Christian Blex

Regulation of Monoamine Oxidase A by Circadian-Clock Components Implies Clock Influence on Mood

The circadian clock has been implicated in addiction and several forms of depression [1, 2], indicating interactions between the circadian and the reward systems in the brain [3-5]. Rewards such as food, sex, and drugs influence this system in part by modulating dopamine neurotransmission in the mesolimbic dopamine reward circuit, including the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and the ventral striatum (NAc). Hence, changes in dopamine levels in these brain areas are proposed to influence mood in humans and mice [6-10]. To establish a molecular link between the circadian-clock mechanism and dopamine metabolism, we analyzed the murine promoters of genes encoding key enzymes important in dopamine metabolism. We find that transcription of the monoamine oxidase A (Maoa) promoter is regulated by the clock components BMAL1, NPAS2, and PER2. A mutation in the clock gene Per2 in mice leads to reduced expression and activity of MAOA in the mesolimbic dopaminergic system. Furthermore, we observe increased levels of dopamine and altered neuronal activity in the striatum, and these results probably lead to behavioral alterations observed in Per2 mutant mice in despair-based tests. These findings suggest a role of circadian-clock components in dopamine metabolism highlighting a role of the clock in regulating mood-related behaviors.

The first lumenal domain of vesicular monoamine transporters mediates G-protein-dependent regulation of transmitter uptake

The activity of vesicular monoamine transporters (VMATs) is down-regulated by the G-protein α-subunits of Go2 and Gq, but the signaling pathways are not known. We show here that no such regulation is observed when VMAT1 or VMAT2 are expressed in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. However, when the intracellular compartments of VMAT-expressing CHO cells are preloaded with different monoamines, transport becomes susceptible to G-protein-dependent regulation, with differences between the two transporter isoforms. Epinephrine induces G-protein-mediated inhibition of transmitter uptake in CHOVMAT1 cells but prevents inhibition induced by dopamine in CHOVMAT2 cells. Epinephrine also antagonizes G-protein-mediated inhibition of monoamine uptake by VMAT2 expressing platelets or synaptic vesicles. In CHOVMAT2 cells G-protein-mediated inhibition of monoamine uptake can be induced by 5-hydroxytryptamine (serotonin) 1B receptor agonists, whereas α1 receptor agonists modulate uptake into CHOVMAT1 cells. Accordingly, 5-hydroxytryptamine 1B receptor antagonists prevent G-proteinmediated inhibition of uptake in partially filled platelets and synaptic vesicles expressing VMAT2. CHO cells expressing VMAT mutants with a shortened first vesicular loop transport monoamines. However, no or a reduced G-protein regulation of uptake can be initiated. In conclusion, vesicular content is involved in the activation of vesicle associated G-proteins via a structure sensing the luminal monoamine content. The first luminal loop of VMATs may represent a G-protein-coupled receptor that adapts vesicular filling.

Ca2+-dependent Activator Proteins of Secretion Promote Vesicular Monoamine Uptake

Ca2+-dependent activator proteins of secretion (CAPS) 1 and 2 are essential regulators of synaptic vesicle and large dense core vesicle priming in mammalian neurons and neuroendocrine cells. CAPS1 appears to have an additional and as yet unexplained function in vesicular catecholamine uptake or storage as CAPS1-deficient chromaffin cells exhibit strongly reduced vesicular catecholamine levels. Here we describe a role of CAPS proteins in vesicular monoamine uptake. Both CAPS1 and CAPS2 promote monoamine uptake and storage mediated by the vesicular monoamine transporters VMAT1 and VMAT2. Monoamine uptake of vesicular preparations from embryonic brains of CAPS1 deletion mutants is decreased as compared with corresponding preparations from wild type littermates, and anti-CAPS1 or anti-CAPS2 antibodies inhibit monoamine sequestration by synaptic vesicles from adult mouse brain. In addition, overexpression of CAPS1 or CAPS2 enhances vesicular monoamine uptake in Chinese hamster ovary cells that stably express VMAT1 or VMAT2. CAPS function has been linked to the heterotrimeric GTPase Go, which modulates vesicular monoamine uptake. We found that the expression of CAPS1 is decreased in brain membrane preparations from mice lacking Go2α, which may explain the reduced monoamine uptake by Go2α-deficient synaptic vesicles. Accordingly, anti-CAPS1 antibodies do not further reduce monoamine uptake by Go2α-deficient synaptic vesicles, whereas antibodies directed against CAPS2, whose expression is not altered in Go2α-deficient brain, still reduce monoamine uptake into Go2α-deficient vesicles. We conclude that CAPS proteins are involved in optimizing vesicular monoamine uptake and storage mediated by VMAT1 and VMAT2.

Deletion of Go2α abolishes cocaine-induced behavioral sensitization by disturbing the striatal dopamine system

The α‐subunits of the trimeric Go class of GTPases, comprising the splice variants Golα and Go2α, are abundantly expressed in brain and reside on both plasma membrane and synaptic vesicles. Go2α is involved in the vesicular storage of monoamines but its physiological relevance is still obscure. We now show that genetic depletion of Go2α reduces motor activity induced by dopamine‐enhancing drugs like cocaine, as repeated injections of cocaine fail to provoke behavioral sensitization in Go2α−/− mice. In Go2α−/− mice, D1 receptor signaling in the striatum is attenuated due to a reduced expression of Golfα and Gsα. Following cocaine treatment, Go2α−/− mice have lower D1 and higher D2 receptor amounts compared to wild‐type mice. The lack of behavioral sensitization correlates with reduced dopamine levels in the striatum and decreased expression of tyrosine hydroxylase. One reason for the neurochemical changes may be a re‐duced uptake of monoamines by synaptic vesicles from Go2α−/− mice as a consequence of a lowered set point for filling. We conclude that Go2α optimizes vesicular filling which is instrumental for normal dopamine functioning and for the development of drug‐induced behavioral sensitization.—Brunk, I., Blex, C., Sanchis‐ Segura, C., Sternberg, J., Perreau‐Lenz, S., Bilbao, A., Hörtnagl, H., Baron, J., Juranek, J., Laube, G., Birnbaumer, L., Spanagel, R., Ahnert‐Hilger, G. Deletion of Go2α abolishes cocaine‐induced behavioral sensitization by disturbing the striatal dopamine system. FASEB J. 22, 3736–3746 (2008)

Spinal cord injury-induced immunodeficiency is mediated by a sympathetic-neuroendocrine adrenal reflex

Acute spinal cord injury (SCI) causes systemic immunosuppression and life-threatening infections, thought to result from noradrenergic overactivation and excess glucocorticoid release via hypothalamus–pituitary–adrenal axis stimulation. Instead of consecutive hypothalamus–pituitary–adrenal axis activation, we report that acute SCI in mice induced suppression of serum norepinephrine and concomitant increase in cortisol, despite suppressed adrenocorticotropic hormone, indicating primary (adrenal) hypercortisolism. This neurogenic effect was more pronounced after high-thoracic level (Th1) SCI disconnecting adrenal gland innervation, compared with low-thoracic level (Th9) SCI. Prophylactic adrenalectomy completely prevented SCI-induced glucocorticoid excess and lymphocyte depletion but did not prevent pneumonia. When adrenalectomized mice were transplanted with denervated adrenal glands to restore physiologic glucocorticoid levels, the animals were completely protected from pneumonia. These findings identify a maladaptive sympathetic-neuroendocrine adrenal reflex mediating immunosuppression after SCI, implying that therapeutic normalization of the glucocorticoid and catecholamine imbalance in SCI patients could be a strategy to prevent detrimental infections.

Amphetamine regulates NR2B expression in Go2α knockout mice and thereby sustains behavioral sensitization

J. Neurochem. (2010) 115, 234–246.

A novel approach to detect resistance mechanisms reveals FGR as a factor mediating HDAC inhibitor SAHA resistance in B-cell lymphoma

Histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors such as suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA) are not commonly used in clinical practice for treatment of B‐cell lymphomas, although a subset of patients with refractory or relapsed B‐cell lymphoma achieved partial or complete remissions.

The α‐subunit of the trimeric GTPase Go2 regulates axonal growth

The Goα splice variants Go1α and Go2α are subunits of the most abundant G‐proteins in brain, Go1 and Go2. Only a few interacting partners binding to Go1α have been described so far and splice variant‐specific differences are not known. Using a yeast two‐hybrid screen with constitutively active Go2α as bait, we identified Rap1GTPase activating protein (Rap1GAP) and Girdin as interacting partners of Go2α, which was confirmed by co‐immunoprecipitation. Comparison of subcellular fractions from brains of wild type and Go2α−/− mice revealed no differences in the overall expression level of Girdin or Rap1GAP. However, we found higher amounts of active Rap1‐GTP in brains of Go2α deficient mutants, indicating that Go2α may increase Rap1GAP activity, thereby effecting the Rap1 activation/deactivation cycle. Rap1 has been shown to be involved in neurite outgrowth and given a Rap1GAP‐Go2α interaction, we found that the loss of Go2α affected axonal outgrowth. Axons of cultured cortical and hippocampal neurons prepared from embryonic Go2α−/− mice grew longer and developed more branches than those from wild‐type mice. Taken together, we provide evidence that Go2α regulates axonal outgrowth and branching.

Targeting G Protein‐Coupled Receptors by Capture Compound Mass Spectrometry: A Case Study with Sertindole

Unbiased chemoproteomic profiling of small‐molecule interactions with endogenous proteins is important for drug discovery. For meaningful results, all protein classes have to be tractable, including G protein‐coupled receptors (GPCRs). These receptors are hardly tractable by affinity pulldown from lysates. We report a capture compound (CC)‐based strategy to target and identify GPCRs directly from living cells. We synthesized CCs with sertindole attached to the CC scaffold in different orientations to target the dopamine D2 receptor (DRD2) heterologously expressed in HEK 293 cells. The structure–activity relationship of sertindole for DRD2 binding was reflected in the activities of the sertindole CCs in radioligand displacement, cell‐based assays, and capture compound mass spectrometry (CCMS). The activity pattern was rationalized by molecular modelling. The most‐active CC showed activities very similar to that of unmodified sertindole. A concentration of DRD2 in living cells well below 100 fmol used as an experimental input was sufficient for unambiguous identification of captured DRD2 by mass spectrometry. Our new CCMS workflow broadens the arsenal of chemoproteomic technologies to close a critical gap for the comprehensive characterization of drug–protein interactions.

SCISSOR—Spinal Cord Injury Study on Small molecule-derived Rho inhibition: a clinical study protocol

Introduction The approved analgesic and anti-inflammatory drugs ibuprofen and indometacin block the small GTPase RhoA, a key enzyme that impedes axonal sprouting after axonal damage. Inhibition of the Rho pathway in a central nervous system-effective manner requires higher dosages compared with orthodox cyclooxygenase-blocking effects. Preclinical studies on spinal cord injury (SCI) imply improved motor recovery after ibuprofen/indometacin-mediated Rho inhibition. This has been reassessed by a meta-analysis of the underlying experimental evidence, which indicates an overall effect size of 20.2% regarding motor outcome achieved after ibuprofen/indometacin treatment compared with vehicle controls. In addition, ibuprofen/indometacin may also limit sickness behaviour, non-neurogenic systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), neuropathic pain and heterotopic ossifications after SCI. Consequently, ‘small molecule’-mediated Rho inhibition after acute SCI warrants clinical investigation. Methods and analysis Protocol of an investigator-initiated clinical open-label pilot trial on high-dose ibuprofen treatment after acute traumatic, motor-complete SCI. A sample of n=12 patients will be enrolled in two cohorts treated with 2400 mg/day ibuprofen for 4 or 12 weeks, respectively. The primary safety end point is an occurrence of serious adverse events, primarily gastroduodenal bleedings. Secondary end points are pharmacokinetics, feasibility and preliminary effects on neurological recovery, neuropathic pain and heterotopic ossifications. The primary safety analysis is based on the incidence of severe gastrointestinal bleedings. Additional analyses will be mainly descriptive and casuistic. Ethics and dissemination The clinical trial protocol was approved by the responsible German state Ethics Board, and the Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices. The study complies with the Declaration of Helsinki, the principles of Good Clinical Practice and all further applicable regulations. This safety and pharmacokinetics trial informs the planning of a subsequent randomised controlled trial. Regardless of the result of the primary and secondary outcome assessments, the clinical trial will be reported as a publication in a peer-reviewed journal. Trial registration number NCT02096913; Pre-results.