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Abulimiti G, Zeng J, Aimaiti M, Lei X, Mi N. Harmol hydrochloride dihydrate induces autophagy in neuro cells and promotes the degradation of α-Syn by Atg5/Atg12-dependent pathway. Food Sci Nutr 2022; 10:4371-4379. [PMID: 36514773 PMCID: PMC9731543 DOI: 10.1002/fsn3.3031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2022] [Revised: 07/24/2022] [Accepted: 07/31/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Harmol hydrochloride dihydrate (HHD) is a novel alkaloid salt of the natural β-carboline harmol, which is isolated from Peganum harmala L. Here, we studied whether HHD could induce autophagy in neuro cells and investigated the underlying molecular mechanism. After incubation with HHD, the number of GFP-LC3 puncta in cells was measured using confocal microscopy. The distribution and colocalization of autophagosomes and autolysosomes in the cells were also detected. LC3 was gathered and cultured in a medium containing HHD. Compared with control cells and cells starved for 2 h, the number of GFP-LC3 puncta and the LC3-II expression level were significantly increased in HHD-treated cells (p < .05). The number of autophagosome (red) was increased and most of them were colocalized with lysosomes (green). Moreover, HHD induced the formation of puncta with Lysotracker Red positive in the L3 fat bodies (p < .05). When treated HEK cells with HHD, the protein expression level of LC3-II was markedly increased, and the protein expression level of α-Syn was significantly decreased (p < .05). HHD could induce the increased autophagosome in neuro cells by induction of autophagy. Moreover, HHD may promote the degradation of α-Syn protein to protect neuro cells by inducing autophagy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gulinuer Abulimiti
- Department of Translational MedicineThe Affiliated Kizilsu Kirghiz Autonomous Prefecture People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, ArtuxXinjiangChina
| | - Jianghua Zeng
- Department of Translational MedicineThe Affiliated Kizilsu Kirghiz Autonomous Prefecture People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, ArtuxXinjiangChina
| | | | - Xiuying Lei
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyXinjiang Medical UniversityXinjiangChina
| | - Na Mi
- State Key Laboratory of PathogenesisPrevention and Treatment of Central Asian High Incidence DiseasesClinical Medical Research InstituteThe First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical UniversityXinjiangChina
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Pallàs M, Vázquez S, Sanfeliu C, Galdeano C, Griñán-Ferré C. Soluble Epoxide Hydrolase Inhibition to Face Neuroinflammation in Parkinson's Disease: A New Therapeutic Strategy. Biomolecules 2020; 10:E703. [PMID: 32369955 PMCID: PMC7277900 DOI: 10.3390/biom10050703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2020] [Revised: 04/28/2020] [Accepted: 04/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuroinflammation is a crucial process associated with the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson's disease (PD). Several pieces of evidence suggest an active role of lipid mediators, especially epoxy-fatty acids (EpFAs), in the genesis and control of neuroinflammation; 14,15-epoxyeicosatrienoic acid (14,15-EET) is one of the most commonly studied EpFAs, with anti-inflammatory properties. Soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) is implicated in the hydrolysis of 14,15-EET to its corresponding diol, which lacks anti-inflammatory properties. Preventing EET degradation thus increases its concentration in the brain through sEH inhibition, which represents a novel pharmacological approach to foster the reduction of neuroinflammation and by end neurodegeneration. Recently, it has been shown that sEH levels increase in brains of PD patients. Moreover, the pharmacological inhibition of the hydrolase domain of the enzyme or the use of sEH knockout mice reduced the deleterious effect of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) administration. This paper overviews the knowledge of sEH and EETs in PD and the importance of blocking its hydrolytic activity, degrading EETs in PD physiopathology. We focus on imperative neuroinflammation participation in the neurodegenerative process in PD and the putative therapeutic role for sEH inhibitors. In this review, we also describe highlights in the general knowledge of the role of sEH in the central nervous system (CNS) and its participation in neurodegeneration. We conclude that sEH is one of the most promising therapeutic strategies for PD and other neurodegenerative diseases with chronic inflammation process, providing new insights into the crucial role of sEH in PD pathophysiology as well as a singular opportunity for drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mercè Pallàs
- Pharmacology Section, Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Therapeutic Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, Institute of Neuroscience, University of Barcelona (NeuroUB), Av. Joan XXIII 27-31, 08028 Barcelona, Spain;
| | - Santiago Vázquez
- Laboratori de Química Farmacèutica (Unitat Associada al CSIC), Department de Farmacologia, Toxicologia i Química Terapèutica, Facultat de Farmàcia i Ciències de l’Alimentació, and Institute of Biomedicine (IBUB), Universitat de Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII, 27-31, 08028 Barcelona, Spain;
| | - Coral Sanfeliu
- Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques de Barcelona (IIBB), CSIC, IDIBAPS and CIBERESP, C/Roselló 161, 08036 Barcelona, Spain;
| | - Carles Galdeano
- Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology and Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences and Institute of Biomedicine (IBUB), University of Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII, 27-31, 08028 Barcelona, Spain;
| | - Christian Griñán-Ferré
- Pharmacology Section, Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Therapeutic Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, Institute of Neuroscience, University of Barcelona (NeuroUB), Av. Joan XXIII 27-31, 08028 Barcelona, Spain;
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Cerri S, Blandini F. Role of Autophagy in Parkinson's Disease. Curr Med Chem 2019; 26:3702-3718. [PMID: 29484979 DOI: 10.2174/0929867325666180226094351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2017] [Revised: 01/30/2018] [Accepted: 02/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Autophagy is an essential catabolic mechanism that delivers misfolded proteins and damaged organelles to the lysosome for degradation. Autophagy pathways include macroautophagy, chaperone-mediated autophagy and microautophagy, each involving different mechanisms of substrate delivery to lysosome. Defects of these pathways and the resulting accumulation of protein aggregates represent a common pathobiological feature of neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer, Parkinson and Huntington disease. This review provides an overview of the role of autophagy in Parkinson's disease (PD) by summarizing the most relevant genetic and experimental evidence showing how this process can contribute to disease pathogenesis. Given lysosomes take part in the final step of the autophagic process, the role of lysosomal defects in the impairment of autophagy and their impact on disease will also be discussed. A glance on the role of non-neuronal autophagy in the pathogenesis of PD will be included. Moreover, we will examine novel pharmacological targets and therapeutic strategies that, by boosting autophagy, may be theoretically beneficial for PD. Special attention will be focused on natural products, such as phenolic compounds, that are receiving increasing consideration due to their potential efficacy associated with low toxicity. Although many efforts have been made to elucidate autophagic process, the development of new therapeutic interventions requires a deeper understanding of the mechanisms that may lead to autophagy defects in PD and should take into account the multifactorial nature of the disease as well as the phenotypic heterogeneity of PD patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Cerri
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy
| | - Fabio Blandini
