Failure to express GAP-43 leads to disruption of a multipotent precursor and inhibits astrocyte differentiation

Proteomics and disease network associations evaluation of environmentally relevant Bisphenol A concentrations in a human 3D neural stem cell model

Bisphenol A (BPA) exposure is associated with a plethora of neurodevelopmental abnormalities and brain disorders. Previous studies have demonstrated BPA-induced perturbations to critical neural stem cell (NSC) characteristics, such as proliferation and differentiation, although the underlying molecular mechanisms remain under debate. The present study evaluated the effects of a repeated-dose exposure of environmentally relevant BPA concentrations during the in vitro 3D neural induction of human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs), emulating a chronic exposure scenario. Firstly, we demonstrated that our model is suitable for NSC differentiation during the early stages of embryonic brain development. Our morphological image analysis showed that BPA exposure at 0.01, 0.1 and 1 µM decreased the average spheroid size by day 21 (D21) of the neural induction, while no effect on cell viability was detected. No alteration to the rate of the neural induction was observed based on the expression of key neural lineage and neuroectodermal transcripts. Quantitative proteomics at D21 revealed several differentially abundant proteins across all BPA-treated groups with important functions in NSC proliferation and maintenance (e.g., FABP7, GPC4, GAP43, Wnt-8B, TPPP3). Additionally, a network analysis demonstrated alterations to the glycolytic pathway, potentially implicating BPA-induced changes to glycolytic signalling in NSC proliferation impairments, as well as the pathophysiology of brain disorders including intellectual disability, autism spectrum disorders, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). This study enhances the current understanding of BPA-related NSC aberrations based mostly on acute, often high dose exposures of rodent in vivo and in vitro models and human GWAS data in a novel human 3D cell-based model with real-life scenario relevant prolonged and low-level exposures, offering further mechanistic insights into the ramifications of BPA exposure on the developing human brain and consequently, later life neurological disorders.

DCC regulates astroglial development essential for telencephalic morphogenesis and corpus callosum formation

The forebrain hemispheres are predominantly separated during embryogenesis by the interhemispheric fissure (IHF). Radial astroglia remodel the IHF to form a continuous substrate between the hemispheres for midline crossing of the corpus callosum (CC) and hippocampal commissure (HC). Deleted in colorectal carcinoma (DCC) and netrin 1 (NTN1) are molecules that have an evolutionarily conserved function in commissural axon guidance. The CC and HC are absent in Dcc and Ntn1 knockout mice, while other commissures are only partially affected, suggesting an additional aetiology in forebrain commissure formation. Here, we find that these molecules play a critical role in regulating astroglial development and IHF remodelling during CC and HC formation. Human subjects with DCC mutations display disrupted IHF remodelling associated with CC and HC malformations. Thus, axon guidance molecules such as DCC and NTN1 first regulate the formation of a midline substrate for dorsal commissures prior to their role in regulating axonal growth and guidance across it.

In vitro transdifferentiation of human adipose tissue-derived stem cells to neural lineage cells - a stage-specific incidence

The present Study investigated the intrinsic ability of adipose tissue-derived stem cells (ADSCs) and their neural transdifferentiation in a stage-specific manner. Woodbury’s Chemical induction was implemented with modifications to achieve neural transdifferentiation. In Group I, ADSCs were preinduced with β-mercaptoethanol (β-ME) and later, with neural induction medium (NIM). In Group II, ADSCs were directly treated with NIM. In Group III, a DNA methyltransferase (DNMT) inhibitor 5-azacytidine was applied to understand whether transdifferentiation is controlled by epigenetic marks. Irrespective of the presence of (β-ME), the differentiation protocol resulted in glial-lineage cells. Group III produced poorly -differentiated neural cells with neuron-specific enolase positivity. A neuroprogenitor stage (NPC) was identified at d 11 after induction only in Group I. In other groups, this stage was not morphologically distinct. We explored the stage-specific incidence NPC, by alternatively treating them with basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), and antioxidants to validate if different signalling could cause varied outcomes (Group IV). They differentiated into neurons, as defined by cell polarity and expression of specific proteins. Meanwhile, neuroprogenitors exposed to NIM (Group I) produced glial-lineage cells. Further refinement and study of the occurrence and terminal differentiation of neuroprogenitors would identify a promising source for neural tissue replacement.

Directed differentiation of mouse P19 embryonal carcinoma cells to neural cells in a serum- and retinoic acid-free culture medium

P19 embryonal carcinoma cells (EC-cells) provide a simple and robust culture system for studying neural development. Most protocols developed so far for directing neural differentiation of P19 cells depend on the use of culture medium supplemented with retinoic acid (RA) and serum, which has an undefined composition. Hence, such protocols are not suitable for many molecular studies. In this study, we achieved neural differentiation of P19 cells in a serum- and RA-free culture medium by employing the knockout serum replacement (KSR) supplement. In the KSR-containing medium, P19 cells underwent predominant differentiation into neural lineage and by day 12 of culture, neural cells were present in 100% of P19-derived embryoid bodies (EBs). This was consistently accompanied by the increased expression of various neural lineage-associated markers during the course of differentiation. P19-derived neural cells comprised of NES⁺ neural progenitors (~ 46%), TUBB3⁺ immature neurons (~ 6%), MAP2⁺ mature neurons (~ 2%), and GFAP⁺ astrocytes (~ 50%). A heterogeneous neuronal population consisting of glutamatergic, GABAergic, serotonergic, and dopaminergic neurons was generated. Taken together, our study shows that the KSR medium is suitable for the differentiation of P19 cells to neural lineage without requiring additional (serum and RA) supplements. This stem cell differentiation system could be utilized for gaining mechanistic insights into neural differentiation and for identifying potential neuroactive compounds.

Astrocytic GAP43 Induced by the TLR4/NF-κB/STAT3 Axis Attenuates Astrogliosis-Mediated Microglial Activation and Neurotoxicity

Growth-associated protein 43 (GAP43), a protein kinase C (PKC)-activated phosphoprotein, is often implicated in axonal plasticity and regeneration. In this study, we found that GAP43 can be induced by the endotoxin lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in rat brain astrocytes both in vivo and in vitro. The LPS-induced astrocytic GAP43 expression was mediated by Toll-like receptor 4 and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB)- and interleukin-6/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3)-dependent transcriptional activation. The overexpression of the PKC phosphorylation-mimicking GAP43(S41D) (constitutive active GAP43) in astrocytes mimicked LPS-induced process arborization and elongation, while application of a NF-κB inhibitory peptide TAT-NBD or GAP43(S41A) (dominant-negative GAP43) or knockdown of GAP43 all inhibited astrogliosis responses. Moreover, GAP43 knockdown aggravated astrogliosis-induced microglial activation and expression of proinflammatory cytokines. We also show that astrogliosis-conditioned medium from GAP43 knock-down astrocytes inhibited GAP43 phosphorylation and axonal growth, and increased neuronal damage in cultured rat cortical neurons. These proneurotoxic effects of astrocytic GAP43 knockdown were accompanied by attenuated glutamate uptake and expression of the glutamate transporter excitatory amino acid transporter 2 (EAAT2) in LPS-treated astrocytes. The regulation of EAAT2 expression involves actin polymerization-dependent activation of the transcriptional coactivator megakaryoblastic leukemia 1 (MKL1), which targets the serum response elements in the promoter of rat Slc1a2 gene encoding EAAT2. In sum, the present study suggests that astrocytic GAP43 mediates glial plasticity during astrogliosis, and provides beneficial effects for neuronal plasticity and survival and attenuation of microglial activation.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT

Astrogliosis is a complex state in which injury-stimulated astrocytes exert both protective and harmful effects on neuronal survival and plasticity. In this study, we demonstrated for the first time that growth-associated protein 43 (GAP43), a well known growth cone protein that promotes axonal regeneration, can be induced in rat brain astrocytes by the proinflammatory endotoxin lipopolysaccharide via both nuclear factor-κB and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3-mediated transcriptional activation. Importantly, LPS-induced GAP43 mediates plastic changes of astrocytes while attenuating astrogliosis-induced microglial activation and neurotoxicity. Hence, astrocytic GAP43 upregulation may serve to indicate beneficial astrogliosis after CNS injury.

GAP-43 slows down cell cycle progression via sequences in its 3'UTR

Growth-associated protein 43 (GAP-43) is a neuronal phosphoprotein associated with initial axonal outgrowth and synaptic remodeling and recent work also suggests its involvement in cell cycle control. The complex expression of GAP-43 features transcriptional and posttranscriptional components. However, in some conditions, GAP-43 gene expression is controlled primarily by the interaction of stabilizing or destabilizing RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) with adenine and uridine (AU)-rich instability elements (AREs) in its 3'UTR. Like GAP-43, many proteins involved in cell proliferation are encoded by ARE-containing mRNAs, some of which codify cell-cycle-regulating proteins including cyclin D1. Considering that GAP-43 and cyclin D1 mRNA stabilization may depend on similar RBPs, this study evaluated the participation of GAP-43 in cell cycle control and its underlying mechanisms, particularly the possible role of its 3'UTR, using GAP-43-transfected NIH-3T3 fibroblasts. Our results show an arrest in cell cycle progression in the G0/G1 phase. This arrest may be mediated by the competition of GAP-43 3'UTR with cyclin D1 3'UTR for the binding of Hu proteins such as HuR, which may lead to a decrease in cyclin D1 expression. These results might lead to therapeutic applications involving the use of sequences in the B region of GAP-43 3'UTR to slow down cell cycle progression.

Buyang Huanwu Decoction regulates neural stem cell behavior in ischemic brain

The traditional Chinese medicine Buyang Huanwu Decoction has been shown to improve the neu-rological function of patients with stroke. However, the precise mechanisms underlying its effect remain poorly understood. In this study, we established a rat model of cerebral ischemia by middle cerebral artery occlusion and intragastrically administered 5 g/kg Buyang Huanwu Decoction, once per day, for 1, 7, 14 and 28 days after cerebral ischemia. Immunohistochemical staining revealed a number of cells positive for the neural stem cell marker nestin in the cerebral cortex, the subven-tricular zone and the ipsilateral hippocampal dentate gyrus in rat models of cerebral ischemia. Buyang Huanwu Decoction significantly increased the number of cells positive for 5-bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU), a cell proliferation-related marker, microtubule-associated protein-2, a marker of neuronal differentiation, and growth-associated protein 43, a marker of synaptic plasticity in the ischemic rat cerebral regions. The number of positive cells peaked at 14 and 28 days after intragastric administration of Buyang Huanwu Decoction. These findings suggest that Buyang Huanwu Decoction can promote the proliferation and differentiation of neural stem cells and hance synaptic plasticity in ischemic rat brain tissue.

Neural responses to electrical stimulation on patterned silk films

Peripheral nerve injury is a critical issue for patients with trauma. Following injury, incomplete axon regeneration or misguided axon innervation into tissue will result in loss of sensory and motor functions. The objective of this study was to examine axon outgrowth and axon alignment in response to surface patterning and electrical stimulation. To accomplish our objective, metal electrodes with dimensions of 1.5 mm × 4 cm, were sputter coated onto micropatterned silk protein films, with surface grooves 3.5 μm wide × 500 nm deep. P19 neurons were seeded on the patterned electronic silk films and stimulated at 120 mV, 1 kHz, for 45 min each day for 7 days. Responses were compared with neurons on flat electronic silk films, patterned silk films without stimulation, and flat silk films without stimulation. Significant alignment was found on the patterned film groups compared with the flat film groups. Axon outgrowth was greater (p < 0.05) on electronic films on days 5 and 7 compared with the unstimulated groups. In conclusion, electrical stimulation, at 120 mV, 1 kHz, for 45 min daily, in addition to surface patterning, of 3.5 μm wide × 500 nm deep grooves, offered control of nerve axon outgrowth and alignment.

