Synergistic induction of pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) gene expression by nerve growth factor and PACAP in PC12 cells

Regulation of neurotrophic peptide expression in sympathetic neurons: quantitative analysis using radioimmunoassay and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction

The regulated expression of the peptide and transcript levels of the neurotrophic peptides, pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP), galanin and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) were examined in sympathetic neurons of the rat superior cervical ganglion (SCG). Real-time quantitative PCR methods were developed to assess modulation of neuronal peptide precursor protein transcript levels following experimental paradigms of neuropeptidergic plasticity. Oligonucleotide primer, fluorogenic probe and amplification conditions were optimized for maximal assay sensitivity. Depolarization of primary cultured sympathetic neurons stimulated PACAP, galanin, and VIP peptide contents and releases with differing magnitudes and temporal profiles. The rank order of increased neuronal peptide content paralleled the augmented peptide release (VIP>galanin>PACAP). Maximal cellular PACAP and VIP levels were achieved by 72 and 96 h, respectively; galanin levels did not plateau during the treatment period. PACAP transcript elevation was rapid and transient; PACAP mRNA expression diminished at longer depolarization times, which diverged markedly from the sustained high peptide production levels. By contrast, VIP and galanin mRNAs reached maximal levels at later times, and appeared to correlate more closely with peptide production. We previously described multiple proPACAP mRNA variants resulting from alternative 3' untranslated region cleavage and polyadenylation. The shorter depolarization-induced PACAP transcripts exhibit longer half-lives, suggesting that the short proPACAP mRNA variant may function to impart PACAP translational efficiency and sustain PACAP peptide production.

Fast-breaking results on the PACAP/VIP/secretin peptide family in chromaffin cells

The neuropeptide pituitary adenylyl cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) has been reported to be a potent regulator of chromaffin cell activity. In particular, PACAP stimulates catecholamine biosynthesis as well as the expression of various genes, including chromogranin A, neuropeptide Y, enkephalins, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide, and PACAP itself. The mechanisms involved in the effects of PACAP on chromaffin cells have been investigated using rat pheochromocytoma PC12 cells. This cell line turned out to be a suitable model in which to study the neurotrophic activities of PACAP. Recent studies using transgenic mice have shown that in the sympathoadrenal system, PACAP acts as an "emergency response" cotransmitter involved in the regulation of insulin-induced hypoglycemia.

Up-regulation of the PACAP type-1 receptor (PAC1) promoter by neurotrophins in rat PC12 cells and mouse cerebellar granule cells via the Ras/mitogen-activated protein kinase cascade

The pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide type-1 receptor (PAC1) has been involved in the survival and differentiation of neuroblasts during development. This study examined the effects of various neurotrophins on the activity of the mouse PAC1 promoter/luciferase reporter constructs in rat PC12 cells and in 8-day-old mouse cerebellar granule cells. In PC12 cells, both differentiating factors such as nerve growth factor (NGF) and mitogens such as epidermal growth factor (EGF) and insulin growth factor-1 (IGF-1) up-regulated PAC1 promoter activity by 2-4-fold in a concentration-dependent manner. Although PACAP differentiated the PC12 cells, it had no effect on the PAC1 promoter and antagonized the stimulatory effect of NGF. In cerebellar granule cells, IGF-1 and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) also stimulated the activity of the PAC1 promoter. NGF and IGF-1 increased endogenous PAC1 mRNA levels, and the NGF-induced up-regulation is the result of an increase in transcription from PAC1 promoter instead of an increase in mRNA stability. The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) kinase inhibitor, PD98059, prevented the transcriptional effects both in PC12 and cerebellar granule cells. Moreover, expression of dominant-negative Ras protein in PC12 cells also prevented the NGF effect. Our results show that the PAC1 promoter can be up-regulated by diverse neurotrophins via an MAPK-dependent pathway and suggest a role for the Ras protein.

Altered psychomotor behaviors in mice lacking pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP)

Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) has been conserved remarkably during evolution and is widely expressed in the mammalian brain. In Drosophila, mutation of the PACAP homologue results in behavioral defects, including impaired olfaction-associated learning and changes in ethanol sensitivity. Here, we report the generation of mice lacking the PACAP gene (PACAP(-/-)). PACAP(-/-) mice were born in the expected Mendelian ratios but had a high early-mortality rate. The surviving adult PACAP(-/-) mice displayed remarkable behavioral changes; they exhibited hyperactive and explosive jumping behaviors in an open field, increased exploratory behavior, and less anxiety in the elevated plus maze, emergence, and novel-object tests. Analysis of PACAP(-/-) mice brains revealed that the serotonin metabolite 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid was slightly decreased in the cortex and striatum compared with wild-type mice. The present study provides evidence that PACAP plays a previously uncharacterized role in the regulation of psychomotor behaviors.

Involvement of p38 MAP kinase pathway in the synergistic activation of PACAP mRNA expression by NGF and PACAP in PC12h cells

We have recently shown that in PC12 cells, PACAP and NGF synergistically increase PACAP gene transcription and mRNA level, and that the MAPK/ERK kinase inhibitor PD98059 blocks the PACAP mRNA expression induced by either PACAP or NGF, but not that induced by the combination, suggesting involvement of multiple signaling pathways. Here we show that the p38 MAPK inhibitor SB203580 almost completely inhibits the PACAP mRNA expression induced by PACAP alone or in combination with NGF. PACAP induces neurite outgrowth and potentiates NGF-induced neurite outgrowth in PC12h cells. Unlike the case for the PACAP mRNA expression, SB203580 did not affect, but PD98059 reduced, PACAP and NGF-induced neurite outgrowth. These results indicate that PACAP receptors are coupled to the p38 signaling pathway, and that p38 plays a key role in the regulation of PACAP gene expression, while ERK, but not p38, MAPK is involved in PACAP and NGF-induced neurite outgrowth.

Involvement of endogenous PACAP expression in the activity-dependent survival of mouse cerebellar granule cells

Membrane depolarization causes Ca2+ influx through L-type voltage-dependent calcium channels (L-VDCC), which promotes the activity-dependent survival of mouse cerebellar granule cells (CGCs). Although exogenously added pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide (PACAP) is effective in promoting the survival of CGCs, it is unknown whether PACAP is synthesized in CGCs and involved in the activity-dependent survival of CGCs. In this study, we found that the PACAP gene was activated in depolarized CGCs cultured at 25 mM KCl (high K+), independently of de novo protein synthesis. In addition, the PACAP immunoreactivity increased through the activation of L-VDCC in depolarized CGCs, indicating that PACAP is concomitantly produced with PACAP mRNA in an activity-dependent manner. Exogenously added PACAP attenuated the apoptosis of CGCs through a specific interaction with PACAP receptors. Furthermore, a PACAP receptor antagonist, PACAP(6-38), reduced the survival of CGCs at high K+. These findings indicate that endogenous PACAP production induced by Ca2+ signals exerts a survival effect on CGCs via PACAP receptors, which, at least in part, accounts for the activity-dependent survival of CGCs.

Desensitization, surface expression, and glycosylation of a functional, epitope-tagged type I PACAP (PAC(1)) receptor

To study desensitization and glycosylation of the type I pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) receptor (PAC(1)R), a hemagglutinin (HA) epitope was inserted within the N-terminal extracellular domain, allowing immunological detection of PAC(1)R both in intact and permeabilized cells. PAC(1)R was tagged without loss of functions in ligand binding and ligand-stimulated cAMP production. In transiently transfected COS-7 cells, PAC(1)R was localized both in the plasma membrane and the cytoplasm around the nucleus. By immunoblot analysis, the immunoreactive bands with relative molecular masses ranging from 45 to 70 kDa were detected in the membrane fractions of PAC(1)R-expressing COS-7 cells. Digestion of the membranes with endoglycosidase F or treatment of the cells with tunicamycin decreased the size of the receptor to major bands of smaller size (approximately 45 and 48 kDa), suggesting that these two forms of PAC(1)R represent core proteins. Flow cytometric analysis indicated that the agonist promoted a disappearance of cell surface receptor. In accordance with this observation, preexposure of cells to PACAP38 induced a desensitization of PAC(1)R to the agonist response, although it did not cause a reduction in PAC(1)R mRNA or protein level and even slightly elevated them. These results suggest that agonist-induced desensitization of PAC(1)R involves the receptor sequestration.