1
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Taves MD, Donahue KM, Bian J, Cam MC, Ashwell JD. Aire drives steroid hormone biosynthesis by medullary thymic epithelial cells. Sci Immunol 2023; 8:eabo7975. [PMID: 37595021 PMCID: PMC10732315 DOI: 10.1126/sciimmunol.abo7975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2022] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 08/20/2023]
Abstract
Thymic epithelial cells (TECs) produce glucocorticoids, which antagonize negative selection of autoreactive thymocytes and promote a competent T cell antigen-specific repertoire. To characterize their source, we generated a knock-in reporter mouse in which endogenous Cyp11b1, the final enzyme in de novo production of active glucocorticoids, was fluorescently tagged with mScarlet. Here, we find that Cyp11b1 is expressed in medullary TECs (mTECs) but not cortical TECs or other cells in the thymus. A distinct characteristic of mTECs is the presence of Aire, a transcription factor that drives expression of tissue-restricted antigens (TRAs) important for establishing immune tolerance. Cyp11b1 expression was highest in Aire+ mTECs, lower in post-Aire mTECs, and absent in mTECs of Aire-deficient mice. Transcriptomic analyses found that multiple enzymatic biosynthetic pathways are expressed specifically in mTECs and are also Aire dependent. In particular, we found that the thymus expresses messenger RNA for enzymes that catalyze production of many bioactive steroids and that glucocorticoids and sex steroids were secreted by cultured thymi. Expression of the transcripts for these genes and production of their final steroid products were markedly reduced in the absence of Aire. Thus, in addition to its well-established role in inducing TRAs that promote negative selection, Aire has an additional and contrary function of inducing glucocorticoids that antagonize negative selection, which together may expand and enhance the TCR repertoire. Furthermore, because Aire drives expression of multiple enzymes responsible for production of other non-gene-encoded bioactive molecules, it might have yet other roles in thymus development and function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew D. Taves
- Laboratory of Immune Cell Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Kaitlynn M. Donahue
- Laboratory of Immune Cell Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Jing Bian
- CCR Collaborative Bioinformatics Resource, Center for Cancer Research, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Margaret C. Cam
- CCR Collaborative Bioinformatics Resource, Center for Cancer Research, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Jonathan D. Ashwell
- Laboratory of Immune Cell Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
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2
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Lith SC, van Os BW, Seijkens TTP, de Vries CJM. 'Nur'turing tumor T cell tolerance and exhaustion: novel function for Nuclear Receptor Nur77 in immunity. Eur J Immunol 2020; 50:1643-1652. [PMID: 33063848 PMCID: PMC7702156 DOI: 10.1002/eji.202048869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2020] [Revised: 08/28/2020] [Accepted: 10/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The nuclear receptor Nur77 is expressed in a multitude of tissues, regulating cell differentiation and homeostasis. Dysregulation of Nur77 signaling is associated with cancer, cardiovascular disease, and disorders of the CNS. The role of Nur77 in T cells has been studied for almost 30 years now. There is a clear appreciation that Nur77 is crucial for apoptosis of self‐reactive T cells. However, the regulation and function of Nur77 in mature T cells remains largely unclear. In an exciting development, Nur77 has been recently demonstrated to impinge on cancer immunotherapy involving chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells and tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs). These studies indicated that Nur77 deficiency reduced T cell tolerance and exhaustion, thus raising the effectiveness of immune therapy in mice. Based on these novel insights, it may be proposed that regulation of Nur77 activity holds promise for innovative drug development in the field of cellular immunotherapy in cancer. In this review, we therefore summarize the role of Nur77 in T cell selection and maturation; and further develop the idea of targeting its activity in these cells as a potential strategy to augment current cancer immunotherapy treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanne C Lith
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Institute for Infection and Immunity, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Bram W van Os
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Institute for Infection and Immunity, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Tom T P Seijkens
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Department of Internal Medicine, Department of Hematology, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Carlie J M de Vries
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Institute for Infection and Immunity, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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3
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Li KP, Ladle BH, Kurtulus S, Sholl A, Shanmuganad S, Hildeman DA. T-cell receptor signal strength and epigenetic control of Bim predict memory CD8 + T-cell fate. Cell Death Differ 2020; 27:1214-1224. [PMID: 31558776 PMCID: PMC7206134 DOI: 10.1038/s41418-019-0410-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2019] [Revised: 05/31/2019] [Accepted: 08/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Most effector CD8+ T cells die, while some persist and become either "effector" (TEM) or "central" (TCM) memory T cells. Paradoxically, effector CD8+ T cells with greater memory potential have higher levels of the pro-apoptotic molecule Bim. Here, we report, using a novel Bim-mCherry knock-in mouse, that cells with high levels of Bim preferentially develop into TCM cells. Bim levels remained stable and were regulated by DNA methylation at the Bim promoter. Notably, high levels of Bcl-2 were required for Bimhi cells to survive. Using Nur77-GFP mice as an indicator of TCR signal strength, Nur77 levels correlated with Bim expression and Nur77hi cells also selectively developed into TCM cells. Altogether, these data show that Bim levels and TCR signal strength are predictive of TEM- vs. TCM-cell fate. Further, given the many other biologic functions of Bim, these mice will have broad utility beyond CD8+ T-cell fate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kun-Po Li
- Immunology Graduate Program, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA
| | - Brian H Ladle
- Cancer and Blood Diseases Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA
- Johns Hopkins Hospital, 1800 Orleans Street, The Charlotte R. Bloomberg Children's Center Building, 11th Floor, Baltimore, MD, 21287, USA
| | - Sema Kurtulus
- Immunology Graduate Program, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA
| | - Allyson Sholl
- Division of Immunobiology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA
| | - Sharmila Shanmuganad
- Immunology Graduate Program, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA
| | - David A Hildeman
- Immunology Graduate Program, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA.
- Division of Immunobiology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA.
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4
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Close AF, Dadheech N, Lemieux H, Wang Q, Buteau J. Disruption of Beta-Cell Mitochondrial Networks by the Orphan Nuclear Receptor Nor1/Nr4a3. Cells 2020; 9:cells9010168. [PMID: 31936632 PMCID: PMC7017372 DOI: 10.3390/cells9010168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2019] [Revised: 01/03/2020] [Accepted: 01/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Nor1, the third member of the Nr4a subfamily of nuclear receptor, is garnering increased interest in view of its role in the regulation of glucose homeostasis. Our previous study highlighted a proapoptotic role of Nor1 in pancreatic beta cells and showed that Nor1 expression was increased in islets isolated from type 2 diabetic individuals, suggesting that Nor1 could mediate the deterioration of islet function in type 2 diabetes. However, the mechanism remains incompletely understood. We herein investigated the subcellular localization of Nor1 in INS832/13 cells and dispersed human beta cells. We also examined the consequences of Nor1 overexpression on mitochondrial function and morphology. Our results show that, surprisingly, Nor1 is mostly cytoplasmic in beta cells and undergoes mitochondrial translocation upon activation by proinflammatory cytokines. Mitochondrial localization of Nor1 reduced glucose oxidation, lowered ATP production rates, and inhibited glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. Western blot and microscopy images revealed that Nor1 could provoke mitochondrial fragmentation via mitophagy. Our study unveils a new mode of action for Nor1, which affects beta-cell viability and function by disrupting mitochondrial networks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne-Françoise Close
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E1, Canada
| | - Nidheesh Dadheech
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E1, Canada
| | - Hélène Lemieux
- Faculty Saint-Jean, Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6C 4G9, Canada
| | - Qian Wang
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E1, Canada
| | - Jean Buteau
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E1, Canada
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-780-492-8386
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5
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Jakaria M, Haque ME, Cho DY, Azam S, Kim IS, Choi DK. Molecular Insights into NR4A2(Nurr1): an Emerging Target for Neuroprotective Therapy Against Neuroinflammation and Neuronal Cell Death. Mol Neurobiol 2019; 56:5799-5814. [PMID: 30684217 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-019-1487-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2018] [Accepted: 01/10/2019] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
NR4A2 is a nuclear receptor and a transcription factor, with distinctive physiological features. In the cell nuclei of the central nervous system, it is widely expressed and identified as a crucial regulator of dopaminergic (DA) neuronal differentiation, survival, and maintenance. Importantly, it has regulated different genes crucial for dopaminergic signals, and its expression has been diminished in both aged and PD post-mortem brains and reduced in PD patients. In microglia and astrocytes, the expression of NR4A2 has been found where it can be capable of inhibiting the expression of proinflammatory mediators; hence, it protected inflammation-mediated DA neuronal death. In addition, NR4A2 plays neuroprotective role via regulating different signals. However, NR4A2 has been mainly focused on Parkinson's research, but, in recent times, it has been studied in Alzheimer's disease (AD), multiple sclerosis (MS), and stroke. Altered expression of NR4A2 is connected to AD progression, and activation of its may improve cognitive function. It is downregulated in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of MS patients; nonetheless, its role in MS has not been fully clear. miR-145-5p known as a putative regulator of NR4A2 and in a middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion model, anti-miR-145-5p administration promoted neurological outcomes in rat. To date, various activators and modulators of NR4A2 have been discovered and investigated as probable therapeutic drugs in neuroinflammatory and neuronal cell death models. The NR4A2 gene and cell-based therapy are described as promising drug candidates for neurodegenerative diseases. Moreover, microRNA might have a crucial role in neurodegeneration via affecting NR4A2 expression. Herein, we present the role of NR4A2 in neuroinflammation and neuronal cell death focusing on neurodegenerative conditions and display NR4A2 as a promising therapeutic target for the therapy of neuroprotection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md Jakaria
- Department of Applied Life Sciences and Integrated Bioscience, Graduate School, Konkuk University, Chungju, South Korea
| | - Md Ezazul Haque
- Department of Applied Life Sciences and Integrated Bioscience, Graduate School, Konkuk University, Chungju, South Korea
| | - Duk-Yeon Cho
- Department of Applied Life Sciences and Integrated Bioscience, Graduate School, Konkuk University, Chungju, South Korea
| | - Shofiul Azam
- Department of Applied Life Sciences and Integrated Bioscience, Graduate School, Konkuk University, Chungju, South Korea
| | - In-Su Kim
- Department of Applied Life Sciences and Integrated Bioscience, Graduate School, Konkuk University, Chungju, South Korea.,Department of Integrated Bioscience and Biotechnology, College of Biomedical and Health Sciences and Research Institute of Inflammatory Diseases (RID), Konkuk University, Chungju, South Korea
| | - Dong-Kug Choi
- Department of Applied Life Sciences and Integrated Bioscience, Graduate School, Konkuk University, Chungju, South Korea. .,Department of Integrated Bioscience and Biotechnology, College of Biomedical and Health Sciences and Research Institute of Inflammatory Diseases (RID), Konkuk University, Chungju, South Korea.
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6
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Dai Y, Jin W, Cheng L, Yu C, Chen C, Ni H. Nur77 is a promoting factor in traumatic brain injury-induced nerve cell apoptosis. Biomed Pharmacother 2018; 108:774-782. [PMID: 30248546 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2018.09.091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2018] [Revised: 09/13/2018] [Accepted: 09/16/2018] [Indexed: 10/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) poses a serious threat to human health. TBI has a high mortality rate, resulting in a great burden on the affected individual's family as well as society as a whole. The incidence of craniocerebral fractures continues to rise as both the economy and transportation options grow, making it imperative that the mortality and disability rate of craniocerebral trauma be reduced. Nur77 is a transcription factor of the nuclear receptor superfamily. Following stimulation of extracellular apoptosis, Nur77 is involved in a variety of diseases as a powerful pro-apoptotic molecule. Here, we determined the effect and mechanism of Nur77 in TBI-induced nerve cell apoptosis in vitro and in vivo. We found that Nur77 and Bcl-2 protein expression increased as nerve cell apoptosis increased in TBI tissues. Furthermore, inhibition of Nur77 improved nerve cell injury by regulation of Bcl-2 and downstream pathways in vitro and in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuxiang Dai
- Department of Neurosurgery, Drum Tower Hospital, School of Medicine, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210008, China
| | - Wei Jin
- Department of Neurosurgery, Drum Tower Hospital, School of Medicine, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210008, China
| | - Longyang Cheng
- Department of Neurosurgery, Drum Tower Hospital, School of Medicine, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210008, China
| | - Chen Yu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Drum Tower Hospital, School of Medicine, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210008, China
| | - Cheng Chen
- Department of Neurosurgery, Drum Tower Hospital, School of Medicine, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210008, China
| | - Hongbin Ni
- Department of Neurosurgery, Drum Tower Hospital, School of Medicine, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210008, China.
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7
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Zhang L, Wang Q, Liu W, Liu F, Ji A, Li Y. The Orphan Nuclear Receptor 4A1: A Potential New Therapeutic Target for Metabolic Diseases. J Diabetes Res 2018; 2018:9363461. [PMID: 30013988 PMCID: PMC6022324 DOI: 10.1155/2018/9363461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2017] [Revised: 03/12/2018] [Accepted: 03/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Orphan nuclear receptor 4A1 (NR4A1) is a transcriptional factor of the nuclear orphan receptor (NR4A) superfamily that has sparked interest across different research fields in recent years. Several studies have demonstrated that ligand-independent NR4A1 is an immediate-early response gene and the protein product is rapidly induced by a variety of stimuli. Hyperfunction or dysfunction of NR4A1 is implicated in various metabolic processes, including carbohydrate metabolism, lipid metabolism, and energy balance, in major metabolic tissues, such as liver, skeletal muscle, pancreatic tissues, and adipose tissues. No endogenous ligands for NR4A1 have been identified, but numerous compounds that bind and activate or inactivate nuclear NR4A1 or induce cytoplasmic localization of NR4A1 have been identified. This review summarizes recent advances in our understanding of the molecular biology and physiological functions of NR4A1. And we focus on the physiological functions of NR4A1 receptor to the development of the metabolic diseases, with a special focus on the impact on carbohydrate and lipid metabolism in skeletal muscle, liver, adipose tissue, and islet.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Zhang
- Henan University School of Basic Medical Sciences, Henan University Joint National Laboratory for Antibody Drug Engineering, Kaifeng 475004, China
| | - Qun Wang
- Henan University School of Basic Medical Sciences, Henan University Joint National Laboratory for Antibody Drug Engineering, Kaifeng 475004, China
| | - Wen Liu
- Henan University School of Basic Medical Sciences, Henan University Joint National Laboratory for Antibody Drug Engineering, Kaifeng 475004, China
| | - Fangyan Liu
- Henan University School of Basic Medical Sciences, Henan University Joint National Laboratory for Antibody Drug Engineering, Kaifeng 475004, China
| | - Ailing Ji
- Henan University School of Basic Medical Sciences, Henan University Joint National Laboratory for Antibody Drug Engineering, Kaifeng 475004, China
| | - Yanzhang Li
- Henan University School of Basic Medical Sciences, Henan University Joint National Laboratory for Antibody Drug Engineering, Kaifeng 475004, China
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8
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Liu Y, Tang J, Gao X, Wang M, Shen J, You X. Effect of retinoid X receptor-α nuclear export inhibition on apoptosis of neurons in vivo and in vitro. Mol Med Rep 2017. [DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2017.6766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
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9
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Dong J, Li S, Mo JL, Cai HB, Le WD. Nurr1-Based Therapies for Parkinson's Disease. CNS Neurosci Ther 2016; 22:351-9. [PMID: 27012974 DOI: 10.1111/cns.12536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2015] [Revised: 02/12/2016] [Accepted: 02/12/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous studies have documented that orphan nuclear receptor Nurr1 (also known as NR4A2) plays important roles in the midbrain dopamine (DA) neuron development, differentiation, and survival. Furthermore, it has been reported that the defects in Nurr1 are associated with Parkinson's disease (PD). Thus, Nurr1 might be a potential therapeutic target for PD. Emerging evidence from in vitro and in vivo studies has recently demonstrated that Nurr1-activating compounds and Nurr1 gene therapy are able not only to enhance DA neurotransmission but also to protect DA neurons from cell injury induced by environmental toxin or microglia-mediated neuroinflammation. Moreover, modulators that interact with Nurr1 or regulate its function, such as retinoid X receptor, cyclic AMP-responsive element-binding protein, glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor, and Wnt/β-catenin pathway, have the potential to enhance the effects of Nurr1-based therapies in PD. This review highlights the recent progress in preclinical studies of Nurr1-based therapies and discusses the outlook of this emerging therapy as a promising new generation of PD medication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Dong
- The Center for Translational Research on Neurological Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Song Li
- The Center for Translational Research on Neurological Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Jing-Lin Mo
- The Center for Translational Research on Neurological Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Huai-Bin Cai
- Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Wei-Dong Le
- The Center for Translational Research on Neurological Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China.,Institute of Health Science, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
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10
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Wei X, Gao H, Zou J, Liu X, Chen D, Liao J, Xu Y, Ma L, Tang B, Zhang Z, Cai X, Jin K, Xia Y, Wang Q. Contra-directional Coupling of Nur77 and Nurr1 in Neurodegeneration: A Novel Mechanism for Memantine-Induced Anti-inflammation and Anti-mitochondrial Impairment. Mol Neurobiol 2015; 53:5876-5892. [PMID: 26497037 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-015-9477-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2015] [Accepted: 10/06/2015] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Recent evidence suggests that nerve growth factor IB (Nur77) and nuclear receptor related1 (Nurr1) are differentially involved in dopaminergic neurodegeneration. Since memantine has shown clinically relevant efficacy in Parkinson's disease (PD) and displayed a potent protective effect on dopaminergic neurons in experimental PD models, we asked if it exerts its neuroprotection by regulating Nur77 and Nurr1 signaling. We adopted a well-established in vitro PD model, 6-hydroxydopamine (OHDA)-lesioned PC12 cells, to test our hypothesis. Different concentrations of memantine were incubated with 6-OHDA-lesioned PC12 cells, and Nur77/Nurr1 and their related signaling molecules were examined by Western blot and immunocytochemistry. Nur77-deficient PC12 cells were used to verify the influences of Nur77 on neurodegeneration and memantine-mediated neuroprotection. We found that memantine reversed Nur77 upregulation and restored Nurr1 downregulation in 6-OHDA-lesioned PC12 cells. 6-OHDA incubation caused Nur77 translocation from the nucleus to cytosol and induced co-localization of Cyt c/HSP60/Nur77 in the cytosol. Memantine strongly reduced the sub-cellular translocations of Nur77/Cyt c/HSP60 under 6-OHDA-induced oxidative condition. Knockdown of Nur77 enhanced the viability of PC12 cells exposed to 6-OHDA, while memantine-induced neuroprotection was much less in the cells with Nur77 knockdown than in those without it. We conclude that Nur77 plays a crucial role in modulating mitochondrial impairment and contributes to neurodegeneration under the experimental PD condition. Memantine effectively suppresses such Nur77-mediated neurodegeneration and promotes survival signaling through post-translational modification of Nurr1. Nur77 and Nurr1 present a contra-directionally coupling interaction in memantine-mediated neuroprotection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaobo Wei
- Department of Neurology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Tianhe Road 600, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510630, China
| | - Huimin Gao
- Department of Neurology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Tianhe Road 600, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510630, China
| | - Jing Zou
- Department of Neurology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Tianhe Road 600, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510630, China
| | - Xu Liu
- Department of Neurology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Tianhe Road 600, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510630, China
| | - Dan Chen
- Department of Neurology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Tianhe Road 600, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510630, China
| | - Jinchi Liao
- Department of Neurology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Tianhe Road 600, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510630, China
| | - Yunqi Xu
- Department of Neurology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Tianhe Road 600, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510630, China
| | - Long Ma
- The State Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410078, China
| | - Beisha Tang
- The State Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410078, China
| | - Zhuohua Zhang
- The State Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410078, China
| | - Xiang Cai
- Institute of Neuroscience and the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, 250# Changgang East Road, Guangzhou, 510260, China
| | - Kunling Jin
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Institute for Aging and Alzheimer's Disease Research, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX, 76107, USA
| | - Ying Xia
- Department of Neurosurgery, The University of Texas Medical School at Houston, 6431 Fannin St. MSE R444, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
| | - Qing Wang
- Department of Neurology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Tianhe Road 600, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510630, China.
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