Heat shock protein 90 promotes RNA helicase DDX5 accumulation and exacerbates hepatocellular carcinoma by inhibiting autophagy

Objective:Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC),the main type of liver cancer,has a high morbidity and mortality,and a poor prognosis.RNA helicase DDX5,which acts as a transcriptional co-regulator,is overexpressed in most malignant tumors and promotes cancer cell growth.Heat shock protein 90(HSP90)is an important molecular chaperone in the conformational maturation and stabilization of numerous proteins involved in cell growth or survival.Methods:DDX5 m RNA and protein expression in surgically resected HCC tissues from 24 Asian patients were detected by quantitative real-time PCR and Western blot,respectively.The interaction of DDX5-HSP90 was determined by molecular docking,immunoprecipitation,and laser scanning confocal microscopy.The autophagy signal was detected by Western blot.The cell functions and signaling pathways of DDX5 were determined in 2 HCC cell lines.Two different murine HCC xenograft models were used to determine the function of DDX5 and the therapeutic effect of an HSP90 inhibitor.Results:HSP90 interacted directly with DDX5 and inhibited DDX5 protein degradation in the AMPK/ULK1-regulated autophagy pathway.The subsequent accumulation of DDX5 protein induced the malignant phenotype of HCC by activating theβ-catenin signaling pathway.The silencing of DDX5 or treatment with HSP90 inhibitor both blocked in vivo tumor growth in a murine HCC xenograft model.High levels of HSP90 and DDX5 protein were associated with poor prognoses.Conclusions:HSP90 interacted with DDX5 protein and subsequently protected DDX5 protein from AMPK/ULK1-regulated autophagic degradation.DDX5 and HSP90 are therefore potential therapeutic targets for HCC.

Heat shock pretreatment improves stem cell repair following ischemia-reperfusion injury via autophagy

AIM: To investigate whether heat shock pretreatment(HSP) improves mesenchymal stem cell(MSC) repair via autophagy following hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury(HIRI).METHODS: Apoptosis of MSCs was induced by 250 m M hydrogen peroxide(H2O2) for 6 h. HSP was carried out using a 42 ℃ water bath for 1, 2 or 3 h. Apoptosis of MSCs was analyzed by flow cytometry, and Western blot was used to detect Bcl-2, Bax and cytochrome C expression. Autophagy of MSCs was analyzed by flow cytometry and transmission electron microscopy, and the expression of beclin Ⅰ?and LC3-Ⅱ was detected by Western blot. MSCs were labeled in vivo with the fluorescent dye, CM-Dil, and subsequently transplanted into the portal veins of rats that had undergone HIRI. Liver levels of proliferating cell nuclear antigen(PCNA) were quantified by fluorescent microscopy. Serum aminotransferase activity and the extent of HIRI were also assessed at each time point.RESULTS: HSP for 2 h reduced apoptosis of MSCs induced by H2O2 as seen by a decrease in apoptotic rate, a decrease in Bax and cytochrome C expression and an increase in Bcl-2 expression(P < 0.001). In addition, HSP for 2 h induced autophagy of MSCs exposed to H2O2 as shown by an increase in acidic vesicular organelle-positive cells, beclin 1 and LC3-Ⅱ expression, and autophagosome formation(P < 0.05). Treatment with 3-methyladenine attenuated HSPinduced autophagy and abolished the protective effects of HSP on the apoptosis of MSCs. Rapamycin failed to have additional effects on either autophagy or apoptosis compared with HSP alone. The phosphorylation of p38 MAPK was significantly elevated and the phosphorylation of m TOR was downregulated in heat shock pretreated MSCs. Treatment with the p38 MAPK inhibitor, SB203580, reduced HSP-induced autophagy in MSCs. In vivo studies showed that the transplantation of HSP-MSCs resulted in lower serum aminotransferase levels, lower Suzuki scores, improved histopathology and an increase in PCNA-positive cells(P < 0.05).CONCLUSION: HSP effectively induces autophagy following exposure to H2O2 via the p38MAPK/m TOR pathway, which leads to enhanced MSC survival and improved MSC repair following HIRI in rats.

Regulation and function of endoplasmic reticulum autophagy in neurodegenerative diseases

The endoplasmic reticulum,a key cellular organelle,regulates a wide variety of cellular activities.Endoplasmic reticulum autophagy,one of the quality control systems of the endoplasmic reticulum,plays a pivotal role in maintaining endoplasmic reticulum homeostasis by controlling endoplasmic reticulum turnover,remodeling,and proteostasis.In this review,we briefly describe the endoplasmic reticulum quality control system,and subsequently focus on the role of endoplasmic reticulum autophagy,emphasizing the spatial and temporal mechanisms underlying the regulation of endoplasmic reticulum autophagy according to cellular requirements.We also summarize the evidence relating to how defective or abnormal endoplasmic reticulum autophagy contributes to the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases.In summary,this review highlights the mechanisms associated with the regulation of endoplasmic reticulum autophagy and how they influence the pathophysiology of degenerative nerve disorders.This review would help researchers to understand the roles and regulatory mechanisms of endoplasmic reticulum-phagy in neurodegenerative disorders.

Small heat shock protein B8:from cell functions to its involvement in diseases and potential therapeutic applications

Heat shock protein family B(small)member 8(HSPB8)is a 22 kDa ubiquitously expressed protein belonging to the family of small heat shock proteins.HSPB8 is involved in various cellular mechanisms mainly related to proteotoxic stress response and in other processes such as inflammation,cell division,and migration.HSPB8 binds misfolded clients to prevent their aggregation by assisting protein refolding or degradation through chaperone-assisted selective autophagy.In line with this function,the pro-degradative activity of HSPB8 has been found protective in several neurodegenerative and neuromuscular diseases characterized by protein misfolding and aggregation.In cancer,HSPB8 has a dual role being capable of exerting either a pro-or an anti-tumoral activity depending on the pathways and factors expressed by the model of cancer under investigation.Moreover,HSPB8 exerts a protective function in different diseases by modulating the inflammatory response,which characterizes not only neurodegenerative diseases,but also other chronic or acute conditions affecting the nervous system,such as multiple sclerosis and intracerebellar hemorrhage.Of note,HSPB8 modulation may represent a therapeutic approach in other neurological conditions that develop as a secondary consequence of other diseases.This is the case of cognitive impairment related to diabetes mellitus,in which HSPB8 exerts a protective activity by assuring mitochondrial homeostasis.This review aims to summarize the diverse and multiple functions of HSPB8 in different pathological conditions,focusing on the beneficial effects of its modulation.Drug-based and alternative therapeutic approaches targeting HSPB8 and its regulated pathways will be discussed,emphasizing how new strategies for cell and tissue-specific delivery represent an avenue to advance in disease treatments.

Autophagy-targeting modulation to promote peripheral nerve regeneration

Nerve regeneration following traumatic peripheral nerve injuries and neuropathies is a complex process modulated by diverse factors and intricate molecular mechanisms.Past studies have focused on factors that stimulate axonal outgrowth and myelin regeneration.However,recent studies have highlighted the pivotal role of autophagy in peripheral nerve regeneration,particularly in the context of traumatic injuries.Consequently,autophagy-targeting modulation has emerged as a promising therapeutic approach to enhancing peripheral nerve regeneration.Our current understanding suggests that activating autophagy facilitates the rapid clearance of damaged axons and myelin sheaths,thereby enhancing neuronal survival and mitigating injury-induced oxidative stress and inflammation.These actions collectively contribute to creating a favorable microenvironment for structural and functional nerve regeneration.A range of autophagyinducing drugs and interventions have demonstrated beneficial effects in alleviating peripheral neuropathy and promoting nerve regeneration in preclinical models of traumatic peripheral nerve injuries.This review delves into the regulation of autophagy in cell types involved in peripheral nerve regeneration,summarizing the potential drugs and interventions that can be harnessed to promote this process.We hope that our review will offer novel insights and perspectives on the exploitation of autophagy pathways in the treatment of peripheral nerve injuries and neuropathies.

Crosstalk between degradation and bioenergetics: how autophagy and endolysosomal processes regulate energy production

Cells undergo metabolic reprogramming to adapt to changes in nutrient availability, cellular activity, and transitions in cell states. The balance between glycolysis and mitochondrial respiration is crucial for energy production, and metabolic reprogramming stipulates a shift in such balance to optimize both bioenergetic efficiency and anabolic requirements. Failure in switching bioenergetic dependence can lead to maladaptation and pathogenesis. While cellular degradation is known to recycle precursor molecules for anabolism, its potential role in regulating energy production remains less explored. The bioenergetic switch between glycolysis and mitochondrial respiration involves transcription factors and organelle homeostasis, which are both regulated by the cellular degradation pathways. A growing body of studies has demonstrated that both stem cells and differentiated cells exhibit bioenergetic switch upon perturbations of autophagic activity or endolysosomal processes. Here, we highlighted the current understanding of the interplay between degradation processes, specifically autophagy and endolysosomes, transcription factors, endolysosomal signaling, and mitochondrial homeostasis in shaping cellular bioenergetics. This review aims to summarize the relationship between degradation processes and bioenergetics, providing a foundation for future research to unveil deeper mechanistic insights into bioenergetic regulation.

The autophagy-lysosome pathway:a potential target in the chemical and gene therapeutic strategies for Parkinson’s disease

Parkinson’s disease is a common neurodegenerative disease with movement disorders associated with the intracytoplasmic deposition of aggregate proteins such asα-synuclein in neurons.As one of the major intracellular degradation pathways,the autophagy-lysosome pathway plays an important role in eliminating these proteins.Accumulating evidence has shown that upregulation of the autophagy-lysosome pathway may contribute to the clearance ofα-synuclein aggregates and protect against degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in Parkinson’s disease.Moreover,multiple genes associated with the pathogenesis of Parkinson’s disease are intimately linked to alterations in the autophagy-lysosome pathway.Thus,this pathway appears to be a promising therapeutic target for treatment of Parkinson’s disease.In this review,we briefly introduce the machinery of autophagy.Then,we provide a description of the effects of Parkinson’s disease–related genes on the autophagy-lysosome pathway.Finally,we highlight the potential chemical and genetic therapeutic strategies targeting the autophagy–lysosome pathway and their applications in Parkinson’s disease.

Salsolinol as an RNA m~6A methylation inducer mediates dopaminergic neuronal death by regulating YAP1 and autophagy

Salsolinol(1-methyl-6,7-dihydroxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline,Sal)is a catechol isoquinoline that causes neurotoxicity and shares structural similarity with 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine,an environmental toxin that causes Parkinson's disease.However,the mechanism by which Sal mediates dopaminergic neuronal death remains unclear.In this study,we found that Sal significantly enhanced the global level of N~6-methyladenosine(m~6A)RNA methylation in PC12 cells,mainly by inducing the downregulation of the expression of m~6A demethylases fat mass and obesity-associated protein(FTO)and alk B homolog 5(ALKBH5).RNA sequencing analysis showed that Sal downregulated the Hippo signaling pathway.The m~6A reader YTH domain-containing family protein 2(YTHDF2)promoted the degradation of m~6A-containing Yes-associated protein 1(YAP1)mRNA,which is a downstream key effector in the Hippo signaling pathway.Additionally,downregulation of YAP1 promoted autophagy,indicating that the mutual regulation between YAP1 and autophagy can lead to neurotoxicity.These findings reveal the role of Sal on m~6A RNA methylation and suggest that Sal may act as an RNA methylation inducer mediating dopaminergic neuronal death through YAP1 and autophagy.Our results provide greater insights into the neurotoxic effects of catechol isoquinolines compared with other studies and may be a reference for assessing the involvement of RNA methylation in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease.

Pyroptosis,ferroptosis,and autophagy in spinal cord injury:regulatory mechanisms and therapeutic targets

Regulated cell death is a form of cell death that is actively controlled by biomolecules.Several studies have shown that regulated cell death plays a key role after spinal cord injury.Pyroptosis and ferroptosis are newly discovered types of regulated cell deaths that have been shown to exacerbate inflammation and lead to cell death in damaged spinal cords.Autophagy,a complex form of cell death that is interconnected with various regulated cell death mechanisms,has garnered significant attention in the study of spinal cord injury.This injury triggers not only cell death but also cellular survival responses.Multiple signaling pathways play pivotal roles in influencing the processes of both deterioration and repair in spinal cord injury by regulating pyroptosis,ferroptosis,and autophagy.Therefore,this review aims to comprehensively examine the mechanisms underlying regulated cell deaths,the signaling pathways that modulate these mechanisms,and the potential therapeutic targets for spinal cord injury.Our analysis suggests that targeting the common regulatory signaling pathways of different regulated cell deaths could be a promising strategy to promote cell survival and enhance the repair of spinal cord injury.Moreover,a holistic approach that incorporates multiple regulated cell deaths and their regulatory pathways presents a promising multi-target therapeutic strategy for the management of spinal cord injury.

Endoplasmic reticulum stress and autophagy in cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury:PERK as a potential target for intervention

Several studies have shown that activation of unfolded protein response and endoplasmic reticulum(ER)stress plays a crucial role in severe cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury.Autophagy occurs within hours after cerebral ischemia,but the relationship between ER stress and autophagy remains unclear.In this study,we established experimental models using oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation in PC12 cells and primary neurons to simulate cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury.We found that prolongation of oxygen-glucose deprivation activated the ER stress pathway protein kinase-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase(PERK)/eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2 subunit alpha(e IF2α)-activating transcription factor 4(ATF4)-C/EBP homologous protein(CHOP),increased neuronal apoptosis,and induced autophagy.Furthermore,inhibition of ER stress using inhibitors or by si RNA knockdown of the PERK gene significantly attenuated excessive autophagy and neuronal apoptosis,indicating an interaction between autophagy and ER stress and suggesting PERK as an essential target for regulating autophagy.Blocking autophagy with chloroquine exacerbated ER stress-induced apoptosis,indicating that normal levels of autophagy play a protective role in neuronal injury following cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury.Findings from this study indicate that cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury can trigger neuronal ER stress and promote autophagy,and suggest that PERK is a possible target for inhibiting excessive autophagy in cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury.

An overview of autophagy in the differentiation of dental stem cells

Dental stem cells(DSCs)have attracted significant interest as autologous stem cells since they are easily accessible and give a minimal immune response.These properties and their ability to both maintain self-renewal and undergo multi-lineage differentiation establish them as key players in regenerative medicine.While many regulatory factors determine the differentiation trajectory of DSCs,prior research has predominantly been based on genetic,epigenetic,and molecular aspects.Recent evidence suggests that DSC differentiation can also be influenced by autophagy,a highly conserved cellular process responsible for maintaining cellular and tissue homeostasis under various stress conditions.This comprehensive review endeavors to elucidate the intricate regulatory mechanism and relationship between autophagy and DSC differentiation.To achieve this goal,we dissect the intricacies of autophagy and its mechanisms.Subsequently,we elucidate its pivotal roles in impacting DSC differentiation,including osteo/odontogenic,neurogenic,and angiogenic trajectories.Furthermore,we reveal the regulatory factors that govern autophagy in DSC lineage commitment,including scaffold materials,pharmaceutical cues,and the extrinsic milieu.The implications of this review are far-reaching,underpinning the potential to wield autophagy as a regulatory tool to expedite DSC-directed differentiation and thereby promote the application of DSCs within the realm of regenerative medicine.

