Selective inhibition of PCAF suppresses microglial-mediated β-amyloid neurotoxicity

Int J Mol Med. 2013 Aug;32(2):469-75. doi: 10.3892/ijmm.2013.1407. Epub 2013 Jun 5.

Abstract

Recent studies have emphasized the functional role of the P300/CBP-associated factor (PCAF) enzyme in resistance to β-amyloid (Aβ)-mediated neurotoxicity; however, the underlying mechanisms through which PCAF regulates inflammation and neurotoxicity have not yet been elucidated. In this study, we used computer-based molecular docking simulations to perform structure-based artificial screening for PCAF-specific inhibitors. Our results revealed that one of the compounds from the screened library, compound C-11, selectively inhibited PCAF, but not p300 or GCN5, with a half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of approximately 0.25 µM. Furthermore, C-11 had no effects on the activities of other epigenetic enzymes. Western blot analysis using an antibody against acetyl-nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) demonstrated that PCAF mediated the Aβ-induced activation of NF-κB by acetylation at Lys-122. We also found that the knockdown of PCAF completely inhibited Aβ-induced cytokine production in BV-2 cells in a similar manner to C-11 treatment. Finally, PCAF inhibition suppressed both Aβ-induced cytokine production and Aβ-mediated neuronal cell death. Therefore, our results suggest that in neuronal cells, PCAF is a promising therapeutic target for alleviating the inflammatory progression of Alzheimer's disease.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acetylation / drug effects
  • Alzheimer Disease
  • Amyloid beta-Peptides / toxicity*
  • Animals
  • Cell Death / drug effects
  • Computer Simulation
  • Drug Discovery
  • Enzyme Activation / drug effects
  • Mice
  • Microglia / metabolism*
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Conformation
  • NF-kappa B / metabolism
  • Neurons / drug effects*
  • Neurons / metabolism*
  • Small Molecule Libraries
  • p300-CBP Transcription Factors / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • p300-CBP Transcription Factors / chemistry*

Substances

  • Amyloid beta-Peptides
  • NF-kappa B
  • Small Molecule Libraries
  • p300-CBP Transcription Factors
  • p300-CBP-associated factor