Neuroprotective Effects of CGP3466B on Apoptosis Are Modulated by Protein-L-isoaspartate (D-aspartate) O-methyltransferase/Mst1 Pathways after Traumatic Brain Injury in Rats

Sci Rep. 2017 Aug 23;7(1):9201. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-08196-3.

Abstract

Neuronal apoptosis chiefly contributes to the cell loss following traumatic brain injury (TBI). CGP3466B is a compound related to the anti-Parkinsonism drug R-(-)-deprenyl. Previous studies have illuminated anti-apoptosis effects of CGP3466B in different cell lines, but the underlying mechanisms have not been fully elucidated. Mammalian sterile 20 (STE20)-like kinase1 (Mst1) is a core component of the Hippo signaling pathway. Protein-L-isoaspartate (D-aspartate) O-methyltransferase (PCMT1) is an enzyme that repairs damaged L-isoaspartyl residues in proteins. The present study was performed to investigate the neuroprotective effects of CGP3466B and to determine a potential PCMT1/Mst1 neuronal anti-apoptotic pathway after TBI. Double immunofluorescence staining demonstrated that PCMT1 and Mst1 are co-located in neurons. Administration of CGP3466B improved neurological function, downregulated the ROS level and alleviated brain edema at 24 h after TBI. CGP3466B alleviates neuronal apoptosis by increasing PCMT1 expression and subsequently inhibiting MST1 activation, resulting in changing the expression levels of Bax, Bcl-2 and active-caspase3. The TUNEL staining results also support the anti-apoptosis effects of CGP3466B. The anti-apoptotic effects of CGP3466B were abolished by chelerythrine, an Mst1 activator, without changing PCMT1 levels. In conclusion, our findings suggest CGP3466B may have a promising therapeutic potential by modulating PCMT1/Mst1 signaling pathway after TBI injury.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apoptosis / drug effects*
  • Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / genetics
  • Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / metabolism
  • Brain Edema / drug therapy
  • Brain Edema / etiology
  • Brain Edema / metabolism
  • Brain Edema / pathology
  • Brain Injuries, Traumatic / drug therapy
  • Brain Injuries, Traumatic / metabolism*
  • Brain Injuries, Traumatic / pathology
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Hepatocyte Growth Factor / metabolism*
  • Neurons / metabolism
  • Neuroprotective Agents / pharmacology*
  • Oxepins / pharmacology*
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein D-Aspartate-L-Isoaspartate Methyltransferase / metabolism*
  • Protein Transport
  • Proteolysis
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / metabolism*
  • Rats
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects*

Substances

  • Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins
  • Neuroprotective Agents
  • Oxepins
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins
  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • dibenzo(b,f)oxepin-10-ylmethyl-methyl-prop-2-ynyl-amine
  • macrophage stimulating protein
  • Hepatocyte Growth Factor
  • Protein D-Aspartate-L-Isoaspartate Methyltransferase