PARP抑制剂3-AB对糖尿病大鼠血脑屏障的影响

目的探讨多聚ADP核糖聚合酶(PARP)抑制剂3-氨基苯甲酰(3-AB)对实验性糖尿病(DM)大鼠血脑屏障(BBB)的影响。方法实验动物分为正常对照组(control组),糖尿病组(DM组),糖尿病加3-AB组(DM加3-AB组),3个月后检测各组大鼠BBB通透性,BBB紧密连接蛋白ZO-1和occludin的表达;Western blot法检测各组大鼠PARP1,p-ERK1/2和ERK1/2的表达。结果和control组相比,DM组体质量显著下降(P0.01),血糖明显升高(P0.01),3-AB对DM大鼠的体质量和血糖没有显著影响。DM组大鼠BBB通透性显著增加(P0.01),ZO-1和occludin的表达显著降低(P0.01),PARP1的表达明显增加(P0.01),p-ERK1/2/ERK1/2的表达显著增加(P0.01)。上述作用可被3-AB抑制。结论应用3-AB可通过增加ZO-1和occludin的表达,降低DM大鼠BBB通透性,保护DM大鼠的BBB。其保护作用可能与ERK1/2通路有关。     

Inhibition of angiogenesis by the poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitor PJ-34

Angiogenesis-related treatments have a broad spectrum of potential applications ranging from cancer to macular degeneration, to wound healing. Thus, the identification of pharmacological agents that modulate new blood vessel formation has attracted much attention. In the present study, we investigated the effects of the poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitor PJ-34 [N-(6-Oxo-5,6-dihydro-phenanthridin-2-yl)-N,N-dimethylacetamide] on angiogenesis. Treatment of chicken chorioallantoic membranes (CAM) with PJ-34 reduced vascular length in these tissues; paradoxically, lower doses of PJ-34 (0.03 or 0.3 nmol/cm2) were more effective in inhibiting neovascularisation than higher doses (3 or 30 nmol/cm2). In vitro, incubation of endothelial cells (EC) with PJ-34 (300 nM to 10 microM) inhibited their proliferation in a concentration-dependent manner with maximal inhibition of 22.3% being observed at 10 microM. Capillary morphogenesis of EC grown on Matrigel was also negatively affected by PJ-34. In addition, PJ-34 abolished the migratory response to the prototype angiogenic factor vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and reduced VEGF-stimulated activation of members of the mitogen activated protein kinase family (ERK1/2, p38), as well as Akt. PJ-34 also inhibited VEGF-induced NO release and cGMP accumulation. In conclusion, we provide evidence that PARP inhibition blocks angiogenesis-related EC properties by interfering with multiple signalling pathways leading to the inhibition of new blood vessel formation.     

Inhibition of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase attenuates the severity of acute pancreatitis and associated lung injury

The severity of acute pancreatitis results from the transmigration and activation of leukocytes within the pancreas and the local synthesis and release of proinflammatory-soluble mediators that transform a local injury into a systemic inflammatory response. Poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase-1 (PARP-1) is a nuclear DNA-binding protein that has been shown to play a relevant role in cell necrosis and organ failure in various diseases associated with inflammation. Therefore, we set out to investigate whether the genetic deletion of PARP-1 or PARP-2 (a new member of the PARP family) genes, or pharmacological inhibition of PARP activity might affect the development and severity of acute pancreatitis and pancreatitis-associated lung injury. Secretagogue-induced acute pancreatitis was achieved by 12 hourly intraperitoneal injections of cerulein in mice deficient in PARP-1 or PARP-2 genes, and wild-type (WT) littermate mice untreated or treated with PARP activity inhibitors. The severity of pancreatitis was assessed by measurements of serum amylase, lipase, interleukin-1beta and IL-6, pancreatic water content, histologic grading and pancreas myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity. Lung injury was evaluated by quantifying MPO activity and morphological changes. We found that the severity of acute pancreatitis and pancreatitis-associated lung injury was significantly attenuated in mice lacking PARP-1, but not PARP-2, compared with WT mice. Interestingly, administration of PARP inhibitors, 3-aminobenzamide or PJ34 (N-(6-oxo-5,6-dihydro-phenanthridin-2-yl)-N,N-dimethyacetamide HCl), in WT mice markedly decreased acute pancreatitis severity and pulmonary-associated injury in a larger extension than genetic deletion of PARP-1. Our results support the potential therapeutic application of PARP inhibitors in the development and severity of acute pancreatitis and associated lung injury.     

米诺环素后处理通过抑制PARP过度活化减轻心肌缺血/再灌注损伤

目的:探讨米诺环素后处理能否通过抑制多腺苷二磷酸核糖聚合酶1(PARP-1)过度活化减轻大鼠心肌缺血/再灌注(I/R)损伤。方法:结扎大鼠冠状动脉左前降支45 min,再灌注2 h,建立心肌I/R模型。将90只雄性Wistar大鼠随机分为假手术(sham)组,I/R组,低、高剂量米诺环素组及PARP抑制剂3-氨基苯甲酰胺(3-AB)组。氯化三苯基四氮唑(TTC)和伊文思蓝双染法检测心肌梗死范围,HE染色观察心肌组织形态学改变,TUNEL法评估心肌细胞凋亡程度,酶联免疫吸附法测定血清肿瘤坏死因子α(TNF-α)和白细胞介素1β(IL-1β)含量,Western blot法检测再灌注心肌及外周血白细胞内PARP-1活化产物多腺苷二磷酸核糖(PAR)的表达。结果:与sham组比较,心肌、外周血白细胞内PAR表达及血清TNF-α、IL-1β含量明显升高。与I/R组比较,米诺环素低、高剂量及3-AB后处理组均能显著减少梗死范围及心肌细胞凋亡程度,同时明显降低心肌、外周血白细胞内PAR表达及血清TNF-α、IL-1β含量。米诺环素高剂量组与3-AB组比较无显著差异。结论:米诺环素后处理可能通过抑制心肌及外周血白细胞PARP过度活化减轻大鼠心肌I/R损伤。     

聚腺苷二磷酸核糖聚合酶在休克和缺血再灌注损伤中的作用

聚腺苷二磷酸核糖聚合酶在失血性休克、内毒素性休克和感染性休克,以及机体主要脏器缺血再灌注后激活,参与休克和缺血再灌注损伤的病理过程。抑制聚腺苷二磷酸核糖聚合酶对休克和缺血再灌注损伤有良好的防治作用。     

3-aminobenzamide,one of poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase-1 inhibitors,rescuesapoptosisin rat models of spinal cord injury

Poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase-1 (PARP-1) is anubiquitous, DNA repair-associated enzyme, which participates in gene expression, cell death, central nerve system (CNS) disorders and oxidative stress. According to the previous studies, PARP-1 over-activation may lead to over-consumption of ATP and even cell apoptosis. Spinal cord injury (SCI) is an inducement towards PARP-1 over-activation due to its massive damage to DNA. 3-aminobenzamide (3-AB) is a kind of PARP-1 inhibitors. The relationship among PARP-1, 3-AB, SCI and apoptosis has not been fully understood. Hence, in the present study, we focused on the effects of 3-AB on cell apoptosis after SCI. Accordingly, SCI model was constructed artificially, and 3-AB was injected intrathecally into the Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. The results demonstrated an increase in cell apoptosis after SCI. Furthermore, PARP-1 was over-activated after SCI but inhibited by 3-AB injection. In addition, apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) was inhibited but B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) was up-regulated by 3-AB. Interestingly, caspase-3 was not significantly altered with or without 3-AB. In conclusion, our experiments showed that 3-AB, as a PARP-1 inhibitor, could inhibit cell apoptosis after SCI in caspase-independent way, which could provide a better therapeutic target for the treatment of SCI.     

Hypoxia-induced modification of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase and dna polymerase beta activity in cerebral cortical nuclei of newborn piglets: role of nitric oxide

This study aimed to investigate whether continuous, low-dose, intracerebral infusion of either brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) or neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) could protect against striatal neuronal loss in mild neonatal hypoxic/ischaemic brain injury. Continuous, low-dose, intracerebral treatment is likely to minimise unwanted side effects of a single high dose and lengthen the time window for neuroprotection. A milder, albeit brain damage-inducing, hypoxic/ischaemic injury paradigm was used since this situation is likely to produce the highest survival rates and thus the greatest prevalence. Anaesthetised postnatal day 7 rats were each stereotaxically implanted with a brain infusion kit connected to a micro-osmotic pump. The pump continuously infused either BDNF (4.5 microg/day), NT-3 (12 microg/day), or vehicle solution into the right striatum for 3 days from postnatal day 7. The intrastriatal presence of BDNF or NT-3 was verified immunohistochemically. On postnatal day 8, the rats underwent right common carotid artery ligation followed by hypoxic exposure for 1.5 h. Animals were weighed daily thereafter and killed 1 week later on postnatal day 14. The total number of medium spiny neurons within the right striatum was stereologically determined using an optical disector/Cavalieri combination. Other measures of neuroprotection such as brain weight and striatal infarct volume were also undertaken. BDNF or NT-3 significantly increased the total number of surviving medium spiny neurons by 43% and 33% respectively. This significant neuroprotection was not evident when brain weight, striatal volume, striatal infarct volume, and neuronal density measures for NT-3, were compared. These measures therefore missed the protective effect demonstrated by the total neuronal count. This suggests that stereological measurement of total neuronal number is needed to detect neuroprotection at 1 week after low-dose, continuously infused, neurotrophin treatment and mild hypoxic/ischaemic injury. The results also suggest that lower treatment doses may be more useful than previously thought. BDNF may be particularly useful since it fostered both neuroprotection and normal weight gain. The ability to rescue striatal neurons from death may contribute toward a potential short-term, low-dose neurotrophin treatment for mild perinatal hypoxic/ischaemic brain injury in humans.     

Impairment of the neuronal dopamine transporter activity in MPP(+)-treated rat was not prevented by treatments with nitric oxide synthase or poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors.

The neurotoxin 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) causes, via its metabolite MPP(+), damages of the nigrostriatal dopaminergic pathway, similar to those observed in Parkinson's disease. An intranigral injection of 10 microg MPP(+) in rat induced a decrease of about 30% of the neuronal dopamine transporter (DAT) activity 21 days after lesion. Based on the hypothesis that MPTP/MPP(+) neurotoxicity involves the nitric oxide (NO) production and/or an activation of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), we investigated the preventive effects of a treatment either with L-Name, a NO synthase (NOS) inhibitor or 3-aminobenzamide, a PARP inhibitor on the reduction of dopamine uptake induced by MPP(+). Rats received a daily injection i.p. of 50 mg/kg L-Name or 10 mg/kg 3-aminobenzamide 3 days before and during 21 days after the MPP(+) lesion. The results showed that inhibitors of NOS and PARP did not prevent the alteration of DAT activity induced by 10 microg MPP(+), indicating that NO and PARP were not involved in the biochemical cascade leading to the inhibition of rat DAT activity by MPP(+) in our experimental conditions.     

Autoantibodies to poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase in autoimmune diseases

Antibodies to various nuclear proteins are frequently found in sera of patients affected by connective tissue diseases and other autoimmune diseases. We investigated the specificity of circulating autoantibodies to poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase (pADPRP) in different autoimmune and connective tissue diseases: Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), Progressive Systemic Sclerosis (PSS), Sjogren's Syndrome (SS), Undifferentiated Connective Tissue Disease (UCTD), Cryptogenic Fibrosing Alveolitis (CFA) and Sarcoidosis. pADPRP was purified from calf thymus. Antibody specificity was detected by ELISA, western blot and enzyme activity precipitation. Positive values (mean O.D. values + 3 S.D. of 36 normal controls) were obtained in 7/15 SLE patients, 1/18 RA patients, 1/30 PSS, 3/14 SS, 0/5 UCTD, 5/21 CFA and 4/25 Sarcoidosis. The positive sera also recognized the pADPRP protein when tested by western blot. Furthermore the enzyme activity was inhibited after immunoprecipitation by some highly positive sera.     

Murine strain differences in acute lung injury and activation of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase by in vitro exposure of lung slices to bleomycin.

The DNA-cleaving, antitumor antibiotic bleomycin (BLM) causes pulmonary fibrosis, but the essential early events initiating the fibrotic state have not been well characterized. Thus, we have directly examined BLM-mediated pulmonary cell injury by monitoring lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release and nuclear poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PAP) activity, which is stimulated by DNA breakage, using lung slices isolated from BLM-sensitive (C57B1/6) and BLM-resistant (BALB/c) mice. Lung slices were incubated continuously with or without the PAP inhibitor, 3-aminobenzamide (3-AB), and exposed to BLM for 45 min. LDH release from C57B1/6 lung slices increased 2-fold by 8.5 h after treatment with BLM. In contrast, BLM failed to enhance cumulative LDH release by BALB/c mouse lung slices. Co-incubation of C57B1/6 lung slices with 3-AB prevented BLM-induced LDH release. Nuclear PAP was activated 3- to 4-fold 1.25 h after exposure of C57B1/6 lung slices to BLM but returned to control levels by 3.75 h. Nuclear PAP was only marginally affected at these times in BALB/c lung slices. Co-incubation of C57B1/6 slices with 3-AB prevented the early increases in PAP activity. These results demonstrate that murine strain sensitivity to acute cell injury and early PAP activation by BLM in lung slices parallels the in vivo sensitivity of lungs. In addition, 3-AB suppresses PAP activation and acute cell injury in lung slices. Differential activation of PAP appears to govern murine strain variation in response to BLM and is consistent with the hypothesis that activation of PAP participates in acute pneumocyte injury, initiating the process of BLM-induced fibrosis.     

Histone shuttle driven by the automodification cycle of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase

In mammalian cells, the incision step of DNA excision repair triggers a dramatic metabolic response in chromatin. The reaction starts with the binding of a zinc-finger protein, i.e. poly-(ADP-ribose)polymerase to DNA nicks, activation of four resident catalytic activities leading to poly(ADP-ribose) synthesis, conversion of the polymerase into a protein modified with up to 28 variably sized ADP-ribose polymers, and rapid degradation of polymerase-bound polymers by poly(ADP-ribose)glycohydrolase. This automodification cycle catalyzes a transient and reversible dissociation of histones from DNA. Shuttling of histones on the DNA allows selected other proteins, such as DNA helicase A and topoisomerase I, to gain access to DNA. Histone shuttling in vitro mimics nucleosomal unfolding/refolding in vivo that accompanies the postincisional steps of DNA excision repair. Suppression of the automodification cycle in mammalian cells prevents nucleosomal unfolding and nucleotide excision repair. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Spatial and functional relationship between poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 and poly(ADP-ribose) glycohydrolase in the brain

Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerases (PARPs) are members of a family of enzymes that utilize nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD(+)) as substrate to form large ADP-ribose polymers (PAR) in the nucleus. PAR has a very short half-life due to its rapid degradation by poly(ADP-ribose) glycohydrolase (PARG). PARP-1 mediates acute neuronal cell death induced by a variety of insults including cerebral ischemia, 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine-induced Parkinsonism, and CNS trauma. While PARP-1 is localized to the nucleus, PARG resides in both the nucleus and cytoplasm. Surprisingly, there appears to be only one gene encoding PARG activity, which has been characterized in vitro to generate different splice variants, in contrast to the growing family of PARPs. Little is known regarding the spatial and functional relationships of PARG and PARP-1. Here we evaluate PARG expression in the brain and its cellular and subcellular distribution in relation to PARP-1. Anti-PARG (alpha-PARG) antibodies raised in rabbits using a purified 30 kDa C-terminal fragment of murine PARG recognize a single band at 111 kDa in the brain. Western blot analysis also shows that PARG and PARP-1 are evenly distributed throughout the brain. Immunohistochemical studies using alpha-PARG antibodies reveal punctate cytosolic staining, whereas anti-PARP-1 (alpha-PARP-1) antibodies demonstrate nuclear staining. PARG is enriched in the mitochondrial fraction together with manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) and cytochrome C (Cyt C) following whole brain subcellular fractionation and Western blot analysis. Confocal microscopy confirms the co-localization of PARG and Cyt C. Finally, PARG translocation to the nucleus is triggered by NMDA-induced PARP-1 activation. Therefore, the subcellular segregation of PARG in the mitochondria and PARP-1 in the nucleus suggests that PARG translocation is necessary for their functional interaction. This translocation is PARP-1 dependent, further demonstrating a functional interaction of PARP-1 and PARG in the brain.     

Effect of carvedilol on neuronal survival and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase activity in hippocampus after transient forebrain ischemia

Carvedilol a beta-adrenoreceptor antagonist with potent antioxidant properties raises high expectations in therapy of ischemia. In this study the effect of carvedilol on neuronal survival after transient forebrain ischemia in gerbils was investigated. The role of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP-1) in this process was evaluated. Our data indicated that carvedilol administered subcutaneously in a dose of 7 or 70 mg/kg b.w. directly after 5 min of transient forebrain ischemia protects significant population of neurons in hippocampal area CA1, but has no effect after induction of prolonged 10 min ischemia. Carvedilol significantly decreased PARP activity in hippocampus that was markedly increased after both 15 min and 4 days of reperfusion following 5 min of ischemia. Moreover, carvedilol prevented NAD+ depletion after ischemic-reperfusion insult. These results indicated that carvedilol protects neurons against death and suggested that suppression of PARP activity during reperfusion could be involved in this process.     

Diabetic endothelial dysfunction: role of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species production and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase activation

Peroxynitrite and hydroxyl radicals are potent initiators of DNA single-strand breakage, which is an obligatory stimulus for the activation of the nuclear enzyme poly(ADP ribose) polymerase (PARP). In response to high glucose incubation medium in vitro, or diabetes and hyperglycemia in vivo, reactive nitrogen and oxygen species generation occurs. These reactive species trigger DNA single-strand breakage, which induces rapid activation of PARP. PARP in turn depletes the intracellular concentration of its substrate, NAD+, slowing the rate of glycolysis, electron transport, and ATP formation. This process results in acute endothelial dysfunction in diabetic blood vessels. Accordingly, inhibitors of PARP protect against endothelial injury under these conditions. In addition to the direct cytotoxic pathway regulated by DNA injury and PARP activation, PARP also appears to modulate the course of inflammation by regulating the activation of nuclear factor kappaB, and the expression of a number of genes, including the gene for intercellular adhesion molecule 1 and the inducible nitric oxide synthase. The research into the role of PARP in diabetic vascular injury is now supported by novel tools, such as new classes of potent inhibitors of PARP and genetically engineered animals lacking the gene for PARP. Pharmacological inhibition of PARP emerges as a potential approach for the experimental therapy of diabetic vascular dysfunction.     

Rapid activation of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase contributes to Sindbis virus and staurosporine-induced apoptotic cell death

Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1) is a chromatin-associated enzyme that is activated by DNA strand breaks and catalyzes the transfer of ADP-ribose groups from NAD to itself and other nuclear proteins. Although caspase-mediated PARP-1 cleavage occurs during almost all forms of apoptosis, the contribution of PARP-1 activation and cleavage to this cell death process remains unclear. Using immortalized fibroblasts from wild-type (PARP-1(+/+)) and PARP-1 knockout (PARP-1(-/-)) mice, and a mouse neuroblastoma cell line (N18), the role that poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation plays in Sindbis virus (SV)-induced apoptosis was examined. Robust PARP-1 activation occurred in SV-infected cells prior to morphologic changes associated with apoptotic cell death and PARP-1 activity ceased simultaneously with caspase-3 activation and PARP-1 proteolysis. PARP-1 activity was maximal before detectable DNA fragmentation, but was absent when DNA damage was most intense. SV and staurosporine-induced cell death was delayed in fibroblasts lacking PARP-1 activity, suggesting that PARP-1 activation contributes to apoptotic cell death induced by these stimuli. SV replication was not affected by lack of PARP-1 activity, but DNA fragmentation and caspase-3 activation were delayed and occurred at lower levels in PARP-1-deficient fibroblasts. Early virus-induced PARP-1 activation may represent a novel way by which cells signal to the nucleus to regulate protein function by poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation in response to virus infection.     

Characterization of poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase from Crithidia fasciculata: enzyme inhibition by beta-lapachone.

Crithidia fasciculata poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase (PARP) has been isolated and partially purified. This is the first PARP isolated from trypanosomatids; it requires DNA and histone for activity, using NAD(+) as substrate. Thiol compounds specially dithiothreitol essentially contributed to PARP stability during purification and to PARP activity during assays. Nicotinamide, 3-aminobenzamide, theophylline, histamine, histidine, N-ethylmaleimide, p-chloromercuribenzoic acid, p-chloromercuriphenylsulfonic acid and o-iodosobenzoate inhibited PARP, thus confirming enzyme identity. PARP was also inhibited by the Fe(II)/H(2)O(2) Fenton system. beta-Lapachone inhibited PARP, apparently by direct interaction with the enzyme.     

The role of mitochondrial calcium uniporter in neuroprotection in traumatic brain injury

The alteration in cellular Ca²⁺ homeostasis is one of the key mechanisms contributing to secondary neuronal damage and altered physiology during the process of traumatic brain injury (TBI). However, there is considerable uncertainty about the efficacy of calcium channel blockers in randomized, controlled, clinical trials. In the physiological condition, cellular Ca²⁺ homeostasis occurs through repetitive bursts of rising intracellular Ca²⁺ that, sometimes are referred to as Ca²⁺ oscillations. Mitochondria are intimately involved in the spatiotemporal tuning of cellular Ca²⁺ signaling mainly through mitochondrial Ca²⁺ uniporter (MCU). Excessive Ca²⁺ uptake by the mitochondria through MCU is a key event in mitochondrial dysfunction and cell death in TBI. Selective inhibition of MCU has showed a promising cardioprotection and neuroprotection effect in many preclinical studies. Based on these preclinical results, the selective inhibition of MCU may be a new strategy for neuroprotection in TBI patients.     

Inhibition of platelet-derived mitogen release by nitric oxide (EDRF)

Platelets exposed to thrombogenic surfaces adhere, aggregate and release mitogenic substances from their -granules. Endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF) which has been identified as nitric oxide (NO) has been reported to inhibit platelet aggregation. We now report that NO inhibits mitogen release from stimulated human platelets. Mitogenic activity was assayed on mouse fibroblast, 3T3 cells using incorporation of³H-thymidine. Serum from collagen-aggregated platelets significantly increased³H-thymidine incorporation by 3T3 cells above that of serum from control platelets. Both this increase and platelet aggregation were blocked by NO and prostacyclin in a dose related manner. The inhibitory activity of NO decayed with time when incubated in platelet-free plasma at 37°C, but was still detectable after 2 minutes.     

Increased poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase activity in lymphoblastoid cell lines from centenarians

 Poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation is a posttranslational modification of nuclear proteins which is catalyzed by poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase and represents an immediate response of eukaryotic cells to oxidative and other types of DNA damage. Previously a strong correlation had been detected between maximal poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase activity in permeabilized mononuclear leukocytes of various mammalian species and species-specific life span. To study a possible relation between longevity and poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation in humans we measured maximal oligonucleotide-stimulated poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase activity in permeabilized, Epstein-Barr virus transformed lymphoblastoid cell lines from a French population of 49 centenarians and 51 controls aged 20–70 years. Maximal enzyme activity was significantly higher in centenarians than in controls [median of controls: 9035 cpm/10⁶ cells (lower quartile: 6156; upper quartile: 11,410); median of centenarians: 10,380 cpm/10⁶ cells (lower quartile: 7994; upper quartile: 12,991); P=0.031 by Mann-Whitney U test]. In a subset of 16 controls and 24 centenarians, cellular poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase content was determined by quantitative western blotting, thus allowing the calculation of specific enzyme activity. The latter was significantly higher in centenarians (P=0.006), the median value for centenarians being about 1.6-fold that of controls. Specific poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase activity was a more powerful parameter for differentiating between centenarians and controls than enzyme activity relative to cell number. In addition, in a genetic association study we analyzed 437 DNA samples (239 centenarians and 198 controls) by PCR amplification of a polymorphic dinucleotide repeat located in the promoter region of the poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase gene in an attempt to detect an association between this polymorphic marker and variability of enzyme activity or human longevity. However, this genetic analysis revealed no significant enrichment of any of the alleles or genotypes identified among centenarians or controls, but its power was limited by the relatively weak hetero-zygosity of this polymorphic marker in our population (51%). Viewed together with previous results on poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase activity in various mammalian species, the present data provide further evidence for the notion that longevity is associated with a high poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation capacity. Received: 5 September 1997 / Accepted: 10 November 1997