title: Effect of itraconazole on mouse mesencephalic neurons.
abstract: Neuronal cells have complex geometrical shapes, long processes such as axons and dendrites, and as a response to specific stimuli, they go through polarized neuronal migration that influences connectivity and information processing. Recently, it has been discovered that itraconazole, a widely used systemic antifungal drug, has an effect on cell morphology, acting as an inhibitor of the morphogen Sonic Hedgehog (Shh) and of the mammalian target of rapamycin mTOR pathways. In this paper we evaluated the effect of itraconazole on mouse mesencephalic dopaminergic neurons following their neurite outgrowth and functional activity by [(3)H] DA uptake. Furthermore the expression of several neural markers, the activation of the mTOR and of the morphogenic Shh pathways in the neuronal population was examined. Our results show for the first time a strong alteration of neurons morphology and an inhibitory effect of differentiation by itraconazole, probably due to cholesterol trafficking reduction, mTOR and Shh pathways inhibition. The inhibition of mTOR and Shh pathways by this drug has also been found in other cellular systems such as endothelial cells and lung cancer cells, suggesting a conserved mechanism of intercellular communication. As itraconazole is currently involved in multiple human clinical trials as a prospective anticancer agent, the effect on neuronal differentiation should be taken into account.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Physiology, National Research Council (CNR), via Moruzzi 1, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Giorgi
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Physiology, National Research Council (CNR), via Moruzzi 1, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Catia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fausto
authors.affiliation: Department of Translational Research on New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, via Roma 55, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pardini
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biophysics, National Research Council (CNR), via Moruzzi 1, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Marcella
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Simili
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Physiology, National Research Council (CNR), via Moruzzi 1, Pisa, Italy. Electronic address: rdc@ifc.cnr.it.
authors.forename: Renata
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Del Carratore
authors.affiliation: Department of Translational Research on New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, via Roma 55, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vaglini
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian; D005260:Female; D017964:Itraconazole / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D008636:Mesencephalon / Q000166:cytology*; D051379:Mice; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D019006:Neural Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D014316:Tritium / Q000378:metabolism; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D000935:Antifungal Agents; D008074:Lipoproteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D019006:Neural Cell Adhesion Molecules; D010446:Peptide Fragments; C083222:tyrosine hydroxylase (2-16) peptide; D014316:Tritium; D017964:Itraconazole; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase; D004298:Dopamine
keywords: Cholesterol biosynthesis; Differentiation; Itraconazole; Neurite outgrowth; Sonic hedgehog