Inactivation of ERK1/2-CREB Pathway Is Implicated in MK801-induced Cognitive Impairment

Objective Schizophrenia(SZ)is associated with cognitive impairment,and it is known that the activity of cAMP response element binding protein(CREB)decreases in the brain of SZ patients.The previous study conducted by the investigators revealed that the upregulation of CREB improves the MK801-related SZ cognitive deficit.The present study further investigates the mechanism on how CREB deficiency is associated with SZ-related cognitive impairment.Methods MK-801 was used to induce SZ in rats.Western blotting and immunofluorescence were performed to investigate CREB and the CREB-related pathway implicated in MK801 rats.The long-term potentiation and behavioral tests were performed to assess the synaptic plasticity and cognitive impairment,respectively.Results The phosphorylation of CREB at Ser133 decreased in the hippocampus of SZ rats.Interestingly,among the upstream kinases of CREB,merely ERK1/2 was downregulated,while CaMKII and PKA remained unchanged in the brain of MK801-related SZ rats.The inhibition of ERK1/2 by PD98059 reduced the phosphorylation of CREB-Ser133,and induced synaptic dysfunction in primary hippocampal neurons.Conversely,the activation of CREB attenuated the ERK1/2 inhibitor-induced synaptic and cognitive impairment.Conclusion These present findings partially suggest that the deficiency of the ERK1/2-CREB pathway is involved in MK801-related SZ cognitive impairment.The activation of the ERK1/2-CREB pathway may be therapeutically useful for treating SZ cognitive deficits.

Humanin attenuates Alzheimer-like cognitive deficits and pathological changes induced by amyloid β-peptide in rats

Amyloid β-peptide（Aβ） has been implicated as a key molecule in the neurodegenerative cascades of Alzheimer ’s disease（AD）. Humanin（HN） is a secretory peptide that inhibits the neurotoxicity of Aβ. However, the mechanism（s） by which HN exerts its neuroprotection against Aβ-induced ADlike pathological changes and memory deficits are yet to be completely defined. In the present study,we provided evidence that treatment of rats with HN increases the number of dendritic branches and the density of dendritic spines, and upregulates pre- and post-synaptic protein levels; these effects lead to enhanced long-term potentiation and amelioration of the memory deficits induced by Aβ1-42. HN also attenuated Aβ1-42-induced tau hyperphosphorylation,apparently by inhibiting the phosphorylation of Tyr307 on the inhibitory protein phosphatase-2A（PP2A）catalytic subunit and thereby activating PP2 A. HN also inhibited apoptosis and reduced the oxidativestress induced by Aβ1-42. These findings provide novel mechanisms of action for the ability of HN to protect against Aβ1-42-induced AD-like pathological changes and memory deficits.

Overexpression of Tau Rescues Nogo-66-Induced Neurite Outgrowth Inhibition In Vitro

Abstract Nogo-66 plays a central role in the myelin- mediated inhibition of neurite outgrowth. Tau is a micro- tubule-associated protein involved in microtubule assembly and stabilization. It remains unverified whether tau inter- acts directly with growth factor receptors, or engages in cross-talk with regeneration inhibitors like Nogo-66. Here, we report that plasmid overexpression of tau significantly elevated the protein levels of total tau, phosphorylated tau, and microtubule-affinity regulating kinase （MARK）. Nogo- 66 transiently elevated the total tau protein level and per- sistently reduced the level of p-s262 tau （tau phosphory- lated at serine 262）, whereas it had little influence on the level of p-T205 tau （tau phosphorylated at threonine 205）. Nogo-66 significantly decreased the protein level of MARK. Hymenialdisine, an inhibitor of MARK, signifi- cantly reduced the level of p-S262 tau. Overexpression of tau rescued the Nogo-66-induced inhibition of neurite outgrowth in neuroblastoma cortical neurons. However, 2a （N2a） cells and primary concomitant inhibition ofMARK abolished the rescue of neurite outgrowth by tan in N2a cells. We conclude that dephosphorylation of tau at S262 is able to regulate Nogo-66 signaling, and that overexpression of tau can rescue the Nogo-66-induced inhibition of neurite outgrowth in vitro.