Presence of beta-arrestin in cellular inclusions in metamphetamine-treated PC12 cells

Neurol Sci. 2003 Oct;24(3):164-5. doi: 10.1007/s10072-003-0111-5.

Abstract

Cellular inclusions containing ubiquitin and alpha-synuclein were observed in PC12 cells treated with metamphetamine (MA). To study the possible involvement of beta-arrestin in inclusion formation, we treated PC12 cells with MA for different times and analyzed the ubiquitin proteosome pathway (UPP). We found that beta-arrestin is ubiquitinated in the MA-treated PC12 cell line. The involvement of beta-arrestin in UPP was further supported by electron microscopy and by confocal microscopy, which documented the presence of beta-arrestin in these Lewy body-like inclusions. Our experiments reveal an interesting and previously unappreciated connection between beta-arrestin and ubiquitination and suggest that beta-arrestin could be involved in the development of the inclusion bodies.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Arrestins / analysis*
  • Central Nervous System Stimulants / pharmacology
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Inclusion Bodies / chemistry
  • Inclusion Bodies / drug effects*
  • Inclusion Bodies / metabolism
  • Methamphetamine / pharmacology*
  • Neurodegenerative Diseases
  • PC12 Cells
  • Rats
  • Signal Transduction
  • Time Factors
  • Ubiquitin / metabolism
  • beta-Arrestins

Substances

  • Arrestins
  • Central Nervous System Stimulants
  • Ubiquitin
  • beta-Arrestins
  • Methamphetamine