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Mu MD, Qian ZM, Yang SX, Rong KL, Yung WH, Ke Y. Therapeutic effect of a histone demethylase inhibitor in Parkinson's disease. Cell Death Dis 2020; 11:927. [PMID: 33116116 PMCID: PMC7595123 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-020-03105-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2019] [Revised: 08/11/2020] [Accepted: 08/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Iron accumulation in the substantia nigra is recognized as a hallmark of Parkinson's disease (PD). Therefore, reducing accumulated iron and associated oxidative stress is considered a promising therapeutic strategy for PD. However, current iron chelators have poor membrane permeability and lack cell-type specificity. Here we identified GSK-J4, a histone demethylase inhibitor with the ability to cross blood brain barrier, as a potent iron suppressor. Only a trace amount of GSK-J4 significantly and selectively reduced intracellular labile iron in dopaminergic neurons, and suppressed H2O2 and 6-OHDA-induced cell death in vitro. The iron-suppressive effect was mainly mediated by inducing an increase in the expression of the iron exporter ferroportin-1. In parallel, GSK-J4 rescued dopaminergic neuron loss and motor defects in 6-OHDA-induced PD rats, which was accompanied by reduction of oxidative stress. Importantly, GSK-J4 rescued the abnormal changes of histone methylation, H3K4me3 and H3K27me3 during 6-OHDA treatment although the iron-suppressive and neuroprotective effects were sensitive to H3K4me3 inhibition only. Also, upregulating H3K4me3 increased ferroportin-1 expression and neuroprotection. Taken together, we demonstrate a previously unappreciated action of GSK-J4 on cell-specific iron suppression and neuroprotection via epigenetic mechanism. Compared with conventional iron chelators, this compound has a stronger therapeutic potential for PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming-Dao Mu
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Gerald Choa Neuroscience Centre, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Zhong-Ming Qian
- Institute of Translational and Precision Medicine, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, China
| | - Sheng-Xi Yang
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Gerald Choa Neuroscience Centre, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Kang-Lin Rong
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Gerald Choa Neuroscience Centre, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Wing-Ho Yung
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong SAR, China.
- Gerald Choa Neuroscience Centre, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong SAR, China.
| | - Ya Ke
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong SAR, China.
- Gerald Choa Neuroscience Centre, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong SAR, China.
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