Yu-Jie Lai

Histone deacetylase inhibitor apicidin increases expression of the α-secretase ADAM10 through transcription factor USF1-mediated mechanisms.

ADAM10 (a disintegrin and metalloproteinase domain‐containing protein 10) is the α‐secretase that is involved in APP (β‐amyloid precursor protein) processing. Enhancement of the nonamyloidogenic APP pathway by ADAM10 provides therapeutic potential for Alzheimers disease (AD). By using high‐throughput screening that targeted ADAM10, we determined that apicidin—an inhibitor of HDACs (histone deacetylases)—significantly increased mRNA and protein levels of ADAM10 in SH‐SY5Y cells. A luciferase assay revealed that the nucleotides −444 to −300 in the ADAM10 promoter were sufficient to mediate this effect. In addition, knockdown of USF1 (upstream transcription factor 1) and HDAC2/3 prevented apicidin regulation of ADAM10. Moreover, USF1 acetylation was increased by apicidin, which enhanced the association of USF1 with HDAC2/3 and with the ADAM10 promoter. We further found that apicidin did not affect the phosphorylation of ERK or USF1; however, ERK inhibitor U0126 blocked the effect of apicidin on ADAM10. Finally, apicidin increased the level of α‐site C‐terminal fragment from APP and reduced the production of β‐amyloid peptide 1–42. Collectively, our study provides evidence that ADAM10 expression can be regulated by HDAC2/3 inhibitor apicidin via USF1‐dependent mechanisms in which ERK signaling plays an important role. Thus, HDAC regulation of ADAM10 might shed new light on the understanding of AD pathology. —Hu, X.‐T., Zhu, B.‐L., Zhao, L.‐G., Wang, J.‐W., Liu, L., Lai, Y.‐J., He, L., Deng, X.‐J., Chen, G.‐J. Histone deacetylase inhibitor apicidin increases expression of the α‐secretase ADAM10 through transcription factor USF1‐mediated mechanisms. FASEB J. 31, 1482–1493 (2017) www.fasebj.org

HMGCS2 promotes autophagic degradation of the amyloid-β precursor protein through ketone body-mediated mechanisms.

HMGCS2 (mitochondrial 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-COA synthase 2) is a control enzyme in ketogenesis. The mitochondrial localization and interaction with APP (β-amyloid precursor protein) suggest that HMGCS2 may play a role in the pathophysiology of AD (Alzheimers disease). Here we report that overexpression of HMGCS2 decreased levels of APP and related CTFs (carboxy-terminal fragments), which was largely prevented by an autophagic inhibitor chloroquine. In addition, HMGCS2 enhancement of autophagic marker LC3II was diminished by rapamycin, an inhibitor of mechanistic target of rapamycin. Moreover, deprivation of EBSS (Earles Balanced Salt Solution) significantly augmented the effect of HMGCS2 on LC3II, while acetoacetate reversed the reduction of LC3II, APP and CTFs which was induced by HMGCS2 knockdown. In the presence of acetoacetate, rapamycin failed to induce further increase of LC3II, which mimicked the effect of HMGCS2 overexpression. Finally, HMGCS2 enhanced the antioxidant response. Collectively, HMGCS2 shares with ketone bodies common features in autophagic clearance of APP and CTFs, suggesting that ketone bodies play an important role in HMGCS2 regulation of the autophagy.

NPAS4 Facilitates the Autophagic Clearance of Endogenous Tau in Rat Cortical Neurons.

Tau, a microtubule-binding phosphoprotein, plays a critical role in the stabilisation of microtubules and neuronal function. However, hyperphosphorylated tau is involved in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and other tauopathies. The facilitation of tau clearance is now regarded as a valid therapeutic strategy for these neurodegenerative tauopathies. Here, we provide the first demonstration that the over-expression of neuronal PAS domain protein 4 (NPAS4)-induced autophagy and effectively facilitated the clearance of endogenous total and phosphorylated tau in rat primary cortical neurons. Moreover, the activation of autophagy by serum depletion significantly decreased endogenous total and phosphorylated tau levels. Autophagy inhibitors, such as 3-methyladenine (3-MA) and chloroquine (CQ), induced tau aggregation. However, NPAS4 over-expression reversed the aggregation of tau that was induced by the inhibition of autophagy. Interestingly, proteasome inhibition by MG132, had no effect on autophagy, but did reduce tau levels, indicating that NPAS4 may also degrade tau proteins through an unknown proteasome-mediated mechanism. Furthermore, NPAS4 did not alter the activity of two major tau kinases, glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β) and cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (CDK5). Taken together, the results indicate that targeting NPAS4 could provide a therapeutic approach for the treatment of AD and other tauopathies.

Cooperation of Genomic and Rapid Nongenomic Actions of Estrogens in Synaptic Plasticity.

Neuroplasticity refers to the changes in the molecular and cellular processes of neural circuits that occur in response to environmental experiences. Clinical and experimental studies have increasingly shown that estrogens participate in the neuroplasticity involved in cognition, behavior, and memory. It is generally accepted that estrogens exert their effects through genomic actions that occur over a period of hours to days. However, emerging evidence indicates that estrogens also rapidly influence the neural circuitry through nongenomic actions. In this review, we provide an overview of the genomic and nongenomic actions of estrogens and discuss how these actions may cooperate in synaptic plasticity. We then summarize the role of epigenetic modifications, synaptic protein synthesis, and posttranslational modifications, and the splice variants of estrogen receptors in the complicated network of estrogens. The combination of genomic and nongenomic mechanisms endows estrogens with considerable diversity in modulating neural functions including synaptic plasticity.

Down-regulation of adenylate kinase 5 in temporal lobe epilepsy patients and rat model.

Adenylate kinase 5 (AK5) is one member of the AK family and plays a critical role in maintaining cellular homeostasis. Different from the other AKs, AK5 is almost exclusively expressed in the brain. However, its exact biological functions remain unclear. The aim of the present study is to explore the expression pattern of AK5 in patients with refractory epilepsy and in a chronic pilocarpine-induced epileptic rat model. Using Western blot, immunofluorescence and immunoprecipitation analysis, we found that AK5 protein was mainly expressed in neurons, demonstrated by colocalization with the dendritic marker, MAP2, which were similar to the corresponding controls. However, the expression of AK5 decreased remarkably in epileptic patients and experimental rats. Furthermore, immunoprecipitation analysis showed that the interaction of AK5 with copine VI (CPNE6, a brain specific protein) increased in epileptic patients and rat models. Our results are the first to indicate that the expression of AK5 in epileptic brain tissue may play important roles in epilepsy, especially refractory epilepsy.

Estrogen Modulates ubc9 Expression and Synaptic Redistribution in the Brain of APP/PS1 Mice and Cortical Neurons

Estrogen exerts multiple actions in the brain and is an important neuroprotective factor in a number of neuronal disorders. However, the underlying mechanism remains unknown. Studies demonstrate that ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme 9 (ubc9) has an integral role in synaptic plasticity and may contribute to the pathology of neuronal disorders. We aimed to investigate the effects of estrogen on ubc9 and in the Alzheimer’s disease brain. Ubc9 protein and mRNA were significantly increased in the cortex and hippocampus of APP/PS1 mice with enhanced SUMOylation. Systemic estrogen administration led to reduced ubc9 expression in ovariectomized APP/PS1 mice and reduced SUMOylation. The inhibition of ubc9 expression by estrogen was found to be dose-dependent in cultured neurons. However, estrogen receptor (ER) antagonist ICI182780 did not block the inhibition of ubc9 expression by estrogen. Furthermore, the reduced expression of ubc9 was not mediated by ERα or ERβ agonists alone or in combination, but by the membrane-impermeable ER agonist E2-bovine serum albumin. The activation of the G protein-coupled ER mediated the inhibition of ubc9 expression of estrogen. A phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitor, rather than an extracellular signal-regulated kinase inhibitor, blocked the inhibition of ubc9 by estrogen. Estrogen treatment significantly increased the phosphorylation of PI3K, which suggests that activation of the PI3K pathway by estrogen is required for ubc9 regulation. Further, ubc9 interacted with the synaptic proteins post-synaptic density protein 95 (PSD95) and synaptophysin. Estrogen decreased the interaction of ubc9 with post-synaptic PSD95, but increased the interaction of ubc9 with pre-synaptic synaptophysin. These results suggest that a membrane-bound ER might mediate the estrogen inhibition of ubc9 in cortical neurons, where PI3K plays an important role. We also show that ubc9 can interact with synaptic proteins, which are subject to estrogen regulation.

Phorbol esters dPPA/dPA promote furin expression involving transcription factor CEBPβ in neuronal cells

Using high-throughput small molecule screening targeting furin gene, we identified that phorbol esters dPPA (12-Deoxyphorbol 13-phenylacetate 20-acetate) and dPA (12-Deoxyphorbol 13-acetate) significantly increased furin protein and mRNA expression in SH-SY5Y cells. This effect was prevented by PKC (protein kinase C) inhibitor calphostin C but not Ro318220, suggesting that the C1 domain, rather than the catalytic domain of PKC plays an important role. Luciferase assay revealed that nucleotides -7925 to -7426 were sufficient to mediate dPPA/dPA enhancement of furin P1 promoter activity. RNA interference of transcriptional factors CEBPβ (CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein β) and GATA1 revealed that knockdown of CEBPβ significantly attenuated the effect of dPPA on furin expression. Pharmacological inhibition of ERK and PI3K but not TGFβ receptor diminished the up-regulation of furin by dPPA. These results suggested that in neuronal cells, transcriptional activation of furin by dPPA/dPA may be initiated by C1 domain containing proteins including PKC; the intracellular signaling involves ERK and PI3K and transcription factor CEBPβ.Using high-throughput small molecule screening targeting furin gene, we identified that phorbol esters dPPA (12-Deoxyphorbol 13-phenylacetate 20-acetate) and dPA (12-Deoxyphorbol 13-acetate) significantly increased furin protein and mRNA expression in SH-SY5Y cells. This effect was prevented by PKC (protein kinase C) inhibitor calphostin C but not Ro318220, suggesting that the C1 domain, rather than the catalytic domain of PKC plays an important role. Luciferase assay revealed that nucleotides −7925 to −7426 were sufficient to mediate dPPA/dPA enhancement of furin P1 promoter activity. RNA interference of transcriptional factors CEBPβ (CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein β) and GATA1 revealed that knockdown of CEBPβ significantly attenuated the effect of dPPA on furin expression. Pharmacological inhibition of ERK and PI3K but not TGFβ receptor diminished the up-regulation of furin by dPPA. These results suggested that in neuronal cells, transcriptional activation of furin by dPPA/dPA may be initiated by C1 domain containing proteins including PKC; the intracellular signaling involves ERK and PI3K and transcription factor CEBPβ.