin.11097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2018] [Accepted: 01/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
In this study, we investigated the function of Mitsugumin 53 (MG53) in regulation of mitochondrial autophagy in skeletal muscle cells and explored its potential application in the prevention and treatment of skeletal muscle atrophy in rats with chronic kidney disease (CKD). The expression of autophagy beclin 1 regulator 1 (Ambra1) and MG53 in skeletal muscles of 5/6 nephrectomized rats was measured, and the effect of MG53 on mitochondrial autophagy of C2C12 myoblasts was investigated by in vitro experiments. Our results show the expression of Ambra1 and MG53 in the skeletal muscle of CKD rats was significantly decreased. In vitro experiments showed that MG53 overexpression could promote the expression of Ambra1 and mitochondrial autophagy in C2C12 cells, suggesting that recovery of autophagy by MG53 intervention may help remove abnormal mitochondria and alleviate muscle atrophy. In conclusion, the damaged or functionally incomplete mitochondria in CKD rats could not be effectively removed, which may be related to the low activity of Ambra1. In vitro experiments showed that MG53 overexpression could promote the expression of Ambra1 in C2C12 cells and restore mitochondrial autophagy. Whether MG53 can help remove abnormal mitochondria and relieve CKD-induced muscle atrophy requires further study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gu Lijie
- Department of Nephrology, Shanghai General Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, 200080, China
| | - Zhang Yueyue
- Department of Nephrology, Shanghai General Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, 200080, China
| | - Zhu Nan
- Department of Nephrology, Shanghai General Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, 200080, China
| | - Wang Ling
- Department of Nephrology, Shanghai General Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, 200080, China
| | - Wang Xuan
- Department of Nephrology, Shanghai General Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, 200080, China
| | - Yuan Weijie
- Department of Nephrology, Shanghai General Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, 200080, China
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16
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Sun WL, Wang L, Luo J, Zhu HW, Cai ZW. Ambra1 modulates the sensitivity of breast cancer cells to epirubicin by regulating autophagy via ATG12. Cancer Sci 2018; 109:3129-3138. [PMID: 30027574 PMCID: PMC6172055 DOI: 10.1111/cas.13743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2018] [Revised: 07/11/2018] [Accepted: 07/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The sensitivity of breast cancer cells to epirubicin (EPI) is closely related to the efficacy of the drug and the prognosis of patients. A growing body of research has suggested that autophagy is involved in the treatment of a variety of cancers, including breast cancer, and modifies the sensitivity of anticancer drugs. However, the mechanism by which autophagy participates in cancer therapy and modulates drug sensitivity has not been fully elucidated. In this study, we showed that the expression of Autophagy/Beclin 1 regulator 1 (Ambra1), a key protein of autophagy, was negatively correlated with EPI sensitivity in breast cancer cells. In addition, it altered the sensitivity of breast cancer cells to EPI by regulating EPI-induced autophagy. As a potential mechanism, we demonstrated that autophagy-related protein 12 (ATG12) was a downstream protein that Ambra1-regulated EPI-induced autophagy. Therefore, Ambra1 plays an important role in regulating the sensitivity of breast cancer cells to EPI. And the regulatory effect of Ambra1 on EPI sensitivity is achieved through the regulation of autophagy by targeting ATG12. Overall, we propose a novel mechanism by which autophagy modulates the sensitivity of breast cancer cells to EPI. ATG12 is a novel targeting protein of Ambra1 in regulating EPI-induced autophagy. In addition, the important role of Ambra1 in modulating the sensitivity of breast cancer cells to EPI is confirmed in vivo. This finding indicates that Ambra1 might be a target for developing breast cancer treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei-Liang Sun
- Department of Medical Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China
| | - Li Wang
- Department of Medical Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China
| | - Jie Luo
- Department of Medical Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China
| | - Hua-Wei Zhu
- Department of Medical Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China
| | - Zheng-Wen Cai
- Department of Medical Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China
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17
