Biomedical subjects

E M Shooter

Publications and source records attributed to E M Shooter.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2000

p75 reduces TrkB tyrosine autophosphorylation in response to brain-derived neurotrophic factor and neurotrophin 4/5.

Neurotrophins mediate their signals through two different receptors: the family of receptor tyrosine kinases, Trks, and the low affinity pan-neurotrophin receptor p75. Trk receptors show more restricted ligand specificity, whereas all neurotrophins are able to bind to p75. One important function of p75 is the enhancement of nerve growth factor signaling via TrkA by increasing TrkA tyrosine autophosphorylation. Here, we have examined the importance of p75 on TrkB- and TrkC-mediated neurotrophin signaling in an MG87 fibroblast cell line stably transfected with either p75 and TrkB or p75 and TrkC, as well as in PC12 cells stably transfected with TrkB. In contrast to TrkA signaling, p75 had a negative effect on TrkB tyrosine autophosphorylation in response to its cognate neurotrophins, brain-derived neurotrophic factor and neurotrophin 4/5. On the other hand, p75 had no effect on TrkB or TrkC activation in neurotrophin 3 treatment. p75 did not effect extracellular signal-regulated kinase 2 tyrosine phosphorylation in response to brain-derived neurotrophic factor, neurotrophin 3, or neurotrophin 4/5. These results suggest that the observed reduction in TrkB tyrosine autophosphorylation caused by p75 does not influence Ras/mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway in neurotrophin treatments.

Animals↗

PubMed2000

Combined assessment of tau and neuronal thread protein in Alzheimer's disease CSF.

OBJECTIVE: Comparative study of CSF levels of tau and AD7C-neuronal thread protein (NTP) in patients with AD and control subjects. BACKGROUND: AD is characterized by neurofibrillary tangles composed of the abnormally hyperphosphorylated microtubule-associated protein tau. AD7C-NTP is a proposed AD marker expressed at early stages of neurofibrillary degeneration. METHODS: Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays specific for tau and AD7C-NTP. CSF samples were obtained from 35 demented patients (25 with antemortem clinical diagnosis of probable AD, 5 with neuropathologic diagnosis of definite AD, 5 with Lewy body pathology), 29 nondemented patients with PD, and 16 elderly healthy control subjects. Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) and multivariate discriminant analysis for AD versus controls. Correlational analysis of CSF tau and AD7C-NTP and of each marker with Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores was performed. RESULTS: Levels of both tau and AD7C-NTP were significantly elevated in the AD patients compared with control subjects. ROC analysis showed that CSF tau distinguished between patients with AD and nondemented control subjects with 63% sensitivity and 89% specificity, AD7C-NTP with 70% sensitivity and 87% specificity. Combined evaluation of both markers with discriminant analysis raised the specificity to 93% at a 63% sensitivity level. Both markers positively correlated with each other within the AD group, but not among control subjects. CSF levels of AD7C-NTP, but not of tau, showed a small but significant inverse correlation (r = -0.43) with MMSE scores of AD patients. CONCLUSIONS: CSF levels of tau and AD7C-NTP may be useful biomarkers for AD.

Aged↗

PubMed1999

Preparation of nuclear extracts from myelinating Schwann cells.

Myelination of peripheral nerve fibres is performed by Schwann cells and is associated with the coordinate upregulation of lipid synthesis and multiple genes encoding myelin-specific proteins. Both the decision to enter into a myelinating phenotype and subsequently, the quantity of myelin that each Schwann cell elaborates appear to be controlled by axonal signals. Understanding of the relevant signaling pathways and the downstream transcription factors and cis elements that confer myelin gene expression is notably limited. In large part, this has resulted directly from a lack of methods for obtaining nuclear extracts from myelinating Schwann cells thus precluding the application of numerous powerful molecular techniques. In this report, we describe a method that overcomes this limitation for the myelinating Schwann cells in the sciatic nerves of the mouse. During the evolution of the method, its effectiveness was monitored using an oligonucleotide containing the binding site for KROX-20, a transcription factor known to be present in myelinating Schwann cells. Following technical development, the optimized protocol has proven to be entirely reliable and thus novel experimental strategies now can be applied to the investigation of the molecular mechanisms controlling gene expression in peripheral nerves.

Animals↗

PubMed1999

Transport of Trembler-J mutant peripheral myelin protein 22 is blocked in the intermediate compartment and affects the transport of the wild-type protein by direct interaction.

Peripheral myelin protein 22 (PMP22) is an integral membrane protein that is essential for the normal formation and maintenance of peripheral myelin. Duplications, deletions, or mutations in the PMP22 gene account for a set of dominantly inherited peripheral neuropathies. The heterozygous Trembler-J (TrJ) genotype in mice is similar genetically to a Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 1A pedigree in humans, whereas the homozygous TrJ condition leads to the most severe form of PMP22-associated neuropathies. To characterize the consequences of the TrJ mutation, we labeled wild-type (wt-) and TrJ-PMP22 in the third loop of the protein with different epitope tags and expressed them separately or together in COS7 cells and primary Schwann cells. Here we show that the transport of the mutant TrJ-PMP22 is interrupted in the intermediate compartment, preventing its insertion into the plasma membrane and affecting the morphology of the endoplasmic reticulum. In addition, TrJ-PMP22 forms a heterodimer with the wt-PMP22. This interaction causes a fraction of the wt-PMP22 to be retained with TrJ-PMP22 in the intermediate compartment of COS7 and Schwann cells. The relative stability of a wt-mutant PMP22 heterodimer as compared with the wt-wt PMP22 homodimer may determine whether a particular mutation is semidominant or dominant. The neuropathy itself appears to result both from decreased trafficking of wt-PMP22 to the plasma membrane and from a toxic gain of function via the accumulation of wt- and TrJ-PMP22 in the intermediate compartment.

Animals↗

PubMed1999

Temporal expression pattern of peripheral myelin protein 22 during in vivo and in vitro myelination.

Peripheral myelin protein 22 (PMP22) was initially described as a minor component of peripheral myelin. Mutations affecting the PMP22 gene cause demyelinating neuropathies, supporting a role for the protein in PNS myelination. Furthermore, PMP22 carries the L2/HNK-1 carbohydrate epitope suggesting an adhesion/recognition function. Despite advances in characterizing the PMP22 gene, the specific role(s) of the protein in myelin remains unknown. In this study we determined the temporal expression pattern of PMP22 in comparison to galactocerebroside (GalC) and myelin associated glycoprotein (MAG), early constituents of PNS myelin, and to protein zero (P0) and myelin basic protein (MBP), late components of myelin. In sciatic nerve lysates, PMP22 was detected at postnatal day 3, after MAG, but before MBP expression. The same results were obtained in cocultures of dorsal root ganglion neurons and Schwann cells (SCs). Low levels of PMP22 were found in early, anti-MAG and anti-GalC immunoreactive, myelinating cocultures. However, PMP22 could only be detected in the SC plasma membrane after basal lamina formation. In long-term myelinating cocultures PMP22 levels continued to increase and the protein was found in anti-P0 and anti-MBP immunoreactive myelin segments. Furthermore, PMP22, MBP, and P0 protein levels were greatly enhanced by progesterone treatment of the cocultures. The highest levels of PMP22 expression were associated with late stages of myelination; however the presence of the protein in nonmyelinating SCs and in SCs commencing myelination supports multiple roles for PMP22 in peripheral nerve biology.

Animals↗

PubMed1999

PMP22 accumulation in aggresomes: implications for CMT1A pathology.

Peripheral myelin protein 22 (PMP22) is a 22-kDa glycoprotein mainly expressed by Schwann cells (SCs). Duplication or deletion of the PMP22 gene locus is associated with heritable peripheral neuropathies suggesting that the correct level of PMP22 protein is essential for SC functioning. Previously we reported that in SCs the majority (80%) of newly synthesized PMP22 is rapidly degraded, possibly due to inefficient folding. Here we show that inhibition of the proteasome pathway results in a marked accumulation of PMP22 in the perinuclear cytoplasm. Double immunolabeling with an anti-ubiquitin antibody and various organelle markers indicates that the accumulated PMP22 is found in unique intracellular inclusions, called aggresomes. Moreover, overexpression of PMP22 in SCs can induce perinuclear accumulation of the protein. Together, these studies suggest that the proteasome pathway is critical for the regulation of PMP22 protein levels and raise the possibility that aggresomes may be involved in the pathogenesis of PMP22-associated peripheral neuropathies.

Animals↗

PubMed1998

Neurotrophins induce release of neurotrophins by the regulated secretory pathway.

Recent studies have established that neurotrophin synthesis and secretion are regulated by activity and that these factors are involved in activity-dependent processes in the nervous system. Neurotrophins also are known to induce increases in intracellular calcium, a trigger for regulated secretion. This finding raises the possibility that neurotrophins themselves may stimulate regulated secretion of neurotrophins. To address this question, we studied the release of neurotrophins from transfected PC12 cells, a widely used model for neuronal secretion and neurotrophin signal transduction. We found that neurotrophins induced the regulated secretion of brain-derived neurotrophic factor, neurotrophin-3 (NT-3), and neurotrophin-4/5. The effect of brain-derived neurotrophic factor on release of NT-3 could be abolished by REX, a p75 blocking antibody, but not by K252a, an inhibitor of neurotrophin tyrosine kinase receptor (Trk) signaling. The nerve growth factor effect on release of NT-3 could be blocked only by simultaneous application of REX and K252a, suggesting that they are mediated by TrkA as well as p75. Our data show that neurotrophins are able to induce the regulated secretion of neurotrophins and suggest a signal-transducing role for both TrkA and p75 in this process. The neurotrophin-induced release of neurotrophins may be relevant for activity-dependent processes such as synaptic plasticity and memory formation.

Animals↗

PubMed1998

Duration and magnitude of nerve growth factor signaling depend on the ratio of p75LNTR to TrkA.

The role of the low affinity neurotrophin receptor p75LNTR in neurotrophin signal transduction remains open. Recent reports show that this receptor generates intracellular signals independent of Trk activity, and others imply that it collaborates with Trk(s) to enhance cellular responses to low neurotrophin concentrations. We have used the Cytosensor microphysiometer as a direct marker of intracellular metabolic activity to address the physiologic role of p75LNTR in nerve growth factor (NGF) signal transduction. NGF treatment of PC12 or TrkA-transfected Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells results in a rapid, transient increase in the extracellular acidification rate as measured by the Cytosensor; in both cell types, p75LNTR enhances this response. p75LNTR affects both the magnitude of and the duration of the extracellular acidification response to NGF. Moreover, it is not merely the presence of p75LNTR, but also the ratio of p75LNTR:TrkA which determines cellular responsiveness to NGF. In transiently transfected CHO cells, a 5:1 ratio of p75LNTR:trkA cDNAs produced the greatest change in NGF-induced acid secretion. Pretreatment of PC12 cells with anti-p75LNTR antibodies decreased the responsiveness to NGF. However, long-term NGF exposure to PC12 cells in which p75LNTR expression was decreased to approximately 10% of wild-type levels showed a longer duration of acid secretion compared to wild-type PC12 cells. Together, these data suggest that p75LNTR may play a dual role in modulating NGF signal transduction by enhancing and extending cellular responses to short-term ligand exposures while attenuating the metabolic response to long-term ligand exposures. With regard to potential Trk-independent p75LNTR signal transduction mechanisms, we detected no change in extracellular acidification response in 75LNTR-transfected CHO cells, PCNA-15 fibroblasts, or Schwann cells, all of which express large amounts of p75LNTR and no Trk. Thus, p75LNTR cannot produce any signal detected by microphysiometry in the absence of TrkA.

Animals↗

PubMed1998

Subcellular localization of epitope-tagged neurotrophins in neuroendocrine cells.

A growing body of evidence suggests that neurotrophins (NTs) play a critical role in synaptic plasticity and other activity dependent processes in the CNS. Release of these growth factors by neurons and neuroendocrine cells was recently shown to occur via the regulated secretory pathway, representing a possible mechanism for preferentially supplying NTs locally to active synapses. However, the identity and characteristics of the intracellular storage compartment for NTs undergoing stimulus-coupled secretion remains controversial. As a step towards addressing these issues we have investigated the subcellular localization of epitope-tagged nerve growth factor (NGF), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) in neuroendocrine cells. Placement of the myc-epitope tag at the neurotrophin carboxy terminus did not affect essential properties of the NTs such as their ability to induce Trk tyrosine phosphorylation or their sorting into the regulated secretory pathway in PC12 and AtT-20 neuroendocrine cells. Epitope-tagged NTs colocalize with dense core vesicle (DCV)-markers at the light microscopic level in both cell lines investigated. Furthermore, at an EM level immunoreactivity (IR) for myc-tagged NGF was found over dense core granules (DCGs) in PC12 cells. These data provide evidence that NTs can be stored in DCVs in neuronal model cell lines and, potentially, in neurons as well.

Animals↗

PubMed1998

Phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase inhibitor D609 differentially affects MAP kinases and immediate-early genes in PC12 cells.

The effects of tricyclodecan-9-yl xanthogenate (D609), an inhibitor of phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipases, on PC12 cells were investigated. D609 repressed nerve growth factor (NGF)-mediated induction of c-fos mRNA with an IC50 approximately 50 microg/ml. Interestingly, maximal c-fos-suppressing doses of D609 did not affect activity of extracellular signal-regulated kinases. Surprisingly, D609 enhanced the extracellular acidification rate of PC12 cells, even in the absence of NGF. D609 alone induced c-jun mRNA with the same potency as it repressed the NGF-induced expression of c-fos. Like NGF, D609 alone induced c-jun even in the presence of dominant-negative Ras. Immediate-early induction of c-jun mRNA by NGF and D609 was abrogated by pretreatment with the kinase inhibitor olomoucine. Jun kinase, which is inhibited by olomoucine, was found to be activated by D609. Thus, D609 might induce c-jun in PC12 cells as a consequence of Jun kinase activation through a Ras-independent pathway. Under the same conditions, D609 repressed NGF-mediated induction of c-fos mRNA.

Animals↗

PubMed1998

Apoptosis of central and peripheral neurons can be prevented with cyclin-dependent kinase/mitogen-activated protein kinase inhibitors.

Previous studies have indicated that certain members of the cyclin-dependent kinase/mitogen-activated protein kinase superfamily are involved in apoptosis of neuronal cells. Here, we have examined programmed cell death induced by withdrawal of neurotrophic support from CNS (rat retinal) and PNS (chick sympathetic, sensory, and ciliary) neurons. All four neuron types were equally rescued by the purine analogues olomoucine and roscovitine. Olomoucine inhibits multiple cyclin-dependent and mitogen-activated protein kinases with similar potency. Roscovitine is a more selective cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor; but, so is butyrolactone I, which did not prevent retinal ganglion cell death. The specific p38MAPK inhibitor SB-203580 did not prevent apoptosis in retinal ganglion cells. Death of these cells in the absence of neurotrophic factors was accompanied by morphological changes indicative of apoptosis, including nuclear condensation and fragmentation. Treatment with olomoucine or roscovitine not only prevented these apoptotic changes in retinal ganglion cells but also blocked neurite outgrowth. The survival-promoting activity of olomoucine correlated with its in vitro IC50 for c-Jun N-terminal kinase-1 and its potency to repress c-jun induction in live PC12 cells. Roscovitine was more potent in rescuing neurons than in inhibiting Jun kinase. Thus, the antiapoptotic action of roscovitine might be due to inhibition of additional kinases.

Animals↗

PubMed1997

The role of the nerve growth factor carboxyl terminus in receptor binding and conformational stability.

The role of the nerve growth factor (NGF) carboxyl terminus in the function of NGF is not well understood. Previous work showed that deletion of residues 112-120 abolished NGF bioactivity. Several mutagenesis studies, however, have localized the binding sites of the two NGF receptors, p75 and TrkA, to other regions of the NGF molecule. To investigate the role of the NGF COOH terminus, we performed a detailed structure-function analysis of this region by deleting stepwise each of the nine COOH-terminal residues as well as constructing six point mutants. We found that point mutations within the 111-115 region, but not deletion of residues 116-120, significantly decreased NGF bioactivity, as determined by TrkA tyrosine phosphorylation and neurite outgrowth from PC12 cells. Mutation of the absolutely conserved Leu112 led to severely disrupted p75 binding on A875 cells but had only a modest effect on TrkA binding to MG87-TrkA fibroblasts. This suggests that the p75 binding surface is more extended than previously believed and includes not only charged residues within loops 1 and 5 but also spatially discontinuous, uncharged residues in a region where the NH2 and COOH termini are in close proximity. Unexpectedly, deletion of COOH-terminal residues beyond Ala116 led to significantly decreased stability. These results demonstrate that residues 111-115, but not residues 116-120, are important for both the structural stability and biological activity of NGF.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1997

Neurons promote the translocation of peripheral myelin protein 22 into myelin.

Schwann cells express low levels of myelin proteins in the absence of neurons. When Schwann cells and neurons are cultured together the production of myelin proteins is elevated, and myelin is formed. For peripheral myelin protein 22 (PMP22), the exact amount of protein produced is critical, because peripheral neuropathies result from its underexpression or overexpression. In this study we examined the effect of neurons on Schwann cell PMP22 production in culture and in peripheral nerve using metabolic labeling and pulse-chase studies as well as immunocytochemistry. Most of the newly synthesized PMP22 in Schwann cells is rapidly degraded in the endoplasmic reticulum. Only a small proportion of the total PMP22 acquires complex glycosylation and accumulates in the Golgi compartment. This material is translocated to the Schwann cell membrane in detectable amounts only when axonal contact and myelination occur. Myelination does not, however, alter the rapid turnover of PMP22 in Schwann cells. PMP22 may therefore be a unique myelin protein in that axonal contact promotes its insertion into the Schwann cell membrane and myelin without altering its rapid turnover rate within the cell.

Animals↗

PubMed1997

BDNF/NT4-5 receptor TrkB and cadherin participate in cell-cell adhesion.

The neurotrophin receptor TrkB plays a key role in promoting cell survival and differentiation in the nervous system. Two adhesive motifs in the extracellular domain of TrkB have been proposed based on its predicted secondary structure. To investigate the potential adhesive function of trkB, a full length trkB cDNA was stably transfected into NIH 3T3 cells and TrkB-expressing clones isolated. Transfectant clones producing different levels of TrkB protein were subjected to a homotypic aggregation assay. Results showed that parental cells were non-adhesive during the assay while TrkB-expressing cells displayed varying degrees of aggregation depending on the amount of TrkB protein expressed. The observed adhesion was Ca(2+)-, Mg(2+)-, and temperature-dependent, characteristics shared by the cadherin family of adhesion molecules. The transfected cell lines also expressed cadherin in proportion to TrkB expression and both molecules were required for cell adhesion. Double immunofluorescence staining studies showed that TrkB was colocalized with cadherin and catenin at cell-cell contact sites. Whether TrkB and cadherin mediate adhesion separately or synergistically remains to be determined.

Animals↗

PubMed1997

Upregulation of the endosomal-lysosomal pathway in the trembler-J neuropathy.

A nonconservative leucine to proline mutation in peripheral myelin protein 22 (PMP22) causes the Trembler-J (TrJ) neuropathy in mice and humans. The expression levels and localization of the PMP22 protein in the TrJ mouse have not been previously determined. The aim of our studies was to reevaluate the extent of myelin deficit in genotyped heterozygous and homozygous animals and to examine how the TrJ mutation alters the normal in vivo post-translational processing of PMP22. Morphological studies show evidence for primary dysmyelination and myelin instability in affected animals. As expected, Western blot analysis indicates that in adult heterozygous TrJ animals, the level of PMP22 is markedly decreased, similar to myelin basic protein and protein zero, whereas myelin-associated glycoprotein is largely unaffected. The decrease in myelin protein expression is associated with an increase in lysosomal biogenesis, suggestive of augmented endocytosis or autophagy. Double-immunolabeling experiments show the accumulation of PMP22 in endosomal/lysosomal structures of TrJ Schwann cells, and chloroquine treatment of nerve segments indicates that the degradation of protein zero, PMP22, and myelin basic protein is augmented in TrJ nerves. These studies suggest that the TrJ mutation alters myelin stability and that the mutant protein is likely degraded via the lysosomal pathway.

Animals↗

PubMed1997

Developmental expression of the NGF receptor p140trk in the septohippocampal system of the rat: a quantitative analysis.

An RNAse protection assay was used to identify p140trk mRNA in the developing rat septohippocampal system. In both the septum and hippocampus, levels of p140trk mRNA were low at birth and increased thereafter. Levels of transcripts were found to be much higher in the septum than in the hippocampus, whereas another brain region, the hypothalamus, showed levels of expression intermediate between these two structures. Only one isoform of the p140trk receptor was found to be expressed in the rat central nervous system (CNS) during development. This isoform corresponds to the one preferentially expressed in neural tissues in the adult animal. These data show that expression of the high affinity nerve growth factor (NGF) receptor is developmentally regulated during postnatal brain development and suggest that it might mediate NGF effects on developing central cholinergic systems.

Animals↗

PubMed1997

[Elucidation of the mechanism of retinal degeneration and regeneration and the prospects for its clinical application].

In order to obtain the basic knowledge necessary to develop therapeutical intervention for blindness due to the damaged retina and optic nerve, the mechanism of retinal degeneration and regeneration in an amphibian model, Cynops pyrrhogaster, was studied. In the retinal degenerative process following enucleation and reimplantation of the eye ball, evidence was found for active cell death of neural retinal cells. As the degeneration proceeded, Musashi, an ribonucleic acid (RNA)-binding protein, started its expression in the daughter cells of proliferating retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells, messenger RNA (mRNA) expression of proneural genes with basic helix-loop-helix motif was then detected in the newly developing retina. These results suggest that transdifferentiation of RPE cells to neural retina involves at least partial cascade, if not entirely, of neural induction from uncommitted ectodermal tissue. Search for genes that are required for transdifferentiation of RPE cells to neural retinal cells, in addition to those mentioned above, will provide the basic knowledge for successful retinal transplantation and retinal regeneration in higher vertebrates.

Amphibians↗

PubMed1996

The regulated secretion and vectorial targeting of neurotrophins in neuroendocrine and epithelial cells.

The varied roles that neurotrophins play in the development and activity-dependent plasticity of the nervous system presumably require that the sites and quantity of neurotrophin release be precisely regulated. As a step toward understanding how different neurotrophins are sorted and secreted by neurons, we expressed nerve growth factor (NGF), brain-derived neurotrophic factor, and neurotrophin-3 in cell lines used as models for neuronal protein sorting. All three neurotrophins were secreted by a regulated pathway in transfected AtT-20 and PC12 neuroendocrine cells, with a 3-6-fold increase in neurotrophin release in response to 8-bromo-cAMP or depolarization, respectively. To determine if the propeptide directs the intracellular sorting of mature NGF, we examined mutants in which regions spanning the propeptide were deleted. These mutants underwent regulated release in every case in which expression could be detected. Similarly, NGF sorting was not significantly altered by mutations which specifically abolished N-glycosylation or proteolytic processing sites within the NGF precursor. Finally, we found that all three neurotrophins were secreted 65-75% basolaterally by polarized Madin-Darby canine kidney epithelial cells. These findings suggest that the determinants of regulated neurotrophin secretion lie within the mature neurotrophin moiety and that NGF, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, and neurotrophin-3 are likely to be sorted similarly and released in a regulated manner by neurons.

8-Bromo Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate↗