Phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase C regulates glutamate-induced nerve cell death

Glutamate-induced apoptosis in neuronal cells is mediated via caspase-dependent and independent mechanisms involving calpain and caspase-3 proteases as well as apoptosis inducing factor (AIF) and this process is inhibited by equine estrogens

BACKGROUND

Glutamate, a major excitatory amino acid neurotransmitter, causes apoptotic neuronal cell death at high concentrations. Our previous studies have shown that depending on the neuronal cell type, glutamate-induced apoptotic cell death was associated with regulation of genes such as Bcl-2, Bax, and/or caspase-3 and mitochondrial cytochrome c. To further delineate the intracellular mechanisms, we have investigated the role of calpain, an important calcium-dependent protease thought to be involved in apoptosis along with mitochondrial apoptosis inducing factor (AIF) and caspase-3 in primary cortical cells and a mouse hippocampal cell line HT22.

RESULTS

Glutamate-induced apoptotic cell death in neuronal cells was associated with characteristic DNA fragmentation, morphological changes, activation of calpain and caspase-3 as well as the upregulation and/or translocation of AIF from mitochondria into cytosol and nuclei. Our results reveal that primary cortical cells and HT22 cells display different patterns of regulation of these genes/proteins. In primary cortical cells, glutamate induces activation of calpain, caspase-3 and translocation of AIF from mitochondria to cytosol and nuclei. In contrast, in HT22 cells, only the activation of calpain and upregulation and translocation of AIF occurred. In both cell types, these processes were inhibited/reversed by 17beta-estradiol and Delta8,17beta-estradiol with the latter being more potent.

CONCLUSION

Depending upon the neuronal cell type, at least two mechanisms are involved in glutamate-induced apoptosis: a caspase-3-dependent pathway and a caspase-independent pathway involving calpain and AIF. Since HT22 cells lack caspase-3, glutamate-induced apoptosis is mediated via the caspase-independent pathway in this cell line. Kinetics of this apoptotic pathway further indicate that calpain rather than caspase-3, plays a critical role in the glutamate-induced apoptosis. Our studies further indicate that glutamate- induced changes of these proteins can be inhibited by estrogens, with Delta8,17beta-estradiol, a novel equine estrogen being more potent than 17beta-estradiol. To our knowledge, this is the first demonstration that glutamate-induced apoptosis involves regulation of multiple apoptotic effectors that can be inhibited by estrogens. Whether these observations can help in the development of novel therapeutic approaches for the prevention of neurodegenerative diseases with estrogens and calpain inhibitors remains to be investigated.

Opposing roles for ERK1/2 in neuronal oxidative toxicity: distinct mechanisms of ERK1/2 action at early versus late phases of oxidative stress

Glutamate-induced oxidative toxicity is mediated by glutathione depletion in the HT22 mouse hippocampal cell line. Previous results with pharmacological agents implicated the extracellular signal-regulated kinases-1/2 (ERK1/2) in glutamate toxicity in HT22 cells and immature embryonic rat cortical neurons. In this report, we definitively establish a role for ERK1/2 in oxidative toxicity using dominant negative MEK1 expression in transiently transfected HT22 cells to block glutamate-induced cell death. In contrast, chronic activation of ERK (i.e. brought about by transfection of constitutively active ERK2 chimera) is not sufficient to trigger HT22 cell death demonstrating that ERK1/2 activation is not sufficient for toxicity. Activation of ERK1/2 in HT22 cells has a distinct kinetic profile with an initial peak occurring between 30 min and 1 h of glutamate treatment and a second peak typically emerging after 6 h. We demonstrate here that the initial phase of ERK1/2 induction is because of activation of metabotropic glutamate receptor type I (mGluRI). ERK1/2 activation by mGluRI contributes to an HT22 cell adaptive response to oxidative stress as glutamate-induced toxicity is enhanced upon pharmacological inhibition of mGluRI. The protective effect of ERK1/2 activation at early times after glutamate treatment is mediated by a restoration of glutathione (GSH) levels that are reduced because of depletion of intracellular cysteine pools. Thus, ERK1/2 appears to play dual roles in HT22 cells acting as part of a cellular adaptive response during the initial phases of glutamate-induced oxidative stress and contributing to toxicity during later stages of stress.

Coexistence of phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase C and phospholipase D activities in rat cerebral cortex synaptosomes

DAG derived from phosphatidylcholine (PtdCho) acts as a lipid second messenger. It can be generated by the activation of phospholipase D (PLD) and the phosphatidic acid phosphohydrolase type 2 (PAP2) pathway or by a PtdCho-specific phospholipase C (PtdCho-PLC). Our purpose was to study PtdCho-PLC activity in rat cerebral cortex synaptosomes (CC Syn). DAG production was highly stimulated by detergents such as Triton X-100 and sodium deoxycholate. Ethanol and tricyclodecan-9-yl-xanthate potassium salt decreased DAG generation by 42 and 61%, respectively, at 20 min of incubation. These data demonstrate that both the PLD/PAP2 pathway and PtdCho-PLC contribute to DAG generation in CC Syn. PtdCho-PLC activity remained located mainly in the synaptosomal plasma membrane fraction. Kinetic studies showed Km and Vmax values of 350 microM and 3.7 nmol DAG x (mg protein x h)(-1), respectively. Western blot analysis with anti-PtdCho-PLC antibody showed a band of 66 KDa in CC Syn. Our results indicate the presence of a novel DAG-generating pathway in CC Syn in addition to the known PLD/PAP2 pathway.

Glutamate-induced oxidative stress, but not cell death, is largely dependent upon extracellular calcium in mouse neuronal HT22 cells

Elucidating the relationship of glutamate-induced Ca2+ flux and oxidative death of neuronal cells may be of great relevance for neurodegenerative diseases in human beings. Mouse hippocampal HT22 cells provide a model system to study this relationship at the molecular level. Here we show that stimulation of HT22 cells with 5 mM glutamate is cytotoxic. Glutamate-induced cytotoxicity was associated with the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and activation of the death executioner caspases 1 and 3. Treatment of HT22 cells with the calcium chelator, EGTA, and the calcium channel blocker, CoCl2, revealed that glutamate-induced cell death was dependent, in part, on glutamate-induced Ca2+ influx from extracellular stores. However, activation of caspases 1 and 3 and death of HT22 cells were also observed when Ca2+ was lacking in the extracellular milieu and ROS production abrogated. These findings led us to conclude that glutamate-induced death of mouse HT22 cells utilizes a complex mechanism that relies only in part on Ca2+ influx and ROS production. Additional studies are warranted to evaluate glutamate-induced death mechanisms that operate independently of Ca2+ influx and generation of ROS.

