Neuroprotective effects of phenolic antioxidant tBHQ associate with inhibition of FoxO3a nuclear translocation and activity.
The Forkhead transcription factor, FoxO3a induces genomic death responses in neurones following translocation from the cytosol to the nucleus. Nuclear translocation of FoxO3a is triggered by trophic factor withdrawal, oxidative stress and the stimulation of extrasynaptic NMDA receptors. Receptor activation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)-Akt signalling pathways retains FoxO3a in the cytoplasm, thereby inhibiting the transcriptional activation of death-promoting genes. We hypothesized that phenolic antioxidants such as tert-Butylhydroquinone (tBHQ), which is known to stimulate PI3K-Akt signalling, would inhibit FoxO3a translocation and activity. Treatment of cultured cortical neurones with NMDA increased the nuclear localization of FoxO3a, reduced the phosphorylation of FoxO3a, increased caspase activity and up-regulated Fas ligand expression. In contrast the phenolic antioxidant, tBHQ, caused retention of FoxO3a in the cytosol coincident with enhanced PI3K- dependent phosphorylation of FoxO3a. tBHQ-induced nuclear exclusion of FoxO3a was associated with reduced FoxO-mediated transcriptional activity. Exposure of neurones to tBHQ inhibited NMDA-induced nuclear translocation of FoxO3a, prevented NMDA-induced up-regulation of FoxO-mediated transcriptional activity, blocked caspase activation and protected neurones from NMDA-induced excitotoxic death. Collectively, these data suggest that phenolic antioxidants such as tBHQ oppose stress-induced activation of FoxO3a and therefore have potential neuroprotective utility in neurodegeneration.
Wolfson Centre for Age-Related Diseases, King's College London, London, UK.
Parmvir K
PK
Bahia
Victoria
V
Pugh
Kimberley
K
Hoyland
Victoria
V
Hensley
Marcus
M
Rattray
Robert J
RJ
Williams
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000166:cytology; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004347:Drug Interactions; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D051543:Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 3-gamma / Q000378:metabolism*; D006873:Hydroquinones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051379:Mice; D016202:N-Methylaspartate / Q000494:pharmacology; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects; D021381:Protein Transport / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000166:cytology; D013997:Time Factors; D014162:Transfection
D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; C496506:Foxa3 protein, mouse; D006873:Hydroquinones; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D051543:Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 3-gamma; D016202:N-Methylaspartate; C018855:2-tert-butylhydroquinone; D053148:Caspase 3