Fluid shear stress triggers cholesterol biosynthesis and uptake in inner medullary collecting duct cells, independently of nephrocystin-1 and nephrocystin-4.

Renal epithelial cells are subjected to fluid shear stress of urine flow. Several cellular structures act as mechanosensors-the primary cilium, microvilli and cell adhesion complexes-that directly relay signals to the cytoskeleton to regulate various processes including cell differentiation and renal cell functions. Nephronophthisis (NPH) is an autosomal recessive tubulointerstitial nephropathy leading to end-stage kidney failure before adulthood.

Autophagy-related proteins: Potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers of aging-related diseases.

Autophagy plays a key role in cellular, tissue and organismal homeostasis and in the production of the energy load needed at critical times during development and in response to nutrient shortage. Autophagy is generally considered as a pro-survival mechanism, although its deregulation has been linked to non-apoptotic cell death. Autophagy efficiency declines with age, thus contributing to many different pathophysiological conditions, such as cancer, cardiomyopathy, diabetes, liver disease, autoimmune diseases, infections, and neurodegeneration.

Fluid flow-induced shear stress controls the metabolism of proximal tubule kidney epithelial cells through primary cilium-dependent lipophagy and mitochondria biogenesis.

The kidney, similar to many other organs, has to face shear stress induced by biological fluids. How epithelial kidney cells respond to shear stress is poorly understood. Recently we showed in vitro and in vivo that proximal tubule epithelial cells use lipophagy to fuel mitochondria with fatty acids.

The primary cilium and lipophagy translate mechanical forces to direct metabolic adaptation of kidney epithelial cells.

Organs and cells must adapt to shear stress induced by biological fluids, but how fluid flow contributes to the execution of specific cell programs is poorly understood. Here we show that shear stress favours mitochondrial biogenesis and metabolic reprogramming to ensure energy production and cellular adaptation in kidney epithelial cells. Shear stress stimulates lipophagy, contributing to the production of fatty acids that provide mitochondrial substrates to generate ATP through β-oxidation.

Interplay between primary cilia, ubiquitin-proteasome system and autophagy.

Cilia are microtubule-based organelles located at the cell surface of many eukaryotic cell types. Cilia control different cellular functions ranging from motility (for motile cilia) to signal transduction pathways (for primary cilia). A variety of signaling pathways are coordinated by this organelle during development, cell migration and cell differentiation.

Oleuropein Aglycone Protects against MAO-A-Induced Autophagy Impairment and Cardiomyocyte Death through Activation of TFEB.

Age-associated diseases such as neurodegenerative and cardiovascular disorders are characterized by increased oxidative stress associated with autophagy dysfunction. Oleuropein aglycone (OA), the main polyphenol found in olive oil, was recently characterized as an autophagy inducer and a promising agent against neurodegeneration. It is presently unknown whether OA can have beneficial effects in a model of cardiac stress characterized by autophagy dysfunction.

Monoamine Oxidase Is Overactivated in Left and Right Ventricles from Ischemic Hearts: An Intriguing Therapeutic Target.

Growing evidence indicates that reactive oxygen species (ROS) may play a key role in human heart failure (HF). Monoamine oxidase (MAO) is emerging as a major ROS source in several cardiomyopathies. However, little is known about MAO activity in human failing heart and its relationship with redox imbalance.

The Polyphenol Oleuropein Aglycone Modulates the PARP1-SIRT1 Interplay: An In Vitro and In Vivo Study.

Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP1) activation contributes to the cascade of events initiated by amyloid-β (Aβ) peptide eventually leading to cell death in Alzheimer's disease brain. A significant accumulation of PAR polymers and increase of PARP1 expression were detected in the cortex at the early (3.5 months) and intermediate (6 months) stage of Aβ deposition in the TgCRND8 mouse model.

Oleuropein aglycone induces autophagy via the AMPK/mTOR signalling pathway: a mechanistic insight.

The healthy effects of plant polyphenols, some of which characterize the so-called Mediterranean diet, have been shown to arise from epigenetic and biological modifications resulting, among others, in autophagy stimulation. Our previous work highlighted the beneficial effects of oleuropein aglycone (OLE), the main polyphenol found in the extra virgin olive oil, against neurodegeneration both in cultured cells and in model organisms, focusing, in particular, autophagy activation. In this study we investigated more in depth the molecular and cellular mechanisms of autophagy induction by OLE using cultured neuroblastoma cells and an OLE-fed mouse model of amylod beta (Aβ) deposition.