Neurochemistry International (NEUROCHEM INT)

Publications in this journal

• Article: Neuroimaging Biomarkers for Epilepsy: Advances and Relevance to Glial Cells.

  Andre Obenaus
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  ABSTRACT: Glial cells play an important role in normal brain function and emerging evidence would suggest that their dysfunction may be responsible for some epileptic disease states. Neuroimaging of glial cells is desirable, but there are no clear methods to assess neither their function nor localization. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is now part of a standardized epilepsy imaging protocol to assess patients. Structural volumetric and T2-weighted imaging changes can assist in making a positive diagnosis in a majority of patients. The alterations reported in structural and T2 imaging is predominately thought to reflect early neuronal loss followed by glial hypertrophy. MR spectroscopy for myo-inositol is a being pursued to identify glial alterations along with neuronal markers. Diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) is ideal for acute epileptiform events, but is not sensitive to either glial cells or neuronal long-term changes found in epilepsy. However, DWI variants such as diffusion tensor imaging or q-space imaging may shed additional light on aberrant glial function in the future. The sensitivity and specificity of PET radioligands, including those targeting glial cells (translocator protein) hold promise in being able to image glial cells. As the role of glial function/dysfunction in epilepsy becomes more transparent, neuroimaging methods will evolve to assist the clinician and researcher in visualizing their location and function.
  Neurochemistry International 05/2013;
• Article: Insight into hypoxic preconditioning and ischemic injury through determination of nPKCε-interacting proteins in mouse brain.

  Sujuan Feng, Dongguo Li, Yun Li, Xuan Yang, Song Han, Junfa Li
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  ABSTRACT: Cerebral hypoxic preconditioning (HPC) provides neuroprotection by intracellular signaling pathways. We previously demonstrated that novel protein kinase Cε (nPKCε) activation participated in cerebral HPC development. In this study, we explore the role of nPKCε in HPC-induced neuroprotection against middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO)-induced ischemic injury and identify its possible signaling molecules. A total of 131 adult male BALB/c mice were divided into eight groups: normoxic control (n=9), HPC (n=9), HPC+εV1-2 (n=13), Sham (n=19), HPC+sham (n=6), Ischemia (I, 6 h MCAO, n=31), HPC+I (n=25) and HPC+εV1-2+I (n=19). nPKCε specific inhibitor εV1-2 was administered via intracerebroventricular injection. Western blot, 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling were applied to determine nPKCε membrane translocation, infarction volume and programmed cell death (PCD), respectively. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-De) and matrix assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) were used to identify nPKCε-interacting proteins, followed by bioinformatics analysis of genee ontology (GO) to predict nPKCε-specific signaling pathways. Our results showed that HPC attenuates MCAO-induced brain injuries and stabilized nPKCεmembrane translocation in peri-infarct region, which was abolished by nPKCε-speecific inhibitor εV1-2. Proteomics analysis revealed 8 up- and 3 down-regulated nPKCε-interacting proteins both in cytosolic and particulate fractions of HPC mouse brain. GO analysis predicted 25 significant nPKCε-specific signaling pathways among the 16 identified nPKCε-interacting proteins in brain of HPC mice. This study is the first to report multiple nPKCε-interacting proteins and their signaling pathways in HPC mouse brain, suggesting that nPKCε signaling molecules is responsible for HPC-induced neuroprotection against cerebral ischemic injuries of mice.
  Neurochemistry International 05/2013;
• Article: Differential regulation of the glutamate transporter variants GLT-1a and GLT-1b in the cortex and spinal cord of transgenic rats expressing hSOD1(G93A.)

  Amélie O Dumont, Emmanuel Hermans, Stéphanie Goursaud
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  ABSTRACT: Altered expression and activity of GLT-1 have been characterized in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients and in animal models of the disease. Data suggest that the expression of two C-terminus splice variants of GLT-1 (namely GLT-1a and GLT-1b) can be differentially regulated in this pathological context. We herein characterized the expression of GLT-1a and GLT-1b mRNA and the glutamate uptake activity in the fronto-temporal cortex and the lumbar spinal cord of transgenic rats expressing hSOD1(G93A) at various stages of the disease. We also investigated the expression and activity of the other key glutamate transporters GLAST and EAAC1. While the progression of the disease was associated with a reduction of the overall GLT-1 activity in both cortex and spinal cord, the regulation of GLT-1a and GLT-1b transcripts showed different profiles. In the cortex, GLT-1a mRNA which appears as the most abundant isoform at a presymptomatic stage was strongly decreased during the progression of the disease while GLT-1b mRNA increased to reach a similar level as GLT-1a at end-stage. In the lumbar spinal cord of transgenic rats, both GLT-1a and GLT-1b mRNAs, expressed at the same levels before the symptom onset, were strongly decreased in the ventral horns. While no modification of GLAST was detected, EAAC1 mRNA was highly increased at a presymptomatic stage in transgenic animals, explaining a higher activity of glutamate transporters at this age. These results demonstrate that glutamate transporters are differentially expressed in nervous structures of wild-type and transgenic animals although the total GLT-1 activity was constantly decreased during the disease progression.
  Neurochemistry International 05/2013;
• Article: Microglia are the major source of TNF-αα and TGF-β in postnatal glial cultures; regulation by cytokines, lipopolysaccharide, and vitronectin.

  Jennifer V Welser-Alves, Richard Milner
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  ABSTRACT: Damage to the central nervous system (CNS) leads to increased production of TNF-αα and TGF-ββ1, cytokines that have pro- or anti-inflammatory actions, respectively. To define whether astrocytes or microglia express these cytokines, prior studies have used mixed glial cultures (MGC) to represent astrocytes, thought these results are inevitably complicated by the presence of contaminating microglia within MGC. To clarify the cellular source of these cytokines, here we employed a recently described method of preparing microglia-free astrocyte cultures, in which neural stem cells (NSC) are differentiated into astrocytes. Using ELISA to quantify cytokine production in three types of glial culture: MGC, pure microglia or pure astrocytes, this showed that microglia but not astrocytes, produce TNF-αα, and that this expression is increased by LPS, IFN-γγ, and to a lesser extent by vitronectin, but decreased by TGF-β1β1. In contrast, TGF-β1β1 was produced by microglia and astrocytes, though at 10-fold higher levels by microglia. TGF-β1β1 expression in microglia was increased by vitronectin and to a lesser extent by TNF-αα and LPS, but astrocyte TGF-β1β1 expression was not regulated by any factor tested. In summary, our data reveal that microglia, not astrocytes are the major source of TNF-αα and TGF-β1β1 in postnatal glial cultures, and that microglial production of these antagonistic cytokines is tightly regulated by cytokines, LPS, and vitronectin.
  Neurochemistry International 04/2013;
• Article: Glatiramer Promotes Oligodendroglial Cell Maturation In A Cuprizone-Induced Demyelination Model.

  M V Rosato Siri, M E Badaracco, J M Pasquini
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  ABSTRACT: The therapeutic potential of glatiramer acetate (GA) in Multiple Sclerosis has been apparent for many years and has been proven effective in Experimental Allergic Encephalomyelitis, one of its animal models. The cuprizone (CPZ) model for the CNS de/remyelination has gained a renewed interest during the past decade. CPZ-induced demyelination is considered to be primarily an oligodendrocyte loss with participation of the inflammatory response. As the blood brain barrier remains intact, we found this model advantageous for studying GA effects on CNS remyelination with minimum influence of the peripheral immune cellular component. Our results show that GA, given one week before the CPZ treatment, had a maturational effect functional to remyelination. However, myelin was unorganized as compared to controls. When GA was concomitantly injected with CPZ, oligodendroglial precursor proliferation diminished in favor of maturation and myelin recovered an organized disposition. GA-treated animals also show microglial cell (MG) activation. In vitro assays demonstrated that GA-primed MG cultures had a significant increase in IL-10 and IL-4 secretion. GA-challenged MG-conditioned media induced oligodendrocyte proliferation and subsequent differentiation. Our results suggest that, in addition to its well-recognized immunoregulatory properties, GA also has an effect on resident immuno-response, which leads mature oligodendrocytes towards CPZ-induced demyelination repair.
  Neurochemistry International 04/2013;
• Article: Endothelin-1 Stimulates Cyclin D1 Expression in Rat Cultured Astrocytes via Activation of Sp1.

  Shotaro Michinaga, Ayaka Ishida, Risa Takeuchi, Yutaka Koyama
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  ABSTRACT: Endothelins (ETs), a family of vasoconstrictor peptides, are up-regulated in several pathological conditions in the brain, and induce astrocytic proliferation. We previously observed that ET-1 increased the expression of cyclin D1 protein. Thus, we confirmed the intracellular up-regulation of cyclin D1 by ET-1 in rat cultured astrocytes. Real-time PCR analysis indicated that ET-1 (100 nM) and Ala(1,3,11,15) -ET-1 (100 nM), a selective agonist of the ETB receptor, induced a time-dependent and transient increase in cyclin D1 mRNA. The effect of ET-1 was diminished by an ETB antagonist (1 μM BQ788) or inhibitors of Sp1 (500 nM mithramycin), ERK (50 μM PD98059), p38 (20 μM SB203580) and JNK (1 μM SP600125), but not inhibitors of NF-κB (10 μM SN50 and 100 μM pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate). The binding assay for Sp1 indicated that ET-1 increased the binding activity of Sp1 to consensus sequences, and two oligonucleotides of the cyclin D1 promoter including the Sp1-binding sites diminished the effect of ET-1. Western blot analysis showed that ET-1 induced time-dependent and transient phosphorylation of Sp1 on Thr453 and Thr739 via the ETB receptor. ET-1-induced phosphorylation of Sp1 was attenuated by PD98059 and SP600125. Additionally, ET-1 increased the incorporation of bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) in cultured astrocytes and the number of BrdU-positive cells decreased in the presence of PD98059, SP600125 and mithramycin. These results suggest that ET-1 increases the expression of cyclin D1 via activation of Sp1 and induces astrocytic proliferation.
  Neurochemistry International 04/2013;
• Article: Dopamine D2 Receptor-Mediated Modulation of Adenosine A2A Receptor Agonist Binding within the A2AR/D2R Oligomer Framework.

  Víctor Fernández-Dueñas, Maricel Gómez-Soler, Xavier Morató, Fabiana Núñez, Arijit Das, T Santhosh Kumar, Serge Jaumà, Kenneth A Jacobson, Francisco Ciruela
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  ABSTRACT: The molecular interaction between adenosine A2A and dopamine D2 receptors (A2ARs and D2Rs, respectively) within an oligomeric complex has been postulated to play a pivotal role in the adenosine-dopamine interplay in the central nervous system, in both normal and pathological conditions (e.g. Parkinson's disease). While the effects of A2AR challenge on D2R functioning have been largely studied, the reverse condition is still unexplored, a fact that might have impact in therapeutics. Here, we aimed to examine in a real-time mode the D2R-mediated allosteric modulation of A2AR binding when an A2AR/D2R oligomer is established. Thus, we synthesized fluorescent A2AR agonists and evaluated, by means of a flow cytometry homogeneous no-wash assay and a real-time fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET)-based approach, the effects on A2AR binding of distinct antiparkinsonian drugs in current clinical use (i.e. pramipexole, rotigotine and apomorphine). Our results provided evidence for the existence of a differential D2R-mediated negative allosteric modulation on A2AR agonist binding that was oligomer-formation dependent, and with apomorphine being the best antiparkinsonian drug attenuating A2AR agonist binding. Overall, the here-developed methods were found valid to prospect the ability of drugs acting on D2Rs to modulate A2AR binding, thus featuring as possible helpful tools for the preliminary selection of D2R-like candidate drugs in the management of Parkinson's disease.
  Neurochemistry International 04/2013;
• Article: A Novel, Golgi-Cox-Based Fluorescent Staining Method for Visualizing Full-Length Processes in Primary Rat Neurons.

  Yoshihisa Koyama, Masaya Tohyama
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  ABSTRACT: The Golgi method, a well-known method used for staining whole dendrites and axonal trees of neurons, has been used widely for studying dendritic growth in vivo. Although detailed structural examination of neurons and their processes stained by the Golgi method has elucidated the complicated neuronal circuit, application of the method in cultured neurons has been unsuccessful to date. Here, we report the development of a stable, highly sensitive Golgi-Cox method that allows visualization of full-length processes, including the dendritic spines and the growth cones, of cultured rat neurons. This modified staining method requires: (1) rat cultured neurons fixed with a mixture containing 4% paraformaldehyde and 12.5% glutaraldehyde before impregnation with mercury; (2) rapid freezing of the fixed neurons using dry ice; and (3) immersion of the fixed neurons in Alexa Fluor 488-conjugated goat anti-rabbit immunoglobulin-G antibody (Molecular Probes, Eugene, OR) for visualization after impregnation.
  Neurochemistry International 04/2013;
• Article: Celastrol protects human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells from rotenone-induced injury through induction of autophagy.

  Yong-Ning Deng, Jie Shi, Jie Liu, Qiu-Min Qu
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  ABSTRACT: Celastrol, an active component found in the Chinese herb tripterygium wilfordii has been identified as a neuroprotective agent for neurodegenerative diseases including Parkinson's disease (PD) through unknown mechanism. Celastrol can induce autophagy, which plays a neuroprotective role in PD. We tested the protective effect of celastrol on rotenone-induced injury and investigated the underlying mechanism using human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells. The SH-SY5Y cells were treated with celastrol before rotenone exposure. The cells survival, apoptosis, accumulation of α-synuclein, oxidative stress and mitochondrial function, and autophagy production were analyzed. We found celastrol (500nM) pre-treatment enhanced cell viability (by 28.99%, P<0.001), decreased cell apoptosis (by 54.38%, P<0.001), increased SOD and GSH (by 120.53% and 90.46%, P<0.01), reduced accumulation of α-synuclein (by 35.93%, P<0.001) and ROS generation (by 33.99%, P<0.001), preserved MMP (33.93±3.62%, vs. 15.10±0.71% of JC-1 monomer, P<0.001) and reduced the level of cytochrome C in cytosol (by 45.57%, P<0.001) in rotenone treated SH-SY5Y cells. Moreover, celastrol increased LC3-II/LC3 I ratio by 60.92% (P<0.001), indicating that celastrol activated autophagic pathways. Inhibiting autophagy by 3-methyladenine (3-MA) abolished the protective effects of celastrol. Our results suggested that celastrol protects SH-SY5Y cells from rotenone induced injuries and autophagic pathway is involved in celastrol neuroprotective effects.
  Neurochemistry International 04/2013;
• Article: Involvement of IGF-I receptor and estrogen receptor pathways in the protective effects of ginsenoside Rg1 against Aβ25-35-induced toxicity in PC12 cells.

  Wen-Fang Chen, Li-Ping Zhou, Lei Chen, Lin Wu, Quan-Gui Gao, Man-Sau Wong
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  ABSTRACT: Ginsenoside Rg1 is the main pharmacologically active compound of ginsenosides and has demonstrated pharmacological effects in the cardiovascular system, central nervous system and immune system. The involvement of insulin-like growth factor-I receptor (IGF-IR)-dependent pathway and estrogen receptor (ER)-dependent pathway in the biological effect of ginsenoside Rg1 have been demonstrated in our previous study. The present study tested the hypothesis that the protective effects of Rg1 against Aβ25-35-induced toxicity involved activation of the IGF-IR and ER signaling pathways in PC12 cells. Treatment with Aβ25-35 decreased the cell viability in a dose-dependent manner in PC12 cells. Rg1 pretreatment resulted in an enhancement of survival and the maximum protection occurred at the concentration of 1M. Co-treatment with IGF-IR antagonist JB-1 or ER antagonist ICI182,780 could completely block the protective effect of Rg1. The decreased Bcl-2 mRNA expression induced by Aβ25-35 could be restored by Rg1 pretreatment. Rg1 pretreatment could also restore the decreased mitochondrial membrane potential induced by Aβ25-35 and these effects could be completely blocked by JB-1 or ICI182,780. In addition, Rg1 treatment alone could significantly increase the phosphorylation level of MEK and ERK in a time-dependent manner and the functional transactivation of ER in PC 12 cells. The functional transactivation of ER by Rg1 could be completely blocked by JB-1 or ICI182,780. Taken together, our results suggest that IGF-IR and ER signaling pathways might be involved in the protective effect of Rg1 against A25-35 -induced toxicity in PC 12 cells.
  Neurochemistry International 04/2013;
• Article: Reduced basal and novelty-induced levels of activity-regulated cytoskeleton associated protein (Arc) and c-Fos mRNA in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus of APPswe/PS1ΔE9 transgenic mice.

  Ditte Z Christensen, Morten S Thomsen, Jens D Mikkelsen
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  ABSTRACT: Activity-regulated cytoskeletal-associated protein (Arc) and c-Fos are immediate early gene (IEG) products induced by novelty in the hippocampus and involved in the consolidation of synaptic plasticity and long-term memory. We investigated whether induction of arc and c-fos after exposure to a novel open field environment was compromised in different neocortical areas and the hippocampal formation in APP/PS1ΔE9 transgenic mice characterized by pronounced accumulation and deposition of beta amyloid (Aβ). Notably, the basal level of Arc and c-fos mRNA in the neocortex was significantly lower in APP/PS1ΔE9 compared to wild-type mice. Novelty exposure induced an increase in Arc and c-Fos mRNA in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), parietal cortex, and hippocampal formation in both APP/PS1ΔE9 transgenic and wild-type mice. However, novelty-induced IEG expression did not reach the same levels in APP/PS1ΔE9 as in the wild-type mice. In contrast, synaptophysin levels did not differ between mutant and wild type mice, suggesting that the observed effect was not due to a general decrease in the number of presynapses. These data suggest a reduction in basal and novelty-induced neuronal activity in a transgenic mouse model of Alzheimers' disease, which is most pronounced in cortical regions, indicating that a decreased functional response in IEG expression could be partly responsible for the cognitive deficits observed in patients with Alzheimer's disease.
  Neurochemistry International 04/2013;
• Article: Differential mechanisms underlying neuroprotection of hydrogen sulfide donors against oxidative stress.

  Jia Jia, Yunqi Xiao, Wei Wang, Lina Qing, Yinxiu Xu, Heng Song, Xuechu Zhen, Guizhen Ao, Nabil J Alkayed, Jian Cheng
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  ABSTRACT: This study investigated whether slow-releasing organic hydrogen sulfide donors act through the same mechanisms as those of inorganic donors to protect neurons from oxidative stress. By inducing oxidative stress in a neuronal cell line HT22 with glutamate, we investigated the protective mechanisms of the organic donors: ADT-OH [5-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-3H-1, 2-dithiole-3-thione], the most widely used moiety for synthesizing slow-releasing hydrogen sulfide donors, and ADT, a methyl derivative of ADT-OH. The organic donors were more potent than the inorganic donor sodium hydrogensulfide (NaHS) in protecting HT22 cells against glutamate toxicity. Consistent with previous publications, NaHS partially restored glutamate-depleted glutathione (GSH) levels, protected HT22 from direct free radical damage induced by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and NaHS protection was abolished by a KATP channel blocker glibenclamide. However, neither ADT nor ADT-OH enhanced glutamate-depleted GSH levels or protected HT22 from H2O2-induced oxidative stress. Glibenclamide, which abolished NaHS neuroprotection against oxidative stress, did not block ADT and ADT-OH neuroprotection against glutamate-induced oxidative stress. Unexpectedly, we found that glutamate induced AMPK activation and that compound C, a well-established AMPK inhibitor, remarkably protected HT22 from glutamate-induced oxidative stress, suggesting that AMPK activation contributed to oxidative glutamate toxicity. Interestingly, all hydrogen sulfide donors, including NaHS, remarkably attenuated glutamate-induced AMPK activation. However, under oxidative glutamate toxicity, compound C only increased the viability of HT22 cells treated with NaHS, but did not further increase ADT and ADT-OH neuroprotection. Thus, suppressing AMPK activation likely contributed to ADT and ADT-OH neuroprotection. In conclusion, hydrogen sulfide donors acted through differential mechanisms to confer neuroprotection against oxidative toxicity and suppressing AMPK activation was a possible mechanism underlying neuroprotection of organic hydrogen sulfide donors against oxidative toxicity.
  Neurochemistry International 04/2013;
• Article: Up-regulation of protein tyrosine nitration in methamphetamine-induced neurotoxicity through DDAH/ADMA/NOS pathway.

  Fu Zhang, Ling Chen, Chao Liu, Pingming Qiu, Aifeng Wang, Lizeng Li, Huijun Wang
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  ABSTRACT: Protein tyrosine nitration is an important post-translational modification mediated by nitric oxide (NO) associated oxidative stress, occurring in a variety of neurodegenerative diseases. In our previous study, an elevated level of dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase 1 (DDAH1) protein was observed in different brain regions of acute methamphetamine (METH) treated rats, indicating the possibility of an enhanced expression of protein nitration that is mediated by excess NO through the DDAH1/ADMA (Asymmetric Dimethylated L-arginine)/NOS (Nitric Oxide Synthase) pathway. In the present study, proteomic methods, including stable isotope labeling with amino acids in cell culture (SILAC) and two dimensional electrophoresis, were used to determine the relationship between protein nitration and METH induced neurotoxicity in acute METH treated rats and PC12 cells. We found that acute METH administration evokes a positive activation of DDAH1/ADMA/NOS pathway and results in an over-production of NO in different brain regions of rat and PC12 cells, whereas the whole signaling could be repressed by DDAH1 inhibitor N(ω)-(2-methoxyethyl)-arginine (L-257). In addition, enhanced expressions of 3 nitroproteins were identified in rat striatum and increased levels of 27 nitroproteins were observed in PC12 cells. These nitrated proteins are key factors for Cdk5 activation, cytoskeletal structure, ribosomes function, etc. L-257 also displayed significant protective effects against METH-induced protein nitration, apoptosis and cell death. The overall results illustrate that protein nitration plays a significant role in the acute METH induced neurotoxicity via the activation of DDAH1/ADMA/NOS pathway.
  Neurochemistry International 04/2013;
• Article: Interaction of Dipeptydil Peptidase IV with Amyloid Peptides.

  Svetlana Sharoyan, Alvard Antonyan, Sona Mardanyan, Hayk Harutyunyan, Naira Movsisyan, Narek Hovnanyan, Karlen Hovnanyan
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  ABSTRACT: The aggregates of amyloid beta peptides (Aβs) are regarded as one of the main pathological hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease (AD). An imbalance between the rates of synthesis and clearance of Aβs is considered to be a possible cause for the onset of AD. Dipeptidyl peptidases II and IV (DPPII and DPPIV) are serine proteases removing N-terminal dipeptides from polypeptides and proteins with proline or alanine on the penultimate position. Alanine is an N-terminal penultimate residue in Аβs, and we presumed that DPPII and DPPIV could cleave them. The results of present in vitro research demonstrate for the first time the ability of DPPIV to truncate the commercial Aβ40 and Aβ42 peptides, to hinder the fibril formation by them and to participate in the disaggregation of preformed fibrils of these peptides. The increase of absorbance at 334 nm due to complex formation between primary amines with o-phtalaldehyde was used to show cleaving of Aβ40 and Aβ42. The time-dependent increase of the quantity of primary amines during incubation of peptides in the presence of DPPIV suggested their truncation by DPPIV, but not by DPPII. The parameters of the enzymatic breakdown by DPPIV were determined for Aβ40 (Km=37.5 μM, kcat/Km = 1.7x10(3) M(-1)sec(-1)) and Aβ42 (Km=138.4 μM, kcat/Km = 1.90x10(2) M(-1)sec(-1)). The aggregation-disaggregation of peptides was controlled by visualization on transmission electron microscope and by Thioflavin-T fluorescence on spectrofluorimeter and fluorescent microscope. DPPIV hindered the peptide aggregation/fibrillation during 3-4 days incubation in 20 mM phosphate buffer, pH 7.4, 37°C by 50-80%. Ovalbumin, BSA and DPPII did not show this effect. In the presence of DPPIV, the preformed fibrils were disaggregated by 30-40%. Conclusion for the first time it was shown that the Aβ40 and Aβ42 are substrates of DPPIV. DPPIV prohibits the fibrillation of peptides and promotes disaggregation of their preformed aggregates.
  Neurochemistry International 04/2013;
• Article: Mucuna pruriens seed extract reduces oxidative stress in nigrostriatal tissue and improves neurobehavioral activity in paraquat-induced Parkinsonian mouse model.

  Satyndra Kumar Yadav, Jay Prakash, Shikha Chouhan, Surya Pratap Singh
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  ABSTRACT: Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disease which causes rigidity, resting tremor and postural instability. Treatment for this disease is still under investigation. Mucuna pruriens (L.), is a traditional herbal medicine, used in India since 1500 B.C., as a neuroprotective agent. In this present study, we evaluated the therapeutic effects of aqueous extract of Mucuna pruriens (Mp) seed in Parkinsonian mouse model developed by chronic exposure to paraquat (PQ). Results of our study revealed that the nigrostriatal portion of Parkinsonian mouse brain showed significantly increased levels of nitrite, malondialdehyde (MDA) and reduced levels of catalase compared to the control. In the Parkinsonian mice hanging time was decreased, whereas narrow beam walk time and foot printing errors were increased. Treatment with aqueous seed extract of Mp significantly increased the catalase activity and decreased the MDA and nitrite level, compared to untreated Parkinsonian mouse brain. Mp treatment also improved the behavioral abnormalities. It increased hanging time, whereas it decreased narrow beam walk time and foot printing error compared to untreated Parkinsonian mouse brain. Furthermore, we observed a significant reduction in tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) immunoreactivity in the substantia nigra (SN) and striatum region of the brain, after treatment with PQ which was considerably restored by the use of Mp seed extract. Our result suggested that Mp seed extract treatment significantly reduced the PQ induced neurotoxicity as evident by decrease in oxidative damage, physiological abnormalities and immunohistochemical changes in the Parkinsonian mouse.
  Neurochemistry International 04/2013;
• Article: Differentiated NSC-34 motoneuron-like cells as experimental model for cholinergic neurodegeneration.

  Oliver Maier, Julia Böhm, Michael Dahm, Stefan Brück, Cordian Beyer, Sonja Johann
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  ABSTRACT: Alpha-motoneurons appear to be exceedingly affected in neurodegenerative diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Morphological and physiological degeneration of this neuronal phenotype is typically characterized by a marked decrease of neuronal markers and by alterations of cholinergic metabolism such as reduced choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) expression. The motoneuron-like cell line NSC-34 is a hybrid cell line produced by fusion of neuroblastoma with mouse motoneuron-enriched primary spinal cord cells. In order to further establish this cell line as a valid model system to investigate cholinergic neurodegeneration, NSC-34 cells were differentiated by serum deprivation and additional treatment with all-trans retinoic acid (atRA). Cell maturation was characterized by neurite outgrowth and increased expression of neuronal and cholinergic markers, including MAP2, GAP-43 and ChAT. Subsequently, we used differentiated NSC-34 cells to study early degenerative responses following exposure to various neurotoxins (H2O2, TNF-α, and glutamate). Susceptibility to toxin-induced cell death was determined by means of morphological changes, expression of neuronal marker proteins, and the ratio of pro-(Bax) to anti-(Bcl-2) apoptotic proteins. NSC-34 cells respond to low doses of neurotoxins with increased cell death of remaining undifferentiated cells with no obvious adverse effects on differentiated cells. Thus, the different vulnerability of differentiated and undifferentiated NSC-34 cells to neurotoxins is a key characteristic of NSC-34 cells and has to be considered in neurotoxic studies. Nonetheless, application of atRA induced differentiation of NSC-34 cells and provides a suitable model to investigate molecular events linked to neurodegeneration of differentiated neurons.
  Neurochemistry International 04/2013;
• Article: Oxidative stress and neurodegeneration.

