title: Neuroprotection via pro-survival protein kinase C isoforms associated with Bcl-2 family members.
abstract: This study provides new insights into neuroprotection involving interaction of protein kinase C (PKC) pathway with Bcl-2 family proteins. Using a model of serum deprivation, we investigated the mechanism by which the anti-Parkinson/monoamine oxidase (MAO)-B inhibitor drug, rasagiline, exerts its neuroprotective effect in rat pheochromocytoma PC12 cells. Here, we report that rasagiline (0.1-10 microM) decreased apoptosis via multiple protection mechanisms, including the stimulation of PKC phosphorylation; up-regulation of PKCalpha and PKC mRNAs, induction of Bcl-xL, Bcl-w, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) mRNAs; and down-regulation of Bad and Bax mRNAs. Moreover, rasagiline inhibited the cleavage and activation of procaspase-3 and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), whereas the PKC inhibitor, GF109203X, reversed these actions. Similarly, rasagiline decreased serum-free-induced levels of the important regulator of cell death, Bad, which was also blocked by GF109203X, indicating the involvement of PKC in rasagiline-induced cell survival. Furthermore, these studies have established that PKC- and Bcl-2-dependent neuroprotective activity of rasagiline is dependent on its propargyl moiety, because propargylamine had similar effects with the same potency.
authors.affiliation: Eve Topf and Rappaport Family Research Institute, Technion-Faculty of Medicine, Haifa, Israel.
authors.forename: Orly
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Weinreb
authors.forename: Orit
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Bar-Am
authors.forename: Tamar
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Amit
authors.forename: Orly
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Chillag-Talmor
authors.forename: Moussa B H
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Youdim
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000235:genetics; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D016895:Culture Media, Serum-Free / Q000494:pharmacology; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D007189:Indans / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005810:Multigene Family / Q000235:genetics; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016716:PC12 Cells; D011493:Protein Kinase C / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D016895:Culture Media, Serum-Free; D007189:Indans; D007527:Isoenzymes; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C031967:rasagiline; D011493:Protein Kinase C