1
|
Fan FC, Du Y, Zheng WH, Loh YP, Cheng Y. Carboxypeptidase E conditional knockout mice exhibit learning and memory deficits and neurodegeneration. Transl Psychiatry 2023; 13:135. [PMID: 37100779 PMCID: PMC10133319 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-023-02429-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2023] [Revised: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 04/06/2023] [Indexed: 04/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Carboxypeptidase E (CPE) is a multifunctional protein with many nonenzymatic functions in various systems. Previous studies using CPE knock-out mice have shown that CPE has neuroprotective effects against stress and is involved in learning and memory. However, the functions of CPE in neurons are still largely unknown. Here we used a Camk2a-Cre system to conditionally knockout CPE in neurons. The wild-type, CPEflox/-, and CPEflox/flox mice were weaned, ear-tagged, and tail clipped for genotyping at 3 weeks old, and they underwent open field, object recognition, Y-maze, and fear conditioning tests at 8 weeks old. The CPEflox/flox mice had normal body weight and glucose metabolism. The behavioral tests showed that CPEflox/flox mice had impaired learning and memory compared with wild-type and CPEflox/- mice. Surprisingly, the subiculum (Sub) region of CPEflox/flox mice was completely degenerated, unlike the CPE full knockout mice, which exhibit CA3 region neurodegeneration. In addition, doublecortin immunostaining suggested that neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus was significantly reduced in CPEflox/flox mice. Interestingly, TrkB phosphorylation in the hippocampus was downregulated in CPEflox/flox mice, but brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels were not. In both the hippocampus and dorsal medial prefrontal cortex, we observed reduced MAP2 and GFAP expression in CPEflox/flox mice. Taken together, the results of this study demonstrate that specific neuronal CPE knockout leads to central nervous system dysfunction in mice, including learning and memory deficits, hippocampal Sub degeneration and impaired neurogenesis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fang-Cheng Fan
- Key Laboratory of Ethnomedicine of Ministry of Education, Center on Translational Neuroscience, School of Pharmacy, Minzu University of China, Beijing, China
| | - Yang Du
- Key Laboratory of Ethnomedicine of Ministry of Education, Center on Translational Neuroscience, School of Pharmacy, Minzu University of China, Beijing, China
| | - Wen-Hui Zheng
- Key Laboratory of Ethnomedicine of Ministry of Education, Center on Translational Neuroscience, School of Pharmacy, Minzu University of China, Beijing, China
| | - Y Peng Loh
- Section on Cellular Neurobiology, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA.
| | - Yong Cheng
- Key Laboratory of Ethnomedicine of Ministry of Education, Center on Translational Neuroscience, School of Pharmacy, Minzu University of China, Beijing, China.
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Minzu University of China, Beijing, China.
- Institute of National Security, Minzu University of China, Beijing, China.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Xiao L, Loh YP. Neurotrophic Factor-α1/Carboxypeptidase E Functions in Neuroprotection and Alleviates Depression. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 15:918852. [PMID: 35711734 PMCID: PMC9197069 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.918852] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Accepted: 04/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Depression is a major psychiatric disease affecting all ages and is often co-morbid with neurodegeneration in the elderly. Depression and neurodegeneration are associated with decreased neurotrophic factors. In this mini-review the functions and potential therapeutic use of a newly discovered trophic factor, Neurotrophic factor-α1 (NF-α1), also known as Carboxypeptidase E (CPE), in depression and neuroprotection are discussed. NF-α1/CPE expression is enriched in CA3 neurons of the hippocampus. Families carrying null and homozygous non-sense mutations of the NF-α1/CPE gene share common clinical features including childhood onset obesity, type 2 diabetes, impaired intellectual abilities and hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism. Studies in animal models such as CPE knockout (KO) mice and CPEfat/fat mutant mice exhibit similar phenotypes. Analysis of CPE-KO mouse brain revealed that hippocampal CA3 was completely degenerated after weaning stress, along with deficits in hippocampal long-term potentiation. Carbamazepine effectively blocked weaning stress-induced hippocampal CA3 degeneration, suggesting the stress induced epileptic-like neuronal firing led to the degeneration. Analysis of possible mechanisms underlying NF-α1/CPE -mediated neuroprotection revealed that it interacts with the serotonin receptor, 5-HTR1E, and via β arrestin activation, subsequently upregulates ERK1/2 signaling and pro-survival protein, BCL2, levels. Furthermore, the NF-α1/CPE promoter contains a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPARγ) binding site which can be activated by rosiglitazone, a PPARγ agonist, to up-regulate expression of NF-α1/CPE and neurogenesis, resulting in anti-depression in animal models. Rosiglitazone, an anti-diabetic drug administered to diabetic patients resulted in decline of depression. Thus, NF-α1/CPE is a potential therapeutic agent or drug target for treating depression and neurodegenerative disorders.
Collapse
|
3
|
Xiao L, Sharma VK, Toulabi L, Yang X, Lee C, Abebe D, Peltekian A, Arnaoutova I, Lou H, Loh YP. Neurotrophic factor-α1, a novel tropin is critical for the prevention of stress-induced hippocampal CA3 cell death and cognitive dysfunction in mice: comparison to BDNF. Transl Psychiatry 2021; 11:24. [PMID: 33414376 PMCID: PMC7791060 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-020-01112-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2020] [Revised: 09/15/2020] [Accepted: 10/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Stress leads to brain pathology including hippocampal degeneration, cognitive dysfunction, and potential mood disorders. Hippocampal CA3, a most stress-vulnerable region, consists of pyramidal neurons that regulate cognitive functions e.g. learning and memory. These CA3 neurons express high levels of the neuroprotective protein, neurotrophic factor-α1 (NF-α1), also known as carboxypeptidase E (CPE), and receive contacts from granule cell projections that release BDNF which has neuroprotective activity. Whether NF-α1-CPE and/or BDNF are critical in protecting these CA3 neurons against severe stress-induced cell death is unknown. Here we show that social combined with the physical stress of maternal separation, ear tagging, and tail snipping at weaning in 3-week-old mice lacking NF-α1-CPE, led to complete hippocampal CA3 degeneration, despite having BDNF and active phosphorylated TrkB receptor levels similar to WT animals. Mice administered TrkB inhibitor, ANA12 which blocked TrkB phosphorylation showed no degeneration of the CA3 neurons after the weaning stress paradigm. Furthermore, transgenic knock-in mice expressing CPE-E342Q, an enzymatically inactive form, replacing NF-α1-CPE, showed no CA3 degeneration and exhibited normal learning and memory after the weaning stress, unlike NF-α1-CPE-KO mice. Mechanistically, we showed that radio-labeled NF-α1-CPE bound HT22 hippocampal cells in a saturable manner and with high affinity (Kd = 4.37 nM). Subsequently, treatment of the HT22cpe-/- cells with NF-α1-CPE or CPE-E342Q equivalently activated ERK signaling and increased BCL2 expression to protect these neurons against H2O2-or glutamate-induced cytotoxicity. Our findings show that NF-α1-CPE is more critical compared to BDNF in protecting CA3 pyramidal neurons against stress-induced cell death and cognitive dysfunction, independent of its enzymatic activity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lan Xiao
- grid.94365.3d0000 0001 2297 5165Section on Cellular Neurobiology, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892 USA
| | - Vinay Kumar Sharma
- grid.94365.3d0000 0001 2297 5165Section on Cellular Neurobiology, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892 USA
| | - Leila Toulabi
- grid.94365.3d0000 0001 2297 5165Section on Cellular Neurobiology, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892 USA
| | - Xuyu Yang
- grid.94365.3d0000 0001 2297 5165Section on Cellular Neurobiology, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892 USA
| | - Cheol Lee
- grid.94365.3d0000 0001 2297 5165Section on Cellular Neurobiology, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892 USA
| | - Daniel Abebe
- grid.94365.3d0000 0001 2297 5165Section on Cellular Neurobiology, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892 USA
| | - Areg Peltekian
- grid.94365.3d0000 0001 2297 5165Section on Cellular Neurobiology, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892 USA
| | - Irina Arnaoutova
- grid.94365.3d0000 0001 2297 5165Section on Cellular Neurobiology, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892 USA
| | - Hong Lou
- grid.94365.3d0000 0001 2297 5165Section on Cellular Neurobiology, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892 USA
| | - Y. Peng Loh
- grid.94365.3d0000 0001 2297 5165Section on Cellular Neurobiology, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892 USA
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Carbamazepine conquers spinal GAP43 deficiency and sciatic Nav1.5 upregulation in diabetic mice: novel mechanisms in alleviating allodynia and hyperalgesia. Arch Pharm Res 2020; 43:724-734. [PMID: 32676893 DOI: 10.1007/s12272-020-01249-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2019] [Accepted: 07/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
This work tested the role of carbamazepine in alleviating alloxan-induced diabetic neuropathy and the enhancement of spinal plasticity. Mice were randomized into four groups: normal, control, carbamazepine (25-mg/kg) and carbamazepine (50-mg/kg). Nine weeks after induction of diabetes, symptoms of neuropathy were confirmed and carbamazepine (or vehicle) was given every other day for five weeks. After completing the treatment period, mice were sacrificed and the pathologic features in the spinal cord and the sciatic nerves were determined. The spinal cords were evaluated for synaptic plasticity (growth associated protein-43, GAP43), microglia cell expression (by CD11b) and astrocyte expression (glial fibrillary acidic protein, GFAP). Further, sciatic nerve expression of Nav1.5 was measured. Results revealed that carbamazepine 50 mg/kg prolonged the withdrawal threshold of von-Frey filaments and increased the hot plate jumping time. Carbamazepine improved the histopathologic pictures of the sciatic nerves and spinal cords. Spinal cord of carbamazepine-treated groups had enhanced expression of GAP43 but lower content of CD11b and GFAP. Furthermore, specimens from the sciatic nerve indicated low expression of Nav1.5. In conclusion, this work provided evidence, for the first time, that the preventive effect of carbamazepine against diabetic neuropathy involves correction of spinal neuronal plasticity and glia cell expression.
Collapse
|
5
|
Elsherbiny NM, Abdel-Mottaleb Y, Elkazaz AY, Atef H, Lashine RM, Youssef AM, Ezzat W, El-Ghaiesh SH, Elshaer RE, El-Shafey M, Zaitone SA. Carbamazepine Alleviates Retinal and Optic Nerve Neural Degeneration in Diabetic Mice via Nerve Growth Factor-Induced PI3K/Akt/mTOR Activation. Front Neurosci 2019; 13:1089. [PMID: 31736682 PMCID: PMC6838003 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2019.01089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2019] [Accepted: 09/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Aim: Diabetic retinopathy causes loss of vision in adults at working-age. Few therapeutic options are available for treatment of diabetic retinopathy. Carbamazepine (CARB), a widely used antiepileptic drug, was recently accounted for its neuroprotective effect. Nerve growth factor (NGF) activates various cascades among which, PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway has a vital action in NGF-mediated neuronal differentiation and survival. This study evaluated the effect of CARB in the treatment of diabetic retina and unveiled some of the underlying molecular mechanisms. Main Methods: Alloxan diabetes model was induced in 36 albino well-acclimatized mice. After establishment of the diabetic model in 9 weeks, mice were assigned to treatment groups: (1) saline, (2) alloxan-diabetic, (3 and 4) alloxan+CARB (25 or 50 mg per kg p.o) for 4 weeks. After completion of the therapeutic period, mice were sacrificed and eyeballs were enucleated. Retinal levels of NGF and PI3K/Akt were assessed using real-time polymerase chain reaction. Further, total and phosphorylated TrKA, PI3K, Akt, mTOR as well as Caspase-3 were measured by Western blot analysis. Key Findings: Histopathological examination demonstrated that CARB attenuated vacuolization and restored normal thickness and organization of retinal cell layers. In addition, CARB increased pTrKA/TrKA ratio and ameliorated diabetes-induced reduction of NGF mRNA and immunostaining in retina. Additionally, it augmented the mRNA expression of PI3K and Akt, as well as the protein level of the phosphorylated PI3/Akt/mTOR. Significance: Results highlighted, for the first time, the neuronal protective effect for CARB in diabetic retina, which is mediated, at least in part, by activation of the NGF/PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nehal M Elsherbiny
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt.,Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Tabuk, Tabuk, Saudi Arabia
| | - Yousra Abdel-Mottaleb
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Pharmaceutical Industries, Future University in Egypt, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Amany Y Elkazaz
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt.,Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Portsaid University, Port Said, Egypt
| | - Hoda Atef
- Department of Histology and Cytology, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt
| | - Rehab M Lashine
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt
| | - Amal M Youssef
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Taibah University, Medina, Saudi Arabia.,Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt
| | - Wessam Ezzat
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Ain-Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Sabah H El-Ghaiesh
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt.,Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tabuk, Tabuk, Saudi Arabia
| | - Rabie E Elshaer
- Pathology Department, Faculty of Medicine (Boys), Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Mohamed El-Shafey
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt.,Physiological Sciences Department, Fakeeh College for Medical Sciences, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Sawsan A Zaitone
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt.,Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Tabuk, Tabuk, Saudi Arabia
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Xiao L, Yang X, Loh YP. Neurotrophic, Gene Regulation, and Cognitive Functions of Carboxypeptidase E-Neurotrophic Factor-α1 and Its Variants. Front Neurosci 2019; 13:243. [PMID: 30941009 PMCID: PMC6433828 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2019.00243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2019] [Accepted: 03/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Carboxypeptidase E, also known as neurotrophic factor-α1 (CPE-NFα1), was first discovered as an exopeptidase and is known to work by cleaving C-terminal basic amino acids from prohormone intermediates to produce mature peptide hormones and neuropeptides in the endocrine and central nervous systems, respectively. CPE-NFα1 also plays a critical role in prohormone sorting and secretory vesicle transportation. Recently, emerging studies have indicated that CPE-NFα1 exerts multiple non-enzymatic physiological roles in maintaining normal central nervous system function and in neurodevelopment. This includes potent neuroprotective and anti-depressant activities, as well as stem cell differentiation functions. In addition, N-terminal truncated variants of CPE-NFα1 have been identified to regulate expression of important neurodevelopmental genes. This mini-review summarizes recent advances in understanding the mechanisms underlying CPE-NFα1’s function in neuroprotection during stress and aspects of neurodevelopment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lan Xiao
- Section on Cellular Neurobiology, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Xuyu Yang
- Section on Cellular Neurobiology, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Y Peng Loh
- Section on Cellular Neurobiology, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Ji L, Wu HT, Qin XY, Lan R. Dissecting carboxypeptidase E: properties, functions and pathophysiological roles in disease. Endocr Connect 2017; 6:R18-R38. [PMID: 28348001 PMCID: PMC5434747 DOI: 10.1530/ec-17-0020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2017] [Accepted: 03/27/2017] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Since discovery in 1982, carboxypeptidase E (CPE) has been shown to be involved in the biosynthesis of a wide range of neuropeptides and peptide hormones in endocrine tissues, and in the nervous system. This protein is produced from pro-CPE and exists in soluble and membrane forms. Membrane CPE mediates the targeting of prohormones to the regulated secretory pathway, while soluble CPE acts as an exopeptidase and cleaves C-terminal basic residues from peptide intermediates to generate bioactive peptides. CPE also participates in protein internalization, vesicle transport and regulation of signaling pathways. Therefore, in two types of CPE mutant mice, Cpefat/Cpefat and Cpe knockout, loss of normal CPE leads to a lot of disorders, including diabetes, hyperproinsulinemia, low bone mineral density and deficits in learning and memory. In addition, the potential roles of CPE and ΔN-CPE, an N-terminal truncated form, in tumorigenesis and diagnosis were also addressed. Herein, we focus on dissecting the pathophysiological roles of CPE in the endocrine and nervous systems, and related diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lin Ji
- Department of Cell Biology & Medical GeneticsSchool of Medicine, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Huan-Tong Wu
- Beijing Engineering Research Center of Food Environment and HealthCollege of Life & Environmental Sciences, Minzu University of China, Beijing, China
| | - Xiao-Yan Qin
- Beijing Engineering Research Center of Food Environment and HealthCollege of Life & Environmental Sciences, Minzu University of China, Beijing, China
| | - Rongfeng Lan
- Department of Cell Biology & Medical GeneticsSchool of Medicine, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Xiao L, Chang SY, Xiong ZG, Selveraj P, Peng Loh Y. Absence of Carboxypeptidase E/Neurotrophic Factor-Α1 in Knock-Out Mice Leads to Dysfunction of BDNF-TRKB Signaling in Hippocampus. J Mol Neurosci 2017; 62:79-87. [PMID: 28386642 DOI: 10.1007/s12031-017-0914-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2017] [Accepted: 03/29/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Carboxypeptidase E (CPE), first discovered as a prohormone processing enzyme, has also now been shown to be a secreted neurotrophic factor (neurotrophic factor-α1, NF-α1) that acts extracellularly as a signaling molecule to mediate neuroprotection, cortical stem cell differentiation, and antidepressive-like behavior in mice. Since brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has very similar trophic functions, and its processing from pro-BDNF involves intracellular sorting of pro-BDNF to the regulated secretory pathway by CPE acting as a sorting receptor, we investigated whether the lack of CPE/NF-α1 would affect BDNF-TrkB signaling in mice. Previous studies have shown that CPE/NF-α1 knock-out (KO) mice exhibited severe neurodegeneration of the hippocampal CA3 region which raises the question of why other neurotrophic factors such as BDNF could not compensate for the deficiency of CPE. Here, we show that the expressions of pro-BDNF mRNA and protein in hippocampus of CPE-KO mice were similar to WT mice, but mature BDNF was ∼40% less in the CPE-KO mice, suggesting decreased intracellular processing of pro-BDNF. Furthermore, TrkB receptor levels were similar in both genotypes, but there was significantly decreased phosphorylation of TrkB receptor in the CPE-KO mice. Electrophysiological studies showed lack of formation of long-term potentiation in hippocampal slices of CPE-KO mice compared to WT mice, which was not rescued by application of BDNF, indicating dysfunction of the BDNF-TrkB signaling system. The CPE-KO mice showed normal postsynaptic AMPA response to kainate application in hippocampal slices and dissociated neurons. Our findings indicate that CPE/NF-α1 is essential for normal BDNF-TrkB signaling function in mouse hippocampus.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lan Xiao
- Section on Cellular Neurobiology, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, 49, Convent Drive, Bldg 49, Rm 6A-10, NICHD, NIH, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Su-Youne Chang
- Department of Neurologic Surgery and Physiology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA
| | - Zhi-Gang Xiong
- Department of Neurobiology, Neuroscience Institute, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, 30310, USA
| | - Prabhuanand Selveraj
- Section on Cellular Neurobiology, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, 49, Convent Drive, Bldg 49, Rm 6A-10, NICHD, NIH, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Y Peng Loh
- Section on Cellular Neurobiology, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, 49, Convent Drive, Bldg 49, Rm 6A-10, NICHD, NIH, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Cheng Y, Rodriguiz RM, Murthy SRK, Senatorov V, Thouennon E, Cawley NX, Aryal DK, Ahn S, Lecka-Czernik B, Wetsel WC, Loh YP. Neurotrophic factor-α1 prevents stress-induced depression through enhancement of neurogenesis and is activated by rosiglitazone. Mol Psychiatry 2015; 20:744-54. [PMID: 25330741 PMCID: PMC4405386 DOI: 10.1038/mp.2014.136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2014] [Revised: 08/14/2014] [Accepted: 09/04/2014] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Major depressive disorder is often linked to stress. Although short-term stress is without effect in mice, prolonged stress leads to depressive-like behavior, indicating that an allostatic mechanism exists in this difference. Here we demonstrate that mice after short-term (1 h per day for 7 days) chronic restraint stress (CRS), do not display depressive-like behavior. Analysis of the hippocampus of these mice showed increased levels of neurotrophic factor-α1 (NF-α1; also known as carboxypeptidase E, CPE), concomitant with enhanced fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2) expression, and an increase in neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus. In contrast, after prolonged (6 h per day for 21 days) CRS, mice show decreased hippocampal NF-α1 and FGF2 levels and depressive-like responses. In NF-α1-knockout mice, hippocampal FGF2 levels and neurogenesis are reduced. These mice exhibit depressive-like behavior that is reversed by FGF2 administration. Indeed, studies in cultured hippocampal neurons reveal that NF-α1 treatment directly upregulates FGF2 expression through extracellular signal-regulated kinase-Sp1 signaling. Thus, during short-term CRS, hippocampal NF-α1 expression is upregulated and has a key role in preventing the onset of depressive-like behavior through enhanced FGF2-mediated neurogenesis. To evaluate the therapeutic potential of this pathway, we examined, rosiglitazone (Rosi), a PPARγ agonist, which has been shown to have antidepressant activity in rodents and humans. Rosi upregulates FGF2 expression in a NF-α1-dependent manner in hippocampal neurons. Mice fed Rosi show increased hippocampal NF-α1 levels and neurogenesis compared with controls, thereby indicating the antidepressant action of this drug. Development of drugs that activate the NF-α1/FGF2/neurogenesis pathway can offer a new approach to depression therapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yong Cheng
- Section on Cellular Neurobiology, Program on Developmental Neuroscience, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Ramona M. Rodriguiz
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Saravana R. K. Murthy
- Section on Cellular Neurobiology, Program on Developmental Neuroscience, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Vladimir Senatorov
- Section on Cellular Neurobiology, Program on Developmental Neuroscience, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Erwan Thouennon
- Section on Cellular Neurobiology, Program on Developmental Neuroscience, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Niamh X. Cawley
- Section on Cellular Neurobiology, Program on Developmental Neuroscience, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Dipendra K. Aryal
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Sohyun Ahn
- Program in Genomics Differentiation, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Beata Lecka-Czernik
- Departments of Orthopaedic Surgery and Physiology and Pharmacology, Center for Diabetes and Endocrine Research, University of Toledo Health Sciences Campus, Toledo, Ohio 43614, USA
| | - William C. Wetsel
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA,Departments of Neurobiology and Cell Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Y. Peng Loh
- Section on Cellular Neurobiology, Program on Developmental Neuroscience, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA,Correspondence should be addressed to: Dr. Y. Peng Loh, 49 Convent Drive, Bldg. 49, Room 6C80, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA. , Tel: 301-496-3239, Fax: 301-496-9938
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Cheng Y, Cawley NX, Loh YP. Carboxypeptidase E (NF-α1): a new trophic factor in neuroprotection. Neurosci Bull 2014; 30:692-6. [PMID: 24691800 DOI: 10.1007/s12264-013-1430-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2013] [Accepted: 10/28/2013] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Carboxypeptidase E (CPE) is a prohormone-processing enzyme and sorting receptor that functions intracellularly. However, recent studies have demonstrated that CPE acts as a trophic factor extracellularly to up-regulate the expression of a pro-survival gene. This mini-review summarizes the roles of CPE in neuroprotection and the implications for neurodegenerative diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yong Cheng
- Section on Cellular Neurobiology, Program on Developmental Neuroscience, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
11
|
Murthy SRK, Thouennon E, Li WS, Cheng Y, Bhupatkar J, Cawley NX, Lane M, Merchenthaler I, Loh YP. Carboxypeptidase E protects hippocampal neurons during stress in male mice by up-regulating prosurvival BCL2 protein expression. Endocrinology 2013; 154:3284-93. [PMID: 23825125 PMCID: PMC3749481 DOI: 10.1210/en.2013-1118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Prolonged chronic stress causing elevated plasma glucocorticoids leads to neurodegeneration. Adaptation to stress (allostasis) through neuroprotective mechanisms can delay this process. Studies on hippocampal neurons have identified carboxypeptidase E (CPE) as a novel neuroprotective protein that acts extracellularly, independent of its enzymatic activity, although the mechanism of action is unclear. Here, we aim to determine if CPE plays a neuroprotective role in allostasis in mouse hippocampus during chronic restraint stress (CRS), and the molecular mechanisms involved. Quantitative RT-PCR/in situ hybridization and Western blots were used to assay for mRNA and protein. After mild CRS (1 h/d for 7 d), CPE protein and mRNA were significantly elevated in the hippocampal CA3 region, compared to naïve littermates. In addition, luciferase reporter assays identified a functional glucocorticoid regulatory element within the cpe promoter that mediated the up-regulation of CPE expression in primary hippocampal neurons following dexamethasone treatment, suggesting that circulating plasma glucocorticoids could evoke a similar effect on CPE in the hippocampus in vivo. Overexpression of CPE in hippocampal neurons, or CRS in mice, resulted in elevated prosurvival BCL2 protein/mRNA and p-AKT levels in the hippocampus; however, CPE(-/-) mice showed a decrease. Thus, during mild CRS, CPE expression is up-regulated, possibly contributed by glucocorticoids, to mediate neuroprotection of the hippocampus by enhancing BCL2 expression through AKT signaling, and thereby maintaining allostasis.
Collapse
MESH Headings
- Allostasis
- Animals
- CA3 Region, Hippocampal/metabolism
- CA3 Region, Hippocampal/pathology
- Carboxypeptidase H/biosynthesis
- Carboxypeptidase H/genetics
- Carboxypeptidase H/metabolism
- Cells, Cultured
- Embryo, Mammalian/cytology
- Genes, Reporter/drug effects
- Glucocorticoids/metabolism
- Glucocorticoids/pharmacology
- Hippocampus/cytology
- Hippocampus/drug effects
- Hippocampus/metabolism
- Hippocampus/pathology
- Male
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- Nerve Tissue Proteins/biosynthesis
- Nerve Tissue Proteins/genetics
- Nerve Tissue Proteins/metabolism
- Neurons/cytology
- Neurons/drug effects
- Neurons/metabolism
- Neurons/pathology
- Promoter Regions, Genetic/drug effects
- Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2/biosynthesis
- Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2/genetics
- Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2/metabolism
- Recombinant Proteins/biosynthesis
- Recombinant Proteins/metabolism
- Restraint, Physical
- Severity of Illness Index
- Stress, Physiological
- Stress, Psychological/metabolism
- Stress, Psychological/physiopathology
- Up-Regulation/drug effects
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- S R K Murthy
- Section on Cellular Neurobiology, Program on Developmental Neuroscience, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
12
|
Cheng Y, Cawley NX, Loh YP. Carboxypeptidase E/NFα1: a new neurotrophic factor against oxidative stress-induced apoptotic cell death mediated by ERK and PI3-K/AKT pathways. PLoS One 2013; 8:e71578. [PMID: 23977080 PMCID: PMC3744492 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0071578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2013] [Accepted: 07/07/2013] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Mice lacking Carboxypeptidase E (CPE) exhibit degeneration of hippocampal neurons caused by stress at weaning while over-expression of CPE in hippocampal neurons protect them against hydrogen peroxide-induced cell death. Here we demonstrate that CPE acts as an extracellular trophic factor to protect neurons. Rat hippocampal neurons pretreated with purified CPE protected the cells against hydrogen peroxide-, staurosporine- and glutamate-induced cell death. This protection was observed even when hippocampal neurons were treated with an enzymatically inactive mutant CPE or with CPE in the presence of its inhibitor, GEMSA. Purified CPE added to the culture medium rescued CPE knock-out hippocampal neurons from cell death. Both ERK and AKT were phosphorylated within 15 min after CPE treatment of hippocampal neurons and, using specific inhibitors, both signaling pathways were shown to be required for the neuroprotective effect. The expression of the anti-apoptotic protein, B-cell lymphoma 2 (BCL-2), was up-regulated after hippocampal neurons were treated with CPE. Furthermore, hydrogen peroxide induced down-regulation of BCL-2 protein and subsequent activation of caspase-3 were inhibited by CPE treatment. Thus, this study has identified CPE as a new neurotrophic factor that can protect neurons against degeneration through the activation of ERK and AKT signaling pathways to up-regulate expression of BCL-2.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yong Cheng
- Section on Cellular Neurobiology, Program on Developmental Neuroscience, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Niamh X. Cawley
- Section on Cellular Neurobiology, Program on Developmental Neuroscience, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Y. Peng Loh
- Section on Cellular Neurobiology, Program on Developmental Neuroscience, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|