-
[show abstract]
[hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: Anandamide (arachidonoylethanolamide or AEA) is an endocannabinoid that acts at vanilloid (VR1) as well as at cannabinoid (CB1/CB2) and NMDA receptors. Here, we show that AEA, in a dose-dependent manner, causes cell death in cultured rat cortical neurons and cerebellar granule cells. Inhibition of CB1, CB2, VR1 or NMDA receptors by selective antagonists did not reduce AEA neurotoxicity. Anandamide-induced neuronal cell loss was associated with increased intracellular Ca(2+), nuclear condensation and fragmentation, decreases in mitochondrial membrane potential, translocation of cytochrome c, and upregulation of caspase-3-like activity. However, caspase-3, caspase-8 or caspase-9 inhibitors, or blockade of protein synthesis by cycloheximide did not alter anandamide-related cell death. Moreover, AEA caused cell death in caspase-3-deficient MCF-7 cell line and showed similar cytotoxic effects in caspase-9 dominant-negative, caspase-8 dominant-negative or mock-transfected SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells. Anandamide upregulated calpain activity in cortical neurons, as revealed by alpha-spectrin cleavage, which was attenuated by the calpain inhibitor calpastatin. Calpain inhibition significantly limited anandamide-induced neuronal loss and associated cytochrome c release. These data indicate that AEA neurotoxicity appears not to be mediated by CB1, CB2, VR1 or NMDA receptors and suggest that calpain activation, rather than intrinsic or extrinsic caspase pathways, may play a critical role in anandamide-induced cell death.
Cell Death and Differentiation 11/2004; 11(10):1121-32. · 8.85 Impact Factor
-
[show abstract]
[hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: Neuronal apoptosis plays an essential role in early brain development and contributes to secondary neuronal loss after acute brain injury. Recent studies have provided evidence that neuronal susceptibility to apoptosis induced by traumatic or ischemic injury decreases during brain development. However, the molecular mechanisms responsible for this age-dependent phenomenon remain unclear. Here we demonstrate that, during brain maturation, the potential of the intrinsic apoptotic pathway is progressively reduced and that such repression is associated with downregulation of apoptotic protease-activating factor-1 (Apaf-1) and caspase-3 gene expression. A similar decline in apoptotic susceptibility associated with downregulation of Apaf-1 expression as a function of developmental age was also found in cultured primary rat cortical neurons. Injury-induced cytochrome c-specific cleavage of caspase-9 followed by activation of caspase-3 in mature brain correlated with marked increases in Apaf-1 and caspase-3 mRNA and protein expression. These results suggest that differential expression of Apaf-1 and caspase-3 genes may underlie regulation of apoptotic susceptibility during brain development, as well as after acute injury to mature brain, through the intrinsic pathway of caspase activation.
Journal of Neuroscience 11/2001; 21(19):7439-46. · 7.11 Impact Factor
-
[show abstract]
[hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: Apoptosis plays an important pathophysiologic role in neuronal cell loss and associated neurologic deficits following traumatic brain injury (TBI). DNA fragmentation represents one of the characteristic biochemical features of neuronal apoptosis and is observed after experimental TBI. DFF45 and DFF40 are essential for DNA fragmentation in various models of apoptosis.
We used mice deficient in DFF45 and wild-type controls. Oligonucleosomal DNA fragmentation induced by TBI was analyzed using in vivo and in vitro assays. Expression and integrity of DFF45 and DFF40 proteins was assessed by Western analysis. Other outcome measurements included neurologic scoring, learning/memory tests, lesion volume measurements (MRI), and assessment of cell viability in vitro among others.
We compared the effects of controlled cortical impact (CCI) trauma in DFF45 knockout mice and wild-type controls. Analysis of TBI-induced DNA fragmentation in brain cortex from wild-type and DFF45 knockout mice indicates that, although somewhat delayed, oligonucleosomal cleavage of DNA occurs after TBI in DFF45 knockout mice. DFF45 knockouts showed no significant differences in behavioral outcomes or lesion volumes after TBI as compared to wild-type controls. Using an in vitro reconstitution system, we also demonstrated that cleavage of DFF45 by caspase-3 is not sufficient for DNA fragmentation induced by protein extracts from rat brain cortex. We found that endonuclease activity induced in rat brain cortex following TBI depends on the presence of Mg2+ and Ca2+, but is not inhibited by Zn2+. Primary neuronal cultures from DFF45 knockouts failed to show DNA laddering in response to staurosporine, but did show prominent, albeit delayed, DNA fragmentation following treatment with etoposide. In contrast, primary neurons from wild-type animals demonstrated marked DNA fragmentation following treatment with staurosporine or etoposide.
The results of this study suggest that, in addition to DFF45/40, other endonucleases may be essential for chromatin degradation during neuronal apoptosis in adult brain after TBI.
Molecular Medicine 04/2001; 7(3):205-16. · 3.76 Impact Factor
-
[show abstract]
[hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: N-Tosyl-l-phenylalanyl chloromethyl ketone (TPCK), an inhibitor of chymotrypsin-like serine protease (CSP), prevents DNA fragmentation and apoptotic cell death in certain blood cell lines and was reported to reduce hippocampal neuronal damage caused by cerebral ischemia. We examined the role of CSP on recovery after lateral fluid percussion-induced traumatic brain injury (TBI) in rats, as well as on cell survival in various in vitro models of neuronal cell death. TBI caused significant time-dependent upregulation of CSP activity, but not trypsin-like serine protease activity in injured cortex. Intracerebroventricular administration of TPCK to rats after TBI did not significantly affect deficits of spatial learning but exacerbated motor dysfunction after injury. Moreover, TPCK did not prevent apoptotic neuronal cell death caused by serum/K(+) deprivation or by application of staurosporine or etoposide in cultured rat cerebellar granule cells, rat cortical neurons, or in the human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cell line. Instead, at doses from 10 to 100 microM, TPCK was cytotoxic in all cultures tested. Similar results were obtained in cultures treated with another CSP inhibitor, 3,4-dichloroisocoumarin. Cell death caused by CSP inhibitors was neither caspase-dependent nor associated with oligonucleosomal DNA fragmentation. Taken together, these data do not support a neuroprotective role for CSP inhibitors. Rather, they suggest that CSPs may serve an endogenous neuroprotective role, possibly by modulating necrotic cell death.
Experimental Neurology 03/2001; 167(2):366-75. · 4.70 Impact Factor
-
[show abstract]
[hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: Apoptosis is characterized by various cell morphological and biochemical features, one of which is the internucleosomal degradation of genomic DNA. The role of the human chromatin-bound Ca(2+)- and Mg(2+)-dependent endonuclease (CME) DNAS1L3 and its inhibition by poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation in the DNA degradation that accompanies apoptosis was investigated. The nuclear localization of this endonuclease is the unique feature that distinguishes it from other suggested apoptotic nucleases. Purified recombinant DNAS1L3 was shown to cleave nuclear DNA into both high molecular weight and oligonucleosomal fragments in vitro. Furthermore, exposure of mouse skin fibroblasts expressing DNAS1L3 to inducers of apoptosis resulted in oligonucleosomal DNA fragmentation, an effect not observed in cells not expressing this CME, as well as in a decrease in cell viability greater than that apparent in the control cells. Recombinant DNAS1L3 was modified by recombinant human poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) in vitro, resulting in a loss of nuclease activity. The DNAS1L3 protein also underwent poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation in transfected mouse skin fibroblasts in response to inducers of apoptosis. The cleavage and inactivation of PARP by a caspase-3-like enzyme late in apoptosis were associated with a decrease in the extent of DNAS1L3 poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation, which likely releases DNAS1L3 from inhibition and allows it to catalyze the degradation of genomic DNA.
Journal of Biological Chemistry 08/2000; 275(28):21302-8. · 4.77 Impact Factor
-
[show abstract]
[hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: An early transient burst of poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation of nuclear proteins was recently shown to be required for apoptosis to proceed in various cell lines (Simbulan-Rosenthal, C., Rosenthal, D., Iyer, S., Boulares, H., and Smulson, M. (1998) J. Biol. Chem. 273, 13703-13712) followed by cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), catalyzed by caspase-3. This inactivation of PARP has been proposed to prevent depletion of NAD (a PARP substrate) and ATP, which are thought to be required for later events in apoptosis. The role of PARP cleavage in apoptosis has now been investigated in human osteosarcoma cells and PARP -/- fibroblasts stably transfected with a vector encoding a caspase-3-resistant PARP mutant. Expression of this mutant PARP increased the rate of staurosporine and tumor necrosis factor-alpha-induced apoptosis, at least in part by reducing the time interval required for the onset of caspase-3 activation and internucleosomal DNA fragmentation, as well as the generation of 50-kilobase pair DNA breaks, thought to be associated with early chromatin unfolding. Overexpression of wild-type PARP in osteosarcoma cells also accelerated the apoptotic process, although not to the same extent as that apparent in cells expressing the mutant PARP. These effects of the mutant and wild-type enzymes might be due to the early and transient poly(ADP-ribose) synthesis in response to DNA breaks, and the accompanying depletion of NAD apparent in the transfected cells. The accelerated NAD depletion did not seem to interfere with the later stages of apoptosis. These results indicate that PARP activation and subsequent cleavage have active and complex roles in apoptosis.
Journal of Biological Chemistry 09/1999; 274(33):22932-40. · 4.77 Impact Factor
-
[show abstract]
[hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: A cleavage product of 28S rRNA was isolated from ipsilateral hippocampus of rat brain subjected to lateral fluid percussion induced traumatic brain injury (TBI). Northern blot analysis demonstrated that the corresponding cDNA fragment hybridized to 28S rRNA and three cleavage products. Two of the cleaved rRNA fragments (1.3 kb and 0.9 kb) were also observed in differentiated PC12 cells undergoing apoptosis induced by NGF withdrawal. The third fragment (0.6 kb) was detected only in rat brain tissue subjected to trauma, suggesting specific cleavage of 28S following TBI. The 0.6-kb fragment was found only in cortex and hippocampus ipsilateral to the trauma site, but not in brain stem, contralateral cortex or contralateral hippocampus. 28S rRNA cleavage was detected beginning 2 h after trauma and reflected injury severity. Although cleavage of 28S rRNA has been reported in association with apoptosis in white blood cells and apoptosis occurs in the experimental head injury model used, the pattern of 28S rRNA cleavage observed with TBI differs from those observed in apoptotic PC12 cells or those reported for white blood cells. Thus, whereas 28S rRNA fragmentation appears to be a marker of posttraumatic brain injury, its precise role in the secondary injury process remains to be established.
Journal of Neurotrauma 06/1999; 16(5):357-64. · 3.65 Impact Factor
-
[show abstract]
[hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: Ca2+- and Mg2+-dependent endonucleases have been implicated in DNA fragmentation during apoptosis. We have demonstrated that particular nucleases of this type are inhibited by poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation and suggested that subsequent cleavage of PARP by caspase-3 might release these nucleases from poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation-induced inhibition. Hence, we purified and partially sequenced such a nuclease isolated from bovine seminal plasma and identified human, rat and mouse homologs of this enzyme. The extent of sequence homology among these nucleases indicates that these four proteins are orthologous members of the family of DNase I-related enzymes. We demonstrate that the activation of the human homolog previously specified as DNAS1L3 can induce Ca2+- and Mg2+-dependent DNA fragmentation in vitro and in vivo. RT-PCR analysis failed to detect DNAS1L3 mRNA in HeLa cells and nuclei isolated from these cells did not exhibit internucleosomal DNA fragmentation when incubated in the presence of Ca2+and Mg2+. However, nuclei isolated from HeLa cells that had been stably transfected with DNAS1L3 cDNA underwent such DNA fragmentation in the presence of both ions. The Ca2+ionophore ionomycin also induced internucleosomal DNA degradation in transfected but not in control HeLa cells. Transverse alternating field electrophoresis revealed that in nuclei from transfected HeLa cells, but not in those from control cells, DNA was cleaved into fragments of >1000 kb in the presence of Mg2+; addition of Ca2+in the presence of Mg2+resulted in processing of the >1000 kb fragments into 50 kb and oligonucleosomal fragments. These results demonstrate that DNAS1L3 is necessary for Ca2+- and Mg2+-dependent cleavage of DNA into both oligonucleosomal and high molecular mass fragments in specific cell types.
Nucleic Acids Research 05/1999; 27(9):1999-2005. · 8.03 Impact Factor
-
[show abstract]
[hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: We have used an in vitro trauma model to examine the effects of modulation of group III metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluR) on post-traumatic neuronal cell death. Rat cortical neuronal/glial cultures were subjected to standardized mechanical injury using a punch that delivers 28 parallel cuts to 96-well culture plates, resulting in approximately 50% neuronal cell loss in untreated cultures. RT-PCR demonstrated expression of mRNA for mGluR4, mGluR6, mGluR7, and mGluR8 in uninjured cultures as well as in adult rat brain. Treatment with the group III agonists L-(+)-2-amino-4-phosphonobutyric acid (L-AP4) or L-serine-O-phosphate (L-SOP) resulted in dose-dependent neuroprotection. In contrast, treatment with the group III antagonists alpha-methyl-AP4 (MAP4) or (RS)-alpha-methylserine-O-phosphate (MSOP) caused dose-dependent exacerbation of injury, which was significantly attenuated by L-AP4 or L-SOP. The neuroprotective actions of L-AP4 or L-SOP were markedly reduced by the cyclic AMP analog 8-CPT-cAMP (500 microm), which by itself had no effects at this concentration. Moreover, treatment with L-AP4 or L-SOP reduced basal cyclic AMP levels. Treatment with the NMDA antagonist MK 801 decreased post-traumatic cell death by 45% at optimal concentrations; combined treatment with MK 801 and group III agonists showed a significant enhancement of neuroprotection as compared to treatment with the NMDA antagonist alone. Our findings indicate a clear neuroprotective action for group III agonists in this model and suggest that group III mGluR are endogenously activated in response to trauma. The neuroprotective effects of group III agonists appear to result in part from modulation of adenylyl cyclase activity and are additive to those of an NMDA receptor antagonist.
Journal of Neurotrauma 01/1998; 14(12):885-95. · 3.65 Impact Factor
-
[show abstract]
[hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: We examined the temporal profile of apoptosis after fluid percussion-induced traumatic brain injury (TBI) in rats and investigated the potential pathophysiological role of caspase-3-like proteases in this process. DNA fragmentation was observed in samples from injured cortex and hippocampus, but not from contralateral tissue, beginning 4 hr after TBI and continuing for at least 3 d. Double labeling of brain with terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL) and an antibody directed to neuronal nuclear protein identified apoptotic neurons with high frequency in both traumatized rat cortex and hippocampus. Cytosolic extracts from injured cortex and hippocampus, but not from contralateral or control tissue, induced internucleosomal DNA fragmentation in isolated nuclei with temporal profiles consistent with those of DNA fragmentation observed in vivo. Caspase-3 mRNA levels, estimated by semiquantitative RT-PCR, were elevated fivefold in ipsilateral cortex and twofold in hippocampus by 24 hr after TBI. Caspase-1 mRNA content also was increased after trauma, but to a lesser extent in cortex. Increased caspase-3-like, but not caspase-1-like, enzymatic activity was found in cytosolic extracts from injured cortex. Intracerebroventricular administration of z-DEVD-fmk-a specific tetrapeptide inhibitor of caspase-3-before and after injury markedly reduced post-traumatic apoptosis, as demonstrated by DNA electrophoresis and TUNEL staining, and significantly improved neurological recovery. Together, these results implicate caspase-3-like proteases in neuronal apoptosis induced by TBI and suggest that the blockade of such caspases can reduce post-traumatic apoptosis and associated neurological dysfunction.
Journal of Neuroscience 11/1997; 17(19):7415-24. · 7.11 Impact Factor
-
[show abstract]
[hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: The CED-3-related cysteine proteases (CRCPs) have been implicated as mediators of apoptosis, primarily in hematogenous cell systems, but their role in neuronal apoptosis remains unclear. The present study examined the role of two CRCP families-CPP32- and interleukin-1beta converting enzyme (ICE)-like cysteine proteases-in apoptosis of cerebellar granule cells (CGCs) caused by withdrawal of serum and/or potassium (K+). Serum deprivation potentiated apoptosis caused by K+ withdrawal, reducing cell viability by approximately one half of control values after 12 hr as measured by calcein fluorescence. Cell death after serum/K+ deprivation was significantly attenuated by the CPP32-like inhibitor z-DEVD-fmk; however, the ICE-like inhibitor z-YVAD-fmk had only slightly protective effects at the highest concentration used. Both inhibitors reduced CPP32-like activity directly in an in vitro fluorometric assay system, although z-DEVD-fmk showed much greater potency. K+ and serum/K+ deprivation each were accompanied by increased CPP32-like activity; however, ICE-like activity was absent after 12 hr of serum and/or K+ deprivation. CPP32 mRNA levels were unchanged after K+ deprivation but increased after serum and combined serum/K+ withdrawal as measured by reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR), with peak values at 4 hr reaching 210 +/- 37% and 269 +/- 42% of control levels, respectively. In contrast, ICE mRNA was undetectable by RT-PCR. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that CPP32-like proteases play an important role in apoptosis of CGCs caused by deprivation of K+ or serum/K+.
Journal of Neuroscience 09/1997; 17(16):6105-13. · 7.11 Impact Factor
-
[show abstract]
[hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: Apoptotic cell death is often characterized by internucleosomal cleavage of genomic DNA, which exhibits a distinctive ladder upon electrophoresis. However, techniques used for the isolation and detection of DNA to demonstrate laddering may not be sufficiently sensitive, particularly when cleaved DNA is present at modest levels. We propose a new approach for isolating total cellular DNA using a silica-based resin that improves the resolution of DNA laddering. In addition, we introduce a rapid DNA labeling method that can increase the sensitivity of detecting DNA laddering. Each of these methods can be used for DNA from cell cultures or tissues.
Nucleic Acids Research 11/1996; 24(20):4092-3. · 8.03 Impact Factor
-
[show abstract]
[hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: Traumatic or ischemic injuries to the central nervous system (CNS) initiate reactive biochemical changes, some of which are autodestructive and others neuroprotective. Identification of these endogenous factors and their regulation will help to clarify mechanisms of secondary tissue damage and may lead to novel therapies. Recently developed molecular approaches offer opportunities for identifying genes involved in these reactive processes. Three types of molecular strategies are reviewed and examples are provided to demonstrate how each may be applied to elucidate basic mechanisms underlying posttraumatic or postischemic death.
Journal of Neurotrauma 11/1995; 12(5):767-77. · 3.65 Impact Factor
-
[show abstract]
[hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: The third intron of the mitochondrial benzodiazepine receptor (MBR)-encoding gene was sequenced from hamster, mouse and human. The rodent species were found to include an Alu-like sequence, as was first discovered in the rat gene. Differences with the rat intron were evident by an insertion of an additional B1 element in the hamster and the introduction of a complete and two partial B2 sequences in the mouse intron. The human intron contained a cluster of four Alu sequences; however, all of these repetitive elements were found to be in the opposite orientation relative to the Alu-like sequence present in the rodent genes. These findings support the possibility that the rodent Alu-like sequence is a remnant of a retropositional insertion in this gene prior to the divergence of rodent species. Because the human intron does not contain the same Alu remnant, it cannot be concluded that the rodent sequence represents an insertion of a primordial Alu element prior to the divergence of rodent and primate lineages.
Gene 05/1995; 155(2):201-5. · 2.34 Impact Factor
-
[show abstract]
[hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: A gene encoding the rat kappa opioid receptor (KOR) was cloned and characterized. Results of rat genomic library screening and genomic Southern blot analysis show the gene represented at one copy/haploid genome. Three introns are present within the gene; however, polymerase chain reaction using different sets of primers specifying neighboring exons indicates that alternative splicing does not occur. Using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and primer extension techniques, we are able to demonstrate that two species of transcripts are differentially produced from the KOR gene in a tissue-specific manner. The first transcript that we designate as KOR1 is equivalent to the cDNA sequence reported by other groups and is believed to correspond to KOR subtype 1. KOR1 begins with exon 1 just downstream of two TATA boxes, whereas the second transcript, which we refer to as KORx, begins in intron 1 and thereby retains this intronic sequence in the mature mRNA. Within this intronic sequence there are two potential translation initiation codons that are in-frame with the proposed initiation codon of KOR. The potential open reading frame that starts further upstream in KORx may lead to the translation of a variant KOR protein having a novel peptide sequence at its amino terminus.
Journal of Biological Chemistry 04/1995; 270(12):6421-4. · 4.77 Impact Factor
-
[show abstract]
[hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: The gene encoding the rat mitochondrial benzodiazepine receptor (MBR) was cloned and characterized. Hybridization of a previously cloned cDNA for MBR to genomic Southern blots indicated that the gene was probably present at one copy per haploid genome. Rapid amplification of cDNA ends with rat adrenal RNA was used to obtain 47 nt of additional sequence upstream from our previously cloned MBR cDNA proving to be a crucial step in cloning the first exon of this gene. The MBR gene is comprised of four exons spanning approx. 10 kb. The first intron, contained within a 8-kb stretch of this gene, is located within the 5'-untranslated sequence, whereas the remaining two introns are much shorter (641 and 854 bp) and interrupt the coding sequence. The third intron contains sequences homologous to rodent B1 repetitive elements and a novel sequence closely resembling part of a repetitive element belonging to the Alu family in humans. The transcription start point was mapped by S1 nuclease protection assays suggesting that the first exon is just 56 bp in length. The sequence upstream from this region contains three GC boxes but lacks other known consensus recognition sites for sequence-specific transcription factors.
Gene 12/1992; 121(2):377-82. · 2.34 Impact Factor
-
[show abstract]
[hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: Northern blot hybridization analysis was used to study regulation of nerve growth factor receptor (NGFR) mRNA content by glucocorticoids. Treatment for 6 h with dexamethasone (1 microM) caused a 40% decrease of NGFR mRNA content in PC12 cells and a 60% decrease in C6-2B glioma cells which was time and dose dependent. Dexamethasone (1 microM/kg) administered s.c. for two days to 21-day-old rats, elicits a 60% decrease in NGFR mRNA content in septum. These results suggest that the expression of NGFR gene in the brain could be inhibited by endogenous glucocorticoids. Whether dexamethasone inhibits NGFR gene expression by directly affecting cis-regulatory elements in the promoter regions of the gene remains to be elucidated.
Neuroscience Letters 09/1990; 116(1-2):216-20. · 2.11 Impact Factor
-
[show abstract]
[hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: Recent studies have suggested a role for neuronal apoptosis in cell loss following acute CNS injury as well as in chronic neurodegeneration. Caspases are a family of cysteine requiring aspartate proteases with sequence similarity to Ced-3 protein of Caenorhabditis elegans. These proteases have been found to contribute significantly to the morphological and biochemical manifestations of apoptotic cell death. Caspases are translated as inactive zymogens and become active after specific cleavage. Of the 14 identified caspases, caspase-3 appears to be the major effector of neuronal apoptosis induced by a variety of stimuli. A role for caspase-3 in injury-induced neuronal cell death has been established using semispecific peptide caspase inhibitors. This article reviews the current literature relating to pathways regulating caspase activation in apoptosis associated with acute and chronic neurodegeneration, and suggests that identification of critical upstream caspase regulatory mechanisms may permit more effective treatment of such disorders.
Molecular Neurobiology 24(1-3):131-44. · 5.74 Impact Factor
-
[show abstract]
[hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: N-Tosyl--phenylalanyl chloromethyl ketone (TPCK), an inhibitor of chymotrypsin-like serine protease (CSP), prevents DNA fragmentation and apoptotic cell death in certain blood cell lines and was reported to reduce hippocampal neuronal damage caused by cerebral ischemia. We examined the role of CSP on recovery after lateral fluid percussion-induced traumatic brain injury (TBI) in rats, as well as on cell survival in various in vitro models of neuronal cell death. TBI caused significant time-dependent upregulation of CSP activity, but not trypsin-like serine protease activity in injured cortex. Intracerebroventricular administration of TPCK to rats after TBI did not significantly affect deficits of spatial learning but exacerbated motor dysfunction after injury. Moreover, TPCK did not prevent apoptotic neuronal cell death caused by serum/K+ deprivation or by application of staurosporine or etoposide in cultured rat cerebellar granule cells, rat cortical neurons, or in the human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cell line. Instead, at doses from 10 to 100 μM, TPCK was cytotoxic in all cultures tested. Similar results were obtained in cultures treated with another CSP inhibitor, 3,4-dichloroisocoumarin. Cell death caused by CSP inhibitors was neither caspase-dependent nor associated with oligonucleosomal DNA fragmentation. Taken together, these data do not support a neuroprotective role for CSP inhibitors. Rather, they suggest that CSPs may serve an endogenous neuroprotective role, possibly by modulating necrotic cell death.
Experimental Neurology.
-
[show abstract]
[hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to estimate dynamic changes in levels of c-fos protooncogene, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), and preprodynorphin messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) isolated from individual segments (T1 to T12) of rat spinal cord following graded impact trauma (50 or 100 g/cm) to the T9 segment of pentobarbital-anesthetized rats. Trauma caused elevation of c-fos mRNA at the trauma site by 30 min after injury that was related to injury severity. At this time, increased levels of TNF-alpha (but not of preprodynorphin) mRNA were also found. By 24 h, c-fos and TNF-alpha mRNA had returned to normal levels at trauma site, but were now increased at more distal segments (T5 and T12). At 4 h after trauma, induction of preprodynorphin mRNA was detected at the trauma site; levels continued to be elevated at 24 h when they were also detected at T5 and T12. Increases for each mRNA were greater for severe as compared to moderate trauma. The injury dose- and time-dependent changes in c-fos, TNF-alpha, and preprodynorphin gene expression suggest that their respective proteins are synthesized in response to trauma, and may play a part in the secondary injury response. Later accumulation of message distant from the trauma site may reflect a progression of delayed damage along the spinal cord.
Molecular and Chemical Neuropathology 23(2-3):179-90.
