1,720,983 research outputs found
Trazodone treatment protects neuronal-like cells from inflammatory insult by inhibiting NF-κB, p38 and JNK
Full text linkGrowing evidence suggests that alterations of the inflammatory/immune system contribute to the pathogenesis of major depression and that inflammatory processes may influence the antidepressant treatment response. Depressed patients exhibit increased levels of inflammatory markers in both the periphery and brain, and high co-morbidity exists between depression and diseases associated with inflammatory alterations. Trazodone (TDZ) is a triazolopyridine derivative that belongs to the class of serotonin receptor antagonists and reuptake inhibitors. Although the trophic and protective properties of classic antidepressants have extensively been exploited, the effects of TDZ remain to be fully elucidated. In this study, the pharmacological activities of TDZ on human neuronal-like cells were investigated under both physiological and inflammatory conditions. An in vitro inflammatory model was established using lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), which efficiently mimic the stress-related changes in neurotrophic and pro-inflammatory genes.Our results showed that TDZ significantly increased the mRNA expression of both brain-derived nerve factor (BDNF) and cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) and decreased the cellular release of the pro-inflammatory cytokine interferon gamma (IFN-γ) in neuronal-like cells.In contrast, neuronal cell treatment with LPS and TNF-α decreased the expression of CREB and BDNF and increased the expression of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), a primary transcription factor that functions in inflammatory response initiation. Moreover, the two agents induced the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines (. i.e., interleukin-6 and IFN-γ) and decreased the production of the anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-10. TDZ pre-treatment completely reversed the decrease in cell viability and counteracted the decrease in BDNF and CREB expression mediated by LPS-TNF-α. In addition, the production of inflammatory mediators was inhibited, and the release of interleukin-10 was restored to control levels.Furthermore, the intracellular signalling mechanism regulating TDZ-elicited effects was specifically investigated. TDZ induced extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) phosphorylation and inhibited constitutive p38 activation. Moreover, TDZ counteracted the activation of p38 and c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK) elicited by LPS-TNF-α, suggesting that the neuro-protective role of TDZ could be mediated by p38 and JNK.Overall, our results demonstrated that the protective effects of TDZ under inflammation in neuronal-like cells function by decreasing pro-inflammatory signalling and by enhancing anti-inflammatory signalling
Trazodone regulates neurotrophic/growth factors, mitogen-activated protein kinases and lactate release in human primary astrocytes
Full text linkBackground: In the central nervous system, glial cells provide metabolic and trophic support to neurons and respond to protracted stress and insults by up-regulating inflammatory processes. Reactive astrocytes and microglia are associated with the pathophysiology of neuronal injury, neurodegenerative diseases and major depression, in both animal models and human brains. Several studies have reported clear anti-inflammatory effects of anti-depressant treatment on astrocytes, especially in models of neurological disorders. Trazodone (TDZ) is a triazolopyridine derivative that is structurally unrelated to other major classes of antidepressants. Although the molecular mechanisms of TDZ in neurons have been investigated, it is unclear whether astrocytes are also a TDZ target. Methods: The effects of TDZ on human astrocytes were investigated in physiological conditions and following inflammatory insult with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and tumour necrosis factor-aα (TNF-aα). Astrocytes were assessed for their responses to pro-inflammatory mediators and cytokines, and the receptors and signalling pathways involved in TDZ-mediated effects were evaluated. Results: TDZ had no effect on cell proliferation, but it decreased pro-inflammatory mediator release and modulated trophic and transcription factor mRNA expression. Following TDZ treatment, the AKT pathway was activated, whereas extracellular signal-regulated kinase and c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase were inhibited. Most importantly, a 72-h TDZ pre-treatment before inflammatory insult completely reversed the anti-proliferative effects induced by LPS-TNF-aα. The expression or the activity of inflammatory mediators, including interleukin-6, c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase and nuclear factor ΚB, were also reduced. Furthermore, TDZ affected astrocyte metabolic support to neurons by counteracting the inflammation-mediated lactate decrease. Finally, TDZ protected neuronal-like cells against neurotoxicity mediated by activated astrocytes. These effects mainly involved an activation of 5-HT1A and an antagonism at 5-HT2A/C serotonin receptors. Fluoxetine, used in parallel, showed similar final effects nevertheless it activates different receptors/intracellular pathways. Conclusions: Altogether, our results demonstrated that TDZ directly acts on astrocytes by regulating intracellular signalling pathways and increasing specific astrocyte-derived neurotrophic factor expression and lactate release. TDZ may contribute to neuronal support by normalizing trophic and metabolic support during neuroinflammation, which is associated with neurological diseases, including major depression