Harnessing autophagy: A potential breakthrough in digestive disease treatment

Autophagy,a conserved cellular degradation process,is crucial for various cellular processes such as immune responses,inflammation,metabolic and oxidative stress adaptation,cell proliferation,development,and tissue repair and remodeling.Dysregulation of autophagy is suspected in numerous diseases,including cancer,neurodegenerative diseases,digestive disorders,metabolic syndromes,and infectious and inflammatory diseases.If autophagy is disrupted,for example,this can have serious consequences and lead to chronic inflammation and tissue damage,as occurs in diseases such as Chron's disease and ulcerative colitis.On the other hand,the influence of autophagy on the development and progression of cancer is not clear.Autophagy can both suppress and promote the progression and metastasis of cancer at various stages.From inflammatory bowel diseases to gastrointestinal cancer,researchers are discovering the intricate role of autophagy in maintaining gut health and its potential as a therapeutic target.Researchers should carefully consider the nature and progression of diseases such as cancer when trying to determine whether inhibiting or stimulating autophagy is likely to be beneficial.Multidisciplinary approaches that combine cutting-edge research with clinical expertise are key to unlocking the full therapeutic potential of autophagy in digestive diseases.

Neuroprotective effects of chaperone-mediated autophagy in neurodegenerative diseases

Chaperone-mediated autophagy is one of three types of autophagy and is characterized by the selective degradation of proteins.Chaperone-mediated autophagy contributes to energy balance and helps maintain cellular homeostasis,while providing nutrients and support for cell survival.Chaperone-mediated autophagy activity can be detected in almost all cells,including neurons.Owing to the extreme sensitivity of neurons to their environmental changes,maintaining neuronal homeostasis is critical for neuronal growth and survival.Chaperone-mediated autophagy dysfunction is closely related to central nervous system diseases.It has been shown that neuronal damage and cell death are accompanied by chaperone-mediated autophagy dysfunction.Under certain conditions,regulation of chaperone-mediated autophagy activity attenuates neurotoxicity.In this paper,we review the changes in chaperone-mediated autophagy in neurodegenerative diseases,brain injury,glioma,and autoimmune diseases.We also summarize the most recent research progress on chaperone-mediated autophagy regulation and discuss the potential of chaperone-mediated autophagy as a therapeutic target for central nervous system diseases.

Autophagy in neural stem cells and glia for brain health and diseases

Autophagy is a multifaceted cellular process that not only maintains the homeostatic and adaptive responses of the brain but is also dynamically involved in the regulation of neural cell generation,maturation,and survival.Autophagy facilities the utilization of energy and the microenvironment for developing neural stem cells.Autophagy arbitrates structural and functional remodeling during the cell differentiation process.Autophagy also plays an indispensable role in the maintenance of stemness and homeostasis in neural stem cells during essential brain physiology and also in the instigation and progression of diseases.Only recently,studies have begun to shed light on autophagy regulation in glia(microglia,astrocyte,and oligodendrocyte)in the brain.Glial cells have attained relatively less consideration despite their unquestioned influence on various aspects of neural development,synaptic function,brain metabolism,cellular debris clearing,and restoration of damaged or injured tissues.Thus,this review composes pertinent information regarding the involvement of autophagy in neural stem cells and glial regulation and the role of this connexion in normal brain functions,neurodevelopmental disorders,and neurodegenerative diseases.This review will provide insight into establishing a concrete strategic approach for investigating pathological mechanisms and developing therapies for brain diseases.

Morphological and biochemical characteristics associated with autophagy in gastrointestinal diseases

Autophagy is a cellular catabolic process characterized by the formation of double-membrane autophagosomes.Transmission electron microscopy is the most rigorous method to clearly visualize autophagic engulfment and degradation.A large number of studies have shown that autophagy is closely related to the digestion,secretion,and regeneration of gastrointestinal(GI)cells.However,the role of autophagy in GI diseases remains controversial.This article focuses on the morphological and biochemical characteristics of autophagy in GI diseases,in order to provide new ideas for their diagnosis and treatment.

Activation of autophagy by Citri Reticulatae Semen extract ameliorates amyloid-beta-induced cell death and cognition deficits in Alzheimer’s disease

Amyloid-beta-induced neuronal cell death contributes to cognitive decline in Alzheimer’s disease.Citri Reticulatae Semen has diverse beneficial effects on neurodegenerative diseases,including Parkinson’s and Huntington’s diseases,however,the effect of Citri Reticulatae Semen on Alzheimer’s disease remains unelucidated.In the current study,the anti-apoptotic and autophagic roles of Citri Reticulatae Semen extract on amyloid-beta-induced apoptosis in PC12 cells were first investigated.Citri Reticulatae Semen extract protected PC12 cells from amyloid-beta-induced apoptosis by attenuating the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio via activation of autophagy.In addition,Citri Reticulatae Semen extract was confirmed to bind amyloid-beta as revealed by biolayer interferometry in vitro,and suppress amyloid-beta-induced pathology such as paralysis,in a transgenic Caenorhabditis elegans in vivo model.Moreover,genetically defective Caenorhabditis elegans further confirmed that the neuroprotective effect of Citri Reticulatae Semen extract was autophagy-dependent.Most importantly,Citri Reticulatae Semen extract was confirmed to improve cognitive impairment,neuronal injury and amyloid-beta burden in 3×Tg Alzheimer’s disease mice.As revealed by both in vitro and in vivo models,these results suggest that Citri Reticulatae Semen extract is a potential natural therapeutic agent for Alzheimer’s disease via its neuroprotective autophagic effects.

P7C3-A20 treats traumatic brain injury in rats by inhibiting excessive autophagy and apoptosis

Traumatic brain injury is a severe health problem leading to autophagy and apoptosis in the brain.3,6-Dibromo-beta-fluoro-N-(3-methoxyphenyl)-9H-carbazole-9-propanamine(P7C3-A20)can be neuroprotective in various diseases,including ischemic stroke and neurodegenerative diseases.However,whether P7C3-A20 has a therapeutic effect on traumatic brain injury and its possible molecular mechanisms are unclear.Therefore,in the present study,we investigated the therapeutic effects of P7C3-A20 on traumatic brain injury and explored the putative underlying molecular mechanisms.We established a traumatic brain injury rat model using a modified weight drop method.P7C3-A20 or vehicle was injected intraperitoneally after traumatic brain injury.Severe neurological deficits were found in rats after traumatic brain injury,with deterioration in balance,walking function,and learning memory.Furthermore,hematoxylin and eosin staining showed significant neuronal cell damage,while terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated dUTP nick end labeling staining indicated a high rate of apoptosis.The presence of autolysosomes was observed using transmission electron microscope.P7C3-A20 treatment reversed these pathological features.Western blotting showed that P7C3-A20 treatment reduced microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3-Ⅱ(LC3-Ⅱ)autophagy protein,apoptosis-related proteins(namely,Bcl-2/adenovirus E1B 19-kDa-interacting protein 3[BNIP3],and Bcl-2 associated x protein[Bax]),and elevated ubiquitin-binding protein p62(p62)autophagy protein expression.Thus,P7C3-A20 can treat traumatic brain injury in rats by inhibiting excessive autophagy and apoptosis.

Taurine attenuates activation of hepatic stellate cells by inhibiting autophagy and inducing ferroptosis

BACKGROUND Liver fibrosis is a compensatory response during the tissue repair process in chronic liver injury,and finally leads to liver cirrhosis or even hepatocellular carcinoma.The pathogenesis of hepatic fibrosis is associated with the progressive accumulation of activated hepatic stellate cells(HSCs),which can transdiffer-entiate into myofibroblasts to produce an excess of the extracellular matrix(ECM).Myofibroblasts are the main source of the excessive ECM responsible for hepatic fibrosis.Therefore,activated hepatic stellate cells(aHSCs),the principal ECM producing cells in the injured liver,are a promising therapeutic target for the treatment of hepatic fibrosis.AIM To explore the effect of taurine on aHSC proliferation and the mechanisms involved.METHODS Human HSCs(LX-2)were randomly divided into five groups:Normal control group,platelet-derived growth factor-BB(PDGF-BB)(20 ng/mL)treated group,mmol/L,respectively)with PDGF-BB(20 ng/mL)treated group.Cell Counting Kit-8 method was performed to evaluate the effect of taurine on the viability of aHSCs.Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to estimate the effect of taurine on the levels of reactive oxygen species(ROS),malondialdehyde,glutathione,and iron concen-tration.Transmission electron microscopy was applied to observe the effect of taurine on the autophagosomes and ferroptosis features in aHSCs.Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analysis were performed to detect the effect of taurine on the expression ofα-SMA,Collagen I,Fibronectin 1,LC3B,ATG5,Beclin 1,PTGS2,SLC7A11,and p62.RESULTS Taurine promoted the death of aHSCs and reduced the deposition of the ECM.Treatment with taurine could alleviate autophagy in HSCs to inhibit their activation,by decreasing autophagosome formation,downregulating LC3B and Beclin 1 protein expression,and upregulating p62 protein expression.Meanwhile,treatment with taurine triggered ferroptosis and ferritinophagy to eliminate aHSCs characterized by iron overload,lipid ROS accumu-lation,glutathione depletion,and lipid peroxidation.Furthermore,bioinformatics analysis demonstrated that taurine had a direct targeting effect on nuclear receptor coactivator 4,exhibiting the best average binding affinity of-20.99 kcal/mol.CONCLUSION Taurine exerts therapeutic effects on liver fibrosis via mechanisms that involve inhibition of autophagy and trigger of ferroptosis and ferritinophagy in HSCs to eliminate aHSCs.

Propagation Properties of Shock Waves in Polyurethane Foam based on Atomistic Simulations

Porous materials are widely used in the field of protection because of their excellent energy absorption characteristics.In this work,a series of polyurethane microscopic models are established and the effect of porosity on the shock waves is studied with classical molecular dynamics simulations.Firstly,shock Hugoniot relations for different porosities are obtained,which compare well with the experimental data.The pores collapse and form local stress wave,which results in the complex multi-wave structure of the shock wave.The microstructure analysis shows that the local stress increases and the local velocity decreases gradually during the process of pore collapse to complete compaction.Finally,it leads to stress relaxation and velocity homogenization.The shock stress peaks can be fitted with two exponential functions,and the amplitude of attenuation coefficient decreases with the increase of density.Besides,the pore collapse under shock or non-shock are discussed by the entropy increase rate of the system.The energy is dissipated mainly through the multiple interactions of the waves under shock.The energy is dissipated mainly by the friction between atoms under non-shock.

High expression circRALGPS2 in atretic follicle induces chicken granulosa cell apoptosis and autophagy via encoding a new protein

Background The reproductive performance of chickens mainly depends on the development of follicles.Abnor-mal follicle development can lead to decreased reproductive performance and even ovarian disease among chick-ens.Chicken is the only non-human animal with a high incidence of spontaneous ovarian cancer.In recent years,the involvement of circRNAs in follicle development and atresia regulation has been confirmed.Results In the present study,we used healthy and atretic chicken follicles for circRNA RNC-seq.The results showed differential expression of circRALGPS2.It was then confirmed that circRALGPS2 can translate into a protein,named cir-cRALGPS2-212aa,which has IRES activity.Next,we found that circRALGPS2-212aa promotes apoptosis and autophagy in chicken granulosa cells by forming a complex with PARP1 and HMGB1.Conclusions Our results revealed that circRALGPS2 can regulate chicken granulosa cell apoptosis and autophagy through the circRALGPS2-212aa/PARP1/HMGB1 axis.