Physiological Concentration of Prostaglandin E2 Exerts Anti-inflammatory Effects by Inhibiting Microglial Production of Superoxide Through a Novel Pathway.

This study investigated the physiological regulation of brain immune homeostasis in rat primary neuron-glial cultures by sub-nanomolar concentrations of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). We demonstrated that 0.01 to 10 nM PGE2 protected dopaminergic neurons against LPS-induced neurotoxicity through a reduction of microglial release of pro-inflammatory factors in a dose-dependent manner. Mechanistically, neuroprotective effects elicited by PGE2 were mediated by the inhibition of microglial NOX2, a major superoxide-producing enzyme. This conclusion was supported by (1) the close relationship between inhibition of superoxide and PGE2-induced neuroprotective effects; (2) the mediation of PGE2-induced reduction of superoxide and neuroprotection via direct inhibition of the catalytic subunit of NOX2, gp91phox, rather than through the inhibition of conventional prostaglandin E2 receptors; and (3) abolishment of the neuroprotective effect of PGE2 in NOX2-deficient cultures. In summary, this study revealed a potential physiological role of PGE2 in maintaining brain immune homeostasis and protecting neurons via an EP receptor-independent mechanism.

Identification of a specific α-synuclein peptide (α-Syn 29-40) capable of eliciting microglial superoxide production to damage dopaminergic neurons.

BACKGROUND: Misfolded α-synuclein (α-Syn) aggregates participate in the pathogenesis of synucleinopathies, such as Parkinson's disease. Whereas much is known about how the various domains within full-length α-Syn (FL-α-Syn) contribute to the formation of α-Syn aggregates and therefore to their neurotoxicity, little is known about whether the individual peptides that can be generated from α-syn, possibly as intermediate metabolites during degradation of misfolded α-Syn aggregates, are neurotoxic themselves. METHODS: A series of synthesized α-Syn peptides, corresponding to the locus in FL-α-Syn containing alanine 30, substitution of which with a proline causes a familial form of Parkinson's disease, were examined for their capacity of inducing release of microglial superoxide. The neurotoxicity of these peptides was measured according to their influence on the ability of neuroglial cultures deficient in gp91 (phox) , the catalytic unit of NADPH oxidase (Nox2), or wild-type cultures to take up (3)H-labeled dopamine and on the number of tyrosine hydroxylase-staining-positive neurons. Western blots and confocal images were utilized to analyze membrane translocation of p47 (phox) and p67 (phox) , phosphorylation of p47 (phox) and Erk1/2 kinase, and binding of α-Syn peptides to gp91 (phox) . Activation of brain microglia in mice injected with α-Syn peptides was demonstrated by immunostaining for major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-II along with qPCR for Iba-1 and MHC-II. RESULTS: We report α-Syn (29-40) as a specific peptide capable of activating microglial Nox2 to produce superoxide and cause dopaminergic neuronal damage. Administered to mice, this peptide also activated brain microglia to increase expression of MHC-II and Iba-1 and stimulated oxidation reaction. Exploring the underlying mechanisms showed that α-Syn (29-40) peptide triggered Nox2 to generate extracellular superoxide and its metabolite H2O2 by binding to the catalytic unit gp91 (phox) of Nox2; diffusing into cytosol, H2O2 activated Erk1/2 kinase to phosphorylate p47 (phox) and p67 (phox) and further activated Nox2, establishing a positive feedback loop to amplify the Nox2-mediated response. CONCLUSIONS: Collectively, our study suggests novel information regarding how α-Syn causes neuronal injury, possibly including mechanisms involving abnormal metabolites of α-Syn aggregates.

α-Synuclein, a chemoattractant, directs microglial migration via H2O2-dependent Lyn phosphorylation.

Malformed α-Synuclein (α-syn) aggregates in neurons are released into the extracellular space, activating microglia to induce chronic neuroinflammation that further enhances neuronal damage in α-synucleinopathies, such as Parkinson's disease. The mechanisms by which α-syn aggregates activate and recruit microglia remain unclear, however. Here we show that α-syn aggregates act as chemoattractants to direct microglia toward damaged neurons. In addition, we describe a mechanism underlying this directional migration of microglia. Specifically, chemotaxis occurs when α-syn binds to integrin CD11b, leading to H2O2 production by NADPH oxidase. H2O2 directly attracts microglia via a process in which extracellularly generated H2O2 diffuses into the cytoplasm and tyrosine protein kinase Lyn, phosphorylates the F-actin-associated protein cortactin after sensing changes in the microglial intracellular concentration of H2O2. Finally, phosphorylated cortactin mediates actin cytoskeleton rearrangement and facilitates directional cell migration. These findings have significant implications, given that α-syn-mediated microglial migration reaches beyond Parkinson's disease.