Activation of microglia by secreted amyloid precursor protein evokes release of glutamate by cystine exchange and attenuates synaptic function

D-serine signalling in the brain: friend and foe

Neurons and glia talk to each other at synapses. Glia sense the level of synaptic activity and consequently regulate its efficacy via the release of neuromodulators. One such glia-derived modulator is D-serine, an amino acid that serves as an endogenous ligand for the strychnine-insensitive glycine-binding site of NMDA glutamate receptors. Here, we provide an overview of recent findings on the mechanisms of its synthesis, release and clearance at synapses, with an emphasis on the dichotomy of behaviour of this novel messenger in the brain. The discovery of the good and ugly faces of this gliotransmitter is an important issue of modern neuroscience that has repercussions for the treatment of brain disorders.

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha induces neurotoxicity via glutamate release from hemichannels of activated microglia in an autocrine manner

Glutamate released by activated microglia induces excitoneurotoxicity and may contribute to neuronal damage in neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer disease, Parkinson disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and multiple sclerosis. In addition, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) secreted from activated microglia may elicit neurodegeneration through caspase-dependent cascades and silencing cell survival signals. However, direct neurotoxicity of TNF-alpha is relatively weak, because TNF-alpha also increases production of neuroprotective factors. Accordingly, it is still controversial how TNF-alpha exerts neurotoxicity in neurodegenerative diseases. Here we have shown that TNF-alpha is the key cytokine that stimulates extensive microglial glutamate release in an autocrine manner by up-regulating glutaminase to cause excitoneurotoxicity. Further, we have demonstrated that the connexin 32 hemichannel of the gap junction is another main source of glutamate release from microglia besides glutamate transporters. Although pharmacological blockade of glutamate receptors is a promising therapeutic candidate for neurodegenerative diseases, the associated perturbation of physiological glutamate signals has severe adverse side effects. The unique mechanism of microglial glutamate release that we describe here is another potential therapeutic target. We rescued neuronal cell death in vitro by using a glutaminase inhibitor or hemichannel blockers to diminish microglial glutamate release without perturbing the physiological glutamate level. These drugs may give us a new therapeutic strategy against neurodegenerative diseases with minimum adverse side effects.

System Xc- and apolipoprotein E expressed by microglia have opposite effects on the neurotoxicity of amyloid-beta peptide 1-40

Because senile plaques in Alzheimer's disease (AD) contain reactive microglia in addition to potentially neurotoxic aggregates of amyloid-beta (Abeta), we examined the influence of microglia on the viability of rodent neurons in culture exposed to aggregated Abeta 1-40. Microglia enhanced the toxicity of Abeta by releasing glutamate through the cystine-glutamate antiporter system Xc-. This may be relevant to Abeta toxicity in AD, because the system Xc(-)-specific xCT gene is expressed not only in cultured microglia but also in reactive microglia within or surrounding amyloid plaques in transgenic mice expressing mutant human amyloid precursor protein or in wild-type mice injected with Abeta. Inhibition of NMDA receptors or system Xc- prevented the microglia-enhanced neurotoxicity of Abeta but also unmasked a neuroprotective effect of microglia mediated by microglial secretion of apolipoprotein E (apoE) in the culture medium. Immunodepletion of apoE or targeted inactivation of the apoE gene in microglia abrogated neuroprotection by microglial conditioned medium, whereas supplementation by human apoE isoforms restored protection, which was potentiated by the presence of microglia-derived cofactors. These results suggest that inhibition of microglial system Xc- might be of therapeutic value in the treatment of AD. Its inhibition not only prevents glutamate excitotoxicity but also facilitates neuroprotection by apoE.

Interleukin-1 mediates Alzheimer and Lewy body pathologies

Background

Clinical and neuropathological overlap between Alzheimer's (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD) is now well recognized. Such cases of concurrent AD and Lewy body disease (AD/LBD) show neuropathological changes that include Lewy bodies (α-synuclein aggregates), neuritic amyloid plaques, and neurofibrillary tangles (hyperphosphorylated tau aggregates). The co-occurrence of these clinical and neuropathological changes suggests shared pathogenic mechanisms in these diseases, previously assumed to be distinct. Glial activation, with overexpression of interleukin-1 (IL-1) and other proinflammatory cytokines, has been increasingly implicated in the pathogenesis of both AD and PD.

Methods

Rat primary cultures of microglia and cortical neurons were cultured either separately or as mixed cultures. Microglia or cocultures were treated with a secreted fragment (sAPPα) of the β-amyloid precursor protein (βAPP). Neurons were treated with IL-1β or conditioned medium from sAPPα-activated microglia, with or without IL-1 receptor antagonist. Slow-release pellets containing either IL-1β or bovine serum albumin (control) were implanted in cortex of rats, and mRNA for various neuropathological markers was analyzed by RT-PCR. Many of the same markers were assessed in tissue sections from human cases of AD/LBD.

Results

Activation of microglia with sAPPα resulted in a dose-dependent increase in secreted IL-1β. Cortical neurons treated with IL-1β showed a dose-dependent increase in sAPPα release, an effect that was enhanced in the presence of microglia. IL-1β also elevated the levels of α-synuclein, activated MAPK-p38, and phosphorylated tau; a concomitant decrease in levels of synaptophysin occurred. Delivery of IL-1β by slow-release pellets elevated mRNAs encoding α-synuclein, βAPP, tau, and MAPK-p38 compared to controls. Finally, human cases of AD/LBD showed colocalization of IL-1-expressing microglia with neurons that simultaneously overexpressed βAPP and contained both Lewy bodies and neurofibrillary tangles.

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that IL-1 drives production of substrates necessary for formation of the major neuropathological changes characteristic of AD/LBD.

Beta-amyloid-stimulated microglia induce neuron death via synergistic stimulation of tumor necrosis factor alpha and NMDA receptors

Although abundant reactive microglia are found associated with beta-amyloid (Abeta) plaques in Alzheimer's disease (AD) brains, their contribution to cell loss remains speculative. A variety of studies have documented the ability of Abeta fibrils to directly stimulate microglia in vitro to assume a neurotoxic phenotype characterized by secretion of a plethora of proinflammatory molecules. Collectively, these data suggest that activated microglia play a direct role in contributing to neuron death in AD rather than simply a role in clearance after plaque deposition. Although it is clear the Abeta-stimulated microglia acutely secrete toxic oxidizing species, the identity of longer-lived neurotoxic agents remains less defined. We used Abeta-stimulated conditioned media from primary mouse microglia to identify more stable neurotoxic secretions. The NMDA receptor antagonists memantine and 2-amino-5-phosphopetanoic acid as well as soluble tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) receptor protect neurons from microglial-conditioned media-dependent death, implicating the excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate and the proinflammatory cytokine TNFalpha as effectors of microglial-stimulated death. Neuron death occurs in an oxidative damage-dependent manner, requiring activity of inducible nitric oxide synthase. Toxicity results from coincident stimulation of the TNFalpha and NMDA receptors, because stimulations of either alone are insufficient to initiate cell death. These findings suggest the hypothesis that AD brains provide the appropriate microglial-mediated inflammatory environment for TNFalpha and glutamate to synergistically stimulate toxic activation of their respective signaling pathways in neurons as a contributing mechanism of cell death.

Corticosterone inhibits expression of the microglial glutamate transporter GLT-1 in vitro

The present study investigates the effect of the glucocorticoid corticosterone on microglial glutamate transporters in vitro. Microglial cultures obtained from rat cerebral cortex were found to express the excitatory amino acid transporter GLT-1, but not GLAST, and this expression was increased by 1 ng/ml lipopolysaccharide after 12 h of stimulation. This increase has previously been shown to be mediated by tumor necrosis factor-alpha, a cytokine released by microglia during pathological conditions. Furthermore, lipopolysaccharide increased the microglial release of tumor necrosis factor-alpha and 1 microM corticosterone inhibited this effect. Corticosterone also inhibited the lipopolysaccharide-induced increase of the GLT-1 expression as well as the expression in non-activated cells. The effect of corticosterone on the GLT-1 expression was dose dependent and accompanied by similar effects on the microglial glutamate uptake capacity. Additionally, exogenous tumor necrosis factor-alpha was found to counteract the effect of corticosterone on microglial GLT-1 expression. The effect of corticosterone appeared to be glucocorticoid receptor specific since 10 microM of the glucocorticoid receptor antagonist mifepristone inhibited the effect. Thus, corticosterone decreased the microglial uptake of glutamate by decreasing the expression of glutamate transporters, probably due to the inhibited microglial tumor necrosis factor-alpha release. These results provide insights into the mechanisms behind microglial glutamate transporter expression during pathological conditions, and contribute to the debate about the beneficial or harmful effects of glucocorticoids.

Inhibition of cystine uptake disrupts the growth of primary brain tumors

Glial cells play an important role in sequestering neuronally released glutamate via Na+-dependent transporters. Surprisingly, these transporters are not operational in glial-derived tumors (gliomas). Instead, gliomas release glutamate, causing excitotoxic death of neurons in the vicinity of the tumor. We now show that glutamate release from glioma cells is an obligatory by-product of cellular cystine uptake via system xc-, an electroneutral cystine-glutamate exchanger. Cystine is an essential precursor for the biosynthesis of glutathione, a major redox regulatory molecule that protects cells from endogenously produced reactive oxygen species (ROS). Glioma cells, but not neurons or astrocytes, rely primarily on cystine uptake via system xc- for their glutathione synthesis. Inhibition of system xc- causes a rapid depletion of glutathione, and the resulting loss of ROS defense causes caspase-mediated apoptosis. Glioma cells can be rescued if glutathione status is experimentally restored or if glutathione is substituted by alternate cellular antioxidants, confirming that ROS are indeed mediators of cell death. We describe two potent drugs that permit pharmacological inhibition of system xc-. One of these drugs, sulfasalazine, is clinically used to treat inflammatory bowel disease and rheumatoid arthritis. Sulfasalazine was able to reduce glutathione levels in tumor tissue and slow tumor growth in vivo in a commonly used intracranial xenograft animal model for human gliomas when administered by intraperitoneal injection. These data suggest that inhibition of cystine uptake into glioma cells through the pharmacological inhibition of system xc- may be a viable therapeutic strategy with a Food and Drug Administration-approved drug already in hand.

Lipopolysaccharide-activated SHP-1-deficient motheaten microglia release increased nitric oxide, TNF-alpha, and IL-1beta

Accumulating evidence suggests a deleterious role for activated microglia in facilitating neuronal death by producing neurocytotoxic substances during injury, infection, or neurodegenerative diseases. After cochlear ablation, abnormal microglial activation accompanied by increased neuronal loss within the auditory brainstem occurs in motheaten (me/me) mice deficient in the protein tyrosine phosphatase SHP-1. To determine whether abnormally activated microglia contribute to neuronal death in me/me mice, primary microglial cultures from me/me and wild-type mouse cortices were stimulated by the bacterial endotoxin lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to evaluate the secretion of the neurotoxic mediators nitric oxide (NO), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), and interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta). Me/me microglia release significantly greater amounts of all three mediators compared with wild-type microglia. However, the increased release of these compounds in microglia lacking SHP-1 does not appear to occur through activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), p38 kinase subgroups of mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases, or increases in NF-kappaB-inducing kinase (NIK). These results suggest that abnormal microglial activation and release of neurotoxic compounds may potentiate neuronal death in deafferented cells and can thus potentiate neurodegeneration in the me/me brainstem. Our data also indicate that SHP-1 is engaged in signaling pathways in LPS-activated microglia, but not through regulation of the ERK and p38 MAP kinases.

Systemic inflammation induces apoptosis with variable vulnerability of different brain regions

During severe sepsis several immunological defence mechanisms initiate a cascade of inflammatory events leading to multi-organ failure including septic encephalopathy and ultimately death. To assess the reaction and participation of parenchymal brain cells during endotoxaemia, the present study evaluates micro- and astroglial activation, expression of the inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) pro- and antiapoptotic protein levels Bax and Bcl-2, and apoptosis. Male Wistar rats received 10 mg/kg lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or vehicle intraperitoneally and were sacrificed for brain collection at 4, 8 or 24 h after induction of experimental sepsis. One group of animals received 10 mg/kg of the NOS inhibitor N-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA) intraperitoneally 1 day before and during the experiment. Immunohistochemical evaluation revealed a sepsis-induced, time-dependent increase in the immunoreactivity of iNOS, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and activated microglia (ED-1), paralleled by a time-dependent increase of apoptotic brain cells marked by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-nick end labeling (TUNEL), an increase of Bax-positive cells and a decrease of Bcl-2-positive cells. Evaluation of different brain regions revealed that the hippocampus is the most vulnerable region during experimental sepsis. iNOS-inhibition with L-NMMA significantly reduced the number of apoptotic cells in hippocampus, midbrain and cerebellum. In addition, it reduced the increase of the proapoptotic protein Bax in all examined brain regions and reduced the decrease of Bcl-2-positive cells in the hippocampus. We therefore conclude, that peripheral inflammation leads to a profound glial activation, the generation of nitric oxide and changes of Bax and Bcl-2 protein regulation critical for apoptosis.

Microglial control of neuronal death and synaptic properties

Microglia have long been characterized by their immune function in the nervous system and are still mainly considered in a beneficial versus detrimental dialectic. However a review of literature enables to shed novel lights on microglial function under physiological conditions. It is now relevant to position these cells as full time partners of neuronal function and more specifically of synaptogenesis and developmental apoptosis. Indeed, microglia can actively control neuronal death. It has actually been shown in retina that microglial nerve growth factor (NGF) is necessary for the developmental apoptosis to occur. Similarly, in cerebellum, microglia induces developmental Purkinje cells death through respiratory burst. Furthermore, in spinal cord, microglial TNFalpha commits motoneurons to a neurotrophic dependent developmental apoptosis. Microglia can also control synaptogenesis. This is suggested by the fact that a mutation in KARAP/DAP12, a key protein of microglial activation impacts synaptic functions in hippocampus, and synapses protein content. In addition it has been now demonstrated that microglial brain-derived neurotrophin factor (BDNF) directly regulates synaptic properties in spinal cord. In conclusion, microglia can control neuronal function under physiological conditions and it is known that neuronal activity reciprocally controls microglial activation. We will discuss the importance of this cross-talk which allows microglia to orchestrate the balance between synaptogenesis and neuronal death occurring during development or injuries.

Role of glutamate receptors in periventricular leukomalacia

Periventricular leukomalacia is a form of white-matter injury that occurs in the setting of either primary or secondary hypoxia-ischemia in the premature infant. Hypoxia-ischemia induces increases in cerebral extracellular glutamate levels, thereby activating glutamate receptors on a variety of cell types within the white matter. This review examines the evidence of a role for glutamate receptors in white-matter injury and periventricular leukomalacia. Multiple glutamate receptor subtypes exist, and these appear to play differential roles depending on cell type and time after injury. Glutamate receptors are developmentally regulated on neurons and glia, and certain subtypes are transiently overexpressed in developing rodent brain and are expressed on immature oligodendrocytes in human white matter in the premature period. Pharmacologic agents acting on glutamate receptors might represent age-specific therapeutic strategies for the treatment of periventricular leukomalacia.

Activation of microglial NADPH oxidase is synergistic with glial iNOS expression in inducing neuronal death: a dual-key mechanism of inflammatory neurodegeneration

Background

Inflammation-activated glia are seen in many CNS pathologies and may kill neurons through the release of cytotoxic mediators, such as nitric oxide from inducible NO synthase (iNOS), and possibly superoxide from NADPH oxidase (NOX). We set out to determine the relative role of these species in inducing neuronal death, and to test the dual-key hypothesis that the production of both species simultaneously is required for significant neuronal death.

Methods

Primary co-cultures of cerebellar granule neurons and glia from rats were used to investigate the effect of NO (from iNOS, following lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and/or cytokine addition) or superoxide/hydrogen peroxide (from NOX, following phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), ATP analogue (BzATP), interleukin-1β (IL-1β) or arachidonic acid (AA) addition) on neuronal survival.

Results

Induction of glial iNOS caused little neuronal death. Similarly, activation of NOX alone resulted in little or no neuronal death. However, if NOX was activated (by PMA or BzATP) in the presence of iNOS (induced by LPS and interferon-γ) then substantial delayed neuronal death occurred over 48 hours, which was prevented by inhibitors of iNOS (1400W), NOX (apocynin) or a peroxynitrite decomposer (FeTPPS). Neurons and glia were also found to stain positive for nitrotyrosine (a putative marker of peroxynitrite) only when both iNOS and NOX were simultaneously active. If NOX was activated by weak stimulators (IL-1β, AA or the fibrillogenic prion peptide PrP106-126) in the presence of iNOS, it caused microglial proliferation and delayed neurodegeneration over 6 days, which was prevented by iNOS or NOX inhibitors, a peroxynitrite decomposer or a NMDA-receptor antagonist (MK-801).

Conclusion

These results suggest a dual-key mechanism, whereby glial iNOS or microglial NOX activation alone is relatively benign, but if activated simultaneously are synergistic in killing neurons, through generating peroxynitrite. This mechanism may mediate inflammatory neurodegeneration in response to cytokines, bacteria, ATP, arachidonate and pathological prions, in which case neurons may be protected by iNOS or NOX inhibitors, or scavengers of NO, superoxide or peroxynitrite.

S100B-induced microglial and neuronal IL-1 expression is mediated by cell type-specific transcription factors

Both the astrocytic cytokine S100B and the pro-inflammatory interleukin-1 (IL-1) are elevated in Alzheimer's disease, and each has been implicated in Alzheimer-related neuropathology. We examined the gene-regulatory events through which S100B induces IL-1beta expression. In primary microglia, S100B activated the transcription factors Sp1 and NFkappaB, followed by an increase in IL-1beta mRNA levels. The latter was blocked by a peptide inhibitor of NFkappaB or by a double-stranded oligonucleotide containing a NFkappaB-binding site to serve as "decoy" DNA and reduce available NFkappaB. But in primary cortical neurons, decoy and siRNA experiments indicated that the IL-1beta induction by S100B was mediated by Sp1 without evidence of a role for NFkappaB. Our results suggest that the elevation of S100B and IL-1 in Alzheimer brain and consequent neurodegenerative events are mediated through cell-type specific gene-regulatory events, providing mechanistic insight into connections between glial activation and neuronal dysfunction.

Post-intoxication vaccination for protection of neurons against the toxicity of nerve agents

Nerve agents are highly toxic organophosphates (OPs) that can cause severe damage to the central and peripheral nervous systems. The central nervous system insult results in seizures and neuronal death. The glutamatergic system apparently contributes to the neuropathology. Using a model of OP intoxication causing death of retinal ganglion cells in the mouse eye, we show here that intoxication is exacerbated if the mice are devoid of mature T cells. The retinal neurons could be protected from these effects by vaccination, 7 days before or immediately after intoxication, with the copolymer glatiramer acetate (Cop-1), recently found to limit the usual consequences of an acute glutamate insult to the eye. These findings underlie a new therapeutic approach to protection against OP intoxication, based on the rationale that boosting of the adaptive immunity recruited at the site of intoxication helps the local cellular machinery such as resident microglia to withstand the neurotoxic effects.

Schwann cells exhibit excitotoxicity consistent with release of NMDA receptor agonists

Neurodegenerative effects of Schwann cells transplanted into the central nervous system have been observed previously. We report here that conditioned medium from Schwann cell cultures exhibit degenerative influences on hippocampal neurons. Aliquots of Schwann cell-conditioned medium compromised the morphologic integrity of the neurons, markedly elevated their intracellular calcium concentrations, and decreased their viability. The degenerative effects of Schwann cell medium on neuronal morphology and viability were blocked by N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonists D-(-)-2-amino-5-phosphonopentanoic acid (D-APV) and 5,7-dicholorokynurenic acid (DCKA). Glutamate was detected in Schwann cell-conditioned medium at a concentration on the order of 10(-5) M. D-Amino acid oxidase (DAAOx) also attenuated the neurotoxicity exhibited by Schwann cells. These data suggest that Schwann cells release biologically relevant concentrations of excitotoxins that include glutamate and D-serine.

Epilepsy and the immune system: is there a link?

The concept that the immune system plays a role in the epileptogenic process of some epileptic syndromes was first proposed more than 20 years ago. Since then, numerous studies have reported on the existence of a variety of immunological alterations in epileptic patients, on the observation of favourable responses of refractory epilepsy syndromes to immunomodulatory treatment, and on the association of certain well-known immune-mediated disease states with epilepsy. This review comprehensively recapitulates the currently available evidence supporting or arguing against the possible involvement of the immune system in the pathogenesis of certain types of epilepsy. It is concluded that an abundance of facts is in support of this concept and that further studies should be directed at substantiating the pathogenic significance of (auto)immune responses in certain types of epilepsy. Current progress in the functional and molecular immunological research techniques will indisputably contribute to the elucidation of this link.

Cytokines and the aging brain – what we don't know might help us

Cognitive aspects of aging represent a grave challenge for our societal circumstances as members of the baby-boom generation spiral toward a collective 'senior moment'. In addition, age-related changes in the CNS can contribute to motor deficits and other somatic aberrations. Inflammation and its regulation by cytokines have been connected to many aspects of aging, and mechanisms addressed here provide a rationale for this. Nevertheless, a role for cytokines in normal aging of the human brain has not been confirmed, and it seems to be possible to ameliorate both cognitive decline and cytokine elevation via lifestyle choices. So ignorance of the brain should not prohibit development of successful strategies for delaying or avoiding neurological deficits.

Cochlear ablation in mice lacking SHP-1 results in an extended period of cell death of anteroventral cochlear nucleus neurons

Cochlear ablation results in the death of anteroventral cochlear nucleus (AVCN) neurons from birth to approximately postnatal day 14 (P14) in the murine brainstem. It is not known whether microglial activation contributes to AVCN neuronal death following deafferentation. In order to determine whether microglial activation helps to define the period of neuronal susceptibility within AVCN, we performed unilateral cochlear ablation on mice lacking the protein tyrosine phosphatase SHP-1 (me/me). These mice have been shown to have an exaggerated microglial response following ischemic injury. In the present study, the glial and neuronal response to deafferentation within AVCN was examined in wild-type and me/me mice at P5, P14, and P21. Lack of SHP-1 results in robust microglial but not astrocyte activation within the ablated P14 me/me AVCN. These mice also exhibit approximately 28% neuronal death at P14, a time when normal wild-type littermate controls show little cell death. Glial activation and neuronal loss at P5 and P21 were similar between the two phenotypes, suggesting a role of activated microglia in inducing neuronal death beyond P14 but not P21. These results indicate that activated microglia may participate in determining whether neurons in AVCN live or die following deafferentation.

Activation of NR1a/NR2B receptors by soluble factors from APP-stimulated monocyte-derived macrophages: implications for the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease

Amyloid-beta peptide (Abeta), the major component of amyloid plaques, can activate brain mononuclear phagocytes (MP; macrophages and microglia), leading to their secretion of neurotoxins. Recent studies strongly suggest that MP-mediated neurotoxicity plays an important role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). To further explore this notion, human monocyte-derived macrophages (MDM) were stimulated with naturally secreted alpha-processing soluble amyloid precursor protein/p3 (alphaAPPs/p3) or beta-processing APP/Abeta (betaAPPs/Abeta). MDM conditioned media (MCM) was recovered and tested for its ability to activate recombinant N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor subtype NR1a/NR2B expressed in Xenopus oocytes. Pressure ejection of alphaAPPs/p3- and betaAPPs/Abeta-stimulated MCM produced inward currents of 59.5 +/- 8.9 nA (mean +/- S.E.M., n = 31) and 111.1 +/- 21.0 nA (n = 42) in NR1a/NR2B-expressing oocytes, respectively. The MCM-induced currents were concentration dependent and blocked by 50 microM of the NMDA receptor antagonist 2-amino-5-phosphnovalerate, but not by a non-NMDA receptor antagonist 6-cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione (20 microM). The alphaAPPs/p3- and betaAPPs/Abeta-stimulated MCM placed in non-injected oocytes failed to generate inward current. These results demonstrate that APPs/Abeta-stimulated MCM directly activate NMDA receptor subtypes relevant in the pathogenesis of AD.

Activated Microglia Initiate Motor Neuron Injury by a Nitric Oxide and Glutamate-Mediated Mechanism

Recent studies suggest that motor neuron (MN) death may be non-cell autonomous, with cell injury mediated by interactions involving non-neuronal cells, such as microglia and astrocytes. To help define these interactions, we used primary MN cultures to investigate the effects of microglia activated by lipopolysaccharide or IgG immune complexes from patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Following activation, microglia induced MN injury, which was prevented by a microglial iNOS inhibitor as well as by catalase or glutathione. Glutamate was also required since inhibition of the MN AMPA/kainate receptor by CNQX prevented the toxic effects of activated microglia. Peroxynitrite and glutamate were synergistic in producing MN injury. Their toxic effects were also blocked by CNQX and prevented by calcium removal from the media. The addition of astrocytes to cocultures of MN and activated microglia prevented MN injury by removing glutamate from the media. The protective effects could be reversed by inhibiting astrocytic glutamate transport with dihydrokainic acid or pretreating astrocytes with H2O2. Astrocytic glutamate uptake was also decreased by activated microglia or by added peroxynitrite. These data suggest that free radicals released from activated microglia may initiate MN injury by increasing the susceptibility of the MN AMPA/kainate receptor to the toxic effects of glutamate.

TNFalpha-induced AMPA-receptor trafficking in CNS neurons; relevance to excitotoxicity?

Injury and disease in the CNS increases the amount of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) that neurons are exposed to. This cytokine is central to the inflammatory response that occurs after injury and during prolonged CNS disease, and contributes to the process of neuronal cell death. Previous studies have addressed how long-term apoptotic-signaling pathways that are initiated by TNFalpha might influence these processes, but the effects of inflammation on neurons and synaptic function in the timescale of minutes after exposure are largely unexplored. Our published studies examining the effect of TNFalpha on trafficking of AMPA-type glutamate receptors (AMPARs) in hippocampal neurons demonstrate that glial-derived TNFalpha causes a rapid (<15 minute) increase in the number of neuronal, surface-localized, synaptic AMPARs leading to an increase in synaptic strength. This indicates that TNFalpha-signal transduction acts to facilitate increased surface localization of AMPARs from internal postsynaptic stores. Importantly, an excess of surface localized AMPARs might predispose the neuron to glutamate-mediated excitotoxicity and excessive intracellular calcium concentrations, leading to cell death. This suggests a new mechanism for excitotoxic TNFalpha-induced neuronal death that is initiated minutes after neurons are exposed to the products of the inflammatory response. Here we review the importance of AMPAR trafficking in normal neuronal function and how abnormalities that are mediated by glial-derived cytokines such as TNFalpha can be central in causing neuronal disorders. We have further investigated the effects of TNFalpha on different neuronal cell types and present new data from cortical and hippocampal neurons in culture. Finally, we have expanded our investigation of the temporal profile of the action of this cytokine relevant to neuronal damage. We conclude that TNFalpha-mediated effects on AMPAR trafficking are common in diverse neuronal cell types and very rapid in their onset. The abnormal AMPAR trafficking elicited by TNFalpha might present a novel target to aid the development of new neuroprotective drugs.

Membrane Topology of System Xc- Light Subunit Reveals a Re-entrant Loop with Substrate-restricted Accessibility

Heteromeric amino acid transporters are composed of a heavy and a light subunit linked by a disulfide bridge. 4F2hc/xCT elicits sodium-independent exchange of anionic L-cysteine and L-glutamate (system x(c)(-)). Based on the accessibility of single cysteines to 3-(N-maleimidylpropionyl)biocytin, we propose a topological model for xCT of 12 transmembrane domains with the N and C termini located inside the cell. This location of N and C termini was confirmed by immunofluorescence. Studies of biotinylation and accessibility to sulfhydryl reagents revealed a re-entrant loop within intracellular loops 2 and 3. Residues His(110) and Thr(112), facing outside, are located at the apex of the re-entrant loop. Biotinylation of H110C was blocked by xCT substrates, by the nontransportable inhibitor (S)-4-carboxyphenylglycine, and by the impermeable reagent (2-sulfonatoethyl) methanethiosulfonate, which produced an inactivation of H110C that was protected by L-glutamate and L-cysteine with an IC(50) similar to the K(m). Protection was temperatureindependent. The data indicate that His(110) may lie close to the substrate binding/permeation pathway of xCT. The membrane topology of xCT could serve as a model for other light subunits of heteromeric amino acid transporters.

Differentiation of substrate and non-substrate inhibitors of transport system xc(-): an obligate exchanger of L-glutamate and L-cystine

In addition to the well-characterized sodium-dependent excitatory amino acid transporters (EAATs) present in the mammalian CNS, a chloride-dependent, sodium-independent transporter has also been identified that is capable of mediating the uptake of L-glutamate. Named system x(c)(-), this transporter is an obligate exchanger that normally couples the export of intracellular L-glutamate with the import of extracellular L-cystine. Two cell lines that express high levels of system x(c)(-) are used to delineate the pharmacology of the transporter and demonstrate that it is distinct from both the EAATs and EAA ionotropic receptors. Potent competitive inhibitors of system x(c)(-) include: L-homocysteate, ibotenate, L-serine-O-sulphate, (RS)-4-bromohomoibotenate, quisqualate, and (S)-4-carboxyphenylglycine. A fluorescent-based assay that allows system x(c)(-)-mediated exchange of L-glutamate and L-cystine to be followed in real time is used to assess substrate activity. Interestingly, those compounds that proved to be the most potent competitive inhibitors (e.g. L-quisqualate and 4-S-CPG) also proved to be the least active as substrates, suggesting that distinct structural features may control binding and translocation. Lastly, the finding that a number of system x(c)(-) inhibitors are also commonly used as probes of excitotoxic pathology (e.g., L-quisqualate, ibotenate and L-homocysteate) raises some interesting questions regarding the mechanisms through which these analogues produce CNS damage.

Antioxidant protection from HIV-1 gp120-induced neuroglial toxicity

Background

The pathogenesis of HIV-1 glycoprotein 120 (gp120) associated neuroglial toxicity remains unresolved, but oxidative injury has been widely implicated as a contributing factor. In previous studies, exposure of primary human central nervous system tissue cultures to gp120 led to a simplification of neuronal dendritic elements as well as astrocytic hypertrophy and hyperplasia; neuropathological features of HIV-1-associated dementia. Gp120 and proinflammatory cytokines upregulate inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), an important source of nitric oxide (NO) and nitrosative stress. Because ascorbate scavenges reactive nitrogen and oxygen species, we studied the effect of ascorbate supplementation on iNOS expression as well as the neuronal and glial structural changes associated with gp120 exposure.

Methods

Human CNS cultures were derived from 16–18 week gestation post-mortem fetal brain. Cultures were incubated with 400 μM ascorbate-2-O-phosphate (Asc-p) or vehicle for 18 hours then exposed to 1 nM gp120 for 24 hours. The expression of iNOS and neuronal (MAP2) and astrocytic (GFAP) structural proteins was examined by immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence using confocal scanning laser microscopy (CSLM).

Results

Following gp120 exposure iNOS was markedly upregulated from undetectable levels at baseline. Double label CSLM studies revealed astrocytes to be the prime source of iNOS with rare neurons expressing iNOS. This upregulation was attenuated by the preincubation with Asc-p, which raised the intracellular concentration of ascorbate. Astrocytic hypertrophy and neuronal injury caused by gp120 were also prevented by preincubation with ascorbate.

Conclusions

Ascorbate supplementation prevents the deleterious upregulation of iNOS and associated neuronal and astrocytic protein expression and structural changes caused by gp120 in human brain cell cultures.

Induction of serine racemase expression and D-serine release from microglia by amyloid beta-peptide

Background

Roles for excitotoxicity and inflammation in Alzheimer's disease have been hypothesized. Proinflammatory stimuli, including amyloid β-peptide (Aβ), elicit a release of glutamate from microglia. We tested the possibility that a coagonist at the NMDA class of glutamate receptors, D-serine, could respond similarly.

Methods

Cultured microglial cells were exposed to Aβ. The culture medium was assayed for levels of D-serine by HPLC and for effects on calcium and survival on primary cultures of rat hippocampal neurons. Microglial cell lysates were examined for the levels of mRNA and protein for serine racemase, the enzyme that forms D-serine from L-serine. The racemase mRNA was also assayed in Alzheimer hippocampus and age-matched controls. A microglial cell line was transfected with a luciferase reporter construct driven by the putative regulatory region of human serine racemase.

Results

Conditioned medium from Aβ-treated microglia contained elevated levels of D-serine. Bioassays of hippocampal neurons with the microglia-conditioned medium indicated that Aβ elevated a NMDA receptor agonist that was sensitive to an antagonist of the D-serine/glycine site (5,7-dicholorokynurenic acid; DCKA) and to enzymatic degradation of D-amino acids by D-amino acid oxidase (DAAOx). In the microglia, Aβ elevated steady-state levels of dimeric serine racemase, the apparent active form of the enzyme. Promoter-reporter and mRNA analyses suggest that serine racemase is transcriptionally induced by Aβ. Finally, the levels of serine racemase mRNA were elevated in Alzheimer's disease hippocampus, relative to age-matched controls.

Conclusions

These data suggest that Aβ could contribute to neurodegeneration through stimulating microglia to release cooperative excitatory amino acids, including D-serine.

Determination of alpha-aminoadipic acid in brain, peripheral tissues, and body fluids using GC/MS with negative chemical ionization

alpha-Aminoadipic acid (alphaAA) is a structural homolog of the excitatory amino acid glutamate and a natural product of lysine metabolism in mammalian cells. Under experimental conditions, alphaAA can influence various elements of glutamatergic neurotransmission. Moreover, as a selective inhibitor of kynurenine aminotransferase II, alphaAA is capable of decreasing the levels of the neuroinhibitory metabolite kynurenic acid in the brain. We now describe the identification of this potential endogenous neuromodulator in tissues and body fluids by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analysis of its pentafluorobenzyl (PFB) derivative. alphaAA was recovered from the GC column with a retention time of approximately 7 min. Subsequent MS analysis using electron capture with negative ionization revealed two separate ions for alphaAA (m/z 520, approximately 45% and m/z 322, approximately 55%). Both of these ions were positively identified with two different GC methodologies. In the rat, alphaAA levels ranged from 5 to 30 microM in various brain areas and from 8 to 40 microM in peripheral organs, whereas serum and urine contained only 1-2 microM alphaAA. Levels in the human brain were 18.7+/-2.4 microM (cortex) and 18.0+/-1.7 microM (striatum) alphaAA (n=9 each), and the mouse forebrain contained 8.3+/-1.9 microM alphaAA (n=6). Neuronal depletion, caused in rats by an intrastriatal injection of NMDA (300 nmol/2.5 microl), did not alter the striatal content of alphaAA, indicating that brain alphaAA resides at least in part in glial cells. alphaAA may therefore function as a glia-derived modulator of excitatory neurotransmission.

Microglial activation by uptake of fDNA via a scavenger receptor

The fate of the fragmented DNA (fDNA) observed in neuronal nuclei in Alzheimer brain is unknown. However, its fate is suggested as fDNA is found in the cytoplasm of adjacent activated microglia. After a brief incubation with fDNA, approximately 70% of microglia had fDNA in their cytoplasm, were activated, and overexpressed interleukin-1beta. Microglial activation enhanced uptake whereas blocking scavenger receptors suppressed this uptake. These results suggest that the brain rids itself of fDNA from dying neurons through microglial uptake, activation, and overexpression of IL-1. Such overexpression of IL-1 in Alzheimer brain has been linked to Alzheimer pathogenesis.

Nitric oxide from inflammatory-activated glia synergizes with hypoxia to induce neuronal death

Inflammatory-activated glia are seen in numerous central nervous system (CNS) pathologies and can kill nearby neurons through the release of cytotoxic mediators. Glia, when activated, can express the inducible isoform of nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) producing high levels of nitric oxide (NO), which can kill neurons in certain conditions. We show, however, that inflammatory activation of glia in a mature culture of cerebellar granule neurons and glia causes little or no neuronal death under normal (21%) oxygen conditions. Similarly, hypoxia (2% oxygen) or low levels of an NO donor (100 microM DETA/NO) caused little or no neuronal death in nonactivated cultures. If inflammatory activation of glia or addition of NO donor was combined with hypoxia, however, extensive neuronal death occurred. Death in both cases was prevented by the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor blocker MK-801, implying that death was mediated by the glutamate receptor. Low levels of NO were found to increase the apparent K(M) of cellular oxygen consumption for oxygen, probably due to NO-induced inhibition of mitochondrial respiration, in competition with oxygen, at cytochrome oxidase. Necrotic death, induced by hypoxia plus DETA/NO, was increased further by deoxyglucose, an inhibitor of glycolysis, suggesting that necrosis was mediated by energy depletion. Hypoxia was found to be a potent stimulator of microglia proliferation, but this proliferation was not significant in inflammatory-activated cultures. These results suggest that low levels of NO can induce neuronal death under hypoxic conditions, mediated by glutamate after NO inhibition of respiration in competition with oxygen. Brain inflammation can thus sensitize to hypoxia-induced death, which may be important in pathologies such as stroke, neurodegeneration, and brain aging.

Antagonists and agonists at the glycine site of the NMDA receptor for therapeutic interventions

For decades neuroreceptor research has focused on the development of NMDA glycine-site antagonists, after Johnson and Ascher found out in 1987 about the co-agonistic character of this achiral amino acid at the NMDA receptor. Contrary to the inhibitory glycine receptor (glycine(A)) the glycine binding site on the NMDA receptor (glycine(B)) is strychnine-insensitive. A great diversity of diseases showing a disturbed glutamate neurotransmission have been linked to the NMDA receptor. Glycine site antagonists have been investigated for acute diseases like stroke and head trauma as well as chronic ones like dementia and chronic pain.

Inflammatory neurodegeneration mediated by nitric oxide, glutamate, and mitochondria

In inflammatory, infectious, ischemic, and neurodegenerative pathologies of the central nervous system (CNS) glia become "activated" by inflammatory mediators, and express new proteins such as the inducible isoform of nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). Although these activated glia have benefi- cial roles, in vitro they potently kill cocultured neurons, and there is increasing evidence that they contribute to pathology in vivo. Nitric oxide (NO) from iNOS appears to be a key mediator of such glial-induced neuronal death. The high sensitivity of neurons to NO is partly due to NO causing inhibition of respiration, rapid glutamate release from both astrocytes and neurons, and subsequent excitotoxic death of the neurons. NO is a potent inhibitor of mitochondrial respiration, due to reversible binding of NO to cytochrome oxidase in competition with oxygen, resulting in inhibition of energy production and sensitization to hypoxia. Activated astrocytes or microglia cause a potent inhibition of respiration in cocultured neurons due to glial NO inhibiting cytochrome oxidase within the neurons, resulting in ATP depletion and glutamate release. In some conditions, glutamate- induced neuronal death can itself be mediated by N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)-receptor activation of the neuronal isoform of NO synthase (nNOS) causing mitochondrial damage. In addition NO can be converted to a number of reactive derivatives such as peroxynitrite, NO2, N2O3, and S-nitrosothiols that can kill cells in part by inhibiting mitochondrial respiration or activation of mitochondrial permeability transition, triggering neuronal apoptosis or necrosis.

Roles of amyloid precursor protein and its fragments in regulating neural activity, plasticity and memory

Amyloid-beta precursor protein (APP) is a membrane-spanning protein with a large extracellular domain and a much smaller intracellular domain. It is the source of the amyloid-beta (Abeta) peptide found in neuritic plaques of Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients. Because Abeta shows neurotoxic properties, and because familial forms of AD promote Abeta accumulation, a massive international research effort has been aimed at understanding the mechanisms of Abeta generation, catabolism and toxicity. APP, however, is an extremely complex molecule that may be a functionally important molecule in its full-length configuration, as well as being the source of numerous fragments with varying effects on neural function. For example, one fragment derived from the non-amyloidogenic processing pathway, secreted APPalpha (sAPPalpha), is neuroprotective, neurotrophic and regulates cell excitability and synaptic plasticity, while Abeta appears to exert opposing effects. Less is known about the neural functions of other fragments, but there is a growing interest in understanding the basic biology of APP as it has become recognized that alterations in the functional activity of the APP fragments during disease states will have complex effects on cell function. Indeed, it has been proposed that reductions in the level or activity of certain APP fragments, in addition to accumulation of Abeta, may play a critical role in the cognitive dysfunction associated with AD, particularly early in the course of the disease. To test and modify this hypothesis, it is important to understand the roles that full-length APP and its fragments normally play in neuronal structure and function. Here we review evidence addressing these fundamental questions, paying particular attention to the contributions that APP fragments play in synaptic transmission and neural plasticity, as these may be key to understanding their effects on learning and memory. It is clear from this literature that APP fragments, including Abeta, can exert a powerful regulation of key neural functions including cell excitability, synaptic transmission and long-term potentiation, both acutely and over the long-term. Furthermore, there is a small but growing literature confirming that these fragments correspondingly regulate behavioral learning and memory. These data indicate that a full account of cognitive dysfunction in AD will need to incorporate the actions of the full complement of APP fragments. To this end, there is an urgent need for a dedicated research effort aimed at understanding the behavioral consequences of altered levels and activity of the different APP fragments as a result of experience and disease.

Amyloid precursor protein-processing products affect mononuclear phagocyte activation: pathways for sAPP- and Abeta-mediated neurotoxicity

Increasing evidence strongly supports the role of glial immunity in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). To investigate such events we have developed cell systems mimicking the interactions between beta-amyloid precursor protein (APP)-expressing neurons and brain mononuclear phagocytes (MP; macrophages and microglia). MP were co-cultured with neuronal cells expressing wild type APP or familial AD-linked APP mutants. The latter was derived from recombinant adenoviral constructs. Neuronal APP processing products induced MP activation, reactive oxygen species, and neurotoxic activities. These occurred without the addition of pro-inflammatory cytokines and were reversed by depletion of amyloid beta-peptide (Abeta) and secreted APP (sAPP). Neurotoxic activities were diminished by superoxide dismutase mimetics and NMDA receptor inhibitors. Microglial glutamate secretion was suppressed by the cystine-glutamate antiporter inhibitor and its levels paralleled the depletion of sAPP and Abeta from conditioned media prepared from APP-expressing neurons. The excitotoxins from activated MP were potent enough to evoke recombinant NMDA receptor-mediated inward currents expressed in vitro in the Xenopus oocytes. These results demonstrate that neuronal APP-processing products can induce oxidative neurotoxicity through microglial activation.

Interleukin-1 mediates pathological effects of microglia on tau phosphorylation and on synaptophysin synthesis in cortical neurons through a p38-MAPK pathway

The presence of tangles of abnormally phosphorylated tau is a characteristic of Alzheimer's disease (AD), and the loss of synapses correlates with the degree of dementia. In addition, the overexpression of interleukin-1 (IL-1) has been implicated in tangle formation in AD. As a direct test of the requirement for IL-1 in tau phosphorylation and synaptophysin expression, IL-1 actions in neuron-microglia cocultures were manipulated. Activation of microglia with secreted beta-amyloid precursor protein or lipopolysaccharide elevated their expression of IL-1alpha, IL-1beta, and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) mRNA. When such activated microglia were placed in coculture with primary neocortical neurons, a significant increase in the phosphorylation of neuronal tau was accompanied by a decline in synaptophysin levels. Similar effects were evoked by treatment of neurons with recombinant IL-1beta. IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) as well as anti-IL-1beta antibody attenuated the influence of activated microglia on neuronal tau and synaptophysin, but anti-TNFalpha antibody was ineffective. Some effects of microglial activation on neurons appear to be mediated by activation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38-MAPK), because activated microglia stimulated p38-MAPK phosphorylation in neurons, and an inhibitor of p38-MAPK reversed the influence of IL-1beta on tau phosphorylation and synaptophysin levels. Our results, together with previous observations, suggest that activated microglia may contribute to neurofibrillary pathology in AD through their production of IL-1, activation of neuronal p38-MAPK, and resultant changes in neuronal cytoskeletal and synaptic elements.

The neuregulin GGF2 attenuates free radical release from activated microglial cells

The neuregulin glial growth factor 2 (GGF2) is a neural growth factor that is best known for its ability to promote the survival and proliferation of oligodendrocytes and Schwann cells. While it has been shown in recent years that GGF2 is effective in the treatment of autoimmune models of brain injury, it is not known if the beneficial effects of GGF2 are based in part on modulation of brain inflammation. In this report, we document the anti-inflammatory effects of recombinant human GGF2 (rhGGF2) on microglial free radical production in vitro. The presence of the neuregulin receptors ErbB2, 3, and 4 was confirmed in N9 microglial cells by Western blot analysis. Pretreatment of N9 cells with 10-100 ng/ml rhGGF2 24 h before either phorbol 12-myristate 3-acetate (PMA) or interferon gamma (IFNgamma) caused dose-dependent decreases in oxidative burst activity and nitrite release, respectively, with 50 and 100 ng/ml causing significant effects. When cells were co-treated with increasing doses of rhGGF2 and PMA or IFNgamma, only concentrations of 50 ng/ml, but not 10 or 100 ng/ml, were able to decrease oxidative burst activity and nitrite release. Finally, when microglial cell viability following treatment of cells with IFNgamma with or without rhGGF2 was evaluated, it was observed that 50 and 100 ng/ml rhGGF2 conferred significant protection against IFNgamma-induced cell death in microglial cells. Overall, these results indicate that the neuregulin rhGGF2 may have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties in the brain, and may also provide trophic support for brain-resident microglial cells.

Coupled reductions in brain oxidative phosphorylation and synaptic function can be quantified and staged in the course of Alzheimer disease

In vivo, post-mortem and biopsy data suggest that coupled declines occur in brain synaptic activity and brain energy consumption during the evolution of Alzheimer disease. In the first stage of these declines, changes in synaptic structure and function reduce neuronal energy demand and lead to potentially reversible downregulation of oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) within neuronal mitochondria. At this stage, measuring brain glucose metabolism or brain blood flow in patients, using positron emission tomography (PET), shows that the brain can be almost normally activated in response to stimulation. Thus, therapy at this stage should be designed to re-establish synaptic integrity or prevent its further deterioration. As disease progresses, neurofibrillary tangles with abnormally phosphorylated tau protein accumulate within neuronal cytoplasm, to the point that they co-opt the nonphosphorylated tau necessary for axonal transport of mitochondria between the cell nucleus and the synapse. In this second stage, severe energy depletion and other pathological processes associated with irreversibly downregulated OXPHOS lead to cell death, and the brain cannot normally respond to functional stimulation.

Solution studies and structural model of the extracellular domain of the human amyloid precursor protein

The amyloid precursor protein (APP) is the precursor of the beta-amyloid peptide (Abeta), which is centrally related to the genesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). In addition, APP has been suggested to mediate and/or participate in events that lead to neuronal degeneration in AD. Despite the fact that various aspects of the cell biology of APP have been investigated, little information on the structure of this protein is available. In this work, the solution structure of the soluble extracellular domain of APP (sAPP, composing 89% of the amino acid residues of the whole protein) has been investigated through a combination of size-exclusion chromatography, circular dichroism, and synchrotron radiation small-angle x-ray scattering (SAXS) studies. sAPP is monomeric in solution (65 kDa obtained from SAXS measurements) and exhibits an anisometric molecular shape, with a Stokes radius of 39 or 51 A calculated from SAXS or chromatographic data, respectively. The radius of gyration and the maximum molecular length obtained by SAXS were 38 A and 130 A, respectively. Analysis of SAXS data further allowed building a structural model for sAPP in solution. Circular dichroism data and secondary structure predictions based on the amino acid sequence of APP suggested that a significant fraction of APP (30% of the amino acid residues) is not involved in standard secondary structure elements, which may explain the elongated shape of the molecule recovered in our structural model. Possible implications of the structure of APP in ligand binding and molecular recognition events involved in the biological functions of this protein are discussed.

Activation of group II metabotropic glutamate receptors underlies microglial reactivity and neurotoxicity following stimulation with chromogranin A, a peptide up-regulated in Alzheimer's disease

Regulation of microglial reactivity and neurotoxicity is critical for neuroprotection in neurodegenerative diseases. Here we report that microglia possess functional group II metabotropic glutamate receptors, expressing mRNA and receptor protein for mGlu2 and mGlu3, negatively coupled to adenylate cyclase. Two different agonists of these receptors were able to induce a neurotoxic microglial phenotype which was attenuated by a specific antagonist. Chromogranin A, a secretory peptide expressed in amyloid plaques in Alzheimer's disease, activates microglia to a reactive neurotoxic phenotype. Chromogranin A-induced microglial activation and subsequent neurotoxicity may also involve an underlying stimulation of group II metabotropic glutamate receptors since their inhibition reduced chromogranin A-induced microglial reactivity and neurotoxicity. These results show that selective inhibition of microglial group II metabotropic glutamate receptors has a positive impact on neuronal survival, and may prove a therapeutic target in Alzheimer's disease.

Regulating factors for microglial activation

Microglia, residential macrophages in the central nervous system, can release a variety of factors including cytokines, chemokines, etc. to regulate the communication among neuronal and other types of glial cells. Microglia play immunological roles in mechanisms underlying the phagocytosis of invading microorganisms and removal of dead or damaged cells. When microglia are hyperactivated due to a certain pathological imbalance, they may cause neuronal degeneration. Pathological activation of microglia has been reported in a wide range of conditions such as cerebral ischemia, Alzheimer's disease, prion diseases, multiple sclerosis, AIDS dementia, and others. Nearly 5000 papers on microglia can be retrieved on the Web site PubMed at present (November 2001) and half of them were published within the past 5 years. Although it is not possible to read each paper in detail, as many factors as possible affecting microglial functions in in vitro culture systems are presented in this review. The factors are separated into "activators" and "inhibitors," although it is difficult to classify many of them. An overview on these factors may help in the development of a new strategy for the treatment of various neurodegenerative diseases.

Vitamin E suppression of microglial activation is neuroprotective

Neurotoxic microglial-neuronal interactions have been implicated in the pathogenesis of various neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, and vitamin E has been shown to have direct neuroprotective effects. To determine whether vitamin E also has indirect neuroprotective effects through suppression of microglial activation, we used a microglial-neuronal coculture. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) treatment of a microglial cell line (N9) induced a time-dependent activation of both p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) and nuclear factor-kappaB (NFkappaB), with consequent increases in interleukin-1alpha (IL-1alpha), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), and nitric oxide (NO) production. Differentiated neuronal cells (PC12 cells treated with nerve growth factor) exhibited marked loss of processes and decreased survival when cocultured with LPS-activated microglia. Preincubation of microglia with vitamin E diminished this neurotoxic effect, independently of direct effects of the antioxidant on the neuronal cells. Microglial NO production and the induction of IL-1alpha and TNFalpha expression also were attenuated by vitamin E. Such antiinflammatory effects of vitamin E were correlated with suppression of p38 MAPK and NFkappaB activation and were mimicked by an inhibition of either p38 MAPK (by SB203580) or NFkappaB (by decoy oligonucleotides). These results suggest that, in addition to the beneficial effects of providing direct antioxidant protection to neurons reported by others, vitamin E may provide neuroprotection in vivo through suppression of signaling events necessary for microglial activation.

Inflammatory neurodegeneration mediated by nitric oxide from activated glia-inhibiting neuronal respiration, causing glutamate release and excitotoxicity

Glia undergo inflammatory activation in most CNS pathologies and are capable of killing cocultured neurons. We investigated the mechanisms of this inflammatory neurodegeneration using a mixed culture of neurons, microglia, and astrocytes, either when the astrocytes were activated directly with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) or LPS/IFN-gamma-activated microglia were added to mixed neuronal cultures. In either case, activated glia caused 75-100% necrotic cell death within 48 hr, which was completely prevented by inhibitors of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) (aminoguanidine or 1400W). Activated astrocytes or microglia produced nitric oxide (NO) (steady-state level approximately 0.5 microm), which immediately inhibited the cellular respiration of cocultured neurons, as did authentic NO. NO donors also decreased ATP levels and stimulated lactate production by neurons, consistent with NO-induced respiratory inhibition. NO donors or a specific respiratory inhibitor caused rapid (<1 min) release of glutamate from neuronal and neuronal-astrocytic cultures and subsequent neuronal death that was blocked by an antagonist of NMDA receptor (MK-801). MK-801 also blocked neuronal death induced by activated glia. High oxygen also prevented NO-induced neuronal death, consistent with death being induced by NO inhibition of cytochrome c oxidation in competition with oxygen. Thus activated glia kill neurons via NO from iNOS, which inhibits neuronal respiration resulting in glutamate release and subsequent excitotoxicity. This may contribute to neuronal cell death in inflammatory, infectious, ischemic, and neurodegenerative diseases.