Apoptosis induced by p75NTR overexpression requires Jun kinase-dependent phosphorylation of Bad

The p75 neurotrophin receptor in human development and disease

The functional effects of nerve growth factor (NGF) and its precursor, pro-NGF, are thought to be mediated through binding of these ligands to one or both of their receptors, TrkA and p75NTR. While the signaling pathways and downstream effects of NGF binding to TrkA are reasonably well known, those related to the binding of NGF and pro-NGF to p75NTR are less well understood. Furthermore, p75NTR appears to play functional roles that are unrelated to its ability to bind NGF and pro-NGF, some of which are ligand-independent and others of which are dependent upon binding to other neurotrophins. As these functional roles and their biochemical mechanisms become better known, the importance of p75NTR, related receptors, and both extracellular ligands and intracellular interactors and effectors for human development and health has become increasingly apparent. A complete understanding of p75NTR and its cellular partners is best served by approaching the remaining questions from both sides, with studies of function in normal states and studies of dysfunction in aberrant states mutually informing one another.

Differential effect of p75 neurotrophin receptor on expression of pro-apoptotic proteins c-jun, p38 and caspase-3 in dorsal root ganglion cells after axotomy in experimental diabetes

We have hypothesized that p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75(NTR))-mediated activation of the pro-apoptotic proteins c-jun, p38 and caspase-3 underlies the neuronal cell loss in dorsal root ganglia (DRG) neurons after axotomy in normal mice, and that this activation is exaggerated in experimental diabetes. To test this hypothesized relationship, we compared the expression of pro-apoptotic proteins in fifth lumbar DRG (L5DRG) neurons of wildtype Balb/c (p75+/+) mice and p75(NTR) knockout (p75-/-) mice, assigned to either non-diabetic control groups or to diabetic (1 month) groups, all with a unilateral sciatic nerve crush produced 10 days before tissue preparation. The absolute number of L5DRG neurons expressing immunoreactivities (IR) for phosphorylated c-jun (P-c-jun-IR), phosphorylated p-38 (P-p38-IR) and cleaved caspase-3 (caspase-3-IR) were estimated in semi-thick sections using the optical fractionator. Nerve crush increased the numbers of P-c-jun-IR and caspase-3-IR neurons in all four groups. On the crush side, diabetes did not exaggerate the increase of P-c-jun-IR or caspase-3-IR neurons in p75+/+ mice, whereas in p75-/- mice diabetes reduced the increase of P-c-jun-IR neurons. Also, in p75-/- mice there was fewer caspase-3-IR cells on the intact and crushed side in comparison with p75+/+ mice independent of the presence of diabetes. This study demonstrates that (1) diabetes of 1 month's duration does not potentiate the expression of three pro-apoptotic markers p38, caspase-3 and P-c-jun neither in intact neurons nor after nerve crush, and that (2) p75(NTR) is required for activation of the pro-apoptosis signal caspase-3 after nerve crush in both diabetic and non-diabetic mice.

Low concentrations of aggregated β-amyloid induce neurite formation via the neurotrophin receptor p75

Aggregated beta-amyloid (Abeta) binds to the neurotrophin receptor p75 and induces signaling. We examined this signaling process in different cell lines which express p75 either naturally (Schwannoma RN22 cells) or which are stably transfected with wild-type p75 (MDCKwt and PCNA cells) or with a truncated form of p75 comprising only extracellular and transmembrane domains (MDCKtm cells). While Abeta in higher concentrations (10-100 microM) is known to cause apoptosis via p75, our experiments focused on the effects of low concentrations of Abeta (25 nM) which may occur in early stages of Alzheimer disease. Application of Abeta caused tyrosine phosphorylation of wild-type p75 and induced the Ras-ERK pathway as has been reported for nerve growth factor (NGF). Since Ras activation and ERK phosphorylation (via MEK) could not be observed in MDCKtm cells and since they were clearly reduced in cells transfected with a p75 antisense construct, these effects should have been mediated by p75. Abeta also induced Ras and ERK activation in cerebellar neurons of 2-day-old rats which express p75 at that developmental stage but not TrkA; other Trk receptors were inhibited by K252a. In these neurons, Abeta led to quick formation, branching and elongation of processes. But while NGF distinctly promoted neurite branching and elongation, Abeta was less effective in neurite elongation and counts of small processes and of growth cones remained clearly elevated after 24-h stimulation; these peculiarities might be linked to aberrant neuronal connections reported for an animal model of Alzheimer disease. Essentially, the observed effects were mediated by interaction of Abeta and p75.

JNK activation contributes to DP5 induction and apoptosis following traumatic spinal cord injury

Growing evidence suggests that cells undergo apoptosis after spinal cord injury (SCI). However, little is known about the early events that trigger apoptosis in the contused cord. The BH3-only subfamily of pro-apoptotic regulators (e.g., bim, bad, and dp5) is recognized as initiators of the apoptotic cascade, and is subject to stringent control, both at the transcriptional and post-translational level. In the current study, we studied upstream events regulating trauma-induced apoptosis in the spinal cord. Within 1 h after SCI in rats, DP5 was induced, while Bim and Bad levels remained unchanged. In parallel, SCI also activated the stress-induced c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), leading to the phosphorylation of c-Jun, with a similar temporal profile. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that p-JNK and DP5 colocalized to neurons and oligodendrocytes undergoing apoptosis in the injured cord, but were absent in uninjured spinal cord. Furthermore, inhibition of JNK activity with in vivo delivery of SP600125 or a jnk1 antisense oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) attenuated DP5 induction and caspase-3 activation. These results suggest that JNK activation contributes to trauma-induced DP5 expression and subsequent apoptosis in SCI.

Getting RIP’d Stunts Your Growth

The p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75NTR) collaborates with the Nogo receptor (NgR) and LINGO-1 to activate RhoA in response to myelin-based growth inhibitors such as myelin-associated glycoprotein (MAG). In this issue of Neuron, Domeniconi et al., in a surprising turn, show that MAG induces intramembrane proteolysis (RIP) of p75NTR and find that p75NTR cleavage is required for MAG-induced RhoA activation and growth inhibition.

The role of nerve growth factor receptors in cholinergic basal forebrain degeneration in prodromal Alzheimer disease

Dysfunction of nerve growth factor (NGF) and its high (TrkA) and low (p75NTR) affinity receptors has been suggested to underlie the selective degeneration of the nucleus basalis (NB) cholinergic cortical projection neurons in end stage Alzheimer disease (AD). Whether the NGF system is dysfunctional during the prodromal stages of AD has only recently been evaluated. Surprisingly, the number of choline acetyltransferase-containing neurons remains stable despite a significant reduction in NGF receptor-positive cells in people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), suggesting a phenotypic NGF receptor downregulation but not a frank loss of NB neurons during prodromal AD. Moreover, there is a loss of cortical TrkA in the face of stable p75NTR and increased proNGF levels, the precursor molecule of mature NGF, in early AD. Depending upon the cellular context these changes may result in increased pro-apoptotic signaling, cell survival, or a defect in retrograde transport mechanisms. Alterations in NGF and its receptors within the cholinotrophic NB system in early AD suggest that NGF-mediated cell signaling is required for the longterm survival of these neurons. Therapeutic neurotrophic intervention might delay or prevent NB neuron degeneration and preserve cholinergic cortical function during prodromal AD.

Phosphorylation of BAD at Ser-128 during mitosis and paclitaxel-induced apoptosis

Phosphorylation of BCL-2 family member BAD at different residues triggers different physiological effects, either inhibiting or promoting apoptosis. The recently identified phosphorylation site at Ser-128 enhances the apoptotic activity of BAD. We here show that BAD becomes phosphorylated at Ser-128 in the mitotic phase of the cell cycle in NIH3T3 cells. We also show that BAD-S128 is phosphorylated in taxol-treated mouse fibroblasts and MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells. However, expression of a phosphorylation-defective dominant negative BAD mutant did not block taxol-induced apoptosis. These data support the view that the phosphorylation of BAD Serine 128 exerts cell-specific effects on apoptosis. Whereas the BAD Serine 128 phosphorylation induces apoptosis in neuronal cells, it does not appear to promote apoptosis in proliferating non-neural cells during mitosis or upon exposure to the antineoplastic agent taxol.

HSV-induced apoptosis in herpes encephalitis

HSV triggers and blocks apoptosis in cell type-specific fashion. This review discusses present understanding of the role of apoptosis and signaling cascades in neuronal pathogenesis and survival and summarizes present findings relating to the modulation of these strictly balanced processes by HSV infection. Underscored are the findings that HSV-1, but not HSV-2, triggers apoptosis in CNS neurons and causes encephalitis in adult subjects. Mechanisms responsible for the different outcomes of infection with the two HSV serotypes are described, including the contribution of viral antiapoptotic genes, notably the HSV-2 gene ICP10PK. Implications for the potential use of HSV vectors in future therapeutic developments are discussed.

Neurotrophin Receptor Interacting Factor (NRIF) Is an Essential Mediator of Apoptotic Signaling by the p75 Neurotrophin Receptor

Activation of the p75 neurotrophin receptor leads to a variety of effects within the nervous system, including neuronal apoptosis. Both c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and the tumor suppressor p53 have been reported to be critical for this receptor to induce cell death; however, the mechanisms by which p75 activates these pathways is undetermined. Here we report that the neurotrophin receptor interacting factor (NRIF) is necessary for p75-dependent JNK activation and apoptosis. Upon nerve growth factor withdrawal, nrif-/- sympathetic neurons underwent apoptosis, whereas p75-mediated death was completely abrogated. The lack of cell death correlated with a lack of JNK activation in the nrif-/- neurons, suggesting that NRIF is a selective mediator for p75-dependent JNK activation and apoptosis. Moreover, we document that NRIF expression is sufficient to induce cell death through a mechanism that requires p53. Taken together, these results establish NRIF as an essential component of the p75 apoptotic pathway.

Multi-tasking by the p75 neurotrophin receptor: sortilin things out?

Signalling by the p75 neurotrophin receptor has been implicated in diverse neuronal responses, including increased differentiation or survival, inhibition of regeneration, and initiation of apoptotic cell death. These numerous roles are matched by, but are not yet correlated with, a multiplicity of extracellular ligands and intracellular interactors. Membrane proteins such as sortilin, a member of the Vps10p family of sorting receptors, and the glycosylphosphatidylinositol-linked Nogo receptor (NgR) and the associated adaptor lingo 1 have recently been added to the list of p75-interacting modulators. Other studies have described intramembranal cleavage of p75 and the potential nuclear targeting of cleavage fragments or of the complete receptor after it has been internalized into a putative signalling endosome. These findings suggest that some of the diversity in p75 activities might be due to differential subcellular localization and transport of p75 receptor complexes. We therefore argue that cell-biology-driven approaches are now required to make sense of p75 signalling.

p75NTR – live or let die

During neuronal development, neurotrophins are essential factors that promote survival, differentiation and myelination of neurons. The trophic signals are relayed to the cells via binding to Trk receptor tyrosine kinases and the p75 neurotrophin receptor. Paradoxically, the p75 neurotrophin receptor also ensures rapid and appropriate apoptosis of neonatal neurons not reaching their proper targets and transmits death signals to injured neurons. Until recently, the mechanisms by which the p75 neurotrophin receptor governs these opposing functions have remained elusive. By the identification of new ligands and cytosolic interacting partners, receptor cleavage products and coreceptors, some of these mechanisms are now being unraveled. Here, we review recent progress in delineating the molecular networks that enable p75(NTR) to dictate life and death.