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy
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Creed RB, Goldberg MS. Analysis of α-Synuclein Pathology in PINK1 Knockout Rat Brains. Front Neurosci 2019; 12:1034. [PMID: 30686993 PMCID: PMC6333903 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2018.01034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2018] [Accepted: 12/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Mutations in PTEN induced kinase 1 (PINK1) cause autosomal recessive Parkinson’s disease (PD). The main pathological hallmarks of PD are loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta and the formation of protein aggregates containing α-synuclein. Previous studies of PINK1 knockout (PINK1-/-) rats have reported mitochondrial dysfunction, locomotor behavioral deficits, loss of neurons in the substantia nigra and α-synuclein aggregates in various brain regions. We sought to characterize PINK1-/- rats in more detail specifically with respect to α-synuclein pathology because abnormal α-synuclein has been implicated genetically, biophysically and neuropathologically as a mechanism of PD pathogenesis. Moreover, the spontaneous formation of α-synuclein aggregates without α-synuclein overexpression, injection or toxin administration is a rare and important characteristic for an animal model of PD or other synucleinopathies, such as dementia with Lewy bodies and multiple system atrophy. We observed α-synuclein-immunoreactive aggregates in various brain regions of PINK1-/- rats including cortex, thalamus, striatum and ventral midbrain, but nowhere in wild-type (WT) rats. Co-immunofluorescence showed that the α-synuclein-immunoreactive aggregates are both thioflavin S and ubiquitin positive. Many cells in the brains of PINK1-/- rats but not WT rats contained protease-resistant α-synuclein. Total synuclein protein levels were unchanged; however, biochemical fractionation showed a significant shift of α-synuclein from the cytosolic fraction to the synaptic vesicle-enriched fraction of PINK1-/- brain homogenates compared to WT. This data indicates that PINK1 deficiency results in abnormal α-synuclein localization, protease resistance and aggregation in vivo. The PINK1-/- rat could be a useful animal model to study the role of abnormal α-synuclein in PD-related neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rose B Creed
- Center for Neurodegeneration and Experimental Therapeutics, Department of Neurology, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
| | - Matthew S Goldberg
- Center for Neurodegeneration and Experimental Therapeutics, Department of Neurology, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States.,Department of Neurobiology, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
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Fan C, Liu J, Tian J, Zhang Y, Yan M, Zhu C. siRNA Targeting of the SNCG Gene Inhibits the Growth of Gastric Carcinoma SGC7901 Cells in vitro and in vivo by Downregulating the Phosphorylation of AKT/ERK. Cytogenet Genome Res 2018; 154:209-216. [PMID: 29902801 DOI: 10.1159/000488571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/15/2018] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of synuclein-γ (SNCG) silencing on gastric cancer SGC7901 cells and to elucidate the associated mechanisms. pGCSIL-lentiviral siRNA targeting of the SNCG gene was employed to inhibit SNCG expression. Several experiments such as quantitative real-time PCR, Western blotting, MTT, colony formation, migration assay, and flow cytometry were performed to investigate the biological behavior of infected SGC7901 cells. BALB/c nude mice were used as tumor xenograft models to assess the effects of SNCG silencing on tumor growth. Western blot analysis was carried out to determine the relative levels of AKT, p-AKT, ERK, and p-ERK expression. Our results showed that SNCG was overexpressed in SGC7901 cells as compared to normal gastric mucosal epithelial cells. SGC7901 cells transfected with SNCG siRNA demonstrated significantly decreased gastric cancer growth (p < 0.01), reduced cell migration, cell cycle arrest in the G0/G1 phase, promoted tumor cell apoptosis (p < 0.01), and inhibited tumorigenesis in xenograft animal models. Western blot analysis indicated that the protein levels of p-AKT and p-ERK were much lower in the SNCG siRNA group than in the control groups. The results of the present study suggest that SNCG siRNA plays a significant role in the proliferation, migration, and tumorigenesis of gastric cancer by downregulating the phosphorylation of AKT and ERK. RNA interference-mediated silencing of SNCG may provide an opportunity to develop a novel treatment strategy for gastric cancer.
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Strohl A, Mori K, Akers S, Bshara W, Buttin B, Frederick PJ, Helenowski IB, Morrison CD, Odunsi K, Schink JC, Scholtens DM, Wei JJ, Kim JJ. Synuclein-γ (SNCG) expression in ovarian cancer is associated with high-risk clinicopathologic disease. J Ovarian Res 2016; 9:75. [PMID: 27809878 PMCID: PMC5094138 DOI: 10.1186/s13048-016-0281-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2016] [Accepted: 10/17/2016] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Synuclein gamma (SNCG) expression is associated with advanced disease and chemoresistance in multiple solid tumors. Our goal was to determine if SNCG protein expression in ovarian cancer was correlated with clinicopathologic variables and patient outcomes. Methods Tissue microarrays from primary tumors of 357 ovarian, fallopian tube, and primary peritoneal cancer patients, who underwent primary surgery at Roswell Park Cancer Institute between 1995 and 2007, were immunohistochemically stained for SNCG. A pathologist blinded to patient data scored tumors as positive if ≥10 % of the sample stained for SNCG. Medical records were reviewed for clinicopathologic and demographic variables. Between the positive and negative groups, Wilcoxon rank-sum test was used to compare the median ages and Fisher’s exact test was used to compare groups in categorical variables. Cox proportional hazard models examined associations between SNCG and overall and progression-free survival. Results The median follow-up was 36 months, median overall survival was 39 months, and median progression-free survival was 18 months. SNCG presence was associated with clinical variables of serous histology, grade 3 disease, suboptimal debulking, ascites at surgery, FIGO stage III-IV cancer, or initial CA-125 level >485. There was no significant difference in overall survival (HR 1.06 95 % CI 0.81–1.39 P 0.69) or progression-free survival (HR 1.16 95 % CI 0.89–1.50 P 0.28) for patients with or without SNCG expression. Conclusions SNCG expression in ovarian cancer is frequent in patients with high-risk features, but it does not correlate with chemotherapy response, overall survival, or progression-free survival. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13048-016-0281-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Strohl
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, USA
| | - Kristina Mori
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, USA
| | - Stacey Akers
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, USA
| | - Wiam Bshara
- Department of Pathology, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, USA
| | - Barbara Buttin
- Gynecologic Oncology Program, Cadence Physician Group, Warrenville, USA
| | - Peter J Frederick
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, USA
| | - Irene B Helenowski
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, USA
| | - Carl D Morrison
- Department of Pathology, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, USA
| | - Kunle Odunsi
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, USA
| | - Julian C Schink
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, USA
| | - Denise M Scholtens
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, USA
| | - Jian-Jun Wei
- Department of Pathology, Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 251 East Huron Street, Feinberg 7-334, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA. .,Division of Reproductive Science in Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, 303 E. Superior Street, 4-117, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA.
| | - J Julie Kim
- Division of Reproductive Science in Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, 303 E. Superior Street, 4-117, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA.
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α-Synuclein is prone to interaction with the GC-box-like sequence in vitro. Cell Mol Neurobiol 2014; 34:603-9. [PMID: 24659023 DOI: 10.1007/s10571-014-0046-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2013] [Accepted: 03/07/2014] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
α-Synuclein (α-syn) is a presynaptic protein that is widely implicated in the pathophysiology of Parkinson's disease, a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by a progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons and the formation of Lewy bodies. Evidence suggests that α-syn could be imported into the nucleus and subsequently disrupt normal neuronal function. The existence of α-syn in the nucleus provides the possibility of interaction with DNA leading to gene transcript regulation. Thus, CD spectra were used to determine the specific DNA sequence with which α-syn is most likely to interact. Our results indicated that α-syn was prone to preferentially interact with the GC-box-like sequence in vitro at a ratio of 2:1 or less (α-syn: the GC-box-like sequence).
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Zhao J, Xing N. Identification of γ-synuclein as a stage-specific marker in bladder cancer by immunohistochemistry. Med Sci Monit 2014; 20:2550-5. [PMID: 25479371 PMCID: PMC4266204 DOI: 10.12659/msm.892927] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Previous studies have shown that the expression level of γ-synuclein (SNCG) is associated with progression of many different malignant tumors. In this study, we discuss and assess the prognostic ability of SNCG in bladder cancer. Material/Methods Medical records (2005–2013) were retrospectively reviewed for the population of interest. SNCG expression was identified immunohistochemically from bladder cancer tissues of 113 bladder cancer patients. The survival rate was calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method. Cox proportional hazard regression model was used for analysis of predictors of bladder cancer. Results SNCG was overexpressed in bladder cancer tissues compared with the normal bladder tissues (p<0.0001). SNCG expression in bladder cancer tissue was strongly related to tumor stage. However, SNCG level was not a prognostic factor of survival. Conclusions Our results demonstrate that SNCG is highly expressed in bladder cancer tissue and its expression is stage-specific, but it is not helpful for predicting outcome in bladder cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiyu Zhao
- Department of Urology, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China (mainland)
| | - Nianzeng Xing
- Department of Urology, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China (mainland)
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Liang B, Wang XJ, Shen PH, Li XY, Cheng HW, Shan Q, Guo KY, Cao YW, Fan QX, Zheng RF, Li B, Zhang W, Li YW, Yang K. Synuclein-γ suppression mediated by RNA interference inhibits the clonogenicity and invasiveness of MCF-7 cells. Oncol Lett 2013; 5:1347-1352. [PMID: 23599792 PMCID: PMC3629178 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2013.1192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2012] [Accepted: 01/28/2013] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of synuclein-γ (SNCG) downregulation by RNA interference (RNAi) on the clonogenicity and invasiveness of MCF-7 breast cancer cells. This study used four pairs of SNCG-specific siRNAs which were designed and cloned into the pGPU6 plasmid for introduction into an MCF-7 cell line. The SNCG knockdown efficacies of the four siRNAs were compared using the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunocytochemistry. The cells' clonogenic and invasive phenotypes were examined with clonogenic and Boyden chamber assays. In comparison with the non-specific siRNA and empty vector controls, all four SNCG siRNAs were observed to significantly inhibit SNCG expression at the mRNA and protein levels (F=481.06, P<0.001; F=147.42, P<0.0001). SNCG suppression mediated by RNAi successfully inhibited the clonogenicity (P=0.002) and invasiveness (P<0.001) of transfected MCF-7 cells. According to the results of the present study, we concluded that SNCG suppression mediated by RNAi significantly suppressed SNCG expression at the mRNA and protein levels, suggesting that SNCG suppression mediated by an RNAi strategy may become a novel approach for treating advanced breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Liang
- Departments of Neurosurgery, Zhengzhou, Henan 450052, P.R. China
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Chen J, Jiao L, Xu C, Yu Y, Zhang Z, Chang Z, Deng Z, Sun Y. Neural protein gamma-synuclein interacting with androgen receptor promotes human prostate cancer progression. BMC Cancer 2012; 12:593. [PMID: 23231703 PMCID: PMC3599237 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2407-12-593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2012] [Accepted: 11/29/2012] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Gamma-synuclein (SNCG) has previously been demonstrated to be significantly correlated with metastatic malignancies; however, in-depth investigation of SNCG in prostate cancer is still lacking. In the present study, we evaluated the role of SNCG in prostate cancer progression and explored the underlying mechanisms. Methods First, alteration of SNCG expression in LNCaP cell line to test the ability of SNCG on cellular properties in vitro and vivo whenever exposing with androgen or not. Subsequently, the Dual-luciferase reporter assays were performed to evaluate whether the role of SNCG in LNCaP is through AR signaling. Last, the association between SNCG and prostate cancer progression was assessed immunohistochemically using a series of human prostate tissues. Results Silencing SNCG by siRNA in LNCaP cells contributes to the inhibition of cellular proliferation, the induction of cell-cycle arrest at the G1 phase, the suppression of cellular migration and invasion in vitro, as well as the decrease of tumor growth in vivo with the notable exception of castrated mice. Subsequently, mechanistic studies indicated that SNCG is a novel androgen receptor (AR) coactivator. It interacts with AR and promotes prostate cancer cellular growth and proliferation by activating AR transcription in an androgen-dependent manner. Finally, immunohistochemical analysis revealed that SNCG was almost undetectable in benign or androgen-independent tissues prostate lesions. The high expression of SNCG is correlated with peripheral and lymph node invasion. Conclusions Our data suggest that SNCG may serve as a biomarker for predicting human prostate cancer progression and metastasis. It also may become as a novel target for biomedical therapy in advanced prostate cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junyi Chen
- Department of Urology, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, 168 Changhai Road, Shanghai 200433, China
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7-Nitroindazole down-regulates dopamine/DARPP-32 signaling in neostriatal neurons in a rat model of Parkinson's disease. Neuropharmacology 2012; 63:1258-67. [PMID: 22877786 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2012.07.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2011] [Revised: 07/08/2012] [Accepted: 07/15/2012] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) is involved in the regulation of diverse intracellular messenger systems in the brain. Nitric Oxide (NO) contributes to inducing signaling cascades that involve a complex pattern of phosphorylation of DARPP-32 (in Thr-34), which controls the phosphoproteins involved in neuronal activation. However, the role of NO in the pathophysiology of Parkinson's disease (PD) and its effect in striatal neurons have been scarcely explored. In the present work, we investigate the effects of a nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor, 7-nitroindazole (7-NI) in the nigrostriatal pathway of striatal 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) lesioned rats. Our quantitative histological findings show that treatment with 7-NI significantly reduced 6-OHDA-induced dopaminergic damage in the dorsolateral striatum and Substantia Nigra pars compacta (SNpc). Moreover, 6-OHDA lesioned rats show a significant increase of nNOS(+) and Phospho-Thr34-DARPP-32(+) cells, accompanied by a consequent decrease of total DARPP-32(+) cells, which suggests an imbalance of NO activity in the DA-depleted striatum, which is also reflected in behavioral studies. Importantly, these effects are reverted in the group treated with 7-NI. These results show a clear link between the state of phosphorylation of DARPP-32 and parkinsonism, which is regulated by nNOS. This new evidence suggests a prominent role for nitric oxide in the neurotransmitter balance within the basal ganglia in the pathophysiology of experimental parkinsonism.
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Zou J, Fan YJ, Meng YQ, Xu H, Fan J. An exploratory analysis of γ-synuclein expression in endometrioid endometrial cancer. BMJ Open 2012; 2:e000611. [PMID: 22535789 PMCID: PMC3341596 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2011-000611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study aims to investigate the expression of γ-synuclein in endometrioid endometrial carcinoma and assess if the γ-synuclein expression correlates with the aggression of the tumour and its prognostic value in endometrioid endometrial carcinoma. DESIGN This retrospective study evaluated (60) specimens of the primary untreated endometrioid endometrial carcinoma and (12) normal endometrium tissues, and the expression of γ-synuclein was checked by immunohistochemistry. The correlation between γ-synuclein expression and the clinicopathological features of patients with endometrioid endometrial carcinoma was analysed, and SPSS V.13.0 software was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS The expression of γ-synuclein was positive in 48.3% (29/60) endometrioid endometrial carcinomas compared with the control group, and the difference was significant (p=0.001). The expression level of γ-synuclein in endometrioid endometrial carcinoma was closely associated with FIGO (International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics) stages, the depth of myometrial invasion and lymph nodes metastases (p<0.05), but not correlated with the histopathological grades, the patient's age and the expression of ER (estrogen receptor) and PR (progesterone receptor) (p>0.05). In univariate and multivariate analyses, the γ-synuclein expression was significantly associated with a shorter overall survival (95% CI 1.429 to 101.892, p=0.020). CONCLUSIONS This study suggests that the expression of γ-synuclein is expected to be a useful marker for endometrioid endometrial carcinoma invasion, metastasis and prognosis in endometrioid endometrial carcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Zou
- Department of Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi Province, People's Republic of China
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Ma KL, Yuan YH, Song LK, Han N, Chen NH. Over-expression of α-synuclein 98 triggers intracellular oxidative stress and enhances susceptibility to rotenone. Neurosci Lett 2011; 491:148-52. [PMID: 21238542 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2011.01.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2010] [Revised: 12/11/2010] [Accepted: 01/08/2011] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
The α-synuclein protein is a major component of Lewy bodies found in the brains of patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). Recently, α-synuclein 98 (α-syn98), a small isoform of the wild type protein was isolated. The neurotoxicity of this protein was assessed by over-expressing α-syn98 in dopaminergic cells. Enhanced expression of α-syn98 was insufficient to adversely affect the survival of neurons or to promote aggregation of the protein. However, when exposed to rotenone, α-syn98 over-expressing dopaminergic cells demonstrated significantly increased cytotoxicity and aggregate formation. Furthermore, we found enhanced basal ROS production and MDA levels in α-syn98 over-expressing neurons. High basal oxidative stress induced by α-syn98, combined with oxidative stress caused by rotenone treatment, promoted aggregate formation and significantly decreased cell viability. These data indicate that α-syn98 can enhance the susceptibility of dopaminergic neurons to oxidative insults by raising steady-state levels of oxidative stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai-Li Ma
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College (Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substances and Resources Utilization, Ministry of Education), 1 Xiannongtan Street, Xuanwu District, Beijing 100050, PR China
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Waxman EA, Giasson BI. Characterization of kinases involved in the phosphorylation of aggregated α-synuclein. J Neurosci Res 2010; 89:231-47. [PMID: 21162130 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.22537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2010] [Revised: 09/30/2010] [Accepted: 10/08/2010] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
