title: Cocaine and ethanol target 26S proteasome activity and gene expression in neuroblastoma cells.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Ethanol and cocaine are widely abused drugs triggering long-lasting changes in neuronal circuits and synaptic transmission through the regulation of enzyme activity and gene expression. Compelling evidence indicates that the ubiquitin-proteasome system plays a role in the molecular changes induced by addictive substances, impacting on several mechanisms implicated in abuse. The goal of these studies was to evaluate the effects of cocaine or ethanol on proteasome activity in neuroblastoma cells. Moreover, the gene expression of specific subunits was assessed.
  
  
  METHODS
  Chymotrypsin-like activity was measured after 2 h, 24 h, and 48 h exposure to 5 μM cocaine or 40 mM ethanol. Proteasome subunit transcripts were evaluated by qPCR at the same time-points.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Treatments modified proteasome function in opposite directions, since cocaine increased and ethanol reduced chymotrypsin-like activity. Interestingly, we observed gene expression alterations induced by these drugs. In the core particle, the β1 and α5 subunits were mainly up-regulated by cocaine, whereas α6 transcripts were mostly decreased. β2 and β5 did not change. Similarly, ethanol exposure generally increased β1 and α5 mRNAs. Moreover, the β2 subunit was significantly up-regulated by ethanol only. The β5 and α6 subunits were not altered. In the regulatory particle, Rpt3 was increased by cocaine exposure, whereas it was reduced by ethanol. No significant Rpn9 alterations were observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings support the notion that addictive substances regulate proteasome function, contributing to the dysregulations related to drug abuse since the availability of adequate subunit amounts is necessary for proper complex assembly and function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Irnerio 48, 40126 Bologna, Italy. Electronic address: francesca.caputi3@unibo.it.
authors.forename: Francesca Felicia
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Caputi
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Irnerio 48, 40126 Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Carboni
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Irnerio 48, 40126 Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Daria
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mazza
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Irnerio 48, 40126 Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Sanzio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Candeletti
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Irnerio 48, 40126 Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Patrizia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Romualdi
mesh_terms: D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D003042:Cocaine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D009447:Neuroblastoma / Q000378:metabolism; D046988:Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000431:Ethanol; D046988:Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; C061553:ATP dependent 26S protease; D003042:Cocaine
keywords: Cocaine; Ethanol; Proteasome activity; SH-SY5Y; Subunit gene expression