Hyperosmotic stress-induced apoptosis and tau phosphorylation in human neuroblastoma cells

Identification of Novel Kinases of Tau Using Fluorescence Complementation Mass Spectrometry (FCMS)

Hyperphosphorylation of the microtubule-associated protein Tau is a major hallmark of Alzheimer's disease and other tauopathies. Understanding the protein kinases that phosphorylate Tau is critical for the development of new drugs that target Tau phosphorylation. At present, the repertoire of the Tau kinases remains incomplete, and methods to uncover novel upstream protein kinases are still limited. Here, we apply our newly developed proteomic strategy, fluorescence complementation mass spectrometry, to identify novel kinase candidates of Tau. By constructing Tau- and kinase-fluorescent fragment library, we detected 59 Tau-associated kinases, including 23 known kinases of Tau and 36 novel candidate kinases. In the validation phase using in vitro phosphorylation, among 15 candidate kinases we attempted to purify and test, four candidate kinases, OXSR1 (oxidative-stress responsive gene 1), DAPK2 (death-associated protein kinase 2), CSK (C-terminal SRC kinase), and ZAP70 (zeta chain of T-cell receptor-associated protein kinase 70), displayed the ability to phosphorylate Tau in time-course experiments. Furthermore, coexpression of these four kinases along with Tau increased the phosphorylation of Tau in human neuroglioma H4 cells. We demonstrate that fluorescence complementation mass spectrometry is a powerful proteomic strategy to systematically identify potential kinases that can phosphorylate Tau in cells. Our discovery of new candidate kinases of Tau can present new opportunities for developing Alzheimer's disease therapeutic strategies.

Cross-Interplay between Osmolytes and mTOR in Alzheimer's Disease Pathogenesis

Alzheimer's disease, categorized by the piling of amyloid-β (Aβ), hyperphosphorylated tau, PHFs, NFTs and mTOR hyperactivity, is a neurodegenerative disorder, affecting people across the globe. Osmolytes are known for osmoprotectants and play a pivotal role in protein folding, function and protein stability, thus, preventing proteins aggregation, and counteracting effects of denaturing solutes on proteins. Osmolytes (viz., sorbitol, inositol, and betaine) perform a pivotal function of maintaining homeostasis during hyperosmotic stress. The selective advantage of utilising osmolytes over inorganic ions by cells is in maintaining cell volume without compromising cell function, which is important for organs such as the brain. Osmolytes have been documented not only as neuroprotectors but they also seem to act as neurodegenerators. Betaine, sucrose and trehalose supplementation has been seen to induce autophagy thereby inhibiting the accumulation of Aβ. In contrast, sucrose has also been associated with mTOR hyperactivity, a hallmark of AD pathology. The neuroprotective action of taurine is revealed when taurine supplementation is seen to inhibit neural damage, apoptosis and oxidative damage. Inositol stereoisomers (viz., scyllo-inositol and myo-inositol) have also been seen to inhibit Aβ production and plaque formation in the brain, inhibiting AD pathogenesis. However, TMAO affects the aging process adversely by deregulating the mTOR signalling pathway and then kindling cognitive dysfunction via degradation of chemical synapses and synaptic plasticity. Thus, it can be concluded that osmolytes may act as a probable therapeutic approach for neurodevelopmental disorders. Here, we have reviewed and focussed upon the impact of osmolytes on mTOR signalling pathway and thereby its role in AD pathogenesis.

JNK signaling pathway regulates sorbitol-induced Tau proteolysis and apoptosis in SH-SY5Y cells by targeting caspase-3

Growing evidence suggests that Diabetes Mellitus increases the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. It is well known that hyperglycemia, a key feature of Diabetes Mellitus, may induce plasma osmolarity disturbances. Both hyperglycemia and hyperosmolarity promote the altered post-translational regulation of microtubule-associated protein Tau. Interestingly, abnormal hyperphosphorylation and cleavage of Tau have been proven to lead to the genesis of filamentous structures referred to as neurofibrillary tangles, the main pathological hallmark of Alzheimer's disease. We have previously described that hyperosmotic stress induced by sorbitol promotes Tau proteolysis and apoptosis in SH-SY5Y cells via caspase-3 activation. In order to gain insights into the regulatory mechanisms of such processes, in this work we explored the intracellular signaling pathways that regulate these events. We found that sorbitol treatment significantly enhanced the activation of conventional families of MAPK in SH-SY5Y cells. Tau proteolysis was completely prevented by JNK inhibition but not affected by either ERK1/2 or p38 MAPK blockade. Moreover, inhibition of JNK, but not ERK1/2 or p38 MAPK, efficiently prevented sorbitol-induced apoptosis and caspase-3 activation. In summary, we provide evidence that JNK signaling pathway is an upstream regulator of hyperosmotic stress-induced Tau cleavage and apoptosis in SH-SY5Y through the control of caspase-3 activation.

Brain Formaldehyde is Related to Water Intake behavior

A promising strategy for the prevention of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the identification of age-related changes that place the brain at risk for the disease. Additionally, AD is associated with chronic dehydration, and one of the significant changes that are known to result in metabolic dysfunction is an increase in the endogenous formaldehyde (FA) level. Here, we demonstrate that the levels of uric formaldehyde in AD patients were markedly increased compared with normal controls. The brain formaldehyde levels of wild-type C57 BL/6 mice increased with age, and these increases were followed by decreases in their drinking frequency and water intake. The serum arginine vasopressin (AVP) concentrations were also maintained at a high level in the 10-month-old mice. An intravenous injection of AVP into the tail induced decreases in the drinking frequency and water intake in the mice, and these decreases were associated with increases in brain formaldehyde levels. An ELISA assay revealed that the AVP injection increased both the protein level and the enzymatic activity of semicarbazide-sensitive amine oxidase (SSAO), which is an enzyme that produces formaldehyde. In contrast, the intraperitoneal injection of formaldehyde increased the serum AVP level by increasing the angiotensin II (ANG II) level, and this change was associated with a marked decrease in water intake behavior. These data suggest that the interaction between formaldehyde and AVP affects the water intake behaviors of mice. Furthermore, the highest concentration of formaldehyde in vivo was observed in the morning. Regular water intake is conducive to eliminating endogenous formaldehyde from the human body, particularly when water is consumed in the morning. Establishing good water intake habits not only effectively eliminates excess formaldehyde and other metabolic products but is also expected to yield valuable approaches to reducing the risk of AD prior to the onset of the disease.

Protective effects of osmolytes in cryopreserving adherent neuroblastoma (Neuro-2a) cells

A simple method to cryopreserve adherent monolayers of neuronal cells is currently not available, but the development of this technique could facilitate numerous applications in the field of biomedical engineering, cell line development, and drug screening. However, complex tissues of some exceptional animals survive freezing in nature. These animals are known to accumulate several small molecular weight solutes prior to freezing. Following a similar strategy, we investigated the effects of osmolytes such as trehalose, proline, and sucrose as additives to the traditional cryoprotectant dimethyl sulfoxide (Me2SO) in modulating the cryopreservation outcome of mouse neuroblastoma (Neuro-2a) cells. Neuro-2a cells adhered to cell culture plates were incubated for 24 h at varying concentrations of trehalose, proline, sucrose and combinations of these compounds. Cells were cryopreserved for 24 h and cell viability post-freezing and thawing was quantified by trypan blue exclusion assay. On average, only 13.5% of adherent cells survived freezing in the presence of 10% Me2SO alone (control). Pre-incubation of cells with medium containing both trehalose and proline severely decreased cell proliferation, but increased cell recovery to about 53% of control. Furthermore, characterization using Raman microspectroscopy revealed that the addition of both trehalose and proline to 10% Me2SO substantially increased the size, and altered the nature, of ice crystals formed during freezing. Our results suggest that pre-incubation of Neuro-2a cells with trehalose and proline in combination provides cell protection along with alterations of ice structure in order to increase cell survival post-freezing.

Chaperone roles for TMAO and HSP70 during hyposmotic stress in the spiny dogfish shark (Squalus acanthias)

Salinity decreases are experienced by many marine elasmobranchs. To understand how these fishes cope with hyposmotic stress on a cellular level, we used the spiny dogfish shark (Squalus acanthias) as a model to test whether a reciprocal relationship exists between the cell's two primary protein protection mechanisms, the chemical (e.g., trimethylamine oxide, TMAO) and molecular (e.g., heat shock protein 70, HSP70) chaperone systems. This relationship is interesting given that many elasmobranchs are expected to gain water and lose osmolytes, chemical chaperones, and ions as they osmoconform to new, lowered salinity. Dogfish were cannulated for repeated blood sampling and exposed to 70% seawater (SW) for 48 h. These hyposmotic conditions had no effect on red blood cell (RBC) and white muscle TMAO concentrations, and did not result in HSP70 induction or signs of protein damage (i.e., increased ubiquitin), suggesting that TMAO levels were sufficiently protective in these tissues. However, in the gill, we observed a significant decrease in TMAO concentration and a significant induction of HSP70 as well as signs of protein damage. In the face of this cellular stress response, gill Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase (NKA) activity significantly increased during hyposmotic conditions, as expected. We suggest that this functional preservation in the gill is partly the result of HSP70 induction with lowered salinity. We conclude a reciprocal relationship between TMAO and HSP70 in the gills of dogfish as a result of in vivo hyposmotic stress. When osmotically induced protein damage surpasses the protective capacity of remaining TMAO, HSP70 is induced to preserve tissue and organismal function.

Permissive effect of EGFR-activated pathways on RVI and their anti-apoptotic effect in hypertonicity-exposed mIMCD3 cells

Hypertonicity is a stressful stimulus leading to cell shrinkage and apoptotic cell death. Apoptosis can be prevented if cells are able to activate the mechanism of RVI (regulatory volume increase). This study in mIMCD3 cells presents evidence of a permissive role of the EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor) on RVI, achieved for the most part through the two main EGFR-triggered signalling chains, the MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase)/ERK (extracellular-signal-regulated kinase) and the PI3K (phosphoinositide 3-kinase)/Akt (also known as protein kinase B) pathways. Hyperosmotic solutions (450 mosM) made by addition of NaCl, increased EGFR phosphorylation, which is prevented by GM6001 and AG1478, blockers respectively, of MMPs (matrix metalloproteinases) and EGFR. Inhibition of EGFR, ERK (PD98059) or PI3K/Akt (wortmannin) phosphorylation reduced RVI by 60, 48 and 58% respectively. The NHE (Na+/H+ exchanger) seems to be the essential mediator of this effect since (i) NHE is the main contributor to RVI, (ii) EGFR, ERK and PI3K/Akt blockers added together with the NHE blocker zoniporide reduce RVI by non-additive effects and (iii) All the blockers significantly lowered the NHE rate in cells challenged by an NH4Cl pulse. Besides reducing RVI, the inhibition of MMP, EGFR and PI3K/Akt had a strong pro-apoptotic effect increasing cell death by 2–3.7-fold. This effect was significantly lower when RVI inhibition did not involve the EGFR-PI3K/Akt pathway. These results provide evidence that Akt and its permissive effect on RVI have a predominant influence on cell survival under hypertonic conditions in IMCD3 cells. This role of Akt operates under the influence of EGFR activation, promoted by MMP.

Hydration-sensitive gene expression in brain

Dehydration has a profound influence on neuroexcitability. The mechanisms remained, however, incompletely understood. The present study addressed the effect of water deprivation on gene expression in the brain. To this end, animals were exposed to a 24 hours deprivation of drinking water and neuronal gene expression was determined by microarray technology with subsequent confirmation by RT-PCR. As a result, water deprivation was followed by significant upregulation of clathrin (light polypeptide Lcb), serum/glucocorticoid-regulated kinase (SGK) 1, and protein kinase A (PRKA) anchor protein 8-like. Water deprivation led to downregulation of janus kinase and microtubule interacting protein 1, neuronal PAS domain protein 4, thrombomodulin, purinergic receptor P2Y - G-protein coupled 13 gene, gap junction protein beta 1, neurotrophin 3, hyaluronan and proteoglycan link protein 1, G protein-coupled receptor 19, CD93 antigen, forkhead box P1, suppressor of cytokine signaling 3, apelin, immunity-related GTPase family M, serine (or cysteine) peptidase inhibitor clade B member 1a, serine (or cysteine) peptidase inhibitor clade H member 1, glutathion peroxidase 8 (putative), discs large (Drosophila) homolog-associated protein 1, zinc finger and BTB domain containing 3, and H2A histone family member V. Western blotting revealed the downregulation of forkhead box P1, serine (or cysteine) peptidase inhibitor clade H member 1, and gap junction protein beta 1 protein abundance paralleling the respective alterations of transcript levels. In conclusion, water deprivation influences the transcription of a wide variety of genes in the brain, which may participate in the orchestration of brain responses to water deprivation.

Review of lithium effects on brain and blood

Clinicians have long used lithium to treat manic depression. They have also observed that lithium causes granulocytosis and lymphopenia while it enhances immunological activities of monocytes and lymphocytes. In fact, clinicians have long used lithium to treat granulocytopenia resulting from radiation and chemotherapy, to boost immunoglobulins after vaccination, and to enhance natural killer activity. Recent studies revealed a mechanism that ties together these disparate effects of lithium. Lithium acts through multiple pathways to inhibit glycogen synthetase kinase-3beta (GSK3 beta). This enzyme phosphorylates and inhibits nuclear factors that turn on cell growth and protection programs, including the nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) and WNT/beta-catenin. In animals, lithium upregulates neurotrophins, including brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), nerve growth factor, neurotrophin-3 (NT3), as well as receptors to these growth factors in brain. Lithium also stimulates proliferation of stem cells, including bone marrow and neural stem cells in the subventricular zone, striatum, and forebrain. The stimulation of endogenous neural stem cells may explain why lithium increases brain cell density and volume in patients with bipolar disorders. Lithium also increases brain concentrations of the neuronal markers n-acetyl-aspartate and myoinositol. Lithium also remarkably protects neurons against glutamate, seizures, and apoptosis due to a wide variety of neurotoxins. The effective dose range for lithium is 0.6-1.0 mM in serum and >1.5 mM may be toxic. Serum lithium levels of 1.5-2.0 mM may have mild and reversible toxic effects on kidney, liver, heart, and glands. Serum levels of >2 mM may be associated with neurological symptoms, including cerebellar dysfunction. Prolonged lithium intoxication >2 mM can cause permanent brain damage. Lithium has low mutagenic and carcinogenic risk. Lithium is still the most effective therapy for depression. It "cures" a third of the patients with manic depression, improves the lives of about a third, and is ineffective in about a third. Recent studies suggest that some anticonvulsants (i.e., valproate, carbamapazine, and lamotrigene) may be useful in patients that do not respond to lithium. Lithium has been reported to be beneficial in animal models of brain injury, stroke, Alzheimer's, Huntington's, and Parkinson's diseases, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), spinal cord injury, and other conditions. Clinical trials assessing the effects of lithium are under way. A recent clinical trial suggests that lithium stops the progression of ALS.

A systematic review of existing data on long-term lithium therapy: neuroprotective or neurotoxic?

Lithium is an efficacious agent for the treatment of bipolar disorder, but it is unclear to what extent its long-term use may result in neuroprotective or toxic consequences. Medline was searched with the combination of the word 'Lithium' plus key words that referred to every possible effect on the central nervous system. The papers were further classified into those supporting a neuroprotective effect, those in favour of a neurotoxic effect and those that were neutral. The papers were classified into research in humans, animal and in-vitro research, case reports, and review/opinion articles. Finally, the Natural Standard evidence-based validated grading rationale was used to validate the data. The Medline search returned 970 papers up to February 2006. Inspection of the abstracts supplied 214 papers for further reviewing. Eighty-nine papers supported the neuroprotective effect (6 human research, 58 animal/in vitro, 0 case reports, 25 review/opinion articles). A total of 116 papers supported the neurotoxic effect (17 human research, 23 animal/in vitro, 60 case reports, 16 review/opinion articles). Nine papers supported no hypothesis (5 human research, 3 animal/in vitro, 0 case reports, 1 review/opinion articles). Overall, the grading suggests that the data concerning the effect of lithium therapy is that of level C, that is 'unclear or conflicting scientific evidence' since there is conflicting evidence from uncontrolled non-randomized studies accompanied by conflicting evidence from animal and basic science studies. Although more papers are in favour of the toxic effect, the great difference in the type of papers that support either hypothesis, along with publication bias and methodological issues make conclusions difficult. Lithium remains the 'gold standard' for the prophylaxis of bipolar illness, however, our review suggests that there is a rare possibility of a neurotoxic effect in real-life clinical practice even in closely monitored patients with 'therapeutic' lithium plasma levels. It is desirable to keep lithium blood levels as low as feasible with prophylaxis.

Sorbitol-induced apoptosis of human leukemia is mediated by caspase activation and cytochrome c release

It has been reported that sorbitol induces apoptosis in several cancer cell lines. However, the molecular mechanism underlying the sorbitol-induced apoptotic process is not yet clearly understood. In the present study, the intracellular signaling pathways of sorbitol-induced apoptosis in human K562 cells were investigated using both morphological analysis and DNA fragmentation technique. In this study, we demonstrated that sorbitol-induced apoptosis in human K562 cells is a concentration- and time-dependent manner. This sorbitol-induced apoptosis in human K562 cells was also accompanied by the up-regulation of Bax, and down-regulation of p-Bcl-2, but no effect on the levels of Bcl-X(L). Moreover, the sorbitol treatment resulted in a significant reduction of mitochondria membrane potential, increase in the release of mitochondrial cytochrome c (cyt c), and activation of caspase 3. Furthermore, treatment with caspase 3 inhibitor (z-DEVD-fmk) was capable of preventing the sorbitol-induced caspase 3 activity and cell death. These results clearly demonstrate that the induction of apoptosis by sorbitol involves multiple cellular/molecular pathways and strongly suggest that pro- and anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 family proteins, mitochondrial membrane potential, mitochondrial cyt c, and caspase 3, they all participate in sorbitol-induced apoptotic process in human K562 cells.

Glia maturation factor overexpression in neuroblastoma cells activates glycogen synthase kinase-3beta and caspase-3

In the present study we report that a replication-defective adenovirus construct of GMF cDNA (GMF-V) induced overexpression of GMF protein in neuroblastoma (N18) cells caused cytotoxicity and loss of cell viability. A significant increase in activation of GSK-3beta occurred after infection with GMF-V when compared with mock and lacZ controls. Overexpression of GMF also increased caspase-3 activity, an early marker of apoptosis. Depletion of GMF gene by introducing GMF-specific siRNA (GsiRNA) completely blocked both activation of GSK-3beta and caspase-3 activation whereas a control scrambled siRNA (CsiRNA) had no effect. A cell-permeable peptide inhibitor of GSK-3beta, and lithium completely prevented GMF-dependent activation of caspase-3. These results demonstrate that GSK-3 mediates activation of the death domain caspase by GMF overexpression. We also show that the phosphorylation of GSK-3-dependent site of Tau was a consequence of GMF-overexpression in N18 cells. Taken together our results imply that GMF is involved in the signaling leading to the activation of GSK-3beta and caspase-3 in N18 cells and strongly suggest its involvement in neurodegeneration since GSK-3beta is known to hyperphosphorylate tau which is associated with the neurotoxicity of neurofibrillary tangles in Alzheimer's disease.

Reactive oxygen and nitrogen species are involved in sorbitol-induced apoptosis of human erithroleukaemia cells K562

In this study, we found that production of both reactive oxygen (ROS) and nitrogen (RNS) species is a very early event related to treatment with hyperosmotic concentration of sorbitol. The production of nitric oxide (NO) was paralleled by the increase of the mRNA and protein level of the inducible form of the nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). ROS and RNS enhancement, process concomitant to the failure of mitochondrial trans-membrane potential (DeltaPsi), was necessary for the induction of apoptosis as demonstrated by the protection against sorbitol-mediated toxicity observed after treatment with ROS scavengers or NOS inhibitors. The synergistic action of ROS and RNS was finally demonstrated by pre-treatment with rosmarinic acid that, by powerfully buffering both these species, prevents impairment of DeltaPsi and cell death. Overall results suggest that the occurrence of apoptosis upon sorbitol treatment is an event mediated by oxidative/nitrosative stress rather than a canonical hyperosmotic shock.

Phosphorylation of HSP27 and synthesis of 14-3-3ε are parallel responses to hyperosmotic stress in the hippocampus

A stress-responsive, mitogen-activated protein kinase, p38, is activated by phosphorylation in response to adverse environmental insults. In the present study, the effects of hyperosmolarity on p38 activation and protein synthesis in the brain were examined. Hyperosmotic stress of rat brain slices, produced by addition of sorbitol to the incubation buffer, produced prolonged phosphorylation and activation of p38, most prominently in the hippocampus as compared to the cortex or cerebellum. In comparison, the prototypic mitogen-activated protein kinase, extracellular signal-regulated kinase, was transiently phosphorylated and another stress-activated protein kinase, c-Jun NH(2)-terminal kinase, was not phosphorylated above basal levels. Examination of downstream p38 signaling events revealed phosphorylation of the small heat shock protein 27 (HSP27) that was abolished by incubation with SB202190 [4-(4-Fluorophenyl)-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-5-(4-pyridyl)1H-imidazole], a p38 inhibitor. Concomitantly, hyperosmolarity diminished total levels of protein synthesis within hippocampal slices, as determined by incorporation of (35)S-labeled methionine/cysteine into protein during tissue incubation. However, synthesis of a 30-kDa protein, identified as 14-3-3epsilon with mass spectrometry, increased in response to hyperosmolarity. The synthesis of 14-3-3epsilon was dose-dependently induced by increasingly hyperosmotic conditions in a p38-independent manner. We conclude from these results that 14-3-3epsilon synthesis and p38-mediated HSP27 phosphorylation in the hippocampus are parallel responses to the hyperosmotic environment.

Hypertonic shock inhibits growth factor receptor signaling, induces caspase-3 activation, and causes reversible fragmentation of the mitochondrial network

Hyperosmotic stress can be encountered by the kidney and the skin, as well as during treatment of acute brain damage. It can lead to cell cycle arrest or apoptosis. Exactly how mammalian cells detect hyperosmolarity and how the cell chooses between cell cycle arrest or death remains to be established. It has been proposed that hyperosmolarity is detected directly by growth factor receptor protein tyrosine kinases. To investigate this, we tested whether growth factors and osmotic stress cooperate in the activation of signaling pathways. Receptors responded normally to the presence of growth factors, and we observed normal levels of GTP-bound Ras under hyperosmotic conditions. In contrast, activation of Raf, Akt, ERK1, ERK2, and c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase was strongly reduced. These observations suggest that hyperosmotic conditions block signaling directly downstream of active Ras. It is thought that apoptotic cell death due to environmental stress is initiated by cytochrome c release from the mitochondria. Visualization of cytochrome c using immunofluorescence showed that hypertonic conditions result in a breakup of the mitochondrial network, which is reestablished within 1 h after hypertonic medium is replaced with isotonic medium. When we carried out live imaging, we observed that the mitochondrial membrane potential disappeared immediately after the onset of hyperosmotic shock. Our observations provide new insights into the hypertonic stress response pathway. In addition, they show that signaling downstream of Ras and mitochondrial dynamics can easily be manipulated by the exposure of cells to hyperosmotic conditions.

