title: Apoptosis induced by domoic acid in mouse cerebellar granule neurons involves activation of p38 and JNK MAP kinases.
abstract: In mouse cerebellar granule neurons (CGNs) the marine neurotoxin domoic acid (DomA) induces neuronal cell death, either by apoptosis or by necrosis, depending on its concentration, with apoptotic damage predominating in response to low concentrations (100 nM). DomA-induced apoptosis is due to selective activation of AMPA/kainate receptors, and is mediated by DomA-induced oxidative stress, leading to mitochondrial dysfunction and activation of caspase-3. The p38 MAP kinase and the c-Jun NH2-terminal protein kinase (JNK) have been shown to be preferentially activated by oxidative stress. Here we report that DomA increases p38 MAP kinase and JNK phosphorylation, and that this effect is more pronounced in CGNs from Gclm (-/-) mice, which lack the modifier subunit of glutamate-cysteine ligase, have very low glutathione (GSH) levels, and are more sensitive to DomA-induced apoptosis than CGNs from wild-type mice. The increased phosphorylation of JNK and p38 kinase was paralleled by a decreased phosphorylation of Erk 1/2. The AMPA/kainate receptor antagonist NBQX, but not the NMDA receptor antagonist MK-801, prevents DomA-induced activation of p38 and JNK kinases. Several antioxidants (GSH ethyl ester, catalase and phenylbutylnitrone) also prevent DomA-induced phosphorylation of JNK and p38 MAP kinases. Inhibitors of p38 (SB203580) and of JNK (SP600125) antagonize DomA-induced apoptosis. These results indicate the importance of oxidative stress-activated JNK and p38 MAP kinase pathways in DomA-induced apoptosis in CGNs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98105, USA.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Giordano
authors.forename: H M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Klintworth
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Kavanagh
authors.forename: L G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Costa
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002525:Cerebellar Cortex / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D005721:Glutamate-Cysteine Ligase / Q000235:genetics; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D007608:Kainic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000633:toxicity; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D048055:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 8 / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D009467:Neuromuscular Depolarizing Agents / Q000633:toxicity; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology*; D009498:Neurotoxins / Q000633:toxicity; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists; D009467:Neuromuscular Depolarizing Agents; D009498:Neurotoxins; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3; D048055:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 8; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D005721:Glutamate-Cysteine Ligase; D005978:Glutathione; C012301:domoic acid; D007608:Kainic Acid