title: Neuroprotective effects of pramipexole against tunicamycin-induced cell death in PC12 cells.
abstract: 1. Pramipexole (PPX), a dopamine D2 and D3 receptor agonist, exerts neuroprotective effects via both dopamine receptor-mediated and non-dopaminergic mechanisms. In the present study, we demonstrate that PPX reduces the toxicity of tunicamycin, a typical endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stressor, in PC12h cells, a subline of PC12 cells. 2. The PC12h cells were treated with 300 micromol / L PPX in the presence of 0.5 micromol / L tunicamycin for 24 h. The neuroprotective effects of PPX against tunicamycin-induced cell death were evaluated using 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2 thiazoyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release assays, Hoechst 33258 staining and western blot analysis. 3. Tunicamycin (0.2, 0.3 and 0.5 microg / mL) dose-dependently decreased MTT activity and increased LDH release from PC12h cells. Treatment with 300 micromol / L PPX rescued the tunicamycin-induced decrease in cell viability. 4. Spiperone (10 micromol / L), a dopamine D2 and D4 receptor antagonist, had no effect on PPX neuroprotection against tunicamycin in these cells. Marker proteins of ER stress and apoptosis are known to be upregulated by tunicamycin, but we detected no significant effects of PPX on these factors. 5. In conclusion, we speculate that a combination of several mechanisms may be involved in PPX-induced neuroprotection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Nara Medical University School of Medicine, Kashihara, Nara, Japan. hitoshin@naramed-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Hitoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nakayama
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Amany
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ei-Fakhrany
authors.forename: Minoru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Isosaki
authors.forename: Hiroyasu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Satoh
authors.forename: Yoji
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kyotani
authors.forename: Masanori
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yoshizumi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D052160:Benzothiazoles / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016923:Cell Death / Q000187:drug effects*; D018491:Dopamine Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018492:Dopamine Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D004721:Endoplasmic Reticulum / Q000378:metabolism; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D016716:PC12 Cells; D000077487:Pramipexole; D051381:Rats; D013134:Spiperone / Q000494:pharmacology; D013778:Tetrazolium Salts / Q000378:metabolism; D013844:Thiazoles / Q000378:metabolism; D014415:Tunicamycin / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D052160:Benzothiazoles; D018491:Dopamine Agonists; D018492:Dopamine Antagonists; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D013778:Tetrazolium Salts; D013844:Thiazoles; D014415:Tunicamycin; D013134:Spiperone; D000077487:Pramipexole; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase; C022616:thiazolyl blue