We investigated the role of autophagy, a stress-inducible lysosomal self-digestion of cellular components, in modulation of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1)-triggered death of U251 human
glioma cells. HSV-1 caused apoptotic death in U251 cells, characterized by
phosphatidylserine externalization,
caspase activation and DNA fragmentation. HSV-1-induced apoptosis was associated with the induction of autophagic response, as confirmed by the conversion of cytosolic LC3-I to autophagosome-associated LC3-II, increase in intracellular acidification, presence of autophagic vesicles, and increase in proteolysis of the selective autophagic target p62. HSV-1-triggered autophagy was not associated with the significant increase in the expression of proautophagic
protein beclin-1 or downregulation of the major autophagy suppressor
mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR). Moreover, the phosphorylation of mTOR and its direct substrate
p70 S6 kinase was augmented by HSV-1
infection, while the mTOR stimulator Akt and inhibitor AMPK-activated
protein kinase (AMPK) were accordingly activated and suppressed, respectively. An
shRNA-mediated knockdown of the autophagy-essential LC3β, as well as pharmacological inhibition of autophagy with
bafilomycin A1 or
3-methyladenine, markedly accelerated apoptotic changes and ensuing cell death in HSV-1-infected
glioma cells. These data indicate that AMPK/Akt/mTOR-independent autophagy could prolong survival of HSV-1-infected U251
glioma cells by counteracting the coinciding apoptotic response.