Phosphorylation of tau at THR212 and SER214 in human neuronal and glial cultures: the role of AKT

We have reported recently that the microtubule-associated protein tau is phosphorylated in vitro by Akt, an important kinase in anti-apoptotic signaling regulated by insulin and growth factors. We also established that Akt phosphorylates tau separately at T212 and S214, two sites previously shown to be phosphorylated by glycogen synthase kinase 3beta (GSK3beta) and protein kinase A (PKA), respectively. In the present studies, we examined the relationship between Akt and T212/S214 in primary cultures of human neurons and astrocytes, and evaluated the contribution of two other kinases. In intact cells, we found a very low content of active (phospho-S473) form of Akt. We also found a low content of phospho-S214 but not phospho-T212 of tau, suggesting that only phospho-S212 may depend on Akt activity in situ. We upregulated Akt activity using two experimental models: treatment with a protein phosphatase inhibitor, okadaic acid, and transfection with a constitutively active Akt gene construct (c-Akt). Under these conditions, phosphorylation of tau at T212 and S214 was regulated independently, with little change or downregulation of phospho-T212 and dynamic upregulation of phospho-S214. Our studies revealed that Akt may influence the phospho-S214 content in a meaningful manner. They also revealed that PKA may only partially contribute to the phosphorylation of S214. In comparison, okadaic acid treatment severely depleted the content of GSK3beta and downregulated the remaining GSK3beta activity by Akt-dependent inhibition, consistent with minimal changes in phospho-T212. In summary, these results strongly suggest that in primary cultures, Akt selectively phosphorylates tau at S214 rather than T212. Our studies raise the possibility that tau S214 may participate in Akt-mediated anti-apoptotic signaling.

Involvement of ceramide in hyperosmotic shock-induced death of erythrocytes

Erythrocytes lack nuclei and mitochondria, the organelles important for apoptosis of nucleated cells. However, following increase of cytosolic Ca(2+) activity, erythrocytes undergo cell shrinkage, cell membrane blebbing and breakdown of phosphatidylserine asymmetry, all features typical for apoptosis in nucleated cells. The same events are observed following osmotic shock, an effect mediated in part by activation of Ca(2+)-permeable cation channels. However, erythrocyte death following osmotic shock is blunted but not prevented in the absence of extracellular Ca(2+) pointing to additional mechanisms. As shown in this study, osmotic shock (950 mOsm) triggers sphingomyelin breakdown and formation of ceramide. The stimulation of annexin binding following osmotic shock is mimicked by addition of ceramide or purified sphingomyelinase and significantly blunted by genetic (aSM-deficient mice) or pharmacologic (50 microM 3,4-dichloroisocoumarin) knockout of sphingomyelinase. The effect of ceramide is blunted but not abolished in the absence of Ca(2+). Conversely, osmotic shock-induced annexin binding is potentiated in the presence of sublethal concentrations of ceramide. In conclusion, ceramide and Ca(2+) entry through cation channels concert to trigger erythrocyte death during osmotic shock.

Role of N-terminal tau domain integrity on the survival of cerebellar granule neurons

Although the role of the microtubule-binding domain of the tau protein in the modulation of microtubule assembly is widely established, other possible functions of this protein have been poorly investigated. We have analyzed the effect of adenovirally mediated expression of two fragments of the N-terminal portion - free of microtubule-binding domain - of the tau protein in cerebellar granule neurons (CGNs). We found that while the expression of the tau (1-230) fragment, as well as of full-length tau, inhibits the onset of apoptosis, the tau (1-44) fragment exerts a powerful toxic action on the same neurons. The antiapoptotic action of tau (1-230) is exerted at the level of Akt-mediated activation of the caspase cascade. On the other hand, the toxic action of the (1-44) fragment is not prevented by inhibitors of CGN apoptosis, but is fully inhibited by NMDA receptor antagonists. These findings point to a novel, physiological role of the N-terminal domain of tau, but also underlay that its possible proteolytic truncation mediated by apoptotic proteases may generate a highly toxic fragment that could contribute to neuronal death.

In vitro cultured neurons for molecular studies correlating apoptosis with events related to Alzheimer disease

This short review analyses the possible molecular events linking a general program of death such as apoptosis to highly specific intracellular pathways involving the function and degradation of two proteins--tau and amyloid precursor protein--which in their aggregated state constitute the hallmark of Alzheimer disease. By surveying the recent studies carried out in 'in vitro' neuronal cultures--with special emphasis to cerebellar granule neurons--the apparent correlation between onset of apoptosis, tau cleavage with formation of potential toxic fragments, and activation of an amyloidogenic route are discussed. Within this framework, proteasomes seem to play a crucial role upstream of the proteolytic cascade involving calpain(s) and caspase(s) by contributing to tau and amyloid precursor protein-altered breakdown and consequent tendency to aggregation of their degradation fragments. Thus, apoptotic death due to altered supply of anti apoptotic agents, neurotrophic factors, deafferentiation or other causes, may constitute a major trigger of the onset of Alzheimer disease.

Mutant (R406W) human tau is hyperphosphorylated and does not efficiently bind microtubules in a neuronal cortical cell model

Frontotemporal dementia and Parkinsonism linked to chromosome 17 (FTDP-17) is an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorder caused by mutations in the gene that encodes for tau, a microtubule-binding protein. Neuropathologically the disease is characterized by extensive neuronal loss in the frontal and temporal lobes and the filamentous accumulation of hyperphosphorylated tau. The R406W missense mutation was originally described in an American and a Dutch family. Although R406W tau is hyperphosphorylated in FTDP-17 cases, R406W tau expressed in cell model systems has not shown increased phosphorylation. The purpose of this study was to establish a neuronal model system in which the phosphorylation of R406W tau is increased and thus more representative of the in vivo situation. To accomplish this goal immortalized mouse cortical cells that express low levels of endogenous tau were stably transfected with human wild type or R406W tau. In this neuronal model R406W tau was more highly phosphorylated at numerous epitopes and showed decreased microtubule binding compared with wild type tau, an effect that could be reversed by dephosphorylation. In addition the expression of R406W tau in the cortical cells resulted in increased cell death as compared with wild type tau-expressing cells when the cells were exposed to an apoptotic stressor. These results indicate that in an appropriate cellular context R406W tau is hyperphosphorylated, which leads to decreased microtubule binding. Furthermore, expression of R406W tau sensitized cells to apoptotic stress, which may contribute to the neuronal cell loss that occurs in this FTDP-17 tauopathy.

Hypertonic stress activates glycogen synthase kinase 3beta-mediated apoptosis of renal medullary interstitial cells, suppressing an NFkappaB-driven cyclooxygenase-2-dependent survival pathway

The survival of renal medullary interstitial cells (RMICs) requires their adaptation to rapid shifts in ambient tonicity normally occurring in the renal medulla. Previous studies determined that cyclooxygenase-2 (COX 2) activation is critical for this adaptation. The present studies find that these adaptive mechanisms are dampened by the simultaneous activation of an apoptotic pathway linked to a glycogen synthase kinase 3beta (GSK 3beta). Inhibition of GSK 3 by LiCl or specific small molecule GSK inhibitors increased RMIC survival following hypertonic stress, and transduction of RMICs with a constitutively active GSK 3beta (AdGSK 3betaA9) significantly increased apoptosis, consistent with a proapoptotic role of GSK 3beta. Following GSK 3beta inhibition, increased survival was accompanied by increased COX 2 expression and COX 2 reporter activity. In contrast, GSK 3beta overexpression reduced COX 2 reporter activity. Importantly, enhanced RMIC survival produced by GSK 3beta inhibition was completely dependent on COX 2 because it was abolished by a COX 2-specific inhibitor, SC58236. The signaling pathway by which GSK 3beta suppresses COX 2 expression was then explored. GSK 3beta inhibition increased both NFkappaB and beta-catenin activity associated with decreased IkappaB and increased beta-catenin levels. The increase in COX 2 following GSK 3beta inhibition was entirely blocked by NFkappaB inhibition using mutant IkappaB adenovirus. However, adenoviral overexpression of beta-catenin did not increase COX 2 levels. These findings suggest that GSK 3beta negatively regulates COX 2 expression and that GSK 3beta inhibitors protect RMICs from hypertonic stress via induction of NFkappaB-COX 2-dependent pathway.

Induction of apoptosis and cell cycle arrest by polyvinylpyrrolidone K-30 and protective effect of alpha-tocopherol

Polyvinylpyrrolidone is a macromolecular polymer with widespread use in industry as well as in medicine for various purposes. Its effect on cells cultured in vitro, however, has not been fully investigated. To elucidate this issue, we studied the influence of PVP K-30 on cultured HeLa cells. PVP K-30 treatment produced a dose- and time-dependent toxicity to HeLa cells. Cells exposed to PVP K-30 exhibited several morphological features of apoptosis. Gel electrophoresis of DNA from PVP K-30-treated cells showed typical apoptotic ladder. And flow cytometric analysis demonstrated that PVP K-30 induced cell cycle arrest at G2/M phase and the subsequent appearance of sub-G1 population. In addition, it was shown that procaspase-3 was activated in response to PVP K-30 treatment. We also found that alpha-tocopherol efficiently protected HeLa cells from PVP K-30 cytotoxicity. This is the first demonstration that PVP K-30 could induce apoptosis in HeLa cells and cell cycle arrest at G2/M phase, and that PVP K-30 toxicity could be attenuated by alpha-tocopherol.

Activation of PP2A-like phosphatase and modulation of tau phosphorylation accompany stress-induced apoptosis in cultured oligodendrocytes

In a number of neurodegenerative diseases, tau-positive glial cytoplasmic inclusions (GCIs), immunochemically labeled with antibodies to the small heat shock protein (HSP) alphaB-crystallin, occur in oligodendrocytes. The microtubule-associated protein tau is functionally modulated by phosphorylation. We have shown previously that oxidative stress (OS) and heat shock (HS) induce apoptotic cell death in oligodendrocytes. The present study was undertaken to test whether stress responses in oligodendrocytes cause abnormalities in the expression and posttranslational modification of tau proteins, and whether the dynamic phosphorylation and dephosphorylation of tau are involved in the pathogenesis of glial cells. Cultured rat brain oligodendrocytes were subjected to OS, exerted by hydrogen peroxide, or HS (44 degrees C, 30 min). Immunoblot analysis with a panel of phosphorylation-dependent antibodies shows that OS and HS caused the rapid dephosphorylation of tau proteins at multiple sites, before characteristic features of apoptosis were observed. Concomitantly, ERK1,2 (extracellular signal-regulated kinase) was activated. Tau phosphorylation and rephosphorylation after stress was mediated by glycogen synthase kinase 3beta (GSK-3beta), and not by ERK1,2 and could be suppressed by lithium chloride, a specific inhibitor of GSK-3beta. Stress-induced dephosphorylation could be mimicked by alkaline phosphatase and suppressed by the protein phosphatase inhibitor okadaic acid (OA), indicating that PP2A in oligodendrocytes is activated by stress. OA at low concentrations could prevent stress-induced DNA fragmentation, but eventually exerted cytotoxic effects. Hence, stress-induced activation of PP2A in oligodendrocytes and tau dephosphorylation constitute a major feature of the response to injury in these cells, which eventually undergo apoptotic cell death.

Multiple aspects of homocysteine neurotoxicity: glutamate excitotoxicity, kinase hyperactivation and DNA damage

Homocysteine (HC) is a neurotoxic amino acid that accumulates in several neurological disorders including Alzheimer's disease (AD). We examined the consequences of treatment of cultured murine cortical neurons with HC. Homocysteine-induced increases in cytosolic calcium, reactive oxygen species, phospho-tau immunoreactivity and externalized phosphatidyl serine (indicative of apoptosis). Homocysteine-induced calcium influx through NMDA channel activation, which stimulated glutamate excitotoxicity, as evidenced by treatment with antagonists of the NMDA channel and metabotropic glutamate receptors, respectively. The NMDA channel antagonist MK-801 reduced tau phosphorylation but not apoptosis after HC treatment, suggesting that HC-mediated apoptosis was not due to calcium influx. Apoptosis after HC treatment was reduced by co-treatment with 3-aminobenazmidine (3ab), an inhibitor of poly-ADP-ribosome polymerase (PARP), consistent with previous reports that ATP depletion by PARP-mediated repair of DNA strand breakage mediated HC-induced apoptosis. Treatment with 3ab did not reduce tau phosphorylation, however, therefore hyperphosphorylation of tau may not contribute to HC-induced apoptosis under these conditions. Inhibition of mitogen-activated protein kinase by co-treatment with the kinase inhibitor PD98059 inhibited tau phosphorylation but not apoptosis after HC treatment. HC accumulation reduces cellular levels of S-adenosyl methionine (SAM); co-treatment with SAM reduced apoptosis, suggesting that inhibition of critical methylation reactions may mediate HC-induced apoptosis. These findings indicate that HC compromises neuronal homeostasis by multiple, divergent routes.

Involvement of glycogen synthase kinase-3beta and tau phosphorylation in neuronal Golgi disassembly

The dissociation of the neuronal Golgi complex is a classical feature observed in neurodegenerative disorders including Alzheimer's disease. The goal of this study is to determine if the phosphorylation of tau protein is involved in neuronal Golgi disassembly. Primary cortical cultures were exposed to two Golgi toxins, brefeldin A (BFA) or nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA). Immunocytochemical studies using the anti58 k antibody revealed that Golgi disassembly started in exposed neurons a few minutes after treatment. BFA and NDGA induced a rapid and transient increase in tau phosphorylation in a site-specific manner on immunoblots. In addition, the increase in tau phosphorylation directly correlated with a transient dissociation of tau from the cytoskeleton and a decrease of the acetylated tubulin. Furthermore, the activity of glycogen synthase kinase-3beta (GSK-3beta) increased transiently, as demonstrated by the kinase activity assay and by immunoblottings of serine-9 and tyrosine-216 phosphorylated of GSK-3beta. A decrease of the Akt phosphorylated form was also shown. The increase in tau phosphorylation was inhibited by the GSK-3beta inhibitor, lithium. Finally, morphometric studies showed that lithium partially blocked the Golgi disassembly caused by BFA or NDGA. Together these findings indicate that GSK-3beta activity and tau phosphorylation state are involved in the maintenance of the neuronal Golgi organization.