Pro-Nerve Growth Factor Induces Activation of RhoA Kinase and Neuronal Cell Death

Brain Sciences

Yuxian Zhang¹  JeganathanRamesh Babu¹  Jake Sustarich¹  Thangiah Geetha¹  Vaithinathan Selvaraju¹  Marina Sycheva¹  Marla Gearing² 

[1] Department of Nutrition, Dietetics, and Hospitality Management, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA;Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA;

关键词: NGF;    proNGF;    p75^NTR;    Alzheimer’s disease;    RhoA kinase;    neuronal death;   

DOI  :  10.3390/brainsci9080204

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

We have previously shown that the expression of pro-nerve growth factor (proNGF) was significantly increased, nerve growth factor (NGF) level was decreased, and the expression of p75^NTR was enhanced in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) hippocampal samples. NGF regulates cell survival and differentiation by binding TrkA and p75^NTR receptors. ProNGF is the precursor form of NGF, binds to p75^NTR, and induces cell apoptosis. The objective of this study is to determine whether the increased p75^NTR expression in AD is due to the accumulation of proNGF and Rho kinase activation. PC12 cells were stimulated with either proNGF or NGF. Pull-down assay was carried out to determine the RhoA kinase activity. We found the expression of p75^NTR was enhanced by proNGF compared to NGF. The proNGF stimulation also increased the RhoA kinase activity leading to apoptosis. The expression of active RhoA kinase was found to be increased in human AD hippocampus compared to control. The addition of RhoA kinase inhibitor Y27632 not only blocked the RhoA kinase activity but also reduced the expression of p75^NTR receptor and inhibited the activation of JNK and MAPK induced by proNGF. This suggests that overexpression of proNGF in AD enhances p75^NTR expression and activation of RhoA, leading to neuronal cell death.

【 授权许可】

Unknown