Enhanced ferroptosis by ELAVL1 is associated with autophagy activation. The indicated HSC cells were stably transfected with ELAVL1 siRNA or ELAVL1 plasmid, and then were treated with erastin (10 μM) for 24 h. (a) LC3-I/II protein expression was determined by western blot analysis (n = 3 in every group, **, p < 0.01). (b) 5 autophagy-related genes (ATG12-ATG5, BECN1, ATG7, and ATG14) were assayed by western blot analysis (n = 3 in every group). (c) BECN1 and MAP1LC3B protein expression were determined by immunofluorescence analysis. Scale bars: 50 μm. Representative photographs were shown (n = 3 in every group, **, p < 0.01). (d) SQSTM1 protein expression was assayed by western blot analysis (n = 3 in every group, **, p < 0.01, ***, p < 0.001). (e) HSC-LX2 cells were stably transfected with ELAVL1 siRNA or ELAVL1 plasmid, and then were treated with erastin (10 μM) for 24 h. Autophagosomes and autolysosomes were determined by transmission electron microscopy analysis. Scale bars: 0.5 μm. Representative photographs were shown (n = 3 in every group, **, p < 0.01).