title: Molecular mechanisms involved in the actions of apotransferrin upon the central nervous system: Role of the cytoskeleton and of second messengers.
abstract: Apotransferrin (aTf), intracranially administered into newborn rats, produces increased myelination with marked increases in the levels of myelin basic protein (MBP), phospholipids and galactolipids, and mRNAs of MBP and 2', 3' cyclic nucleotide 3'-phosphohydrolase (CNPase). Cytoskeletal proteins such as tubulin, actin, and microtubule-associated proteins are also increased after aTf injection. In contrast, almost no changes are observed in myelin proteolipid protein (PLP) or in its mRNA or cholesterol. In the present study, we used brain-tissue slices and cell cultures highly enriched for oligodendroglia to investigate signaling pathways involved in the action of aTf, and to find out whether cytoskeletal integrity and dynamics were essential for its action upon the neural expression of certain genes. Treatment of brain-tissue slices with aTf produced a marked increase in the expression of MBP, CNPase, and tubulin mRNAs. Colchicine, cytochalasin, and taxol severely reduced the effect of aTf. Addition to cultures of an antibody against transferrin receptor (TfR), protein kinase inhibitors, or a cyclic AMP (cAMP) analogue showed that a functionally intact TfR was necessary, and that tyrosine kinase, protein kinase C and A, as well as calcium-calmodulin-dependent kinase (Ca-CaMK) activities appeared to mediate aTf actions upon the expression of the above mentioned genes. Changes in the levels of phosphoinositides and cAMP induced by aTf in oligodendroglial cell (OLGc) cultures correlated with these results and coincide with an activation of the cyclic response element binding protein (CREB) and of mitogen activated protein kinases. The increased expression of certain myelin genes produced by aTf appear to be mediated by interaction of this glycoprotein with its receptor, by the cytoskeleton of the OLGc, and by a complex activation of protein kinases which lead to CREB phosphorylation.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Química y Fisicoquímica Biológica (IQUIFIB), UBA-CONICET, Departamento de Química Biológica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Cecilia B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Marta
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Davio
authors.forename: Laura A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Pasquini
authors.forename: Eduardo F
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Soto
authors.forename: Juana M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Pasquini
mesh_terms: D015087:2',3'-Cyclic-Nucleotide Phosphodiesterases / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001059:Apoproteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D017362:Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D004676:Myelin Basic Protein / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D009186:Myelin Sheath / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009836:Oligodendroglia / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D011494:Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D011990:Receptors, Transferrin / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D015290:Second Messenger Systems / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics*; D014168:Transferrin / Q000378:metabolism*; D014404:Tubulin / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001059:Apoproteins; D017362:Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein; D004676:Myelin Basic Protein; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011990:Receptors, Transferrin; D014168:Transferrin; D014404:Tubulin; C028284:apotransferrin; D011494:Protein Kinases; D015087:2',3'-Cyclic-Nucleotide Phosphodiesterases