α-Synuclein (α-syn) is the major component of pathological inclusions characteristic of several neurodegenerative disorders, such as Parkinson's disease. The major posttranslational modification of α-syn is phosphorylation at S129, and previous studies estimate that approximately 90% of α-syn in proteinaceous, pathological inclusions is phosphorylated at this site. α-Syn can be phosphorylated by polo-like kinases (PLKs) 1-3 and casein kinases (CK) 1 and 2; however, the kinases associated with the hyperphosphorylation of aggregated α-syn are still under debate. Using a high-efficiency cellular model of α-syn aggregate formation, we found that selective inhibitors for CK2 and PLKs each partially inhibited S129 phosphorylation of soluble (nonaggregated) α-syn, but only PLK inhibitors modestly attenuated the phosphorylation of aggregated α-syn. In addition, none of the kinase inhibitors used had a substantial effect on the propensity of α-syn to aggregate. Overexpression of all PLKs promoted robust phosphorylation of soluble α-syn, but none altered the propensity of α-syn to aggregate. Overexpression of only PLK2 increased phosphorylation of aggregated α-syn at S129, which likely is due to increased phosphorylation of soluble α-syn, which then was incorporated into aggregates. Overexpression of PLK1 and treatment with BI2536 resulted in a significant reduction of phosphorylated, aggregated α-syn protein, beyond that of BI2536 treatment alone. These studies suggest that phosphorylation of α-syn is independent of α-syn aggregate formation, that PLK1 is involved in the phosphorylation of aggregated α-syn at S129 in this system, and that mechanisms resulting in hyperphosphorylation of aggregated α-syn appear to be independent of those responsible for the phosphorylation of soluble α-syn.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa A Waxman
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
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15
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Waxman EA, Giasson BI. A novel, high-efficiency cellular model of fibrillar alpha-synuclein inclusions and the examination of mutations that inhibit amyloid formation. J Neurochem 2010; 113:374-88. [PMID: 20132485 DOI: 10.1111/j.1471-4159.2010.06592.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Intracytoplasmic alpha-synuclein (alpha-syn) amyloidogenic inclusions are a major pathological feature of Parkinson's disease, dementia with Lewy body disease and multiple systems atrophy. The mechanisms involved in the formation and inhibition of these aggregates are areas of intense investigation. The present study characterizes a novel cellular model for the study of alpha-syn aggregation, incorporating nucleation-dependent aggregation and a new function for calcium phosphate precipitation. Cultured cells were readily induced to develop large, cytoplasmic alpha-syn filamentous aggregates that were hyperphosphorylated, often ubiquitinated and thioflavin positive. These cellular aggregates formed in the majority of transfected cells and recruited approximately half of endogenously expressed alpha-syn. Using this system, we examined single-point mutations that inhibit alpha-syn amyloid formation in vitro. Three mutations (V66P, T72P and T75P) significantly hindered alpha-syn aggregation in this cell model. The T75P mutant, which could abrogate amyloid formation of wild-type alpha-syn in vitro, did not prevent wild-type alpha-syn cellular aggregates. These studies suggest that the propensity of alpha-syn to form cellular aggregates may be more pronounced than in isolated in vitro studies. This novel high-efficiency cellular model of alpha-syn aggregation is a valuable system that may be used to further understand alpha-syn aggregation and allow for the generation of future therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa A Waxman
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6084, USA
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16
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Waxman EA, Covy JP, Bukh I, Li X, Dawson TM, Giasson BI. Leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 expression leads to aggresome formation that is not associated with alpha-synuclein inclusions. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol 2009; 68:785-96. [PMID: 19535993 DOI: 10.1097/nen.0b013e3181aaf4fd] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Mutations in leucine-rich repeat kinase-2 (LRRK2) are the most common known cause of Parkinson disease, but how this protein results in the pathobiology of Parkinson disease is unknown. Moreover, there is variability in pathology among cases, and alpha-synuclein (alpha-syn) neuronal inclusions are often present, but whether LRRK2 is present in these pathological inclusions is controversial. This study characterizes novel LRRK2 antibodies, some of which preferentially recognize an aggregated form of LRRK2, as observed in cell culture models. Large perinuclear aggregates containing LRRK2 were promoted by proteasome inhibition and prevented by microtubule polymerization inhibition. Furthermore, they were vimentin- and gamma-tubulin- but not lamp1-immunoreactive, suggesting that these structures fit the definition of aggresomes. Inhibition of heat shock protein 90 led to the degradation of only the soluble/cytosolic pool of LRRK2, suggesting that the aggresomes formed independent of the stability provided by the heat shock protein 90. Although these novel anti-LRRK2 antibodies identified aggregates in model cell systems, they did not immunostain pathological inclusions in human brains. Furthermore, coexpression of LRRK2 and alpha-syn did not recruit alpha-syn into aggresomes in cultured cells, even in the presence of proteasome inhibition. Thus, although LRRK2 is a model system for aggresome formation, LRRK2 is not present in alpha-syn pathological inclusions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa A Waxman
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104-6084, USA
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17
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Physiological and pathological role of alpha-synuclein in Parkinson's disease through iron mediated oxidative stress; the role of a putative iron-responsive element. Int J Mol Sci 2009; 10:1226-60. [PMID: 19399246 PMCID: PMC2672027 DOI: 10.3390/ijms10031226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2008] [Revised: 03/03/2009] [Accepted: 03/11/2009] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the second most common progressive neurodegenerative disorder after Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and represents a large health burden to society. Genetic and oxidative risk factors have been proposed as possible causes, but their relative contribution remains unclear. Dysfunction of alpha-synuclein (α-syn) has been associated with PD due to its increased presence, together with iron, in Lewy bodies. Brain oxidative damage caused by iron may be partly mediated by α-syn oligomerization during PD pathology. Also, α-syn gene dosage can cause familial PD and inhibition of its gene expression by blocking translation via a newly identified Iron Responsive Element-like RNA sequence in its 5’-untranslated region may provide a new PD drug target.
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Hwang H, Choi H, Kim HK, Jo DH, Kim TD. Ionic liquids promote amyloid formation from α-synuclein. Anal Biochem 2009; 386:293-5. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ab.2008.12.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2008] [Revised: 11/29/2008] [Accepted: 12/13/2008] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
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Di Benedetto M, Cavina C, D’Addario C, Leoni G, Candeletti S, Cox BM, Romualdi P. Alterations of N/OFQ and NOP receptor gene expression in the substantia nigra and caudate putamen of MPP+ and 6-OHDA lesioned rats. Neuropharmacology 2009; 56:761-7. [PMID: 19162046 PMCID: PMC2680584 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2008.12.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2008] [Revised: 11/07/2008] [Accepted: 12/18/2008] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
It has been suggested that the opioid-like neuropeptide nociceptin/orphanin FQ(N/OFQ) and its receptor (NOPr) may contribute to Parkinson's disease. Based on this idea, the aim of our study was to investigate the involvement of the N/OFQ-NOPr system in an animal model of Parkinson's disease and to evaluate if this neuropeptidergic system is acting through mechanisms involving glutamate and/or GABA. We injected the neurotoxins MPP+ or 6-OHDA into the cerebral ventricles and 10 days later measured N/OFQ and NOPr gene expression in caudate putamen (CP) and substantia nigra (SN), by RT-PCR. A large reduction in N/OFQ and NOPr mRNAs was observed in the CP of rat treated with either MPP+ or 6-OHDA, MPP+ being more effective than 6-OHDA. Both the neurotoxins induced an increase in N/OFQ gene expression in the SN, but only MPP+ evoked a significant down-regulation of NOPr in this area, showing a slight trend of reduction in 6-OHDA treated rats. Moreover, a reduction in the levels of glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD65/67), an enzyme that converts the excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate to the inhibitory neurotransmitter y-aminobutyric acid (GABA), was also observed in the SN following 6-OHDA. These data suggest that DA modulates N/OFQ-NOPr system gene expression in SN and CP, strengthening the hypothesis that this neuropeptidergic system could be implicated in the mechanisms underlying Parkinson's disease. Our data might also suggest that the GABAergic system plays a role in the regulation of nigral function, although further studies are necessary to confirm this hypothesis. In agreement with previous studies, we also support the hypothesis of a potential value for NOP receptor antagonists to attenuate symptoms related to the degeneration of nigrostriatal dopaminergic pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuela Di Benedetto
- Department of Pharmacology, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Irnerio 48, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Chiara Cavina
- Department of Pharmacology, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Irnerio 48, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Claudio D’Addario
- Department of Pharmacology, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Irnerio 48, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Giorgia Leoni
- Department of Pharmacology, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Irnerio 48, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Sanzio Candeletti
- Department of Pharmacology, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Irnerio 48, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Brian M. Cox
- Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Department of Pharmacology, 4301 Jones Bridge Rd., Bethesda, MD 20814, USA
| | - Patrizia Romualdi
- Department of Pharmacology, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Irnerio 48, 40126 Bologna, Italy
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Häbig K, Walter M, Stappert H, Riess O, Bonin M. Microarray expression analysis of human dopaminergic neuroblastoma cells after RNA interference of SNCA--a key player in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease. Brain Res 2008; 1256:19-33. [PMID: 19135032 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2008.12.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2008] [Revised: 10/01/2008] [Accepted: 12/03/2008] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
The pre-synaptic protein alpha-synuclein is a key player in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD). Misfolded alpha-synuclein protofibrils accumulate and serve as seed structures that cause numerous proteins in the cytoplasm of neuronal cells to aggregate into so-called Lewy bodies. Furthermore, both missense mutations and multiplications of the SNCA gene lead to autosomal dominant forms of familial PD. However, the exact biological role of alpha-synuclein in normal brains remains elusive. To gain more insight into the normal function of this protein, we evaluated changes in whole genome expression in dopaminergic neuroblastoma cells (SH-SY5Y) caused by reductions of 90% in alpha-synuclein RNA levels and of 59% in alpha-synuclein protein levels as a result of RNA interference. The expression of 361 genes was altered at least+/-1.5-fold by the RNA interference, with 82 up-regulated and 279 down-regulated. The differentially expressed gene products are involved in the regulation of transcription, cell cycle, protein degradation, apoptosis, neurogenesis, and lipid metabolism. To examine the influence of SNCA down-regulation by RNAi on apoptosis, we performed cell death assays using different stress triggers. The changes observed in the expression profile of dopaminergic neuronal cells following reduction of SNCA expression warrant studies to investigate the role of signaling cascades in familial and idiopathic PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karina Häbig
- Department of Medical Genetics, Institute of Human Genetics, University of Tübingen, Germany
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21
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Specificity and regulation of casein kinase-mediated phosphorylation of alpha-synuclein. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol 2008. [PMID: 18451726 DOI: 10.1097/nen.0b013e3186fc995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 139] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
alpha-Synuclein (alpha-syn) is the major component of pathologic inclusions that characterize neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson disease, dementia with Lewy body disease, and multiple system atrophy. The present study uses novel phospho-specific antibodies to assess the presence and regulation of phosphorylated Ser87 and Ser129 in alpha-syn in human brain samples and in a transgenic mouse model of alpha-synucleinopathies. By immunohistochemistry, alpha-syn phosphorylated at Ser129, but not at Ser87, was abundant in alpha-syn inclusions. Under normal conditions, Ser129 phosphorylation, but not Ser87 phosphorylation, was detected at low levels in the soluble biochemical fractions in human alpha-syn transgenic mice and stably transfected cultured cells. Therefore, a role for Ser87 phosphorylation in alpha-synucleinopathies is unlikely, and in vitro assays showed that phosphorylation at this site would inhibit polymerization. In vitro studies also indicated that hyperphosphorylation of Ser129 alpha-syn in pathologic inclusions may be due in part to the intrinsic properties of aggregated alpha-syn to act as substrates for kinases but not phosphatases. Further studies in transgenic mice and cultured cells suggest that cellular toxicity, including proteasomal dysfunction, increases casein kinase 2 activity, which results in elevated Ser129 alpha-syn phosphorylation. These data provide novel explanations for the presence of hyperphosphorylated Ser129 alpha-syn in pathologic inclusions.
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22
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Specificity and regulation of casein kinase-mediated phosphorylation of alpha-synuclein. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol 2008; 67:402-16. [PMID: 18451726 DOI: 10.1097/nen.0b013e31816fc995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 108] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
alpha-Synuclein (alpha-syn) is the major component of pathologic inclusions that characterize neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson disease, dementia with Lewy body disease, and multiple system atrophy. The present study uses novel phospho-specific antibodies to assess the presence and regulation of phosphorylated Ser87 and Ser129 in alpha-syn in human brain samples and in a transgenic mouse model of alpha-synucleinopathies. By immunohistochemistry, alpha-syn phosphorylated at Ser129, but not at Ser87, was abundant in alpha-syn inclusions. Under normal conditions, Ser129 phosphorylation, but not Ser87 phosphorylation, was detected at low levels in the soluble biochemical fractions in human alpha-syn transgenic mice and stably transfected cultured cells. Therefore, a role for Ser87 phosphorylation in alpha-synucleinopathies is unlikely, and in vitro assays showed that phosphorylation at this site would inhibit polymerization. In vitro studies also indicated that hyperphosphorylation of Ser129 alpha-syn in pathologic inclusions may be due in part to the intrinsic properties of aggregated alpha-syn to act as substrates for kinases but not phosphatases. Further studies in transgenic mice and cultured cells suggest that cellular toxicity, including proteasomal dysfunction, increases casein kinase 2 activity, which results in elevated Ser129 alpha-syn phosphorylation. These data provide novel explanations for the presence of hyperphosphorylated Ser129 alpha-syn in pathologic inclusions.
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23
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Generation of Reactive Oxygen Species by Mitochondrial Complex I: Implications in Neurodegeneration. Neurochem Res 2008; 33:2487-501. [DOI: 10.1007/s11064-008-9747-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2008] [Accepted: 05/09/2008] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
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Singh VK, Jia Z. Targeting synuclein-gamma to counteract drug resistance in cancer. Expert Opin Ther Targets 2008; 12:59-68. [PMID: 18076370 DOI: 10.1517/14728222.12.1.59] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Expression of synuclein-gamma (SNCG) protein is elevated in the advanced stages of many types of cancers, including ovarian, lung, liver, esophagus, colon, prostate and, in particular, breast. In breast carcinoma, SNCG is causatively linked to stimulated proliferation, metastasis and drug resistance. OBJECTIVE To establish SNCG as a potential therapeutic target and to discuss clinical use of SNCG inhibiting peptide. METHODS This review focuses on the plausible mechanisms of SNCG activity, SNCG mediated drug resistance and its inhibition. RESULTS/CONCLUSION Evidence based research shows that the aberrant expression of SNCG has a strong correlation with breast cancer progression and poor clinical outcome. A peptide based inhibitor counters activity of SNCG, which may be developed as an adjuvant therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vinay K Singh
- CIHR Post-doctoral Fellow in Transdisciplinary Cancer Research, Queen's University, Department of Biochemistry, Kingston, Ontario, K7L 3N6, Canada
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25
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Gherbassi D, Bhatt L, Thuret S, Simon HH. Merging mouse transcriptome analyses with Parkinson's disease linkage studies. DNA Res 2007; 14:79-89. [PMID: 17522092 PMCID: PMC2779897 DOI: 10.1093/dnares/dsm007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
The hallmark of Parkinson's disease (PD OMIM #168600) is the degeneration of the nigral dopaminergic system affecting approximately 1% of the human population older than 65. In pursuit of genetic factors contributing to PD, linkage and association studies identified several susceptibility genes. The majority of these genes are expressed by the dopamine-producing neurons in the substantia nigra. We, therefore, propose expression by these neurons as a selection criterion, to narrow down, in a rational manner, the number of candidate genes in orphan PD loci, where no mutation has been associated thus far. We determined the corresponding human chromosome locations of 1435 murine cDNA fragments obtained from murine expression analyses of nigral dopaminergic neurons and combined these data with human linkage studies. These fragments represent 19 genes within orphan OMIM PD loci. We used the same approach for independent association studies and determined the genes in neighborhood to the peaks with the highest LOD score value. Our approach did not make any assumptions about disease mechanisms, but it, nevertheless, revealed α-synuclein, NR4A2 (Nurr1), and the tau genes, which had previously been associated to PD. Furthermore, our transcriptome analysis identified several classes of candidate genes for PD mutations and may also provide insight into the molecular pathways active in nigral dopaminergic neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Horst H. Simon
- To whom correspondence should be addressed. Tel. +49-6221-548342. Fax. +49-6221-545605. E-mail:
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26
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Hipp JD, Davies KP, Tar M, Valcic M, Knoll A, Melman A, Christ GJ. Using gene chips to identify organ-specific, smooth muscle responses to experimental diabetes: potential applications to urological diseases. BJU Int 2007; 99:418-430. [PMID: 17313427 PMCID: PMC2013735 DOI: 10.1111/j.1464-410x.2007.06676.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To identify early diabetes-related alterations in gene expression in bladder and erectile tissue that would provide novel diagnostic and therapeutic treatment targets to prevent, delay or ameliorate the ensuing bladder and erectile dysfunction. MATERIALS AND METHODS The RG-U34A rat GeneChip (Affymetrix Inc., Sunnyvale, CA, USA) oligonucleotide microarray (containing approximately 8799 genes) was used to evaluate gene expression in corporal and male bladder tissue excised from rats 1 week after confirmation of a diabetic state, but before demonstrable changes in organ function in vivo. A conservative analytical approach was used to detect alterations in gene expression, and gene ontology (GO) classifications were used to identify biological themes/pathways involved in the aetiology of the organ dysfunction. RESULTS In all, 320 and 313 genes were differentially expressed in bladder and corporal tissue, respectively. GO analysis in bladder tissue showed prominent increases in biological pathways involved in cell proliferation, metabolism, actin cytoskeleton and myosin, as well as decreases in cell motility, and regulation of muscle contraction. GO analysis in corpora showed increases in pathways related to ion channel transport and ion channel activity, while there were decreases in collagen I and actin genes. CONCLUSIONS The changes in gene expression in these initial experiments are consistent with the pathophysiological characteristics of the bladder and erectile dysfunction seen later in the diabetic disease process. Thus, the observed changes in gene expression might be harbingers or biomarkers of impending organ dysfunction, and could provide useful diagnostic and therapeutic targets for a variety of progressive urological diseases/conditions (i.e. lower urinary tract symptoms related to benign prostatic hyperplasia, erectile dysfunction, etc.).