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Nobili A, Krashia P, Cordella A, La Barbera L, Dell'Acqua MC, Caruso A, Pignataro A, Marino R, Sciarra F, Biamonte F, Scattoni ML, Ammassari-Teule M, Cecconi F, Berretta N, Keller F, Mercuri NB, D'Amelio M. Ambra1 Shapes Hippocampal Inhibition/Excitation Balance: Role in Neurodevelopmental Disorders. Mol Neurobiol 2018; 55:7921-7940. [PMID: 29488136 PMCID: PMC6132777 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-018-0911-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2017] [Accepted: 01/15/2018] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Imbalances between excitatory and inhibitory synaptic transmission cause brain network dysfunction and are central to the pathogenesis of neurodevelopmental disorders. Parvalbumin interneurons are highly implicated in this imbalance. Here, we probed the social behavior and hippocampal function of mice carrying a haploinsufficiency for Ambra1, a pro-autophagic gene crucial for brain development. We show that heterozygous Ambra1 mice (Ambra+/−) are characterized by loss of hippocampal parvalbumin interneurons, decreases in the inhibition/excitation ratio, and altered social behaviors that are solely restricted to the female gender. Loss of parvalbumin interneurons in Ambra1+/− females is further linked to reductions of the inhibitory drive onto principal neurons and alterations in network oscillatory activity, CA1 synaptic plasticity, and pyramidal neuron spine density. Parvalbumin interneuron loss is underlined by increased apoptosis during the embryonic development of progenitor neurons in the medial ganglionic eminence. Together, these findings identify an Ambra1-dependent mechanism that drives inhibition/excitation imbalance in the hippocampus, contributing to abnormal brain activity reminiscent of neurodevelopmental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annalisa Nobili
- Department of Experimental Neurosciences, IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, 00143, Rome, Italy.,Department of Medicine, University Campus-Biomedico, 00128, Rome, Italy
| | - Paraskevi Krashia
- Department of Experimental Neurosciences, IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, 00143, Rome, Italy. .,Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome 'Tor Vergata', 00133, Rome, Italy.
| | - Alberto Cordella
- Department of Experimental Neurosciences, IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, 00143, Rome, Italy.,Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome 'Tor Vergata', 00133, Rome, Italy
| | - Livia La Barbera
- Department of Experimental Neurosciences, IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, 00143, Rome, Italy.,Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome 'Tor Vergata', 00133, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Concetta Dell'Acqua
- Department of Experimental Neurosciences, IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, 00143, Rome, Italy.,Department of Medicine, University Campus-Biomedico, 00128, Rome, Italy
| | - Angela Caruso
- Research Coordination and Support Service, Istituto Superiore di Sanità (ISS), 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Annabella Pignataro
- Department of Experimental Neurosciences, IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, 00143, Rome, Italy.,Institute of Cell Biology and Neurobiology (IBCN), National Research Council (CNR), 00143, Rome, Italy
| | - Ramona Marino
- Department of Medicine, University Campus-Biomedico, 00128, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Sciarra
- Department of Medicine, University Campus-Biomedico, 00128, Rome, Italy
| | - Filippo Biamonte
- Institute of Histology and Embryology, "A. Gemelli" Faculty of Medicine, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, 00168, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Luisa Scattoni
- Research Coordination and Support Service, Istituto Superiore di Sanità (ISS), 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Martine Ammassari-Teule
- Department of Experimental Neurosciences, IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, 00143, Rome, Italy.,Institute of Cell Biology and Neurobiology (IBCN), National Research Council (CNR), 00143, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesco Cecconi
- Department of Biology, University of Rome 'Tor Vergata', 00133, Rome, Italy.,Cell Stress and Survival Group, Danish Cancer Society Research Center, DK-2100, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, IRCSS Bambino Gesu Children's Hospital, 00165, Rome, Italy
| | - Nicola Berretta
- Department of Experimental Neurosciences, IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, 00143, Rome, Italy
| | - Flavio Keller
- Department of Medicine, University Campus-Biomedico, 00128, Rome, Italy
| | - Nicola Biagio Mercuri
- Department of Experimental Neurosciences, IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, 00143, Rome, Italy.,Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome 'Tor Vergata', 00133, Rome, Italy
| | - Marcello D'Amelio
- Department of Experimental Neurosciences, IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, 00143, Rome, Italy. .,Department of Medicine, University Campus-Biomedico, 00128, Rome, Italy.
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18
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Schoenherr C, Byron A, Sandilands E, Paliashvili K, Baillie GS, Garcia-Munoz A, Valacca C, Cecconi F, Serrels B, Frame MC. Ambra1 spatially regulates Src activity and Src/FAK-mediated cancer cell invasion via trafficking networks. eLife 2017; 6:e23172. [PMID: 28362576 PMCID: PMC5376188 DOI: 10.7554/elife.23172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2016] [Accepted: 03/04/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Here, using mouse squamous cell carcinoma cells, we report a completely new function for the autophagy protein Ambra1 as the first described 'spatial rheostat' controlling the Src/FAK pathway. Ambra1 regulates the targeting of active phospho-Src away from focal adhesions into autophagic structures that cancer cells use to survive adhesion stress. Ambra1 binds to both FAK and Src in cancer cells. When FAK is present, Ambra1 is recruited to focal adhesions, promoting FAK-regulated cancer cell direction-sensing and invasion. However, when Ambra1 cannot bind to FAK, abnormally high levels of phospho-Src and phospho-FAK accumulate at focal adhesions, positively regulating adhesion and invasive migration. Spatial control of active Src requires the trafficking proteins Dynactin one and IFITM3, which we identified as Ambra1 binding partners by interaction proteomics. We conclude that Ambra1 is a core component of an intracellular trafficking network linked to tight spatial control of active Src and FAK levels, and so crucially regulates their cancer-associated biological outputs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina Schoenherr
- Cancer Research United Kingdom Edinburgh Centre, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Adam Byron
- Cancer Research United Kingdom Edinburgh Centre, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Emma Sandilands
- Cancer Research United Kingdom Edinburgh Centre, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Ketevan Paliashvili
- Centre for Nephrology, Division of Medicine, Royal Free Hospital Campus, London, United Kingdom
| | - George S Baillie
- Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Science, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
- College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | | | - Cristina Valacca
- Department of Biology, University of Tor Vergata, Via della Ricerca Scientifica, Rome, Italy
- Cell Stress and Survival Group, Danish Cancer Society Research Center, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Francesco Cecconi
- Department of Biology, University of Tor Vergata, Via della Ricerca Scientifica, Rome, Italy
- Cell Stress and Survival Group, Danish Cancer Society Research Center, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, IRCSS Bambino Gesu Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Bryan Serrels
- Cancer Research United Kingdom Edinburgh Centre, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Margaret C Frame
- Cancer Research United Kingdom Edinburgh Centre, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
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19
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Abstract
Prognosis and survival for malignant melanoma is highly dependent on early diagnosis and treatment. While the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) criterion provides a means of staging melanomas and guiding treatment approaches, it is unable to identify the risk of disease progression of early stage tumors or provide reliable stratification for novel adjuvant therapies. The demand for credible prognostic/companion biomarkers able to identify high-risk melanoma subgroups as well as guide more effective personalized/precision-based therapy is therefore of paramount importance. Autophagy, the principle lysosomal-mediated process for the degradation/recycling of cellular debris, is a hot topic in cancer medicine, and observations of its deregulation in melanoma have brought its potential as a prognostic biomarker to the forefront of current research. Key regulatory proteins, including Atg8/microtubule-associated light chain 3 (LC3) and BECN1 (Beclin 1), have been proposed as potential prognostic biomarkers. However, given the dynamic nature of autophagy, their expression in vitro does not translate to their use as a prognostic biomarker for melanoma in vivo. We have recently identified the expression levels of Sequestosome1/SQSTM1 (p62) and activating molecule in Beclin 1-regulated autophagy protein 1 (AMBRA1) as novel independent prognostic biomarkers for early stage melanomas. While increasing followed by subsequent decreasing levels of p62 expression reflects the paradoxical role of autophagy in melanoma, expression levels additionally define a novel prognostic biomarker for AJCC stage II tumors. Conversely, loss of AMBRA1 in the epidermis overlying primary melanomas defines a novel prognostic biomarker for AJCC stage I tumors. Collectively, the definition of AMBRA1 and p62 as prognostic biomarkers for early stage melanomas provides novel and accurate means through which to identify tumors at risk of disease progression, facilitating earlier patient therapeutic intervention and stratification tools for novel personalized therapeutic approaches to improve clinical outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana Y L Tang
- Dermatological Sciences, Institute of Cellular Medicine, Newcastle University, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK; Dermatology, The James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough, UK
| | - Robert A Ellis
- Dermatological Sciences, Institute of Cellular Medicine, Newcastle University, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK; Dermatology, The James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough, UK
| | - Penny E Lovat
- Dermatological Sciences, Institute of Cellular Medicine, Newcastle University , Newcastle-upon-Tyne , UK
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20
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Gasparini F, Skobo T, Benato F, Gioacchini G, Voskoboynik A, Carnevali O, Manni L, Dalla Valle L. Characterization of Ambra1 in asexual cycle of a non-vertebrate chordate, the colonial tunicate Botryllus schlosseri, and phylogenetic analysis of the protein group in Bilateria. Mol Phylogenet Evol 2015; 95:46-57. [PMID: 26611831 DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2015.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2015] [Revised: 11/02/2015] [Accepted: 11/03/2015] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Ambra1 is a positive regulator of autophagy, a lysosome-mediated degradative process involved both in physiological and pathological conditions. Nowadays, Ambra1 has been characterized only in mammals and zebrafish. Through bioinformatics searches and targeted cloning, we report the identification of the complete Ambra1 transcript in a non-vertebrate chordate, the tunicate Botryllus schlosseri. Tunicata is the sister group of Vertebrata and the only chordate group possessing species that reproduce also by blastogenesis (asexual reproduction). B. schlosseri Ambra1 deduced amino acid sequence is shorter than vertebrate homologues but still contains the typical WD40 domain. qPCR analyses revealed that the level of B. schlosseri Ambra1 transcription is temporally regulated along the colonial blastogenetic cycle. By means of similarity searches we identified Wdr5 and Katnb1 as proteins evolutionarily associated to Ambra1. Phylogenetic analyses on Bilateria indicate that: (i) Wdr5 is the most related to Ambra1, so that they may derive from an ancestral gene, (ii) Ambra1 forms a group of ancient genes evolved before the radiation of the taxon, (iii) these orthologous Ambra1 share the two conserved WD40/YVTN repeat-like-containing domains, and (iv) they are characterized by ancient duplications of WD40 repeats within the N-terminal domain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabio Gasparini
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Via Ugo Bassi 35131 Padova, Italy.
| | - Tatjana Skobo
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Via Ugo Bassi 35131 Padova, Italy.
| | - Francesca Benato
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Via Ugo Bassi 35131 Padova, Italy.
| | - Giorgia Gioacchini
- Department of Life Science and Environment, Marche Polytechnic University, Via Brecce Bianche, 60131 Ancona, Italy.
| | - Ayelet Voskoboynik
- Department of Pathology, Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University, 265 Campus Drive, 3rd Floor, CA 94305, Stanford, United States.
| | - Oliana Carnevali
- Department of Life Science and Environment, Marche Polytechnic University, Via Brecce Bianche, 60131 Ancona, Italy.
| | - Lucia Manni
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Via Ugo Bassi 35131 Padova, Italy.
| | - Luisa Dalla Valle
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Via Ugo Bassi 35131 Padova, Italy.
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21
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Rosso P, Moreno S, Fracassi A, Rocco ML, Aloe L. Nerve growth factor and autophagy: effect of nasal anti-NGF-antibodies administration on Ambra1 and Beclin-1 expression in rat brain. Growth Factors 2015; 33:401-9. [PMID: 26728403 DOI: 10.3109/08977194.2015.1122002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Nerve growth factor (NGF) exerts protective actions in the healthy and diseased nervous system. Intranasal administration is a suitable and safe strategy to deliver NGF to CNS neurons. We investigated whether nasal anti-NGF-antibody (ANA) administration affects neuronal autophagy, in view of its putative regulatory role in this process. We focused on olfactory bulbs (OB), neocortex (Cx), hippocampus (HF) and septal complex (SC), known to be NGF-responsive and autophagically active. Our combined molecular/morphological results demonstrate that intranasally administered ANA reaches brain NGF-target neurons and lowers the levels of endogenous NGF and its receptors. Treatment also affects - in a brain region-dependent manner - the expression of the autophagic proteins Beclin-1 and Ambra1, as well as that of proteins belonging to the Bcl2 family, namely Bax and Bcl-2, reflecting apoptotic dysregulation. This study provides a nongenetically modified, NGF-defective animal model, representing a suitable tool to investigate novel properties of the neurotrophin, especially in relation to autophagy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pamela Rosso
- a National Research Council (CNR), Institute of Cell Biology & Neurobiology , Rome , Italy and
- b Department of Science , LIME, University Roma Tre , Rome , Italy
| | - Sandra Moreno
- b Department of Science , LIME, University Roma Tre , Rome , Italy
| | - Anna Fracassi
- b Department of Science , LIME, University Roma Tre , Rome , Italy
| | - Maria Luisa Rocco
- a National Research Council (CNR), Institute of Cell Biology & Neurobiology , Rome , Italy and
| | - Luigi Aloe
- a National Research Council (CNR), Institute of Cell Biology & Neurobiology , Rome , Italy and
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22
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Shi C, Wu J, Fu M, Zhang B, Wang J, Yang X, Chi Y. Ambra1 modulates starvation-induced autophagy through AMPK signaling pathway in cardiomyocytes. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2014; 452:308-14. [PMID: 25117440 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2014.08.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2014] [Accepted: 08/04/2014] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Recent research has revealed a role for Ambra1, an autophagy-related gene-related (ATG) protein, in the autophagic pro-survival response, and Ambra1 has been shown to regulate Beclin1 and Beclin1-dependent autophagy in embryonic stem cells and cancer cells. However, whether Ambra1 plays an important role in the autophagy pathway in cardiomyocytes is unknown. In this study, we hypothesized that Ambra1 is an important regulator of autophagy and apoptosis in cardiomyocytes. To test this hypothesis, we confirmed autophagic activity in serum-starved cardiomyocytes by assessing endogenous microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3) localization, the presence of autophagosomes and LC3 protein levels. Cell apoptosis and viability were measured by annexin-V and PI staining and MTT assays. We determined that serum deprivation-induced autophagy was associated with Ambra1 upregulation in cardiomyocytes. When Ambra1 expression was reduced by siRNA, the cardiomyocytes were more sensitive to staurosporine-induced apoptosis. In addition, co-immunoprecipitation of Ambra1 and Beclin1 demonstrated that Ambra1 and Beclin1 interact in serum-starved or rapamycin-treated cardiomyocytes, suggesting that Ambra1 regulates autophagy in cardiomyocytes by interacting with Beclin1. Finally, we determined that starvation stress-induced activation of Ambra1 contributes to the attenuation of adaptive AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling. In conclusion, Ambra1 is a crucial regulator of autophagy and apoptosis through AMPK signaling pathway in cardiomyocytes that maintains the balance between autophagy and apoptosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Conghong Shi
- Baotou Fourth Hospital, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
| | - Jing Wu
- The Image Section of Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical University, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
| | - Min Fu
- Baotou Fourth Hospital, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
| | - Baohong Zhang
- Baotou Fourth Hospital, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
| | - Juan Wang
- Baotou Fourth Hospital, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
| | - Xi Yang
- The Teaching and Research Section of Human Anatomy and Histology, Inner Mongolia Medical University, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
| | - Yunpeng Chi
- Beijing Anzhen Hospital of the Capital University of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.
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Nitta T, Sato Y, Ren XS, Harada K, Sasaki M, Hirano S, Nakanuma Y. Autophagy may promote carcinoma cell invasion and correlate with poor prognosis in cholangiocarcinoma. Int J Clin Exp Pathol 2014; 7:4913-4921. [PMID: 25197362 PMCID: PMC4152052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2014] [Accepted: 08/02/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
The role of autophagy in cholangiocarcinoma is poorly understood. This study investigated its involvement in cholangiocarcinoma, focusing on carcinoma cell invasion and prognostic significance using cholangiocarcinoma cell lines, CCKS1 and HuCCT1, and human tissues of hilar and extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. Nutrient starvation induced the expression of LC3-II and the formation of LC3 puncta in both CCKS1 and HuCCT1, suggesting the occurrence of autophagy. The induction of autophagy was accompanied by the increased expression of an autophagy-related protein, Ambra1, in the cells. Under starvation conditions, the invasive activity of both cells was significantly increased, and a lysosomal inhibitor, chloroquine, attenuated this increased invasive activity. Transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), known as an inducer of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), increased the invasive activity of both cells, and chloroquine also significantly reduced TGF-β1-induced cell invasion. Immunohistochemical staining using cholangiocarcinoma tissues showed that the expression of Ambra1 positively correlated with the expression of Snail, one of the major transcriptional factors of EMT. In addition, overexpression of Ambra1 significantly correlated with lymph node metastasis and poor survival rate of the patients. These results suggest that the occurrence of autophagy may be associated with a malignant phenotype and poor prognosis in cholangiocarcinoma, and autophagy is possibly involved in EMT-related cholangiocarcinoma cell invasion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takeo Nitta
- Department of Human Pathology, Kanazawa University Graduate School of MedicineKanazawa, Japan
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery II, Hokkaido University Graduate School of MedicineSapporo, Japan
| | - Yasunori Sato
- Department of Human Pathology, Kanazawa University Graduate School of MedicineKanazawa, Japan
| | - Xiang Shan Ren
- Department of Human Pathology, Kanazawa University Graduate School of MedicineKanazawa, Japan
| | - Kenichi Harada
- Department of Human Pathology, Kanazawa University Graduate School of MedicineKanazawa, Japan
| | - Motoko Sasaki
- Department of Human Pathology, Kanazawa University Graduate School of MedicineKanazawa, Japan
| | - Satoshi Hirano
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery II, Hokkaido University Graduate School of MedicineSapporo, Japan
| | - Yasuni Nakanuma
- Department of Human Pathology, Kanazawa University Graduate School of MedicineKanazawa, Japan
- Department of Pathology, Shizuoka Cancer CenterShizuoka, Japan
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24
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Dere E, Dahm L, Lu D, Hammerschmidt K, Ju A, Tantra M, Kästner A, Chowdhury K, Ehrenreich H. Heterozygous ambra1 deficiency in mice: a genetic trait with autism-like behavior restricted to the female gender. Front Behav Neurosci 2014; 8:181. [PMID: 24904333 PMCID: PMC4032889 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2014.00181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2014] [Accepted: 05/01/2014] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism-spectrum disorders (ASD) are heterogeneous, highly heritable neurodevelopmental conditions affecting around 0.5% of the population across cultures, with a male/female ratio of approximately 4:1. Phenotypically, ASD are characterized by social interaction and communication deficits, restricted interests, repetitive behaviors, and reduced cognitive flexibility. Identified causes converge at the level of the synapse, ranging from mutation of synaptic genes to quantitative alterations in synaptic protein expression, e.g., through compromised transcriptional or translational control. We wondered whether reduced turnover and degradation of synapses, due to deregulated autophagy, would lead to similar phenotypical consequences. Ambra1, strongly expressed in cortex, hippocampus, and striatum, is