title: Role of alpha7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor in calcium signaling induced by prion protein interaction with stress-inducible protein 1.
abstract: The prion protein (PrP(C)) is a conserved glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored cell surface protein expressed by neurons and other cells. Stress-inducible protein 1 (STI1) binds PrP(C) extracellularly, and this activated signaling complex promotes neuronal differentiation and neuroprotection via the extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1 and 2 (ERK1/2) and cAMP-dependent protein kinase 1 (PKA) pathways. However, the mechanism by which the PrP(C)-STI1 interaction transduces extracellular signals to the intracellular environment is unknown. We found that in hippocampal neurons, STI1-PrP(C) engagement induces an increase in intracellular Ca(2+) levels. This effect was not detected in PrP(C)-null neurons or wild-type neurons treated with an STI1 mutant unable to bind PrP(C). Using a best candidate approach to test for potential channels involved in Ca(2+) influx evoked by STI1-PrP(C), we found that α-bungarotoxin, a specific inhibitor for α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7nAChR), was able to block PrP(C)-STI1-mediated signaling, neuroprotection, and neuritogenesis. Importantly, when α7nAChR was transfected into HEK 293 cells, it formed a functional complex with PrP(C) and allowed reconstitution of signaling by PrP(C)-STI1 interaction. These results indicate that STI1 can interact with the PrP(C)·α7nAChR complex to promote signaling and provide a novel potential target for modulation of the effects of prion protein in neurodegenerative diseases.
authors.affiliation: Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Hospital Alemão Oswaldo Cruz, São Paulo 01323-903, Brazil.
authors.forename: Flavio H
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Beraldo
authors.forename: Camila P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Arantes
authors.forename: Tiago G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.forename: Nicolle G T
authors.initials: NG
authors.lastname: Queiroz
authors.forename: Kirk
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Young
authors.forename: R Jane
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Rylett
authors.forename: Regina P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Markus
authors.forename: Marco A M
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Prado
authors.forename: Vilma R
authors.initials: VR
authors.lastname: Martins
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D015153:Blotting, Western; D020013:Calcium Signaling / Q000502:physiology*; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D047468:Immunoprecipitation; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D018621:PrPC Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D011485:Protein Binding; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D064569:alpha7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor
chemical_list: C579167:Chrna7 protein, human; C579166:Chrna7 protein, mouse; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins; D018621:PrPC Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; C489791:Stip1 protein, mouse; D064569:alpha7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3