Hyperosmotic Stress Promotes the Nuclear Translocation of TFEB in Tubular Epithelial Cells Depending on Intracellular...

We previously demonstrated that hyperosmotic stress, which acts as mechanical stress, induces autophagy of tubular epithelial cells. This study aims to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of hyperosmolarity-induced autophagy. The research question addresses how hyperosmotic stress activates autophagy through transcription factor EB (TFEB) and Ca²⁺ signaling pathways, contributing to understanding cellular responses to mechanical stress.

NRK-52E normal rat kidney cells were subjected to hyperosmotic stress using mannitol-containing medium. Fluorescence microscopy was utilized to observe TFEB nuclear translocation, a crucial event in autophagy regulation. An intracellular Ca²⁺ chelator, BAPTA-AM, and a calcineurin inhibitor were used to dissect the Ca²⁺ signaling pathway involved in TFEB translocation. The phosphorylation of p70S6K, a substrate of the mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 kinase, was analyzed to explore its role in TFEB localization. Additionally, the function of transient receptor potential mucolipin 1 (TRPML1), an intracellular Ca²⁺ channel, was assessed using pharmacological inhibition to determine its impact on TFEB translocation and autophagy marker LC3-II levels.

Mannitol-induced hyperosmotic stress promoted the nuclear translocation of TFEB, which was completely abolished by treatment with BAPTA-AM. Inhibition of calcineurin suppressed TFEB nuclear translocation under hyperosmolarity, indicating that a signaling pathway governed by intracellular Ca²⁺ is involved in TFEB's nuclear translocation. In contrast, hyperosmotic stress did not significantly alter p70S6K phosphorylation. Pharmacological inhibition of TRPML1 attenuated both TFEB nuclear translocation and LC3-II upregulation in response to hyperosmotic stress.

Hyperosmotic stress promotes TFEB nuclear localization, and TRPML1-induced activation of calcineurin is involved in the mechanism of hyperosmolarity-induced autophagy.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12195-024-00839-6.