Isoaspartate, Carbamoyl phosphate synthase-1, and carbonic anhydrase-III as biomarkers of liver injury

We had previously shown that alcohol consumption can induce cellular isoaspartate protein damage via an impairment of the activity of protein isoaspartyl methyltransferase (PIMT), an enzyme that triggers repair of isoaspartate protein damage. To further investigate the mechanism of isoaspartate accumulation, hepatocytes cultured from control or 4-week ethanol-fed rats were incubated in vitro with tubercidin or adenosine. Both these agents, known to elevate intracellular S-adenosylhomocysteine levels, increased cellular isoaspartate damage over that recorded following ethanol consumption in vivo. Increased isoaspartate damage was attenuated by treatment with betaine. To characterize isoaspartate-damaged proteins that accumulate after ethanol administration, rat liver cytosolic proteins were methylated using exogenous PIMT and 3H-S- adenosylmethionine and proteins resolved by gel electrophoresis. Three major protein bands of ~75-80 kDa, ~95-100 kDa, and ~155-160 kDa were identified by autoradiography. Column chromatography used to enrich isoaspartate-damaged proteins indicated that damaged proteins from ethanol-fed rats were similar to those that accrued in the livers of PIMT knockout (KO) mice. Carbamoyl phosphate synthase-1 (CPS-1) was partially purified and identified as the ~160kDa protein target of PIMT in ethanol-fed rats and in PIMT KO mice. Analysis of the liver proteome of 4-week ethanol-fed rats and PIMT KO mice demonstrated elevated cytosolic CPS-1 and betaine homocysteine S-methyltransferase-1 when compared to their respective controls, and a significant reduction of carbonic anhydrase-III (CA-III) evident only in ethanol-fed rats. Ethanol feeding of rats for 8 weeks resulted in a larger (~2.3-fold) increase in CPS-1 levels compared to 4- week ethanol feeding indicating that CPS-1 accumulation correlated with the duration of ethanol consumption. Collectively, our results suggest that elevated isoaspartate and CPS-1, and reduced CA-III levels could serve as biomarkers of hepatocellular injury

Alcohol-related brain damage in humans

Chronic excessive alcohol intoxications evoke cumulative damage to tissues and organs. We examined prefrontal cortex (Brodmann’s area (BA) 9) from 20 human alcoholics and 20 age, gender, and postmortem delay matched control subjects. H & E staining and light microscopy of prefrontal cortex tissue revealed a reduction in the levels of cytoskeleton surrounding the nuclei of cortical and subcortical neurons, and a disruption of subcortical neuron patterning in alcoholic subjects. BA 9 tissue homogenisation and one dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) proteomics of cytosolic proteins identified dramatic reductions in the protein levels of spectrin β II, and α- and β-tubulins in alcoholics, and these were validated and quantitated by Western blotting. We detected a significant increase in α-tubulin acetylation in alcoholics, a non-significant increase in isoaspartate protein damage, but a significant increase in protein isoaspartyl methyltransferase protein levels, the enzyme that triggers isoaspartate damage repair in vivo. There was also a significant reduction in proteasome activity in alcoholics. One dimensional PAGE of membrane-enriched fractions detected a reduction in β-spectrin protein levels, and a significant increase in transmembranous α3 (catalytic) subunit of the Na+,K+-ATPase in alcoholic subjects. However, control subjects retained stable oligomeric forms of α-subunit that were diminished in alcoholics. In alcoholics, significant loss of cytosolic α- and β-tubulins were also seen in caudate nucleus, hippocampus and cerebellum, but to different levels, indicative of brain regional susceptibility to alcohol-related damage. Collectively, these protein changes provide a molecular basis for some of the neuronal and behavioural abnormalities attributed to alcoholics

Evaluation of the endocannabinoid system in post-mortem human prefrontal cortex of alcoholic subjects

Trabajo presentado al "ECNP Workshop on Neuropsychopharmacology for Young Scientist in Europe" celebrado en Niza (Francia) del 4 al 7 de Marzo de 2010 y al "The 20th Annual Symposium on the Cannabinoids" celebrado en Suecia del 24 al 27 de julio de 2010.-- Trabajo publicado en la revista European Neuropsychopharmacology 20(Supl. 1): http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0924-977X(10)70011-0.-- et al.Peer reviewe