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason D. Hipp
- Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC
| | - Kelvin P. Davies
- Department of Urology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Moses Tar
- Department of Urology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Mira Valcic
- Department of Urology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Abraham Knoll
- Department of Urology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Arnold Melman
- Department of Urology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - George J. Christ
- Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC
- Department of Urology and Physiology & Pharmacology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC
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27
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Anantharam V, Lehrmann E, Kanthasamy A, Yang Y, Banerjee P, Becker KG, Freed WJ, Kanthasamy AG. Microarray analysis of oxidative stress regulated genes in mesencephalic dopaminergic neuronal cells: relevance to oxidative damage in Parkinson's disease. Neurochem Int 2007; 50:834-47. [PMID: 17397968 PMCID: PMC1950670 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuint.2007.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2006] [Revised: 01/18/2007] [Accepted: 02/12/2007] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Oxidative stress and apoptotic cell death have been implicated in the dopaminergic cell loss that characterizes Parkinson's disease. While factors contributing to apoptotic cell death are not well characterized, oxidative stress is known to activate an array of cell signaling molecules that participate in apoptotic cell death mechanisms. We investigated oxidative stress-induced cytotoxicity of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in three cell lines, the dopaminergic mesencephalon-derived N27 cell line, the GABAergic striatum-derived M213-20 cell line, and the hippocampal HN2-5 cell line. N27 cells were more sensitive to H2O2-induced cell death than M213-20 and HN2-5 cells. H2O2 induced significantly greater increases in caspase-3 activity in N27 cells than in M213-20 cells. H2O2-induced apoptotic cell death in N27 cells was mediated by caspase-3-dependent proteolytic activation of PKCdelta. Gene expression microarrays were employed to examine the specific transcriptional changes in N27 cells exposed to 100 microM H2O2 for 4 h. Changes in genes encoding pro- or anti-apoptotic proteins included up-regulation of BIK, PAWR, STAT5B, NPAS2, Jun B, MEK4, CCT7, PPP3CC, and PSDM3, while key down-regulated genes included BNIP3, NPTXR, RAGA, STK6, YWHAH, and MAP2K1. Overall, the changes indicate a modulation of transcriptional activity, chaperone activity, kinase activity, and apoptotic activity that appears highly specific, coordinated and relevant to cell survival. Utilizing this in vitro model to identify novel oxidative stress-regulated genes may be useful in unraveling the molecular mechanisms underlying dopaminergic degeneration in Parkinson's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vellareddy Anantharam
- Parkinson Disorders Research Laboratory, Iowa Center for Advanced Neurotoxicology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA
| | - Elin Lehrmann
- Cellular Neurobiology Research Branch, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Arthi Kanthasamy
- Parkinson Disorders Research Laboratory, Iowa Center for Advanced Neurotoxicology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA
| | - Yongjie Yang
- Parkinson Disorders Research Laboratory, Iowa Center for Advanced Neurotoxicology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA
| | - Probal Banerjee
- City University of New York Staten Island, Department of Chemistry and Neuroscience Program, Staten Island, NY, USA
| | - Kevin G. Becker
- Gene Expression and Genomics Unit, Research Resources Branch, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - William J. Freed
- Cellular Neurobiology Research Branch, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Anumantha G. Kanthasamy
- Parkinson Disorders Research Laboratory, Iowa Center for Advanced Neurotoxicology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA
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Klegeris A, Giasson BI, Zhang H, Maguire J, Pelech S, McGeer PL. Alpha-synuclein and its disease-causing mutants induce ICAM-1 and IL-6 in human astrocytes and astrocytoma cells. FASEB J 2006; 20:2000-8. [PMID: 17012252 DOI: 10.1096/fj.06-6183com] [Citation(s) in RCA: 106] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Autosomal dominant Parkinson disease (PD) is caused by duplication or triplication of the alpha-synuclein gene as well as by the A30P, E46K, and A53T mutations. The mechanisms are unknown. Reactive astrocytes in the substantia nigra of PD and MPTP-treated monkeys display high levels of the inflammatory mediator intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), indicating that chronic inflammation contributes to the degeneration. Here we report that alpha-synuclein strongly stimulates human astrocytes as well as human U-373 MG astrocytoma cells to up-regulate both interleukin (IL)-6 and ICAM-1 (ED50=5 microg ml(-1)). The mutated forms are more potent stimulators than wild-type (WT) alpha-synuclein in these assays. We demonstrate by immunoblotting analysis that this up-regulation is associated with activation of the major mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways. It is also attenuated by PD 98059, an inhibitor of the MAPK/extracellular-regulated kinase kinase MEK1/2, SP 600125, an inhibitor of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), and SB 202190, an inhibitor of p38 MAPK. The inhibitory effects on human astrocytes have IC50 values of 2, 5, and 1.5 microM respectively. We hypothesize that the neuroinflammation stimulated by release of an excess of normal alpha-synuclein or by release of its mutated forms can be involved in the pathobiology of PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andis Klegeris
- Kinsmen Laboratory of Neurological Research, University of British Columbia, 2255 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada.
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von Bohlen Und Halbach O. Modeling Neurodegenerative Diseases in vivo Review. NEURODEGENER DIS 2006; 2:313-20. [PMID: 16909014 DOI: 10.1159/000092318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2006] [Accepted: 03/14/2006] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is one of the major neurodegenerative disorders. The etiology of this disease is likely due to combinations of environmental and genetic factors. Symptomatic hallmarks of PD are tremor, bradykinesia, rigidity and postural instability. On the morphological and anatomical level, PD is characterized by massive degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta, leading to a severe loss of striatal dopaminergic fibers and to a massive reduction of dopamine levels in the striatum. In addition, PD is characterized by the appearance of Lewy bodies within the surviving dopaminergic neurons. Animal models of PD allow getting insight into the mechanisms of several symptoms of PD thereby providing indispensable tools for basic and applied research. The biochemical and cellular changes that occur following administration of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) in rodents or monkeys are remarkably similar to those seen in idiopathic PD. In this review, the main characteristics of experimental models of PD induced by the neurotoxic compound MPTP are reviewed.
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Affiliation(s)
- O von Bohlen Und Halbach
- Interdisciplinary Center for Neurosciences (IZN), University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
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