title: Vitamin E blocks early events induced by 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+) in cerebellar granule cells.
abstract: Exposure of cerebellar granule cells (CGCs) to 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+) results in apoptotic cell death, which is markedly attenuated by co-treatment of CGCs with the radical scavenger vitamin E. Analysis of free radical production and mitochondrial transmembrane potential (DeltaPsim), using specific fluorescent probes, showed that MPP+ mediates early radical oxygen species (ROS) production without a loss of DeltaPsim. Exposure to MPP+ also produces an early increase in Bad dephosphorylation and translocation of Bax to the mitochondria. These events are accompanied by cytochrome c release from mitochondria to cytosol, which is followed by caspase 3 activation. Exposure of the neurons to vitamin E maintains Bad phosphorylation and attenuates Bax translocation, inhibiting cytochrome c release and caspase activation. MPP+-mediated cytochrome c release is also prevented by allopurinol, suggesting the participation of xanthine oxidase in the process. Our results indicate that free radicals play an active role in the MPP+-induced early events that culminate with cell death.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular y Genética, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Extremadura, Cáceres, Spain.
authors.forename: Rosa A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: González-Polo
authors.forename: Germán
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Soler
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alvarez
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Fabregat
authors.forename: José M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Fuentes
mesh_terms: D015655:1-Methyl-4-phenylpyridinium / Q000633:toxicity*; D000493:Allopurinol / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000166:cytology; D003574:Cytochrome c Group / Q000378:metabolism; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000494:pharmacology; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects; D021381:Protein Transport / Q000502:physiology; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014969:Xanthine Oxidase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; D051025:bcl-Associated Death Protein
chemical_list: C494821:Bad protein, rat; C494828:Bax protein, rat; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D003574:Cytochrome c Group; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; D051025:bcl-Associated Death Protein; D014810:Vitamin E; D000493:Allopurinol; D014969:Xanthine Oxidase; D005978:Glutathione; D015655:1-Methyl-4-phenylpyridinium