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Zheng F, Dahlmanns M, Kessler P, Alzheimer C. Increase in activin A may counteract decline in synaptic plasticity with age. Front Aging Neurosci 2024; 16:1382492. [PMID: 38646448 PMCID: PMC11026702 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2024.1382492] [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: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Activin A, a member of the transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) family, is widely recognized for its neurotrophic and neuroprotective function in the developing and injured brain, respectively. Moreover, in the healthy adult brain, activin A has been shown to tune signal processing at excitatory synapses in a fashion that improves cognitive performance. Because its level in human cerebrospinal fluid rises with age, we wondered whether activin A has a role in mitigating the gradual cognitive decline that healthy individuals experience in late-life. To interrogate the role of activin A in synaptic plasticity in the aging brain, we used an established transgenic mouse line, in which expression of a dominant-negative mutant of activin receptor IB (dnActRIB) serves to disrupt activin receptor signaling in a forebrain-specific fashion. In brain slices of young adult dnActRIB mice (2-4 months old), the NMDA receptor-dependent and -independent forms of long-term potentiation (LTP) at the Schaffer collateral-CA1 pyramidal cell synapse of the hippocampus were equally impaired relative to the extent of LTP measured in the wild-type preparation. Unexpectedly, the difference between the genotypes disappeared when the two forms of LTP were re-examined in slices from middle-aged mice (13-16 months old). Since the level of activin A and endogenous ActRIB both displayed a significant elevation in middle-aged hippocampus, we reasoned that with such a rise, the dominant-negative effect of the mutant receptors could be overcome. Substantiating this idea, we found that administration of recombinant activin A was indeed capable of restoring full-blown LTP in slices from young dnActRIB mice. Our data suggest that, beginning in the middle-aged brain, endogenous activin receptor signaling appears to become strengthened in an attempt to stave off cognitive decline. If further corroborated, this concept would also hold promise for new therapeutic venues to preserve cognitive functions in the aged brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fang Zheng
- Institute of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
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Valero-Aracama MJ, Zheng F, Alzheimer C. Dorsal-Ventral Gradient of Activin Regulates Strength of GABAergic Inhibition along Longitudinal Axis of Mouse Hippocampus in an Activity-Dependent Fashion. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:13145. [PMID: 37685952 PMCID: PMC10487617 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241713145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2023] [Revised: 08/20/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The functional and neurophysiological distinction between the dorsal and ventral hippocampus affects also GABAergic inhibition. In line with this notion, ventral CA1 pyramidal cells displayed a more dynamic and effective response to inhibitory input compared to their dorsal counterparts. We posit that this difference is effected by the dorsal-ventral gradient of activin A, a member of the transforming growth factor-β family, which is increasingly recognized for its modulatory role in brain regions involved in cognitive functions and affective behavior. Lending credence to this hypothesis, we found that in slices from transgenic mice expressing a dominant-negative mutant of activin receptor IB (dnActRIB), inhibitory transmission was enhanced only in CA1 neurons of the dorsal hippocampus, where the basal activin A level is much higher than in the ventral hippocampus. We next asked how a rise in endogenous activin A would affect GABAergic inhibition along the longitudinal axis of the hippocampus. We performed ex vivo recordings in wild-type and dnActRIB mice after overnight exposure to an enriched environment (EE), which engenders a robust increase in activin A levels in both dorsal and ventral hippocampi. Compared to control mice from standard cages, the behaviorally induced surge in activin A produced a decline in ventral inhibition, an effect that was absent in slices from dnActRIB mice. Underscoring the essential role of activin in the EE-associated modulation of ventral inhibition, this effect was mimicked by acute application of recombinant activin A in control slices. In summary, both genetic and behavioral manipulations of activin receptor signaling affected the dorsal-ventral difference in synaptic inhibition, suggesting that activin A regulates the strength of GABAergic inhibition in a region-specific fashion.
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Zou ZL, Ye Y, Zhou B, Zhang Y. Identification and characterization of noncoding RNAs-associated competing endogenous RNA networks in major depressive disorder. World J Psychiatry 2023; 13:36-49. [PMID: 36925948 PMCID: PMC10011943 DOI: 10.5498/wjp.v13.i2.36] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2022] [Revised: 12/06/2022] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a common and serious mental illness. Many novel genes in MDD have been characterized by high-throughput methods such as microarrays or sequencing. Recently, noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) were suggested to be involved in the complicated environmental-genetic regulatory network of MDD occurrence; however, the interplay among RNA species, including protein-coding RNAs and ncRNAs, in MDD remains unclear.
AIM To investigate the RNA expression datasets downloaded from a public database and construct a network based on differentially expressed long noncoding RNA (lncRNAs), microRNAs (miRNAs), and mRNAs between MDD and controls.
METHODS Gene expression data were searched in NCBI Gene Expression Omnibus using the search term “major depressive disorder.” Six array datasets from humans were related to the search term: GSE19738, GSE32280, GSE38206, GSE52790, GSE76826, and GSE81152. These datasets were processed for initial assessment and subjected to quality control and differential expression analysis. Differentially expressed lncRNAs, miRNAs, and mRNAs were determined, Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analyses were performed, and protein-protein interaction network was generated. The results were analyzed for their association with MDD.
RESULTS After analysis, 3 miRNAs, 12 lncRNAs, and 33 mRNAs were identified in the competing endogenous RNA network. Two of these miRNAs were earlier shown to be involved in psychiatric disorders, and differentially expressed mRNAs were found to be highly enriched in pathways related to neurogenesis and neuroplasticity as per Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analyses. The expression of hub gene fatty acid 2-hydroxylase was enriched, and the encoded protein was found to be involved in myelin formation, indicating that neurological development and signal transduction are involved in MDD pathogenesis.
CONCLUSION The present study presents candidate ncRNAs involved in the neurogenesis and neuroplasticity pathways related to MDD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhi-Li Zou
- Department of Psychosomatic, Sichuan Academy of Medical Science & Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital, Chengdu 610072, Sichuan Province, China
| | - Yu Ye
- Sichuan Provincial Center for Mental Health, Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences & Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, Chengdu 611130, Sichuan Province, China
| | - Bo Zhou
- Department of Psychosomatic, Sichuan Academy of Medical Science & Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital, Chengdu 610072, Sichuan Province, China
| | - Yuan Zhang
- Personalized Drug Therapy Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences & Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital, Chengdu 610072, Sichuan Province, China
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Zheng F, Valero-Aracama MJ, Schaefer N, Alzheimer C. Activin A Reduces GIRK Current to Excite Dentate Gyrus Granule Cells. Front Cell Neurosci 2022; 16:920388. [PMID: 35711474 PMCID: PMC9197229 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2022.920388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2022] [Accepted: 05/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Activin A, a member of the TGF-β family, is recognized as a multifunctional protein in the adult brain with a particular impact on neuronal circuits associated with cognitive and affective functions. Activin receptor signaling in mouse hippocampus is strongly enhanced by the exploration of an enriched environment (EE), a behavioral paradigm known to improve performance in learning and memory tasks and to ameliorate depression-like behaviors. To interrogate the relationship between EE, activin signaling, and cellular excitability in the hippocampus, we performed ex vivo whole-cell recordings from dentate gyrus (DG) granule cells (GCs) of wild type mice and transgenic mice expressing a dominant-negative mutant of activin receptor IB (dnActRIB), which disrupts activin signaling in a forebrain-specific fashion. We found that, after overnight EE housing, GC excitability was strongly enhanced in an activin-dependent fashion. Moreover, the effect of EE on GC firing was mimicked by pre-treatment of hippocampal slices from control mice with recombinant activin A for several hours. The excitatory effect of activin A was preserved when canonical SMAD-dependent signaling was pharmacologically suppressed but was blocked by inhibitors of ERK-MAPK and PKA signaling. The involvement of a non-genomic signaling cascade was supported by the fact that the excitatory effect of activin A was already achieved within minutes of application. With respect to the ionic mechanism underlying the increase in intrinsic excitability, voltage-clamp recordings revealed that activin A induced an apparent inward current, which resulted from the suppression of a standing G protein-gated inwardly rectifying K+ (GIRK) current. The link between EE, enhanced activin signaling, and inhibition of GIRK current was strengthened by the following findings: (i) The specific GIRK channel blocker tertiapin Q (TQ) occluded the characteristic electrophysiological effects of activin A in both current- and voltage-clamp recordings. (ii) The outward current evoked by the GIRK channel activator adenosine was significantly reduced by preceding EE exploration as well as by recombinant activin A in control slices. In conclusion, our study identifies GIRK current suppression via non-canonical activin signaling as a mechanism that might at least in part contribute to the beneficial effects of EE on cognitive performance and affective behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fang Zheng
- Institute of Physiology
and Pathophysiology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität, Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
- *Correspondence: Christian Alzheimer Fang Zheng
| | - Maria Jesus Valero-Aracama
- Institute of Physiology
and Pathophysiology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität, Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Natascha Schaefer
- Institute for Clinical Neurobiology, Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Christian Alzheimer
- Institute of Physiology
and Pathophysiology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität, Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
- *Correspondence: Christian Alzheimer Fang Zheng
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Schmidt CC, Zheng F, Alzheimer C. Activin A regulates the excitability of hippocampal mossy cells. Hippocampus 2022; 32:401-410. [PMID: 35301773 DOI: 10.1002/hipo.23415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2021] [Revised: 02/15/2022] [Accepted: 03/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Mossy cells (MCs) in the hilus of the dentate gyrus (DG) receive increasing attention as a major player controlling information processing in the DG network. Furthermore, disturbed MC activity has been implicated in widespread neuropsychiatric disorders such as epilepsy and major depression. Using whole-cell patch-clamp recordings from MCs in acute hippocampal slices from wild type and transgenic mice, we demonstrate that activin, a member of the transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) family, has a strong neuromodulatory effect on MC activity. Disruption of activin receptor signaling reduced MC firing, dampened their excitatory input and augmented their inhibitory input. By contrast, acute application of recombinant activin A strongly increased MC activity and promoted excitatory synaptic drive. Notably, similar changes of MC activity have been observed in a rodent model of depression and after antidepressant drug therapy, respectively. Given that a rise in activin signaling particularly in the DG has been proposed as a mechanism of antidepressant action, our data suggest that the effect of activin on MC excitability might make a considerable contribution in this regard.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carla C Schmidt
- Institute of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Fang Zheng
- Institute of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Christian Alzheimer
- Institute of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
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Huang M, Xu L, Liu J, Huang P, Tan Y, Chen S. Cell–Cell Communication Alterations via Intercellular Signaling Pathways in Substantia Nigra of Parkinson’s Disease. Front Aging Neurosci 2022; 14:828457. [PMID: 35283752 PMCID: PMC8914319 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2022.828457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2021] [Accepted: 01/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative movement disorder characterized with dopaminergic neuron (DaN) loss within the substantia nigra (SN). Despite bulk studies focusing on intracellular mechanisms of PD inside DaNs, few studies have explored the pathogeneses outside DaNs, or between DaNs and other cells. Here, we set out to probe the implication of intercellular communication involving DaNs in the pathogeneses of PD at a systemic level with bioinformatics methods. We harvested three online published single-cell/single-nucleus transcriptomic sequencing (sc/snRNA-seq) datasets of human SN (GSE126838, GSE140231, and GSE157783) from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, and integrated them with one of the latest integration algorithms called Harmony. We then applied CellChat, the latest cell–cell communication analytic algorithm, to our integrated dataset. We first found that the overall communication quantity was decreased while the overall communication strength was enhanced in PD sample compared with control sample. We then focused on the intercellular communication where DaNs are involved, and found that the communications between DaNs and other cell types via certain signaling pathways were selectively altered in PD, including some growth factors, neurotrophic factors, chemokines, etc. pathways. Our bioinformatics analysis showed that the alteration in intercellular communications involving DaNs might be a previously underestimated aspect of PD pathogeneses with novel translational potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maoxin Huang
- Department of Neurology and Institute of Neurology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Liang Xu
- Research Center for Translational Medicine, East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Jin Liu
- Department of Neurology and Institute of Neurology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Pei Huang
- Department of Neurology and Institute of Neurology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yuyan Tan
- Department of Neurology and Institute of Neurology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- *Correspondence: Yuyan Tan,
| | - Shengdi Chen
- Department of Neurology and Institute of Neurology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Lab for Translational Research of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Shanghai Institute for Advanced Immunochemical Studies, Shanghai Tech University, Shanghai, China
- Shengdi Chen,
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Levin SG, Pershina EV, Bugaev-Makarovskiy NA, Chernomorets IY, Konakov MV, Arkhipov VI. Why Do Levels Of Anti-inflammatory Cytokines Increase During Memory Acquisition? Neuroscience 2021; 473:159-169. [PMID: 34418518 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2021.08.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2021] [Revised: 07/14/2021] [Accepted: 08/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The role of anti-inflammatory cytokines in the mechanisms of learning and memory, modulation of synaptic plasticity in the mammalian brain has not received sufficient attention. These issues are discussed in this review, and among the many cytokines, attention is paid to the most studied in this respect IL-10, IL-4, IL-13 and TGF-β. The level of anti-inflammatory cytokines in the brain tends to increase during memory acquisition, but the significance of such an increase is unclear. We hypothesize that anti-inflammatory cytokines primarily protect and optimize the functioning of neuronal circuits involved in information processing. The increased local activity of neurons during memory acquisition activates many signaling molecules, and some of them can trigger unwanted processes (including neuroinflammation), but increased levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines prevent this triggering. Each of the anti-inflammatory cytokines plays a specific role in supporting information processing. For example, the role of IL-4 and IL-13 in recruiting T cells to the meninges during training in healthy animals has been most studied. It has also been shown that TGF-β is able to optimize late stage LTP in the hippocampus and support the consolidation of memory traces in behavioral studies. Cytokines have an effect on learning and memory through their influence on neuroplasticity, neurogenesis in the hippocampus and regulation of the neurovascular unit. Experiments have shown such an effect, and the data obtained create the prerequisites for new therapeutic approaches to the correction of cognitive impairments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergey G Levin
- Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Biophysics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Pushchino, Moscow Region 142290, Russia
| | - Ekaterina V Pershina
- Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Biophysics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Pushchino, Moscow Region 142290, Russia.
| | - Nickolay A Bugaev-Makarovskiy
- Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Biophysics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Pushchino, Moscow Region 142290, Russia
| | - Irina Yu Chernomorets
- Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Biophysics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Pushchino, Moscow Region 142290, Russia
| | - Maxim V Konakov
- Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Biophysics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Pushchino, Moscow Region 142290, Russia
| | - Vladimir I Arkhipov
- Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Biophysics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Pushchino, Moscow Region 142290, Russia
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Cardiopulmonary and Neurologic Dysfunctions in Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva. Biomedicines 2021; 9:biomedicines9020155. [PMID: 33562570 PMCID: PMC7915901 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9020155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2020] [Revised: 01/20/2021] [Accepted: 01/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva (FOP) is an ultra-rare but debilitating disorder characterized by spontaneous, progressive, and irreversible heterotopic ossifications (HO) at extraskeletal sites. FOP is caused by gain-of-function mutations in the Activin receptor Ia/Activin-like kinase 2 gene (Acvr1/Alk2), with increased receptor sensitivity to bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) and a neoceptor response to Activin A. There is extensive literature on the skeletal phenotypes in FOP, but a much more limited understanding of non-skeletal manifestations of this disease. Emerging evidence reveals important cardiopulmonary and neurologic dysfunctions in FOP including thoracic insufficiency syndrome, pulmonary hypertension, conduction abnormalities, neuropathic pain, and demyelination of the central nervous system (CNS). Here, we review the recent research and discuss unanswered questions regarding the cardiopulmonary and neurologic phenotypes in FOP.
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Dentate gyrus activin signaling mediates the antidepressant response. Transl Psychiatry 2021; 11:7. [PMID: 33414389 PMCID: PMC7791138 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-020-01156-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2019] [Revised: 12/07/2020] [Accepted: 12/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Antidepressants that target monoaminergic systems, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), are widely used to treat neuropsychiatric disorders including major depressive disorder, several anxiety disorders, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. However, these treatments are not ideal because only a subset of patients achieve remission. The reasons why some individuals remit to antidepressant treatments while others do not are unknown. Here, we developed a paradigm to assess antidepressant treatment resistance in mice. Exposure of male C57BL/6J mice to either chronic corticosterone administration or chronic social defeat stress induces maladaptive affective behaviors. Subsequent chronic treatment with the SSRI fluoxetine reverses these maladaptive affective behavioral changes in some, but not all, of the mice, permitting stratification into persistent responders and non-responders to fluoxetine. We found several differences in expression of Activin signaling-related genes between responders and non-responders in the dentate gyrus (DG), a region that is critical for the beneficial behavioral effects of fluoxetine. Enhancement of Activin signaling in the DG converted behavioral non-responders into responders to fluoxetine treatment more effectively than commonly used second-line antidepressant treatments, while inhibition of Activin signaling in the DG converted responders into non-responders. Taken together, these results demonstrate that the behavioral response to fluoxetine can be bidirectionally modified via targeted manipulations of the DG and suggest that molecular- and neural circuit-based modulations of DG may provide a new therapeutic avenue for more effective antidepressant treatments.
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Abstract
Cytokines, in addition to their participation in immune and inflammatory processes, play an important role in synaptic plasticity, neoneurogenesis, and cognitive functions. In our work, we aimed to clarify the role of the transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), which is recognized as a multifunctional cytokine, in memory processes. Behavioral experiments were carried out in rats using step-through passive avoidance test. The results obtained showed that the learning of animals after treatment with SB431542, a selective inhibitor of TGF-β receptors, was impaired, which indicated a significant memory deterioration. Nevertheless, the memory of rats remained at the control level when TGF-β and SB431542 were coadministered. Thus, the role of TGF-β in memory retrieval after the passive avoidance test was revealed: memory in rats was weakened if the TGF-β signaling pathway was inhibited during learning. Evidently, successful consolidation of at least some types of memory requires a normal level of TGF-β, indicating the modulation of cognitive functions by cytokines under normal physiological conditions.
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Su X, Huang L, Xiao D, Qu Y, Mu D. Research Progress on the Role and Mechanism of Action of Activin A in Brain Injury. Front Neurosci 2018; 12:697. [PMID: 30356877 PMCID: PMC6190887 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2018.00697] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2018] [Accepted: 09/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Activin A belongs to the transforming growth factor superfamily and has a variety of biological functions. Studies have revealed that activin A can regulate the body's immune and inflammatory responses and participate in the regulation of cell death. In addition, activin A also has neurotrophic function and plays an important role in the repair of brain damage. This article summarizes recent advances in understanding the role and mechanism of action of activin A in brain injury and provides new hints into the application of activin A in the treatment of brain injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaojuan Su
- Department of Pediatrics, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.,Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children, Sichuan University, Ministry of Education, Chengdu, China
| | - Lingyi Huang
- Department of Stomatology, West China College of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Dongqiong Xiao
- Department of Pediatrics, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.,Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children, Sichuan University, Ministry of Education, Chengdu, China
| | - Yi Qu
- Department of Pediatrics, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.,Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children, Sichuan University, Ministry of Education, Chengdu, China
| | - Dezhi Mu
- Department of Pediatrics, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.,Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children, Sichuan University, Ministry of Education, Chengdu, China
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Activin A increases arterial pressure in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus in rats by angiotension II. Neuroreport 2018; 27:683-8. [PMID: 27138952 DOI: 10.1097/wnr.0000000000000596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Activin A, a member of the transforming growth factor β superfamily, plays an important role in the central nervous system as a neurotrophic and neuroprotective factor. The hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) in the central nervous system is characterized as an important integrative site to regulate arterial pressure (AP). However, whether activin A in the PVN is involved in the regulation of AP is not well characterized. This study aimed to determine the effect of activin A on AP in the PVN in rats. The results showed that activin βA, activin type IIA and IIB receptors (ActRIIA and ActRIIB), and Smad2 and Smad3 mRNA expressions were detectable in the PVN of WKY rats by reverse-transcription PCR, and the expression of ActRIIA protein in the PVN was further confirmed by immunohistochemical staining. A microinjection of angiotensin II (AngII) (0.1 nmol/100 nl) or activin A (2 ng/100 nl) into the PVN increased AP significantly in WKY rats (P<0.05). Moreover, activin A (5 ng/ml) promoted AngII release from the primary cultured PVN neurons that can increase AP and upregulated the expressions of ActRIIA and Smad3 mRNA in the primary cultured PVN neurons (P<0.05). These data suggest that activin A can regulate AP in the PVN in an autocrine or a paracrine manner, which is related to AngII release and the ActRIIA-Smad3 signal pathway.
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Wang Q, Yin J, Wang S, Cui D, Lin H, Ge M, Dai Z, Xie L, Si J, Ma K, Li L, Zhao L. Effects of activin A and its downstream ERK1/2 in oxygen and glucose deprivation after isoflurane-induced postconditioning. Biomed Pharmacother 2016; 84:535-543. [PMID: 27693962 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2016.09.075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2016] [Revised: 09/17/2016] [Accepted: 09/20/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Isoflurane postconditioning (ISPOC) plays a neuroprotection role in the brain. Previous studies confirmed that isoflurane postconditioning can provide better protection than preconditioning in acute hypoxic-ischemic brain damage, such as acute craniocerebral trauma and ischemic stroke. Numerous studies have reported that activin A can protect rat's brain from cell injury. However, whether activin A and its downstream ERK1/2 were involved in isoflurane postconditioning-induced neuroprotection is unknown. METHODS A total of 80 healthy Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 50-70g were randomly divided into 10 groups of 8: normal control, oxygen and glucose deprivation (OGD), 1.5% ISPOC, 3.0% ISPOC, 4.5% ISPOC, blocker of activin A (SB431542), blocker of ERK1/2 (U0126), 3.0% ISPOC+SB431542, 3.0% ISPOC+U0126, and vehicle (dimethyl sulfoxide(DMSO)) group. Blockers (SB431542 and U0126) were used in each concentration of isoflurane before OGD. Hematoxylin-eosin staining, 2,3,5-triphenyl tetrazolium chloride staining, and propidium iodide (PI) staining were conducted to assess the reliability in the brain slices. Immunofluorescence, Western blot, and quantitative real-time PCR(Q-PCR) were performed to validate the protein expression levels of activin A, Smad2/3, P-Smad2/3, ERK1/2, and phosphorylation ERK1/2 (P-ERK1/2). RESULTS The number of damaged neurons and mean fluorescence intensity(MFI) of PI staining increased, but formazan generation, expression levels of activin A and P-ERK1/2 protein, and mRNA synthesis level of activin A decreased in the OGD group compared with the normal control group (p<0.05). The number of damaged neurons and MFI of PI staining decreased, but formazan production, expression levels of activin A, P-Smad2/3, and P-ERK1/2, and mRNA synthesis level of activin A increased significantly in the 1.5% ISPOC and 3.0% ISPOC groups (p<0.05) compared with the OGD group. The result in the 4.5% ISPOC group, was completely opposite to the 1.5% ISPOC and 3.0% ISPOC groups. The number of damage neuron and MFI of PI staining increased, but formazan production, expression levels of activin A, P-Smad2/3, and P-ERK1/2, and mRNA synthesis level of activin A decreased in the 4.5% ISPOC group. However, the expression levels of activin A, P-Smad2/3, and P-ERK1/2, and mRNA synthesis level of activin A in the 4.5% ISPOC group were higher than the OGD group (p<0.05). The other results were compared between the SB431542 group/the U0126 group and 3.0% ISPOC group. The MFI of PI staining increased, but the expression levels of activin A, P-Smad2/3, and P-ERK1/2 decreased (p<0.05). The expression level of ERK1/2 protein in all groups exhibited no change (p>0.05). CONCLUSION Results of this study showed that 3.0% concentration of isoflurane postconditioning provided better neuroprotection than 1.5% and 4.5% concentrations of isoflurane. Activin A/Smad 2/3 and activin A/ERK1/2 signaling pathway may be involved in ISPOC-induced neuroprotection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qin Wang
- Department of Anesthesiology, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832002, China.
