0000000000560468
AUTHOR
Alexander Brendel
Differential regulation of apoptosis-associated genes by estrogen receptor alpha in human neuroblastoma cells
Purpose: The neuroendocrinology of female sex hormones is of great interest for a variety of neuropsychiatric disorders. In fact, estrogens and estrogen receptors (ERs) exert neuromodulatory and neuroprotective functions. Here we investigated potential targets of the ER subtype alpha that may mediate neuroprotection and focused on direct modulators and downstream executors of apoptosis. Methods: We employed subclones of human neuroblastoma cells (SK-N-MC) stably transfected with one of the ER subtypes, ERalpha or ERbeta. Differences between the cell lines regarding the mRNA expression levels were examined by qPCR, changes on protein levels were examined by Western Blot and immunocytochemist…
Downregulation of PMCA2 increases the vulnerability of midbrain neurons to mitochondrial complex I inhibition
Parkinson's disease is an age-associated disorder characterized by selective degeneration of dopaminergic neurons. The molecular mechanisms underlying the selective vulnerability of this subset of neurons are, however, not fully understood. Employing SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells and primary mesencephalic neurons, we here demonstrate a significant increase in cytosolic calcium after inhibition of mitochondrial complex I by means of MPP(+), which is a well-established environmental toxin-based in vitro model of Parkinson's disease. This increase in calcium is correlated with a downregulation of the neuron-specific plasma membrane Ca(2+)-ATPase isoform 2 (PMCA2). Interestingly, two other import…