title: The role of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase in neuronal steroidogenesis under acute inflammation.
abstract: Phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) is a key gluconeogenic enzyme found in many tissues throughout the body including brain. In the present study, we have investigated the effect of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on PEPCK and its role in neuronal steroidogenesis. Adult female albino rats were administered LPS (5mg/kg body weight) to induce acute inflammation. LPS administration resulted in a significant increase of PEPCK mRNA expression with concomitant increase in mRNA levels of steroidogenic acute regulatory (StAR) protein and other steroidogenic enzymes including 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3β-HSD), 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17β-HSD) and aromatase in brain tissue. Further, the inhibition of PEPCK expression by glipizide significantly decreased the mRNA expression of steroidogenic proteins and concurrently increased the mRNA levels of proinflammatory cytokines under LPS administration. The results of this study suggest a novel finding that PEPCK may have an important role in neuronal steroidogenesis; which serves as an adaptive response under inflammation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli 620 024, India.
authors.forename: Mohanraj
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sadasivam
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli 620 024, India.
authors.forename: Balamurugan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ramatchandirin
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli 620 024, India.
authors.forename: Sivasangari
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Balakrishnan
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli 620 024, India.
authors.forename: Karthikeyan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Selvaraj
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli 620 024, India. Electronic address: prahalath@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Chidambaram
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Prahalathan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D007249:Inflammation / Q000378:metabolism; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000276:immunology; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D010730:Phosphoenolpyruvate Carboxylase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D050880:p300-CBP Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D050880:p300-CBP Transcription Factors; D010730:Phosphoenolpyruvate Carboxylase
keywords: Bacterial lipopolysaccharide; Brain; Glipizide; Phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase; Steroidogenesis