Mouse Neuroblastoma N2a Cells Research Articles

The knockdown of TASK-1 channels improved the proliferation of N2A cells.

Previous studies indicated that K(+) channels, such as voltage-gated Kv channels, were involved in the apoptosis and proliferation of neurons. In the experiments here, the small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) targeted against TASK-1, an acid-sensitive member of two-pore domain K(+) (K2P) channel family, were transfected into mouse neuroblastoma N2A cells. This treatment induced a reduction of messenger RNA (mRNA) level of TASK-1 by 61%. As a negative control, however, the transfection of scrambled siRNAs (scRNA) did not significantly affect the expression of TASK-1 in N2A cells. Furthermore, exposure to TASK-1-specific siRNAs (siTASK-1) for 48 h also substantially increased the proliferation rates of N2A cells by 25.8%, but no effect was observed in scRNA-treated cells. These data implied that TASK-1 channels may participate in the regulation of neuronal proliferation.

Identification of miRNA-21 and miRNA-24 in plasma as potential early stage markers of acute cerebral infarction.

This study investigated the role of microRNA-21 (miR-21) and microRNA-24 (miR-24) in the pathological processes that follow cerebral ischemic injury and examined the potential use of miR-21 and -24 in stroke diagnostics as sensitive plasma biomarkers. An oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) model was constructed using mouse N2A neuroblastoma cells (N2A). Western blot analysis and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) were employed to detect protein and miRNA expression levels. miR-21 and miR-24 were analyzed in the plasma from 68patients with acute cerebral infarction (ACI) and 21healthy individuals. In the present study, it was identified that plasma miR-21 and miR-24 were lower in ACI patients than in the controls (P<0.05). A positive correlation was demonstrated between plasma miR-21 and miR-24, and a negative correlation was revealed between miR-21, miR-24 and the National Institutes of Health Scales Score (NIHSS) within the first day following stroke. In addition, the expression of miR-21 and miR-24 was upregulated by 3.3- and 4.9-fold, respectively, when the reoxygenation time persisted up to 24h following 3h of OGD. The expression of Bcl-2 was upregulated following gain of miR-21 function, while X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP) was downregulated after gain of miR-24 function in N2A cells. The data suggested that miR-21 may have an antiapoptotic effect in N2A neuroblastoma cells following OGD and reoxygenation, while miR-24 may have a pro-apoptotic effect. Therefore, these microRNAs may be potential therapeutic targets for the treatment of post-ischemic injury and may act as diagnostic markers during the early stage of ACI.

Glycosylphosphatidylinositol Anchoring Directs the Assembly of Sup35NM Protein into Non-fibrillar, Membrane-bound Aggregates

In prion-infected hosts, PrPSc usually accumulates as non-fibrillar, membrane-bound aggregates. Glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchor-directed membrane association appears to be an important factor controlling the biophysical properties of PrPSc aggregates. To determine whether GPI anchoring can similarly modulate the assembly of other amyloid-forming proteins, neuronal cell lines were generated that expressed a GPI-anchored form of a model amyloidogenic protein, the NM domain of the yeast prion protein Sup35 (Sup35(GPI)). We recently reported that GPI anchoring facilitated the induction of Sup35(GPI) prions in this system. Here, we report the ultrastructural characterization of self-propagating Sup35(GPI) aggregates of either spontaneous or induced origin. Like membrane-bound PrPSc, Sup35(GPI) aggregates resisted release from cells treated with phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C. Sup35(GPI) aggregates of spontaneous origin were detergent-insoluble, protease-resistant, and self-propagating, in a manner similar to that reported for recombinant Sup35NM amyloid fibrils and induced Sup35(GPI) aggregates. However, GPI-anchored Sup35 aggregates were not stained with amyloid-binding dyes, such as Thioflavin T. This was consistent with ultrastructural analyses, which showed that the aggregates corresponded to dense cell surface accumulations of membrane vesicle-like structures and were not fibrillar. Together, these results showed that GPI anchoring directs the assembly of Sup35NM into non-fibrillar, membrane-bound aggregates that resemble PrPSc, raising the possibility that GPI anchor-dependent modulation of protein aggregation might occur with other amyloidogenic proteins. This may contribute to differences in pathogenesis and pathology between prion diseases, which uniquely involve aggregation of a GPI-anchored protein, versus other protein misfolding diseases.

Curcumin inhibits the AKT/NF-κB signaling via CpG demethylation of the promoter and restoration of NEP in the N2a cell line.

Curcumin (CUR), a non-toxic polyphenol from Curcuma longa, has been investigated as a potential therapy with anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative effects for Alzheimer's disease (AD), which depicts features of chronic inflammatory environment resulting in cellular death. However, it remains largely unknown whether the anti-inflammatory effect of CUR in AD is associated with its property of CpG demethylation, which is another function of CUR with the most research interest during recent years. Neprilysin (NEP, EP24.11), a zinc-dependent metallopeptidase expressed relatively low in the brain, is emerging as a potent inhibitor of AKT/Protein Kinase B. In addition, hypermethylated promoter of NEP has been reported to be associated with decreases in NEP expression. In the present study, using bisulfite-sequencing PCR (BSP) assay, we showed that the CpG sites in NEP gene were hypermethylated both in wild-type mouse neuroblastoma N2a cells (N2a/wt) and N2a cells stably expressing human Swedish mutant amyloid precursor protein (APP) (N2a/APPswe) associated with familial early onset AD. CUR treatment induced restoration of NEP gene via CpG demethylation. This CUR-mediated upregulation of NEP expression was also concomitant with the inhibition of AKT, subsequent suppression of nuclear transcription factor-κB (NF-κB) and its downstream pro-inflammatory targets including COX-2, iNOS in N2a/APPswe cells. This study represents the first evidence on a link between CpG demethylation effect on NEP and anti-inflammation ability of CUR that may provide a novel mechanistic insight into the anti-inflammatory actions of CUR as well as new basis for using CUR as a therapeutic intervention for AD.

Effects of Huanglian-Jie-Du-Tang and Its Modified Formula on the Modulation of Amyloid-β Precursor Protein Processing in Alzheimer's Disease Models

Huanglian-Jie-Du-Tang (HLJDT) is a famous traditional Chinese herbal formula that has been widely used clinically to treat cerebral ischemia. Recently, we found that berberine, a major alkaloid compound in HLJDT, reduced amyloid-β (Aβ) accumulation in an Alzheimer’s disease (AD) mouse model. In this study, we compared the effects of HLJDT, four single component herbs of HLJDT (Rhizoma coptidis (RC), Radix scutellariae (RS), Cortex phellodendri (CP) and Fructus gardenia (FG)) and the modified formula of HLJDT (HLJDT-M, which is free of RS) on the regulatory processing of amyloid-β precursor protein (APP) in an in vitro model of AD. Here we show that treatment with HLJDT-M and its components RC, CP, and the main compound berberine on N2a mouse neuroblastoma cells stably expressing human APP with the Swedish mutation (N2a-SwedAPP) significantly decreased the levels of full-length APP, phosphorylated APP at threonine 668, C-terminal fragments of APP, soluble APP (sAPP)-α and sAPPβ-Swedish and reduced the generation of Aβ peptide in the cell lysates of N2a-SwedAPP. HLJDT-M showed more significant APP- and Aβ- reducing effects than berberine, RC or CP treatment alone. In contrast, HLJDT, its component RS and the main active compound of RS, baicalein, strongly increased the levels of all the metabolic products of APP in the cell lysates. The extract from FG, however, did not influence APP modulation. Interestingly, regular treatment of TgCRND8 APP transgenic mice with baicalein exacerbated the amyloid plaque burden, APP metabolism and Aβ production. Taken together, these data provide convincing evidence that HLJDT and baicalein treatment can increase the amyloidogenic metabolism of APP which is at least partly responsible for the baicalein-mediated Aβ plaque increase in the brains of TgCRND8 mice. On the other hand, HLJDT-M significantly decreased all the APP metabolic products including Aβ. Further study of HLJDT-M for therapeutic use in treating AD is warranted.

The Effects of Hispidulin on Bupivacaine-Induced Neurotoxicity: Role of AMPK Signaling Pathway

Bupivacaine is a sodium channel blocker, which is widely used for local infiltration nerve block, epidural and intrathecal anesthesia. However, bupivacaine could cause nerve damage. Hispidulin was shown to be able to penetrate the blood-brain barrier and possess antiepileptic activity. In this study, we investigate whether hispidulin administration could attenuate bupivacaine-induced neurotoxicity. Bupivacaine-challenged mouse neuroblastoma N2a cells were treated with hispidulin. The neuron injury was assessed by examination of cell viability and apoptosis. The levels of activation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling pathway were examined along with the effect of blocking AMPK signaling on cell viability in the presence of hispidulin and bupivacaine. Our results showed that Bupivacaine treatment significantly decreased cell viability and induced apoptosis. Treatment with hispidulin significantly attenuated bupivacaine-induced cell injury. In addition, hispidulin treatment increased the levels of phospho-AMPK and phospho-GSK3β and attenuated bupivacaine-induced loss in mitochondrial membrane potential. Furthermore, we found that blocking AMPK signaling pathway significantly abolished the cytoprotective effect of hispidulin against bupivacaine-induced cell injury. Our findings suggest that treatment of neuroblastoma cells with hispidulin-protected neural cells from Bupivacaine-induced injury via the activation of the AMPK/GSK3β signaling pathway.

17β-Estradiol Downregulated the Expression of TASK-1 Channels in Mouse Neuroblastoma N2A Cells

TASK channels, an acid-sensitive subgroup of two pore domain K⁺ (K2P) channels family, were widely expressed in a variety of neural tissues, and exhibited potent functions such as the regulation of membrane potential. The steroid hormone estrogen was able to interact with K⁺ channels, including voltage-gated K⁺ (Kv) and large conductance Ca²⁺-activated (BK) K⁺ channels, in different types of cells like cardiac myocytes and neurons. However, it is unclear about the effects of estrogen on TASK channels. In the present study, the expressions of two members of acid-sensitive TASK channels, TASK-1 and TASK-2, were detected in mouse neuroblastoma N2A cells by RT-PCR. Extracellular acidification (pH 6.4) weakly but statistically significantly inhibited the outward background current by 22.9 % at a holding potential of 0 mV, which inactive voltage-gated K⁺ currents, suggesting that there existed the functional TASK channels in the membrane of N2A cells. Although these currents were not altered by the acute application of 100 nM 17β-estradiol, incubation with 10 nM 17β-estradiol for 48 h reduced the mRNA level of TASK-1 channels by 40.4 % without any effect on TASK-2 channels. The proliferation rates of N2A cells were also increased by treatment with 10 nM 17β-estradiol for 48 h. These data implied that N2A cells expressed functional TASK channels and chronic exposure to 17β-estradiol downregulated the expression of TASK-1 channels and improved cell proliferation. The effect of 17β-estradiol on TASK-1 channels might be an alternative mechanism for the neuroprotective action of 17β-estradiol.

Antioxidant and Neuroprotective Activities of Hyptis suaveolens (L.) Poit. Against Oxidative Stress-Induced Neurotoxicity

The present study was carried out to investigate the antioxidant and neuroprotective effects of Hyptis suaveolens methanol extract (HSME) using various in vitro systems. The total phenol and flavonoids contents of the HSME were quantified by colorimetric methods. The HSME extract exhibited potent antioxidant activity as determined by 2,20-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl, and ferric reducing antioxidant power assays. The neuroprotective activity of HSME was determined on mouse N2A neuroblastoma cells using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide, lactate dehydrogenase, intracellular ROS assays, and upregulation of brain neuronal markers at genetic level. The N2A cells were pretreated with different concentrations (0.5, 1, 1.5, and 2 mg/ml) of the extract and then exposed to H2O2 to induce oxidative stress and neurotoxicity. The survival of the cells treated with different concentrations of HSME and H2O2 increased as compared to cells exposed only to H2O2 (47.3 %) (p < 0.05). The HSME also dose-dependently reduced LDH leakage and intracellular ROS production (p < 0.05). Pretreatment with HSME promotes the upregulation of tyrosine hydroxylase (2.41-fold, p < 0.05), and brain-derived neurotrophic factor genes (2.15-fold, p < 0.05) against H2O2-induced cytotoxicity in N2A cells. Moreover, the HSME showed antioxidant activity and decreased neurotoxicity. These observations suggest that HSME have marked antioxidant and neuroprotective activities.

The antibacterial effect of the co-administration of poly(propylene imine) dendrimers and ciprofloxacin

Fluoroquinolones, including ciprofloxacin, are often used to treat bacterial diseases. Due to the spread of drug resistance among microorganisms, alternative treatments are being sought. We report here on the antimicrobial activity of generation 4 (G4) PPI dendrimers in the presence of ciprofloxacin against the reference strains of Gram-positive bacterium Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538 and Gram-negative bacterium Escherichia coli ATCC 25922. Cytotoxicity of these compounds was investigated in the eukaryotic B14 Chinese hamster fibroblast cell line, HepG2 human liver hepatocellular carcinoma cell line, mouse neuroblastoma N2a cell line and BRL-3A rat liver cell line. For both strains, the administration of PPI dendrimers along with ciprofloxacin significantly improved its antibacterial effect compared to the cultures given the drug alone. The simultaneous application of dendrimers and ciprofloxacin shows the opportunity of using it at lower doses. Ciprofloxacin and PPI dendrimers are harmful to bacterial strains at the concentrations non-toxic to the eukaryotic cells.

Neurite outgrowth stimulatory effects of culinary-medicinal mushrooms and their toxicity assessment using differentiating Neuro-2a and embryonic fibroblast BALB/3T3

BackgroundMushrooms are not only regarded as gourmet cuisine but also as therapeutic agent to promote cognition health. However, little toxicological information is available regarding their safety. Therefore, the aim of this study was to screen selected ethno-pharmacologically important mushrooms for stimulatory effects on neurite outgrowth and to test for any cytotoxicity.MethodsThe stimulatory effect of mushrooms on neurite outgrowth was assessed in differentiating mouse neuroblastoma (N2a) cells. Neurite length was measured using Image-Pro Insight processor system. Neuritogenesis activity was further validated by fluorescence immunocytochemical staining of neurofilaments. In vitro cytotoxicity was investigated by using mouse embryonic fibroblast (BALB/3T3) and N2a cells for any embryo- and neuro-toxic effects; respectively.ResultsAqueous extracts of Ganoderma lucidum, Lignosus rhinocerotis, Pleurotus giganteus and Grifola frondosa; as well as an ethanol extract of Cordyceps militaris significantly (p < 0.05) promoted the neurite outgrowth in N2a cells by 38.4 ± 4.2%, 38.1 ± 2.6%, 33.4 ± 4.6%, 33.7 ± 1.5%, and 35.8 ± 3.4%; respectively. The IC50 values obtained from tetrazolium (MTT), neutral red uptake (NRU) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release assays showed no toxic effects following 24 h exposure of N2a and 3T3 cells to mushroom extracts.ConclusionOur results indicate that G. lucidum, L. rhinocerotis, P. giganteus, G. frondosa and C. militaris may be developed as safe and healthy dietary supplements for brain and cognitive health.

Vertical electric field stimulated neural cell functionality on porous amorphous carbon electrodes

We demonstrate the efficacy of amorphous macroporous carbon substrates as electrodes to support neuronal cell proliferation and differentiation in electric field mediated culture conditions. The electric field was applied perpendicular to carbon substrate electrode, while growing mouse neuroblastoma (N2a) cells in vitro. The placement of the second electrode outside of the cell culture medium allows the investigation of cell response to electric field without the concurrent complexities of submerged electrodes such as potentially toxic electrode reactions, electro-kinetic flows and charge transfer (electrical current) in the cell medium. The macroporous carbon electrodes are uniquely characterized by a higher specific charge storage capacity (0.2 mC/cm2) and low impedance (3.3 kΩ at 1 kHz). The optimal window of electric field stimulation for better cell viability and neurite outgrowth is established. When a uniform or a gradient electric field was applied perpendicular to the amorphous carbon substrate, it was found that the N2a cell viability and neurite length were higher at low electric field strengths (≤2.5 V/cm) compared to that measured without an applied field (0 V/cm). While the cell viability was assessed by two complementary biochemical assays (MTT and LDH), the differentiation was studied by indirect immunostaining. Overall, the results of the present study unambiguously establish the uniform/gradient vertical electric field based culture protocol to either enhance or to restrict neurite outgrowth respectively at lower or higher field strengths, when neuroblastoma cells are cultured on porous glassy carbon electrodes having a desired combination of electrochemical properties.

