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Autophagy Protects MC3T3-E1 Cells upon Aluminum-Induced Apoptosis

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Abstract

Aluminum (Al) exposure has adverse effects on osteoblasts, and the effect might be through autophagy-associated apoptosis. In this study, we showed that aluminum trichloride (AlCl3) could induce autophagy in MC3T3-E1 cells, as demonstrated by monodansylcadaverine (MDC) staining and the expressions of the ATG3, ATG5, and ATG9 genes. We found AlCl3 inhibited MC3T3-E1 cell survival rate and caused apoptosis, as evidenced by CCK-8 assay, Annexin V/PI double staining, and increased expressions of Bcl-2, Bax, and Caspase-3 genes. In addition, increased autophagy induced by rapamycin further attenuated the MC3T3-E1 cell apoptosis rate after AlCl3 exposure. These results support the hypothesis that autophagy plays a protective role in impeding apoptosis caused by AlCl3. Activating autophagy may be a strategy for treatment of Al-induced bone disease.

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Funding

This work was supported by a research grant from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 31372496).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Heilongjiang Key Laboratory for Laboratory Animals and Comparative Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, NO. 600 Changjiang Road, Harbin, 150030, China

    Xu Yang, Jian Zhang, Qiang Ji, Miao Song & Yanfei Li

  2. Heilongjiang Veterinary Drugs and Feed Monitor, Harbin, 150030, China

    Fan Wang

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  1. Xu Yang
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  2. Jian Zhang
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  3. Qiang Ji
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  4. Fan Wang
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  5. Miao Song
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  6. Yanfei Li
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Correspondence to Yanfei Li.

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Yang, X., Zhang, J., Ji, Q. et al. Autophagy Protects MC3T3-E1 Cells upon Aluminum-Induced Apoptosis. Biol Trace Elem Res 185, 433–439 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-018-1264-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-018-1264-7

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