Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common tumor types and remains a major clinical challenge. Increasing evidence has revealed that mitophagy inhibitors can enhance the effect of chemotherapy on HCC. Ho...Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common tumor types and remains a major clinical challenge. Increasing evidence has revealed that mitophagy inhibitors can enhance the effect of chemotherapy on HCC. However, few mitophagy inhibitors have been approved for clinical use in humans. Pyrimethamine (Pyr) is used to treat infections caused by protozoan parasites. Recent studies have reported that Pyr may be beneficial in the treatment of various tumors. However, its mechanism of action is still not clearly defined. Here, we found that blocking mitophagy sensitized cells to Pyr-induced apoptosis. Mechanistically, Pyr potently induced the accumulation of autophagosomes by inhibiting autophagosome-lysosome fusion in human HCC cells. In vitro and in vivo studies revealed that Pyr blocked autophagosome-lysosome fusion by upregulating BNIP3 to inhibit synaptosomal-associated protein 29 (SNAP29)-vesicle-associated membrane protein 8 (VAMP8) interaction. Moreover, Pyr acted synergistically with sorafenib (Sora) to induce apoptosis and inhibit HCC proliferation in vitro and in vivo. Pyr enhances the sensitivity of HCC cells to Sora, a common chemotherapeutic, by inhibiting mitophagy. Thus, these results provide new insights into the mechanism of action of Pyr and imply that Pyr could potentially be further developed as a novel mitophagy inhibitor. Notably, Pyr and Sora combination therapy could be a promising treatment for malignant HCC.展开更多
BACKGROUND Diabetic retinopathy(DR)is the primary cause of visual problems in patients with diabetes.The Heyingwuzi formulation(HYWZF)is effective against DR.AIM To determine the HYWZF prevention mechanisms,especially...BACKGROUND Diabetic retinopathy(DR)is the primary cause of visual problems in patients with diabetes.The Heyingwuzi formulation(HYWZF)is effective against DR.AIM To determine the HYWZF prevention mechanisms,especially those underlying mitophagy.METHODS Human retinal capillary endothelial cells(HRCECs)were treated with high glucose(hg),HYWZF serum,PX-478,or Mdivi-1 in vitro.Then,cell counting kit-8,transwell,and tube formation assays were used to evaluate HRCEC proliferation,invasion,and tube formation,respectively.Transmission electron microscopy was used to assess mitochondrial morphology,and Western blotting was used to determine the protein levels.Flow cytometry was used to assess cell apoptosis,reactive oxygen species(ROS)production,and mitochondrial membrane potential.Moreover,C57BL/6 mice were established in vivo using streptozotocin and treated with HYWZF for four weeks.Blood glucose levels and body weight were monitored continuously.Changes in retinal characteristics were evaluated using hematoxylin and eosin,tar violet,and periodic acid-Schiff staining.Protein levels in retinal tissues were determined via Western blotting,immunohistochemistry,and immunostaining.RESULTS HYWZF inhibited excessive ROS production,apoptosis,tube formation,and invasion in hg-induced HRCECs via mitochondrial autophagy in vitro.It increased the mRNA expression levels of BCL2-interacting protein 3(BNIP3),FUN14 domain-containing 1,BNIP3-like(BNIP3L,also known as NIX),PARKIN,PTEN-induced kinase 1,and hypoxia-inducible factor(HIF)-1α.Moreover,it downregulated the protein levels of vascular endothelial cell growth factor and increased the light chain 3-II/I ratio.However,PX-478 and Mdivi-1 reversed these effects.Additionally,PX-478 and Mdivi-1 rescued the effects of HYWZF by decreasing oxidative stress and apoptosis and increasing mitophagy.HYWZF intervention improved the symptoms of diabetes,tissue damage,number of acellular capillaries,and oxidative stress in vivo.Furthermore,in vivo experiments confirmed the results of in vitro experiments.CONCLUSION HYWZF alleviated DR and associated damage by promoting mitophagy via the HIF-1α/BNIP3/NIX axis.展开更多
Objective: To investigate the effect of SLC6A8 on the proliferation of liver cancer cells by regulating mitophagy through BNIP3L. Methods: The expression of the SLC6A8 gene in liver cancer tissues was analyzed using t...Objective: To investigate the effect of SLC6A8 on the proliferation of liver cancer cells by regulating mitophagy through BNIP3L. Methods: The expression of the SLC6A8 gene in liver cancer tissues was analyzed using the TCGA database, and its correlation with BNIP3L expression was assessed. RT-PCR and Western blot techniques were employed to detect the expression of SLC6A8 and BNIP3L in human liver cancer Huh-7 and Hep3B cells. Immunofluorescence labeling and CCK-8 assay were used to observe mitochondrial autophagy and cell proliferation rate in SLC6A8-overexpressing Huh-7 and Hep3B cells. Evaluate the proliferation rate of SLC6A8-overexpressing Huh-7 and Hep3B cells after silencing BNIP3L using the CCK-8 detection method. Results: SLC6A8 was significantly overexpressed in liver cancer tissues and positively correlated with BNIP3L expression. Overexpression of SLC6A8 significantly promoted mitochondrial autophagy and proliferation of Huh-7 and Hep3B cells. Additionally, SLC6A8 overexpression significantly enhanced the expression of BNIP3L mRNA and protein. Upon BNIP3L silencing, the proliferative effect of SLC6A8 overexpression on liver cancer cells was reversed. Conclusion: High expression of SLC6A8 in liver cancer tissues is positively correlated with BNIP3L, and overexpression of SLC6A8 promotes mitochondrial autophagy and liver cancer cell proliferation. Silencing BNIP3L can reverses the effect of overexpression of SLC6A8 on liver cancer cell proliferation. This provides new targets and strategies for the treatment of liver cancer.展开更多
Mitochondrial autophagy is widely found in mammals,and plays an important role in maintaining mitochondrial balance and mitochondrial quality control in cells.In this review,we reviewed the research progress of BNIP3-...Mitochondrial autophagy is widely found in mammals,and plays an important role in maintaining mitochondrial balance and mitochondrial quality control in cells.In this review,we reviewed the research progress of BNIP3-mediated mitochondrial autophagy and diseases in recent 5 years,providing new ideas for clinical diagnosis and treatment.展开更多
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No:81903643)the“Young Talent Support Plan”of Xi'an Jiaotong University,the Shaanxi Province Science and Technology Development Plan Project(Grant No.:2022ZDLSF05-05)+1 种基金the Project of Shaanxi Provincial Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine(Project No.:2021-03-ZZ-002)the Shaanxi Province Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars(Grant No:2023-JC-JQ-59).
文摘Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common tumor types and remains a major clinical challenge. Increasing evidence has revealed that mitophagy inhibitors can enhance the effect of chemotherapy on HCC. However, few mitophagy inhibitors have been approved for clinical use in humans. Pyrimethamine (Pyr) is used to treat infections caused by protozoan parasites. Recent studies have reported that Pyr may be beneficial in the treatment of various tumors. However, its mechanism of action is still not clearly defined. Here, we found that blocking mitophagy sensitized cells to Pyr-induced apoptosis. Mechanistically, Pyr potently induced the accumulation of autophagosomes by inhibiting autophagosome-lysosome fusion in human HCC cells. In vitro and in vivo studies revealed that Pyr blocked autophagosome-lysosome fusion by upregulating BNIP3 to inhibit synaptosomal-associated protein 29 (SNAP29)-vesicle-associated membrane protein 8 (VAMP8) interaction. Moreover, Pyr acted synergistically with sorafenib (Sora) to induce apoptosis and inhibit HCC proliferation in vitro and in vivo. Pyr enhances the sensitivity of HCC cells to Sora, a common chemotherapeutic, by inhibiting mitophagy. Thus, these results provide new insights into the mechanism of action of Pyr and imply that Pyr could potentially be further developed as a novel mitophagy inhibitor. Notably, Pyr and Sora combination therapy could be a promising treatment for malignant HCC.
基金Supported by the National Key Research and Development Project of China,No.2019YFC1711605National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.81904257Medical Innovation Research Project of Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality,No.21Y11923100.
文摘BACKGROUND Diabetic retinopathy(DR)is the primary cause of visual problems in patients with diabetes.The Heyingwuzi formulation(HYWZF)is effective against DR.AIM To determine the HYWZF prevention mechanisms,especially those underlying mitophagy.METHODS Human retinal capillary endothelial cells(HRCECs)were treated with high glucose(hg),HYWZF serum,PX-478,or Mdivi-1 in vitro.Then,cell counting kit-8,transwell,and tube formation assays were used to evaluate HRCEC proliferation,invasion,and tube formation,respectively.Transmission electron microscopy was used to assess mitochondrial morphology,and Western blotting was used to determine the protein levels.Flow cytometry was used to assess cell apoptosis,reactive oxygen species(ROS)production,and mitochondrial membrane potential.Moreover,C57BL/6 mice were established in vivo using streptozotocin and treated with HYWZF for four weeks.Blood glucose levels and body weight were monitored continuously.Changes in retinal characteristics were evaluated using hematoxylin and eosin,tar violet,and periodic acid-Schiff staining.Protein levels in retinal tissues were determined via Western blotting,immunohistochemistry,and immunostaining.RESULTS HYWZF inhibited excessive ROS production,apoptosis,tube formation,and invasion in hg-induced HRCECs via mitochondrial autophagy in vitro.It increased the mRNA expression levels of BCL2-interacting protein 3(BNIP3),FUN14 domain-containing 1,BNIP3-like(BNIP3L,also known as NIX),PARKIN,PTEN-induced kinase 1,and hypoxia-inducible factor(HIF)-1α.Moreover,it downregulated the protein levels of vascular endothelial cell growth factor and increased the light chain 3-II/I ratio.However,PX-478 and Mdivi-1 reversed these effects.Additionally,PX-478 and Mdivi-1 rescued the effects of HYWZF by decreasing oxidative stress and apoptosis and increasing mitophagy.HYWZF intervention improved the symptoms of diabetes,tissue damage,number of acellular capillaries,and oxidative stress in vivo.Furthermore,in vivo experiments confirmed the results of in vitro experiments.CONCLUSION HYWZF alleviated DR and associated damage by promoting mitophagy via the HIF-1α/BNIP3/NIX axis.
基金Research Fund for Young and Middle-aged Teachers'Basic Research Ability Promotion Project of Guangxi Universities in 2021(No.2021KY0539)。
文摘Objective: To investigate the effect of SLC6A8 on the proliferation of liver cancer cells by regulating mitophagy through BNIP3L. Methods: The expression of the SLC6A8 gene in liver cancer tissues was analyzed using the TCGA database, and its correlation with BNIP3L expression was assessed. RT-PCR and Western blot techniques were employed to detect the expression of SLC6A8 and BNIP3L in human liver cancer Huh-7 and Hep3B cells. Immunofluorescence labeling and CCK-8 assay were used to observe mitochondrial autophagy and cell proliferation rate in SLC6A8-overexpressing Huh-7 and Hep3B cells. Evaluate the proliferation rate of SLC6A8-overexpressing Huh-7 and Hep3B cells after silencing BNIP3L using the CCK-8 detection method. Results: SLC6A8 was significantly overexpressed in liver cancer tissues and positively correlated with BNIP3L expression. Overexpression of SLC6A8 significantly promoted mitochondrial autophagy and proliferation of Huh-7 and Hep3B cells. Additionally, SLC6A8 overexpression significantly enhanced the expression of BNIP3L mRNA and protein. Upon BNIP3L silencing, the proliferative effect of SLC6A8 overexpression on liver cancer cells was reversed. Conclusion: High expression of SLC6A8 in liver cancer tissues is positively correlated with BNIP3L, and overexpression of SLC6A8 promotes mitochondrial autophagy and liver cancer cell proliferation. Silencing BNIP3L can reverses the effect of overexpression of SLC6A8 on liver cancer cell proliferation. This provides new targets and strategies for the treatment of liver cancer.
基金National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.81860654)Guangxi Health Commission Key Laboratory Construction Project(No.ZZH2020006)。
文摘Mitochondrial autophagy is widely found in mammals,and plays an important role in maintaining mitochondrial balance and mitochondrial quality control in cells.In this review,we reviewed the research progress of BNIP3-mediated mitochondrial autophagy and diseases in recent 5 years,providing new ideas for clinical diagnosis and treatment.