  Anthony White, Carsten Culmsee, Philip Beart
  Neurochemistry International 04/2013; 62(5):521.
• Article: Arsenate accumulation and arsenate-induced glutathione export in astrocyte-rich primary cultures.

  Nils Meyer, Yvonne Koehler, Ketki Tulpule, Ralf Dringen
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  ABSTRACT: Arsenate is a toxic compound that has been connected with neuropathies and impaired cognitive functions. To test whether arsenate affects the viability and the GSH metabolism of brain astrocytes, we have used primary astrocyte cultures as model system. Incubation of astrocytes for 2 h with arsenate in concentrations of up to 10 mM caused an almost linear increase in the cellular arsenic content, but did not acutely compromise cell viability. The presence of moderate concentrations of arsenate caused a time- and concentration-dependent loss of GSH from viable astrocytes which was accompanied by a matching increase in the extracellular GSH content. Half-maximal effects were observed for arsenate in a concentration of about 0.3 mM. The arsenate-induced stimulated GSH export from astrocytes was prevented by MK571, an inhibitor of the multidrug resistance protein 1. Exposure of astrocytes to arsenite increased the specific cellular arsenic content and stimulated GSH export to values that were similar to those observed for arsenate-treated cells, while dimethylarsinic acid was less efficiently accumulated by the cells and did not modulate cellular and extracellular GSH levels. The observed strong stimulation of GSH export from astrocytes by arsenate suggests that disturbances of the astrocytic GSH metabolism may contribute to the observed arsenic-induced neurotoxicity.
  Neurochemistry International 03/2013;
• Article: Activation of mitochondria-mediated apoptotic pathway in tri-ortho-cresyl phosphate-induced delayed neuropathy.

  Chaoshuang Zou, Ruirui Kou, Yuan Gao, Keqin Xie, Fuyong Song
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  ABSTRACT: Previous studies suggest that abnormal neurons death has been implicated in organophosphate-induced delayed neuropathy (OPIDN). However, the precise mechanism of neuronal death in OPIDN remains largely unknown. In this study, adult hens were treated with a dosage of 750 mg/kg tri-ortho-cresyl phosphate (TOCP) by gavage, and then sacrificed on the time-points of 1, 5, 10, and 21 days after dosing TOCP respectively. The apoptotic change of spinal cord neurons induced by TOCP was examined, and the role of mitochondria-mediated apoptosis of neurons during OPIDN was investigated. TUNEL assays showed that apoptotic neurons in hen spinal cords began to appear on day 5 following TOCP exposure. Immunohistochemistry and western blot analysis revealed a translocation of cytochrome c from mitochondria to cytoplasm after dosing TOCP. Moreover, the level of Bcl-2, Bcl-xl, Pro-caspase3 and Pro-caspase9 in hen spinal cord was significantly decreased, whereas that of Bax and cleaved-PARP was significantly elevated. Taken together, these findings indicate that the administration of TOCP can induce neuron apoptosis in hen spinal cords, which might be mediated by the activation of mitochondrial apoptotic pathway.
  Neurochemistry International 03/2013;
• Article: Chronic morphine exposure and its abstinence alters dendritic spine morphology and upregulates Shank1.

  Ayantika Pal, Sumantra Das
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  ABSTRACT: Exposure to chronic drugs of abuse has been reported to produce significant changes in postsynaptic protein profile, dendritic spine morphology and synaptic transmission. In the present study we demonstrate alterations in dendritic spine morphology in the frontal cortex and nucleus accumbens of mice following chronic morphine treatment as well as during abstinence for two months. Such alterations were accompanied with significant upregulation of the postsynaptic protein Shank1 in synaptosomal enriched fractions. mRNA levels of Shank1 was also markedly increased during morphine treatment and during withdrawal. Studies of the different postsynaptic proteins at the protein and mRNA levels showed significant alterations in the morphine treated groups compared to that of saline treated controls. Taken together, these observations suggest that Shank1 may have an important role in the regulation of spine morphology induced by chronic morphine leading to addiction.
  Neurochemistry International 03/2013;