title: Detailed in vitro pharmacological analysis of FK506-induced neuroprotection.
abstract: FK506, a calcineurin inhibitor, shows potent neuroprotective effects in animal models such as those of stroke and neurodegenerative diseases. However, the mechanism underlying these neuroprotective effects is unclear. In this study, an in vitro model, in which FK506 protected the cells against cell death, was established and analyzed in detail by pharmacological experiments. Thapsigargin (TG), an inhibitor of endoplasmic reticulum calcium-ATPase, induced SH-SY5Y cell death. FK506 concentration-dependently protected the cells from this type of death. In contrast, FK506 did not suppress SH-SY5Y cell death caused by the following molecules: tunicamycin (TM), an inhibitor of N-linked glycosylation; etoposide (Eto), a topoisomerase II inhibitor; and staurosporine (STS), a phospholipid/calcium-dependent protein kinase inhibitor. Additionally, FK506 did not inhibit TG-induced cell death in either SK-N-MC or HeLa cell lines. FK506 completely inhibited caspase-3 activation and apoptosis caused by TG in a concentration-dependent manner, but not that caused by TM, Eto, and STS. TG did not activate caspase-3 in SK-N-MC cells, although it slightly activated caspase-3 in HeLa cells. FK506 did not change caspase-3 activity in either SK-N-MC or HeLa cell lines. Cyclosporin A, another calcineurin inhibitor, showed the same results as FK506 in this study, whereas rapamycin, an immunosuppressant not associated with calcineurin activity, did not have any effect in this context. Thus, the suppressive effects of FK506 on cell death are specific to SH-SY5Y cells treated with TG and are caused by the inhibition of calcineurin and subsequent suppression of caspase-3 activation. Therefore, an in vitro system using SH-SY5Y cells treated with TG could provide a model reflective of certain aspects of the neuroprotective activity of FK506.
authors.affiliation: Advanced Technology Platform Research Laboratory, Fujisawa Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., 5-2-3, Tokodai, 300-2698, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.
authors.forename: Masakazu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Muramoto
authors.forename: Takao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yamazaki
authors.forename: Shintaro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nishimura
authors.forename: Yasuhiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kita
mesh_terms: D053148:Caspase 3; D061945:Caspase Inhibitors; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016559:Tacrolimus / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D061945:Caspase Inhibitors; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; C505407:CASP3 protein, human; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases; D016559:Tacrolimus