Region-specific phosphorylation of ERK5-MEF2C in the rat frontal cortex and hippocampus after electroconvulsive shock

Pax6 affects Ras-Raf-ERK1/2 in mouse aging brain

Pax6, a transcription factor and multifunctional protein, changes during aging. It also interacts with regulator proteins involved in cell metabolism and survival signalling pathways including Ras-GAP. Many forms of Ras, Raf and ERK1/2 are known but information on their region-specific expression patterns are unavailable from brain during aging. Therefore, it has been intended to evaluate expressions of Pax6 and forms of Ras, Raf, ERK1/2 in hippocampus, caudate nucleus, amygdale, cerebral cortex, cerebellum and olfactory lobe. Association of Pax6 with Ras, Raf and ERK1/2 was evaluated in co-culture (PC-12, C6-glia, U-87 MG) of neuroglia cell lines. Impacts of Pax6 were evaluated by siRNA mediated knockdown and expression patterns Ras-Raf-Erk1/2. Analysis of activities of Pax6 and impacts of 5'AMP, wild-type and mutant ERK were done by RT-PCR and luciferase reporter assay. Results indicate age-dependent changes of Pax6, Ras, Raf, ERK1/2 in different regions of brain of young and old mice. Erk1/2 shows synergistic activities to Pax6.

Role of ERK1, 2, and 5 in dopamine neuron survival during aging

Extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERKs) 1, 2, and 5 have been shown to play distinct roles in proliferation, differentiation, and neuronal viability. In this study, we examined ERK1, 2, and 5 expression and activation in the substantia nigra (SN), striatum (STR), and ventral tegmental area (VTA) during aging. An age-related decrease in phosphorylated ERK5 was observed in the SN and STR, whereas an increase in total ERK1 was observed in all 3 regions. In primary cultures of the SN and VTA, inhibition of ERK5 but not ERK1 and 2 decreased dopamine neuronal viability significantly. These data suggest that ERK5 is essential for the basal survival of SN and VTA dopaminergic neurons. This is the first study to examine ERK1, 2, and 5 expression and activation in the SN, STR, and VTA during aging, and the relative roles of ERK1, 2, and 5 in basal survival of SN and VTA dopaminergic neurons. These data raise the possibility that a decline in ERK5 signaling may play a role in age-related impairments in dopaminergic function.

Evolutionary genetic analyses of MEF2C gene: implications for learning and memory in Homo sapiens

MEF2C facilitates context-dependent fear conditioning (CFC) which is a salient aspect of hippocampus-dependent learning and memory. CFC might have played a crucial role in human evolution because of its advantageous influence on survival of species. In this study, we analyzed 23 orthologous mammalian gene sequences of MEF2C gene to examine the evidence for positive selection on this gene in Homo sapiens using Phylogenetic Analysis by Maximum Likelihood (PAML) and HyPhy software. Both PAML Bayes Empirical Bayes (BEB) and HyPhy Fixed Effects Likelihood (FEL) analyses supported significant positive selection on 4 codon sites in H. sapiens. Also, haplotter analysis revealed significant ongoing positive selection on this gene in Central European population. The study findings suggest that adaptive selective pressure on this gene might have influenced human evolution. Further research on this gene might unravel the potential role of this gene in learning and memory as well as its pathogenetic effect in certain hippocampal disorders with evolutionary basis like schizophrenia.

Myocyte enhancer factor-2 and cardiac muscle gene expression during hibernation in thirteen-lined ground squirrels

Many small mammals turn to hibernation to survive the winter, cycling through bouts of prolonged torpor where metabolic rate and body temperature fall to low levels. Remarkably, hypertrophy is promoted in cardiac muscle to support the stronger contractions needed in the cold. We proposed that altered expression of mRNA/protein levels of myocyte enhancer factor-2 (MEF2A, MEF2C) transcription factors and downstream targets (e.g., desmin, glucose transporter 4, and myomesin 1) would aid cardiac muscle of thirteen-lined ground squirrels (Ictidomys tridecemlineatus) in meeting challenges associated with hibernation. Gene and protein responses were compared over six conditions: control (euthermic animals in a 5 °C cold room), entrance into torpor, short and long torpors, arousal and interbout. Mef2a relative transcript levels were significantly elevated from controls contributing to increases in MEF2A protein levels throughout the torpor-arousal bout. In addition, levels of phosphorylated, activated MEF2A (Thr312) correlated with increases in MEF2A-DNA binding. MEF2C transcript/protein levels were significantly elevated over controls at selected sampling points whereas phosphorylated/activated MEF2C (Ser387) levels rose during torpor and DNA binding was most prominent during entrance into torpor. Some gene targets of MEF2 action were also upregulated. Desmin transcript levels remained constant whereas enhanced protein expression occurred during entrance into torpor. Glut4 transcript levels were enhanced in arousal and protein expression was elevated over all five sampling points during torpor/arousal. Myomesin 1 transcript levels increased between early torpor and early arousal and protein levels increased during entrance and deep torpor. These data provide insights into the changes in gene/protein in expression that help to prepare cardiac muscle for hibernation.

Expression of myocyte enhancer factor-2 and downstream genes in ground squirrel skeletal muscle during hibernation

Myocyte enhancer factor-2 (MEF2) transcription factors regulate the expression of a variety of genes encoding contractile proteins and other proteins associated with muscle performance. We proposed that changes in MEF2 levels and expression of selected downstream targets would aid the skeletal muscle of thirteen-lined ground squirrels (Spermophilus tridecemlineatus) in meeting metabolic challenges associated with winter hibernation; e.g., cycles of torpor-arousal, body temperature that can fall to near 0°C, long periods of inactivity that could lead to atrophy. MEF2A protein levels were significantly elevated when animals were in torpor (maximally 2.8-fold higher than in active squirrels) and the amount of phosphorylated active MEF2A Thr312 increased during entrance into torpor. MEF2C levels also rose significantly during entrance and torpor as did the amount of phosphorylated MEF2C Ser387. Furthermore, both MEF2 members showed elevated amounts in the nuclear fraction during torpor as well as enhanced binding to DNA indicating that MEF2-mediated gene expression was up-regulated in torpid animals. Indeed, the protein products of two MEF2 downstream gene targets increased in muscle during torpor (glucose transporter isoforms 4; GLUT4) or early arousal (myogenic differentiation; MyoD). Significant increases in Glut4 and MyoD mRNA transcript levels correlated with the rise in protein product levels and provided further support for the activation of MEF2-mediated gene expression in the hibernator. Transcript levels of Mef2a and Mef2c also showed time-dependent patterns with levels of both being highest during arousal from torpor. The data suggest a significant role for MEF2-mediated gene transcription in the selective adjustment of muscle protein complement over the course of torpor-arousal cycles.

The ERK5-MEF2C transcription factor pathway contributes to anti-apoptotic effect of cerebral ischemia preconditioning in the hippocampal CA1 region of rats

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the role of myocyte enhancer binding factor 2C (MEF2C), a common substrate of p38 kinase and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 5 (ERK5) in the hippocampal CA1 region following cerebral ischemia preconditioning (CIP) and without CIP. In animals that did not undergo preconditioning, MEF2C was significantly activated with an early peak at 30 min of reperfusion, which was followed by a pronounced decrease of MEF2C protein levels in the late phase of reperfusion (3-5 d). Co-immunoprecipitation studies failed to show an interaction between ERK5 and MEF2C, and ERK5-antisense oligonucleotide (ERK5-AS) had no effect on MEF2C activation, suggesting that the MEF2C activation is mediated by a kinase other than ERK5. Following preconditioning (3 min ischemia), MEF2C was strongly activated during the late stage of reperfusion (6 h-5 d). Co-immunoprecipitation studies showed that the interaction of ERK5 and MEF2C significantly increased at 3 d of reperfusion, and this increase was markedly inhibited by ERK5-AS. Inhibition of the ERK5-MEF2C pathway resulted in a significant increase in the number of TUNEL-positive apoptotic cells compared with CIP groups in the hippocampal CA1 region, and abolished the neuroprotective effect induced by CIP. Taken together, these results demonstrate that ERK5-MEF2C signaling is significantly enhanced in the hippocampus CA1 following CIP, and that ERK5-MEF2C signaling plays a critical role in the mediation of the anti-apoptotic and neuroprotective actions of ischemic preconditioning.

Activation of ERK5 in angiotensin II-induced hypertrophy of human aortic smooth muscle cells

Extracellular signal-regulated kinase 5 (ERK5), a recently discovered mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), plays a key role in the development and pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease. In order to clarify the pathophysiological significance of ERK5 in vascular remodeling, we investigated ERK5 phosphorylation in hypertrophy of human aortic smooth muscle cells (HASMCs) induced by angiotensin II (Ang II). The AT1 receptor was involved in Ang II-induced ERK5 activity. Hypertrophy was detected by the measurement of protein synthesis with [(3)H]-Leu incorporation in cultured HASMCs. Ang II rapidly induced phosphorylation of ERK5 at Thr218/Tyr220 residues in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Activation of myocyte enhancer factor-2C (MEF2C) by ERK5 was inhibited by PD98059. Transfecting HASMCs with small interfering RNA (siRNA) to silence ERK5 inhibited Ang II-induced cell hypertrophy. Thus, ERK5 phosphorylation contributes to MEF2C activation and subsequent HASMC hypertrophy induced by Ang II, for a novel molecular mechanism in cardiovascular diseases induced by Ang II.

Myocyte-specific enhancer binding factor 2C (MEF2C) expression in the dentate gyrus during development and after pilocarpine-induced status epilepticus: a preliminary report

OBJECTIVE

As axon outgrowth and dentate granule cell neurogenesis are hallmarks of hippocampal development and are also the two morphologic changes in the structure of the dentate gyrus after status epilepticus (SE), we hypothesized that molecules involved in normal development may also play a role during epileptogenesis.

METHOD

Using in situ hybridization, we have characterized mRNA expression of myocyte-specific enhancer binding factor 2C (MEF2C) in the dentate gyrus during development (P0, P3, P7, P14 and P28) and at multiple time points following pilocarpine-induced SE (3, 7, 14, 28 days after SE).

RESULTS

It was demonstrated that MEF2C is up-regulated during development (P0, P3, P7, P14 and P28) and in the adult rat dentate gyrus following SE (3, 7, 14, 28 days after SE).

CONCLUSIONS

The molecules controlling cell-fate decisions in the developing dentate gyrus are also operative during epileptogenesis.

Aberrant extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 5 signaling in hippocampus of suicide subjects

Extracellular signal-regulated kinase 5 (ERK5), the newest member of the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase family, is regulated differently than the other MAP kinases. Emerging evidence suggest the role of ERK5 signaling in promoting cell proliferation, differentiation, neuronal survival, and neuroprotection. The present study investigates whether suicide brain is associated with alterations in components of the ERK5 signaling cascade. In the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and hippocampus of suicide subjects (n=28) and nonpsychiatric control subjects (n=21), we examined the catalytic activities and protein levels of ERK5 and upstream MAP kinase kinase MEK5 in various subcellular fractions; mRNA levels of ERK5 in total RNA; and DNA-binding activity of myocyte enhancer factor (MEF)2C, a substrate of ERK5. In the hippocampus of suicide subjects, we observed that catalytic activity of ERK5 was decreased in cytosolic and nuclear fractions, whereas catalytic activity of MEK5 was decreased in the total fraction. Further, decreased mRNA and protein levels of ERK5, but no change in protein level of MEK5 were noted. A decrease in MEF2C-DNA-binding activity in the nuclear fraction was also observed. No significant alterations were noted in the PFC of suicide subjects. The observed changes were not related to a specific psychiatric diagnosis. Our findings of reduced activation and/or expression of ERK5 and MEK5, and reduced MEF2C-DNA-binding activity demonstrate abnormalities in ERK5 signaling in hippocampus of suicide subjects and suggest possible involvement of this aberrant signaling in pathogenic mechanisms of suicide.