| | - Jiangwen Yin
- Department of Anesthesiology, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832002, China.
| | - Sheng Wang
- Department of Anesthesiology, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832002, China.
| | - Di Cui
- Department of Anesthesiology, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832002, China
| | - Hong Lin
- Department of Anesthesiology, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832002, China
| | - Mingyue Ge
- Department of Anesthesiology, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832002, China
| | - Zhigang Dai
- Department of Anesthesiology, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832002, China
| | - Liping Xie
- Department of Anesthesiology, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832002, China
| | - Junqiang Si
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Shihezi University and the Key Laboratory of Xinjiang Endemic and Ethnic Diseases, Shihezi 832002, China
| | - Ketao Ma
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Shihezi University and the Key Laboratory of Xinjiang Endemic and Ethnic Diseases, Shihezi 832002, China
| | - Li Li
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Shihezi University and the Key Laboratory of Xinjiang Endemic and Ethnic Diseases, Shihezi 832002, China
| | - Lei Zhao
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Shihezi University and the Key Laboratory of Xinjiang Endemic and Ethnic Diseases, Shihezi 832002, China
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14
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Link AS, Zheng F, Alzheimer C. Activin Signaling in the Pathogenesis and Therapy of Neuropsychiatric Diseases. Front Mol Neurosci 2016; 9:32. [PMID: 27242425 PMCID: PMC4861723 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2016.00032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2016] [Accepted: 04/25/2016] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Activins are members of the transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) family and serve as multifunctional regulatory proteins in many tissues and organs. In the brain, activin A, which is formed by two disulfide-linked βA subunits, is recognized as the predominant player in activin signaling. Over the last years, considerable progress has been made in elucidating novel and unexpected functions of activin in the normal and diseased brain and in deciphering the underlying molecular mechanisms. Initially identified as a neurotrophic and protective factor during development and in several forms of acute injury, the scope of effects of activin A in the adult central nervous system (CNS) has been considerably broadened by now. Here, we will highlight recent findings that bear significance for a better understanding of the pathogenesis of various neuropsychiatric diseases and might hold promise for novel therapeutic strategies. While the basal level of activin A in the adult brain is low, significant short-term up-regulation occurs in response to increased neuronal activity. In fact, brief exposure to an enriched environment (EE) is already sufficient to considerably strengthen activin signaling. Enhancement of this pathway tunes the performance of glutamatergic and GABAergic synapses in a fashion that impacts on cognitive functions and affective behavior, counteracts death-inducing signals through extrasynaptic NMDA receptors (NMDARs), and stimulates adult neurogenesis in the hippocampus. We will discuss how impaired activin signaling is involved in anxiety disorders, depression, drug dependence, and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, and how reinforcement of activin signaling might be exploited for therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea S Link
- Institute of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg Erlangen, Germany
| | - Fang Zheng
- Institute of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg Erlangen, Germany
| | - Christian Alzheimer
- Institute of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg Erlangen, Germany
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15
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Horvath L, Bodmer D, Radojevic V, Monge Naldi A. Activin Signaling Disruption in the Cochlea Does Not Influence Hearing in Adult Mice. Audiol Neurootol 2014; 20:51-61. [DOI: 10.1159/000366152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2014] [Accepted: 07/24/2014] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Activin, a member of the TGF-F superfamily, was found to play an important role in the development, repair and apoptosis of different tissues and organs. Accordingly, activin signaling is involved in the development of the cochlea. Activin binds to its receptor ActRII, then dimerizes with ActRI and induces a signaling pathway resulting in gene expression. A study reported a case of fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva with an unusual mutation in the ActRI gene leading to sensorineural hearing loss. This draws attention to the role of activin and its receptors in the developed cochlea. To date, only the expression of ActRII is known in the adult mammalian cochlea. In this study, we present for the first time the presence of activin A and ActRIB in the adult cochlea. Transgenic mice with postnatal dominant-negative ActRIB expression causing disruption of activin signaling in vivo were used for assessing cochlear morphology and hearing ability through the auditory brainstem response (ABR) threshold. Nonfunctioning ActRIB did not affect the ABR thresholds and did not alter the microscopic anatomy of the cochlea. We conclude, therefore, that activin signaling is not necessary for hearing in adult mice under physiological conditions but may be important during and after damaging events in the inner ear. i 2014 S. Karger AG, Basel
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16
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Xu G, He J, Guo H, Mei C, Wang J, Li Z, Chen H, Mang J, Yang H, Xu Z. Activin A prevents neuron-like PC12 cell apoptosis after oxygen-glucose deprivation. Neural Regen Res 2014; 8:1016-24. [PMID: 25206395 PMCID: PMC4145885 DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1673-5374.2013.11.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2012] [Accepted: 03/14/2013] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
In this study, PC12 cells were induced to differentiate into neuron-like cells using nerve growth factor, and were subjected to oxygen-glucose deprivation. Cells were treated with 0, 10, 20, 30, 50, 100 ng/mL exogenous Activin A. The 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide assay and Hoechst 33324 staining showed that the survival percentage of PC12 cells significantly decreased and the rate of apoptosis significantly increased after oxygen-glucose deprivation. Exogenous Activin A significantly increased the survival percentage of PC12 cells in a dose-dependent manner. Reverse transcription-PCR results revealed a significant increase in Activin receptor IIA, Smad3 and Smad4 mRNA levels, which are key sites in the Activin A/Smads signaling pathway, in neuron-like cells subjected to oxygen-glucose deprivation, while mRNA expression of the apoptosis-regulation gene caspase-3 decreased. Our experimental findings indicate that exogenous Activin A plays an anti-apoptotic role and protects neurons by means of activating the Activin A/Smads signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guihua Xu
- Department of Neurology, China-Japan Union Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun 130033, Jilin Province, China ; Department of Neurology, Changchun Central Hospital, Changchun 130051, Jilin Province, China
| | - Jinting He
- Department of Neurology, China-Japan Union Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun 130033, Jilin Province, China
| | - Hongliang Guo
- Department of Neurology, China-Japan Union Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun 130033, Jilin Province, China
| | - Chunli Mei
- Department of Neurology, China-Japan Union Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun 130033, Jilin Province, China
| | - Jiaoqi Wang
- Department of Neurology, China-Japan Union Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun 130033, Jilin Province, China
| | - Zhongshu Li
- Department of Neurology, China-Japan Union Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun 130033, Jilin Province, China
| | - Han Chen
- Department of Neurology, China-Japan Union Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun 130033, Jilin Province, China
| | - Jing Mang
- Department of Neurology, China-Japan Union Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun 130033, Jilin Province, China
| | - Hong Yang
- Department of Neurology, China-Japan Union Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun 130033, Jilin Province, China
| | - Zhongxin Xu
- Department of Neurology, China-Japan Union Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun 130033, Jilin Province, China
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17
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Korrodi-Gregório L, Silva JV, Santos-Sousa L, Freitas MJ, Felgueiras J, Fardilha M. TGF-β cascade regulation by PPP1 and its interactors -impact on prostate cancer development and therapy. J Cell Mol Med 2014; 18:555-67. [PMID: 24629090 PMCID: PMC4000109 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.12266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2013] [Accepted: 01/08/2014] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Protein phosphorylation is a key mechanism by which normal and cancer cells regulate their main transduction pathways. Protein kinases and phosphatases are precisely orchestrated to achieve the (de)phosphorylation of candidate proteins. Indeed, cellular health is dependent on the fine-tune of phosphorylation systems, which when deregulated lead to cancer. Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) pathway involvement in the genesis of prostate cancer has long been established. Many of its members were shown to be hypo- or hyperphosphorylated during the process of malignancy. A major phosphatase that is responsible for the vast majority of the serine/threonine dephosphorylation is the phosphoprotein phosphatase 1 (PPP1). PPP1 has been associated with the dephosphorylation of several proteins involved in the TGF-β cascade. This review will discuss the role of PPP1 in the regulation of several TGF-β signalling members and how the subversion of this pathway is related to prostate cancer development. Furthermore, current challenges on the protein phosphatases field as new targets to cancer therapy will be addressed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luís Korrodi-Gregório
- Signal Transduction Laboratory, Centre for Cell Biology, Biology Department, Health Sciences Department, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
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18
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Kaiser O, Paasche G, Stöver T, Ernst S, Lenarz T, Kral A, Warnecke A. TGF-beta superfamily member activin A acts with BDNF and erythropoietin to improve survival of spiral ganglion neurons in vitro. Neuropharmacology 2013; 75:416-25. [PMID: 23973291 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2013.08.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2013] [Revised: 07/03/2013] [Accepted: 08/08/2013] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Activins are regulators of embryogenesis, osteogenesis, hormones and neuronal survival. Even though activin receptor type II has been detected in spiral ganglion neurons (SGN), little is known about the role of activins in the inner ear. An activin-mediated neuroprotection is of considerable clinical interest since SGN are targets of electrical stimulation with cochlear implants in hearing impaired patients. Thus, the presence of activin type-I and type-II receptors was demonstrated immunocytochemically and the individual and combined effects of activin A, erythropoietin (EPO) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) on SGN were examined in vitro. SGN isolated from neonatal rats (P 3-5) were cultured in serum-free medium supplemented with activin A, BDNF and EPO. Compared to the negative control, survival rates of SGN were significantly improved when cultivated individually with activin A (p<0.001) and in combination with BDNF (p<0.001). Neither neurite outgrowth nor neuronal survival was influenced by the addition of EPO to activin A-treated neurons. However, when all three factors were added, a significantly (p<0.001) improved neuronal survival was observed (61.2±3.6%) compared to activin A (25.4±2.1%), BDNF (22.8±3.3%) and BDNF+EPO (19.2±1.5%). Under the influence of the EPO-inhibitors, this increase in neuronal survival was blocked. Acting with BDNF and EPO to promote neuronal survival in vitro, activin A presents an interesting factor for pharmacological intervention in the inner ear. The present study demonstrates a synergetic effect of a combined therapy with several trophic factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Odett Kaiser
- Department of Otolaryngology, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, 30625 Hannover, Germany.
| | - Gerrit Paasche
- Department of Otolaryngology, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Timo Stöver
- Department of Otolaryngology, University Hospital, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Stefanie Ernst
- Institute for Biometry, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Thomas Lenarz
- Department of Otolaryngology, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Andrej Kral
- Department of Otolaryngology, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Athanasia Warnecke
- Department of Otolaryngology, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, 30625 Hannover, Germany.
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McPherron AC, Guo T, Bond ND, Gavrilova O. Increasing muscle mass to improve metabolism. Adipocyte 2013; 2:92-8. [PMID: 23805405 PMCID: PMC3661116 DOI: 10.4161/adip.22500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2012] [Revised: 10/08/2012] [Accepted: 10/09/2012] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Skeletal muscle insulin resistance is a predictor of the development of type 2 diabetes and maintenance of adequate muscle glucose disposal in muscle may help to prevent diabetes. Lipodystrophy is a type of diabetes caused by a reduction of white adipose tissue and the adipokine leptin. Lipidemia, insulin resistance and hyperphagia develop as a consequence. In a recent study, we showed that increasing skeletal muscle mass by inhibiting signaling of myostatin, a transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) family member that negatively regulates muscle growth, prevents the development of diabetes in a mouse model of lipodystrophy. Muscle-specific myostatin inhibition also prevented hyperphagia suggesting muscle may regulate food intake. Here we discuss these results in the context of strategies to increase muscle insulin sensitivity as well as new findings about the effects of myostatin and other TGFβ family members on similar metabolic processes.
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20
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Miller MC, Lambert-Messerlian GM, Eklund EE, Heath NL, Donahue JE, Stopa EG. Expression of inhibin/activin proteins and receptors in the human hypothalamus and basal forebrain. J Neuroendocrinol 2012; 24:962-72. [PMID: 22296042 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2826.2012.02289.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The inhibin/activin family of proteins is known to have a broad distribution of synthesis and expression in many species, as well as a variety of functions in reproductive and other physiological systems. Yet, our knowledge regarding the production and function of inhibin and activin in the central nervous system is relatively limited, especially in humans. The present study aimed to explore the distribution of inhibin/activin protein subunits and receptors in the adult human brain. The human hypothalamus and surrounding basal forebrain was examined using post-mortem tissues from 29 adults. Immunocytochemical studies were conducted with antibodies directed against the inhibin/activin α, βA, and βB subunits, betaglycan and the activin type IIA and IIB receptors. An immunoassay was also utilised to measure dimeric inhibin A and B levels in tissue homogenates of the infundibulum of the hypothalamus. Robust βA subunit immunoreactivity was present in the paraventricular, supraoptic, lateral hypothalamic, infundibular, dorsomedial and suprachiasmatic nuclei of the hypothalamus, in the basal ganglia, and in the nucleus basalis of Meynert. A similar staining distribution was noted for the βB subunit, betaglycan and the type II receptor antibodies, whereas α subunit staining was not detected in any of the major anatomical regions of the human brain. Inhibin B immunoreactivity was present in all tissues, whereas inhibin A levels were below detectable limits. These studies show for the first time that the inhibin/activin protein subunits and receptors can be co-localised in the human brain, implicating potential, diverse neural functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- M C Miller
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
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21
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Neuroprotective effects of exogenous activin A on oxygen-glucose deprivation in PC12 cells. Molecules 2011; 17:315-27. [PMID: 22210170 PMCID: PMC6290572 DOI: 10.3390/molecules17010315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2011] [Revised: 12/19/2011] [Accepted: 12/22/2011] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Ischemic cerebrovascular disease is one of the most common causes of death in the World. Exogenous activin A (ActA) protects neurons against toxicity and plays a central role in regulating the brain's response to injury. In the present study, we investigated the mechanisms involved in the neuroprotective effects of ActA in a model of hypoxic-ischemic brain disease. We found that ActA could effectively increase the survival rate of PC12 cells and relieve oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) damage. To clarify the neuroprotective mechanisms of ActA, the effects of ActA on the ActA/Smad pathway and on the up-regulation of inducible nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were investigated using OGD in PC12 cells. The results showed that ActA could increase the expression of activin receptor IIA (ActRIIA), Smad3 and Smad4 and that 50 ng/mL and 100 ng/mL of ActA could reduce NO levels and increase SOD activity by 78.9% and 79.9%, respectively. These results suggested that the neuroprotective effects of ActA in ischemia could be related to the activation of the ActA/Smad signaling pathway and to its anti-oxidant activities.
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