title: A femtomolar-acting neuroprotective peptide.
abstract: A novel 14-amino acid peptide, with stress-protein-like sequences, exhibiting neuroprotection at unprecedented concentrations, is revealed. This peptide prevented neuronal cell death associated with the envelope protein (GP 120) from HIV, with excitotoxicity (N-methyl d-aspartate), with the beta amyloid peptide (putative cytotoxin in Alzheimer's disease), and with tetrodotoxin (electrical blockade). The peptide was designed to contain a sequence derived from a new neuroprotective protein secreted by astroglial cells in the presence of vasoactive intestinal peptide. The neurotrophic protein was isolated by sequential chromatographic methods combining ion exchange, size separation, and hydrophobic interaction. The protein (mol mass, 14 kD and pI, 8.3 +/- 0.25) was named activity-dependent neurotrophic factor, as it protected neurons from death associated with electrical blockade. Peptide sequencing led to the synthesis of the novel 14-amino acid peptide that was homologous, but not identical, to an intracellular stress protein, heat shock protein 60. Neutralizing antiserum to heat shock protein 60 produced neuronal cell death that could be prevented by cotreatment with the novel protein, suggesting the existence of extracellular stress-like proteins with neuroprotective properties. These studies identify a potent neuroprotective glial protein and an active peptide that provide a basis for developing treatments of currently intractable neurodegenerative diseases.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Developmental Neurobiology, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-4480, USA.
authors.forename: D E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Brenneman
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Gozes
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D018834:Chaperonin 60 / Q000302:isolation & purification; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000494:pharmacology; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects; D009479:Neuropeptides; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000494:pharmacology; D009842:Oligopeptides; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D018834:Chaperonin 60; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D009479:Neuropeptides; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D009842:Oligopeptides; C410622:activity-dependent neurotrophic factor; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide