Wioletta Rozpędek, Dariusz Pytel, Tomasz Popławski, Anna Walczak, Kinga Gradzik, Adam Wawrzynkiewicz, Radosław Wojtczak, Bartosz Mucha, John Alan Diehl and Ireneusz Majsterek* Pages 209 - 218 ( 10 )
<P>Objectives: There is a body of evidence that neurodegenerative disease entities are directly correlated with the perturbations on the molecular level. Hence, the ER stress-mediated Unfolded Protein Response (UPR) is activated resulting in PERK-dependent phosphorylation of the Eukaryotic initiation factor 2 (eIF2α). Thus, the levels of ATF4 and CHOP proteins are significantly increased, which subsequently switches the pro-adaptive branch of the UPR into the pro-apoptotic directly leading to neuronal loss and initiation of the neurodegenerative process. The aim of the presented study was the evaluation of the biological activity of highly specific, small-molecule inhibitors of the PERKdependent UPR signaling pathway. </P><P> Methods: The study was conducted on rat astrocytic DI TNC1 cell line. The level of p-eIF2α was measured by Western blot technique, the cytotoxicity of the investigated compound was assessed by the MTT assay and using the FITC-conjugated Annexin V (Annexin V-FITC) to indicate apoptosis and propidium iodide (PI) to indicate necrosis. The effect of tested compound on cell cycle progression was measured by flow cytometry, where the PI-labelled nuclei were analysed for DNA content. </P><P> Results: As a result one of the investigated compound LDN-0060609 triggers a significant inhibition of the eIF2α phosphorylation in DI TNC1 cell line. Moreover, we showed that compound LDN-0060609 is non-cytotoxic and has no effect on cell cycle progression. </P><P> Conclusion: In conclusion, LDN-0060609 may constitute a novel, targeted treatment approach against neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD), where pathogenesis and progression are closely associated with the overactivation of the PERK-dependent UPR signaling pathway.</P>
PERK, eIF2α, PERK inhibitors, neurodegeneration, Alzheimer's disease, apoptosis.
Department of Clinical Chemistry and Biochemistry, Military-Medical Faculty, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Hollings Cancer Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, Department of Clinical Chemistry and Biochemistry, Military-Medical Faculty, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Department of Clinical Chemistry and Biochemistry, Military-Medical Faculty, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Department of Clinical Chemistry and Biochemistry, Military-Medical Faculty, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Department of Clinical Chemistry and Biochemistry, Military-Medical Faculty, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Department of Clinical Chemistry and Biochemistry, Military-Medical Faculty, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Department of Clinical Chemistry and Biochemistry, Military-Medical Faculty, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Hollings Cancer Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, Department of Clinical Chemistry and Biochemistry, Military-Medical Faculty, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz