title: Inhibition of p38 mitogen activated protein kinase activation and mutant SOD1(G93A)-induced motor neuron death.
abstract: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the selective loss of motor neurons. Stress activated protein kinases (SAPK) have been suggested to play a role in the pathogenesis of ALS. We studied the relevance of p38 MAPK for motor neuron degeneration in the mutant SOD1 mouse. Increased levels of phospho-p38 MAPK were present in the motor neurons and microglia of the ventral spinal cord. The p38 MAPK-inhibitor, SB203580, completely inhibited mutant SOD1-induced apoptosis of motor neurons and blocked LPS-induced activation of microglia. Semapimod, a p38 MAPK inhibitor suitable for clinical use, prolonged survival of mutant SOD1 mice to a limited extent, but largely protected motor neurons and proximal axons from mutant SOD1-induced degeneration. Our data confirm the abnormal activation of p38 MAPK in mutant SOD1 mice and the involvement of p38 MAPK in mutant SOD1-induced motor neuron death. We demonstrate the effect of p38 MAPK inhibition on survival of mutant SOD1 mice and reveal a dissociation between the effect on survival of motor neurons and that on survival of the animal, the latter likely depending on the integrity of the entire motor axon.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Neurobiology, Experimental Neurology, University of Leuven, Campus Gasthuisberg, Herestraat 49, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Maarten
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dewil
authors.forename: Vidal F
authors.initials: VF
authors.lastname: dela Cruz
authors.forename: Ludo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Van Den Bosch
authors.forename: Wim
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Robberecht
mesh_terms: D000690:Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000494:pharmacology; D001369:Axons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D016923:Cell Death / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D006835:Hydrazones / Q000494:pharmacology; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D009410:Nerve Degeneration / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000201:enzymology / Q000517:prevention & control; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D011725:Pyridines / Q000494:pharmacology; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D000813:Anilides; D006146:Guanidines
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D006835:Hydrazones; D007093:Imidazoles; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D011725:Pyridines; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; C097256:semapimod; D000813:Anilides; D006146:Guanidines; C109415:SOD1 G93A protein; C093642:SB 203580