Suppression of AMP-activated protein kinase reverses osteoprotegerin-induced inhibition of osteoclast differentiation by reducing autophagy.

Osteoclasts (OC) are unique terminally differentiated cells whose primary function is bone resorption. We previously showed that osteoprotegerin (OPG) inhibits OC differentiation in vitro by enhancing autophagy via the adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK)/mTOR/p70S6K signalling pathway in vitro. Here, we aimed to elucidate the mechanism of AMPK mediated autophagy to regulate OPG-mediated inhibition of OC differentiation and identify potential therapeutic targets associated with bone loss. We used the AMPK activator AICAR to determine the relationship between AMPK activation and OC differentiation, and studied the role of AMPK-mediated autophagy in OPG-mediated inhibition of OC differentiation by using autophagy inhibitors or AMPK knockdown. AMP-activated protein kinase activation caused LC3II accumulation and weakened OC differentiation activity. In contrast, inactivation of autophagy by 3-methyladenine or Bafilomycin A1 could attenuate OPG-mediated inhibition of OC differentiation via the AMPK/mTOR/p70S6K signalling pathway. Furthermore, the AMPK inhibitor compound C and knockdown of AMPK impaired OPG-mediated inhibition of OC differentiation by inducing autophagy. These results demonstrated that the AMPK signalling pathway functions as a critical regulator in the OPG-mediated inhibition of OC differentiation, by inducing autophagy. Our results provide a basis for future bone-related studies on the AMPK signalling pathway.

Tong X ，Zhang C ，Wang D ，Song R ，Ma Y ，Cao Y ，Zhao H ，Bian J ，Gu J ，Liu Z ... -  《-》

PARP-1 promotes autophagy via the AMPK/mTOR pathway in CNE-2 human nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells following ionizing radiation, while inhibition of autophagy contributes to the radiation sensitization of CNE-2 cells.

Chen ZT ，Zhao W ，Qu S ，Li L ，Lu XD ，Su F ，Liang ZG ，Guo SY ，Zhu XD ... -  《-》

Role of AMP-activated protein kinase activators in antiproliferative multi-drug pituitary tumour therapies: effects of combined treatments with compounds affecting the mTOR-p70S6 kinase axis in cultured pituitary tumour cells.

AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is activated under conditions that deplete cellular ATP levels and elevate AMP levels. We have recently shown that AMPK can represent a valid target for improving the medical treatment of growth hormone (GH)-secreting pituitary adenomas and the effects of its activation or inhibition in pituitary tumour cells are worthy of further characterisation. We aimed to determine whether AMPK may have a role in combined antiproliferative therapies based on multiple drugs targeting cell anabolic functions at different levels in pituitary tumour cells to overcome the risk of cell growth escape phenomena. Accordingly, we tried to determine whether a rationale exists in combining compounds activating AMPK with compounds targeting the phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt/mTOR/p70S6K signalling pathway. AMPK down-regulation by specific small-interfering RNAs confirmed that activated AMPK had a role in restraining growth of GH3 cells. Hence, we compared the effects of compounds directly targeting the mTOR-p70S6K axis, namely the mTOR inhibitor rapamycin and the p70S6K inhibitor PF-4708671, with the effects of the AMPK activator 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide ribonucleoside (AICAR) on cell signalling and cell growth, in rat pituitary GH3 cells. AICAR was able to reduce growth factor-induced p70S6K activity, as shown by the decrease of phospho-p70S6K levels. However, it was far less effective than rapamycin and PF-4708671. We observed significant differences between the growth inhibitory effects of the three compounds in GH3 and GH1 cells. Interestingly, PF-4708671 was devoid of any effect. AICAR was at least as effective as rapamycin and the co-treatment was more effective than single treatments. AICAR induced apoptosis of GH3 cells, whereas rapamycin caused preferentially a decrease of cell proliferation. Finally, AICAR and rapamycin differed in their actions on growth factor-induced extracellular signal regulated kinase 1/2 phosphorylation. In conclusion, the results of the present study suggest the increased efficacy of combined antiproliferative therapies, including rapamycin analogues and AMPK activators in GH-secreting pituitary tumours, as a result of complementary and only partially overlapping mechanisms of action.

Tulipano G ，Faggi L ，Cacciamali A ，Spinello M ，Cocchi D ，Giustina A ... -  《-》

Osteoprotegerin inhibit osteoclast differentiation and bone resorption by enhancing autophagy via AMPK/mTOR/p70S6K signaling pathway in vitro.

Osteoclasts are highly differentiated terminal cells formed by fusion of hematopoietic stem cells. Previously, osteoprotegerin (OPG) inhibit osteoclast differentiation and bone resorption by blocking receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL) binding to RANK indirect mechanism. Furthermore, autophagy plays an important role during osteoclast differentiation and function. However, whether autophagy is involved in OPG-inhibited osteoclast formation and bone resorption is not known. To elucidate the role of autophagy in OPG-inhibited osteoclast differentiation and bone resorption, we used primary osteoclast derived from mice bone marrow monocytes/macrophages (BMM) by induced M-CSF and RANKL. The results showed that autophagy-related proteins expression were upregulated; tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase-positive osteoclast number and bone resorption activity were decreased; LC3 puncta and autophagosomes number were increased and activated AMPK/mTOR/p70S6K signaling pathway. In addition, chloroquine (as the autophagy/lysosome inhibitor, CQ) or rapamycin (as the autophagy/lysosome inhibitor, Rap) attenuated osteoclast differentiation and bone resorption activity by OPG treatment via AMPK/mTOR/p70S6K signaling pathway. Our data demonstrated that autophagy plays a critical role in OPG inhibiting osteoclast differentiation and bone resorption via AMPK/mTOR/p70S6K signaling pathway in vitro.

Tong X ，Gu J ，Song R ，Wang D ，Sun Z ，Sui C ，Zhang C ，Liu X ，Bian J ，Liu Z ... -  《-》

Antiosteoclastic bone resorption activity of osteoprotegerin via enhanced AKT/mTOR/ULK1-mediated autophagic pathway.

Autophagy plays a critical role in the maintenance of bone homeostasis. Osteoprotegerin (OPG) is an inhibitor of osteoclast-mediated bone resorption. However, whether autophagy is involved in the antiosteoclastogenic effects of OPG remains unclear. The present study aimed to investigate the potential mechanism of autophagy during OPG-induced bone resorption via inhibition of osteoclasts differentiated from bone marrow-derived macrophages in BALB/c mice. The results showed that after treatment with receptor activator of nuclear factor-κΒ ligand and macrophage colony-stimulating factor for 3 days, TRAP+ osteoclasts formed, representing the resting state of autophagy. These osteoclasts were treated with OPG and underwent autophagy, as demonstrated by LC3-II accumulation, acidic vesicular organelle formation, and the presence of autophagosomes. The levels of autophagy-related proteins, LC3-II increased and P62 decreased at 3 hr in OPG-treated osteoclasts. The viability, differentiation, and bone resorption activity of osteoclasts declined after OPG treatment. Treatment with OPG and chloroquine, an autophagy inhibitor, attenuated OPG-induced inhibition of osteoclastic bone resorption, whereas rapamycin (RAP), an autophagy inducer, enhanced OPG-induced inhibition of differentiation, survival, and bone resorption activity of osteoclasts. Furthermore, OPG reduced the amount of phosphorylated(p) protein kinase B (AKT) and pmTOR and increased the level of pULK, in a dose-dependant manner. LY294002, a phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT pathway inhibitor, attenuated the decline in pAKT, but enhanced the decline in pmTOR and the increase in pULK1 following OPG treatment. RAP enhanced the OPG-induced increase in pULK1. The PI3K inhibitor 3-methyladenine partly blocked OPG-induced autophagy. Thus, the results revealed that OPG inhibits osteoclast bone resorption by inducing autophagy via the AKT/mTOR/ULK1 signaling pathway.

Zhao H ，Sun Z ，Ma Y ，Song R ，Yuan Y ，Bian J ，Gu J ，Liu Z ... -  《-》