title: Macrophage migration inhibitory factor induces cell death and decreases neuronal nitric oxide expression in spinal cord neurons.
abstract: Macrophage migration inhibitory factor is a potent proinflammatory cytokine; however, its role in spinal cord injury is poorly understood. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of macrophage migration inhibitory factor on spinal cord neuron survival and viability. Due to the importance of nitric oxide metabolism in these events, part of our study was also focused on the influence of recombinant macrophage migration inhibitory factor on neuronal nitric oxide expression. Exposure of cultured mouse spinal cord neurons to macrophage migration inhibitory factor markedly increased cellular oxidative stress as measured by 2',7'-dichlorofluorescein fluorescence and intracellular calcium levels. In addition, an antagonist of the inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate receptor, 8-(diethylamino)octyl 3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoate, completely blocked the macrophage migration inhibitory factor-induced increase in intracellular calcium levels. Macrophage migration inhibitory factor treatment also decreased cell viability, increased cellular lactate dehydrogenase release, and induced chromatin condensation and aggregation in cultured spinal cord neurons. Finally, exposure to macrophage migration inhibitory factor markedly decreased expression and activity of neuronal nitric oxide, accompanied by a decrease in cellular guanosine 3'5'-cyclic monophosphate levels. The present results indicate that macrophage migration inhibitory factor can induce dysfunction of spinal cord neurons, leading to cell death through oxidative stress and intracellular calcium-dependent pathways.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Neuroscience and Vascular Biology Laboratory, Department of Surgery, Division of Neurosurgery, University of Kentucky Medical Center, 593 Wethington Building, 900 South Limestone, Lexington, KY 40536, USA.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chalimoniuk
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: King-Pospisil
authors.forename: C N
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Metz
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Toborek
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D020013:Calcium Signaling / Q000187:drug effects; D016923:Cell Death / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006152:Cyclic GMP / Q000378:metabolism; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006801:Humans; D008263:Macrophage Migration-Inhibitory Factors / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051379:Mice; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000096:biosynthesis; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D008263:Macrophage Migration-Inhibitory Factors; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I; D006152:Cyclic GMP