Beclin 1 interactome controls the crosstalk between apoptosis, autophagy and inflammasome activation: Impact on the aging process

Autophagy and apoptosis are crucial cellular housekeeping and tissue survival mechanisms. There is emerging evidence of important crosstalk between apoptosis and autophagy which can be linked to inflammasome activation. Beclin 1 is a platform protein which assembles an interactome consisting of diverse proteins which control the initiation of autophagocytosis and distinct phases in endocytosis. Recent studies have demonstrated that the anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 family members can interact with Beclin 1 and inhibit autophagy. Consequently, impaired autophagy can trigger inflammasome activation. Interestingly, the hallmarks of the ageing process include a decline in autophagy, increased resistance to apoptosis and a low-grade inflammatory phenotype. Age-related stresses, e.g. genotoxic, metabolic and environmental insults, enhance the expression of NF-kappa B-driven anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 proteins which repress the Beclin 1-dependent autophagy. Suppression of autophagocytosis provokes inflammation including NF-kappa B activation which further potentiates anti-apoptotic defence. In a context-dependent manner, this feedback defence mechanism can enhance the aging process or provoke tumorigenesis or cellular senescence. We will review the role of Beclin 1 interactome in the crosstalk between apoptosis, autophagy and inflammasomes emphasizing that disturbances in Beclin 1-dependent autophagy can have a crucial impact on the aging process. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.