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Abstract Background Although stimulating autophagy caused by UV has been widely demonstrated in skin cells to exert cell protection, it remains unknown the cellular events in UVA-treated retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells. Methods Human ARPE-19 cells were used to measure cell viability, mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS), mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), mitochondrial mass and lysosomal mass by flow cytometry. Mitochondrial oxygen consumption rate (OCR) was recorded using Seahorse XF flux analyzer. Confocal microscopic images were performed to indicate the mitochondrial dynamics, LC3 level, and AMPK translocation after UVA irradiation. Results We confirmed mitochondrial ROS production and DNA damage are two major features caused by UVA. We found the cell death is prevented by autophagy inhibitor 3-methyladenine and gene silencing of ATG5, and UVA induces ROS-dependent LC3II expression, LC3 punctate and TFEB expression, suggesting the autophagic death in the UVA-stressed RPE cells. Although PARP-1 inhibitor olaparib increases DNA damage, ROS production, and cell death, it also blocks AMPK activation caused by UVA. Interestingly we found a dramatic nuclear export of AMPK upon UVA irradiation which is blocked by N-acetylcysteine and olaparib. In addition, UVA exposure gradually decreases lysosomal mass and inhibits cathepsin B activity at late phase due to lysosomal dysfunction. Nevertheless, cathepsin B inhibitor, CA-074Me, reverses the death extent, suggesting the contribution of cathepsin B in the death pathway. When examining the role of EGFR in cellular events caused by UVA, we found that UVA can rapidly transactivate EGFR, and treatment with EGFR TKIs (gefitinib and afatinib) enhances the cell death accompanied by the increased LC3II formation, ROS production, loss of MMP and mass of mitochondria and lysosomes. Although AMPK activation by ROS-PARP-1 mediates autophagic cell death, we surprisingly found that pretreatment of cells with AMPK activators (A769662 and metformin) reverses cell death. Concomitantly, both agents block UVA-induced mitochondrial ROS production, autophagic flux, and mitochondrial fission without changing the inhibition of cathepsin B. Conclusion UVA exposure rapidly induces ROS-PARP-1-AMPK-autophagic flux and late lysosomal dysfunction. Pre-inducing AMPK activation can prevent cellular events caused by UVA and provide a new protective strategy in photo-oxidative stress and photo-retinopathy.

Calcium/calmodulin-dependent serine protein kinase (CASK) is a scaffold protein and plays critical roles in neuronal synaptic formation and brain development. Previously, CASK was shown to associate with EGFR to maintain the vulval cell differentiation in C. elegans. In this study, we explored the role of CASK in CHME3 microglial cells. We found that CASK silencing protects cells from H2O2-induced cell death by attenuating PARP-1 activation, mitochondrial membrane potential loss, reactive oxygen species production, and mitochondrial fission, but it increases oxidative phosphorylation. The PARP-1 inhibitor olaparib blocks H2O2-induced cell death, suggesting the death mode of parthanatos. CASK silencing also increases AKT activation but decreases AMPK activation under H2O2 treatment. Pharmacological data further indicate that both signaling changes contribute to cell protection. Different from the canonical parthanatos pathway, we did not observe the AIF translocation from mitochondria into the nucleus, suggesting a non-canonical AIF-independent parthanatos in H2O2-treated CHME3 cells. Moreover, we found that CASK silencing upregulates the EGFR gene and protein expression and increases H2O2-induced EGFR phosphorylation in CHME3 microglia. However, EGFR activation does not contribute to cell protection caused by CASK silencing. In conclusion, CASK plays a crucial role in microglial parthanatos upon H2O2 treatment via stimulation of PARP-1 and AMPK but the inhibition of AKT. These findings suggest that CASK might be an ideal therapeutic target for CNS disorders.

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a major cause of blindness in adult, and the accumulation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) is a major pathologic event in DR. Methylglyoxal (MGO), a highly reactive dicarbonyl compound, is a precursor of AGEs. Although the therapeutic potential of metformin for retinopathy disorders has recently been elucidated, possibly through AMPK activation, it remains unknown how metformin directly affects the MGO-induced stress response in retinal pigment epithelial cells. Therefore, in this study, we compared the effects of metformin and the AMPK activator A769662 on MGO-induced DR in mice, as well as evaluated cytotoxicity, mitochondrial dynamic changes and dysfunction in ARPE-19 cells. We found MGO can induce mitochondrial ROS production and mitochondrial membrane potential loss, but reduce cytosolic ROS level in ARPE-19 cells. Although these effects of MGO can be reversed by both metformin and A769662, we demonstrated that reduction of mitochondrial ROS production rather than restoration of cytosolic ROS level contributes to cell protective effects of metformin and A769662. Moreover, MGO inhibits AMPK activity, reduces LC3II accumulation, and suppresses protein and gene expressions of MFN1, PGC-1α and TFAM, leading to mitochondrial fission, inhibition of mitochondrial biogenesis and autophagy. In contrast, these events of MGO were reversed by metformin in an AMPK-dependent manner as evidenced by the effects of compound C and AMPK silencing. In addition, we observed an AMPK-dependent upregulation of glyoxalase 1, a ubiquitous cellular enzyme that participates in the detoxification of MGO. In intravitreal drug-treated mice, we found that AMPK activators can reverse the MGO-induced cotton wool spots, macular edema and retinal damage. Functional, histological and optical coherence tomography analysis support the protective actions of both agents against MGO-elicited retinal damage. Metformin and A769662 via AMPK activation exert a strong protection against MGO-induced retinal pigment epithelial cell death and retinopathy. Therefore, metformin and AMPK activator can be therapeutic agents for DR.

Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) released from dying cells with high concentrations is sensed as a danger signal by the P2X7 receptor. Sodium iodate (NaIO3) is an oxidative toxic agent, and its retinal toxicity has been used as the model of dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD). In this study, we used NaIO3-treated mice and cultured retinal cells, including BV-2 microglia, 661W photoreceptors, rMC1 Müller cells and ARPE-19 retinal epithelial cells, to understand the pathological action of P2X7 in retinal degeneration. We found that NaIO3 can significantly decrease the photoreceptor function by reducing a-wave and b-wave amplitudes in electroretinogram (ERG) analysis. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) analysis revealed the degeneration of retinal epithelium and ganglion cell layers. Interestingly, P2X7−/− mice were protected from the NaIO3-induced retinopathy and inflammatory NLRP3, IL-1β and IL-6 gene expression in the retina. Hematoxylin and eosin staining indicated that the retinal epithelium was less deteriorated in P2X7−/− mice compared to the WT group. Although P2X7 was barely detected in 661W, rMC1 and ARPE-19 cells, its gene and protein levels can be increased after NaIO3 treatment, leading to a synergistic cytotoxicity of BzATP [2′(3′)-O-(4-benzoylbenzoyl)adenosine-5′-triphosphate tri(triethyleneammonium)salt] and NaIO3 administration in ARPE-19 cells. In conclusion, the paracrine action of the ATP/P2X7 axis via cell–cell communication is involved in NaIO3-induced retinal injury. Our results show that P2X7 antagonist might be a potential therapy in inflammation-related retinal degeneration.

After the publication of this article [1], the authors would like to clarify that some immunoblotting data in Figs. 2f, 3a and 4b were obtained from the same samples but individual SDS-PAGE gels.

Abstract Background Oxidative stress is a major factor in retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells injury that contributes to age-related macular degeneration (AMD). NaIO3 is an oxidative toxic agent and its selective RPE cell damage makes it as a reproducible model of AMD. Although NaIO3 is an oxidative stress inducer, the roles of ROS in NaIO3-elicited signaling pathways and cell viability have not been elucidated, and the effect of NaIO3 on autophagy in RPE cells remains elusive. Methods In human ARPE-19 cells, we used Annexin V/PI staining to determine cell viability, immunoblotting to determine protein expression and signaling cascades, confocal microscopy to determine mitochondrial dynamics and mitophagy, and Seahorse analysis to determine mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation. Results We found that NaIO3 can dramatically induce cytosolic but not mitochondrial ROS production. NaIO3 can also activate ERK, p38, JNK and Akt, increase LC3II expression, induce Drp-1 phosphorylation and mitochondrial fission, but inhibit mitochondrial respiration. Confocal microscopic data indicated a synergism of NaIO3 and bafilomycin A1 on LC3 punctate formation, indicating the induction of autophagy. Using cytosolic ROS antioxidant NAC, we found that p38 and JNK are downstream signals of ROS and involve in NaIO3-induced cytotoxicity but not in mitochondrial dynamics, while ROS is also involved in LC3II expression. Unexpectedly NAC treatment upon NaIO3 stimulation leads to an enhancement of mitochondrial fragmentation and cell death. Moreover, inhibition of autophagy and Akt further enhances cell susceptibility to NaIO3. Conclusions We conclude that NaIO3-induced oxidative stress and cytosolic ROS production exert multiple signaling pathways that coordinate to control cell death in RPE cells. ROS-dependent p38 and JNK activation lead to cytotoxicity, while ROS-mediated autophagy and mitochondrial dynamic balance counteract the cell death mechanisms induced by NaIO3 in RPE cells.

Gout is a common inflammatory arthritis caused by the deposition of monosodium urate (MSU) crystals in the joints. This activates the macrophages into a proinflammatory state by inducing NLRP3-dependent interleukin-1β (IL-1β) secretion, resulting in neutrophil recruitment. Soluble decoy receptor 3 (DcR3) is an immune modulator and can exert biological functions via decoy and non-decoy actions. Previously, we showed that DcR3 suppresses lipopolysaccharides (LPS)- and virus-induced inflammatory responses in the macrophages and promotes the macrophages into the M2 phenotype. In this study, we clarified the actions of DcR3 and its non-decoy action motif heparin sulfate proteoglycan (HSPG) binding domain (HBD) in the MSU crystal-induced NLRP3 inflammasome activation in the macrophages and in mice. In bone marrow-derived macrophages, THP-1 and U937 cells, we found that the MSU crystal-induced secretion of IL-1β and activation of NLRP3 were suppressed by both DcR3.Fc and HBD.Fc. The suppression of the MSU-induced NLRP3 inflammasome activation is accompanied by the inhibition of lysosomal rupture, mitochondrial production of the reactive oxygen species (ROS), expression of cathepsins, and activity of cathepsin B, without affecting the crystal uptake and the expression of NLRP3 or pro-IL-1β. In the air pouch mice model of gout, MSU induced less amounts of IL-1β and chemokines secretion, an increased M2/M1 macrophage ratio, and a reduction of neutrophil recruitment in DcR3-transgenic mice, which expresses DcR3 in myeloid cells. Similarly, the mice intravenously treated with DcR3.Fc or HBD.Fc displayed less inflammation response. These findings indicate that HBD of DcR3 can reduce MSU crystal-induced NLRP3 inflammasome activation via modulation of mitochondrial and lysosomal functions. Therefore, we, for the first time, demonstrate a new therapeutic potential of DcR3 for the treatment of gout.

Abstract Background P2X7 is ubiquitously expressed in myeloid cells and regulates the pathophysiology of inflammatory diseases. Since mitochondrial function in microglia is highly associated with microglial functions in controlling neuronal plasticity and brain homeostasis, we interested to explore the roles of P2X7 in mitochondrial and lysosomal functions as well as mitophagy in microglia. Methods P2X7−/− bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDM), primary microglia and BV-2 immortalized microglial cells were used to detect the particular protein expression by immunoblotting. Mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mitoROS), intracellular calcium, mitochondrial mass and lysosomal integrity were examined by flow cytometry. Mitochondrial oxygen consumption rate (OCR) was recorded using Seahorse XF flux analyzer. Confocal microscopic images were performed to indicate the mitochondrial dynamics and mitophagy after P2X7 activation. Results In primary microglia, BV-2 microglial cells and BMDM, P2X7 agonist BzATP triggered AMPK activation and LC3II accumulation through reactive oxygen species (ROS) and CaMKKII pathways, and these effects were abolished by P2X7 antagonist A438079 and P2X7 deficiency. Moreover, we detected the dramatic decreases of mitochondrial OCR and mass following P2X7 activation. AMPK inhibition by compound C or AMPK silencing reversed the P2X7 actions in reduction of mitochondrial mass, induction of mitochondrial fission and mitophagy, but not in uncoupling of mitochondrial respiration. Interestingly, we found that P2X7 activation induced nuclear translocation of TFEB via an AMPK-dependent pathway and led to lysosomal biogenesis. Mimicking the actions of BzATP, nigericin also induced ROS-dependent AMPK activation, mitophagy, mitochondrial fission and respiratory inhibition. Longer exposure of BzATP induced cell death, and this effect was accompanied by the lysosomal instability and was inhibited by autophagy and cathepsin B inhibitors. Conclusion Altogether ROS- and CaMKK-dependent AMPK activation is involved in P2X7-mediated mitophagy, mitochondrial dynamics and lysosomal biogenesis in microglial cells, which is followed by cytotoxicity partially resulting from mitophagy and cathepsin B activation.

Oxidative stress-associated retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cell death is critically implicated in the pathogenesis of visual dysfunction and blindness of retinal degenerative diseases. Sodium iodate (NaIO3) is an oxidative retinotoxin and causes RPE damage. Previously, we found that NaIO3 can induce human ARPE-19 cell death via inducing mitochondrial fission and mitochondrial dysfunction. Although metformin has been demonstrated to benefit several diseases possibly via AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activation, it remains unknown how AMPK affects retinopathy in NaIO3 model. Therefore, in this study, we compared the effects of metformin and AMPK activator A769662 on NaIO3-induced cellular stress and toxicity. We found that A769662 can protect cells against NaIO3-induced cytotoxicity, while metformin exerts an enhancement in cell death. The mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) production as well as mitochondrial membrane potential loss induced by NaIO3 were not altered by both agents. In addition, NaIO3-induced cytosolic ROS production, possibly from nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase activation and counteracting cell death, was not altered by A769662 and metformin. Notably, NaIO3-induced mitochondrial fission and inhibition of mitochondrial respiration for ATP turnover were reversed by A769662 but not by metformin. In agreement with the changes on mitochondrial morphology, the ERK-Akt signal axis dependent Drp-1 phosphorylation at S616 (an index of mitochondrial fission) under NaIO3 treatment was blocked by A769662, but not by metformin. In summary, NaIO3-induced cell death in ARPE cells primarily comes from mitochondrial dysfunction due to dramatic fission and inhibition of mitochondrial respiration. AMPK activation can exert a protection by restoring mitochondrial respiration and inhibition of ERK/Akt/Drp-1 phosphorylation, leading to a reduction in mitochondrial fission. However, inhibition of respiratory complex I by metformin might deteriorate mitochondrial dysfunction and cell death under NaIO3 stress.

Vector control is a critical requirement in epidemic disease situations, as is an urgent need to develop new and improved mosquito control methods that are economical and effective yet safe for nontarget organisms and the environment. Mosquitoes transmit serious human diseases, causing millions of deaths every year. Use of synthetic insecticides to control vector mosquitoes has caused physiological resistance and adverse environmental effects in addition to high operational cost. Insecticides of synthesized natural products for vector control have been a priority in this area. In the present study, activity of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) synthesized using Euphorbia hirta (E. hirta) plant leaf extract against malarial vector Anopheles stephensi (A. stephensi) was determined. Range of concentrations of synthesized AgNPs (3.125, 6.25, 12.5, 25, and 50 ppm) and methanol crude extract (50, 100, 150, 200, and 250 ppm) were tested against larvae of A. stephensi. The synthesized AgNPs from E. hirta were highly toxic than methanolic crude extract against malarial vector, A. stephensi. The synthesized AgNPs were characterized by UV-vis spectrum, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray diffraction. SEM analyses of the synthesized showed that AgNPs, measuring 30-60 nm in size, were clearly distinguishable. The synthesized AgNPs showed larvicidal effects after 24 h of exposure; however, the highest larval mortality was found in the synthesized AgNPs against the first to fourth instar larvae and pupae of values LC(50) (10.14, 16.82, 21.51, and 27.89 ppm, respectively), LC(90) (31.98, 50.38, 60.09, and 69.94 ppm, respectively), and the LC(50) and LC(90) values of pupae of 34.52 and 79.76 ppm, respectively. Methanol extract exhibited the larval toxicity against the first to fourth instar larvae and pupae of values LC(50) (121.51, 145.40, 169.11, and 197.40 ppm, respectively), LC(90) (236.44, 293.75, 331.42, and 371.34 ppm, respectively), and the LC(50) and LC(90) values of pupae of 219.15 and 396.70 ppm, respectively. No mortality was observed in the control. These results suggest that synthesized silver nanoparticles are a rapid, eco-friendly, and single-step approach; the AgNPs formed can be potential mosquito larvicidal agents.