Variation in the CBP gene involved in epigenetic control associates with cognitive function

Research into the pathologic mechanisms of neurodegenerative diseases has revealed that CREB binding protein (CBP) plays an important role in cognitive dysfunction. Loss of one copy of this gene leads to a syndrome with severe cognitive dysfunction. We investigated the association between four common variants in the CBP gene and cognitive function in 5804 participants of the PROspective Study of Pravastatin in the Elderly at Risk (PROSPER). Baseline associations between genetic variation and cognitive function were assessed with linear regression. Longitudinal associations were assessed with linear mixed models. All analyses were adjusted for sex, age, education, country, version of test, and pravastatin use. The intron 4CT and intron 3AC polymorphisms in the CBP gene were associated with better cognitive performance at baseline and during follow-up. Furthermore, the haplotype with the variant alleles of these two polymorphisms also showed a protective effect on cognitive function in all cognitive domains (all p < 0.03). Genetic variation in the CBP gene is associated with better cognitive performance in an elderly population. Future research is necessary to investigate the effect of these polymorphisms on the expression of CBP levels and how these polymorphisms affect the gene expression mediated by CBP.     

Safely targeting cancer stem cells via selective catenin coactivator antagonism

Throughout our life, long‐lived somatic stem cells (SSC) regenerate adult tissues both during homeostatic processes and repair after injury. The role of aberrant regulation of SSC has also recently gained prominence in the field of cancer research. Following malignant transformation, so termed cancer stem cells (CSC), endowed with the same properties as SSC (i.e. the ability to both self‐renew and generate differentiated progenitors), play a major part in tumor initiation, therapy resistance and ultimately relapse. The same signaling pathways involved in regulating SSC maintenance are involved in the regulation of CSC. CSC exist in a wide array of tumor types, including leukemias, and brain, breast, prostate and colon tumors. Consequently, one of the key goals in cancer research over the past decade has been to develop therapeutic strategies to safely eliminate the CSC population without damaging the endogenous SSC population. A major hurdle to this goal lies in the identification of the key mechanisms that distinguish CSC from the normal endogenous tissue stem cells. This review will discuss the discovery of the specific CBP/catenin antagonist ICG‐001 and the ongoing clinical development of the second generation CBP/catenin antagonist PRI‐724. Importantly, specific CBP/catenin antagonists appear to have the ability to safely eliminate CSC by taking advantage of an intrinsic differential preference in the way SSC and CSC divide.     

Neurulation and neurite extension require the zinc transporter ZIP12 (slc39a12)

Zn²⁺ is required for many aspects of neuronal structure and function. However, the regulation of Zn²⁺ in the nervous system remains poorly understood. Systematic analysis of tissue-profiling microarray data showed that the zinc transporter ZIP12 (slc39a12) is highly expressed in the human brain. In the work reported here, we confirmed that ZIP12 is a Zn²⁺ uptake transporter with a conserved pattern of high expression in the mouse and Xenopus nervous system. Mouse neurons and Neuro-2a cells produce fewer and shorter neurites after ZIP12 knockdown without affecting cell viability. Zn²⁺ chelation or loading in cells to alter Zn²⁺ availability respectively mimicked or reduced the effects of ZIP12 knockdown on neurite outgrowth. ZIP12 knockdown reduces cAMP response element-binding protein activation and phosphorylation at serine 133, which is a critical pathway for neuronal differentiation. Constitutive cAMP response element-binding protein activation restores impairments in neurite outgrowth caused by Zn²⁺ chelation or ZIP12 knockdown. ZIP12 knockdown also reduces tubulin polymerization and increases sensitivity to nocodazole following neurite outgrowth. We find that ZIP12 is expressed during neurulation and early nervous system development in Xenopus tropicalis, where ZIP12 antisense morpholino knockdown impairs neural tube closure and arrests development during neurulation with concomitant reduction in tubulin polymerization in the neural plate. This study identifies a Zn²⁺ transporter that is specifically required for nervous system development and provides tangible links between Zn²⁺, neurulation, and neuronal differentiation.     

Role of AMPK in pancreatic beta cell function

Pharmacological activation of AMP activated kinase (AMPK) by metformin has proven to be a beneficial therapeutic approach for the treatment of type II diabetes. Despite improved glucose regulation achieved by administration of small molecule activators of AMPK, the potential negative impact of enhanced AMPK activity on insulin secretion by the pancreatic beta cell is an important consideration. In this review, we discuss our current understanding of the role of AMPK in central functions of the pancreatic beta cell, including glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS), proliferation, and survival. In addition we discuss the controversy surrounding the role of AMPK in insulin secretion, underscoring the merits and caveats of methods used to date.     

电针促进帕金森模型小鼠黑质致密部蛋白激酶A、cAMP反应元件结合蛋白1表达

目的 探讨电针能否促进帕金森病(PD)模型小鼠黑质致密部蛋白激酶A(PKA)、cAMP反应元件结合蛋白1(CREB1)的表达.方法 以腹腔注射(30 mg/kg)甲基苯基四氢吡啶(MPTP)诱导形成PD小鼠模型,电针"合谷"、"太冲"穴,频率2～100 Hz,电压2～4 V,疏密波,每日1次,每次20 min,7次为1疗程,共治疗3个疗程后,采用免疫组化检测黑质致密部PKA、CREB1表达.结果 模型组PKA、CREB1积分光密度低于空白组(P＜0.05);电针组积分光密度高于模型组(P＜0.01).结论 电针可促进PD模型小鼠黑质致密部PKA、CREB1表达.     

褪黑素抗大鼠吗啡奖赏效应的表达与脑内CREB及其磷酸化

目的:观察褪黑素(melatonin,Mel)对大鼠吗啡诱导的条件性位置偏爱(CPP)效应表达的影响及此过程中脑内cAMP反应元件结合蛋白(CREB)及其磷酸化的变化。方法:(1)大鼠连续6 d给予吗啡(sc,5 mg.kg-1/d)建立CPP模型,于CPP测试前20 min ip Mel(50和25 mg.kg-1),观察Mel对大鼠吗啡诱导的CPP效应表达的影响。(2)大鼠同上建立吗啡CPP模型,d7上、下午,d8上午ip Mel 50 mg.kg-1,共3次,最后一次ip后6 h,采用免疫组化结合计算机图像处理技术测定脑内伏隔核、海马内CREB及磷酸化CREB(p-CREB)的免疫阳性反应强度。结果:Mel 50 mg.kg-1可显著翻转大鼠吗啡诱导的CPP评分升高(P<0.01),同时显著降低吗啡诱导的大鼠伏隔核、海马内p-CREB的上调(P<0.01)。结论:Mel抑制大鼠吗啡奖赏效应的表达,此作用可能与其抑制吗啡诱导的伏隔核、海马内p-CREB蛋白水平上调有关。