Prenatal stress decreases glycogen synthase kinase-3 phosphorylation in the rat frontal cortex.

It has been postulated that hyperactive glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3) is an important factor in the pathogenesis of depression, and that this enzyme also contributes to the mechanism of antidepressant drug action. In the present study, we investigated the effect of prenatal stress (an animal model of depression) and long-term treatment with antidepressant drugs on the concentration of GSK-3beta and its main regulating protein kinase B (PKB, Akt). The concentration of GSK-3beta, its inactive form (phospho-Ser9-GSK-3beta), and the amounts of active (phospho-Akt) and total Akt were determined in the hippocampus and frontal cortex in rats. In order to verify our animal model of depression, immobility time in the forced swim test (Porsolt test) was also determined.We found that prenatally stressed rats display a high level of immobility in the Porsolt test and chronic treatment with imipramine, fluoxetine, mirtazapine and tianeptine normalize this change. Western blot analysis demonstrated that GSK-3beta levels were significantly elevated in the frontal cortex, but not in the hippocampus, of prenatally stressed rats. The concentration of its non-active form (phospho-Ser9-GSK-3beta) was decreased only in the former brain structure. No changes were found in the amounts of active (phospho-Akt) and total Akt in both studied brain structures. Chronic treatment with antidepressant drugs diminished stress-induced alterations in GSK-3beta and phospho-GSK-3beta the frontal cortex, but had no effect on the concentration of these enzymes in the hippocampus. Moreover, levels of Akt and phospho-Akt in all experimental groups remained unchanged. Since our animal model of depression is connected with hyperactivity of the HPA axis, our results suggest that GSK-3beta is an important intracellular target for maladaptive glucocorticoid action on frontal cortex neurons and in antidepressant drug effects. Furthermore, the influence of stress and antidepressant drugs on GSK-3beta does not appear to impact the kinase activity of Akt.

The effect of antidepressant drugs on the HPA axis activity, glucocorticoid receptor level and FKBP51 concentration in prenatally stressed rats.

Dysregulation of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activity is thought to be an important factor in pathogenesis of depression. In animals, stress or glucocorticoids given in prenatal period lead to long-lasting behavioral and neuroendocrine changes similar to those observed in depressed patients. However, molecular basis for HPA disturbances in animals exposed to prenatal stress - a model of depression - have been only partially recognized. Therefore, in the present study we investigated the effect of prenatal stress on behavioral changes, blood corticosterone level, concentrations of glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and its cochaperone, FKBP51, in the hippocampus and frontal cortex in adult rats. It has been found that prenatally stressed rats display high level of immobility in the Porsolt test and anxiety-like behavior. The HPA axis hyperactivity in theses animals was evidenced by corticosterone hypersecretion at the end of the light phase and 1h following acute stress. Western blot study revealed that GR level was significantly elevated in the hippocampus but not in the frontal cortex of prenatally stressed rats, whereas concentration of FKBP51 was decreased only in the former brain structure. Chronic treatment with imipramine, fluoxetine, mirtazapine and tianeptine have diminished both behavioral and biochemical alterations observed in this animal model of depression. These data indicate that the increase in hippocampal GR level and low concentration of FKBP51 in the frontal cortex may be responsible for enhanced glucocorticoid action in depression.

Neurosteroids enhance the viability of staurosporine and doxorubicin treated differentiated human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells.

Previously, we found that neurosteroids inhibited hydrogen peroxide- and staurosporine-induced damage of undifferentiated human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells. However, differentiated neuroblastoma cells morphologically and functionally resemble neuronal cells, and are thus considered to be a model system for studying neuronal apoptotic processes. In the present study, we examined the effects of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS), and pregnenolone (PGL) on the viability of retinoic acid-differentiated human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells. Mitochondrial and extracellular apoptotic processes in these cells were induced by staurosporine and doxorubicin, respectively. Calcein viability assays showed that doxorubicin (0.5 microM for 24 h) decreased cell viability by ca. 20% as compared to control cultures. DHEA and DHEAS at 0.1 and 1 microM concentrations, respectively, significantly inhibited the doxorubicin toxicity. PGL showed a neuroprotective effect only at 0.1 microM, whereas it was inactive at a higher concentration (1 microM). Staurosporine (1 microM for 24 h) decreased SH-SY5Y cell viability by ca. 50%. DHEA (0.1 and 1 microM) and DHEAS (0.1 and 1 microM) significantly antagonized the toxic effects of staurosporine, whereas these compounds showed no activity at the lowest concentration (0.01 microM). PGL inhibited the staurosporine-induced decrease in cell viability only at the concentration of 0.1 microM. Since staurosporine generated a stronger detrimental effect on SH-SY5Y cell viability than doxorubicin, we studied the mechanisms of neurosteroid action only in the former model. Staurosporine (1 microM for 24 h) enhanced lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release by ca. 40% and this effect was inhibited by DHEA (0.01, 0.1, and 1 microM), DHEAS (0.1 and 1 microM) and PGL (0.01 and 01 microM). In order to verify an involvement of phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3-K) in the antiapoptotic action of neurosteroids, a specific inhibitor of this protein kinase (LY294002 at 10 microM) was used. Pretreatment of the cells with LY294002 antagonized the ameliorating effects of DHEA, DHEAS, and PGL on staurosporine-induced LDH release. These data indicated that at physiological concentrations, DHEA, DHEAS, and PGL prevented RA-differentiated SH-SY5Y cell damage produced by activation of both mitochondrial and extracellular apoptotic pathways. Furthermore, this study confirmed that the neuroprotective effects of neurosteroids in a staurosporine model of cytotoxicity appeared to be dependent upon PI3-K activity.

Immunosuppression induced by a conditioned stimulus associated with cocaine self-administration.

Cocaine addiction is known to impair immune system function, but the effects of repeated treatment with cocaine in a self-administration model, its withdrawal as well as reinstatement of cocaine-seeking behavior on cell-mediated immunity are not well known. Cocaine self-administered for 18 days induced a significant increase in spleen weight, plasma corticosterone levels, interleukin (IL)-10, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha production, while concanavalin A-stimulated proliferation responses of peripheral blood T-lymphocytes and interferon-gamma production by splenic lymphocytes were not altered. After 10 days withdrawal from cocaine, reinstatement of cocaine seeking behavior induced either by a priming dose of the drug (unconditioned stimulus), by cue previously associated with cocaine self-administration (conditioned stimuli), or by both these stimuli evoked similar changes in several immunological parameters, for example, a decrease in relative spleen weight, proliferative activity of splenocytes, and their ability to produce IL-10. The results showed that the cue previously associated with cocaine suppressed some parameters of cell-mediated immunity to the same degree as re-exposure to cocaine. The present study provides the first evidence that alterations of immune status can be conditioned by environmental stimuli paired with cocaine administration.

Inhibitory effects of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 and its low-calcemic analogues on staurosporine-induced apoptosis.

The active form of vitamin D3 and some of its related compounds show neuroprotective effects in various models of neuronal damage, however, mechanism of their anti-apoptotic action has not been elucidated. Therefore, the present study was designed to investigate the effects of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 and its low-calcemic analogues, PRI-2191, PRI-1890 and PRI-1901 on staurosporine-induced apoptosis in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells. Twenty-four hour incubation with staurosporine (1 microM) enhanced the caspase-3 activity, decreased mitochondrial membrane potential and increased the number of apoptotic cells as visualized by Hoechst staining. 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 and PRI-2191 attenuated the staurosporine-induced caspase-3 activity at 5, 50 and 500 nM, whereas PRI-1890 and PRI-1901 were active only at higher concentrations. Furthermore, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (50 and 500 nM) and PRI-2191 (500 but not 50 nM) reversed the staurosporine-evoked decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential. Hoechst and calcein staining confirmed the neuroprotective effects of the secosteroids under study. Further study revealed that a selective inhibitor of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-K), wortmannin, at concentration of 100 nM antagonized the effect of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 and PRI-2191 on staurosporine-induced caspase-3 activation. These data indicate that 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 and its low-calcemic analogues at nanomolar concentrations inhibited mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis in SH-SY5Y neuronal cells, though with different potency. Moreover, the activation of PI3-K/Akt signaling pathway appears to play a role in anti-apoptotic effects of the secosteroids.

