Autophagy in Premature Senescent Cells Is Activated via AMPK Pathway

Autophagy is a highly regulated intracellular process involved in the turnover of most cellular constituents and in the maintenance of cellular homeostasis. In this study, we show that the activity of autophagy increases in H2O2 or RasV12-induced senescent fibroblasts. Inhibiting autophagy promotes cell apoptosis in senescent cells, suggesting that autophagy activation plays a cytoprotective role. Furthermore, our data indicate that the increase of autophagy in senescent cells is linked to the activation of transcription factor FoxO3A, which blocks ATP generation by transcriptionally up-regulating the expression of PDK4, an inhibitor of pyruvate dehydrogenase complex, thus leading to AMPK activation and mTOR inhibition. These findings suggest a novel mechanism by which FoxO3A factors can activate autophagy via metabolic alteration

Autophagy Impairment Induces Premature Senescence in Primary Human Fibroblasts

BACKGROUND:Recent studies have demonstrated that activation of autophagy increases the lifespan of organisms from yeast to flies. In contrast to the lifespan extension effect in lower organisms, it has been reported that overexpression of unc-51-like kinase 3 (ULK3), the mammalian homolog of autophagy-specific gene 1 (ATG1), induces premature senescence in human fibroblasts. Therefore, we assessed whether the activation of autophagy would genuinely induce premature senescence in human cells. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS:Depletion of ATG7, ATG12, or lysosomal-associated membrane protein 2 (Lamp2) by transfecting siRNA or infecting cells with a virus containing gene-specific shRNA resulted in a senescence-like state in two strains of primary human fibroblasts. Prematurely senescent cells induced by autophagy impairment exhibited the senescent phenotypes, similar to the replicatively senescent cells, such as increased senescence associated β-galactosidase (SA-β-gal) activity, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, and accumulation of lipofuscin. In addition, expression levels of ribosomal protein S6 kinase1 (S6K1), p-S6K1, p-S6, and eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E (eIF4E) binding protein 1 (4E-BP1) in the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway and beclin-1, ATG7, ATG12-ATG5 conjugate, and the sequestosome 1 (SQSTM1/p62) monomer in the autophagy pathway were decreased in both the replicatively and the autophagy impairment-induced prematurely senescent cells. Furthermore, it was found that ROS scavenging by N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and inhibition of p53 activation by pifithrin-α or knockdown of p53 using siRNA, respectively, delayed autophagy impairment-induced premature senescence and restored the expression levels of components in the mTOR and autophagy pathways. CONCLUSION:Taken together, we concluded that autophagy impairment induces premature senescence through a ROS- and p53-dependent manner in primary human fibroblasts

Health relevance of the modification of low grade inflammation in ageing (inflammageing) and the role of nutrition

Ageing of the global population has become a public health concern with an important socio-economic dimension. Ageing is characterized by an increase in the concentration of inflammatory markers in the bloodstream, a phenomenon that has been termed "inflammageing". The inflammatory response is beneficial as an acute, transient reaction to harmful conditions, facilitating the defense, repair, turnover and adaptation of many tissues. However, chronic and low grade inflammation is likely to be detrimental for many tissues and for normal functions. We provide an overview of low grade inflammation (LGI) and determine the potential drivers and the effects of the "inflamed" phenotype observed in the elderly. We discuss the role of gut microbiota and immune system crosstalk and the gut-brain axis. Then, we focus on major health complications associated with LGI in the elderly, including mental health and wellbeing, metabolic abnormalities and infections. Finally, we discuss the possibility of manipulating LGI in the elderly by nutritional interventions. We provide an overview of the evidence that exists in the elderly for omega-3 fatty acid, probiotic, prebiotic, antioxidant and polyphenol interventions as a means to influence LGI. We conclude that slowing, controlling or reversing LGI is likely to be an important way to prevent, or reduce the severity of, age-related functional decline and the onset of conditions affecting health and well-being; that there is evidence to support specific dietary interventions as a strategy to control LGI; and that a continued research focus on this field is warranted

Ageing-associated changes of lysosomal compartment : implications on cellular functions

The lysosomal compartment is a major site for intracellular degradation. Lysosomal degradation of the cell’s own constituents, so-called autophagy, not only provides a cell with nutrients, but also removes damaged and potentially dangerous endogenous structures, thus securing intracellular homeostasis. On the other hand, lysosomes have been shown to be involved in the initial stages of apoptosis, and the protective effect of autophagy has been suggested to switch to cell death when excessive. Ageing-related changes of cellular structures result from damage caused by eactive oxygen species (ROS), which are an inevitable by-product of aerobic life. Intracellular turnover of compromised organelles and macromolecules, to which lysosomal degradation is a major contributor, does not function perfectly, even under favourable conditions. This inherent incompleteness of lysosomal degradation is responsible for the accumulation of a variety of nondegraded and functionally inefficient structures, which can be considered biological “garbage”. Biological “garbage” includes damaged non-degraded macromolecules and organelles, as well as intralysosomal non-degradable polymer-like structure called lipofuscin, or age pigment. Although accumulation of biological “garbage” has been suggested harmful, little is known about the mechanisms of its deleterious effects. To gain a better understanding of ageing-related changes of the lysosomal compartment and their influence on cell functions, we focused on studying: (1) the role of macroautophagy in the turnover of organelles and lipofuscin formation; (2) the role of biological “garbage” accumulation in the development of ageing-related changes and eventual death of growth-arrested, postmitotic-like cells; (3) the possible cell-protective effect of mitosis; (4) the influence of lipofuscin on cell survival during complete starvation; and (5) the effects of lipofuscin on lysosomal stability. As a model of induced biological “garbage” accumulation we used confluent human fibroblasts treated with the autophagy inhibitor 3-methyladenine (3MA). Alternatively, lysosomal degradation was suppressed by using the cysteine protease inhibitor leupeptin, or the cathepsin D inhibitor pepstatin A. As a cellular model of aged cells, we used lipofucsin-loaded human fibroblasts. Lipofuscin-loading was achieved by culturing confluent fibroblasts under hyperoxic conditions for 2-4 months. Using these in vitro models, the present study shows that: (1) inhibition of autophagy results in accumulation of lysosome-associated autofluorescent material and mitochondria with low membrane potential; (2) detrimental effect of biological “garbage” accumulation following inhibition of autophagy is prevented by continuous cell division; (3) lipofuscin-loaded cells are more resistant to starvation-induced cell death than control cells; (4) lysosomes of lipofuscinloaded fibroblasts are more resistant to the organelle-targeted stress then lysosomes of control cells. Based on the results of the present study we conclude that properly operating autophagic machinery plays a crucial role in preventing age-related changes associated with accumulation of biological “garbage”. We also suggest that continual proliferation is the natural mechanism by which cells cope with the accumulation of non-degradable material, employing mechanical dilution during the cell division. Finally, we introduce an idea of lipofuscin being a hormetic agent, and possibly possessing some lysosome-stabilising properties. Better understanding of the influence of the age-related accumulation of biological “garbage” on cellular functions may be helpful for future development of anti-ageing therapy and management of age-associated pathologies

Relevant implication

Ageing-associated changes of lysosomal compartment

Inhibition of autophagy with 3-methyladenine results in impaired turnover of lysosomes and accumulation of lipofuscin-like material

Autophagy (which includes macro-, micro-, and chaperone-mediated autophagy) is an important biological mechanism for degradation of damaged/obsolete macromolecules and organelles. Ageing non-dividing cells, however, progressively accumulate oxidised proteins, defective organelles and intralysosomal lipofuscin inclusions, suggesting inherent insufficiency of autophagy. To learn more about the role of macroautophagy in the turnover of organelles and lipofuscin formation, we inhibited autophagic sequestration with 3-methyladenine (3 MA) in growth-arrested human fibroblasts, a classical model of cellular ageing. Such treatment resulted in a dramatic accumulation of altered lysosomes, displaying lipofuscin-like autofluorescence, as well as in a moderate increase of mitochondria with lowered membrane potential. The size of the late endosomal compartment appeared not to be significantly altered following 3 MA exposure. The accumulation of lipofuscin-like material was enhanced when 3 MA administration was combined with hyperoxia. The findings suggest that macroautophagy is essential for normal turnover of lysosomes. This notion is supported by reports in the literature of lysosomal membrane proteins inside lysosomes and/or late endosomes, as well as lysosomes with active hydrolases within autophagosomes following vinblastine-induced block of fusion between lysosomes and autophagosomes. The data also suggest that specific components of lysosomes, such as membranes and proteins, may be direct sources of lipofuscin.</p

Ageing-associated changes of lysosomal compartment [Elektronisk resurs] : implications on cellular functions

The lysosomal compartment is a major site for intracellular degradation. Lysosomal degradation of the cell’s own constituents, so-called autophagy, not only provides a cell with nutrients, but also removes damaged and potentially dangerous endogenous structures, thus securing intracellular homeostasis. On the other hand, lysosomes have been shown to be involved in the initial stages of apoptosis, and the protective effect of autophagy has been suggested to switch to cell death when excessive.Ageing-related changes of cellular structures result from damage caused by eactive oxygen species (ROS), which are an inevitable by-product of aerobic life. Intracellular turnover of compromised organelles and macromolecules, to which lysosomal degradation is a major contributor, does not function perfectly, even under favourable conditions. This inherent incompleteness of lysosomal degradation is responsible for the accumulation of a variety of nondegraded and functionally inefficient structures, which can be considered biological “garbage”. Biological “garbage” includes damaged non-degraded macromolecules and organelles, as well as intralysosomal non-degradable polymer-like structure called lipofuscin, or age pigment. Although accumulation of biological “garbage” has been suggested harmful, little is known about the mechanisms of its deleterious effects.To gain a better understanding of ageing-related changes of the lysosomal compartment and their influence on cell functions, we focused on studying: (1) the role of macroautophagy in the turnover of organelles and lipofuscin formation; (2) the role of biological “garbage” accumulation in the development of ageing-related changes and eventual death of growth-arrested, postmitotic-like cells; (3) the possible cell-protective effect of mitosis; (4) the influence of lipofuscin on cell survival during complete starvation; and (5) the effects of lipofuscin on lysosomal stability.As a model of induced biological “garbage” accumulation we used confluent human fibroblasts treated with the autophagy inhibitor 3-methyladenine (3MA). Alternatively, lysosomal degradation was suppressed by using the cysteine protease inhibitor leupeptin, or the cathepsin D inhibitor pepstatin A. As a cellular model of aged cells, we used lipofucsin-loaded human fibroblasts. Lipofuscin-loading was achieved by culturing confluent fibroblasts under hyperoxic conditions for 2-4 months. Using these in vitro models, the present study shows that: (1) inhibition of autophagy results in accumulation of lysosome-associated autofluorescent material and mitochondria with low membrane potential; (2) detrimental effect of biological “garbage” accumulation following inhibition of autophagy is prevented by continuous cell division; (3) lipofuscin-loaded cells are more resistant to starvation-induced cell death than control cells; (4) lysosomes of lipofuscinloaded fibroblasts are more resistant to the organelle-targeted stress then lysosomes of control cells.Based on the results of the present study we conclude that properly operating autophagic machinery plays a crucial role in preventing age-related changes associated with accumulation of biological “garbage”. We also suggest that continual proliferation is the natural mechanism by which cells cope with the accumulation of non-degradable material, employing mechanical dilution during the cell division. Finally, we introduce an idea of lipofuscin being a hormetic agent, and possibly possessing some lysosome-stabilising properties. Better understanding of the influence of the age-related accumulation of biological “garbage” on cellular functions may be helpful for future development of anti-ageing therapy and management of age-associated pathologies.</p

Original publication:

Lysosome-targeted stress reveals increased stability of lipofuscincontaining lysosome

Testing the “garbage” accumulation theory of ageing : mitotic activity protects cells from death induced by inhibition of autophagy

Imperfect autophagic degradation of oxidatively damaged macromolecules and organelles (so-called biological garbage) is considered an important contributor to ageing and consequent death of postmitotic (non-dividing) cells, such as neurons and cardiac myocytes. In contrast, proliferating cells apparently escape senescence by a continuous dilution and repair of damaged structures during division. Postmitotic ageing can be mimicked and studied in cultures of potentially dividing cells if their mitotic activity is inhibited. To test the garbage accumulation theory of ageing, we compared survival of density-dependent growth-arrested (confluent) and proliferating human fibroblasts and astrocytes following inhibition of autophagic sequestration with 3-methyladenine (3MA). Exposure of confluent fibroblast cultures to 3MA for two weeks resulted in a significantly increased proportion of dying cells compared to both untreated confluent cultures and dividing cells with 3MA-inhibited autophagy. Similar results were obtained when autophagic degradation was suppressed by the protease inhibitor leupeptin. In 3MA- or leupeptin-exposed cultures, dying cells were overloaded with undegraded autofluorescent material. The results support a key role of biological lysosomal garbage accumulation in the triggering of ageing and death of postmitotic cells, as well as the anti-ageing role of cell division.</p

Lysosome-targeted stress reveals increased stability of lipofuscin-containing lysosomes

Cellular ageing is associated with accumulation of undegradable intralysosomal material, called lipofuscin. In order to accelerate the lipofuscin accumulation, confluent, growth-arrested human fibroblasts were cultured under hyperoxic conditions. To provide a better insight into the effects of lipofuscin on cellular functions, we compared lysosomal stability in control and lipofuscin-loaded human fibroblasts under conditions of lysosome-targeted stress induced by exposure to either the lysosomotropic detergent MSDH or the redox-cycling quinone naphthazarin. We show that lysosomal damage, assessed by acridine-orange relocation, translocation of cathepsin D to the cytosol, and alkalinization of lysosomes, is more pronounced in control than in lipofuscin-loaded fibroblasts. Finding that lysosomal integrity was less affected or even preserved in case of lipofuscin-loaded cells enables us to suggest that lipofuscin exerts lysosome-stabilizing properties