a positive regulator of Beclin1, a principal player in autophagosome formation. While homozygosity of the Ambra1 null mutation causes embryonic lethality, heterozygous mice with reduced Ambra1 expression are viable, reproduce normally, and lack any immediately obvious phenotype. Surprisingly, comprehensive behavioral characterization of these mice revealed an autism-like phenotype in Ambra1 (+/-) females only, including compromised communication and social interactions, a tendency of enhanced stereotypies/repetitive behaviors, and impaired cognitive flexibility. Reduced ultrasound communication was found in adults as well as pups, which achieved otherwise normal neurodevelopmental milestones. These features were all absent in male Ambra1 (+/-) mice. As a first hint explaining this gender difference, we found a much stronger reduction of Ambra1 protein in the cortex of Ambra1 (+/-) females compared to males. To conclude, Ambra1 deficiency can induce an autism-like phenotype. The restriction to the female gender of autism-generation by a defined genetic trait is unique thus far and warrants further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ekrem Dere
- Clinical Neuroscience, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, Göttingen, Germany
- DFG Center for Nanoscale Microscopy and Molecular Physiology of the Brain (CNMPB), Göttingen, Germany
| | - Liane Dahm
- Clinical Neuroscience, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Derek Lu
- Clinical Neuroscience, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Kurt Hammerschmidt
- Cognitive Ethology Laboratory, German Primate Center, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Anes Ju
- Clinical Neuroscience, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Martesa Tantra
- Clinical Neuroscience, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Anne Kästner
- Clinical Neuroscience, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Kamal Chowdhury
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Max Planck Institute of Biophysical Chemistry, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Hannelore Ehrenreich
- Clinical Neuroscience, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, Göttingen, Germany
- DFG Center for Nanoscale Microscopy and Molecular Physiology of the Brain (CNMPB), Göttingen, Germany
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25
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Benato F, Skobo T, Gioacchini G, Moro I, Ciccosanti F, Piacentini M, Fimia GM, Carnevali O, Dalla Valle L. Ambra1 knockdown in zebrafish leads to incomplete development due to severe defects in organogenesis. Autophagy 2013; 9:476-95. [PMID: 23348054 DOI: 10.4161/auto.23278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
AMBRA1 is a positive regulator of the BECN1-dependent program of autophagy recently identified in mouse. In this study, we cloned the full-length cDNAs of ambra1a and ambra1b zebrafish paralogous genes. As in mouse, both Ambra1 proteins contain the characteristic WD40 repeat region. The transcripts of both genes are present as maternal RNAs in the eggs and display a gradual decline until 8 hpf, being replaced by zygotic mRNAs from 12 hpf onwards. After 24 hpf, the transcripts are mainly localized in the head, suggesting a possible role in brain development. To check their developmental roles, we adopted morpholino knockdown to block either translation (ATGMOs) or splicing (SPLICMOs). Treatment with ATGMOs causes severe embryonic malformations, as prelarvae could survive for only 3 and 4 days in ambra1a and b morphants, respectively. Treatment with SPLICMOs led to developmental defects only at a late stage, indicating the importance of maternally supplied ambra1 transcripts. Analysis of the levels of Lc3-II, an autophagosome-specific marker, in the presence of lysosome inhibitors evidenced a reduction in the rate of autophagosome formation in both MOs-injected embryos at 48 hpf, more pronounced in the case of ambra1a gene. Although some defects, such as body growth delay, curved shape and hemorrhagic pericardial cavity were present in both morphants, the occurrence of specific phenotypes, such as major abnormalities of brain development in ambra1a morphants, suggests the possible acquisition of specific functions by the two paralogous genes that are both required during development and do not compensate each other following knockdown.
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