title: Calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase type IV (CaMKIV) inhibits apoptosis induced by potassium deprivation in cerebellar granule neurons.
abstract: The neuroprotective mechanisms of the Ca2+/calmodulin kinase (CaMK) signaling pathway were studied in primary cerebellar neurons in vitro. When switched from depolarizing culture conditions HK (extracellular K+ 30 mM) to LK (K+ 5 mM), these neurons rapidly undergo nuclear fragmentation, a typical feature of apoptosis. We present evidence that blockade of L-type Ca2+ channels (nifedipine sensitive) but not N/P/Q-type Ca2+ channels (omega-conotoxin MVIIC sensitive) triggered apoptosis and CPP32/caspase-3-like activity. The entry into apoptosis was associated with a progressive caspase-3-dependent cleavage of CaMKIV, but not of CaMKII. CaMKIV function in neuronal apoptosis was further investigated by overexpression of CaMKIV mutants by gene transfer. A dominant-active CaMKIV mutant inhibited LK-induced apoptosis whereas a dominant-negative form induced apoptosis in HK, suggesting that CaMKIV exerts neuroprotective effects. The transcription factor CREB is a well-described nuclear target of CaMKIV in neurons. When switched to LK, the level of phosphorylation of CREB, after an initial drop, further declined progressively with kinetics comparable to those of CaMKIV degradation. This decrease was abolished by caspase-3 inhibitor. These data are compatible with a model where Ca2+ influx via L-type Ca2+ channels prevents caspase-dependent cleavage of CaMKIV and promotes neuronal survival by maintaining a constitutive level of CaMKIV/CREB-dependent gene expression.
authors.affiliation: Université Louis Pasteur, UMR 7519 CNRS, IPCB, 67084 Strasbourg Cedex, France.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sée
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Boutillier
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bito
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Loeffler
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology; D020746:Calcium Channels, L-Type / Q000378:metabolism*; D020864:Calcium Channels, N-Type / Q000378:metabolism; D020013:Calcium Signaling / Q000187:drug effects; D017871:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D053148:Caspase 3; D061945:Caspase Inhibitors; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D017362:Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D004095:Dihydropyridines / Q000819:agonists / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D005799:Genes, Dominant; D051379:Mice; D008954:Models, Biological; D009154:Mutation; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000378:metabolism; D009543:Nifedipine / Q000494:pharmacology; D010766:Phosphorylation; D011188:Potassium / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational
chemical_list: D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D020746:Calcium Channels, L-Type; D020864:Calcium Channels, N-Type; D061945:Caspase Inhibitors; D017362:Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein; D004095:Dihydropyridines; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; C038806:1,4-dihydropyridine; D017871:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases; C505409:Casp3 protein, mouse; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases; D009543:Nifedipine; D011188:Potassium; D002118:Calcium