Arsenic induces autophagy-dependent apoptosis via Akt inactivation and AMPK activation signaling pathways leading to neuronal cell death.

Inorganic arsenic (As), a well-known worldwide industrial and environmental pollutant, has been linked to neurodegenerative disorders (NDs). Autophagy plays an important role in controlling neuronal cell survival/death. However, limited information is available regarding the toxicological mechanism at the interplay between autophagy and As-induced neurotoxicity. The present study found that As exposure induced a concomitant activation of apoptosis and autophagy in Neuro-2a cells, which was accompanied with the increase of phosphatidylserine exposure on outer membrane leaflets and apoptotic cell population, and the activation of caspase-3, -7, and PARP as well as the elevation of protein expressions of LC3-II, Atg-5, and Beclin-1, and the accumulation of autophagosome. Pretreatment of cells with autophagy inhibitor 3-MA, but not that of Z-VAD-FMK (a pan-caspase inhibitor), effectively prevented the As-induced autophagic and apoptotic responses, indicating that As-triggered autophagy was contributing to neuronal cell apoptosis. Furthermore, As exposure evoked the dephosphorylation of Akt. Pretreatment with SC79, an Akt activator, could significantly attenuated As-induced Akt inactivation as well as autophagic and apoptotic events. Expectedly, inhibition of Akt signaling with LY294002 obviously enhanced As-triggered autophagy and apoptosis. Exposure to As also dramatically increased the phosphorylation level of AMPKα. Pretreatment of AMPK inhibitor (Compound C) could markedly abrogate the As-induced phosphorylated AMPKα expression, and autophagy and apoptosis activation. Taken together, these results indicated that As exerted its cytotoxicity in neuronal cells via the Akt inactivation/AMPK activation downstream-regulated autophagy-dependent apoptosis pathways, which ultimately lead to cell death. Our findings suggest that the regulation of Akt/AMPK signals may be a promising intervention to against As-induced neurotoxicity and NDs.