Overexpression of ATG4a promotes autophagy and proliferation, and inhibits apoptosis in lens epithelial cells via the AMPK and Akt pathways.

ABSTRACT: Autophagy is a major intracellular degradation system that plays an important role in several biological processes. Although some studies indicate that autophagy may play a role in lens degradation and cataracts formation, its underlying mechanism remains to be elucidated. Autophagy‑related gene 4a (ATG4a) cleaves autophagy‑related protein 8 (Atg8) near the C terminus, allowing Atg8 to conjugate with phosphatidylethanolamine via the exposed glycine; although this is pivotal in cancer development, no study has yet linked it to eye diseases. In the present study, the protein expression of ATG4a is significantly upregulated in hydrogen peroxide‑treated lens epithelial cells (HLE‑B3), indicating that ATG4a may play an important role in lens degradation. ATG4a was overexpressed using lentivirus

SUBMITTER: Yan C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7339427 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature