RIC3, the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway,and neuroinflammation

Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are ligand-gated ion channels having many functions including inflammation control, as part of the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway. Genome wide association studies implicated RIC3, a chaperone of nAChRs, in multiple sclerosis (MS), a neuroinflammatory disease. To understand the involvement of RIC3 in inflammatory diseases we examined its expression, regulation, and function in activated immune cells. Our results show that immune activation leads to dynamic changes in RIC3 expression, in a mouse model of MS and in human lymphocytes and macrophages. We also show similarities in the expression dynamics of RIC3 and CHRNA7, encoding for the α7 nAChR subunit. Homomeric α7 nAChRs were shown to mediate the anti-inflammatory effects of cholinergic agonists. Thus, similarity in expression dynamics between RIC3 and CHRNA7 is suggestive of functional concordance. Indeed, siRNA mediated silencing of RIC3 in a mouse macrophage cell line eliminates the anti-inflammatory effects of cholinergic agonists. Furthermore, we show increased average expression of RIC3 and CHRNA7 in lymphocytes from MS patients, and a strong correlation between expression levels of these two genes in MS patients but not in healthy donors. Together, our results are consistent with a role for RIC3 and for the mechanisms regulating its expression in inflammatory processes and in neuroinflammatory diseases.     

Tying up Nicotine: New Selective Competitive Antagonist of the Neuronal Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors

相似文献   

α-芋螺毒素Lt1.1的克隆、合成及靶点鉴定

目的 发现作用于神经元烟碱型乙酰胆碱受体(nAChR)的拮抗剂,为研制新型镇痛药和神经生物学工具奠定基础.方法 根据芋螺毒素A超家族DNA中保守的内含子及3′端非转录区(3′UTR)设计引物,从中国南海信号芋螺(Conus litteratus)中克隆获得新芋螺毒素Lt1.1序列.固相法合成Rink树脂肽,经裂解、空气氧化折叠、纯化后获得目的肽,利用两步氧化折叠法鉴定其二硫键连接方式.将神经元nAChR各亚基的cRNA在爪蟾卵母细胞中表达,利用双电极电压钳检测通道电流.结果 获得一种新α-芋螺毒素Lt1.1序列(GCCSHPACNVNNPDIC-NH2),其二硫键连接方式为"C1-C3、C2-C4",作用靶点为nAChR α3β2和α3β4亚型,IC50 分别为166.76和190.00 nmol/L.结论 Lt1.1是一种典型的4/7型α-芋螺毒素,其选择性抑制了nAChR α3β2和α3β4亚型.     

Membrane permeability-guided identification of neuroprotective components from Polygonum cuspidatun

Context: Polygonum cuspidatum Sieb et Zucc. (Polygonaceae) possesses various pharmacological activities and has been widely using as one of the most popular and valuable Chinese herbal medicines in clinics. Its usage has increasingly attracted much of our attention and urges investigation on its bioactive components.

Objective: To establish a rapid and valid approach for screening potential neuroprotective components from P. cuspidatum.

Materials and methods: Potential neuroprotective components from P. cuspidatum were screened utilizing liposome equilibrium dialysis followed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis. Their neuroprotective effects on modulation of protein expression of α7 nAChR, α3 nAChR and synaptophysin (SPY) on SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cell line (SH-SY5Y) were evaluated by means of Western blotting.

Results: Two potential compounds, polydatin (C1) and emodin-8-O-β-d-glucoside (C2), were detected and identified in our study. The biological tests showed that both compounds C1 and C2, respectively, at concentrations of 0.1 and 0.25?mg/mL significantly increased protein expression of α7 and α3 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) in SH-SY5Y cells. Moreover, C1 and C2 at 0.1?mg/mL significantly reversed the Aβ_1-42-induced decrease of α7 and α3 nAChRs protein expression in SH-SY5Y cells. In addition, C2 at 0.1?mg/mL significantly increased protein expression of SPY in SH-SY5Y cells and Aβ_1-42-induced SH-SY5Y cells whereas C1 did not provide any positive effects.

Discussion and conclusion: In conclusion, our approach utilizing liposome equilibrium dialysis combined with HPLC analysis and cell-based assays is a prompt and useful method for screening neuroprotective agents.     

Effects of nonylphenol on the calcium signal and catecholamine secretion coupled with nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in bovine adrenal chromaffin cells

Nonylphenol (NP) is the most critical metabolite of alkylphenol polyethoxylate detergents. NP is known as an endocrine disruptor with estrogenic activities and as an inhibitor of endoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-ATPase. Estrogen has modulatory roles on ligand-gated ion channels, such as nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs). Ca(2+)-ATPase inhibitors can modulate the cytosolic calcium concentration ([Ca(2+)](c)]) and thus can affect the calcium signaling coupled with nAChRs. Therefore, NP is predicted to have complex effects on the Ca(2+) signaling and secretion coupled with nAChRs. This study investigated these effects using bovine adrenal chromaffin cells. The results show that NP suppressed the Ca(2+) signaling coupled with nAChRs and voltage-operated Ca(2+) channels in a dose-dependent manner, with IC(50)s of 1 and 5.9 microM, respectively. Estradiol exhibits similar suppression but much lower inhibitory potencies. NP alone induced a transient rise in [Ca(2+)](c) in the presence or absence of extracellular calcium. Thapsigargin, an endoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-ATPase inhibitor, partially suppressed the [Ca(2+)](c) rise induced by NP, but NP totally blocked the [Ca(2+)](c) rise induced by thapsigargin. This illustrates that NP can cause Ca(2+) release from thapsigargin-insensitive pools. Thapsigargin suppressed the Ca(2+) signaling coupled with nAChRs but increased that coupled with voltage-operated Ca(2+) channels. We propose that three routes are responsible for the effects of NP on nAChRs: named receptor channels, voltage-gated Ca(2+) channels, and Ca(2+)-induced Ca(2+) release. Three routes are related to the characteristics of NP as steroid-like compounds and Ca(2+)-ATPase inhibitor.     

Cardiovascular effects of activation of central alpha7 and alpha4beta2 nAChRs: a role for vasopressin in anaesthetized rats

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Central application of nicotine causes the release of vasopressin and affects blood pressure. Involvement of the 5 neuronal nicotinic receptor groups, alpha2(*)-alpha7(*) in these effects is unknown. The availability of selective agonists for alpha7 (PSAB-OFP) and alpha4beta2 (TC-2559) nACh receptors allowed their role to be investigated. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: Recordings were made of arterial blood pressure, heart rate and renal sympathetic nerve activity in anaesthetized male rats with neuromuscular blockade and artificial respiration. Effects of the agonists, PSAB-OFP (1-10 micromol kg(-1)) and TC-2559 (1-10 micromol kg(-1)) on these variables given intracerebroventricularly (i.c.v.) and intracisternally (i.c.) in the presence or absence of the antagonists, DhbetaE (10 micromol kg(-1)) and MLA (0.5 micromol kg(-1)), for the appropriate nicotinic receptor subtypes, respectively, and a V(1) receptor antagonist, given i.v. or centrally, were investigated. KEY RESULTS: Both agonists given i.c.v. caused a delayed rise in blood pressure and renal nerve activity which could be blocked only with the appropriate antagonist. The agonists had an earlier onset of action when given i.c., favouring the brainstem as the major site of action. The effects of these agonists were also attenuated by the V(1) receptor antagonist given i.v. and blocked when this antagonist was given centrally. Antagonists had no effect on baseline variables.CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Activation of alpha4beta2 and alpha7 receptors in the brainstem is mainly responsible for the cardiovascular effects of activating these receptors, which have a similar profile of action. These actions, although independent, are mediated by the central release of vasopressin.     

The partial alpha7 nicotine acetylcholine receptor agonist S 24795 enhances long-term potentiation at CA3-CA1 synapses in the adult mouse hippocampus

The effects of S 24795, a newly developed partial agonist at alpha7 nAChRs, were tested on synaptic transmission and plasticity using extracellular field excitatory postsynaptic potentials (fEPSPs) evoked in the CA1 region by Schaffer collateral stimulation in hippocampal slices obtained from adult mice. S 24795 reduced the amplitude of the fEPSPs in a concentration-dependent manner with an IC(50) of 127 microM and a Hill coefficient of 1.1. The reduction in amplitude of the fEPSPs started at S 24795 concentrations higher than 3muM and reached 71% of controls at 300 microM. This effect was mediated by alpha7 nAChRs since it was blocked by nAChR antagonists and was not observed in alpha7 -/- mice. This effect was probably due to a reduction in glutamate release from presynaptic terminals since it was associated with a significant increase in the paired pulse ratio. In addition, S 24795 (100 microM) significantly reduced the frequency, but not the amplitude of spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic currents, recorded in the whole cell configuration of the patch clamp technique (in voltage clamp mode), further supporting a presynaptic site of action of S 24795. In addition, S 24795 at 3 microM, a concentration that did not affect basic synaptic transmission, potentiated LTP. This effect was mediated by alpha7 nAChRs since it was prevented by MLA (10 nM) and was absent in alpha7 -/- mice. Galantamine an allosteric modulator of nAChRs, at the concentrations of 0.3-3 microM, failed to potentiate LTP. In view of its powerful effect on LTP and on cognitive function, S 24795 can be considered a novel useful tool for the treatment of AD patients and other senile forms of dementia.     

Positive modulation of α7 nAChR responses in rat hippocampal interneurons to full agonists and the α7-selective partial agonists, 4OH-GTS-21 and S 24795

One approach for the identification of therapeutic agents for Alzheimer's disease has focused on the research of α7 nAChR-selective agonists such as the partial agonists 3-(4-hydroxy,2-methoxybenzylidene)anabaseine (4OH-GTS-21) and, more recently, 2-[2-(4-bromophenyl)-2-oxoethyl]-1-methyl pyridinium (S 24795). An alternative approach for targeting α7 nAChR has been the development of positive modulators for this receptor. In this study we examined the interactions between full or partial agonists and positive modulators of α7 nAChRs in situ in brain tissue. Three positive modulators were used, 5-hydroxyindole (5-HI), 1-(5-chloro-2,4-dimethoxy-phenyl)-3-(5-methyl-isoxanol-3-yl)-urea (PNU-120596), and genistein. Whole-cell recordings were performed in stratum radiatum interneurons from rat brain slices. Hippocampal interneurons were stimulated by ACh, choline, S 24795, or 4OH-GTS-21, before and after bath perfusion with the positive modulators. 5-HI was not effective at potentiating 200 μM 4OH-GTS-21-evoked responses, however 5-HI induced a sustained potentiation of responses evoked by 30 μM 4OH-GTS-21. When 1 mM ACh and 200 μM 4OH-GTS-21 were applied alternately α7-mediated responses to both agonists were reduced, suggesting that high concentration of 4OH-GTS-21 produces residual inhibition or desensitization and that 5-HI is not effective at overcoming receptor desensitization. Similar results were obtained with α7 receptors expressed in Xenopus oocytes. Interestingly, responses evoked by S 24795 were potentiated by 5-HI but not by genistein. Additionally, PNU-120596 was able to potentiate α7-mediated responses, regardless of the nature of the agonist. We demonstrated that the potentiation of α7 nAChR response would depend on the nature and the effective concentration of the agonist involved and its particular interaction with the positive modulator.     

Nicotinic receptors in the dorsal and ventral hippocampus differentially modulate contextual fear conditioning

Nicotine administration alters various forms of hippocampus‐dependent learning and memory. Increasing work has found that the dorsal and ventral hippocampus differentially contribute to multiple behaviors. Thus, the present study examined whether the effects of nicotine in the dorsal and ventral hippocampus have distinct influences on contextual fear learning in male C57BL/6J mice. Direct infusion of nicotine into the dorsal hippocampus resulted in an enhancement of contextual fear learning, whereas nicotine infused into the ventral hippocampus resulted in deficits. Nicotine infusions into the ventral hippocampus did not alter hippocampus‐independent cued fear conditioning or time spent in the open arm of the elevated plus maze, a measure of anxiety, suggesting that the effects are due to alterations in contextual learning and not other general processes. Finally, results from using direct infusions of MLA, a low‐affinity α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) antagonist, in conjunction with systemic nicotine, provide evidence that α7‐nAChRs in the ventral hippocampus mediate the detrimental effect of ventral hippocampal nicotine on contextual fear learning. These results suggest that with systemic nicotine administration, competition exists between the dorsal and ventral hippocampus for behavioral control over contextual learning. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.