FoxO1 silencing in Atp7b−/− neural stem cells attenuates high copper‐induced apoptosis via regulation of autophagy

Abstract Wilson disease (WD) is a severely autosomal genetic disorder triggered by dysregulated copper metabolism. Autophagy and apoptosis share common modulators that process cellular death. Emerging evidences suggest that Forkhead Box O1 over‐expression (FoxO1‐OE) aggravates abnormal autophagy and apoptosis to induce neuronal injury. However, the underlying mechanisms remain undetermined. Herein, the aim of this study was to investigate how regulating FoxO1 affects cellular autophagy and apoptosis to attenuate neuronal injury in a well‐established WD cell model, the high concentration copper sulfate (CuSO 4 , HC)‐triggered Atp7b −/− (Knockout, KO) neural stem cell (NSC) lines. The FoxO1‐OE plasmid, or siRNA‐FoxO1 (siFoxO1) plasmid, or empty vector plasmid was stably transfected with recombinant lentiviral vectors into HC‐induced Atp7b −/− NSCs. Toxic effects of excess deposited copper on wild‐type (WT), Atp7b −/− WD mouse hippocampal NSCs were tested by Cell Counting Kit‐8 (CCK‐8). Subsequently, the FoxO1 expression was evaluated by immunofluorescence (IF) assay, western blot (WB) and quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR) analysis. Meanwhile, the cell autophagy and apoptosis were evaluated by flow cytometry (FC), TUNEL staining, 2,7‐dichlorofluorescein diacetate (DCFH‐DA), JC‐1, WB, and qRT‐PCR. The current study demonstrated a strong rise in FoxO1 levels in HC‐treated Atp7b −/− NSCs, accompanied with dysregulated autophagy and hyperactive apoptosis. Also, it was observed that cell viability was significantly decreased with the over‐expressed FoxO1 in HC‐treated Atp7b −/− WD model. As intended, silencing FoxO1 effectively inhibited abnormal autophagy in HC‐treated Atp7b −/− NSCs, as depicted by a decline in LC3II/I, Beclin‐1, ATG3 , ATG7 , ATG13 , and ATG16 , whereas simultaneously increasing P62. In addition, silencing FoxO1 suppressed apoptosis via diminishing oxidative stress (OS), and mitochondrial dysfunction in HC‐induced Atp7b −/− NSCs. Collectively, these results clearly demonstrate the silencing FoxO1 has the neuroprotective role of suppressing aberrant cellular autophagy and apoptosis, which efficiently attenuates neuronal injury in WD. image