title: Serine protease inhibitor Spi2 mediated apoptosis of olfactory neurons.
abstract: The olfactory epithelium of adult mouse, where primary sensory neurons are massively committed to apoptosis by removal of their synaptic target, was used as a model to determine in vivo mechanisms for neuronal cell death induction. A macro-array assay revealed that the death of olfactory neurons is accompanied with over-expression of the serine protease inhibitor Spi2. This over-expression is associated with decreased serine protease activity in the olfactory mucosa. Moreover, in vitro or in vivo inhibition of serine proteases induced apoptotic death of olfactory neuronal cells. Interestingly, Spi2 over-expression is not occurring in olfactory neurons but in cells of the lamina propria, suggesting that Spi2 may act extracellularly as a cell death inducer. In that sense, we present evidence that in vitro Spi2 overexpression generates a secreted signal for olfactory neuron death. Hence, taken together these results document a possible novel mechanism for apoptosis induction that might occur in response to neurodegenerative insults.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire Apoptose et Différenciation-Centre de Génétique Moléculaire et Cellulaire, CNRS UMR 5534, France.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Thiemmara
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pays
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Danty
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Jourdan
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Moyse
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mehlen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000235:genetics*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008954:Models, Biological; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009830:Olfactory Bulb / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D009833:Olfactory Pathways / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D018034:Olfactory Receptor Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases / Q000378:metabolism*; D015843:Serpins; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C490400:Serpina3k protein, mouse; D015843:Serpins; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases