title: Inhibition of the cdk5/MEF2 pathway is involved in the antiapoptotic properties of calpain inhibitors in cerebellar neurons.
abstract: Experimental data implicate calpain activation in the pathways involved in neuronal apoptosis. Indeed, calpain inhibitors confer neuroprotection in response to various neurotoxic stimuli. However, the pathways involved in calpain activation-induced apoptosis are not well known. We demonstrate that apoptosis (40%) induced by serum/potassium (S/K) withdrawal on cerebellar granule cells (CGNs) is inhibited by selective calpain inhibitors PD150606 (up to 15%) and PD151746 (up to 29%), but not PD145305 in CGNs. zVAD-fmk, a broad spectrum inhibitor of caspases, attenuates apoptosis (up to 20%) mediated by S/K deprivation and protects against cell death, as measured by MTT ([3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium]) assay. PD150606 and PD151746 prevented apoptosis mediated by S/K withdrawal through inhibition of calpain. Furthermore, PD151746 was able to inhibit caspase-3 activity. After S/K withdrawal, we observed an increase in cdk5/p25 formation and MEF2 phosphorylation that was prevented by 40 microM PD150606 and PD151746. This indicates that calpain inhibition may be an upstream molecular target that prevents neuronal apoptosis in vitro. Taken together, these data suggest an apoptotic route in S/K withdrawal in CGNs mediated by calpain activation, cdk5/p25 formation and MEF2 inhibition. Calpain inhibitors may attenuate S/K withdrawal-induced apoptosis and may provide a potential therapeutic target for drug treatment in a neurodegenerative process.
authors.affiliation: Rudolf-Boehm-Institut für Pharmakologie und Toxikologie, Universität Leipzig, Härtelstrasse, 16-18, 04107 Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Ester
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Verdaguer
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Alvira
authors.forename: Andrés
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jiménez
authors.forename: Victor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Rimbau
authors.forename: Antoni
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Camins
authors.forename: Mercè
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pallàs
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D002154:Calpain / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000166:cytology*; D003470:Culture Media; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D064326:MEF2 Transcription Factors; D018006:Myogenic Regulatory Factors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D064326:MEF2 Transcription Factors; D018006:Myogenic Regulatory Factors; D002154:Calpain