Lactate dehydrogenase-A inhibition induces human glioblastoma multiforme stem cell differentiation and death
Full text linkTherapies that target the signal transduction and metabolic pathways of cancer stem cells (CSCs) are innovative strategies to effectively reduce the recurrence and significantly improve the outcome of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). CSCs exhibit an increased rate of glycolysis, thus rendering them intrinsically more sensitive to prospective therapeutic strategies based on the inhibition of the glycolytic pathway. The enzyme lactate dehydrogenase-A (LDH-A), which catalyses the interconversion of pyruvate and lactate, is up-regulated in human cancers, including GBM. Although several papers have explored the benefits of targeting cancer metabolism in GBM, the effects of direct LDH-A inhibition in glial tumours have not yet been investigated, particularly in the stem cell subpopulation. Here, two representative LDH-A inhibitors (NHI-1 and NHI-2) were studied in GBM-derived CSCs and compared to differentiated tumour cells. LDH-A inhibition was particularly effective in CSCs isolated from different GBM cell lines, where the two compounds blocked CSC formation and elicited long-lasting effects by triggering both apoptosis and cellular differentiation. These data demonstrate that GBM, particularly the stem cell subpopulation, is sensitive to glycolytic inhibition and shed light on the therapeutic potential of LDH-A inhibitors in this tumour type
A1 AND A2B ADENOSINE RECEPTORS REGULATE GLIOBLASTOMA STEM CELL DIFFERENTIATION/SURVIVAL AND SENSITIZE CELLS TO CHEMOTHERAPY
No full textModulation of A1 and A2B adenosine receptor activity: a new strategy to sensitise glioblastoma stem cells to chemotherapy.
No full textTherapies that target the signal transduction and biological characteristics of cancer stem cells (CSCs) are innovative strategies
that are used in combination with conventional chemotherapy and radiotherapy to effectively reduce the recurrence and
significantly improve the treatment of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). The two main strategies that are currently being exploited to
eradicate CSCs are (a) chemotherapeutic regimens that specifically drive CSCs toward cell death and (b) those that promote the
differentiation of CSCs, thereby depleting the tumour reservoir. Extracellular purines, particularly adenosine triphosphate,
have been implicated in the regulation of CSC formation, but currently, no data on the role of adenosine and its receptors in the
biological processes of CSCs are available. In this study, we investigated the role of adenosine receptor (AR) subtypes in
the survival and differentiation of CSCs isolated from human GBM cells. Stimulation of A1AR and A2BAR had a prominent
anti-proliferative/pro-apoptotic effect on the CSCs. Notably, an A1AR agonist also promoted the differentiation of CSCs toward a
glial phenotype. The differential effects of the two AR agonists on the survival and/or differentiation of CSCs may be ascribed to
their distinct regulation of the kinetics of ERK/AKT phosphorylation and the expression of hypoxia-inducible factors. Most
importantly, the AR agonists sensitised CSCs to the genotoxic activity of temozolomide (TMZ) and prolonged its effects, most likely
through different mechanisms, are as follows: (i) by A2BAR potentiating the pro-apoptotic effects of TMZ and (ii) by A1AR driving
cells toward a differentiated phenotype that is more sensitive to TMZ. Taken together, the results of this study suggested that the
purinergic system is a novel target for a stem cell-oriented therapy that could reduce the recurrence of GBM and improve the
survival rate of GBM patients
α‐Glyceryl‐phosphoryl‐ethanolamine protects human hippocampal neurons from ageing‐induced cellular alterations
No full textBrain ageing has been related to a decrease in cellular metabolism, to an accumulation of misfolded proteins and to an alteration of the lipid membrane composition. These alterations act as contributive aspects of age‐related memory decline by reducing membrane excitability and neurotransmitter release. In this sense, precursors of phospholipids (PLs) can restore the physiological composition of cellular membranes and ameliorate the cellular defects associated with brain ageing. In particular, phosphatidylcholine (PC) and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) have been shown to restore mitochondrial function, reduce the accumulation of amyloid beta (Aβ) and, at the same time, provide the amount of acetylcholine needed to reduce memory deficit. Among PL precursors, alpha‐glycerylphosphorylethanolamine (GPE) has shown to protect astrocytes from Aβ injuries and to slow‐down ageing of human neural stem cells. GPE has been evaluated in aged human hippocampal neurons, which are implicated in learning and memory, and constitute a good in vitro model to investigate the beneficial properties of GPE. In order to mimic cellular ageing, the cells have been maintained 21 days in vitro and challenged with GPE. Results of the present paper showed GPE ability to increase PE and PC content, glucose uptake and the activity of the chain respiratory complex I and of the GSK‐3β pathway. Moreover, the nootropic compound showed an increase in the transcriptional/protein levels of neurotrophic and well‐being related genes. Finally, GPE counteracted the accumulation of ageing‐related misfolded proteins (a‐synuclein and tau). Overall, our data underline promising effects of GPE in counteracting cellular alterations related to brain ageing and cognitive decline
Does GRK-β arrestin machinery work as a "switch on" for GPR17-mediated activation of intracellular signaling pathways?
No full textDuring oligodendrocyte-precursor cell (OPC) differentiation program, an impairment in the regulatory mechanisms controlling GPR17 spatio-temporal expression and functional activity has been suggested to contribute to defective OPC maturation, a crucial event in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis. GRK-β arrestin machinery is the primary actor in the control of G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) functional responses and changes in these regulatory protein activities have been demonstrated in several immune/inflammatory diseases. Herein, in order to shed light on the molecular mechanisms controlling GPR17 regulatory events during cell differentiation, the role of GRK/β-arrestin machinery in receptor desensitization and signal transduction was investigated, in transfected cells and primary OPC. Following cell treatment with the two classes of purinergic and cysteinyl-leukotriene (cysLT) ligands, different GRK isoforms were recruited to regulate GPR17 functional responses. CysLT-mediated receptor desensitization mainly involved GRK2; this kinase, via a G protein-dependent mechanism, promoted a transient binding of the receptor to β-arrestins, rapid ERK phosphorylation and sustained nuclear CREB activation. Furthermore, GRK2, whose expression parallels that of the receptor during differentiation process, appeared to be crucial to induce cysLT-mediated maturation of OPCs. On the other hand, purinergic ligand exclusively recruited the GRK5 subtype, and induced, via a G protein-independent/β-arrestin-dependent mechanism, a receptor/β-arrestin stable association, slower and sustained ERK stimulation and marginal CREB activation. These results show that purinergic and cysLT ligands, through the recruitment of specific GRK isoforms, address distinct intracellular pathways, most likely reinforcing the same final response. The identification of these mechanisms and players controlling GPR17 responses during OPC differentiation could be useful to identify new targets in demyelination diseases and to develop new therapeutical strategies
The ubiquitin ligase Mdm2 controls oligodendrocyte maturation by intertwining mTOR with G protein-coupled receptor kinase 2 in the regulation of GPR17 receptor desensitization
Full text linkDuring oligodendrocyte precursor cell (OPC) differentiation, defective control of the membrane receptor GPR17 has been suggested to block cell maturation and impair remyelination under demyelinating conditions. After the immature oligodendrocyte stage, to enable cells to complete maturation, GPR17 is physiologically down-regulated via phosphorylation/desensitization by G protein-coupled receptor kinases (GRKs); conversely, GRKs are regulated by the "mammalian target of rapamycin" mTOR. However, how GRKs and mTOR are connected to each other in modulating GPR17 function and oligodendrogenesis has remained elusive. Here we show, for the first time, a role for Murine double minute 2 (Mdm2), a ligase previously involved in ubiquitination/degradation of the onco-suppressor p53 protein. In maturing OPCs, both rapamycin and Nutlin-3, a small molecule inhibitor of Mdm2-p53 interactions, increased GRK2 sequestration by Mdm2, leading to impaired GPR17 down-regulation and OPC maturation block. Thus, Mdm2 intertwines mTOR with GRK2 in regulating GPR17 and oligodendrogenesis and represents a novel actor in myelination
GPR17 receptor desensitization: an essential step for regulation of distinct intracellular pathways.
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