title: Cesium chloride protects cerebellar granule neurons from apoptosis induced by low potassium.
abstract: Neuronal apoptosis plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders, and neuroprotective agents targeting apoptotic signaling could have therapeutic use. Here we report that cesium chloride, an alternative medicine in treating radiological poison and cancer, has neuroprotective actions. Serum and potassium deprivation induced cerebellar granule neurons to undergo apoptosis, which correlated with the activation of caspase-3. Cesium prevented both the activation of caspase-3 and neuronal apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner. Cesium at 8 mM increased the survival of neurons from 45 +/- 3% to 91 +/- 5% of control. Cesium's neuroprotection was not mediated by PI3/Akt or MAPK signaling pathways, since it was unable to activate either Akt or MAPK by phosphorylation. In addition, specific inhibitors of PI3 kinase and MAP kinase did not block cesium's neuroprotective effects. On the other hand, cesium inactivated GSK3beta by phosphorylation of serine-9 and GSK3beta-specific inhibitor SB415286 prevented neuronal apoptosis. These data indicate that cesium's neuroprotection is likely via inactivating GSK3beta. Furthermore, cesium also prevented H(2)O(2)-induced neuronal death (increased the survival of neurons from 72 +/- 4% to 89 +/- 3% of control). Given its relative safety and good penetration of the brain blood barrier, our findings support the potential therapeutic use of cesium in neurodegenerative diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Riley Hospital for Children, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA. jizhong@iupui.edu
authors.forename: Jin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhong
authors.forename: Weiguo
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.forename: Weihua
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D002586:Cesium / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002712:Chlorides / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016895:Culture Media, Serum-Free / Q000633:toxicity; D019610:Cytoprotection / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D038362:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D000071679:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta; D051379:Mice; D008954:Models, Biological; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016877:Oxidants / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000633:toxicity; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D011188:Potassium / Q000378:metabolism; D011191:Potassium Deficiency / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology