OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of needle knife on chondrocyte autophagy and expressions of autophagy-related protein and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) in rats with knee osteoarthritis (KOA), and to explore the possible mechanism of needle knife for KOA. METHODS: A total of 42 SD rats were randomly divided into a normal group, a model group and a needle knife group, 14 rats in each group. Except for the normal group, the other two groups were injected with the mixture of papain and L-cysteine into the left hind knee joint to establish the KOA model. After modeling, the rats in the needle knife group were treated with needle knife at strip or nodule around the quadriceps femoris and medial and lateral collateral ligament on the affected side, once a week for 3 times (3 weeks). The changes of left knee circumference in each group were observed; the chondrocytes and ultrastructure of left knee joint were observed by HE staining and electron microscope; the mRNA and protein expressions of autophagy-related genes (Atg5, Atg12, Atg4a), Unc-51 like autophagy activated kinase 1 (ULK1), autophagy gene Beclin-1 and mTOR in left knee cartilage were detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR and Western blot. RESULTS: After modeling, the left knee circumferences in the model group and the needle knife group were increased compared with those before modeling and in the normal group (P<0.05); after intervention, the left knee circumference in the needle knife group was smaller than that in the model group and after modeling (P<0.05). Compared with the normal group, the number of chondrocytes was decreased, and a few cells swelled, nuclei shrank, mitochondria swelled and autophagosomes decreased in the model group; compared with the model group, the number of chondrocytes was increased , and most cell structures returned to normal, and autophagosomes was increased. Compared with the normal group, the mRNA and protein expressions of Atg5, Atg12, Atg4a, Beclin-1 and ULK1 in the knee cartilage in the model group were decreased (P<0.05); compared with the model group, the expressions of the above indexes in the needle knife group were increased (P<0.05). Compared with the normal group, the mRNA and protein expressions of mTOR in the knee cartilage in the model group were increased (P<0.05); compared with the model group, the expressions of the above indexes in the needle knife group were decreased (P<0.05). CONCLUSION The needle knife intervention could improve knee cartilage injury in rats with KOA, and its mechanism may be related to reducing the expression of mTOR and up-regulating the expressions of Atg5, Atg12, Atg4a, ULK1 and Beclin-1, so as to promote chondrocyte autophagy and delay the aging and degeneration of chondrocytes.
Animals ; Autophagy ; Autophagy-Related Protein-1 Homolog/genetics* ; Beclin-1/genetics* ; Chondrocytes ; Osteoarthritis, Knee/therapy* ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases/genetics*

To investigate the effect of miR-30a/HMGA2-mediated autophagy in osteosarcoma cells on apoptosis induced by chemotherapeutics. 
 Methods: A total of 30 osteosarcoma tissues of sensitive and resistant to chemotherapeutics were divided into a chemotherapy-sensitive group and a chemotherapy-resistant group. The mRNA expression levels of miR-30a and high mobility group protein A2 (HMGA2) in the chemotherapy-sensitive group and the chemotherapy-resistant group, and the mRNA expression levels of miR-30a in osteosarcoma U2-OS cells treated by cisplatin, doxorubicin and methotrexate at different concentrations were detected by real-time PCR. The expression levels of autophagy related protein Beclin 1, microtubule associated protein 1 light chain 3B (LC3B) and autophagy factor P62 were detected by Western blotting. The osteosarcoma U2-OS cells were transfected with miR-30a mimics and miR-30a inhibitors to construct a miR-30a high expression group, a miR-30a low expression group and a control group. The expression levels of Beclin 1, LC3B and P62 in osteosarcoma U2-OS cells after treatment of cisplatin and doxorubicin in these 3 groups were detected by Western blotting; the level of autophagy was detected by monodansylcada (MDC) staining; the level of ROS was detected by dihydroethidium (DHE); the level of cell surviving rate was detected by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8); the level of apoptosis was detected by annexin APC/PI double staining; the level of mitochondria oxidative damage was detected by mitochondrial membrane potential assay kit with JC-1 (JC-1 method). The interaction between miR-30a and HMGA2 was detected by dual luciferase reporter assay. The osteosarcoma U2-OS cells were transfected with HMGA2 mimics and HMGA2-shRNA to construct a high HMGA2 group, a low HMGA2 group, and a control group. The expression levels of Beclin 1, LC3B and P62 in osteosarcoma U2-OS cells after the treatment of cisplatin were detected by Western blotting.
 Results: The level of miR-30a in the chemotherapy-resistant tissues was significantly lower than that in the chemotherapy-sensitive tissues (P<0.05), and the expression of HMGA2 was opposite comparing to that of miR-30a (P<0.05). After the treatment by low concentration (5 μmol/L) of chemotherapeutics, the level of miR-30a was down-regulated in osteosarcoma U2-OS cells, accompanied with up-regulation of Beclin 1 and LC3B (P<0.01) and down-regulation of P62 (P<0.01). Compared with the control group, the expression levels of Beclin 1 and LC3B were significantly decreased (P<0.05), and the expression level of P62 was significantly increased (P<0.05) in the miR-30a high expression group, which was opposite in the miR-30a low expression group. In the miR-30a high expression group treated by chemotherapeutics, the level of autophagy and the cell survival rate were lower than those in group with low expression of miR-30a, while the levels of ROS, the mitochondrial oxidative damage and the apoptosis were higher than those in group with low expression of miR-30a (all P<0.05). The targeting interaction between HMGA2 and miR-30a were verified by dual luciferase reporter assay. Compared with the control group, the expression levels of Beclin 1 and LC3B were significantly increased (P<0.05), and the expression level of P62 was significantly decreased (P<0.05) in the HMGA2 high expression group, which was opposite in the HMGA2 low expression group.
 Conclusion: Suppression of miR-30a/HMGA2-mediated autophagy in osteosarcoma cells is likely to enhance the therapeutic effect of chemotherapeutics.
Apoptosis ; Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins ; Autophagy ; Beclin-1 ; Bone Neoplasms ; Cell Line, Tumor ; HMGA2 Protein ; metabolism ; Humans ; MicroRNAs ; genetics ; Osteosarcoma

This study aimed to investigate the effect of Wenyang Zhenshuai Granules(WYZSG) on autophagy and apoptosis of myocardial cells in rats with sepsis via regulating the expression of microRNA-132-3p(miR-132-3p)/uncoupling protein 2(UCP2). Sixty SD rats were randomly divided into modeling group(n=50) and sham operation group(n=10). The sepsis rat model was constructed by cecal ligation and perforation in the modeling group. The successfully modeled rats were randomly divided into WYZSG low-, medium-and high-dose groups, model group and positive control group. Rats in the sham operation group underwent opening and cecum division but without perforation and ligation. Hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining was used to observe the pathological changes of rat myocardial tissue. Myocardial cell apoptosis was detected by TdT-mediated dUTP nick end labeling(TUNEL) assay. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction(RT-qPCR) was performed to detect the expression of miR-132-3p and the mRNA expressions of UCP2, microtubule-associated protein light chain 3(LC3-Ⅱ/LC3-Ⅰ), Beclin-1 and caspase-3 in rat myocardial tissue. The protein expressions of UCP2, LC3-Ⅱ/LC3-Ⅰ, Beclin-1 and caspase-3 in myocardial tissue were detected by Western blot. Dual luciferase reporter assay was used to verify the regulatory relationship between miR-132-3p and UCP2. The myocardial fibers of sepsis model rats were disordered, and there were obvious inflammatory cell infiltration as well as myocardial cell edema and necrosis. With the increase of the WYZSG dose, the histopathological changes of myocardium were improved to varying degrees. Compared with the conditions in the sham operation group, the survival rate and left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF) of rats in the model group, positive control group and WYZSG low-, medium-and high-dose groups were decreased, and the myocardial injury score and apoptosis rate were increased. Compared with the model group, the positive control group and WYZSG low-, medium-and high-dose groups had elevated survival rate and LVEF, and lowered myocardial injury score and apoptosis rate. The expression of miR-132-3p and the mRNA and protein expressions of UCP2 in myocardial tissue in the model group, positive control group and WYZSG low-, medium-and high-dose groups were lower, while the mRNA and protein expressions of LC3-Ⅱ/LC3-Ⅰ, Beclin-1 and caspase-3 were higher than those in the sham operation group. Compared with model group, the positive control group and the WYZSG low-, medium-and high-dose groups had an up-regulation in the expression of miR-132-3p and the mRNA and protein expressions of UCP2, while a down-regulation in the mRNA and protein expressions of LC3-Ⅱ/LC3-Ⅰ, Beclin-1 and caspase-3. WYZSG inhibited excessive autophagy and apoptosis of myocardial cells in septic rats and improved myocardial injury, possibly by regulating the expression of miR-132-3p/UCP2.
Animals ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Caspase 3 ; Beclin-1/genetics* ; Stroke Volume ; Ventricular Function, Left ; Apoptosis/genetics* ; Autophagy/genetics* ; Heart Injuries ; MicroRNAs/genetics*

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of autophagic gene and circadian gene in the neurons of neonatal rats after hypoxic-ischemic brain damage and the mechanism of nerve injury induced by hypoxia/ischemia.

METHODSTwelve Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into hypoxic-ischemic (HI) group and sham-operation group, with 6 rats in each group. Ligation of the right common carotid artery and hypoxic treatment were performed to establish a model of hypoxic-ischemic brain damage. Western blot was used to measure the expression of the circadian protein Clock in the cortex and hippocampus. The neurons of the rats were cultured in vitro and randomly divided into oxygen glucose deprivation (OGD) group and control group. The neurons in the OGD group were treated with DMEM medium without glucose or serum to simulate ischemic state, and hypoxic treatment was performed to establish an in vitro model of hypoxic-ischemic brain damage. Western blot was used to measure the expression of autophagy-related proteins Beclin1 and LC3 and Clock protein at different time points. The changes in the expression of Beclin1 and LC3 were measured after the expression of Clock protein in neurons was inhibited by small interfering RNA technique.

RESULTSThe expression of autophagy-related proteins Beclin1 and LC3Ⅱ in neurons cultured in vitro displayed a rhythmic fluctuation; after OGD treatment, the expression of Beclin1 and LC3Ⅱ gradually increased over the time of treatment and no longer had a rhythmic fluctuation. Compared with the sham-operation group, the HI group had a significant reduction in the expression of Clock protein in the cortex and hippocampus (P<0.05). After OGD treatment, the neurons cultured in vitro had a significant reduction in the expression of Clock protein (P<0.05). Compared with the negative control group, the Clock gene inhibition group had significant reductions in the expression of Beclin1 and LC3Ⅱ (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSHypoxia/ischemia induces the disorder in the expression rhythm of autophagy-related proteins Beclin1 and LC3, and the mechanism may be associated with the fact that the circadian protein Clock participates in the regulation of the expression of Beclin1 and LC3.

Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Autophagy ; genetics ; Beclin-1 ; genetics ; Circadian Rhythm ; Female ; Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain ; metabolism ; Male ; Microtubule-Associated Proteins ; genetics ; Neurons ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo study whether CO-Q10 can protect liver injury caused by acute on chronic liver failure (ACLF) by autophagy.

METHODSRats were separated into three groups: control group, acute on chronic liver failure (ACLF) and intervenient group, liver tissues were observed by optical microscopy and electron microscopy. The levels of Beclin-1 expression were determined by real-time PCR. And Western Blot.

RESULTSAreas of necrosis detected in intervenient group were alleviated than in ACLF significantly. Most mitochondrias had been degradated in ACLF group while alive in intervenient group. Real-time PCR and Western Blot revealed level of beclin-1 in ACLF was lower than control and intervenient group.

CONCLUSIONIntervenient group may ameliorate rat liver injury by promoting autophagy.

Animals ; Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Autophagy ; Beclin-1 ; Humans ; Liver Failure, Acute ; genetics ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Male ; Mitochondria, Liver ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Ubiquinone ; analogs & derivatives ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo detect Beclin1 expression and explore its clinical significance in primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

METHODSBeclin1 expressions in 10 normal hepatic tissues, 30 hepatitis liver, 30 cirrhotic liver and 50 HCC tissues were detected by immunohistochemical staining.

RESULTSThe positivity rates of Beclin1 expression in the HCC, cirrhotic liver, hepatitis liver and normal liver tissues were 78.00% (39/50), 26.67% (8/30), 53.33% (16/30), and 10.00% (1/10), respectively, showing significant differences between them (chi(2)=28.31, P<0.05). Beclin1 expression was significantly higher in HCC tissues than in the cirrhotic, hepatitis and normal liver tissues (chi(2)=20.39, 5.31, and 14.41, respectively, P<0.05), and hepatitis tissues showed significantly higher Beclin1 expression than hepatic cirrhosis tissues and normal hepatic tissues (chi(2)=4.44 and 4.12, respectively, P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe abnormal expression of Beclin1 is closely associated with the pathogenesis and development of primary hepatocellular carcinoma, and may play an important role in this process.

Adult ; Aged ; Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Beclin-1 ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Liver Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Membrane Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of BECN1 expression on proliferation and invasion of human multiple myeloma (MM) cell line RPMI-8226. METHODS: RPMI-8226 cells were cultured in vitro, the recombinant plasmid pcDNA3.1-BECN1 was constructed and transfected into RPMI-8226 cells, then the cells were divided into three groups: control group, negative transfection group and BECN1 transfection group. The expression of BECN1 mRNA in cells of each group was detected by real-time fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR); the effect of BECN1 overexpression on cell proliferation inhibition rate was detected by cell counting kit 8 (CCK-8); the effect of BECN1 overexpression on the colony formation rate was detected by plate cloning assay; the effect of BECN1 overexpression on cell invasion was detected by Transwell assay; the effects of BECN1 overexpression on the expression of cell proliferation, invasion and autophagy-related proteins were detected by Western blot. RESULTS: The expression of BECN1 mRNA in BECN1 transfection group was significantly higher than that in control group and negative transfection group (P<0.05); the inhibition rate of cell proliferation and the expression of autophagy-related proteins Beclin1, Atg5 and invasion-related protein E-cadherin in BECN1 transfection group were significantly higher than those in control group and negative transfection group; the colony formation rate, invasion number and the expression of proliferation-related proteins CyclinD1, β-catenin and invasion-related protein N-cadherin were significantly lower than those in control group and negative transfection group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION Overexpression of BECN1 can inhibit the proliferation and invasion of human MM cells RPMI-8226, which may be a potential research target of MM.
Beclin-1/metabolism* ; Cadherins/metabolism* ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Movement ; Cell Proliferation ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Multiple Myeloma/genetics* ; RNA, Messenger/metabolism* ; Sincalide/metabolism* ; beta Catenin/genetics*

Autophagy and apoptosis are both highly regulated biological processes that play essential roles in tissue homeostasis, development and diseases. Autophagy is also described as a mechanism of death pathways, however, the precise mechanism of how autophagy links to cell death remains to be fully understood. Beclin 1 is a dual regulator for both autophagy and apoptosis. In this study we found that Beclin 1 was a substrate of caspase-3 with two cleavage sites at positions 124 and 149, respectively. Furthermore, the autophagosome formation occurred, followed by the appearance of morphological hallmarks of apoptosis after staurosporine treatment. The cleavage products of Beclin 1 reduced autophagy and promoted apoptosis in HeLa cells and the cells in which Beclin 1 was stably knocked down by specific shRNA. In addition, the cleavage of Beclin 1 resulted in abrogating the interaction between Bcl-2 with Beclin 1, which could be blocked by z-VAD-fmk. Thus, our results suggest that the cleavage of Beclin 1 by caspase-3 may contribute to inactivate autophagy leading towards augmented apoptosis.
Apoptosis ; Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins ; chemistry ; genetics ; metabolism ; Autophagy ; Beclin-1 ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; HeLa Cells ; Humans ; Membrane Proteins ; chemistry ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of wheat-grain moxibustion at "Dazhui" (GV 14) on the expressions of Beclin-1 and GRP78 in spinal dorsal horn in rats with cervical spondylotic radiculopathy (CSR), and to explore the possible analgesic mechanism of wheat-grain moxibustion for CSR. METHODS: A total of 48 SD rats were randomly divided into a sham operation group, a model group, a wheat-grain moxibustion group and a wheat-grain moxibustion+3-MA group, 12 rats in each group. The CSR model was prepared by spinal cord insertion method. Three days after modeling, the rats in the model group were intraperitoneally injected with 1 mL of 0.9% sodium chloride solution; the rats in the wheat-grain moxibustion group were treated with wheat-grain moxibustion at "Dazhui" (GV 14, 6 cones per time) on the basis of the model group; the rats in the wheat-grain moxibustion+3-MA group were intraperitoneally injected with 3-MA solution and wheat-grain moxibustion at "Dazhui" (GV 14, 6 cones per time). The three groups were intervened for 7 days, once a day. The gait score and mechanical pain threshold were observed before treatment and 7 days into treatment; after the treatment, the expressions of mRNA and protein of Beclin-1 in spinal dorsal horn were detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR and immunohistochemistry; the expression of GRP78 protein in spinal dorsal horn was detected by Western blot method; the autophagosomes and ultrastructure in spinal dorsal horn neurons were observed by electron microscope. RESULTS: After the treatment, compared with the sham operation group, in the model group, the gait score was increased and the mechanical pain threshold was decreased (P<0.01), and the expression of GRP78 protein in spinal dorsal horn was increased (P<0.01). Compared with the model group and the wheat-grain moxibustion+3-MA group, in the wheat-grain moxibustion group, the gait score was decreased and mechanical pain threshold was increased (P<0.01), and the expression of GRP78 protein in spinal dorsal horn was decreased, and the expressions of mRNA and protein of Beclin-1 were increased (P<0.01). Under electron microscope, the ultrastructure of spinal dorsal horn neurons in the wheat-grain moxibustion group was not significantly damaged, and its structure was basically close to normal, and the number of autophagosomes was more than the other three groups. CONCLUSION Wheat-grain moxibustion at "Dazhui" (GV 14) has analgesic effect on CSR rats. The mechanism may be related to moderately up-regulate the expression of Beclin-1, enhance autophagy and reduce endoplasmic reticulum stress.
Animals ; Beclin-1/genetics* ; Endoplasmic Reticulum Chaperone BiP ; Moxibustion ; RNA, Messenger ; Radiculopathy/therapy* ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Spinal Cord ; Spinal Cord Dorsal Horn ; Spondylosis ; Triticum/genetics*

This study aimed to explore the mechanism of Cistanches Herba in the treatment of cancer-induced fatigue(CRF) by network pharmacology combined with in vivo and in vitro experiments to provide a theoretical basis for the clinical medication. The chemical constituents and targets of Cistanches Herba were searched from the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform(TCMSP). The targets of CRF were screened out by GeneCards and NCBI. The common targets of traditional Chinese medicine and disease were selected to construct a protein-protein interaction(PPI) network, followed by Gene Ontology(GO) functional and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses. A visual signal pathway rela-ted to Chinese medicine and disease targets was constructed. The CRF model was induced by paclitaxel(PTX) in mice. Mice were divided into a control group, a PTX model group, and low-and high-dose Cistanches Herba extract groups(250 and 500 mg·kg~(-1)). The anti-CRF effect in mice was evaluated by open field test, tail suspension test, and exhaustive swimming time, and the pathological morphology of skeletal muscle was evaluated by hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining. The cancer cachexia model in C2C12 muscle cells was induced by C26 co-culture, and the cells were divided into a control group, a conditioned medium model group, and low-, medium-, and high-dose Cistanches Herba extract groups(62.5, 125, and 250 μg·mL~(-1)). The reactive oxygen species(ROS) content in each group was detected by flow cytometry, and the intracellular mitochondrial status was evaluated by transmission electron microscopy. The protein expression levels of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α(HIF-1α), BNIP3L, and Beclin-1 were detected by Western blot. Six effective constituents were screened out from Cistanches Herba. The core genes of Cistanches Herba in treating CRF were AKT1, IL-6, VEGFA, CASP3, JUN, EGFR, MYC, EGF, MAPK1, PTGS2, MMP9, IL-1B, FOS, and IL10, and the pathways related to CRF were AGE-RAGE and HIF-1α. Through GO enrichment analysis, it was found that the main biological functions involved were lipid peroxidation, nutrient deficiency, chemical stress, oxidative stress, oxygen content, and other biological processes. The results of the in vivo experiment showed that Cistanches Herba extract could significantly improve skeletal muscle atrophy in mice to relieve CRF. The in vitro experiment showed that Cistanches Herba extract could significantly reduce the content of intracellular ROS, the percentage of mitochondrial fragmentation, and the protein expression of Beclin-1 and increase the number of autophagosomes and the protein expression of HIF-1α and BNIP3L. Cistanches Herba showed a good anti-CRF effect, and its mechanism may be related to the key target proteins in the HIF-1α signaling pathway.
Animals ; Mice ; Cistanche ; Network Pharmacology ; Beclin-1 ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; Plant Extracts ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology* ; Molecular Docking Simulation ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Neoplasms/genetics*