Lipoxygenases and Poly(ADP-Ribose) Polymerase in Amyloid Beta Cytotoxicity

The 12/15-lipoxygenase(s) (LOX), poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP-1) activity and mitochondrial apoptosis inducing factor (AIF) protein in the amyloid β (Aβ) toxicity were investigated in PC12 cells that express either wild-type (APPwt) or double Swedish mutation (APPsw) forms of human Aβ precursor protein. Different levels of Aβ secretion and free radicals formation characterize these cells. The results demonstrated a relationship between the Aβ levels and LOX protein expression and activity. High Aβ concentration in APPsw cells correlated with a significant increase in free radicals and LOX activation, which leads to translocation of p65/NF-κB into the nucleus. An increase in AIF expression in mitochondria was observed concurrently with inhibition of PARP-1 activity in the nuclear fraction of APPsw cells. We suggested that AIF accumulation in mitochondria may be involved in adaptive/protective processes. However, inhibition of PARP-1 may be responsible for the disturbances in transcription and DNA repair as well as the degeneration of APP cells. Under conditions of increased nitrosative stress, evoked by the nitric oxide donor, sodium nitroprusside (SNP, 0.5 mM), 70–80% of all cells types died after 24 h, significantly more in APPsw cells. There was no further significant change in mitochondrial AIF level and PARP-1 activity compared to corresponding non-treated cells. Only one exception was observed in PC12 control, where SNP significantly inhibits PARP-1 activity. Moreover, SNP significantly activated gene expression for 12/15-LOX in all types of investigated cells. Inhibitors of all LOX isoforms and specific inhibitor of 12-LOX enhanced the survival of cells that were subjected to SNP. We conclude that the LOX pathways may play a role in Aβ toxicity and in nitrosative-stress-induced cell death and that inhibition of these pathways offers novel protective strategies

Effect of aging and oxidative/genotoxic stress on poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 activity in rat brain

Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1, EC 2.4.2.30), a DNA-bound enzyme, plays a key role in genome stability, but after overactivation can also be responsible for cell death. The aim of the present study was to investigate PARP-1 activity in the hippocampus, brain cortex, striatum and cerebellum in adult (4 months) and aged (24 months) specific pathogen free Wistar rats and to correlate it with PARP-1 protein level and p53 expression. Moreover, the response of PARP-1 in adult and aged hippocampus to oxidative/genotoxic stress was evaluated. Our data indicated a statistically significant enhancement of PARP-1 activity in aged hippocampus and cerebral cortex comparing to adults without statistically significant changes in PARP-1 protein level. The expression of p53 mRNA was elevated in all aged brain parts with the exception of the cerebral cortex. Our data suggest that enhancement of PARP-1 activity and p53 expression in aged brain may indicate higher DNA damage. Our data also indicate that during excessive oxidative/genotoxic stress there is no response of PARP-1 activity in aged hippocampus in contrast to a significant enhancement of PARP-1 activity in adults which may have important consequences for the physiology and pathology of the brain