Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 18, 2026

In Situ Immunofluorescent Staining of Autophagy in Muscle Stem Cells
Published on: June 12, 2017
RAB18 modulates autophagy in human stellate cells
1Department of Molecular Genetics, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA; Eugene McDermott Center for Human Growth and Development, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.
RAB18 protein regulates autophagy and proteostasis in liver cells. Understanding this mechanism may lead to new treatments for liver fibrosis.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Molecular Biology
- Gastroenterology
Background:
- Autophagy is a key cellular process for degrading damaged components.
- Rab GTPases, like RAB18, are crucial for cellular trafficking.
- RAB18's role in hepatic stellate cell autophagy was previously unknown.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the function of RAB18 in regulating autophagy in hepatic stellate cells.
- To understand RAB18's impact on proteostasis within these cells.
Main Methods:
- Genetic depletion and overexpression of RAB18 in LX2 stellate cells.
- Pharmacologic inhibition of RAB18.
- Monitoring of autophagy flux and proteostasis.
Main Results:
- RAB18 knockdown enhanced autophagy flux and modulated proteostasis.
- Transforming growth factor-beta increased RAB18 and RAB3GAP1 expression in LX2 cells.
- Profibrotic gene expression (COL1A1, ACTA2) was elevated.
Conclusions:
- RAB18 plays a significant role in autophagy and proteostasis in human hepatic stellate cells.
- These findings offer potential therapeutic targets for liver fibrosis.
More Related Videos
09:10siRNA Electroporation to Modulate Autophagy in Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1-Infected Monocyte-Derived Dendritic Cells
Published on: October 28, 2019
11:39Assessing Autophagic Flux by Measuring LC3, p62, and LAMP1 Co-localization Using Multispectral Imaging Flow Cytometry
Published on: July 21, 2017
Related Concept Videos
Autophagy
An autophagic pathway consists of a series of signaling events activated in response to diverse stress and physiological conditions such as food deprivation,...
Autophagic Cell Death
Autophagy and Apoptosis
Autophagy can activate apoptosis. In normal conditions, the autophagy activating protein Beclin-1 and...
mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression
The mTOR pathway or the...
Delivery Pathways to the Lysosome
Endocytosis
In endocytosis, the cell membrane takes up macromolecules and particles from the surrounding medium. Clathrin-mediated...
PI3K/mTOR/AKT Signaling Pathway