ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE We have previously shown that inhibition of phosphodiesterase-4(PDE4)protects against neuronal damage in models of Parkinson's dis-ease(PD).However,the mechanisms have not yet been completely revealed.Here we aimed to elucidate the pharmacological effects and mechanisms of action of rof-lupram(ROF),an novel PDE4 inhibitor,in experimen-tal models of PD.METHODS The survival rate,apopto-sis rate and toxicity level of SH-SY5Y cells were deter-mined by MTT,flow cytometry and lactate dehydroge-nase detection kit.At the same time,LYT staining was used to detect the changes of lysosome fluorescence intensity:Western blotting was used to detect the changes of lysosome associated proteins,Sirtuin1 and α-Syn;NAD/NADH assay kit was used to determine the change of NAD content.To explore whether SIRT1 inhibitor(EX527)and lysosomal inhibitor could block the effect of ROF.In addition,ROT was used to stimulate C57BL/6J mice to construct a mouse model of PD to verify the effect and mechanism of ROF.The changes of motor function were evaluated by behavioral experiments(pole climb-ing,bar rotating and balance beam experiments).Super-oxide dismutase kit and Western blotting were used to detect the changes of SOD activity and expression of related proteins in substantia nigra.RESULTS We showed that pretreatment with ROF significantly attenu-ated cell apoptosis in ROT-treated SH-SY5Y cells.Fur-thermore,ROF significantly enhanced the lysosomal function,as evidenced by the increased levels of mature cathepsin D(CTSD)and lysosomal-associated mem-brane protein 1(LAMP1)through increasing NAD+/NADH and the expression of sirtuin 1(SIRT1).Pretreatment with an SIRT1 inhibitor selisistat(SELI,10 μ mol·L-1)attenuated the neuroprotection of ROF,and ROF-increased expression levels of LAMP1 and mature CTSD.Moreover,inhibition of CTSD by pepstatin A(20 μmol·L-1)attenuated the protective effects of ROF.In vivo study was conducted in mice exposed to ROT(10 mg·kg-1·d-1,ig)for six weeks;then,ROT-treated mice received ROF(0.5,1 and 2 mg·kg-1·d-1,ig)for four weeks.ROF significantly ameliorated motor deficits,which was accompanied by increased expression levels of tyro-sine hydroxylase,SIRT1,mature CTSD,and LAMP1 in the substantia nigra pars compacta.CONCLUSION Taken together,these results demonstrate that ROF exerts a neuroprotective action in PD models.The mech-anisms underlying ROF neuroprotective effects appear to be associated with NAD+/SIRT1-dependent activation of lysosomal function.