Non-toxic amyloid beta formed in the presence of glypican-1 or its deaminatively generated heparan sulfate degradation products

The amyloid beta (Aβ) peptides (mainly Aβ40 and Aβ42), which are derived from the amyloid precursor protein (APP), can oligomerize into antibody A11-positive, neurotoxic species, believed to be involved in Alzheimer's disease. Interestingly, APP binds strongly to the heparan sulfate (HS) proteoglycan (PG) glypican-1 (Gpc-1) in vitro and both proteins are colocalized inside cells. In endosomes, APP is proteolytically processed to yield Aβ peptides. The HS chains of S-nitrosylated (SNO) Gpc-1 PG are cleaved into anhydromannose (anMan)-containing di- and oligosaccharides by an NO-dependent reaction in the same compartments. Here, we have studied the toxicity of oligomers/aggregates of Aβ40 and Aβ42, as well as Aβ40/42 mixtures that were formed in the presence of immobilized Gpc-1 PG or immobilized HS oligosaccharides. Afterwards, Aβ was displaced from the matrices, analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and assayed for A11 immunoreactivity, for effects on growth of mouse N2a neuroblastoma cells and for membrane leakage in rat cortical neurons. HS generally promoted and accelerated Aβ multimerization into oligomers as well as larger aggregates that were mostly A11 positive and showed toxic effects. However, non-toxic Aβ was formed in the presence of Gpc-1 PG or when anMan-containing HS degradation products were simultaneously generated. Both toxic and non-toxic Aβ peptides were taken up by the cells but toxic forms appeared to enter the nuclei to a larger extent. The protection afforded by the presence of HS degradation products may reflect a normal intracellular function for the Aβ peptides.

Neuroglobin Promotes Neurite Outgrowth via Differential Binding to PTEN and Akt

Neuroglobin, the third mammalian globin with a hexa-coordinated heme, exists predominantly in neurons of the brain. Neuroglobin plays an important role in neuronal death upon ischemia and oxidative stress. The physiological function of neuroglobin remains unclear. Here, we report a novel function of neuroglobin in neurite development. Knocking-down neuroglobin exhibited a prominent neurite-deficient phenotype in mouse neuroblastoma N2a cells. Silencing neuroglobin prevented neurite outgrowth, while ectopic expression of neuroglobin but not homologous cytoglobin promoted neurite outgrowth of N2a cells upon serum withdrawal. In primary cultured rat cerebral cortical neurons, neuroglobin was upregulated and preferentially distributed in neurites during neuronal development. Overexpression of neuroglobin but not cytoglobin in cultured cortical neurons promoted axonal outgrowth, while knocking-down of neuroglobin retarded axonal outgrowth. Neuroglobin overexpression suppressed phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) but increased Akt phosphorylation during neurite induction. Bimolecular fluorescence complementation and glutathione S-transferase pull-down assays revealed that neuroglobin and various mutants (E53Q, E118Q, K119N, H64A, H64L, and Y44D) bound with Akt and PTEN differentially. Neuroglobin E53Q showed a prominent reduced PTEN binding but increased Akt binding, resulting in decreased p-PTEN, increased p-Akt, and increased neurite length. Taken together, we demonstrate a critical role of neuroglobin in neuritogenesis or development via interacting with PTEN and Akt differentially to activate phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt pathway, providing potential therapeutic applications of neuroglobin for axonopathy in neurological diseases.

Blockade of Ser16-Hsp20 Phosphorylation Attenuates Neuroprotection Dependent Upon Bcl-2 and Bax

Ischemic stroke causes a significant amount of cell damage resulting from an insufficient supply of glucose and oxygen to central nervous system tissue and finding more effective therapeutic neuroprotective agents has become a priority in the treatment of ischemic stroke. Hsp20, one of the small heat shock proteins, has been implicated in multiple physiological and pathophysiological processes and is a potential neuroprotective agents. To investigate whether Hsp20 exerts protective effects on in vitro ischemia-reperfusion injury, mouse neuroblastoma cells were subjected to oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation (OGDR) insult. The N2a cells transfected with Hsp20 and constitutively phosphorylated Hsp20 (S16D) had significantly less cell loss and less proportion of apoptotic cells compared to N2a cells transfected with pEGFP-N1 after oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) 4 h plus 12 and 24 h reperfusion, which showed no difference in N2a cells transfected with nonphosphorylatable Hsp20 (S16A). Meanwhile, transfected with Hsp20 and constitutively phosphorylated Hsp20 (S16D) also significantly attenuated mitochondrial fragmentation and modulated Bcl-2 and Bax expression level after OGD 4 h plus 12 reperfusion, which were not affected in N2a cells transfected with Hsp20 (S16A). In conclusion, our data demonstrated that increased Hsp20 and Hsp20 (S16D) expression in mouse N2A neuroblastoma cells protected against ischemia-reperfusion injury, the neuroprotective mechanism may be related to regulate Bcl-2 and Bax expression. However, blockade of Ser16-Hsp20 phosphorylation attenuated the neuroprotective effects of Hsp20. Therefore, Hsp20 and factors that contribute to regulation of phosphorylation on Ser16 of Hsp20 are potential new therapeutic targets for the treatment of cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Nisoxetine blocks sodium currents and elicits spinal anesthesia in rats

BackgroundAlthough nisoxetine has been shown to elicit infiltrative cutaneous local anesthesia, the inhibition of voltage-gated Na+ channels by nisoxetine has not been reported. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of nisoxetine on Na+ currents and its efficacy on spinal anesthesia. MethodsIn in vitro studies, the voltage-clamp method was employed to examine whether nisoxetine blocked Na+ currents in mouse neuroblastoma N2A cells. ResultsMepivacaine showed concentration- and state-dependent effect on tonic blockade of voltage-gated Na+ currents (IC50 of 3.7 and 74.2μM at holding potentials of −70 and −100mV, respectively). Nisoxetine was more potent (IC50 of 1.6 and 28.6μM at holding potentials of −70 and −100mV, respectively). In in vivo studies, after rats were intrathecally injected with nisoxetine and mepivacaine, the dose-response curves were constructed. Nisoxetine acted like local anesthetic mepivacaine and induced spinal anesthesia with a more sensory-selective action (p<0.05) over motor blockade in a dose-related fashion. Intrathecal 5% dextrose (vehicle) produced no spinal anesthesia. On the 50% effective dose (ED50) basis, nisoxetine elicited more potent spinal anesthesia than did mepivacaine (p<0.05). ConclusionsOur results showed that nisoxetine displayed a more potent and prolonged spinal anesthesia with a more sensory/nociceptive-selective action over motor blockade, compared with mepivacaine. The local anesthetic effect of nisoxetine could be probably due to the suppression of Na+ currents.

Molecular Mechanisms Underlying the Apoptotic Effect of KCNB1 K+ Channel Oxidation

Potassium (K(+)) channels are targets of reactive oxygen species in the aging nervous system. KCNB1 (formerly Kv2.1), a voltage-gated K(+) channel abundantly expressed in the cortex and hippocampus, is oxidized in the brains of aging mice and of the triple transgenic 3xTg-AD mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. KCNB1 oxidation acts to enhance apoptosis in mammalian cell lines, whereas a KCNB1 variant resistant to oxidative modification, C73A-KCNB1, is cytoprotective. Here we investigated the molecular mechanisms through which oxidized KCNB1 channels promote apoptosis. Biochemical evidence showed that oxidized KCNB1 channels, which form oligomers held together by disulfide bridges involving Cys-73, accumulated in the plasma membrane as a result of defective endocytosis. In contrast, C73A-mutant channels, which do not oligomerize, were normally internalized. KCNB1 channels localize in lipid rafts, and their internalization was dynamin 2-dependent. Accordingly, cholesterol supplementation reduced apoptosis promoted by oxidation of KCNB1. In contrast, cholesterol depletion exacerbated apoptotic death in a KCNB1-independent fashion. Inhibition of raft-associating c-Src tyrosine kinase and downstream JNK kinase by pharmacological and molecular means suppressed the pro-apoptotic effect of KCNB1 oxidation. Together, these data suggest that the accumulation of KCNB1 oligomers in the membrane disrupts planar lipid raft integrity and causes apoptosis via activating the c-Src/JNK signaling pathway.

Non-taxoid site microtubule-stabilizing drugs work independently of tau overexpression in mouse N2a neuroblastoma cells

Microtubule-stabilizing drugs are useful in cancer therapy and show promise for treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. An overlapping binding site between tau and taxoid site drugs has led to a number of research papers investigating the competitive interaction between these drugs and the microtubule. This has implications for cancer treatment since increased tau could confer resistance to paclitaxel. Variations in the tau isoform ratio have also been reported in tauopathies, especially the rise in the levels of the four-repeat tau isoform. Therefore, in conditions of increased or altered expression of tau and its isoforms, a therapy that is not directly affected by changes in tau is desirable. Peloruside A and laulimalide are of particular interest in this respect because of their distinct binding site on the microtubule in relation to the clinically used drugs paclitaxel and ixabepilone. In the present study, we show that peloruside A and laulimalide stabilize microtubules independently of tau overexpression; whereas, the effects of paclitaxel and ixabepilone are masked by the presence of extra tau in the cell.

Prostaglandin E&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt; Inhibits Proteinase-Activated Receptor 2-Signal Transduction through Regulation of Receptor Internalization

Proteinase-activated receptor (PAR) is expressed on various cells, and the PAR family consists of PAR1, PAR2, PAR3, and PAR4. Individual PARs are activated during inflammatory conditions in which they regulate inflammatory responses in various diseases. For example, PAR activation is known to induce prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production, and then upregulated PGE2 suppresses PAR1 expression in a negative feedback loop. Surprisingly, PGE2 effects on PAR2, which is a well-researched and attractive target for drug development, remain unknown. Therefore, we investigated PAR2 regulation by PGE2. Using HEK293T cells, we showed that PGE2 inhibits extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) phosphorylation induced by a PAR2-activating peptide (PAR2-AP). AH-6809 (an inhibitor of PGE2 receptors 1 [EP1] and 2 [EP2]), but not ONO-AE3-208 (a PGE2 receptor 4 [EP4] inhibitor), reversed the inhibitory effects of PGE2 on PAR2-AP-induced ERK phosphorylation. Studies on PAR2 expression revealed that PGE2 suppressed cell surface expression of PAR2 and induced internalization of PAR2, and not PAR4, in N2a mouse neuroblastoma cells that were transiently transfected with either PAR2 or PAR4. Furthermore, forskolin, an adenylate cyclase activator, induced PAR2 internalization and inhibited PAR2-AP-induced phosphorylation of ERK. Because EP2 (not EP1) also increases intracellular cyclic AMP, we conclude that PGE2 inhibited PAR2-dependent signal transduction by inducing the internalization of PAR2 through an EP2-dependent increase in intracellular cyclic AMP. This novel regulatory pathway in which PAR2 function is regulated by PGE2 will broaden our understanding of PAR2-dependent inflammation and could provide novel strategies for drug development.

P.2.f.004 Lithium's behavioural effects are not dependent on cellular proliferation: implications for its therapeutic mechanism of action

Lithium, a drug used for the treatment of bipolar disorder, has been shown to affect different aspects of neuronal development such as neuritogenesis, neurogenesis and survival. The underlying mechanism responsible for lithium's influence on neuronal development, however, still remains to be elucidated. In the present study, we demonstrate that lithium increases the phosphorylation of extracellular-signal regulated kinases (ERKs) and protein kinase B (Akt) and promotes neurite outgrowth in mouse N2a neuroblastoma cells (N2a). The inactivation of mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK)/ERKs signaling with a MEK inhibitor inhibits neurite outgrowth, but it enhances Akt activation in lithium-treated N2a cells. Furthermore, the inactivation of phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt signaling with a PI3K inhibitor increases both lithium-induced ERKs activation and lithium-induced neurite outgrowth. Taken together, our study suggests that lithium-induced neurite outgrowth in N2a cells is regulated by cross-talk between the MEK/ERKs and PI3K/Akt pathways and requires the activation of the MEK/ERKs signaling.

The APP intracellular domain (AICD) inhibits Wnt signalling and promotes neurite outgrowth

β- and γ-secretase cleave the amyloid precursor protein (APP) to release the amyloidogenic β-amyloid peptides (Aβ) and the APP intracellular domain (AICD). Aβ has been widely believed to initiate pathogenic cascades culminating in Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, the physiological functions of the AICD remain elusive. In this study, we found the AICD to strongly inhibit Wnt-induced transcriptional reporter activity, and to counteract Wnt-induced c-Myc expression. Loss of the AICD resulted in an increased responsiveness to Wnt/β-catenin-mediated transcription. Mechanically, the AICD was found to interact with glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta (GSK3β) and promote its kinase activity. The subsequent AICD-strengthened Axin–GSK3β complex potentiates β-catenin poly-ubiquitination. Functional studies in N2a mouse neuroblastoma cells, rat pheochromocytoma PC12 cells and primary neurons showed that the AICD facilitated neurite outgrowth. And AICD antagonised Wnt3a-suppressed growth arrest and neurite outgrowth in N2a and PC12 cells. Taken together, our results identify the AICD as a novel inhibitory factor of the canonical Wnt signalling pathway and suggest its regulatory role in neuronal cell proliferation and differentiation.