Exposure of Sebastiscus marmoratus embryos to pyrene results in neurodevelopmental defects and disturbs related mechanisms

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are widespread environmental contaminants, which are known to be carcinogenic and teratogenic. These compounds cause a range of macroscopic malformations, particularly to the craniofacial apparatus and cardiovascular system during vertebrate development. However, little is known concerning microscopic effects, especially on the sensitive early life stages or on the molecular basis of developmental neurotoxicity. Using the rockfish (Sebastiscus marmoratus), we explored the neurodevelopmental defects caused by early-life exposure to environmentally relevant concentrations of pyrene, a 4-ring PAH. The results showed that pyrene substantially disrupted the cranial innervation pattern and caused deficiency of motor nerves. The expression of a protein associated with axon growth, growth associated protein 43, was decreased in the central nervous system after treatment with pyrene. N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) plays a vital role in a variety of processes, including neuronal development, synaptic plasticity, and neuronal survival and death. Our results showed that the expression of Ca²⁺/calmodulin dependent kinase II and cAMP-response element-binding, which belong to the NMDAR pathway, were increased in a dose-dependent manner after exposure to pyrene. Acetylcholine, an important neurotransmitter which is known to suppress retinal cells neurite outgrowth, was increased by pyrene exposure. Nitric oxide (NO) acts as an activity-dependent retrograde signal that can coordinate axonal targeting and synaptogenesis during development. The level of NO was decreased in a dose-dependent manner following exposure to pyrene. Taken together, the defects in neurodevelopment and the damage to related mechanisms provided the basis for a better understanding of the neurotoxic effects of pyrene.

Autocrine endothelin-3/endothelin receptor B signaling maintains cellular and molecular properties of glioblastoma stem cells

Glioblastoma stem cells (GSC) express both radial glial cell and neural crest cell (NCC)-associated genes. We report that endothelin 3 (EDN3), an essential mitogen for NCC development and migration, is highly produced by GSCs. Serum-induced proliferative differentiation rapidly decreased EDN3 production and downregulated the expression of stemness-associated genes, and reciprocally, two glioblastoma markers, EDN1 and YKL-40 transcripts, were induced. Correspondingly, patient glioblastoma tissues express low levels of EDN3 mRNA and high levels of EDN1 and YKL-40 mRNA. Blocking EDN3/EDN receptor B (EDNRB) signaling by an EDNRB antagonist (BQ788), or EDN3 RNA interference (siRNA), leads to cell apoptosis and functional impairment of tumor sphere formation and cell spreading/migration in culture and loss of tumorigenic capacity in animals. Using exogenous EDN3 as the sole mitogen in culture does not support GSC propagation, but it can rescue GSCs from undergoing cell apoptosis. Molecular analysis by gene expression profiling revealed that most genes downregulated by EDN3/EDNRB blockade were those involved in cytoskeleton organization, pause of growth and differentiation, and DNA damage response, implicating the involvement of EDN3/EDNRB signaling in maintaining GSC migration, undifferentiation, and survival. These data suggest that autocrine EDN3/EDNRB signaling is essential for maintaining GSCs. Incorporating END3/EDNRB-targeted therapies into conventional cancer treatments may have clinical implication for the prevention of tumor recurrence.

