title: Scorpion Venom Heat-Resistant Peptide Attenuates Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein Expression via c-Jun/AP-1.
abstract: Scorpion venom has been used in the Orient to treat central nervous system diseases for many years, and the protein/peptide toxins in Buthus martensii Karsch (BmK) venom are believed to be the effective components. Scorpion venom heat-resistant peptide (SVHRP) is an active component of the scorpion venom extracted from BmK. In a previous study, we found that SVHRP could inhibit the formation of a glial scar, which is characterized by enhanced glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) expression, in the epileptic hippocampus. However, the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying this process remain to be clarified. The results of the present study indicate that endogenous GFAP expression in primary rat astrocytes was attenuated by SVHRP. We further demonstrate that the suppression of GFAP was primarily mediated by inhibiting both c-Jun expression and its binding with AP-1 DNA binding site and other factors at the GFAP promoter. These results support that SVHRP contributes to reducing GFAP at least in part by decreasing the activity of the transcription factor AP-1. In conclusion, the effects of SVHRP on astrocytes with respect to the c-Jun/AP-1 signaling pathway in vitro provide a practical basis for studying astrocyte activation and inhibition and a scientific basis for further studies of traditional medicine.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116044, China.
authors.forename: Zhen
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116044, China.
authors.forename: Xue-Fei
authors.initials: XF
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116044, China.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.affiliation: Liaoning Engineering Technology Centre of Target-Based Nature Products for Prevention and Treatment of Ageing-Related Neurodegeneration, Dalian, 116044, China.
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Liaoning Engineering Technology Centre of Target-Based Nature Products for Prevention and Treatment of Ageing-Related Neurodegeneration, Dalian, 116044, China.
authors.forename: Na
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Dalian Friendship Hospital, Dalian, 116001, China.
authors.forename: Jin-Yi
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116044, China.
authors.forename: Shu-Qin
authors.initials: SQ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116044, China.
authors.forename: Wan-Qin
authors.initials: WQ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Liaoning Engineering Technology Centre of Target-Based Nature Products for Prevention and Treatment of Ageing-Related Neurodegeneration, Dalian, 116044, China. dlzhaoj@163.com.
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116044, China. lishao89@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Shao
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D006358:Hot Temperature; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D010455:Peptides / Q000633:toxicity*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012604:Scorpion Venoms / Q000633:toxicity*; D018808:Transcription Factor AP-1 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000096:biosynthesis*
chemical_list: D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; D010455:Peptides; D012604:Scorpion Venoms; D018808:Transcription Factor AP-1; C000603756:scorpion venom heat-resistant peptide, Buthus martensii; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
keywords: Astrocyte; Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP); Scorpion venom heat-resistant peptide (SVHRP); c-Jun