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Notes: The etiology of sporadic Parkinson's disease (PD) remains unknown. Increasing evidence has suggested a role for inflammation in the brain in the pathogenesis of PD. However, it has not been clearly demonstrated whether microglial activation, the most integral part of the brain inflammatory process, will result in a delayed and progressive degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in substantia nigra, a hallmark of PD. We report here that chronic infusion of an inflammagen lipopolysaccharide at 5 ng/h for 2 weeks into rat brain triggered a rapid activation of microglia that reached a plateau in 2 weeks, followed by a delayed and gradual loss of nigral dopaminergic neurons that began at between 4 and 6 weeks and reached 70% by 10 weeks. Further investigation of the underlying mechanism of action of microglia-mediated neurotoxicity using rat mesencephalic neuron-glia cultures demonstrated that low concentrations of lipopolysaccharide (0.1–10 ng/mL)-induced microglial activation and production of neurotoxic factors preceded the progressive and selective degeneration of dopaminergic neurons. Among the factors produced by activated microglia, the NADPH oxidase-mediated release of superoxide appeared to be a predominant effector of neurodegeneration, consistent with the notion that dopaminergic neurons are particularly vulnerable to oxidative insults. This is the first report that microglial activation induced by chronic exposure to inflammagen was capable of inducing a delayed and selective degeneration of nigral dopaminergic neurons and that microglia-originated free radicals play a pivotal role in dopaminergic neurotoxicity in this inflammation-mediated model of PD.

Notes: Abstract: The present investigation examined the effects of neonatal and adult 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-induced lesions of dopaminergic neurons on opioid and tachykinin peptides and their gene expression in the rat basal ganglia. This work was undertaken to determine if changes in these neuropeptide systems were contributing to the differing behavioral responses observed between neonatally and adult-lesioned rats after dopamine agonist administration. [Met5]Enkephalin (ME) content was increased in striatal tissue from both 6-OHDA-lesioned groups when compared with unlesioned controls. Dynorphin-A (1–8) content was not altered by the 6-OHDA lesions. The tachykinin peptides substance P and neurokinin A were significantly decreased in level in the striatum and substantia nigra of neonatally lesioned rats, but not in the adult-lesioned rats, when compared with unlesioned controls. Proenkephalin mRNA abundance (quantified by an RNA-cDNA hybridization technique) and precursor level (as reflected by cryptic ME content) were increased in the striatum of both neonatally and adult-lesioned rats. The abundance of preprotachykinin mRNA coding for the tachykinin peptides was markedly decreased in the neonatally lesioned rats, whereas only a small reduction was observed in the adult-lesioned rats. These results suggest that destruction of dopamine-containing terminals with 6-OHDA elevates the level of ME by accelerating transcriptional and/or translational processes; conversely, the reduced content of tachykinins in neonatally lesioned rats may be due to a reduction in such processes. Thus, preproenkephalin-A and preprotachykinin gene expression are differentially regulated after lesioning of catecholamine-containing neurons, an observation suggesting a close functional relationship among these neurotransmitter systems. Furthermore, of the peptides studied, only levels of the tachykinin peptides were differentially altered in the striatum and substantia nigra of the neonatally lesioned rats compared with adult-lesioned rats; therefore, these peptides may be associated with the distinctive behavioral differences between neonatally and adult 6-OHDA-lesioned rats given dopamine agonists.

Notes: Abstract: Previous studies from our laboratory suggest that protein kinase C (PKC) is involved in the angiotensin II (AII)-induced increase in the expression of genes encoding proen-kephalin and catecholamine biosynthesizing enzymes in primary cultured bovine adrenal medullary (BAM) cells. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of [Sar1]-AII (S1-AII), an AII agonist, on PKC activity in BAM cells. Thirty-minute incubation with S1-AII produced a dose-dependent activation of PKC. The particulate PKC activity was significantly increased by 2 nM S1-AII after both 30 min and 12 h of incubation. A high concentration of S1-AII (200 nM) caused an increase in particulate PKC activity after 30 min of incubation and this increase was still observed after 18 h of continuous incubation. [Sar1,Thr8]-angiotensin II (S1,T8-AII) (100 μM), an AII antagonist, inhibited the effect of S1-AII (20 nM) on PKC activity, suggesting a specific AII receptor-mediated effect. An increase in BAM cell particulate PKC immunoreactivity after 18 h of S1-AII treatment was observed in Western blot analysis of PKC-immunoreactive protein (82 kDa). The persistent activation of PKC seen in this study is consistent with our hypothesis that PKC may mediate the S1-AII-induced increase in the expression of genes encoding proenkephalin and catecholamine synthesizing enzymes in BAM cells.

Notes: Abstract: We have previously reported that arachidonic acid (AA) increases the long-term secretion of [Met5]-enkephalin (ME) and the expression of proenkephalin A (proENK) mRNA in bovine adrenal medullary chromaffin (BAMC) cells. To characterize the underlying signal transductional mechanisms for the AA-induced responses, the interactions of AA with several second messenger systems were studied. Long-term (24-h) treatment with AA (100 µM) increased both the secretion of ME and the expression of proENK mRNA. Pretreatment of BAMC cells with nimodipine (1 µM), but not with ω-conotoxin GVIA (1 µM), inhibited the secretion of ME and the expression of proENK mRNA induced by AA. Calmidazolium (1 µM), a calmodulin antagonist, also significantly inhibited AA-induced responses. However, a protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor, sphingosine (36 µM), was ineffective in blocking AA-induced responses. In addition, the down-regulation of PKC by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (0.1 µM) for 48 h did not inhibit the AA-induced responses. Forskolin (5 µM), an adenyl cyclase activator, alone increased the secretion of ME as well as proENK mRNA levels and, when coincubated with AA, showed an additive effect on the secretion of ME and the levels of proENK mRNA. The results suggest that the Ca2+/calmodulin pathway, but not the protein kinase A or PKC pathway, is partially involved in mediating the AA-induced increases of the long-term secretion of ME and the levels of proENK mRNA.

Notes: Abstract: We have studied the effect of [Sar1]angiotensin II [S1-AII; a degradation-resistant analogue of angiotensin II (All)] on the release of [Met5]enkephalin (ME) and proenkephalin A (proENK) gene expression. Short-term (15-min to 1-h) stimulation of bovine adrenal medullary chromaffin (BAMC) cells with S1-AII at concentrations from 0.1 to 100 nM had no significant effect on secretion of ME, whereas high concentrations of S1-AII (3 to 100 μM) produced a concentration-dependent increase in the concentration of ME in the incubation media. In contrast, long-term (3- to 24-h) stimulation with low concentrations (0.1 nM-1μM) of S1-AII increased the secretion of ME in a concentration-dependent manner (EC50= 1 nM). The intracellular level of ME was not changed by long-term treatment with S1-AII (100 nM). In addition to increased ME secretion, long-term (24-h) stimulation with S1-AII increased the expression of proENK mRNA in a concentration-dependent manner (EC50= 4 nM). Losartan (2-n-butyl-4 chloro-5-hydroxy-methyl-l-[(2′-(l H-tetrazol-5-yl)biphenyl-4-yl)-meth-yl]imidazole potassium salt, a type 1 All receptor antagonist inhibited these effects, whereas PD123319 (50 μM, a type 2 All receptor antagonist) was inactive. Our results suggest that All in BAMC cells exerts a major effect on the long-term regulation of expression of proENK mRNA and secretion of ME. These effects appear to be mediated by type 1-like All receptors.

Notes: The purpose of this study was to assess and compare the toxicity of β-amyloid (Aβ) on primary cortical and mesencephalic neurons cultured with and without microglia in order to determine the mechanism underlying microglia-mediated Aβ-induced neurotoxicity. Incubation of cortical or mesencephalic neuron-enriched and mixed neuron–glia cultures with Aβ(1–42) over the concentration range 0.1–6.0 μm caused concentration-dependent neurotoxicity. High concentrations of Aβ (6.0 μm for cortex and 1.5–2.0 μm for mesencephalon) directly injured neurons in neuron-enriched cultures. In contrast, lower concentrations of Aβ (1.0–3.0 μm for cortex and 0.25–1.0 μm for mesencephalon) caused significant neurotoxicity in mixed neuron–glia cultures, but not in neuron- enriched cultures. Several lines of evidence indicated that microglia mediated the potentiated neurotoxicity of Aβ, including the observations that low concentrations of Aβ activated microglia morphologically in neuron–glia cultures and that addition of microglia to cortical neuron–glia cultures enhanced Aβ-induced neurotoxicity. To search for the mechanism underlying the microglia-mediated effects, several proinflammatory factors were examined in neuron–glia cultures. Low doses of Aβ significantly increased the production of superoxide anions, but not of tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1β or nitric oxide. Catalase and superoxide dismutase significantly protected neurons from Aβ toxicity in the presence of microglia. Inhibition of NADPH oxidase activity by diphenyleneiodonium also prevented Aβ-induced neurotoxicity in neuron–glia mixed cultures. The role of NADPH oxidase-generated superoxide in mediating Aβ-induced neurotoxicity was further substantiated by a study which showed that Aβ caused less of a decrease in dopamine uptake in mesencephalic neuron–glia cultures from NADPH oxidase-deficient mutant mice than in that from wild-type controls. This study demonstrates that one of the mechanisms by which microglia can enhance the neurotoxicity of Aβ is via the production of reactive oxygen species.

Notes: Abstract: Systemic administration of kainic acid (KA), an analogue of glutamic acid, causes limbic seizures and pathophysiological changes in adult rats that are very similar to human temporal lobe epilepsy. One of the earliest changes in gene expression after treatment with KA is the induction of immediate-early genes. The fos and jun families are frequently studied immediate-early genes that are induced by KA. Several groups, including ours, have recently reported that a 35-kDa Fos-related antigen (FRA) is induced for a protracted time by various stimuli. It has been suggested that this FRA is ΔFosB, which has a molecular mass of ∼35 kDa. The present study characterizes the long-term expression of FRA and ΔFosB after systemic treatment with KA. Immunocytochemistry and western blot analysis using an antibody that cross-reacts with all known FRAs showed that a 35-kDa FRA was induced at high levels in both the hippocampus and striatum for up to 1 month by KA. A semi-quantitative PCR analysis showed that ΔFosB was induced by KA, but its expression lasted for only 6 h. This result was also verified by northern blot analysis. These results suggested that the 35-kDa FRA with long-term elevated levels seen with western blot analysis and immunocytochemistry is a new species of the FRA and not ΔFosB. The long-term expression of FRA in both the hippocampus and striatum may be associated with the pathophysiological changes after KA administration.

Notes: Microglia, the resident immune cells in the brain, play a pivotal role in immune surveillance, host defense, and tissue repair in the CNS. In response to immunological challenges, microglia readily become activated as characterized by morphological changes, expression of surface antigens, and production of immune modulators that impact on neurons to induce neurodegeneration. However, little is known concerning the fate of activated microglia. In the present study, stimulation of cultured rat primary microglia with 1 ng/mL of the inflammagen lipopolysaccharide (LPS) resulted in a maximal activation as measured by the release of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα). However, treatment with higher concentrations of LPS resulted in significantly lower quantities of detectable TNFα. Further analysis revealed that overactivation of microglia with higher concentrations of LPS (〉 1 ng/mL) resulted in a time- and dose-dependent apoptotic death of microglia as defined by DNA strand breaks, surface expression of apoptosis-specific markers (phosphatidylserine), and activation of caspase-3. In contrast, astrocytes were insensitive to LPS-induced cytotoxicity. In light of the importance of microglia and the limited replenishment mechanism, depletion of microglia from the brain may severely hamper its capacity for combating inflammatory challenges and tissue repair. Furthermore, overactivation-induced apoptosis of microglia may be a fundamental self-regulatory mechanism devised to limit bystander killing of vulnerable neurons.

Notes: The microenvironment of the CNS has been considered to tonically inhibit glial activities. It has been shown that glia become activated where neuronal death occurs in the aging brain. We have previously demonstrated that neurons tonically inhibit glial activities including their responses to the bacterial endotoxin lipopolysaccharide (LPS). It is not clear whether activation of glia, especially microglia in the aging brain, is the consequence of disinhibition due to neuronal death. This study was designed to determine if glia regain their responsiveness to LPS once the neurons have died in aged cultures. When cultured alone, glia from postnatal day one rat mesencephalons stimulated with LPS (0.1–1000 ng/mL) produced both nitric oxide (NO) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα), yielding a sigmoid and a bell-shaped curve, respectively. When neuron-containing cultures were prepared from embryonic day 14/15 mesencephalons, the shape of the dose–response curve for NO was monotonic and the bell-shaped curve for TNFα production was shifted to the right. After 1 month of culture under conditions where neurons die, the production curves for NO and TNFα in LPS-stimulated glia shifted back to the left compared to mixed neuron–glia cultures. Immunostaining of rat microglia for the marker CR3 (the receptor for complement component C3) demonstrated that high concentrations of LPS (1 µg/mL) reduced the number of microglia in mixed-glial cultures. In contrast, reduction of CR3 immunostaining was not observed in LPS-stimulated mixed neuron–glia cultures. Taken together, the results demonstrate that disinhibition of the glial response to LPS occurs after neurons die in aged cultures. Once neurons have died, the responsiveness of glia to LPS is restored. Neurons prevented injury to microglia by reducing their responsiveness to LPS. This study broadens our understanding of the ways in which the CNS microenvironment affects cerebral inflammation.

Notes: We determined the roles of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and the production of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated microglia. LPS treatment increased intracellular ROS in rat microglia dose-dependently. Pre-treatment with superoxide dismutase (SOD)/catalase, or SOD/catalase mimetics that can scavenge intracellular ROS, significantly attenuated LPS-induced release in PGE2. Diphenylene iodonium (DPI), a non-specific NADPH oxidase inhibitor, decreased LPS-induced PGE2 production. In addition, microglia from NADPH oxidase-deficient mice produced less PGE2 than those from wild-type mice following LPS treatment. Furthermore, LPS-stimulated expression of COX-2 (determined by RT-PCR analysis of COX-2 mRNA and western blot for its protein) was significantly reduced by pre-treatment with SOD/catalase or SOD/catalase mimetics. SOD/catalase mimetics were more potent than SOD/catalase in reducing COX-2 expression and PGE2 production. As a comparison, scavenging ROS had no effect on LPS-induced nitric oxide production in microglia. These results suggest that ROS play a regulatory role in the expression of COX-2 and the subsequent production of PGE2 during the activation process of microglia. Thus, inhibiting NADPH oxidase activity and subsequent ROS generation in microglia can reduce COX-2 expression and PGE2 production. These findings suggest a potential therapeutic intervention strategy for the treatment of inflammation-mediated neurodegenerative diseases.