Expression of GAP-43 in fibroblast cell lines influences the orientation of cell division

The orientation (vertical or horizontal) of cell division is known to be critical for neural cell fate determination during neurogenesis. At the onset of neurogenesis, neurogenic progenitor cells are dividing with the cleavage plane parallel to the ventricular surface (horizontal division), which would lead to critical apical components being unequally distributed to both their two daughter cells. The daughter cells lack of inheritance is going to differentiate into the neuron. Recent studies have shown that GAP-43 is highly expressed in horizontally dividing neural progenitor cells in the forebrain of mammals. Based on findings from in vivo studies, GAP-43 is locally associated with the centrosome and is required for centrosome positioning, suggesting that GAP-43 may be involved in neurogenesis through regulating the orientation of cell division. With a fibroblast cell model, our results show that both GFP expressing and control cells had the same potential (p>0.05) with regard to dividing orientation (either vertical or horizontal to the cells long axis). On the other hand, we found that GAP-43 was localized on the membrane instead of the centrosome during all phases of mitosis within GAP-43 transgenic cells, but expressing of GAP-43 could make the cells dividing more likely along their long axis (p<0.05). Our observations suggest that GAP-43 might link the cell membrane and spindle pole and consequently participate in controlling cleavage orientation during cell division.

Understanding the mechanisms of callosal development through the use of transgenic mouse models

The cerebral cortex is the area of the brain where higher-order cognitive processing occurs. The 2 hemispheres of the cerebral cortex communicate through one of the largest fiber tracts in the brain, the corpus callosum. Malformation of the corpus callosum in human beings occurs in 1 in 4000 live births, and those afflicted experience an extensive range of neurologic disorders, from relatively mild to severe cognitive deficits. Understanding the molecular and cellular processes involved in these disorders would therefore assist in the development of prognostic tools and therapies. During the past 3 decades, mouse models have been used extensively to determine which molecules play a role in the complex regulation of corpus callosum development. This review provides an update on these studies, as well as highlights the value of using mouse models with the goal of developing therapies for human acallosal syndromes.

Molecular properties of CD133+ glioblastoma stem cells derived from treatment-refractory recurrent brain tumors

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) remains refractory to conventional therapy. CD133+ GBM cells have been recently isolated and characterized as chemo-/radio-resistant tumor-initiating cells and are hypothesized to be responsible for post-treatment recurrence. In order to explore the molecular properties of tumorigenic CD133+ GBM cells that resist treatment, we isolated CD133+ GBM cells from tumors that are recurrent and have previously received chemo-/radio-therapy. We found that the purified CD133+ GBM cells sorted from the CD133+ GBM spheres express SOX2 and CD44 and are capable of clonal self-renewal and dividing to produce fast-growing CD133− progeny, which form the major cell population within GBM spheres. Intracranial injection of purified CD133+, not CD133− GBM daughter cells, can lead to the development of YKL-40+ infiltrating tumors that display hypervascularity and pseudopalisading necrosis-like features in mouse brain. The molecular profile of purified CD133+ GBM cells revealed characteristics of neuroectoderm-like cells, expressing both radial glial and neural crest cell developmental genes, and portraying a slow-growing, non-differentiated, polarized/migratory, astrogliogenic, and chondrogenic phenotype. These data suggest that at least a subset of treated and recurrent GBM tumors may be seeded by CD133+ GBM cells with neural and mesenchymal properties. The data also imply that CD133+ GBM cells may be clinically indolent/quiescent prior to undergoing proliferative cell division (PCD) to produce CD133− GBM effector progeny. Identifying intrinsic and extrinsic cues, which promote CD133+ GBM cell self-renewal and PCD to support ongoing tumor regeneration may highlight novel therapeutic strategies to greatly diminish the recurrence rate of GBM.

Characterization of a nervous system-specific promoter for growth-associated protein 43 gene in Medaka (Oryzias latipes)

Genes expressed by neurons are controlled by specific, interacting cis-regulatory elements and trans-acting factors within their promoters. In the present study, we asked whether the transcriptional machinery regulating neuron-specific gene expression was conserved in evolution. We identified a GAP-43 homolog in Medaka (Oryzias latipes), and analyzed its expression during various stages of development. Compared with the amino acid sequences of GAP-43 homologs in other vertebrates, the amino-terminus of GAP-43 was highly conserved evolutionarily, but the carboxy-terminus exhibited significant variability. Expression of GAP-43 predominantly occurred in cells of the central and peripheral nervous systems as determined by in situ hybridization and by RT-PCR. Expression of GAP-43 increased throughout development and significant levels continued to be expressed into adulthood. We also showed that a proximal approximately 2.0 kbp fragment in the 5'-flanking region had promoter activity as determined by in vivo reporter assays. Furthermore, based upon computational analysis of transcription factor binding sites and an in vivo reporter analysis using sequentially deleted promoters, we demonstrated that cis-regulatory elements for neuronal expression were widely distributed in this region. In mammals, a TATA-box, E-box and neuronal repressive elements have been thought to contribute to neuronal expression. However, these features were not found in the orthologous region of the Medaka GAP-43 promoter. Our results suggest that the arrangement of cis-regulatory elements of the GAP-43 ortholog in Medaka is different from that in mammals, yet maintains neuron-specific regulation.

GAP-43 is critical for normal targeting of thalamocortical and corticothalamic, but not trigeminothalamic axons in the whisker barrel system

Mice lacking the growth-associated protein GAP-43 (KO) show disrupted cortical topography and no barrels. Whisker-related patterns of cells are normal in the KO brainstem trigeminal complex (BSTC), while the pattern in KO ventrobasal thalamus (VB) is somewhat compromised. To better understand the basis for VB and cortical abnormalities, we used small placements of DiI to trace axonal projections between BSTC, VB, and barrel cortex in wildtype (WT) and GAP-43 KO mice. The trigeminothalamic (TT) pathway consists of axons from cells in the Nucleus Prinicipalis that project to the contralateral VB thalamus. DiI-labeled KO TT axons crossed the midline from BSTC and projected to contralateral VB normally, consistent with normal BSTC cytoarchitecture. By contrast, the KO thalamocortical axons (TCA) projection was highly abnormal. KO TCAs showed delays of 1-2 days in initial ingrowth to cortex. Postnatally, KO TCAs showed multiple pathfinding errors near intermediate targets, and were abnormally fasciculated within the internal capsule (IC). Interestingly, most individually labeled KO TCAs terminated in deep layers instead of in layer IV as in WT. This misprojection is consistent with birthdating analysis in KO mice, which revealed that neurons normally destined for layer IV remain in deep cortical layers. Early outgrowth of KO corticofugal (CF) axons was similar for both genotypes. However, at P7 KO CF fibers remained bundled as they entered the IC, and exhibited few terminal branches in VB. Thus, the establishment of axonal projections between thalamus and cortex are disrupted in GAP-43 KO mice.

Immortalization of neural precursors when telomerase is overexpressed in embryonal carcinomas and stem cells

The DNA repair enzyme telomerase maintains chromosome stability by ensuring that telomeres regenerate each time the cell divides, protecting chromosome ends. During onset of neuroectodermal differentiation in P19 embryonal carcinoma (EC) cells three independent techniques (Southern blotting, Q-FISH, and Q-PCR) revealed a catastrophic reduction in telomere length in nestin-expressing neuronal precursors even though telomerase activity remained high. Overexpressing telomerase protein (mTERT) prevented telomere collapse and the neuroepithelial precursors produced continued to divide, but deaggregated and died. Addition of FGF-2 prevented deaggregation, protected the precursors from the apoptotic event that normally accompanies onset of terminal neuronal differentiation, allowed them to evade senescence, and enabled completion of morphological differentiation. Similarly, primary embryonic stem (ES) cells overexpressing mTERT also initiated neuroectodermal differentiation efficiently, acquiring markers of neuronal precursors and mature neurons. ES precursors are normally cultured with FGF-2, and overexpression of mTERT alone was sufficient to allow them to evade senescence. However, when FGF-2 was removed in order for differentiation to be completed most neural precursors underwent apoptosis indicating that in ES cells mTERT is not sufficient allow terminal differentiation of ES neural precursors in vitro. The results demonstrate that telomerase can potentiate the transition between pluripotent stem cell and committed neuron in both EC and ES cells.

Leukaemia inhibitory factor is over-expressed by ischaemic brain tissue concomitant with reduced plasma expression following acute stroke

Leukaemia inhibitory factor (LIF) is a glycoprotein of the interleukin-6 family, which has potent pro-inflammatory properties and is involved in regulation of neuronal differentiation. We have previously identified its upregulation in gene microarrays following acute ischaemic stroke in man. LIF expression and localization was measured in human ischaemic stroke autopsy specimens, in a rat model of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) and in human foetal neural cell cultures following oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) by Western blotting and immunohistochemistry. Circulating LIF was determined in the plasma of patients in the hyper-acute stroke phase using a multiplex enzyme-linked-immunosorbent serologic assay system. Patients demonstrated an increase in LIF expression in peri-infarcted regions with localization in neurons and endothelial cells of microvessels surrounding the infarcted core. The rat MCAO model showed similar upregulation in neurons with a peak increase at 90 min. Circulating serum LIF expression was significantly decreased in the hyper-acute phase of stroke. Brain-derived neurons and glia cultured in vitro demonstrated an increase in gene/protein and protein expression respectively following exposure to OGD. Increased LIF expression in peri-infarcted regions and sequestration from the peripheral circulation in acute stroke patients are characteristic of the pathobiological response to ischaemia and tissue damage.

Increased Striatal mRNA and Protein Levels of the Immunophilin FKBP-12 in Experimental Parkinson's Disease and Identification of FKBP-12-Binding Proteins

FKBP-12, a 12 kDa FK506-binding protein (neuroimmunophilin), acts as a receptor for the immunosuppressant drug FK506. Neuroimmunophilins, including FKBP-12, are abundant in the brain and have been shown to be involved in reversing neuronal degeneration and preventing cell death. In this report, we have utilized several analytical techniques, such as in situ hybridization, Western blotting, two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, and liquid chromatography electrospray tandem mass spectrometry to study the transcriptional expression as well as protein levels of FKBP-12 in the unilateral 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) rat model of Parkinson's disease. The FKBP-12 protein was also detected directly on brain tissue sections using mass spectrometry profiling. We found increased levels of FKBP-12 mRNA and protein in the dorsal and middle part of the 6-OHDA lesioned striatum. Thus, these studies clearly demonstrate that FKBP-12 is increased in the brain of a common animal model of Parkinson's disease (PD). Additionally, we have identified potential binding partners to FKBP-12 that may be implicated in the pathophysiology of Parkinson's disease, such as alpha-enolase, 14-3-3 zeta/delta, pyruvate kinase isozymes, and heat shock protein 70, using surface plasmon resonance sensor technology in combination with mass spectrometry. In conclusion, these data strongly suggests that FKBP-12 is altered in an experimental model of PD.

Commissure formation in the mammalian forebrain

Commissural formation in the mammalian brain is highly organised and regulated both by the cell-autonomous expression of transcription factors, and by non-cell-autonomous mechanisms including the formation of midline glial structures and their expression of specific axon guidance molecules. These mechanisms channel axons into the correct path and enable the subsequent connection of specific brain areas to their appropriate targets. Several key findings have been made over the past two years, including the discovery of novel mechanisms of action that 'classical' guidance factors such as the Slits, Netrins, and their receptors have in axon guidance. Moreover, novel guidance factors such as members of the Wnt family, and extracellular matrix components such as heparan sulphate proteoglycans, have been shown to be important for mammalian brain commissure formation. Additionally, there have been significant discoveries regarding the role of FGF signalling in the formation of midline glial structures. In this review, we discuss the most recent advances in the field that have contributed to our current understanding of commissural development in the telencephalon.

Cytodifferentiation by retinoids, a novel therapeutic option in oncology: rational combinations with other therapeutic agents

Retinoic acid (RA) and derivatives are promising antineoplastic agents endowed with both therapeutic and chemopreventive potential. Although the treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia with all-trans retinoic acid is an outstanding example, the full potential of retinoids in oncology has not yet been explored and a more generalized use of these compounds is not yet a reality. One way to enhance the therapeutic and chemopreventive activity of RA and derivatives is to identify rational combinations between these compounds and other pharmacological agents. This is now possible given the information available on the biochemical and molecular mechanisms underlying the biological activity of retinoids. At the cellular level, the antileukemia and anticancer activity of retinoids is the result of three main actions, cytodifferentiation, growth inhibition, and apoptosis. Cytodifferentiation is a particularly attractive modality of treatment and differentiating agents promise to be less toxic and more specific than conventional chemotherapy. This is the result of the fact that cytotoxicity is not the primary aim of differentiation therapy. At the molecular level, retinoids act through the activation of nuclear retinoic acid receptor-dependent and -independent pathways. The cellular pathways and molecular networks relevant for retinoid activity are modulated by a panoply of other intracellular and extracellular pathways that may be targeted by known drugs and other experimental therapeutics. This chapter aims to summarize and critically discuss the available knowledge in the field.

Specific inhibition of CBP/beta-catenin interaction rescues defects in neuronal differentiation caused by a presenilin-1 mutation

Wnt/beta-catenin signaling has been shown to promote self-renewal in a variety of tissue stem cells, including neuronal stem cells and hematopoietic stem cells. However, activation of the Wnt/beta-catenin pathway promoted and inhibition of the pathway prevented differentiation of neuronal precursor cells. A clear explanation for the differential effects of Wnt/beta-catenin activation on neuronal precursors is not available at present. Presenilin-1 (PS-1) is a polytopic protein comprised of six to eight transmembrane domains. PS-1, as part of the gamma-secretase complex, is required for the intramembrane proteolysis of both amyloid precursor protein (APP) and Notch. Additionally, through interactions with beta-catenin, PS-1 is associated with modulation of Wnt/beta-catenin signaling. A familial Alzheimer's disease-associated PS-1 mutant, PS-1(L286V), causes a dramatic increase in T cell factor (TCF)/beta-catenin transcription in PC-12 cells, which prevents normal nerve growth factor (NGF)-induced neuronal differentiation and neurite outgrowth. Selective inhibition of TCF/beta-catenin/cAMP-response element-binding protein (CREB)-binding protein (CBP)-mediated transcription, but not TCF/beta-catenin/p300, with the recently described small molecule antagonist ICG-001 corrects these defects in neuronal differentiation, highlighting the importance of Wnt/beta-catenin signaling in this process. We propose that increased TCF/beta-catenin/CBP-mediated transcription, as well as a failure to switch to TCF/beta-catenin/p300-mediated transcription, play an important role in decreasing neuronal differentiation.

Nerve Ending “Signal” Proteins GAP‐43, MARCKS, and BASP1

Mechanisms of growth cone pathfinding in the course of neuronal net formation as well as mechanisms of learning and memory have been under intense investigation for the past 20 years, but many aspects of these phenomena remain unresolved and even mysterious. "Signal" proteins accumulated mainly in the axon endings (growth cones and the presynaptic area of synapses) participate in the main brain processes. These proteins are similar in several essential structural and functional properties. The most prominent similarities are N-terminal fatty acylation and the presence of an "effector domain" (ED) that dynamically binds to the plasma membrane, to calmodulin, and to actin fibrils. Reversible phosphorylation of ED by protein kinase C modulates these interactions. However, together with similarities, there are significant differences among the proteins, such as different conditions (Ca2+ contents) for calmodulin binding and different modes of interaction with the actin cytoskeleton. In light of these facts, we consider GAP-43, MARCKS, and BASP1 both separately and in conjunction. Special attention is devoted to a discussion of apparent inconsistencies in results and opinions of different authors concerning specific questions about the structure of proteins and their interactions.