title: Frataxin deficiency leads to reduced expression and impaired translocation of NF-E2-related factor (Nrf2) in cultured motor neurons.
abstract: Oxidative stress has been implicated in the pathogenesis of Friedreich's Ataxia (FRDA), a neurodegenerative disease caused by the decreased expression of frataxin, a mitochondrial protein responsible of iron homeostasis. Under conditions of oxidative stress, the activation of the transcription factor NF-E2-related factor (Nrf2) triggers the antioxidant cellular response by inducing antioxidant response element (ARE) driven genes. Increasing evidence supports a role for the Nrf2-ARE pathway in neurodegenerative diseases. In this study, we analyzed the expression and the distribution of Nrf2 in silenced neurons for frataxin gene. Decreased Nrf2 mRNA content and a defective activation after treatment with pro-oxidants have been evidenced in frataxin-silenced neurons by RT-PCR and confocal microscopy. The loss of Nrf2 in FRDA may greatly enhance the cellular susceptibility to oxidative stress and make FRDA neurons more vulnerable to injury. Our findings may help to focus on this promising target, especially in its emerging role in the neuroprotective response.
authors.affiliation: Confocal Microscopy Core Facility, Research Laboratories, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome 00165, Italy. fiorella.piemonte@opbg.net.
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: D'Oria
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Petrini
authors.forename: Lorena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Travaglini
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Priori
authors.forename: Emanuela
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Piermarini
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Petrillo
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Carletti
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bertini
authors.forename: Fiorella
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Piemonte
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D005621:Friedreich Ataxia / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D033862:Iron-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D051267:NF-E2-Related Factor 2 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D000096923:Frataxin
chemical_list: D033862:Iron-Binding Proteins; D051267:NF-E2-Related Factor 2; D000096923:Frataxin; C495635:NFE2L2 protein, human