title: Inhibition of the E2F-1/p53/Bax pathway by tauroursodeoxycholic acid in amyloid beta-peptide-induced apoptosis of PC12 cells.
abstract: Amyloid beta-peptide (Abeta)-induced cell death may involve activation of the E2F-1 transcription factor and other cell cycle-related proteins. In previous studies, we have shown that tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA), an endogenous bile acid, modulates Abeta-induced apoptosis by interfering with crucial events of the mitochondrial pathway. In this study, we examined the role of E2F and p53 activation in the induction of apoptosis by Abeta, and investigated novel molecular targets for TUDCA. The results showed that despite Bcl-2 up-regulation, PC12 neuronal cells underwent significant apoptosis after incubation with the active fragment Abeta (25-35), as assessed by DNA fragmentation, nuclear morphology and caspase-3-like activation. In addition, transcription through the E2F-1 promoter was significantly induced and associated with loss of the retinoblastoma protein. In contrast, levels of E2F-1, p53 and Bax proteins were markedly increased. Overexpression of E2F-1 in PC12 cells was sufficient to induce p53 and Bax proteins, as well as nuclear fragmentation. Notably, TUDCA modulated Abeta-induced apoptosis, E2F-1 induction, p53 stabilization and Bax expression. Further, TUDCA protected PC12 cells against p53- and Bax-dependent apoptosis induced by E2F-1 and p53 overexpression, respectively. In conclusion, the results demonstrate that Abeta-induced apoptosis of PC12 cells proceeds through an E2F-1/p53/Bax pathway, which, in turn, can be specifically inhibited by TUDCA, thus underscoring its potential therapeutic use.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Patogénese Molecular, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal.
authors.forename: Rita M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Ramalho
authors.forename: Paulo S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Ribeiro
authors.forename: Susana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Solá
authors.forename: Rui E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Castro
authors.forename: Clifford J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Steer
authors.forename: Cecília M P
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
mesh_terms: D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides / Q000633:toxicity*; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D050684:E2F Transcription Factors; D050687:E2F1 Transcription Factor; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D016716:PC12 Cells; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000633:toxicity*; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D051736:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-mdm2; D051381:Rats; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D013655:Taurochenodeoxycholic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein
chemical_list: D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides; C494828:Bax protein, rat; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D050684:E2F Transcription Factors; D050687:E2F1 Transcription Factor; C493755:E2f1 protein, rat; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D014157:Transcription Factors; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; C074636:amyloid beta-protein (25-35); D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; D013655:Taurochenodeoxycholic Acid; C031655:ursodoxicoltaurine; C497208:Mdm2 protein, rat; D051736:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-mdm2