9 research outputs found

    The Neuroprotective Role of Protein Quality Control in Halting the Development of Alpha-Synuclein Pathology

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    Synucleinopathies are a family of neurodegenerative disorders that comprises Parkinson’s disease, dementia with Lewy bodies, and multiple system atrophy. Each of these disorders is characterized by devastating motor, cognitive, and autonomic consequences. Current treatments for synucleinopathies are not curative and are limited to improvement of quality of life for affected individuals. Although the underlying causes of these diseases are unknown, a shared pathological hallmark is the presence of proteinaceous inclusions containing the α-synuclein (α-syn) protein in brain tissue. In the past few years, it has been proposed that these inclusions arise from the self-templated, prion-like spreading of misfolded and aggregated forms of α-syn throughout the brain, leading to neuronal dysfunction and death. In this review, we describe how impaired protein homeostasis is a prominent factor in the α-syn aggregation cascade, with alterations in protein quality control (PQC) pathways observed in the brains of patients. We discuss how PQC modulates α-syn accumulation, misfolding and aggregation primarily through chaperoning activity, proteasomal degradation, and lysosome-mediated degradation. Finally, we provide an overview of experimental data indicating that targeting PQC pathways is a promising avenue to explore in the design of novel neuroprotective approaches that could impede the spreading of α-syn pathology and thus provide a curative treatment for synucleinopathies

    Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-activating Polypeptide (PACAP) Promotes Both Survival and Neuritogenesis in PC12 Cells through Activation of Nuclear Factor ÎșB (NF-ÎșB) Pathway

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    International audienceThe pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) is a trophic factor that promotes neuronal survival and neurite outgrowth. However, the signaling pathways and the transcriptional mechanisms involved are not completely elucidated. Our previous studies aimed at characterizing the transcriptome of PACAP-differentiated PC12 cells revealed an increase in the expression of nuclear factor ÎșB2 (NF-ÎșB2) gene coding for p100/p52 subunit of NF-ÎșB transcription factor. Here, we examined the role of the NF-ÎșB pathway in neuronal differentiation promoted by PACAP. We first showed that PACAP-driven survival and neuritic extension in PC12 cells are inhibited following NF-ÎșB pathway blockade. PACAP stimulated both c-Rel and p52 NF-ÎșB subunit gene expression and nuclear translocation, whereas c-Rel down-regulation inhibited cell survival and neuritogenesis elicited by the neuropeptide. PACAP-induced c-Rel nuclear translocation was inhibited by ERK1/2 and Ca2+ blockers. Furthermore, the neuropeptide stimulated NF-ÎșB p100 subunit processing into p52, indicative of activation of the NF-ÎșB alternative pathway. Taken together, our data show that PACAP promotes both survival and neuritogenesis in PC12 cells by activating NF-ÎșB pathway, most likely via classical and alternative signaling cascades involving ERK1/2 kinases, Ca2+, and c-Rel/p52 dimers

    The PACAP-regulated gene selenoprotein T is highly induced in nervous, endocrine, and metabolic tissues during ontogenetic and regenerative processes.

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    International audienceSelenoproteins contain the essential trace element selenium whose deficiency leads to major disorders including cancer, male reproductive system failure, or autoimmune thyroid disease. Up to now, 25 selenoprotein-encoding genes were identified in mammals, but the spatiotemporal distribution, regulation, and function of some of these selenium-containing proteins remain poorly documented. Here, we found that selenoprotein T (SelT), a new thioredoxin-like protein, is regulated by the trophic neuropeptide pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) in differentiating but not mature adrenomedullary cells. In fact, our analysis revealed that, in rat, SelT is highly expressed in most embryonic structures, and then its levels decreased progressively as these organs develop, to vanish in most adult tissues. In the brain, SelT was abundantly expressed in neural progenitors in various regions such as the cortex and cerebellum but was undetectable in adult nervous cells except rostral migratory-stream astrocytes and Bergmann cells. In contrast, SelT expression was maintained in several adult endocrine tissues such as pituitary, thyroid, or testis. In the pituitary gland, SelT was found in secretory cells of the anterior lobe, whereas in the testis, the selenoprotein was present only in spermatogenic and Leydig cells. Finally, we found that SelT expression is strongly stimulated in liver cells during the regenerative process that occurs after partial hepatectomy. Taken together, these data show that SelT induction is associated with ontogenesis, tissue maturation, and regenerative mechanisms, indicating that this PACAP-regulated selenoprotein may play a crucial role in cell growth and activity in nervous, endocrine, and metabolic tissues

    L'ordinaire des sciences et techniques. Cultures populaires, cultures informelles (6)

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    International audienceLa prĂ©sente Ă©dition de la Lucarne matĂ©rialise la poursuite d’un travail engagĂ© depuis 2013. Comme pour la prĂ©cĂ©dente livraison, il a Ă©tĂ© rĂ©alisĂ© dans le cadre d’un atelier collaboratif d’histoire socioculturelle. L’atelier lui-mĂȘme est animĂ© par un collectif formĂ© des enseignant∙e∙s et auditeur∙rice∙s des formations du CNAM dĂ©diĂ©es Ă  la mĂ©diation socioculturelle des sciences et techniques. Certificat de compĂ©tences, Licence professionnelle ou Magister s’attĂšlent ainsi Ă  la rĂ©flexion, Ă  la conception et Ă  la rĂ©alisation de dispositifs pour la mĂ©diation des sciences et techniques en sociĂ©tĂ© par le design culturel. C’est dans ce cadre de rĂ©alisation pĂ©dagogique que sont rassemblĂ©s ces textes et documents pour lesquels sont proposĂ©s de courtes analyses sur leur fonction de support de diffusion massive dans l’espace public d’une culture populaire et ordinaire des sciences et techniques. Tous ont Ă©tĂ© rĂ©digĂ©s dans le cadre d’un exercice exigĂ© pour la validation d’un enseignement. Si le rĂ©sultat final peut s’avĂ©rer inĂ©galement satisfaisant Ă  l’aune des critĂšres de leurs commanditaires, tous les textes apportent cependant un regard jugĂ© pertinent sur un des aspects des manifestations des sciences et techniques dans leurs rapports Ă  la sociĂ©tĂ© au travers de la production et de la consommation culturelle de masse. Quelques-uns ont Ă©tĂ© un peu remaniĂ©s pour la prĂ©sente Ă©dition. Retrouvez-les tous, ainsi que d’autres non publiĂ©s dans ce volume, sur le site de la Lucarne : http://ateliercst.hypotheses.org
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