title: Thrombin induces in vivo degeneration of nigral dopaminergic neurones along with the activation of microglia.
abstract: Seven days after the injection of different concentrations of thrombin into the nigrostriatal pathway, a strong macrophage/microglial reaction was observed in the substantia nigra (SN), indicated by immunostaining, using OX-42 and OX-6 antibodies, and by the induction of iNOS, IL-1alpha, Il-1beta and TNF-alpha. Moreover, selective damage to dopaminergic neurones was produced after thrombin injection, evidenced by loss of tyrosine hydroxylase immunostaining and tyrosine hydroxylase mRNA-expressing cell bodies, and the unaltered transcription of glutamic acid decarboxylase mRNA in the SN and striatum. These thrombin effects could be produced by its ability to induce the activation of microglia described in in vitro studies, and are in agreement with the effects described for other proinflammatory compounds. Thrombin effects are produced by its biological activity since they almost disappeared when thrombin was heat-inactivated or injected along with its inhibitor alpha-NAPAP. Thrombin is a multi-functional serine protease rapidly produced from prothrombin at the sites of tissue injury, and also upon breakdown of the blood-brain barrier, which strongly suggests it could easily enter into the CNS. These results could have special importance in some degenerative processes of the nigrostriatal dopaminergic system.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Bioquímica, Bromatología, Toxicología y Medicina Legal, Universidad de Sevilla, Seville, Spain.
authors.forename: Eloisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Carreño-Müller
authors.forename: Antonio J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Herrera
authors.forename: Rocio M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: de Pablos
authors.forename: Mayka
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tomás-Camardiel
authors.forename: José L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Venero
authors.forename: Josefina
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cano
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Machado
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000991:Antithrombins / Q000494:pharmacology; D003342:Corpus Striatum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D004151:Dipeptides / Q000494:pharmacology; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004790:Enzyme Induction / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D017628:Microglia / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D008845:Microinjections; D019636:Neurodegenerative Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D010880:Piperidines / Q000494:pharmacology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013378:Substantia Nigra / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D013917:Thrombin / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000991:Antithrombins; D004151:Dipeptides; D007375:Interleukin-1; D010880:Piperidines; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; C038708:N(alpha)-(2-naphthylsulfonylglycyl)-4-amidinophenylalanine piperidide; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; C496318:Nos2 protein, rat; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase; D013917:Thrombin; D004298:Dopamine