Effects of neurosteroids on glucocorticoid receptor-mediated gene transcription in LMCAT cells--a possible interaction with psychotropic drugs.

Aberrant activity of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is often observed in psychiatric disorders and both antidepressant and antipsychotic drugs are known to ameliorate some deleterious effects of glucocorticoids on brain function. Some neurosteroids possess antidepressant and neuroleptic-like properties and attenuate the stress-activated HPA axis activity. However, intracellular mechanism of neurosteroid interaction with glucocorticoids has not been elucidated. We evaluated effects of some neurosteroids on functional activity of glucocorticoid receptor (GR) in vitro. A combined treatment with antipsychotic drugs and involvement of some protein kinases in allopregnanolone effect on GR function were also studied. The effects of allopregnanolone, its two isomers (5beta-pregnan-3alpha-ol-20-one and 5alpha-pregnan-3beta-ol-20-one) and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) on the corticosterone-induced chloramphenicol acetyl transferase (CAT) activity were evaluated in mouse fibroblast cells stably transfected with mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV)-CAT plasmid. We found that allopregnanolone (1-100 microM) and, to a lesser extent, both its isomers inhibited the GR-mediated gene transcription in a concentration-dependent manner. In contrast, DHEAS at the concentration up to 100 microM was inactive. Further experiments revealed that allopregnanolone and antipsychotic drugs (chlorpromazine and clozapine) showed a moderate, additive inhibitory effect on the GR function. With respect to intracellular mechanism of allopregnanolone action, we showed that this neurosteroid inhibited protein kinase C (PKC) activity, decreased the level of PKCalpha isoenzyme in the membrane fraction and decreased the amount of active phosphorylated form of extracellular signal-regulated kinase-mitogen-activated protein kinase (ERK-MAPK) in LMCAT cells. Since PKC and ERK-MAPK inhibitors attenuate the corticosterone-mediated gene transcription, the above findings suggest that allopregnanolone effect on GR function involves interaction with these kinase pathways. On the other hand, allopregnanolone had no effect on protein kinase A (PKA) activity. These data indicate that pregnanolone derivatives, like antidepressants and antipsychotic drugs, may attenuate some glucocorticoid effects via inhibition of GR-mediated gene transcription. Furthermore, the inhibitory effect of allopregnanolone on the corticosterone-induced gene transcription in LMCAT cells depended on the inhibition of PKC and ERK-MAPK pathways.

Pseudo-epileptic seizures in children are not associated with enhanced plasma level of allopregnanolone.

Among neurosteroids, allopregnanolone is the most potent endogenous positive modulator of GABA(A) receptors, and disturbances in its release may play a role in pathomechanism of some neurological and psychiatric disorders. In contrast to a large body of evidence on allopregnanolone involvement in pathogenesis of epilepsy, no data are available on its role in pseudoseizures. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to find out whether pseudoseizures are associated with changes in plasma allopregnanolone level in pediatric patients. This study was carried out on 45 children with video EEG-diagnosed pseudoseizures, divided into three groups according to results of placebo test i.e: (I) children with pseudoseizures attacks without antiepileptic drug treatment; (II) children with pseudoseizures attacks and treated with antiepileptic drugs; (III) children without pseudoseizures attacks and no treatment. Allopregnanolone level was estimated by radioimmunoassay in blood samples collected before and after provoking pseudoseizures by placebo. No significant changes have been found in allopregnanolone level between all experimental groups. This suggests that in contrast to epileptic seizures, during pseudoseizures no compensatory increase in the endogenous antiepileptic and anxiolytic neurosteroid release occurs. The low level of allopregnanolone may have a detrimental effect on GABAergic inhibitory system in the brain aggravating stress response and promoting pseudoseizure occurrence. On the other hand, the clinical value of allopregnanolone plasma level as a biomarker distinguishing between epileptic and pseudoseizures remains questionable due to its high inter-individual differences.

Effect of amantadine and imipramine on immunological parameters of rats subjected to a forced swimming test.

The activation of cell-mediated immunity and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis may play a role in the pathophysiology of depression, especially a treatment-resistant one, and antidepressant treatments may exert their effect by suppressing this activation. In our previous studies we described synergistic, antidepressant-like effects of a combination of amantadine (10 mg/kg) and imipramine (5 mg/kg) - drugs otherwise ineffective when given separately in such doses - in the forced swimming test (FST), an animal model of depression. Moreover, preliminary clinical data show that the above-described combination has beneficial effects on treatment-resistant patients. However, it is still unknown whether these positive effects of combined treatment with amantadine and imipramine on behavioural depressive changes are accompanied with normalization of immunoendocrine parameters. Therefore, the present study was aimed at ascertaining whether the antidepressive effect of a combination of amantadine and imipramine was accompanied with a decrease in some immunoendocrine parameters. The antidepressant activity was accompanied with a reversal of the stress-induced increase in the proliferation of splenocytes in response to concanavalin A (ConA). Imipramine, amantadine and a combination of amantadine and imipramine enhanced the production of the negative immunoregulator IL-10 in rats subjected to the FST. The exposure to the FST produced an increase in plasma corticosterone levels, which was significantly attenuated by pretreatment with imipramine or amantadine (a combination of imipramine and amantadine causes reduction within the margin of error). In summary, the antidepressive efficacy of a combination of amantadine and imipramine given in suboptimal doses may be related to their negative immunoendocrine effects.

Antipsychotic drugs inhibit the human corticotropin-releasing-hormone gene promoter activity in neuro-2A cells-an involvement of protein kinases.

Antipsychotic drugs can regulate transcription of some genes, including those involved in regulation of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, whose activity is frequently disturbed in schizophrenic patients. However, molecular mechanism of antipsychotic drug action on the corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) gene activity has not been investigated so far. This study was undertaken to examine the influence of conventional and atypical antipsychotic drugs on the CRH gene promoter activity in differentiated Neuro-2A cell cultures stably transfected with a human CRH promoter fragment linked to the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) reporter gene. It has been found that chlorpromazine (0.1-5.0 microM), haloperidol (0.5-5.0 microM), clozapine (1.0-5.0 microM), thioridazine (1.0-5.0 microM), promazine (5.0 and 10 microM), risperidone (5.0 and 10.0 microM), and raclopride (only at the highest used concentrations, ie 30 and 100 microM) present in culture medium for 5 days inhibited the CRH-CAT activity. Sulpiride and remoxipride had no effect. Since CRH gene activity is most potently enhanced by cAMP/protein kinase A pathway, the effect of antipsychotics on the forskolin-induced CRH-CAT activity was determined. Chlorpromazine (1.0-5.0 microM), haloperidol (1.0-5.0 microM), clozapine (1.0-5.0 microM), thioridazine (3.0 and 5.0 microM), and raclopride (30 and 100 microM), but not promazine, sulpiride, risperidone, and remoxipride, inhibited the forskolin-stimulated CRH gene promoter activity. A possible involvement of protein kinases in chlorpromazine and clozapine inhibitory action on CRH activity was also investigated. It was found that wortmannin (0.01 and 0.02 microM), an inhibitor of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-K), significantly attenuated the inhibitory effect of chlorpromazine and clozapine on CRH gene promoter activity. In line with these results, a Western blot study showed that these drugs increased phospho-Ser-473 Akt level, had no effect on total Akt, and decreased glycogen synthase kinase-3beta level. Additionally, we found that clozapine decreased protein kinase C (PKC) level and that its action on CRH activity was attenuated by PKC activator (TPA, 0.1 microM). The obtained results indicate that inhibition of CRH gene promoter activity by some antipsychotic drugs may be a molecular mechanism responsible for their inhibitory action on HPA axis activity. Clozapine and chlorpromazine action on CRH activity operates mainly through activation of the PI3-K/Akt pathway. Moreover, PKC-mediated pathway seems to be involved in clozapine action on CRH gene activity.

Involvement of PI3-K in neuroprotective effects of the 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 analogue - PRI-2191.

The active form of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3) prevents neuronal damage in vitro and in vivo , however, it induces also hypercalcemia and hyperphosphatemia. Side-chain-modified analogues of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3), which show low calcemic activity, may be potentially useful in the treatment of some neurodegenerative diseases. Previously, we have found that PRI-2191 more potently than 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3) protects human neuroblastoma (SH-SY5Y) cells against hydrogen-peroxide-induced toxicity. In the present study, we evaluated effects of two other 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3) analogues - PRI-1890 and PRI-1901 on the neuronal degeneration in the same cell model. In line with the previous study, 24-h incubation with hydrogen peroxide (0.5 mM) was toxic to cells, as evidenced by an enhanced efflux of lactate dehydrogenase into the culture medium, and these effects were prevented by PRI-1890 and PRI-1901 at concentration of 5, 50 and 500 nM. Comparing the neuroprotective effects of secosteroids, we found that all three analogues were efficient at lower concentration than 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3) and among them the PRI-2191 showed the most evident concentration-dependent effect. In the second part of this study, an involvement of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-K), kinases which play a crucial role in neurodegenerative processes, in neuroprotective action of 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D(3) and its the most potent analogue PRI-2191 has been investigated. The inhibitor of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK)-MAPK (SP600125, 1 microM), inhibitor of p38-MAPK (SB-203580, 1 and 10 microM) and inhibitor of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)-MAPK (PD-98059, 15 and 30 microM) attenuated the hydrogen peroxide-induced toxicity. Moreover, PD-98059 (30 microM) enhanced neuroprotective effects of 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D(3) but not that of PRI-2191. In contrast, the inhibitor of PI3-K (wortmannin, 10, 100 nM) did not affect hydrogen peroxide-induced cell damage itself, however, it significantly antagonized the effect of PRI-2191. On the other hand, wortmannin did not affect the neuroprotective effects of 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D(3) This suggests that the activation of PI3-K/Akt signaling pathway plays an important role in the mechanism of inhibitory action of PRI-2191 on hydrogen peroxide-evoked toxicity in SH-SY5Y cells. Furthermore, these data point to differential involvement of ERK-MAPK and PI3-K in neuroprotective effects of 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D(3) and its low-calcemic analogue - PRI-2191.

Effects of some new antidepressant drugs on the glucocorticoid receptor-mediated gene transcription in fibroblast cells.

Antidepressant drugs are thought to counteract effects of hypercortisolemia, frequently associated with depression, by lowering cortisol level and by modifying the function of glucocorticoid receptors (GR). Indeed, classical antidepressants inhibit corticosteroid-induced gene transcription in cell cultures. The aim of the present study was to investigate effects of new generation antidepressant drugs on GR function in mouse fibroblast cells (L929), stably transfected with mouse mammary tumor virus-chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (MMTV-CAT) plasmid (LMCAT cells). It has been found that reboxetine (at 10 and 30 microM), venlafaxine, citalopram and mirtazapine (at 30 microM), but not milnacipran, in statistically significant manner inhibited corticosterone-induced gene transcription. However, the effects of new generation antidepressant drugs were weaker than those evoked by imipramine, which was active already at 3 microM concentration. Further studies on the mechanism of antidepressant action on GR function revealed that protein kinase C, but not mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK), glycogen synthase kinase (GSK-3) and protein kinase B (PKB, Akt) play a role in this phenomenon.

Inhibitory effect of imipramine on the human corticotropin-releasing-hormone gene promoter activity operates through a PI3-K/AKT mediated pathway.

Antidepressant drugs inhibit the corticotropin-releasing-hormone (CRH) gene promoter activity in the differentiated Neuro-2A cells, but a molecular mechanism of their action has been poorly recognized. The aim of the present study was to elucidate the involvement of some intracellular signal transduction pathways in imipramine-induced inhibition of CRH gene activity in the differentiated Neuro-2A cells, stably transfected with a human CRH promoter fragment linked to the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) reporter gene. It was found that wortmannin (0.1muM), an inhibitor of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-K) and forskolin (10, 25muM), an activator of adenylate cyclase enhanced the basal activity of CRH gene promoter, whereas inhibitors of protein kinase A, calcium/calmodulin kinase (CaMK) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) had opposite effects. Moreover, wortmannin at a low concentration (0.01muM) significantly reversed the inhibitory effect of imipramine on CRH-CAT activity, whereas other protein kinase inhibitors were inactive or even enhanced the imipramine effects. The involvement of PI3-K/Akt pathway in the imipramine action was confirmed by Western blot study, which showed that this drug increased phospho-Ser-473 Akt level, but had no effect on total Akt and glycogen synthase kinase (GSK-3beta) levels. These results indicate that the inhibitory effect of imipramine on the CRH gene promoter activity in Neuro-2A cells is mainly connected with enhancement of PI-3K/Akt pathway.

Effects of PRI-2191--a low-calcemic analog of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 on the seizure-induced changes in brain gene expression and immune system activity in the rat.

Apart from the essential role of 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 in calcium and phosphorus metabolism, this compound and its analogs are involved in regulating the functions of the central nervous and immune systems. Active forms of vitamin D3 have been reported to stimulate neurotrophin gene expression and to prevent neuronal damage against a variety of insults. In the present study, we evaluated the effects of PRI-2191-a low-calcemic analog of 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (50 ng/kg i.p., once daily for 8 days) on seizure-related neuronal degeneration, changes in some brain gene expression and immune system activity. Seizures were induced by pilocarpine (400 mg/kg; i.p.) administration. An in situ hybridization study showed that the pilocarpine-induced seizures led to time-dependent changes in the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), heat shock protein 70 (HSP-70) and prepro-thyreoliberin (prepro-TRH) gene expression in several cortical and hippocampal regions. The maximal induction of gene expression was 3 h for BDNF and 24 h for HSP-70 and prepro-TRH; however, only in the case of prepro-TRH that effect was long-lasting. PRI-2191 alone had no effect on gene expression, but it enhanced the seizure-evoked expression of HSP-70, had an opposite effect on BDNF mRNA level and did not affect prepro-TRH mRNA level. Moreover, PRI-2191 had a moderate inhibitory effect on the seizure-related hippocampal damage in the CA1 field only. An immunological study revealed that PRI-2191 reversed the seizure-induced decrease in the proliferative activity of splenocytes and their ability to produce interferon-gamma. Summing up, the present study demonstrated that subchronic administration of PRI-2191 significantly modulated the seizure-related changes in both the brain and the peripheral immune system of rats.

Effects of lipopolysaccharide and chlorpromazine on glucocorticoid receptor-mediated gene transcription and immunoreactivity: a possible involvement of p38-MAP kinase.

It has been hypothesized that dysregulations of the immune system and glucocorticoid receptor (GR) function are involved in the pathogenesis of schizophrenic disorders. Previously, we found that among antipsychotics, chlorpromazine most potently inhibited GR function under in vitro conditions. In order to study a role of the some immune system mediators in this process, we investigated the effect of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on chlorpromazine-induced changes in GR-mediated gene transcription in fibroblast cells, stably transfected with mouse mammary tumor virus promoter (LMCAT cells). Two days of incubation of the cells with LPS (1 and 5 microg/ml) and chlorpromazine (3-30 microM) inhibited the corticosterone-induced gene transcription in a concentration-dependent manner. Concomitant incubation of the cells with LPS (1 microg/ml) and chlorpromazine had stronger inhibitory effect than that evoked by each compound alone. The effect of LPS, but not that of chlorpromazine, on GR function was dependent on p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK). Moreover, LPS-stimulated proliferative activity was also p38-MAP kinase dependent, but this effect was suppressed by chlorpromazine.

Mood stabilizers inhibit glucocorticoid receptor function in LMCAT cells.

Mood stabilizers block some central effects induced by stress and glucocorticosteroids; however, little is known about interaction of these drugs with glucocorticoid receptor function. In the present study, we evaluated effects of lithium, valproate and carbamazepine on glucocorticoid receptor-mediated gene expression in mouse fibroblast cells (L929), stably transfected with mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV)-chloramphenicol acetyltransferase reporter plasmid (LMCAT cells). Treatment of LMCAT cells with lithium (1-4 mM), valproate (0.1-3 mM) and carbamazepine (30 and 100 microM) inhibited corticosterone-induced activity of reporter gene in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. Furthermore, it was found that valproate, but not two other antimanic drugs, decreased the glucocorticoid receptor level in cytosolic and nuclear fraction, and its inhibitory effect on glucocorticoid receptor-mediated transcriptional activity was attenuated by c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK)-mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) inhibitor. Protein kinase B (PKB), glycogen synthase kinase (GSK), p38-MAPK and depletion of inositol were not shown to be involved in the mechanism of mood-stabilizer action on glucocorticoid receptor function under present experimental condition. In contrast to mood stabilizers, amphetamine (1-100 microM) had no effect on glucocorticoid receptor-mediated transcriptional activity. These findings corroborate the hypothesis that direct effects of antidepressants and mood stabilizers on glucocorticoid receptor function is an important mechanism, by which these drugs may inhibit some deleterious effects of stress and glucocorticoids on the central nervous system.

Regulation of the human corticotropin-releasing-hormone gene promoter activity by antidepressant drugs in Neuro-2A and AtT-20 cells.

Major depression is frequently associated with hyperactivity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. Clinically effective therapy with antidepressant drugs normalizes the disturbed activity of HPA axis, in part, by decreasing corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) synthesis, but the mechanism of this action is poorly recognized. In order to find out whether antidepressants directly affect CRH gene promoter activity, we studied their effect on undifferentiated and differentiated Neuro-2A cells, and for comparison the effect of the selected antidepressants on AtT-20 cells was also determined. The cells were stably transfected with a human CRH promoter fragment (-663 to +124 bp) linked to the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) reporter gene. The regulation of CRH gene promoter activity is similar in Neuro-2A cells, both intact and differentiated, and in AtT-20 cell line, and cAMP/PKA-dependent pathway plays an important role in the stimulation of CRH gene. It was found that imipramine, amitryptyline, desipramine, fluoxetine, and mianserin, present in the culture medium for 5 days, in a concentration-dependent manner inhibited basal hCRH gene promoter activity in undifferentiated Neuro-2A cells, while other drugs under study (citalopram, tianeptine, moclobemide, venlafaxine, reboxetine, mirtazapine, and milnacipram) were inactive. In the differentiated cells, all examined antidepressants, except moclobemide (no effect) and tianeptine (increase), inhibited hCRH gene transcription. Moreover, in differentiated cells, the drugs acted stronger and were effective at lower concentrations. Forskolin-induced CAT activity was attenuated by imipramine and fluoxetine and to a lesser degree by amitriptyline and desipramine in differentiated cells, whereas other drugs were inactive. Moreover, imipramine and fluoxetine, but not tianeptine, showed moderate inhibitory effect on CRH gene promoter activity also in AtT-20 cell line, commonly used in CRH gene regulation studies. These results indicate that neuron-like differentiated Neuro-2A cells are a better model than pituitary and intact neuroblastoma to investigate the mechanism of psychotropic drug action. Inhibition of CRH gene promoter activity by antidepressant drugs may be a molecular mechanism by which these drugs inhibit the activity of HPA axis.

Inhibitory effect of some neuroactive steroids on cocaine-induced kindling in mice.

Some neuroactive steroids which positively modulate GABAA receptor activity suppress cocaine-induced kindling but a possible involvement of other neurochemical mechanism in their antiepileptogenic effect remains to be elucidated. To this end, in the present study, we evaluated effects of allopregnanolone, a positive modulator of the GABAA receptor; its isomer without GABAergic activity--isopregnanolone and a negative-modulator of GABAergic transmission--dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate on cocaine-induced kindling in mice. Animals were pretreated daily with either vehicle or neuroactive steroid and then given cocaine (45 mg/kg) for 12 days. After a 14-day washout period in which drugs were not administered, the mice were challenged with the same 45 mg/kg dose of cocaine. Isopregnanolone (5 mg/kg) and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (20 mg/kg) administered daily with cocaine decreased number of mice exhibiting seizures. Allopregnanolone (5 mg/kg) also showed strong tendency to suppress cocaine kindling, however, its effect did not reach statistical significance. None of the neuroactive steroids had effect on acute cocaine (75 mg/kg ip)-induced clonic seizures. Further biochemical study showed that the veratridine- but not K+ -stimulated release of D-[3H]-aspartate in hippocampal slices was higher in cocaine-kindled mice than in the control group. Isopregnanolone (100 microM) significantly attenuated the veratridine-induced D-[3H]-aspartate release in hippocampi of cocaine-kindled group. These data indicate that positive modulation of the GABAA receptors is not a critical feature of neuroactive steroids that would determine their ability to prevent the cocaine-induced kindling.

Opposite effects of clozapine and sulpiride on the lipopolysaccharide-induced inhibition of the GR-mediated gene transcription in fibroblast cells.

Previously, we have found that some antipsychotic drugs are able to inhibit glucocorticoid receptor (GR)-mediated gene transcription. Since these drugs are known not only to inhibit hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activity, but also to modulate the immunological system, the aim of the present study was to compare the effect of sulpiride and clozapine on GR function under basal culture conditions and during activation by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The effect of clozapine and sulpiride alone and with LPS, the immune system activator, on glucocorticoid-mediated gene transcription was investigated in fibroblast cells, stably transfected with a mouse mammary tumor virus--chloramphenicol acetyltransferase plasmid (LMCAT cells). Treatment of the cells with clozapine (3-10 microM) for 2 days significantly and in concentration-dependent manner decreased the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) activity, while sulpiride (1, 3, 5 and 10 microM) was without any effect. LPS (1 microg/ml) given alone inhibited the corticosterone-induced gene transcription by ca. 35%. Clozapine (3, 5 and 10 microM) inhibited the effect of LPS (1 microM), while sulpiride, which alone had no effect on GR function, enhanced LPS (1 microM) action. The obtained results indicate that inhibition of GR-mediated gene transcription by LPS and clozapine can be a mechanism by which these compounds blocked some effects induced by glucocorticoids. Opposite effect of clozapine and sulpiride on LPS action may result from their distinct effect on activity of some kinases involved in regulation of GR transcriptional function and may determine their utility in the treatment of schizophrenia with or without immune system activation.

Effect of antidepressant drugs on the human corticotropin-releasing-hormone gene promoter activity in neuro-2A cells.

In order to test if antidepressant drugs can directly influence corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) gene expression, their effect on CRH gene promoter activity was evaluated in neuro-2A cells stably transfected with a human CRH - chloramphenicol acetyl-transferase plasmid. Forskolin (an activator of adenylate cyclase), but not phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (an activator of protein kinase C), ca. 3-fold increased reporter gene activity, which confirms the critical role of the cAMP-responsive element in regulation of the CRH gene. Imipramine and fluoxetine present in the medium for 5 days, in a concentration-dependent manner (3-30 microM) inhibited the basal activity of CRH gene promoter, while tianeptine was inactive. The obtained results indicate that inhibition of the human CRH gene promoter activity by imipramine and fluoxetine, but not tianeptine, may play a role in a mechanism by which the former drugs attenuate HPA axis activity.