In vivo activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase signaling cascade prior to granule cell death induced by trimethyltin in the dentate gyrus of mice

The systemic administration of trimethyltin (TMT, 2.8 mg/kg, i.p.) induced granule cell death in the mouse dentate gyrus selectively 2 days later. The administration of TMT not only enhanced activator protein-1 DNA binding, along with an increase in expression of c-Jun and Fra-2, in the hippocampus 1 day later, but also facilitated phosphorylation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) within the cytosol and nucleus. There was also a concomitant increase in the level of phosphorylated JNK kinase (MKK4/SEK1) in the cytosol 16-24 h after the administration. Moreover, TMT markedly elevated endogenous levels of both phosphorylated c-Jun and phosphorylated activating transcription factor-2 (ATF-2), in addition to activating JNK activity in the nuclear extracts obtained 16-24 h post-administration. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that whereas Fra-2 and phosphorylated ATF-2 were expressed in the CA1 pyramidal cell layer predominantly, phosphorylated c-Jun was observed in both the CA1 pyramidal and dentate granule cell layers after TMT administration. Taken together, our data indicate that TMT activates the JNK pathway in the hippocampus prior to neuronal cell death. The prior activation of this pathway could be at least in part involved in the TMT-induced neural damage seen in the dentate granule cells of mice.

Kinase signaling cascades in the mitochondrion: a matter of life or death

In addition to powering energy needs of the cell, mitochondria function as pivotal integrators of cell survival/death signals. In recent years, numerous studies indicate that each of the major kinase signaling pathways can be stimulated to target the mitochondrion. These include protein kinase A, protein kinase B/Akt, protein kinase C, extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase, c-Jun N-terminal kinase, and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase. Although most studies focus on phosphorylation of pro- and antiapoptotic proteins (BAD, Bax, Bcl-2, Bcl-xL), kinase-mediated regulation of complex I activity, anion and cation channels, metabolic enzymes, and Mn-SOD mRNA has also been reported. Recent identification of a number of scaffold proteins (AKAP, PICK, Sab) that bring specific kinases to the cytoplasmic surface of mitochondria further emphasizes the importance of mitochondrial kinase signaling. Immunogold electron microscopy, subcellular fractionation and immunofluorescence studies demonstrate the presence of kinases within subcompartments of the mitochondrion, following diverse stimuli and in neurodegenerative diseases. Given the sensitivity of these signaling pathways to reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, in situ activation of mitochondrial kinases may represent a potent reverse-signaling mechanism for communication of mitochondrial status to the rest of the cell.

p75NTR is positively promiscuous: novel partners and new insights

Although identified almost 20 years ago, the precise physiological role of the p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75NTR) has remained elusive. Recent studies have revealed that p75NTR is a component of three distinct receptor platforms that bind different ligands and that, under differing circumstances, facilitate cell survival, cell death, or growth inhibition. These recent developments provide new insights into the functions of this enigmatic receptor.

hNRAGE, a human neurotrophin receptor interacting MAGE homologue, regulates p53 transcriptional activity and inhibits cell proliferation

hNRAGE, a neurotrophin receptor p75 interacting MAGE homologue, is cloned from a human placenta cDNA library. hNRAGE can inhibit the colony formation of and arrest cell proliferation at the G1/S and G2/M stages in hNRAGE overexpressing cells. Interestingly, hNRAGE also increases the p53 protein level as well as its phosphorylation (Ser392). Further studies demonstrated that hNRAGE does not affect the proliferation of mouse p53-/- embryonic fibroblasts, suggesting that p53 function is required for hNRAGE induced cell cycle arrest. Moreover, the cell cycle inhibiting protein p21(WAF) is induced by hNRAGE in a p53 dependent manner. The data provide original evidence that hNRAGE arrests cell growth through a p53 dependent pathway.