title: Interleukin-1 beta impairs brain derived neurotrophic factor-induced signal transduction.
abstract: The expression of IL-1 is elevated in the CNS in diverse neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer's disease. The hypothesis was tested that IL-1 beta renders neurons vulnerable to degeneration by interfering with BDNF-induced neuroprotection. In trophic support-deprived neurons, IL-1 beta compromised the PI3-K/Akt pathway-mediated protection by BDNF and suppressed Akt activation. The effect was specific as in addition to Akt, the activation of MAPK/ERK, but not PLC gamma, was decreased. Activation of CREB, a target of these signaling pathways, was severely depressed by IL-1 beta. As the cytokine did not influence TrkB receptor and PLC gamma activation, IL-1 beta might have interfered with BDNF signaling at the docking step conveying activation to the PI3-K/Akt and Ras/MAPK pathways. Indeed, IL-1 beta suppressed the activation of the respective scaffolding proteins IRS-1 and Shc; this effect might involve ceramide generation. IL-1-induced interference with BDNF neuroprotection and signal transduction was corrected, in part, by ceramide production inhibitors and mimicked by the cell-permeable C2-ceramide. These results suggest that IL-1 beta places neurons at risk by interfering with BDNF signaling involving a ceramide-associated mechanism.
authors.affiliation: University of California Irvine, Institute for Brain Aging and Dementia, Irvine, CA 92697-4540, USA. tongl@uci.edu
authors.forename: Liqi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tong
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Balazs
authors.forename: Rungtip
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Soiampornkul
authors.forename: Wipawan
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Thangnipon
authors.forename: Carl W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Cotman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D053583:Interleukin-1beta