Serotonin induces or inhibits neuritic regeneration of leech CNS neurons depending on neuronal identity

Recovery of motor function after central nervous system (CNS) injury is dependent on the regeneration capacity of the nervous system, which is a multifactorial process influenced, among other things, by the role of neuromodulators such as serotonin. The neurotransmitter serotonin can promote neuronal regeneration but there are also reports of it causing restriction, so it is important to clarify these divergent findings in order to understand the direct scope and side effects of potential pharmacological treatments. We evaluated the effect of serotonin on the extent of neuritic outgrowth and morphology of three different neuronal types in the leech Haementeria officinalis during their regeneration in vitro: Retzius interneurons (Rz), annulus erector (AE) motoneurons, and anterolateral number 1 (AL1) CNS neurons. Neurons were isolated and cultured in L15 medium, with or without serotonin. Growth parameters were registered and quantified, and observed differences were analyzed. The addition of serotonin was found to induce AL1 neurons to increase their average growth dramatically by 8.3-fold (P=0.02; n=5), and to have no clear effect on AE motoneurons (P=0.44; n=5). For Rz interneurons, which normally do not regenerate their neurites, the addition of concanavaline-A causes substantial growth, which serotonin was found to inhibit on average by 98% (P=0.02; n=5). The number of primary neurites and their branches were also affected. These results reveal that depending on the neuronal type, serotonin can promote, inhibit, or have no effect on neuronal regeneration. This suggests that after CNS injury, non-specific pharmacological treatments affecting serotonin may have different effects on different neuronal populations.

Insulin-like growth factor (IgF)-I, IgF binding protein-3, and prostate cancer: correlation with gleason score

Introduction Non-androgenic growth factors are involved in the growth regulation of prostate cancer (PCa). Objective This is the first Brazilian study to correlate, in a population of patients operated for PCa, PSA, total testosterone, insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) with Gleason score and to compare with a control group with benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH). Materials and Methods This retrospective single-center study included 49 men with previously diagnosed PCa and 45 with previously diagnosed BPH. PSA, testosterone, IGF-I, IGFBP-3 were determined in both groups. Results PSA and IGFBP-3 levels were significantly higher in the PCa group as compared to the BPH group (p<0.001 and p=0.004, respectively). There was a significant difference when we compared the PSA before surgery (p<0.001) and at the inclusion in the study (p<0.001) and IGFBP3 (0.016) among patients with Gleason <7, ≥7 and BPH. In the PCa group, PSA, testosterone, IGF-I and IGFBP-3 levels were comparable between Gleason <7 and ≥7. Conclusions Our data suggest that in localized PCa, the quantification of PSA and, not of IGF-1, may provide independent significant information in the aggressiveness. IGFBP-3 could be a biochemical marker of disease control in PCa patients. .

Phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate 5-kinase alpha negatively regulates nerve growth factor-induced neurite outgrowth in PC12 cells

Neurite outgrowth, a cell differentiation process involving membrane morphological changes, is critical for neuronal network and development. The membrane lipid, phosphatidylinositol (PI) 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2), is a key regulator of many important cell surface events of membrane signaling, trafficking and dynamics. This lipid is produced mainly by the type I PI 4-phosphate 5-kinase (PIP5K) family members. In this study, we addressed whether PIP5Kalpha, an isoform of PIP5K, could have a role in neurite outgrowth induced by nerve growth factor (NGF). For this purpose, we knocked down PIP5Kalpha in PC12 rat pheochromocytoma cells by stable expression of PIP5Kalpha microRNA that significantly reduced PIP5Kalpha expression and PIP2 level. Interestingly, NGF-induced neurite outgrowth was more prominent in PIP5Kalpha-knockdown (KD) cells than in control cells. Conversely, add-back of PIP5Kalpha into PIP5Kalpha KD cells abrogated the effect of NGF on neurite outgrowth. NGF treatment activated PI 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt pathway, which seemed to be associated with reactive oxygen species generation. Similar to the changes in neurite outgrowth, the PI3K/Akt activation by NGF was potentiated by PIP5Kalpha KD, but was attenuated by the reintroduction of PIP5Kalpha. Moreover, exogenously applied PIP2 to PIP5Kalpha KD cells also suppressed Akt activation by NGF. Together, our results suggest that PIP5Kalpha acts as a negative regulator of NGF-induced neurite outgrowth by inhibiting PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in PC12 cells.

Nidogen Plays a Role in the Regenerative Axon Growth of Adult Sensory Neurons Through Schwann Cells

We previously reported that nidogen is an extracellular matrix protein regulating Schwann cell proliferation and migration. Since Schwann cells play a critical role in peripheral nerve regeneration, nidogen may play a role in it via regulation of Schwann cells. Here, we demonstrate direct evidence that nidogen induces elongation of regenerative axon growth of adult sensory neurons, and that the effect is Schwann cell dependent. Continuous infusion of recombinant ectodomain of tumor endothelial marker 7, which specifically blocks nidogen function in Schwann cells, suppressed regenerative neurite growth in a sciatic nerve axotomy model. Taken together, it is likely that nidogen is required for proper regeneration of peripheral nerves after injury.

Netrin Inhibits Regenerative Axon Growth of Adult Dorsal Root Ganglion Neurons in Vitro

Netrin is a neuronal guidance molecule implicated in the development of spinal commissural neurons and cortical neurons. The attractive function of netrin requires the receptor, Deleted in Colorectal Cancer (DCC), while the receptor Unc5h is involved in the repulsive action of netrin during embryonic development. Although the expression of netrin and its receptor has been demonstrated in the adult nervous system, the function of netrin in adult neurons has not yet been elucidated. Here, we show that netrin treatment inhibited neurite outgrowth of adult dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons in explant and dissociated cultures. In addition, unc5h1-3 mRNAs, but not the dcc mRNA, are abundantly expressed in the adult DRG. An in situ hybridization study demonstrated that unc5h mRNAs were expressed in DRG neurons. This finding indicates that netrin/Unc5h signaling may play a role in the neurite outgrowth of adult DRG neurons and that netrin may be involved in the regulation of peripheral nerve regeneration.

Lysophosphatidylcholine suppresses apoptosis and induces neurite outgrowth in PC12 cells through activation of phospholipase D2

Lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) is a bioactive lipid generated by phospholipase A2-mediated hydrolysis of phosphatidylcholine. In the present study, we demonstrate that LPC stimulates phospholipase D2 (PLD2) activity in rat pheochromocytoma PC12 cells. Serum deprivation induced cell death of PC12 cells, as demonstrated by decreased viability, DNA fragmentation, and increased sub-G1 fraction of cell cycle. LPC treatment protected PC12 cells partially from the cell death and induced neurite outgrowth of the cells. Overexpression of PLD2 drastically enhanced the LPC-induced inhibition of apoptosis and neuritogenesis. Pretreatment of the cells with 1-butanol, a PLD inhibitor, completely abrogated the LPC-induced inhibition of apoptosis and neurite outgrowth in PC12 cells overexpressing PLD2. These results indicate that LPC possesses the neurotrophic effects, such as anti-apoptosis and neurite outgrowth, through activation of PLD2.

Secretin induces neurite outgrowth of PC12 through cAMP-mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway

The gastrointestinal functions of secretin have been fairly well established. However, its function and mode of action within the nervous system remain largely unclear. To gain insight into this area, we have attempted to determine the effects of secretin on neuronal differentiation. Here, we report that secretin induces the generation of neurite outgrowth in pheochromocytoma PC12 cells. The expressions of Tau and beta-tubulin, neuronal differentiation markers, are increased upon secretin stimulation. In addition, secretin induces sustained mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activation and also stimulates the cAMP secretion. Moreover, the neurite outgrowth elicited by secretin is suppressed to a marked degree in the presence of either PD98059, a specific MAPK/ERK kinase (MEK) inhibitor, or H89, a specific protein kinase A (PKA) inhibitor. Taken together, these observations demonstrate that secretin induces neurite outgrowth of PC12 cells through cAMP-MAPK pathway, and provide a novel insight into the manner in which secretin participates in neuritogenesis.

CD99 type II is a determining factor for the differentiation of primitive neuroectodermal cells

CD99 is a 32-kDa cell surface molecule present on thymocytes, peripheral T cells, many other hematopoietic stem cells and somatic cells were implicated in cell-cell adhesion and cell-activation phenomena. Two major subtypes have been identified so far, designated CD99 type I and type II. We have investigated the correlation between the degree of neural differentiation and the expression of CD99 subtypes in three differentially differentiated cell lines such as CADO-ES1, RD-ES, and SH-N-SY5Y, in order of differentiation. In addition, we induced differentiation of the RD-ES cell line by N(6),2'-dibutyryl-cAMP (db-cAMP). Six days after treatment with db-cAMP, RD-ES cell line has changed its morphology from uniform round cells to cells with neurites, and initially CD99 type II-overexpressed RD-ES cells showed significant down-regulation of CD99 type II, whereas CD99 type I expression remained constant. When RD- ES cells were transfected with the cDNA encoding for CD99 type I-green fluorescence protein (GFP) and type II-GFP, CD99 type II transfected RD-ES cell line remained unchanged with morphology of undifferentiated form. Our data suggest that CD99 type II acts as a negative regulator in the neural differentiation of precursor cells that might occur during nerve system development.