title: Homocysteine promotes proliferation and activation of microglia.
abstract: Epidemiological and experimental studies have correlated hyperhomocysteinemia to a range of neurodegenerative conditions, including Alzheimer's disease, stroke, and Parkinson's disease. Although homocysteine-induced apoptosis in neurons has been extensively studied, little information is available regarding the effect of homocysteine on microglia. In this report, we demonstrated that homocysteine promoted proliferation and up-regulated the expression of CD11b (a marker of microglial activation). Consistent with our in vitro results, a significant increase in the number of CD11b-positive microglia was also observed in brain sections of mice with hyperhomocysteinemia. Homocysteine promoted the activity of NAD(P)H oxidases, resulting in the generation of reactive oxygen species. Up-regulation of NAD(P)H oxidase activity by homocysteine appears to be due to its ability to induce the phosphorylation of p47phox through the p38 MAPK pathway. Furthermore, inhibition of reactive oxygen species significantly blocked cellular proliferation and activation in microglia. Since microglial proliferation and activation play an important role in the development of several neurodegenerative disorders, our results reveal a novel role of homocysteine in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources, Yunnan University, Kunming, Yunnan 650091, China.
authors.forename: Cheng-Gang
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Zou
authors.forename: Yue-Shui
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Shun-Yu
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Shu-De
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Xiu-Zhen
authors.initials: XZ
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Ke-Qin
authors.initials: KQ
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004261:DNA Replication / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity*; D020138:Hyperhomocysteinemia / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D017628:Microglia / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology; D019255:NADPH Oxidases / Q000378:metabolism; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D006710:Homocysteine; D019255:NADPH Oxidases