title: Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide inhibits caspase-3 activity but does not protect cerebellar granule neurons against beta-amyloid (25-35)-induced apoptosis.
abstract: The beta-amyloid (Abeta) peptide Abeta25-35 provokes apoptosis of cerebellar granule cells through activation of caspase-3 while the neuropeptide pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) promotes granule cell survival by inhibiting caspase-3 activation through the intrinsic apoptotic pathway. The aim of the present study was to determine whether PACAP could prevent Abeta25-35 neurotoxicity by inhibiting caspase-3 activity. A 24-h exposure of cultured cerebellar granule cells to Abeta25-35 induced shrinkage of cell bodies, neurite retraction and alteration of mitochondrial activity. Administration of graded concentrations (10-80 microM) of Abeta25-35 induced a dose-related decrease of the number of living cells, and the neurotoxic effect was highly significant after a 24-h exposure to 80 microM Abeta25-35. Exposure of cerebellar granule cells to Abeta25-35 markedly enhanced caspase-3 but not caspase-9 activity. Co-incubation with 1 microM PACAP significantly reduced Abeta25-35-evoked caspase-3 activation. In contrast, PACAP did not prevent the deleterious effects of Abeta25-35 on mitochondrial potential and granule cell survival. Taken together, these data suggest that caspase-3 activation is not the main pathway activated by Abeta25-35 that leads to granule cell death. The results also demonstrate that PACAP cannot be considered as a potent neuroprotective factor against Abeta25-35-induced apoptosis in cerebellar granule neurons.
authors.affiliation: European Institute for Peptide Research (IFRMP 23), Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Neuroendocrinology, INSERM U413, UA CNRS, University of Rouen, 76821, Mont-Saint-Aignan, France.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vaudry
authors.forename: Cécile
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cottet-Rousselle
authors.forename: Magali
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Basille
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Falluel-Morel
authors.forename: Alain
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fournier
authors.forename: Hubert
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Vaudry
authors.forename: Bruno J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Gonzalez
mesh_terms: D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D053148:Caspase 3; D061945:Caspase Inhibitors; D020169:Caspases / Q000096:biosynthesis; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology*; D015853:Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D004790:Enzyme Induction / Q000187:drug effects; D007328:Insulin / Q000494:pharmacology; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000187:drug effects; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000494:pharmacology; D051219:Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: C495403:Adcyap1 protein, rat; D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides; D061945:Caspase Inhibitors; D015853:Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; D007328:Insulin; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D009479:Neuropeptides; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D051219:Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide; C074636:amyloid beta-protein (25-35); C505410:Casp3 protein, rat; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases