Functional and structural properties of stannin: roles in cellular growth, selective toxicity, and mitochondrial responses to injury.

Stannin (Snn) was discovered using subtractive hybridization methodology designed to find gene products related to selective organotin toxicity and apoptosis. The cDNAs for Snn were first isolated from brain tissues sensitive to trimethyltin, and were subsequently used to localize, characterize, and identify genomic DNA, and other gene products of Snn. Snn is a highly conserved, 88 amino acid protein found primarily in vertebrates. There is a minor divergence in the C-terminal sequence between amphibians and primates, but a nearly complete conservation of the first 60 residues in all vertebrates sequenced to date. Snn is a membrane-bound protein and is localized, in part, to the mitochondria and other vesicular organelles, suggesting that both localization and conservation are significant for the overall function of the protein. The structure of Snn in a micellar environment and its architecture in lipid bilayers have been determined using a combination of solution and solid-state NMR, respectively. Snn structure comprised a single transmembrane domain (residues 10-33), a 28-residue linker region from residues 34-60 that contains a conserved CXC metal binding motif and a putative 14-3-3xi binding region, and a cytoplasmic helix (residues 61-79), which is partially embedded into the membrane. Of primary interest is understanding how this highly-conserved peptide with an interesting structure and cellular localization transmits both normal and potentially toxic signals within the cell. Evidence to date suggests that organotins such as trimethyltin interact with the CXC region of Snn, which is vicinal to the putative 14-3-3 binding site. In vitro transfection analyses and microarray experiments have inferred a possible role of Snn in several key signaling systems, including activation of the p38-ERK cascade, p53-dependent pathways, and 14-3-3xi protein-mediated processes. TNFalpha can induce Snn mRNA expression in endothelial cells in a PKC-epsilon dependent manner. Studies with Snn siRNA suggest that this protein may be involved in growth regulation, since inhibition of Snn expression alone leads to reduced endothelial cells growth and induction of COP-1, a negative regulator of p53 function. A key piece of the puzzle, however, is how and why such a highly-conserved protein, localized to mitochondria, interacts with other regulatory proteins to alter growth and apoptosis. By knowing the structure, location, and possible signaling pathways involved, we propose that Snn constitutes an important sensor of mitochondrial damage, and plays a key role in the mediation of cross-talk between mitochondrial and nuclear compartments in specific cell types.

Calcium-dependent interaction of calcineurin with Bcl-2 in neuronal tissue.

Calcineurin, a calmodulin-dependent protein phosphatase, regulates transcription and possibly apoptosis. Previous studies demonstrated that in baby hamster kidney-21 cells after co-transfection calcineurin interacts with Bcl-2, thereby altering transcription and apoptosis. Using co-immunoprecipitation and subcellular fractionation techniques, we observed that calcineurin occurred as a complex with Bcl-2 in various regions of rat and mouse brain. The calcineurin-Bcl-2 complex was identified in mitochondrial, nuclear, microsomal and cytosol fractions. In vitro induction of hypoxia and aglycia or N-methyl-D-aspartate treatment markedly altered both extent of complex formation and its subcellular localization. These observations suggest that Bcl-2 either sequesters calcineurin, that calcineurin dephosphorylates Bcl-2, or that Bcl-2 shuttles calcineurin to specific substrates. Calcineurin also co-immunoprecipitated with the inositol-tris-phosphate receptor. This interaction increased after in vitro hypoxia/aglycia. In Bcl-2 (-/-) mice, interactions between calcineurin- and inositol-tris-phosphate receptor occurred less frequently than in wild-type mice under both control and hypoxic conditions. Experiments involving cell-free systems, as well as brain slices treated with thapsigargin or with N-methyl-D-aspartate suggested that calcium and calmodulin activation of calcineurin leads to interactions between calcineurin and Bcl-2. These data indicate that during times of cellular stress and damage, Bcl-2 targets activated calcineurin to specific compartments and substrates.

In vitro hypoxia and excitotoxicity in human brain induce calcineurin-Bcl-2 interactions.

Although pathogenesis of neuronal ischemia is incompletely understood, evidence indicates apoptotic neuronal death after ischemia. Bcl-2, an anti-apoptotic and neuroprotective protein, interacts with calcineurin in non-neuronal tissues. Activation of calcineurin, which is abundant in the brain, may play a role in apoptosis. Using co-immunoprecipitation experiments in biopsy-derived, fresh human cortical and hippocampal slices, we examined possible interactions between calcineurin and Bcl-2. Calcineuin-Bcl-2 interactions increased after exposure in vitro to excitotoxic agents and conditions of hypoxia/aglycia. This interaction may shuttle calcineurin to substrates such as the inositol-1,4,5-tris-phosphate receptor because under these experimental conditions interactions between calcineurin and inositol-1,4,5-tris-phosphate receptor also increased. A specific calcineurin inhibitor, FK-520, attenuated insult-induced increases in calcineurin-Bcl-2 interactions and augmented caspase-3 like activity. These data suggest that Bcl-2 modulates neuroprotective effects of calcineurin and that calcineurin inhibitors increase ischemic neuronal damage.

Phosphorylation of Syk activation loop tyrosines is essential for Syk function. An in vivo study using a specific anti-Syk activation loop phosphotyrosine antibody.

Syk is an important protein-tyrosine kinase in immunoreceptor signaling. FcepsilonRI aggregation in mast cells induces tyrosine phosphorylation and increased enzymatic activity of Syk. The two adjacent tyrosines in the Syk activation loop are thought to be important for the propagation of FcepsilonRI signaling. To evaluate the phosphorylation of these tyrosines in vivo and further understand the relationship of Syk tyrosine phosphorylation with its function, an antibody was developed specific for phosphorylated tyrosines in the activation loop of Syk. FcepsilonRI aggregation on mast cells induced the phosphorylation of both tyrosine residues of the activation loop. The kinase activity of Syk played the major role in phosphorylating its activation loop tyrosines both in vivo and in vitro. In FcepsilonRI-stimulated mast cells, the total Syk tyrosine phosphorylation paralleled the phosphorylation of its activation loop tyrosines and downstream propagation of signals for histamine release. In contrast, the cell surface binding of anti-ganglioside monoclonal antibody AA4 induced only strong general tyrosine phosphorylation of Syk and minimal histamine release and weak phosphorylation of activation loop tyrosines. These results demonstrate that phosphorylation of the activation loop tyrosines is important for mediating receptor signaling and is a better marker of Syk function than is total Syk tyrosine phosphorylation.

Mechanisms of injury in the central nervous system.

Neurotoxicants with similar structural features or common mechanisms of chemical action frequently produce widely divergent neuropathologic outcomes. Methylmercury (MeHg) produces marked cerebellar dysmorphogenesis during critical periods of development. The pathologic picture is characterized by complete architectural disruption of neuronal elements within the cerebellum. MeHg binds strongly to protein and soluble sulphydryl groups. Binding to microtubular -SH groups results in catastrophic depolymerization of immature tyrosinated microtubules. However, more mature acetylated microtubules are resistant to MeHg-induced depolymerization. In contrast to MeHg, the structurally similar organotin trimethyltin (TMT) elicits specific apoptotic destruction of pyramidal neurons in the CA3 region of the hippocampus and in other limbic structures. Expression of the phylogenetically conserved protein stannin is required for development of TMT-induced lesions. Inhibition of expression using antisense oligonucleotides against stannin protects neurons from the effects of TMT, suggesting that this protein is required for expression of neurotoxicity. However, expression of stannin alone is insufficient for induction of apoptotic pathways in neuronal populations. The aromatic nitrocompound 1,3-dinitrobenzene (DNB) has 2 independent nitro groups that can redox cycle in the presence of molecular oxygen. Despite its ability to deplete neural glutathione stores, DNB produces edematous gliovascular lesions in the brain stem of rats. Glial cells are susceptible despite high concentrations of reduced glutathione compared with neuronal somata in the central nervous system (CNS). The severity of lesions produced by DNB is modulated by the activity of neurons in the affected pathways. The inherent discrepancy between susceptibility of neuronal and glial cell populations is likely mediated by differential control of the mitochondrial permeability transition in astrocytes and neurons. Lessons learned in the mechanistic investigation of neurotoxicants suggest caution in the evaluation and interpretation of structure-activity relationships, eg, TMT, MeHg, and DNB all induce oxidative stress, whereas TMT and triethyltin produce neuronal damage and myelin edema, respectively. The precise CNS molecular targets of cell-specific lipophilic neurotoxicants remain to be determined.

Overexpression of epidermal growth factor receptor in Peutz-Jeghers syndrome.

Peutz-Jeghers syndrome is characterized by gastrointestinal hamartomatous polyposis, mucocutaneous pigmentation, and a predisposition to cancer. The etiology of this syndrome is unknown. We investigated the expression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFr), transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha), transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) and transforming growth factor-beta receptor (TGF-beta RII) between normal and Peutz-Jeghers small bowel tissues. In addition, immunoprecipitation by phosphotyrosine antibodies followed by EGFr western blotting was measured and compared between a Peutz-Jeghers hamartoma and normal duodenal tissue. EGFr expression was increased 2.5-fold in normal and hamartomatous tissue of Peutz-Jeghers patients compared to normal small bowel tissue. In Peutz-Jeghers tissues, the major EGFr immunoreactive band was increased size from 170 to approximately 200 kDa. Using an antibody specific for activated EGFr, this larger size band was predominant in Peutz-Jeghers tissue. Immunoprecipitation of a hamartoma by a phosphotyrosine specific antibody followed by western blotting for EGFr demonstrated this 200-kDa band. Expression of TGF-alpha, TGF-beta1, TGF-beta1 RII was not significantly different between normal and Peutz-Jeghers tissues. In conclusion, EGFr was overexpressed in normal and hamartomatous small bowel tissue of Peutz-Jeghers patients, which suggests that EGFr in Peutz-Jeghers tissue is persistently activated or highly stimulated by endogenous ligands and also suggests a possible role for EGFr in the pathogenesis of Peutz-Jeghers syndrome.

Reduction of calcineurin activity in brain by antisense oligonucleotides leads to persistent phosphorylation of tau protein at Thr181 and Thr231.

Phosphorylation of tau protein promotes stability of the axonal cytoskeleton; aberrant tau phosphorylation is implicated in the biogenesis of paired helical filaments (PHF) seen in Alzheimer's disease. Protein kinases and phosphatases that modulate tau phosphorylation have been identified using in vitro techniques; however, the role of these enzymes in vivo has not been determined. We used intraventricular infusions of antisense oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs) directed against the major brain isoforms of the Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent phosphatase calcineurin to determine how reduced activity of this enzyme would affect tau dephosphorylation. Five-day infusions of antisense ODNs (5 and 10 nmol/day) in rats decreased immunoreactive levels and activity of calcineurin throughout the brain; sense ODNs, scrambled ODNs, and infusion vehicle alone had no effect. When neocortical slices were prepared from antisense ODN-treated rats and incubated for 1 to 2 h in vitro, tau protein remained phosphorylated as determined by using the phosphorylation-sensitive monoclonal antibodies AT-180 (Thr231) and AT-270 (Thr181). In contrast, AT-180 and AT-270 sites were completely dephosphorylated during incubation of neocortical slices from vehicle-infused controls and sense ODN-treated rats. Neocortical slices from antisense-treated rats were incubated with the phosphatase inhibitors okadaic acid (100 nM; 10 microM) and FK-520 (5 microM); these preparations showed enhanced tau phosphorylation, consistent with a significant loss of calcineurin activity. Thus, we conclude that phosphorylation of at least two sites on tau protein, namely, Thr181 and Thr231, is regulated by calcineurin.

Transfection of Mammalian cells in vitro: use in analysis of neuronal damage.

Transfection of specific elements of DNA into cultured mammalian cells allows for the analysis of a range of functional and toxicologic mechanisms. At the heart of this technique is the ability to promote the uptake of DNA into actively growing cells, and to detect and analyze the expression of the gene(s) encoded by the DNA (1). The two basic types of transfection analyses are transient transfections, in which the DNA is expressed during the few days postapplication, and stable transfections, in which cells expressing the gene of interest are actively selected via cointroduction of a marker for positive selections (2). Choosing which technique is appropriate for a given experiment is determined by the temporal aspects of the question, the types of assays performed, and whether the gene of interest is expressed constitutively or via an inducible promoter. Illustrations for both methods will be provided.

Chromosomal localization and characterization of the stannin (Snn) gene.

Stannin is a protein that has been localized to trimethyltin-sensitive cell populations, and evidence suggests it plays a role in the toxic effects of organotins. In this study, we have isolated a mouse stannin genomic clone and have characterized the gene's intron-exon organization, promoter region, and chromosomal location. We have also isolated a partial human stannin cDNA clone and analyzed the open reading frame. The mouse genomic clone spans approximately 19 kb and consists of one intron and two exons. The splice site consensus sequence was maintained at all intron-exon junctions. Promoter analysis suggests that two putative promoter sites exist, each containing multiple regulatory elements and transcription factor-binding sites. Fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis localized stannin to mouse Chromosome (Chr) 16 at band A2. This region is homologous to the proximal region of human Chr 16 (16p13) to which stannin has been previously mapped. Sequence analysis revealed that the 264-bp open reading frame was identical between rat and mouse. The human sequence was 98% identical, with two amino acid substitutions near the c-terminal end of the peptide. These data suggest that stannin is highly conserved between species, and its unusual pattern of cellular expression may, in part, be explained via cell-specific promoters.

Alterations in tau phosphorylation in rat and human neocortical brain slices following hypoxia and glucose deprivation.

Tau is a microtubule-associated protein which is regulated by phosphorylation. Highly phosphorylated tau does not bind microtubules and is the main component of the paired helical filaments seen in Alzheimer's and related neurodegenerative diseases. Recent reports suggested that patterns of tau phosphorylation changed following ischemia and/or reperfusion in vivo. We used an in vitro model employing rat and human neocortical slices to investigate changes in tau phosphorylation which accompany oxygen and glucose deprivation. Western blotting with polyclonal and phosphorylation-sensitive Tau-1 monoclonal antisera was used to monitor changes in tau which accompanied conditions of oxygen and glucose deprivation and reestablishment of these nutrients. In vitro hypoglycemia/hypoxia caused tau to undergo significant dephosphorylation in both rat and human neocortical slices after 30 and 60 min of deprivation. This dephosphorylation was confirmed using immunoprecipitation experiments after radiolabeling tau and other proteins with 32Pi. Okadaic acid, a phosphatase inhibitor, was able to prevent tau dephosphorylation in both control and ischemic slices. Lubeluzole, a benzothiazole derivative with in vivo neuroprotective activity, did not significantly alter patterns of tau phosphorylation. Restoration of oxygen and glucose following varied periods of in vitro hypoxia/hypoglycemia (15-60 min) led to an apparent recovery in phosphorylated tau. These data suggest that tau undergoes a rapid, but reversible dephosphorylation following brief periods of in vitro hypoxia/hypoglycemia in brain slices and that changes in tau phosphorylation help determine the extent of recovery following oxygen and glucose deprivation.

Localization and characterization of stannin: relationship to cellular sensitivity to organotin compounds.

The cDNA encoding the protein stannin was isolated previously via subtractive hybridization, using differential expression after trimethyltin (TMT) intoxication, as a basis for isolating mRNA which may be expressed in TMT-sensitive cells. Initial characterization revealed a novel gene product which was differentially expressed in several tissues sensitive to TMT. In the current study, biochemical and molecular techniques were used to quantitate stannin expression at the cellular and subcellular levels. Northern blot analysis showed that the stannin 3.0 kb mRNA transcript was present, in decreasing amounts, in: spleen, hippocampus, neocortex, cerebellum, striatum, midbrain, kidney and lung. Liver, heart, skeletal muscle and testis showed no detectable expression of stannin mRNA. Immunoblot analysis using antipeptide antisera raised against stannin indicated a high level of expression in spleen, followed by brain and kidney. Stannin mRNA was present during early brain development and consolidated by post-natal day (PND) 20 to patterns and levels seen in adults. In situ hybridization studies showed widespread neuronal expression of stannin mRNA at PND 1, which shifted to a restricted pattern of expression in specific regions by PND 20. Stannin was partially purified from rodent brain and spleen using cation exchange, sizing and hydrophobic interaction chromatography. It behaved as a monomer throughout purification. Stannin was also expressed in a baculovirus system, using a series of constructs containing the entire cDNA, 1.0 kb of DNA flanking the open reading frame, and a 400 bp open reading frame minimal construct. While all constructs expressed stannin, the best expression was seen with the entire cDNA. Based on current findings, we suggest that stannin expression is necessary but not sufficient for TMT toxicity.

Regulated phosphorylation and dephosphorylation of tau protein: effects on microtubule interaction, intracellular trafficking and neurodegeneration.

This review attempts to summarize what is known about tau phosphorylation in the context of both normal cellular function and dysfunction. However, conceptions of tau function continue to evolve, and it is likely that the regulation of tau distribution and metabolism is complex. The roles of microtubule-associated kinases and phosphatases have yet to be fully described, but may afford insight into how tau phosphorylation at the distal end of the axon regulates cytoskeletal-membrane interactions. Finally, lipid and glycosaminoglycan modification of tau structure affords yet more complexity for regulation and aggregation. Continued work will help to determine what is causal and what is coincidental in Alzheimer's disease, and may lead to identification of therapeutic targets for halting the progression of paired helical filament formation.

Alterations in hippocampal expression of SNAP-25, GAP-43, stannin and glial fibrillary acidic protein following mechanical and trimethyltin-induced injury in the rat.

A set of well-defined antisera against neuronal and glial proteins were used to characterize patterns of protein expression in rat hippocampus following transection of the fimbira-fornix and perforant pathways or after administration of the selective neurotoxicant trimethyltin (8 mg/kg, i.p.). SNAP-25 (synaptosomal protein, mol. wt 25,000) is a neuron-specific, developmentally regulated presynaptic protein, stannin is a protein enriched in cells sensitive to trimethyltin, and GAP-43 (growth-associated protein, mol. wt 43,000) is associated with axonal growth and regeneration. Glial fibrillary acidic protein is an astrocyte-specific intermediate filament protein and a marker for reactive gliosis. SNAP-25 immunoreactivity was altered following both neurotoxicant and mechanical injury. Three days after fimbria-fornix/perforant path lesions, there was a loss of SNAP-25 immunoreactivity in hippocampal efferent pathways and in the lesioned entorhinal cortex. By day 12, there was evidence of reinnervation of hippocampal subfields by SNAP-25-immunopositive commissural afferent fibers. On day 3, immunoblots showed the appearance of SNAP-25a, a developmental isoform produced by alternative splicing of nine amino acids in exon 5, in lesioned tissues. This isoform declined by day 12 and was not found in contralateral control hippocampus or non-lesioned brain regions. Stannin immunoreactivity was unchanged, while GAP-43 was prominent on day 12 post-lesion. Glial fibrillary acidic protein immunoreactivity indicated gliosis near the site of pathway transection. In contrast, trimethyltin induced a marked loss of stannin immunoreactivity in hippocampal neurons seven days after injection. Trimethyltin increased glial fibrillary acidic protein staining in the hippocampus and other damaged regions. SNAP-25 immunoreactivity was markedly increased in mossy fibers and other hippocampal fields seven days following trimethyltin. Immunoblot analysis showed that only the adult SNAP-25b isoform was expressed after trimethyltin intoxication. These data suggest that SNAP-25 is a useful marker for presynaptic damage. Furthermore, reexpression of developmental isoforms of SNAP-25a may precede functional reinnervation when the postsynaptic target remains intact.

Microtubule assembly competence analysis of freshly-biopsied human tau, dephosphorylated tau, and Alzheimer tau.

Phosphorylation of the microtubule-associated protein tau regulates its binding to microtubules; highly phosphorylated tau is also a prime component of paired helical filaments (PHFs) of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Tau from freshly biopsied human, monkey, and rat brain share similar electrophoretic mobility patterns and overlapping phosphorylated epitopes when compared to AD tau isolated from AD brain. We compared the microtubule reassembly competence of fresh isolates of phosphorylated tau to that of maximally dephosphorylated tau and tau from AD brain. A rapid procedure was developed which permitted the enrichment of phosphorylated and dephosphorylated tau from human biopsies in the absence of protein kinase and phosphatase activity. Microtubule assembly assays, using a spectrophotometric measure and purified bovine brain tubulin, were used to correlate assembly competence with states of tau electrophoretic mobility. Maximally dephosphorylated human biopsy-derived tau and monkey tau were assembly competent; tau from AD brain was virtually unable to direct microtubule assembly. Unmodified, biopsy-derived tau from non-AD brain was intermediate in assembly competence relative to AD tau and dephosphorylated tau. Several lines of evidence were used to correlate phosphorylation states of tau with microtubule assembly. First, in vitro dephosphorylation of human biopsy-derived tau with either PP2A or PP2B alone or in combination led to increasing assembly competence as the electrophoretic mobility of tau increased. Second, addition of the protein phosphatase inhibitor okadaic acid (10 microM) to brain-slice preparations slowed electrophoretic mobility of tau and decreased binding competence. We suggest that tau derived from freshly-biopsied brain exists in a range of phosphorylated states, and that dephosphorylation by PP2A and/or PP2B increases microtubule assembly competence.

Induction of apoptosis by organotin compounds in vitro: neuronal protection with antisense oligonucleotides directed against stannin.

Immortalized cell lines and primary neuronal cultures were used to characterize the selective toxicity of trimethyltin (TMT),triethyltin (TET) and tributyltin (TBT). TBT and TET were cytotoxic at similar concentrations in the immortalized cell lines tested; the 50% toxic concentration (TC50) was 1 to 11 microM. In contrast, immortalized cell lines varied considerably in their sensitivity to TMT, with sensitive cell lines (neuroblastomas, T-, B-cell lines) showing TC50 values of 2 to 8 microM, whereas insensitive cells (NIH-3T3 fibroblast, HTB-14 glioma, TC-7 kidney cells) had TC 50 values > 100 microM. Primary neuronal cell cultures were very sensitive to organotins (TC50 values, 1-10nM), and showed patterns of selective toxicity with respect to neuronal and glial cells. Because organotin toxicity evolves over 24 to 48 hr. we determined whether these compounds induced apoptosis in primary cultures. TMT increased (P < .05) the fraction of apoptotic cells 6 and 12 hr after treatment with TMT at TC50 concentrations. Prior studies suggested that a protein, stannin, was localized in cells sensitive to organotins. Stannin was expressed in several TMT-sensitive cell lines (PC12, T, B cells) and in primary neurons in culture. Stannin was absent in the resistant HTB-14 glioma cell line. The role of stannin in mediating TMT toxicity in primary cultures was investigated by blocking stannin expression with specific antisense oligonucleotides. Treatment of primary cultures with antisense oligonucleotides for 48 hr before and during TMT treatment significantly protected neurons from the neurotoxic and apoptotic effects of TMT. This effect was not observed with scrambled oligonucleotide controls. Thus, TMT may induce apoptosis in sensitive cells, which is partly mediated by stannin. Based on the available data we conclude that stannin expression is necessary, but not sufficient for TMT toxicity.

Induction and variants of neuronal nitric oxide synthase type I during synaptogenesis.

In the adult central nervous system, nitric oxide (NO) is formed from L-arginine by the so-called constitutive or type I NO synthase (NOS-I155). However, expression of NOS-I155 immunoreactivity and activity was low or not detectable in developing mouse and rat brain. NOS-I155 was sharply induced coincident with the onset of synaptogenesis in specific brain regions. This was followed by a second phase in which total NOS-I155 expression decreased both in specific cell populations and in the total synaptosomal subcellular fraction.Furthermore, two putative variants of NOS-I were transiently observed: an NOS-I-immunoreactive protein with increased electrophoretic mobility (NOS-I144) and a transient hypersensitivity of NOS-I155 to the competitive substrate inhibitor N omega-nitro-L-arginine. It is concluded that NOS-I expression is not constitutive but locally induced. In the central nervous system, this regionally specific, biphasic pattern of postnatal NOS-I induction is consistent with a role for NO in synaptogenesis and synaptic plasticity.

Reversal of toxicity using avidin-based hemoperfusion: a model system in rats using biotinylated melittin.

The high-affinity interaction between avidin and biotin (Kd = 10(-15)M) can be exploited to develop specific protocols for retrieval of biotinylated drugs and toxicants from biological fluids. Melittin, the main toxic component of bee venom, was biotinylated and used as a model toxicant to determine whether avidin-based extracorporeal hemoperfusion could remove biotinylated melittin and thus alter the severity of the toxic response in rats. Melittin was biotinylated using N-hydroxysuccinimide-long-chain biotin. Biotinylated melittin produced 100% lethality in rats by 120 min following four sequential intravenous injections of 1.7 mg/kg biotinylated melittin (0, 5, 20, and 35 min). An avidin hemoperfusion column was constructed (10 mg avidin/1 ml gel) and connected via the femoral vasculature to rats intoxicated with biotinylated melittin. Controls rats were hemoperfused using avidin columns blocked with d-biotin. None of the 6 rats hemoperfused using the biotin-blocked avidin column control survived, whereas 5 of 9 of the experimental rats survived to 120 min. The difference between the two survival rates was statistically significant (p < 0.0048). Thus, avidin-based hemoperfusion improved survival following biotinylated melittin toxicity and strengthens the concept that avidin-based hemoperfusion can reverse the toxicity of biotinylated toxicants.

Tau phosphorylation in brain slices: pharmacological evidence for convergent effects of protein phosphatases on tau and mitogen-activated protein kinase.

Tau is a neuron-specific, microtubule-associated protein that forms paired helical filaments (PHFs) of Alzheimer's disease when aberrantly phosphorylated. We have attempted to elucidate the protein kinases and phosphatases that regulate tau phosphorylation. Incubation of rat, human, and rhesus monkey temporal neocortex slices with the phosphatase inhibitor okadaic acid induced epitopes of tau similar to those found in PHFs. Okadaic acid (1-20 microM) induced variant forms of tau at 60-68 kDa, which were recognized by the monoclonal antibodies Alz-50 (in humans only) and 5E2 and two polyclonal antipeptide antisera, OK-1 and OK-2. The phosphorylation-sensitive monoclonal antibody Tau-1 failed to recognize the slowest mobility forms of tau after okadaic acid treatment. FK-520 (1-10 microM), a potent inhibitor of calcineurin activity, was tested in brain slices and found not to alter tau mobility. However, combinations of FK-520 (5 microM) and okadaic acid (100 nM) caused tau mobility shifts similar to those seen after 10 microM okadaic acid treatment; similar results were seen using the calcineurin-selective inhibitor cypermethrin. Treatment of human slices with 10 microM okadaic acid decreased both protein phosphatase 2A and calcineurin activity; FK-520 inhibited only protein phosphatase 2B activity. A proposed tau-directed kinase, 42-kDa mitogen-activated protein kinase (p42mapk), was activated by okadaic acid (> 100 nM) but not FK-520 (5 microM). Nerve growth factor (100 ng/ml) activated p42mapk, particularly when used in combination with 100 nM okadaic acid; changes in tau mobility were seen when this kinase was activated. Forskolin (2 microM) antagonized the effects of nerve growth factor on both p42mapk activity and tau phosphorylation; forskolin alone had little effect on PHF-like tau formation induced by phosphatase inhibitors. These results outline complex interactions between tau-directed protein kinases and protein phosphatases and suggest potential sites for therapeutic intervention.

Cardiac noradrenergic mechanisms mediate GABA-enhanced ouabain cardiotoxicity.

Peripherally administered gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) alters cardiovascular function and has been reported to enhance ouabain-induced cardiotoxicity in vivo. Control and reserpinized rat hearts were perfused in vitro to determine if GABA directly evokes bradycardia by GABAA receptors, interacts with ouabain, and if noradrenergic mechanisms are required. Also, double-staining immunohistochemistry was employed to determine whether GABA-ergic and noradrenergic synthetic enzymes were juxtaposed within atrial tissue. The main results were as follows. GABA produced a dose-dependent bradycardia (p < 0.05) by stimulating GABAA receptors in Langendorff-perfused hearts. Reserpinized hearts were unresponsive (p < 0.05) to GABA, except at the highest dose (20 mg/ml). Ouabain-induced cardiotoxicity was enhanced (p < 0.05) by GABA in isolated control, but not reserpinized hearts. Lastly, glutamic acid decarboxylase and tyrosine hydroxylase immunoreactivities were in close proximity in atrial slices. Collectively, the results document that GABA causes bradycardia and enhances ouabain cardiotoxicity by modulating noradrenergic mechanisms in the isolated rat heart. Since the synthetic enzymes for GABA and norepinephrine were in close proximity in atrial tissue, these transmitters may interact under physiological conditions.

Tau phosphorylation in human, primate, and rat brain: evidence that a pool of tau is highly phosphorylated in vivo and is rapidly dephosphorylated in vitro.

The extent of tau phosphorylation is thought to regulate the binding of tau to microtubules: Highly phosphorylated tau does not bind to tubules, whereas dephosphorylated tau can bind to microtubules. It is interesting that the extent of tau phosphorylation in vivo has not been accurately determined. Tau was rapidly isolated from human temporal neocortex and hippocampus, rhesus monkey temporal neocortex, and rat temporal neocortex and hippocampus under conditions that minimized dephosphorylation. In brain slices, we observed that tau isolated under such conditions largely existed in several phosphorylated states, including a pool that was highly phosphorylated; this was determined using epitope-specific monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies. This highly phosphorylated tau was dephosphorylated during a 120-min time course in vitro, presumably as a result of neuronal phosphatase activity. The slow-mobility forms of tau were shifted to faster-mobility forms following in vitro incubation with alkaline phosphatase. Laser densitometry was used to estimate the percent of tau in slow-mobility, highly phosphorylated forms. Approximately 25% of immunoreactive tau was present as slow-mobility (66- and 68-kDa) forms of tau. The percentage of immunoreactive tau in faster-mobility pools (42-54 kDa) increased in proportion to the decrease in content of 66-68-kDa tau as a function of neuronal phosphatases or alkaline phosphatase treatment. These data suggest that the turnover of phosphorylated sites on tau is rapid and depends on neuronal phosphatases. Furthermore, tau is highly phosphorylated in normal-appearing human, primate, and rodent brain.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)