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Altered presynaptic gene expression in transgenic mice producing dopamine in the pineal gland.

Neurotransmitters are known to play an important role in the development of the nervous system. We recently generated transgenic mice that ectopically express tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and thereby produce dopamine (DA) de novo in pinealocytes of the pineal gland (PG). The transgenic PG also exhibited a dramatic decrease in TH-immunoreactive (IR) fibers putatively arising from the superior cervical ganglion (SCG) (Cho et al. [1996] Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 93:2862-2866). In the current study, however, we found that there was no reduction in the number of fibers immunostained for neurofilament protein or PGP9.5, markers known to be heavily localized in fibers, despite the reduction of TH fiber density. Therefore, we investigated whether the decreased TH-IR fiber density is the consequence of reduced sympathetic innervation, or a decrease in TH expression within innervating fibers. Immunohistochemical analysis comparing control and transgenic PG demonstrated no apparent differences in numbers of NPY- and aromatic-L-amino acid decarboxylase (AADC)-IR fibers, indicating that TH expression is decreased in a normal number of innervating fibers. Furthermore, presynaptic neurons in the transgenic SCG showed abnormal and heterogeneous TH immunoreactivity and reduced TH and norepinephrine transporter (NET) mRNA levels. These results show that ectopic DA production in the PG lowers TH and NET gene expression in the SCG without altering sympathetic innervation to the PG and suggest that the alteration of target neurotransmitter phenotype may influence gene expression of phenotype-specific proteins in projecting neurons.

Animals↗

Origins and properties of hematopoietic growth factor-dependent cell lines.

Studies of the growth regulation, differentiation and transformation of myeloid cells have been greatly facilitated by the availability of a variety of hematopoietic growth factor-dependent cell lines. These cell lines have been isolated from long-term bone marrow cultures and myeloid tumors using interleukin 3 (IL-3) as a growth factor. Using growth factor-dependent cells, it has been shown that growth regulation by IL-3 involves binding to a high-affinity receptor of 140 Kd and activation of tyrosine phosphorylation. IL-3 binding is associated with a number of cellular responses which are required for maintenance of viability, including induction of transcription of the c-myc and ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) genes. In addition, IL-3 regulates the expression of transcription of the gamma T cell receptor locus. The properties of the IL-3-dependent lines are consistent with the hypothesis that they are transformed in their ability to terminally differentiate. In some of the cell lines, this transformation may terminally differentiate. In other of the cell lines, this transformation may be due to the altered expression of the c-myb gene. In other cell lines, transformation is associated with the activation of the expression of a novel gene, termed Evi-1, of the zinc finger family of transcriptional factors. Comparable transformation of erythroid lineage cells is speculated to be due to the activation of the expression of another novel gene termed spi-1. These studies have emphasized the value of well-characterized hematopoietic growth factor-dependent cell lines in advancing our understanding in the basic biology of myeloid cells.

Animals↗

Induction of B cell apoptosis by co-cross-linking CD23 and sIg involves aberrant regulation of c-myc and is inhibited by bcl-2.

A novel system to study the effects of co-cross-linking CD23/FceRII and sIg on murine B lymphocytes utilizes a highly multivalent form of anti-Ig prepared by covalently linking anti-Ig antibodies to a DNP-dextran backbone. CD23-sIg co-cross-linking is accomplished by the addition of DNP-specific monoclonal IgE. Previous studies demonstrated that co-cross-linking CD23 and sIg significantly inhibited mouse B cell proliferation, especially at high doses of the multivalent anti-Ig. Interestingly, examination of early activation signals reveals no difference in B cells subjected to co-cross-linking conditions as compared to B cells activated with anti-Ig alone. Total cellular protein tyrosine phosphorylation levels are unchanged by co-cross-linking. Analysis of B cell mRNA reveals that co-cross-linking the receptors does not alter the expression levels of ornithine decarboxylase 8 h after stimulation as compared to the controls. In contrast, levels of the proto-oncogene c-myc were significantly elevated 1 h after inducing B cell activation under co-cross-linking conditions. However, it remains unclear whether this aberrant c-myc regulation plays any role in inducing apoptosis. In addition, on day 3 after stimulation, the co-cross-linking of CD23 and sIg resulted in the formation of apoptotic B cells, determined by both photomicroscopy of the B cell cultures and FACS analysis of B cell nuclei. B cells obtained from bcl-2 transgenic mice proliferated as well as controls, and failed to undergo apoptosis when CD23 and sIg were co-cross-linked on their surface. These studies indicate that co-cross-linking of CD23 with B cell sIg inhibits B cell proliferation by a mechanism that is distinct from that seen by co-cross-linking of the Fc gamma RII and sIg. In addition, these results suggest a means by which antigen-specific IgE can down-regulate additional B cell activation and IgE synthesis.

Animals↗

Selective induction by nerve growth factor of tyrosine hydroxylase and dopamine- -hydroxylase in the rat superior cervical ganglia.

Treatment of newborn rats with 10 mug/g of nerve growth factor for 10 days enhanced not only the growth but also the differentiation of neuroblasts in superior cervical ganglia. These morphological changes were accompanied by selective induction of tyrosine hydroxylase and dopamine beta-hydroxylase (EC 1.14.2.1), whereas the total and specific activities of other enzymes involved in biosynthesis or metabolic degradation of norepinephrine rose only in proportion to the increase in volume of the sympathetic ganglia. There are remarkable similarities between this effect of nerve growth factor and the induction of trans-synaptic enzymes by increased activity of the sympathetic nervous system.

Animals↗

[Localization of non-monoaminergic aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase neurons (D-neurons) in the human striatum and their functional significance].

It has recently been reported that the human corpus striatum, especially its ventral part, named as the nucleus accumbens, contains numerous non-monoaminergic aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase (AADC; the second-step monoamine synthesizing enzyme) neurons (D-neurons). D-neurons are the neurons immunoreactive for AADC but not immunoreactive for dopamine or serotonin. They lack the first-step monoamine synthesizing enzymes, tyrosine hydroxylase and tryptophan hydroxylase. AADC is also the rate-limiting enzyme of phenylethylamine (PEA) synthesis. D-neurons might participate in the manifestation of efficacy of pharmacotherapy for Parkinson's disease by uptaking monoamine precursors including L-dopa or droxidopa (L-threo-DOPS) and by converting them to dopamine or noradrenaline, respectively. As the nucleus accumbens is one of the brain regions that are involved in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia and drug dependence, D-neurons might be related to the etiology of these mental disorders. It has also been suggested that striatal D-neurons are the pluripotential cells that have compensating functions against aging or degeneration.

Aromatic-L-Amino-Acid Decarboxylases↗

A new radiopharmaceutical for the cerebral dopaminergic presynaptic function: 6-radioiodinated L-meta-tyrosine.

Geometric isomers of radioiodinated L-meta-tyrosine, 6-[I-125]iodo-and 4-[1-125]iodo-L-meta-tyrosine (6-I-L-mTyr, 4-I-L-mTyr) were separated by high-performance liquid chromatography . Both 6-I- and 4-I-L-mTyr had high energy-dependent brain accumulation. 6-I- and 4-I-L-mTyr were also metabolically stable and were rapidly excreted through the urine. 6-I-L-mTyr had a predilection for the cerebral aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase (DOPA decarboxylase), the final enzyme of dopamine biosynthesis. 6-Radioiodinated L-mTyr is a new radiopharmaceutical that can be both useful in assessing cerebral amino acid transport mechanism and quantifying metabolically active DOPA decarboxylase.

Animals↗

Aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase turnover in vivo in rhesus macaque striatum: a microPET study.

The aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase (AAAD) is involved in the de novo synthesis of dopamine, a neurotransmitter crucial in cognitive, neurobehavioral and motor functions. The goal of this study was to assess the in vivo turnover rate of AAAD enzyme protein in the rhesus macaque striatum by monitoring, using microPET imaging with the tracer [(18)F]fluoro-m-tyrosine (FMT), the recovery of enzyme activity after suicide inhibition. Results showed the AAAD turnover half-life to be about 86 h while total recovery was estimated to be 16 days after complete inhibition. Despite this relatively slow AAAD recovery, the animals displayed normal movement and behavior within 24 h. Based on the PET results, at 24 h, the animals have recovered about 20% of normal AAAD function. These findings show that normal movement and behavior do not depend on complete recovery of AAAD function but likely on pre-synaptic and post-synaptic compensatory mechanisms.

Animals↗

Cells transformed by ODC, c-Ha-ras and v-src exhibit MAP kinase/Erk-independent constitutive phosphorylation of Sos, Raf and c-Jun activation domain, and reduced PDGF receptor expression.

While it is known that the constitutive activity of a variety of signal transduction molecules leads to cell transformation, a key unresolved question is whether these wirings converge to a common intermediate(s) that dictates transformation. In this study, we investigated whether NIH3T3 and Rat-1 cells transformed by human ornithine decarboxylase (ODC), c-Ha-rasVal12 and temperature-sensitive v-src oncogene display common alteration(s) in the components that relay PDGF-mediated signals in normal fibroblasts. The ras- and ODC-transformed cells did not show constitutively elevated tyrosine phosphorylation of the phospholipase Cgamma-1 (PLCgamma-1), RasGTPase-activating protein (GAP), phosphotyrosine phosphatase Syp, Shc proteins, and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-K) or activation of the MAP kinase (Erk1 and Erk2), p70 S6 kinase or the Janus protein tyrosine kinase (JAK) and signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) protein-1 pathways. Instead, the Ras nucleotide exchange factor Sos-1 and Raf-1 kinase exhibited constitutive phosphorylations, as deduced from their electrophoretic mobility shifts in polyacrylamide gels. Hence a kinase distinct from Erk1 and Erk2, previously known to feedback phosphorylate Sos-1 and Raf-1, is responsible for the phosphorylation of these molecules in the transformants. We also demonstrate that the ras- and ODC-transformed cells exhibit loss of both the PDGF alpha- and beta-receptors, while the v-Src-transformants show a predominant reduction in the beta-receptors. Moreover, all the transformed cell lines were found to display a constitutive increase in phosphorylation of c-Jun on serines 63 and 73, which appears to be governed by an as yet unknown kinase.

3T3 Cells↗

Islet cell antibodies are less predictive of IDDM among unaffected children in the general population than in sibs of children with diabetes. The Childhood Diabetes in Finland Study Group.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the controversial issue of whether islet cell antibodies (ICAs) have a higher predictive value for progression to clinical IDDM in first-degree relatives of patients with diabetes than in the general population. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: ICAs were analyzed with standard immunofluorescence in two population-based groups: 765 sibs of children with recent-onset diabetes and 1,212 unaffected Finnish children <20 years of age at initial screening. Those positive for ICAs were additionally tested for antibodies to GAD (GADAs) and the protein tyrosine phosphatase-related IA-2 antigen (IA-2As). Subsequently, these subjects were observed for the manifestation of clinical IDDM over the next 7 years. RESULTS: The frequency of both detectable ICAs and ICA levels > or =20 Juvenile Diabetes Foundation units (JDF U) was significantly higher among the sibs than in the general population (7.8 vs. 4.1% and 4.8 vs. 2.0%, respectively; P < 0.001). The prevalence of GADAs (37/60 vs. 3/48; P < 0.001) and IA-2As (31/60 vs. 0/48; P < 0.001) was increased among ICA-positive sibs compared with ICA-positive individuals from the background population. Over the next 7 years, 24 sibs (3.1%) and 3 unrelated children positive for ICAs (0.3%) progressed to clinical diabetes. The positive predictive value of ICAs was thus 6% in the general population and 40% among the sibs (P < 0.001), or 13 and 59%, respectively (P < 0.001), with an antibody cutoff level of 20 JDF U. The positive predictive value was related to the number of positive autoantibodies in sibs, which was 57% in those with three antibodies, 50% in those with two antibodies, and only 6% in those with ICAs alone. CONCLUSIONS: These data show that the frequency of multiple autoantibodies is substantially lower in ICA-positive children representing the general population than in ICA-positive sibs of children with IDDM. As a consequence, the predictive value of ICAs for IDDM is higher in sibs of affected children than in the general population. This finding must be taken into account when planning intervention trials aimed at preventing or delaying the manifestation of clinical diabetes in individuals from the general population who test positive for ICAs.

Adolescent↗

Influence of ACTH on tyrosine hydroxylase activity in the locus coeruleus of mouse brain.

Tyrosine hydroxylase activity in noradrenergic neurons of the locus coeruleus was found to rise in bilaterally adrenalectomized adult mice, with maximum increase of the enzyme activity (52% above control) occurring 7 days after the surgery. No such increase of tyrosine hydroxylase activity was found in dopaminergic neurons of the substantia nigra. The increase of enzyme activity in the locus coeruleus following adrenalectomy was totally prevented by corticosterone replacement. Moreover, the adrenalectomy effect was abolished by hypophysectomy, indicating the involvement of the pituitary rather than the adrenocortical function. Chronic administration of ACTH (20 IU/kg, i.p., daily) resulted in an increase of tyrosine hydroxylase activity in the locus coeruleus, with a time course and magnitude similar to those found after adrenalectomy. Additionally, the effects of four ACTH analogs were determined. ACTH 1-24 and ACTH 4-10 were as effective as the whole ACTH molecule, whereas ACTH 4-10,7-D-Phe and ACTH 11-24 were ineffective. The effect of ACTH 4-10, a peptide fragment with no adrenocorticotrophic activity, further indicates that glucocorticoids are not involved. From these data, it appears that tyrosine hydroxylase in the locus coeruleus neurons is under the regulatory influence of pituitary ACTH. It remains to be determined whether the hormone can be transported from its pituitary origin to the locus coeruleus and exerts a direct action on the noradrenergic neurons. Regardless of the mechanism, the response of the noradrenergic neurons to pituitary activity may be an important component in physiological adaptation of the central nervous system to chronic stress.

Adrenal Glands↗

Cholinergic neurons of the chick ciliary ganglia express adrenergic traits in vivo and in vitro.

In this study, we sought to determine whether neurons of the chick embryo ciliary ganglia (CG), a parasympathetic cholinergic ganglia, can express catecholaminergic (CA) traits. To accomplish this, we used immunocytochemical techniques to examine the presence of the CA enzymes tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase (PNMT) in CGs removed from chick embryo at day 8 of development (E8). Few neurons containing TH but not PNMT were found in the E8 CG. To examine whether CG neurons express CA enzymes in vitro, CGs removed from E8 chick embryo were dissociated and kept in culture for 3 to 12 days. In 50% of the culture dishes, some neurons contain TH or PNMT after 5 days in vitro. In an equal proportion of culture plates, CG neurons did not express the enzymes. To determine whether the proportion of CG neurons expressing TH or PNMT is increased by tissue influences, ganglion cells were co-cultured with notochord. In 90% of the co-culture experiments, most neurons present in the culture dishes stained with TH or PNMT after 5 days in vitro. To test for the presence of aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase (AADC), another CA enzyme, cultures of CGs and CGs plus notochord were incubated with levodopa and processed for the detection of CA histofluorescence. Dopamine histofluorescence was present in all neurons after 3 days in vitro irrespective of the presence of notochord, suggesting that the expressions of TH and PNMT and that of AADC are differentially regulated. This study, therefore, demonstrates that cholinergic neurons of the CG contain CA enzymes in vivo and in vitro and that the proportion of neurons expressing CA traits during development in vitro can be increased by environmental cues such as those released by the notochord.

Acetylcholine↗

Involvement of Nurr1 in specifying the neurotransmitter identity of ventral midbrain dopaminergic neurons.

The mesencephalic dopaminergic (mesDA) system is involved in many brain functions including motor control and motivated behaviour, and is of clinical importance because of its implication in psychiatric disorders and Parkinson's disease. Nurr1, a member of the nuclear hormone receptor superfamily of transcription factors, is essential for establishing the dopaminergic phenotype, because expression of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), the rate-limiting enzyme in dopamine synthesis, requires Nurr1. In addition, Nurr1 plays an important role in the maintenance of mesDA neurons. Neonatal Nurr1 knockout mice lack expression of the dopamine transporter (DAT), the vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT2) and l-aromatic amino acid decarboxylase (AADC) in addition to TH specifically in mesDA neurons. It is unclear whether the lack of expression of these dopaminergic markers is caused by a maintenance defect or whether the induction of these markers depends on Nurr1 expression. To address this problem, the expression of DAT, VMAT2 and AADC was analysed at embryonic day 12.5 and 14.5. Here we demonstrate that induction of VMAT2 and DAT specifically in mesDA neurons requires Nurr1 expression, whereas AADC expression in mesDA neurons is induced independently of Nurr1 function.

Animals↗

Aromatic-L-amino-acid decarboxylase activity in mouse pancreatic islets.

Aromatic-L-amino-acid decarboxylase activity has been measured in intact or homogenised pancreatic islets of ob/ob mice (Umeå ob/ob). The method used involves the trapping and measuring of the 14CO2 released from L-[1-14C]dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-dopa). Islets showed a decarboxylase activity which was dependent on pyridoxal phosphate and inhibitable by 0.1 mM benserazide or 0.1 mM alpha-monofluoromethyldopa. Maximum activity in intact islets was about 330 mmol/kg dry islet per h with an apparent Km of 3.3 mM. Islet homogenates had a Vmax of about 120 mmol/kg per h with a Km of 0.3 mM. L-5-Hydroxytryptophan, m-tyrosine and o-tyrosine interfered with the decarboxylation of L-dopa in a way that suggested a high activity also towards those substrates. L-Phenylalanine, L-tyrosine and D-glucose had no effect. At 0.05 mM L-dopa islet homogenates showed a much higher activity than homogenates of liver, kidney, or spleen. Islet uptake of L-[3H]dopa was well in excess of the decarboxylation rate and thus probably not rate-limiting. It is concluded that mouse pancreatic islets have a high activity of aromatic-L-amino-acid decarboxylase. This is in accordance with previous suggestions of a stimulatory effect of this enzyme on insulin secretion.

Animals↗

Catecholamine receptor agonists: effects on motor activity and rate of tyrosine hydroxylation in mouse brain.

Motor activity during the first 5 min in a motility meter was measured in mice given 0.025-3.2 mg/kg of the dopamine and noradrenaline receptor agonists apomorphine and clonidine, respectively. The accumulation of Dopa, as induced by the inhibitor of aromatic amino acid decarboxylase, NSD 1015, was measured in parallel in two dopamine-rich regions, i.e. the limbic system and the corpus striatum, and in two noradrenaline-rich regions, i.e. the neocortex and the lower brain stem. Low doses (0.025-0.2 mg/kg) of apomorphine reduced locomotion in a dose-dependent manner, while the reduction after higher doses was less pronounced, indicating a biphasic dose-response relationship. Clonidine caused a dose-dependent locomotor depression. When low doses of the two drugs were combined, the inhibitory effect observed was at least additive. When clonidine was combined with a high dose of apomorphine (0.8 mg/kg), it caused a significant inhibition of locomotion in a dose of 0.1-0.2 mg/kg, but not after 0.8 mg/kg, indicating a biphasic dose-response relationship. Either drug given alone reduced Dopa accumulation after inhibition of its decarboxylation, in all regions, but smaller doses of apomorphine had a clearcut effect only in the dopamine-rich regions, whereas the lowest dose of clonidine investigated (0.05 mg/kg) had an inhibitory effect on Dopa formation only in the neocortex. The relationship between the dose of apomorphine and Dopa formation in the neocortex appeared biphasic, the highest dose (3.2 mg/kg) having no significant effect. Further, apomorphine in this dose accelerated the disappearance of noradrenaline after inhibition of synthesis by alpha-methyltyrosine. Reversal of reserpine-induced suppression of motor activity was taken to indicate postsynaptic receptor activation. The threshold dose of apomorphine causing reversal was 0.2 mg/kg. The inhibitory effect of e.g. 0.05 mg/kg on locomotion and on Dopa formation suggests a preferential activation of inhibitory autoregulatory dopamine receptors by low doses of this drug. A similar trend was observed for clonidine. The basal importance of dopamine neurones for the locomotor function studied in the present paper is illustrated by the marked inhibition by low doses of apomorphine. On the other hand, the observations with clonidine suggest a somewhat less striking and perhaps less direct influence of noradrenaline neurones on motor activity. Mice with a low motor activity, as induced e.g. by reserpine or, in another experiment, mice adapted to the motility meter, displayed an increased motor activity after higher doses of apomorphine (from 0.2 and 2 mg/kg, respectively), whereas all doses depressed the initial high motor activity. Probably, high motor activity requires active dopamine neurones, making this behaviour more susceptible to interference with autoregulatory mechanisms, whereas a low basal activity may be more affected by activation of postsynaptic dopamine receptors.

Animals↗

Regulation of 5-hydroxytryptamine metabolism in mouse brain by adrenal glucocorticoids.

The effects of glucocorticoid hormone on the metabolism of brain 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) were studied in mice. A single injection of hydrocortisone acetate (HCA; 20 mg/kg, i.p.) accelerated the accumulation of 5-HT in whole brain after inhibition of monoamine oxidase activity by paragyline. The hormone did not appear to change brain tryptophan hydroxylase or 5-hydroxytryptophan decarboxylase activity. However, tryptophan levels in brain were elevated by 50% within 1 h after treatment with HCA. The effect of HCA on brain tryptophan levels was localized mainly in the nerve endings. In vitro synaptosomal preparations, HCA at 10(-5)-10(-7)M or corticosterone at 10(-5) M was found to stimulate the uptake of L-[3H]-tryptophan by the synaptosomes while androgenic and progesterone-like steroids were ineffective. These results demonstrate that glucocorticoids may directly act on nerve terminals in the regulation of 5-HT synthesis through an action on the uptake of tryptophan.

5-Hydroxytryptophan↗