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Stifanese R, Averna M, De Tullio R, Pedrazzi M, Milanese M, Bonifacino T, Bonanno G, Salamino F, Pontremoli S, Melloni E. Role of calpain-1 in the early phase of experimental ALS. Arch Biochem Biophys 2014; 562:1-8. [PMID: 25151305 DOI: 10.1016/j.abb.2014.08.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2014] [Revised: 07/29/2014] [Accepted: 08/07/2014] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Elevation in [Ca(2+)]i and activation of calpain-1 occur in central nervous system of SOD1(G93A) transgenic mice model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), but few data are available about the early stage of ALS. We here investigated the level of activation of the Ca(2+)-dependent protease calpain-1 in spinal cord of SOD1(G93A) mice to ascertain a possible role of the protease in the aetiology of ALS. Comparing the events occurring in the 120 day old mice, we found that [Ca(2+)]i and activation of calpain-1 were also increased in the spinal cord of 30 day old mice, as indicated by the digestion of some substrates of the protease such as nNOS, αII-spectrin, and the NR2B subunit of NMDA-R. However, the digestion pattern of these proteins suggests that calpain-1 may play different roles depending on the phase of ALS. In fact, in spinal cord of 30 day old mice, activation of calpain-1 produces high amounts of nNOS active species, while in 120 day old mice enhanced-prolonged activation of calpain-1 inactivates nNOS and down-regulates NR2B. Our data reveal a critical role of calpain-1 in the early phase and during progression of ALS, suggesting new therapeutic approaches to counteract its onset and fatal course.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Stifanese
- National Research Council (C.N.R.), Institute of Marine Sciences (I.S.MAR.), U.O.S. of Genoa, Via De Marini, 6, 16149 Genoa, Italy; University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy; Department of Experimental Medicine (DI.ME.S.), Section of Biochemistry, Viale Benedetto XV, 1, 16132 Genoa, Italy; Center of Excellence for Biomedical Research (C.E.B.R.), Viale Benedetto XV, 9, 16132 Genoa, Italy.
| | - M Averna
- University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy; Department of Experimental Medicine (DI.ME.S.), Section of Biochemistry, Viale Benedetto XV, 1, 16132 Genoa, Italy; Center of Excellence for Biomedical Research (C.E.B.R.), Viale Benedetto XV, 9, 16132 Genoa, Italy
| | - R De Tullio
- University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy; Department of Experimental Medicine (DI.ME.S.), Section of Biochemistry, Viale Benedetto XV, 1, 16132 Genoa, Italy; Center of Excellence for Biomedical Research (C.E.B.R.), Viale Benedetto XV, 9, 16132 Genoa, Italy
| | - M Pedrazzi
- University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy; Department of Experimental Medicine (DI.ME.S.), Section of Biochemistry, Viale Benedetto XV, 1, 16132 Genoa, Italy; Center of Excellence for Biomedical Research (C.E.B.R.), Viale Benedetto XV, 9, 16132 Genoa, Italy
| | - M Milanese
- University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy; Department of Pharmacy (DI.FAR.), Pharmacology and Toxicology Unit, Viale Cembrano, 4, 16147 Genoa, Italy; Center of Excellence for Biomedical Research (C.E.B.R.), Viale Benedetto XV, 9, 16132 Genoa, Italy
| | - T Bonifacino
- University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy; Department of Pharmacy (DI.FAR.), Pharmacology and Toxicology Unit, Viale Cembrano, 4, 16147 Genoa, Italy; Center of Excellence for Biomedical Research (C.E.B.R.), Viale Benedetto XV, 9, 16132 Genoa, Italy
| | - G Bonanno
- University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy; Department of Pharmacy (DI.FAR.), Pharmacology and Toxicology Unit, Viale Cembrano, 4, 16147 Genoa, Italy; Center of Excellence for Biomedical Research (C.E.B.R.), Viale Benedetto XV, 9, 16132 Genoa, Italy
| | - F Salamino
- University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy; Department of Experimental Medicine (DI.ME.S.), Section of Biochemistry, Viale Benedetto XV, 1, 16132 Genoa, Italy; Center of Excellence for Biomedical Research (C.E.B.R.), Viale Benedetto XV, 9, 16132 Genoa, Italy
| | - S Pontremoli
- University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy; Department of Experimental Medicine (DI.ME.S.), Section of Biochemistry, Viale Benedetto XV, 1, 16132 Genoa, Italy; Center of Excellence for Biomedical Research (C.E.B.R.), Viale Benedetto XV, 9, 16132 Genoa, Italy
| | - E Melloni
- University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy; Department of Experimental Medicine (DI.ME.S.), Section of Biochemistry, Viale Benedetto XV, 1, 16132 Genoa, Italy; Center of Excellence for Biomedical Research (C.E.B.R.), Viale Benedetto XV, 9, 16132 Genoa, Italy
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Faraco G, Fossati S, Bianchi ME, Patrone M, Pedrazzi M, Sparatore B, Moroni F, Chiarugi A. High mobility group box 1 protein is released by neural cells upon different stresses and worsens ischemic neurodegeneration in vitro and in vivo. J Neurochem 2007; 103:590-603. [PMID: 17666052 DOI: 10.1111/j.1471-4159.2007.04788.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 182] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
High mobility group proteins are chromatin binding factors with key roles in maintenance of nuclear homeostasis. The evidence indicates that extracellularly released high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) protein behaves as a cytokine, promoting inflammation and participating to the pathogenesis of several disorders in peripheral organs. In this study, we have investigated the expression levels and relocation dynamics of HMGB1 in neural cells, as well as its neuropathological potential. We report that HMGB1 is released in the culture media of neurons and astrocytes challenged with necrotic but not apoptotic stimuli. Recombinant HMGB1 prompts induction of pro-inflammatory mediators such as inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2, interleukin-1beta, and tumor necrosis factor alpha, and increases excitotoxic as well as ischemic neuronal death in vitro. Dexamethasone reduces HMGB1 dependent immune glia activation, having no effect on the protein's neurotoxic effects. HMGB1 is expressed in the nucleus of neurons and astrocytes of the mouse brain, and promptly (1 h) translocates into the cytoplasm of neurons within the ischemic brain. Brain microinjection of HMGB1 increases the transcript levels of pro-inflammatory mediators and sensitizes the tissue to the ischemic injury. Together, data underscore the neuropathological role of nuclear HMGB1, and point to the protein as a mediator of post-ischemic brain damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Faraco
- Department of Preclinical and Clinical Pharmacology, University of Florence, Italy
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Sparatore B, Patrone M, Passalacqua M, Pedrazzi M, Gaggero D, Pontremoli S, Melloni E. Extracellular processing of amphoterin generates a peptide active on erythroleukaemia cell differentiation. Biochem J 2001; 357:569-74. [PMID: 11439110 PMCID: PMC1221987 DOI: 10.1042/0264-6021:3570569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The release of amphoterin by murine erythroleukaemia cells exposed to the chemical inducer hexamethylenebisacetamide represents an essential step for the process of their terminal differentiation. Once exported in the culture medium, amphoterin undergoes limited proteolysis, catalysed by a serine proteinase also secreted by stimulated cells. The isolated proteinase is responsible for degradation of amphoterin, with the production of a 10-amino-acid-residue fragment, specifically retaining the cell-differentiation-stimulating activity of the native protein molecule. This peptide does not express other properties of amphoterin, such as protein kinase C-stimulating activity or systemic toxicity. These findings define a selective mechanism accounting for extracellular amphoterin functional maturation.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Sparatore
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Biochemistry Section, University of Genoa, Viale Benedetto XV, 1-16132 Genoa, Italy
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Passalacqua M, Patrone M, Sparatore B, Pedrazzi M, Melloni E, Pontremoli S. Protein kinase C-theta is specifically activated in murine erythroleukaemia cells during mitosis. FEBS Lett 1999; 453:249-53. [PMID: 10405154 DOI: 10.1016/s0014-5793(99)00729-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Protein kinase C-theta is a member of the n-protein kinase C subfamily that in mitotic cells translocates to centrosomes and kinetochores. Although this kinase is expressed in comparable amounts in murine erythroleukaemia cells during the interphase or metaphase, when localized in the mitotic structures, it selectively phosphorylates a 66 kDa protein, also associated to chromosomes. Moreover, protein kinase C-theta immunoprecipitated from cells at the metaphase results four times more active in the absence of lipid cofactors as compared with the kinase obtained from cells in the interphase. This activation is accomplished by interaction of protein kinase C-theta with a protein factor which also promotes an increased autophosphorylation of the kinase. These findings indicate that in the mitotic phase of the cell cycle, protein kinase C-theta recognizes a protein factor which operates as a positive modulator of the kinase activity in the absence lipids.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Passalacqua
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genoa, Italy
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