Inhibition of PC-PLC Blocked the Survival of Mouse Neural Cells by Up-Regulating the Expression of Integrin beta4 and Rb

In order to understand the survival signals of neural cells during the development of the central nervous system (CNS), we explored the role of phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase C (PC-PLC) in the survival of primary culture mouse neural cells (MNCs). We found that when the activity of PC-PLC in the neural cells was suppressed by its specific inhibitor, D609 (tricyclodecan-9-yl-xanthogenate), the cell survival was blocked, the viability of the cells remarkably declined. At the same time, the expressions of integrin beta4 and Rb protein were evidently elevated. We also examined the intracellular ROS (reactive oxygen species) levels after the cells were treated with D609. The result showed that the ROS level in neural cells was reduced. Our data suggested that PC-PLC had an important role in regulating neural cell survival, and PC-PLC might perform its function by upregulating the expressions of integrin beta4 and Rb protein. The changes of intracellular ROS level induced by D609 indicated that a modest level of ROS might be indispensable to neural cell survival.

Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand alters mitochondrial membrane lipids

Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) has been shown to have selective antitumor activity. TRAIL induces ubiquitous pathways of cell death in which caspase activation is mediated either directly or via the release of apoptogenic factors from mitochondria; however, the precise components of the mitochondrial signaling pathway have not been well defined. Notably, mitochondria constitute an important target in overcoming resistance to TRAIL in many types of tumors. Bid is considered to be fundamental in engaging mitochondria during death receptor-mediated apoptosis, but this action is dependent on mitochondrial lipids. Here, we report that TRAIL signaling induces an alteration in mitochondrial membrane lipids, particularly cardiolipin. This occurs independently of caspase activation and primes mitochondrial membranes to the proapoptotic action of Bid. We unveil a link between TRAIL signaling and alteration of membrane lipid homeostasis that occurs in parallel to apical caspase activation but does not take over the mode of cell death because of the concurrent activation of caspase-8. In particular, TRAIL-induced alteration of mitochondrial lipids follows an imbalance in the cellular homeostasis of phosphatidylcholine, which results in an elevation in diacylglycerol (DAG). Elevated DAG in turn activates the delta isoform of phospholipid-dependent serine/threonine protein kinase C, which then accelerates the cleavage of caspase-8. We also show that preservation of phosphatidylcholine homeostasis by inhibition of lipid-degrading enzymes almost completely impedes the activation of pro-caspase-9 while scarcely changing the activation of caspase-8.

Upregulating of Fas, integrin β4 and P53 and depressing of PC-PLC activity and ROS level in VEC apoptosis by safrole oxide

Previously, we found that safrole oxide could trigger vascular endothelial cell (VEC) apoptosis. In this study, to investigate its mechanism to induce apoptosis in VECs, the activities of nitric oxide synthetase and phosphatidylcholine specific phospholipase C, the level of reactive oxygen species and the expressions of Fas, integrin beta4 and P53 were analyzed. The data showed that safrole oxide induced apoptosis by increasing the expressions of Fas, integrin beta4 and P53, and depressing the activity of Ca(2+)-independent phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase C and intracellular reactive oxygen species levels in VECs.

Stimulation of group I metabotropic glutamate receptors evokes calcium signals and c-jun and c-fos gene expression in human T cells

To study if the activation of group I mGlu receptors in human T cells modifies intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+](i)) and cell function, we measured [Ca2+](i) on cell suspensions (spectrofluorimetric method) or single cell (digital Ca2+ imaging system) using fura-2 as indicator. Early-inducible gene (c-jun and c-fos) expression was studied by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction assay as representative of Ca(2+)-sensitive gene expression. (1S,3R)-ACPD (100 microM), the selective mGlu receptor agonist, evoked a significant increase (34.1+/-4.9%) of [Ca2+](i), pharmacologically characterized as mediated by group I mGlu receptors, since both (S)-3,5-DHPG (100 microM), a selective group I mGlu receptor agonist and CHPG (1mM), the specific mGlu5 receptor agonist, reproduced the effects, that were abolished by AIDA (1mM), a selective group I mGlu receptor antagonist. (S)-3,5-DHPG-induced a rapid [Ca2+](i) rise (initial phase) followed by a slow decrease (second phase) to the baseline. Both extracellular Ca2+ and Ca2+ released from intracellular stores contribute to the [Ca2+](i) increase which depend on PLC activation. In a Ca(2+)-free buffer, the second phase rapidly return to the baseline; LaCl3 (1-10 microM), an inhibitor of extracellular Ca2+ influx, significantly reduced the second phase only; thapsigargin (1microM), by discharging intracellular Ca2+ stores, U 73122 (10 microM) and D609 (300 microM), by inhibiting PLC activity, prevented both phases. In our system, PTX pre-treatment increased (S)-3,5-DHPG effects, demonstrating that PXT-sensitive G(i/o) proteins are involved. Finally, specific stimulation of these receptors in Jurkat cells upregulates c-jun and c-fos gene expression, thus activating multiple downstream signalling regulating important T cell functions.

Protection against amyloid beta-peptide (1–42)-induced loss of phospholipid asymmetry in synaptosomal membranes by tricyclodecan-9-xanthogenate (D609) and ferulic acid ethyl ester: Implications for Alzheimer's disease

Amyloid-beta (1-42) [Abeta (1-42)] deposition in the brain is a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and has been shown to induce apoptosis and disrupt cellular ion homeostasis. Abeta (1-42) induces membrane lipid peroxidation, and 4-hydroxynonenal (HNE) and 2-propenal (acrolein) are the two reactive products of lipid peroxidation, which structurally modify proteins by covalent interaction and inhibit enzyme function. Phosphatidylserine (PS), an aminophospholipid, is sequestered in the inner leaflet of the plasma membrane in nonstimulated cells. An early signal of synaptosomal apoptosis is the loss of phospholipid asymmetry and the appearance of phosphatidylserine in the outer leaflet of the membrane. The ATP-requiring enzyme, flippase, maintains phospholipid asymmetry of PS. Here, we have investigated the inactivation of the transmembrane enzyme aminophospholipid-translocase (or flippase) by Abeta (1-42). Flippase activity depends on a critical cysteine residue, a putative site of covalent modification by the Abeta (1-42)-induced lipid peroxidation products, HNE or acrolein. The present study is aimed to investigate the protective effects of tricyclodecan-9-xanthogenate (D609) and ferulic acid ethyl ester (FAEE) on Abeta (1-42) induced modulation in phospholipid asymmetry in the synaptosomal membranes. Pretreatment of synaptosomes with D609 and FAEE significantly protected Abeta (1-42)-induced loss of phospholipid asymmetry in synaptosomal membranes. Our results suggest that D609 and FAEE exert protective effects against Abeta (1-42) induced apoptosis. The increase in intracellular Ca(2+) might not be the sole cause for the loss of flippase activity. Rather, other mechanisms that could modulate the function of flippase might be important in the modulation of phospholipid asymmetry. The results of this study are discussed with relevance to neuronal loss in the AD brain.

Neuroprotective effects of an estratriene analog are estrogen receptor independent in vitro and in vivo

Estrogens are potent neuroprotectants both in vitro and in vivo. In the present study, we compared the potency and efficacy of a non-feminizing estrogen, 2-(1-adamantyl)-4-methylestrone (ZYC-26), with its parent estrogen, estrone, and an expected non-neuroprotective 3-O-methyl analog of (17beta)-2-(1-adamantyl)estradiol (ZYC-23). These estratriene derivatives were tested for their ability to protect in an in vitro lipid peroxidation model, to neuroprotect against oxidative stress in cell culture models, to bind the estrogen receptors (ERalpha and ERbeta), to elicit uterotrophic effects, and to affect brain damage from transient middle cerebral artery occlusion. We observed that in contrast to estrone, neither ZYC-26 nor ZYC-23 bound to either estrogen receptors (ER) and both failed to elicit a uterotrophic response. In vitro, the active estrogen analogue ZYC-26 was more potent that estrogen in its ability to inhibit lipid peroxidation and to protect HT-22 cells from either glutamate or iodoacetic acid (IAA) toxicity. Further, ZYC-26 was as active in preventing brain damage from transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) as was estrone. Collectively, these studies suggest that the antioxidant activity, rather than ER binding of non-feminizing estrogens such as ZYC-26, mediates their potent neuroprotective activity. Further, in view of the now known toxicities of chronic feminizing estrogen use in older women, non-feminizing estrogens may be a useful alternative for estrogen-induced brain protection.

Protection of cortical cells by equine estrogens against glutamate-induced excitotoxicity is mediated through a calcium independent mechanism

Background

High concentrations of glutamate can accumulate in the brain and may be involved in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease. This form of neurotoxicity involves changes in the regulation of cellular calcium (Ca²⁺) and generation of free radicals such as peroxynitrite (ONOO^-). Estrogen may protect against glutamate-induced cell death by reducing the excitotoxic Ca²⁺ influx associated with glutamate excitotoxicity. In this study, the inhibition of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) along with the effect of 17β-estradiol (17β-E₂) and a more potent antioxidant Δ⁸, 17β-estradiol (Δ⁸, 17β-E₂) on cell viability and intracellular Ca²⁺ ([Ca²⁺]_i), following treatment of rat cortical cells with glutamate, was investigated.

Results

Primary rat cortical cells were cultured for 7–12 days in Neurobasal medium containing B27 supplements. Addition of glutamate (200 μM) decreased cell viability to 51.3 ± 0.7% compared to control. Treatment with the noncompetitive NMDAR antagonist, MK-801, and the NOS inhibitor, L-NAME, completely prevented cell death. Pretreatment (24 hrs) with 17β-E₂ and Δ⁸, 17β-E₂ (0.01 to 10 μM) significantly reduced cell death. 17β-E₂ was more potent than Δ⁸, 17β-E₂. Glutamate caused a rapid 2.5 fold increase in [Ca²⁺]_i. Treatment with 0.001 to 10 μM MK-801 reduced the initial Ca²⁺ influx by 14–41% and increased cell viability significantly. Pretreatment with 17β-E₂ and Δ⁸, 17β-E₂ had no effect on Ca²⁺ influx but protected the cortical cells against glutamate-induced cell death.

Conclusion

Glutamate-induced cell death in cortical cultures can occur through NMDAR and NOS-linked mechanisms by increasing nitric oxide and ONOO^-. Equine estrogens: 17β-E₂ and Δ⁸, 17β-E₂, significantly protected cortical cells against glutamate-induced excitotoxicity by a mechanism that appears to be independent of Ca²⁺ influx. To our knowledge, this is a first such observation. Whether the decrease in NOS related products such as ONOO^-, is a mechanism by which estrogens protect against glutamate toxicity, remains to be investigated. Estrogen replacement therapy in healthy and young postmenopausal women may protect against neurodegenerative diseases by these mechanisms.

In vivo protection of synaptosomes from oxidative stress mediated by Fe2+/H2O2 or 2,2-azobis-(2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride by the glutathione mimetic tricyclodecan-9-yl-xanthogenate

D609 (tricyclodecan-9-yl-xanthogenate) is a phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase C inhibitor that also has been reported to protect rodents against oxidative damage caused by lethal doses of ionizing radiation. We previously showed that D609 mimics glutathione. D609 has a free thiol group, which upon oxidation forms a disulfide. The resulting dixanthate is a substrate for glutathione reductase, regenerating D609. Recent studies from our laboratory have also shown that D609 reduces the Alzheimer amyloid beta-peptide (1-42)-induced oxidative stress and cytotoxicity in neuronal cell culture. The present study was undertaken to test the hypothesis that D609 would provide neuroprotection against free radical oxidative stress in vivo. Synaptosomes isolated from gerbils, previously injected intraperitoneally (ip) with D609, were treated with the oxidants Fe2+/H2O2 or 2,2-azobis-(2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride (AAPH), which produce free radicals. Synaptosomes isolated from the gerbils ip injected with D609 and treated with Fe2+/H2O2 or AAPH showed significant reduction in reactive oxygen species, levels of protein carbonyl, protein-bound hydroxynonenal (a lipid peroxidation product), and 3-nitrotyrosine (another marker of protein oxidation formed by reaction of tyrosine residues with peroxynitrite) compared to oxidative stress in synaptosomes isolated from gerbils that were injected with saline, but treated with Fe2+/H2O2 or AAPH. These results are discussed with reference to the potential use of this brain-accessible glutathione mimetic in the treatment of oxidative stress-related neurodegenerative disorders.

Lysosome destabilization by cytosolic extracts, putative involvement of Ca(2+)/phospholipase C

Lysosomal disintegration is a crucial event for living cells, but mechanisms for the event are still unclear. In this study, we established that the cytosolic extracts could enhance lysosomal osmotic sensitivity and osmotically destabilize the lysosomes. The cytosol also caused the lysosomes to become more swollen in the hypotonic sucrose medium. The results indicate that the cytosol induced an osmotic shock to the lysosomes and an influx of water into the organelle. Since the effects of cytosol on the lysosomes could be abolished by O-tricyclo[5.2.1.0(2,6)]dec-9-yl dithiocarbonate potassium salt (D609), a specific inhibitor of cytosolic phospholipase C (PLC), the PLC might play an important role in the lysosomal osmotic destabilization. The activity of cytosolic PLC and the extent of enzyme latency loss of the cytosol-treated lysosomes exhibited a similar biphasic dependence on the cytosolic Ca2+ concentration. In addition, the cytosol did not osmotically destabilize the lysosomes until the cytosolic calcium ions rose above 100 nM. It suggests that the destabilization effect of cytosol on the lysosomes is Ca(2+)-dependent.

Cytidine 5'-diphosphocholine (CDP-choline) in stroke and other CNS disorders

Brain phosphatidylcholine (PC) levels are regulated by a balance between synthesis and hydrolysis. Pro-inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-1 (IL-1alpha/beta) activate phospholipase A(2) (PLA(2)) and PC-phospholipase C (PC-PLC) to hydrolyze PC. PC hydrolysis by PLA(2) releases free fatty acids including arachidonic acid, and lyso-PC, an inhibitor of CTP-phosphocholine cytidylyltransferase (CCT). Arachidonic acid metabolism by cyclooxygenases/lipoxygenases is a significant source of reactive oxygen species. CDP-choline might increase the PC levels by attenuating PLA(2) stimulation and loss of CCT activity. TNF-alpha also stimulates proteolysis of CCT. TNF-alpha and IL-1beta are induced in brain ischemia and may disrupt PC homeostasis by increasing its hydrolysis (increase PLA(2) and PC-PLC activities) and inhibiting its synthesis (decrease CCT activity). The beneficial effects of CDP-choline may result by counteracting TNF-alpha and/or IL-1 mediated events, integrating cytokine biology and lipid metabolism. Re-evaluation of CDP-choline phase III stroke clinical trial data is encouraging and future trails are warranted. CDP-choline is non-xenobiotic, safe, well tolerated, and can be considered as one of the agents in multi-drug treatment of stroke.

Two distinct Fas-activated signaling pathways revealed by an antitumor drug D609

During the process of death receptor-mediated apoptosis, Bid is cleaved by activated caspase-8, and then cleaved Bid conveys apoptotic signals to the mitochondria by activating Bax/Bak. In the present study, we found that D609 (an antitumor drug with multiple activities) blocks Fas-induced apoptosis. D609 did not interfere with activation of caspase-8 and cleavage of Bid, whereas it blocked cytochrome c release from the mitochondria by inhibiting the activation of Bax and Bak. D609 had no protective effect against apoptosis of SKW6.4 cells, which are typical type I cells. Studies using permeabilized cells revealed that in addition to activation of caspase-8, Fas activated a distinct and D609-sensitive signaling pathway that transmitted signal(s) sensitizing the mitochondria to apoptotic stimuli, and that D609 itself promoted mitochondrial resistance to apoptotic stimuli.

Membrane lipids and cell death: an overview

In this article we overview major aspects of membrane lipids in the complex area of cell death, comprising apoptosis and various forms of programmed cell death. We have focused here on glycerophospholipids, the major components of cellular membranes. In particular, we present a detailed appraisal of mitochondrial lipids that attract increasing interest in the field of cell death, while the knowledge of their re-modelling and traffic remains limited. It is hoped that this review will stimulate further studies by lipid experts to fully elucidate various aspects of membrane lipid homeostasis that are discussed here. These studies will undoubtedly reveal new and important connections with the established players of cell death and their action in promoting or blocking membrane alteration of mitochondria and other organelles. We conclude that the new dynamic era of cell death research will pave the way for a better understanding of the 'chemistry of apoptosis'.

Tocotrienol: The Natural Vitamin E to Defend the Nervous System?

Vitamin E is essential for normal neurological function. It is the major lipid-soluble, chain-breaking antioxidant in the body, protecting the integrity of membranes by inhibiting lipid peroxidation. Mostly on the basis of symptoms of primary vitamin E deficiency, it has been demonstrated that vitamin E has a central role in maintaining neurological structure and function. Orally supplemented vitamin E reaches the cerebrospinal fluid and brain. Vitamin E is a generic term for all tocopherols and their derivatives having the biological activity of RRR-alpha-tocopherol, the naturally occurring stereoisomer compounds with vitamin E activity. In nature, eight substances have been found to have vitamin E activity: alpha-, beta-, gamma- and delta-tocopherol; and alpha-, beta-, gamma- and delta-tocotrienol. Often, the term vitamin E is synonymously used with alpha-tocopherol. Tocotrienols, formerly known as zeta, , or eta-tocopherols, are similar to tocopherols except that they have an isoprenoid tail with three unsaturation points instead of a saturated phytyl tail. Although tocopherols are predominantly found in corn, soybean, and olive oils, tocotrienols are particularly rich in palm, rice bran, and barley oils. Tocotrienols possess powerful antioxidant, anticancer, and cholesterol-lowering properties. Recently, we have observed that alpha-tocotrienol is multi-fold more potent than alpha-tocopherol in protecting HT4 and primary neuronal cells against toxicity induced by glutamate as well as by a number of other toxins. At nanomolar concentration, tocotrienol, but not tocopherol, completely protected neurons by an antioxidant-independent mechanism. Our current work identifies two major targets of tocotrienol in the neuron: c-Src kinase and 12-lipoxygenase. Dietary supplementation studies have established that tocotrienol, fed orally, does reach the brain. The current findings point towards tocotrienol as a potent neuroprotective form of natural vitamin E.

Rattlesnake venom induces apoptosis by stimulating PC-PLC and upregulating the expression of integrin β4, P53 in vascular endothelial cells

In the previous studies, we found that phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase C (PC-PLC) was implicated in apoptosis induced by rattlesnake venom in vascular endothelial cells (VEC) [Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. (1997b) 223, 182]. In order to find out other signal elements in this pathway and the mechanisms by which PC-PLC mediates apoptosis induced by rattlesnake venom in VEC, the expression of integrin beta4 and P53 was evaluated when the activity of PC-PLC was suppressed by D609 (tricyclodecan-9-yl-xanthogenate), a specific inhibitor of this enzyme. The increase of integrin beta4 and P53 expression induced by the venom was markedly suppressed when apoptosis of VEC was inhibited by D609. The data indicated that integrin beta4 and P53 play important roles in signal transduction of apoptosis induced by rattlesnake venom, and that PC-PLC might regulate apoptosis by up-regulating the expression of integrin beta4 and P53 in VEC.

Equine estrogens differentially inhibit DNA fragmentation induced by glutamate in neuronal cells by modulation of regulatory proteins involved in programmed cell death

BACKGROUND

Recent data indicate that excitotoxicity of high levels of neurotransmitter glutamate may be mediated via programmed cell death (apoptosis) and that it can be prevented in HT22 mouse hippocampal cells by various equine estrogens with Delta8,17beta-estradiol (Delta8,17beta-E2) being the most potent. In order to delineate the mechanism(s), glutamate-induced cell death of HT22 cells was assessed by measuring (a) DNA fragmentation in the presence or absence of 11 equine estrogens (components of the drug CEE); (b) cell death and (c) levels of anti-apoptotic (Bcl-2) and proapoptotic (Bax) proteins in the presence or absence of two equine estrogens, Delta8,17beta-E2 and 17beta-estradiol (17beta-E2) by LDH release assay and Western blot analysis respectively.

RESULTS

Glutamate treatment induced cell death was time and dose-dependent. After 18 to 24 h, glutamate induced DNA fragmentation and morphological characteristics of apoptotic cell death. DNA fragmentation and morphological changes induced by 10 mM glutamate were completely inhibited by some equine estrogens. Exposure of cells to various concentrations of glutamate, resulted in a significant increase in cell death associated LDH release that was time-dependent. Both Delta8,17beta-E2 and 17beta-E2 inhibited the glutamate-induced LDH release and cell death in a dose-dependent manner with Delta8,17beta-E2 being 10 times more potent than 17beta-E2. Western blot analysis indicated that glutamate also significantly decreased the levels of Bcl-2 and increased Bax levels. This glutamate-induced change in the ratio of Bcl-2 to Bax was reversed by estrogens with Delta8,17beta-E2 being more potent.

CONCLUSIONS

In HT22 mouse hippocampal cells, glutamate induced apoptosis that was associated with DNA fragmentation, morphological changes and up-regulation of the pro-apoptotic protein Bax and down-regulation of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2. This apoptotic process was differentially prevented by some equine estrogens with Delta8,17beta-E2 being more potent than 17beta-E2. Since HT22 cells lacked both glutamate and estrogen receptors, the neuroprotective effects of estrogens most likely involve both genomic and non-genomic mechanisms. Since Delta8-estrogens are less feminizing estrogens than 17beta-E2, further chemical modifications of these Delta8-estrogens may provide more selective estrogens that will be useful in the prevention of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's in both aging men and women.

Activation of stimulatory heterotrimeric G proteins increases glutathione and protects neuronal cells against oxidative stress

Oxidative glutamate toxicity in the neuronal cell line HT22 is a model for cell death by oxidative stress, where an excess of extracellular glutamate inhibits import of cystine, a building block of the antioxidant glutathione. The subsequent decrease in glutathione then leads to the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and programmed cell death. We used pharmacological compounds known to interact with heterotrimeric G-protein signalling and studied their effects on cell survival, morphology, and intracellular events that ultimately lead to cell death. Cholera toxin and phorbol esters were most effective and prevented cell death through independent pathways. Treating HT22 cells with cholera toxin attenuated the glutamate-induced accumulation of ROS and calcium influx. This was, at least in part, caused by an increase in glutathione due to improved uptake of cystine mediated by the induction of the glutamate/cystine-antiporter subunit xCT or, additionally, by the up-regulation of the antiapoptotic protein Bcl-2. Gs activation also protected HT22 cells from hydrogen peroxide or inhibition of glutathione synthesis by buthionine sulfoximine, and immature cortical neurones from oxidative glutamate toxicity. Thus, this pathway might be more generally implicated in protection from neuronal death by oxidative stress.

Rapid tau aggregation and delayed hippocampal neuronal death induced by persistent thrombin signaling

Tau hyperphosphorylation, leading to self-aggregation, is widely held to underlie the neurofibrillary degeneration found in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other tauopathies. However, it is unclear exactly what environmental factors may trigger this pathogenetic tau hyperphosphorylation. From several perspectives, the coagulation serine protease, thrombin, has been implicated in AD and activates several different protein kinase pathways but has not previously been shown how it may contribute to AD pathogenesis. Here we report that nanomolar thrombin induced rapid tau hyperphosphorylation and aggregation in murine hippocampal neurons via protease-activated receptors, which was followed by delayed synaptophysin reduction and apoptotic neuronal death. Mechanistic study revealed that a persistent thrombin signaling via protease-activated receptor 4 and prolonged downstream p44/42 mitogenactivated protein kinase activation are at least in part responsible. These results pathogenetically linked thrombin to subpopulations of AD and other tauopathies associated with cerebrovascular damage. Such knowledge may be instrumental in transforming therapeutic paradigms.

Oxidative neuronal death caused by glutamate uptake inhibition in cultured hippocampal neurons

Glutamate transporters are coupled with cystine/glutamate antiporters to supply cystine as a component of glutathione, an important antioxidant. We sought evidence that L-trans-pyrrolidine-2,4-dicarboxylate (PDC) enhances glutamate-induced neuronal damage not only via the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor mediated pathway, but also through induction of oxidative stress. Cultured hippocampal cells were exposed to glutamate (100 microM) for 5 min, washed and incubated for 18 hr with PDC (200 microM). PDC, increasing the neuronal death to 147% of that induced by glutamate alone, depleted glutathione in the culture, and produced dichloro-dihydro-fluorescein-diacetate-positive reactive oxygen species in neurons. N-acetylcysteine (2 mM) not only reduced PDC-enhanced neuronal death but also recovered glutathione and abolished the reactive oxygen species in these neurons. Threo-beta-benzyloxyaspartate, another type of glutamate transporter inhibitor, also induced glutathione depletion in the glutamate-preloaded cells, suggesting the involvement of glutamate transporter blocking in glutathione depletion. The NMDA receptor antagonist MK-801, although partially effective in reducing PDC toxicity, slightly recovered glutathione level but did not reduce the reactive oxygen species even at a high concentration (100 microM). N-acetylcysteine, dimethylsulfoxide, alpha-phenyl-N-butyl nitrone and glutathione ethylester prevented neuronal death enhanced by PDC, but superoxide dismutase and catalase did not. Our study provides evidence that the block of glutamate uptake by PDC exerts toxicity on glutamate-pretreated neurons not only through the accumulation of extracellular glutamate and subsequent activation of the NMDA receptor but also through depletion of glutathione and generation of reactive oxygen species.

Citicoline mechanisms and clinical efficacy in cerebral ischemia

Citicoline, an intermediate in the biosynthesis of phosphatidylcholine (PtdCho), has shown beneficial effects in various CNS injury models and neurodegenerative diseases. PtdCho hydrolysis by phospholipase A(2) (PLA(2)) after cerebral ischemia and reperfusion yields arachidonic acid (ArAc) and lyso-PtdCho. ArAc oxidative metabolism results in formation of reactive oxygen species and lipid peroxides. Lyso-PtdCho could inhibit activity of cytidine triphosphate-phosphocholine cytidylyltransferase (the rate-limiting enzyme in PtdCho biosynthesis), resulting in impaired PtdCho synthesis. Citicoline significantly increased glutathione levels and attenuated release of ArAc and the loss of PtdCho, cardiolipin, and sphingomyelin following transient cerebral ischemia. These effects could be explained by an effect of citicoline on PLA(2). Based on these observations, a mechanism has been hypothesized. This Mini-Review summarizes recent experimental data on the effects of citicoline in cerebral ischemia and evaluates several factors that might have hindered efficacy of citicoline in stroke clinical trials in the United States. Clinical stroke trials of citicoline in Europe and Japan have demonstrated beneficial effects. U.S. trials shown only marginal effects, which might be due to the 24 hr time window, the dose and route of administration, and the stringency of the primary outcome parameters. Recent evaluation of U.S. clinical data suggests that reduction of infarct growth may be a more sensitive measure of the citicoline effect than improvement on the NIH Stroke Scale (NIHSS) by > or =7 points. The citicoline neuroprotective mechanism has not been clearly identified, and its potential in stroke treatment might still be fully recognized in the United States. The clinical efficacy of citicoline should be examined further in light of the recent phase III stroke clinical trials and experimental data for cerebral ischemia.

A novel class of microbial phosphocholine-specific phospholipases C

In this report we describe the 1,500-fold purification and characterization of the haemolytic phospholipase C (PLC) of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, the paradigm member of a novel PLC/phosphatase superfamily. Members include proteins from Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Bordetella spp., Francisella tularensis and Burkholderia pseudomallei. Purification involved overexpression of the plcHR1,2 operon, ion exchange chromatography and native preparative polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry confirmed the presence of two proteins in the purified sample with sizes of 17,117.2 Da (PlcR2) and 78,417 Da (PlcH). Additionally, liquid chromatography electrospray mass spectrometry (LCMS) revealed that PlcH and PlcR2 are at a stoichiometry of 1 : 1. Western blot analysis demonstrated that the enzyme purifies as a heterodimeric complex, PlcHR2. PlcHR2 is only active on choline-containing phospholipids. It is equally active on phosphatidylcholine (PC) and sphingomyelin (SM) and is able to hydrolyse plasmenylcholine phospholipids (plasmalogens). Neither PlcHR2 nor the M. tuberculosis homologues are inhibited by D609 a widely used, competitive inhibitor of the Bacillus cereus PLC. PlcH, PlcR2, and the PlcHR2 complex bind calcium. While calcium has no detectable effect on enzymatic activity, it inhibits the haemolytic activity of PlcHR2. In addition to being required for the secretion of PlcH, the chaperone PlcR2 affects both the enzymatic and haemolytic properties of PlcH. Inclusive in these data is the conclusion that the members of this PC-PLC and phosphatase family possess a novel mechanism for the recognition and hydrolysis of their respective substrates.

Effects of citicoline on phospholipid and glutathione levels in transient cerebral ischemia

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Cytidine-5'-diphosphocholine (citicoline or CDP-choline) is an essential intermediate in the biosynthesis of phosphatidylcholine, an important component of the neural cell membrane. Citicoline provided significant neuroprotection after transient forebrain ischemia in gerbils. This study was undertaken to examine changes and effects of citicoline on phospholipids and glutathione synthesis after transient cerebral ischemia and reperfusion.

METHODS

Ten-minute transient forebrain ischemia was induced by bilateral carotid artery occlusion in male Mongolian gerbils with reperfusion up to 6 days. Citicoline (500 mg/kg IP in saline) was given to gerbils just after the end of ischemia, at 3-hour reperfusion, and daily thereafter until 1 day before euthanasia. Hippocampal lipids were extracted and analyzed by thin-layer and gas chromatography. Glutathione was measured by using an enzymatic recycling assay. Glutathione reductase activity was determined by measuring NADPH oxidation.

RESULTS

Significant decreases in phospholipids occurred at 1-day reperfusion. Citicoline significantly restored the phosphatidylcholine, sphingomyelin, and cardiolipin levels but did not affect phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylserine at 1 day. The phospholipids returned to sham levels over days 2 to 6 and were unaffected by citicoline. Ceramide levels significantly increased by 3 and 6 days of reperfusion and were unaltered by citicoline. Ischemia resulted in significant decreases in glutathione and glutathione reductase activity over 3 days of reperfusion. Citicoline significantly increased total glutathione and glutathione reductase activity and decreased the glutathione oxidation ratio, an indicator of glutathione redox status.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data indicated that the effects of citicoline on phospholipids occurred primarily during the first day of reperfusion, with effects on glutathione being important over the 3-day reperfusion period.

Molecular characterization of a phosphatidylcholine-hydrolyzing phospholipase C

While searching for a phospholipase C (PLC) specific for phosphatidylcholine in mammalian tissues, we came across such an activity originating from a contamination of Pseudomonas fluorescens. This psychrophilic bacterium was found to contaminate placental extracts upon processing in the cold. The secreted phosphatidylcholine-hydrolyzing PLC was purified by a combination of chromatographic procedures. As substrates, the enzyme preferred dipalmitoyl-phosphatidylcholine and 1-palmitoyl-2-arachidonoyl-phosphatidylcholine over phosphatidylinositol. The active enzyme is a monomer of approximately 40 kDa. As for other bacterial PLCs, the enzyme requires Ca2+ and Zn2+ for activity; dithiothreitol affected the activity due to its chelation of Zn2+, but this inhibition could be compensated for by addition of ZnCl2. The compound D609, described to selectively inhibit phosphatidylcholine-specific PLCs, caused half-inhibition of the P. fluorescens enzyme at approximately 420 microM, while 50-fold lower concentrations similarly affected PLCs from Bacillus cereus and Clostridium perfringens. Partial peptide sequences obtained from the pure P. fluorescens enzyme after tryptic cleavage were used to clone a DNA fragment of 3.5 kb from a P. fluorescens gene library prepared from our laboratory isolate. It contains an ORF of 1155 nucleotides encoding the PLC. There is no significant sequence homology to other PLCs, suggesting that the P. fluorescens enzyme represents a distinct subclass of bacterial PLCs. The protein lacks cysteine residues and consequently contains no disulfide bonds. Interestingly, P. fluorescens reference strain DSMZ 50090 is devoid of the PLC activity described here as well as of the relevant coding sequence.

Temporal and spatial profile of caspase 8 expression and proteolysis after experimental traumatic brain injury

Recent studies have demonstrated that the downstream caspases, such as caspase 3, act as executors of the apoptotic cascade after traumatic brain injury (TBI) in vivo. However, little is known about the involvement of caspases in the initiation phase of apoptosis, and the interaction between these initiator caspases (e.g. caspase 8) and executor caspases after experimental brain injuries in vitro and in vivo. This study investigated the temporal expression and cell subtype distribution of procaspase 8 and cleaved caspase 8 p20 from 1 h to 14 days after cortical impact-induced TBI in rats. Caspase 8 messenger RNA levels, estimated by semiquantitaive RT-PCR, were elevated from 1 h to 72 h in the traumatized cortex. Western blotting revealed increased immunoreactivity for procaspase 8 and the proteolytically active subunit of caspase 8, p20, in the ipsilateral cortex from 6 to 72 h after injury, with a peak at 24 h after TBI. Similar to our previous studies, immunoreactivity for the p18 fragment of activated caspase 3 also increased in the current study from 6 to 72 h after TBI, but peaked at a later timepoint (48 h) as compared with proteolyzed caspase 8 p20. Immunohistologic examinations revealed increased expression of caspase 8 in neurons, astrocytes and oligodendrocytes. Assessment of DNA damage using TUNEL identified caspase 8- and caspase 3-immunopositive cells with apoptotic-like morphology in the cortex ipsilateral to the injury site, and immunohistochemical investigations of caspase 8 and activated caspase 3 revealed expression of both proteases in cortical layers 2-5 after TBI. Quantitative analysis revealed that the number of caspase 8 positive cells exceeds the number of caspase 3 expressing cells up to 24 h after impact injury. In contrast, no evidence of caspase 8 and caspase 3 activation was seen in the ipsilateral hippocampus, contralateral cortex and hippocampus up to 14 days after the impact. Our results provide the first evidence of caspase 8 activation after experimental TBI and suggest that this may occur in neurons, astrocytes and oligodendrocytes. Our findings also suggest a contributory role of caspase 8 activation to caspase 3 mediated apoptotic cell death after experimental TBI in vivo.

Cellular and mitochondrial changes in glutamate-induced HT4 neuronal cell death

Elevated levels of extracellular glutamate are neurotoxic. The cytotoxic property of extracellular glutamate is known to mediate two primary mechanisms, excitotoxicity and excitotoxicity-independent processes. The excitotoxicity-independent pathway was investigated in the current study in a mouse hippocampal-derived HT4 cell line. Exposure of HT4 cells to glutamate for 12h induced loss of cell viability preceded by rapid loss of intracellular reduced glutathione followed by accumulation of intracellular reactive oxygen species, elevation of intracellular Ca(2+), progressive loss of mitochondrial membrane potential swelling and loss of mitochondrial outer membrane integrity. Glutamate-induced loss of DNA integrity has been detected. The antioxidants alpha-tocopherol and trolox, mitochondrial calcium uniporter inhibitor Ruthenium Red and protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide all showed protection against glutamate-induced toxicity. None of the protective agents except for alpha-tocopherol controlled the glutamate-induced reactive oxygen species build-up. However, these cell death regulators prevented the glutamate-induced mitochondrial damage and regulated glutamate-induced increase in intracellular Ca(2+). Carbonyl cyanide p-trifluoromethoxyphenyl-hydrazone, a mitochondrial uncoupler, partially protected against glutamate-induced cell death and mitochondrial damage, while the mitochondrial ribosomal inhibitor chloramphenicol and extracellular Ca(2+) chelator ethylene glycol-bis(beta-aminoethyl ether)-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid did not protect the cells against glutamate treatment. The results of this study demonstrated that mitochondrial dysfunction was a key event in the excitotoxicity-independent component of neuronal cell death. Reactive oxygen species accumulation and glutathione depletion were prominent in glutamate-treated cells; however, these events were not direct mediators of cell death.

Phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase C-mediated induction of phospholipase D activity in Fas-expressing murine cells

We have previously reported that Fas cross-linking resulted in the activation of phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase C (PC-PLC) and the subsequent activation of protein kinase C (PKC) and phospholipase D (PLD) in A20 cells. In an attempt to correlate the existence of PC-PLC activity and activation of PLD by Fas activation among various Fas-expressing murine cell lines, we have investigated the effect of anti-Fas monoclonal antibody on PC-PLC and PLD activities in A20, P388D1 and YAC-1 cell lines. Upon treatment of anti-Fas monoclonal antibody to these three cell lines, the activation of PLD was only observed in A20 cells. When the effect of anti-Fas monoclonal antibody on PKC and PC-PLC activities in Fas-expressing clones were investigated, the activation of PKC and PC-PLC was detected only in A20 clones. Results presented here also show that exogenous addition of Bacillus cereus PC-PLC activates PC hydrolysis, PKC and PLD in all three murine cell lines. These findings suggest that the activation of PC-PLC is a necessary requirement for the activation of PLD by Fas cross-linking and cell lines devoid of functional PC-PLC activity could exhibit enhanced PLD activity by exogenous addition of PC-PLC.

Choline release and inhibition of phosphatidylcholine synthesis precede excitotoxic neuronal death but not neurotoxicity induced by serum deprivation

N-Methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor overactivation has been proposed to induce excitotoxic neuronal death by enhancing membrane phospholipid degradation. In previous studies, we have shown that NMDA releases choline and reduces membrane phosphatidylcholine in vivo. We now observed that glutamate and NMDA induce choline release in primary neuronal cortical cell cultures. This effect is Ca(2+)-dependent and is blocked by MK-801 ((+)-5-methyl-10, 11-dihydro-5H-dibenzo[a,d]cyclohepten-5,10-imine hydrogen maleate). In cortical neurons, the NMDA receptor-mediated choline release precedes excitotoxic cell death but not neuronal death induced by either osmotic lysis or serum deprivation. Glutamate, at concentrations that release arachidonic acid, does not release choline in cerebellar granule cells, unless these cells are rendered susceptible to excitotoxic death by energy deprivation. The NMDA-evoked release of choline is not mediated by phospholipases A(2) or C. Moreover, NMDA does not activate phospholipase D in cortical cells. However, NMDA inhibits incorporation of [methyl-(3)H]choline into both membrane phosphatidylcholine and sphingomyelin. These results show that the increase in extracellular choline induced by NMDA receptor activation is directly related with excitotoxic cell death and indicate that choline release is an early event of the excitotoxic process produced by inhibition of phosphatidylcholine synthesis and not by activation of membrane phospholipid degradation.

Involvement of phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase C in thromboxane A2-induced activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase in astrocytoma cells

Thromboxane A2 (TXA2) receptor-mediated signal transduction was investigated in 1321N1 human astrocytoma cells. 9,11-Epithio-11,12-methano-TXA2 (STA2), a TXA2 receptor agonist, induced Ca2+ mobilization and phosphoinositide hydrolysis in a concentration-dependent manner. These responses were inhibited by treatment with U73122, an inhibitor of phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C, or by culturing in 0.5% fetal calf serum containing 0.5 mM dibutyryladenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (dbcAMP) for 2 days. However, the dbcAMP treatment augmented the TXA2 receptor-mediated phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK). These results were confirmed by a functional MAPK assay measuring the incorporation of 32P into the MAPK substrate peptide. The TXA2 receptor-mediated MAPK activation was inhibited by SQ29548, a TXA2 receptor antagonist, and GF109203X, an inhibitor of protein kinase C. Although U73122 did not inhibit or only slightly inhibited the activation of MAPK, D-609, an inhibitor of phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase C, potently attenuated the activation in a concentration-dependent manner. Furthermore, STA2 accelerated the release of [3H]choline metabolites from the cells prelabeled with [3H]choline chloride. This release was inhibited by treatment with D-609. These results suggest that phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase C and protein kinase C, but not phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C, are involved in TXA2 receptor-mediated MAPK activation in 1321N1 human astrocytoma cells.

Persistent activation of ERK contributes to glutamate-induced oxidative toxicity in a neuronal cell line and primary cortical neuron cultures

Oxidative stress can trigger neuronal cell death and has been implicated in several chronic neurological diseases and in acute neurological injury. Oxidative toxicity can be induced by glutamate treatment in cells that lack ionotrophic glutamate receptors, such as the immortalized HT22 hippocampal cell line and immature primary cortical neurons. Previously, we found that neuroprotective effects of geldanamycin, a benzoquinone ansamycin, in HT22 cells were associated with a down-regulation of c-Raf-1, an upstream activator of the extracellular signal-regulated protein kinases (ERKs). ERK activation, although often attributed strictly to neuronal cell survival and proliferation, can also be associated with neuronal cell death that occurs in response to specific insults. In this report we show that delayed and persistent activation of ERKs is associated with glutamate-induced oxidative toxicity in HT22 cells and immature primary cortical neuron cultures. Furthermore, we find that U0126, a specific inhibitor of the ERK-activating kinase, MEK-1/2, protects both HT22 cells and immature primary cortical neuron cultures from glutamate toxicity. Glutamate-induced ERK activation requires the production of specific arachidonic acid metabolites and appears to be downstream of a burst of reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation characteristic of oxidative stress in HT22 cells. However, inhibition of ERK activation reduces glutamate-induced intracellular Ca(2+) accumulation. We hypothesize that the precise kinetics and duration of ERK activation may determine whether downstream targets are mobilized to enhance neuronal cell survival or ensure cellular demise.

Hwansodan protects PC12 cells against serum-deprivation-induced apoptosis via a mechanism involving Ras and mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase pathway

Hwansodan has been used as a prescription for senile and vascular dementia in Oriental medicine. We investigated the neuroprotective effects of Hwansodan water extract on the apoptotic death of PC12 cells by serum deprivation. Hwansodan significantly rescued PC12 cells from apoptotic death by serum deprivation in a dose-dependent manner. The nuclear staining of PC12 cells clearly showed that Hwansodan attenuated nuclear condensation and fragmentation, which represents typical neuronal apoptotic characteristics. Hwansodan also prevents DNA fragmentation and caspase-3-like protease activation in serum-deprived PC12 cells and induces the tyrosine phosphorylation of proteins around 44 kDa, which was identified as ERK1 with electrophoretic gel mobility shift by Western blot. In addition, MEK inhibitor PD98059 and Ras inactivator, alpha-hydroxyfarnesylphosphonic acid and mevastatin, attenuated the neuroprotective effects of Hwansodan in serum-deprived PC12 cells. These results indicate that Ras/MEK/ERK signaling pathway plays a role in neuroprotective effects of Hwansodan in serum-deprived PC12 cells.

Expression of Fas and Fas ligand after experimental traumatic brain injury in the rat

Apoptotic cell death plays an important role in the cascade of neuronal degeneration after traumatic brain injury (TBI), but the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. However, increasing evidence suggests that expression of Fas and its ligand (FasL) could play a major role in mediating apoptotic cell death in acute and chronic neurologic disorders. To further investigate the temporal pattern of Fas and FasL expression after experimental TBI in the rat, male Sprague Dawley rats were subjected to unilateral cortical impact injury. The animals were killed and examined for Fas and FasL protein expression and for immunohistologic analysis at intervals from 15 minutes to 14 days after injury. Increased Fas and FasL immunoreactivity was seen in the cortex ipsilateral to the injury site from 15 minutes to 72 hours after the trauma, respectively. Immunohistologic investigation demonstrated a differential pattern of Fas and FasL expression in the cortex, respectively: increased Fas immunoreactivity was seen in cortical astrocytes and neurons from 15 minutes to 72 hours after the injury. In contrast, increased expression of FasL was seen in cortical neurons, astrocytes, and microglia from 15 minutes to 72 hours after impact injury. Concurrent double-labeling examinations using terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine-biotin nick end labeling identified Fas- and FasL-immunopositive cells with high frequency in the cortex ipsilateral to the injury site. In contrast, there was no evidence of Fas- and FasL-immunopositive cells in the hippocampus ipsilateral to the injury site up to 14 days after the trauma. Further, Fas and FasL immunoreactivity was absent in the contralateral cortex and hippocampus at all time points investigated. These results reveal induction of Fas and FasL expression in the cortex after TBI in the rat. Further, these data implicate an involvement of Fas and FasL in the pathophysiologic mechanism of apoptotic neurodegeneration after TBI. Last, these data suggest that strategies aimed to repress posttraumatic Fas- and FasL-induced apoptosis may open new perspectives for the treatment of TBI.

New gene targets related to schizophrenia and other psychiatric disorders: enzymes, binding proteins and transport proteins involved in phospholipid and fatty acid metabolism

Phospholipids make up about 60% of the brain's dry weight. In spite of this, phospholipid metabolism has received relatively little attention from those seeking genetic factors involved in psychiatric and neurological disorders. However, there is now increasing evidence from many quarters that abnormal phospholipid and related fatty acid metabolism may contribute to illnesses such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. To date the possible specific proteins and genes involved have been relatively ill-defined. This paper reviews the main pathways of phospholipid metabolism, emphasizing the roles of phospholipases of the A2 and C series in signal transduction processes. It identifies some likely protein candidates for involvement in psychiatric and neurological disorders. It also reviews the chromosomal locations of regions likely to be involved in these disorders, and relates these to the known locations of genes directly or indirectly involved in phospholipid and fatty acid metabolism.