CCAAT/Enhancer binding protein β silencing mitigates glial activation and neurodegeneration in a rat model of Parkinson's disease

Sci Rep. 2017 Oct 19;7(1):13526. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-13269-4.

Abstract

The CCAAT/Enhancer binding protein β (C/EBPβ) is a transcription factor involved in numerous physiological as well as pathological conditions in the brain. However, little is known regarding its possible role in neurodegenerative disorders. We have previously shown that C/EBPβ regulates the expression of genes involved in inflammatory processes and brain injury. Here, we have analyzed the effects of C/EBPβ interference in dopaminergic cell death and glial activation in the 6-hydroxydopamine model of Parkinson's disease. Our results showed that lentivirus-mediated C/EBPβ deprivation conferred marked in vitro and in vivo neuroprotection of dopaminergic cells concomitant with a significant attenuation of the level of the inflammatory response and glial activation. Additionally, C/EBPβ interference diminished the induction of α-synuclein in the substantia nigra pars compacta of animals injected with 6-hydroxydopamine. Taking together, these results reveal an essential function for C/EBPβ in the pathways leading to inflammatory-mediated brain damage and suggest novel roles for C/EBPβ in neurodegenerative diseases, specifically in Parkinson's disease, opening the door for new therapeutic interventions.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Protein-beta / antagonists & inhibitors
  • CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Protein-beta / genetics
  • CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Protein-beta / metabolism*
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Dopaminergic Neurons / cytology
  • Dopaminergic Neurons / drug effects
  • Dopaminergic Neurons / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mesencephalon / cytology
  • Mesencephalon / drug effects
  • Mesencephalon / metabolism
  • Oxidopamine / pharmacology
  • Parkinson Disease / metabolism
  • Parkinson Disease / pathology*
  • Pars Compacta / drug effects
  • Pars Compacta / metabolism
  • RNA Interference
  • RNA, Small Interfering / metabolism
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar
  • alpha-Synuclein / metabolism

Substances

  • CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Protein-beta
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • alpha-Synuclein
  • Oxidopamine