Maresin1 Decreased Microglial Chemotaxis and Ameliorated Inflammation Induced by Amyloid-ß42 in Neuron-Microglia Co-Culture Models.

Inflammation resolution is regulated by specialized pro-resolving lipid mediators (SPMs) and the levels of SPMs are found decreased in Alzheimer's disease (AD) brain. We have previously found that one of the SPMs, Maresin1 (MaR1), improved neuronal survival and increase microglial phagocytosis of amyloid-ß 1-42 (Aß42); however, the mechanisms underlying the protective mechanism remain further investigation. We aim to investigate the effects of MaR1 on microglial chemotaxis and activation in this study. Both indirect and direct primary neuron and microglia co-culture system was used in this study. Our results showed MaR1 downregulated the increased microglial chemotaxis induced by Aß42. The microglial inactivation marker CD200R was downregulated by Aß42 and upregulated by MaR1. Pro-inflammatory cytokines secretion such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α were increased by Aß42 and these changes were revised by MaR1 treatment. In addition, the levels of chemokine monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1 were increased while the levels of anti-inflammatory factor IL-10 secretion were decreased by Aß42, and these changes were abolished by MaR1 treatment. Moreover, by proteomics analysis, we identified cell signaling pathways affected by MaR1 were not only limited to inflammation-related pathways such as P38, but also in pathways involved in cell survival, autophagy, axon formation, and apoptosis, including PI3K/AKT, mTOR, ERK, caspase3, Cdc42, and p75NTR. In conclusion, MaR1 promoted inflammation resolution by inhibiting chemotaxis and regulating activation of microglia. MaR1 played a neuroprotective role by affecting cell signaling pathways involving inflammation, cell survival, autophagy, axon formation, and apoptosis inhibition.

Neuroprotective Mitochondrial Remodeling by AKAP121/PKA Protects HT22 Cell from Glutamate-Induced Oxidative Stress.

Protein kinase A (PKA) is a ser/thr kinase that is critical for maintaining essential neuronal functions including mitochondrial homeostasis, bioenergetics, neuronal development, and neurotransmission. The endogenous pool of PKA is targeted to the mitochondrion by forming a complex with the mitochondrial scaffold A-kinase anchoring protein 121 (AKAP121). Enhanced PKA signaling via AKAP121 leads to PKA-mediated phosphorylation of the fission modulator Drp1, leading to enhanced mitochondrial networks and thereby blocking apoptosis against different toxic insults. In this study, we show for the first time that AKAP121/PKA confers neuroprotection in an in vitro model of oxidative stress induced by exposure to excess glutamate. Unexpectedly, treating mouse hippocampal progenitor neuronal HT22 cells with an acute dose or chronic exposure of glutamate robustly elevates PKA signaling, a beneficial compensatory response that is phenocopied in HT22 cells conditioned to thrive in the presence of excess glutamate but not in parental HT22 cells. Secondly, redirecting the endogenous pool of PKA by transiently transfecting AKAP121 or transfecting a constitutively active mutant of PKA targeted to the mitochondrion (OMM-PKA) or of an isoform of AKAP121 that lacks the KH and Tudor domains (S-AKAP84) are sufficient to significantly block cell death induced by glutamate toxicity but not in an oxygen deprivation/reperfusion model. Conversely, transient transfection of HT22 neuronal cells with a PKA-binding-deficient mutant of AKAP121 is unable to protect against oxidative stress induced by glutamate toxicity suggesting that the catalytic activity of PKA is required for AKAP121's protective effects. Mechanistically, AKAP121 promotes neuroprotection by enhancing PKA-mediated phosphorylation of Drp1 to increase mitochondrial fusion, elevates ATP levels, and elicits an increase in the levels of antioxidants GSH and superoxide dismutase 2 leading to a reduction in the level of mitochondrial superoxide. Overall, our data supports AKAP121/PKA as a new molecular target that confers neuroprotection against glutamate toxicity by phosphorylating Drp1, to stabilize mitochondrial networks and mitochondrial function and to elicit antioxidant responses.

Tumor necrosis factor-α in Guillain-Barré syndrome, friend or foe?

INTRODUCTION: Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is an immune-mediated disorder in the peripheral nervous system (PNS), and experimental autoimmune neuritis (EAN) serves as an animal model of GBS. TNF-α plays an important role in the pathogenesis of GBS and is a potential therapeutic target of GBS. Areas covered: 'TNF-α' and 'Guillain-Barré syndrome' were the keywords used to search for related publications on Pubmed. By binding to different TNF receptors, TNF-α bears distinct immune properties. TNF-α gene polymorphisms are associated with the features of GBS. The major role of TNF-α in GBS/EAN is to aggravate inflammation; however, data from several studies indicated a protective role of TNF-α. Multiple lines of evidence point to TNF-α as a potential therapeutic target for GBS. However, such clinical trials are scarce in that GBS per se is a probable side effect of anti-TNF-α treatment. Expert opinion: TNF-α plays a dual role in GBS and EAN, and is a potential therapeutic target on GBS/EAN.

How AMPK and PKA Interplay to Regulate Mitochondrial Function and Survival in Models of Ischemia and Diabetes.

Adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is a conserved, redox-activated master regulator of cell metabolism. In the presence of oxidative stress, AMPK promotes cytoprotection by enhancing the conservation of energy by suppressing protein translation and by stimulating autophagy. AMPK interplays with protein kinase A (PKA) to regulate oxidative stress, mitochondrial function, and cell survival. AMPK and dual-specificity A-kinase anchoring protein 1 (D-AKAP1), a mitochondrial-directed scaffold of PKA, interact to regulate mitochondrial function and oxidative stress in cardiac and endothelial cells. Ischemia and diabetes, a chronic disease that increases the onset of cardiovascular diseases, suppress the cardioprotective effects of AMPK and PKA. Here, we review the molecular mechanisms by which AMPK and D-AKAP1/PKA interplay to regulate mitochondrial function, oxidative stress, and signaling pathways that prime endothelial cells, cardiac cells, and neurons for cytoprotection against oxidative stress. We discuss recent literature showing how temporal dynamics and localization of activated AMPK and PKA holoenzymes play a crucial role in governing cellular bioenergetics and cell survival in models of ischemia, cardiovascular diseases, and diabetes. Finally, we propose therapeutic strategies that tout localized PKA and AMPK signaling to reverse mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, and death of neurons and cardiac and endothelial cells during ischemia and diabetes.