Neurobiological alterations in alcohol addiction: a review

International audienceThe exact mechanism by which ethanol exerts its effects on the brain is still unknown. However, nowadays it is well known that ethanol interacts with specific neuronal membrane proteins involved in signal transmission, resulting in changes in neural activity. In this review different neurochemical alterations produced by ethanol are described. Primarily, ethanol interacts with two membrane receptors: GABA(A) and NMDA ion channel receptors. Ethanol enhances the GABA action and antagonizes glutamate action, therefore acting as a CNS depressant. In addition, ethanol affects most other neurochemical and endocrine systems. In regard to the brain reward system, both dopaminergic and opioid system are affected by this drug. Furthermore, the serotonergic, noradrenergic, corticotropin-releasing factor and cannabinoid systems seem to play an important role in the neurobiology of alcoholism. At last but not least, ethanol can also modulate cytoplasmic components, including the second messengers. We also review briefly the different actual and putative pharmacological treatments for alcoholism, based on the alterations produced by this drug

The endocannabinoid system is altered in the post-mortem prefrontal cortex of alcoholic subjects

There is strong biochemical, pharmacological and genetic evidence for the involvement of the endocannabinoid system (ECS) in alcohol dependence. However, the majority of studies have been performed in animal models. The aim of the present study was to assess the state of the CB1 receptor, the enzymes fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) and monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL), and the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and cyclic-AMP response element-binding protein (CREB) in the post-mortem prefrontal cortex of alcoholic subjects. Experiments were performed in samples from 44 subjects classified in four experimental groups: (1) non-suicidal alcoholic subjects (n=11); (2) suicidal alcoholic subjects (n=11); (3) non-alcoholic suicide victims (n=11); and (4) control subjects (n=11). We did not observe statistically significant differences in CB1 mRNA relative expression among the four experimental groups. Conversely, our results showed an increase in CB1 receptor protein expression in the prefrontal cortex of the suicidal alcoholic group (127.2±7.3%), with no changes in functionality with regard to either G protein activation or the inhibition of adenylyl cyclase. In parallel, alcoholic subjects presented lower levels of MAGL activity, regardless of the cause of death. A significant decrease in the active form of ERK and CREB levels was also observed in both alcoholic groups. Taken together, our data are consistent with a role for the ECS in the neurobiological mechanisms underlying alcoholism. Moreover, the alterations reported here should be of great interest for the therapeutic treatment of this chronic psychiatric disease.Funded by: Plan Nacional sobre Drogas. Grant Number: PI 20061045; Basque Government. Grant Number: IT616-13; University of the Basque Country. Grant Number: UFI 11/35; Ministry of Science. Grant Numbers: SAF2009-08460, SAF2011-25020; Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental, CIBERSAM, Spain.Peer Reviewe

The Matricellular Protein Hevin Is Involved in Alcohol Use Disorder

Astrocytic-secreted matricellular proteins have been shown to influence various aspects of synaptic function. More recently, they have been found altered in animal models of psychiatric disorders such as drug addiction. Hevin (also known as Sparc-like 1) is a matricellular protein highly expressed in the adult brain that has been implicated in resilience to stress, suggesting a role in motivated behaviors. To address the possible role of hevin in drug addiction, we quantified its expression in human postmortem brains and in animal models of alcohol abuse. Hevin mRNA and protein expression were analyzed in the postmortem human brain of subjects with an antemortem diagnosis of alcohol use disorder (AUD, n = 25) and controls (n = 25). All the studied brain regions (prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, caudate nucleus and cerebellum) in AUD subjects showed an increase in hevin levels either at mRNA or/and protein levels. To test if this alteration was the result of alcohol exposure or indicative of a susceptibility factor to alcohol consumption, mice were exposed to different regimens of intraperitoneal alcohol administration. Hevin protein expression was increased in the nucleus accumbens after withdrawal followed by a ethanol challenge. The role of hevin in AUD was determined using an RNA interference strategy to downregulate hevin expression in nucleus accumbens astrocytes, which led to increased ethanol consumption. Additionally, ethanol challenge after withdrawal increased hevin levels in blood plasma. Altogether, these results support a novel role for hevin in the neurobiology of AUD

Ctr9, a Protein in the Transcription Complex Paf1, Regulates Dopamine Transporter Activity at the Plasma Membrane

International audienceDopamine (DA) is a major regulator of sensorimotor and cognitive functions. The DA transporter (DAT) is the key protein that regulates the spatial and temporal activity of DA release into the synaptic cleft via the rapid reuptake of DA into presynaptic termini. Several lines of evidence have suggested that transporter-interacting proteins may play a role in DAT function and regulation. Here, we identified the tetratricopeptide repeat domain-containing protein Ctr9 as a novel DAT binding partner using a yeast two-hybrid system. We showed that Ctr9 is expressed in dopaminergic neurons and forms a stable complex with DAT in vivo via GST pulldown and co-immunoprecipitation assays. In mammalian cells co-expressing both proteins, Ctr9 partially colocalizes with DAT at the plasma membrane. This interaction between DAT and Ctr9 results in a dramatic enhancement of DAT-mediated DA uptake due to an increased number of DAT transporters at the plasma membrane. We determined that the binding of Ctr9 to DAT requires residues YKF in the first half of the DAT C terminus. In addition, we characterized Ctr9, providing new insight into this protein. Using three-dimensional modeling, we identified three novel tetratricopeptide repeat domains in the Ctr9 sequence, and based on deletion mutation experiments, we demonstrated the role of the SH2 domain of Ctr9 in nuclear localization. Our results demonstrate that Ctr9 localization is not restricted to the nucleus, as previously described for the transcription complex Paf1. Taken together, our data provide evidence that Ctr9 modulates DAT function by regulating its trafficking

Neuroprotective Effects of a Structurally New Family of High Affinity Imidazoline I₂ Receptor Ligands

The imidazoline I₂ receptors (I₂-IRs) are widely distributed in the brain, and I₂-IR ligands may have therapeutic potential as neuroprotective agents. Since structural data for I₂-IR remains unknown, the discovery of selective I₂-IR ligands devoid of α₂-adrenoceptor (α₂-AR) affinity is likely to provide valuable tools in defining the pharmacological characterization of these receptors. We report the pharmacological characterization of a new family of (2-imidazolin-4-yl)­phosphonates. Radioligand binding studies showed that they displayed a higher affinity for I₂-IRs than idazoxan, and high I₂/α₂ selectivity. In vivo studies in mice showed that acute treatments with <b>1b</b> and <b>2c</b> significantly increased p-FADD/FADD ratio (an index of cell survival) in the hippocampus when compared with vehicle-treated controls. Additionally, acute and repeated treatments with <b>2c</b>, but not with <b>1b</b>, markedly reduced hippocampal p35 cleavage into neurotoxic p25. The present results indicate a neuroprotective potential of (2-imidazolin-4-yl)­phosphonates acting at I₂-IRs

Effect of antipsychotic drugs on group II metabotropic glutamate receptor expression and epigenetic control in postmortem brains of schizophrenia subjects

Abstract Antipsychotic-induced low availability of group II metabotropic glutamate receptors (including mGlu2R and mGlu3R) in brains of schizophrenia patients may explain the limited efficacy of mGlu2/3R ligands in clinical trials. Studies evaluating mGlu2/3R levels in well-designed, large postmortem brain cohorts are needed to address this issue. Postmortem samples from the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex of 96 schizophrenia subjects and matched controls were collected. Toxicological analyses identified cases who were (AP+) or were not (AP-) receiving antipsychotic treatment near the time of death. Protein and mRNA levels of mGlu2R and mGlu3R, as well as GRM2 and GRM3 promoter-attached histone posttranslational modifications, were quantified. Experimental animal models were used to compare with data obtained in human tissues. Compared to matched controls, schizophrenia cortical samples had lower mGlu2R protein amounts, regardless of antipsychotic medication. Downregulation of mGlu3R was observed in AP- schizophrenia subjects only. Greater predicted occupancy values of dopamine D2 and serotonin 5HT2A receptors correlated with higher density of mGlu3R, but not mGlu2R. Clozapine treatment and maternal immune activation in rodents mimicked the mGlu2R, but not mGlu3R regulation observed in schizophrenia brains. mGlu2R and mGlu3R mRNA levels, and the epigenetic control mechanisms did not parallel the alterations at the protein level, and in some groups correlated inversely. Insufficient cortical availability of mGlu2R and mGlu3R may be associated with schizophrenia. Antipsychotic treatment may normalize mGlu3R, but not mGlu2R protein levels. A model in which epigenetic feedback mechanisms controlling mGlu3R expression are activated to counterbalance mGluR loss of function is described